Absolutely Anything Else

They are both guilty and so what?  - @fluffy2560
Then you have to condemn the US as well as Russia.
Just the US is guilty of a lot more.
Of course you can ignore history and undisputed fact in order to push hate, but that's what Trump supporters do.
That lot are dumb as bricks. - @Fred

I did condemn the USA for past adventures.  I wrote it directly there and you responded to it.

Opposition and not agreeing is not hate.   And positing alternative "facts" repeatedly won't make it more true.

If we were in an alternate reality, vis-à-vis no Putin, then maybe all this would be moot. 

BTW, US is showing its spots. News reports today are that US is withdrawing intelligence gathering for Russia and therefore Ukraine will lose cover there.  - @fluffy2560 Link? - @Fred

Good point.

I only caught it as it was mentioned by a reporter on LBC radio.   I listen to LBC almost continuously.

There is some discussion on the respectable news wires about intelligence sharing changes.

I'll see what I can find to see if it's got legs.

Update: Yes it has legs.  See this piece in the NYT (extract):

After Friday’s spectacle in the Oval Office, the Trump administration official said the president might decide to end even the indirect support being provided by the U.S., which includes other types of military financing, intelligence sharing, training for Ukrainian troops and pilots, and hosting a call center that manages international aid at a U.S. military base in Germany.

p.s This morning, I happened to read a piece in The Economist about India, the international poverty line currently $2.15 PPP.

Yes, I watched the Truman show last night with Zelensky and Trump;It turned ugly really fast but the entire time in my mind I was thinking Z looked like a school boy wiggling around in a chair that was too large for him. He was making faces and rolling his eyes, sort of a spoiled brat.He looked like it was well past his bed time.Then Vance and Trump went off on him.I thought it made for some fun tv.No matter what, they all are actors.As far as Orban saying that perhaps he will end VAT tax on food for retired people, it will have zero to do with most of us ex pats.Once we shopped at Tesco on a Tuesday and the clerk had given a senior discount to the lady before us and then just did the same for us without us even knowing what was going on.You have to show your Hungarian senior card, not sure what that looks like, to get senior discounts sponsored by the gov.They have senior trips around Hungary and special boat tours down the Danube with food and music just for retired HU seniors but you need the discount card;You must of worked a min; of 15 years in Hungary and be over 65 to get the card;We do not qualify for it. It was a one off at Tesco to get 10% off that one Tuesday.It was/is a beautiful day outside.We just got in from the outdoor farmer market.Super busy, even bought a melon. Must of come from Greece or Italy?Super busy but was so nice I even took my jacket off because it was getting hot under the sun.I was able to find everything on my list today but did notice prices on items I did not need today;500 forints for beets, I bought them yesterday at Lidl for only 299. Nice firm ones too;Peppers were all over the place and reasonable. Apples were cheaper then the stores but most items still cost more then the major markets do.I was so jazzed, found bags of Harpo liquorice candy! 3 bags for 500!Bought that in the past at the pricey Flying Tiger shop and really was not great tasting.Have to check out my purchase today later on.My friend in detention has till March 18th. They bought her a ticket to FL.IDK, her lawyers had better get it in gear fast!I know it is not my problem but dang I am worried for her.Ok, everyone enjoy their day,going to watch episode 2 of the Trump/Truman show tonight! - @Marilyn Tassy

Shady Vance and the Orange Blob have a lot to answer for.  I suppose it's partial revenge over Zelenskyy's lack of cooperation in Trump 1.0 over finding some Hunter Biden dirt.  Ridiculous behaviour by Trump. Like that of a gangster extorting victims. Not statesman like at all.    The European emergency security conference starts soon in London and Zelenskyy is already in the UK to speak to Starmer prior to that.  We'll see.  Certainly he'll be amongst friends.   I saw John Bolton's call for Rubio to resign.  Interesting.  We'll see how long Rubio lasts squirming in that job.  And the others.  Lindsay Graham and other Trumpists are clearly absolute flip-flopping idiots but they probably always were.

I also heard that as a non-EU citizen, I won't get any pensioner discounts.  Just makes me sick even further about Brexit.  My pension will be recognised under the social security treaty but it won't go as far as a discount like a "local". I think I can travel free on public transport from age 65, regardless of nationality/EU status.

We went to a new Lidl yesterday in Erd.  There's frozen "seafood" bar there as it's a "big" Lidl.  You can help yourself to pick 'n' mix prawns, mussels and so on.  Never seen that before.  We need that stuff for paella. I've never made that before so it's going to be  a new experience.  I was hoping to find some plums but didn't see any of those.  Plenty of grapes though.   They had reasonable avocados but they were pretty hard.

That deportation to FL seems quite soon.  I don't know about Sweden but in the UK, many deportations are stopped at the last minute through court action.  I suppose they'll put guards on the plane with her to stop her kicking off.  Maybe they've got something more on her than we know.  Maybe drugs, maybe crime, who knows for sure?!  Not really going to worry about it.  If she said she was in fear of her life, then maybe they'd halt it prior to deportation day.

