If you're not in the U.S., what's up in your part of the world? Showing 1,551-1,600 of 3,266

[Ian]

Then he is probably in deep brown stuff

[Nik]

Novak's visa is cancelled again: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/...

[Ian]

You got into that quick, Nik. I thought I might have some news to post, but no. It was supposed to be in the public interest, and on health grounds. That is for those who can't get Nik's link, which includes me because of a pay-wall.

[[deleted user]]

Andrew deserved what was coming to him (and more) but he’s possibly not the worst royal offender. Some historians have suggested that Prince Albert Edward Victor, Duke of Clarence, Queen Victoria's grandson and heir presumptive to the throne of England, was Jack the Ripper:

https://www.jack-the-ripper-tour.com/....

[Nik]

Royal born killer?

[[deleted user]]

MI5 warns Chinese Government agent active in UK Parliament and sought to subvert political process

https://news.sky.com/story/mi5-has-wa...

Explains why our country has seemingly been trying to destroy itself for the last 5 years.

So, how many more spies and in how many countries' parliaments?

[[deleted user]]

Alright, members of the public who are interested in history. Maybe 'historians' was pushing it a bit ;)

[J.]

Beau wrote: "Andrew deserved what was coming to him (and more) but he’s possibly not the worst royal offender. Some historians have suggested that Prince Albert Edward Victor, Duke of Clarence, Queen Victoria's..."

When you get a chance, look up pics of King George V and Tsar Nicolas II. Quite a resemblance isn't it? Now that you're used to that face, look up Kaiser Wilhelm II. Think that he could pass for George and Nicolas' older brother? Why do think that is?

(view spoiler)[They all had the same grandmother, Victoria. So you can now see that a syphilitic duke was far from the most blood stained of Victoria's grandchildren. (hide spoiler)]

[Ian]

On a slightly different note, last evening NZ had bursts of strange sounds - they were sonic booms from the Tongan volcanic eruption. That is about 2,500 km away, so it must have been bad in Tonga. The volcano is sending ash 20 km upwards, so it will be spectacular, as long as you are not too close.

Our TV coverage had the tsunami surges there, and they will be spoiling some of our holiday-makers. From Christmas on towards mid January there are many who go to coastal places to camp and enjoy the beach. There are tsunami warnings out, and given we have good weather now they won't be pleased. Just to annoy them more, Cyclone Cody will miss us, but not by enough that it will not be sending in fairly massive waves to add to any tsunami.

[J.]

Ian wrote: "On a slightly different note, last evening NZ had bursts of strange sounds - they were sonic booms from the Tongan volcanic eruption. That is about 2,500 km away, so it must have been bad in Tonga...."

It's massive. NOAA satellites recorded it from orbit.
https://youtu.be/v2TlhBT9fuQ

I would expect a colder winter in the southern hemisphere, this year.

[Ian]

The Australian Federal Court has ruled the Minister has the power under the act, and Novak will be deported.

[Nik]

Ian wrote: "The Australian Federal Court has ruled the Minister has the power under the act, and Novak will be deported."

Yeah, I see Morrison is happy: https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn... . According to him the decision will help "... keep Australians safe"
I just wonder how a healthy person can make Australians unsafe?

[Nik]

Ian wrote: "On a slightly different note, last evening NZ had bursts of strange sounds - they were sonic booms from the Tongan volcanic eruption. That is about 2,500 km away, so it must have been bad in Tonga...."

Enjoy the show. Wonder whether tsunami can quash the volcano? :)

[Ian]

Nik wrote: "Ian wrote: "The Australian Federal Court has ruled the Minister has the power under the act, and Novak will be deported."

Yeah, I see Morrison is happy: https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn......"

Never heard of antivaxx riots? European ones have been on our TV. Then there are the people who are obeying the Australian laws on vaccine passports, etc, and how are they going to behave when a privileged and entitled one goes into public places and disobeys the law? (Another point is to consider what happens occasionally when football teams of players of Serbian origin play those of Croation origin!)

