Absolutely Anything Else

My friend made it to the Bernie Sanders rally, super packed. She only had a view of everyone;s back side from her vantage point of being in a wheelchair. Handicapped space was full.
Good news, I finally heard from my deported friend.
She is not feeling so great and just had a chance to use a laptop.
Dang , she has been through it.
3 big Swedish male cops escorted her to Miami.
People on their flight were very upset with them, she was sadly crying and they all wanted to report the police to the EU for abuse charges.
In Miami the customs agents even felt bad for her and had local detectives follow the Swedish cops to make sure they were leaving and not going to do any more funny business with my friend.
A church member got her off to SF where the church got her a hotel room for a few nights.
They are working on finding her a more perm. place to stay and helping with the embassy issues.
She just wants to go back to her husband and live in peace. Hope it happens for them but who knows how long they will drag this out.
I am glad to hear so far she is in safe hands. For awhile I thought she had been sent by accident to Africa, or sitting on the floor in some nasty detention center in Miami.
Still , she needs to write a book!
Nothing is for sure, my friend in Hilo wrote to tell me her daughter, DIL and another family member all lost their jobs!
She may have a full house soon.
Of course all the jobs out there have to be low pay ones, everyone else is at risk.

The manufacturing business is going to boom.
Too bad we are too old to open up another custom machine shop of first run special parts. Called a job shop.
I heard Australia has ordered 5 to 8 Virginia style US made subs. Only one ship builder in Conn.filling sheet metal parts for the US Navy ATM.
I am from Conn, would not mind moving back! It is a pretty state, same sort of weather as Hungary.
Now would be the time to get some US military contracts, I hate war but making parts is where the money is. Even second or third hand contracts can set you up.
China has sent their ships to circle Australia so a few subs in their arsenal would be good. Their subs are over 20 years old and not Virginia class.
Not going to happen, no way will we come out of retirement and work 12 hour days again.
I do not know anything about machining
but my husband can set it up where even I can produce parts.
Hmm, maybe he could work as just a set up man?
My mother ran a mill machine during WW2. Mostly she was a solderer.
IDK, I tell everyone I know to stock up here and there when they can or when something is on sale.
Eggs in both Minn; and Hawaii are going for $8;00 a dozen ATM.
Our HU friend in AZ raises chickens for eggs, been doing it like a side hobby for years, my HI friends old BF does the same in Hawaii. Secret millonaires! - @Marilyn Tassy

Why would it take 3 cops to manhandle her to the USA?  Seems like absolute overkill.   It's not like she was a major drug smuggler or terrorist.   She's probably banned from Sweden for some years.  I don't think she's got any chance of coming back for 5 to 10 years.  I hope the Swedish government were forced to pay for all that nonsense.

Mind you, the USA is completely off people's travel plans.   The number of stories of people being refused entry for trivial reasons is increasing every day.  Criticism of Donald Trump being one reason to avoid the place.  Now there are travel warnings to delete all social media posts.   I've no intention of going to the USA but I have ideas of going to Canada.  And there's always the very dangerous possibility of a flight diversion.   I used to go out to the Caribbean and usually went through Toronto.  Some flights actually have a technical stop in Miami but it isn't always shown on the flight details.  Any stop in the USA means you have to go through US immigration, often for no reason at all as it's just transit and a complete waste of time.

AUKUS is the US-UK-Australia tie up on submarines.  However, the few subs that are included might be gobbled up by the US because they are 20 subs short due to sub retirement.   UK and France build their own nuclear subs so probably the best thing to do is make a few there and then start building them in Australia. I saw an idea to base UK and US subs in Australia permanently.  Not sure that will get a lot of traction amongst the Australians.   Europe really needs to start generating military alternatives to Trumpist America.   It's going to have to really get going. 

Why did your friend's daughter/DIL/Friend  in Hawaii lose their jobs?  Federal cut backs?  Did they vote for Trump and not vote for Musk (but got him anyway)? 

I read an article on Snopes this morning implying Musk's actions are due to a massive chip on his shoulder over his older kids NOT worshipping the ground he walks on.  Obviously he didn't read the Parenting 101 manual.   Instead of embracing them, he chooses to insult them in public media.

You can still participate in the boom in armaments while not machining  stuff up.  Just buy shares in US arms manufacturers.  But choose carefully.   Over here, we don't really have a lot of choices for that.  The ones that come to mind is Rheinmetall (German - guns/tanks etc), BAE (British - planes/subs etc),  Thales (French - missiles and other stuff).   I think we Europeans need to build up our nuclear capabilities pronto and start stockpiling uranium for making plutonium.  Apparently the UK as stocks but not a massive amount for weapons manufacturing and other sources are not easy to find, even in European countries with nuclear industries.

And that bloke Witkoff was shooting his mouth off to Carlson.   Absolute Putin apologist.   Shocking fella.

No egg shortage hereabouts and not that expensive.   I had scrambled egg for breakfast. 

We usually have one egg each for breakfast, sometimes I use 3 for a scamble. I always add some veggies inside, mushrooms, a bit of onion , chopped peppers, side of avo and more peppers, some greens like a salad mix, tomatoes sometimes radish and or olives..

Since I was ill I have made breakfast a more serious meal;

Used to just have a slice of toast and coffee; Now it is all about vitamins and protein.

