Absolutely Anything Else

I  would not buy any new car. Loses value the moment to drive it off the lot.

The newer cars are scary at it is; They can be monitored and controlled with GPS.

Public enemy and they will run the car off a cliff.

Cars newer then about 20 years are under survellance, all those computers inside.

We have little choice with getting dollars vs Euros since our income comes from the states.

It is fine for now, dollar has a OK exchange rate ATM.

I know when we purchased our flat the exchange rate was terrible, 200 forints per dollar.

It is nearly double that now.

Then again I suppose the property in reality  it has not gone up in value that much. If the dollar went down to 200 again and we sold out, then that would be a nice profit.

Not sure what Trump is up to with those tariffs. I think for now he is happy they are watching their boarders for illegals.

I saw that a dozen eggs in the US right now is going for $7.00!

Not even organic free range ones!

Our HU friend has a home outside the city limits in AZ. He has been raising chickens for eggs for a few years now, mostly for his own use and for his extended family.

Bet he is selling them now to just about anyone.

I noticed the prices on eggs here have gone up but not like in the states.

I would not buy any new car. Loses value the moment to drive it off the lot.
The newer cars are scary at it is; They can be monitored and controlled with GPS.
Public enemy and they will run the car off a cliff.
Cars newer then about 20 years are under survellance, all those computers inside.
We have little choice with getting dollars vs Euros since our income comes from the states.
It is fine for now, dollar has a OK exchange rate ATM.
I know when we purchased our flat the exchange rate was terrible, 200 forints per dollar.
It is nearly double that now.
Then again I suppose the property in reality it has not gone up in value that much. If the dollar went down to 200 again and we sold out, then that would be a nice profit.
Not sure what Trump is up to with those tariffs. I think for now he is happy they are watching their boarders for illegals.
I saw that a dozen eggs in the US right now is going for $7.00!
Not even organic free range ones!
Our HU friend has a home outside the city limits in AZ. He has been raising chickens for eggs for a few years now, mostly for his own use and for his extended family.
Bet he is selling them now to just about anyone.
I noticed the prices on eggs here have gone up but not like in the states. - @Marilyn Tassy

EU mandates automatic calls to the emergency services if a (new) car is involved in an accident.  It'll say where you are and so on.   There's another EU project to restrict speeds based on GPS.   The first thing I could possibly agree to but the second one I really am against.  It's up to the drivers to weigh up the road traffic conditions and decide.   It also starts being the basis for road pricing so we'll all end up paying for distance.  This is really horrible. It'll be tracking people all over.  Talk about invasion of privacy.

HUF vs USD, better off in EUR because there's so much instability at the moment.  That's in the short term. 

What's all this about eggs being expensive in the USA?  What's that all about?  Is it the price of feed, avian flu or what?   

BTW, avian flu is on the rise in the USA.  Cutbacks on government health institutions announced by the Trumpists are going to make it all much worse.   It's only a matter of time before there's another pandemic.  People have had avian flu and cows can get it.   So it'lll only take one mutation and then there will be millions dead either from the disease or from drinking bleach. That'll be Darwin in action..

@Marilyn Tassy

Nothing wrong with having GPS on a car, if a car is stolen it's can be recovered easily. It's only expensive and hire cars that tend to have have trackers on them.

My dad has a new car ever 3 years, ok he leases them now because it works out best for him. This car will probably be his last. He has worked hard all his life, so why not have some enjoyment out the finer things in life. He doesn't have to worry about MOTs, and paying for services.

@fluffy2560

The prices of eggs have increased in America because of the bird flue and 1000s of birds had to be killed. So there are shortages in areas meaning the prices have increased.

@fluffy2560
The prices of eggs have increased in America because of the bird flue and 1000s of birds had to be killed. So there are shortages in areas meaning the prices have increased. - @SimCityAT

Be coming our way. We'll all have to be vaccinated again. From what I've read, the next pandemic will be extremely tough. I've had my flu jab for this year so maybe protected at least a little bit.

When my dad retired from teaching he still continued being an examiner for a music school. So was on the road a lot, he needed something comfy and reliable to drive around the UK, not some 3rd hand car, which yes did have it's uses to take him to school less than a mile away and to go to the shops.

When my dad retired from teaching he still continued being an examiner for a music school. So was on the road a lot, he needed something comfy and reliable to drive around the UK, not some 3rd hand car, which yes did have it's uses to take him to school less than a mile away and to go to the shops. - @SimCityAT

New car smell is something hard to replicate but you can get a spray for it when cleaning up an old car.  I've had quite a few rental cars and some of them have been rather nice. I had a Kia once and it drove very nicely.  And it had a 7 year guarantee. I think cars have declined in quality.  7 years used to be about the length of time before problems appeared. Now I think it's like 5 years. Electronics fail a lot in newer models. Last thing you want in some places is a failure due to electronics. I've seen fancy cars in Africa that are unrepairable due to duff  electronics. I spoke to a mechanic there and he said they more or less remove the electronics they can and dumb it all down for bush work. Back to basics really.

@fluffy2560

We grew up having Talbot cars, then went onto having Renault. Finally he settled to Volvo. They are a very nice car, and touch wood never had an issues with them.

@fluffy2560We grew up having Talbot cars, then went onto having Renault. Finally he settled to Volvo. They are a very nice car, and touch wood never had an issues with them. - @SimCityAT

Now there's a blast from the past!  Forgotten about Talbot.  I believe that became part of Peugeot,    My sister and BIL swore by Volvo but eventually they moved on to Audi and more or less Skoda for some years since.

