@statsguy@mas.to avatar

statsguy

@statsguy@mas.to

Medical statistician. Foodie. Gardener. Cebollista. Political views: reality-based.

Fully paid-up member of the Guardian Reading Tofu Eating Wokerati.

This profile is from a federated server and may be incomplete. Browse more on the original instance.

statsguy, to random
@statsguy@mas.to avatar

Good grief. Whenever I think British politics is fucked up beyond repair, I see that someone from across the pond is standing there saying "hold my beer".

What next: are they going to ban hand washing? Condoms? Seat belts in cars?

https://www.wral.com/story/nc-senate-votes-to-ban-people-from-wearing-masks-in-public-for-health-reasons/21433199/

jon, to random
@jon@gruene.social avatar

“When I see people say Eurostar is shrinking it drives me crazy, because it’s really not true,” says CEO Cazenave to the FT

https://www.ft.com/content/97f7a39b-0536-40e2-bbdd-e1d755418804

Yeah, because you merged with Thalys - so, surprise surprise, you transported more people

Passenger numbers London - Paris/Bruxelles are still down on the last pre-pandemic year, not least because Eurostar now no longer serves Ebbsfleet and Ashford

statsguy,
@statsguy@mas.to avatar

@jon One thing I've noticed since I've started doing my European trips by rail instead of air is how much more expensive it is.

I'm sure Eurostar numbers would increase if someone could sort out transport taxation and subsidies so that train travel wasn't such an expensive option (or air travel wasn't so cheap).

But I guess I'm preaching to the choir here :)

statsguy,
@statsguy@mas.to avatar

@jon Ah OK, fair enough. I'm sure you've looked into this in way more detail than I have. But either way, it seems that some sort of government action is needed to make prices competitive with flying, right?

And am I right in thinking that one of the constraints on Eurostar capacity is the time it takes for all the additional passport checks after Brexit?

RickiTarr, to random
@RickiTarr@beige.party avatar

What is the thing(s) that attracts you to a person romantically or otherwise?

statsguy,
@statsguy@mas.to avatar

@RickiTarr Kindness and a sense of humour

RichardJMurphy, to random
@RichardJMurphy@mas.to avatar

The Greens were the biggest winners in the local elections, so why aren’t they getting fair air time? https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2024/05/07/the-greens-were-the-biggest-winners-in-the-local-elections-so-why-arent-they-getting-fair-air-time/
Proportionately, the Greens won most seats at the recent local elections, but they are denied airtime, and we get Reform instead. Why?

statsguy,
@statsguy@mas.to avatar

@RichardJMurphy Oh, I know that one.

It's because they're the only mainstream left-wing party in the UK at the moment, and the ruling elite will not allow us to vote for a left-wing party.

See also: Corbyn.

statsguy,
@statsguy@mas.to avatar

@Wen @RichardJMurphy Sorry, not with you. We were talking about the Greens, not the SNP

statsguy, to random
@statsguy@mas.to avatar

Happy Star Wars Day to all who celebrate

fkamiah17, to USpolitics
@fkamiah17@toot.wales avatar

“We are not an authoritarian nation where we silence people and squash dissent"
Joe Biden at a press conference this afternoon.

I'm sure I don't need to add pictures of BU, New Hampshire, Georgia, South Florida, Austin or UCLA at this point.

statsguy,
@statsguy@mas.to avatar

@fkamiah17 Despite that, Biden is still a million times better than Trump, but if he loses to Trump this November he will have only himself to blame.

Do not piss off all the students if you rely on young people to get elected.

statsguy,
@statsguy@mas.to avatar

@fkamiah17 He could indeed. I doubt he will.

I was talking to an American colleague last week who seems to think it's pretty much nailed on that Trump will win now.

So the big decision my colleague needs to make next is whether to move to Canada or Europe. He is not minded to stay in the US if Trump wins. I imagine he's not the only one.

statsguy,
@statsguy@mas.to avatar

@fkamiah17 That's just one person's opinion, so he could be wrong, but it sounds plausible to me. Biden's stand on Israel is seriously pissing off people who would otherwise vote for him.

Just checked the betting odds. 11/10 on Trump, and the same on Biden. So I guess the bookies at least think it's not a done deal yet.

I think I got about 3:1 when I bet on Trump, so glad I placed my bet when I did. And I'm still hoping my unfailing talent for losing bets will keep Trump out.

statsguy,
@statsguy@mas.to avatar

@fkamiah17 I've bet on the Tories to win the next GE here as well.

Trust me. I always lose my bets.

lauren, (edited ) to random
@lauren@mastodon.laurenweinstein.org avatar

Will Trump spend any time in jail or prison? This includes any brief periods for contempt of court, etc.

statsguy,
@statsguy@mas.to avatar

@lauren Sadly, the rich and powerful always seem to find a way to escape justice, so I suspect he will get away with all his crimes.

I really hope I'm wrong.

GottaLaff, to random
@GottaLaff@mastodon.social avatar

Via Angry Staffer:

…Project 2025 ..

