Absolutely Anything Else

klsallee wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

It did occur to me to say that we (in the UK) don't even call EU citizens "immigrants".  We just say they are French, Polish, Hungarian or whatever.  It's just accepted (by anyone reasonable) that they are just there.

You are kind. 

History, and even some so called historically enlightened people, have not always been so kind:

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/201 … acism.htmlhttps://www.dialoginternational.com/dia … ecab38970d

I dunno about kind.   It's just the way it is.  People like say - oh, he or she is Caribbean or from the Middle East but not a lot else.   Sure there are some racists but that's hardly unique to anywhere including (oddly in my opinion) Africa.

I liked your links. 

One of my ex-colleagues from New York was of Italian descent.  His father - a professional person - changed his name from the name of the village in Italy to a typically Welsh name.  He had found he couldn't work outside of his community until he did that.    He said his father was always thought of as some dodgy character linked to the Mafia until he did that.

That said it wasn't uncommon here to change your German name to a Hungarian one when Hungarian nationalism was on the up.  After the WW2 economic miracle in Germany, being German named might even have been a help.

My own family name has been around for hundreds of years so I doubt I'll be changing it anytime soon!

fluffy2560 wrote:

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

.....My husband again refused to go with, he will pay his own way or not go. Not like he never took a invite but he hates to do it. It's sometimes uncomfortable because he tells people to come back over or pick him up after we are done eating out. In the old days when he had a good job we often treated everyone to meals out so I think his ego gets a bit hurt that he can't afforrd or will not wish to afford to pay for a so-so meal. Guess that's the down side of having a large family.
My bro must of spent up to $800. for one meal with all of us together!
No wonder he hardly contacts family!
8 people plus tips.
Well once my husband and I paid to take everyone out to a buffet, we had,"points" so most of it was covered by the casino.
We always treat people to dinner in Vegas if they take the trouble to visit us there.

I'm a bit with your hubby on that but it's the social occasion that it's supposedly all about.

I think that hits upon the issue that restaurants are becoming quite expensive in Budapest and the quality is not that great or the places that special any more.   I must have eaten out perhaps many hundreds or more probably in the thousands of times in my life and I can count on one hand memorable or outstanding dinners or lunches that I can really remember.   They all blur into the same sort of experience.

I think these days - what with health concerns and increasing prices - people seem not to be eating out as much unless they are tourists.   I think possibly it'll be a crisis and many restaurants may close.   I am noticing more kebab shops in Budapest though!

We were busy yesterday doing errands and we passed by a new local little menu/lunch place on Rottenbiller.
We never ever really eat out for the many reasons  I've stated so many times but  after doing our errands I just didn't feel like cooking, was so nice outside and who wishes to be indoors?
We went back to this lunch place and we each had different orders of their daily special.
Husband had the pork and i had the chicken wih jasime rice.
Came with a huge bowl of pea soup and a small desert.
It was cheap, 990 each. They gave such a large amount of food that I had to carry half of mine home for later.
Good to know there is an alright place within walking distance from our home in a pince.
I have never enjoyed spending money large amounts on food in restaurants.
I'd rather spend the money on somehting that lasts longer then a meal.
I'm not really a foodie.
Agree there are a few meals that stick to your mind, holdiay meals, specail dinners with friends.
My niece and I always have Japanese food when we meet up, it was my sisters favortie food , that and Thai food.
These lunch menu places seem to come and go, they start out with a good price and good portion of food and after awhie they seem to get greedy and raise the price and cut corners with the meals.
Seen so many come and go over the years.
Nothing fancy but  for a quick hot lunch what can you get for 990 these days, not much.
My husband sort of got a tummy ache later in the evening though....Guess we really are used to  our own cooking.

One big night out to dinner I will never forget.
I was 19 almost 20 and we were living in NYC.
My husband had bought me a nice new outfit and really nice winter coat in Colorado and I was feeling very good in my new do- dad's and going to a nice German restaurant in NY.
Feeling special as only a young women can feel when they are looking good and out with their man.
While looking at the menu outside the place I had my hat off, had a new cut and had to show it off , of course.
Well, NY has a ton of pigeons, one decided to do target practice on my head!!!
I felt horrible, started to cry before we entered the resturant. Had to walk straight into the ladies room and take care of my hair the best I could in the sink.
I hardly remember what we ordered or how it tasted because I was so mortified and felt like crap!

fluffy2560 wrote:

Then your definition of "immigrant" will work and be a one size that fits all.

Not my definition. We dont have distinction based on economic class. All foreigners coming here are "bevándorló". Since I have to talk with you in english, that translates as: immigrant. There is no need to differentiate.

And I try to contribute because the people presenting their world view here are so extremelly one-sided, that it is beyond belief.

klsallee wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

* BTW, I think yesterday's results from the local government elections, especially in Budapest, will bring some moderation to the ridiculous  slagging off of immigrants or indeed non-native residents.  There's enough of that going on with Brexit.

I doubt it. Because, as said:

SimCityAT wrote:

We are talking about the whole of Hungary not just Budapest!

Little towns and villages add up. And they are definitely not liberal. That is, the same issue with Brexit, or why it did not matter if Hillary won CA or NY. Or being shocked by yellow vest protests. Ignoring the rust belt, or all the little towns and villages is stupid. Because the people there vote. Often in higher percentages than city hipsters. And liberals, sorry to say, do tend to be kind or stupid about this. And I am a bit of a dinosaur -- a moderate -- but tend to more liberal leaning. So it pains me how stupid liberals can really be when they should know better. Just saying....

My husband told me a certain political party here was giving out bags of food in the countryside to people who voted for their part. You had to use your cell phone and prove who you had voted for to get the care package... Wow isn't that called a bribe?