Never had a Volvo myself but I had a Saab. It was a pretty good car.  It was fast and very nice inside BUT it was missing modern features like ABS brakes.  This was in the 1990s and modern cars generally had things like newer features like ABS back then.   My Saab didn't have ABS and it felt a bit unsafe at high speeds.  The power steering was just too light and not progressive.

My HU BIL has a Saab now and loves it - in the Saab club and so on. It's OK but really it's just an Opel Vectra with a different body shape albeit with a Renault engine.

@fluffy2560We grew up having Talbot cars, then went onto having Renault. Finally he settled to Volvo. They are a very nice car, and touch wood never had an issues with them.  - @SimCityATNow there's a blast from the past! Forgotten about Talbot. I believe that became part of Peugeot,  My sister and BIL swore by Volvo but eventually they moved on to Audi and more or less Skoda for some years since.Never had a Volvo myself but I had a Saab. It was a pretty good car. It was fast and very nice inside BUT it was missing modern features like ABS brakes. This was in the 1990s and modern cars generally had things like newer features like ABS back then. My Saab didn't have ABS and it felt a bit unsafe at high speeds. The power steering was just too light and not progressive.My HU BIL has a Saab now and loves it - in the Saab club and so on. It's OK but really it's just an Opel Vectra with a different body shape albeit with a Renault engine. - @fluffy2560

Talbot/Chrysler was taken over by Peugeot when it got into difficulty. They weren't a bad motor. He also had a Rover 45 and 75.

SAAB were a good car also, very popular around Wales. A very reliable car. My grandfather had to them.

Talbot/Chrysler was taken over by Peugeot when it got into difficulty. They weren't a bad motor. He also had a Rover 45 and 75. SAAB were a good car also, very popular around Wales. A very reliable car. My grandfather had to them. - @SimCityAT

Shame really as it'll be a brand we'll never hear from again.  My Dad was in the motor trade and I think he worked for Rootes at some point.  That was tied up with Chrysler. 

We had a variety of cars - Fords, Austin, Fiat, US cars.  At one point my Dad was looking at a Lada or even a Moskavich.  The latter was a two stroke.  Absolute pollution machine. Smoke everywhere. I remember the Lada had Russian dials in it.  He went with Fiat in the end. I also had a couple of those.  They were sporty but they had no longevity.  They fell to bits after a few years and were not very well made.  Even I had a new Fiat bought on hire purchase/never-never. The turbo diesel engine exploded on the motorway and as it was still under warranty, they replaced it.   The dodgiest car was a 1.3L Morris Marina. Wasn't that old but the suspension was worn out after a couple of years.  I remember the MoT tester showing me the failures.  I repaired it myself.

These days here at Fluffy Towers, we've got Fords but one of them is a bit old. I've suggested we swap it out for a smaller Skoda.  Not getting too much traction on that right now.

My step father had 3 Peugeots in the 1960s. He loved them; He was stationed in Germany in the US Army and  often went to France and fell live love with them;

Freaky at the time when in Ca; everyone was driving huge boats of cars.

My mother only drove Caddies. My step dad drove far over an hour each way to work and back so Peugeots were great on gas. He also drove his Harley to work in nice weather.

I have had 2 Volvos and 2 Saabs. Both are great cars;

I think my Saab 900 was my fave car ever.

5 on the floor, fastest I ever took it out was 110MPH in the rain. Had brand new tires and it was smooth as butter to handle. I never went that fast in any car but my mother was in the ICU and I wanted to make a 8 hour drive in 6 hours to get to her; My husband was sleeping in the back, think he would of freaked knowing how fast I was driving. At least it was a smooth ride and he slept like a baby;

Bought my 900 when it was 2 years old, was like new until Hawaii...Hard driving over there, rust and rain;

Had nearly 300,000 miles on it when the tranny went out. Sold it to a guy  from Washington state who towed it home to rebuild it. Saab club member.

Still miss that car.

My step father had 3 Peugeots in the 1960s. He loved them; He was stationed in Germany in the US Army and often went to France and fell live love with them;
Freaky at the time when in Ca; everyone was driving huge boats of cars.
My mother only drove Caddies. My step dad drove far over an hour each way to work and back so Peugeots were great on gas. He also drove his Harley to work in nice weather.
I have had 2 Volvos and 2 Saabs. Both are great cars;
I think my Saab 900 was my fave car ever.
5 on the floor, fastest I ever took it out was 110MPH in the rain. Had brand new tires and it was smooth as butter to handle. I never went that fast in any car but my mother was in the ICU and I wanted to make a 8 hour drive in 6 hours to get to her; My husband was sleeping in the back, think he would of freaked knowing how fast I was driving. At least it was a smooth ride and he slept like a baby;
Bought my 900 when it was 2 years old, was like new until Hawaii...Hard driving over there, rust and rain;
Had nearly 300,000 miles on it when the tranny went out. Sold it to a guy from Washington state who towed it home to rebuild it. Saab club member.
Still miss that car. - @Marilyn Tassy

Peugeot did have a few sales in the US.  I think there was limited acceptance (and probably still is) of diesel cars in the US but the likes of BMW and Mercedes have some fantastic diesel engines.   Mercedes engines were used in some vans and Jeeps in the USA. When I look at car conversion sites, where people swap from gas guzzling engines to diesel, the conversions are using industrial engines like those in tractors or earth movers. It seems nuts to me as there are so many smooth European diesel engines.  With the right particulate filters, they can pass all emissions.  Of course, it doesn't stop those enormous trucks being diesel.

