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With all of the sadness and trauma going on in the world at the moment, it's worth reflecting on the death of a very important person which almost went unnoticed last week. Larry Laprise, the man who wrote "The Hokey Kokey" died last week aged 83. The most traumatic thing for his family came when they were putting him in his coffin, they put his left leg in............and it all went downhill from there!

Well, I don't think you are a "terribly bad man", just "one of trumps favourite people". He said he likes the "poorly educated". And just to disprove one of your rants, as an example the measles vaccination has been around for decades and has been proven to be safe, so is hardly untested and dangerous slop as you say, yet Kennedy, along with some anti-VAX nutters spread rumours about the efficacy of this vaccine when he visited Samoa and as a result the vaccination rates in Samoa fell off quite markedly and the measles outbreak killed 83 mostly babies in that tiny island. He also lied about that when he said that tissue samples were sent to New Zealand, and they weren't, and the measles outbreak in Samoa was confirmed by visiting NZ doctors. Also to quote the Director General of Health, "Kennedy claimed tissue samples sent to New Zealand did not show any trace of the virus". "Eighty-three people died. When tissue samples were sent to New Zealand, most of those people did not have measles, we do not know what was killing them," Kennedy said., and that's a complete lie. That's a complete lie. There was only one post mortem - no tissues were sent to New Zealand for the rest of the deaths in Samoa, because it was not necessary, as it was obvious these people died from measles said Aiono Professor Dr Alec Ekeroma. You also mention "my sick country" but you have no idea what country I hail from, and that's quite obvious from your post. And you still haven't answered the question I posed a few posts back, so perhaps you would get round to it now: – do you believe "the Covid virus was engineered to spare Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people" (Kennedy baselessly claimed that COVID had been “ethnically targeted” to avoid “Ashkenazic Jews and Chinese.”). And your answer is........

