World, Writing, Wealth discussion
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If you're not in the U.S., what's up in your part of the world?
The opinion piece you'd placed mentions no cooperation btw CIA and Ukraine prior to 2014. If Bush was such a push (and those who followed), why isn't Ukraine in NATO?
Nik wrote: "The opinion piece you'd placed mentions no cooperation btw CIA and Ukraine prior to 2014. If Bush was such a push (and those who followed), why isn't Ukraine in NATO?"Nik, I answered Papaphilly because he had not said much about this issue, but as I said earlier, this needs to be a Ukraine-free thread. There has to be one of them :-). If you were to remove the three offending posts elsewhere I would willingly answer, but this thread has to be available for the "rest of the world".
Funny that you mention it after a week and probably a few dozens posts
In Post 2948 I wrote: "We have been off-topic for about 30 posts, and yes, I have been as guilty of that as anyone." Yours is 7 posts later, not "a few dozen". But my pont remains -can't we have the "rest of the world" Ukraine-free?
So, what's up in your part of the world, Ian?
The new government is firing a lot of civil servants to reduce costs. I agree with the principle - there are far too many sitting in offices passing memoranda amongst each other and doing nothing useful. However, what bothers me is the firing is done by managers, and they need firing for getting into this mess, but they won't fire themselves. More immediately we have signs of global warming. In the last two days the town I grew up in had 0.8 metres of rain. That is a lot.
Finally, the TV channels seem detrmined to reduce staff in the news programs. Channel three, which got sold to Warners, is firing the whole news team. This is not good for democracy.
Who says you need an unbiased news? Just look at the U.S......8^)
There is no response to that one :-) except, maybe, we are in danger of no news service. Maybe that would be better???
Ian wrote: "There is no response to that one :-) except, maybe, we are in danger of no news service. Maybe that would be better???"At this point, I am not so sure it would be a bad idea.
At the moment the UK seems to be trying to decide what side it's on on about a million different issues. 'Election year' would appear to be all that really matters.
Nice to see someone else from the UK on here, Sean.
I've got to be honest, I'm struggling to get excited about election year.
How do you see it going? Do you think the pollsters are right and Labour will win a large majority?
I've got to be honest, I'm struggling to get excited about election year.
How do you see it going? Do you think the pollsters are right and Labour will win a large majority?
Hi Beau, they've been wrong before, we'll see. It's clear that if they do get in it'll be a 'enough of Tories' rather than 'yes please Labour'. I'd love proportional representation, even as an experiment to see, but not holding breath (I try to stay neutral)
Sean, there are plenty of other proportional representation governments around the world, so the experiment is done for you :-) We have the extreme - MMP - and it sort of works, but all of them have one major drawback - you end up with politicians. What happens is the winners are the ones that are good at winning elections, and that ends up as their only real ability. Once upon a time our politicians were people who had experienced business, etc, so they had some experience if life, but now we seem to be ending up with professional politicians, who have never done anything outside of politics.
I agree with your assessment, Sean. Like 1997, there's a feeling of enough of the Tories but there's not the enthusiasm for Starmer that there was for Blair.
That said, I have a feeling Reform's support will melt, so I don't see the Tories being annihilated. In fact, I've got a sneaky feeling they might even remain the largest party, with either a single figure majority or in a hung Parliament. Still, I'm not a betting man, so we'll see.
PR is an interesting one. The idea is growing on me.
Ian, we are also now loaded with career politicians in our First Past The Post system. I think the trend is universal.
That said, I have a feeling Reform's support will melt, so I don't see the Tories being annihilated. In fact, I've got a sneaky feeling they might even remain the largest party, with either a single figure majority or in a hung Parliament. Still, I'm not a betting man, so we'll see.
PR is an interesting one. The idea is growing on me.
Ian, we are also now loaded with career politicians in our First Past The Post system. I think the trend is universal.
Beau, it is universal. My point is, PR won't solve it. You need another criterion before anyone is allowed to stand as a politician.
Meanwhile in the Land Down Under:Bestiality references allegedly made during presentation at Renmark High School
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-0...
On a hopefully unrelated note, koalas have Chlamydia.
Chlamydia in koalas - Fact sheet - Wildlife Health Australia https://wildlifehealthaustralia.com.a...
J. wrote: "To be uninformed or misinformed?"Both are bad.
The NHS has released a response to the Cass Review.https://www.england.nhs.uk/commission...
This is a link to the report.
https://cass.independent-review.uk/ho...
Apparently, puberty blockers are dangerous pharmaceuticals which should not be doled out to children without clinical diagnosis and purpose. This has the fabulous alphabet community up in arms about the tisms.
