Absolutely Anything Else

There have been rare chaotic scenes in the French parliament as President Emmanuel Macron used special powers to push through an unpopular pensions bill which aims to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.
-@SimCityAT

I suppose it was the equivalent of the Parliament Act in the UK.

I don't know what they are complaining about, the UK pension gets further away in time regularly.

-@fluffy2560

Through no desire of my own, I am becoming more aware of the reasons for the protests.

On the surface, it is a simple minimum age increase to account for the economics of paying out to the longer life spans of most retirees.

However, some of the other changes seem to be more complex.

One of the reasons for the protest is this: The French pension system is simply not under economic distress. Although the pension system was a huge chunk of the French budget, as high as 14%, it has actually decreased to 13.7% of the budget as the French economy has grown in recent years. Projections show the potential for a continued downward trend.

As someone not eligible for a full pension in the US, my age of receiving retirement benefits there is 67 years old. I'm already thinking I won't live so long but it'd be nice to think I wouldn't risk poverty by retiring.

There have been rare chaotic scenes in the French parliament as President Emmanuel Macron used special powers to push through an unpopular pensions bill which aims to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.
-@SimCityAT

I suppose it was the equivalent of the Parliament Act in the UK.

I don't know what they are complaining about, the UK pension gets further away in time regularly.

-@fluffy2560

Through no desire of my own, I am becoming more aware of the reasons for the protests.
On the surface, it is a simple minimum age increase to account for the economics of paying out to the longer life spans of most retirees.
However, some of the other changes seem to be more complex.

One of the reasons for the protest is simply this: The French pension system is simply not under economic distress. Although the pension system was a huge chunk of the French budget, as high as 14%, it has actually decreased to 13.7% of the budget as the French economy has grown in recent years. Projections show the potential for a continued downward trend.

As someone not eligible for a full pension in the US, my age of receiving retirement benefits there is 67 years old. I'm already thinking I won't live so long but it'd be nice to think I wouldn't risk poverty by retiring.
-@Vicces1

Macron might be thinking of aligning to other countries - perhaps the birth rate is falling but older people are living longer. Everywhere Western is declining in population.

Depends what you mean poverty.   Mainly we need to get the kids grown up and living their lives happily.  Then I suppose our job is mostly done.   

I was thinking of retiring from a position of strength while I have some reasonable health to enjoy life.  My expectation is a reasonably comfortable pension and close to free or absolutely free healthcare.   

If I could win the lottery, I'd be out the door in less than a minute.

I've been asked by several people why I want to go.  I think I just cannot be bothered to have the same discussions with people over the same problems. After doing what I do for 30+ years, it's more or less the same solution each time and every job is just deja-vu.  One upside of being over 60 is that many younger people think you know what you're doing.  I cannot say that's  completely true - we grey hair old farts just pretend we do and do with confidence! 

These were fun -- thanks for sharing! Just an update with some of the results...

The Strangest Lawsuits of All Time

Subway Sandwich Lawsuit

A man found a 7 inch serrated plastic knife baked into his subway sandwich and decided to sue the company for damages. He filed a $1 million lawsuit, he also said he contracted food poisoning from the sandwich, leading to severe stomach aches.

RESULT: John and his attorney sued Subway for $1 million. But he was awarded just $20,000.

The Weatherman Was Wrong

An Israeli woman sued the weatherman from an Israeli television channel because he didn't predict the weather correctly. He had reported good weather, but it rained.

According to the plaintiff, as a result of the weather report, she didn't dress correctly and suffered the flu. She sued for $1,000 compensation for missing a week of work and the money she spent on medication. She won the case against the TV station and got her damages paid for.

RESULT: The woman says that she not only wants to have financial compensation for the suffering and sickness she endured, but she also wants Rup to apologize for getting the weather wrong.

• She got $1,000 and a written apology

The Wrong Idea about Killer Whales

A man's dream was to swim beside a killer whale… he entered the tank of the Orca's but was killed by the whale.

His parents sued SeaWorld for not publicly warning people that killer whales can kill people. They also accused Sea World of presenting killer whales as friendly creatures by selling stuffed whales in the gift shop.

RESULT: In fact, a medical examiner said that Mr. Dukes suffered hypothermia and drowned, and was not killed by the killer whale. This was not surprising since the water was 10 degrees Celsius. In the end, the lawsuit was dropped.

Underwear Injuries

• Could not find the result (this happened in 2008). Suit likely either dropped or settled out of court.

Explosive Bathroom Moments

Using the Flushmate III toilet proved explosive for many of its users, and the reason had nothing to do with what they had eaten. A manufacturing error was the cause of these explosions, and many people were injured. Legal teams managed to get $5 million for the injured parties.

RESULT: A settlement worth $18 million has been reached in a class action lawsuit alleging that Sloan Valve Company sold defective pressurized flushing mechanisms that could cause toilets to explode. (The toilet was designed to "force" waste through pressurization and not simply water + gravity).

The cash payments available under the settlement will fairly and substantially reimburse Settlement Class Members for expenses related to the repair or replacement of their Flushmate toilets.” Members of the class include anyone who owned a Flushmate system or a Flushmate toilet in the U.S. between October 14, 1997 and June 30, 2009. To be eligible for a cash payment, owner must also have installed a repair kit as part of the CPSC recall, have installed a replacement toilet, and/or sustained property damage caused by the Flushmate system. Owners should receive $50 for one Flushmate toilet, and an additional $25 for other Flushmate toilets installed in their home.

