unicorn

It looks as though NATO now has firm control over the exits to the Baltic Sea as well as the Black Sea. NATO allies South Korea and Japan also control most exits to the Sea of Japan. I guess Russia still controls the Strait of Tartary if it wants to use the port at Vladivostok....

Your response is hysterical and devoid of thoughtful consideration. There are legitimate medical considerations for male circumcision, including a marked decrease in infant urinary tract infections, as well as other well-known medical problems such as STI's (including, but not limited to HIV), balanitis, phimosis/paraphimosis, penile cancer, and so on. Infants are now routinely anesthetized for the procedure (when done in a medical rather than a religious setting). Serious complications when done in a medical setting are rare. Most medical societies (at least in the US) feel it's appropriate to inform parents of the risks and potential benefits, and feel that either choice is fine. The CDC published a recent summary: https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/58456Heah benefits of neonatal male circumcision: o The estimated risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in uncircumcised males: • aged 0.1 years is 1.3% (uncircumcised), 0.3% (circumcised) • aged 1–16 years is 2.78% (uncircumcised), 0.4% (circumcised) • aged >16 years is 28.2% (uncircumcised), 8.3% (circumcised) • over a lifetime is 32.1% (uncircumcised), 8.8% (circumcised) o Male circumcision reduces the risk of UTIs in circumcised males: • aged 0–1 years by 90% • aged 1–16 years by 85% • aged >16 years by 71% • over a lifetime by 23 Informed decisions should be guided by science and actual facts, rather than by hysterical reactions. One of the conclusions: "The American Academy of Pediatrics Taskforce on Circumcision states that the health benefits of newborn male circumcision outweigh the risks and that the benefits of newborn male circumcision justify access to this procedure for families who choose it." Please also not that the scientific summary notes: Considerations for the timing of male circumcision: • Neonatal male circumcision is safer, less expensive, and heals more rapidly than circumcision performed on older boys, adolescent males, and men. • Most of the health benefits of male circumcision occur after sexual debut (i.e. after becoming sexually active). • Male circumcision can also be conducted in adulthood when the individual can make the decision for himself. However, male circumcision after sexual debut could result in missed opportunities for:  HIV and STI prevention during the window period between sexual debut and circumcision  Prevention of UTIs during infancy. Considerations for the timing of male circumcision: • Neonatal male circumcision is safer, less expensive, and heals more rapidly than circuConsiderations for the timing of male circumcision: • NeonaConsiderations for the timing of male circumcision: • Neonatal male circumcision is safer, less expensive, and heals more rapidly than circumcision performed on older boys, adolescent males, and men. • Most of the health benefits of male circumcision occur after sexual debut (i.e. after becoming sexually active). • Male circumcision can also be conducted in adulthood when the individual can make the decision for himself. However, male circumcision after sexual debut could result in missed opportunities for:  HIV and STI prevention during the window period between sexual debut and circumcision  Prevention of UTIs during infancy. tal male circumcision is safer, less expensive, and heals more rapidly than circumcision performed on older boys, adolescent males, and men. • Most of the health benefits of male circumcision occur after sexual debut (i.e. after becoming sexually active). • Male circumcision can also be conducted in adulthood when the individual can make the decision for himself. However, male circumcision after sexual debut could result in missed opportunities for:  HIV and STI prevention during the window period between sexual debut and circumcision  Prevention of UTIs during infancy. mcision performed on older boys, adolescent males, and men. • Most of the health benefits of male circumcision occur after sexual debut (i.e. after becoming sexually active). • Male circumcision can also be conducted in adulthood when the individual can make the decision for himself. However, male circumcision after sexual debut could result in missed opportunities or:  HIV and STI prevention during the window period between sexual debut and circumcision  Prevention of UTIs during infancy. Obviously, each parent should be given the information needed to make a rational decision as to what's best for their baby. Hysterical statements, devoid of factual data, do not help further rational discussion.

I'm going to show my ignorance. Who's in charge in Thailand, the King or his Prime Minister?

