Tag Archives: politics

This is weird

I find myself standing up for Microsoft, I know its weird. They have screwed the pooch more than once, but the headline in the Guardian (at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/nov/19/microsoft-nhs-uk-contracts-public-sector-procurement) gives us ‘Microsoft has ‘ripped off the NHS’, says MP amid call for contracts with British firms’, now lets be clear. Microsoft has done many things, but ripping people off is beneath them. If a rippable offence is in play, someone put their autograph (aka John Hancock) on that dotted line. And where is the evidence? And we are pointed to Samantha Niblett, the Labour MP for South Derbyshire, who laughs with a pretty smile and that is all she seemingly does. The evidence given “a five-year deal with the NHS to provide productivity tools reportedly worth over £700m, while the wider government spent £1.9bn on Microsoft software licences in the 2024-25 financial year alone.” Is this evidence? What the hell are you up to Katharine Viner? As editor of the Guardian, this trash should not be in your newspaper, or on the website. At least hand this setting with proper evidence. So as we are also given and that Labour Nibbler gives us “I know for a fact how Microsoft have ripped off the NHS.” But at that point we get “did not provide further evidence, but when the committee chair, Chi Onwurah, voiced surprise at the claim” and to that I say. Miss Niblett, on December 31st 2016 I reported in the story ‘This last day’ (at https://lawlordtobe.com/2016/12/31/this-last-day/) which was 9 years ago, and you might have been too young to be in politics. But Labour (as well) spend £11.2 billion on a NHS IT project, which amounted to nothing and I reckon it might have been a really big amount of money for nothing. So, are we seeing a second setting to all this and you want to blame Microsoft? Can we see the contracts of understanding? Microsoft does a lot, but they wrap it in contracts which in this case the labour administration under Sir Keir Rodney Starmer is confronted with. 

Then we get “After describing the government’s multibillion-pound deals with Microsoft, Niblett said it “speaks to the … power of Microsoft to lock in public sector … customers and then sort of entice them with cheap deals, and then you’re locked into a contract and then you’re charged exponential amounts” So Microsoft does plenty wrong, but this pat they tend to get right and who signed for these contracts? Was it you? And these contracts also give a correct setting of the amounts. That is how business is done and it is done all over the world. 

And it is then that we get the hidden gem that some were trying to hide “MPs on the select committee said the UK needed to develop greater “sovereign” technology capacity, award more contracts to smaller, local providers, and be less reliant on deals that resulted in government departments becoming locked into services with US firms. Explaining more about her understanding of Microsoft’s deals with the government, Niblett said: “I have heard that Defra [the Department of Food and Rural Affairs] recently signed a contract renewal for Windows 10, which is now out of date. And that has now resulted in them having to pay more for security checks because they’re using a very, very old version of Windows.” There is more than one issue. In the first there is “I have heard” is not evidence, evidence is the contract that Defra signed. Who signed it, was it a valid contract? And then we get “recently signed a contract renewal for Windows 10”, how recent was it signed? Some women claim to they got recently pregnant, but that accident is now 4 years old and as it is given “Windows 10 is a Microsoft operating system that is now out of support as of October 14, 2025”, so does that contract entitle these users to upgrade to Windows 11? The one part that matters is seemingly “becoming locked into services with US firms” which is a valid UK setting, but that is depending on a time set strategy and getting into the strategy AFTER the contract is signed implies you are stuck with the contract, that might not be in the best interest of the Labour administration, but that is not the priority of Microsoft, their part is the contract and adhering to what was signed. So was there any transgression by Microsoft? It is a simple question and the setting of ‘ripped off’ implies they made a booboo and as such that evidence must be given in evidence. Is there any chance that one of more contracts have your autograph as you worked in the data and technology sector before being elected to parliament in 2024, so will we find contracts, possibly with your name on it? Will it show a transgression by Microsoft, or a sloppy mistake by the labour representative who signed it? Simple questions and simple settings that Katharine Viner should see coming a mile away?

Have a great day and if you get the mug below, make sure that coffee is millennium proof, version proof and proofed for 61 degrees celsius liquids. You can test it by putting your finger in the coffee and if you go ‘ouch’ it is probably hot enough.