This morning was a one off, made potato salad last night so had that with veggies, toast and butter and a couple slices of salami.Just 2 small slices, tiny ones just for flavor. Processed lunch meat is not healthy but tasty.I put some hard boiled eggs in the salad so guess we had eggs too.

My husband wants me to try something he saw online for tomorrow, not sure but I will give it a go; Warm milk with oatmeal flakes, add grated cheese, black pepper, salt cumin and eggs, a bit of olive oil in a pan and make pancakes; Suppose to make one slim?  He wants his beach body back before summer!

Yes, very odd to ship her out with 3 cops. I wonder if they were in uniform or not?

Might be weird to see Swedish cops in a Miami airport in uniform.

Like I said they probably were going to take a few days off and hit the beach after dumping her off.

She hopes to return in 6 weeks to a couple of months. I did not want to shoot her down with facts, she is probably banned as you mentioned, 5 to 10 years or forever.

What about her marriage though? It is cruel.

My husband looked at buying stocks from here in Hungary. All the info stated they excluded Americans. Not sure why.

Have to go home and invest in person , S&P 500 stocks?

No buddy likes us Americans any longer...Not my fault.

No one wants to play with us!

Oh, forgot to ask my Hawaiian friend what her laid off family members did. I know she used to be a social worker and her 3 children all went to college and have a degree in something.

Her one son is a doctor in Hawaii, Honolulu, he is still working and her other son is in IT.

No idea what her daughter and DIL did.

The daughter and DIL live on the mainland.

We usually have one egg each for breakfast, sometimes I use 3 for a scamble. I always add some veggies inside, mushrooms, a bit of onion , chopped peppers, side of avo and more peppers, some greens like a salad mix, tomatoes sometimes radish and or olives..Since I was ill I have made breakfast a more serious meal;Used to just have a slice of toast and coffee; Now it is all about vitamins and protein.This morning was a one off, made potato salad last night so had that with veggies, toast and butter and a couple slices of salami.Just 2 small slices, tiny ones just for flavor. Processed lunch meat is not healthy but tasty.I put some hard boiled eggs in the salad so guess we had eggs too.My husband wants me to try something he saw online for tomorrow, not sure but I will give it a go; Warm milk with oatmeal flakes, add grated cheese, black pepper, salt cumin and eggs, a bit of olive oil in a pan and make pancakes; Suppose to make one slim? He wants his beach body back before summer!Yes, very odd to ship her out with 3 cops. I wonder if they were in uniform or not?Might be weird to see Swedish cops in a Miami airport in uniform.Like I said they probably were going to take a few days off and hit the beach after dumping her off.She hopes to return in 6 weeks to a couple of months. I did not want to shoot her down with facts, she is probably banned as you mentioned, 5 to 10 years or forever.What about her marriage though? It is cruel.My husband looked at buying stocks from here in Hungary. All the info stated they excluded Americans. Not sure why.Have to go home and invest in person , S&P 500 stocks?No buddy likes us Americans any longer...Not my fault.No one wants to play with us! - @Marilyn Tassy

She's got no chance of returning within 6 weeks.  It'll be years.   I expect they've stamped her passport saying she's been deported.  Perhaps her best way of getting in is to go to say, Norway, then travel by train back into Sweden.    She might be picked up on passport tracking.   She could get a new passport saying she's lost hers or it was accidentally destroyed. Who's to say? 

She was deported from Sweden, not the EU (presumably) so could come back to another EU country possibly for 90 days in 180 days if she's not on a watch list.   Maybe she has another nationality and could "disappear" on EU arrival using her other passport.  No idea really, just guessing from watching too many movies. 

It is possible to exit Hungary on a HU passport and arrive in the UK as a UK person.  The HU person has then disappeared.  My dual national kids do this.  No-one cares or seems to notice. 

I expect the Swedish cops were wearing their uniforms on the plane, were using "service/official" passports and they did inform the US government about it.  I think we'll see an uptick in deportations back to the US or US citizens being literally held on Trumped up charges.  How appropriate the name fits! Anyway, it'll be tit-for-tat stuff.

You can open a brokerage account in the USA and do it all online - no need to actually go there.   Nothing to stop you doing that as US citizens.  They don't advertise US stocks over here as the laws are different and it's complicated.   You'd probably need to give them a US address etc.  Anyway, stocks are a bit like gambling, you could lose your money.  But you could make some.  Lots of people used to be "day traders" during the "dot com" boom.  I doubt many are doing that now.  I'd steer clear of crypto anything.  Just scammers.

I tried to make Spanish paella again.  It wasn't so good.  It was better than before but my timings are wrong and I made some mistakes.  I might just throw in the towel and not try it again.  It was edible so it might stretch into a couple of lunches if I stick it in the freezer. I should stick to making soups.  They rarely go wrong.   

I usually have late breakfasts - it's a bit dangerous to have breakfast for me as a diabetic.  It causes a big spike in blood glucose and that's where the damage is caused.  It's sometimes easier just to make breakfast and lunch the same thing - aka brunch!

Oh, forgot to ask my Hawaiian friend what her laid off family members did. I know she used to be a social worker and her 3 children all went to college and have a degree in something.Her one son is a doctor in Hawaii, Honolulu, he is still working and her other son is in IT.No idea what her daughter and DIL did.The daughter and DIL live on the mainland. - @Marilyn Tassy

I suppose they were Fed workers or somehow in the supply chain for it.   

The doctor and IT sons will probably always have work.  People and hardware always need mending.