And you're right,  Caddies were massive boats. I was always smiling when I saw on TV cars stop and bouncing when they put it in Park. It's also a bit of a laugh in car chases.  Massive engines, low revving,  rubbish suspension, 2-tonne construction, giant bodies and small inside.  Having driven a few US cars and having one now as a hobby car, they really do not have the light bodies and high power output of European cars.  0-60 mph in maybe 30s and whopping fuel consumption.    One needs a cautious right foot.   On the other hand my 4WD hobby car is hard to beat off road but it was built on a long legacy.

The Saab 900 was indeed an iconic car and highly coveted. Very sporty and good looks.   The latter ones were more mundane. It's a brand that people miss.  I guess it still lives on in Saab airliners.  Volvo is of course still going and makes great engines in an industrial context anyway.

The 900 was classic.

Another beauty I was lucky enough to own was the 1973 Alfa Romeo Berlina 2000.

White with black interior with the classic wood dash and steering wheel.

LOVED it, the sounds was something else, speedy zippy and so much fun to drive;

Toss up which I liked more the Alfa or the Saab. 2 different experiences but both great ones;

The Alfa was sensitive though and Saabs at least at that time were known for having bad water pumps.

Had to change pumps on both of our Saabs.

Had the super ugly but trust worthy Saab 99 before purchasing the 900. My husband took the 99 and I had the nicer looking 900.

Those cars were both luxury sedans and early versions of SUVs.

I always went for the odd ball cars; In the US Alfas and Saabs were not everyday cars, either were Peugeots which my step dad loved. He owned 3 at the same time, 2 coups and one station wagon.

The neighbors did not know what they were.

Once in the early 1980s I drove the Saab 99 to the gym; Some guy asked me in the parking lot if my car was made in Mexico! Americans are something else at times!

My mom only drove a short distance in town with her Caddie.

My step dad treated her like a Queen and gave her the car she wanted.

When they first met he had a beautiful white Caddie with white leather seats. I think it was a 1957 Coup de ville but not sure.It was 1962 or there abouts when we met him.

He later bought mom newer Caddies over the years and sold his old classic beauty to my wild sister. She of course would drag race all over Hollywood with it and turned the car into a heep.

He also sold her one of his Peugots when she and her husband had to move to SC from Ca; when he was in the USMC. On the way home back to Ca; they blew the engine out;

They arrived at my moms house in a taxi and asked her to pay the fee!!!

1968 or 69 and it was over $300; cash money. their car blew up in Vegas and they just hired a cab!!

He was from a wealthy family but dang, he asked my mother to pay not his father!

Sister had one in the oven too which did not go down well with mom. She had promised to not return without a wedding band on. Fireworks that day!!  Later we all went back to Vegas for her shotgun wedding!

I'm absolutely shocked by events going on today.

I've just seen Trump sitting with the King of Jordan going on about moving 2M people from Gaza to Egypt and Jordan.  I didn't hear any approval from the King other than  agreeing to remove 2000 children in need of medical attention.

This is all going to end in tears and it's a bit close to us. I can see this blowing up a lot more. I think Hamas could execute the hostages and Israel will kill everyone there to carry out its land grab.   

Trump's plan is so off the wall bonkers, the US could find themselves absolutely cold shouldered by allies in the region. I'm speculating but I could see a loss of bases, even possibility of Saudi being actively against Israel.  If anything is going to unite enemies, it's the Teflon Don.       

The 900 was classic.
Another beauty I was lucky enough to own was the 1973 Alfa Romeo Berlina 2000.
White with black interior with the classic wood dash and steering wheel.
LOVED it, the sounds was something else, speedy zippy and so much fun to drive;
Toss up which I liked more the Alfa or the Saab. 2 different experiences but both great ones;
The Alfa was sensitive though and Saabs at least at that time were known for having bad water pumps.
Had to change pumps on both of our Saabs.
Had the super ugly but trust worthy Saab 99 before purchasing the 900. My husband took the 99 and I had the nicer looking 900.
Those cars were both luxury sedans and early versions of SUVs.
I always went for the odd ball cars; In the US Alfas and Saabs were not everyday cars, either were Peugeots which my step dad loved. He owned 3 at the same time, 2 coups and one station wagon.
The neighbors did not know what they were.
Once in the early 1980s I drove the Saab 99 to the gym; Some guy asked me in the parking lot if my car was made in Mexico! Americans are something else at times!
My mom only drove a short distance in town with her Caddie.
My step dad treated her like a Queen and gave her the car she wanted.
When they first met he had a beautiful white Caddie with white leather seats. I think it was a 1957 Coup de ville but not sure.It was 1962 or there abouts when we met him.
He later bought mom newer Caddies over the years and sold his old classic beauty to my wild sister. She of course would drag race all over Hollywood with it and turned the car into a heap.
He also sold her one of his Peugeots when she and her husband had to move to SC from Ca; when he was in the USMC. On the way home back to Ca; they blew the engine out;
They arrived at my moms house in a taxi and asked her to pay the fee!!!
1968 or 69 and it was over $300; cash money. their car blew up in Vegas and they just hired a cab!!
He was from a wealthy family but dang, he asked my mother to pay not his father!
Sister had one in the oven too which did not go down well with mom. She had promised to not return without a wedding band on. Fireworks that day!! Later we all went back to Vegas for her shotgun wedding! - @Marilyn Tassy

