Brexit, for once some facts.

[Zlatan]

yuk. I can imagine the fumes coming out of those tanks.
one day, even the army will have to show its green credentials.

The article explains unit ICE is planned to be used in conjunction with battery etc.. (Tank to be a hybrid... In interests of environment whilst launching nuclear warheads and depleted Uranium shells? Possibly.. But more likely for silent running and low heat signature.
Think it points to idea that no matter how good batteries etc become there will always be a necessity for prime movers in vehicles. You couldn't really operate a fleet of Prius to stop Putin motoring accross Europe could you.???

 

[Zlatan]

that is a rather amazing (if not altogether new) design. I cannot imagine low profile 65 ton battle tanks going electric soon. But (this is nerdy) it made me think of victor poncelet (who ingeniously perfected undershot waterwheel design and efficiency just before it became redundant as a result of turbines)

Yep, there is nothing new... Ricardo, Rolls Royce or Napier did nearly everything years ago with regards ICE. .Often its the metallurgy that allows older ideas to be successful when not so in past.
Could be argued ICE reached its pinnacle with Napier Sabre or Rolls Royce Griffin in its final form around 1945. Many auto designs of later years were antiquated in comparison even as they left drawing board.

 

[flecc]

You couldn't really operate a fleet of Prius to stop Putin motoring accross Europe could you.???

Since the Yalta conference there has never been the slightest risk of Russians marching across Europe. The Cold War was always a sham conducted by expendable proxys and eventually became so obviously a sham that it had to be abandoned before ridicule set in.

Now we are in cold war 2 with Russia, still as big a sham as ever, and as before, the majority are still fooled into thinking it's real.

Not content with that, the powers that be are trying to set in motion the preparations for the next cold war, between the West and China.

It's all done with a purpose, control of the civilian populations on both sides. That's all, none of it is real.
.

 

[Zlatan]

Since the Yalta conference there has never been the slightest risk of Russians marching across Europe. The Cold War was always a sham conducted by expendable proxys and eventually became so obviously a sham that it had to be abandoned before ridicule set in.

Now we are in cold war 2 with Russia, still as big a sham as ever, and as before, the majority are still fooled into thinking it's real.

Not content with that, the powers that be are trying to set in motion the preparations for the next cold war, between the West and China.

It's all done with a purpose, control of the civilian populations on both sides. That's all, none of it is real.
.

Probably agree with you but Military still need tanks to play around in. We ain't going to see a demilitarised world anytime soon, much as it would be nice.
Point was about the engine design, a smaller version is planned for trucks and an even smaller one for pick ups/vans. We are always going to need some forms of mobile (smallish) prime movers...
For years I, ve been arguing against outright ban on 2 strokes in recreation market. (marine) and even with moto GP. With right development 2 stroke could match 4 for environment and wipe floor with it in power to weight stakes.. Sadly thing of past...
A reliable 260 bhp from 500cc even today would take some doing... Two strokes have been capable of 500bhp plus per litre quite a while.

 

[flecc]

Probably agree with you but Military still need tanks to play around in. We ain't going to see a demilitarised world anytime soon, much as it would be nice.

Of course. False cold wars have to made to look real to achieve their intended purpose of giving each side a common enemy to fear. Thus needing their government to protect them which in turn prompts the people's nationalistic co-operation.

The Pandemic works too for a while, Covid-19 the common enemy with governments wielding vaccines as saviours coming to the rescue.

Brexit too, with the EU as the common enemy of Britain and Leave EU the saviour rescuing us from European clutches.

It never ceases to amaze how gullible people can be.
.

 

[Woosh]

We have a populist electorate. Financial crises (08 like the 1930s) are often followed by populism, anti immigrant sentiment, national socialism/fascism (brexit, farage, Tommy Robinson, boris et are all low watt samples of this). A democratic opposition that's about equality, fraternity, liberty does not have much chance in the face of that. For dialogue with the electorate or to win (as corbyn found).100 years from now when political science students study the decline of the uk in the 21st century, it will be all about the conservative party, its lies, corruption (boris) and catastrophic errors of judgement (cameron)

The rise of populism coincides with the retreat of Marxism.
Labour's situation at present time is the legacy of 5 years of Corbyn as leader of the opposition.
During this time, it was obvious that JC was not ready to run the country.
Starmer has a fairly substantial mountain to climb to prove that Labour can govern.

