Bacon1

Can you explain this, more?

Bubble tea — the colour-swirled, chewy-pearl drink that’s everywhere — might feel like a harmless treat, but new research suggests there’s more going on beneath its sweet surface. First, the tapioca pearls are often made from cassava, a root that readily absorbs heavy metals like lead from the soil. Research in the US found elevated lead levels in some tapioca-based boba products. Beyond contamination, several health issues are emerging. One reported case involved a young woman in Taiwan who developed over 300 kidney stones after relying heavily on bubble tea instead of water. The high sugar content (20–50g per cup) and thick tapioca pearls may contribute to metabolic issues, digestion delays (gastroparesis) or choking hazards. Medical scans have even mistaken dense tapioca pearls for kidney or gall stones because the pearls show up similarly on imaging. All this doesn’t necessarily mean you must quit bubble tea forever — but it does suggest it’s wise to treat it as an occasional indulgence, not a daily habit. A healthier approach: moderate the sugar, choose pearls sparingly, and ensure you also stay hydrated with water. Key Takeaways: The tapioca pearls in bubble tea can carry elevated lead levels because cassava absorbs heavy metals from soil. Excessive bubble tea consumption has been linked to kidney stones, digestive delay and choking hazards due to sugar load and tapioca structure. Enjoy bubble tea—but as an occasional treat. Lower-sugar versions, fewer pearls and better hydration are smart moves. Link to original article: https://theconversation.com/bubble-teas-dark-side-from-lead-contamination-to-kidney-stones-266299

The bold plans by Donald Trump to demolish part of the East Wing of the White House and build a lavish, bullet-proof ballroom have drawn sharp critique from architectural observers, who say the proposed design channels authoritarian vibes. Renderings depict a grand space seated for up to 650 guests, with a snow-white hangar-style shell, gilded Corinthian pillars, gold chandeliers and a coffered ceiling—drawing direct comparisons to historic excesses. Costing around US $250 million (≈£187.5 million), the project is slated as one of the most significant White House remodelling efforts in over a century. Trump, who has long embraced ostentatious architecture, is said to be flexing a “make federal architecture beautiful again” executive order, which mandates classical design for federal buildings and gives him final approval over plans. Critics suggest the move is less about public service and more a staging ground for personal legacy and spectacle—reinforcing patterns of self-aggrandisement. One architecture historian notes the use of classical motifs by Trump reflects a broader strategy to project authority through design. Meanwhile, the American Institute of Architects warns that federal design mandates undermining local control and stifling creativity could have long-lasting consequences for architectural freedom in the U.S. This ballroom, the choice of an architect known for traditional design, and the broader makeover prove that for Trump the White House is more than a residence—it’s a stage. Whether the public or the profession sees it as theatre or legacy remains to be seen. Key Takeaways: Trump’s plan for a massive, bullet-proof White House ballroom signals a shift toward highly personalised architecture and public spectacle. The design’s classical, gilded aesthetic evokes authoritarian architecture, raising concerns over symbolism and public expenditure. Advocates for design freedom caution that federal mandates favouring classical style risk eroding local control and architectural innovation. Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/oct/23/trump-white-house-ballroom-architecture-critic-dictator-bling

Aseanoid, we been dun assimilated.

During the autumn of 1945, in war-torn Europe, a pioneering baseball team made history far from American ballparks. The integrated roster of the Oise Red Circlers — part of the GI World Series for US servicemen — included Black stars from the Negro Leagues such as Willard Brown and Leon Day. Their participation challenged segregation norms long before Jackie Robinson broke the colour barrier in the Major League Baseball in 1947. Led by pitcher and anti-racist serviceman Sam Nahem, the team defeated a whites-only squad from the 71st Infantry Division in a stadium once used by Nazi rallies — a striking reversal of symbolism. While professional baseball in the US remained segregated, the military-run tournament allowed Black and white players to share the field. Historians suggest this chapter, though largely overlooked, adds an important layer to baseball’s integration story — even if its direct influence on the majors remains uncertain. Brown and Day, both later inducted into the Hall of Fame, had served in WWII and turned their attention to sport as the war wound down. Their team’s victory is a reminder of how the push for civil rights played out beyond US borders and official arenas. Key Takeaways: A US military-base baseball tournament in 1945 featured a fully integrated team, predating Jackie Robinson’s MLB breakthrough by nearly two years. The team, under Sam Nahem, operated in a physically and symbolically charged venue — a former Nazi rally ground — and achieved a championship win. While this event didn’t directly lead to MLB integration, it stands as a powerful example of racial progress occurring in unexpected contexts during wartime. Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/oct/22/the-forgotten-story-of-the-us-soldiers-who-integrated-baseball-before-jackie-robinson

I really hope not, after last years floods.