I always thought the US Forestry Service would have been an interesting job, especially in the summer.  Outdoors in nature and in the sun etc.  I saw some of those jobs have gone as well and parks have been closed.    Shame.   

Years ago, Mrs F and I were in Yosemite and saw a guys on horses with several pack horses.   He had labels on his packs that said USGS (US Geological Service).   Quite interesting they were still using horses to go out in the wilds on official business.

I was walking the dog.  It's busy in the forest as the weather improves.  Lots of people out and about. All sorts of activities - biking, jogging, map reading, dog walking, just walking.  Nice to be outdoors.  Our daffodils are coming out finally.  Seem to be later than usual.

I think she only has a US passport but is about to renew it so I suppose any stamps in her old one will not be carried over to her new one.

I told her her husband could visit the US but for how long? 90 days is not that long.

I guess they could see each other legally 6 months per year? 3 in Sweden and 3 in the states. Or go off to Mexico and live like bandidos.

Made that slimming pancake this morning, not sure, better off having oatmeal, eggs or cheese solo then all together. Not bad, not good either. Not going to be on our list .

In the 1960s my step fathers cousin was a forest ranger; He and his wife liked up in Yosemite. Super cool job.

I spent a week up there as a 12 year old in Girl Scout Camp. I do remember it freezing cold at night but hot during the day.

Did the whole thing, singing around the campfire, telling horror stories before sleeping out in the woods and making somores.

I think she only has a US passport but is about to renew it so I suppose any stamps in her old one will not be carried over to her new one.I told her her husband could visit the US but for how long? 90 days is not that long.I guess they could see each other legally 6 months per year? 3 in Sweden and 3 in the states. Or go off to Mexico and live like bandidos. Made that slimming pancake this morning, not sure, better off having oatmeal, eggs or cheese solo then all together. Not bad, not good either. Not going to be on our list .In the 1960s my step fathers cousin was a forest ranger; He and his wife liked up in Yosemite. Super cool job.I spent a week up there as a 12 year old in Girl Scout Camp. I do remember it freezing cold at night but hot during the day.Did the whole thing, singing around the campfire, telling horror stories before sleeping out in the woods and making somores. - @Marilyn Tassy

Maybe she should say her previous passport was lost. Probably they won't carry over any stamps or data but they might do if they've been officially informed.  I've no idea.  On British passports it has an "Observations" page which might be where they'd add such details as deportation.  Never been deported (yet) so don't know.   In any case, the actual passport number is not so important, it's date of birth/name/place of birth etc.   She could legally change her name to something else like Fiona Jones.    If she came back, it'd have to rely on no joined up thinking between the US and EU which is unlikely. For sure if she's banned from Schengen, she'd get picked up at any Schengen border as they have a shared system.   She'd have to get the ETIAS authorisation.  It's very tricky to see how she'd get around it.     

In any case, assuming no ban, she can only do 90 days in Europe, so at least half the time they'd have to be apart or indeed at the 3rd country which wouldn't count on any in-country time.  Maybe the UK would suit them.   On the other hand, she could apply for a family reunification visa but given her track record, I doubt they'd agree to that.

Meanwhile, as you know I've been watching lots of Westerns.   Some very nice country  ideal for riding horses and hanging out in nature.  I like the romance of it but I expect living with horses and animals is rather smelly and takes a lot of time.   

I've got questions though.

I've noticed riders in movies always get on their horses on the left and rarely if ever get on from the right.  Given most people are right handed, I wonder why they do that?  I saw one actor (Jack Palance) get off on the right but he still got on from the left. 

And how come they always have bulky coffee pots and cups but you can never see these sticking out their saddle bags?

And what's with the beans all the time?

Hard tack and beans, cowboy stables.Coffee and whiskey.

Yes, IDK about English saddles and riding but western style is always on the left side.

I had my guesses but looked on google to see if I was correct; Yes, what I thought, most knights and warriors kept their swords, guns on the left side and it was easier to grab if they mounted on the left;Also horse trainers say horses are more excepting of riders who approach them from the left.

I know I had a blast when my Hippie sister and her husband were caretakers on a horse ranch in Ojai, Ca.

40 acres of land with 6 retired race horse to care for.

My sister was a bit of an animal whisperer. Horses, dogs, birds they all loved her. She taught herself how to barrel race and competed in some local rodeo events for ladies;Man, model, rocker, LA women, rodeo rider , she even learned to drive a big rig truck.

Anyways she would saddle up one horse for me named Tequilla, a mare.

It was a very smart and relaxed horse, no fear I would be thrown. I was 14 and not too experienced with horses.

At 15 I gave them up after my friends horse threw me and knocked me out cold;Mothers orders.

It was so fun to be alone on all that open space, just me and Tequilla.

It was a shame when they got evicted because her husband was stupid and tried to get the ranch owners teen son high. He was also growing weed on their property. Can not trust a teen.