 

[Zlatan]

Of course. False cold wars have to made to look real to achieve their intended purpose of giving each side a common enemy to fear. Thus needing their government to protect them which in turn prompts the people's nationalistic co-operation.

The Pandemic works too for a while, Covid-19 the common enemy with governments wielding vaccines as saviours coming to the rescue.

Brexit too, with the EU as the common enemy of Britain and Leave EU the saviour rescuing us from European clutches.

It never ceases to amaze how gullible people can be.
.

I know, look at Germany in 30s...

 

[Zlatan]

Mind you French Army might be buying some new tanks... Some reports suggest they are Revolting... (old joke) French military are a bit of a law to themselves.

 

[flecc]

Starmer has a fairly substantial mountain to climb to prove that Labour can govern.

It's an impossible mountain, for anyone. There's two options to try it.

First is to try to recreate it, but still as a true socialist labour party. That won't work since English people's predominantly conservative nature will keep it from power without Scotland. And I don't see Scotland ever returning to it's former self now that particular genie is out of the bottle with the self rule they've gained.

Second is to go middle of the road, which will certainly ensure failure since we don't vote that way. Although Blair's were arguably middle of the road in practice, the people didn't vote for that, they voted for Labour in a new and shiny form. After the 19th century was dominated by the middle of the road Liberals, the last time we voted for a middle of the road government was the earliest years of the 20th century with the final gasps of a near death Liberal government.

Ever since then we've voted nominally right or left with the tendency mostly towards the right. Every middle of the road manifesto attempt has failed to attract more than a minimal level of votes, whether Liberal, SDP, SDLP or Lib-Dem.

I believe this is true everywhere in Europe, the middle of the road only ever govern through PR.
.

 

[jonathan.agnew]

The rise of populism coincides with the retreat of Marxism.
Labour's situation at present time is the legacy of 5 years of Corbyn as leader of the opposition.
During this time, it was obvious that JC was not ready to run the country.
Starmer has a fairly substantial mountain to climb to prove that Labour can govern.

That depends on ones definition of "governing the country". Compared to blair (destabilising the middle east and the world for the next century), brown (transferring en masse national debt onto the young forever via low interest rates, overinflated asset prices), Cameron (skewering the country with brexit), boris (what can I say that hasn't been said?), corbyn would have been ok (he had original ideas about kick starting our tory annihilated economy that had become all about "financial services" and were not the hard core socialist conservatives with an allergy for paying their way in the world portray him as).

 

[flecc]

French military are a bit of a law to themselves.

Impossible to be otherwise with Liberté, égalité, fraternité for all.

Our British Army is required to be non political and run solely by an unquestioned pyramid of power.
.

 

[Woosh]

That depends on ones definition of "governing the country".

I watch BBC2 Daily Politics for years.
Labour politicians love to talk about fighting social injustice and racism on the TV ad nauseam. They are good subjects in which they feel comfortable talking about but hardly striking fear for the conservatives.
Labour has to show their plan and address common issues for the vast majority of voters: taxes, jobs, benefits, social care for the elderly, house planning, transport, environment, infrastructure projects etc.

 

[jonathan.agnew]

I watch BBC2 Daily Politics for years.
Labour politicians love to talk about fighting social injustice and racism on the TV ad nauseam. They are good subjects in which they feel comfortable talking about but hardly striking fear for the conservatives.
Labour has to show their plan and address common issues for the vast majority of voters: taxes, jobs, benefits, social care for the elderly, house planning, transport, environment, infrastructure projects etc.

That's a stereotype. Corbyn and macdonald had a much better manifesto than boris wrt jobs, taxes, transport. The conservatives have elevated cliches (boris in a hi viz) and kicking cans down the road (social care, Theresa may) to a national sport

 

[oyster]

I can easily see us ending up in the same place as we got to last September if we are not careful. If I remember correctly cases went right down last summer and the Tories were urging people to go back to their offices to work. There were incentives for people to eat out in cafes etc.

