@mlungu.bsky.social
Across the arch of these events, from before the Ukraine war and projecting into the future, I think Russia comes out better off than Europe, and much less depleted in relation to the US. 3/3
December 4, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Across the arch of these events, from before the Ukraine war and projecting into the future, I think Russia comes out better off than Europe, and much less depleted in relation to the US. 3/3
It’s not Russia that is isolated from the world, it’s Europe that is isolated from Russia. We’re the ones who need Russian energy, whereas Russia can trade in BRICS in its own currency.
So I’m not convinced.
2/
So I’m not convinced.
2/
December 4, 2025 at 9:46 AM
It’s not Russia that is isolated from the world, it’s Europe that is isolated from Russia. We’re the ones who need Russian energy, whereas Russia can trade in BRICS in its own currency.
So I’m not convinced.
2/
So I’m not convinced.
2/
I dunno, mate. This would’ve been true in a unipolar world order, but Ukraine was the straw that broke US hegemony. By simply existing in a multipolar order with the natural resources that Russia has, it is already better off than it was on the periphery of unipolarity, where it’s been for 30yrs.
1/
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December 4, 2025 at 9:46 AM
I dunno, mate. This would’ve been true in a unipolar world order, but Ukraine was the straw that broke US hegemony. By simply existing in a multipolar order with the natural resources that Russia has, it is already better off than it was on the periphery of unipolarity, where it’s been for 30yrs.
1/
1/
You’re obviously hearing something I can’t. All I’m hearing is that Reform getting a proportional share of the vote its dangerous to all of us.
December 3, 2025 at 5:27 PM
You’re obviously hearing something I can’t. All I’m hearing is that Reform getting a proportional share of the vote its dangerous to all of us.
The concept of pre-destination implies a deity.
And these things have *happened* in RWCs before, but to say that they will always happen implies pre-destination.
And these things have *happened* in RWCs before, but to say that they will always happen implies pre-destination.
December 3, 2025 at 1:50 PM
The concept of pre-destination implies a deity.
And these things have *happened* in RWCs before, but to say that they will always happen implies pre-destination.
And these things have *happened* in RWCs before, but to say that they will always happen implies pre-destination.
If the Boks are knocked out, it’ll be for actual reasons, like being outplayed on the day, not because there is some kind of deity that arranges events so that they rhyme.
December 3, 2025 at 11:47 AM
If the Boks are knocked out, it’ll be for actual reasons, like being outplayed on the day, not because there is some kind of deity that arranges events so that they rhyme.
Your feeling are valid, but your reading of history is faulty. For every “x has never happened before” at RWC, or in any context, there are at least an equal number of firsts. My feeling is that there are probably many more firsts for every never-before.
December 3, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Your feeling are valid, but your reading of history is faulty. For every “x has never happened before” at RWC, or in any context, there are at least an equal number of firsts. My feeling is that there are probably many more firsts for every never-before.
Sure, but the same is true for France and even more true for England. Borthwick has a campaigning mind and he has RWC experience, while Razor is out of his depth at test level (ABs work harder than anyone for their points) and has no RWC experience.
It’s simply difficult to win a RWC.
It’s simply difficult to win a RWC.
December 3, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Sure, but the same is true for France and even more true for England. Borthwick has a campaigning mind and he has RWC experience, while Razor is out of his depth at test level (ABs work harder than anyone for their points) and has no RWC experience.
It’s simply difficult to win a RWC.
It’s simply difficult to win a RWC.
… and the nature of a RWC campaign.
December 3, 2025 at 10:18 AM
… and the nature of a RWC campaign.
History always repeats, except for the equally abundant of occasions when it doesn’t. 🤷♂️
It’s a meaningless statement. The probability of the Boks losing a knockout match is high, and it’s got very little to do with previous RWCs and everything to do with the nature of knockout matches.
It’s a meaningless statement. The probability of the Boks losing a knockout match is high, and it’s got very little to do with previous RWCs and everything to do with the nature of knockout matches.
December 3, 2025 at 10:17 AM
History always repeats, except for the equally abundant of occasions when it doesn’t. 🤷♂️
It’s a meaningless statement. The probability of the Boks losing a knockout match is high, and it’s got very little to do with previous RWCs and everything to do with the nature of knockout matches.
It’s a meaningless statement. The probability of the Boks losing a knockout match is high, and it’s got very little to do with previous RWCs and everything to do with the nature of knockout matches.
In other words, if the flavours on offer are buttcrack, arm-pit, and vanilla, a lot of people will choose vanilla. If it’s vanilla vs Baskin-Robbins, vanilla will have a restricted market. So, no, I think the Lib Dems benefit from FPTP as much as the Tories and Labour, and would suffer in PR. 2/2
December 3, 2025 at 9:52 AM
In other words, if the flavours on offer are buttcrack, arm-pit, and vanilla, a lot of people will choose vanilla. If it’s vanilla vs Baskin-Robbins, vanilla will have a restricted market. So, no, I think the Lib Dems benefit from FPTP as much as the Tories and Labour, and would suffer in PR. 2/2
Sorry for my late reply.
Why do you think they would have more votes? What’s the point of difference of the Lib Dems? Far as I can make out, their point of difference is that they are *not* Tories or Labour, which only becomes valuable because of FPTP. 1/
Why do you think they would have more votes? What’s the point of difference of the Lib Dems? Far as I can make out, their point of difference is that they are *not* Tories or Labour, which only becomes valuable because of FPTP. 1/
December 3, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Sorry for my late reply.
