In the UK rail services face severe disruption this week as thousands of workers take to the picket line as part of a fresh round of strike action.

Damar Hamlin cardiac arrest

Snow shortage threatens Alps with wet winter season.

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/724A/production/_128185292_679e8efa1fc349472b6f1760e324a49f6aac7d4c0_492_4048_22771000x563.jpg.webp

Snow shortage threatens Alps with wet winter season.

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/724A/production/_128185292_679e8efa1fc349472b6f1760e324a49f6aac7d4c0_492_4048_22771000x563.jpg.webp


Looks very pretty.

Looks very pretty.
Not that pretty, for that is a winter resort which relies on snow for winter sports such as skiing, etc.

Novak Djokovic is set to miss Indian Wells and the Miami Open after the United States extended its requirement for international visitors to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

Almost 200,000 people paid homage to former Pope Benedict XVI during his lying in state over the last three days, the Vatican says.

Pharmacies say a lack of government planning is behind a shortage of cough and cold medicines in shops.

Severe storms in California, causing flooding.

Severe storms in California, causing flooding.


Didn't they just have snow or is that the rain melting it causing the flooding?

Prince Harry has claimed his brother William physically attacked him, according to the Guardian, which says it has seen a copy of the Duke of Sussex's memoir, Spare.

Didn't they just have snow or is that the rain melting it causing the flooding?


From heavy rains. Also unrelated but on New Year's Day they had a 2nd earthquake in the same area (Northern near Eureka) as the other one about a week before that.

SNAFU in congress, situation normal

It’s been raining here in Southern California since before New Years.

From heavy rains. Also unrelated but on New Year's Day they had a 2nd earthquake in the same area (Northern near Eureka) as the other one about a week before that.


Man, that's terrible.  :(

It’s been raining here in Southern California since before New Years.

Who's that singer that sings "It Never Rains In Southern California"?

Who's that singer that sings "It Never Rains In Southern California"?
Albert Hammond

Albert Hammond

Thanks. O0

Albert Hammond


I thought it was Toni! Tony! Tone! I wasn't familiar with the Albert Hammond song. It's not even a remake or sample. Just the same song title.

3yNibj8LW-Q

Gmq4WIjQxp0

Violent protests/riots in Brazil by supporters of Bolsonaro and against Lula. It's like their own version of January 6 on steroids.

Also a school teacher in Virginia was shot by a 6 year old.

Violent protests/riots in Brazil by supporters of Bolsonaro and against Lula. It's like their own version of January 6 on steroids.

Also a school teacher in Virginia was shot by a 6 year old.

I don't understand how a 6 year old can get a hold of a gun?  ::)

I don't understand how a 6 year old can get a hold of a gun?  ::)


Much less know how to use it. When I was 6 I didn't even know how to tie my shoes.

Also a school teacher in Virginia was shot by a 6 year old.

I don't understand how a 6 year old can get a hold of a gun?  ::)

Much less know how to use it. When I was 6 I didn't even know how to tie my shoes.
I am wondering under parental influence?

Much less know how to use it. When I was 6 I didn't even know how to tie my shoes.


When I turned 6, I was learning about the world around me.

The first ever satellite mission launched from UK soil has ended in failure.

The rains in California.

A new Covid sub-variant is causing some concern in the US, where it is spreading rapidly.

Online retail giant Amazon has said it plans to shut three warehouses in the UK, putting 1,200 jobs at risk.

The NHS says people should use services "wisely" and only call 999 in a life-threatening emergency as about 20,000 ambulance workers walk out in England and Wales

A knife attack in the Gare du Nord train station in Paris injured at least 6 people.

In the UK, Andrew Bridgen has been suspended as a Conservative MP for spreading misinformation about Covid vaccination.

In the UK, Royal Mail says it is unable to send letters and parcels overseas after a "cyber incident".

In the UK, around 100,000 civil servants are to strike on 1 February, the Public and Commercial Services union has announced.

Elon Musk has broken the world record for the largest loss of personal fortune in history.

A knife attack in the Gare du Nord train station in Paris injured at least 6 people.

Were they able to catch the person who did it? ???

A critically endangered Western chimpanzee, which conservationists say is the "world's rarest chimpanzee", has been born at a Chester Zoo.

Stormy weather has caused widespread disruption across Wales including power cuts, flooding and train delays.

Were they able to catch the person who did it? ???


I think so.

Stormy weather has caused widespread disruption across Wales including power cuts, flooding and train delays.

I can imagine what California is going through with all those heavy rains. :(

Tornadoes in the Southeast, especially Alabama.

death of Lisa Marie Presley. :\'(

A rare green comet that hasn't been seen in about 50,000 years should be visible in the night sky over the next few weeks, with the closest point to Earth around February 1.

A rare green comet that hasn't been seen in about 50,000 years should be visible in the night sky over the next few weeks, with the closest point to Earth around February 1.
Hoping it is not cloudy on that day?

A seven-year-old girl suffered life-threatening injuries in a drive-by shooting at a London church.

Plane crash in Pokhara, Nepal.

A seven-year-old girl suffered life-threatening injuries in a drive-by shooting at a London church.


I thought that England had gun control.

A seven-year-old girl suffered life-threatening injuries in a drive-by shooting at a London church.

Wow, that's so sad!  :(

A man in his 60s has been arrested on suspicion of a terror offence after traces of uranium were found at Heathrow Airport in December, Scotland Yard said.

A seven-year-old girl suffered life-threatening injuries in a drive-by shooting at a London church.
A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a drive-by shooting outside a London church left a girl, seven, seriously injured.

Italy's most-wanted mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro has been arrested in Sicily after 30 years on the run.

The UK government has decided to block a controversial Scottish bill designed to make it easier for people to change their legal gender.

UK train drivers are to strike on 1 and 3 February after union bosses rejected a pay offer from rail companies.

Italy's most-wanted mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro has been arrested in Sicily after 30 years on the run.


I wonder who ratted him out?

I wonder who ratted him out?
We may never know know, may have gone into hiding?

I thought that England had gun control.


That could explain why that incident was a rare occurrence and doesn't happen on almost a daily basis like in the US. Statistically the crime rate of London is a fraction of even the safest US cities.

That could explain why that incident was a rare occurrence and doesn't happen on almost a daily basis like in the US. Statistically the crime rate of London is a fraction of even the safest US cities.
... and London and the UK are in shock with it.

Consumers are being warned to film themselves opening Amazon deliveries after a Salisbury man's £1,300 iPhone was switched for a packet of dog food.

Parts of the UK have been hit by snow and ice, with warnings from police in some areas to only travel if "absolutely essential".

Climate campaigner Greta Thunberg has been detained by police at a protest outside a western German village.

Consumers are being warned to film themselves opening Amazon deliveries after a Salisbury man's £1,300 iPhone was switched for a packet of dog food.


What are they supposed to do with the film afterwards?

What are they supposed to do with the film afterwards?
Keep it as evidence if any situation arises.

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has signed a deal to write a book about his turbulent time as prime minister, described as a "memoir like no other".

The price of air fares soared at a record rate in December while the cost of coach travel jumped, according to new data.

A polar bear has killed a woman and a boy in a remote Alaska village, authorities have said.

Microsoft will cut 10,000 jobs in the latest round of staff redundancies to hit the tech industry.

Ambulance workers are to join nurses in taking strike action on 6 February in England and Wales in what will be the biggest NHS walkout in this dispute.

A polar bear has killed a woman and a boy in a remote Alaska village, authorities have said.

That's so sad.  :\'(

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced her resignation.

British actor Julian Sands has been reported missing after going hiking in the San Gabriel mountains last week.

Shops selling illegal vapes and the sale of vaping products to children are the top threats on the UK's High Streets, according to Trading Standards officials.

Shops selling illegal vapes and the sale of vaping products to children are the top threats on the UK's High Streets, according to Trading Standards officials.

That's why you must always show proof of ID.

That's why you must always show proof of ID.
It has been proven that shops are not asking for ID or age verification.

Alec Baldwin to be charged over deadly shooting on Rust film set

The US has officially reached the debt ceiling and the Treasury Department is scrambling to take measures to continue operating until summer to maintain economic stability.

Kim Kardashian is the new owner of a necklace that was worn by Princess Diana. The Attallah Cross was put up for sale at Sotheby's in London as part of its Royal and Noble Sale on Wednesday.

It has been proven that shops are not asking for ID or age verification.

So I guess you can purchase smokes and people won't require proof?

Mass shooting at a dance studio in Monterey Park, CA (near LA) that killed 10.

Mass shooting at a dance studio in Monterey Park, CA (near LA) that killed 10.


Meanwhile Rebups want to make forced pregnancies mandatory nation wide - more people more opportunity  for mass shootings

More information has come in about the Monterey Park shooting, that it was during a Lunar New Year festival and possibly a hate crime targeting Asians.


Meanwhile Rebups want to make forced pregnancies mandatory nation wide - more people more opportunity  for mass shootings


Yeap, the only murders they care about, the unborn babies. They sure don't care about the underlying causes of all these shootings. Just as long as they have their guns, to protect themselves from other people with guns.

More information has come in about the Monterey Park shooting, that it was during a Lunar New Year festival and possibly a hate crime targeting Asians.



That’s just completely sad, all around. :\'(

I’ve been to that area myself (circa the early 1990s) and happened to know that plenty of Asian people live there. It comprises a good part of the demographics of the San Gabriel Valley.

Mass shooting at a dance studio in Monterey Park, CA (near LA) that killed 10.


Did they find the shooter? ???

Did they find the shooter? ???

The latest reports I’ve seen indicate that he may have been tracked down.

Actually, he supposedly killed himself. ::)

The latest reports I’ve seen indicate that he may have been tracked down.

Actually, he supposedly killed himself. ::)


Good.

Mass shooting at a dance studio in Monterey Park, CA (near LA) that killed 10.


The blowhards came out of the woodwork decrying this as a racist, “white supremacist” event without having any background info whatsoever.

I imagine they were sad when it came out that the murderer was Asian, as were the victims.

BREAKING: Another mass shooting in California. This time in Half Moon Bay, about 30 miles south of San Francisco.


The blowhards came out of the woodwork decrying this as a racist, “white supremacist” event without having any background info whatsoever.

I imagine they were sad when it came out that the murderer was Asian, as were the victims.


The more information we found out, the shooter was a regular at that dance studio. Also he was a 72-year old, and most of the victims were around his age, 60's and 70's. The motives are still unclear though.

BREAKING: Another mass shooting in California. This time in Half Moon Bay, about 30 miles south of San Francisco.

The more information we found out, the shooter was a regular at that dance studio. Also he was a 72-year old, and most of the victims were around his age, 60's and 70's. The motives are still unclear though.

You know Bat, this is never going to end, I bet they're will be once again another one.

You know Bat, this is never going to end, I bet they're will be once again another one.


Probably in California alone. It seems like the frequencies are increasing even more as people are getting crazier.

Probably in California alone. It seems like the frequencies are increasing even more as people are getting crazier.

One thing after another, what's going on in this world?

"Everything Everywhere All At Once" leads the field at this year's Academy Awards, with 11 nominations.

Amazon workers are staging the first ever UK strike on Wednesday against the online giant in a protest over pay.

A man has been arrested for allegedly assaulting former health secretary Matt Hancock on the London underground.

An earthquake was felt this morning at about 2 (Pacific time) in southern California. It was only about a 4.0 and centered off the Malibu coast.

The owner of Royal Mail says the recent wave of strikes at the postal firm have cost it £200m so far.