Lost Pants Cause Mental Suffering

When a client took his pants to a Washington DC dry cleaner, he never imagined he would never see them again. He sued them for $54 million when they lost his pants because the company did not meet their “Satisfaction Guaranteed” promise displayed in their store. He also claimed the lost pants caused him mental suffering. Unfortunately for him, he lost the case.

RESULT: A Washington, D.C., dry cleaning store that was sued for $54 million over an allegedly missing pair of pants will not have to pay anything to its disgruntled customer, a judge ruled Monday.

Instead, Roy Pearson, who sued over the missing trousers, will have to pay the store owners' legal fees.

The judge ruled Pearson must pay the defendants' court costs, which amount to about $1,000. Bartnoff said she would consider at a later date whether to make Pearson also pay the Chungs' attorneys fees, which make up the larger portion of their legal fees.

Also - the case upset the owners so much, they closed their business and moved.

These were fun -- thanks for sharing! Just an update with some of the results...
The Strangest Lawsuits of All Time

-@Vicces1

Usually there has to be proof of REAL loss.

The loss of the trousers/pants would have been maybe $40 for a new pair and maybe $50 for loss of opportunity to wear the trousers/pants.

Things like saying they were lucky pants or an emotional connection to the pants are hard to prove.  Maybe a token $100 for emotional distress.

In my own country, these large sized cases would be thrown out as frivolous time wasting. 

I'm afraid only in America (again).

Red Bull Doesn't Give You Wings

Red Bull's famous slogan “Red Bull gives you wings: got the company in some trouble. A class action accused the company of having misleading ads and making false claims. Plaintiffs said the energy drink did not give people wings figuratively speaking, that is, they didn't feel energized. They said the company lacks evidence to claim the beverage could improve one's focus. Red Bull settled out of court and agreed to pay $640,000.

RESULT: There were actually 2 lawsuits filed, one in the US and one in Canada.

Dished Vancouver reports that Red Bull GmbH, the beverage brand's Austrian parent company, has agreed to pay $850,000 CAD (about $640,000) in a settlement for a class-action lawsuit.

Canadian Michael Attar filed the suit in March 2016, claiming Red Bull made false declarations regarding the usefulness of its products. The beverage's website cites "numerous scientific studies" backing up it's ability to improve energy and performance. In reality, studies have shown it's no more effective than coffee or other caffeine-containing drinks.

Canadian energy drinkers who bought a can of Red Bull in the last 12 years could be entitled to ten dollars as a result of a class action settlement.

USA version:

The settlement comes five years after Red Bull GmbH agreed to a $13 million settlement in the U.S. over similar claims of false advertising, according to BevNet. Customers who had purchased a Red Bull over the previous ten years were entitled to either $10 cash or a voucher for two Red Bull products worth up of $15.

Husband Sues Wife Over Ugly Baby

Boy meets a pretty girl, the boy marries this girl, they end up having a kid together. However this tale does not have such a happy ending. Jian Feng from China saw his newborn daughter and asked why she was “incredibly ugly” and did not look like either parent. He accused his wife of cheating on him. At that point, she admitted she had several plastic surgeries before they had met. He sued her on the grounds of false pretenses, claiming she misled him by hiding her cosmetic surgery history. He won the case, and his wife was made to pay him more than $120,000.

RESULT: At first, he became suspicious that his wife may have cheated on him. He had a DNA test conducted, and it came back that he was positively the father.

He soon found out that his wife had undergone an extensive amount of plastic surgery before he met her – approximately $100,000 worth while in South Korea.

You might think that this type of case would simply be laughed out of court. However, that’s not what happened. He sued and he actually won the case, causing his wife to give him $120,000. That’s right; he won.

Well that's another rabbit hole that stole an hour of my life

I couldn't resist, here's some more:

Same price for a burger with and without cheese

• Year: 2018

• Result: Lawsuit dismissed

Two McDonald's customers from Florida sued the fast-food chain for $5 million because they were made to pay for a Quarter Pounder sandwich without cheese the same price as the sandwich with cheese (the difference is about 30 cents). A judge dismissed the case with prejudice, which means they can't file the suit again. The basis for the dismissal was that the plaintiffs could not prove the price they had to pay caused them any harm.

Woman blames 'scary' poster on falling

• Year: 2015

• Result: Plaintiff lost

A woman from New York said she fell down the stairs at the Grand Central subway station, injuring her foot and ankle, after seeing an oversized "scary" poster for the popular Showtime series "Dexter." The poster showed the face of the main character under a plastic wrap with his eyes open. She claimed it was "disturbing, provocative, shocking and fear inducing." The judge disagreed, dismissing the case, saying the network was under no obligation to maintain the stairs at the station or that it created a dangerous condition.

Drinking beer does not make fantasies come true?

• Year: 1993

• Result: Plaintiff lost

Beer commercials often feature beaches and good-looking men and women having fun. Most people understand this is not real, but not Richard Overton. In 1993, he sued Anheuser-Busch for $10,000 for false advertising. He claimed the beer ad caused him emotional distress, mental injury, and financial loss. Overton said the company's ads showed beer's ability to enable "scenic tropical settings [and] beautiful women and men engaged in unrestricted merriment" when this was actually not the case. He lost the suit.

Lawsuit over using just 75% of lip balm tube

• Result: Case dismissed

• Year: 2016

You can't get that last bit of lip balm out of the tube unless you scrape it out. While this has been true since lip balms have been sold in tubes, a California woman filed a lawsuit alleging consumers were conned into thinking they could reach the bottom with their lips when they can actually use just about 75% of the product. The court disagreed that Fresh Inc., the company being sued, tried to lie about the real quantity of its lip balm and that a reasonable consumer understands how such dispenser tubes work.