According to that link, one must apply for US visas in Poland. If you can get permission to visit the EU or US, your leader certainly can't. I suspect he could be allowed to make a speech at the UN without being arrested. He could leave from Vladivostok to avoid EU or Canadian airspace.

Sociopaths don't feel remorse. That's a given. Russia has a long history of leaders who slaughter millions to stay in power. At least I can travel the world, and he cannot. Nor can you--thanks to him! 😁

What I wondered was which passport he used--did the Thai Embassy issue him a Thai passport, or did he use his US passport?

What is it with stupid Swiss men in Thailand?

What an idiot--not just for doing what he did, but for not fleeing while he could, especially when his crime is documented on tape. I don't know how pleasant Thai prisons are.

I suppose it's a matter of opinion as to whether he's the world's most handsome or most funny comedian, but he's certainly the most popular. He has gigs booked for the rest of the year all over the globe, and usually sells out months in advance, even in fairly large venues. My best chance to see him will be when he comes to Los Angeles in May. He's sold out for his next 10 appearances (after the LA appearance), but in LA he'll be performing at the Hollywood Bowl, which seats over 17,000, so seats are available. Usually when I see comedians live, it's at comedy clubs, which are intimate. Is there any sense in seeing a comedian at such an enormous venue? https://www.mattrifeofficial.com/?fbclid=IwAR2oUzc1DII_5P68rXFIglFC5_9Hs_i_F51BMIURlgBefASbvhyaphOxILk

Not quite, but he does have an international warrant for his arrest, and should be arrested if he sets foot in a majority of the world's countries, including Mongolia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Criminal_Court_arrest_warrants_for_Vladimir_Putin_and_Maria_Lvova-Belova#:~:text=On 17 March 2023%2C following,for the war crime of "On 17 March 2023, following an investigation of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, and Maria Lvova-Belova, Russian Commissioner for Children's Rights, alleging responsibility for the war crime of unlawful deportation and transfer of children during the Russo-Ukrainian War. The warrant against Putin is the first against the leader of a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. The 123 member states of the ICC are obliged to detain and transfer Putin and Lvova-Belova if either sets foot on their territory...." He'd be wise not to travel to any of the countries marked in green:

That doesn't matter. The local authorities could choose to stop these fraudulent practices and choose not to do so, I would have to guess because it benefits the local economy at the expense of tourists. This reminds me of the rampant car break-ins on the Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire. The island has wonderful shore diving opportunities, which are ruined due to the near-certainty that any vehicle parked for this purpose will be broken into. Again, local authorities could easily set up police stings, but choose not to. There are probably only a few bad apples. They'd be easy enough to catch (and are probably well-known to the local police in any case).

Well, if authorities were serious about stopping the practice, the way to do it is not to try to burden foreign passengers by asking them to fill forms in the hope someone will do something about it after they've left the country sometime. The way to do it is to hire undercover cops and arrest those who overcharge, fine them, and suspend their licences by a month for the first offense, much longer for 2nd offenses. Word will get around. Not that complicated.

Hopefully it won't take him too much longer to understand the obvious....

Tucker Carson is well-recognized as a disgraced journalist. And what the fuck does the Moscow metro have to do with the ballerina?

I came pretty close to meeting a similar fate, when my sibs and I divided some money found in my late mother's purses after her death. I took some Swiss Franc notes, only to find those notes had been phased out, though I was still able to exchange them. You won't be able to exchange them at the airport, but if you still have those notes, they can be exchanged (not at the airport). Don't throw them out, if you have a significant number of them: https://lenews.ch/2021/04/29/old-swiss-money-no-longer-valid-from-friday/ "...After 30 October 2021, the only places that will accept these notes are the cash desks of the Swiss National Bank (SNB), which will always exchange old notes for new. There is no time limit on this. The SNB operates cash desks in Bern and Zurich. In addition to the two SNB cash desks in Bern and Zurich, 13 branches of cantonal banks operate cash desks on behalf of the SNB in other Swiss cities and towns – click here to see a list of these branches (page 3). Old notes can also be sent to the SNB by post. The SNB advises checking with your post office on the proper insurance for your shipment and says it accepts no liability for such shipments – click here for further information...".