But safety should have been irrelevant to the court. The visa was cancelled under the discretionary right of an act of parliament. Either the Act gave such discretionary right or it did not. Unless there were some other Act that over-rode that, what choice did the court have? The court has to enforce the law - it cannot simply ignore it.

[Ian]

Nik wrote: "Ian wrote: "On a slightly different note, last evening NZ had bursts of strange sounds - they were sonic booms from the Tongan volcanic eruption. That is about 2,500 km away, so it must have been b..."

No. Ever heard of Krakatoa?

[J.]

Tonga is a poisonous b****. Her magma has a high concentration of sulfur dioxide. When she erupts, that sulfur dioxide gas comes out of solution, explosively.

Worse still, the hot gasses rush into the upper atmosphere where they form a brownish haze which along with the suspended ash cloud blocks sunlight, lowering surface temperatures. Following the eruption of Krakatoa global temperatures dropped dramatically. (New England experienced snow in July.) As the recent eruption was far less powerful than Krakatoa, we can expect that the climatic impact will be a <5° drop, limited to the southern hemisphere.

The sulfur dioxide will come out of the atmosphere as acid rain. The acid rain warnings began in December.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/p...

[Nik]

Ian wrote: "No. Ever heard of Krakatoa?..."

Not much, but looked it up.. Sounds comparable to Tunguska event

[Nik]

Ian wrote: "Never heard of antivaxx riots?..."

That's another thing that is totally out of normal. Not a thing on our TV, nothing - not locally, not internationally. I feel like Chernobyl again - when they just black out anything that goes against the state propaganda

[Ian]

Nik wrote: "Ian wrote: "Never heard of antivaxx riots?..."

That's another thing that is totally out of normal. Not a thing on our TV, nothing - not locally, not internationally. I feel like Chernobyl again - ..."

Saw a clip on TV tonight. Somewhere in Europe, people throwing rocks at some presumably government building, police with batons. IO have seen a few of these so I don't take much notice of the details, sorry.

[Ian]

Nik wrote: "Ian wrote: "No. Ever heard of Krakatoa?..."

Not much, but looked it up.. Sounds comparable to Tunguska event"

What happened appears to be that this volcanic island blew out a side, the sea rushed in and wham - really sizable tsunami. The eruption killed somewhere between 36,400 officially listed people and maybe up to 100,000.

In a sense the Tongan one was fairly predictable. A local geologist who studies volcanoes apparently dated previous big explosions at about 200 AD and 1100 AD, so 2122 is, if anything, a little delayed. The big problem for Tongans right now is ash. It is everywhere, and presumably covering all their crops. Given the ash usually has sulphuric acid on it, it is not good.

[[deleted user]]

J. wrote: "When you get a chance, look up pics of King George V and Tsar Nicolas II. Quite a resemblance isn't it? Now that you're used to that face, look up Kaiser Wilhelm II. Think that he could pass for George and Nicolas' older brother? Why do think that is?"

Just had a look and the resemblances are uncanny. Point taken on spoiler :)

[[deleted user]]

Interesting and informative posts on Tonga, Ian and J.

Nik, you're spot on about news blackouts. It's one of the many reasons that I'm convinced the whole response hasn't been above board. That said, heck of a lot of high-profile UK media figures now trying to cover their arses and back-track on their past support for lockdowns. There's a bit of a sea change. Not as good as in Denmark, though, where a major newspaper has publically apologised for not questioning the government narrative:

https://www.news.com.au/finance/busin...

Apologies, won't mention covid on this thread again but must provide you with a quote from the article:

Weichardt wrote that for nearly two years, both the press and the public had been “almost hypnotically preoccupied” with authorities’ daily coronavirus updates, obsessing over infections, hospitalisations and deaths, as the significance of the “smallest movements” was “laid out by experts, politicians and authorities, who have constantly warned us about the dormant corona monster under our beds”.

Sound familiar to anyone outside Denmark?

[J.]

From Canada:

Books deemed 'harmful to staff and students' are being removed from region's public school libraries
https://www.cambridgetoday.ca/local-n...

[[deleted user]]

J. wrote: "From Canada:

Books deemed 'harmful to staff and students' are being removed from region's public school libraries
https://www.cambridgetoday.ca/local-n......"