What do average Brits think about all of this?
J. wrote: "The NHS has released a response to the Cass Review.https://www.england.nhs.uk/commission...
Thi..."
Who would have thought this is bad....
J, it's a small victory for common sense but the fact we're even having this conversation is cause for concern.
And no, it's not just the fault of the public sector. The private sector has equally bought into this bizarre set of so-called 'progressive' beliefs on a whole range of issues.
When you step back and examine these issues logically, it's a clear sign of an entire civilisation in crisis.
And no, it's not just the fault of the public sector. The private sector has equally bought into this bizarre set of so-called 'progressive' beliefs on a whole range of issues.
When you step back and examine these issues logically, it's a clear sign of an entire civilisation in crisis.
Is the US fentanyl crisis an operation by the CCP.REF: Zerohedge: https://www.zerohedge.com/medical/wat...
Not necessarily. It could be private companies/individuals taking advantage of the means to run drugs legally (well, sort of). Of course the CCP will not be going out of its way to stop this. China still remembers how the West filled China with opium, with sort of legality, so I doubt the Chinese are going to weep much if some Chinese are returning the favour.
UK Government to Ban Smoking
https://www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampproject....
They're not interested in providing decent public services or controlling our borders, but they always make time to nanny people.
Meanwhile, gambling and alcohol, which are far more harmful vices, continue to be celebrated. And people seem oblivious to the inevitable economic black hole (and resulting pressure on the NHS) as tax from fags gradually disappears from the Exchequer.
At the same time, there are calls for weed to be legalised. It might smell like sh*t and turn people psychotic but, hey, perhaps the plan is to fill the revenue gap by taxing that instead? I'm guessing the dozy students and gangsters will have to shop on the black market to find the tobacco part of their joints lol.
Your regular reminder that this is a 'Conservative' Government, elected with an 80+ seat majority.
No chance of this legislation ever being overturned.
https://www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampproject....
They're not interested in providing decent public services or controlling our borders, but they always make time to nanny people.
Meanwhile, gambling and alcohol, which are far more harmful vices, continue to be celebrated. And people seem oblivious to the inevitable economic black hole (and resulting pressure on the NHS) as tax from fags gradually disappears from the Exchequer.
At the same time, there are calls for weed to be legalised. It might smell like sh*t and turn people psychotic but, hey, perhaps the plan is to fill the revenue gap by taxing that instead? I'm guessing the dozy students and gangsters will have to shop on the black market to find the tobacco part of their joints lol.
Your regular reminder that this is a 'Conservative' Government, elected with an 80+ seat majority.
No chance of this legislation ever being overturned.
On the other side of the channel, police ban a meeting of mainstream conservatives, over fears counter protests will be too difficult to police:
https://www.hungarianconservative.com...
I've linked to my favourite newspaper but this is big news over here too.
J, Ian, any chance of arranging citizenship for me in one of your respective countries?
https://www.hungarianconservative.com...
I've linked to my favourite newspaper but this is big news over here too.
J, Ian, any chance of arranging citizenship for me in one of your respective countries?
"...you will own nothing [not even yourself], and you will be happy..."Beau, they want to restore Eden by removing the Serpent. It doesn't matter that without choice there is no free will. And without free will there is no good or evil. Those are arcane concepts best abandoned to the dust bin of history.
In other words, your agency is surplus to requirements for their utopia. So do as you're told, prole.
Never mind the muppet Truss, we need PM Lock and Chancellor of the Exchequer Load to push back against this phoney utopia.
I can think of one other politician who could do it but best not go there 😑
I can think of one other politician who could do it but best not go there 😑
Beau wrote: "UK Government to Ban Smokinghttps://www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampproject......."
You got to love the logic. The reason for banning smoking is to reduce the incidence of lung cancer, but smoking weed will produce exactly the same cancer causing chemicals, in addition to the brain-modifying ones.
Beau wrote: "Never mind the muppet Truss, we need PM Lock and Chancellor of the Exchequer Load to push back against this phoney utopia.I can think of one other politician who could do it but best not go there 😑"
Is smoking bad in Great Britain?
How much power does the NHS have? Liberals in the US would like us to have a similar national health system. But how good is it, and does it have the power to ban an individual choice like smoking because it's the main provider of health care? If so, I'm glad the idea has failed in the US so far. Just one more government bureaucracy that infringes on personal freedom.
Papaphilly, the short answer is no.
Although my parents never smoked, when they were young, roughly 1 in 2 smoked.
I'm an ex smoker, and when I started it was roughly 1 in 3.
Now, it's 1 in 7 or 8 of the population.
My issue with this is that I expect government to provide services, not tell people how to live. Smoking has been around a long time and everyone knows the dangers. Leave individuals to decide.