I did condemn the USA for past adventures. I wrote it directly there and you responded to it.Opposition and not agreeing is not hate. And positing alternative "facts" repeatedly won't make it more true. If we were in an alternate reality, vis-à-vis no Putin, then maybe all this would be moot. - @fluffy2560

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xWowuHMvpzU

Alternative facts, or just truth you don't like?

have another

https://m.youtube.com/shorts/hVE4eltDLbA

If we were in an alternate reality, vis-à-vis no USA overthrowing the democracy in Ukraine, then maybe all this would be moot

Expats and citizens in Europe are in a very dangerous position that NATO created by expanding military forces eastwards to threaten Moscow, very much as the US did with their nuclear missiles in Turkey that caused the Cuban missile crisis.

As with the events of 1962, Russia is taking the blame for a US manufactured conflict.

Understanding history is important in order to avoid the same mistakes being repeated.

The only alterntative fact around here is the one where you are right about anything except Trump being a dangerous fool.

Yes, I watched the Truman show last night with Zelensky and Trump;It turned ugly really fast but the entire time in my mind I was thinking Z looked like a school boy wiggling around in a chair that was too large for him. He was making faces and rolling his eyes, sort of a spoiled brat.He looked like it was well past his bed time.Then Vance and Trump went off on him.I thought it made for some fun tv.No matter what, they all are actors.As far as Orban saying that perhaps he will end VAT tax on food for retired people, it will have zero to do with most of us ex pats.Once we shopped at Tesco on a Tuesday and the clerk had given a senior discount to the lady before us and then just did the same for us without us even knowing what was going on.You have to show your Hungarian senior card, not sure what that looks like, to get senior discounts sponsored by the gov.They have senior trips around Hungary and special boat tours down the Danube with food and music just for retired HU seniors but you need the discount card;You must of worked a min; of 15 years in Hungary and be over 65 to get the card;We do not qualify for it. It was a one off at Tesco to get 10% off that one Tuesday.It was/is a beautiful day outside.We just got in from the outdoor farmer market.Super busy, even bought a melon. Must of come from Greece or Italy?Super busy but was so nice I even took my jacket off because it was getting hot under the sun.I was able to find everything on my list today but did notice prices on items I did not need today;500 forints for beets, I bought them yesterday at Lidl for only 299. Nice firm ones too;Peppers were all over the place and reasonable. Apples were cheaper then the stores but most items still cost more then the major markets do.I was so jazzed, found bags of Harpo liquorice candy! 3 bags for 500!Bought that in the past at the pricey Flying Tiger shop and really was not great tasting.Have to check out my purchase today later on.My friend in detention has till March 18th. They bought her a ticket to FL.IDK, her lawyers had better get it in gear fast!I know it is not my problem but dang I am worried for her.Ok, everyone enjoy their day,going to watch episode 2 of the Trump/Truman show tonight! - @Marilyn TassyShady Vance and the Orange Blob have a lot to answer for. I suppose it's partial revenge over Zelenskyy's lack of cooperation in Trump 1.0 over finding some Hunter Biden dirt. Ridiculous behaviour by Trump. Like that of a gangster extorting victims. Not statesman like at all.  The European emergency security conference starts soon in London and Zelenskyy is already in the UK to speak to Starmer prior to that. We'll see. Certainly he'll be amongst friends. I saw John Bolton's call for Rubio to resign. Interesting. We'll see how long Rubio lasts squirming in that job. And the others. Lindsay Graham and other Trumpists are clearly absolute flip-flopping idiots but they probably always were. I also heard that as a non-EU citizen, I won't get any pensioner discounts. Just makes me sick even further about Brexit. My pension will be recognised under the social security treaty but it won't go as far as a discount like a "local". I think I can travel free on public transport from age 65, regardless of nationality/EU status.We went to a new Lidl yesterday in Erd. There's frozen "seafood" bar there as it's a "big" Lidl. You can help yourself to pick 'n' mix prawns, mussels and so on. Never seen that before. We need that stuff for paella. I've never made that before so it's going to be a new experience. I was hoping to find some plums but didn't see any of those. Plenty of grapes though. They had reasonable avocados but they were pretty hard.That deportation to FL seems quite soon. I don't know about Sweden but in the UK, many deportations are stopped at the last minute through court action. I suppose they'll put guards on the plane with her to stop her kicking off. Maybe they've got something more on her than we know. Maybe drugs, maybe crime, who knows for sure?! Not really going to worry about it. If she said she was in fear of her life, then maybe they'd halt it prior to deportation day. - @fluffy2560

We jumped into a Penny store last week; It was in the same mini mall the electric supply house was in.

I saw plums for sale and they looked nice. Almost grabbed a couple but was not in the mood to hear my husband say anything about them being 1,700 per kilo. Sort of high priced; They were called Japanese plums for some reason.

We buy our avacados mostly from Lidl. We learned it is best to buy them green and let them ripe at home. If they are ripe in the store, 9 times out of 10 they are bruised up inside and or old.

