President Trump and US politics catchall

[Yeeb]

Lolz, fucked up that edit didn’t I ?

[Uncle fester]

I find the bearded, obviously trans, belly dancers, to be a particular highlight.

Clearly AI is woke

[Uncle fester]

Lolz, fucked up that edit didn’t I ?

Yeeb
The figures can say what they like but they are utterly divorced from the reality on the ground. Majority of septics are pretty poor.

[robmatic]

Lolz, fucked up that edit didn’t I ?

Yeeb
The figures can say what they like but they are utterly divorced from the reality on the ground. Majority of septics are pretty poor.

Well, the UK is hardly thriving and prosperous.

[inactionman]

Lolz, fucked up that edit didn’t I ?

Yeeb
The figures can say what they like but they are utterly divorced from the reality on the ground. Majority of septics are pretty poor.

Well, the UK is hardly thriving and prosperous.

The UK doesn't have 80-odd thousand annual opioid deaths, and the US has one of the worst infant mortality rates across all developed countries. The opioid deaths are perhaps more an indicator of poor pharmaceutical regulation but the child mortality rates are worrying given the relative wealth of the country.

The problem is, and as Uncle Fester implies, the wealth sits with too few people, and what Trump is doing is making that - and the lack of effective regulation - even worse.

[Yeeb]

Lolz, fucked up that edit didn’t I ?

Yeeb
The figures can say what they like but they are utterly divorced from the reality on the ground. Majority of septics are pretty poor.

That may be the case - but on average they are increasingly less poor than people in UK and Europe than say two decades ago, which is what I said. Genuinely unsure how you can assert facts like firms leaving UK & Euro listings for the US, or the wage increase comparison , can be divorced from reality . Stats and facts are precisely that.


Now, had I said something less quantifiable like happiness , you may have had a point.

[sockwithaticket]

I've often seen it said that the US is a great place to be well off and a dreadful place to be anything other than upper middle class.

They may perform well on a lot of raw metrics, but so many states have essentially zero worker protections and benefits on the statute books, it's all at the largesse of the employer. Some states have been trying to roll back restrictions on child workers so that they can legally get 12 - 16 year olds into things like slaughterhouses. Insane.

Healthcare costing them so much and having health insurance tied to employment in many cases, when that employment is incredibly insecure, is evil in my book.

It's a psychopathic, hyper-capitalist hellscape. Britain may not be doing so well, but if the cost of 'doing well' (on paper in a way that bypasses huge swathes of the population) is American levels of de-regulation and employer supremacy, they can keep it.

[Yeeb]

Yeeb
The figures can say what they like but they are utterly divorced from the reality on the ground. Majority of septics are pretty poor.

Well, the UK is hardly thriving and prosperous.

The UK doesn't have 80-odd thousand annual opioid deaths, and the US has one of the worst infant mortality rates across all developed countries. The opioid deaths are perhaps more an indicator of poor pharmaceutical regulation but the child mortality rates are worrying given the relative wealth of the country.

The problem is, and as Uncle Fester implies, the wealth sits with too few people, and what Trump is doing is making that - and the lack of effective regulation - even worse.

You’ve let the gini out the bottle now - you are completely correct in that USA has far more uneven spread of wealth than most European countries , and it’s getting less even, quite glad I didn’t claim or mention anything on that topic as that would be hard for me to wriggle out of, unlike those links to
IMF et al where it was easy for me to validate my economic assertion that was foolishly derided for source.

[inactionman]

I've often seen it said that the US is a great place to be well off and a dreadful place to be anything other than upper middle class.

They may perform well on a lot of raw metrics, but so many states have essentially zero worker protections and benefits on the statute books, it's all at the largesse of the employer. Some states have been trying to roll back restrictions on child workers so that they can legally get 12 - 16 year olds into things like slaughterhouses. Insane.

Healthcare costing them so much and having health insurance tied to employment in many cases, when that employment is incredibly insecure, is evil in my book.

It's a psychopathic, hyper-capitalist hellscape. Britain may not be doing so well, but if the cost of 'doing well' (on paper in a way that bypasses huge swathes of the population) is American levels of de-regulation and employer supremacy, they can keep it.

Amen to pretty much all that.

I'd rather not return to the Victorian workhouse era.

[Yeeb]

I've often seen it said that the US is a great place to be well off and a dreadful place to be anything other than upper middle class.

