RayWright

French as a modern language has it's origins in the languages that was spoken historically across France. In the middle ages, the language of Southern France / Northern Spain / Monaco / North West Italy was Occitan, i.e. the area referred to as Occitainia. In fact Occitan is still the official language of Catalonia today. Northern France's language is referred to as "langue d'oïl", however this is more a dialect, as Francien was the language spoken around what is modern Paris, other regions were Germanic, due to the ruling Frank's. Over the years France has been invaded by the Moors, Romans, The Vandals (origin Poland), Visigoths (Germanic), Phoceans (Greek), Franks (Germanic) etc. So if the French in their usual Gaulic flare are getting all uppity with Anglo-American influences, at what point in their history is the true original French language the definitive version. Most probably the same as other countries, e.g. when we learnt to "bang the rocks together".

Looking at Teams you need a basic licence, then pay for a PSTN number and calling plan. Within all the impossible Microsoft documentation I read, it said you could port your Skype Number over to Teams. But being MS it's not easy to follow. I need to retain a Geographic number in the UK, so if anyone else is in the same predicament please let me know.

Quiz is also sexist. Where is the balancing question to "I have a designer handbag ". Scored 5, does this mean I'm privileged?

True, but still having a Western associated country in the company name does lend itself to a different degree of respectability.

Italian in name, but not a single Italian on the Board.

Thank the Romans for that, they started the trend over 2,000 years ago, and still being used today. Eg, Watling Street, aka the A5. Dover to London then over to Wales. Fosse Way, links Bath, Exeter in the West over to Lincoln and Leicester in the East. Etc.

It's called 'cladding' in the building trade. Non load bearing, potential fire risk, but aesthetically pleasing. Ticks all the local building regs.

Also privately educated members of the British Royal Family.

That's true for this year, bear in mind the Chinese weekend is normally held in late April, but was changed to March for this year. Dates for 2026 haven't been released yet. Also extending the season beyond the current 24 races would cause a revolt in the Pit Lane by the teams, which will include an eleventh team next year, in General Motors, so the money pot will now be split 11 ways.

With the introduction of the hybrid era, yes cars are slightly quieter. They still make 140db which is above the audible pain threshold of humans. For full sound proofing you're looking at about 3 inch thick multi laminated glass, like in the newly opened trackside Hilton Hotel on the starting grid at Silverstone. With Thailand's abundance of single paine glass, you'll be hearing the cars from miles away in your house or Condo.

In a word, Politics. The current CEO of F1 Stefano Domenicali, had a planned meeting with the PM the Tuesday after the Australian F1 weekend (18-Mar-25), to which he commented the plans were "impressive", and that the Thai Government would commission a feasibility study into hosting a Grand Prix street circuit from 2028. No point doing anything before 2027, as that's when Boss's statute of limitations expire. So Red Bull will be out in force. Also, Stefano as CEO of F1 is technically responsible for F2, F3 and F1 Academy. So reading between the lines, what might be constructed isn't necessary a F1 track to F1 FIA standards. Taking the Singapore F1 circuit as an example, the initial 2008 race cost 150 million Singapore Dollar, or 3.8 Billion THB at the time. Of which the Singapore Government stumped up 90 million, with ongoing running costs, approx 20million Singapore Dollar pa. Initial contract was for 5 years, so ROI of 38Million pa to initially break even. Luckily the Singapore contract has been extended, and is currently contracted until 2028. Has Thailand got this kind of money, especially with other infrastructure projects, ie the canal, high speed railway, Bangkok overhead road etc. Could this be a coincidence, Singapore 2028 vs Thailand 2028, or is F1 playing politics with a possible alternative race in SEA to fleece Singapore for more dollars and keep the night race on the calendar for another contract extension?

The article describes the IOC as " the ultimate private members’ club ", so any anti corruption ideas or reforms Seb had wouldn't have gone down well with most of the electorate. As the IOC is nothing but a corrupt, racial, any bribes accepted bunch of quangocrats. Based out of Switzerland, hardly the world's most sporting of Nations, it serves only it's self.

Wow. What does the Wall Street Journal known that the rest of the press don't.

Unlike Western countries, you're tempting fate when entering a lift out here. My last Condo had an emergency phone, however rather than auto-dial the lift service company or an emergency response company, it rang a handset on the wall on the 1st (Ground) floor. Not the manned Juristic office or the security hut. Tried it once, only to find someone had turned the volume down. As @thesetat mentioned, lift doors have an external emergency release door opener. However, if the emergency response team didn't have the correct key, would explain the use of the "jaws of life". Top Tip. Always have your mobile when entering a lift. Not 100% guaranteed to work with reception issues when inside the lift, but better than relying on the emergency phone, if there is one.

GB Energy the long running, actually incorporated in October 2024 is the brain child of the Labour Party. When launched last year it was given £8.3bn to assist the start up by the Government. Original plan was to create an energy producing company, i.e. a Nationalised company, but this was adjusted to an investment only setup. Can't upset the fat cat CEO's of the existing money for nothing energy producers. Shares are owned by the Secretary of State for Energy, the famous bacon sandwich eating ex leader of the Labour Party. As part of Labour's steath reversal of Brexit, the chairman is German. Ed's launch speech lauded this will create green energy for the country and lower prices. Yeah, right. For readers of Private Eye, GBE is commonly refered to as Giant Bill's Energy.

Somewhat true. Charlie Teo is a famous Australian neurosurgeon, however he lost his licence to operate in 2023 due to a couple of near death patients that died. He now operates out of Spain and China.

A Cherry Ripe Double Dipped Dark Chocolate bar, accompanied with a Dark Chocolate Bounty bar. 2 of your 5-a-day. Simples.

"I've got friends all over the world, all over the world . . . none in this country, but friends all over the world."

Blud, Judging by this documentaries and that, our chaps knew all about their rights and sh!t. Standard.

Doesn't surprise me. The Police National Computer (PNC) is being retired next year and being replaced with the Law Enforcement Data Service (LEDS), so any modifications will be on LEDS not the PNC. As LEDS is linking many silo systems, mission creep is already high. Adding a few extra fields to tag "extremist categories" isn't going to be a high priority in order to meet the 2026 launch date. Evening All.

Would have said AUS, but it's so Woke down there, maybe after Albo looses in May, a different direction might improve things. On that matter, then Singapore. Speaks English, crime and litter free, handy location to fly anywhere, good education, foods good, so is the National Beer.

Key purchase when leaving AUS for Thailand is Cherry Ripes. Brought 50 back last time, 1 every evening after dinner. Got to wait till July for my next fix. On the other hand, The Lucky Country is bloody minded when it comes to proper Port. Have to have it shipped from the UK.

There's me thinking the Mackems only existed from the 1800's. Wey aye man.

Unfortunately the Reithian values are all but lost on today's BBC management. Educate, Inform and Entertain.