I was thinking the other day about how we are using our freedom of expression. The question came up between me and some neighbors concerning how much more or less we are sharing communication with each other. Some felt they only held back if it were new people that they confronted. Others felt that the attitude of the other person gave the green light to more fruitful conversation. Still. Some see it frighteningly becoming easy to shut down a
And stay in the world of self. One can... [Read More]

I received a spam call earlier. The guy had a midwestern accent.

Me: Thank you for calling Wood's Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning, this is Bob, how may I help you.

Caller: Hi Bob, this is Tom with blah blah company calling on behalf of Lancaster Golf Course. I'm trying to find out who to speak to regarding advertising for your business.

me: That would be Jesus, have you prayed and asked him what our advertising budget is?
... [Read More]

The database went down again :-(


All fixed now but we will investigate why and how we can stop it happening again.

Socialist London bookshop Bookmarks was attacked over the weekend by a "far-right mob" and is now calling for solidarity following the "Nazi attack".

By the nonsense the gobby cameraman was shouting they aren't too bright, which is all the more frightening.

I'm not sure whether I've mentioned the boy backpacking but since I'm typing I'll put up a thread. He's been out along bridleways and rural footpaths and he likes it. I've carried camping gear and he likes nights out in a tent too. We're building up from there.

Being seven he can't carry anything heavy. Experimenting, he can take 2.5 kilos with no trouble. Anything over 3 kilos seems excessive, I weigh his pack at the door to make sure 2.5 is the limit. In American that's 5.5... [Read More]

I just found out how bad your summer has been guys..... sorry to hear.

Yes of course I can sympathize now. I'm seeing your temperatures...I'll try to give some advice that is second nature to me to stay safe and cool.

First something I've been told since a child......DO IT!!!!! you'll thank me ...sunburn during those temps are a trip to hospital!!!

https://youtu.be/FzA47J7QsVk

If you... [Read More]

Woke up at Five this morning to a beautifully clear star filled sky on the Gippsland coast. The southern cross lowering on the horizon just above the ocean. The Milky way strewn across the sky like someone had taken a giant paint brush filled with glitter paint and brushed a continuos line from horizon to horizon. And the moon...a beautiful eclipse of the moon....two hours later it was still there . From darkness and an orange red ball, to a soft pink sitting in a pale marine blue sky.
... [Read More]

I am at this moment in Wembley spending a night at a hotel due to an early start tomorrow attending my wife's grandson at auditions for.........X Factor.

They don't give any timetable, just say 8.30 till late. As we were booking in, just across the street to the Arena there was a queue snaking for about 100 yards in a double loop at about 8.50 pm.

So tomorrow will be a long long day.

The irony is I am not a fan of the bloody programme, it is one of... [Read More]

Well, this last few months have been an adventure.
Mrs Lars finally had her long time heart issues catch up with her back in March.
We ended up dealing with a severe Staph infection that caused her to need open-heart surgery, and eventually a pacemaker installed.

Fortunately, I had excellent health insurance through my work. Our out of pocket for the whole thing was a mere fraction of the whole bill (Which we are still working on totaling up.) Suffice to say... [Read More]

Some of you may be aware there is a rather important case at the supreme court at the moment as to whether powers currently with the eu on matters that are devolved to the scottish parliament should be returned to that parliament - westminster has taken claim over them the crux of the case put by the uk government is that “The UK Parliament is sovereign, the Scottish Parliament is not.”

Leaving aside the scottish issue for the moment perhaps the most galling aspect of Lord... [Read More]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_JOGmXpe5I


That's pretty much what the Brexit threat to leave the EU without a deal really is, especially after the EU/Japanese deal and the deal Germany has made with China.

...I doubt the EU will be fooled.

edit: It's also a moment of comic genius. ... [Read More]

The site suffered a major database error yesterday and it has taken a while to bring it back online. I apologize, it caught me at an unfortunate time and Bryn's on his boat with no computer.

The cache problem persists and still requires a page reload to see changes during the previous five minutes, it's on my list.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknew...9Ug&ocid=wispr

If you see a deer SWIMMING why would you assume it is in difficulties? Did they think it had fallen in or something? caught by the tide when in for a paddle. I've seen a herd of deer swimming from the mainland to skye you... [Read More]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReIAna459sg

Too important not to have a thread of its own.

Now my understanding is that not only are 12 Russians indicted but US intelligence services are currently warning that the Russians intend to interfere in the mid terms.

If Trump goes in and complains seriously about these matters and the Novichok use and the Crimea and Ukraine I'll be reassured. If he disappears off and has a buddy chat he's at best a fool and at worst a traitor.

The only question in my mind... [Read More]

Well? Where is he?

I had a visit from my somewhat Russian friend. He told me two little stories relating to the world cup that might be of amusement:

1) The bids for this world cup went in 5 years ago. Putin started building the stadia 6 years ago...(they needed new stadia - the Russian football federation did not have ones that were up to standard and no way would Putin have spent the money unless he KNEW they would be needed)


2) Why has this World Cup been so lacking in trouble?... [Read More]

I hope this is an unnecessary thread that slides swiftly down the list and off the actives.

Unfortunately there has been a week of youths throwing petrol bombs at night in Republican areas. It is undoubtedly being driven by extremists and even someone like Gerry Adams has been targeted (he now counts as a moderate/traitor in the extremists' eyes).


The extremists are being attacked by Sinn Fein for using children as soldiers and hopefully the community can... [Read More]

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. . . . all my Friends, all at the same time! (Couldn't get it to open automatically)

T

BBC : Mike Pompeo says, "We're not Gansters"
"US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has dismissed accusations by North Korea that he engaged in "gangster-like" behaviour during a visit there."

And yet, on another front:
U.S. Opposition to... [Read More]