Man sues himself for $5 million

• Year: 1995

• Result: Case dismissed

Prison inmate Robert Lee Brock is nothing if not creative. Brock, serving time for breaking and entering at the Indian Creek Correctional Center in Virginia, sued himself for $5 million, claiming that he violated his religious beliefs and got himself arrested. And since he has no income because he is in jail, Brock asked the state to pay as he was a ward of the state. The judge dismissed the case.

Chicken sandwich out of stock

• Year: 2019

• Result: Trial pending

A Tennessee man sued fast food chain Popeyes Louisiana Chicken for $5,000 for running out of its famous chicken sandwich because, he claimed, the restaurant wasted his time trying to fill his order. Craig Barr said the company deceptively advertised the sandwich, which was only available for a limited time in August. Barr is also suing for damages to his car that he said occurred at the restaurant's parking lot. The case was scheduled to go to court in January.

The case was set to go to court in October of 2019, but there aren’t any follow-ups to see how the case ended up playing out.

Too much ice in Starbucks drinks

• Year: 2016

• Result: Case dismissed

California resident Alexander Forouzesh threatened a class action against Starbucks, saying customers who ordered cold drinks from the beverage giant received less liquid in their cups than advertised because of too much ice. A district judge put the case on ice. He ruled that even kids know ice in a cup reduces the amount of liquid they get, and customers can also clearly see the amount of ice in a clear cup and ask for less ice.

Mom confiscates son's phone

• Year: 2017

• Result: Plaintiff lost

A 15-year-old boy in Spain sued his mother, claiming he was mistreated after she took his cellphone to try and get him to study. He also sought jail time for his mom and reimbursement for his legal expenses. A judge ruled in favor of the mother, saying she was within her rights and acted responsibly to get her son to crack the books.

Trespassers sue property owners

• Year: 2002

• Result: Plaintiff won

A federal jury awarded two men a total of $24.2 million for getting severely burned by electrical wires when they were teenagers trespassing on railroad property in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 2002. Attorneys for Amtrak and Norfolk Southern Corp. claimed the two men, aged 17 at the time of the accident, were old enough to know that they were putting themselves in danger. The plaintiffs' lawyer, while conceding his clients were trespassers, said the property owners were still responsible.

City of Batman vs. Superhero Batman

• Year: 2008

• Result: Lawsuit never filed

Holy litigation! In a story worthy of Gotham City tabloids, the mayor of Batman, the name of an oil-producing city in southeastern Turkey, said he would sue Warner Bros. and movie director Christopher Nolan for using the name of the Turkish city without permission for the film "The Dark Knight." The city's mayor, Hüseyin Kalkan, wanted compensation from the movie's royalties, claiming the movie's success had negative psychological effects on the city's residents and hurt local businesses trying to register in other countries. The lawsuit, however, was never actually filed.

Student sues for A+

• Year: 2003

• Result: Plaintiff lost

Brian Delekta was a senior at Memphis High School in Michigan and believed his work experience as a paralegal at his mother's law office for one of his classes merited an A+ instead of an A. His family sued to raise the grade to A+, which would have made him valedictorian of his class. The suit also asked that publication of class rankings be blocked until the case was settled. The plaintiff lost.

A lot of Austrians had to learn Russian after the war as well as English when the country was split up 4 ways, maybe French was also a main language?

First world problems...
Good luck with the law suit!!
He probably, sadly will win while those people who lived near the Santa Susana Field test lab in 1959 never saw a penny to help treat the many cancers and related deaths due to the nuke accident..
I am sometimes very embarrassed to be an American...
-@Marilyn Tassy

Following on from our discussions on death penalty methods, I decided to read up again on Susan Hayward - the actress - and rediscovered she died early at age 57 of brain cancer. 

Some think it might have been linked to the filming of the Ghengis Khan movie also starring a utterly miscast John Wayne playing Ghengis like it was a cowboy movie complete with drawl. 

The number of people dying from cancer who were involved in that movie has entered folklore as significant. 

And where was it filmed? Place downwind of nuclear testing sites in a valley which is highly contaminated.
-@fluffy2560

As the saying goes, "So sue me"!

Yes, so many people on the set of Ghengis Khan developed cancer.

I am aware of how the enviorment cvan cuse cancer.

My mother, breast cancer, My step-father.colon cancer, my frieds middle aged sister breast cancer, another HS friends son, cancer, my HS friend , brain cancer, her mother cancer, lst my brother in Sept. to colon cancer. There must be more cases that I just can't think of ATM.

What did they all have in common,all lived in Simi Valley, Ca. for decades.

The radiaiton from the Santa Susana filed test lab nuke accident was blown through the valley, seeped in the water supply and was in the dirt that was shovled around when they city founders decided to turn the valley into a subburban,"paradise".

There were and still are law suits fied against former Rocketdyne labs, sold later to Lockheed. No one wanted to take resposiblity so the test site was sold. There are several documentairs now on U tube about the ,"accident". They tested rocket engines and did experiemental nuke work.

Growing up we would hear the sonic booms while they ran experiemnts at the lab.

Vince Neil from Motley Crue had a court case going on years ago. His little daughter had cancer after he purchased a home in the foothills near Simi.

By the way I'm almost certain the teenage garage band that used to bang away and drive my mother nuts when they practiced was Motley Crue. I know a metal band from Simi made the big time, their name comes to mind.