Ha, ha, ha! Once again, American conservatives, thank you for your tireless work battling this strange cult. If you weren't there, we'd all go the same way as Canada. You are keeping your country (and ours) relatively sane.

[Nik]

Once they weed out Flies, Mockingbird and Handmaid, they'll move Marx to the front shelf.

[[deleted user]]

Australian Senator: ‘Freedom loving people will not turn a blind eye to China’s human rights abuses’

https://www.skynews.com.au/opinion/fr...

Pot, kettle, black from the land that self-awareness forgot.

[Scout]

I've always been against banning books. In Fairfax, Virginia, parents asked the school board to remove 2 books from the shelves: The two speakers at the Thursday meeting, a Fairfax parent and a woman who said she was a former teacher, also alleged that the books — “Lawn Boy” by Jonathan Evison and “Gender Queer” by Maia Kobabe — contain depictions of pedophilia, a charge that Evison denied. The Board removed the books pending investigation.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/...

A week later, "A school board in Virginia has reversed a recent decision to remove “sexually explicit” books from school libraries after the move stirred community outrage and drew harsh national criticism — especially over two board members’ apparent suggestion to burn the books." https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/...

So, should sexually explicit books be available in public school libraries?

[J.]

Lolita seems inappropriate for elementary schoolers. Yet it might be a reasonable selection for some high schoolers. There's probably a tipping point, somewhere between. But who is qualified to decide where that point sits?

[Ian]

I think the tipping point is a bit arbitrary, but we have always been happy to have restrictions on films, etc, so why not books? It may be a bit arbitrary, but so what? The important thing, in my view, is no outright ban.

[Nik]

Novak is not allowed to play and spectators are not allowed to ask where Peng Shuai is? https://au.sports.yahoo.com/australia...
Ridiculous, Australia :)

[Papaphilly]

Scout wrote: "I've always been against banning books. In Fairfax, Virginia, parents asked the school board to remove 2 books from the shelves: The two speakers at the Thursday meeting, a Fairfax parent and a wom..."

Describe sexually explicit book.

[[deleted user]]

I knew my energy bills were going to go up (was expecting c.50%) but found out yesterday that they're rising by more than 100%! This comes on top of imminent tax rises to pay more to the NHS (read to start meeting the bill for the scam response to the pandemic).

Thinking that I should get my toothache sorted before my disposable income falls, I contacted the dentist only to find out that there's a 2-year waiting list for an appointment, so I'm going to have to go private and pay private fees.

Meanwhile, the UK media is obsessing about Boris's numerous parties in lockdown. Ha, ha, ha! Nero fiddled while Rome burnt.

[Nik]

Beau wrote: "....Meanwhile, the UK media is obsessing about Boris's numerous parties in lockdown. Ha, ha, ha! Nero fiddled while Rome burnt. ..."

Cut him some slack. I'm sure many of his fellow countrymen weren't exactly meticulous with quarantine either. We know Boris is not a saint. None of them are. What's left apart from a bit of partying? :) I'm an outsider, but my friend from London also doesn't see a better alternative...

[[deleted user]]

Hey, Nik, I have cut him some slack. I said on the covid thread that I want him to stay...for now. But a few months down the line I'd like to see Steve Baker emerge as our new PM. I completely agree with your friend, btw. I won't be voting Labour again. The overwhelming majority of people I know are of the same feeling...Boris is bad but he's the least worst option.

[[deleted user]]

On the quarantine, it's not that I'm bothered about him breaking the rules, it's that he imposed them in the first place. Yes, they would've been far stricter under Labour and we'd still have them now, so that's something to be grateful for. Thanks Boris :)

[Ian]

Beau wrote: "I knew my energy bills were going to go up (was expecting c.50%) but found out yesterday that they're rising by more than 100%! This comes on top of imminent tax rises to pay more to the NHS (read ..."

As for the NHS they need more money because someone has to pay for what befell the hospitals because of the pandemic. The choices were lockdown, pay the hospitals, or let all and sundry take their chances and pay the undertakers. Basic economics - no free lunches.

