Gorth

Not that I really like sharing doom and gloom, but it does look worrying... https://www.bbc.com/news/business-62310355 ...But the contraction, at an annual rate of 0.9% in the three months to July, has drawn widespread attention as worries about the economy grow. Prices for groceries, petrol and other basics are rising at the fastest pace since 1981. As the US central bank raises borrowing costs quickly to try to cool the economy and ease price pressures, fears are rising that a recession is coming - if it has not officially started already. as for the possible reasons: "I think everybody is sort of waiting for the pandemic to blow over, for the war in Ukraine to settle down, but that's not going to resolve any of the inherent systemic flaws," he says, citing high housing costs, student debt and speculative bubbles in sectors like crypto. High housing cost is not a surprise. I've been claiming for years, it's going to be a major contributor to damaging social stability in the western world...

I don't read twitter (unless people on these forums post links), but it can't be any worse than when some of us (me) read Murdoch media (Sky News/Fox News, same thing) just to groan at the lies and face palm at the sheer stupidity of comments of those who swallow the tabloid stuff... As painful as the existence of such people is, it helps you get a better view of the world and sometimes, just sometimes, help you understand where humanity goes wrong.

Indeed. In China people get to vote for their leader. In fact, they even get encouraged vigorously to vote for their leader. Also, less confusion when there are no opposition parties. Streamlines the entire process in the name of efficiency

Agreed. Weird dietary habits led to everything from SARS to Covid in recent decades... the lab was just a coincidence, that it happened to be in the same city as the outbreak. Also helped bring the spotlight on some shady research going on, on the side (unrelated to Covid19).

What does it take to show Youtube videos on a 40 year old computer?...

Last but not least, this guy was the bane of my cassette recorder/player... always missing either the start or the end of the track when trying to record them off the radio

Video spam... because I listen to too much Youtube while working

Things that played on the radio all day long when Gorth was a teenager. Yes, the synth was strong with that decade (early 80's)...

The victims always seems to "disappear". Hence no allegations raised...

I really don't understand Youtubes algorithms... but this one was recommended to me. Not something I would consciously have looked up, but not bad I guess (which worries me)

https://www.dw.com/en/china-backed-kribi-port-project-in-cameroon-leaves-locals-frustrated/a-42016788 https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/12/08/china-africa-cooperation-investment-belt-road/ https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/china-and-africa-is-it-the-end-of-the-honeymoon-period/ https://www.fpri.org/article/2022/05/chinas-belt-and-road-initiative-in-kenya/ https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/China-s-expensive-bet-on-Africa-has-failed https://www.business-standard.com/article/international/beijing-finds-itself-cornered-by-africa-as-they-cancel-china-led-projects-121092100753_1.html https://thediplomat.com/2020/07/chinas-infrastructure-heavy-model-for-african-growth-is-failing/ https://eurasiantimes.com/chinas-200-billion-gamble-on-africa-has-failed-miserably-due-to-covid-19/ https://www.ft.com/content/ca4072f6-a79f-11e8-a1b6-f368d365bf0e Tl;dr; China is leaving a trail of devastation through Africa, leaving behind poor countries with staggering debts to China for useless/pointless infrastructure and wrecked local economies and environmental, ecological (and economical) disasters, which the locals can't afford to clean up again. Edit: The strategic objective appearing to be a mix of getting cheap African resources and dictating African local politics.

Huh, Iran too... Saudi Arabia has become a major buyer of Russian oil https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/exclusive-saudi-arabia-doubles-q2-russian-fuel-oil-imports-power-generation-2022-07-14/ Supposedly they buy refined oil cheap and sell their own crude to western countries at premium rates.

They probably don't have any RPG pedigree, but the they got the atmosphere and action based combat down pat, that's for sure (and a lot of experience with actual, well working coop design from Killing Floor and Killing Floor 2)

What a shame, Hardsuit Labs made such great games like Killing Floor 2!!! (my favourite coop shooter)

Just something for us cheese lovers...

Bruce, it I can recognize Putin's attempt at mind games, I sincerely hope whatshisname Scholz(?) recognizes it too. Question is, what is he going to do about it? Like the fish in my observation, getting obsessed with the lure (some gas is better than no gas) or make a clean cut and decide he doesn't want to play mind games and let the angler (Putin) end up disappointed and empty handed (edit: even if the immediate cost to the economy may be disastrous) Disclaimer: Read that as you will...

Then I don't think you can be helped

How did you arrive at that conclusion?... seriously

When I read the WP piece, I was reminded of an angler... no good just yanking at the line when something's nibbling at the hook. Let it dangle for a bit and let it wear itself out.

(Doing a happy dance)... the new episodes of Made in Abyss second season has started to be released (edit 3 episodes out so far afaik) Old trailers for the new season...

I bought a bottle of Japanese gin recently (Roku). Excellent for those of us who are not gin drinkers No, really, it was great

Never done the whisky throttle, but I remember a few times where full rev and acceleration saved my butt. One time in particular when I was about to be crushed like a ripe tomato between two large trucks (and neither had seen me). 3 lane highway leading out of the city. A truck going slow on both lane 1 and 3. Gorth going through on lane 2. Suddenly the truck on lane 3 thought he was going to slow for lane 3 and pulled into lane 2 (my lane) Note... left hand side driving, so lane 1 (left most) is normally for slow traffic. The guy on lane 3 had no business whatsoever being there....

A bit off topic... different colours (mine was red, because red wunz go fasta!) but otherwise this was my very first bike. Drove it a lot for 5-6 years. I had to sell it when I moved from Australia to Germany (or would have both pay shipping and import tax) Edit: There are days where I really miss it and think I should get my act together and get a new one...

He'll get his revenge. Eat more fish!

An old Queen Song... nostalgia time I was just a skinny lad Never knew no good from bad But I knew love before I left my nursery Left alone with big fat Fanny She was such a naughty nanny Hey big woman, you made a bad boy out of me I've been singing with my band Across the water, across the land I've seen every blue eyed floozy on the way But their beauty and their style Went kind of smooth after a while Take me to them naughty ladies every time