Absolutely Anything Else

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

his reading material were straighted out

To be quite frank, having been to over 25 countries, some rather.... dodgy.... you don't bring in "reading material" of any kind. Not trying to judge... oh, heck, who am I kidding, am going to judge:  that was really, really stupid. Only the USA has a bill of rights. In many other countries, "reading material" can land you in prison. Not wishing to get between a mother bear and her cub, but IMHO your son needs a serious reality check. On many levels. And even considering pleading guilty for him is not doing any favors. You can either tell him to grow up now, so he can learn to adapt to the world, or after you are gone and no one is there to take responsibility for his behavior, he will be in a worse world of hurt the next time he screws up and has no one to call.

Just heard from someone I know who knows an older relative took official driving "responsibility" in an auto accident to the police, as the "real driver" was drunk. Can't be proven to the police because everyone closed ranks, but still "known" by people "in the know". Not good. Not cool. Because a person died. How many more people will that drunk kill before the older relative dies off? Just saying.

klsallee wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

Here's a picture of Newcastle or Liverpool (forget which):

Moved from:

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.p … 10#4762073

You crushed my fantasy. I thought this was Liverpool... I mean, she has a liver and she is in a pool....

[img align=c]https://keyassets-p2.timeincuk.net/wp/prod/wp-content/uploads/sites/53/2017/05/pool-float-920x605.jpg[/url]

Sorry.  It's going to get worse.  Hate to break it to you but pink blow up swans don't have livers.

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

SimCityAT wrote:

This is Japan, not the likes of North Korea

Might be better in North Korea in some cases as you can probably bribe them to go away.

Too right, cost of a few hundred bucks to talk on the phone with 2 different lawyers, over $1,000 spent on traveling on the bullet train,hours of BS over the phone in a panic with his dad here in HU. A wasted run awa
y airline ticket. Seriously they "grilled' my DIL 2 times for over 5 hours each time and my son another time alone with a half wit translator for 5 hours..Think I've aged 5 years in 6 months!
With a 99.9% conviction rate in Japan is was no joke.Now I understand how my 2nd step-dad felt when he talked about being a POW  in WW11 and held by the Japanese... PTSD.
Think our son was OK because he didn't sign anything.. His wife and MIL did...They wanted to get him but couldn't without hurting their own citizens too.

Japan has a different system of honour compared to other countries.  The 99.99% conviction rate is just farcical.  One should never sign anything in a language you don't understand 100%.  What they wanted to do is him to agree his guilt otherwise they'd lose face for getting involved in it in the first place moreover if you're a foreigner, you're bound to be more guilty than a local.  If they need you to confess, their case cannot be watertight.  Different standards on both sides.  Glad he got out of it.

klsallee wrote:

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

his reading material were straighted out

To be quite frank, having been to over 25 countries, some rather.... dodgy.... you don't bring in "reading material" of any kind. Not trying to judge... oh, heck, who am I kidding, am going to judge:  that was really, really stupid. Only the USA has a bill of rights. In many other countries, "reading material" can land you in prison. Not wishing to get between a mother bear and her cub, but IMHO your son needs a serious reality check. On many levels. And even considering pleading guilty for him is not doing any favors. You can either tell him to grow up now, so he can learn to adapt to the world, or after you are gone and no one is there to take responsibility for his behavior, he will be in a worse world of hurt the next time he screws up and has no one to call.
....

It's fine to take SOME reading materials but not all.  Taking bibles to Saudi or DPRK is likely to get you in hot water.  But taking bibles to France or Argentina won't.  Just depends but it's a bit obvious what fits where and using some common sense and some research would help.   

These days if you can get stuff electronically, just upload it to a Cloud provider in encrypted format (3xAES more than enough for casual inteference), then delete all copies on your devices, then when in-country, just download it back to the device and do the same in reverse when leaving.   This is what they advise people to do usually in relation to USA CBP (also applies to Canada Border cops) who are a bit free and easy with their searches.

We used to ban books in the UK for all sorts of reasons but it'll never works - hippy types were shoving Lady Chatterley's Lover down their underwear and bringing them in from France.  Our PM (Thatcher) tried to ban a book called Spycatcher published in Australia.  It made it even more popular! 

It's called the Streisand Effect.  I am sure Barbra learnt a pretty good lesson from that but she didn't learn how to spell Barbara.    She's a great singer but a lousy lawyer.   

I throughly enjoy those tales of Schadenfreude  but it works the other way too.  I give huge kudos to Sandra Bullock on her reaction to bad reviews of her movie All About Steve.  She did the right thing picking up her Golden Raspberry award in person. No such thing as bad publicity.  She's a class act..

Not all countries have a Bill of Rights but plenty of other countries have similar kinds of legislation but quite clearly you'd have to be nuts to be the one who wants to be first to test it.

klsallee wrote:

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

his reading material were straighted out

To be quite frank, having been to over 25 countries, some rather.... dodgy.... you don't bring in "reading material" of any kind. Not trying to judge... oh, heck, who am I kidding, am going to judge:  that was really, really stupid. Only the USA has a bill of rights. In many other countries, "reading material" can land you in prison. Not wishing to get between a mother bear and her cub, but IMHO your son needs a serious reality check. On many levels. And even considering pleading guilty for him is not doing any favors. You can either tell him to grow up now, so he can learn to adapt to the world, or after you are gone and no one is there to take responsibility for his behavior, he will be in a worse world of hurt the next time he screws up and has no one to call.

Just heard from someone I know who knows an older relative took official driving "responsibility" in an auto accident to the police, as the "real driver" was drunk. Can't be proven to the police because everyone closed ranks, but still "known" by people "in the know". Not good. Not cool. Because a person died. How many more people will that drunk kill before the older relative dies off? Just saying.