[Papaphilly]

Ian wrote: "Beau wrote: "I knew my energy bills were going to go up (was expecting c.50%) but found out yesterday that they're rising by more than 100%! This comes on top of imminent tax rises to pay more to t..."

But I thought the hospitals and medical were free...

[Ian]

And you are an American. Obviously an extremely healthy one since you haven't caught up with American hospital prices.

[Ian]

Μeanwhile, my morning paper informs me there is a very strong and robust steel shed for sale. Many long corridors leading to windowless and sound-proofed rooms where "one could do whatever one wanted". Location - somewhere out from Vilnius. Only one previous owner - the CIA.

[[deleted user]]

Papaphilly wrote: "But I thought the hospitals and medical were free..."

Aha, nicely put, Papaphilly. What is really free and what is sort of free, that is the question?

Basically, everyone who works in the UK makes National Insurance contributions. These are different to income tax contributions and shown separately on a pay slip. Both employees and employers make these payments. They’re not as much as income tax but still pretty hefty. Part of the NI contributions go towards funding the NHS, so everyone who works pays for their healthcare but that healthcare should be free at the point of consumption and there’s no limit on how much you can use it. So, in some ways it’s ‘free’, in other ways it’s not.

The NHS was set up just after WWII. Almost universally, Brits think that it has been a good thing. The only people who have generally opposed its existence are fringe conservatives, who would prefer a market-based model. However, in recent years, it’s started to encounter more problems. Some people say that’s because it’s underfunded, others argue that it’s because elements of it have been privatised, while a growing number think it’s become too inefficient, wasteful and bureaucratic.

As you might expect, the pandemic/ response to the pandemic exacerbated its problems. While there is no question that elements of the NHS were rushed off their feet and operated in extremely stressful and dangerous circumstances, other areas were incredibly quiet. This was down to a combination of certain treatments, operations and the like being cancelled, plus patients being scared off going to hospital after the Government’s frightening covid advertising. Whatever the rights and wrongs of it all, this has resulted in huge waiting lists (running into years) for many important procedures. It also seems to have resulted in GPs vanishing. I say this because it is incredibly difficult to see one in person now – they appear to want to carry out their appointments online or by telephone, rather than doing traditional face to face appointments.

All this is going to take a very long time to rectify. Well, either that or the NHS will cease to exist in its present form. I don't know what will happen. We'll just have to wait and see.

[Ian]

NZ has some similar problems. Here the health system is paid for out of general taxation, but governments tend to want to save money so there are waiting lists for certain procedures that are optional, like hip replacements. You can pay and get them done immediately (well, more or less - you make an appointment) in a private hospital.

But there is a problem with a number of doctors starting to retire at the same time. I think it is a consequence of the "baby boomers". A certain number of them trained up and flooded the available positions. By the 1970s there was a period where training new doctors fell away, and now the "trough" has worked its way through.

[J.]

In the US, we have one constitutionally mandated enterprise, the United States Postal Service. The US Constitution requires Congress to "establish Post Offices and post Roads”. The government has decided that that means a constitutional monopoly. Therefore it is illegal to quote letter rates lower than the USPS. As you can imagine, nobody is satisfied with the postal service.

I'm not sure that going down a similar road with health care is a good idea.

[Ian]

There are two competing philosophies: (a) you get what you pay for; (b) you charge what the market will bear. In each case the poor tend to have problems. The advantage of the government running it is the voters have the opportunity to sharpen the politician's attention to health.

I am not sure post offices are a good example. Most post offices have problems because the flow of letters is seriously diminished thanks to email, and couriers raid other parts of the market. There is no immediate danger of health services dying out by everyone getting remarkably healthy.

[[deleted user]]

Our post office split from the Royal Mail in 2013 when the latter went private. IMO, both services have since declined. I know quite a few posties and they have all said that it became worse to work for too, as a lot of their benefits disappeared. Could be wrong, but Royal Mail only appear to take on part-time workers now.