China’s Ministry of Water Resources announced that it has successfully revitalised 88 key rivers and lakes nationwide, breathing ecological life back into waterways that had been dry or degraded for decades. This achievement forms part of the “mother river rejuvenation” action plan, a national programme running from 2022 to 2025 tailored to restore individual rivers and lakes according to their unique conditions. Specific examples include the Yellow River, which has maintained an uninterrupted flow for 26 years, and the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal, where water has been restored along the full length for four consecutive years. In the Haihe River Basin—historically marred by scarcity and pollution—the rehabilitation work has seen the Yongding River regain continuous flow after 26 years of intermittent dryness. Additionally, the Baiyangdian Lake wetland in northern China has sustained stable ecological water-levels for seven years running. Looking ahead, China plans to extend this restoration model to more river basins, embedding long-term mechanisms and maintaining the custom-fit rehabilitation approach that accounts for local hydrology and ecology. The ministry emphasises that each river or lake receives a bespoke plan, avoiding “one-size-fits-all” fixes. Keywords such as “river restoration”, “ecological flow”, “wetland rehabilitation”, “China water resources” and “mother river rejuvenation” are naturally embedded in this report to highlight the significance of the programme and the scale of achievements. Key Takeaways: 1. China has restored ecological flows in 88 major rivers and lakes by September 2025 under a national restoration plan. 2. Major successes include the Yellow River (26 years of uninterrupted flow) and localised wetland recovery like Baiyangdian Lake. 3. Future focus: expand into more basins, establish long-term restoration systems, and maintain tailored plans per waterway. Adapted From: https://english.www.gov.cn/news/202510/13/content_WS68ecbd46c6d00ca5f9a06bb8.html

First time I actually agree with you. *Faints*

Post removed. Discuss the thread, not other members. @JakeC Post removed @MalcolmB Please, all of you, keep cool & stop the bickering.

Meaningless comment removed @Harrisfan

Vulgarity removed @Grumpy one

Yep, getting cooler 'oop norf' (North England expression 😄), here in Nong Khai. Just about to order me thermal underwear from Lazada. 🤣

Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, has asked a Spanish court to impose a 20-year prison sentence on David Morales—the former head of security at the Ecuadorian embassy in London—accused of spying on Assange during his years of asylum. The case centres on Morales’s firm, Undercover Global, which reportedly installed hidden surveillance equipment at the embassy between 2015-2018 and streamed private conversations of Assange, including meetings with his defence team and family. Prosecutors allege Morales passed “illegally obtained information” about Assange and others, possibly at the behest of U.S. interests, with proposed charges covering discovery and disclosure of secrets, bribery, money laundering and illegal weapons possession. Assange’s legal team says the 20-year term is justified given the scale of the alleged operation and violations of his rights during his asylum from 2012–19. The Spanish investigation remains active and Morales is awaiting trial in Spain. Key Takeaways Assange is pushing for a substantial 20-year sentence against Morales for alleged espionage at the London embassy. Morales is accused of secret surveillance, streaming private conversations and handing over sensitive data while Assange was in asylum. The Spanish legal process is ongoing; Morales has not yet been convicted and the investigation continues. Adapted From: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-19/julian-assange-suggested-sentence-for-david-morales/105908048