I agree but honestly one is stuck with what  mother nature hands you as far as personalities of the children that may or may not come your way.
I beat my head on the wall more then a few times but this time was the "cake"!
Our "boy" is your average, spoiled American only child who also happens to suffer from being , not sure what really, ultra smart and ultra stupid at the same time.
Life has always been easy and handed to him so his brain doesn't work in over drive all the time.
We were just about to disown him,I know I am in zero trouble with Japan, was trying to make jest of a bad situation with taking the rap for him. i also never legally signed a thing!
I would perhaps.kill for him but taking the rap, not really sure I could hold up emotionally long enough to bother with that..It's thankfully in the past now.I kept thinking of "Orange is the new Black"!
I do know that his idea of a perfect Japan was and is just a fantasy...
He made of mess of things because he didn't think things through as a reasonable person should.
I swear he is the bane of our lives since my husband and I always think about all the possiblites when we do anything.
That artistic material was bought in Japan so WTF is with them anyways?
I am looking forward to 2020, 2019 was too weird for me with so many odd situations going on.
Friends dying, children moving and getting themselves in over their silly heads turning into an "official" senior citizen, the list is just too long.
I hope everyone has a great NYE even if I know I will be in bed way before midnight if I can.

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

klsallee wrote:

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

his reading material were straighted out

To be quite frank, having been to over 25 countries, some rather.... dodgy.... you don't bring in "reading material" of any kind. Not trying to judge... oh, heck, who am I kidding, am going to judge:  that was really, really stupid. Only the USA has a bill of rights. In many other countries, "reading material" can land you in prison. Not wishing to get between a mother bear and her cub, but IMHO your son needs a serious reality check. On many levels. And even considering pleading guilty for him is not doing any favors. You can either tell him to grow up now, so he can learn to adapt to the world, or after you are gone and no one is there to take responsibility for his behavior, he will be in a worse world of hurt the next time he screws up and has no one to call.

Just heard from someone I know who knows an older relative took official driving "responsibility" in an auto accident to the police, as the "real driver" was drunk. Can't be proven to the police because everyone closed ranks, but still "known" by people "in the know". Not good. Not cool. Because a person died. How many more people will that drunk kill before the older relative dies off? Just saying.

....
Our "boy" is your average, spoiled American only child who also happens to suffer from being , not sure what really, ultra smart and ultra stupid at the same time.
Life has always been easy and handed to him so his brain doesn't work in over drive all the time.
We were just about to disown him,I know I am in zero trouble with Japan, was trying to make jest of a bad situation with taking the rap for him. i also never legally signed a thing!
I would perhaps.kill for him but taking the rap, not really sure I could hold up emotionally long enough to bother with that..It's thankfully in the past now.I kept thinking of "Orange is the new Black"!
I do know that his idea of a perfect Japan was and is just a fantasy...
....
I am looking forward to 2020, 2019 was too weird for me with so many odd situations going on.
Friends dying, children moving and getting themselves in over their silly heads turning into an "official" senior citizen, the list is just too long.
I hope everyone has a great NYE even if I know I will be in bed way before midnight if I can.

I know that feeling. We've had a 75% success rate so far.  Three white and one slightly off white verging on grey with black 'ish spots sheep.  Not to say the odd ball one has done anything wrong at all but just doesn't seem to maintain much contact with anyone really but still seems to be getting along fine.  Getting better slowly but a long term project.  As a parent you sometimes have to STFU while gritting teeth, especially when they are adults. 

I must say I had a strange thought about "Orange is the New Black" and the first thing that came to mind is The Donald is Orange.  I think his drink would be white Russian with an orange twist.

We're hoping for an ordinary Silvester (I always think of Sylvester the Tuxedo wearing Cat, sufferin' soccatash...etc).  The fireworks will be going off, including ours. I was hoping not to bother as the kids are getting a bit past it but we'll have visitors so we have to do it again.   Fireworks only permissible between 31 Dec @ 1800 and 01 Jan @ 0600 next day.  Maybe we'll get some sleep.

We're hoping for mouse massacre again this week. So far, we've saved 2 in the humane trap - at least one of which were faking it - put one in the garden and watched it and it scampered away. The other three were reluctantly dispatched by Auchan's finest 200Ft mousetraps. 

But now something odd has happened.  Our humane trap has disappeared.  Looks like whatever is in the attic now is sufficiently large to take it away presumably to chew up and we haven't found it.  Looks like we'll have to up the ante.   I've installed a motion sensitive camera I had spare so we can see what this animal actually is. 

Mrs Fluffy thinks it's a weasel.  Not sure how that needs to be dispatched if at all as it may be protected. Presumably humane trap, take the forest far away and let it go.  If that doesn't work, it'll need something stronger. After all harsh words ain't gonna work.

DT drink:

fluffy2560 wrote:

Hate to break it to you but pink blow up swans don't have livers.

There was a pink blow up swan in that picture? Really? Wow. Amazing. I must have missed that.

My eyes were engaged on other things....

fluffy2560 wrote:

It's fine to take SOME reading materials but not all.  Taking bibles ....

I know you know were are not talking about bibles here in this case.... 

That being said.... Your comment of course has significant merit.

But....

I was not commenting about advanced social-political issues of banning books, ideas, etc. etc. etc. etc. That is, not everything needs to be made over social-political. Some times KISS is better. 

Rather just saying to get into and out of country the most easily, the less you take in or take out, besides your underwear, the easier your life may be. Again, just saying.....   

klsallee wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

It's fine to take SOME reading materials but not all.  Taking bibles ....

I know you know were are not talking about bibles here in this case.... 

That being said.... Your comment of course has significant merit.

But....

I was not commenting about advanced social-political issues of banning books, ideas, etc. etc. etc. etc. That is, not everything needs to be made over social-political. Some times KISS is better. 

Rather just saying to get into and out of country the most easily, the less you take in or take out, besides your underwear, the easier your life may be. Again, just saying.....   

Hmmm....well, we don't know the nature of the artistic materials.  I'm pretty curious - I was thinking risque Manga comics. Could have been proselytising material of more Satanic nature - plastic flamingos/swans included.  Pretty cool.