However in certain parts of the country (parts of the North of England I think), there was residual covid infections taking place that we never really got on top of. Come the bad weather in the autumn and these areas combined with infections brought back from people being on holiday abroad sparked it all off once again.

I hope that our vaccination prog will stop a lot of this but no one really knows at the moment if it has much impact on one of the Indian variants mentioned in my previous post.

I don't know what the answer is, we have to try and get back to normal as soon as we can safely do so, but if as the data seems to suggest that Indian variant is doubling every week then that must be something we need to keep an extremely careful eye on.

The moment Johnson used the word "irreversible", I started to expect a repeat of last September.

Obviously, though, he is being supremely over-confident announcing the statutory inquiry for spring 2022.

(Note how you even get "tory" embedded in the type of inquiry!)

 

[Zlatan]

I watch BBC2 Daily Politics for years.

That shows a certain determined duty to the cause. I get bored after a few minutes.

 

[Zlatan]

That's a stereotype. Corbyn and macdonald had a much better manifesto than boris wrt jobs, taxes, transport. The conservatives have elevated cliches (boris in a hi viz) and kicking cans down the road (social care, Theresa may) to a national sport

All the talk about how good Corbyn would have done reminds me of a top water skier I used to know.
He was at a competition and announced he won last year's event at TV (Thames Valley!) Ski Club. Somebody pointed out "No, you didn't, I did" in quite an aggressive manner.
Mate replied
"well, if I, d have gone I would have won."
To much mirth and merriment to rest of us.

I don't think Corbyn could have run country at all. He often appeared out of his depth leading Party. Think Starmer is capable enough but he will never get elected to PM.

 

[Zlatan]

The moment Johnson used the word "irreversible", I started to expect a repeat of last September.

Obviously, though, he is being supremely over-confident announcing the statutory inquiry for spring 2022.

(Note how you even get "tory" embedded in the type of inquiry!)

WHO are saying entire Pandemic has been handled badly World Wide so sort of self criticism there and BJ is not alone by any stretch of imagination. As a whole Govt have performed sort of average world wide.?? Guardian suggest otherwise but that's hardly a shock is it.?

 

[oyster]

Four cylinders, eight pistons and no valves: Meet Cummins’ new 1000hp tank engine

A new opposed-piston diesel engine design yields more power and better efficiency from a smaller displacement, and is coming soon to a tank near you.

www.caradvice.com.au

ICE not dead yet and its a 2 stroke...

On a daily basis, I am more affected by the belch from ice cream vans than tanks. Despite having a major tank range not far away.

I find it incredible that we see IC vans parked up, selling IC, yet spewing out diesel fumes, particulates, etc., at customers and passers-by. Should have been one of the first vehicles to be banned in any form but BEV. Use liquid nitrogen and/or dry ice, as needed, for refrigeration.

 

[Zlatan]

On a daily basis, I am more affected by the belch from ice cream vans than tanks. Despite having a major tank range not far away.

I find it incredible that we see IC vans parked up, selling IC, yet spewing out diesel fumes, particulates, etc., at customers and passers-by. Should have been one of the first vehicles to be banned in any form but BEV. Use liquid nitrogen and/or dry ice, as needed, for refrigeration.

Yep, agreed. There are loads of alternatives to leaving engine ticking over.. But taking grand kids to school it's amazing how many cars you see parked up with engine running. I don't get that at all this time of year, it's not for heater or air con. Just folk trying to be annoying I suspect.

 

[oyster]

WHO are saying entire Pandemic has been handled badly World Wide so sort of self criticism there and BJ is not alone by any stretch of imagination. As a whole Govt have performed sort of average world wide.?? Guardian suggest otherwise but that's hardly a shock is it.?

You appear to be missing my point. Even if we accepted that up to this point they haven't done as badly as some other governments, they have manoeuvred themselves into a position where they will lose face if they reverse. Severely. Which is likely to result in a last September+++ situation, do anything but lockdown, which will be just in time for the inquiry to find how devastatingly badly they handled 2021 autumn/winter.

It is that which demonstrates Johnson's massive over-confidence.