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On the edge of legality

There are two things on my mind. The first one will be addressed after this. The second one was in my mind before I knew it. It is the stuff of nightmares. A setting that could collapse the entire Microsoft. Not for real, it is a story, a script and a far fetched one at that, but the idea has merit. To unleash global fear and mistrust on the slap of a keyboard? What is there not to like. It would be epic to say the least and why Microsoft? Simple, it has the most dodo inspiring population (those dreaming of extinction) And as such I set the idea in motion, but after I finished the other works. I put it here so that I do not forget it and the keywords are optical fibre, blacklight and Diatomite Celite, the simple keywords that can topple a presumptuous great setting. But that is enough of that. You see, I missed the news about 3 days ago (had other things on my mind) but it flew past my eyes today and I caught it this afternoon. The guardian (at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/10/uae-says-it-will-not-join-gaza-stabilisation-force-without-clear-legal-framework) gives us ‘UAE refuses to join Gaza stabilisation force without clear legal framework’ it caught me surprised. The idea of a ‘stabilizing force’ without a clear legal framework seems adamant (wherever it is held). So when we are given “Plans for a UN-mandated international stabilisation force charged with disarming Hamas inside Gaza face growing opposition after the United Arab Emirates said it would not participate because it did not yet see a clear legal framework for the force.” So what are the Americans and the UN doing not setting a clear legal framework for this setting? With that setting we are also given “The UAE’s decision, announced by the senior envoy Dr Anwar Gargash at a conference in Abu Dhabi, reflects Arab doubts about the terms of a US-drafted resolution already distributed to diplomats at the UN in New York. The draft places an onus on a US-directed stabilisation force to be the principal means of imposing security in Gaza after Israel has left the territory.”  My first question becomes, what is the UN doing? For years they are so hoping for peace and now it seems they haven’t even considered setting a legal framework for those in that mess? As for the second issue the idea comes that Hamas needs at least a legal framework, if not you are fighting lawlessness with more lawlessness and to see that come America is not that difficult to observe, but to see that setting come from the UN is a bit ghastly. So as such I would agree with the statement by “Dr. Anwar Gargash said: “The UAE does not yet see a clear framework for the stability force and under such circumstances will not participate, but will support all political efforts towards peace – and remain at the forefront of humanitarian aid.”” And as we consider this, the setting of Gaza is becoming less and less stable. So as I read “Neither the UN nor the 15-strong security council are given a supervisory role over the stabilisation force, overseeing the implementation of the resolution, a point largely overlooked by the draft text. Nothing is specified about the funding of this stabilisation mission, which, according to the Americans, should be largely borne by Gulf states, with Saudi Arabia taking the lead.” I wonder, why the UN didn’t set up a legal framework, for agreement, or for alteration, but as I see it, none of that seems to have been done, or at least the Guardian fails to report on it, but that is no attack or opposition to the Guardian. It merely got me by surprise and made me wonder why we are paying millions upon millions to the UN when we see a (seemingly and alleged) flaw like this.

So why a I wondering about this? As I see the world claiming Israel for the slaughter Hamas instilled. I also see the UN failing at its duty to cater to any solution. And the failures seem to be adding up, but that is my (with absolute lack of expertise on matters of diplomacy and the function of the United Nations) view on the matter. So what gives? And in all this, I completely agree with the position that Dr. Anwar Gargash is taking. 

So have a great day and consider the legal framework you face at breakfast (everyone for himself/herself) and don’t take away the Labneh until you see the white in their eyes. But that is my flaky sense of humor. For now I have to consider the idea that there is a cable under the Indian ocean with my sense of innovative humor. Have fun everyone.

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Trumping it along

That is the setting as President Trump proclaimed publicly “We don’t need Canadian lumber” and then Canadian wood product (lumber and utensils too) got a tariff hike. So as American lumber is needed in construction it would not be starting at a 25% depletion of that market (12 billion board feet) is now going somewhere else, Canada has had enough of this bully tactic and that is going to cost America a lot more than ever considered. It is about to cost America well over an additional $23 billion (source: Capital Briefs) and that was merely the start of this. Now the Financial Times gives us ‘Canada to reroute lumber exports as Trump’s tariffs bite’ (at https://www.ft.com/content/e56e8bb0-6dc0-4447-a907-e95164cec8e5) where we see “Canadian producers are seeking to divert around 10 per cent of the lumber normally sent south of the border to new buyers in the UK, EU and Middle East after the US president in September added a 10 per cent tariff on lumber, on top of an existing 35 per cent duty. The aim to send some 1bn board feet to alternative markets — enough to build at least 75,000 average size American homes — underscores how Trump’s tariffs are starting to reshape some global supply chains, although tensions between the US and Canada over wood exports have simmered for more than half a century.” With the added ““The US simply needs to fact-check better before they end up with a large shortage of lumber that may cause further housing shortages,” said Rick Doman, chair of the Forestry Innovation Investment board of British Columbia, which produces over half of Canada’s lumber. Washington’s escalating trade measures towards Ottawa have led to shutdowns and job losses in Canada’s C$87bn ($63bn) forestry industry, one of the country’s largest employers.” We see that Canadians have had enough of the voice from Washington DC, with Canada shifting towards Europe and Asian Markets, as well as stocking up on renewable products the setting becomes a global setting where America can now no longer fuel its own softwood needs driving housing prices through the roof (except for Florida where the Canadian snowbirds are putting their  houses up for sale, leaving in excess of 175,000 houses empty and deserted). That is the setting America no faces and whilst America accuses Canada itself as a dumping ground, they better come up with the evidence and as we see “Zoltan van Heyningen, executive director of the US Lumber Coalition, a lobby group, said the American timber industry could replace 1bn board feet of Canadian imports “without batting an eyelid”” that person better prove to be true to his word, because as it stands Canada is withdrawing over 3 billion board feet of wood. And the NAHB gives us that  “With American sawmills operating at just 64 per cent of capacity it “will take years” for US domestic lumber production to expand to meet industry demands” and in that meantime it will be shredding nearly every environmental document it has, because as I see it, the nearest place it can go to is Washington State and I reckon it will cost a few more pennies to get all these trucks up and going. In the meantime we see that “the US relies on a further 12bn board feet of softwood lumber from Canada for use mostly in housebuilding. Even allowing for spare US sawmill capacity and average recent American exports of 1.3bn board feet a year, the US is currently 3.2bn board feet short of meeting current demand, according to analysis by Fastmarkets, a price reporting agency.” And the ‘graphs’ all show that America depends on almost 30% Canadian wood, when that all falls away its own wood export collapses to zero. And that gives America a new mess to deal with, because Canada is eager to make long term agreements with Europe and Asia, which means that the next administration inherits this mess in 2028 and there is no going back. And as I see it, the bill will be passed on to Weyerhaeuser, West Fraser and Sierra Pacific Industries who will have to increase their produce by almost 50%, to make up for the shortages it faces, so in what reality did you ever see that happen? 