Novak Djokovic's father Srdjan has been filmed posing for pictures with supporters of Russia president Vladimir Putin at the Australian Open.

A ban on the sale and use of laughing gas in England and Wales is being considered by the government.

Waiting for indictments in Georgia any time...

- The killing of Tyre Nichols by police during his arrest
- Mass shooting in Jerusalem kills at least 5

- The killing of Tyre Nichols by police during his arrest


It's gonna hard to frame the Memphis thing on "racist cops".  All 5 cops who beat the crap outta Tyre Nichols were black, as was Mr. Nichols.

One odd thing... I have watched several news accounts of this story and all sorts of people (including Nichols' relatives and their lawyers) refer to Mr. Nichols as "that boy"...  He was 29 years old...

It's gonna hard to frame the Memphis thing on "racist cops".  All 5 cops who beat the crap outta Tyre Nichols were black, as was Mr. Nichols.

One odd thing... I have watched several news accounts of this story and all sorts of people (including Nichols' relatives and their lawyers) refer to Mr. Nichols as "that boy"...  He was 29 years old...


Many are saying they still are racist, who hate their own race like the police officer in Boyz n the Hood.

- The killing of Tyre Nichols by police during his arrest
- Mass shooting in Jerusalem kills at least 5


When did this mass shooting happen? ???

When did this mass shooting happen? ???


Today. It's up to 7 killed now.

Today. It's up to 7 killed now.

Why is there no gun control in Jerusalem?

Why is there no gun control in Jerusalem?


Because they need guns to kill Palestinians.

Because they need guns to kill Palestinians.


And they do it quite frequently, it's almost a sport

Probably in California alone. It seems like the frequencies are increasing even more as people are getting crazier.


And within a week California had a 3rd and 4th one. 3rd one was in Oakland and 4th one was in LA (not in a bad area but near Beverly Hills).

And within a week California had a 3rd and 4th one. 3rd one was in Oakland and 4th one was in LA (not in a bad area but near Beverly Hills).

What do they hate about California? ???

What do they hate about California? ???


I'm not sure if they necessarily hate California but it's been happening there. Apparently the motive behind the Half Moon Bay shooting was over a $100 repair charge.

A Welsh branch of McDonald's has started playing classical music and rationing wi-fi in a bid to deter anti-social behaviour.

In the UK, mass strike action on Wednesday will cause "significant disruption", Downing Street has said. Teachers, university workers, civil servants, train and bus drivers are all taking action.

In the UK, mass strike action on Wednesday will cause "significant disruption", Downing Street has said. Teachers, university workers, civil servants, train and bus drivers are all taking action.
All in all, best to stay at home?

I'm not sure if they necessarily hate California but it's been happening there. Apparently the motive behind the Half Moon Bay shooting was over a $100 repair charge.


What was needed to repair?

An Iranian couple in their 20s have been given jail sentences totalling 10 years after posting a video of themselves dancing in the street.

What was needed to repair?


I'm not sure. All I know is that's the least of the shooter's problems now.

A four-year-old girl has died in a dog attack in Milton Keynes, police have said.

Authorities in Australia say they have found a tiny radioactive capsule which went missing last week.

A four-year-old girl has died in a dog attack in Milton Keynes, police have said.

:\'(

In the UK, mass strike action on Wednesday will cause "significant disruption", Downing Street has said. Teachers, university workers, civil servants, train and bus drivers are all taking action.
I did not see many schoolchildren on the pavements today...

House prices in the UK fell for the fifth month in a row in January, the price of the average property last month was £258,297, down by 0.6% on December.

The owners of four luxury flats overlooked by the Tate Modern in London have won a privacy bid over the use of the gallery's viewing platform.

The FBI is searching President Joe Biden's home in Rehoboth, Delaware as part of an investigation into classified documents, his lawyer says.

A four-year-old girl has died in a dog attack in Milton Keynes, police have said.

:\'(
It still has been established it was the family dog, the breed of the dog has not been disclosed yet.

I did not see many schoolchildren on the pavements today...

Most likely they heard what had happened.  :(

Most likely they heard what had happened.  :(
You are confusing the two issues here. No children on the pavements was because of the teacher's strike today. Schools closed.

Oil and gas giant Shell has reported record annual profits after energy prices surged last year following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Oil and gas giant Shell has reported record annual profits after energy prices surged last year following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Who would have thought... ::)
There are always people who profit from crises at the cost of everyone else.

Who would have thought... ::)
There are always people who profit from crises at the cost of everyone else.
Pay it back to the customers!

The largest ever outbreak of bird flu is spilling over into mammals, including otters and foxes in the UK.

Who would have thought... ::)
There are always people who profit from crises at the cost of everyone else.


The law of unintended consequences comes into play once again. The anti-Russia economic sanctions left Russia with more oil revenue than ever before by causing oil prices to unnaturally spike.  Our national politicians are economic morons.

The largest ever outbreak of bird flu is spilling over into mammals, including otters and foxes in the UK.

Has it got a chance to come here in the US? ???

Has it got a chance to come here in the US? ???
Birds can fly...

Groundhog Day 2023: Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow.

Ironically a large glacier near Seattle has disappeared.

Groundhog Day 2023: Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow.


So that means we will get more winter.

So that means we will get more winter.
Get your overcoat on?

Get your overcoat on?


Yep and go get the shovels too.

What was the weather balloon over Montana?

What was the weather balloon over Montana?


It's a Chinese surveillance ballon

A rescue operation is under way across much of southern Turkey and northern Syria following a 7.8 magnitude earthquake that has killed more than 1,000 people

The NHS is bracing for its biggest strike yet. For the first time in this dispute, ambulance workers and nurses will walk out together in England on Monday.

The Premier League has charged Manchester City with more than 100 breaches of its financial rules following a four-year investigation.

Yes, a second balloon!

The Chinese government has admitted a balloon spotted over Latin America on Friday is from China - but claimed it is intended for civilian use.

The Old Course in St Andrews has defended renovation work around the historic Swilken Bridge after it was compared to a "DIY patio".

A rescue operation is under way across much of southern Turkey and northern Syria following a 7.8 magnitude earthquake that has killed more than 1,000 people
The country's disaster agency says some 1,500 people were killed in Turkey alone after the first quake, and more than 5,300 were wounded

As like Shell the other week:

Energy giant BP has reported record annual profits as it scaled back plans to reduce the amount of oil and gas it produces by 2030.

The country's disaster agency says some 1,500 people were killed in Turkey alone after the first quake, and more than 5,300 were wounded
An international aid effort is being stepped up in southern Turkey and northern Syria following a huge earthquake that has killed more than 5,000 people

The US Navy has released photos of a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon that was shot out of the sky on Saturday.

BREAKING:

The death toll from the devastating earthquake has now jumped to more than 7,800 people. A breakdown of the figures by AFP news agency says 5,894 people died in Turkey and at least 1,932 are reported dead in Syria

Zoom is laying of 1300 employees. Not surprising as it boomed because of the pandemic.

SOTU address tonight.

BREAKING:

The death toll from the devastating earthquake has now jumped to more than 7,800 people. A breakdown of the figures by AFP news agency says 5,894 people died in Turkey and at least 1,932 are reported dead in Syria


:o Man! That's a lot!  :(

Zoom is laying of 1300 employees. Not surprising as it boomed because of the pandemic.

SOTU address tonight.


I don’t know how a built-out platform like Zoom could need 1300 employees.

BREAKING:

The death toll from the devastating earthquake has now jumped to more than 7,800 people. A breakdown of the figures by AFP news agency says 5,894 people died in Turkey and at least 1,932 are reported dead in Syria


It's now up to 11,000

It's now up to 11,000
:\'( :\'( :\'(

LeBron James has become the NBA's all-time leading scorer, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's long-standing record.

President Zelensky has arrived at Buckingham Palace ahead of his meeting with King Charles. He continues his historic visit to the UK after speaking to both Houses of British Parliament.

President Zelensky has arrived at Buckingham Palace ahead of his meeting with King Charles. He continues his historic visit to the UK after speaking to both Houses of British Parliament.
https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/live-experience/cps/624/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2023/2/8/5241b2db-ecf1-4ea3-b181-e5ead0c7a38e.jpg

It's now up to 11,000

That's horrible!  :\'(

BREAKING:

The death toll from the devastating earthquake has now jumped to more than 7,800 people. A breakdown of the figures by AFP news agency says 5,894 people died in Turkey and at least 1,932 are reported dead in Syria
Over 16, 000 now.

Yesterday virtually ever cop shop in Vermont received a call of active shooter in the local school, also in other states.  It was all a hoax and is under investigation at all levels

Over 16, 000 now.


Over 21K now. At this rate it might get close to the numbers from the Haiti quake of January 2010.

Over 21K now. At this rate it might get close to the numbers from the Haiti quake of January 2010.


Wow, the numbers keeps growing. :o  :(

Cars have been stripped of parts in a spate of separate thefts while parked in Birmingham city centre, a BBC investigation has found.

Over 21K now. At this rate it might get close to the numbers from the Haiti quake of January 2010.
A UK appeal to help the earthquake survivors in Turkey and Syria has raised nearly £33m on its first day.

A UK appeal to help the earthquake survivors in Turkey and Syria has raised nearly £33m on its first day.
That is about $40m.

The RMT rail union has rejected new pay offers, in a blow to any hopes the lengthy dispute was close to ending.

Therefore: more trains!

BREAKING NEWS:

A "high-altitude object" has been shot down over Alaska in the past hour, the White House has said.

Another Chinese balloon?

The RMT rail union has rejected new pay offers, in a blow to any hopes the lengthy dispute was close to ending.

Therefore: more trains!

How about more buses too?

How about more buses too?
These rail strikes are national, the coaches are coping to the best they can.

BREAKING NEWS:

A "high-altitude object" has been shot down over Alaska in the past hour, the White House has said.

Another Chinese balloon?


And another one over Canada, some cylindrical object.

And another one over Canada, some cylindrical object.


That makes 3 so far...and counting?

A meteorite was seen falling into the English Channel between England and France.

A meteorite was seen falling into the English Channel between England and France.

How big was the meteorite?

A meteorite was seen falling into the English Channel between England and France.
I missed that, and would have like to seen it.

This is a bit older news from earlier this month, but a train derailment in Ohio caused a spill of toxic materials.

A 6.4 magnitude earthquake has struck southern Turkey, weeks after a deadly quake devastated the region.

Bruce Willis

The Royal College of Nursing has called off next week's 48-hour strike in England to re-start talks with the government.

North Korea is experiencing a critical food crisis, experts say.

A large metal sphere that washed up on a shore in Japan has perplexed locals and set off a flurry of speculation.

Exceptionally low tides and a lack of rain in Venice has left some of the city's famous canals almost dry. Boats and traditional gondolas, which are used for transportation inside the city, could be seen almost beached in some of the canals.

A large metal sphere that washed up on a shore in Japan has perplexed locals and set off a flurry of speculation.

What could it be?

What could it be?
That is the mystery?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-64730255

David Bowie fans will get an unprecedented look into his life, work and legacy after the V&A museum acquired the star's extensive archive.

Staff working at the European Commission have been ordered to remove the TikTok app from their phones and corporate devices.

Shortages of some fruit and vegetables in the UK could last for up to a month, the environment secretary has said.

Four people have been arrested after protesters painted the road outside the Russian Embassy in London in the colours of the Ukrainian flag.

An aid appeal for earthquake survivors in Turkey and Syria has raised more than £100m in just two weeks.