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

....
My husband told me a certain political party here was giving out bags of food in the countryside to people who voted for their part. You had to use your cell phone and prove who you had voted for to get the care package... Wow isn't that called a bribe?

It's called vote rigging or electoral fraud however it's dressed up.  Selling your vote for a bag of potatoes is absurd.   Mrs Fluffy says the incumbents were bringing Ukranian Hungarians in by bus.  Dual nationality is not actually allowed in Ukraine.

Rawlee wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

Then your definition of "immigrant" will work and be a one size that fits all.

Not my definition. We dont have distinction based on economic class. All foreigners coming here are "bevándorló". Since I have to talk with you in english, that translates as: immigrant. There is no need to differentiate.

And I try to contribute because the people presenting their world view here are so extremelly one-sided, that it is beyond belief.

It's that pot and kettle again.

You need to check your belief and definition system.   There was not a distinction on an economic class - i.e. demographic on earnings or whatever.  Presence here for EU/EEA citizens is entirely based on treaty rights. There's no treaty right that involves means testing.   Moreover, they aren't subject to immigration in the same way that 3rd country nationals are so therefore even in your own definition, they cannot be immigrants. 

The same goes for the 200K or so HU citizens in my own country or the many elsewhere like Germany or wherever - they are not by definition immigrants. 

Or do you think that makes (or should make) those with treaty rights less entitled to HU reciprocity?

BTW, this forum is at expat.com and the purpose is in the name - we're here to chat about HU, not to insult each other with a locally biased definition of "immigrant".  Even those who are refugees or even labelled immigrants deserve equal respect.  If you want to slag off immigrants you're not really in the right place other than for trolling.

Rawlee wrote:

All foreigners coming here are "bevándorló". Since I have to talk with you in english, that translates as: immigrant. There is no need to differentiate.

Nice try. But to state that Hungarian is such a ridiculously simplistic language that is has only one word to cover all the nuances of a topic, in a vast variety of contexts, is of course silly. Non sense. You are putting down your own language for no reason.

For one thing, Google Translate disagrees with you:

https://translate.google.com/#view=home … expatriate

And if you have a problem with Google, then let me know, as you seem to forget that many of us here have Hungarian spouses, and we can ask our spouses to give you even more Hungarians words regarding all the subtle contextual uses and words to describe different kinds of Foreigners that may be in Hungary. Yes, as per what I said earlier, I am insulting you. Correcting your Hungarian. Because you are trying to BS us.

Rawlee wrote:

And I try to contribute because the people presenting their world view here are so extremelly one-sided, that it is beyond belief.

It seem to me, you are the "one sided" one, trying to make us all think there is only one Hungarian word to define all foreigners in Hungary. Typical of the current reactionary personalty type who can only see the world as black or white, and refuses to admit any shades of gray.

And that is all beside the point: The point is this is an English language forum. So you need to understand the differences between English words, such as "migrant", "immigrant", "expatriate", "tourist", "temporary worker", etc. etc. etc. Making arguments from your very singular reactionary linguistic world view is, to use your term: one sided and beyond belief.

klsallee wrote:

Rawlee wrote:

All foreigners coming here are "bevándorló". Since I have to talk with you in english, that translates as: immigrant. There is no need to differentiate.

Nice try. But to state that Hungarian is such a ridiculously simplistic language that is has only one word to cover all the nuances of a topic, in a vast variety of contexts, is of course silly. Non sense. You are putting down your own language for no reason.

For one thing, Google Translate disagrees with you:

https://translate.google.com/#view=home … expatriate

And if you have a problem with Google, then let me know, as you seem to forget that many of us here have Hungarian spouses, and we can ask our spouses to give you even more Hungarians words regarding all the subtle contextual uses and words to describe different kinds of Foreigners that may be in Hungary. Yes, as per what I said earlier, I am insulting you. Correcting your Hungarian. Because you are trying to BS us.

Külföldi is foreign(er). But nice try. GT is notoriously bad for hungarian.

https://www.arcanum.hu/hu/online-kiadva … ara-1BE8B/https://szinonimaszotar.hu/keres/bev%C3%A1ndorl%C3%B3https://szinonimaszotar.hu/keres/k%C3%BClf%C3%B6ldi

I guess this whole discussion proves my point. People who refuse to assimilate even the slightest bit try to explain to others how to live here, and then complain it doesnt work. I mean one of you couldnt find Loctite, and it was the fault of the country. LOL.

Rawlee wrote:

klsallee wrote:

Rawlee wrote:

All foreigners coming here are "bevándorló". Since I have to talk with you in english, that translates as: immigrant. There is no need to differentiate.

Nice try. But to state that Hungarian is such a ridiculously simplistic language that is has only one word to cover all the nuances of a topic, in a vast variety of contexts, is of course silly. Non sense. You are putting down your own language for no reason.

For one thing, Google Translate disagrees with you:

https://translate.google.com/#view=home … expatriate

And if you have a problem with Google, then let me know, as you seem to forget that many of us here have Hungarian spouses, and we can ask our spouses to give you even more Hungarians words regarding all the subtle contextual uses and words to describe different kinds of Foreigners that may be in Hungary. Yes, as per what I said earlier, I am insulting you. Correcting your Hungarian. Because you are trying to BS us.

Külföldi is foreign(er). But nice try. GT is notoriously bad for hungarian.

https://www.arcanum.hu/hu/online-kiadva … ara-1BE8B/https://szinonimaszotar.hu/keres/bev%C3%A1ndorl%C3%B3https://szinonimaszotar.hu/keres/k%C3%BClf%C3%B6ldi

I guess this whole discussion proves my point. People who refuse to assimilate even the slightest bit try to explain to others how to live here, and then complain it doesnt work. I mean one of you couldnt find Loctite, and it was the fault of the country. LOL.

