Anyway, ignoring Trump yet again blaming Zelensky for provoking that poor Vladimir into destroying Ukraine, nice to see one organisation is (probably rich enough to be) willing to tell him to **** off with his plans for the Turd Reich.
BBC News - Trump freezes $2bn in Harvard funding after university rejects demands
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz01y9gkdm3o
setting up a meeting with one man- who's actual job is just shaking hands with people just like Trump
And the cunning part is that it will be an unequal handshake. With his fat sausage fingers grabbing Trump's tiny hand the King will have the upper hand.
BBC News - Trump freezes $2bn in Harvard funding after university rejects demands
Trump voters don't go to Harvard. Like Reform voters don't go to Oxbridge. There are a few reasons for this but the most important one is the most obvious one.
We're on our last day of a city break in Amsterdam with the kids. I think, without fail, every loud, brash, pushy, entitled, inappropriate, overweight arse we have come across in a queue, shop, restaurant, tram etc has been an American. It really is that striking. Makes you think.
I missed off 'graceless'.
Trump is quite capable of penalising the UK for the slight of a cancelled visit out of spite even if it damages the US as much as the UK.
He is also quite capable of penalising the UK because he sees weakness that can be exploited.
We're on our last day of a city break in Amsterdam with the kids. I think, without fail, every loud, brash, pushy, entitled, inappropriate, overweight arse we have come across in a queue, shop, restaurant, tram etc has been an American. It really is that striking. Makes you think.
I'm really surprised by that, we spent a week in Amsterdam last Summer and apart from overweight and maybe loud for some none of that applied to any of them. In Paris recently the Americans at Notre Dame morning mass were quiet and discrete, those in Eurostar delightful (and not overweight), the one on the night bus heading for Portugal fit and pleasant. The only people I've shared space with recently that fit your description were Brits on the Flixbus from Birmingham to London - I've just checked the message I sent my wife "smelly passive aggressive". 🙂
We're on our last day of a city break in Amsterdam with the kids. I think, without fail, every loud, brash, pushy, entitled, inappropriate, overweight arse we have come across in a queue, shop, restaurant, tram etc has been an American. It really is that striking. Makes you think.
I've been interrailing down to Sicily via Paris, Rome and Naples, and have found the many Americans I've come across to be polite, curious and respectful.
- I have found a big split with americans. The loud brash pushy sterotype is real but not universal
Not all people "are the same" shocka
Try being in Cuba surrounded by yanks when they beat us in the world cup. Not a good day.
Trump is quite capable of penalising the UK for the slight of a cancelled visit out of spite even if it damages the US as much as the UK.
He is also quite capable of penalising the UK because he sees weakness that can be exploited.
Exactly. I'd sooner go down fighting.
Looks like good news for Airbus. That’s going to properly wind up the orange shitgibbon
Re. The Harvard thing, not wanting to defend anti-Semitism, but isn't that something that would be protected under their US free speech laws, therefore it's going to end up at the courts with the Trump administration forced to climb down
Re. The Harvard thing, not wanting to defend anti-Semitism, but isn't that something that would be protected under their US free speech laws, therefore it's going to end up at the courts with the Trump administration forced to climb down
Without being drawn into the antisemitism aspect, there's a guy in a high security jail in El Salvador who is not confident Trump will follow directions even from the Supreme Court.
Re. The Harvard thing, not wanting to defend anti-Semitism, but isn't .....
Unless you agree with Donald Trump's definition of anti-semitism you stand little risk of doing that.
According to the linked article among the demands the Trump administration has made on Harvard is :
reporting students to the federal government who are "hostile" to American values
That is a particularly interesting one because based on Trump's behaviour and attacks on American institutions surely any student expressing support for Donald Trump would be guilty of being hostile to America values and should be reported?
I've been interrailing down to Sicily via Paris, Rome and Naples, and have found the many Americans I've come across to be polite, curious and respectful.
Almost 2 wks intermingling with 'mericans in NYC and in Florida. Would guess the majority were Trumpies going by maga hats and attire sporting the orange cult leader. 90% of them were arseholes, loud, brash, self-centered and the eating habits of pigs. I shall not be hurrying back to the US anytime soon.
According to the linked article among the demands the Trump administration has made on Harvard is :
reporting students to the federal government who are "hostile" to American values
That is a particularly interesting one because based on Trump's behaviour and attacks on American institutions surely any student expressing support for Donald Trump would be guilty of being hostile to America values and should be reported?
Can you imagine the government being flooded with reports of MAGA supporters anti US views? That would be fantastic. And if Trump said something on a campus....
Well, of the four things that got my goat to a greater or lesser extent over the last 3 days, all were septics.
1. The three pudgy, horrible women of ascending size (think grumpy Russian dolls) who squashed, barged and shoved us and various people whilst trying to get out of a no-exit door on the tram (and didn't say thank you when my wife passed her case down to her) - American.
2. The large table in the quite nice restaurant who were louder than the rest of the place combined, most males (adult and kids) baseball-capped whilst eating indoors and yawping. They also ordered a mountain of main courses which the kids left most of (too busy dicking around) before ordering a mountain of desserts. American.