Rio's hotly contested carnival parade has been won by the Imperatriz Leopoldinense samba school with its tribute to a Brazilian outlaw from the early 20th Century which many compare to Robin Hood.

Lidl is the latest supermarket to introduce limits on sales of certain fruit and vegetables due to shortages of fresh produce.

A collection of 20 recently rediscovered short stories by late fantasy author Sir Terry Pratchett is to be published later this year.

Lidl is the latest supermarket to introduce limits on sales of certain fruit and vegetables due to shortages of fresh produce.

Why are they having a a shortage? ???

California Snowfall

Lidl is the latest supermarket to introduce limits on sales of certain fruit and vegetables due to shortages of fresh produce.

Why are they having a a shortage? ???

Shortages of some fruit and vegetables in the UK could last for up to a month, the environment secretary has said.
Supermarkets are facing problems after extreme weather hit harvests abroad.

Katy Perry has an emotional breakdown on American Idol when a contestant who survived the school shooting in Santa Fe, Texas in 2018 told his story.


Supermarkets are facing problems after extreme weather hit harvests abroad.


The crazy weather is expected to have some effect on food supplies, particularly organic fruits and vegetables.

Wizz Air says it will suspend all flights to the Moldovan capital Chisinau from 14 March due to concerns about the safety of its airspace.

An EasyJet pilot made a 360-degree turn to treat passengers to a stunning view of the northern lights. The plane was travelling from Iceland to Manchester as the aurora borealis lit up skies across the UK in a rare display.

China has accused the US of overreacting after federal employees were ordered to remove the video app TikTok from government-issued phones.

Two trains have collided in northern Greece, killing at least 32 people and injuring dozens of others

A £100m site billed as London's first luxury shopping outlet has seen all but one of its stores close.

E-scooter riders who are involved in accidents are more likely to sustain more serious injuries than cyclists, research has found.

A boy who has camped out in a tent for three years is ending his charity challenge and coming back inside. Max Woosey, known as The Boy in the Tent, has raised more than £700,000 for North Devon Hospice.

Thousands of Twitter users around the world are reporting issues as the social network suffers another outage.

California will be seeing more snow, total in some areas could reach 15 feet. :o

Hong Kong has lifted its mask mandate, marking an end to one of the world's longest-running Covid restrictions.

Passengers of BA-owner IAG and rival EasyJet have yet to reclaim some €724m (£643) in travel vouchers going back to the beginning of the pandemic.

A Bolivian man has described how he managed to survive for 31 days in the Amazon jungle after he got lost.

Los Angeles County has agreed to pay nearly $29m (£24m) to NBA superstar Kobe Bryant's widow after police shared graphic images of his fatal helicopter crash two years ago.

TikTok is setting a 60-minute daily screen time limit for users who are aged under 18.

Hong Kong has lifted its mask mandate, marking an end to one of the world's longest-running Covid restrictions.

At least that's a good thing.

Government plans to ban migrants from re-entering the UK if they cross the Channel in small boats are unworkable and will leave thousands of people in limbo, refugee groups have said.

In the UK, national level talks between the Rail Delivery Group and the RMT appear to be on the brink of failure, as another train strike looms next Thursday.

Twitter has experienced major problems with posting some images and links - the second time in a week it has suffered technical issues.

A former Mexican beauty queen and her partner have been jailed in Spain for four years for stealing 45 bottles of wine worth an estimated $1.7m (£1.4m).

Twitter has experienced major problems with posting some images and links - the second time in a week it has suffered technical issues.

Has the problem been fixed?

Has the problem been fixed?
Twitter later said "things should now be working as normal. Thanks for sticking with us!"

Tickets to the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool in May have sold out, leaving thousands of fans disappointed.

A former Mexican beauty queen and her partner have been jailed in Spain for four years for stealing 45 bottles of wine worth an estimated $1.7m (£1.4m).


That must be some mighty fine  wine

That must be some mighty fine  wine
The taste of which I have long forgotten now.

Four Americans kidnapped by heavily armed men in Matamoros, Mexico, had travelled there for cosmetic surgery, relatives told US media.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman has announced new legislation in UK Parliament to try to stop people crossing the Channel on small boats

In the UK, the RMT union has suspended all industrial action at Network Rail after receiving a new pay offer.

The taste of which I have long forgotten now.

I rarely drink wine.

People in parts of the UK are waking up to snow, with weather warnings in place across the country

People in parts of the UK are waking up to snow, with weather warnings in place across the country

How much snow did they get? ???

How much snow did they get? ???
Snow depths in Scotland have reached 14cm.

A weight loss jab that has gained popularity in the US has been approved for use by the NHS in England.

The number of dog attacks recorded by police in England and Wales has risen by more than a third in the past five years, a BBC investigation has found.

In the UK, a 14-year-old has been sentenced for causing the death of a woman while on a privately-owned electric scooter.

Protests in Georgia (the nation, not the US state) over their parliament passing the Foreign Agents draft law.

Protests in Georgia (the nation, not the US state) over their parliament passing the Foreign Agents draft law.
Riot police have used water cannon and pepper spray to disperse the crowds

Snow depths in Scotland have reached 14cm.

5 inches of snow doesn't seem so bad compared to what's been happening in California.  :o

In the UK, a 14-year-old has been sentenced for causing the death of a woman while on a privately-owned electric scooter.


:\'(

Londoners are looking forward to potential tube (underground trains) strike on Wednesday next week.

Japanese police have arrested three people over "sushi terror": viral, unhygienic pranks that are threatening the world-famous feature of sushi conveyor belt restaurants.

The National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) is investigating potential food fraud involving pre-packed beef which was labelled as British but came from South America and Europe.

Japanese police have arrested three people over "sushi terror": viral, unhygienic pranks that are threatening the world-famous feature of sushi conveyor belt restaurants.


Ever since the pandemic and even now my wife has been hesitant in going to those types of restaurants, and prefers the ones where the sushi is served to your table. Even before like in our favorite restaurant in Tokyo, we preferred having the chefs make our orders fresh as we don't know how long the plates have been sitting on the belts and what hands have touched them.

Ever since the pandemic and even now my wife has been hesitant in going to those types of restaurants, and prefers the ones where the sushi is served to your table. Even before like in our favorite restaurant in Tokyo, we preferred having the chefs make our orders fresh as we don't know how long the plates have been sitting on the belts and what hands have touched them.

You mean the sushi at Chinese buffets?

Seven people have been killed and several more injured in a shooting at a Jehovah's Witness meeting hall in the German city of Hamburg, police say.

You mean the sushi at Chinese buffets?
Sushi is a Japanese dish, not Chinese.

Seven people have been killed and several more injured in a shooting at a Jehovah's Witness meeting hall in the German city of Hamburg, police say.


so sad.  :\'(

so sad.  :\'(
I cannot even watch the footage on the news.

Sushi is a Japanese dish, not Chinese.
Sushi can also be found at many Chinese restaurants in Germany though. They just took the opportunity to branch out.

Sushi can also be found at many Chinese restaurants in Germany though. They just took the opportunity to branch out.


They also have Asian fusion buffets in the States (including sushi, Chinese, Korean BBQ, etc). We don't usually go to those earlier. I was referring to more of the regular sushi restaurants where they have a sushi bar with a chef or you can sit at the table and the servers bring it out to you, as opposed to the ones with the plates of sushi on conveyer belts that people can grab.

They also have Asian fusion buffets in the States (including sushi, Chinese, Korean BBQ, etc). We don't usually go to those earlier. I was referring to more of the regular sushi restaurants where they have a sushi bar with a chef or you can sit at the table and the servers bring it out to you, as opposed to the ones with the plates of sushi on conveyer belts that people can grab.


There was (is?) a compromise style in LA (I'm sure elsewhere too) where the various dishes are prepared behind counters, you point to what you want, a server puts it on your plate and off you go to the next choice, and it was "all you can eat"

They also have Asian fusion buffets in the States (including sushi, Chinese, Korean BBQ, etc). We don't usually go to those earlier. I was referring to more of the regular sushi restaurants where they have a sushi bar with a chef or you can sit at the table and the servers bring it out to you, as opposed to the ones with the plates of sushi on conveyer belts that people can grab.

They also have sushi at Chinese buffets along with other dishes they serve, have you been to one before?

They also have sushi at Chinese buffets along with other dishes they serve, have you been to one before?

I would never eat sushi at a buffet or salad bar.  8-P

I would never eat sushi at a buffet or salad bar.  8-P

You never know how long it's been laying there. 8-P

They also have sushi at Chinese buffets along with other dishes they serve, have you been to one before?


Most of the “Japanese restaurants” near me are actually owned and operated by Chinese. The locals can’t tell the difference, but I can, having worked with Japanese people for roughly 20 years.

On a couple of occasions I would order Agedashi Tofu 😋, a Japanese staple, and the waitress would draw a blank. So I then said “give me the Number 9”.  ;D

Most of the “Japanese restaurants” near me are actually owned and operated by Chinese. The locals can’t tell the difference, but I can, having worked with Japanese people for roughly 20 years.

On a couple of occasions I would order Agedashi Tofu 😋, a Japanese staple, and the waitress would draw a blank. So I then said “give me the Number 9”.  ;D


#9, #9, #9

Most of the “Japanese restaurants” near me are actually owned and operated by Chinese.

Fun fact most "Chinese" restaurants in Germany are run by Vietnamese and Malaysians.

Most of the “Japanese restaurants” near me are actually owned and operated by Chinese. The locals can’t tell the difference, but I can, having worked with Japanese people for roughly 20 years.

On a couple of occasions I would order Agedashi Tofu 😋, a Japanese staple, and the waitress would draw a blank. So I then said “give me the Number 9”.  ;D

But have you been to an All You Can Eat Buffet?

In finance/economic news: the collapse of SVB (Silicon Valley Bank)

But have you been to an All You Can Eat Buffet?


I have a buddy who if you take him to an all-you-can-eat joint, he’ll eat until he’s sick.  8-P 🤢

But have you been to an All You Can Eat Buffet?
The secret for these types of restaurants is to eat slowly.

I have a buddy who if you take him to an all-you-can-eat joint, he’ll eat until he’s sick.  8-P 🤢

We used to go to those All You Can Eat Breakfast joints where you'd just stuff your plate with whatever you get your hands on then if you're still not full you'd get a 2nd plate then a 3rd. :P

The secret for these types of restaurants is to eat slowly.

Which I try to do all the time, even at home. There’s a tendency to eat quickly sometimes, if the food is so good (especially if you don’t want it to get cold). I always try to take my time eating. One way I make efforts to do that is to have conversations at the table.

5 inches of snow doesn't seem so bad compared to what's been happening in California.  :o

Yes, there has been flooding in certain areas; and lotsa snow in the mountains.

Yes, there has been flooding in certain areas; and lotsa snow in the mountains.

And they had to evacuate their homes cause it was so flooded out.  :o

Transport for London (TfL) is warning Tube passengers there will be "little or no service" during Wednesday's strike action by RMT and Aslef.

Transport for London (TfL) is warning Tube passengers there will be "little or no service" during Wednesday's strike action by RMT and Aslef.
I will be staying at home.

Transport for London (TfL) is warning Tube passengers there will be "little or no service" during Wednesday's strike action by RMT and Aslef.


You'll have to "mind the gap" in their service  :D

In the UK, certain cough medicines sold behind the counter at pharmacies are being withdrawn over safety concerns.