They practice was just behind and a few homes away from my mothers house. I remember hearing them a few times when i visited her.

Memebers of the 60's band The Grass Roots also went to school in Simi , my one sister had a huge crush on the singer, she went to collage with him.

Personally I like the Grass Roots music bettr then Motley Crue.

Simi, what a place, subburban wife swaping parties, The Manson Family and the Blackburn cult the topping on the cake was the Rocketdyne field lab explosion. My home town...

What kills me is my mother back in 1962 before she remarried thought herslef lucky to get hired at Rocketdyne.  Was never told about the 1959 accident.Her way to support her 4 children on her own, it was a God send of a job...Well maybe so, it did send her off, not sure if God had anything to do with it though.

These were fun -- thanks for sharing! Just an update with some of the results...
The Strangest Lawsuits of All Time

-@Vicces1

Usually there has to be proof of REAL loss.

The loss of the trousers/pants would have been maybe $40 for a new pair and maybe $50 for loss of opportunity to wear the trousers/pants.

Things like saying they were lucky pants or an emotional connection to the pants are hard to prove. Maybe a token $100 for emotional distress.

In my own country, these large sized cases would be thrown out as frivolous time wasting.

I'm afraid only in America (again).
-@fluffy2560

My sister met one of her loves while filling a law suit.

His law frim was handling her auto accident case.

Super nice guy, hard to believe he was a lawyer. They were planning on getting married, they lived together for years. He was a keeper, I mean he was able to handle the holdays at my mom's house without freaking out...

Not sure why she let him slip away...

Even my husband liked the guy and he usually dislikes lawyers.

My sister met one of her loves while filling a law suit.
His law frim was handling her auto accident case.
Super nice guy, hard to believe he was a lawyer. They were planning on getting married, they lived together for years. He was a keeper, I mean he was able to handle the holdays at my mom's house without freaking out...
Not sure why she let him slip away...
Even my husband liked the guy and he usually dislikes lawyers.
-@Marilyn Tassy

I told me kids to do jobs that are "family" useful - lawyer, doctor, dentist etc.

Did they listen to me?

Nah, no chance.

Ukraine war - latest: Judges issue arrest warrant for Putin over alleged war crimes

Ukraine war - latest: Judges issue arrest warrant for Putin over alleged war crimes
-@SimCityAT

Oh yeah, like that'll happen. ICC not recognised by many countries.

I saw Slovakia and Poland sending aircraft now to Ukraine.

Plus the US drone issue.

Escalation!

The only way PU or anyone there is going to The Hague is if a successor government gives them up to facilitate re-integration into the world.   

My sister met one of her loves while filling a law suit.
His law frim was handling her auto accident case.
Super nice guy, hard to believe he was a lawyer. They were planning on getting married, they lived together for years. He was a keeper, I mean he was able to handle the holdays at my mom's house without freaking out...
Not sure why she let him slip away...
Even my husband liked the guy and he usually dislikes lawyers.
-@Marilyn Tassy

I told me kids to do jobs that are "family" useful - lawyer, doctor, dentist etc.

Did they listen to me?

Nah, no chance.
-@fluffy2560

Even an auto mechanic or plumber would be a benifit to a family.

My grandfather was a self-employeed handyman in the US.

He taught my father how to hang wallpaper up perfectly.

Even post divorce my dad would come around if my mom needed new wall paper hung.

I'd settle for having an auto mechanic on call.

Tried when he was 15 to have our son take an auto repair class . Not his thing.

He was out of HS by age 15 and didn't want to go to college, wasn't the best idea to allow him to hang around at such a young age without learning anything new.

He thought he knew it all.

Tried to keep him busy until he found what he really wanted to do. Now , we know we are still waiting for him to decide what to do with himself.

My husband was offered no choice, his mom had him go to macinhst school at 14. I also had my mother decide what I'd learn.

She and my step- father told me on a Friday that on Mondy I'd be attenting beauty college.

Not a trade that is all that fun, everytime we have a family gathering I am always reminded to bring my shears along for free haircuts to all.

Mom was old fashioned but still wanted all her girls to learn a trade in case they ever were ,"between" husbands. Silly now to even write that but that was the mind set in her time.

Ukraine war - latest: Judges issue arrest warrant for Putin over alleged war crimes
-@SimCityAT

Good luck with him getting arrested.

Actually they should be adding many more names on the list of criminals...

I'd say many more really.

Makes me think of when the Turks invaded a country they would take all the children. The girls for whatever and the boys to raise as Janissaries.

Ukraine war - latest: Judges issue arrest warrant for Putin over alleged war crimes
-@SimCityAT
Good luck with him getting arrested.
Actually they should be adding many more names on the list of criminals...
I'd say many more really.
Makes me think of when the Turks invaded a country they would take all the children. The girls for whatever and the boys to raise as Janissaries.
-@Marilyn Tassy

The Russian behaviour is pretty obnoxious.  It's like some medieval thinking.  Or it sounds like the Borg. 

"Resistance if futile.  You will be assimilated and your "biological and technological distinctiveness" will be added to ours" etc.

I don't think Russia is like the Klingons who most probably have their own minds - like Ronin.

I suppose it's the ultimate way to absorb your enemy - take away their legacy and opportunity to preserve their culture and language.

Kind of like consuming them.

IDK,war of any sort isn't worth it for land .

My father's people were Ruthenian. Carpatho-Rus,Subcarpathian -Rus, Lemkos, Rusyns.

Every country had a different name for them. In Russia they are thrown in with being Ukranians.