They may perform well on a lot of raw metrics, but so many states have essentially zero worker protections and benefits on the statute books, it's all at the largesse of the employer. Some states have been trying to roll back restrictions on child workers so that they can legally get 12 - 16 year olds into things like slaughterhouses. Insane.

Healthcare costing them so much and having health insurance tied to employment in many cases, when that employment is incredibly insecure, is evil in my book.

It's a psychopathic, hyper-capitalist hellscape. Britain may not be doing so well, but if the cost of 'doing well' (on paper in a way that bypasses huge swathes of the population) is American levels of de-regulation and employer supremacy, they can keep it.

Amen to pretty much all that.

I'd rather not return to the Victorian workhouse era.

Yep. Sadly firms & new jobs are increasingly going to where the de regulation and employer supremacy reign.

[laurent]

Freedom of speech according to Bezos

[Uncle fester]

Just what we need, another right wing megaphone.

[Firewater]

I've often seen it said that the US is a great place to be well off and a dreadful place to be anything other than upper middle class.

They may perform well on a lot of raw metrics, but so many states have essentially zero worker protections and benefits on the statute books, it's all at the largesse of the employer. Some states have been trying to roll back restrictions on child workers so that they can legally get 12 - 16 year olds into things like slaughterhouses. Insane.

Healthcare costing them so much and having health insurance tied to employment in many cases, when that employment is incredibly insecure, is evil in my book.

It's a psychopathic, hyper-capitalist hellscape. Britain may not be doing so well, but if the cost of 'doing well' (on paper in a way that bypasses huge swathes of the population) is American levels of de-regulation and employer supremacy, they can keep it.

Sadly the baby boomer generation have sold out to the wealthy elite. It must have been the dumbest and naivest generation ever. They had it all and threw it away for today youngsters. The cared only about their own gratification and to hell with the country or the future

So cheap housing once. Now far too high. Compare Asian countries to the West where building is about a tenth to 20th of the cost. And better quality too

Energy has gone through the roof due to this net zero garbage

and so it goes on. And on.

The future is China esp (and other Asian countries) and Russia. The West is in decline. Trump will try to stop the worse of it as hes supported by elite that now realise that living in a collapsing country with angry and struggling people is not ideal for them. But its too late.

[Hal Jordan]

Just what we need, another right wing megaphone.

Buy the media, stifle any opposition voices.

[fishfoodie]

So it turns out the all of Space Karen, & his minions achievements in DOGE, they're all DOGEshit !



They've just made Americas less safe, & saved no money at all, while opening up the Taxpayers to enormous lawsuits, which the Government will lose because the Judges are already ruling this stuff illegal, & when these people get the damages they'll ask for, it'll be the people who actually pay taxes who get stiffed, & not the billionaires who can opt out.

[Uncle fester]

So it turns out the all of Space Karen, & his minions achievements in DOGE, they're all DOGEshit !



They've just made Americas less safe, & saved no money at all, while opening up the Taxpayers to enormous lawsuits, which the Government will lose because the Judges are already ruling this stuff illegal, & when these people get the damages they'll ask for, it'll be the people who actually pay taxes who get stiffed, & not the billionaires who can opt out.

This is where "I am the law" and sacking military justices might come in...

[Hugo]

So, is that stuff on Trumps vision for Gaza really a real thing? Trump Gaza. Trump seems to be emulating Biff from Back to the Future Part 2.

In this age it's sometimes hard to believe what you are seeing and hearing.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

I've often seen it said that the US is a great place to be well off and a dreadful place to be anything other than upper middle class.

They may perform well on a lot of raw metrics, but so many states have essentially zero worker protections and benefits on the statute books, it's all at the largesse of the employer. Some states have been trying to roll back restrictions on child workers so that they can legally get 12 - 16 year olds into things like slaughterhouses. Insane.

Healthcare costing them so much and having health insurance tied to employment in many cases, when that employment is incredibly insecure, is evil in my book.

It's a psychopathic, hyper-capitalist hellscape. Britain may not be doing so well, but if the cost of 'doing well' (on paper in a way that bypasses huge swathes of the population) is American levels of de-regulation and employer supremacy, they can keep it.

Sadly the baby boomer generation have sold out to the wealthy elite. It must have been the dumbest and naivest generation ever. They had it all and threw it away for today youngsters. The cared only about their own gratification and to hell with the country or the future

So cheap housing once. Now far too high. Compare Asian countries to the West where building is about a tenth to 20th of the cost. And better quality too

Energy has gone through the roof due to this net zero garbage

and so it goes on. And on.