As for not taking much, it's almost impossible these days - phones, battery packs, tablets etc. I spend a lot of time in airports and travelling light to far away places is not that easy.  People still give me paper to carry.

One could adopt Ryanair flying rules - you mean you want to wear clothes on the flight?  If so, that's another 10 EUR and if you need the loo (US: restroom), 10 EUR a visit and if you want air to breathe, 10 EUR for that too.  And as a benefit for wearing no clothes, you can go through Fast Track security but take this plastic sheet to sit on when you reach airside.   

Maybe just simply go with nothing and buy everything there, then throw it away at the airport with Ryanair providing a voucher for a T-shirt saying, "I came into this world with nothing and Ryanair brought me to Malaga with nothing and I shall leave with nothing".

Dang it, I had one more bottle of bubbly in the house, my New Year's resolution was to not drink... Do I get a grace period??
We "enjoyed" our free travel yesterday and checked out various spots in Budapest that were gearing up for NYE.
It was cold and slightly windy so we didn't stay out as long as we had planned to, besides that so many' Young" people were losing a lung, coughing and sneezing that I wanted to get away from these sickies.
Had 2 shots of black tea with honey and lemon to try to reverse any ill effects of hanging with sickos.
OK, a few shots of booze as well... I digress.
I am so over being in public and in crowds, never was a huge fan of "gatherings" even in my youth. Love nature and the outdoors more then city life it seems.
We barely even noticed any locals downtown yesterday, mostly those "pesty" tourists.
Making the old lencse and hot dog thing here, my husband's idea. I could give a p### about money. Never had much and never was
without  it either.
My son said in Japan they eat soba today for luck and money.
Where on earth do these  traditions come from?



I feel something huge is coming in 2020, not sure yet if it's going to be good or not... Maybe it's about time we all stocked up on basic supplies.
Like I have a crystal ball!

fluffy2560 wrote:

As for not taking much, it's almost impossible these days - phones, battery packs, tablets etc. I spend a lot of time in airports and travelling light to far away places is not that easy.  .

I admit, I did take my phone, tablet and a power bank with me last spring to the USA. The tablet came in very handy as I could use it to download my e-ticket and they just scanned my tablet at check-in (no paper).

But I still only had a carry on.

18 years ago, after checked luggage got lost in central Africa and I had nothing new to wear for many, many days (the supposedly posh resort hotel where the meeting was held, did not even have a razor in the hotel store I could buy), I never again traveled anywhere with more than a carry on. Of course, going to mostly tropical locations means I did not have to pack long underwear, which made it easier. But, yes, I certainly can do with less than most people. And yet, I am still well dressed on site. It simply takes proper management and planning -- which of course was easy for me since that was the topic I was mostly consulting about on site......

klsallee wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

As for not taking much, it's almost impossible these days - phones, battery packs, tablets etc. I spend a lot of time in airports and travelling light to far away places is not that easy.  .

I admit, I did take my phone, tablet and a power bank with me last spring to the USA. The tablet came in very handy as I could use it to download my e-ticket and they just scanned my tablet at check-in (no paper).

But I still only had a carry on.

18 years ago, after checked luggage got lost in central Africa and I had nothing new to wear for many, many days (the supposedly posh resort hotel where the meeting was held, did not even have a razor in the hotel store I could buy), I never again traveled anywhere with more than a carry on. Of course, going to mostly tropical locations means I did not have to pack long underwear, which made it easier. But, yes, I certainly can do with less than most people. And yet, I am still well dressed on site. It simply takes proper management and planning -- which of course was easy for me since that was the topic I was mostly consulting about on site......

OK, I'll raise you the following:

Better to take a paper copy of the boarding card so you can show them if the battery on your phone dies.   Obviously in some places there's no Internet. Paper works without batteries.  I still use a paper diary as well as my online diary. My paper diary is a page-a-day style..  I find it useful to use as a notebook too so I take notes/minutes on the day page when the meeting or discussion takes place. I've been to some places when that's been incredibly useful. Some guy asked me what happened on something specific in a meeting about 2 years before and I was able to pull out the details for that exact meeting/day.

The other thing is hand luggage just doesn't cut it if you need to take something like diving gear with you. I would also say taking MORE luggage, preferably 2 x checked in bags is a good idea.  And split half your stuff into each bag.  Then if one gets lost, you're good to go at the destination.  Unfortunately a lesson learnt.  Also taking clothes for the next day in the carry on works.  So you can survive one extra, perhaps two extra days. I can count on one hand the times my luggage has been delayed in the past 20 years.

I didn't follow my own advice once, having become careless and blasé. Aeroflot didn't load one of my bags - the one with my clothes and work shoes etc into it.  There were only 3 flights a week.  So I arrived on a Sunday or thereabouts and maybe my bag wouldn't arrive until Thursday at the earliest.   Result was I arrived in Mongolia and had nothing but my laptop and the clothes I stood up in.  Luckily it was summer so not too cold.  But I had to get to a department store and being somewhat heavier then, all I could buy to fit was naff sports wear (Mongolians aren't shaped like moi).  So I had to go to the office dressed like I was in a basket ball team when everyone was dressed like they'd stepped out of an Armani or Gucci shop.   Luckily, I don't care so much about that kind of thing and my explanation was widely accepted as the norm for Aeroflot back then.  I did get my luggage about 4 days later but it was debatable if I'd leave before it arrived.

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

.....
I am so over being in public and in crowds, never was a huge fan of "gatherings" even in my youth. Love nature and the outdoors more then city life it seems.
We barely even noticed any locals downtown yesterday, mostly those "pesty" tourists.
Making the old lencse and hot dog thing here, my husband's idea. I could give a p### about money. Never had much and never was
without  it either.
My son said in Japan they eat soba today for luck and money.
Where on earth do these  traditions come from?
I feel something huge is coming in 2020, not sure yet if it's going to be good or not... Maybe it's about time we all stocked up on basic supplies.
Like I have a crystal ball!