Later today Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will deliver his Spring Budget in the Commons

You'll have to "mind the gap" in their service  :D
That is how it is, I saw my local tube station shut, and I am staying at home.

Pakistan's main opposition leader Imran Khan has greeted supporters outside his home, just hours after there were violent clashes as police tried to arrest him.

Structural and civil engineers from the UK have travelled to Turkey to help to investigate the damage caused by last month's powerful earthquake.

Transport for London (TfL) is warning Tube passengers there will be "little or no service" during Wednesday's strike action by RMT and Aslef.
It is thought to be the biggest day of industrial action since the current wave of unrest began last year. Along with the Tube in London, Teachers in England, university lecturers, civil servants and London Underground drivers are all downing tools. Junior doctors are into the final day of a 72-hour strike affecting hospitals across England. BBC staff working for local and regional TV, radio and online services in England will walk over planned cuts to services

Shares in troubled Swiss banking giant Credit Suisse have plunged to a record low as investors remain on edge after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank.

Unions representing hundreds of thousands of health staff are thought to be close to agreeing a pay deal that would avert more NHS strikes.

Global cocaine production has reached record levels as demand rebounds following Covid lockdowns, a new report has found.

In the UK, Chinese-owned social media app TikTok is set to be banned on phones and other devices used by government ministers and civil servants on security grounds. Cabinet Office Minister Oliver Dowden will make a statement to MPs later.

Virgin Orbit is to pause operations from Thursday in an apparent attempt to shore up its finances. Almost all employees at the satellite launch company will reportedly also be furloughed.

France's President Macron has forced through controversial pension reforms without calling a vote in parliament. The reform will raise the retirement age in France from 62 to 64 - and there have been protests for weeks over it. Thousands of demonstrators have gathered this afternoon in Place de la Concorde in Paris in response to Macron's move

France's President Macron has forced through controversial pension reforms without calling a vote in parliament. The reform will raise the retirement age in France from 62 to 64 - and there have been protests for weeks over it. Thousands of demonstrators have gathered this afternoon in Place de la Concorde in Paris in response to Macron's move
France is pretty much ungovernable at this point. Whenever someone tries to do much needed reforms the French will start to protest and strike like there's no tomorrow.
In Germany retirement age is 67 btw. Considering that a lot of us will live to 100 I can see why the retirement age has to be raised according to changes in life expectancy. It's not nice but I see why it has to be done.

France is pretty much ungovernable at this point. Whenever someone tries to do much needed reforms the French will start to protest and strike like there's no tomorrow.
In Germany retirement age is 67 btw. Considering that a lot of us will live to 100 I can see why the retirement age has to be raised according to changes in life expectancy. It's not nice but I see why it has to be done.


In the United States the full retirement age is 66 if you were born from 1943 to 1954. The full retirement age increases gradually if you were born from 1955 to 1960 until it reaches 67. For anyone born 1960 or later, full retirement benefits are payable at age 67.

State Pension age in the UK is currently 66 years old for both men and women but will start gradually increasing again from 6 May 2026.

In the United States the full retirement age is 66 if you were born from 1943 to 1954. The full retirement age increases gradually if you were born from 1955 to 1960 until it reaches 67. For anyone born 1960 or later, full retirement benefits are payable at age 67.

And I'm looking forward to retirement in 10-15 years from now so I can get my pension.

In the United States the full retirement age is 66 if you were born from 1943 to 1954. The full retirement age increases gradually if you were born from 1955 to 1960 until it reaches 67. For anyone born 1960 or later, full retirement benefits are payable at age 67.


This refers to Social Security, which even at full bennies is not enough to live on

This refers to Social Security, which even at full bennies is not enough to live on


Correct!

Thousands of people are believed to have lost their savings after investing in a cryptocurrency trading app called iEarn Bot.

Former US President Donald Trump said he expects to be arrested on Tuesday in a case brought by the Manhattan district attorney's office, and called on his supporters to protest, according to a post on Truth Social on Saturday.

Former US President Donald Trump said he expects to be arrested on Tuesday in a case brought by the Manhattan district attorney's office, and called on his supporters to protest, according to a post on Truth Social on Saturday.
Why wait till Tuesday, be arrested now, and save time?

Former US President Donald Trump said he expects to be arrested on Tuesday in a case brought by the Manhattan district attorney's office, and called on his supporters to protest, according to a post on Truth Social on Saturday.
To whom was the hush money paid to?

Former US President Donald Trump said he expects to be arrested on Tuesday in a case brought by the Manhattan district attorney's office, and called on his supporters to protest, according to a post on Truth Social on Saturday.

Will this finally send him to jail?

Will this finally send him to jail?


Would be interesting to have a prisoner who has a Secret Service detail.

Would be interesting to have a prisoner who has a Secret Service detail.


Or maybe they'll give him the money to bail him out.

To whom was the hush money paid to?


A porn star named Stormy Daniels

A porn star named Stormy Daniels

I think they need to hook a lie detector to Donald Trump and see if he will confess.

I think they need to hook a lie detector to Donald Trump and see if he will confess.


He admits to paying her to keep her mouth shut. So long as he did not use campaign money, no harm, no fowl.

He admits to paying her to keep her mouth shut. So long as he did not use campaign money, no harm, no fowl.

I think she should be the one going to jail.  ::)

Chinese President Xi Jinping is embarking on his first trip to Russia since the country invaded Ukraine last year, and is set to sit down for talks with President Vladimir Putin.

European bank shares have dropped after troubled bank Credit Suisse was rescued in a $3bn (£2.5bn) purchase by its Swiss rival UBS

The BBC has advised staff to delete TikTok from corporate phones because of privacy and security fears.

Media tycoon Rupert Murdoch set to marry for fifth time at 92

Thousands of signal workers and maintenance staff in the RMT union have voted overwhelmingly to accept an offer from Network Rail to end its dispute. It means they will not take part in any more strikes in the long-running dispute over pay, jobs and working conditions.

Online retail giant Amazon plans to cut another 9,000 jobs as it seeks to save costs. The firm, which employs 1.5 million people worldwide, said the cuts would fall mainly in areas including cloud computing and advertising.

Members of the Royal College of Nursing and the Royal College of Midwives have voted to accept a new pay offer from the Scottish government. The unions had recommended its members back the deal which would see a 6.5% increase from April. On top of a 7.5% pay rise imposed for 2022/23, it means many staff will see their pay increase by 13-14% over two years. The votes to accept the offer ends the immediate threat of strike action.

Former US President Donald Trump said he expects to be arrested on Tuesday in a case brought by the Manhattan district attorney's office, and called on his supporters to protest, according to a post on Truth Social on Saturday.
Big day today!

Big day today!


I wonder if it will be like another January 6.

I wonder if it will be like another January 6.
Police in major US cities are preparing for potential unrest in case ex-President Donald Trump is arrested this week as part of a hush-money inquiry.

Takeaway delivery firm Just Eat is to cut 1,870 jobs in the UK after a slowdown in sales.

Gwyneth Paltrow is in a US court as a civil trial begins over claims she seriously injured a man in a "hit-and-run" skiing accident in Utah in 2016.

Police in major US cities are preparing for potential unrest in case ex-President Donald Trump is arrested this week as part of a hush-money inquiry.

Will they read him his rights?

I wonder if it will be like another January 6.
Any news on the rioting yet?

Any news on the rioting yet?


Haven't heard of any. Probably because he didn't get arrested.

Former US President Donald Trump said he expects to be arrested on Tuesday in a case brought by the Manhattan district attorney's office, and called on his supporters to protest, according to a post on Truth Social on Saturday.

Haven't heard of any. Probably because he didn't get arrested.
Maybe next week Tuesday now?

More evidence has been published by a panel investigating statements made by Boris Johnson in Parliament about the Partygate scandal. The former prime minister will be grilled later today by the Privileges Committee - the outcome of its investigation could ultimately determine his political future.

Haven't heard of any. Probably because he didn't get arrested.

I'm pretty sure he'll be in handcuffs.

A number of people have been injured in a major incident after a ship tipped over at an Edinburgh dockyard.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has published the details of his UK tax affairs, after promising to be open about his finances. The records show he paid more than £1m in UK tax over the previous three financial years. Mr Sunak first said he would publish a tax return during his unsuccessful campaign to be Tory leader last year.

A number of people have been injured in a major incident after a ship tipped over at an Edinburgh dockyard.


Wow, that's sad, hope everybody is OK.  :(

Wow, that's sad, hope everybody is OK.  :(
15 people have been injured.

Planned rail strikes in March and April have been called off. RMT union members, including train guards, who work at 14 train companies were set to walk out on 30 March and 1 April.

Canada's population grew by over a million people for the first time ever last year, the government has said. The country's population increased from 38,516,138 to 39,566,248 people, Statistics Canada said. It also marked Canada's highest annual population growth rate - 2.7% - since 1957. The increase was in part fuelled by government efforts to recruit migrants to the country to ease labour shortages, Statistics Canada said.

The Bank of England is expected to increase interest rates for an 11th consecutive time following a surprise jump in the rate of rising prices.

Ineos owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim are set to submit new bids to buy Manchester United after a deadline was extended at their request amid confusion on Wednesday night.

The future of one of the US's most popular apps could be shaped by a hearing about to start in Washington. TikTok's boss Shou Zi Chew will face a grilling by US lawmakers over the safety of the social media app.

The future of one of the US's most popular apps could be shaped by a hearing about to start in Washington. TikTok's boss Shou Zi Chew will face a grilling by US lawmakers over the safety of the social media app.
Could prove interesting?

I'm pretty sure he'll be in handcuffs.


I seriously doubt that, although if he puts up a fuss...Most likely he will turn himself in

Large numbers of people are taking to the streets in France, on a ninth day of nationwide demonstrations and strikes over pensions reform.

World Athletics has banned transgender female athletes from competing in the female category at international events.

World Athletics has banned transgender female athletes from competing in the female category at international events.

Makes sense. They technically still have a male body which gives them an unfair advantage over biologically female competitors.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has published the details of his UK tax affairs, after promising to be open about his finances. The records show he paid more than £1m in UK tax over the previous three financial years. Mr Sunak first said he would publish a tax return during his unsuccessful campaign to be Tory leader last year.
Sir Keir Starmer paid £118,580 in UK tax over the last two years, according to financial records released by the Labour leader. The records show he paid the tax on total earnings of £359,720 from income and capital gains since 2020. Sir Keir's release comes a day after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak published details of his finances.

Russia's doping suspension has been lifted - but the nation will remain banned "for the foreseeable future" because of the war in Ukraine, the World Athletics Council has ruled.

I seriously doubt that, although if he puts up a fuss...Most likely he will turn himself in

But then he will bail himself out immediately.

But then he will bail himself out immediately.


I doubt there will be bail imposed.  After all, it isn't like he is going to skip the country

I doubt there will be bail imposed.  After all, it isn't like he is going to skip the country


And I wonder what will bankrupt him since he claims to be so rich?

Protests in Israel

Protests in Israel
Israeli embassies around the world have been instructed by a workers' union to join the strikes, in a letter seen by Reuters news agency reported.

Humza Yousaf has just been named as the new leader of the Scottish National Party, beating Kate Forbes and Ash Regan to the post. He'll replace Nicola Sturgeon as party leader right away but not as Scottish first minister until a vote by MSPs, due to take place at Holyrood tomorrow.

Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Uranus, Mars, and the Moon will align in an arc across the evening sky on Monday, with some visible to the naked eye.

Multiple people have been injured in a shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, according to local authorities.

Multiple people have been injured in a shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, according to local authorities.