Hard tack and beans, cowboy stables.Coffee and whiskey.
Yes, IDK about English saddles and riding but western style is always on the left side.
I had my guesses but looked on google to see if I was correct; Yes, what I thought, most knights and warriors kept their swords, guns on the left side and it was easier to grab if they mounted on the left;Also horse trainers say horses are more excepting of riders who approach them from the left.
I know I had a blast when my Hippie sister and her husband were caretakers on a horse ranch in Ojai, Ca.
40 acres of land with 6 retired race horse to care for.
My sister was a bit of an animal whisperer. Horses, dogs, birds they all loved her. She taught herself how to barrel race and competed in some local rodeo events for ladies;Man, model, rocker, LA women, rodeo rider , she even learned to drive a big rig truck.
Anyways she would saddle up one horse for me named Tequilla, a mare.
It was a very smart and relaxed horse, no fear I would be thrown. I was 14 and not too experienced with horses.
At 15 I gave them up after my friends horse threw me and knocked me out cold;Mothers orders.
It was so fun to be alone on all that open space, just me and Tequilla.
It was a shame when they got evicted because her husband was stupid and tried to get the ranch owners teen son high. He was also growing weed on their property. Can not trust a teen. - @Marilyn Tassy

Yes, hard tack was some kind of bread that lasted a long time. Presumably coffee was imported (but from where?).   Whiskey is a bit problematic.  The amount they were drinking was seriously dangerous.  I assume it was more sterile due to the alcohol than dodgy water out the creek that had dead racoons in it.  I guess pickled livers were preferable to other horrible diseases picked up from polluted water.

We have the same stories about swords being on the left, pulled out with the right hand.  The salute in the military is raising the face mask on the helmets so the passing person could see the riders were not a threat.

I don't know about that mounting on the left. Maybe it's horse training. I did read that the muscles on that side of the horse tend to get bigger on that side if the horse is always mounted on the left.  But I also read the eyes on a horse react differently depending on which eye it is.  The eyes on the left are "faster" than those on the right.  Maybe it's the other way.   I know the saddles are different between the UK and North America but I don't know why.

Not very good getting a teen stoned. I can understand they got evicted.  The owners could have lost their ranch if the cops knew they were growing weed on it.   They could possibly have had a corner of a field hidden away in a difficult location with the ganga growing wild.   Then they could have just denied it totally and said it was someone else.     

No-one should be out on a horse without a hard hat.   That's so dangerous. It is of course an animal and unpredictable and untrustworthy.  I see this in our dog.   We have to be quite verbally tough on it and very direct.   I don't mean violent.  Just direct.  She just doesn't get stuff or remember.  Sometimes it's a battle of wills.  For sure, I'd never leave any dog with a child - even our dog which wants to be friends with everyone.   Mrs F's cousin was working at stables out towards Sopron.  We visited her there. She said, horses need to be handled very directly without hesitation.   Perhaps it's a dominance thing - we're the Alphas etc.

I had 2 school friends who both had 2 horses each.

I would always be there for the when they needed to exercise their horses.

Teen girls dream!

My one friend, Kay was from Arkansas. She had such a cute southern accent. Had a Palomino I would ride.

Her other horse was too much, he kicked her in the head once. Good reason why you should never walked behind a horse too close!

They can bite too.

Neither of my friends parents were rolling in dough so they both were very lucky to own horses.

I love seeing the old photos of the wild west, some saloon had walk in drinking area! You could stay on your horse and be served.

It just keeps on getting better in America.......

Just let this sink in:

A decade ago this month, America found out that Hillary Clinton used a private email server to communicate while serving as secretary of state. Now, two months into Trump’s second presidency, the top officials in his administration were discussing sensitive military operations using a commercial, encrypted cellphone app called Signal.

It just keeps on getting better in America.......
Just let this sink in:
A decade ago this month, America found out that Hillary Clinton used a private email server to communicate while serving as secretary of state. Now, two months into Trump’s second presidency, the top officials in his administration were discussing sensitive military operations using a commercial, encrypted cellphone app called Signal. - @SimCityAT

Oh yes, the top news of the day.  And the language those participants were using was not appropriate.   Taking a whizz on your European allies is not the way to win friends and build relationships.   They really are the worst people to be running a bath, never mind a government.  The journalist was put in a dilemma. If he'd kept quiet, he could have continued to milk it for scoops.  They might not have noticed he was listening in and it might have been an interesting avenue to sow some fake news.

I wondered if this would mean Mrs Vance and that guy Waltz are not going to Greenland to show some "power."  I was surprised Greenland and Denmark were bringing in more police to be around during Mrs Vance's visit.   Why don't they just simply not do anything?  Not provide security, not give her any VIP treatment, not meet her.   Just ignore her!   As for Waltz, same.  Do nothing but discourage him from going to the capital.   There's no government   there currently anyway.

Meanwhile here, Orban is fed up that Magyar Peter (Tisza party) is on the up and now they (Fidesz) is planning to somehow force Tisza out of the European Parliament by getting Magyar to release his financial statements.  Predictably Magyar said Orban should do his too.  Those Orban statements would be interesting to see.  His family and friends are all very rich.  How did that happen?   Also, there's no way they (Hungary) can write a law to get anyone out of the EU parliament.   But it's just symptomatic of the rot.

It just keeps on getting better in America.......
Just let this sink in:
A decade ago this month, America found out that Hillary Clinton used a private email server to communicate while serving as secretary of state. Now, two months into Trump’s second presidency, the top officials in his administration were discussing sensitive military operations using a commercial, encrypted cellphone app called Signal. - @SimCityAT
Oh yes, the top news of the day. And the language those participants were using was not appropriate. Taking a whizz on your European allies is not the way to win friends and build relationships. They really are the worst people to be running a bath, never mind a government. The journalist was put in a dilemma. If he'd kept quiet, he could have continued to milk it for scoops. They might not have noticed he was listening in and it might have been an interesting avenue to sow some fake news.
I wondered if this would mean Mrs Vance and that guy Waltz are not going to Greenland to show some "power." I was surprised Greenland and Denmark were bringing in more police to be around during Mrs Vance's visit. Why don't they just simply not do anything? Not provide security, not give her any VIP treatment, not meet her. Just ignore her! As for Waltz, same. Do nothing but discourage him from going to the capital. There's no government there currently anyway.