The Saab 900 was indeed iconic.  In Europe, Alfas and Lancias always had a bad reputation for corrosion.  A car only a couple of years old would have to be scrapped due to such terrible metalwork failures.  It was a massive scandal.  Both those cars were in the Fiat stable.  Fiats were cheap cars and you got a lot of car for a relatively low price.  But they just didn't last.  I don't know why they were so poorly made.  Just rubbish materials and finishing.  When Fiat took over Chrysler, they started badging some US cars as Lancia.  Mainly the Voyager.  They also produced these smaller Jeeps which were like enhanced versions of the Fiat Panda.  It was a bit of a dilution of the brand in my mind.  I would have bought a Voyager even if it was badged as a Lancia.  Just buy Chrysler parts instead.

I don't really have French cars on my radar.  My brother had a Citroen as did my Dad and they were quirky cars that were oddly engineered.   They have improved over time now.   They did some great futuristic cars though with swivelling headlights.  In the movies, they were usually driven by gangsters!

I quite like Volkswagens as solidly built if a little boring.  Interesting quirk of VW Golfs is that the Skoda parts fit the VW Golf but are much cheaper.  Many parts are interchangeable with Golfs and Skodas.   

Citroen sci-fi gangster cars:

We leased a Citroen in Paris in 1986.

We needed a car for the 6 weeks in Europe and they had a company called, Europe by Car, think that was the name.

You leased the car for 2 years with the option of selling it back when you wanted.

Something like that, we figured it was better then renting a car.

We had to do oil changes and a few other things at scheduled times. I remember going into a commie style auto repair shop for the formal papers to be legally signed that we did the maintenance when it was time.

It was a comfy car.

Only time we ever had a brand new showroom car.

When I met my husband I thought his car was cool too; A Fiat 850 Spider. He has only been in the US for about 18 months and bought the car soon after arriving. He drove it from NYC to Los Angeles.

Not too many issues, overheated a bit in the desert but made it to LA. Not the most comfy road trip with 2 guys in a tiny car crossing over 3,000 miles.

Have to be young and dumb to even think of doing that!

I know in the US they refer to a Fiat as, Fix It Again, Tony!

When we returned to France they bought the Citroen back and resold it as used.

IDK, it was a good deal for us at the time.

I'm absolutely shocked by events going on today.
I've just seen Trump sitting with the King of Jordan going on about moving 2M people from Gaza to Egypt and Jordan. I didn't hear any approval from the King other than agreeing to remove 2000 children in need of medical attention.

This is all going to end in tears and it's a bit close to us. I can see this blowing up a lot more. I think Hamas could execute the hostages and Israel will kill everyone there to carry out its land grab.

Trump's plan is so off the wall bonkers, the US could find themselves absolutely cold shouldered by allies in the region. I'm speculating but I could see a loss of bases, even possibility of Saudi being actively against Israel. If anything is going to unite enemies, it's the Teflon Don.    - @fluffy2560

Trump is everywhere, football games one day and in Jordan the next. Defo not cool to try and remove people from their homes in Gaza.

Israel seems to be calling the shots to Trump, need more seaside property for resorts.

Yes, I also fear trouble on the horizon.

Noticed allot of senior citizens in the US doing van life; They can not afford housing and food so moving into vans. Just insane;

FEMA sent 59 million bucks to some refugee hotel in NYC while people in NC, SC, Virginia, Maui, Tenn; are living in tents with no running water!

Something big and horrible is going to happen.

Hard to not get political when you see the world crashing all around.

We leased a Citroen in Paris in 1986.
We needed a car for the 6 weeks in Europe and they had a company called, Europe by Car, think that was the name.
You leased the car for 2 years with the option of selling it back when you wanted.
Something like that, we figured it was better then renting a car.
We had to do oil changes and a few other things at scheduled times. I remember going into a commie style auto repair shop for the formal papers to be legally signed that we did the maintenance when it was time.
It was a comfy car.
Only time we ever had a brand new showroom car.
When I met my husband I thought his car was cool too; A Fiat 850 Spider. He has only been in the US for about 18 months and bought the car soon after arriving. He drove it from NYC to Los Angeles.
Not too many issues, overheated a bit in the desert but made it to LA. Not the most comfy road trip with 2 guys in a tiny car crossing over 3,000 miles.
Have to be young and dumb to even think of doing that!
I know in the US they refer to a Fiat as, Fix It Again, Tony! - @Marilyn Tassy

Fix it again Tony.  Brilliant!

Fiat 850 Spyder.  Now that is brave driving it such a long distance in such a small vehicle. I couldn't manage such a journey as I couldn't get my suitcase in the back never mind anyone else's bags.  I suppose it must have been good with the top down in the desert weather so long as one goes slow.  I drove one of those types of car around the UK with the top down and all it did was buffet me about and my hair was all standing on end by the time I arrived.  I also felt like I'd been shot blasted.  I determined this is not the kind of car for me.  It was more comfortable on my motorbike.

I suppose driving across country has to be an adventure.  Mrs F drove all over Nevada and California back in the mid-1990s.  I think it was about 3 weeks.   We went to SF, LA, Yosemite, Death Valley, Mono Lake, LV and San Diego. We flew to the Grand Canyon  We went from a very warm LV to freezing to death at the canyon.  We didn't realise the height of the canyon as many feet about sea level and therefore freezing cold.   I don't remember the order we actually did it.  I know we stayed in some scruffy place in LV.  It was a right dump and we had a crappy car with red plastic upholstery.  We used to stick to it when it was hot and sweaty.  Dreadful!