  • would let red states monitor & prosecute women who get abortions

  • won’t commit to defending NATO nations

  • wd fire attys who won’t prosec his political opponents

  • suspend posse comitatus & deploy the military on US soil

  • wd end pandemic preparedness office

  • wd fire 1000s of civil servants

  • pardon all J6 rioters

  • try to make law enf officers immune from prosec

If this doesn’t scare the living shit out of you, you aren’t paying attention.

statsguy,
@statsguy@mas.to avatar

@TCatInReality @benroyce @GottaLaff That's fair. I am deeply disappointed with Biden's stance on Israel, but he has a helluva way to go before he even comes close to Trump in terms of being dreadful.

fkamiah17, to UKpolitics
@fkamiah17@toot.wales avatar

When the Reform Party lose Julia Heartless Bastard.
from Talk TV last night

JHB: "You would leave asylum seekers to drown in the channel?"

Ben Habib: "Absolutely"

JHB: "That is not a policy that a civilised country should endorse"

BH: "Why is that uncivilised?"

JHB: "Because we don't leave people to drown.. I don't want these people here, but I wouldn't leave them to drown.. I don't think anyone in the border force or Royal Navy that would do that"

statsguy,
@statsguy@mas.to avatar

@fkamiah17 I am slightly surprised to see JHB taking that line, but good to see that there are some things that are too fascist even for her. Maybe there is hope after all.

statsguy,
@statsguy@mas.to avatar

@fkamiah17 Heh. I'm in Paris at the moment. Maybe this beautiful city and the excellent food are mellowing me.

statsguy,
@statsguy@mas.to avatar

@fkamiah17 Well it's a business trip, so the amount of fun is a bit limited, but on the plus side it does mean that when we go out for dinner this evening not only will the food be good, but also someone else is paying

statsguy,
@statsguy@mas.to avatar

@fkamiah17 That must have been a fantastic experience going to uni there. I kind of regret never doing anything like that when I was a young thing.

statsguy,
@statsguy@mas.to avatar

@fkamiah17 Indeed. Before covid I did a lot of business travel, and it could be a bit of a chore.

Though right now, at least it has novelty value again: it was very slow to come back after covid, and I only did my first business trip of the covid era in January this year. Though now it's back it seems to be properly back. This is my third trip this year.

statsguy,
@statsguy@mas.to avatar

@fkamiah17 I guess Paris has advantages and disadvantages much like any other big city. But I think it is one of my favourite big cities.

My favourite place to visit in France is Epernay, mainly because of the nice fizzy drinks they do there.

statsguy,
@statsguy@mas.to avatar

@fkamiah17 I have enjoyed many a bottle of that. Yes, I really must make the effort to go and see it in its natural habitat sometime.

statsguy,
@statsguy@mas.to avatar

@fkamiah17 My post covid travel resolution is to do all my travel by train if at all possible. I've only flown once since covid, and that was to Riga, which is a bit of a bugger to get to by train.

I've been to Berlin, Prague, and Lausanne by train, and although it takes longer than flying, it's so much more pleasant.

Off to Valencia next month, also by train.

statsguy,
@statsguy@mas.to avatar

@fkamiah17 I'm not a port drinker other than in exceptional circumstances. Even a small amount seems to give me the hangover from hell.

But I am keen to go to the SW of France sometime before too long to meet Adeline, whom I have adopted.

https://domainejones.com/adopt-a-vine/dddf51d0-5424-45d3-b6df-4d17fa37e399

Teri_Kanefield, to random
@Teri_Kanefield@mastodon.social avatar

Today is an important anniversary.

73 years ago, on April 23, 1951, in Farmville, VA, Barbara Johns led a walkout of her segregated high school to protest the unfair and deplorable conditions of her school.

What?! You don’t know who Barbara Johns was?

She led her walkout more than 4 years before Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus, and before MLK, Jr. embraced nonviolence as the way to equality.

1/

statsguy,
@statsguy@mas.to avatar

@Teri_Kanefield I must confess I hadn't heard of her, but now I have, so thank you!

Every day is a school day on Mastodon 🙂

And now I know her name, I have no excuse for forgetting it: my Mum's name is Barbara, and my Dad's was John.

ChrisMayLA6, to feminism
@ChrisMayLA6@zirk.us avatar

We are still failing across the world to get more women into leadership roles in politics which itself stems for a failure to get more women into political careers.

Whether you believe women do politics differently, or whether you see this as an issue of gender representation, to be two decades into the new millennia & for this to still be the case tells us that patriarchy & male domination remain issues that has yet to be disposed of


https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/22/global-elections-2024-women-female-candidates

statsguy,
@statsguy@mas.to avatar

@ChrisMayLA6 I'm not sure exactly what the problem is, but there is clearly a problem. We do have some great women in politics (though not enough of them), but look at the ones who have made it to the top: Thatcher, May, and Truss.

Maybe they only get to the top by being even more obnoxious than the men?

That really has to change.

RickiTarr, to random
@RickiTarr@beige.party avatar

Truly and honestly, I have a great time here, because you all make it great. You boost, you reply, you encourage, and inspire! It is crazy to me that I get to talk to people from all over the world every day. I get to be friends with people I'll probably never actually get to physically meet. I was born into a pre-internet world, and this still feels a little like a miracle to me.

statsguy,
@statsguy@mas.to avatar

@eco_amandine @RickiTarr @angiebaby I had one in Spain.

We corresponded very happily for several months, and then she asked me to send a photo of myself. I did, and never heard from her ever again.

On the plus side, I can still remember the Spanish for "Please send me a photo of yourself".

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