BruceVC

Fair enough but you still not answering my question. Would you support the invasion of Ukraine by Russia if NATO and the West dont agree to Putins demands around Ukraine not ever being allowed to join NATO?

I would like to move on from us focusing on what clothes she is wearing because I dont think it has any relevance to why she met Lavrov and the valid and global criticism towards Russia and the possible invasion of Ukraine Do you think Russia will be justified if it invades Ukraine based on what Putin is expecting from NATO and the West? In other words if NATO and the West dont agree to Putins demands that Ukraine cannot ever join NATO would that mean you will support the invasion of Ukraine? Sometimes I am confused by your support of Russia so I just want to understand what you believe And I hope you dont take this personally and or get vexed about this discussion, this is just debate and we all have different views on this topic which is what makes the art of debate interesting. Echo chambers are boring as I have always said

Someone got out of the wrong side of their bed this morning Its not relevant at all to any of those things you mention, I would have thought my point was clear? Criticize what people say and do and not what clothes they wear And you sound like the Russian media calling her out for incompetence and arrogance....thats the state controlled and influenced media of course https://inews.co.uk/news/world/russias-sergei-lavrov-describes-liz-truss-talks-as-speaking-to-a-deaf-person-amid-ukraine-tensions-1452975 Lavrov claims " she was unprepared for the meeting" and it was like "“speaking to a deaf person who listens but does not hear.” Their is nothing to prepare for something which is blatantly clear to everyone but Russia and Russian apologists. Putin has built up troops on the border of Ukraine and threatens the sovereignty of Ukraine What exactly should she had said? "Hi Lavrov, we have no issue with what you doing because you not doing exactly what we see you doing " How is she arrogant and how did she embarrass the UK over this meeting? Unless of course you referring to other incidents which I am not sure how they relevant to what Zora mentioned ?

Zora please dont be sexist and attack the UK foreign secretary because of the clothes she was wearing I realize this type of criticism is normally subconscious and most men dont realize they doing it but when was the last time you ever criticized any male politician on this forum " for the clothes they wearing". It reminds me of some the personal attacks Hilary Clinton received in 2016 where she was judged for " how her hair looked " or other similar fatuous things ( Yes Trump also got personal attacks so maybe thats a bad example ) I dont think you are overtly sexist but you should be aware of what you saying and how it comes across

The first time I ever had an authentic Philly Cheese Steak was in 2011 in Atlanta at the airport and I said to the lady working at the Philly Steak takeaway " I have never had a Philly Cheese Steak before " and she said " You will love it, I will make this one special for you " And she was right, I loved it but whats not to love about steak and cheese

Yes because Russia would never cheat at any sports event, how silly of me

Im watching this on CNN now, the invasion may happen during the Olympics....it seems unlikely but you never know with Putin ?

Gfted1 I thought of something that confuses me. If inequality and poverty is the primary factor that leads to obesity why is it that in the 12 African countries I have worked in you will find that obesity is not a societal problem? Why is it that obesity is only caused by poverty and inequality in first world countries because poverty and inequality is much worse throughout Africa ?

Excellent analogy, it makes sense Personally I think the fearmongering around this latest variant was not done to control or influence society in a nefarious way but I think governments are just nervous after Delta and overreacted because Omicron was so transmissible But I do think the scientific knowledge was abused with Omicron to embellish the risk

" Obesity which is impervious to exercise "

https://www.cbssports.com/olympics/news/beijing-olympics-2022-roc-figure-skater-kamila-valieva-15-reportedly-tes-positive-for-banned-substance/ Another example of Russia cheating in a sports event, I suppose these Olympics are being held in a country where their is no regard for human rights or basic freedoms so its not a huge surprise

Why do you guys keep assuming caning is about extreme beatings? You make it out like its some sort of abuse Did your parents never spank you when you were growing up?

That is weird, you thought of the exact same thing as me " Great minds think alike " and all that

I dont think the stove analogy is the same And doing physical exercise instead of being caned can be worse, what if the pupil is overweigh or has a heart condition? I am surprised that you as a teacher thinks that would be a good idea ...Im very surprised I appreciate the fact you thinking of ways to improve discipline but we have to reasonable and not humiliate young people.

Can you clarify what you mean, what is the book about and do you feel their are degrees of overreach by many governments specifically with this new variant and continuing with lockdowns or wanting to continue with lockdowns? Or do you feel continued lockdowns are justified ?