Regarding medical services, I had an email from my dentist yesterday, which shed some light on the dentistry shortages the UK is currently facing. A lot of dentists are leaving the public sector for the private sector (I already knew that), but interestingly they also said that a growing number of female dentists are requesting part-time hours (presumably for a better work/ life balance). Considering the level of training required for this profession, looks like there won't be any quick fix to the problems.

(Also, should note that in the UK there is obviously private healthcare available across the board too.)

[Ian]

Nothing wrong with wanting a better work-life balance. They are not slaves.

[Scout]

Papa, regarding "sexually explicit," I guess the best way to address that question is whether you'd want your child to be exposed to the content of a book that addresses practices you haven't felt the need to deal with at home. Do you want a pre-adolescent child to deal with the complicated issues of homosexuality and transgender identity when you haven't even had "the talk" with them?

[Papaphilly]

Scout wrote: "Papa, regarding "sexually explicit," I guess the best way to address that question is whether you'd want your child to be exposed to the content of a book that addresses practices you haven't felt ..."

It depends on what you think is preferable. I am not poking you in all honesty, but you make a great point for me. It comes down to that balance line and that is never easy or defnable. I know plenty of people that think The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is perfect American literature and is the classic to teach. Yet I also know many that would never want it in school at all due to some of the words. Who is right?

Now your explicit question: I think you are right about trying to determine an appropriate age. Once again it is never going to be easy or agreeable. If you think transgendered and homosexuality is just horrible, then when is there an appropriate age? Even myself that tends to be a bit more liberal and blase on these subjects has a very hard time figuring when it is a good time or how much should be discussed. I am very cognizant of the fact that as children start to discover their sexuality, it is a landmine field for them. They are discovering and questioning their own way; do I want to be the guy that accidentally pushes them into something?

We cannot even agree whether Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets should be taught in school or allowed to be read and we are going to agree on a much harder topic?

While I certainly agree that parents should be involved in their childs education, I am not sure they should have the last word.

[Ian]

Meanwhile Ukraine provides news here. On TV we had a clip of Boris of the unruly hair announce that Ukraine will be defended against Russian aggression (with Ukrainian blood). The alert and quick Biden has sent 3000 troops to Poland and Romania as a consequence of Russian aggression - and seemingly forgot to tell them. When asked about his statement that he would send 8500 troops if Russia showed more aggression and what was the aggression, the answer to the first question was, "these are different troops - the 8,500 are still in the US."

That is illuminating. Zelensky has apparently told both of them to stop stirring things up. Looks like Boris and Joe are having trouble with their poll ratings back home.

Meanwhile, some real local news. An unfortunate mix of blocking highs is funnelling heavy rain onto the West coast of the South Island (something like a third of a meter in six hours) cutting the only road to the Haast pass. A waterfall which goes under a really deep gorge that is bridged has apparently filled the gorge and is pouring down the road. Only two more days of this rain to go, according to W Forecast. Meanwhile, the North Island drought continues.

[Nik]

Ian wrote: "Meanwhile Ukraine provides news here. On TV we had a clip of Boris of the unruly hair announce that Ukraine will be defended against Russian aggression (with Ukrainian blood). The alert and quick B..."

Ian, call Vlad, as far as I read NATO is ready to undertake not to deploy missiles in Ukraine and discuss their deployment in Europe in general, just as you'd suggested: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/0...
citing: "....According to El Pais, the U.S. and NATO’s proposed areas of negotiation with Russia include:

– “conditions-based reciprocal transparency measures” where Russia and the U.S. would agree not to deploy offensive ground-launched missile systems and troops in Ukraine.

– arms control for ground-based intermediate and shorter-range missiles and their launchers.

– arms control for U.S. and Russian nuclear weapons, including “non-strategic nuclear weapons.”

– a “transparency mechanism” to verify the absence of Tomahawk cruise missiles at NATO bases in Romania and Bulgaria, which Moscow fears could reach Russian territory...."

Weather wise, despite the global warming, we just had the coldest Jan in 14 years...

[Ian]

Whereas I suspect we had the hottest Jan on record. (The holiday season here is coming to an end so maybe soon I shall find out.)