The future is China esp (and other Asian countries) and Russia. The West is in decline. Trump will try to stop the worse of it as hes supported by elite that now realise that living in a collapsing country with angry and struggling people is not ideal for them. But its too late.

Do you not know there's a massive housing crisis in China, and on a number of fronts, or have you avoided pig ignorance and just lied instead?

[robmatic]

Freedom of speech according to Bezos

Free markets? The paper will be coming out all guns blazing against Trump's tariff plans then, right?

[Blackmac]

I've often seen it said that the US is a great place to be well off and a dreadful place to be anything other than upper middle class.

They may perform well on a lot of raw metrics, but so many states have essentially zero worker protections and benefits on the statute books, it's all at the largesse of the employer. Some states have been trying to roll back restrictions on child workers so that they can legally get 12 - 16 year olds into things like slaughterhouses. Insane.

Healthcare costing them so much and having health insurance tied to employment in many cases, when that employment is incredibly insecure, is evil in my book.

It's a psychopathic, hyper-capitalist hellscape. Britain may not be doing so well, but if the cost of 'doing well' (on paper in a way that bypasses huge swathes of the population) is American levels of de-regulation and employer supremacy, they can keep it.

Just had 5 nights in Miami Beach and the prices are absolutely insane. $18 dollars for a bottle of beer or cheap wine, $60 for pasta and $120 for a steak in a run of the mill restaurant. That's before the mental service charges.
Even the every day groceries seem to have gone through the roof with many items being 3 or 4 times what we would pay over here.
I've always felt that Scotland takes the piss price wise out of yank tourists but they must find it incredibly cheap.

[Biffer]

I've often seen it said that the US is a great place to be well off and a dreadful place to be anything other than upper middle class.

They may perform well on a lot of raw metrics, but so many states have essentially zero worker protections and benefits on the statute books, it's all at the largesse of the employer. Some states have been trying to roll back restrictions on child workers so that they can legally get 12 - 16 year olds into things like slaughterhouses. Insane.

Healthcare costing them so much and having health insurance tied to employment in many cases, when that employment is incredibly insecure, is evil in my book.

It's a psychopathic, hyper-capitalist hellscape. Britain may not be doing so well, but if the cost of 'doing well' (on paper in a way that bypasses huge swathes of the population) is American levels of de-regulation and employer supremacy, they can keep it.

Just had 5 nights in Miami Beach and the prices are absolutely insane. $18 dollars for a bottle of beer or cheap wine, $60 for pasta and $120 for a steak in a run of the mill restaurant. That's before the mental service charges.
Even the every day groceries seem to have gone through the roof with many items being 3 or 4 times what we would pay over here.
I've always felt that Scotland takes the piss price wise out of yank tourists but they must find it incredibly cheap.

I was in San Francisco last month and although there are expensive places, I could eat and drink relatively inexpensively

[lemonhead]

So, is that stuff on Trumps vision for Gaza really a real thing? Trump Gaza. Trump seems to be emulating Biff from Back to the Future Part 2.

In this age it's sometimes hard to believe what you are seeing and hearing.

Well, given alt Biff was Trump and a very clear warning from the scriptwriter....

Amid a raft of predictions on the future in that film it's the fkin nightmare present day scenario that came to pass. That, and McFly junior half comatose watching six screens of content all at once.

[fishfoodie]

Gay CEO says; Fuck you, I'm rich, so none of this shit will impact me ...

Apple boss Tim Cook has said his company may have to change its diversity practices as the US legal landscape shifts.

His comments came just minutes after a majority of shareholders rejected a proposal calling on the tech giant to consider ending its diversity policies, such as the use of race and sex in hiring decisions.

Apple had urged shareholders to vote against the measure, which the company had argued was "inappropriately" trying "to micromanage" its business.

The scrutiny of the firm comes as US President Donald Trump has called for an end to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes in the government and private sector, including at Apple.

...

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyjv8e49deo

[Sinkers]

Gay CEO says; Fuck you, I'm rich, so none of this shit will impact me ...

Apple boss Tim Cook has said his company may have to change its diversity practices as the US legal landscape shifts.

His comments came just minutes after a majority of shareholders rejected a proposal calling on the tech giant to consider ending its diversity policies, such as the use of race and sex in hiring decisions.

Apple had urged shareholders to vote against the measure, which the company had argued was "inappropriately" trying "to micromanage" its business.

The scrutiny of the firm comes as US President Donald Trump has called for an end to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes in the government and private sector, including at Apple.

...

