JAG

Poor bastard. I hope he has found peace.

Because change will damage the variety of "good little earners" or revenue streams they benefit from.

There are technologies and weapon systems which Ukraine has developed and has manufacturing capacity in, such for example as in the very new field of drone warfare and defence against drones, and secure communicationd and data transfer, which are much sought after by allies. Conversely there are other capacities, notably the manufacture of artillery pieces, armoured vehicles and ammunition which they do not have. It makes perfect sense.

I can understand that an Airbnb receipt is not regarded as either a lease agreement or other proof of owning or renting a permanent residence. It is a bit like presenting a parking ticket as proof that you own a car!

Whilst I agree with the gist of your post, perhaps I can observe that Status Quo are all rather old now, (dinosaurs of rock themselves?) and where on earth does Watneys Red Barrel come into it? Nothing much will change, the same rather weak minority/coalition government will remain, no real programmes for reform or innovation will be introduced. Fundemental economic weaknesses will remain, social problems will continue to fester, and corruption will continue to hold back the country.

There will probably be no further action - this was rather in the nature of "reserve powers" in case the People's Party won a majority. Now that it seems that BJT has won the most seats (if not a majority) then they will not be needed. The EC can put their feet up and chill while the establishment and it's dinosaurs carve things up to their own satisfaction!

I have twice required the services of an ambulance. Once for an emergency transfer from my local hospital to the provincial hospital. I was very sick from a sceptic wound on my foot and required immediate surgery. It wasn't until later that I was aware quite how dangerous my condition was; the surgeon who operated told me that another 12 hours and they would have had to amputate, 48 hours and I would have died. It was a well equipped hospital vehicle with a paramedic in attendance. I don't know who payed - maybe it was included in the hospital bill. I needed the attention, it was given. The bill was sorted out eventually. I vaguely recall the sum of B500 being mentioned. The second time was after I collided with a fallen tree on my motorcycle in a heavy rainstorm at night. This was a local rescue outfit- a more rudimentary vehicle, but a well trained crew. Again I don't know how or even if, it was paid for. Strikes me that reviews and quotes for ambulances are pretty pointless. If you need one then you are probably pretty helpless and dependant on the service they provide. It seems to me that their system, combining hospital fleets and volunteer foundations, works OK!

Oh dear - should I be disappointed or take it as a badge of honour? Is it a set number (45), or can it be increased (or reduced) if necessary. Are the fortunate "lefties" ranked by "leftyness" and if so what are the critical criteria? So many questions, sadly I suspect to go unanswered!

But us "rude lefties" (I assume that you are including me, I don't parrot your views, and that seems to be the definition after all) are so outshone by the tolerance, open thinking and willingness to consider alternative viewpoints by you and some of the more enlightened of your peers! In particular I am minded of your constant indefatigable search for knowledge about us, our interests and life motivations! 45 is a remarkably specific number, is that the current number by your reckoning - presumably you have brought some science to the accounting? I am somewhat conflated actually: should I be disappointed if I don't feature, or if I do feature should I make efforts to exculpipate myself from the list?

My point is quite clear. You are just deflecting.

The point hasn't changed since the late 1930s. It was central to the Nuremburg trials in 1945/46. Read my posts. If you don't understand the point then I don't think I can help you.

You are just being silly. You are intelligent enough to understand the point I am making, even if you choose to disagree with it!

Chopped Pork, spicy and formed into coils and grilled. Reddish brown colour and quite a course texture. More meat in them than the Issan variety, which I find to be largely filled with rice.They are made, and sold, in quite a large shop next to the clock tower in the centre of town. I usually eat them for a snack lunch - chopped into approximately bite size pieces, with a dipping sauce and sticky rice. Yummy - well of course that is subjective but I like them! Perhaps a test purchase?

My daughter and a group of her friends, as part of her media studies course at University, has just made a film on sausages being made - specifically the Northern Thai ones we have up here in Chiang Rai. Yummy!

History tells us that there were many precursors to millians of Jews and others being killed in 1940s Germany. Amongst those precursors were concerted efforts by the then organs of the state to portray the victims as less than human. Those organs then included the newspapers, film and radio broadcasting. Now we have social media feeds. I am not suggesting that Trumps banal and grotesque video footage would be directly and solely responsible, but it could well be regarded as a precursor yes. It encourages open racism, which is one of the conditions needed for such events.

It will only become a problem when/if the consequences become known. When that happens the various time honoured excuses will be: it was done in our name but without our knowledge, we knew nothing about it, oh we wondered where those trains were going (the Celle excuse), we were only following orders (the Nuremberg excuse); and if we really want to get bang up to date (unfortunate choice of words but there you are) don't interfere and you won't get hurt!

"Andrew" was never going to be head of State, he fell out of any realistic running for that prospect the moment Prince William was born, 43 years ago. Saville was a disgusting creatures. Far from the best moment in modern British history. However he was neither a politician nor anywhere near becoming head of state. I get it that you don't think Queen Camilla is attractive. Like so many of your countrymen you have not grasped that the head of State in a modern constitutional monarchy ( of which there are 7 in Europe), is not a political post, but an apolitical sovereign.

Perhaps it is enough to be provked by facts which tell us that North Korean regime is executing teenagers, in schools, for anything at all, let alone watching game shows and pop music?

Certainly wouldn't be a land of smiles if you were running the show now would it! Do you seriously expect that if you handed over that amount of cash, that it would be used for the purposes you suggest? Really?

Perhaps one definition is someone who lauds superimposing the faces of Mr and Mrs Obama on the bodies of apes to make their views clear? Just a thought I offer...

I don't think that there will be an election. Under our system of parliamentary government the Executive (Prime Minister) is found from the party which has the most seats in the House of Commons. To be appointed as Prime Minister by The King one must command a majority of votes in the Commons, either through an absolute majority or through a coalition with other parties. Labour has a massive majority in the Commons. The next election does not need to be called until August 2029. Labour are extremely unpopular in the country, having, quite remarkably, lost an astonishing amount of popular support extremely rapidly, however their majority is sufficiently strong to keep them in government. If Starmer does lose the leadership of the Labour Party, either through the scandals over Mandelson or (I suspect more likely) disastrous results in the May local council elections then another leader will emerge from within the Labour Party. They won't call an election because quite simply, as things stand, they would lose it. The most likely result would be a Reform led government, either as a minority government propped up by the Conservatives or in coalition with Kemi Badenoch's Tory Party. Speaking personally that last would be my preferred option - it would clip Farages wings and I think Badenoch has a lot to offer. Such arrangements have to be pragmatic, and I favour pragmatism over dogma in government! Many would disagree but remember of course, coalition allies do not need to like each other! So basically, no election, possibly a new Labour leader as Prime Minister. Looking at the likely candidates, hmm, heaven help us!

In fairness, Dulles airport is a sh*thole!

Ah another rancid racist slithers out of his dank dark place under a flat stone!

Must have been following a set of instructions from IKEA!

Well at least you are honest about your rancid racial hatred, not that you have been very successful at keeping it hidden for some time now! I see that you have added a taste for lynching to the mix, real class!