New Year's Day is already an old memory.   We watched it on the TV but didn't really care. I was a bit annoyed, it's one day closer to the big-6-oh for me.  Well, que sera sera.  RIP Doris Day in 2019.

I thought they all went to KFC in Japan for special occasions. 

2020 I think will be an interesting year but it depends from your personal perspective.  We've got a lot going on (even if it's really just more of the same):

Iran*
Brexit in the UK
Trump Impeachment in the  USA
G20 in Saudi
UN Climate Conference in Scotland
Outcome of the Bushfires in Australia
Spring
Summer and Balaton

Mouse massacre
Garden landscaping
Kids exams
More travel

Those are the ones that immediately came to mind.

* updated to include Iran

I for one am glad the holidays are over with.
I dislike all the build up and fake cheer.
My son seems to have gotten back in the good graces of his in-laws.they brought food over to his flat and taking everyone by car to a shrine.
Hmm, hope it's not a shrine for human sacifice cause he may be the main event!! No, he is a Buddhist, if he is anything at all.
We have promised ourseveles not to be here next winter, these cold and dreary days are a bummer.
My friend in Hawaii keeps telling us to come and visit her, she has 2 homes there, one she owned before she remarried, their little extra income.
I really would never think of staying with her and her husband though, not longer then 3 days at least!
HI is far too far away to visit for a short term time.
If we ever go there again we will just plant ourselves there and not leave again.
She and her husband have thought of some creative ways to make extra income there. He is a retired lawyer but they help out both his children and 2 of her 3.
Besides renting out a spare house they also do their own trash pick up service. On the big Island most people must physically take all their household trash to the city dump themselves. They got a truck and do this service once a week for income.
You must think outside the box to make money in Hawaii.
I've been watching episodes online of Nightmare tenants and slum lords in the UK.
Holy Cow, they are so liberal with renters over there. They don't pay rent and just stay in someone's home and insult the owners and even have legal rights to stay without paying for years.
I can't believe how patient these owners are, I'd of hired a hit man long ago  to remove these freeloaders.

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

.....
If we ever go there again we will just plant ourselves there and not leave again.
She and her husband have thought of some creative ways to make extra income there. He is a retired lawyer but they help out both his children and 2 of her 3.
Besides renting out a spare house they also do their own trash pick up service. On the big Island most people must physically take all their household trash to the city dump themselves. They got a truck and do this service once a week for income.
You must think outside the box to make money in Hawaii.
I've been watching episodes online of Nightmare tenants and slum lords in the UK.
Holy Cow, they are so liberal with renters over there. They don't pay rent and just stay in someone's home and insult the owners and even have legal rights to stay without paying for years.
I can't believe how patient these owners are, I'd of hired a hit man long ago  to remove these freeloaders.

Being a retired lawyer surely would be a very profitable thing one could do anywhere. Everyone will need a lawyer at some point.   Revising contracts and so on would be easy work for top dog lawyers to dip in and out of. 

Moving garbage is interesting as a side line.   Strangely enough I was standing at an office printer somewhere waiting for my document to come out and was taking the opportunity to look at the misprinted or ignored papers there. I saw an invoice for a large garbage truck which cost $180K secondhand!  Big money!

UK has a number of laws to protect tenants from exploitative landlords.  If you look back over the centuries, there were many cases of slum landlords or similar powerful ripping off and abusing the tenants.  The prime case in the UK was Rachman. His notorious reputation is used as description for that kind of landlord these days - at least amongst the politicians.  There was even a law aimed specifically at his type of behaviour. The US, particularly NYC has rent controls too.  It's all to protect people being priced out of the rental market and prevent slums developing.  Evictions in the UK get problematic if there are kids housed there because social services will get involved.  Plenty of hoops required to jump through then.

BTW, I left off my list of 2020 things going on one biggie and that's Iran.  News this morning looks like  the USA is moving closer to very direct war with Iran.  That means USA's little helper the UK getting involved as well, probably NATO (without the French or Turkey) also getting involved too. I reckon any Western country needs to evacuate  their embassies pronto from Iraq and Iran.   I am not sure how this will help DT's chance of re-election - could be his Vietnam.  If he doesn't start a big fight with them before the  election, he'll almost certainly start it if he's back in the White House next time.

A U tubers on the channel, Wiki Joe, posted yesterday the side of an Orange County, Ca. city bus that had a large ad on the side with a handsome young man's face on it and the message that All men ages 18-25 MUST register for military service if they get Federal aid for schooling and other benefits. I am a bit upset that if they will force this then why not do the same with females ages 18 to 25? fair is fair after all, equal pay, equal rights etc. Unless they are caregivers to their children, my thoughts anyways.
I mean that is scary, looks like they are revving up for a draft again!
Why bother Iran, we have no business over there? I am afraid we are going to see something horrible and big happening this year... So much for a great 2020!
The old petro  dollar is behind this, just not right.
I am not anti-military but they should only be used to protect ones boarders, not invade other countries for greed and profit.

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

A U tubers on the channel, Wiki Joe, posted yesterday the side of an Orange County, Ca. city bus that had a large ad on the side with a handsome young man's face on it and the message that All men ages 18-25 MUST register for military service if they get Federal aid for schooling and other benefits. I am a bit upset that if they will force this then why not do the same with females ages 18 to 25? fair is fair after all, equal pay, equal rights etc. Unless they are caregivers to their children, my thoughts anyways.
I mean that is scary, looks like they are revving up for a draft again!
Why bother Iran, we have no business over there? I am afraid we are going to see something horrible and big happening this year... So much for a great 2020!
The old petro  dollar is behind this, just not right.
I am not anti-military but they should only be used to protect ones boarders, not invade other countries for greed and profit.