Seven people dead. Three adults, three children and the shooter, who was female.

In the UK, more than 130,000 civil servants have voted to go on strike next month over pay, pensions and job security.

Multiple people have been injured in a shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, according to local authorities.

My guess that it was a mass shooting?  ::)

My guess that it was a mass shooting?  ::)


Yeap, the 129th one of the year.

Seven people dead. Three adults, three children and the shooter, who was female.


Not sure of the shooter gender. Apparently the shooter claimed to be transgender. It’s not clear from the news accounts if it’s a “male posing as a female” or “female posing as a male”.

Not sure of the shooter gender. Apparently the shooter claimed to be transgender. It’s not clear from the news accounts if it’s a “male posing as a female” or “female posing as a male”.


Also the shooter is supposedly a former student of that school.

Also the shooter is supposedly a former student of that school.


Must have had one heck of a grudge. The school only goes up to 6th grade, and the murderer was 28 years old.

Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Uranus, Mars, and the Moon will align in an arc across the evening sky on Monday, with some visible to the naked eye.
I could clearly see the moon last night, but due to cloud cover, I could see the planets.

The prices of chocolate, sweets and fizzy drinks have shot up ahead of the Easter holidays, as the cost of food continues to rise at a record rate.

Yeap, the 129th one of the year.


This will never stop, it's the culture we live in, people just need to accept it whether they like it or not.

Also the shooter is supposedly a former student of that school.

What's the student's grudge against the school?

What's the student's grudge against the school?
That is what the police want to know?

Also the shooter is supposedly a former student of that school.
The police have seized more gun and weaponry at the assailant's home.

Former rugby players diagnosed with brain injuries could get millions of pounds from the sport's governing bodies to pay for their care.

Germany's transport network is at a near standstill as the country experiences one of its largest strikes in decades. Staff at airports, ports, railways, buses and subways walked out shortly after midnight for a 24-hour stoppage. Two of the Germany's largest unions are demanding higher wages to help with the rising cost of living. The country's Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said she was optimistic an agreement would be reached this week.

Some 13,000 police officers are deployed across France as it enters a 10th day of mass protests and strikes over controversial pension reforms

This will never stop, it's the culture we live in, people just need to accept it whether they like it or not.


Are you really saying that Americans should just accept that people will get randomly shot while going about their day. Do you not think it is worth trying to control the number of guns in society?

Are you really saying that Americans should just accept that people will get randomly shot while going about their day. Do you not think it is worth trying to control the number of guns in society?


I'm not sure about just accepting (that sounds more like giving up in defeat), but I honestly think it will be easier to get rid of COVID than the gun violence. I'm all for passing sensible gun laws as the other nations have successfully done (ex: UK, Australia, New Zealand, etc). But with our culture and politicians, you know nothing is going to change and it's going to be the same repeat cycle. Another solution is to move out of the United States, which has become one giant ghetto of the world.

I'm not sure about just accepting (that sounds more like giving up in defeat), but I honestly think it will be easier to get rid of COVID than the gun violence. I'm all for passing sensible gun laws as the other nations have successfully done (ex: UK, Australia, New Zealand, etc). But with our culture and politicians, you know nothing is going to change and it's going to be the same repeat cycle. Another solution is to move out of the United States, which has become one giant ghetto of the world.


Yes, guns are a part of our culture, the wild west and all  that, but it wasn't always this bad.  The first mass shooting I remember was Columbine that was in 1999 and was so remarkable that Michael Moore made a film about it.  So what we are seeing these days has gotten much worse than ever before.  AR 15's and AK47's make it easy, and the NRA has made then easy to get, and SCOTUS, which claims to be originalist, seems to have erased the first 4 words of the 2nd amendment (a well regulated militia).  We need a major overhaul of our priorities

Some 13,000 police officers are deployed across France as it enters a 10th day of mass protests and strikes over controversial pension reforms
Police in Paris have clashed with protesters and fired tear gas at them. They were also seen charging towards people near a fire set alight on a Parisian street.

Yes, guns are a part of our culture, the wild west and all  that, but it wasn't always this bad.  The first mass shooting I remember was Columbine that was in 1999 and was so remarkable that Michael Moore made a film about it.  So what we are seeing these days has gotten much worse than ever before.  AR 15's and AK47's make it easy, and the NRA has made then easy to get, and SCOTUS, which claims to be originalist, seems to have erased the first 4 words of the 2nd amendment (a well regulated militia).  We need a major overhaul of our priorities


In the past crime and violence used to be more confined to the bad parts of the cities, like Brooklyn, South Central LA, etc. and it was more of a one-on-one type of crime but occasionally could be mass shootings in a shootout or drive-by. Now they are happening more frequently and in areas that are normally supposed to be considered safe. I couldn't help but to be reminded of Uvalde, TX since it happened at school with young children as victims.

Yeah, looks like the 2nd amendment is more of a priority than the 1st. In fact the pro-gun types are blaming this on a transgender issue than a gun issue.

Btw, on CNN (I doubt they would show this on Fox News) someone who was in Highland Park last year on 4th of July was visiting family in Nashville and showed up to the news crew and said how she felt.

That is what the police want to know?

I may have hated going to school but doesn't mean I'm going to start shooting up the place. ::)

Are you really saying that Americans should just accept that people will get randomly shot while going about their day. Do you not think it is worth trying to control the number of guns in society?

This seems to happen a lot lately and Yes I think we should control guns but how? ???

In the past crime and violence used to be more confined to the bad parts of the cities, like Brooklyn, South Central LA, etc. and it was more of a one-on-one type of crime but occasionally could be mass shootings in a shootout or drive-by. Now they are happening more frequently and in areas that are normally supposed to be considered safe. I couldn't help but to be reminded of Uvalde, TX since it happened at school with young children as victims.

Yeah, looks like the 2nd amendment is more of a priority than the 1st. In fact the pro-gun types are blaming this on a transgender issue than a gun issue.

Btw, on CNN (I doubt they would show this on Fox News) someone who was in Highland Park last year on 4th of July was visiting family in Nashville and showed up to the news crew and said how she felt.

Bat, I see more shootings and gun violence in bad places like Brooklyn And The Bronx.

Bat, I see more shootings and gun violence in bad places like Brooklyn And The Bronx.


How about Queens? ???

How about Queens? ???

In Queens? Queens is not a bad dumphole of a place to live like The Bronx or Brooklyn but I'm pretty sure it's had it's share of gun violence, Queens is a upper middle class quiet neighborhood with some security around.

In Queens? Queens is not a bad dumphole of a place to live like The Bronx or Brooklyn but I'm pretty sure it's had it's share of gun violence, Queens is a upper middle class quiet neighborhood with some security around.
How about Haarlem?

How about Haarlem?

Harlem is so bad.

How about Haarlem?

Harlem is so bad.
Looks like I spelt it the original Dutch way.

Keep away from for there?

In the UK, diesel is being sold for about 17p per litre more on average than petrol, despite wholesale costs falling to similar levels, a motoring group said.

Mortgage lending in February fell to its lowest level since 2016, excluding the pandemic, according to Bank of England figures. It comes as higher borrowing costs make buying property less affordable.

Bat, I see more shootings and gun violence in bad places like Brooklyn And The Bronx.


Although Brooklyn, at least certain parts have been gentrified so I don't imagine it's anything like the crack epidemic days of the 80's and 90's.

Pope Francis is in hospital for a pre-arranged check-up

Looks like I spelt it the original Dutch way.

Keep away from for there?

I think the bad parts of Harlem are violent because you have gang related shootings, drugs, stabbings and police presence too.

Although Brooklyn, at least certain parts have been gentrified so I don't imagine it's anything like the crack epidemic days of the 80's and 90's.

Have you been to Brooklyn before?

Pope Francis is in hospital for a pre-arranged check-up
Pope Francis has a respiratory infection and will need to spend "a few days" in hospital in Rome, the Vatican has said.

Four bankers who allowed a friend of Vladimir Putin to deposit huge sums in Swiss banks have been found guilty of lacking due diligence.

Four bankers who allowed a friend of Vladimir Putin to deposit huge sums in Swiss banks have been found guilty of lacking due diligence.
Very interesting?

Three people have been arrested after two men were shot dead in what police say were "targeted" attacks in villages in Cambridgeshire, England.

Finnish PM Sanna Marin, probably best known for the controversial video of her dancing at a party with friends has been defeated for reelection.

Tornadoes hit part of New Jersey after violent storms.

Finland becomes the 31st NATO member.

Finland becomes the 31st NATO member.


And Sweden is not far behind.  The very thing Count Vlad wanted to avoid

Trump heads to court.

Kid Rock shoots cans of Bud Light after announcing its partnership with Dylan Mulvaney.

US President Joe Biden has accepted an invitation from King Charles to go to the UK on a state visit.

The founder of multibillion-dollar tech company Cash App, Bob Lee, was fatally stabbed near San Francisco city centre on Tuesday, his family has said.

Robert F Kennedy Jr has filed election paperwork to run for US president in 2024 as a Democrat.

US President Joe Biden has accepted an invitation from King Charles to go to the UK on a state visit.

What will this visit be for?

What will this visit be for?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65196188

China has launched military drills in response to a much-anticipated meeting between Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Italy's former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi is being treated for a type of chronic leukaemia, hospital doctors in Milan have confirmed.

China has launched military drills in response to a much-anticipated meeting between Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.


I’m no fan of Red China, but the Speaker of the House (regardless of Dem or Repub) has no business conducting foreign policy with Taiwan or any other country.

I’m no fan of Red China, but the Speaker of the House (regardless of Dem or Repub) has no business conducting foreign policy with Taiwan or any other country.


They're not doing foreign policy stuff, they're talking  baseball.  Nothing to see here

Giant sketch in field marks Picasso death anniversary

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-europe-65223575

I hope the video works for those abroad.

The junior doctors' union appears "intent on maintaining a militant stance" which "hampers serious talks over pay", the health secretary says. Junior doctors in England are set to stage a four-day strike from Tuesday.

One of the world's biggest criminal marketplaces used by online fraudsters to buy passwords has been closed down in a global law enforcement crackdown.

In the early hours on a stunning Easter morning in Vatican City, thousands of people from around the world waited to be let into St Peter's Square for Pope Francis' Mass. In the end, he appeared untroubled through the 75-minute long Mass.

Giant sketch in field marks Picasso death anniversary

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-europe-65223575

I hope the video works for those abroad.


Worked fine for me, very cool

Giant sketch in field marks Picasso death anniversary

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-europe-65223575

I hope the video works for those abroad.


If I knew Picasso, I would buy myself a gray guitar and play…

Vodafone customers across the UK have reported their broadband internet service is down.

Joe Biden is to run for the 2024 election

Joe Biden is to run for the 2024 election

What about Trump? Didn't he say he was going to run?

What about Trump? Didn't he say he was going to run?


I think he is but I think Ron DeSantis will likely get the nomination.

What about Trump? Didn't he say he was going to run?
Doesn't DT have other things on his mind at the moment?

A leak of classified US Defence Department documents is a "very serious" risk to national security, the Pentagon has said.

Doesn't DT have other things on his mind at the moment?

I think he has to worry for his future, if he has one.  ::)

Mass shooting in Louisville KY, at a bank that killed 4. The shooter was an employee of that bank.

Mass shooting in Louisville KY, at a bank that killed 4. The shooter was an employee of that bank.


4 months into the year and I wonder how many shootings now? :(

Mass shooting in Louisville KY, at a bank that killed 4. The shooter was an employee of that bank.