The frozen fresh fish sounds great, wish our local Lidl had room for something like that.

Yes, my Swedish deporte friend did say for years that she was afraid for her life in the US.

Seems she dated some shady people in the past. One even now works for the FBI so IDK it may be easy for him to find her with his contacts if he wants to.

As Trump would say, perhaps she had overplayed her cards!

It is sad though, I hope she gets a stay last min. Her husband will snap mentally without her.

https://youtu.be/emD1cN2xEz4?feature=shared

More not alternative facts from undisputed history

https://youtu.be/emD1cN2xEz4?feature=shared

Russia is concerned about the threat - I don't have to like the war in Ukraine to understand why Russia needs to defend against a force with a long history of aggression on his doorstep.

I did condemn the USA for past adventures. I wrote it directly there and you responded to it.Opposition and not agreeing is not hate. And positing alternative "facts" repeatedly won't make it more true. If we were in an alternate reality, vis-à-vis no Putin, then maybe all this would be moot.  - @fluffy2560
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xWowuHMvpzU

Alternative facts, or just truth you don't like?

have another

https://m.youtube.com/shorts/hVE4eltDLbA

If we were in an alternate reality, vis-à-vis no USA overthrowing the democracy in Ukraine, then maybe all this would be moot

Expats and citizens in Europe are in a very dangerous position that NATO created by expanding military forces eastwards to threaten Moscow, very much as the US did with their nuclear missiles in Turkey that caused the Cuban missile crisis.
As with the events of 1962, Russia is taking the blame for a US manufactured conflict.
Understanding history is important in order to avoid the same mistakes being repeated.

The only alterntative fact around here is the one where you are right about anything except Trump being a dangerous fool. - @Fred

As I always say, I don't do homework. I'm well aware of all the BS floating around about who is guilty.

Trump seems to be awe of Putin and is selling out decades of stability and alliances to him.  Anyone who can be so easily suckered like that is a few sandwiches short of a picnic.  Maybe it's simpler. People speculate the leverage might be kompromat - everything from sexual deviancy to simply financial borrowings from Russian banks.   It might be that.  Or it's that Trump simply wants to be a dictator like Putin.   

If anyone has any doubt about Putin's MO, let's not forget the Skripal's poisoning, the deaths of Dawn Sturgess using the Novichok nerve agent  and the death of Litvinenko by polonium poisoning.  All on British soil.  And then there's Navalny and numerous people who took dives off tall buildings etc.   

As I always say, I don't do homework. - @fluffy2560

That much is obvious. You really should as uninformed masses believing propaganda is how the nasty end of the political class get what they want.

We jumped into a Penny store last week; It was in the same mini mall the electric supply house was in.I saw plums for sale and they looked nice. Almost grabbed a couple but was not in the mood to hear my husband say anything about them being 1,700 per kilo. Sort of high priced; They were called Japanese plums for some reason.We buy our avacados mostly from Lidl. We learned it is best to buy them green and let them ripe at home. If they are ripe in the store, 9 times out of 10 they are bruised up inside and or old.The frozen fresh fish sounds great, wish our local Lidl had room for something like that.Yes, my Swedish deporte friend did say for years that she was afraid for her life in the US.Seems she dated some shady people in the past. One even now works for the FBI so IDK it may be easy for him to find her with his contacts if he wants to.As Trump would say, perhaps she had overplayed her cards!It is sad though, I hope she gets a stay last min. Her husband will snap mentally without her. - @Marilyn Tassy

I did read that Penny Markt was cheaper than the others but the choices are less.  1700 HUF for plums is outrageously expensive.  They won't sell them at that price.  We got some avocados from Lidl but I reckon they'll take a week to ripen so it's definitely planning ahead.  We'll have to wait some months for our own plums to appear.  I say plums but they are greengages which are a type of plum.  Really rather tasty.

The "fishbar" at the big Lidl in Erd (Balatoni Ut, next to the park) is just a freezer with sections for different types of seafood.   There's a small shovel for putting it in plastic bags.   We used prawns and mussels and salmon off cuts we'd saved. I don't think it's worth a special trip.  We went there for the seafood and the tools.  They have a large tool section and some tools they don't have in the smaller Lidls.

I made the paella and it wasn't a good result.  I even managed to get  soccarat (caramelised rice at the bottom of the pan).  It was not very good and I was disappointed with the result.  We had the right (special) rice but I think it was a wrong choice to make this. We should have just used ordinary rice and made it with chicken.   There's a nice Scottish recipe called kedgeree and I think this would have been a better bet and harder to get wrong.  Origins are not Scottish but if one makes it with smoked herring (aka kippers), then it's kedgeree.  I might try this one instead but I'd be easy on the eggs.

I reckon your Swedish friend might need to try and say she fears for her life there.  Maybe she never mentioned it before to them so it'd look a bit desperate but well, any options that might work.    But I do think her best bet is right to family life as it has a European dimension and therefore is not a Swedish only decision.  That's a Human Rights issue.  It could work.  Anyways, her lawyers know better than me.  Certainly it could buy time.