California's Sierra Nevada sure got a wolloping of snow over the last couple of days. I wouldn't want to be there. Imagine opening your front door to this: Some places received over 3 meters of snow! https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/02/weather/californias-sierras-blizzard-snow-saturday/index.html "A dangerous winter storm is slamming Northern California with rare blizzard conditions and fierce winds as it threatens to unload up to 10 feet of snow in the mountains and snarl travel. In the Sierra Nevada, the storm is delivering heavy snow, reduced visibilities, toppled power lines and hurricane-force winds over 75 miles per hour, which are expected to roar through the weekend...".

We've decided to take our honeymoon in the Galápagos Islands (cruise). The American Airlines flight leaves MIA for Quito at 10:05 AM. The airlines and cruise lines would rather we take an "overnight" flight of some 5 1/2 hours to make this connection (leaving late at night, arriving early morning), but I'd much rather take a flight earlier that day (say around noon), then spend the night in a hotel by MIA, and catch the flight the next day. In fact, I'd rather fly Main Cabin Extra than do the overnight flight in 1st Class, especially since it looks as though AA has gotten rid of Flagship service between LAX and MIA. The nominal cost of a hotel (looking at rates, shouldn't be much more than $100 for a night at a decent place on the dates we plan to go) more than makes up for the discomfort, and especially the difference between MCE and 1st Class. In any case, there isn't even enough time on a 5.5 hour flight to get a decent rest, even if one can sleep in those seats which don't lie flat. What do you do in these instances?

Well, according to that article, there's a video showing him kicking her, so it's not just alleged battery, it's battery. Time to leave if he can.

Well, the point is, I think, that he very much does not see this woman as a threat at all. She's not a threat--she's a bargaining chip from which he hopes to exchange for real Russian criminals (arms dealers, etc.). The sensible thing to do is disengage. Do not bargain. Make it clear that there's nothing to gain from taking hostages. And, once again, warn US citizens NOT to travel to Russia (or Iran, etc.). As I've said before, anyone wishing to travel to countries whose leaders take our citizen hostage should have to sign a waiver indicating that they are well-aware of the serious danger, and that the US will not make any concessions due to willfully foolish behavior. This should be the response to any request for concessions:

Yes, Renaissance refers to the rebirth--after too many centuries of Christians controlling all "learning," which consisted mainly in studying the Bible. Only once Europeans embraced art and science, instead of only religion, was their society able to move forward.

Putin is holding another US citizen hostage. Any US citizen should know better than to travel to Russia. Her "crime" was donating $50 for the Ukrainian aid. I think it's important that the US government put its foot down and state unequivocally that we won't be trading any Russian spies in order to secure her release. Shame on her. https://abc7.com/ksenia-karelina-russian-court-denies-appeal-arrest-for-treason-ukraine-help/14479902/ "A court in Siberia has denied 33-year-old Ksenia Karelina's appeal and she will remain in prison. The court extended her pre-trial detention until at least April 6. Karelina, who has dual Russian and American citizenship and lives in Los Angeles, is accused of treason after allegedly donating about $50 to Ukraine's war effort... If convicted, Karelina faces 20 years behind bars...". https://nypost.com/2024/02/29/world-news/russia-rejects-appeal-in-ksenia-karelina-treason-case/ "...A Russian lawyers’ group, Pervy Otdel, said it had information that Karelina had donated just over $50 from her U.S. bank account on Feb. 24, 2022 – the day that Russia launched what it calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine – to a charity that sends aid to Ukraine...". What a threat to Russia's military! 🙄

I did say that Europe, not civilization overall, faltered under Christianity. Mathematics, science, and other cultures flourished in areas controlled by the Muslims, Chinese, etc. European civilization began to move again with and following the Renaissance, when Copernicus and Galileo were able to deduce that the earth wasn't the center of the universe, artists started painting non-religious themes, the printing press allowed the dissemination of new ideas, and so on. Fortunately, once the Muslims took over Egypt, the attempts of the Christians to cover up Egyptian history were halted. Of course, now some Muslim fringe groups such as ISIS and the Taliban have used dynamite to try to erase their countries non-Islamic history.