Was he disgruntled? ???

Was he disgruntled? ???


Probably. He was notified that he was getting fired.

Probably. He was notified that he was getting fired.


Bad practice by the bank. You don’t announce to somebody “when you come to work we’re gonna fire you.”

Instead you fire them on the spot and have security show them the door.

Probably. He was notified that he was getting fired.

But there was no need at all to bring in a gun, If he was fired, he should've filled out some papers being told that you and our company will be parting ways and always get your last paycheck after that, either they can give it you or they will mail it to you.

Was he disgruntled? ???


No, happiest employee in the place.  That's why  getting fired was such a big deal

US President Joe Biden has paid homage to his Irish heritage as thousands of people gathered to greet him on a tour of the home county of his ancestors. In a speech in a pub in County Louth, he said visiting the area his great-great-grandfather had left for America "feels like coming home". He is on a three-day visit to the Republic of Ireland, having spent a short time in Northern Ireland to mark 25 years since the Good Friday peace agreement.

The European Space Agency (Esa) is set to launch a satellite to the planet Jupiter, one of the organisation's most ambitious missions ever.

Passengers on the UK's highest rollercoaster had to walk down its tracks to safety after the ride was halted due to sudden strong winds. The Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach was stopped for safety reasons as thrill-seekers enjoyed the 235ft (71m) high attraction. Theme park staff led the stranded passengers down the tracks and the ride was cancelled for the rest of the day.

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/1B71/production/_129352070_screenshot_20230413_115312_whatsapp.jpg.webp

A leak of classified US Defence Department documents is a "very serious" risk to national security, the Pentagon has said.
The suspect in the leaking of highly sensitive US defence and intelligence documents is named as Jack Teixeira, US officials tell CBS News.

Passengers on the UK's highest rollercoaster had to walk down its tracks to safety after the ride was halted due to sudden strong winds. The Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach was stopped for safety reasons as thrill-seekers enjoyed the 235ft (71m) high attraction. Theme park staff led the stranded passengers down the tracks and the ride was cancelled for the rest of the day.

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/1B71/production/_129352070_screenshot_20230413_115312_whatsapp.jpg.webp

That was a good idea to cancel the ride.

That was a good idea to cancel the ride.
With strong winds blowing, I feel that it should not have been running that day.

Consumers are swapping from fresh to frozen food in a bid to combat rising grocery prices, retailers have said.

With strong winds blowing, I feel that it should not have been running that day.

They could've fallen off the roller coaster.  :o

They could've fallen off the roller coaster.  :o
The rollercoaster should have not been running at all with the strong winds blowing. We all knew in advance the stormy weather was to come.

Approximately 18,000 cows were killed in a blast at a Texas dairy farm earlier this week, according to local authorities.

Approximately 18,000 cows were killed in a blast at a Texas dairy farm earlier this week, according to local authorities.

Wow. 18,000! :o

Approximately 18,000 cows were killed in a blast at a Texas dairy farm earlier this week, according to local authorities.


Sounds like there’s gonna be a sale on hamburger.

Sounds like there’s gonna be a sale on hamburger.
...and a shortage of milk for that area?

North Korea says it tested a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile - its "most powerful" missile to date.

Hundreds of Russian and Chinese state propaganda accounts are thriving on Twitter after Elon Musk wiped out the team that fought these networks, the BBC has found.

Hundreds of Russian and Chinese state propaganda accounts are thriving on Twitter after Elon Musk wiped out the team that fought these networks, the BBC has found.


As far as Russia and China  are concerned, Elon Musk is a useful idiot

As far as Russia and China  are concerned, Elon Musk is a useful idiot


Now the Russians can spread their propaganda on there, as if there wasn't enough of that already. Meanwhile in the Meta apps, if you post something against Russia then you could get "Zucked" as they consider it "hate speech".

France's top constitutional body has cleared the raising of the state pension age from 62 to 64, and rejected calls for a referendum by political opponents.

The European Space Agency (Esa) is set to launch a satellite to the planet Jupiter, one of the organisation's most ambitious missions ever.
After a delay from yesterday due to thunderstorms, Europe's mission to the icy moons of Jupiter has now blasted away from Earth.

The rollercoaster should have not been running at all with the strong winds blowing. We all knew in advance the stormy weather was to come.

Exactly, it could've ended up in a disaster.

Approximately 18,000 cows were killed in a blast at a Texas dairy farm earlier this week, according to local authorities.

Wow, that's a lot of cows!  :o

Wow, that's a lot of cows!  :o
Authorities believe that machinery in the facility may have ignited methane gas. You know where the methane gas comes from?

Authorities believe that machinery in the facility may have ignited methane gas. You know where the methane gas comes from?

Cows?  ???

Cows?  ???
Yes indeed. Also, in 2021, methane (CH4) accounted for 12% of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions from human activities. Human activities emitting methane include leaks from natural gas systems and the raising of livestock. Methane is also emitted by natural sources such as termites.

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has been evacuated unharmed from a public event after what appeared to be a smoke bomb was thrown at him.

A 33-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with potential co-ordinated disruption activities at Saturday's Grand National at Aintree.

Gunfire and explosions are heard in the Sudanese capital Khartoum at a base housing members of the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group

A 48-hour strike by nurses, which will include emergency care, will "present serious risks and challenges", an NHS boss has said. The Royal College of Nursing has rejected the pay offer for England while Unison workers accepted it.

Protesters delayed the start of the Grand National on Saturday after getting onto the racecourse at Aintree.

Protesters delayed the start of the Grand National on Saturday after getting onto the racecourse at Aintree.
Over 100 arrests were made today.

Royal Mail and union negotiators have reached an agreement which could signal the end of a long-running pay dispute. The postal company and the Communication Workers Union have reached an "in principle" agreement over pay and employment terms.

Another mass shooting incident in Louisville, Kentucky. This time in a park.

Another mass shooting incident in Louisville, Kentucky. This time in a park.

See, you probably knew this was going to happen.

See, you probably knew this was going to happen.


Just not twice in the same city within a week.

Just not twice in the same city within a week.

mass shooting after mass shooting after mass shooting.  ::)

Hundreds of Amazon workers in Coventry have begun a three-day strike in a dispute over pay. The GMB union said 600 members walked out at 06:30 BST and will not return until Tuesday, with further action due to take place from 21 to 23 April.

Germany has shut down it's last three remaining nuclear powerplants on Saturday.

The maker of Angry Birds video games has agreed to be bought by the Japanese gaming giant behind the Sonic the Hedgehog character. Japan's Sega Sammy Holdings is paying €706m (£625m) for Finland-based Rovio Entertainment.

More than 196,000 hospital appointments had to be cancelled because of the junior doctor strike in England last week, figures show.

Play was suspended at the World Championship after a protester vandalised table one and a second person tried to attach themselves to table two. Robert Milkins and Joe Perry were playing their first-round match at the time of the incident. A man climbed on to their table and covered it in an orange powder. Mark Allen and China's Fan Zhengyi were also in action and escorted from the arena. Both matches are expected to resume later on Monday evening.

More than 196,000 hospital appointments had to be cancelled because of the junior doctor strike in England last week, figures show.


Are the senior doctors still working? ???

Mass Shooting at a birthday party.

Play was suspended at the World Championship after a protester vandalised table one and a second person tried to attach themselves to table two. Robert Milkins and Joe Perry were playing their first-round match at the time of the incident. A man climbed on to their table and covered it in an orange powder. Mark Allen and China's Fan Zhengyi were also in action and escorted from the arena. Both matches are expected to resume later on Monday evening.
The protesters wore T-shirts apparently in support of the group of climate change activists Just Stop Oil, who subsequently posted online to claim responsibility for the disruption to the event.

SNP treasurer Colin Beattie has been arrested by police investigating the party's finances. Mr Beattie, 71, has been taken into custody and is being questioned by Police Scotland detectives. A spokesman for the force said the arrest was made in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the SNP.

US journalist Evan Gershkovich has appeared in court in Moscow to appeal against his detention.

Eight Akron-area police officers exonerated in the justified killing of Jayland Walker, who ill-advisedly shot at the popo during a police car chase.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/17/us/jayland-walker-police-shooting-grand-jury/index.html

Walker had discarded his gun after exiting his car during a foot chase, but turned around and made motions as if he was whipping out a gun. The cops responded, plugging him with 46 rounds of ammo. :o

Safety tip #1: Don’t fire guns at the cops. Safety tip #2: Don’t pretend to still have a gun after you drop the real one.

There is no more drinking water as fighting between rival forces rages in Khartoum, Sudan, for a fourth day.

The number of people looking for work has risen as job vacancies fall suggesting that the uncertain economic outlook is hitting employment.

More than 196,000 hospital appointments had to be cancelled because of the junior doctor strike in England last week, figures show.

Are the senior doctors still working? ???
The strike was last week Tuesday to Friday, and are back to work.

There is no more drinking water as fighting between rival forces rages in Khartoum, Sudan, for a fourth day.
Fighting is continuing in areas of Sudan's capital, Khartoum, despite a ceasefire due to start at 18:00 local time (16:00 GMT).

Eight Akron-area police officers exonerated in the justified killing of Jayland Walker, who ill-advisedly shot at the popo during a police car chase.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/17/us/jayland-walker-police-shooting-grand-jury/index.html

Walker had discarded his gun after exiting his car during a foot chase, but turned around and made motions as if he was whipping out a gun. The cops responded, plugging him with 46 rounds of ammo. :o

Safety tip #1: Don’t fire guns at the cops. Safety tip #2: Don’t pretend to still have a gun after you drop the real one.

I've seen some people use their fingers in their pockets and pretend it was a gun.

US Secret Service stepped into action on Tuesday after a toddler slipped through the bars of iron fencing surrounding the White House.

Soaring prices for bread, cereal and chocolate meant the cost of living rose more than expected last month. Inflation, which measures the rate of price rises, fell to 10.1% in the year to March from 10.4% in February. It was widely expected to fall below 10%, but food prices remained stubbornly high, rising at their fastest rate in 45 years. Falling inflation doesn't mean prices are falling, but just that the rate of prices rises is slowing.

The former boss of business group giant the CBI says his "reputation has been totally destroyed" after being fired over complaints about his behaviour.

India is set to overtake China to become the most populous country in the world by the middle of this year, data released by the United Nations shows. India's population is pegged to reach 1,428.6 million against China's 1,425.7 million. This shows India will have 2.9 million more people than its Asian neighbour. The Asian nations have more than 1.4 billion people each, and have accounted for more than a third of the global population for over 70 years.

Ambulance workers in the south of England and West Midlands will strike just after the early May bank holiday, the Unite union has said. The timing will mean staff walking out at the same time as nurses across parts of England.

US Secret Service stepped into action on Tuesday after a toddler slipped through the bars of iron fencing surrounding the White House.


Where was the toddler's parents? ???

Where was the toddler's parents? ???
... used as a distraction?

Ambulance workers in the south of England and West Midlands will strike just after the early May bank holiday, the Unite union has said. The timing will mean staff walking out at the same time as nurses across parts of England.

... used as a distraction?

They shouldn't be entering that territory.  ::)

Ty Reik McCullough, Travis McCullough, and Wilson LaMar Hill Jr. have been charged in the quadruple murder and 32x shooting at a Sweet Sixteen party in Alabama.

They shouldn't be entering that territory.  ::)
You know what children are like?

A rare solar eclipse has thrilled thousands of people who flocked to a remote Australian town for the best vantage point on Earth to watch it.