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyjv8e49deo

Apple have just announced. $500b investment in the US over the next 4 years also?

The tech bros have gone from being shit scared of Kamala taxing capital gains to shit scared of Trump’s tariffs

[Firewater]

I've often seen it said that the US is a great place to be well off and a dreadful place to be anything other than upper middle class.

They may perform well on a lot of raw metrics, but so many states have essentially zero worker protections and benefits on the statute books, it's all at the largesse of the employer. Some states have been trying to roll back restrictions on child workers so that they can legally get 12 - 16 year olds into things like slaughterhouses. Insane.

Healthcare costing them so much and having health insurance tied to employment in many cases, when that employment is incredibly insecure, is evil in my book.

It's a psychopathic, hyper-capitalist hellscape. Britain may not be doing so well, but if the cost of 'doing well' (on paper in a way that bypasses huge swathes of the population) is American levels of de-regulation and employer supremacy, they can keep it.

Sadly the baby boomer generation have sold out to the wealthy elite. It must have been the dumbest and naivest generation ever. They had it all and threw it away for today youngsters. The cared only about their own gratification and to hell with the country or the future

So cheap housing once. Now far too high. Compare Asian countries to the West where building is about a tenth to 20th of the cost. And better quality too

Energy has gone through the roof due to this net zero garbage

and so it goes on. And on.

The future is China esp (and other Asian countries) and Russia. The West is in decline. Trump will try to stop the worse of it as hes supported by elite that now realise that living in a collapsing country with angry and struggling people is not ideal for them. But its too late.

Do you not know there's a massive housing crisis in China, and on a number of fronts, or have you avoided pig ignorance and just lied instead?

There's a housing crisis in the west. Rents are high, a shortage of homes, and ridiculously expensive to build. And many are soul destroying and unhealthy to live in

But you read a story about China

And what I mentioned was the high to build house prices compared to Asia

[Gumboot]

Depends on your definition of a house, both as an abode and with regard to its construction costs.

[tabascoboy]

Well, shit Elon - why would this be d'ya think...?

[tabascoboy]

on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference earlier this month — Graham told Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly that Republicans knew annexing Canada would only mean adding safe Democratic seats.

“Ain’t no way in hell I’m voting to make Canada a state because they’ll have two Democratic senators,” Graham told me in Munich. “I told Mélanie last night: ‘we’re not going to absorb a bunch of liberals from Canada into our system.”

[Niegs]

on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference earlier this month — Graham told Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly that Republicans knew annexing Canada would only mean adding safe Democratic seats.

“Ain’t no way in hell I’m voting to make Canada a state because they’ll have two Democratic senators,” Graham told me in Munich. “I told Mélanie last night: ‘we’re not going to absorb a bunch of liberals from Canada into our system.”

Even a good chunk of our 'Conservatives' are more like Democrats. I don't think the term is used much any more after their public shift to the right and stronger control of MP messaging by recent leaders, but they probaly still have 'Red Tories' in their ranks. My parents' MP has been vocally pro diversity, doesn't want to roll back any socially progressive stuff. Is a businessman who's more about economic conservatism it seems (and it’s a fairly safe seat to be one historically... but I hear in the provincial election, a Green is running neck and neck with a Con?)

[fishfoodie]

Another day of the Stock Markets in turmoil; I'm sure after four years of blaming Biden for every twitch in the Dow Jones, the Traitor will accept that this is down to his actions, & the idiotic Trade Wars he's planning, amongst other batshit policies ?

[Blackmac]

Another day of the Stock Markets in turmoil; I'm sure after four years of blaming Biden for every twitch in the Dow Jones, the Traitor will accept that this is down to his actions, & the idiotic Trade Wars he's planning, amongst other batshit policies ?

Good to see Tesla top of everyone's sell list.

[Blackmac]

I've often seen it said that the US is a great place to be well off and a dreadful place to be anything other than upper middle class.

They may perform well on a lot of raw metrics, but so many states have essentially zero worker protections and benefits on the statute books, it's all at the largesse of the employer. Some states have been trying to roll back restrictions on child workers so that they can legally get 12 - 16 year olds into things like slaughterhouses. Insane.

Healthcare costing them so much and having health insurance tied to employment in many cases, when that employment is incredibly insecure, is evil in my book.

It's a psychopathic, hyper-capitalist hellscape. Britain may not be doing so well, but if the cost of 'doing well' (on paper in a way that bypasses huge swathes of the population) is American levels of de-regulation and employer supremacy, they can keep it.