Meanwhile here, Orban is fed up that Magyar Peter (Tisza party) is on the up and now they (Fidesz) is planning to somehow force Tisza out of the European Parliament by getting Magyar to release his financial statements. Predictably Magyar said Orban should do his too. Those Orban statements would be interesting to see. His family and friends are all very rich. How did that happen? Also, there's no way they (Hungary) can write a law to get anyone out of the EU parliament. But it's just symptomatic of the rot. - @fluffy2560

According to Trump, Greenland has invited them and wants to talk. Which is untrue, just Trump making up things.

“Just for the record, Naalakkersuisut, the government of Greenland, has not extended any invitations for any visits, neither private nor official,” Greenland's government posted on its official Facebook page. The territory’s prime minister called the planned trips by U.S. officials “highly aggressive.”

I know who I believe, and it's not Trump.

They are also not going to meet them or entertain them. Personally I wouldn't allow them in the country.

I had 2 school friends who both had 2 horses each.
I would always be there for the when they needed to exercise their horses.
Teen girls dream!
My one friend, Kay was from Arkansas. She had such a cute southern accent. Had a Palomino I would ride.
Her other horse was too much, he kicked her in the head once. Good reason why you should never walked behind a horse too close!
They can bite too.
Neither of my friends parents were rolling in dough so they both were very lucky to own horses.
I love seeing the old photos of the wild west, some saloon had walk in drinking area! You could stay on your horse and be served. - @Marilyn Tassy

I wondered if all teenage girls have a kind of crush on horses.  My cousins were the same.  Even one of my daughters was riding horses. I think when boys arrive, the horses disappear.   I cite My Little Pony as evidence.

Horses cost a fortune nowadays. Must cost a few thousand a month.  In Wild West times - according to the movies - $20 for a horse seemed about right.   I guess they used them like throwaways or rental cars. 

I always thought horses and their riders in the wild west had a special bond but maybe that's just Western romance nonsense.   LIke I don't think my dog is really my friend.  She's a companion but friend, no.   She'd eat my face off if she had the chance.

@fluffy2560

Wild West times people had the land to keep the animals. My cousin's had a horse, but they lived on a small holding in Wales. But the vet fees are high these days, and food.

Wild West times, I think the horse would have just had bullet to the head if it became ill.

According to Trump, Greenland has invited them and wants to talk. Which is untrue, just Trump making up things.“Just for the record, Naalakkersuisut, the government of Greenland, has not extended any invitations for any visits, neither private nor official,” Greenland's government posted on its official Facebook page. The territory’s prime minister called the planned trips by U.S. officials “highly aggressive.”I know who I believe, and it's not Trump.They are also not going to meet them or entertain them. Personally I wouldn't allow them in the country. - @SimCityAT

That's what Trump does.  If his mouth is open, he's lying.  It's such a way of life, he does it seamlessly.  He just denies knowledge on things he said the week before and where it's on tape.   His acolytes are learning the same ropes.  They just aren't yet as good at it as Trump.

The incoming PM in Greenland said that there's no such thing as a private visit when these big wheels come over.   It's still a power play.  He's got to be right about that.

I'd like to see the large powers of Europe, Canada etc sending top personnel to Nuuk and announcing a jolly positive time while the Greenland PM denounces Trump.   That'll wind the bugger up.

I did some research and apparently West Greenlandic and the Inuit language are somewhat mutually intelligible. It makes me think Greenland should strengthen alliances with Canada's Nunavut.   If I was Canada, I'd be making overtures to have an enhanced presence and base there.   They probably are doing that, we just don't know.

@fluffy2560Wild West times people had the land to keep the animals. My cousin's had a horse, but they lived on a small holding in Wales. But the vet fees are high these days, and food. Wild West times, I think the horse would have just had bullet to the head if it became ill. - @SimCityAT

Definitely a bullet.  Throwaway horses. 

I think more recently, they'd fix up a broken leg and put the horse out to stud.  That's if the horse was any good - a race horse etc.

Where my Dad lived in West Sussex, there was an equine hospital. I looked at their web site out of curiosity,  You'd need mega bucks to use such a place.  It had everything - physio, x-ray, all sorts.   I think probably it was frequented by very rich people estates and their horses. There were large houses and estates in the area but we hardly saw horses anywhere.

@fluffy2560

My vets that's just across the road from me, actually specialise in horses. They do operations etc.... they seem to have a full team that just deal with them. They do other animals of course.

I know the now deceased wife of Charlie Watts, Shirley Watts raised race horses. Yes, you need maga bucks to do that.

My 2 friends had to board their horses in Simi since we all lived in family homes with just a 1/4 acre of land.

It was just a short distance away though;

Just found out my cousins wife also boarded in Simi about the same time as my friends, small world.

My husbands grandfather was a officer in the Budapest police dept; in the 1920s till his death from TB in the 1930s. He was in charge of buying and training the horses used by the Budapest police force. Sort of cool. He was a real master at breaking in horses. Bets were always being made to see how long it would take him etc. Purchasing agent was his title.