I truly believe these players know exactly what their script is before the cameras start rolling.

WW3, sounds like a set up to get the populations ready for anything.

There are no good guys at those levels of power.

I read today that Americans are trying to put on Canadian accents in Europe!

That is extreme.

I am not ashamed of being American , why I had nada to do with it.

As I always say, I don't do homework.  - @fluffy2560
That much is obvious. You really should as uninformed masses believing propaganda is how the nasty end of the political class get what they want.
- @Fred

I've got to do some other stuff today.  I've got to sand a cupboard ready for painting and find some replacement car spare parts in my extensive collection.   That's higher priority than your homework for me. 

Unlike Bob Dylan, times aren't a changin'.  Or maybe they are?

Quick one:

Do you agree Putin was responsible for the deaths of people on British soil using various nefarious means?

Believe me, for years my friend has played the racist card, they no one cares card, the mafia wants her dead card, you name it.

I tried to warn her but people have mental blocks about things they know deep down they are doing wrong. Just stubborn.

For one thing which is pretty clear in any country, her husband is a 100% dependent on the gov; Has some mental blocks and for sure he will never pay into their system;

They want people who will build their country, not live off of it.

She was getting a tiny bit of money from the gov; of Sweden too to help care for her husband.I think she should of attended language school made an effort to intergrate and her husband should of been working. When they met he was a part time teacher. They even find jobs in Sweden for people, he just had a nervous fit and refused to work even the part time job they found him;

Guess they want to stop life long welfare cases . I can not blame them;

I know for my resident permit in Hungary I had to sign a document stating I would NEVER try to get any gov; aid here; I do not need it, only what is normal to expect as the wife of a citizen and a person with outside income.

They have neither, she was illegally in Sweden when she married; It is really upsetting though, 4 years of marriage and it looks like they will break it up. I even told her to have a baby if it came down to it. I wonder if they have anchor  babies there? In fact her husband was suggesting that once she is legal she should try for 100% disabilty too; No wonder they want her gone, just hard to witness people hurting themselves for no reason;

I was very tempted to buy those plums at Penny Market but 1,700 is way too much; We do not buy overpriced items even if we can afford to at times.

It just keeps prices high for everyone if they can sell no matter how much they charge.

We usually purchase avocados a couple times per week; As one bag gets ripe we buy another to let it rest .

I truly believe these players know exactly what their script is before the cameras start rolling.
WW3, sounds like a set up to get the populations ready for anything.
There are no good guys at those levels of power.
I read today that Americans are trying to put on Canadian accents in Europe!
That is extreme.
I am not ashamed of being American , why I had nada to do with it. - @Marilyn Tassy

It was the same in Trump 1.0.   US students backpacking in Europe were sowing Canadian flags on their rucksacks I believe.  I had a British flag on one of my British cars.  I often wondered if I should have that on there as it would make me a target.  I've already removed flags or stickers on my luggage and don't wear badges or T-shirts that show the UK flag etc.   The IRA used to target people with British cars in Europe and killed several people.  Unfortunately in one incident it was a hire car and the people were Australian.  British Forces in Germany used to have special number plates on their cars.   They changed that after the IRA attacks.  But not before a few deaths.

Some people would say you had something to do with it.  If you didn't vote, you abdicated from the process and let the whichever Orange Elephant or Blue Donkey get in or not get in.  Your views are simply not counted.  It's your right of course not to vote but equally you could have spoilt your ballot paper as "none of the above".   John Lewis - the civil rights activist - said one had to vote as it's important to participate in that process.

Maybe US persons should think how lucky they are. I don't vote in UK elections because I'm blocked from doing it.  The laws changed but I tried to register and I was rejected as I couldn't prove where I'd lived previously.  Same for my daughter who has never lived in the UK.  She's a citizen but has no say at all.  That's the way the legislation there is written along with ID requirements.  It was to mess up fair voting.   

Trump's BS on WW3 is a nonsense.  It's going to be WW3 regardless of Zelenskyy.  Putting WW3 on Ukraine is stupid talk.  If Trump supported Ukraine to the hilt to eject Russia from Ukraine, then crushing them and defanging them would put the rest of the world at peace.  And as I said before, breaking up Russia, would stop the rise of dictators like Vlad.   

Believe me, for years my friend has played the racist card, they no one cares card, the mafia wants her dead card, you name it.I tried to warn her but people have mental blocks about things they know deep down they are doing wrong. Just stubborn.For one thing which is pretty clear in any country, her husband is a 100% dependent on the gov; Has some mental blocks and for sure he will never pay into their system;They want people who will build their country, not live off of it.She was getting a tiny bit of money from the gov; of Sweden too to help care for her husband. I think she should of attended language school made an effort to integrate and her husband should of been working. When they met he was a part time teacher. They even find jobs in Sweden for people, he just had a nervous fit and refused to work even the part time job they found him;Guess they want to stop life long welfare cases . I can not blame them;I know for my resident permit in Hungary I had to sign a document stating I would NEVER try to get any gov; aid here; I do not need it, only what is normal to expect as the wife of a citizen and a person with outside income.They have neither, she was illegally in Sweden when she married; It is really upsetting though, 4 years of marriage and it looks like they will break it up. I even told her to have a baby if it came down to it. I wonder if they have anchor babies there? In fact her husband was suggesting that once she is legal she should try for 100% disabilty too; No wonder they want her gone, just hard to witness people hurting themselves for no reason; - @Marilyn Tassy

Isn't she a bit old for an anchor baby?   In any case, it probably doesn't matter if a baby is born in Sweden as maybe it's based on blood (her nationality) and not soil (where you're born).  Not the same as the USA and a few other countries.