It might sound like an amazing option for these three, but in the American setting it does mean that nearly every environmental agreement will have to be torn up to even make this work. In the meantime Canada is expertly drilling into a $280 billion market and is seemingly doubling that within the next decade, as Canada is now moving from a resource player to more highly valued products, its margins will increase nearly exponentially and is becoming the new innovator on the block and that will ease the pressures that America thought they would hand them, their plan for Canada becoming the 51st state is blowing up in the faces of Politicians in Washington DC and that is the short and sweet of it for Canada. The hardship handed by president Trump is becoming the opportunity for PM Mark Carney. And Canada is loving the outcome of this setting, because as such high value products are to be made in Canada, giving them the setting from $255.20 towards a more then doubled market that is to come and as China replaces America as the number one export country, there will be additional settings there too. An opportunity that Canada will handle with care while in the same time increasing its export to Europe. As I see it, America merely shot itself in the foot (yet again) and that setting is to be crowned as the number one achievement for the Administration carrying that royal crown. It tried to diminish the economic footprint of its northern partner, instead it opened a new revenue handle and increased its export standing with both the EU and China. And as I see it, at no significant initial loss to Canada and over the next few years it will show a significant surplus to boot. 

A setting the Commonwealth prices and a big round of applause is handed in the direction of Prime Minister Mark Carney who is now seen as the big winner (perhaps he will accept a Nobel peace price in 2026?)

Well, you all have a great day and special mention for Capitol Brief and the Financial Times for their support in this. It is 02:00 now. Time for me to introduce myself to the procedure of snoring.

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Shooting birds

This is a setting that is up in the air (quite literally) the setting that America is shooting its own economic plan in the foot so to say. There is something wrong with the animosity that America is throwing into the direction of Canadians and as I see it, their new target are the snowbirds. The Guardian informed me last night that ‘Trump tariffs and strict US border rules threaten flight of Canada’s ‘snowbirds’’ (at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/09/canada-snowbirds-florida) where we see “Many have ditched plans to visit their southern neighbor and are looking to spend their valuable dollars elsewhere, largely put off by Donald Trump’s escalating economic war with Canada and strict new immigration rules that have created fear and confusion.” With the additional “Canada’s own tourism industry, meanwhile, is reporting record revenue. Buoyed by visitors who decided to stay home, the sector took in CA$59bn ($42bn) from May to August, a 6% increase on 2014. (American visitors to Canada dropped 1.7% during that same period.)” And whilst we see almost everywhere “International tourism to the US is forecast to decline by around $12.5 billion to $29 billion in 2025” we get from others sources that their income is increasing a lot more, as such I stay with my conservative losses to be predicted between $80-$130 billion, and now the snowbirds with their “More than half of Canadians with homes in the US – 54% – are considering selling in the next 12 months, with 62% of those citing the political situation as their main reason, according to research published in August.” This comes from Royal LePage, where we also get “According to a recent Royal LePage survey, conducted by Burson, more than half (54%) of Canadians who currently own residential property in the U.S. say they are planning to sell within the next year, among whom a majority (62%) credit the current political administration as the main reason. Meanwhile, 33 per cent of them say they are motivated by other factors, such as personal and financial reasons, and another five per cent say it is due to increasingly extreme weather conditions, like hurricanes, flooding and forest fires.” Which gets us an additional part, but that too will be hard on America, they are investing it domestically in Canada. So, as we consider “While some blame a weak Canadian dollar and rising travel costs for their decision not to travel, 40% also cite political tensions with the US. Trump has frequently assailed Canada and its political leaders, recently retaliating for an anti-tariff advertisement posted by the Ontario government by slapping an additional 10% tariff on imports from a country he has repeatedly taunted as the 51st state.” A lot might see this is trivial, but as a Commonwealthian I adhere to the foul stench that the “51st state” is making. In the meantime we see politicians not being sworn in because they are on the other side of the isle, the US shutdown is now the longest in history and for the second day the airlines are buckling as over 1000 flights have been cancelled with the additional “Nearly 6,000 flights were also delayed, down from over 7,000 delays on Friday, according to flight tracker FlightAware” (source: BBC) so as I see it America is bleeding revenue all over the nation and directly from their veins into the streets and all this is happening 2 weeks before Thanksgiving. Yes, my view of $80-$130 billion really was conservative as all the trimmings that Thanksgiving would bring is now about to grease the coils of loss, on the other hand Turkey is likely to be on sale soon with a nice 75% discount. But the hardest part was seen down that article as those readers were given “And things will likely get worse in the coming days as the FAA increases the percentage of cancelled flights.” Because those people n need an alternative destination. I will offer the thought that Dubai and Abu Dhabi have both really nice weather conditions this time of year, with a special mention of Abu Dhabi with all their theme parks as a Florida replacement. These losses are enlarged by the setting that the snowbirds bring, the quote “Analysts say any significant drop in snowbird visits could be catastrophic for states where they are among the biggest spenders during the winter months. The snowbird economy brings in an estimated $20.5bn annually in direct spending, property and sales taxes, and supports millions of jobs, especially in tourism, hospitality and retail”, so as I see it, the economy of Florida is about to take a handful of downers from the get go, and all this sets the the outlook of Thanksgiving in places like Florida with a grim undertone, because when all things settle it will take years to get over this and if the Snowbirds leave, the economy will take a massive his in Florida and likewise places for years to come. 