Just had 5 nights in Miami Beach and the prices are absolutely insane. $18 dollars for a bottle of beer or cheap wine, $60 for pasta and $120 for a steak in a run of the mill restaurant. That's before the mental service charges.
Even the every day groceries seem to have gone through the roof with many items being 3 or 4 times what we would pay over here.
I've always felt that Scotland takes the piss price wise out of yank tourists but they must find it incredibly cheap.

I was in San Francisco last month and although there are expensive places, I could eat and drink relatively inexpensively

There are always places to eat cheaper but when on holiday you want to go to the nice areas. To be fair Miami was probably about 30% more expensive than Ft Lauderdale, however we had a good rummage around Walgreens and the price of a lot of everyday items were ludicrous, the same with a few luxury shops, just way more expensive. Even picking up a few nice items of clothing was pointless.

It's incredible to think back to the days of purchasing an extra bag to bring stuff back from the US.

[Biffer]

Just had 5 nights in Miami Beach and the prices are absolutely insane. $18 dollars for a bottle of beer or cheap wine, $60 for pasta and $120 for a steak in a run of the mill restaurant. That's before the mental service charges.
Even the every day groceries seem to have gone through the roof with many items being 3 or 4 times what we would pay over here.
I've always felt that Scotland takes the piss price wise out of yank tourists but they must find it incredibly cheap.

I was in San Francisco last month and although there are expensive places, I could eat and drink relatively inexpensively

There are always places to eat cheaper but when on holiday you want to go to the nice areas. To be fair Miami was probably about 30% more expensive than Ft Lauderdale, however we had a good rummage around Walgreens and the price of a lot of everyday items were ludicrous, the same with a few luxury shops, just way more expensive. Even picking up a few nice items of clothing was pointless.

It's incredible to think back to the days of purchasing an extra bag to bring stuff back from the US.

I wasn’t going off the beaten track - this was around Union square and down at the baseball stadium.

[Hal Jordan]

Another day of the Stock Markets in turmoil; I'm sure after four years of blaming Biden for every twitch in the Dow Jones, the Traitor will accept that this is down to his actions, & the idiotic Trade Wars he's planning, amongst other batshit policies ?

Good to see Tesla top of everyone's sell list.

If it was a normal company, Musk would be facing the board right now.

In other news, DeSantis has said that the Tates are not welcome in Florida. When you're too toxic for Florida...

[Tichtheid]

.

It's incredible to think back to the days of purchasing an extra bag to bring stuff back from the US.

I’ve only been to the States once, in the early nineties, but everything was so cheap, especially since the pound bought nearly two dollars.

I seriously looked into buying a large 4x4 pickup because I was based in France and left hand drive was fine. I was put off by the fact that diesels weren’t common and importing a vehicle to France was near impossible - I had enough trouble with my carte de sejour back then

[dpedin]

I regularly travelled to the States for 20 years up to Covid. I remember the days of $2=£1 - it was just brilliant. On golfing holidays to Myrtle Beach, SC we would take clubs and 2 days of clothing and empty case then buy everything we needed when we were there. In the discount mall I would buy good quality golf shirts at 3 for $20, golf socks 5 for $10, etc. I would also buy up Timberland shoes $40 a pair for ones that would cost £120 at home, etc. In early 2010s my mate even took an empty golf bag out as well and bought an entire set of top of the range Callaway golf clubs - woods, irons, wedges, putter plus gloves, balls, tees etc on first morning at a local Dicks Sporting Goods store. Done and dusted by 9.30am on the course at 12.00. Salesman changed the grips for $30 in an hour and then said he could go home then as he had hit his sales target for the day. Total cost was $1250! We got 10 rounds of golf on top end courses with buggies plus freebees thrown in like free lunches and beers for $900!

Last trip we went it was getting more expensive but still doable and about on par with the likes of Spain and Portugal excluding flight prices, although the food in the States isn't nearly as good. We half thought about going back this year but Trump plus prices has put us off, probably 50-75% more expensive. Flights also a lot more expensive. It is now cheaper for us to go to Europe - France and Belgium trips already booked up plus a trip to Northern Ireland and a possible trip to Kinsale in the south later in the year.

One of my mates fell over on a trip 12 years ago in MB. I took him to hospital - he was triaged, x-rayed, 5 mins with a consultant and given a prescription. Done in 30-40 mins and charged $1400! However their invoicing/business system was so bad he never received a bill despite asking for insurance purposes. I wouldn't like to be ill in the US!