Sweden was always renowned for its generous welfare system.  It makes more sense to support people than keeping people destitute, likely to take up crime, drugs and evil ways.   Weather in Sweden and street living will kill people off for sure.  And who is going to turf the disabled of whatever kind into the street?  Which politician wants that on their resume?  But I do agree (even though I'm a seriously bad example) that she should have started language integration the moment she got there.  Swedish I reckon must be relatively easy to learn compared to other languages.  Even I know some Swedish words from going to Ikea and watching Swedish TV detectives.  And I've never been there.

I don't remember any paperwork saying I wouldn't claim on the HU system.  But then again, my RP is based on the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement.  In theory that maintains my position as it was previously as an EU-citizen.  And there's a lot of legacy legal process around.  It's not really the same as my permissions are only in HU, not in the wider EU rights as they were before.   If I ever left HU before 2027 (when my current RP expires),  I'd be in deep sh*t trying to get back in.   It's pretty unlikely I'd leave anyway because I'll be at retirement age soon enough and other factors will kick in for me. 

Spring is really upon us.  It's almost T-shirt weather. I didn't sand my cupboard but I found my car spares (ready for when it gets above about 12C or so).  I swept up in my shed and put some brackets up.  I love my shed space.  Mrs F said I should get my mountain bike out and check it out as I can use it when the weather improves.  I had to pump up the tyres (US: tires).  I did the same on my son's mountain bike.  I rode them around the garden to make sure they were OK, gears change, brakes, lights etc. I plan to take up cycling again, now that winter is disappearing - get into training for more easy cycling in the summer etc. I swept up, moved some garden rubbish ready for the "zöld" trash truck to come and take it away.  I even played with the dog - much to her surprise!

Fluffy's homework assignment

-

1999 -  Poland  and Hugary joined NATO against a US promise of zero expansion

2004 - Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovinia all  jined NATO in direct contraiction of the US promise made to allow  Germany to reunite without argument.

A hostile force is positioning  itself for a potential attack on Moscow

https://www.pressenza.com/2022/02/the-r … n-ukraine/

As we  can see, NATO is a masssive threat to Russia. Gien that, we have to consider who is the bad guy here. Of course, that doesn't exclude  the possibility both sides are  the bad guys.

However, only one has stated they want to break up the other,  ad onlly one has  expanded to put itself in an attacking position.

Now imagine Ukraine  joining and put yourself  in Putin's place.

The next lesson is  about the US shale gas industry's timeline against that of the US run coup  in Ukraine, how cheap Russian gas supplies to the EU were disrupted,  and how buying expensive US shale gas caused bills to rise all  over Europe.

You'll be surprised - no - shocked at how well the dates match.

Fluffy's homework assignment-1999 - Poland and Hugary joined NATO against a US promise of zero expansion2004 - Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovinia all jined NATO in direct contraiction of the US promise made to allow Germany to reunite without argument.A hostile force is positioning itself for a potential attack on Moscowhttps://www.pressenza.com/2022/02/the-r … n-ukraine/As we can see, NATO is a masssive threat to Russia. Gien that, we have to consider who is the bad guy here. Of course, that doesn't exclude the possibility both sides are the bad guys.However, only one has stated they want to break up the other, ad onlly one has expanded to put itself in an attacking position.Now imagine Ukraine joining and put yourself in Putin's place. - @Fred

Don't be daft.  No-one is going to attack Moscow even if they absolutely deserve it.   NATO expansion is in response to Russian posturing and autocracy.  Otherwise no-one would bother.  Trade is far more important for business than war. 

And don't try to give me homework when I don't do homework.

The next lesson is about the US shale gas industry's timeline against that of the US run coup in Ukraine, how cheap Russian gas supplies to the EU were disrupted, and how buying expensive US shale gas caused bills to rise all over Europe.
You'll be surprised - no - shocked at how well the dates match. - @Fred

Conspiracy theories are everywhere.  I heard Elvis isn't dead and lives on the moon. 

Anyway, your homework, what's your excuse for the flagrant poisoning incidents in the UK?

Conspiracy theories are everywhere. I heard Elvis isn't dead and lives on the moon.
Anyway, your homework, what's your excuse for the flagrant poisoning incidents in the UK? - @fluffy2560

No, he works in our chip shop, but he don't half talk funny these days; the US branch of my family have disowned him.