So when. We get to “Valorie Crooks of Simon Fraser University said the more obstacles that are placed in the path of snowbirds, the more likely they are to take themselves, and their money, elsewhere, such as Mexico, the second most popular destination for Canadian winter travelers.” The fun part is that this would enable places like Abu Dhabi too, when these people realise that there is a lot they would love, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan might want to consider advertising the splendor to Canada and Canadians. That would grease the lining of the Abu Dhabi economy by a fair bit and there is plenty of material on YouTube that Canadians can see for themselves. And the setting of a zero tax state is beneficial in a few more ways. 

Overall there are plenty of alternatives for people visiting America and as its government is shutdown, there are many more ways to look elsewhere for the needs of these people. And funny enough, Americans might not like it, but they elected their curse to office themselves. So how is this Big Beautiful America, has it been made great, or was that presented silver lining the start of many dark clouds? And as I saw my losses to $80-$130 billion, CBS reported that this shutdown is costing the Americans in the setting of “Estimates of the economic hit from the U.S. government shutdown put the losses at up to $16 billion every week the impasse continues” as such my model of loss was severely conservative as I never considered the impact of a US shutdown. As I see it, America made a huge error going on the Snowbird hunt, and it could have been prevented on several levels. Try to have a great day today.

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Is it a bird, it is Superman?

Nope, it is a plane and it is heading for Saudi Arabia as we read (at https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2025/11/08/saudi-arabia-to-buy-48-f-35-worth-142-billion/) ‘Saudi Arabia to Buy 48 Most Expensive Fighter Jet in the World Worth $142 Billion’, as such the first hurdle of the Pentagon has allegedly been passed. We are given “Saudi Arabia’s request for F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters is reportedly progressing within the Pentagon, according to sources cited by Reuters. The move could make Riyadh (RUH) the first Arab nation to field a fifth-generation stealth jet, breaking Israel’s exclusive control of the platform in the region.” And let’s face it, they can afford these bad boys. And it would make any Russian equipped Iranian flight force obsolete. Some say the best air force is one you never have to fly. I disagree. I say  “I prefer the air force  you only have to fly once. That’s how the veterans did it, that’s how allies do it, and it’s worked out pretty well so far” (yes, I stole this quote from Iron Man, so sue me) it is like Australia being attacked by New Zealand in Sopwith Camels in the past, it never went anywhere. As such these 48 birds will await with baited breath for Iran to make a silly mistake and it will be the last mistake they will ever make. I reckon that these 48 can take on at least 98 of their Sukhoi Su-57 and Russia (at present) seemingly only made 29 of them, the rest is outstanding, as such Iran will no longer have options in the air as soon as the first set of these bad boys arrive. 

I never understood the reluctance to sell these planes to their own ally, but in the end it seems that Saudi Arabia is getting them. And when we see “The potential sale aligns with former U.S. President Donald Trump’s defense agenda, as his administration approved a $142 billion arms package for the Kingdom in May 2025. Although the F-35 was initially excluded, the latest discussions suggest it has now advanced to the Defense Secretary level, signaling renewed momentum.” This event started in 2017 and it appears that Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud (who was elected to this position in 2022) did not wander in the situation, as it seems he went in and got the job done. This is no attack on its predecessor as the American administration had been dragging its feet since day one (a presumption that I am making) but now the good news is flying all over the Arabian peninsula and as I see it a defeat by horse no show through Iran. 