Their lands were taken and carved up between several countries.

Poland, Ukraine, Hungary, Slovakia all got a piece of the pie.

Ruysns are people who now have no homeland.

Still .. we are here, that's the important thing, not owning land.

I don't think the people of Ukraine are going to be much better off in the long run if they win or not.

Only the rich win in these situations. The little people are the cannon fodder.

IDK,war of any sort isn't worth it for land .
My father's people were Ruthenian. Carpatho-Rus,Subcarpathian -Rus, Lemkos, Rusyns.
Every country had a different name for them. In Russia they are thrown in with being Ukranians.
Their lands were taken and carved up between several countries.
Poland, Ukraine, Hungary, Slovakia all got a piece of the pie.
Ruysns are people who now have no homeland.
Still .. we are here, that's the important thing, not owning land.
I don't think the people of Ukraine are going to be much better off in the long run if they win or not.
Only the rich win in these situations. The little people are the cannon fodder.
-@Marilyn Tassy

Everyone wants a place to call their own and to do their own thing without someone like Putin calling the shots.  Putin thinks Ukraine is not really a country and Ukrainians are just Russians who have lost their way.  Yeah, right.  I don't think the Ukrainians would agree with that at all. 

UKR is going to be far better off in the long run even if it's a heavy and terrible price.  There is going to be  a massive rebuilding programme that will take decades and it will transform the country.   It will be past $1 trillion to rebuild.

Russia will be paying for all that one way or another - either directly as reparations or in world isolation. It will take generations or a revolution or even a break up/dismantling or dismantling of the country before Russia is going to be allowed a seat in any world forums.  Their people will not be travelling anywhere soon either.  Of course, that'll suit Putin just fine.  He can always do what he wants but he won't last forever.

My expectation is the conflict will widen further East or South (Moldova).  The places the Russians think of as their near abroad, like Kazakhstan, Armenia etc are going to be more assertive on their independence and try to be less connected.   Be difficult for them in the short term but over time, it's more in their strategic interest to be less dependent on an unpredictable autocrat.   And it's good for the West too for Putin to have fewer "allies".   Armenia is likely to crack - the Russians did nothing to save them from the Azeris. 

Bit of a long shot, but there may be a chance UKR will eventually invade Moldova to get rid of the Russian threat from Transnistria - not that it's much of a threat.  Might be with tacit approval of the Romanians or even NATO for that to happen.  Or in defeat RU is simply asked to leave by all sides. With Putin out of the picture (hopefully in The Hague by then), the Russians might well agree.   

Too many assults on the average person.

Banks failing, inflation all sorts of distractions to worry about.

It could be war, lack of food or lack of energy, whatever ,"they" decide to pull on us.

Maybe  hit people from all sides maybe a direct hit with the banks failing?

In any case I think they are going to force us into a one world currency sooner or later.

Cypto instead of cash.

No more under the table deals with cash, in some ways that's good and in other ways it takes away from personal freedom.

Happy 1848 Revolution Day!
Hope you are all out there waving flags and wearing rosettes.
-@fluffy2560

As I always tell people when they ask why the celebration today.... They ALMOST won!
Uhm.... it was the Russians who crushed them, but evidently it's difficult to learn from history...
-@Vicces1

Actually we did won over the Habsburg Empire.

Russians did not crush the revolution/ freedom fight. They simly arrived honoring their agreement with the Austrian Emperor.

With the Russian there were more like skirmishes than battles. The one where the propaganda said "great Hungarian defeat" Segesvár actually the number of Hungarian tropps were about 3.400 personel...

Actually Russians in a long run WOULD be capable to defeat the revolutionary forces (as they build up logistics/ barracks/ reserves in Galicia for some 200 - 300.000 soldiers), but the relative small contingent which ever arrived here was just about 30.000.

Simply no one had desire to actually fight against the Russian forces/ two large empire in two fronts at the same time, so the Hungarian Revoölutionary Forces officially put down arms in front of the Russians at Vilagos - as a clear sign: the Habsburg Empire DID NOT defeated us.

Anyway the revolution started in 1848 and in the political/ autonomy sense ended in 1867.

Sure there was not notable battles after 1849 (a few hundred missing "police"/ other troops just average resistance), but clearly the "victorious Austrians" was unable to rule or crush, and in the end lead to a political comprimise.

Even in 1857 they did cancel the visit the Austrian leadership because they did fear the revolution/ the start again of the de facfto armed fight:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bards_of_Wales

So in a political sense: we won in 19 years.

This is a bit of a worry........


Vienna police step up armed patrols as they warn of potential Islamist terror attack
-@SimCityAT

I lived in Vienna.

They are always watching/ on alert.

A few years back they actually permitted the then not jet infamous Islamic State to recruit and collect donations at the Stephansplatz.

Watched and did not interfere then.

Austria at least then was a truly free country where much things possible - BUT if someone crossed red lines and especially did or planned to do harmful things against the natives: response is swift, decisive and if needs brutal.

The WEGA does not jokes. Maybe once says "Bite" not at second time. 

The hospital has just rung, I must be there at 7.30am. Im not allowed to drink, eat or smoke 6 hours before.

So no morning Coffee 🙁how am I going to cope?

The hospital has just rung, I must be there at 7.30am. Im not allowed to drink, eat or smoke 6 hours before.
So no morning Coffee 🙁how am I going to cope?
-@SimCityAT

You will have to binge on all those vices until 0130h.

You will be fine.