Conspiracy theories are everywhere. I heard Elvis isn't dead and lives on the moon. Anyway, your homework, what's your excuse for the flagrant poisoning incidents in the UK? - @fluffy2560No, he works in our chip shop, but he don't half talk funny these days; the US branch of my family have disowned him. - @Cynic

What? You too!

Those headlines should be ....Elvis Lives (in Yorkshire)!   

Kirsty McColl of course. - she knew a thing or two about Elvis's chip shop adventures.  A great loss.

On the other hand, he might have been an officer in the Albanian Navy or Coastguard. I worked with this naval officer from Albania once and he was called Elvis.  Apparently Elvis is a very popular name in Albania.  Who'd have thought it?!

I don't know if Norman is a popular name in Albania but Norman Wisdom was mega-popular there.  And quite rightly!  I loved his films unlike my Dad.   My Dad looked a bit like Norman Wisdom and when I told him, he was very offended.  He thought Wisdom was an idiot.  Oh dear!

Elvis is about to live again.  Apparently he's been given the "ABBA revival" treatment and he'll be back as a hologram for some shows.

Conspiracy theories are everywhere. I heard Elvis isn't dead and lives on the moon. Anyway, your homework, what's your excuse for the flagrant poisoning incidents in the UK? - @fluffy2560No, he works in our chip shop, but he don't half talk funny these days; the US branch of my family have disowned him.  - @Cynic
What? You too!
Those headlines should be ....Elvis Lives (in Yorkshire)!

Kirsty McColl of course. - she knew a thing or two about Elvis's chip shop adventures. A great loss.

On the other hand, he might have been an officer in the Albanian Navy or Coastguard. I worked with this naval officer from Albania once and he was called Elvis. Apparently Elvis is a very popular name in Albania. Who'd have thought it?!

I don't know if Norman is a popular name in Albania but Norman Wisdom was mega-popular there. And quite rightly! I loved his films unlike my Dad. My Dad looked a bit like Norman Wisdom and when I told him, he was very offended. He thought Wisdom was an idiot. Oh dear!

Elvis is about to live again. Apparently he's been given the "ABBA revival" treatment and he'll be back as a hologram for some shows. - @fluffy2560

Erm, he lives in North Yorkshire, please, we don't want any of that riff-raff from Barnsley making unjustified claims, do we?

Eric Morecambe was very popular in the Netherlands. I wonder if that's the reason his name is so popular there (erm Eric, not Morecambe). It's a funny old world, eh?

Erm, he lives in North Yorkshire, please, we don't want any of that riff-raff from Barnsley making unjustified claims, do we?
Eric Morecambe was very popular in the Netherlands. I wonder if that's the reason his name is so popular there (erm Eric, not Morecambe). It's a funny old world, eh? - @Cynic

Of course, Eric Morecambe wasn't actually his name.  Really John Eric Bartholomew.   So this might link into Bart being popular in NL.  Not named after Bart Simpson.

Probably in NL, it's Erik, not Eric.  It's such an old fashioned name to me. Unless you're a Viking.  It's a reasonably popular name here, especially the female form Erika.  There's a few names like that here - old fashioned but still popular - like Edit (UK: Edith).  You never see any modern names like Kayleigh or made up stuff like DeShawn or Shanice.   Those won't be in the official name book.  Foreigners have more leeway which I have taken advantage of. 

Barnsley I'm not sure about.  My Yorkshire relatives came from Ossett which, while close, might as well be another country.

44 is no spring chicken as far as having a baby goes but my mother was 44 and 46 when she had her last 2.

My sister was riding horses at full gallop at 8 months along and I was working full time on my feet all day long running, carrying trays but we both were only 20 years old. Much easier in ones youth and in perfect physical shape.

My DIL is 44 and I am afraid there will be no babies from her. My son is now questioning the possibility of being childless.

The other night a women in the detention center cracked up screaming, flipping out and passed out.

Everyone was moved into one room while 6 big guys worked on her;

IDK, as far as I know, most of these women being held are Muslim; It seems a bit un sensitive to have male guards around so many ladies. Strange power shift, who will believe any of these women if these guys act up?

They do however have females watching the women in the showers to make sure they do not try to off themselves with a tiny razor blade.

Sounds like pure hades to me!

Actually it sounds like out old gym classes where we had to stand in the nude wrapped only with a towel and show the gym teacher we were wet and had taken a shower. She was super creepy and more of a rainbow person. My friend Lisa had a shouting fit with her once. She made all the class wear their tiny shorts in the cold while she was wearing a heavy sweat suit and hoodie.

Barnsley I'm not sure about. My Yorkshire relatives came from Ossett which, while close, might as well be another country. - @fluffy2560

An ex-colleague of mine comes from Ossett; he married a German when he was serving there; when he left the Forces, they moved back to Ossett, but after a few years moved back to Paderborn.

Our youngest worked as one of the practice nurses in Ossett Health Centre; no trace of Elvis around there.

Of course Elvis is in Vegas working as an impersonator.

Saw him there several times.