You didn't answer my question..........and if that nutter who is anti-vax and who spouted the following nonsense gets his way then god help America:- Fluoride A few days before the election, Kennedy took to X to announce that “on January 20, the Trump White House will advise all U.S. water systems to remove fluoride from public water.” His reason for this? “Fluoride is an industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease,” he claimed in the same tweet. There are a small number of studies indicating that excessive amounts of fluoride in drinking water may lead to conditions like arthritis, osteoporosis, and muscular damage, as well as lower IQ in children. However, fluoride is currently added to drinking water at a concentration that’s high enough to strengthen teeth and help prevent tooth decay, but low enough to minimize potential health risks, per the recommendation of the U.S. Public Health Service. Plus, as data from cities like Calgary, Alberta, and Juneau, Alaska, demonstrate, dental problems increase when fluoride is removed from the community water supply. Antidepressants While conservatives — including Trump — are quick to blame the country’s mass shooting epidemic on the mental health of perpetrators, Kennedy takes a related but different approach: blaming antidepressants. “Prior to the introduction of Prozac, we had almost none of these events in our country,” he said during a June 2023 Twitter Spaces conversation hosted by Elon Musk, referring to mass shootings. Along the same lines, in an interview with Turkish state-owned news channel TRT World in January, Kennedy called on the NIH to research potential connections between mass shootings and “some of the SSRI and psychiatric drugs people are taking.” However, there is no credible evidence establishing a link between mass shootings and antidepressants. Related Content The Country's New Health Secretary RFK Jr. Is Peddling a $30 Fitness Toy Online Republicans Confirm Anti-Vax Conspiracy Theorist to Run Nation's Health Systems RFK Jr. Made Promising Statements on Long Covid. Too Bad the Rest of His Plans Undercut Them The Most Alarming Moments From RFK Jr.'s Confirmation Hearing Atrazine and other chemicals Between March 2022 and June 2023, Kennedy made a number of comments claiming that man-made chemicals “raining down on our children” cause “very profound sexual changes in them,” including “sexual confusion” and “gender confusion.” He is especially concerned about atrazine, a herbicide commonly used in the U.S. — a view he expressed in a June 2023 episode of The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast, which was removed from YouTube later that month because it spread misinformation. “If you, in a lab, put atrazine in a tank full of frogs, it will chemically castrate and forcibly feminize every frog in there,” Kennedy said on the podcast, referring to a 2010 study from the University of California, Berkeley. “If it’s doing that to frogs, there’s a lot of other evidence that it’s doing it to human beings as well,” he claimed, also noting that “a lot of the sexual dysphoria that we’re seeing” is probably “coming from chemical exposures.” Kennedy, however, didn’t provide any of this supposed evidence. That’s probably because according to experts, there’s absolutely no indication that atrazine has the same effect on humans as it does on frogs. Raw milk As the debate over unpasteurized milk raged this summer, Kennedy told an audience at an event that he “only drink[s] raw milk.” He elaborated on his stance a few weeks later, tweeting, “Ag departments cracking down on small farmers selling raw milk. Meanwhile, USDA and FDA allow big corporations to pour toxic chemicals into our food and soil. I will reverse those priorities.” In another statement posted on Twitter on Oct. 25, he warned that the “FDA’s war on public health is about to end,” including its “aggressive suppression” of raw milk along with “anything else that advances human health and can’t be patented by Pharma,” like hyperbaric therapies, chelating compounds, vitamins, clean foods, sunshine, exercise, and nutraceuticals. While Kennedy’s promotion of raw milk is potentially dangerous, he was right about one thing: The FDA is indeed trying to aggressively suppress the consumption of raw milk because, as the agency explains in a March 2024 advisory, “raw milk can contain a variety of disease-causing pathogens, as demonstrated by numerous scientific studies.” Wi-Fi Kennedy has also made some big claims about the dangers of Wi-Fi. In a June 2024 episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, he said that “Wi-Fi radiation does all kinds of bad things, including causing cancer.” He went on to clarify that “Wi-Fi radiation opens up your blood-brain barrier and so all these toxins that are in your body can now go into your brain.” When Rogan asked Kennedy to explain how that happens, RFK Jr. replied,” now you’re going beyond my expertise,” though he later said that “it degrades your mitochondria.” While Kennedy claimed that “there are tens of thousands