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You don't get many mopeds on L plates in segregated cycle lanes, going the wrong way down streets, jumping lights, etc though whereas they're all pretty common with e-bikes in NY. When I was cycling there it was perfectly normal for them to be heading at you in the wrong direction on a cycle path.

Tim Peake explains his time on the moon

https://twitter.com/scottygb/status/923510771354652673

Ha! He’s ignoring you too

Galling.

Sounds like he's insured his anus.

Wonder why the Donald has kept 3000 of the Kennedy files under wraps?

they're probably the ones implicating the fbi / cia
which is what i guess you are implying by the question

they're probably the ones implicating the fbi / cia

Given he's been casting aspersions about his own national security orgs, I don't think that would stop him publishing.

I think someone suggested earlier in this thread that the release of these files is a non-event, seeing as the secrecy-thingie was due to expire soon anyway?

Yeah, but he's pushed some back to stop them being released with the others.

Cataluña, vaya putada.

Wow!

They'll be in the EU.

Spain can veto that.

Plus the EU has backed Madrid to the hilt.

My in laws are basques with most of them living in and near Barcelona. To say that they’re pissed off and worried is the understatement of the century.

It’s Brexit MKII

The situation in Catalonia feels very odd.

43% turnout to the referendum, 90% voted in favor of leaving Spain. Many prevented from voting by police, some through fear. Were the non voters more likely to be pro Spain or more moderate in general?

~52% or parliament votes for independence due to 60 MPs walking out in protest at the vote being invalid.

So... 38% of the electorate voted leave and 52% of MPs backed them up.

Just feels like this is being rushed tbh.

Outside Gaudi Park, Barcelona on Tuesday ...

1 Attachment

Sounds familiar. except the 90% in favour part.

The whole thing is a farce. I wonder what the reporting would be like if this was happening in say an African state(?).

Within reason I respect the right of any group to be independent, but it's hard not to think if the independence movement had any faith in the credibility of the ref they would have followed due process.

This is now a win-win situation for them. They can crack on and discredit the govt, or negotiate and eventually gain more concessions and/or a fully Madrid-backed referendum in the future.

On a purely anecdotal point, a Spaniard I know thinks a significant motivation is protecting Andorra's tax status and to cover up financial improprieties (theft, laundering, evasion, etc.). Be curious if anyone with knowledge on the region has view on that.

Amusingly, Val D’Aran is now proposing to secede from Catalonia. I’m guessing so that they can stay in Spain.

I don't see any wins in anyone's future here. Neither side is willing to negotiate, and Spain has already made it clear that they're ready to roll in the big guns and shut down the Catalan government by force. It's beyond me how people can be celebrating in the street when the near future holds bloodshed and even less autonomy than before. Puigdemont is a lunatic and in way over his head. I'm Catalan, grew up in bcn and support independence but not like this.

+1, I can't see a way that this ends which is positive.

So does anyone yet have a handle on how the Russians influenced this one?

I'm Catalan, grew up in bcn and support independence but not like this.

#rep

So... 38% of the electorate voted leave and 52% of MPs backed them up.

It's depressing how many people I know who are

1. Anti-Brexit
   
2. Anti-Trump
   
3. Completely pro-Catalan independence without any thought to the complexities
   
   

Seems other people's nationalism can be exotic.

The Catalan president has gamed this very well. If the Spanish government had been smarter, the Catalan nationalists would have had an illegal referendum that more than half the population boycotted because they didn't want it or see it as valid. Now the story, as largely seen from outside Spain, is plucky oppressed people facing down brutal centralist government.