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It’s difficult to make predictions, especially about the future…

It’s difficult to make predictions, especially about the future…

…so said Niels Bohr.  Or Karl Kristian Steincke, or a Danish proverb – take your pick.  In any event, PB posters found it rather tough to make accurate predictions this year.  In January 2024 we launched a PB Prediction Competition with 10 questions and a scoring scheme that generally allocated 20 points for a correct answer and 10 points for a near-miss.  We had 82 entrants.  Here are the questions with their answers and some commentary where appropriate:    1….

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The annual St John PB Christmas crossword

The annual St John PB Christmas crossword

Political Crossword Clues 2024 Across 1.) Former mayor in Germany’s capital rejected by minister (6) 5.   President or Prime Minister represented in slow motion (6) 9.   Tory has upset stomach and the runs (9) 10. Brown reflected over political alliance (4)  11.  Political thinker bonds with opponents around a table (6)  12.  Imperialist suspicious over America being taken in (3,5)  14. Pardon minister’s assistant spinning over a message (8)  16. Red or nearly Blue (4)  18. Dictator for a…

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The Planning Problem

The Planning Problem

Simple problem, difficult answer We haven’t been building enough. Although it’s not the only culprit behind outrageous house prices, it’s the most conspicuous one. Sort out house prices, and a lot of other things go some way to sorting themselves out.We also have an issue with failing infrastructure and apparent inability to build more without astonishing cost and time and incredible piles of paperwork. These are related in one single problem: planning is a broken process. It’s a simple problem…

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Guest slot from Moonrabbit

Guest slot from Moonrabbit

After much political drama these past years, now elections are out the way, isn’t it time for a dose of honesty, not just between us, but even to ourselves? And as much as it is fun seeing cocky Labour find every week is long and hard in government, and I’ve enjoyed rubbing it in alongside a great many other PB posters, I have decided that to be taken seriously, the best thing is to be more honest about it now….

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Hell

Hell

INTRODUCTION A few days ago Cyclefree wrote an article on the assisted dying bill. I promised I’d reply but when I came to write it my mind moved to points orthogonal to a simple point-counterpoint and my article took on a life of its own. Consequently I present it to you here, not in an attempt to provide answers but pose questions, which I hope you will consider. RELIGION We speak rarely of religion in these secular times, but I…

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Irish General Election Predictions [Part 2/2] Constituencies F – W

Irish General Election Predictions [Part 2/2] Constituencies F – W

I hope you all appreciated part one. Part two will have slightly more insight. The odds have been taken from William Hill [as of 24/11/2024]. Galway East [4 Seats] This constituency is very intriguing. FG have decided to field three candidates in attempting to return two TDs, however I believe this will backfire and they might only return one TD. Sean Canney (Independent), odds: 1/12Albert Dolan (Fianna Fail), odds: 4/11Pete Roche (Fine Gael), odds: 2/5Louis O’Hara (Sinn Fein), odds: 11/4…

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Irish General Election Predictions [Part 1/2] C & D Constituencies

Irish General Election Predictions [Part 1/2] C & D Constituencies

With only a few days to the election, I wanted to share some insight to the upcoming Irish Election. Ireland is currently experiencing many issues including the housing crisis alongside the immigration problem. All the odds will be from William Hill [as of 22/11/2024]. Carlow – Kilkenny [5 Seats] Fianna Fáil are gearing up to attempt a hat-trick, however the Irish Election is set to be competitive and I believe they will be content returning two TDs. Jennifer Murnane O’Connor…

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Trumped – why the Democrats lost and what they need to do next

Trumped – why the Democrats lost and what they need to do next

We all expected a nail-biter that would take a week to decide. In the end, it wasn’t even that close. The Democrats are going to have do some serious soul searching and here are some of the lessons, I think they need to learn. NB: one area I won’t focus on is the economy. It definitely cost the Democrats but is something that was less in their control (The Fed like the BOE was slow to raise rates when inflation…

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