of studies that show the horrendous danger of Wi-Fi radiation,” researchers at the Poynter Institute were unable to confirm that figure. They did find more than 50 studies on radio frequency energy’s possible effects on the blood-brain barrier, but many involved levels far higher than people receive from Wi-Fi. And according to Kenneth Foster, an emeritus bioengineering professor at the University of Pennsylvania, those studies “have not provided clear evidence” that exposure to levels of radio frequency energy below accepted limits — including Wi-Fi — disrupts the blood-brain barrier. HIV and AIDS At this point, it is an established scientific fact that, if left untreated, HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) can lead to AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). Yet, in a June 2023 interview, Kennedy told New York Magazine that nobody knows whether HIV is solely responsible for AIDS, and that “there are much better candidates than HIV for what causes AIDS.” Like what, you ask? Well, in his 2021 book, The Real Anthony Fauci: Bill Gates, Big Pharma, and the Global War on Democracy and Public Health, Kennedy refers to a theory from the early 1980s that “heavy recreational drug use in gay men and drug addicts was the real cause of immune deficiency” and that “the initial signs of AIDS” were “strongly linked to amyl nitrate — ‘poppers’ — a popular drug among promiscuous gays,” citing the long-debunked work of Peter Duesberg, a prominent AIDS denialist. More recently, Kennedy can be seen promoting this position in a video that the right-wing watchdog group PatriotTakes posted in June 2023, falsely claiming that “100 percent of the people who died — the first thousand who had AIDS — were people who were addicted to poppers” who he describes as “people who were part of a gay lifestyle.” In addition to being baseless, this stance stigmatizes LGBTQ+ individuals, placing blame for the AIDS epidemic on an already marginalized population. Covid-19 During a July 2023 press event in New York City, Kennedy told attendees that “Covid-19 is targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people,” while “the people who are most immune [to the virus] are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese,” according to a video published by the New York Post. He chalked this up to “genetic differentials among different races of the ACE2 receptor,” but he didn’t provide any further details on the science. “The claim that Covid-19 was a bioweapon created by the Chinese or Jews to attack Caucasians and Black people is deeply offensive and feeds into sinophobic and anti-semitic conspiracy theories about Covid-19 that we have seen evolve over the last three years,” the Anti-Defamation League said in a statement following Kennedy’s remarks. Three years earlier, in an August 2020 speech, Kennedy said that he thought it was possible that the U.S. government planned and orchestrated the Covid-19 pandemic. “A lot of it feels very planned to me,” Kennedy said in a video published by the Bulwark. These comments are even less surprising coming from him following his announcement on Wednesday that CHD funded the viral Covid conspiracy film Plandemic. Ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine In a July 2023 interview with Watters, Kennedy blamed Fauci for causing “a lot of injury” during the Covid-19 pandemic “by withholding early treatment from Americans.” More specifically, he believes that the U.S. ended up having more Covid deaths than any other country because ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine were not provided as treatments. In October, Kennedy included the two drugs on a list of things he believes are being kept from the American public because of the FDA’s “aggressive suppression” (along with raw milk). But that’s not entirely true: Ivermectin is FDA-approved for treating certain parasitic infections, head lice, and skin conditions, while hydroxychloroquine is FDA-approved to treat malaria and autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. However, neither were found to be effective treatments for Covid-19. Seed oils and beef tallow In an Oct. 21 tweet, Kennedy said that Americans are being “unknowingly poisoned” by seed oils, claiming that they’re “one of the driving causes of the obesity epidemic.” Instead of canola, corn, sunflower, and peanut oils, for example, he suggests that cooking with beef tallow would be healthier. But experts like Megan Hollendonner, RD, a licensed dietitian at University Hospitals in Cleveland, say that “eating healthy is all about balance and your overall diet, not labeling one particular ingredient as bad or toxic.” And when finding that balance, seed oils — which, thanks to omega-6 fatty acids, can help improve cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease — are considered healthier than butter, lard, or tallow, which are high in saturated fat. If you’re as passionate about rendered animal fat as Kennedy, you’re in luck: “Make Frying Oil Tallow Again” merch is available on his website.