You know what children are like?

I know, I was once a kid myself.

I know, I was once a kid myself.
We all were...

There is the possibility of more teacher strikes in the UK soon.

A multi-million pound fraudster has pleaded guilty to a sophisticated banking scam called iSpoof which stole £100m from victims worldwide. At Southwark Crown Court, Tejay Fletcher admitted multiple charges. Last year the Metropolitan Police texted 70,000 people to warn them their details had been compromised and they had likely been defrauded. The fraudsters called people at random, pretending to be a bank warning of suspicious activity on their accounts. They would pose as employees of banks including Barclays, Santander, HSBC, Lloyds, Halifax, First Direct, NatWest, Nationwide and TSB. The fraudsters would encourage people to disclose security information and, through technology, may have accessed features such as one-time passcodes to clear accounts of funds.

The thing to remember is, especially in the UK, your bank will never phone you, a letter will be sent first and you go to your bank to follow it up.

Ty Reik McCullough, Travis McCullough, and Wilson LaMar Hill Jr. have been charged in the quadruple murder and 32x shooting at a Sweet Sixteen party in Alabama.


Two more suspects, Johnny Letron Brown, 20, and Willie George Brown Jr., 19, have been arrested in the Alabama shooting.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/fourth-suspect-arrested-connection-sweet-16-shooting-alabama-rcna80686

"All individuals arrested in connection to this death investigation have been charged with four counts of Reckless Murder and they have been booked into the Tallapoosa County Jail with no bond," according to the ALEA statement.

Johnny Letron Brown has a clean criminal record and is set to go to Faulkner University in the fall to play NAIA football, his mother, Amanda Riley, said.

SpaceX rocket explodes upon launch

SpaceX rocket explodes upon launch


Yeah that was a real buzzkill.

Cocaine smuggling submarine reveals Europe's drug crisis

UK retail sales fell by 0.9% between February and March with shops blaming wet weather for fewer shoppers.

A multi-million pound fraudster has pleaded guilty to a sophisticated banking scam called iSpoof which stole £100m from victims worldwide. At Southwark Crown Court, Tejay Fletcher admitted multiple charges. Last year the Metropolitan Police texted 70,000 people to warn them their details had been compromised and they had likely been defrauded. The fraudsters called people at random, pretending to be a bank warning of suspicious activity on their accounts. They would pose as employees of banks including Barclays, Santander, HSBC, Lloyds, Halifax, First Direct, NatWest, Nationwide and TSB. The fraudsters would encourage people to disclose security information and, through technology, may have accessed features such as one-time passcodes to clear accounts of funds.

The thing to remember is, especially in the UK, your bank will never phone you, a letter will be sent first and you go to your bank to follow it up.

That will happen here in The U.S. The bank will send you a letter then you go there to follow it up.

Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab has resigned from the government over a report investigating bullying allegations against him

Ty Reik McCullough, Travis McCullough, and Wilson LaMar Hill Jr. have been charged in the quadruple murder and 32x shooting at a Sweet Sixteen party in Alabama.


Two more suspects, Johnny Letron Brown, 20, and Willie George Brown Jr., 19, have been arrested in the Alabama shooting.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/fourth-suspect-arrested-connection-sweet-16-shooting-alabama-rcna80686


There’s now a total of 6 suspects arrested and charged. One is a 15 year old whose name has not been released.

NOTW has been the 3 incidents of someone mistakingly showing up at the wrong place (wrong door, wrong driveway, wrong car).

There’s now a total of 6 suspects arrested and charged. One is a 15 year old whose name has not been released.

Why do I feel that we're living in The Wild West?  ::)

NOTW has been the 3 incidents of someone mistakingly showing up at the wrong place (wrong door, wrong driveway, wrong car).


It's just a mistake, there's no need to shoot them just say "I'm so sorry" and move on. ::)

NOTW has been the 3 incidents of someone mistakingly showing up at the wrong place (wrong door, wrong driveway, wrong car).


We were talking about this at work today. It sounds absolutely horrific to us here in the U.K. that a simple mistake ends up with people getting shot.

It's just a mistake, there's no need to shoot them just say "I'm so sorry" and move on. ::)


Just yesterday as I was traveling for work, I had someone walk up to my car and try to open the back right side door. He thought I was his Uber, which happened to be the same model as the car I was driving. I was just thinking what if he made that mistake with the wrong type of person.

Just yesterday as I was traveling for work, I had someone walk up to my car and try to open the back right side door. He thought I was his Uber, which happened to be the same model as the car I was driving. I was just thinking what if he made that mistake with the wrong type of person.

What did you say afterwards?

Plans are underway to evacuate Americans from The Sudan. Hopefully this goes better than Afghanistan a couple years ago.

https://www.foxnews.com/world/sudan-army-says-us-embassy-evacuation-begin-soon

Why do I feel that we're living in The Wild West?  ::)


The "wild west" was never this crazy violent, only in the movies

The "wild west" was never this crazy violent, only in the movies
Where the good guys wear white and the villains wear black.

The "wild west" was never this crazy violent, only in the movies

They just mentioned that word in the news.

Plans are underway to evacuate Americans from The Sudan. Hopefully this goes better than Afghanistan a couple years ago.

https://www.foxnews.com/world/sudan-army-says-us-embassy-evacuation-begin-soon


The US Embassy in The Sudan had advised US nationals there to shelter in place.

https://news.yahoo.com/shelter-place-u-embassy-warns-174247463.html

“It is not currently safe to undertake a U.S. government co-ordinated evacuation of private U.S. citizens,” an Embassy alert said.

I don’t know about you, but I never saw The Sudan as a particularly desirable place to which to relocate.

The US Embassy in The Sudan had advised US nationals there to shelter in place.

https://news.yahoo.com/shelter-place-u-embassy-warns-174247463.html

“It is not currently safe to undertake a U.S. government co-ordinated evacuation of private U.S. citizens,” an Embassy alert said.

We have the same problem here in Germany. No way to evacuate our people right now.


I don’t know about you, but I never saw The Sudan as a particularly desirable place to which to relocate.

I think most Western citizens there are either from relief organizations or people who left Sudan but still have family there. I wouldn't see any other reason to be in that hell hole.

8 people involved in Washington DC shootings.

U.S. special operations forces carried out a precarious evacuation of the American embassy in The Sudan on Sunday, sweeping in and out of the capital, Khartoum, with helicopters on the ground for less than an hour. No shots were fired and no major casualties were reported.

https://news.yahoo.com/us-evacuating-diplomats-sudan-amid-014434840.html

I imagine we had a few AC-130 gunships circling above, to mow down any miscreants who might have wanted to interfere. 😬

On standby for:

A siren will go off on nearly every smartphone in the UK at 15:00 BST. The alert system, which involves 10 seconds of sound and vibration, is testing a system that will be used to warn of life-threatening emergencies. It's designed to be used for serious weather-related events, such as severe flooding, fires and extreme weather and may also be used during terror attacks

Where the good guys wear white and the villains wear black.


Exactly, And the last scene the hero kisses his horse and rides off  into the sunset

On standby for:

A siren will go off on nearly every smartphone in the UK at 15:00 BST. The alert system, which involves 10 seconds of sound and vibration, is testing a system that will be used to warn of life-threatening emergencies. It's designed to be used for serious weather-related events, such as severe flooding, fires and extreme weather and may also be used during terror attacks


This has been going on with US televisions since 1963. Out of nowhere the screen would go blank and an ominous sounding voice would say "this is a test. For the next sixty (or thirty) seconds, this station will conduct a test of the Emergency Broadcast System. This is only a test." It became part of the lexicon and people used to make jokes and such and say in a funny voice "this is only a test".  It still goes on but it isn't called the Emergency Broadcast System anymore and the ominous voice is gone.

Exactly, And the last scene the hero kisses his horse and rides off  into the sunset
Thinking about it, it is the same for Star Wars.

Exactly, And the last scene the hero kisses his horse and rides off  into the sunset


Well, in 2023 the hero kisses his husband and takes an Über to a defund the police rally.

On standby for:

A siren will go off on nearly every smartphone in the UK at 15:00 BST. The alert system, which involves 10 seconds of sound and vibration, is testing a system that will be used to warn of life-threatening emergencies. It's designed to be used for serious weather-related events, such as severe flooding, fires and extreme weather and may also be used during terror attacks

My smartphone has that too for when in major severe weather, a sound goes off alerting me that something is coming.

This has been going on with US televisions since 1963. Out of nowhere the screen would go blank and an ominous sounding voice would say "this is a test. For the next sixty (or thirty) seconds, this station will conduct a test of the Emergency Broadcast System. This is only a test." It became part of the lexicon and people used to make jokes and such and say in a funny voice "this is only a test".  It still goes on but it isn't called the Emergency Broadcast System anymore and the ominous voice is gone.

What about those color bars test pattern?

On standby for:

A siren will go off on nearly every smartphone in the UK at 15:00 BST. The alert system, which involves 10 seconds of sound and vibration, is testing a system that will be used to warn of life-threatening emergencies. It's designed to be used for serious weather-related events, such as severe flooding, fires and extreme weather and may also be used during terror attacks
However, initial reports suggest many people didn't receive the alert and for some people it sounded earlier than expected.

I did by my son sitting next to me did not!

Welsh language mix-up in text alert
https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/live-experience/cps/624/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2023/4/23/01e22a47-7b03-4be8-b510-029a228cb3bf.jpg

The emergency test alert was a message aimed at keeping people "safe" but this wasn't quite the case for those reading in Welsh.

For the phrase "others safe" the message read "eraill yn Vogel" when it should have been "eraill yn ddiogel".

"Vogel" is a complete nonsense word in Welsh - although it is a ski resort in Slovenia.

The Home Office has been asked for comment.


Also from the BBC Security Alert feed:

A mother just come out of a performance of Frozen in London's West End. It was officially for my daughter's fourth birthday treat but I can't pretend I wasn't excited.

When we arrived at the Theatre Royal the staff told everyone to turn their phones completely off. They repeated the message quite a few times. Still, it felt a bit ambitious to hope they'd avoid the emergency alarm disrupting the show at all.

And so at 3pm on the dot, quite a number of sirens did go off on the phones that had been left on, for whatever reason.

But the performers themselves were well prepared. Olaf the snowman was just lighting a fire on stage when the phones sounded. 'Oh I've set the fire alarm off' he joked.

The audience cheered as people around us rustled in bags to finally turn their phones OFF.

What about those color bars test pattern?
The colour bars is a television test card used to check if a video signal has been altered by recording or transmission, and what adjustments must be made to bring it back to specification. It is also used for setting a television monitor or receiver to reproduce chrominance and luminance information correctly.

"Vogel" is a complete nonsense word in Welsh - although it is a ski resort in Slovenia.

Fun fact: "Vogel" is also the German word for "bird".

Twitter gave a fake Disney account verification status at the weekend.

In Sudan, the UK evacuated diplomats and their families yesterday, but an estimated 4,000 British citizens remain in the country.

Tucker Carlson to leave Fox News

Tucker Carlson to leave Fox News


And Don Lemon fired from CNN. Big shakeup day in TV news.

The colour bars is a television test card used to check if a video signal has been altered by recording or transmission, and what adjustments must be made to bring it back to specification. It is also used for setting a television monitor or receiver to reproduce chrominance and luminance information correctly.

I remember them during The 70's and 80's.

Former President Donald Trump is facing a civil trial over an allegation that he raped an advice columnist nearly three decades ago. Jury selection is due to begin on Tuesday in a New York federal court.