Scientists say they’ve identified a gene that causes individuals to see violent murder visions upon touching a missing person’s sweater.🙃 The research, aimed at understanding bizarre sensory triggers in missing-persons investigations, found the gene appears to channel involuntary graphic imagery when textile contact occurs. According to the study, participants who were handed a sweater belonging to someone who vanished experienced vivid visualizations of homicide scenes. Genetic testing revealed a specific variant that seemed to activate the brain’s “murder visualization” pathway. Lead researcher Dr Helen Frampton explained this may represent a previously unknown sensory channel—one where tactile input triggers violent visual output. The implications for forensic science are intriguing: law-enforcement agencies might, in theory, screen people for the gene and use their eyewitness-style visions to advance cold cases. Critics pointed out serious ethical and practical concerns. The visions may be influenced by suggestion, cultural factors or participants’ fears rather than genuine traces of crime. Additionally, privacy rights, consent and the accuracy of such interpretations remain unsettled. Even researchers caution that identifying the gene doesn’t guarantee the visions correlate with real events—they may simply reflect internal imaginings. Still, the published findings say the gene appears in about one in 10 000 individuals exposed to the sweater scenario and seems inherited in an autosomal-dominant manner. While the phenomenon remains hypothetical and the research satirical in tone, the paper has sparked wide discussion about how we define sensory perception, evidence and the boundary between science and the surreal. Original source: https://theonion.com/researchers-identify-gene-responsible-for-visualizing-murder-after-touching-missing-persons-sweater/ Key Takeaways: A gene variant is claimed to trigger violent murder visions when a person touches the sweater of someone who’s missing. The research raises ethical and forensic questions about using such sensory responses as evidence in investigations. Experts warn the phenomenon may reflect imagination or suggestion rather than factual memory or crime scene insight. Original article: https://theonion.com/researchers-identify-gene-responsible-for-visualizing-murder-after-touching-missing-persons-sweater/

In south-west Dublin, around the Garda Síochána (Irish police) engaged with a crowd of up to 2,000 people outside the Citywest Hotel, which is being used to house asylum seekers, following an alleged sexual assault on a 10-year-old girl at or near the facility. During the protest on the evening of 21 October 2025, fireworks, bottles, bricks and traffic-cones were hurled at officers. A police vehicle was set alight. Six arrests were made. Police described the mob’s actions as “thuggery” and said the violence was sustained. Government officials condemned the disorder, emphasising that while concern about asylum-seeker accommodation is understandable, any shift towards violent protest or targeting of vulnerable groups will not be tolerated. This incident taps into broader tensions in Ireland: protests over asylum-seeker housing and migration are increasing, linked to social worries about housing shortages and crime, and fuelled in part by far-right groups. Key Takeaways: A large protest outside an asylum-seekers’ hotel in Dublin turned violent, culminating in a police car being set on fire. Police made six arrests and labelled the behaviour as deliberate mob violence, not a peaceful demonstration. The event reflects rising societal tensions in Ireland around immigration, housing and public security. Original source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/21/police-car-set-on-fire-in-protests-outside-dublin-hotel-housing-asylum-seekers

https://people.com/mayor-of-kingstown-season-4-episode-release-schedule-11833955#:~:text=Mayor of Kingstown season 4 will debut on Oct. 26.

Flame posts & replies removed. @Stressed Eric @hotandsticky Stop bickering please.

Decent cast. Emma Thompson & others.

US national Nicholas Rossi (also known as Nicholas Alahverdian) has been sentenced to at least five years in prison after fleeing the United States to Scotland to avoid rape charges. Rossi, aged 38, was convicted in August of raping one woman in 2008 and is facing another sentencing hearing in November for a separate conviction. Authorities first identified Rossi when DNA evidence from a decade-old rape kit in Utah was matched to him. He then disappeared, reportedly staging his own death in 2020 by using an online obituary that claimed he died of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He was eventually arrested in Scotland while hospitalised with COVID-19 in 2021—the tattoos and tattoos tied to a university he never attended helped with his capture. During his sentencing, prosecutors described Rossi as a danger to women and to community safety, stating he used sexual violence to assert control. One victim, who testified in court, said she began a relationship with Rossi after responding to a personal advert and ended up in debt and coerced; she later reported he raped her when she drove him home. The extradition battle delayed his return to the US: Rossi was only brought back to Utah in January 2024 after a long legal fight during which he claimed to be an Irish orphan named “Arthur Knight” and insisted he was being framed. With one conviction sentenced and another still pending, prosecutors warn the full extent of his sentence may extend substantially beyond the initial minimum term. Key Takeaways: Rossi fled the US, faked his death, and was arrested abroad after DNA from a cold case tied him to rape charges. He’s been sentenced to a minimum of five years, with further sentencing pending in the second case. Prosecutors emphasise the danger Rossi posed and the long, international process of extradition and capture. Original source: https://news.sky.com/story/nicholas-rossi-us-man-who-fled-to-scotland-to-avoid-rape-charges-jailed-13454162

