I just thought the full story was so interesting! Yes the IDF are incredible soldiers, particularly their special forces. I loved that women play a significant role. Arnon Zamora died for his country and for his fellow citizens. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 13:15 -- I remember reading it in a Czech church about a priest who helped hide some English resistance in WW2 and gave his life for them and thinking how brave. I think it is apt here. May his memory be a blessing.
I will try to remember to add more about my bees -- always a constant anxiety as they don't seem to have read the same manuals that I have. LOL
Reading your descriptions of UK politics is always fun and I am often left wondering which is crazier, American Progressives or British Labour. The Parliamentary system makes things kinda odd in that one can choose an MP for good and decent reasons but also then empower lunatics to run the whole show. Here you can pick your on Rep and a different headmaster for the Executive. But that also leads to the polarization we have (though I am not always sure that isn't a good thing in the end).
I think the Scottish Greens win that contest. LOL.
In some ways it is v tribal though -- there are people I know who vote Labour because their grandparents voted Labour sort of thing. And in those v safe seats you sometimes get MPs parachuted in who have little affinity to the area. (Eg Peter Mandelson in Darlington when he looked at mushy peas and said v loudly oh I do love avocado).
And Labour in the North East can be v different to Labour in London. There is some suspicion that they are losing votes to Reform up here. Reform doesn't have a candidate in Hexham which is interesting (no idea why).
I suspect Hexham will stay conservative as Opperman in general has been a good MP but the race is going to be tight. Labour's candidate grew up here but has worked in Westminster as a Spad. He is big on climate change issues (may not go down well in a rural area). I suspect he takes the party line (whatever that is) on women's rights. Currently I am still trying to make up my mind. The leader of the SDP (central left, socially conservative) is also standing as are the LibDems, the Greens and an independent who appears to be anti-vaxxer.
Scottish Greens, ah, yes! Truly off the rails. Their views have been a cognitive mystery to me. I simply cannot put together in a 3-dimensional space some of their views. Maybe eventual death will show me the extra dimensions needed to understand. Oh, I understand that there are some actually deranged folks who think men can be women (rather than men playing - LARPing as the young and techno-hip would say) but why does any normal person subscribe to this? The regular folks who leave their domiciles to cast a vote and believe this nonsense?
Well, I wish England, Wales, and Scotland and NI as well good luck in the coming elections. Be careful what you wish for as the saying goes!
The Greens are this strange mix of people who want to save the hedgerows and the anarchists. It used to be a protest vote and then they got Gender Ideology in a big way. Some of their policies make no sense to me either.
It is going to be a strange election and I have no idea which way it will go as I suspect many are keeping their powder dry. But people are tired of the Tories and don't trust Labour to have changed from the craziness of the Corbyn era.
And now of course we have the snap French elections and we may get Le Pen and Le Toy Boy. It is going to be an interesting summer.
It is odd when Meloni and Italy are being seen as the big statesmen of Europe.
"The Greens promised lots but had to change the short version because they promised to end HIV transmission by 2030 and pictured a coughing man next to the promise. AIDS and other HIV related illnesses are not spread through coughing."
Reminds me of my middle school health teacher in 1986 telling us we could get AIDS from a pay phone if someone had used it before us spit on the receiver. Thought we were past these notions!
Jealous of your bee keeping! When I was a kid my father had a hive and then ordered bees through the mail. He went to pick them up at the post office and everyone was freaking out because they were buzzing. Bees got outlawed in the town not long after that! lol
Yes I have had bees through the post before, including Queens when the colonies became queen less. The postman always treated the packages warily. It surprised me that they could be sent but the postman assured me that he was used to it. To ensure the Queen did not escape, I had to open the package in the car and get the worker bees out before putting her into the hive. The hive would not accept her with a retinue.
I too thought we were beyond that...I would have thought the Greens with their LGBTQIA+ friendly policies would have seen the problem before they put out the document but apparently not.
Another great week of articles. TY kindly, Michelle.
And I'm glad Paddy had a great week, as well. But sorry to hear about the cold, wet weather You're having. We've been having good weather, in Ohio, but it's supposed to get very hot next week. Monday and Tuesday forecast to be 97 (36° C). Phew!
At least somewhere someone is having a good summer. The great British Summer every so often is the great British wash out.
I am pleased you enjoyed the articles. I thought it so interesting how Watson was able to turn the Greater Manchester Police around so quickly. It did make sense about providing decent uniforms so they could take pride in the uniform.
Princess Anne's horse was a tad frisky this morning. I suspect it is a brave horse which tries such things with her.
I remain undecided on how I will vote. The current MP has been by in large been decent. However he was one of the main ones behind the offing of the Lettuce. Say what you like to lose two prime ministers in a matter of weeks was not a good move. The Lettuce should have done what Soon to be Knackered did -- called a snap election. But we are where we are. My MP is expected to survive the onslaught from Labour, particularly as there is no Reform candidate.
This is also good from Julie Bindel about why Labour continues to have a Women problem: Do they just hold women in contempt? https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/06/14/keir-starmer-women-transgender-labour-manifesto/ or https://archive.ph/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/06/14/keir-starmer-women-transgender-labour-manifesto/
I'm very sorry to hear about Labour's policies. Always like Julie Bindel. TY, Michelle.
The IDF are real-life badasses. RIP Arnon Zamora, hero who fell during the operation.
Looking good, Paddy! Sounds like a marvelous day. And I’m always interested to hear about your beehives! That is fascinating to me.
I just thought the full story was so interesting! Yes the IDF are incredible soldiers, particularly their special forces. I loved that women play a significant role. Arnon Zamora died for his country and for his fellow citizens. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 13:15 -- I remember reading it in a Czech church about a priest who helped hide some English resistance in WW2 and gave his life for them and thinking how brave. I think it is apt here. May his memory be a blessing.
