unicorn

Putin has cut off internet access to Rainbow Railroad, an organization which helps members of the LGBTQ+ community in hostile countries (such as Russia, obviously) leave the country and get asylum elsewhere (most commonly Canada): https://www.rainbowrailroad.org/the-latest/russia-blocks-rainbow-railroads-website-cutting-off-a-critical-lifeline-for-lgbtqi-people This is an organization I fully support, and also has the full backing of charitynavigator.org as an honest and efficient charity. Hopefully they can at least access the website with a VPN? I don't know if the government has a way of punishing those who access the website via VPN?

I'm American, and I never say "like," though it can be irritating to hear Canadians finish every 3rd sentence with "eh." I can remember in a cruise a few years ago, meeting my neighbor at the balcony, and he said "Nice weather we're having, eh?". To which I responded "What part of Canada are you from?". He laughed and said "Did I end a sentence with 'eh' again?". The host of the MTV program Ridiculousness, Rob Dyrdek, has an annoying habit of ending every other sentence with "You know what I mean?". I feel like yelling at him "YES! I know what you mean!".

I hope I'm reading this incorrectly, and that you're not hinting that the parents are in any way responsible for their own deaths. The son Nick was given countless opportunities to clean his life up with rehabilitation programs (paid for by his parents). Each time he went in front of a judge, he was simply given more probation for violating his probation, and innumerable stints in rehab. The only lesson he apparently received was that he could act with sociopathic impunity, and expect no significant consequences. The lesson I glean from this unfortunate incident is that we need to be more serious and separate these people from society after the 3rd strike. We can't have these Eric Cartman "I'll do what I want" people wandering the streets. Hopefully, this time he gets locked up for good and society will finally be protected. If he's let out, one can expect more tragedy.

I always thought it was shameful that Honecker was never held accountable for his actions. They should have hanged Jefferson Davis, too. He was also allowed to live a normal life and die a natural death without so much as a day of incarceration.

Thank God you informed me. If I saw Charles III in a crowd, I might have called out "Hey, Royal Highness!" instead of "Hey, Majesty!". Gaffe averted! 🤣

Well, I don't believe HRH the King missed the Great Vowel Shift.

Us car instead of my car? I haven't heard that one...

Unless I'm misunderstanding, you're listing examples of conflicts in which the ICJ has not ruled and delineated a specific border. According to a prior post, the ICJ has, in fact, delineated a specific border, but Thailand just doesn't want to comply with their ruling. Also, if at least one of the UN members is a military superpower/nuclear weapons owner, enforcing such a ruling could be very problematic. Neither of these applies to the Thai/Cambodian conflict. It would be far easier for China (or any number of other countries) to pressure Thailand, than for Thailand to pressure China (or India or Pakistan).

I was thinking more along the lines of how people speak their native language. I never get annoyed (much) by foreigners mispronouncing a language foreign to them. [That being said, when I speak foreign languages, I do make a concerted effort to pronounce the language in a native way, and when abroad, the locals often comment at how well I pronounce their language, even if my knowledge of grammar and vocabulary may be poor. Speaking intelligibly is a matter of effort, rather than one of knowledge, which only time can help.] When I hear someone from northern England say "me" instead of "my," I want to shake them and scream "You grew up in England. Speak friggin' English!"

After an elevator ride, my husband remarked that the language a couple of foreigners were speaking while on the elevator really got on his nerves. Although I've never remarked on it before, I would have to say that a number of accents and languages do rub me the wrong way. For example, whenever I hear someone say "me" instead of saying "my" (such as "me car" instead of "my car"), it makes me want to punch the speaker in the face. Without necessarily calling out a specific accent or language, are there ways of speaking which irritate you?

That's like the coal calling the diamond black. BN has no regard for Palestinian life, then pretends to cry a river when Jews are targeted. Some people never learn that respect doesn't come from behind the barrel of a gun. Murder breeds disrespect, not respect. Of course, these murders will breed more anti-Arab and anti-Muslim hate (notwithstanding the fact that it was a fellow Muslim who stopped one of the two murderers).