The guy is a far right loony which is very obvious from his rants......."he has spent much of the past two decades touting conspiracy theories from linking childhood vaccines to autism and suggesting the Covid virus spared Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people, to casting doubt on whether germs cause infectious diseases. Up to you if you want to believe that nut job.........seems like the worm ate the part of his brain which determines common sense, logic and intelligence. And your answer to his rant that "the Covid virus spared Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people" is sure to be doozy!!

Looking through the movies on BBC iPlayer, I came across one which I hadn't noticed before, called "Scott of the Antarctic" and it was the original movie made in 1948, but obviously remastered because it was quite remarkable in its picture clarity and colour. On the one hand it showed the courage and grit of the British explorers of the time, yet on the other hand showed the foolishness (hardheaded-ness) of Scott and his team to rely on mechanical tractors and ponies (in the main) whilst Amundsen relied on the hardy dogs, which were used to the harsh conditions. And we know what the outcome was.......however IMO it was still a good watch.

That is one of my favourites, if it is the one that stars Bruce Willis and Richard Gere, and I may watch it again tonight!

That is simply a disgraceful decision to put a far right loony in charge of the Department of Health and Human Services, especially after his anti-vaccine rants, amongst other nonsense quotes and as for the "health revolution" in this post, well, the health of everyone from newborns, to children to adults will be adversely affected, sad to say. And this is a good article which I came across this morning: – The Senate has just confirmed as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, a science denialist who once said there is no vaccine that is safe and effective, who has suggested that Covid might have been genetically engineered to spare Jewish and Chinese people and who spent more than 100 pages in his recent book breathing new life into the idea that HIV does not cause Aids. All of this is nonsense, of course, but hardly a laughing matter. I am afraid for our country because I know what happens when science denialism comes into power. He was previously an environmental lawyer who sued chemical giant Monsanto and accused climate-change deniers of being traitors. But he has spent much of the past two decades touting conspiracy theories from linking childhood vaccines to autism and suggesting the Covid virus spared Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people, to casting doubt on whether germs cause infectious diseases. How much more nonsense and stupidity will the GOP be responsible for.........all just to please the orange buffoon? https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/when-just-asking-questions-about-science-turns-into-300000-dead-gregg-gonsalves/QZAR4W

The "19 Crimes" is available in BIG C, Lotus's and most outlets that sell wine and it is the only one which hasn't come down in price (maybe old stock?) and is around 599 baht. However if you haven't tried JJ McWilliams wines or the Riddle Creek wine at 399 a bottle, then give them a try.

Yes, I saw the Jacob's Creek at 445 baht, so decided to buy a bottle to give it a try, and it's a good everyday drinker for my spicy Thai food and the occasional chili con carne I make. The JJ McWilliams range of wines have also dropped in price and those are worth a try for a good low end but well made red wine. I still buy the "19 Crimes" red blend for an occasional break from my hefty Appassimento Italian wines and good to see that some Italian wines have also come down in price from my supplier. I have just ordered some Sauternes wine as I do like to take a break from my after-dinner ports, but unfortunately they are still pricey, so here's hoping they drop in price a little?? Overall, prices have dropped and that's good to see.

IMPORTANT UPDATE.......just received an email saying that my order has been processed!!!! So the panic is over. Thank you Buddha!

OOPS, an own goal!!........some of those quotes were from MAGA goobers!!!!!!!

Do you mean this one?

How does it feel to be American right now? Here are Americans' brutally honest answers about how the last few weeks have felt. "Like I'm tied to a chair while watching a toddler play with a gun." "It feels like I'm a child in my father's car while he has road rage and is flipping everybody else off while provoking them with his careless drunk driving." “At the bottom of everything, I am just so goddamn sick of Trump being at the forefront of the universe for the last 10 years. It's inescapable and exhausting." "This is me, too. I don't feel as strongly about how cooked we are as others do, but I just can't stand what Trump has done to the nature of politics as well as the moral character of the country. We all hate each other, and because the Trump supporters are such a cult and have been for, like, nine whole-ass years, the entire country has a 'you're with us, or you're against us' mentality that I think is almost entirely the result of Donald Trump." "I'm sick. Sick of the <deleted>. Depressed. Wondering how I'm going to afford to eat. Grocery prices are already too high, and tariffs will drive costs up even more. I hate the son of a bitch and his followers. I love our Canadian neighbors and hate what is happening." "Not good, man. Not good. I'm wondering what I'm going to do to keep my wife and daughter safe while also trying to control the bubbling anger that arises when I see the country I served to take a huge <deleted> on the Constitution I swore to protect. I've watched good people turn into the most awful people imaginable. Hate has taken such a stranglehold, and there are those who welcome it and revel in it. I'm just silently preparing for what is ever-increasing in probability right now. Hope for the best, but plan for the worst." "Two weeks in, and I am becoming a staunch Democrat. Between pardons, tariffs, and blaming a plane crash on diversity hiring, I am embarrassed to be an American." https://www.yahoo.com/news/people-sharing-feels-american-days-162003184.html

When I can't find a good movie to watch, I get onto BBC iPlayer and watch something of interest there, and I have found a good "series" called "Murder Trial" which follows in real time, actual murder trials in Scotland. They consist of one or two episodes in the main and are extremely interesting, not because of any gory details, but because of the skill of the Crown Prosecutor, who never ceases to amaze in the way he approaches his questioning of witnesses. There are quite a few to choose from so if you're interested in a real drama, then this may be for you? As always after watching something like this, I get on to watch another episode of Cheers and I have come to appreciate how skilful, nay brilliant, the scriptwriters are in this series, because the quickwitted interchange between the characters at the bar is a joy to behold and always makes me laugh or at least brings a smile to my face.