And as I said, if you did not like Google, I would get more from a Hungarian.

From my Hungarian wife in this case. She provided Just a few Hungarians words to describe foreigners in Hungary, which ridiculously refutes your claimed

Rawlee wrote:

All foreigners coming here are "bevándorló".... There is no need to differentiate.

:

tourist= túrista
Immigrant= bevándorló
Settler= itt letelepedő
Foreing worker= idegen munkavállaló
expatriat= letelepedett külföldi
temporary worker= ideiglenes munkavállaló
entered and settled down here= betelepült
Permanent resident= állandóan itt tartózkodó
Refugee=menekült

Rawlee wrote:

I guess this whole discussion proves my point. People who refuse to assimilate even the slightest bit try to explain to others how to live here, and then complain it doesnt work.

It seems to me the only thing you proved is you might have swalled the blue pill from a certain political party in Hungary which has tried to change and limit the Hungarian language for its own political purposes. So I m sure Refugee=menekült, irks you the most.

Rawlee wrote:

I mean one of you couldnt find Loctite, and it was the fault of the country. LOL.

You are clearly illiterate. This is what I said.

klsallee wrote:

Especially since Loctite is so expensive and so not even carried by anyone local here, so I don't have any. But I may just cough up the money and order some by mail.

Since you did not ask (of course not, you only assumed), I was looking for the liquid Locite 545 thread sealant. By "local" I was talking about the local brick and mortar plumbing store (you clearly don't get out of Budapest much into the back woods of your own country were I live to know what things are really like here -- sad). I actually do try to always first support my local, Hungarian owned stores rather than some large international corporate outlet. I did find the Loctie 545 available online, from Hungarian distributors (at argep.hu -- very useful site) ergo my reference to order by mail. I simply said it was too expensive compared to what can find abroad. Similar to things like aspirin in Hungary (went in the USA this spring, bought a bottle of 200 aspirin, cost me $10 -- try to buy that many aspirin in Hungary for $10.... seems a problem, in the country, to me...).

But please, continue to make such ignorant comments. For a reason: The Internet does not make you stupid. But it does expose your stupidity to the world....

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

..... I just didn't feel like cooking, was so nice outside and who wishes to be indoors?
We went back to this lunch place and we each had different orders of their daily special.
Husband had the pork and i had the chicken with jasmine rice.
Came with a huge bowl of pea soup and a small desert.
It was cheap, 990 each. They gave such a large amount of food that I had to carry half of mine home for later.
Good to know there is an alright place within walking distance from our home in a pinch.
I have never enjoyed spending money large amounts on food in restaurants.
I'd rather spend the money on something that lasts longer then a meal.
I'm not really a foodie.
Agree there are a few meals that stick to your mind, holiday meals, special dinners with friends.
My niece and I always have Japanese food when we meet up, it was my sisters favourite food , that and Thai food.....
My husband sort of got a tummy ache later in the evening though....Guess we really are used to  our own cooking.

In all the kerfuffle over goose fat, use of the word immigrant,  your message got left behind.

990 HUF is pretty cheap but when you get the ingredients in bulk, it's probably cheap enough to make money on it.  We get these flyers through the post box with menus from a kitchen somewhere or other which they organise for local delivery. I know Mrs Fluffy's uncle gets his food delivered from the local prison.  I think they also make it for public offices as well - including the police! You'd think the prisoners wouldn't be too concerned about hygiene for the cops.   

I do remember being out in the sticks on a job and  being taken by a government employee to a collective farm (I suppose) where they had this sort of restaurant which anyone could go to and all the food was locally produced. It was "solid hearty fare" as they say.  I've seen similar things in other Eastern European and Central Asian former communist countries where eateries are attached to a government office but privately run and anyone can use them.  I don't know if  the food is subsidised but I don't think it is.

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

Well, NY has a ton of pigeons, one decided to do target practice on my head!!!
I felt horrible, started to cry before we entered the resturant. Had to walk straight into the ladies room and take care of my hair the best I could in the sink.
I hardly remember what we ordered or how it tasted because I was so mortified and felt like crap!

Oh dear!  I expect you managed though. I don't think it really stinks and it's not very hard to get out of clothing but not the same for hair.  I've been hit several times but luckily at no critical moments.

One of the former London mayors used to call pigeons flying rats.  My Dad used to have some pigeons or more properly doves.  He made himself a dovecot in secret in the garage, then revealed it to my Mum in the middle of the garden. It was a "present" to her.  She was absolutely horrified!  They were fertilising her lawn and flowers!   And my Dad had thought - not too wisely - that they wouldn't be so unclean but all birds are the same really - they mess up themselves and their own environment. 

Not against them birdies.  We still have a bird box in a tree so we can watch the wild ones and of course, we've got chickens as well.   Thought about getting a couple more boxes as our current box is popular and Mrs Fluffy likes watching them. We've had two successful years of  breeding birds in our bird box - think they were bluetits.  Not sparrows anyway.  Shame they weren't robins. That'd be more interesting.  I even thought about a wildlife camera or webcam "in the box" so we can see what is going on inside but Mrs Fluffy is currently saying that's ridiculous.  I thought it would be quite interesting!

Rawlee wrote:

...

I guess this whole discussion proves my point. People who refuse to assimilate even the slightest bit try to explain to others how to live here, and then complain it doesn't work. I mean one of you couldnt find Loctite, and it was the fault of the country. LOL.

Jeez, you and that pot and kettle. 

You're here, in an expat forum, arguing in English about foreigners assimilating.  How do you know we aren't assimilating you?! We could be your personal precursors to our Borg-like takeover.  You could always hang out with your similarly minded friends in your bedroom or your Mom's cellar instead of hanging around here.

More to the point......