In opposition I see “Tel Aviv has repeatedly emphasized its right to maintain military superiority under U.S. law, which restricts Washington from supplying equivalent systems to neighboring states”, I am in opposition here as Iran is the danger and Israel knows this. Saudi Arabia had been adamant on protecting its own borders and this will do this. And as I see it, the Israeli response is (seemingly) ludicrous. With “Israeli officials and defense analysts have voiced concern that F-35 deliveries to Saudi Arabia could erode this advantage. They warn that potential technology transfers to Russia, China, or Iran—however speculative—could compromise sensitive systems.” It is a decent preemptive fear to have, but as Iran is no friend of Saudi Arabia and handing any technology to Russia would only make it stronger seems to be a weird fear to have. I get that Israel has these fears but as Saudi Arabia needs its own borders secure, I reckon that this is too far fetched a fear to have. It’s like I would have a fear being attacked by Piranha’s, all whist the closest lake is miles away. 

So I reckon that there will be salutes and felicitations going all over Riyadh at present.

Have a great day and don’t have too many dreams on Australia being attacked by Sopwith Camels, they don’t have the range to make it from Wellington to Sydney.

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A new PSP

Yup, we are about to go there, but first a thing that stumps me. They just approved the pay package of Elon Musk, 1 trillion dollars, or a million times a million dollars. That amounts to he is making what I will do in 50,000 years and he does it in one. So he made the lifetime equivalent of 600 people. I merely cannot grasp this amount. I can get against that. Honestly I do not get it. There is no oppressive setting, no envy, no jealousy (well, a little, and that is fair) and we see the setting. But do you? A board had to vote, even with this he is making them all money. And that is what matters in today’s industry. So think about that. Even beyond their settings of making THEM money, he is still doing that after getting a trillion dollars. We are that in the dark on what is coming after us all. But that is not what matters to me now. As I said, there is a new PSP on the horizon. It is not from Sony, it is from me. The Political Speculation Party. You see the world is changing and this morning I got the news from the BBC (at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce3xw3dw0zxo) ‘Nancy Pelosi announces retirement after decades in US Congress’ and we are given “Nancy Pelosi has announced her retirement from Congress, ending a decades-long career that saw the California Democrat become one of the most powerful figures in US politics.

In a video message on Thursday, Pelosi said she will not be seeking re-election to Congress at the end of her term in January 2027.” And then it hit me, with President Trump now hitting a low 37%, it means that even most of the Republicans want someone else and they will elect whomever get them out of this mess and it is fair to say that Nancy Pelosi is a real heavy weight and after President Trump messed up America, they will accept anyone that could make things better and as I see it Pelosi is the best the Democrats have. Nothing less will do and as I personally see it, The next president making it the 48th President is likely to become President Nancy Pelosi of California. 

Yes, it is a mere speculation as the there is plenty to go around, but the BBC article easily ‘very’ outspoken about things like “It marks the end of a storied political career: Pelosi, 85, became the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House and led her party in the lower chamber of Congress from 2003 until 2023.” This felt ‘off’ and when you think of it, Congresswoman Pelosi would make an excellent candidate. A setting that too many are ignoring and that would also hand the Democrats the first female American president in history and Nancy Pelosi is respected on both sides of the isle, especially from the times she was the 52nd Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. She made a good deal of friends during that time and as I see it, she would make a great president, especially after the one they have now. Well anyone would make a better president after the present one. But as he is loving his own spin, America is in a tailspin to the bottom of the deepest ocean and that has plenty of Republicans rattled, then there is the lack of funding America is dealing with, as such, as I personally see it, President Pelosi is their way out of a tailspin and there is the question if it will be soon enough. There is a lot more damage the current administration can do to before 2028. But that is what I see and there is little doubt that the next president will be a Democratic one, but will it become President Pelosi? 

Your guess is as good as mine, but that is why I call it the Speculation party, because I am not much of a political wielder, but I can see through the thick of BS and this is what I see. Do you see it differently? Feel free to enlighten the world. Have a great day today. 