3. The couple who barged into a lift ahead of us (and a disabled guy - also American) in a museum. American.
4. The pair of couples in their 60s who were loudly laughing and joking and generally making an exhibition of themselves outside the Anne Frank house. American.
It is all subjective, obviously. But the US of A scored an impressive 4/4 of people that ground my gears on our break. No one else even made me tut the whole time we were there.
It is all subjective, obviously. But the US of A scored an impressive 4/4 of people that ground my gears on our break. No one else even made me tut the whole time we were there.
Unconscious bias.
I can usually find four Brits to grind me gears before I get to the office at 8am.
And now a message from our sponsors…………..(or a duplicate post)
Without being drawn into the antisemitism aspect, there's a guy in a high security jail in El Salvador who is not confident Trump will follow directions even from the Supreme Court.
Administrative error.
Supreme Court told them to bring him back,Trump team broadcast it as a win.
And being openly defiant in not arranging a way to do it.
Disappearing legal residents to a foreign country has happened even without this boo boo.
Unconscious bias.
I disagree. I know my own subconscious well enough to (mostly) correct my attitude in the moment and certainly when any emotion has ebbed away. These four people-driven moments were the only ones that pissed me off in a busy city and all four were perpetrated by Americans.
I can usually find four Brits to grind me gears before I get to the office at 8am.
Me too (in the days when i didn't predominantly work from home, at least). But most of those would have been driving related and I'm not sure how it is relevant.
Incidentally, I left out the bunch of American teens in the sports bar who took over an entire section like an invading army and were generally loud and a bit pushy. That's because it was not a scenario that would have been much different with anyone else and it was that kind of place. We only went in because my lad wanted to watch some of the golf.
Other meals had Americans in attendance. One was youngish couple - he was American, she was Dutch, an early relationship date by the look of it - both very nice, seemingly.
We only had one very loud and obnoxious table of fellow diners in a restaurant - Americans. We were only once rudely barged and pushed on public transport - Americans. We only had one couple dive into a lift jumping the queue - Americans.
Sorry, but I'm pretty much obsessively objective, and these were my experiences.
🤷♂️
1/ Amsterdam trams are pretty confusing, not being able to get out of a front door is widespread but not being able to get out of double doors further back is unusual. The ticketting system is crap too, you can't use the same credit card for two transactions within a time limit, then when you've got the ticket it's not obvious what to do with it.
2/ Loud I'll give you. I used to think it was because they were speaking English so I tuned in to what they were saying easily and understood. I've since revised to accepting the loud stereotype is accurate.
3/ I always take the stairs when available. Not much experience of lifts.
4/ People laughing and joking in the street is like the noise of children playing, something positive in my life. I found the Brummy you-look-at-me-and-I'll-stab-you silent scowl/death look more worrying. Whatever happened to the place I was born? But yes they do tend to be loud.
Trams are a bit confusing, but they didn't have to be so rude and pushy. They were next to the conductor booth thing, so could (and should) have asked. I'm sure the scenario happens a lot. But their attitude was pretty disgraceful.
We were only taking the lift because it was oppressively hot and we'd been walking all day. They absolutely should not have barged in front of the disabled guy, end of.
I didn't major on the being loud in the street thing because, compared to the others, it is a lesser thing. But no one else was doing it and no one else was so jarringly loud and out of place. My wife works in a hospital and has to put up with all manner of shit. She is not easily annoyed by people, but she had a rolleyes moment at the same time.
I can continue to expand on my basis for commenting about my recent experiences if you like. But I think the vast majority of folk on here would rather just read the posts in their own right rather than have me recite a minute-by-minute account of my recent holiday. Up to you guys.
Back on the subject of trade wars and blackmail... the latest n the UK-USA trade relationship:
Starmer told UK must repeal hate speech laws to protect LGBT+ people or lose Trump trade deal
‘Good chance’ of agreement, says JD Vance – but sources say his concerns over Britain’s hate speech laws ‘are still a red line’
I thought we took back control of our sovereignty, though?
2/ Loud I'll give you. I used to think it was because they were speaking English so I tuned in to what they were saying easily and understood. I've since revised to accepting the loud stereotype is accurate.
I think this cultural, you’d love it in Spain when people get excited 🙂
Its easy to assume they are the same as us due to the shared language but there are subtle and unsubtle differences.
I tend to think we English are terribly soft spoken and prudish and tbh some of us may be terrible fun suckers and sticklers for the unwritten rules 🙂
I thought we took back control of our sovereignty, though?
Sovereignty is all sunshine and roses, until you realise you are a small nation trying to negociate with super-powers and huge trading blocs.
until you realise you are a small nation trying to negociate with super-powers and huge trading blocs.
If only we were part of a huge trading bloc.
That er may honour its existing agreements and not wake up one morning and on a whim whack 10% tarrif on for giggles
I spend a lot of time in Spain. 🙂 In the mountains you often hear them before you see them. It's often quite joyous.
I'm reminded of being in a supermarket in Chamonix and hearing a voice bellowing all the way along the shop "Hey Mary, your chocolates are over here".