Why do you think they would have more votes? What’s the point of difference of the Lib Dems? Far as I can make out, their point of difference is that they are *not* Tories or Labour, which only becomes valuable because of FPTP. 1/
Why do you think they would have more votes? What’s the point of difference of the Lib Dems? Far as I can make out, their point of difference is that they are *not* Tories or Labour, which only becomes valuable because of FPTP. 1/
Who do you think is going to give Labour a free hit? The New Statesman and Guardian might, if Labour chooses the correct leader, but I’m unsure who else you might mean.
December 1, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Who do you think is going to give Labour a free hit? The New Statesman and Guardian might, if Labour chooses the correct leader, but I’m unsure who else you might mean.
It’s definitely on the way out, no doubt at all. The only debate in the PLP is over when. Most think after the May elections, so that the bad results can be assigned to Starmer rather than his replacement.
November 30, 2025 at 7:48 PM
It’s definitely on the way out, no doubt at all. The only debate in the PLP is over when. Most think after the May elections, so that the bad results can be assigned to Starmer rather than his replacement.
I doubt Malachy has to worry too much. This was a very unusual game and we’re unlikely to see the like again.
And Porter doesn’t get penalised if he gives up and goes backwards.
And Porter doesn’t get penalised if he gives up and goes backwards.
November 28, 2025 at 8:50 PM
I doubt Malachy has to worry too much. This was a very unusual game and we’re unlikely to see the like again.
And Porter doesn’t get penalised if he gives up and goes backwards.
And Porter doesn’t get penalised if he gives up and goes backwards.
Lib Dems really don’t want a different voting system. 12% of the vote landed them with 72MPs, while Reform got 5MPs from 14.5% of the vote.
November 28, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Lib Dems really don’t want a different voting system. 12% of the vote landed them with 72MPs, while Reform got 5MPs from 14.5% of the vote.
Miliband is a politician, Starmer is a civil servant. Anyone who understands that what they do in Govt needs to be firmly aligned to a narrative in order to cut through will be better the Starmer. Anyone who understands that politics means setting the narrative will function better than Starmer.
November 28, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Miliband is a politician, Starmer is a civil servant. Anyone who understands that what they do in Govt needs to be firmly aligned to a narrative in order to cut through will be better the Starmer. Anyone who understands that politics means setting the narrative will function better than Starmer.
You’re too diplomatic, Huw! I was hoping for a street brawl. 😉
You would’ve been a particularly good humanities lecturer. Statisticians are prone to violence.
You would’ve been a particularly good humanities lecturer. Statisticians are prone to violence.
November 26, 2025 at 7:55 AM
You’re too diplomatic, Huw! I was hoping for a street brawl. 😉
You would’ve been a particularly good humanities lecturer. Statisticians are prone to violence.
You would’ve been a particularly good humanities lecturer. Statisticians are prone to violence.
Should’ve been Ox. Besides PSDT, the most consistent player in the world over the past 2yrs. He basically made one mistake, allowed through one of the Irish tries last year. It’s been the year of the scrum, though, so I’m glad a front rower got it. 2/2
November 25, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Should’ve been Ox. Besides PSDT, the most consistent player in the world over the past 2yrs. He basically made one mistake, allowed through one of the Irish tries last year. It’s been the year of the scrum, though, so I’m glad a front rower got it. 2/2
No, sorry dude. A winger that can’t contest a high ball in the current game is like a tighthead with no shoulders, IMO. I think there is a fair bit of debate over whether he is even the best winger in the world. The Squidge guys don’t think so. Marx won on history and latter season form. 1/
November 25, 2025 at 7:51 PM
No, sorry dude. A winger that can’t contest a high ball in the current game is like a tighthead with no shoulders, IMO. I think there is a fair bit of debate over whether he is even the best winger in the world. The Squidge guys don’t think so. Marx won on history and latter season form. 1/
Of course, boet! So long as you’re happy drinking brandy. That smoky stuff makes us aggressive!
November 24, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Of course, boet! So long as you’re happy drinking brandy. That smoky stuff makes us aggressive!
While preventing the Irish from scoring while they tried to push them over the line.
Please, stop playing a victim of fate. Your boys made a decision to take penalties rather than concede points. Once you’ve conceded too many penalties, the cards come out. That is what your boys chose.
Please, stop playing a victim of fate. Your boys made a decision to take penalties rather than concede points. Once you’ve conceded too many penalties, the cards come out. That is what your boys chose.
November 24, 2025 at 4:21 PM
While preventing the Irish from scoring while they tried to push them over the line.
Please, stop playing a victim of fate. Your boys made a decision to take penalties rather than concede points. Once you’ve conceded too many penalties, the cards come out. That is what your boys chose.
Please, stop playing a victim of fate. Your boys made a decision to take penalties rather than concede points. Once you’ve conceded too many penalties, the cards come out. That is what your boys chose.
Again, they weren’t trying to remove opposition players from the game, they were trying to push the Irish forwards over the try line.
November 24, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Again, they weren’t trying to remove opposition players from the game, they were trying to push the Irish forwards over the try line.
And those stats are because they won their own feeds.
November 24, 2025 at 4:18 PM
And those stats are because they won their own feeds.