It is frustrating not being able to find some obvious products like Loctite here (other similar products are available if one trusts them).  But that IS the fault of the country for having very high taxes, uncompetitive prices,  underdeveloped commerce, quite poor logistics and lack of a modern progressive leadership.  Hungary could have  decided to be the Singapore of Europe if it was so minded.  Countries in a similar position and in the same region - e.g. Czech Republic etc are doing better.   

I just bought (yet again) some car spares from a HU language site and they will come from Germany.  This is about the 3rd or 4th time I had to go outside of HU to get what I needed.   I checked all the usual places - Bardi and UnixAuto etc  and a few specialist resellers and while they had the spares, they were 3 x the price.  So why bother with buying here?   I bought other car parts the other day and they came from France.  Dunno why but they did.  Case of QED there.

fluffy2560 wrote:

In all the kerfuffle over goose fat, use of the word immigrant,  your message got left behind!

Yes. And that is sad. On so many levels. We should be discussing expat issues here, not feeding trolls.

In short, far too much time and space here spent on trolls lately.

And I admit: Guilty. Normally I don't support feeding trolls, but some lately are just like balls of yarn to the kitten in me. Such an easy target. I at times can not resist. 

klsallee wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

In all the kerfuffle over goose fat, use of the word immigrant,  your message got left behind!

Yes. And that is sad. On so many levels. We should be discussing expat issues here, not feeding trolls.

In short, far too much time and space here spent on trolls lately.

And I admit: Guilty. Normally I don't support feeding trolls, but some lately are just like balls of yarn to the kitten in me. Such an easy target. I at times can not resist. 

Oi! Balls of yarn? Where have I heard that before?!!!

Anyway, yes, too much troll soup ain't good for you - something that might seem appetising if in the mood but after a bowlful it actually just repeats on you and leaves you with a bad taste.  One doesn't have to finish the whole bowl when a spoonful might have  been enough.   I mean, if someone is going to be a troll at least try and be funny, interesting or entertaining or even all three.   Maybe that's all oxymoron'ish.

I'm now musing over what troll soup actually consists of.  Maybe that should go over in the Food Culture section.  Hmmm.....Expat.com Troll Soup. Slightly spicey perhaps but don't have it every day.

Here you are, about Italy & America https://www.indy100.com/article/trump-i … ce-9159581

Don't laugh to much

SimCityAT wrote:

Here you are, about Italy & America https://www.indy100.com/article/trump-i … ce-9159581

Don't laugh to much

OMG!  That's hilarious!  I choked on my coffee!  I'm gonna share that with some folks...nice one!

That out trumps Trump's Turkish Delight for sure.

OK, so now am not feeling  neutral about Thrump, Trump or rump,whatever his real name might be.
Old CC as in Columbus Day, think CC is 33 or 66 or 666 in gematory, if not he still was a devil.
being the great-grand daughter of a full blooded Mohawk, I have never ever enjoyed CC Day.
In fact one of my cousins in his younger years would make a trip to D.C. every CC Day and join in an anit- Columbus Day march with AIM.
Love people who stand up for something.
Don't get me wrong, most all of my cousins are half Italian and of course there's nothing better then a Pizza when you have the munchies.
I have no idea what is going on in the US right now, looks like they opened up the gates to the mad house.

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

OK, so now am not feeling  neutral about Thrump, Trump or rump,whatever his real name might be.
Old CC as in Columbus Day, think CC is 33 or 66 or 666 in gematory, if not he still was a devil.
...
I have no idea what is going on in the US right now, looks like they opened up the gates to the mad house.

I feel sorry for many Americans who are entirely reasonable and normal people who have to put up with a weirdo leader that is The Donald.  He's almost illiterate and unable to string two words together coherently. No-one knows what he's doing.   He's an embarrassment to the country.  His letter to the Turkish president was so badly written no wonder (as was reported in the media) that Erdogan threw it in the bin! 

His entourage needs to keep him under control because he's not only ignorant, he's becoming very dangerous - people on both sides have died because of what he's done to the Kurds these past weeks. 

I do know that some people in the USA like their "freedoms" like dying in the knowledge they're not communists because they are not in receipt of socialised medicine (whole other debate), or "enjoy" their weaponry while opposing school shootings and so on.   But really.... Words currently fail me so I leave it to General Mattis (click here) to say a few words.

fluffy2560 wrote:

I feel sorry for many Americans who are entirely reasonable and normal people who have to put up with a weirdo leader that is The Donald..

As an American, I feel the same about the UK which has had to put up with recent Tory Governments, and the succession of Tory PM's. (cough--- Brexit, et al).

klsallee wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

I feel sorry for many Americans who are entirely reasonable and normal people who have to put up with a weirdo leader that is The Donald..

As an American, I feel the same about the UK which has had to put up with recent Tory Governments, and the succession of Tory PM's. (cough--- Brexit, et al).

That's fighting talk but it's not the same really is it?   Or was it overflow of the facetiousness mines?

The UK hasn't determined randomly that a bunch of allies and civilians will die needlessly these past 2-3 weeks because their "friends" walked away leaving a vacuum to be filled by enemies. Sorry, strike that "enemies", I must have meant DT associates controlled by DT's handler Putin.

Our weirdo PM is at least articulate (translation for DT it means: good with words). 

But DT won't be there long, impeachment proceedings look like they are going well.  Maybe DT has learnt something - satisfying the MAGA electorate is one thing but there's still something he cannot hide from - a settling up and ultimate accountability for the job he's in.  He's never had to be accountable in his life so that's a nice shock for him. The list of people screwed by him and in the impeachment hearings with some damning testimony has reached quite epic proportions.  People don't forget  being stitched up and will do much to ensure he's well and truly stabbed in the front soon enough. Even his own party is now thinking he's too incoherent to continue.