CNN anchor Don Lemon has hit out at the network after his firing, which came after accusations of misogyny and misbehaviour.

Buying, selling or hosting fake reviews will become illegal as part of changes planned in new laws. The UK government's new Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill aims to help consumers and increase competition between big tech firms.

US President Joe Biden has announced that he will seek re-election for the presidency in 2024

The UN says that up to 270,000 people could flee the fighting in Sudan into neighbouring countries South Sudan and Chad.

KitKat maker Nestle has hiked the prices of its products by almost 10% in the past year to offset a "significant" rise in costs.

In Sudan, the UK evacuated diplomats and their families yesterday, but an estimated 4,000 British citizens remain in the country.
The first flight evacuating British nationals from Sudan has left the country with a Downing Street spokesperson adding that more flights are being planned.

WHO warns of ‘biological risk’ in The Sudan, as violence mars a ceasefire.  :-\\

https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/25/africa/sudan-evacuations-ceasefire-intl/index.html

KitKat maker Nestle has hiked the prices of its products by almost 10% in the past year to offset a "significant" rise in costs.


Give me a break.


(Sorry, couldn't resist. :D ;D)


Cat

The first flight evacuating British nationals from Sudan has left the country with a Downing Street spokesperson adding that more flights are being planned.
This first flight out of Sudan with British nationals has arrived on British soil.

The morons who stayed in The Sudan even though the US government recommended against traveling there are all bent out of shape at the US government. My opinion? Screw them. They chose to be in a dangerous place. Why should American soldiers have to risk their lives to get them out? Idiots.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/26/politics/americans-sudan-us-government/index.html

KitKat maker Nestle has hiked the prices of its products by almost 10% in the past year to offset a "significant" rise in costs.


I ate a Kitkat Chunky yesterday. I swear those things used to be bigger

I ate a Kitkat Chunky yesterday. I swear those things used to be bigger
I have noticed there are less biscuits in a packet now.

I have noticed there are less biscuits in a packet now.


Bummer.

In Cleveland, Texas 5 people were killed including an 8-year old child by their neighbor in response to a noise complaint. He was firing his rifle in his back yard around 11:30 pm and they had a baby who couldn't sleep because of it.

Drones launched from The Ukraine have set ablaze a fuel depot in The Crimea.

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-crimea-drone-29218ed006a79c4b0629688ce4820cc8

I ate a Kitkat Chunky yesterday. I swear those things used to be bigger

I think they're pretty much the same size.

In Cleveland, Texas 5 people were killed including an 8-year old child by their neighbor in response to a noise complaint. He was firing his rifle in his back yard around 11:30 pm and they had a baby who couldn't sleep because of it.

Was this a mass shooting? ::)

Now locally in my city of Atlanta, an active shooter incident that shot 5 and one of them fatally so far.

Now locally in my city of Atlanta, an active shooter incident that shot 5 and one of them fatally so far.

How many shootings compared to stabbings have there been so far in 2023?

Today is the coronation of King Charles the Third. The service will be held in Westminster Abbey.

How many shootings compared to stabbings have there been so far in 2023?


We just passed 200 mass shootings, including the recent one at a mall in Texas.

We just passed 200 mass shootings, including the recent one at a mall in Texas.

I don't even know why these keep happening almost all the time, it's getting way outta control!  >:(

I don't even know why these keep happening almost all the time, it's getting way outta control!  >:(


Yes it is. I think it's one of the after effects of the pandemic.

Yes it is. I think it's one of the after effects of the pandemic.

It probably doesn't help that every little ghetto gangster has easy access to fire arms.

Yes it is. I think it's one of the after effects of the pandemic.

I think the pandemic made everyone crazy.

I just read the main headline of yesterday, oh dear, I will not discuss it more here.

Violent clashes have broken out in Pakistan between security forces and supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan after he was arrested on Tuesday. Protests are erupting nationwide, and at least one person has been killed in the city of Quetta. The United States and UK have called for adherence to the "rule of law". Mr Khan was arrested by security forces at the High Court in the capital, Islamabad.

Robert De Niro, the 79-year-old Hollywood star, has confirmed he recently fathered a seventh child. He broke the news in an interview with ET Canada about his forthcoming, suitably-titled film About My Father. When asked about being a dad of six, the Oscar-winning US actor replied: "Seven, actually... I just had a baby." De Niro, who has six other children from previous relationships with three women, did not reveal the identity of the mother of his seventh.

Violent clashes have broken out in Pakistan between security forces and supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan after he was arrested on Tuesday. Protests are erupting nationwide, and at least one person has been killed in the city of Quetta. The United States and UK have called for adherence to the "rule of law". Mr Khan was arrested by security forces at the High Court in the capital, Islamabad.
Pakistan's ex-prime minister Imran Khan is to be freed from custody, a day after the Supreme Court ruled his dramatic arrest on corruption charges was illegal.

Turkey's powerful president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, will go head to head with his opposition rival in a run-off vote, the supreme election council has confirmed.

A US researcher has broken the world record for the longest time spent living underwater without depressurisation. Joseph Dituri has spent more than 74 days at the bottom of a 30ft-deep lagoon in Key Largo, Florida. And he does not have plans to stop yet. On Sunday, he said he would stay in Jules' Undersea Lodge for at least 100 days. "The curiosity for discovery has led me here," he said.

A US researcher has broken the world record for the longest time spent living underwater without depressurisation. Joseph Dituri has spent more than 74 days at the bottom of a 30ft-deep lagoon in Key Largo, Florida. And he does not have plans to stop yet. On Sunday, he said he would stay in Jules' Undersea Lodge for at least 100 days. "The curiosity for discovery has led me here," he said.

Was he able to eat and drink? ???

Was he able to eat and drink? ???
Yes

The number of adults struggling to pay their bills and debts has soared to nearly 11 million, new figures show.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has lost his appeal against a prison sentence for corruption. However, the Paris appeals court ruled that he could serve his time at home wearing a tag instead of going to jail. In 2021 Sarkozy was sentenced to three years in prison - including two suspended - for trying to influence a judge in a separate case. The 68 year-old was the first former French president to get a custodial sentence.

The number of adults struggling to pay their bills and debts has soared to nearly 11 million, new figures show.

It's hard getting a job out there.

It's hard getting a job out there.
The UK employment rate was estimated at 75.9% in January to March 2023, 0.2 percentage points higher than October to December 2022. The increase in employment over the latest three-month period was driven by part-time employees and self-employed workers.

A hearing into the Metropolitan Police's treatment of protesters on Coronation day was briefly interrupted by Just Stop Oil activists.

The Italian coast guard has rescued two elderly people by helicopter from their roof after heavy rains caused flooding and landslides in the Emilia-Romagna region. Nine people have been killed and several are missing after 14 rivers broke their banks, flooding 23 towns.

The UK employment rate was estimated at 75.9% in January to March 2023, 0.2 percentage points higher than October to December 2022. The increase in employment over the latest three-month period was driven by part-time employees and self-employed workers.


Ergo, the unemployment rate was 24.1%? ???  :o

Rishi Sunak has backtracked on a pledge to shut down 30 Chinese state-sponsored Confucius Institutes across the UK.

Some of London's top tourist attractions, including Tower Bridge and the Barbican Centre, could be forced to close as workers strike in a dispute over pay.

Thousands of people did not vote in England's local elections as they did not have correct ID, according to council data collected by the BBC. Information from 160 of 230 councils where polls were held this year shows 26,165 voters were initially denied ballot papers at polling stations. Of these, 16,588 people came back with valid ID, whilst 9,577 did not return. This is a relatively small number of voters, although campaigners warn this would not capture all those affected. England's local elections on 4 May were the first in Britain where people had to show photo ID, such as a passport or driving licence, to vote in person. The impact of the rule is being closely watched ahead of the next general election, expected to be held in 2024, when it will also be in force.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was welcomed to the G7 summit in Japan today with a slap on the back and a warm greeting from UK PM Rishi Sunak.

Protesters in Nebraska hurled what appeared to be bloody tampoons on the floor of the legislature.

https://www.npr.org/2023/05/20/1177304503/nebraska-12-week-abortion-ban-restrictions-gender-affirming-care

In the UK, the personal details of 15,000 South Lanarkshire Council workers, including their salaries, were accidentally published online.

In the UK, the personal details of 15,000 South Lanarkshire Council workers, including their salaries, were accidentally published online.


My ancestors came from South Lanarkshire. Hopefully none of the exposed details were of my relatives.

Energy bills for a typical household are expected to fall by nearly £450 from July, according to new forecasts.

Protesters in Nebraska hurled what appeared to be bloody tampoons on the floor of the legislature.

https://www.npr.org/2023/05/20/1177304503/nebraska-12-week-abortion-ban-restrictions-gender-affirming-care

Why were they throwing bloody tampons? ???

Why were they throwing bloody tampons? ???
Did you read the report?

Did you read the report?

Yes I did.

Protesters in Nebraska hurled what appeared to be bloody tampoons on the floor of the legislature.

https://www.npr.org/2023/05/20/1177304503/nebraska-12-week-abortion-ban-restrictions-gender-affirming-care

Why were they throwing bloody tampons? ???

Did you read the report?

Yes I did.
Then you know why.

Violence broke out on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima as riot police wrestled people protesting the meeting of world leaders.

Violence broke out on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima as riot police wrestled people protesting the meeting of world leaders.


The rioters did not want the G7 to meet?

The cops in Japan don’t screw around…those rioters are gonna pay a high price for their shenanigans.

Facebook's owner, Meta, has been fined €1.2bn (£1bn) for mishandling people's data when transferring it between Europe and the United States.

Police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann are to carry out searches in a reservoir in Portugal. A search of the Arade dam will begin on Tuesday, 50km from where the toddler went missing in Praia da Luz in 2007, first reported by local media.

The family of a man who was shot dead by police in Colorado while suffering a mental health crisis will receive a $19m (£15.3m) settlement

Boris Johnson has been referred to police by the Cabinet Office over further potential rule breaches during the Covid pandemic.

France has banned domestic short-haul flights where train alternatives exist, in a bid to cut carbon emissions.

France has banned domestic short-haul flights where train alternatives exist, in a bid to cut carbon emissions.


How about private jets? ???

Side note… today me and some colleagues took a private jet to attend a “green zero carbon manufacturing” media event. :-X

How about private jets? ???

Side note… today me and some colleagues took a private jet to attend a “green zero carbon manufacturing” media event. :-X
They can take the train instead.

Food prices in the UK continued to surge at the fastest rate in nearly 45 years in April, with staples like sugar, milk and pasta up sharply.

Sir Richard Branson's rocket company Virgin Orbit has shut down, just months after a major mission failure.

The death of a 43-year-old man is the first in the UK to be linked to the "zombie" drug xylazine, which is prompting overdose warnings in the US.

A ship that was grounded in the Suez Canal, has been been refloated, shipping agent Leth Agencies says.

A man has been arrested after a car crashed into the gates outside Downing Street, Met police said. The force said he had been arrested by armed officers on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving. There were no reports of any injuries and inquiries are ongoing, the police said.

Earlier today, three Just Stop Oil activists have been arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

A man has been arrested after a car crashed into the gates outside Downing Street, Met police said. The force said he had been arrested by armed officers on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving. There were no reports of any injuries and inquiries are ongoing, the police said.

His blood alcohol must've been off the charts.  :o

His blood alcohol must've been off the charts.  :o
I get the feeling that alcohol is not involved in this.