June 2016 Chit Chat

I just hope if Clinton is elected President that something will get done in Congress.  If we can get a few more Democrats elected maybe we can get a possible ban on assault weapons.  I know I'm reaching but trying to be optimistic.  

A law needs to be enacted  to prevent possible terrorist suspects (like the Orlando shooter) from going to a gun store and buying guns.  There is a law on the books to prevent suspected terrorists from flying but shockingly the Congress would not pass legislation to prevent these same suspects from PURCHASING guns.  Even ISIS said months ago how easy it is for anyone to go into an American gun shop and buy guns.  How sad is that!

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood! 

On Thursday 23 June in UK we are voting in a 
referendum whether to stay in the EU or not.

It's been very interesting listening to the debates 
on Staying or Leaving.
Trouble is one doesn't really know who to believe !

Joanna-- I am sure it is very interesting.  The coverage is very one-sided in the US because of the impact leaving could have on US business interests and the US economy.  I did not realize that US companies employ over 1 million people in Britain and have $588 billion dollars invested there.  Many businesses are there for easy access to European markets and an exit could change that.  So I am very selfishly hoping the vote is to stay--my retirement investments have just recovered from the real estate/banking bubble collapse and I don't want a another big hit!

Totally agree, Jo - and I still have so many questions! 

Like..why do we need a European Commission, a European parliament, and a European council? Think of all those chauffeur-driven cars apart from anything else! It's often described as the gravy train here.

Can countries act unilaterally or do they need 26 other countries agreement?

Why does the UK pay more into the system than any other country other than Germany and is one of only two countries to pay on time. Most others have defaulted. 

Does the EU need us more than we need them?

See what I mean...?


It's been fascinating to hear conversations and debates about it absolutely everywhere....

I've seen something astounding recently and I can't 
remember where. I'll have to Google it.

Once a yearthe whole caboodle moves lock stock and barrel from Brussels 
to Strousbourg  (sp?)
and meets there. I can't remember how long for
but the cost is immense ! 

£150 Million a year.  The waste of money....and it's never been audited 
I believe. Gloriana !!


http://news.sky.com/story/1701639/meps-on-the-move-madness-of-strasbourg

Brilliant piece, Jo. I will be circulating it.

Do you think this happens becos they built the Parliament in the wrong place?!

Maybe they didn't have the right number of meetings to agree the venue!!

hey girls

what happens lately?

so little movement into this blog

I know
I rarely post
too

but all the others?

are we all no more the usual mood?

I could go on and on on some reasons there is little "movement" on here It's Me, but I don't want to be rude, so I'll keep my big mouth shut!

Ok
Thanks anyway

Ok  thanks

it's me...I agree with you whole heartedly.   I don't have a definitive answer for you, but here's what I've observed.... many of the "old gang"   have stopped posting-or post infrequently. You know the folks I mean: always with good conversation, and wit, sometimes  controversial comments. And always well received by fellow COH members.  Not to say, there weren't lively debates.. indeed there were.  But the mood here has changed.   That's not to say this is necessarily a bad thing.  Those who post bring a new perspective to COH. 


Diplomatic enough melbert??????????????????

I will post more  soon .  Just been busy .

Thanks for your contribution to the issue 

it's me - I've been noticing it for a while. A lot of "old timers" have dropped away. I hope it's because, like amaretti. they're just too busy with real life to post. Anyone with kids has their hands full getting ready for summer vacation.

Besides, George has been keeping a pretty low profile, too - unless you count the tabloids that have him getting divorced again. He's probably vegging out in Sonning or Como.

Hopefully George will surface and do something interesting and everyone will come back to post.

Ok
Thanks

We can hope it is time for summer holiday so hopefully he will be out and about soon. And let's hope the press can
get some good shots with the privacy ban on around Oleandra we don't get too many good pictures now.

Hi IM, my perspective is that so much has changed...certainly in the last couple of years...

When I joined COH it was a life saver for me...traveling constantly within a world I found shallow and meaningless....I was successful, but the cost was too much....My mind was always in the game, no play, no small talk.....but the talk I was having was meaningless and OH so important to the empty barrels that gave it full relentless throttle....