We did another adventure - all around Alberta and BC in a camper van.  Kids were about 7 or 8 and found it amusing but we did some really dumb things.   Like watching bears with their young from a short distance away and walking in the forest without any bear spray.  Ay caramba.  Bears are so dangerous especially with their young.  Bit wiser now.

I remember those leasing companies doing hires to non-EU visitors. Never did it myself but it was probably cheaper than hire cars. I just looked at car hire in Ontario.  I was thinking we could go and visit my daughter there.   Mein Gott, it's so expensive.  We'd need a minibus and those are pricey.   Anyway, the Ontario contingent are fed up and they want to leave and go to BC. Apparently it seems to be a bit of a theme for people to leave Ontario and go West to BC.  I dunno what is going on in BC but it'll be good for us.  We could get to Vancouver a lot faster I think than some provincial airport.

Trump is everywhere, football games one day and in Jordan the next. Defo not cool to try and remove people from their homes in Gaza.Israel seems to be calling the shots to Trump, need more seaside property for resorts.Yes, I also fear trouble on the horizon.Noticed allot of senior citizens in the US doing van life; They can not afford housing and food so moving into vans. Just insane;FEMA sent 59 million bucks to some refugee hotel in NYC while people in NC, SC, Virginia, Maui, Tenn; are living in tents with no running water!Something big and horrible is going to happen.Hard to not get political when you see the world crashing all around. - @Marilyn Tassy

I think Trump is trying to destabilise people by being unpredictable.  It's the Madman theory - Nixon did it too.  I am not sure if he simply enjoys it or he's lost his marbles.  I heard the former PM of Israel Ehud Olmert asking what Trump and Netanyahu actually expect to happen if the hostages are not handed open?  The place is full of civilians. IDF is going to kill them all?  Imagine the international outrage.  Trump and Netanyahu need to row back on their various claims to Gaza.  If they don't, I expect Hamas will execute the hostages as they are fanatics.  Then countries like Saudi will have to choose which side they are on either by declaring it or by covert action   In any case, Saudi can bankroll the Palestinians as an insurgency forever.

If you can find it, you could watch the Nomadland movie.  It's slow paced but it's quite interesting.  Shows van life.

I wouldn't believe some claim FEMA spent $59M in NYC on refugees.  Any claims anyone is making needs to be verified via proper journalism, not YT or TikTok people spouting opinionated nonsense.  The condoms to Hamas story has been debunked.  In any case FEMA is Federal and refugees are also Federal.  Other things are State responsibility and nothing to do with FEMA.

There's a case I read about on a proper news service like the BBC or CNN some US government programme for disabled or some other kids in Michigan or somewhere which has had all its funding cut.  They cannot pay the salaries and continue the work.   The funding was already allocated.   The person running the programme says she had a contract for 5 years and she'll have to sue the Feds for the money.   Suing the Feds isn't easy.   Looks like Musk's interference in the payment system is to blame.  And his 25 year old intern.  The whole thing is beyond dumb.

Musk is at the centre of this chaos acting as an unelected proxy for Trump.  Musk needs to be gone and fast.  Any interesting development is that a Federal judge issued a injunction halting some of Trump's EOs.  Trump has simply declined to follow the judge's injunction.  So is he in contempt?  I think so. 

But there's an important knock on factor in this. It seems that if Trump can ignore Federal judges, then why should the States follow them? Or will they pick and choose?  Quite simply the States can just do their own thing and point to Trump's lack of respect for the rule of law.

Quite Mad

p.s. there's an update on where the so called Gaza condoms went.  It was an anti-HIV initiative for Mozambique which has a province called Gaza.  Check it out here.

Quite Mad - @SimCityAT

WTF is that about? Hasn't he got better things to do? What comes to my mind is Bats**t crazy.  What an embarrassment!

Apparently plastic straws are back and they are being used in explosive devices.  This was also the case as the wrongly attributed condoms were being used by Hamas for explosive devices.

They've really gone off the rails and Prime Minister/Co-President Musk has got Chump in his awe.  The US is circling the banana republic plughole.   

Radio says this is "state capture".  Essentially, Trump will be able to act at will.  It's a precursor to dictatorship.  GOP is powerless and soon the judiciary will be too.

I was wondering about that Civil War movie so I looked up the oath of allegiance for the US National Guard.

It is as follows:

"I do hereby acknowledge to have voluntarily enlisted this __ day of ____, ____, in the ______ National Guard of the State of ______ for a period of __ year(s) under the conditions prescribed by law, unless sooner discharged by proper authority. I, ________, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and of the State of ______ against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to them; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the Governor of ______ and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to law and regulations. So help me God."

I wondered if this would be changed to remove "I will obey the orders of the President of the United States".  I don't see why it couldn't be changed and removed. If Trump can ignore the rule of law, why shouldn't everyone else?   Maybe California, Oregon and Washington State should leave the Union and do their own thing.   

The enemies foreign and domestic is interesting too. 

A potential conflict arises if the domestic enemy is the president.

However, only expats in the states would be in danger if a civil war broke out, and that's still unlikely.