I was surprised by that so I looked into it and that's called Selective Service.  Basically the draft as you said.  USA knows all about that from Viet Nam.  After WW2, my Dad was on call back/reserve for Korea. In the end they didn't need him as he'd gone to Australia.

I was very surprised that if I was in the USA more than one year, I would also - even as a foreigner - be required to register for the draft.  Looks like registration can take place when applying for a DL (Driving License). Anyways, I am way too old for that but luckily I'm exempt because I served in a foreign military.   

Interestingly, as you said Marilyn, only men are included but oddly, if someone is trans (assigned male at birth), they must also register but not trans men (assigned female at birth).   One of my colleagues in Thailand sent me a gossipy/curiosity article that same thing goes on in Thailand with conscription this time of the year and that's somehow ridiculous to see some extremely feminine trans females turning up for the draft dressed in flowery dresses and mini-skirts next to the usual types of male youths.  I suppose they become immediately exempt upon cursory visual inspection.

These kinds of overtly discriminatory and sexist places should look to the IDF (Israeli Defence Forces) for equality in military service.  Get with the programme people!

I've no intention of moving to anywhere I could get conscripted. Screwed health wise anyway unless they are OK with me staying in bed until 10am.   Phew dodged that bullet.   So up yours Donny with your Iran-plan,

klsallee wrote:

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

his reading material were straighted out

To be quite frank, having been to over 25 countries, some rather.... dodgy.... you don't bring in "reading material" of any kind. Not trying to judge... oh, heck, who am I kidding, am going to judge:  that was really, really stupid. Only the USA has a bill of rights. In many other countries, "reading material" can land you in prison. Not wishing to get between a mother bear and her cub, but IMHO your son needs a serious reality check. On many levels. And even considering pleading guilty for him is not doing any favors. You can either tell him to grow up now, so he can learn to adapt to the world, or after you are gone and no one is there to take responsibility for his behavior, he will be in a worse world of hurt the next time he screws up and has no one to call.

Just heard from someone I know who knows an older relative took official driving "responsibility" in an auto accident to the police, as the "real driver" was drunk. Can't be proven to the police because everyone closed ranks, but still "known" by people "in the know". Not good. Not cool. Because a person died. How many more people will that drunk kill before the older relative dies off? Just saying.

I know of so many Hungarians in the US who pulled fake auto accidents to make insurance claims.
One went bad and the guy found himself in a wheelchair, still got a couple million out of the "deal" from suing Purina Dog Food... A semi- carrying dog food hit his car, like anyone would park half way in the road in the dark in the AZ desert at night and not expect to get hit....
Another jack a*8 we know is living the high life, I mean seriously living large now here in HU up in the Rose Hills with yet wife no. 3 or 4, steady going up the ladder with rich wives.
Used to drive a Ferrari around HI, guess he thought he was Magnum PI!
He opened up some sort of "HI adventure tour" co. Drove 2 elderly HU women into a tree, he didn't get a scratch but they both died.... Not sure about all the details but yikes what a POS person. Hate to say it, he was at my wedding, not my invite at all though.
I would bet my right arm that this was some sort of scam with perhaps even these poor women's husband in on it.
Can't say much more about it since I know for a fact that sometimes people read these posts on the sly and I am not about to sign any insurance papers here for anyone!
Sad to say honestly all the people who I've known in my life that operate in the dark side have been Hungarians. Not saying everyone is like that but for some reason about 90% of all I've known are not exactly going to heaven if you get my drift.

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

klsallee wrote:

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

his reading material were straighted out

To be quite frank, having been to over 25 countries, some rather.... dodgy.... you don't bring in "reading material" of any kind. Not trying to judge... oh, heck, who am I kidding, am going to judge:  that was really, really stupid. Only the USA has a bill of rights. In many other countries, "reading material" can land you in prison. Not wishing to get between a mother bear and her cub, but IMHO your son needs a serious reality check. On many levels. And even considering pleading guilty for him is not doing any favors. You can either tell him to grow up now, so he can learn to adapt to the world, or after you are gone and no one is there to take responsibility for his behavior, he will be in a worse world of hurt the next time he screws up and has no one to call.

Just heard from someone I know who knows an older relative took official driving "responsibility" in an auto accident to the police, as the "real driver" was drunk. Can't be proven to the police because everyone closed ranks, but still "known" by people "in the know". Not good. Not cool. Because a person died. How many more people will that drunk kill before the older relative dies off? Just saying.

I know of so many Hungarians in the US who pulled fake auto ac
cidents to make insurance claims.
One went bad and the guy found himself in a wheelchair, still got a couple million out of the "deal" from suing Purina Dog Food... A semi- carrying dog food hit his car, like anyone would park half way in the road in the dark in the AZ desert at night and not expect to get hit....
Another jack a*8 we know is living the high life, I mean seriously living large now here in HU up in the Rose Hills with yet wife no. 3 or 4, steady going up the ladder with rich wives.
Used to drive a Ferrari around HI, guess he thought he was Magnum PI!
He opened up some sort of "HI adventure tour" co. Drove 2 elderly HU women into a tree, he didn't get a scratch but they both died.... Not sure about all the details but yikes what a POS person. Hate to say it, he was at my wedding, not my invite at all though.
I would bet my right arm that this was some sort of scam with perhaps even these poor women's husband in on it.
Can't say much more about it since I know for a fact that sometimes people read these posts on the sly and I am not about to sign any insurance papers here for anyone!
Sad to say honestly all the people who I've known in my life that operate in the dark side have been Hungarians. Not saying everyone is like that but for some reason about 90% of all I've known are not exactly going to heaven if you get my drift.

I don't think $2M would make up for being in a wheelchair.  If it was scam, then he came out of it badly. Purina's insurer's would have settled and that would have been that for them, job done.  But he's paralysed forever.   

We've got dodgy characters around here too.  We think one of the neighbours is a criminal and another one looks like they could be verging on a nervous breakdown or has already suffered it or is actually suffering from a mental illness.

