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Post by patricklondon on Apr 23, 2021 13:02:23 GMT
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Post by kerouac2 on Apr 23, 2021 13:14:50 GMT
Or they have a snack before they go so that they won't look like famished wolves at the table. (That would be my risk.)
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Post by Kimby on Apr 23, 2021 13:42:12 GMT
Sounds like a colossal waste of food, and effort on the kitchen staff’s part.
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Post by kerouac2 on Apr 23, 2021 13:51:09 GMT
In certain circles, waste = power.
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Post by kerouac2 on Apr 26, 2021 17:56:26 GMT
35th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear accident. We get used to absolutely everything.
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Post by patricklondon on Apr 30, 2021 11:20:58 GMT
Today - it seems somehow worth highlighting - a phone book was delivered. Yes, an actual printed book of people and businesses with local landline numbers. I'd thought they'd disappeared completely (and it's certainly a very slim volume, compared with the multiple thick London-wide volumes of my childhood, but I suppose it's the thought that counts. Or something.) My blog | My photos | My video clips | My Librivox recordings"too literate to be spam"
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Post by kerouac2 on Apr 30, 2021 12:10:26 GMT
The last paper phone directories in France were delivered made available in 2019.
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Post by tod2 on Apr 30, 2021 16:28:43 GMT
Patrick you are not alone = a few days ago we found our copy of the Telephone and Yellow Pages directory lying in our driveway where I suspect it landed after being flung over the gate. It has already come in use for me as I needed to track an address. I am sure this may be the last directory printed as people cancel their Landline phones.
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Post by questa on May 1, 2021 0:11:36 GMT
Tod...does it still hold up a table on an uneven floor...We called our phone book "The wobbler's digest"
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Post by tod2 on May 1, 2021 10:51:42 GMT
Oh that's good Questa! I've just measured the thickness and it is exactly 1cm thick or 10mm - which I think is half an inch. I think back to the days when it was almost too heavy to hold in one hand.
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Post by whatagain on May 2, 2021 5:52:21 GMT
One inch = 25.4mm.
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Post by kerouac2 on May 5, 2021 9:47:44 GMT
So, today is the 200th anniversary of Bonaparte's death. France is commemorating it without "celebrating" it since he was a shitty person and most people hate his guts. Some people suggest that we get rid of that ridiculous giant thing in the Invalides -- give his remains to his family for disposal -- and turn the building into a museum of the republic.
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Post by tod2 on May 5, 2021 12:32:03 GMT
Well, to my mind it's just another tourist "must see". So along with the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomph and so on, keep it there while it's making money. Get some use out of the old bugger.
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Post by kerouac2 on May 5, 2021 15:24:12 GMT
I think the last time I visited was in 1971, so I would actually be curious to see it again, but mostly because the ticket includes the military museum, which everybody raves about even when they thought they would hate it.
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Post by tod2 on May 5, 2021 15:47:26 GMT
Whoa there little pony! Yes, for me the military museum was a pain... but for Mr. Tod who spent 10 years and 6 months in the military, it was wonderful. I dragged along trying not to appear totally disinterested. OK, A few things caught my attention....
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Post by bixaorellana on May 5, 2021 16:38:15 GMT
I would go to the military museum because I'm one of those people who generally thinks she'd hate such a thing, but have been surprised enough times now to know better.
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Post by questa on May 6, 2021 1:08:46 GMT
Last night the House of Assembly for the State of South Australia sat until late into the night, debating the "euthanasia bill" also known as the "doctor-assisted death" or "right-to-die" bill. There have been 16 attempts over 29 years to pass this bill and this is only the Upper House. The numbers were 14-7 while polls have indicated up to 85%
The Lower House will be harder as the greater number of single issue members try to block its passage. Recently I noticed (with pleasure) that the members of The States Houses now bear names I can only guess at and speak with accents. Many are from countries where a free and fair election does not exist. They might have different views to bring to the subject,
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Post by kerouac2 on May 6, 2021 3:23:05 GMT
Now that Spain has authorised euthanasia, France might stop dragging its feet on the subject. Popular opinion is extremely in favour of it but the government is terrified of such things -- so it stays in "commission" for further study forever.
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Post by tod2 on May 6, 2021 8:33:24 GMT
On another subject - You won't mind me announcing that if my mother was still alive she would have turned 100 today. Bless you mom.
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Post by Kimby on May 6, 2021 10:47:28 GMT
I was exactly 6 months old on this date in 1954 when Roger Bannister broke the 4-minute mile barrier in Oxford, England. I don’t remember much about it.
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Post by bixaorellana on May 6, 2021 16:15:33 GMT
A bittersweet day for you, dear Tod.
Yesterday, which was not Mexican independence day, was Liberation Day in the Netherlands: Liberation Day (Dutch: Bevrijdingsdag) is a public holiday in the Netherlands celebrated each year on 5 May to mark the end of the occupation by Nazi Germany during World War II. It follows the Remembrance of the Dead (Dodenherdenking) on 4 May. Wikipedia
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Post by kerouac2 on May 6, 2021 16:49:40 GMT
And the end of WW2 is coming up on May 8th (May 9th in Russia since the papers were signed after midnight, Moscow time). And May 9th is Europe Day, celebrating peace and unity. It's the anniversary of the Schuman Declaration in 1950, making war among European countries unthinkable (ha ha). The first group to form was France, Germany, Benelux and Italy.
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Post by Kimby on May 8, 2021 10:52:05 GMT
Happy Birthday, Sir David Attenborough, 95 years old.
He was recently interviewed by Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. Both seemed in awe of the other. Attenborough apologized for what his generation has done to the Earth.
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Post by tod2 on May 8, 2021 11:52:27 GMT
And May 9th is Europe Day, celebrating peace and unity. It is Mother's Day in South Africa.
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Post by bixaorellana on May 8, 2021 15:56:40 GMT
In the US also, Tod. It won't be Mothers' Day until the 10th in Mexico, though. Here it is always celebrated on May 10.
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Post by whatagain on May 8, 2021 17:39:03 GMT
Motherday is tomorrow in Belgium. Next week in France or was it last week ?
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Post by kerouac2 on May 8, 2021 17:42:55 GMT
It's at the end of the month in France.
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Post by mich64 on May 8, 2021 19:50:26 GMT
Today we celebrate my father's 85th Birthday! It is also Mother's Day on Sunday.
Earlier in the week, we dropped off cards and bouquets of flowers to each mom as we knew the stores were running out! At the same time we picked up a Black Forest cake from the bakery for my dad.
I had ordered a special birthday greeting from the Prime Minister and it arrived on time yesterday! I am happy to be able to drop it off for him tomorrow. We are still in a Stay At Home Order so no visiting allowed yet.
Happy Mother's Day to all in those countries where moms are being celebrated this weekend!
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Post by bixaorellana on May 8, 2021 20:20:29 GMT
Happy birthday to your dad, Mich. Getting that special greeting from the Prime Minister was a really special touch.
You two are certainly doing everything wonderful for your mothers too.
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Post by mickthecactus on May 9, 2021 8:34:05 GMT
How amazing that the PM will send birthday greetings! Good for your Dad!
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