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Assistance for Carney

Yup, that is the setting and this is not because it is anti-American, it might seem that way, but Australia is a Commonwealth nation. As such I stand with Canada. That being said, I need to meet with Director Burgess (ASIO), Director McCallum (MI5) and optionally Director Rogers (CSIS) as my data gave me disturbing insight on what has to be done, but that is for another day. Today is about support for Prime Minister Carney and as we are given (at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd04yde70jmo) ‘Carney plans billions in new spending in response to US tariff shocks’ where we are given “Billed an “investment budget” by the government, the fiscal plan increases Canada’s deficit to C$78bn ($55.3bn; £42.47bn), the second largest in history. The spending is offset by plans to attract C$1tn of investment into Canada over the next five years, with the federal government arguing more restrained spending would eliminate “vital social programmes” and funding for Canada’s future.” There is a side which I see (and the Prime minister with all his economic degrees will most definitely see) is the setting that America is in a tailspin of disaster. It was already handed to us by Microsoft (they lack energy to fuel AI expansions) and the connected settings are that America is lacking in energy, water and a few other settings. But together it shows that other parties who thought that America was a solution for them, it now turns out that Canada is a much better solution. With a surplus in water and energy, these new starters might be better of in Canada and when in Canada all kinds of Commonwealth benefits come their way (which also benefits the UK, New Zealand and Australia) and that card is seemingly not played enough (or at least the media isn’t alerting us to that fact). And the setting that now is a good time should be clear to all. Because as I see it, the diminished tourism in America will hollow out a few states and their the lack of employmancy will likely lead to nasty situations and from there other settings will also be affected. The Washington Post handed me ‘From groceries to gas, Americans say they’re spending more under Trump’ combine that with the shutdown and the setting that MSNBC hands us “Corporate giants Amazon, UPS and Target each announced layoffs in recent weeks totaling more than 60,000 jobs cut this year” with an additional “In the absence of the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ monthly jobs report, the layoff announcements have raised questions about the strength of the labor market and if it’s the start of an AI-driven, white-collar recession” and that is before other firms are tallied on that rack. When you combine these settings, the outlook is grim and that is where Canada could offer a safer setting for firms looking to sail to safer waters. Only an hour ago The Indian Express treated us to ‘IBM to cut thousands of jobs as tech layoff spree continues’ as they are telling us that this Q4  will impact over 2,700 jobs. When you add it all together, America might seem fine with all that willing workforce, but the cost of living is becoming massive. I predicted it months ago, but as we are seeing it unfold, the truth is that this Trump administration went from a Big Beautiful Bill to a simple Baboonic Bad Break and that is seen all over the world as a negative and America did this to themselves and as such it is now the opportunity of Canada to offer a safe haven to all those corporations that had America in their sights and whilst the shutdown continues they need alternatives and Canada is one (Australia is the other) And when these corporations move into Canada, it comes with needed jobs, driving down the unemployment setting of 7.1% It is unlikely to get driven down to the 6% it was, but as America keeps on breaking its China (likely plates from IKEA) there would be a drive towards Canada and as America kept on breaking the moral of its allies, the switch to Canada is seemingly a near easy sell. The fact that Space is available, safe drinking water is abundant and there is a surplus of energy (I said that already) but that setting is important because Microsoft admitted a few days ago that it did not have the electricity to push forward their AI plans. Do you think that this is a singular instance? You see, yesterday the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas gave us ‘Batteries, solar help keep the lights on in Texas but more needed’ and similar stories are rising in parts of America and that should discourage investors and those wanting to offer growth in their corporations, but there is Canada and the settings they have are clear. So as I see it, a clear case is made to move to Canada and ask I see it, a Prime Minister with economic degrees that baffles a tonne of Academics beats whatever America has to offer. There is a case to be made for America, but it requires all kinds of resources they seemingly do not have (or better stated no longer have). 

So am I making a case for the Commonwealth nation of Canada? Yup, I am and at times this is a perfectly valid case to embrace. 

So for those who want to find out where they want to stay in North America, look for the nation with the flag below

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Another party on the rise

That’s what I see as I took notice of the BBC article ‘City trader sues UBS for $400m after rate-rigging conviction quashed’ (at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz6ngvenxj6o). There is even a third setting on this horizon. We are given “A former trader who had his conviction quashed for “rigging” interest rates following a 10-year legal battle is suing his former employer UBS. Tom Hayes launched a legal claim for malicious prosecution against the Swiss banking giant, claiming he was the bank’s “hand-picked scapegoat” in one of the biggest scandals of the 2008 financial crisis. In July, Mr Hayes had his conviction overturned by the UK Supreme Court after it was ruled unfair. He had been jailed in 2015 for manipulating interest rates used for loans between banks.

Quashed as unfair? This calls into question a few issues. First there is the persecution. They either had the evidence, or they did not. Then the question becomes, how this evidence was obtained. I am not on the side of Tom Hayes, Im siding with the law, but all parties must do their due diligence. And on the other side The claim that he was a ‘hand picked scapegoat’ also requires proof (of some sort). Was he a convenient altar boy? Did he break any banking law? These are questions that come to mind. 

And the setting we are given is “The filing said Mr Hayes was taking legal action in a bid to “deter and punish UBS for its role in intentionally directing the destruction of an innocent man’s life for their own selfish reasons”. His lawyers claim the global banking giant misled US authorities with the aim of branding him the “evil mastermind” behind alleged Libor misconduct in an effort to protect its senior executives and minimise regulatory fines.

As I see it, to be branded ‘evil mastermind’ requires evidence of access and the simple facts that ‘others’ had his ears, did they? As it goes and as it tends to go, if he was a true ‘evil mastermind’ there is a lack of evidence, more a setting of assumed handed evidence through interviews. Was that the case? Then we get a much more sinister part. We are given “The complaint, filed in Connecticut, also claims UBS “gained control over the investigation into its own alleged misconduct” and conducted a “fundamentally flawed” investigation in order to pin the blame on Hayes. It added that UBS “offered Hayes up on a silver platter” to be prosecuted in both the US and the UK, and that those prosecutions were “engineered by UBS’s intentional false and misleading disclosures”.” The setting can be held as evidence. As I see it, The accusation of a “fundamentally flawed” investigation” could be investigated and seen as evidence on the whole. As well as “those prosecutions were “engineered by UBS’s intentional false and misleading disclosures”” at the time it might have been invisible, but now with time and the logs stamped as permanent it might be easier and after that amount of time, these people would have left their positions and now the UBS is on the hook. They will cry all points of mercy and that they didn’t know. But as I see it, we have in the first “senior executives and minimise regulatory fines”, that one raises the need for the fine to be upheld and even raised to at least $800 million and that is just for starters. The second setting is that the prosecution allowed a “gained control over the investigation into its own alleged misconduct” and that is, as I personally see it, on the heads of the prosecution. 