BTW, there's a TV comedy show called the Good Place.   Premise is that the Devil sets up some of his protegees to trick humans into thinking they are in heaven but it's really hell.   The evil ones keep getting it wrong and the humans (or rather their souls) are all having a good time.  They always end up liking each other or even falling in love.  So really it's only saying one person's hell is another person's heaven. 

Whatever happened to Tom Selleck? He must be ancient by now.  Never see him in any TV shows.  The actor who played the plummy voiced butler/helper/whatever died a while back.

I know it sounds very mean and nasty of me to mention the Hu guy in the wheelchair but we have a "history" with him.
This happened back in the 1980's and believe me 2 million was more then he deserved, he had dragged this case out for years while the US welfare system paid all his bills, his lawyers somehow got an apt. and a in home nurse for him while the case was ongoing.
Most all the nurses quit right away, we had my sisteer come to his place every other day or so to go shopping for him, make sure he was ok ect. She was between jobs at the time and social services was paying her to keep an eye on him. She quit too within a week or so, he was really a beast.
I would come over with my son when my sister was there sometimes as he lived only 20 mins away from us, We would drive him to doc appointments and he always caused trouble. He would shout rude things at school girls from the passenger seat. I don't know how many times I hit him on the back of his head to make him shut it up.
He has since passed on but left a legacy to his niece.
He had ripped off so many people before that accident that really he deserved to  do 10 to 20 years and not collect a penny in damages. He planned the accident but didn't count on a semi-truck coming that close by .Yes, I know that is here say but again, we knew how this guy operated. Also his legal team took a large percentage of his money plus a year of hospital bills being in the ICU for ages and ages,He had to learn to breath on his own again. Not sure how much he really got from it all but well over 2 mill minus his bills.
Yes, many people think they are living the high life on earth but sad to say things can and do change, the Devil is behind it as true God never changes.Enough of my born-again stuff, I would never push anything on anyone if they were not open to it. I wouldn't even say born-again, more like newly woke and trying to figure it out.

Then again maybe it's like those self help books say, see it do it believe it and it will happen...Meaning most all those fake criminal type people we knew may not of been able to buy a house on their own or hold a job but they knew how to buy $2,000 suits and which wines were the best to bring to a party. 40 years on most are either dead or living large.

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

....
Yes, many people think they are living the high life on earth but sad to say things can and do change, the Devil is behind it as true God never changes.Enough of my born-again stuff, I would never push anything on anyone if they were not open to it. I wouldn't even say born-again, more like newly woke and trying to figure it out.

Then again maybe it's like those self help books say, see it do it believe it and it will happen...Meaning most all those fake criminal type people we knew may not of been able to buy a house on their own or hold a job but they knew how to buy $2,000 suits and which wines were the best to bring to a party. 40 years on most are either dead or living large.

I've not quite understood what this "woke" thing is. I notice people saying it these days but I have no idea what it's about. I had to look it up.   [url=[link moderated]"Woke" seems to mean "aware" or "conscious"[/url] but the pretentious label seems a little harsh.

Talking about living it large, the people who seems to be in for it this morning and in need of help are Harry and Meghan. Apparently her baby shower or hen party cost $0.5M so she knows where to get her $1000s wardrobe.  Not sure where that money came from.   Shame really as I liked her freshness and difference for the Royal Family but the spin this morning is she thought it was marrying a billionaire and she's playing an acting role instead of living a life and now she's got tired of that and wants to do something else.  Looks very LA.  I suppose H&M are going to move to Canada.

It's about time to stop welfare to,"Royals" or as my mom would say, "Royal pain in the a**es!"
Saw the craziest thing last week in downtown Budapest, a old funky Cadillac with Cali. plates and a HUGE Mexican flag flying on top of the car.

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

It's about time to stop welfare to,"Royals" or as my mom would say, "Royal pain in the a**es!"
Saw the craziest thing last week in downtown Budapest, a old funky Cadillac with Cali. plates and a HUGE Mexican flag flying on top of the car.

Mexican flag?!  Illegal immigrants!  Take their kids away, deport them and build a wall between Mexico and Hungary.  We'll call it the anti-Señor-Soros protection barrier and make Soros and Mexico pay. Yay!

I don't think your Mum meant our Royal Family but someone else's.  We Anglo-Saxons love all the Royal family.  I used to be particularly keen on the Cheeseburger Royale.

I must have some "royal 'blood as well, after all my second cousins goes by the U tube handle of Christina Royale.
Man, she has some nerve though, a real May West cartoon come alive.
Our son had all his items of boxes delivered to their apt. in Japan and they sent eveything!! WTH was all the 6 months of grilling about the contents for then? I am confused about the entire thing! Out a ton of money on both sides for nada!

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

I must have some "royal 'blood as well, after all my second cousins goes by the U tube handle of Christina Royale.
Man, she has some nerve though, a real May West cartoon come alive.
Our son had all his items of boxes delivered to their apt. in Japan and they sent eveything!! WTH was all the 6 months of grilling about the contents for then? I am confused about the entire thing! Out a ton of money on both sides for nada!

Well, like I said, Customs officers aren't known for being smart folks.  There's no university level training for Customs folks that I know of. It's like police officers (UK does have university type training for police college but there's no degree unless someone knows otherwise).  Very militaristic and all grunts in the lower echelons. Obviously they do an important job most of the time but really they should spend their time on looking for drugs or guns or illegally trafficked wildlife etc, not looking for other work which has no results (after all they are there to collect money as well as enforce). 

Sounds like your second cousin must have royal blood and you do too as you're related. 

It's plainly obvious we're all the offspring of royalty in one way or another and way back to Adam and Eve although personally I think I'm probably more related to the snake or maybe the apple tree.