The hospital has just rung, I must be there at 7.30am. Im not allowed to drink, eat or smoke 6 hours before.
So no morning Coffee 🙁how am I going to cope?
-@SimCityAT

I wish you all the best.

I suppose this is about your back issues?

You'll be up and dancing a jig soon enough.

There have been rare chaotic scenes in the French parliament as President Emmanuel Macron used special powers to push through an unpopular pensions bill which aims to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.
-@SimCityAT

I suppose it was the equivalent of the Parliament Act in the UK.

I don't know what they are complaining about, the UK pension gets further away in time regularly.

-@fluffy2560

Through no desire of my own, I am becoming more aware of the reasons for the protests.
On the surface, it is a simple minimum age increase to account for the economics of paying out to the longer life spans of most retirees.
However, some of the other changes seem to be more complex.

One of the reasons for the protest is this: The French pension system is simply not under economic distress. Although the pension system was a huge chunk of the French budget, as high as 14%, it has actually decreased to 13.7% of the budget as the French economy has grown in recent years. Projections show the potential for a continued downward trend.

As someone not eligible for a full pension in the US, my age of receiving retirement benefits there is 67 years old. I'm already thinking I won't live so long but it'd be nice to think I wouldn't risk poverty by retiring.
-@Vicces1

We quit the rat race at age 62.

It has overall balanced out just fine.

We try not to think of the 25% each we lost by not waiting.

My husband has been a couch potatoe for the last 13 years.

My retirement isn 't that large because I was a lazy none producer by US standards. They do not count being a homemaker and caregiver as a job even though it is an endless job without pay.

I had decent jobs when I did work but there are huge gaps in my years. If I didn't claim on my husbands taxes over the years I'd probably have nothing much in income myself.

We were able to live in Hungary nice enough for years just on my husbands early SS income. He is 7 years older them me.

Now it's all gravy as they say.

His full retirement age would of been 65 mine would of been 67.

I wonder how old our son will be before he can ,"cash in".

Maybe never,the system may be broken by then.

My brother had a job with a good income, same job for over 35 years with American Airlines. His wife also had the same job, in fact she was his supervisor with over 40 years under her utility belt.

Both skilled mechanics.

She retired with some good package during covid.

My brother was just 63 when he passed this last Sept.

He had stage 4 colon cancer but was at work just 2 days before he passed.( He could of stopped but wanted to keep busy)

I swear the US is the worst place ever.,You can literally be dying on your feet and still never collect a dime.

He must of supported at least 4 people in their retirment but never saw a red cent himself. Not fair, I say get it while it's hot and available to you at 62. It might not be there later when you think it will be.

My SIL told me they had plans to visit us here in HUngary. They were going to take a Danube crusie through several countries after seeing the UK.

Covid and then him getting ill. Don't wait to live, take the money and run.

One never knows when the music will end.

My parents took early retirement in their late 50's and went travelling but my dad still did his examining and he had to go back to his old teaching job after the guy who replaced him had a nervous breakdown.

But really the French moaning about 2 years 64 is still a young age.

-@SimCityAT

Oy vay....best of luck with that.  You're in good hands.

..He had stage 4 colon cancer but was at work just 2 days before he passed.( He could of stopped but wanted to keep busy)
I swear the US is the worst place ever.,You can literally be dying on your feet and still never collect a dime.
He must of supported at least 4 people in their retirment but never saw a red cent himself. Not fair, I say get it while it's hot and available to you at 62. It might not be there later when you think it will be.
My SIL told me they had plans to visit us here in HUngary. They were going to take a Danube crusie through several countries after seeing the UK.
Covid and then him getting ill. Don't wait to live, take the money and run.
One never knows when the music will end.
-@Marilyn Tassy

My bro was 61 and had a brain haemorrage at his house in Portugal where he was living and working at the time. He was at work just a few days before. He knew he had brain cancer so it wasn't unexpected - until it arrived. He never recovered enough for work after the event.  He had made a lot of plans for his retirement but it was not to be. He never got to do the things he wanted to.  I'm older than him at the time of his passing.

I wish I had the cash to retire. I'd rather be doing my own stuff than someone else's.

If you have the money and income, then definitely go. Right now!

My parents took early retirement in their late 50's and went travelling but my dad still did his examining and he had to go back to his old teaching job after the guy who replaced him had a nervous breakdown.
But really the French moaning about 2 years 64 is still a young age.
-@SimCityAT

At the risk of getting some slack, I'd say moaning in France is what they are known for!

At the risk of getting some slack, I'd say moaning in France is what they are known for!
-@Marilyn Tassy

And really good cheese.

Cheese and w(h)ine.

Excellent.

-@SimCityAT

Oy vay....best of luck with that. You're in good hands.
-@fluffy2560

On the bright side, whatever is in there hopefully will give you a buzz!

-@SimCityAT

Oy vay....best of luck with that. You're in good hands.
-@fluffy2560
On the bright side, whatever is in there hopefully will give you a buzz!
-@Marilyn Tassy

They save that good stuff for certain people.   Last time I was given some a couple of weeks ago got the ordinary local jabs and it wasn't very interesting.

The first time - many years ago - was really nice. I was in a very happy place.  I thought I was on holiday -  that's what I told Mrs F as I was coming around.  It's entered our folklore.  What a buzz.  Haven't slept and dreamt that good for years.

At the risk of getting some slack, I'd say moaning in France is what they are known for!
-@Marilyn Tassy

And really good cheese.

Cheese and w(h)ine.

Excellent.
-@fluffy2560

Almost my exact words, you beat me to it.