I think that Tom Hayes has a decent chance to walk away with a decent bundle of cash if he can proof even one of these accusations. The prosecution is decently tempted to withhold any assistance, but I see that as a wrongful act. They made the mess, they need to clean it up and as I see it, it is merely the first setting. You see, this comes out after 10 years. How long until someone at a bank gets to be clever and gets DML involved? That person merely needs to ask “How can I increase profit without breaking the law. What hurdles will I face?” That could get several non senior executives a pauplan that outstrips whatever they had their senior executives. A setting that some will see as amicable. So what happened in 2012 will not come to our shores twice a week. Is the prosecution ready for that? How many people will it convict allegedly innocent and after they spend their 5 year (or more) in Hotel Sing Sing, how much will these people claim at that point? It will be a while new party to come and everyone is invited to that setting.

Don’t believe me, wait for the second part of this musical because it will be awesome. The big banks self monitoring and they get to hand over billions for short sighted actions. It will be a grand new world to come. So have a great day and enjoy the payment of fines if you are due any.

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What happens when someone expands

That is the setting and Arab News gives us ‘How Greece and Saudi Arabia are redrawing the map of power’ (at https://arab.news/ytgve). This is not news for me, I saw this happens at least twice before and Greece is as good a place as any for the STC to expand as an second step beyond the few others and as they grow the European market becomes a reality. We are given “The relationship between Greece and Saudi Arabia, long anchored in commerce and maritime exchange, is rapidly evolving into a strategic alliance that spans energy, investment, technology and defense”, as well as “Digital infrastructure is emerging as the new trade route. The East to Med Data Corridor — a joint venture between Greece’s telecom operators and Saudi Arabia’s STC — will connect Gulf data hubs to European markets through undersea cables. Due for completion in 2026, it complements Saudi investments in cloud infrastructure and Greece’s ambition to serve as the EU’s digital bridge. When operational, it will transform geography into bandwidth, reviving the ancient logic of the Aegean and the Red Sea as conduits of exchange.” I initially (around 2020) thought that this would be done through Egypt and then Spain, and that it is now seemingly through Greece makes perfect sense and it won’t hurt the Greek economy one bit and mike make them renowned business partners all over Europe. And whilst we are given “Security cooperation has deepened alongside it. Since 2021, Greek air defense units have been stationed in Saudi Arabia to help protect critical energy facilities from aerial threats — an unprecedented deployment that underscores mutual trust. Athens now views Gulf stability as part of Europe’s own security; Riyadh sees Greece as a dependable partner with NATO experience and Mediterranean reach.” We need to see that the finance industry also benefits with “Greek finance is reinforcing this momentum. Eurobank, the National Bank of Greece and Piraeus Bank have expanded trade finance and advisory services for Greek and Saudi firms in energy, transport and technology. Their involvement adds institutional depth, translating political goodwill into bankable projects.” I have to admit that I am in the dark as to how that Greek finance horse is mounting up to be, but I reckon that if it fits the Saudi setting it must be decently good.

As we are handed the setting of “For Riyadh, partnership with an EU and NATO member provides credibility and access to Europe’s energy and technology debates. For Athens, alignment with Saudi Arabia amplifies its influence in a region where Europe’s energy and digital future are being decided. The Strategic Cooperation Council formalizes what business leaders had already recognized: the Greek-Saudi axis is not transactional but structural — a long-term bet on shared diversification and stability. The logic is clear. Greek forces helping defend Saudi energy infrastructure serve European as well as Saudi interests. The cables and inter-connectors binding the two nations reinforce both sovereignties. In an age of fractured supply chains, energy transition and digital rivalry, Athens and Riyadh are betting on connectivity as power.” And I do set this piece of writing to the views of Dr. John Sfakianakis, who is Chief Economist and Head of Economic Research at the Gulf Research Center as it was (as I see it) well written and for me that is shown with how easily and clearly it was written. Most economic pieces become a jumble of incomprehensible words after the first line starting with “Good morning”, this is clearly my problem as I lack an economic degree, but the expansion of Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Telecom Company (STC) was bound to grow as per 2018, it made perfect sense and it makes even more sense now, especially with the administration that America is showing to have. Europe will be happy to find a non-American partner to start with and Greece is accepted as an EU partner and a NATO partner, so I expect a lot more to happen, especially as Saudi Telecom under 5G is over 700% faster than what America has to offer, as such the benefit for EU telecom corporations is easily seen, the picture below shows that benefit (an image from 2020). And this will foster a lot of benefits in the Telecom and media settings under 5G as plenty of corporations will see, the fact that the Saudi setting is over 300% faster then what the UK or German speeds have is just icing on the cake for the European companies in the equation.