A potential conflict arises if the domestic enemy is the president.However, only expats in the states would be in danger if a civil war broke out, and that's still unlikely. - @Fred

Yes, the way it's going, it seems the domestic enemy could well be the Teflon Don.

If there was civil war in the USA, then no-one would be spared, regardless. 

I agree it's unlikely but quite possibly for some States, we'd see attempts of early succession from the Union before it came to fisticuffs.

Out of the branches of government, the founding fathers built a solid system to have checks and balances - judiciary, president and congress. But it seems to be that we've reached an unusual situation where those checks and balances by each branch on each other are failing.  The GOP is nothing but Trump's bitch, he's the President doing whatever he wants and the last bastion is the judiciary. 

SCOTUS is Trump disciple heavy so it's hard to know which direction this is going.  I believe the ignored USAID injunction by the federal judge is going to SCOTUS.  It's going to be hard to see which way that is going as even some of Trump's brown nosers there have ruled against him a couple of times.   If they give in to Trump, they might as well close it down and put a crown on him.

Chump and Musty have to be a distraction.From what, we will see.

I can not really listen to Musty for long, his stutter gets on my last nerve.

Chump wants to make himself a king? Perhaps, it is written is it not that in the end there will be 10 kings.

I will not go down that road but it does seam to be lining up to Biblical truths.

I know the world economic forum was going on about the owner of Orical saying by the end of 2025 passwords will not longer be used, only a digital ID!

Too bad my brother passed away, seems like what he was prepping for might just happen.

I know if we ever returned to the US I defo would want some personal protection. Never thought I would ever say that;

I have been watching some fun and interesting videos on U tube by a guy who goes under the name of GIV;

German in Venice; He rides around the beach areas in Ca on his electric bike and makes videos of everyday life there.

Things look bad; He is funny but even so, it looks like Ca; is a ghetto these days.

Chump and Musty have to be a distraction.From what, we will see.I can not really listen to Musty for long, his stutter gets on my last nerve.Chump wants to make himself a king? Perhaps, it is written is it not that in the end there will be 10 kings.I will not go down that road but it does seam to be lining up to Biblical truths.I know the world economic forum was going on about the owner of Orical saying by the end of 2025 passwords will not longer be used, only a digital ID!Too bad my brother passed away, seems like what he was prepping for might just happen.I know if we ever returned to the US I defo would want some personal protection. Never thought I would ever say that;I have been watching some fun and interesting videos on U tube by a guy who goes under the name of GIV;German in Venice; He rides around the beach areas in Ca on his electric bike and makes videos of everyday life there.Things look bad; He is funny but even so, it looks like Ca; is a ghetto these days. - @Marilyn Tassy

Ellison (Oracle) is another oligarch.  I've had dealings with his company and he personally gets involved.  He's an inflexible person and best avoided.  I now tell people not to get in direct discussions with that company as he'll veto everything on a whim. Or better, use alternative products. 

Anyway, Trump is conceding to Putin without getting anything back.  You never give away anything without asking for something in return. Even children in the playground understand that.  Looks like whatever Putin has on Trump is working - does he have movies of Trump in bed with a donkey or snorting coke or what?   No involvement of Allies and not even Ukraine. Throwing Ukraine under the bus is not a good look.  I expect very little help from Europe when the US gets into it with China.    Maybe the Ukrainians can drag it out for 4 years until Trump is gone and the opposition is organised enough to win again.  Note I did not say Democrats, just opposition.

Maybe California should be thinking of joining Canada.  Probably be helpful for the water situation as well as keeping a civilised society.  They can pipe water all the way from the Rocky Mountains.  Californians will have to give up their guns.  That should be a positive.  Maybe we can start with Washington State and Oregon and work down.

I wonder what will happen to the universal health system in Canada if the US takes over?

Either it will be offered in all 51 states or no one will get it.

I watched a documentary, think it was made around 2008. About how the funeral operators in the Ukraine steal body parts from the dead without informing the families and selling them to Germany for use in Germany and the USA. Everything from full bones to muscle lining materials. They put in plastic rods after removing the bones so the families are usually clueless at the funerals! YIKES! They can make at least $250,000 off each so called, donation.

I told my husband he had better strip me down when I go and make sure I am all there because I am not donating anything to a crooked business;

Wonder if that is still a thing in Ukraine, they seem to have enough bodies now to make a literal killing!

My son had a bone graft at UCLA when he was 12. They used some of his own bone by removing it from his hip but as he was just a little guy at the time it was not enough boen; They informed me post surgery that they also used donor bone on his arm.

It freaked me out, I asked where it came from I was told it came from a good source in the military from a volunteer soldier. IDK? sounds fishy to me;  Did not want a Frankenstein son! Sounds like a horror show for real!

I wonder what will happen to the universal health system in Canada if the US takes over?Either it will be offered in all 51 states or no one will get it.I watched a documentary, think it was made around 2008. About how the funeral operators in the Ukraine steal body parts from the dead without informing the families and selling them to Germany for use in Germany and the USA. Everything from full bones to muscle lining materials. They put in plastic rods after removing the bones so the families are usually clueless at the funerals! YIKES! They can make at least $250,000 off each so called, donation.I told my husband he had better strip me down when I go and make sure I am all there because I am not donating anything to a crooked business;Wonder if that is still a thing in Ukraine, they seem to have enough bodies now to make a literal killing!My son had a bone graft at UCLA when he was 12. They used some of his own bone by removing it from his hip but as he was just a little guy at the time it was not enough boen; They informed me post surgery that they also used donor bone on his arm.It freaked me out, I asked where it came from I was told it came from a good source in the military from a volunteer soldier. IDK? sounds fishy to me; Did not want a Frankenstein son! Sounds like a horror show for real! - @Marilyn Tassy

There would have to be an agreement covering separation and a transition period.  A bit like us British got mixed up with following Brexit.