Writing about it is not a super funny as it was being there. Once  a guy walked into the casino floor who had those huge porkchop sideburns and slicked back dark hair. Just some average guy who liked that style;

A funny lady who always cracked the dealers up shouted out for the entire world to hear, Elvis is in the building!

The casino for some reason was very quiet and all that could be heard was her shouting as the man walked past the casino pit.

She was from the Philippines and was a dealer, she had a childlike way about her and her shouting with her accent and all even had the floor bosses laughing. Poor man.

They brought in some lame games for a short while, none of us dealers were happy about it; Some Big 6 spinning wheel game. They always had that women dealing that game because she was so loud and could draw in sucker players. They once put me on that wheel game, holy cow not so fun to be a circus hacker and have to shout out, come spin the big wheel, try your luck.

Almost every casino had a few sucker games like , Let it Ride, all us dealers used to call it, let it Rip!

Barnsley I'm not sure about. My Yorkshire relatives came from Ossett which, while close, might as well be another country.  - @fluffy2560An ex-colleague of mine comes from Ossett; he married a German when he was serving there; when he left the Forces, they moved back to Ossett, but after a few years moved back to Paderborn.Our youngest worked as one of the practice nurses in Ossett Health Centre; no trace of Elvis around there. - @Cynic

Eeee...by gum...nowt as queer as folk.

I think I'd prefer Paderborn to Ossett.

BTW, there's wedding chapel webcam online.  You can see an Elvis there, officiating at weddings. It's actually kind of boring but he does pull some Elvis moves here and there. 

Casinos, Elvis and Guns don't mix.

The thing I like about this clip is the way they mix up Elvis impersonators on stage in the shootout action along with the thumping soundtrack/music.

Of course Elvis is in Vegas working as an impersonator.
Saw him there several times.
Writing about it is not a super funny as it was being there. Once a guy walked into the casino floor who had those huge porkchop sideburns and slicked back dark hair. Just some average guy who liked that style;
A funny lady who always cracked the dealers up shouted out for the entire world to hear, Elvis is in the building!
The casino for some reason was very quiet and all that could be heard was her shouting as the man walked past the casino pit.
She was from the Philippines and was a dealer, she had a childlike way about her and her shouting with her accent and all even had the floor bosses laughing. Poor man.
They brought in some lame games for a short while, none of us dealers were happy about it; Some Big 6 spinning wheel game. They always had that women dealing that game because she was so loud and could draw in sucker players. They once put me on that wheel game, holy cow not so fun to be a circus hawker and have to shout out, come spin the big wheel, try your luck.
Almost every casino had a few sucker games like , Let it Ride, all us dealers used to call it, let it Rip! - @Marilyn Tassy

Casino life sounds like another world.  I guess it has its moments.  I just don't see the attraction in gambling at all.  Obviously people do like it considering how popular it was and the money to be made.

In that movie clip I posted, Kevin Costner claims he's the unrecognised son of Elvis.  Must be 1000s of them!  And Kurt Russell, he's played Elvis on a few occasions.  Seems to be one of his turns.

Another bomb threat at Viennas main train station today. Was a hoax AGAIN. Bringing the capital to a standstill.

Another bomb threat at Viennas main train station today. Was a hoax AGAIN. Bringing the capital to a standstill. - @SimCityAT

Another attack in Mannheim with a car hitting pedestrians. 

Could be Islamic State or some radicalised individual I suppose.   And it's Ramadan too.   And Fasching.

I feel like it's becoming almost normalised to expect these kind of attacks.   We're becoming desensitised.  Not good.

Another bomb threat at Viennas main train station today. Was a hoax AGAIN. Bringing the capital to a standstill.  - @SimCityAT
Another attack in Mannheim with a car hitting pedestrians.
Could be Islamic State or some radicalised individual I suppose. And it's Ramadan too. And Fasching.

I feel like it's becoming almost normalised to expect these kind of attacks. We're becoming desensitised. Not good. - @fluffy2560

According to information provided by ZEIT ONLINE, the suspect is a German citizen with no immigration background and with mental health issues.

The next lesson is about the US shale gas industry's timeline against that of the US run coup in Ukraine, how cheap Russian gas supplies to the EU were disrupted, and how buying expensive US shale gas caused bills to rise all over Europe.
You'll be surprised - no - shocked at how well the dates match. - @Fred
Conspiracy theories are everywhere. I heard Elvis isn't dead and lives on the moon.
Anyway, your homework, what's your excuse for the flagrant poisoning incidents in the UK? - @fluffy2560

Examining a pair of timelines is not tin foil hat, abducted by Martians stuff, it's looking at dates and events. If there are too many coincidences, you look at possible reasons.

For instance, there were 3 candidates for the Indonesian presidency.

One had no found links to US run NED/USAID/other CIA funded groups, one has two, but the last's events were almost all linked to the US.

Likelihood suggests he was working with the US in an attempt to keep Indonesia out of BRICS. Add news reports from various independent agencies against pieces from outlets with reported links to the US, and you have the POSSIBILITY one of the three is a traitor. That isn't a conspiracy, it's a possibility to consider.