I think I still have a huge grudge about the Paris cab driver who gave us the ,"run around" grand tour of Paris. Took us about an hour to get from the airport to our hotel room in the left bank...Saw the Eiffel tower from every direction possible before getting to the hotel.

After checking in our expensive room, double bed although I had told them we had a child with us when i booked the room, I was given a no-no when I asked if they had a portable extra bed for our son. No, I guess it's normal in France for parents to sleep in a double bed with a 11 year old? IDK, can't buck the system.

Then I can't forget the $160. snack of a fish salad and 3 cokes, 2 salads only and 3 cokes. We shared between the 3 of us.

Total rip off place.

This was in 1986 prices too.

How stupid do they think the rest of the world is?

It's all good, never again however...I'd rather brown bag it then get scammed again.

I suppose I am really monaing now but I'd rather call it Bi*****.

My sister was hitching around France in the late 1960's.

My 2 older sister were suppose to vist there together but the older one backed out and stayed in London with her new friends.

The trip was already paid for so the one sister went alone. She however had no extra cash on her, she was depending on the other sister to pay fr the trip and all expenses.

She almost got rapped in France and she did get bit on the hand by a dog.

She had to beat her would be attacker off then right away the dog bit her.

Not the best vacation memories of France from my family.

-@SimCityAT

Oy vay....best of luck with that. You're in good hands.
-@fluffy2560
On the bright side, whatever is in there hopefully will give you a buzz!
-@Marilyn Tassy


They save that good stuff for certain people.  Last time I was given some a couple of weeks ago got the ordinary local jabs and it wasn't very interesting.

The first time - many years ago - was really nice. I was in a very happy place. I thought I was on holiday - that's what I told Mrs F as I was coming around. It's entered our folklore. What a buzz. Haven't slept and dreamt that good for years.
-@fluffy2560

Nothing like a self administered moriphine drip!!!

Too bad it's only given in most cases for the first 24 hours...After that, the come down.

..He had stage 4 colon cancer but was at work just 2 days before he passed.( He could of stopped but wanted to keep busy)
I swear the US is the worst place ever.,You can literally be dying on your feet and still never collect a dime.
He must of supported at least 4 people in their retirment but never saw a red cent himself. Not fair, I say get it while it's hot and available to you at 62. It might not be there later when you think it will be.
My SIL told me they had plans to visit us here in HUngary. They were going to take a Danube crusie through several countries after seeing the UK.
Covid and then him getting ill. Don't wait to live, take the money and run.
One never knows when the music will end.
-@Marilyn Tassy

My bro was 61 and had a brain haemorrage at his house in Portugal where he was living and working at the time. He was at work just a few days before. He knew he had brain cancer so it wasn't unexpected - until it arrived. He never recovered enough for work after the event. He had made a lot of plans for his retirement but it was not to be. He never got to do the things he wanted to. I'm older than him at the time of his passing.

I wish I had the cash to retire. I'd rather be doing my own stuff than someone else's.

If you have the money and income, then definitely go. Right now!
-@fluffy2560

Even if you don't have all the money it's worth it. Things always do workout and you can always work part-time here and there if needed.

We did that after my husband retired early. We lived 6 months in Hungary and then went to the uS for 6 months and worked there. Helped our son with his bills so our expences in the US were only half what they could of been.

It helped that our flat in Hungary is paid off so there was no worry about making 2 rental payments at once.

My sister passed at age 43 and also never saw a dime of the so called ,easy money".

My friend Teri from over 50 years, passed on my BD in Dec. 4 years ago or was it 3 years ago? My mind is blank, just before covid. She had brain cancer also.

She was 64 and hadn't retired.

She had it all set up with her long time BF to retire in style too.

Her house was paid off, she had a RV and all her camping gear, she loved camping and boating.

Had a great job where she was respected and loved, was the head of the dental hygine dept. in a uni. in Washington state. Super healthy person before her cancer attacked.

She would ride her bike to the uni , was a real, "Hippie" chick and her students and all the staff were crazy about her. She had allot to live for, at least she saw her one and only grandson before she checked out.

I last saw her in person on one of my Vwgas trips. She flew to Vegas to visit me and another friend who is handicapped.Since she is in a wheelchair it was easier to have our ill friend fly then for the other to fly.

It was so strange to see her and not mention her soon passing. Creepy really. She told us with her surgeries they had ,"scambled" her brains.

Her father just had his 96th BD and has a young GF who looks to me in her ealry 70's.

Her brother also died early of cancer so waiting to enjoy life isn't worth it.

Maybe after 67 it's possible to have another healthy decade or so but no one is getting younger and the grim repear is waiting for all of us. Seize the day, even a day messing on the internet wearing your PJ's till noon is better then any day run by a boss.

Very few people live long and stay healthy.

Happy 1848 Revolution Day!
Hope you are all out there waving flags and wearing rosettes.
-@fluffy2560

As I always tell people when they ask why the celebration today.... They ALMOST won!
Uhm.... it was the Russians who crushed them, but evidently it's difficult to learn from history...
-@Vicces1

Actually we did won over the Habsburg Empire.

Russians did not crush the revolution/ freedom fight. They simly arrived honoring their agreement with the Austrian Emperor.
With the Russian there were more like skirmishes than battles. The one where the propaganda said "great Hungarian defeat" Segesvár actually the number of Hungarian tropps were about 3.400 personel...

Actually Russians in a long run WOULD be capable to defeat the revolutionary forces (as they build up logistics/ barracks/ reserves in Galicia for some 200 - 300.000 soldiers), but the relative small contingent which ever arrived here was just about 30.000.