On the other hand I worked for an American civil engineering consultants in Saudi Arabia and my American colleagues were quite pleasant. All a bit mad in their own way but quite pleasant.
Back on the subject of trade wars and blackmail... the latest n the UK-USA trade relationship:
Starmer told UK must repeal hate speech laws to protect LGBT+ people or lose Trump trade deal
‘Good chance’ of agreement, says JD Vance – but sources say his concerns over Britain’s hate speech laws ‘are still a red line’
I'd like to hope that we put our principles above the (accepted) need to trade with the US.
If only we were part of a huge trading bloc.
Don't be daft. Who'd want that?
I'd like to hope that we put our principles above the (accepted) need to trade with the US.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I've only met one American recently and funnily enough it was in a café /bar in Spain.
I'm familiar with the area and this bar is pretty much my local when I'm there. Great family run bar.. Great service... Even if the service is a bit Spanish style if know what I mean!
Anyway this guy is new to the area and we got chatting a bit about local stuff, just general chit chat really and he seemed nice if a little bit of a jock in attitude... You can see where this is going!
He ordered an English breakfast and he was full of compliments about it.. Then he just kind of changed attitude and got a bit rude with the staff... I honestly can't remember what set him off.. But it was something really insignificant such as they didn't bring him a full condiment selection.. It's was just one of the those salt/pepper & vinigar caddies..
He kind of turned to me and said 'I can be a real asshole if I want to be' in a kinda joking way...loud enough for the owner to hear.
I know the owner pretty well so we're both just kinda tolerating this and exchanging smirks and sideways glances.
No harm done at the end of the day but it was just completely unwarranted.
Only a sample size of one... But it was just such a stereotype /cliche it was almost funny.
The bar owners are really accommodating to any request unless you act badly.. Then you get the worst service in the world and probably overcharged to boot.
Back on the subject of trade wars and blackmail... the latest n the UK-USA trade relationship:
Starmer told UK must repeal hate speech laws to protect LGBT+ people or lose Trump trade deal
‘Good chance’ of agreement, says JD Vance – but sources say his concerns over Britain’s hate speech laws ‘are still a red line’
I'd like to hope that we put our principles above the (accepted) need to trade with the US.
Indeed.. If anything, this kind of attitude from the USA should make it an easy negociation... If changing our laws is a demand than that should be the end of the discussion.
Indeed.. If anything, this kind of attitude from the USA should make it an easy negociation... If changing our laws is a demand than that should be the end of the discussion.
And that goes for food safety and animal welfare laws as well.
Yep... I'd rather not have meat that's such poor quality they have to bleach it to make it safe ... Lol!
I'd like to hope that we put our principles above the (accepted) need to trade with the US.
I don't know if you had noticed, but Starmer's principles are not exactly robust, personally I am not sure he actually has any, but we have seen with his attacks on immigration and disability benefits that he is actually more likely to screw the UK to appease the US than actually stand up for what most people would consider principles of fairness and equality..
McSweeney will be in his ear too - making sure he doesn't upset any Brexity types in certain seats.
👍
Sorry, but I'm pretty much obsessively objective, and these were my experiences.
Whereas my recent experiences were pretty much the polar opposite of yours. Perhaps that tells us to not reach conclusions from a small pool of anecdotes.
I've worked with hundreds of americans over the years, they have broadly fallen into two camps, those that would feature on "shitamericanssay" on reddit and those who are reasonable and well put together.
The first group usually arrive at work, decide they are going to put the world to rights (or turn it into a US territory), end up doing 60+ hour weeks, haranguing others to do the same, then proceed to produce less work than the rest of us, which is in most cases, of far lower quality. Usually needs reworking before it can be used, and that quite often only takes a fraction of the time it originally took.
They also seem to take their US rules with them, especially if they are in senior roles. Sacking someone in a meeting because you set unachievable goals doesn't fly in civilised countries. Also, expecting someone to spend two or three hours a day preparing for tomorrows daily update means that they don't also have 40 hours *to actually do the work*. That particular director was walked off site and eventually sacked after he did it again, and again at other parts of the company. The poor bugger he sacked was back the following Monday with a nice fat compensation cheque and an NDA.
Had similar experiences with multiple people/employers from multiple states over the years.
The other group seem to be here to get away from the first group and do their best to integrate. They do like their trucks though.
I'd like to hope that we put our principles above the (accepted) need to trade with the US.
I don't know if you had noticed, but Starmer's principles are not exactly robust,
Robust or not...think of his position.. I dare say it's not even in question, but..
If Starmer wewre to row back on fundamentals like equal rights and food standards, that's political suicide...
The Human rights aspect should be obvious. but even if we as the UK were to accept low quality forr from the USA, that would also make us a toxic choice for food exports into the the (EU for example), so it would be a doubly bad move.
Starmer needs to stand up to trump, and be public about it,and fast, lest he wants to make the UK a vassal state to the USA....
Rejoining the customs union with the EU, and the single market is the obvious next move here. That would still be the 'light brexit' people voted for - it would be a sound strategy on many levels.
Of course they want to axe teh department that counters disinformation