My second cousin performed her debut song,"Tables have Turned" in a all male gay club in front of her parents.
Big and bold for sure.
We took photos next to her and I swear she must be over 6 feet tall, I am 5'9" tall and felt like a tiny shrimp next to her.
Not royal but perhaps," Interbreed"!
My mom always said my father's side of the family was nutty. They all happened to live for generations in a small area and there must of been some second cousin stuff going on! Good Grief!
I am glad that insane customs stuff is over with in Japan. Lots of sleepless nights spent in worry and fear.
Thought he would be sent up river for nothing.
Now he can begin his new life in Japan.

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

My second cousin performed her debut song,"Tables have Turned" in a all male gay club in front of her parents.
Big and bold for sure.
We took photos next to her and I swear she must be over 6 feet tall, I am 5'9" tall and felt like a tiny shrimp next to her.
Not royal but perhaps," Interbreed"!
My mom always said my father's side of the family was nutty. They all happened to live for generations in a small area and there must of been some second cousin stuff going on! Good Grief!
I am glad that insane customs stuff is over with in Japan. Lots of sleepless nights spent in worry and fear.
Thought he would be sent up river for nothing.
Now he can begin his new life in Japan.

Actually that's a bit of a difference between the UK and other places, first cousins can marry in the UK.  Hardly recommended but not illegal - I cite the Royal Family as evidence.   I've seen that mentioned in US TV shows as being illegal there.   

Fritzl was caught out because of inbreeding.

Probably your son - if they found anything wrong - would have been fined and had the material confiscated and depending on what it was, possibly deported.   Japan isn't exactly renowned for having a very transparent legal system. I don't blame that Ghosn chap for getting out of there by any means possible.  He would have been sold down the river so his superiors could save face.

Yes was totally shocked to find out in Japan your lawyer can not be with you when questioned and he can not come to court with you either! Like what is that all about?
There is no jury system there, just a judge.
He is now free, still not sure why they made a dang big deal out of everything. His wife wouldn't even talk about it.
She really doesn't share much at all.
I know we were talking about music once and she finally told me she had studied piano for over 6 years.
I know western people who would try to come off as Mozart with 6 lessons. They do not operate by ego that's for sure, sort of nice really.
My deceased school mate is having a memorial serivce tomorrow at exactly 11:11 am in Washington state. Why 11:11 I wonder? Does it have some special meaning?

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

She really doesn't share much at all.

Might be cultural.

Might be a  personal issue (marital)

Might be due to selective perception, defense mechanisms, rational ignorance.

Etc. etc. etc.

Did you ask her why?

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

Yes was totally shocked to find out in Japan your lawyer can not be with you when questioned and he can not come to court with you either! Like what is that all about?
There is no jury system there, just a judge.
He is now free, still not sure why they made a dang big deal out of everything. His wife wouldn't even talk about it.
She really doesn't share much at all.
I know we were talking about music once and she finally told me she had studied piano for over 6 years.
I know western people who would try to come off as Mozart with 6 lessons. They do not operate by ego that's for sure, sort of nice really.
My deceased school mate is having a memorial serivce tomorrow at exactly 11:11 am in Washington state. Why 11:11 I wonder? Does it have some special meaning?

This is a bit YMMV.

11am is very significant in the UK.  In my history lessons,  it was the end of the First World War on the 11th November 1918.  So it all ended at 11 / 11 / 1918 at 11.   It's been quite significant the past couple of years because of the 100 year anniversary.

Japanese "justice" is notorious.  It's the same in Korea.  You're expected to show remorse rather than fight back which is of course - to them - showing guilt.  Maybe it's all about asking for forgiveness rather than permission.

It's a bit the same all over that way - the Thai concept of "wai" is the one I've heard about the most as it's the Asian country I've most visited. 

It's really tricky to use so Westerners are better off nodding especially if you are older than the person doing the wai'ing.

Interesting, about the 11/11 time line.

I am still not sure what exactly was the issue in Japan,
First it seemed like the world was caving in then all was good.
His lawyers, 2 of them who he rang up and paid for one hours chats with told him to just admit everything.
He is a bit too crazy and after 5 hours of getting grilled at cutoms he insulted everyone by saying they couldn't do their jobs right, he was leaving and never coming back ect.
Sounded like a nightmare though with 3 people in your face for 5 hours asking dumb questions and not answering any of your questions.
My husband says he will never visit there now.

His wife freaked out because he went against the grain.
We were sure they had it in for him after he exploded on them.
He never listens well, we have always told him to never burn bridges
unless you must.
All good now, his wife even bought a new bed, guess he is planning on sticking around there for awhile.
It's in the past now, just down a couple
thousand bucks without even having to pay a fine! Great...

I just looked up a site about 11:11.
It is suppose to have a spiritual meaning.
A time when angelic beings are close by.
A heavenly portal is open with love and protection.
Wow, wasn't ready to find out my friend was a "witchy" believer. No, she was really open  minded but I wasn't sure how far she believed in crystals and such things. Would be nice if it was true and angles took her up or whatever.
I really can't say much about it, it is up to her family and what they wish to do to make their own peace with the situation.
I have heard that many people put stock in numbers.
I have heard even that 9/11 was actually the birthday of Jesus that's why big bro made such a mess on that date. Who knows, makes for some interesting tales at least.

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

Interesting, about the 11/11 time line.

He is a bit too crazy and after 5 hours of getting grilled at cutoms he insulted everyone by saying they couldn't do their jobs right, he was leaving and never coming back ect.
Sounded like a nightmare though with 3 people in your face for 5 hours asking dumb questions and not answering any of your questions.
My husband says he will never visit there now.

His wife freaked out because he went against the grain.
We were sure they had it in for him after he exploded on them.
He never listens well, we have always told him to never burn bridges unless you must.
...

I just looked up a site about 11:11.
It is suppose to have a spiritual meaning.
A time when angelic beings are close by.
A heavenly portal is open with love and protection.
Wow, wasn't ready to find out my friend was a "witchy" believer. No, she was really open  minded but I wasn't sure how far she believed in crystals and such things. Would be nice if it was true and angles took her up or whatever.
...
I have heard even that 9/11 was actually the birthday of Jesus that's why big bro made such a mess on that date. Who knows, makes for some interesting tales at least.