Saudi Arabia is expanding and Europe is about to see the benefits from this setting. It might not be an entirely accurate setting, but it is what I see and I reckon that this will benefit China to some degree as well as the future of expanded media is hindering the America spin systems. For China it implies a two for one deal as this expands the BRICS needs in several directions. I personally see Saudi Arabia as sitting on the fence as a stage that benefit Saudi Arabia more than anything, it stops American blunt media streaks from going after them and it allows Saudi Arabia to get a foot in the door with Europe. I might be wrong here, but that is how I saw that news last May. With Saudi Arabia sitting on the fence the American media channels are seemingly in a holding pattern, which is beneficial to this setting.

So have a great day and it is about time I fly towards the city this morning (it is achieved by taking the train and drinking a red bull for breakfast) I wonder if my wings are as impressive as the ones Tom Ellis had in Lucifer. Does that make me a fashion bitch? Still yesterday breakfast in Vancouver, so I am a day ahead from them for now.

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Tourism in the toilet

I have probably never seen any country throw his tourism industry in the toilet before like America has. Every country has its own methods and settings but 5 hours ago Canadian and the rest of the world got a rude awakening as to how this goes. CBC’s own Sophia Harris gives us in two broadcast the setting on how Canadians are for overthrown into the ‘dislike America’ setting. And the new rule is taking part this Friday. As of Friday every Canadian traveling to the US will have to supply their biometrics to America and it is given to us in “The United States is expanding its facial biometrics program with the goal of collecting images of non-U.S. citizens at entry and exit points at all airports, seaports and land borders”, as I see it, this will down Tourism a further 10%-15% and it is not in a nonchalant notion, “Just before getting on the plane, he says two uniformed officers approached him on the boarding ramp (Jetway), and one took his photo. “I was aghast. I felt ambushed,” said Shepell, a noted Canadian psychologist. He says the men never explained who they were or why he was photographed.” There is a found stretch coming from America (me quoting Hamlet). As we are given “CBP is expanding the program with the goal of collecting images of departing passengers at all international U.S. airports. The agency also plans to take photos of travelers when they enter and exit the country at all sea ports, and in vehicle lanes at land borders. CBP told CBC News it expects to have facial biometric technology fully in place at land borders sometime next year. Full implementation at sea ports and airports is expected within the next three to five years.” I reckon that this is data related and that is how America just lost a whole heap of tourists, because this makes (as speculated by some) Russia just a little more customer friendly. With the added “The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a new rule on Friday that makes it mandatory for non-U.S. citizens, including Canadians, to take part in its facial biometrics program. The regulation is set to take effect on Dec. 26 — even though full implementation of the program could take years. According to the rule, photos taken of foreign travelers will remain on a DHS database for up to 75 years.” As I personally see it, having my records somewhere is not what I fear, what I fear is American opportunity selling it to every tech boss in the world and them having a go at my details. And I can’t wait to report on how the DHS accidentally got hacked and our details are now with most of the cyber criminals in America and beyond. It is merely a waiting process, this is a ticking time bomb that will go boom in the night mark my words, And this all is something we were given by the same reporter a week ago with 

Canadian snowbirds fingerprinted and photographed at U.S. border as part of new requirement’ on October 19th. As I see it, it shows that America had long standing interests in who is in their country “Several Canadian snowbirds reported they were fingerprinted and photographed at the U.S. border this month when registering for their winter stay, which U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) told CBC News is now standard procedure. 

Jacquie and Steve Ree of Ladysmith, B.C., arrived at the Peace Arch Border Crossing between Surrey, B.C., and Blaine, Wash., on Oct. 9.” The part that gets me is that they need these records on all the Canadian snowbirds as well. These people tend to have locations in America, they have their place and that was making them feel fine. I reckon that they might pick up and transfer to Australia or New Zealand in that same setting as they can get a better deal in these places and as I see it there are express ways to rely on this setting. No mater how we see it, America just scuttled their own tourism boat for the foreseeable future. We might not have liked who ran that place, but now we have seemingly valid concerns on how we are processed in America. I wonder how this is handled in the long run. A setting that DHS never considered is that America had in the past 72.39 million international tourists on an annual setting. There is a decent chance that this number goes down by a bit, but even if it decreases to 39 million, that implies that these 39 million biometric scans will occupy at least one data centre especially as it requires holding for 75 years. And these people will wonder what happens to these details now. 

Yup, I reckon that money spend on the Epic Universe was a little over enthusiastic at present, or at least its crown management issues are now decently solved by the Department of Homeland Security. So there is that.

Have a great day, and to the Snowbirds of Canada I say, come to Australia, we welcome you (New Zealand too) they have Auckland with temperatures of Auckland and Northland often reaching 28–30°C during their summer (December-February).

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