Only those with thinking skills can see past propaganda. Most simply believe the WMD style conspiracy theories the US pushes. Even after we find out they lied to us in order to start a war, idiots believe the new lies.

However, mud wrestling with a pig is pointless as you get dirty and the pig enjoys it.

Enjoy your food served on a long communal plate, and don't forget to thank your farmer.

The next lesson is about the US shale gas industry's timeline against that of the US run coup in Ukraine, how cheap Russian gas supplies to the EU were disrupted, and how buying expensive US shale gas caused bills to rise all over Europe.
...Even after we find out they lied to us in order to start a war, idiots believe the new lies.
However, mud wrestling with a pig is pointless as you get dirty and the pig enjoys it.
Enjoy your food served on a long communal plate, and don't forget to thank your farmer. - @Fred

And my original question, the poisoning incidents in the UK and elsewhere?  What say you?

According to information provided by ZEIT ONLINE, the suspect is a German citizen with no immigration background and with mental health issues. - @SimCityAT

Perhaps this attacker fell through public health checks. It's happened before - that guy who crashed the plane and killed 100s of people.

I've never understood why some mentally ill people want to kill other people?   Why don't they want to do flower arranging or take up pottery?

Van Gogh had mental health issue but he put a lot of effort into painting.  I believe he cut off his ear because he had tinnitus. And of course in the end, he shot himself and died of his wounds.

The next lesson is about the US shale gas industry's timeline against that of the US run coup in Ukraine, how cheap Russian gas supplies to the EU were disrupted, and how buying expensive US shale gas caused bills to rise all over Europe.
...Even after we find out they lied to us in order to start a war, idiots believe the new lies.
However, mud wrestling with a pig is pointless as you get dirty and the pig enjoys it.
Enjoy your food served on a long communal plate, and don't forget to thank your farmer. - @Fred
And my original question, the poisoning incidents in the UK and elsewhere? What say you? - @fluffy2560

https://www.reuters.com/article/world/c … KCN1IF1IT/

Was Russia's involvement ever confirmed?

Perhaps we could ask Dr David Kelly.

And my original question, the poisoning incidents in the UK and elsewhere? What say you? - @fluffy2560https://www.reuters.com/article/world/c … KCN1IF1IT/Was Russia's involvement ever confirmed?Perhaps we could ask Dr David Kelly. - @Fred

Seeing as Novichok is identifiably a Russian chemical weapon, the perps were caught on camera and were known Russian agents, I think we're certain.   Same for Litvinenko and the polonium poisoning.  And Navalny and the rest.  You cannot deny it's pretty much normal behaviour by the FSB/Putin.

I also suspect Dr David Kelly was done in by Mossad on suggestions from Blair.  But that's diversionary as I didn't ask that question.

Didn't look at your link as more importantly,  I'm planning to jet wash the underside of my car ready for repairs tomorrow.  Weather is ideal for car washing.  I'm getting my priorities right while Drumpf/Shady Vance and their version of WW3 is coming.  Later on,  I'm now planning to hide under the bed with my hands over my ears while shouting blah-blah-blah.

I might come out from under the bed this arvo to watch a 1960s Western with Dean Martin in it.  In the one I'm watching, he's playing a villain.  Very unusual. I liked his movies.  Boozy bloke unfortunately.  I liked Elvis's movies as well. Classic trash.

I also suspect Dr David Kelly was done in by Mossad on suggestions from Blair. But that's diversionary as I didn't ask that question.
- @fluffy2560

Ah, a conspiracy theory

I'm getting my priorities right while Drumpf/Shady Vance and their version of WW3 is coming. Later on, I'm now planning to hide under the bed with my hands over my ears while shouting blah-blah-blah. - @fluffy2560

Mrs C just bought me a new magnetic Corps badge, so I shall be measuring up the back of our car to make sure it's perfectly positioned; if the needs arise, I shall cover up my ears etc when I'm done.

I'm getting my priorities right while Drumpf/Shady Vance and their version of WW3 is coming. Later on, I'm now planning to hide under the bed with my hands over my ears while shouting blah-blah-blah. - @fluffy2560Mrs C just bought me a new magnetic Corps badge, so I shall be measuring up the back of our car to make sure it's perfectly positioned; if the needs arise, I shall cover up my ears etc when I'm done. - @Cynic

I've got some really nice Bluetooth ear defenders.  Worth the investment. Made by 3M.  I got them on Amazon.  I'll use those instead of my hands.

I've got a magnetic UK country badge for my British car although I've never driven it to Hungary.   I got the sticker in Poundland.

I also suspect Dr David Kelly was done in by Mossad on suggestions from Blair. But that's diversionary as I didn't ask that question. - @fluffy2560 Ah, a conspiracy theory - @Fred

I'd call it more gossiping in the pub.  It's old news now.   Bit like the grassy knoll and two shooters.  Not really worth the effort discussing now.  Too far back to make an difference.

AND you still didn't answer my question.  Putin guilty or not?