I know they were super proud of him although during the commie years they had to hide his photo in his uniform because all the officers before commie days were let go. At least he passed away with some self respect and the respect of his fellow officers.

I remember on our 1986 trip to Hungary we had to be cleared; My SIL was married to a police man and he had to get the OK before he could have a family dinner with us evil westerners! Just crazy, crazy then, crazy now.

I know some more modern cowboys like Roy Rogers were in love with their horses. Trigger was stuffed and on display at the Roy Rogers museum!

Shooting a trusted stead must of been hard even in the wild west.

What is also terrible is what my step dad said happened during WW2 to all the dogs that were in service.

Many people donated their beloved pets for the war effort. Little did they know some were probably used for target practice!

My step dad said when they shipped everyone out they were forced to leave the dogs behind; They were told they were no longer fit to be pets so they got a bullet.

@fluffy2560
My vets that's just across the road from me, actually specialise in horses. They do operations etc.... they seem to have a full team that just deal with them. They do other animals of course. - @SimCityAT

It's a big animal that needs specialisms.   They'd need all sorts of frames, ropes and pullies to  move sick horses around.  And plenty of people to do the maneuvering. And stables etc.   Quite a business.

Our neighbour is a vet but she just works at a place because it's too expensive to set up on her own.  Plenty of money in it, it would seem.

@fluffy2560

With a total of 4  equipped practice vehicles , a state-of-the-art  horse operating room and 30 boxes for inpatients, we are always there for your darlings and sports partners, both in the clinic on site and on the move in the greater Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland area.

I am in the countryside

I am in the countryside - @SimCityAT

I am in the countryside - @SimCityAT - @Marilyn Tassy

What a lovely property!

I am in the countryside - @SimCityAT - @Marilyn Tassy

Looks nice!  If I were a horse, and offered a stay there,  I wouldn't nay.

Sorry. 

And the latest.....

Florida has been working for years to crack down on employers that hire immigrants. But that presented a problem for businesses in the state that are desperate for workers to fill low-wage and often undesirable jobs.

Florida’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state legislature have a potential solution: children.

EU driving rules are shifting into a higher gear! 🚗

🚦 Today, we welcome the green light of the European Parliament and the Council to modernise EU driving licence rules:

🚗 EU driving licences on digital devices.

🚗 A minimum two-year probation period for new drivers.

🚗 An EU-wide accompanied driving scheme from age 17.

🚗 Better training and testing to help drivers navigate safely around vulnerable road users.

🚗 Easier licence exchanges for citizens from non-EU countries.

These updates will modernise our licensing system, help with the shortage of professional drivers, and improve road safety.

Every road death is one too many – we are committed to bringing this number down to zero.

#EuropeanUnion #Driving

EU driving rules are shifting into a higher gear! 🚗🚦 Today, we welcome the green light of the European Parliament and the Council to modernise EU driving licence rules: 🚗 EU driving licences on digital devices. 🚗 A minimum two-year probation period for new drivers. 🚗 An EU-wide accompanied driving scheme from age 17. 🚗 Better training and testing to help drivers navigate safely around vulnerable road users. 🚗 Easier licence exchanges for citizens from non-EU countries. These updates will modernise our licensing system, help with the shortage of professional drivers, and improve road safety.Every road death is one too many – we are committed to bringing this number down to zero. #EuropeanUnion #Driving - @SimCityAT

There's a link to the European Parliament press release.   It's 4 years before it's fully implemented (i.e. 2030).

New DL rules

This might become an privacy issue as presumably DLs can be read automatically from wallets at a distance, i.e. scanned by speed cameras or traffic sensors.  Bit intrusive having the EU follow people around.

I expect many people will want a physical card as it'll be digitally useless if you go outside the EU.

Sometimes I wonder if the EU has too much time on its hands.

I do however welcome the self-assessment for health checks as I have to do these tests every 2 years right now and it'll be every year soon enough for me.   I expect to keep my truck endorsement I'll still have to do it physically each year.   Probably no change.   

Not very happy about 18-year olds behind the wheel of very large trucks.  21 would seem to be about right, same as for buses.  On the other hand, the 17 year old accompanied drivers, that'd be good but probably too late for my kids as they'll all be over 18 within a couple of years.

And the latest.....
Florida has been working for years to crack down on employers that hire immigrants. But that presented a problem for businesses in the state that are desperate for workers to fill low-wage and often undesirable jobs.

Florida’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state legislature have a potential solution: children. - @SimCityAT

It's a sign of a civilised society that we have Labour Laws to protect workers and children. 

Whatever Ron's been smoking, everyone should avoid.

After all the undocumented parents are deported without due process and their US born children remain, I suppose people in Florida will still need their chimneys cleaning out.  But will the deportations generate enough US citizen street waifs for the job?

Hungary is hardly employment friendly.  But even our under-18 daughter had limited hours in her extras work on the FBI International  TV show.  Now she can work any hours as she's over 18.  FBI International has been cancelled so she'll have to move on to other shows if they continue to film here.

@fluffy2560

Its been cancelled by NBC, but still up in the air, CBS could take it on. No decision has been made yet.