On the subject of useless substance abusers who shouldn't be allowed to walk to streets among the decent public, it appears as though Rob Reiner's junkie son Nick may have murdered both his parents (and has been arrested for this): 😪 https://nypost.com/2025/12/15/us-news/rob-reiners-son-nick-in-custody-after-horrifying-murder-of-princess-bride-director-and-wife/

Well, if the ICJ has ruled on the matter, the matter is settled and the question is how to enforce the ruling. If not militarily, certainly other UN members can put economic pressure on Thailand. This speaker believes that China could pressure Thailand all by itself. Or maybe an economic blockade?

Obviously, international involvement doesn't mean that every single country from Eswatini to Bahrain must be involved. However, the absence of ICJ involvement has obviously not worked. The international community can and should be involved. If not the ICJ, what would be another suggestion for a fair and effective resolution?

FIFA just seems like a criminal enterprise, from my understanding.

In the US at least, prisons are typically state facilities, usually for longer sentences (over a year), and have hardened criminals. Jails are county (or city) facilities, typically used to incarcerate less serious offenses, and those incarcerated there aren't quite as nasty..

I've never been to Iran (or any other predominantly Shia country), so I'm curious if you'd clarify what you mean by that. I've always found the Shia and Catholics amazing in their ability to ignore their holy books. The Koran definitely forbids paintings and artwork of people or other animals, so I'm always astounded to see the Shia parading paintings/sculptures of their "saints." Similarly, when I go to a Catholic church and see all of these paintings and other artwork of saints (notwithstanding the Bible's prohibition of painting/artwork of anything in Heaven and Hell), I feel more like as I were in a Hindu Temple rather than a Christian place of worship. The only difference I see between Catholics and Hindus is that the former pray to the Virgin Mary, St. Peter, etc., but the Hindus pray to Ganesha, or Shiva, etc. Were you referring to the Shia practices when you said Iran doesn't look Islamic?

Well, there is a war. The question is how to stop it. From what I'm gathering, Thailand won't abide by the ICJ, because presumably they have the stronger army, and they believe might makes right. However, if it were the entire world against Thailand, I suppose Thailand would have to accept the verdict of the international community.

Too bad. I'd say let the ICJ decide on the matter. Whichever country doesn't accept the verdict should be open to foreign intervention. Invade the intransigent country, take their king and prime minister, and hold them in The Hague until they apologize to the international community and agree to abide by the ICJ's judgment. This BS has gone on long enough.

Forgive my naïveté, but why can't the International Court of Justice decide on the matter? Isn't that what it's for? Either accept the court's authority, or be prepared for international hellfire....

I have visited Jordan, but dare not visit Iran. Should the political situation change, I'll be first in line to visit Iran and Burma. Hopefully that'll happen during my lifetime... 😬

I read a blurb about some guy called Andy Dick, who was apparently recently rescued from death with Narcan on the streets of Hollywood. Curious as to who he was, I looked him up on Wikipedia, and I've almost never seen such a sociopath. This man is a registered sex offender, and has committed sexual battery on multiple women and even girls! It looks like he keeps getting probation, and more probation. This man is a complete menace to society. I cannot understand why he's allowed to exist outside prison walls! Does celebrity/infamy protect him, or am I missing something? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Dick#Personal_life

Lots of places a US citizen cannot and/or should not go. I'm definitely not one of those people who intends to go to every country on the planet, regardless of the danger involved. US citizens are forbidden to travel to North Korea, and visas are not issued to US citizens by Venezuela or Chad. Travel to Cuba is severely restricted. Countries I would like to visit, but are too dangerous for US citizens include Myanmar and Iran. I never have nor probably will I travel to Level 4 countries, though I will make a minor exception when our cruise ship docks in the highly guarded, fenced-in peninsula at Labadee, Haiti in February, so that will be my first time in a Level 4 country. That will put me not far from having every country in the western hemisphere, leaving only Bermuda, Cuba, Turks & Caicos, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guyana, Suriname, and Bolivia. I must confess that I'm not much motivated to visit Guyana, which is a Level 3 country, nor Suriname--and my husband has hinted that he wouldn't be excited by that prospect, either. I'm now in Chile, whose citizens hold what I consider the world's best passport, along with those of South Korea, Singapore, and Brunei.

Yes, thanks, Prambanan is on our itinerary.

We're booked for a trip to Borobudur in July (with additional time in Java and Bali). It's the biggest bucket list site I haven't yet experienced. One of these days I'd like to go to Madagascar. So far away!