This thing about losing face is prevalent all across that region.  If you lose it, you've lost respect.  They  want you to admit guilt so they don't lose face over getting it wrong.  I suppose it's all Buddhist behaviour.  We Westerners are prepared to argue and are up for a fight but there, it's all contrition.   You only have to look at the behaviour of the Japanese during WW2 and  how they were all about honour.   The Japanese should know about how Westerners are not likely to behave in the same way and they shouldn't have pushed it.  Difficult when they are hassling you.  Acting dumb or not speaking much enables one to avoid getting angry.

11/11 is just a set of numbers. If it had any significance I'd fill in my lottery tickets with all 11s.  Maybe your friend wasn't into it but others left behind were.  Whatever floats their boats.

One number really is much the same as another - except perhaps some of our famous numbers like Pi (3.141) or e (2.71) or i (-1)  or super strange but really cool numbers 0 and 1.   0 is strange because it's the absence of anything but also an even number.  1 is strange too - a prime number with a root of itself.   Romans didn't have a symbol for 0 in their numerical system.  Not something you think about every day.

fluffy2560 wrote:

The Japanese should know about how Westerners are not likely to behave in the same way and they shouldn't have pushed it.

So true. Especially with Americans. Harder to embarrass us. We don't care about saving face as much as other cultures. Social "scandal"? Pfft..... We often simply don't give a damn. 

As an example. As my CA self would say: Meh. Whatever. Acknowledge and move on dude.... Not worth the bother to bother with it further.

After 15 years with a 21" TV, my dad has decided to upgrade with a 60" smart telly. The daft bugger called me yesterday to ask me have I heard of a soundbar? TVs these days just don't have the volume that they use to have.

The sound is fine, it's just like when you are on the phone to me, TURN UP your hearing aids on.

Some days I wish I was back in the UK to look after him. He is 80 this year, so have to go back to the sh^t hole the UK is now.  I still can't understand why people would want no move there?

SimCityAT wrote:

After 15 years with a 21" TV, my dad has decided to upgrade with a 60" smart telly. The daft bugger called me yesterday to ask me have I heard of a soundbar? TVs these days just don't have the volume that they use to have.

TV ? What is that? Have not had a TV for nearly 20 years.

Everything I watch is online.

Sorry for the PITH post. Could not resist..... Mea Culpa.

So today I talk with him he now wants a surround system!   lol

SimCityAT wrote:

After 15 years with a 21" TV, my dad has decided to upgrade with a 60" smart telly. The daft bugger called me yesterday to ask me have I heard of a soundbar? TVs these days just don't have the volume that they use to have.

The sound is fine, it's just like when you are on the phone to me, TURN UP your hearing aids on.

Some days I wish I was back in the UK to look after him. He is 80 this year, so have to go back to the sh^t hole the UK is now.  I still can't understand why people would want no move there?

Jeez, your old man is youngster.

My Daddio is 96 this year.  He's still driving!  Don't tell me about the hearing aids.  Never puts them in! But he cannot use electronics apart from his hearing aids, the TV and microwaves and the phone.  He tried with the PC but couldn't do it and left it to my dearly departed Mum.  His mind is extremely active and while forgetful sometimes is in full control of his intellect. Really quite impressive.  You really have to push him for his WW2 adventures but once into it, he gets on a roll.

I've been asked to help him with an e-mail to send to another nonagenarian in Melbourne.  So he's written it out by hand, when I get there I will scan it or more likely photograph it with my phone, send it by e-mail to another person down under who will read it to the recipient!  It's like modern Pony Express or something or perhaps that new fangled telegraph.   Pigeons would take several months to get that letter down there. 

It's that last mile that messes it up - almost a digital packet steamer*. 

*that's a kind of IT joke.

SimCityAT wrote:

So today I talk with him he now wants a surround system!   lol

Stick 'em you're surrounded by the Dolby 5.1 Gang!

Oh sorry, that was a bit High Definition.

klsallee wrote:

SimCityAT wrote:

After 15 years with a 21" TV, my dad has decided to upgrade with a 60" smart telly. The daft bugger called me yesterday to ask me have I heard of a soundbar? TVs these days just don't have the volume that they use to have.

TV ? What is that? Have not had a TV for nearly 20 years.

Everything I watch is online.

Sorry for the PITH post. Could not resist..... Mea Culpa.

I've got several TVs but one of them I've never watched - I used it as a monitor but the kids now use it as a monitor and a TV. Another TV is in the bedroom but never gets switched on. I've disconnected it now.  I might use it as a monitor.   

We've got Netflix access here (it's my eldest daughter's and she can share with 4 other persons concurrently). It's wildly popular with the kids as it's multi-lingual and on demand.   

As I speak, I'm VPN'd to the UK and downloading the latest BBC stuff I like from the UK.   The world of TV has changed. Broadcast TV looks pretty dead to me as a technology. I've actually thought about cancelling the cable TV because we only really use the phone and Internet.

SimCityAT wrote:

After 15 years with a 21" TV, my dad has decided to upgrade with a 60" smart telly. The daft bugger called me yesterday to ask me have I heard of a soundbar? TVs these days just don't have the volume that they use to have.

The sound is fine, it's just like when you are on the phone to me, TURN UP your hearing aids on.

Some days I wish I was back in the UK to look after him. He is 80 this year, so have to go back to the sh^t hole the UK is now.  I still can't understand why people would want no move there?

You are so very lucky to still be able to enjoy your father.
I lost both my parents when they were aged 67.
It is wonderful to hear that these "elderly" people are still kicking it and trying new things.
One of my BFF's from age 11 on passed last month on my BD. Yesterday her family held a memorial for her, death has been on my mind. Her father is either 95 or 96 years old and still doing fine.
It can be so odd to outlive your children, something I pray to never do.