But NBC has a new spin off starting this autumn. FBI : CIA

@fluffy2560Its been cancelled by NBC, but still up in the air, CBS could take it on. No decision has been made yet.But NBC has a new spin off starting this autumn. FBI : CIA - @SimCityAT

Oh I thought it was just over.  I doubt it'll continue, it was hardly a runaway success. It's started looking a bit weird as shows were being made before Trump and his cronies started decimating those agencies.   Question is if the agencies that hire extras for the shows find other contracts.  I think she needs a speaking part to get decent money.  Doesn't pay so much hanging around in the background.  In the last episode, as I will have said,  she was a mourner at a funeral and all the "stars" were at the back.  Why?  I dunno, have to wait for the episode to find out.  What she really wants is to appear in a Korean K-pop show.  They have filmed some of those here but I couldn't name any of them.

I heard on the news ATF agents would move to the FBI.  USA might as well start combining them all together as there are so many of those armed branches.  Combine FBI, DEA and ATF all together.  That'd be a mouthful - FBIDEAATF - F-biddy-Ahh-Tuf.  They could move Postal Inspectors into say, US Treasury (who have armed agents too).  Add CIA too FBIDEAATFPIUSTCIA.  I am sure there's a joke in there somewhere but I'd have work on it.  Or just call it FLEA - Federal Law Enforcement Agency.

I read something this morning about the HU gov; revoking  resident permits to none EU citizens who are here on the , Other Purposes permit.

Mine is a family type of permit, thankfully.

They are even going after permit holders who are retired in Hungary.

I will try to find out more info on this but it sounds like the entire world is closing itself off from the outside.

I think the lawyers lobby is behind this, forcing people to take legal action to stay.

Has anyone heard more     about this, perhaps this is old news?

The law can into effect on Jan; 2024 and this is the first I heard of any changes.

I read something this morning about the HU gov; revoking resident permits to none EU citizens who are here on the , Other Purposes permit.
Mine is a family type of permit, thankfully.
They are even going after permit holders who are retired in Hungary.
I will try to find out more info on this but it sounds like the entire world is closing itself off from the outside.
I think the lawyers lobby is behind this, forcing people to take legal action to stay.
Has anyone heard more   about this, perhaps this is old news?
The law can into effect on Jan; 2024 and this is the first I heard of any changes. - @Marilyn Tassy

Maybe this is fake news. I've not heard anything about it.    Why would they do that?  Is this some kind BS related to pushing limits? 

I've noticed a few other countries are somehow being emboldened because of Trumpist-inspired agendas.  Maybe it's to show obedience or fealty to King Donny.   It won't be the lawyers, it'll be Orban looking for an angle to bring down Magyar Peter who is or was 9 points ahead.  Hit immigrants as they don't have votes and don't fight back.   I don't trust Magyar Peter either but at least he's not Orban.  Anyone but Orban. Everyone has had enough of that guy.

I'm on this Brexit Article 50 permit and could do a family one if something went wrong on that. I doubt it'll have an effect on me personally unless that is "Other Purposes". That was agreed at EU level so it'll be a treaty issue.  Bloody Brexit.  Very few countries have ever voted to shoot themselves in the head.  Clearly it's an elite club run by former and current political nitwits.

Mrs F is absolutely fed up with Hungary and the politics.   She wants to move to Ireland. It's the only country we can both live in without permits unless something changes.  Unless we win the lottery, it's not clear we could afford it there as it's rather pricey.   Probably our HU daughter will leave home by 2027 to go elsewhere, so there will be 3 of us left and possibly the last kid to leave the nest would be in 2029 or so and then we'd be on our own and we could be both retired and no need to be in HU.  Older generation will have passed too.  Only two left now.  Rest have gone.

I read this today on The Daily News Hungary site.

My husband is more into moving to the states them I am.

I am OK just about anywhere though,I adjust quickly.

I like it in Hungary, not sure exactly why if it came down to it, just overall I am OK here.

I think one factor is the prices, if I was forced to go into debt to live here, no way;

It is not that nice.

I see prices in the US and they freak me out.

My older sister wrote me; Of course all heck broke loose again because of little sister.

She has not checked her car fluids for the last 7 months and her engine light came on while she was going to sell her blood;

Man it is so sad she is that silly to be kind i will say silly.

Older sister told her to let it cool down, recheck the oil and she was on her way with a few bottles of oil. Just hope it is not too late to save her car!

My older sister works for an elderly couple, running errands like shopping and light cleaning for them, 2 days per week.

Well in a few weeks they have to move into a full time care home; Sister will lose that job; She liked working for them as they were easy and nice and close by.

I had to suggest they look up a bus schedule for her to be able to sell her blood or better yet, stop doing that , buy a bike temp; and find a real job close to home.

I do not understand what is so hard about doing that?

What Trump does within his own country is normally, at least as far as I'm concerned, just an indication of possibilities for his crazy head internationally.

However, this bit of internal stupidity could easily have a worldwide impact.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn8r87z8vl0o

We have a well known anti-vaxxer with a long history of lying to prove his point in a position of power over the science that protects their country. In turn, because of ease of travel, the world.

Much as America might well have voted to euthanize themselves on some level (their problem), this is a general issue for everyone. I wonder if there is a future where US residents and citizens are banned from entering a number of countries IF major diseases break out in their own country.

Another possible future sees US citizens having to prove a vaccination history before being granted visas.

We will see what old father time has in store for us.