Also, I can't understand why those who are so anti smoking tend to be so laissez faire regarding drink and gambling, which are capable of destroying lives in a short space of time. If smoking's gonna getcha, it takes decades.
Also, many of the anti-smoking lobby seem to be pro cannabis, which is a far, far more harmful drug. It's not like the mild spliffs the hippies used to smoke, it's super strength stuff, which seems to send people comatose and then psychotic.
Since this drug went mainstream and the police started to turn a blind eye to it (quite a recent phenomenon), many of our cities have started to stink of it. They have become full of armies of gormless divvies in grey tracksuits, staggering round, talking like people from the Bronx lol.
If you're wondering why I gave up smoking - money. The continuous price (tax) rises meant it went from small change in your back pocket to a serious financial commitment, which I wasn't willing to make.
Although my parents never smoked, when they were young, roughly 1 in 2 smoked.
I'm an ex smoker, and when I started it was roughly 1 in 3.
Now, it's 1 in 7 or 8 of the population.
My issue with this is that I expect government to provide services, not tell people how to live. Smoking has been around a long time and everyone knows the dangers. Leave individuals to decide.
Also, I can't understand why those who are so anti smoking tend to be so laissez faire regarding drink and gambling, which are capable of destroying lives in a short space of time. If smoking's gonna getcha, it takes decades.
Also, many of the anti-smoking lobby seem to be pro cannabis, which is a far, far more harmful drug. It's not like the mild spliffs the hippies used to smoke, it's super strength stuff, which seems to send people comatose and then psychotic.
Since this drug went mainstream and the police started to turn a blind eye to it (quite a recent phenomenon), many of our cities have started to stink of it. They have become full of armies of gormless divvies in grey tracksuits, staggering round, talking like people from the Bronx lol.
If you're wondering why I gave up smoking - money. The continuous price (tax) rises meant it went from small change in your back pocket to a serious financial commitment, which I wasn't willing to make.
Scout, the NHS has no power to stop smoking. It can lobby for it as a pressure group but the power rests with politicians.
In terms of how good it is, that's a tough one. We hear a lot of negative stories, particularly regarding waiting lists (primarily caused by the response to covid).
However, several members of my family have had to use it over the last couple of years, for illnesses of varying severity. I couldn't fault the treatment they were given. Operating under very difficult circumstances, every NHS staff member I encountered was a credit to their profession.
Some group members may chuckle to hear that when Beau entered the various hospitals, he wore a mask without question lol. The reason wasn't that I'd had some sort of Road to Damascus moment on covid, it was simply that I didn't want to waste these guys' time trying to make a political point when they clearly had so much to do.
Thinking about it, overall, I'd use the description given to the British Army in WWI to describe the NHS: lions led by donkeys, the lions being the doctors, nurses, orderlies and cleaners, the donkeys being the management on their 6-figure salaries.
In terms of how good it is, that's a tough one. We hear a lot of negative stories, particularly regarding waiting lists (primarily caused by the response to covid).
However, several members of my family have had to use it over the last couple of years, for illnesses of varying severity. I couldn't fault the treatment they were given. Operating under very difficult circumstances, every NHS staff member I encountered was a credit to their profession.
Some group members may chuckle to hear that when Beau entered the various hospitals, he wore a mask without question lol. The reason wasn't that I'd had some sort of Road to Damascus moment on covid, it was simply that I didn't want to waste these guys' time trying to make a political point when they clearly had so much to do.
Thinking about it, overall, I'd use the description given to the British Army in WWI to describe the NHS: lions led by donkeys, the lions being the doctors, nurses, orderlies and cleaners, the donkeys being the management on their 6-figure salaries.
If I make it to 75+, I might resume smoking, as I remember it as fun, especially since they invented those remedies to enjoy the “best smoking 🚬 moments” till a much greater age. 😎My mother has resumed smoking at 76. Silly as it is, maybe it alleviates her boredom and stimulates her into going to a store every once in a while.
I hope the yellow camel 🐪 will be still around in case I need it
Beau, one difference between smoking and drinking/gambling is that in enclosed spaces non-smokers cannot avoid inhaling the smoke. I personally feel that asking smokers to do it outside is reasonable.At a personal level, I never smoked. As an organic chemist, handling highly flammable liquids/gases, it seemed stupid to have an ignition source in front of one's face.
I remember once, while working in a small machine shop, I was deburring parts and cleaning them in a home brew solution of kerosene, acetone, and some degreaser. When we stopped for a break, one of my friends sat down next to me and lit up a cig. Apparently, she couldn't smell the highly combustible fumes coming off my hands.😁
Mt. Ruang has been erupting in Indonesia. The volcanic lightning is stunning.Indonesian volcano eruption forces evacuations, airport closure
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pa...