I'm posting on this wine thread because it's the only one that I can remember at the moment that deals with wine – – and I need some help in this regard. In the main I order my wines through a couple of companies who deliver and who specialise in "wholesale prices" to the consumer and yesterday put an order in to "Vines to Vino" (vinestovino.com), selected my wines and paid for them by bank direct credit – – all well and good I thought. Although my funds have been paid into their bank account, I have had absolutely no luck in getting in touch with them either via email, website or by a personal phone call to the MD and I am beginning to worry that there is something drastically wrong here as they usually get back to me almost instantly after payment, to confirm my order. Perhaps they've gone bust??? Now this would be sad because I will have lost 9000 baht which I've already paid into their account. SO my question to any wine enthusiast here who has used this company before, or has knowledge of it, is: – are they still in operation? If they've done a runner after going bust, then there's not much I can do about that because my money has already gone into their account so I'm pretty well stuffed if that is the case – – any help would be greatly appreciated.

Don't have to make up anything about trumps sex life as it is very well known and he also lies about it when it suits him.......eg with Stormy Daniels!! I don't attack the looks of a man who is my age, just show him without his makeup on and he is a well known 'grub" esp when boasting about grabbing women by the pu$$y and also being found guilty of sexual assault. Suck it up trumpie!

Sad post from a sad man who knows nothing whatsoever about me. And if seeing a pic of his hero without his makeup annoys you....get used to it, although it seems difficult for a trumpie to have to admit that he is not what he seems!!

Just another load of MAGA nonsence and lies.......and it never stops, sadly.

You've had too much Kool Aid and gone too far down the rabbit hole old chap.......time to take your meds!

No false accusations, all of them backed up by links and I didn't mock his physical features, just showed him for what he is without his make up on – – not a pretty sight is it and there's no wonder that he has to pay hookers for sex and that Melania sleeps in a separate bed. I wonder what other world leaders think of a man who wears bright orange make up? A clown perhaps?

It could be worse, they could take a leaf out of the MAGA playbook and start reporting on a pizza parlour which was the centre of a demonic cult where the Lefties drank the blood of babies, for example, or of course that the illegals are eating the "dawgs" and there you have a superb example of the Right's "histrionics and hysterics". Touché .

Opening that link to the Forbes article really is an eye-opener and I would have never believed that trump, musk and co would lie so blatantly, although I shouldn't really be surprised because they have done so for years, but these claims are just outright scandalous and outrageous. Thanks for bringing that to the attention of the non-Maga folk, who only want to see the truth and facts, whereas the MAGA nuts only want lies and untruths, preferably wrapped into one article, helped by posters like illisdean continually spreading lies/misinformation/disinformation in just about every post, and I do feel sorry for him because he seems to have lost the plot with his hatred. Thanks for this link @placeholder.

The poor suckers aren't smart enough to know that the orange grifter is playing them and making the trump crime family wealthy at their expense. I bet the devotees go to sleep with their MAGA hats on the bedside table and their gaudy gold sneakers at the bottom of the bed, whislt they dream of buying more trump NFTs.....just the sort of people trump likes! Suckers. Here's looking at you.....

You obviuously have comprehension problems as I never voted for Biden or Harris and your hatred is really showing in your posts...........sad, angry man.

Facts sm007..........anathema to the trumpies. Too easy to get caught up with these goobers so I will ignore them from here on in and only remember them when I visit the toilet!!!!!