In my humble opinion, all world leaders are in the same club and like good old George Carlin(RIP) would say, we aren't in their club.

fluffy2560 wrote:

klsallee wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

I feel sorry for many Americans who are entirely reasonable and normal people who have to put up with a weirdo leader that is The Donald..

As an American, I feel the same about the UK which has had to put up with recent Tory Governments, and the succession of Tory PM's. (cough--- Brexit, et al).

That's fighting talk but it's not the same really is it?

Meh. If you think it is not the same, I may agree with you. Maybe what the Torries are doing is worse.... For one thing, BoJo (who is also a weirdo leader IMHO) was not even democratically elected to be PM in an open election participated by the full population.... haha! 

And let us not forget that when one points fingers at others, even under the "disguise" of being "sorry", one needs to be aware that they still have three fingers pointing back at themselves. And if someone else exposes one or more of those self pointing fingers out to the poster, it is typically the troll who gets upset by that (i.e. "fighting talk"*). A real liberal thinker would say... "hm... maybe you have something there mate.... Or maybe not... but I can respect your perspective and difference of viewpoint". Just saying....

*Or were you just trying to be facetious? 

fluffy2560 wrote:

But DT won't be there long, impeachment proceedings look like they are going well.

You are WAY over optimistic. Donald will not be convicted of impeachment. It takes 2/3 of the Senate to do that (Constitution Article I, section 3).. Not enough Senate Republicans will vote for impeachment to have that happen.

My "predictions" for 2020  are... Hmm, let me look into my crystal ball....The Donald will win in a landslide.
People are afraid of the Dems and the "New World Order' they do not understand that both sides are the same in reality.
We will see many Dem's go down for child traffic abuses and other crimes against the USA.
5 G will take over all media and everyone will be in the matrix unless they pull the plug on the internet.
Forced vac's will be enforced even for adults.
The US petro dollar will possibly crash and the gold standard will return.
The west coast of the US will see a huge earthquake or other so called " natural event" which is basically just  a sci-op of the CIA.
In other words, same old, same old, just a bit more in your face.

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

My "predictions" for 2020  are... Hmm, let me look into my crystal ball....The Donald will win in a landslide.
People are afraid of the Dems and the "New World Order' they do not understand that both sides are the same in reality.
We will see many Dem's go down for child traffic abuses and other crimes against the USA.
5 G will take over all media and everyone will be in the matrix unless they pull the plug on the internet.
Forced vac's will be enforced even for adults.
The US petro dollar will possibly crash and the gold standard will return.
The west coast of the US will see a huge earthquake or other so called " natural event" which is basically just  psyop of the CIA.
In other words, same old, same old, just a bit more in your face.

We keep saying that you should write a book Marilyn.  There's enough there for a movie script too.  Pitch it in one page and you'll get an advance to fill in the gaps with a script and plot development. I'm thinking Dwayne Johnson for the lead.  Could be a comedy, disaster or historic epic. Take your pick!  Truth is always stranger than fiction.

BTW, I'm watching a new TV show called Treadstone - once again  filmed in Budapest masquerading as Pyongyang North Korea with computer generated backgrounds. I recognised it within seconds.

klsallee wrote:

....
Meh. If you think it is not the same, I may agree with you. Maybe what the Tories are doing is worse.... For one thing, BoJo (who is also a weirdo leader IMHO) was not even democratically elected to be PM in an open election participated by the full population.... haha! 

You're not wrong but it's not the same.

I think BoJo is odd but he's not dangerously odd or pyscho-odd.  He's not going to get people killed in the same way DT is*.   BoJo wasn't elected except by very few - the small number of people in the Tory party.   That was a seriously deficient point in him reaching the PM job.  BoJo wants an election as a proxy for a referendum over Brexit but we can blame that George Dubya's poodle Tony Blair for introducing the Fixed Term Parliament Act.  BoJo cannot get a majority to call an election with that blocking legislation.  That law will be rescinded as it's a nightmare.

klsallee wrote:

....
And let us not forget that when one points fingers at others, even under the "disguise" of being "sorry", one needs to be aware that they still have three fingers pointing back at themselves. And if someone else exposes one or more of those self pointing fingers out to the poster, it is typically the troll who gets upset by that (i.e. "fighting talk"*). A real liberal thinker would say... "hm... maybe you have something there mate.... Or maybe not... but I can respect your perspective and difference of viewpoint". Just saying....

I don't think it matters if one is a liberal or not and liberals don't have to compromise if they don't want to.  Doesn't mean every accommodation must be made.   Fighting talk is just a "fun" way of saying there's something to discuss and where it does increase the temperature of the discussion.

I can give credit when there's a legit viewpoint but it's hard to know the difference between ignorance, bias and trolling (if done well).  Maybe I just fell for the semi-trolling opportunity myself there....

klsallee wrote:

....
You are WAY over optimistic. Donald will not be convicted of impeachment. It takes 2/3 of the Senate to do that (Constitution Article I, section 3).. Not enough Senate Republicans will vote for impeachment to have that happen.

Probably I am and I know about the 2/3 vote. But some senior Senators are getting airtime saying they don't know what DT has been taking.  He's starting to annoy a lot of people "on his side".

It's becoming  mired in scandal.  Rudy "Grenade" Giuliani making US foreign policy - that's supposedly illegal for a start (Logan Act).  Trump is running the place like he's running his business - no-one else matters - not even the law.

All of this brings on splits in the Republican "united" front. Others will have doubts and once the rot has really started, then people will start to waver in their blind ignorant support.  There are some people who still  have ethics.

I obviously know some say an ethical politician is an oxymoron.