I love this word you guys use "fatcats " I love cats and I really think a fat cat is cute, especially when they resting with their furry belly's hanging out

Hoonding you should by now I dont support any illegal or legal protest that is going to harm the economy, you must always think of the poor and inequality No, my friend. You dont understand, living in SA we have had years of dealing with violent and destructive protests and their is a proven formulae to end these types of protests. You arrest and prosecute some of the protestors, not all of them. Once people see their is real consequence for criminality the rest will stop their actions. Its the same successful approach you use with any BLM protests where people break the law But you right, you definitely dont want to arrest all the truckers, I dont think Canada has the resources for that anyway ?

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/02/10/americas/canada-trucker-protests-covid-thursday/index.html The illegal protest by Canadian truckers have now blocked a third border into the US The Canadian authorities need to start arresting more people and addressing this unacceptable anarchy, its impacting both the US and Canadian supply chains and that really cant continue

Im watching several new entertaining shows that include Lie with me : An Australian drama about a women who suspects her husband is having an affair and she suffers from mental problems, it sounds boring but its worthwhile especially with the nanny being a real hottie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lie_With_Me_(2021_TV_series) The Gilded Age A historical drama from the creators of Downton Abbey. Its set in the US from 1880 in NY and if you like the opulence and decadence of the creation of wealth from this time this is for you https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gilded_Age_(TV_series) Tell me your secrets This is an unusual one, the girlfriend of a predatory serial killer is released from jail and starts a new life in " witness protection " program but the families of the victims of her boyfriend want to find their missing family members and they hire an ex-rapist who is skilled at lying to find her. Very disturbing and interesting especially when the protagonist may have not been unaware of her serial killer boyfriends actions and may have been involved in the murders and disappearances of victims https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tell_Me_Your_Secrets

I wonder what they would taste like with a nice blue cheese like Gorgonzola or Roquefort

Im not sure what you believe is the root cause for this global inflation but its primarily being caused by the pandemic and global economic lockdowns As economies are coming back online we have major supply chain issues, high oil price due to demand and shortages of goods and yes all this stimulus from the Democrats hasnt helped But its not because of the normal monetary policies of Central Banks, they arent the main cause. This current inflation is due to the lockdowns and its artificial as opposed to systemic like the causes of the great depression

https://summit.news/2022/02/10/doctor-who-discovered-omicron-variant-says-she-was-pressured-to-not-reveal-it-was-mild/ Here is a very relevant article that highlights how some of the pandemic measures have been misplaced and forms of government overreach in an attempt to control our societies for reasons that are beyond me

Elerond please dont confuse our American and Australian friends, everyone knows only the Nordic countries have the right balance between socialism and " Capitalism " No other country can do what you guys do successfully and sustainably so its unfair to make comparisons....the rest of us dont have the same societies, support from citizens and lack of problems that exist in the Nordic countries If you need evidence of why corporal punishment is a good thing you just need to look at me

Im disappointed you are comfortable handwaving the actual reality and lived experiences of many people in our societies, you dont make a very convincing argument when you cant support your own view? Sure but I am not talking about using corporal punishment as convenience for all forms of discipline. Many parents I know, including my brothers who have kids, dont believe in corporal punishment (well their wives dont believe in it ) and their is nothing wrong with their kids so its not mandatory if your children respond to other forms of consequence But one of the societal negative outcomes to not having corporal punishment is some young people leave school with no respect for laws and rules and in RL this is how they conduct themselves And you say you werent spanked and you not a bad adult, I agree but look at your anarchist tendencies Gorthfuscious ? Dont you think this is related to that, dont you wish you werent so "anti-society "

Im not suggesting all young people would benefit from corporal punishment, I just know it worked for me because I was recalcitrant. You dont seem to be someone who was particularly disruptive These types of articles are the worst examples of why corporal punishment is bad, they ignore the reality in countries that arent first world countries and even make these outrageous suggestions its akin to abuse and can lead to people becoming abusive in later life Its well meaning but its also propaganda and I encourage people not to fall for it, you dont need a study like this when myself and millions of other people have lived experience of the benefits of the discipline and respect most learn through corporal punishment A few years ago several civil society groups in SA took government to court to overturn the ban on corporal punishment....sadly we lost but the judges ruling was wrong in this case because they ruled that in our Constitution violence against children is obviously unconstitutional and for some strange reason decided corporal punishment is violence against children so its illegal. But corporal punishment is not violence against children in the way our Constitution defines, its about discipline. Anyway the point being many South Africans support corporal punishment and I can promise you its not because they mentally unbalanced or violent abusers of children https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/confirmed-heres-why-spanking-your-child-could-now-land-you-in-jail/ Governments shouldn't get involved on this level on how families raise children...we dont want to live in a nanny state