JAG

They, along with many, worldwide, realise that there is a dark and dirty secret festering at the bottom of all this. It is leaking out; they realise this. The cover ups, denials and increasingly hysterical allegations and deflections can't and won't be able to stop this.

I dislike Nestlé as a company, but the courts do seem to have prevented Mahagitsiri from pulling a "Carlsberg/Chang" takeover on Nescafé within Thailand.

I agree that B300 ($9, £7), is not, in itself, a significant sum, however the airlines will, are, reluctant to collect it and pass it over to the Thai government. That means that the arriving tourist will, as well as navigating immigration and customs, be met by a collection officer, inevitably in uniform, who will demand cash for "stepping onto Thai soil". Perceptions matter immensely, and after the tourist has coughed up their B300 ( and bear in mind if you are in a family 4 it will be more) every Taxi scam, dual pricing for visitors and twisted ankle on the obstacle courses which pass for pavements will lead to the perception " hmm, why did we have to pay for entry?" Yes it is only a small sum ( for now), "one beer and a lady drink" but perceptions matter, and people, once it becomes common knowledge that your first interaction with Thailand is a demand for cash, will consider going elsewhere! By the way, if it is introduced, how long do people reckon before a convincing case is made for hiking it to a nice round figure - say B1000?

One down; Jon Stewart, Trevor Noah, Ronnie Cheng, Desi Lydic (corr!), Jordan Klepper next. Jimmy Kimmel has gone for good family reasons, but you can bet he will not be able to return.

That all ends next May! Now I wonder, of all those named in the OP, who has assets, properties and businesses which are so "leveraged" that a reduction in interest rates would be a great advantage?

Accusing those with whom you have political differences, of not being "patriotic", of not "loving their country", of not being a "real Brit" or citizen of whatever country is invariably a tactic of those who wish to see political dissent and opposition repressed. I am a patriot, and have served my country. I have formed opinions on what is good for Britain, and they differ very much from yours, and at the other end of the political spectrum from others on this forum. Oscar Wilde (I think) it was who said that patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel. I don't think it is, until it is reserved exclusively for those whose political leanings you share.

Crueler even than the slaughter, rapes and infanticide of 7 October 2023? The people of Gaza are suffering because of the way Hamas acted on that day, and the way in which they (Hamas) continue to operate and attempt to control every aspect of the civilians lives.

What, like: "My name is Bogface, I am a ponce, I smooth brylcream all over my bonce, When I'm not walking, talking or squawking, I'm shopping down at Austin Reid!" Quite takes me back! Then there was: "My name is Slobbo, I'm head of this place, The way that I run it is a <deleted> disgrace, Outside my office you'll know when I'm in, All you can hear is Boltie where's the gin! The headmaster's secretary was a Miss Bolton.

Or, just possibly some Westerners who don't like "house music" and "Ibiza bangers" being played relentlessly at high volumes?

A well balanced appraisal, must have a chip on both shoulders!

In his defence, Epstein didn't wear a <deleted> silly hat! There are many things to be said about Epstein, his antics and those who visited him there. Some proven, in the public domain, some alleged, and it would appear some the subject of an energetic cover up operation. Of all the facts and rumours swirling around, now they are joined by the rantings of this failed politician turned shock jockey! If Jesus Christ himself returns, Gorgeous George Galloway will produce conclusive proof that he is a Mossad agent, and has been since AD 33! He should have stuck to mincing around the set of "Big Brother" in a cat costume meowing - it was the most sense he has ever made!

Even if you don't like dogs ( I do, have four and am on good terms with all the local dogs) that was a particularly vile thing to do. Bastard deserves a good shoeing.

Given the age profile of many on this forum who quite like genres such as Abba and Taylor Swift you may get the response you deserve!

The Dutch may disagree with you, seeing as how it was the Canadians who fought (and died) to liberate them; also the Danes, who were saved from Soviet occupation in 1945 by the rapid deployment of the Canadian Airborne Division to thwart their plans to move from the Elbe through Schleswig Holstein and into Denmark. One may also consider the banality(?) of Canada in sending its young men and women to fight and die (158 of them) in the American led campaign in Afghanistan.

I think I follow - economystery has always been a gap in my education but that makes sense.

Or in fact anything which takes the heat of Mr Trump. I wonder if he will be able to wriggle free of this particular hook?

"Defender of The Faith", (in Latin "Fidei Defensor") was an honourific title given to King Henry VIII by Pope Leo X, in recognition for his opposition to the teachings of Martin Luther. Given Henry's subsequent rejection of the Catholic Faith, which has been maintained at least officially by English and then British Monarchs since (with the exception of Queen Mary between 1553 and 1558) , perhaps it is rather an empty title, particularly if you are using it to accuse the Monarch of being a Traitor!

I understand that it was established in court about a year ago that he was anything but huuuge!😊

Rather like the teenage girls in the beauty pageant dressing rooms he "just happened to wander into"! Let's face it, the fellow is an Ephebophile, who is very nervous that the extent of his enthusiasms is about to become revealed. Put more crudely, he is a "nonce" who is <deleted>ting bricks 'cos he is about to be found out!

At which point expect a wave of arrests of opposition politicians journalists and media presenters.

Most of the rest have given up, convinced that America is content to abandon the rule of law, social justice and any pretence of democracy; handing power to the very wealthy.

I have given you the quote (several times now) in which you said just that, verbatim. I can only conclude that you are now trolling.

This is getting <deleted> silly!

Deep breath.... 1. You posted that only Jews were conscripted into the IDF. 2. Subsequently you posted that Druze were conscripted into the IDF. I pointed out that post #1 was contradicted by post #2. There followed accusations of me being a "lefty liar" - anyone who knows me or has followed my posts will know that I am far from being a lefty - that is frankly a ludicrous suggestion, albeit perhaps subjective. As to being a liar, a specific objective accusation, not so; it is you who denied posting something that is there, on the record, in black and white! Most people probably would, realising that they had made a mistake would admit it and things would move on. However you resort to abuse. Now, sticks and stones and so on, but these groundless accusations of being a liar, the implication that holding or expressing a different view is somehow inherently deceitful has become prevalent ( with you and several others) and I confess to being some what prickly about it; hence the (tongue in cheek) suggestion that you "lie like a cheap NAAFI watch". It does rather seem, for you that invective and abuse are a "one way street"! Anyone who is interested can follow the exchange of posts, they are on the board, and can come to their own conclusions. I doubt many will, and I don't really blame them! You can stop calling me a liar.

...like a cheap NAAFI watch!