[SaintK]

I regularly travelled to the States for 20 years up to Covid. I remember the days of $2=£1 - it was just brilliant. On golfing holidays to Myrtle Beach, SC we would take clubs and 2 days of clothing and empty case then buy everything we needed when we were there. In the discount mall I would buy good quality golf shirts at 3 for $20, golf socks 5 for $10, etc. I would also buy up Timberland shoes $40 a pair for ones that would cost £120 at home, etc. In early 2010s my mate even took an empty golf bag out as well and bought an entire set of top of the range Callaway golf clubs - woods, irons, wedges, putter plus gloves, balls, tees etc on first morning at a local Dicks Sporting Goods store. Done and dusted by 9.30am on the course at 12.00. Salesman changed the grips for $30 in an hour and then said he could go home then as he had hit his sales target for the day. Total cost was $1250! We got 10 rounds of golf on top end courses with buggies plus freebees thrown in like free lunches and beers for $900!

Last trip we went it was getting more expensive but still doable and about on par with the likes of Spain and Portugal excluding flight prices, although the food in the States isn't nearly as good. We half thought about going back this year but Trump plus prices has put us off, probably 50-75% more expensive. Flights also a lot more expensive. It is now cheaper for us to go to Europe - France and Belgium trips already booked up plus a trip to Northern Ireland and a possible trip to Kinsale in the south later in the year.

One of my mates fell over on a trip 12 years ago in MB. I took him to hospital - he was triaged, x-rayed, 5 mins with a consultant and given a prescription. Done in 30-40 mins and charged $1400! However their invoicing/business system was so bad he never received a bill despite asking for insurance purposes. I wouldn't like to be ill in the US!

Yep! 10 or 15 years ago my son would visit San Francisco 2 or 3 times a year. He would invariably invest in a pair of Timberlands buy several pairs of trainers and bring me back a dozen Old Navy or American Apparel white t-shirts and a couple of pairs of Levis

[dpedin]

I regularly travelled to the States for 20 years up to Covid. I remember the days of $2=£1 - it was just brilliant. On golfing holidays to Myrtle Beach, SC we would take clubs and 2 days of clothing and empty case then buy everything we needed when we were there. In the discount mall I would buy good quality golf shirts at 3 for $20, golf socks 5 for $10, etc. I would also buy up Timberland shoes $40 a pair for ones that would cost £120 at home, etc. In early 2010s my mate even took an empty golf bag out as well and bought an entire set of top of the range Callaway golf clubs - woods, irons, wedges, putter plus gloves, balls, tees etc on first morning at a local Dicks Sporting Goods store. Done and dusted by 9.30am on the course at 12.00. Salesman changed the grips for $30 in an hour and then said he could go home then as he had hit his sales target for the day. Total cost was $1250! We got 10 rounds of golf on top end courses with buggies plus freebees thrown in like free lunches and beers for $900!

Last trip we went it was getting more expensive but still doable and about on par with the likes of Spain and Portugal excluding flight prices, although the food in the States isn't nearly as good. We half thought about going back this year but Trump plus prices has put us off, probably 50-75% more expensive. Flights also a lot more expensive. It is now cheaper for us to go to Europe - France and Belgium trips already booked up plus a trip to Northern Ireland and a possible trip to Kinsale in the south later in the year.

One of my mates fell over on a trip 12 years ago in MB. I took him to hospital - he was triaged, x-rayed, 5 mins with a consultant and given a prescription. Done in 30-40 mins and charged $1400! However their invoicing/business system was so bad he never received a bill despite asking for insurance purposes. I wouldn't like to be ill in the US!

Yep! 10 or 15 years ago my son would visit San Francisco 2 or 3 times a year. He would invariably invest in a pair of Timberlands buy several pairs of trainers and bring me back a dozen Old Navy or American Apparel white t-shirts and a couple of pairs of Levis

I used to buy the Timberland all leather, goretex lined lug boat shoes. Every trip I would get one or two pairs. They take a wee while to wear in but last for 5-8 years of continual use at a minimum. I checked my cupboard the other day and discover I have more than enough unworn pairs to last me till I have departed this world and will probably have to pass on a couple of pairs in my will! Best shoes I have ever owned.

[Yeeb]

Wearing a dead persons shoes ? Are you all Scottish ?

[Sandstorm]

I checked my cupboard the other day and discover I have more than enough unworn pairs to last me till I have departed.....

Didn't realise you were a woman; you kept that quiet.