I will try to remember to add more about my bees -- always a constant anxiety as they don't seem to have read the same manuals that I have. LOL
Another great update.
Reading your descriptions of UK politics is always fun and I am often left wondering which is crazier, American Progressives or British Labour. The Parliamentary system makes things kinda odd in that one can choose an MP for good and decent reasons but also then empower lunatics to run the whole show. Here you can pick your on Rep and a different headmaster for the Executive. But that also leads to the polarization we have (though I am not always sure that isn't a good thing in the end).
I think the Scottish Greens win that contest. LOL.
In some ways it is v tribal though -- there are people I know who vote Labour because their grandparents voted Labour sort of thing. And in those v safe seats you sometimes get MPs parachuted in who have little affinity to the area. (Eg Peter Mandelson in Darlington when he looked at mushy peas and said v loudly oh I do love avocado).
And Labour in the North East can be v different to Labour in London. There is some suspicion that they are losing votes to Reform up here. Reform doesn't have a candidate in Hexham which is interesting (no idea why).
I suspect Hexham will stay conservative as Opperman in general has been a good MP but the race is going to be tight. Labour's candidate grew up here but has worked in Westminster as a Spad. He is big on climate change issues (may not go down well in a rural area). I suspect he takes the party line (whatever that is) on women's rights. Currently I am still trying to make up my mind. The leader of the SDP (central left, socially conservative) is also standing as are the LibDems, the Greens and an independent who appears to be anti-vaxxer.
Scottish Greens, ah, yes! Truly off the rails. Their views have been a cognitive mystery to me. I simply cannot put together in a 3-dimensional space some of their views. Maybe eventual death will show me the extra dimensions needed to understand. Oh, I understand that there are some actually deranged folks who think men can be women (rather than men playing - LARPing as the young and techno-hip would say) but why does any normal person subscribe to this? The regular folks who leave their domiciles to cast a vote and believe this nonsense?
Well, I wish England, Wales, and Scotland and NI as well good luck in the coming elections. Be careful what you wish for as the saying goes!
The Greens are this strange mix of people who want to save the hedgerows and the anarchists. It used to be a protest vote and then they got Gender Ideology in a big way. Some of their policies make no sense to me either.
It is going to be a strange election and I have no idea which way it will go as I suspect many are keeping their powder dry. But people are tired of the Tories and don't trust Labour to have changed from the craziness of the Corbyn era.
And now of course we have the snap French elections and we may get Le Pen and Le Toy Boy. It is going to be an interesting summer.
It is odd when Meloni and Italy are being seen as the big statesmen of Europe.
“It is odd when Meloni and Italy are being seen as the big statesmen of Europe.”
__________________
Comment of the day!
"The Greens promised lots but had to change the short version because they promised to end HIV transmission by 2030 and pictured a coughing man next to the promise. AIDS and other HIV related illnesses are not spread through coughing."
Reminds me of my middle school health teacher in 1986 telling us we could get AIDS from a pay phone if someone had used it before us spit on the receiver. Thought we were past these notions!
Jealous of your bee keeping! When I was a kid my father had a hive and then ordered bees through the mail. He went to pick them up at the post office and everyone was freaking out because they were buzzing. Bees got outlawed in the town not long after that! lol
Yes I have had bees through the post before, including Queens when the colonies became queen less. The postman always treated the packages warily. It surprised me that they could be sent but the postman assured me that he was used to it. To ensure the Queen did not escape, I had to open the package in the car and get the worker bees out before putting her into the hive. The hive would not accept her with a retinue.
I too thought we were beyond that...I would have thought the Greens with their LGBTQIA+ friendly policies would have seen the problem before they put out the document but apparently not.
And because I know you are interested in the Princess of Wales -- she will be making the Trooping of the Colour -- recently posted this: https://x.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/1801660649333719231
Good! I hope she’s doing well! I’ll be watching. I love the Trooping of the Colour.
I thought the photo showed she was doing okay.
We will know more tomorrow, I guess. I am just pleased she is feeling well enough to go.
The flypast is scheduled for 12:52 pm BST
This is the Times article: https://www.thetimes.com/uk/royal-family/article/kate-princess-wales-news-cancer-trooping-colour-gjj55xtq5
She looks great. Chemo can be so hard on people.
I was expecting the worst so she has obviously taken great care etc.
Let's hope she continues to get better.
Hello Northumberland!
Another great week of articles. TY kindly, Michelle.
And I'm glad Paddy had a great week, as well. But sorry to hear about the cold, wet weather You're having. We've been having good weather, in Ohio, but it's supposed to get very hot next week. Monday and Tuesday forecast to be 97 (36° C). Phew!
Always appreciate it.
At least somewhere someone is having a good summer. The great British Summer every so often is the great British wash out.
I am pleased you enjoyed the articles. I thought it so interesting how Watson was able to turn the Greater Manchester Police around so quickly. It did make sense about providing decent uniforms so they could take pride in the uniform.
Yeah, that was real interesting.
Have a good weekend, Michelle.
We will be longing for your weather as a "heat dome" moves from the West and the weather folks promise it will stay over the East for at least a week.
It has been so cold here that people have been putting the fire on. Sales of hot chocolate and tea are up.
I could do with a heat dome for a little while.
I can always count you for an unique take.
Princess Anne's horse was a tad frisky this morning. I suspect it is a brave horse which tries such things with her.
I remain undecided on how I will vote. The current MP has been by in large been decent. However he was one of the main ones behind the offing of the Lettuce. Say what you like to lose two prime ministers in a matter of weeks was not a good move. The Lettuce should have done what Soon to be Knackered did -- called a snap election. But we are where we are. My MP is expected to survive the onslaught from Labour, particularly as there is no Reform candidate.