I'd expect the healthcare system would be replicated to the now province of California.  So a lot of Californians are going to be very happy about that.  It would certainly make it more attractive for people to go to a Canadian California.  I'd be up for that.   Securing the borders of California against the rest of the USA will take some money but it's not impossible.  All the US forces would have to leave and border posts constructed and all the Californians will get new passports or if they don't like it, obtain permanent residence under the transition agreement or leave the country.  Suddenly I've got deja-vu! Brexit!  Calexit?

On my UK driving licence (US: license),  we were automatically enrolled in a donor programme.  It used to be we had to opt in but now it's opt out I believe.  I've lost track as I've only now got a HU licence and one from a Pacific island.  But I think it covered any part of my body for transplant and research.  That's fine, if I'm dead, I'm dead and that's it, I won't care and all my relatives won't care either.   I know my Dad was squeamish about it.  He was really against cremation as well.  So in line with his wishes, he was buried.  My mother was cremated.   Mrs F is really frightened of being buried while still alive so doesn't want to be buried unless really sure.  I am not sure how I feel about it.  Where should I rest?  Half here and half over there in the UK.  I don't know and probably I don't think I'll care.

I don't believe they are taking bits from war victims in the Ukraine.  Body parts have a shelf-life and would need to be refrigerated.  The valuable organs like kidneys and livers and hearts will fail very quickly - within hours. I believe a kidney would cost like (guessing*) $7000, a heart $25000 and livers, who knows. Plus surgery etc. I read that a hip replacement in India costs $12000 and up.  I was looking at it a while back.   Bones, corneas and so on I am not sure about but I expect not very long lasting before transplantation and cost much less.   

I asked my dentist about bone implants/grafts for my jaw as bone loss meant I couldn't have dental implants on one side.  He didn't think it would work. I believe it would have been pig or cow bone.  That made me laugh.  I'm currently a semi-retired slob so promotion to part pig cyborg would be an improvement. 

I read they can use DNA altering techniques to stop rejection for different tissues.  I read about it recently in relation to sickle cell disease.  I think with bone, they wash out the tissue parts of the bone and keep the structure for the patients natural bone to grow into.  So it's just a framework to grow additional bone.

*p.s. I google'd body parts prices and found out I was way out - click here.

Such a gloomy day outside.

Cooking my self to death / I now find it fun to cook, when I was younger it was such a drag.

Well the body parts they are stealing have a longer self life then a heart, lung or kidney has.

They process the bones and package them for later use.

I opted out of being a organ donar; My sisters BF was a lawyer in Ca;

He said a working stiff who got into an accident was going to die for his body parts of he signed them away at the DMV.

Say a super wealthy person needs a lung, heart or whatever and  you happen to have a rare blood type, forget making it out of the hospital  if you signed your life away;

My son and I ,just like Mrs Fluffy happen to have a rare much needed blood type; Forget surviving an accident.

This sub human takers disgust me and no way on Gods green earth will I willingly give them a thing.

Such a gloomy day outside.
Cooking my self to death / I now find it fun to cook, when I was younger it was such a drag.
Well the body parts they are stealing have a longer self life then a heart, lung or kidney has.
They process the bones and package them for later use.
I opted out of being a organ donar; My sisters BF was a lawyer in Ca;
He said a working stiff who got into an accident was going to die for his body parts of he signed them away at the DMV.
Say a super wealthy person needs a lung, heart or whatever and you happen to have a rare blood type, forget making it out of the hospital if you signed your life away;
My son and I ,just like Mrs Fluffy happen to have a rare much needed blood type; Forget surviving an accident.
This sub human takers disgust me and no way on Gods green earth will I willingly give them a thing. - @Marilyn Tassy

We don't have so much excitement here either..  I found 4 types of dried beans in our cellar and now I am wondering if I can make some kind of spicy bean soup with it.  Could prove productive in more ways than one.

I doubt very much in the UK they would sell your organs to any passing billionaire.   Steve Jobs didn't survive his liver transplant but he lived on tomatoes.  In the UK, we have universal health care and selling organs is illegal. Of course one could go somewhere like Moldova.  It's well known that in Moldova, dirt poor people sell they kidneys for just a few thousand dollars.

Mrs F does have a mildly rare blood type.  I think it's O-.  O-group is good as it works with anyone.  I'm A+ which is the majority of people that's good as well.  I think the rare ones at B and AB etc.   

Some experts seems to be saying Trump is going to pull out of NATO.  That's going to be hard to do. It's an international treaty and he'll need support of Congress.  Whatever than means.  I think that'll be a mega challenge to his increasingly autocratic behaviour.  If the US pulls out of NATO, all its bases and access will be closed  in NATO countries and that includes the big ones - like Canada, Germany, UK and Turkey etc.  It will put Europe, and Trump's investments in golf courses and that crap will be under threat.  A base in Israel isn't going to cut it.   

BREAKING: RFK JR. CONFIRMED AS HEALTH SECRETARY.

ALL DEMOCRATS AND MCCONNELL VOTE NO.