* I was working in Syria on and off before the war and so long as you keep away from the politics, it was quite a good place to visit.  Fantastic historical sights, highly educated people and very secular.   Good for visitors from stuffy religious countries around the region - it's where they come to relax and have a good time. But it was not so good for citizens "involved" but none of that was entirely visible to visitors.  I really feel for the people and the destruction of the country.

fluffy2560 wrote:

You're not wrong but it's not the same.

Good retort.

I liked your post on that alone.

Sometimes less is more. I only wish I could learn that.... For one thing, I could get more real world work done by spending less time "online".....   

klsallee wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

You're not wrong but it's not the same.

Good retort.

I liked your post on that alone.

Sometimes less is more. I only wish I could learn that.... For one thing, I could get more real world work done by spending less time "online".....   

You're telling me.  I have a shed load of stuff to do. 

Probably posting will go up in frequency over the winter with all that bug killing cold and darkness.

fluffy2560 wrote:

Probably posting will go up in frequency over the winter with all that bug killing cold and darkness.

I hope my postings frequency goes down this winter.

Dark, cold winter days are "theoretically" ideal for coding and software development. If I can only stay off expat.com. And if the dog does not need repeated hour long walks and poop runs during the day. Golden Retrievers --they really need their owner's attention and walks (often twice a day). But l love my dog. So I deal with interruptions to my work and we walk.... We walk a lot....

P.S. My current Avatar image is me with my Golden Retriever...

klsallee wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

Probably posting will go up in frequency over the winter with all that bug killing cold and darkness.

I hope my postings frequency goes down this winter.

Dark, cold winter days are "theoretically" ideal for coding and software development. If I can only stay off expat.com. And if the dog does not need repeated hour long walks and poop runs during the day. Golden Retrievers --they really need their owner's attention and walks (often twice a day). But l love my dog. So I deal with interruptions to my work and we walk.... We walk a lot....

P.S. My current Avatar image is me with my Golden Retriever...

I could see your avatar.  Our GR is the same - follows you around everywhere.  I want to take her for a walk but kids really should be on the job but seem unable to get their act together so it's Mrs Fluffy and I plus usually one kid.

I am trying to train her to "find" things currently.  But she doesn't seem to get  it entirely.  I suspect her eyesight is very poor and I'm suspicious she's actually a dog at all because she doesn't seem able to smell anything and doesn't systematically sniff for the missing object!  Might be a GR trait.  She's good at finding people.  It's a game we play.  She waits sitting down, the target run off and hide behind a bush or tree and then she comes to find the person.  She gets that every time.    Maybe it's just interesting and therefore she wants it to work.

We've got a lot of "tricks" and obedience training done already so now we're into the more advanced serious training.  She might be just too young.

Ongoing training is walking without a lead, stopping at junctions automatically and fetching (she hates that!).   We have to really work on no jumping up at visitors.  She doesn't do it to us but if people come and fuss over her, she thinks it's permission to go bonkers and get excited. We don't allow it.   No greeting until all feet are on the ground.

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

My husband is talking about getting out of Dodge and going to Hawaii to  finish out our days...
Been there, done that, not always the green pastures people talk about.

Every place is simply Dodge 2.0. That is, people are the same everywhere.

So, thinking that.....

Why not southern Spain? Or Greece? or Southern Italy? Or Corsica? Or Rhodes? Or Croatia (English widely spoken unlike Hungary)? Or the Canary Islands? etc. Having an EU citizen spouse opens up so many opportunities. All have similar climate, but cheaper food and housing -- no need to fly in your produce from the mainland in most but the the Canarys. And that does not even include you as a US citizen options such as the US Virgin Islands or other options in the US territories.

I spent a week in Maui myself, and basically saw the entire island. Realized I am not an island person. Maui was lovely, especially the road to Hana. But, the island was still way too small for me.

fluffy2560 wrote:

I am trying to train her to "find" things currently.  But she doesn't seem to get  it entirely.  I suspect her eyesight is very poor and I'm suspicious she's actually a dog at all because she doesn't seem able to smell anything and doesn't systematically sniff for the missing object!  Might be a GR trait.

My GR is old (13). And deaf. All signals are via the leash or hand or staff (I walk with a staff and tap him to get him to move in a proper direction at times when he ignores the leash).

Leash training takes time. It is a skill. A skill for both human and dog. Often a good idea to go to dog school with your dog if she does not pick up on leash commands fast. GR are very intelligent. But they can be stubborn. Very stubborn. My dog was feral for many years (he is adopted) so has some bad traits I doubt I can get rid of, and being stubborn is high on the list.

klsallee wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

I am trying to train her to "find" things currently.  But she doesn't seem to get  it entirely.  I suspect her eyesight is very poor and I'm suspicious she's actually a dog at all because she doesn't seem able to smell anything and doesn't systematically sniff for the missing object!  Might be a GR trait.

My GR is old (13). And deaf. All signals are via the leash or hand or staff (I walk with a staff and tap him to get him to move in a proper direction at times when he ignores the leash).

Leash training takes time. It is a skill. A skill for both human and dog. Often a good idea to go to dog school with your dog if she does not pick up on leash commands fast. GR are very intelligent. But they can be stubborn. Very stubborn. My dog was feral for many years (he is adopted) so has some bad traits I doubt I can get rid of, and being stubborn is high on the list.

That's an old doggy. 

We also use hand signals which work very well.  There's nothing wrong with her hearing but I really suspect her eyesight is appalling.  Might ask the vet about it.  I wondered if it was inbreeding or some other genetic issue.

I have thought about dog school but I really I don't have the time for it these days. I want the kids to do that as a "project" and to do it systematically.  You'd think a dog could possibly be more interesting at least sometimes than a mobile phone or computer.   

It could just be stubborn behaviour - trying to get her to stop pulling on the leash is quite hard work.  She knows she shouldn't do it but never seems to learn or forgets.  She knows the commands but randomly decides if she can be bothered or something else is more interesting.