Here I found women, at anytime of the day or night, no matter where I was in the world with witty, intelligent, provocative views...who were not scared to give a little of their life story....we had KS the lady with the kidney problem, we TM and her brood of 3 Aussie kids I never tired of hearing about...we had the legendary Mazy who knew what Bashir had for breakfast! forget an expensive satellite, just get Mazy better broadband....So many, all missed all remembered.....

Of late we have new members...I have ABSOLUTELY no idea where they are from....NO part of their life is given, they come with one agenda and one agenda only....

And there lies the problem for me, to me they are transparent....and their lack of their own life "info" makes there agenda here off putting...I don't know who they are!....they give me nothing other than to 100% back Amal in everything....BUT that's George's job NOT theirs.....

There is no debate, there is no differing of opinion....and if you do you will be told in no uncertain terms AC's black is white.....and I'm not talking about the big things, I'm talking about the everyday little annoyances, things that we talk about EVERYDAY regarding colleague's or family or celebrity.....

Nothing is allowed to rock the boat (gondola) nothing....The fairy story continues...full stop...

There are only so many times you can throw up in your mouth, without feeling sick to the stomach....Without the feeling that "WTF am I doing here, my friend's have all gone".....

So what keeps me here, the feeling that this too will pass....and that for some inexplicable reason I am and will remain a fan, as many do in silence....

That one fine day the grip that Amal's fans have on my wrists, that tight anonymous, strangling grip they have on both my wrists preventing me from writing here (something I so loved to do) will one day pass....

Make NO mistake George Clooney still has a legion of fans....but this is the season to be silent......

Jo and PA...they move once a month to keep France HAPPY...WHAT ELSE.....

Just googled Strasbourg, WWHS, and guess what? There's another European thingamy I left off my list - the Council of Europe! And we now have a QC there who's been appointed a judge

So what's the difference between that and the European Court of Justice - apart from that it's in The Hague? (keeping the Dutch happy, no doubt)

Anybody ever hear from Mazy?

Interesting read 
Thanks

PigPen and WWHS !!!!  

For everybody outside if Europe:
We have the continental Championships in Soccer in France at the moment, and it's really fun to watch some matches. Especially when the favorite teams struggle...

So now the round of the last 16 teams is completed, and we've got some surprise teams who made it. I guess the one we all most enjoy to watch is Iceland. They've got about 340,000 people living on their island, and about 10 % of them are in France at the moment, 10,000 were in the arena to watch their last match! Just imagine this in proportion to your countries... For Germany it would mean that around 9 millions would be in France at the moment, and about 3 millions would watch the match  live...
Unbelievable!

Now they have to play vs. Britain, Wales vs. Northern Ireland and Ireland vs. France...
It's going to be fun - as long as no hooligans beat up each other...

WWHS....Bravo!  Eloquently expressed.  We old times applause you!!

@it's me wrote:hey girls

what happens lately?

so little movement into this blog

I know
I rarely post
too

but all the others?

are we all no more the usual mood?

You know how when you lose one sense, another becomes heightened? Like, say, blindness would make your hearing more acute?

Well, that may work for every sense except the sense of humor. There's no compensation for that loss. When it's gone, nothing makes up for it.

I really hope that was NOT lost for real!!!



Anyway I wanted to say (again  )

Italians do it better   

Thanks it's me! Bravo Italia!

There are a lot of good things being done in our world that we don't hear about.

Happy Fourth of July weekend to all our American friends! Enjoy the fun, sun, picnics, barbecues, beach, pool and fireworks! ... AND the hot dogs, burgers, ribs, chicken, potato salad, pie and maybe wash it down with a Casamigos margarita. Delish!

Happy Fourth  Of July enjoy have fun and be safe.

Mmmmmm sounds good .  Happy Fourth of July !!!

@Donnamarie wrote:Thanks it's me!  Bravo Italia!

There are a lot of good things being done in our world that we don't hear about.

Grazie a te