In a bold daylight raid at the Louvre Museum in Paris, thieves made off with rare jewellery items from France’s royal past. According to the French Ministry of Culture, the stolen pieces included a tiara and brooch belonging to Empress Eugénie, once the wife of Napoleon III. The museum’s glass-case protection was breached and the artefacts removed in minutes, sparking concern over security in major cultural institutions. Investigators have launched an urgent search, issuing alerts to police at national and international levels. Officials warn that the jewellery’s high profile and recognisability make resale difficult; consequently, they fear the items may be dismantled and sold in parts or smuggled out of France. The Ministry emphasised the loss also represents a significant blow to cultural heritage. This incident adds to a rising number of museum thefts across Europe, prompting museums to reassess their protection strategies. With key evidence being reviewed—surveillance footage, access logs and structural vulnerabilities—the Louvre has said it will cooperate fully with authorities and review its security protocols. As the investigation progresses, questions linger about how such valuable pieces were accessible and what steps will be taken to prevent recurrence. Key Takeaways The Louvre museum in Paris was targeted in a swift daylight heist that resulted in the theft of historic jewellery belonging to Empress Eugénie. Because the pieces are highly recognisable and difficult to sell intact, authorities worry they may be broken up or smuggled out of the country. The theft raises broader concerns about museum security and the protection of national cultural heritage across Europe. Adapted From https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg7nrlkg0zxo

According to new revelations in Nobody’s Girl—the post-humous memoir of Virginia Giuffre—Prince Andrew’s team allegedly attempted to engage internet trolls to harass Giuffre and avoid legal service, while the former royal reportedly hid behind the “well-guarded gates” of Balmoral Castle in Scotland to delay being served court papers. The book describes how Giuffre’s 2022 settlement with Andrew, widely believed to be around £9 m, included a year-long gag clause to avoid disrupting the late Queen’s platinum jubilee. She writes that Andrew’s team “had even gone so far as to try to hire internet trolls to hassle me” to undermine her credibility. Giuffre alleges that the settlement recognised her suffering “as an established victim of abuse and as a result of unfair public attacks.” Meanwhile, pressure on the royal household is growing for Andrew to be formally stripped of his dukedom and other titles. A spokesman for Metropolitan Police said they reviewed claims that Andrew passed Giuffre’s personal data to a protection officer to dig for dirt, but concluded the UK was not the appropriate jurisdiction. Giuffre died by suicide in April, aged 41. In her memoir she urges the world to confront systemic failures that allow trafficking of vulnerable individuals, and that her story is out now for anyone who “wants to know about what happened”. Key Takeaways: Andrew’s legal team allegedly tried to deploy online harassment (internet trolls) against Giuffre to challenge her credibility and avoid accountability. The settlement in 2022 included language acknowledging Giuffre’s victimhood, plus a year-long nondisclosure agreement tied to the Queen’s jubilee. Growing calls for the monarchy and UK government to act: scrutiny over Andrew retaining titles, and questions over whether the Met actions were sufficient. Original source: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/oct/20/prince-andrew-internet-trolls-virginia-giuffre-book-nobodys-girl

I had my hip replaced about eight years ago in Thailand at a military hospital. The total cost — including the surgery, hospital room, and medication — was under 200,000 baht.

Inappropriate, insensitive & childish comment removed. @MalcolmB Making comments like you did, about another members family, is not acceptable

What's next, Eccles cakes without currants? 🤣

McVitie’s has reformulated its iconic Club and Penguin biscuits, replacing their traditional chocolate coating with a: "chocolate flavour" substitute. This change, implemented earlier in 2025, was driven by soaring cocoa prices resulting from poor harvests in Ghana and the Ivory Coast. The new coating contains more palm and shea oils than cocoa, meaning the products can no longer be officially labelled as chocolate biscuits. Despite the recipe change, McVitie’s claims that consumer taste tests show the new coating delivers the same great taste as the originals. The company has updated its marketing slogan for Club biscuits to reflect the change. Other products, such as Mini BN and BN Mini Rolls, were already marketed as "chocolate flavour" rather than containing real chocolate. The rising cost of cocoa has led several manufacturers, including Nestlé, to adjust recipes, reduce product sizes, or cut cocoa content to maintain affordability for consumers. Key Takeaways: McVitie’s has replaced the chocolate coating on Club and Penguin biscuits with a "chocolate flavour" substitute due to high cocoa prices. The new recipe contains more palm and shea oils than cocoa, so the products can no longer be officially labelled as chocolate biscuits. Despite the change, consumer taste tests indicate the new coating delivers the same great taste as the originals. Adapted From https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/oct/18/chocolate-biscuit-club-penguin-mcvities-cocoa-prices