What Trump does within his own country is normally, at least as far as I'm concerned, just an indication of possibilities for his crazy head internationally.
However, this bit of internal stupidity could easily have a worldwide impact.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn8r87z8vl0o

We have a well known anti-vaxxer with a long history of lying to prove his point in a position of power over the science that protects their country. In turn, because of ease of travel, the world.
Much as America might well have voted to euthanize themselves on some level (their problem), this is a general issue for everyone. I wonder if there is a future where US residents and citizens are banned from entering a number of countries IF major diseases break out in their own country.
Another possible future sees US citizens having to prove a vaccination history before being granted visas.
We will see what old father time has in store for us. - @Fred

RFK Jr looks like a turncoat.  It seems he was a Democrat (like his family before him) and switches sides to Republican in order to get into a position of power.    It's his one shot as he'll never be President.  It's as far as he goes.

But I'm with you on this.  If they want to avoid the science, then this is Darwin in action, those who have been vaccinated will survive and the unvaccinated will die and the problem goes away through self-limitation.  Of course, that's not OK but there's no arguing with some people.

I quite like the idea - no travel without vaccination record.  I have my little Yellow WHO book and I've had it in various forms for 30+ years.  I am absolutely rigorous with my vaccination precautions. I reckon it's saved me at least once from being in places with outbreaks of whatever. 

I was in the Caribbean, on a sophisticated holiday island and I met a local who told me his sister died of tetanus a few years before.  Hardly anyone dies of Tetanus in the 21st century!   School health programmes should have got her at least once but possibly she hadn't had the booster (every 10 years).  Or she had other conditions. 

Anyway, over here, no vaccinations for childhood diseases like Measles, no school.  And quite right too!

I see prices in the US and they freak me out.My older sister wrote me; Of course all heck broke loose again because of little sister.She has not checked her car fluids for the last 7 months and her engine light came on while she was going to sell her blood;Man it is so sad she is that silly to be kind i will say silly.Older sister told her to let it cool down, recheck the oil and she was on her way with a few bottles of oil. Just hope it is not too late to save her car!My older sister works for an elderly couple, running errands like shopping and light cleaning for them, 2 days per week.Well in a few weeks they have to move into a full time care home; Sister will lose that job; She liked working for them as they were easy and nice and close by.I had to suggest they look up a bus schedule for her to be able to sell her blood or better yet, stop doing that , buy a bike temp; and find a real job close to home.I do not understand what is so hard about doing that? - @Marilyn Tassy

Cars and Trump meet soon with the introduction of tariffs.   But I suppose she's not shopping for a new car.  I expect 2nd hand imported cars will cost more as everyone tries to get a 2nd hand Mercedes etc rather than a new one with a Trumpist price.

Anyway, if younger sister didn't put any oil in it and if it's seized, it's a replacement engine - wouldn't bother trying to repair, get one at the breakers yard.  Bit obvious that it needs oil. Not too difficult to swap engines if it's an older model and you've got the tools and place to do it.  I did it on my first car with my Dad. He was a tank and heavy equipment mechanic in WW2 so knew exactly what to do having changed probably 100s of engines during his career.   

Not that I expect your sisters to do it.  They'll need mechanics on the job.  If it went well, and it was a simple car, they could do it in a day.   Be a lot of blood to pay for that - literally blood, sweat and tears.

My daughter travels by bus and taxis to work in Ontario.  Public transport sucks big time there unless you're in say, Toronto.  Canada - like the USA - is a car country.   She'll have to get a car. It takes 20m in a car but 1.5h on the bus.  Really difficult to have a properly life without transport.

Sorry older sis will lose her job.  I "volunteered" to go and be the carer for my BIL for a month but said I wanted paying.  Bit brutal but they are rich and I'm not and the lights have to remain on at home.    He's essentially on his last legs and his passing is inevitable.  Be lucky if he lasts 3 months but with miracles of modern medicine, it might go on to the end of the year.  But I reckon no more Christmases for him.  They can always hire a nurse or carers to live in but I'm cheaper and family.  Never going to happen!

That reminds me, the family should have has booster shots against tetanus last year.

That's a job for after the holiday.

Mass tariffs are, in my humble opinion, an admission that you're crap capitalists.

Trump's way to revive US car industry is to force import prices up.

Indonesia does the same, but Indonesia has a viable, competitively priced local car manufacturing base - the US does not.

The difference is easy for a teenager to work out.

The Indonesian version makes foreign imports more expensive, but doesn't force up inflation as our local prices are reasonable. Manufacturing comes to Indonesia as we have an easy to find/train, cheap workforce, and the government goes mad to bring foreign manufacturers in with incentives that make operating here economically sound.

Result. Balance of payments charts look good, lots have people get work, and businesses do well. Everybody is happy.

The US car industry is plagued with high costs and limited choices.

Americans will end up paying more as they don't have local alternatives.

The solution is just as easy to work out, but impossible to enact.

The US car industry must become competitive.

Their family finances are ttheir problem, but it hits me indirectly. Much of my cash goes into investment accounts, alway low risk traded off with lower profits, but investment nonetheless. Trump is messing up the markets, thus my risk is increasing beyond an acceptable level.

The banks reopen in a few days. My day to day banking won't change at all as BCA is an excellent institution, but the bank I use for retirement money is about to lose a priority card customer.

Mr. Trump's idiocy is forcing me to change to a slightly less profitable, but far safer way of increasing my dotage fund. This still has profits many times higher than inflation, but it's essentially zero risk as it's government insured.

I get less actual cash, but a lot more safety.

This wouldn't have been a thing if that orange moron wasn't in the white house. Thank you, stupid American voters.