Sen. Mitch McConnell invoked surviving childhood polio in a statement defending his decision to vote against Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s confirmation for secretary of Health and Human Services.

"I will not condone the re-litigation of proven cures, and neither will millions of Americans who credit their survival and quality of life to scientific miracles," Sen. McConnell said.

Sen. McConnell was the only Republican to vote 'no' against RFK Jr.'s confirmation.

Read more: https://abcnews.visitlink.me/w9eMiX

Sen. Mitch McConnell invoked surviving childhood polio in a statement defending his decision to vote against Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s confirmation for secretary of Health and Human Services."I will not condone the re-litigation of proven cures, and neither will millions of Americans who credit their survival and quality of life to scientific miracles," Sen. McConnell said.Sen. McConnell was the only Republican to vote 'no' against RFK Jr.'s confirmation.Read more: https://abcnews.visitlink.me/w9eMiX - @SimCityAT

I saw that.  It was 52 to 48.  Hardly a resounding victory. 

Now the health system of the US will be gutted and replaced with a large amount of quackery.  Science must be evidence led, not created by TikTok or YT nonsense.

It's a Darwin moment.  Trumpist morons who do not get vaccinated will die or be hurt.  And their kids too. It's just so irresponsible.  If they are that ignorant of their health care choices, then good luck to them.  They'll die out leaving those vaccinated to rule the earth.  So those that are vaccinated need not worry.

We saw previously how ludicrous BS about polio vaccinations causing sterilisation in Pakistan and Nigeria caused an upswing in cases there.   

Now the health system of the US will be gutted and replaced with a large amount of quackery. Science must be evidence led, not created by TikTok or YT nonsense.
- @fluffy2560

My understanding is it's already rubbish. Tossing an anti-vaccine fool into office won't help.

I would comment from an expat point of view - un-vaccinated populations make their countries more dangerous for them, but would the US becoming a disease hotspot lead to potential expatriation choice countries banning US citizens without vaccination records?

This isn't a long term thing. We are looking at a matter of a few years before infant mortality rates increase if vaccinations are rubbished by the government.

Now the health system of the US will be gutted and replaced with a large amount of quackery. Science must be evidence led, not created by TikTok or YT nonsense.  - @fluffy2560 My understanding is it's already rubbish. Tossing an anti-vaccine fool into office won't help.I would comment from an expat point of view - un-vaccinated populations make their countries more dangerous for them, but would the US becoming a disease hotspot lead to potential expatriation choice countries banning US citizens without vaccination records?This isn't a long term thing. We are looking at a matter of a few years before infant mortality rates increase if vaccinations are rubbished by the government. - @Fred

It's an interesting case.   I do read the US NIH (National Institutes of Health) papers sometimes.  This is Fauci and Co. They do a lot of good work.  Gutting them isn't helpful for the world, never mind the USA.  RFKJr's stance on food additives and processing has plenty of merit but some of his views in the past have been loopy.

I feel many have really forgotten quickly what happened during COVID and how travel and life was restricted. I couldn't even book a hotel or get on a plane which in my line of work was really problematic.  And we all had locally issued certificates to prove our status.  If I did manage to travel internationally, I was trapped in my house for 10 days with a big warning sign outside and the cops kept coming to make sure I was there.  Really!

Anyone with the slightest bit of observation or real news sites of what was going on around them have learnt something of the language of epidemiology.  Things like herd immunity, R number etc.  And of course,  everyone should have followed basic steps like wearing masks, washing hands, using alcohol based hand cleansers.  Pay attention class!

But I believe that some US communities thought mask mandates and vaccinations infringed on their liberties.  Well, fine, catch whatever diseases you want then.  I was once at Istanbul airport and the Turkish authorities asked for volunteers to be vaccinated against polio (it's a drop in the mouth) as our destination had an outbreak.  My two companions turned it down.  I took it.  The vaccinated will survive and others may die or be maimed. This is Darwin in action - survival of the fittest.  Personally I keep all my vaccinations fully up to date.  Considering the countries I go to are less than hot on medical care, it's just not worth taking risks over. 

BTW, I did hear an interesting discussion about COVID causing the work from home model to become the norm.   Big social change. It affected me.  I spent all my working time at home for 2 years or more.  I'm still working at home (less so as I'm now semi-retired).

Actually the rarest blood type is RH nul. Less then 50 people have that type and must store their blood for an emergency.

No RH antigens in the red blood cells; O neg; is the next rarest thing; Think only 15 percent of the worlds population is O neg.

1 percent of Japans population is O neg, my so had better stay away from knifes!! He is O neg,like me. had to give blood for him during his arm surgery just in case he needed it.

I would of given some of my hip bone too if we had known he needed more bone material.

My husband already had a bone graft from his hip so it would of been my turn to give bone.

I have personally known 3 people who had polio.

My friend Kit who sadly died at age 43 from breast cancer. She was in an iron lung for over a year as a child. One of the bravest people I ever knew; She had a rod put in her spine and one would never know unless she was wearing a swimsuit; She was an expert at dressing to cover up her crooked spine.

My old bF sister was in a wheelchair and my sons childhood doctor on Maui had braces on his legs from polio, nicest doctor too.

The thing is my friend with the rod in her back was raised in the mid west of the USA in the late 1940s, early 50s when they sprayed the crops with DDT. There is a possible link between the pesticide and polio in children.

Of course we hardly hear about that,no one wants to take responsiblity for hurting so many children for profit.

Usually human greed and error are the root of many health issues.