I'd prefer instant obedience for sure. I don't know how and if they are good for guide dogs (for the blind) where discipline and intelligence must be paramount.  I think there's quite a lot of doggy personality involved for that kind of training.

fluffy2560 wrote:

It could just be stubborn behaviour - trying to get her to stop pulling on the leash is quite hard work.  She knows she shouldn't do it but never seems to learn or forgets.  She knows the commands but randomly decides if she can be bothered or something else is more interesting.

She has to be trained. And you, as the human, have to be taught how to train her. Leash training is actually not simple or intuitive. You first have to be instructed how to leash train her. Best if you can go to dog training school, but even a few Youtube videos may get you started. And it takes time. Months. Of many hours a day of work. To leash train. A lot of compassion and patience is required. You must be firm, but not punitive. Loving and giving a lot of praise when appropriate. And repeating tasks, over and over again, and commands many, many times till she learns them.

fluffy2560 wrote:

I'd prefer instant obedience for sure.

No such thing. They are living creatures. Just like children. They need education. And education takes a lot of time.

fluffy2560 wrote:

I don't know how and if they are good for guide dogs (for the blind) where discipline and intelligence must be paramount.  I think there's quite a lot of doggy personality involved for that kind of training.

Yes, there is a lot of personality involved. Any service dog first requires an evaluation if their personality will be compatible for service dog training. Not all pass. Those that do pass that initial screening go on to months of all day education and training. So not all dogs can become a service dog.

klsallee wrote:

...
She has to be trained. And you, as the human, have to be taught how to train her. Leash training is actually not simple or intuitive. You first have to be instructed how to leash train her. Best if you can go to dog training school, but even a few Youtube videos may get you started. ....A lot of compassion and patience is required. You must be firm, but not punitive. Loving and giving a lot of praise when appropriate. And repeating tasks, over and over again, and commands many, many times till she learns them.

.....They are living creatures. Just like children. They need education. And education takes a lot of time.

I'm afraid my world lately is one of instant gratification.

I've been doing YouTube based training and for some things it's worked fine but the lead (US: leash) part is not happening.  It's quite surprising what works and what doesn't. 

Blind obedience will offset individuality and that's not really what we want - do as I say, not do as I do. 

I think they are quite like children only they'll never grow up and they cannot eventually be persuaded by rational arguments. 

On the other hand it still works as bribery,  "do this and here's a treat" is obviously entirely rational even if it might actually be immoral and unethical (at least in some humans).

I've taken a short break from ex-pat but was perusing ex-pats HU on FB.
Holy Moly... Is all I can say about that, so many people seem to expect Hungary to be cheap, flexible and yet just like "home".
Nuff said about that! Dream on!
Had my much needed shoulder surgery 3 weeks ago, easy breazy in and out of the office in 45 mins. no pain , nada...Finally found a nice doctor who actually wanted to help me out.
Well, then the swelling started. We took out my stitches at home because that's the way we roll... no biggie.
My injury was swelling up about 5 days before the stitches were to come out anyways...
Waited with for my recovery by using ice, aloe vera gel etc.
Still swollen so decided to bite the bullet and see the doc again, had enough of tipping, gave him around $200. USD post surgery for his 15 mins of work, no biggie as in the US I looked over prices and the surgery would of cost between $1,800 to $3,660.
Ok so not infected but not healing great either. Been in his office 3 times this week with another visit on Monday, have an open wound now and not feeling exactly gam at the moment.
The doc told my husband on Wed. that I can take a lot of pain... weird compliment.
On the mend now got some anti biotics which I dislike taking they tear up your digestion system, at least they do with me.
Sort of sorry now that I pushed to get a tiny bump cut out of my shoulder.
My home town of Simi Valley in Ca. is on fire right now.
My SIL got ready to teach her class and got a message that all schools were closed down because of fires everywhere.
The Ronal Regan Museum in my home town nearly got burnt if not for the goats eating away the brush near the buildings. Crazy stuff going on in S. Ca. right now.
So many people without power for days on end.
Sort of makes me glad to be here in Hungary, at least at the moment things are nice, no fires or heavy rains .
Was considering doing the old All Saints Day thing or as I call it, Day of the Dead,,,Such a depressing thing to relive however year after year....
The last time we "visited" my husband's father inside some building in a vault located in a sort of pillar of dead souls we ran into our old next door neighbor from Erd and his wife.
Very odd because they are real country folks and we had no idea they knew any dear departed in Budapest. This crazy old guy, the one who used to hang roasted chickens on a tree between our house in exchange for a liter of home made wine, pointed out the empty slot in the same section as where my FIL was . He said it was going to be his when his time came! Very odd stuff, hate to say it but next visit we may also be visiting our old neighbor.
Ok,not 100% sure if my medication will mix well with wine but I could use a glass right about now.

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

I've taken a short break from ex-pat but was perusing ex-pats HU on FB.
Holy Moly... Is all I can say about that, so many people seem to expect Hungary to be cheap, flexible and yet just like "home".

Facebook and reality are not synonymous.

Never has been. I always knew that. Finally, some more political types are also "getting that". Zuckerberg and Sandberg (the two "false mountains" at Facebook (sugar and sand are not really substantial) -- if you know German you will understand) are only interested in making money. And all those excuse comments about free speech is starting to fail given all the collateral damage that is being done.

Which is why I still don't have a facebook account. it is nonsense. The people I want to stay in contact with... we use other methods. And I am not so vain that I need a "following" there.

I have a Youtube account, but that is mostly only for my fun. That is, I post videos for my entertainment. If others think it is fun fine. If not, that is fine. Either way, don't care. So I often don't even allow comments there because I really don't care what other people have to say about my personal entertainment....

klsallee wrote:

......
Facebook and reality are not synonymous.

