unicorn

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!

Or neurodiverse...

Have you observed any screaming? I haven't.

The condition is thought to be a result of the THC. The patients I knew with this smoked it, but that's a limited sample.

Of course there are also those who believe someone traveled in the belly of a fish, and that another dude not only managed to fit in an ark approximately 137 meters long, 23 meters wide, and 14 meters high two of every species of animal, along with the food they'd require for 40 days (one African elephant alone eats 136 kg of food per day). I honestly can't wrap my head around what followers of the Abrahamic religions believe. 🙄

This was quite some time ago, so maybe my memory's faulty, but I thought they had no idea where the plane fell into the ocean. It would be one thing if they had some notion as to where to look, but unless there's been some new info, I'm at a loss to understanding how they might find the wreckage. Has new information come to light as to where the plane might be--information I missed?

Along the same lines, there was a man I met last summer, when he was the +1 of a friend at one of my parties. I had long been jacking off to his photos, so it was a thrill for me to meet him. He's in the process of a divorce after a 5-year marriage to a very wealthy man (apparently no pre-nup! 🫢), so wanted to get back into his modeling and singing career. He's apparently had some singing gigs (and did sing two songs at the party), but I think he's more interested in returning to modeling. I would have like to get to know him better, but he ended up being mean with the friend, so, although I have his #, it wouldn't be appropriate for us to invite him over for wine & cheese, as we'd hoped to do before the tiff with our friend. https://youtu.be/_DRS92HK3ow https://www.instagram.com/scottmgardner1/