Off Topic The "Discuss Anything Else" Thread

Rooney traveller family jailed for modern slavery offences

It looks like there is inequality in the justice system too – Mrs Rooney gets 7 years while her old man gets 10. They are surely all equally guilty of this barbarity.

These despicable people should not be going to the comfort of HM Prisons to serve their sentences. They should be locked into squalid caravans and treated like detritus as their victims were, as that might give them some small understanding of why slavery was abolished 210 years ago. Wilberforce will be spinning in his box at the notion that here in the 21st Century it is still going on in Britain. How many others are doing the same?

 

Just chaps my ass, Yanks do what they ****ing well like in Europe. We seem to have no control over the crazy bu**ers.

http://www.dw.com/en/us-sent-weapons-to-syria-through-ramstein-military-base-report/a-40495553

 

We have an Exotic Wasp Spider parked on our front door. Never seen one before. Just looks like a Wasp with spider legs

 

Yes, I know Ron, remember when I lived out in the sticks during my early days here, saw a few strange species too. Came to the conclusion that some male spiders will screw anything in a skirt?

 

We get a few of these things in the house during the wet season, they're Huntsman spiders. They can give a nasty bite, but are not fatal.

please log in to view this image

 

I'll try to get a photo up of our new resident

 

That's a seriously good cry!

 

Watched a couple of Brian Cranston movies the last two days, 'The Infiltrator' (2016) and 'Trumbo' (2014). A couple of fine performances by Cranston, especially as the Hollywood screenwriter Dalton Trumbo. Historically not always accurate, and did receive mixed reviews, but 'Trumbo' still a very good film which I personally enjoyed. Sound performances by many including Helen Mirren as Hedda Hopper, and blow me if the German actor Christian Berkel (Der Kriminalist) didn't turn up at the end as the great director Otto Preminger. Here's Cranston giving a speech right at the end, after Dalton Trumbo received an award for his work:

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=final speech by dalton trumbo in film trumbo&view=detail&mid=EB606DF09461A40F7900EB606DF09461A40F7900&FORM=VIRE

 

Clip reminded me of the 1999 Academy Awards when Elia Kazan was awarded an honorary Oscar. Kazan had shafted many of his 'colleagues' to ensure his own enrichment and advancement when giving testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee during the McCarthy witch hunt times (The Red Scare). I recall one of my favourite actors, Ed Harris, sitting and not applauding even after Kazan had been introduced by Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese.

 

Yes, BK, there were a lot of awful people, especially of the extreme right-wing political view, around at that time, namely Hedda Hopper, John Wayne (no 'hero', this guy, completely false tag), Joseph McCarthy, etc. Many actors were just a bit chicken-**** and bucked the main issue for fear of losing their jobs I guess, e.g. Edward G. Robinson (although he certainly did try early on, but found himself out of work thanks to the odious Hopper mostly). Reagan, Peck, Flynn, etc. Wayne confronted Trumbo once at a function, called him a so-and-so Commie and a traitor, to which Trumbo replied, "....and where were you during the war? At the end of 1946 I was in Okinawa, I don't believe you even ever left Hollywood between 1941 and 1946, yet you were happy to play war-hero parts?" Wayne went red and walked off.

 

Oh, btw BK, Oktoberfest opened today. Oberbürgermeister banged-in the first bung 57-minutes ago at 12 o'clock precisely. Can't handle all that beer nowadays, so we will just go to the grounds a couple of times for fish & chips and a small one. Last Tuesday went with family to an Italian place close to Kolumbusplatz, and had the best pizza I can ever remember. Place was very busy, and I can understand why. Can give you the address if you're interested on your next visit. Ale is from the Chiemsee Brewery, Weißbier, not sure.

 

Cheers!

Satellite dish for the German digital channels on the blink at the moment so unable to watch the procession along Leopold Strasse onwards. 'Stadtatlas' examined for Kolumbusplatz; please let me have the address of the Italian restaurant as my former favourite pizza joint, where my Mum and I watched the Champion's League final win over Valencia, has now changed into a trendy bar attached to a boutique hotel. No trips planned to Bavaria at the moment however I am off to Koblenz/Koln next month; cannot wait to meet my friends from a 'local' who I believe experienced London earlier this week! Might fit in a visit to Koln Weidenpesch for the horse racing for one of the top German two year old races; equivalent of the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster? Will also be able to watch FC Bayern against Celtic Glasgow in Irish boozer right next to my hotel; better keep my allegiance to myself!

 

BK: Will send you a PM with address and easiest way to get there.....................

 

Nice bit of engineering:

"How do you move a Buddhist temple?
The main hall of a 135-year-old Buddhist temple in Shanghai has been moved 30m (100ft)."

http://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-41300472/engineers-relocate-2000-tonne-shanghai-temple-hall

 

Good grief, this really was the narrowest of narrow squeaks during the Cold War? How much do we all owe this guy?

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-41314948

R.I.P. Stanislav Petrov.

 

They made a movie about it. The Man Who Saved The World. 2014. Costner.

 

The N Koreans would do the same

 

Does anybody know what time the World ends on Saturday? It is supposed to be 33 days after the total Eclipse across America on August 21st.

It is foretold in the Old Testament:

It is too late to send Bruce Willis to blow up Nibiru, especially since Nasa cannot even see it...

 

At 11.59 when certain inhabitants of my country and 'visitors' to my homeland display all that is moronic, childish, regressive and negative about the human condition.

Problem is that I will be glued to the TV screen praying (?) for a ********** victory!

 

Yes, anyone remember "The End Of The World" sketch by the Beyond The Fringe guys?