Simply no one had desire to actually fight against the Russian forces/ two large empire in two fronts at the same time, so the Hungarian Revoölutionary Forces officially put down arms in front of the Russians at Vilagos - as a clear sign: the Habsburg Empire DID NOT defeated us.

Anyway the revolution started in 1848 and in the political/ autonomy sense ended in 1867.
Sure there was not notable battles after 1849 (a few hundred missing "police"/ other troops just average resistance), but clearly the "victorious Austrians" was unable to rule or crush, and in the end lead to a political comprimise.

Even in 1857 they did cancel the visit the Austrian leadership because they did fear the revolution/ the start again of the de facfto armed fight:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bards_of_Wales

So in a political sense: we won in 19 years.
-@sjbabilon5

19 years...Better late then never?

Hungarian history is so sad really.

To me it seems for some reason the world is against little Hungary.

Not sure why exactly but they seem to always get the raw end of every deal.

19 years...Better late then never?
Hungarian history is so sad really.
To me it seems for some reason the world is against little Hungary.
Not sure why exactly but they seem to always get the raw end of every deal.
-@Marilyn Tassy

You're too kind to them.  I used to want to believe them but I don't any more.

They always bet on the wrong horse and therefore reap what they sow.

It's happening right now, today! 

HU refused to send from its stockpile - under an EU mandate - ammo to Ukraine.

And HU and Turkey are blocking Sweden's accession to NATO.  WTF?

Everyone else is going to remember all this. For a very very long time.

And then it's going to be "woe is me" without considering they made their own beds.

Electing an extreme religious right wing homophobe bent on perpetuating a corrupt autocracy is only going to end in tears.

19 years...Better late then never?
Hungarian history is so sad really.
To me it seems for some reason the world is against little Hungary.
Not sure why exactly but they seem to always get the raw end of every deal.
-@Marilyn Tassy

You're too kind to them. I used to want to believe them but I don't any more.

They always bet on the wrong horse and therefore reap what they sow.

It's happening right now, today!

HU refused to send from its stockpile - under an EU mandate - ammo to Ukraine.

And HU and Turkey are blocking Sweden's accession to NATO. WTF?

Everyone else is going to remember all this. For a very very long time.

And then it's going to be "woe is me" without considering they made their own beds.

Electing an extreme religious right wing homophobe bent on perpetuating a corrupt autocracy is only going to end in tears.
-@fluffy2560

My husband was just commenting this morning on how stupid things are here with the economy.

How Hungary is no longer producing much of their own food etc.

How they are paying China to have them build a battery factory in Hungary while Musk is already working on other types of engines. By the time the factories are up and running the electirc batteries will be outdated.

IDK. I tried to watch short little 4 min news clips of news in the US.

Had to stop each one after 90 seconds. Just too many lies and stupid news.

I have started watching old tv shows from the 1960's.

In fact my friend told me she is doing the same thing, Old Drag Net tv shows instead of what garbage they put out there now.

The other night one of the US news clips was Trump saying he was about to be arrested the next day for a leak about him paying off the porn star, Stormy Daniels.

A measly $130.000. I mean she could of hit him up for a least a million!

This stuff can't be real.

So far he is still roaming the sts.

I really do need a time machine, not that things were much better it just wasn't in your face as much and we could believe the lies.

I think it might be a Twilight Zone evening of relaxation for me. It's more believable then the news.

My husband was just commenting this morning on how stupid things are here with the economy.
How Hungary is no longer producing much of their own food etc.
How they are paying China to have them build a battery factory in Hungary while Musk is already working on other types of engines. By the time the factories are up and running the electirc batteries will be outdated.
IDK. I tried to watch short little 4 min news clips of news in the US.
Had to stop each one after 90 seconds. Just too many lies and stupid news.
I have started watching old tv shows from the 1960's.
In fact my friend told me she is doing the same thing, Old Drag Net tv shows instead of what garbage they put out there now.
The other night one of the US news clips was Trump saying he was about to be arrested the next day for a leak about him paying off the porn star, Stormy Daniels.
A measly $130.000. I mean she could of hit him up for a least a million!
This stuff can't be real.
So far he is still roaming the sts.
I really do need a time machine, not that things were much better it just wasn't in your face as much and we could believe the lies.
I think it might be a Twilight Zone evening of relaxation for me. It's more believable then the news.
-@Marilyn Tassy

I totally agree, things have become very stupid indeed. 

I have to say I do enjoy the Trump-Stormy Daniels story. It's just total schadenfreude. He's been caught with his pants down. 

I mean, I actually think I believe Stormy far more than I would believe Trump. I wouldn't trust him to run a bath.

it's mind-boggling that a pornstar is likely more trustworthy than a former President of the USA.

I do not even count Trump as a politician where lying is just day to day business. He's taken it to a whole new level, way beyond normal politics.

I almost begin to think of Stormy as a class act. It's not something I could have said in the past - pornstar vs President. Vote pornstar!

She really is a pornstar - yes, you can Google her professional performances. At least she's honest about what she does.

I feel vaguely sorry for the USA to some degree. Trump has discredited the entire office of President. My own country has Boris Johnson. He's almost as bad but not quite as bad as Trump.

I also think she could have hit him up for more than $1M from him, maybe even $5M. Stormy's looks will fade but cash lasts forever.

I'm really hoping to see Trump doing the perp walk, then getting banged up before serving time. That would be icing on the cake.

I have had a few drips now, and they are good.

Been given a belt/band now.....