J. wrote: "I remember once, while working in a small machine shop, I was deburring parts and cleaning them in a home brew solution of kerosene, acetone, and some degreaser. When we stopped for a break, one of..."If she knew enough chemistry, she would know that desorption off your hands would not reach an ignition mixture 😊
At 18 yo, I didn't know that. I was a bit concerned.
Beau wrote: "Papaphilly, the short answer is no.Although my parents never smoked, when they were young, roughly 1 in 2 smoked.
I'm an ex smoker, and when I started it was roughly 1 in 3.
Now, it's 1 in 7 or..."
so that sounds like about 14% and it sound like it is falling. the United States is around 11.5%. It is falling and has been for decades. Part of it is the education part and part of it is prices. For me it is a conundrum. I am in full agreement about let those decide. However, I am not against the raising of prices because it starts to price out kids. It is well documented if one does not start by 19, they will not start.
Unfortunately, banning cigarettes will have the opposite effect.
Nik, you've got me feeling all nostalgic about smoking. I used to like Benson & Hedges or Dunhill most, but would buy Gauloise Rouge when available (the French do these things better).
You reminded me of a funny story...
Many moons ago, I went to Tenerife. Although I wouldn't recommend it to the cultured members of WWW, one of the things it had going for it was cheap fags.
There was a brand called Paramount, which I think worked out at about 5p a pack. They weren't great but they were okay, so I maxed out on them to take back to England (note to silent list compilers - only for personal use).
Anyway, some time later, I made the decision to give up. I saw a homeless guy in town and asked him if he smoked. He replied in the affirmative, so I popped back home, picked up the remaining Paramount (about 800 cigarettes in total), returned to town and gave the homeless guy the fags.
He couldn't thank me enough, which put me on a feel-good-about-yourself high for the rest of the day.
Unfortunately, the next day my willpower crumbled, and I had to go to the shop to buy some B&H at English prices.
Lol.
You reminded me of a funny story...
Many moons ago, I went to Tenerife. Although I wouldn't recommend it to the cultured members of WWW, one of the things it had going for it was cheap fags.
There was a brand called Paramount, which I think worked out at about 5p a pack. They weren't great but they were okay, so I maxed out on them to take back to England (note to silent list compilers - only for personal use).
Anyway, some time later, I made the decision to give up. I saw a homeless guy in town and asked him if he smoked. He replied in the affirmative, so I popped back home, picked up the remaining Paramount (about 800 cigarettes in total), returned to town and gave the homeless guy the fags.
He couldn't thank me enough, which put me on a feel-good-about-yourself high for the rest of the day.
Unfortunately, the next day my willpower crumbled, and I had to go to the shop to buy some B&H at English prices.
Lol.
I know of one other Dunhill smoker. Smoking was not his biggest vice.https://youtu.be/cQCFdcEXknc?si=wRrr3...
We will never see his like again.
I've just watched your clip, J. It's made me feel ill.
Considering I'm posting on Goodreads, I'm ashamed to say I'd never heard of this guy, so looked him up. Definitely more Keith Richards than Cliff Richard.
Considering I'm posting on Goodreads, I'm ashamed to say I'd never heard of this guy, so looked him up. Definitely more Keith Richards than Cliff Richard.
Good story, Beau - 4 cartons of 🚬 was a lavish gift. Too bad - irrevocable. After many highs there is a down a morning after. Used to love B&H too at some point of time. Just checked the drawer and found there a few packs of maybe 15 years vintage and counting, if I ever return to this wonderful/awful habit
Heard about the books 📚 but not about the author. Glad to have found out. Thanks, J. Bohemian lifestyle has some appeal, although sounds like Thompsons went way over the🔝
Happy Passover to all those who celebrate around the world 🌎!
I'm a first born, but I'm not Egyptian. So, I should be OK.
I smoked for 30 years and gave them up because of the costs. Salem Slim 100s. I could get cigs from acros the border so i could still afford them, but the health insurance premiums for smokers were so much hgher. I still miss smoking cigarettes.
World, Writing, Wealth
Books mentioned in this topic
1984 (other topics)Common Sense (other topics)
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (other topics)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (other topics)
Lolita (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Mel Brooks (other topics)Victor Davis Hanson (other topics)
Peter Zeihan (other topics)
Bobby Fischer (other topics)
Jordan B. Peterson (other topics)
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Forgive me if I am wrong, but I thought George was President from 2001 to 2009, which precedes 2014. The above quotes from the link I provided, in my opinion, support my assertion.