Never has been. I always knew that. Finally, some more political types are also "getting that". Zuckerberg and Sandberg (the two "false mountains" at Facebook (sugar and sand are not really substantial) -- if you know German you will understand) are only interested in making money. And all those excuse comments about free speech is starting to fail given all the collateral damage that is being done.

Which is why I still don't have a facebook account. it is nonsense. The people I want to stay in contact with... we use other methods. And I am not so vain that I need a "following" there.

I have a Youtube account, but that is mostly only for my fun. That is, I post videos for my entertainment. If others think it is fun fine. If not, that is fine. Either way, don't care. So I often don't even allow comments there because I really don't care what other people have to say about my personal entertainment....

I also don't have FB either.  Nor am I in LinkedIn, Instagram and Blah-Blah whatever.  I do look at Youtube (usually looking at technology, heavy machinery/vehicles, aeroplanes/flying adventures and music videos). 

What's annoying me currently is that FB has now become the defacto registration authority for all of the Internet and moreover, Microsoft is trying to get in on the act too.  They are a bit late to the party. 

I seem to spend quite a lot of time trying to stop them and their proxies from monitoring  what I am doing as it's none of their business. I'm not an active participant in that sharing stuff other than here but as I keep finding, it's almost impossible  to maintain any privacy these days.   I guess I'll have to rely on the EU for those protections.

Both Zuckerberg and his "Mom" Sandberg aren't exactly sitting around doing nothing elsewhere so it's not as flaky as it might seem.  Only this week I was looking into - for various reasons - where all the high capacity undersea network cables go around the world and I found that FB and Google are installing enormous capacity between all the different continents of the world.   Google already owns in one way or another about 9% of the entire world telecoms undersea cable capacity.  That's all income streams which are real, not amorphously based on advertising BS.

I was however heartened that Libra, the FB crypto currency has got slapped down.  It was obvious that no nation would tolerate that level of external interference in their economic machinery.   One of my colleagues and I have been dabbling in details of mobile money and noted that in Kenya the mobile phone companies there control funds equivalent to half of GDP.   That gives the mobile companies enormous control and it's inevitable that regulation will need to be introduced.   I've seen a bit of an upswing at nationally issued crypto currency which is more of an obvious way to go as it's sovereign. 

But putting your economic levers in FB and Co's  hands would utterly foolish.  It's like inviting uncontrolled Chinese or Russian investment in - soon you own and control nothing and you're no longer sovereign.  That's reality for some countries.

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

....
My injury was swelling up about 5 days before the stitches were to come out anyways...
Waited with for my recovery by using ice, aloe vera gel etc.
Still swollen so decided to bite the bullet and see the doc again, had enough of tipping, gave him around $200. USD post surgery for his 15 mins of work, no biggie as in the US I looked over prices and the surgery would of cost between $1,800 to $3,660.
Ok so not infected but not healing great either. Been in his office 3 times this week with another visit on Monday, have an open wound now and not feeling exactly gam at the moment.
The doc told my husband on Wed. that I can take a lot of pain... weird compliment.
On the mend now got some anti biotics which I dislike taking they tear up your digestion system, at least they do with me.
Sort of sorry now that I pushed to get a tiny bump cut out of my shoulder.
My home town of Simi Valley in Ca. is on fire right now.
...
The Ronald Reagan Museum in my home town nearly got burnt if not for the goats eating away the brush near the buildings. Crazy stuff going on in S. Ca. right now.
So many people without power for days on end.
Sort of makes me glad to be here in Hungary, at least at the moment things are nice, no fires or heavy rains .
Was considering doing the old All Saints Day thing or as I call it, Day of the Dead,,,Such a depressing thing to relive however year after year.......

Strange you mention Ronnie Ray-gun Library. I was only just reading about its goat organised firebreak. As an unconnected person thereabouts I was impressed by the goats more than anything but I do appreciate that people will be hit hard in that area. I am surprised it wasn't more controlled - the Donald could send in the Feds before he gets impeached.  I rather like the idea of getting some goats to rent out but we don't have the land for it.  They also use them in the UK to clear hilly areas of vegetation.

I'm not a fan of Halloween myself but the kids like the dressing up.   My kids were watching a movie called Coco about some kid visiting the afterlife.  It was a Hispanic themed kids movie (Día de Muertos kind of thing) but it wanted to make death less final. Dead is dead - ain't no-one coming back from that!  I quite like going to the cemetery though to see the lights and it's a tradition that's interesting as we don't have that back at the mothership (UK).  At least they think about it in HU.

Sorry to hear about your shoulder Marilyn - hope it gets better soon.    That tipping gets right up my nose.

BTW, I heard a story of some tourist guy that got an injury to his shoulder/arm in Italy and after he visited the hospital, he had his arm plastered up with it held upwards on a support. It looked a bit like a kind of Nazi salute. In the tour bus, he had to sit in the front as there was no way to sit further back.  As they cruised through the towns and villages, his arm was up and many villagers stopped and saluted back!   Not sure of the truth of it but I found it amusing.

BTW, the Donald is having a Twitter firestorm  with the Governor over the California wildfires.  I think that's pure vindictiveness.

fluffy2560 wrote:

BTW, the Donald is having a Twitter firestorm  with the Governor over the California wildfires.  I think that's pure vindictiveness.

What a shock.... As  Benjamin Franklin said

"Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain - and most fools do."

But Donald's twitter thumb is of course worse than just another foolish Twitter spat:

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/201 … ation.html

Basically, one should try to not fight with a pig in the pig's pen. They know their small world better than you do. And so you will just end up in their mud wallow.  Or as Mark Twain said:

“Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience.”

So, Newsom's reply was a good one.