Interesting Links for 03-12-2021

[andrewducker]

The US is currently levying a steel tariff on the UK because of Northern Ireland Brexit dispute. Johnson isn't happy about that.

(tags:uk usa trade NorthernIreland )

2nd US omicron case just traveled to NYC anime convention with 53K attendees

(tags:anime convention Doom USA Pandemic )

Who will be the next Prime Minister of the UK?

(tags:UK conservatives politics viaDanielDWilliam )

DeepMind: AI software collaborates with humans on mathematical breakthroughs

(tags:mathematics ai )

Air and water pollution linked to changes in human sex ratio at birth

(tags:sex pollution )

Comments

[kerk_hiraeth]

It's getting to be like the early Roman Emperors; each succeeding leader worse than the previous; going back as far as Ted Heath, with the singularly ineffectual; if at least good-willed, John Major has been worse than the previous. Given that Rees-Mogg & Priti Patel aren't stupid enough to take on the poisoned mantle, the front runners have to be Rishi Sunak & Nadine Dorries.

kerk

[andrewducker]

I'd argue that Brown was better than Blair in some ways. And Blair did more good things than Major, but also terrible things.

[kerk_hiraeth]

Well I did just mean the Tory Party leaders.

kerk

[naath]

next PM > what if 'nextelection' is in 2022...

[andrewducker]

Only if they decide that they're definitely going to win one.

[calimac]

They could be wrong. Labour 1970. Misreadings of the polls are still possible, see 2017.

[andrewducker]

Agreed.

But with the polls showing things on a knife edge at the moment, we'd need a big swing away from Labour in order to make them think that it was worthwhile.

[calimac]

"There is no such thing as a temporary Prime Minister." There could be. Every recent case of a PM leaving office mid-term, the incumbent has been both willing and able to stay in office as a caretaker as the rather lengthy process of choosing a new party leader wends on. (Not even considering 1990, when the incumbent didn't want to go.) But if that doesn't happen, e.g. if Boris is run over by a bus, the caretaker will have to be someone else, thus a temporary.

[doubtingmichael]

I am gobsmacked/delighted by the DeepMind description.

[andrewducker]

It really is marvelous stuff. I look forward to seeing what it can do next!