Season 12 Chit Chat Thread

[chucky]

7 hours ago, Die Zimtzicke said:

The 14th amendment guaranteed it. I know it's a long shot but it would not the the first time an amendment was changed or discarded. They repealed prohibition, after all.

Yeah, that happened in the past, but I don't see that happening these days. neither party can muster up the votes for that action. The voters would have to demand the overturning of a Constitutional amendment before that happened. I believed that is what caused the repealing of prohibition.

[joyceraye]

17 hours ago, chucky said:

Yeah, that happened in the past, but I don't see that happening these days. neither party can muster up the votes for that action. The voters would have to demand the overturning of a Constitutional amendment before that happened. I believed that is what caused the repealing of prohibition.

It's surprising how countries can change their rules when they want to, though.  I only found out the other day that being born in the UK is no longer necessarily sufficient for  British nationality/citizenship. 

I discovered last night that some relatives of mine who've been living and working in Ireland for thirty years now daren't pop across to the UK even for one day in case they're not allowed back in : a recent court ruling means they'd also lose their rights to apply for Irish citizenship on the grounds of residence.  Leaving Irish soil at all means foreigners lose all rights to apply and can be refused re-entry even if they own a home and have their life and family in Ireland. This is particularly difficult for non-Irish residents who live near the border with Northern Ireland and need to go there to do their shopping,  to sell produce at the market , or to go to work. There's an appeal process  going on but until or unless the ruling is overturned a lot of people, 300,000 British alone and goodness-knows how many others, are trapped. 

Obtaining Irish nationality/citizenship on grounds of long residence now costs 2000 euros for a passport - a euro  is worth about the same value as a US dollar. My cousin's son was turned down because he's not yet spent five years paying for a home of his own in Ireland - ie not living with parents - after leaving university. He can travel on a British passport but risks the possibility of being refused entry to Ireland if he tries to get back home. Whether  foreigners can still get Irish nationality/citizenship on grounds of having an Irish grandparent I don't know. It's said an Irish passport is the best passport in the world to have because Ireland is neutral and holders can go anywhere. It doesn't seem five minutes since the Irish government wanted to attract people to the country and bent over backwards. Things can change in a day ! If they can make citizenship hard to get then anybody can.

 

Edited August 21, 2019 by joyceraye
typo

[Die Zimtzicke]

16 hours ago, chucky said:

Yeah, that happened in the past, but I don't see that happening these days. neither party can muster up the votes for that action. The voters would have to demand the overturning of a Constitutional amendment before that happened. I believed that is what caused the repealing of prohibition.

You never know. In April of this year, the women's equal rights amendment saw action for the first time in 36 years. A resolution was sponsored in Congress to restart the process needed to add it to the constitution. It needed 38 states to pass and stalled at 35 in 1977.

2 minutes ago, joyceraye said:

It's surprising how countries can change their rules when they want to, though.  I only found out the other day that being born in the UK is no longer necessarily sufficient for  British nationality/citizenship. 

Interesting. I had not heard that. I know a lot of people who are freaked out because of Brexit because they work in one country and live in another and that's supposed to change. I have a friend who takes the Eurostar from England to Paris every day for work.

[joyceraye]

2 hours ago, Die Zimtzicke said:

Interesting. I had not heard that. I know a lot of people who are freaked out because of Brexit because they work in one country and live in another and that's supposed to change. I have a friend who takes the Eurostar from England to Paris every day for work.

Bold : I looked it up when somebody in this thread told me.  

There's been no firm decision about 'free movement' in Europe when/if  Brexit happens. It was included in the  offered 'deals' but none of the deals were accepted by Parliament. Trouble is, although 'free movement' is  fairly new, a lot of people who live in another country or who travel a lot for work are too young to remember what it was like before, so they worry.  All crossing a border involved was waving your passport and very occasionally being stopped to have your luggage looked at. Moreover, there are thousands of people from outside Europe who live and work here and vice versa. Before Poland joined the EU there were Polish people here, for example, and there's easily a couple of million Asians. I hear there are Americans too.  The EU has its knickers in a twist because the UK has a land border with another EU country, Ireland.  At the other end of the EU, where the newest members are former Soviet countries, the land borders are with Russia and nobody thinks anybody's going to take advantage of that.  

[chucky]

5 hours ago, Die Zimtzicke said:

You never know. In April of this year, the women's equal rights amendment saw action for the first time in 36 years. A resolution was sponsored in Congress to restart the process needed to add it to the constitution. It needed 38 states to pass and stalled at 35 in 1977.

That's why I don't believe changes to the Constitution will occur. The votes in Congress and the ratification by the states is a daunting task. A change is possible, but in my opinion, not probable. As for the Women's Equal Rights Amendment, 42 years is a long time.

Edited August 21, 2019 by chucky

[Nogravitasatall]

9 hours ago, joyceraye said:

Bold : I looked it up when somebody in this thread told me.  

There's been no firm decision about 'free movement' in Europe when/if  Brexit happens. It was included in the  offered 'deals' but none of the deals were accepted by Parliament. Trouble is, although 'free movement' is  fairly new, a lot of people who live in another country or who travel a lot for work are too young to remember what it was like before, so they worry.  All crossing a border involved was waving your passport and very occasionally being stopped to have your luggage looked at. Moreover, there are thousands of people from outside Europe who live and work here and vice versa. Before Poland joined the EU there were Polish people here, for example, and there's easily a couple of million Asians. I hear there are Americans too.  The EU has its knickers in a twist because the UK has a land border with another EU country, Ireland.  At the other end of the EU, where the newest members are former Soviet countries, the land borders are with Russia and nobody thinks anybody's going to take advantage of that.  

I read that just getting the trucks with food and necessities across the Channel will be challenging, just because they will have stop and park for customs checks. 20km queues. The modern economy is built on “just in time” supply chains. This breaks the chains.

And who knows what troubles will again arise in Northern Ireland.  It’s not like there’s history or anything.

It’s very vexed. November 1 is coming quickly for the UK. And then there’s next November.  Plus, the inverted yield curve occurrence. And the Greenland thing. It goes on.

It’s all too weird.

Edit: And as others were speaking of American constitutional amendments, I understand the 25th has been evaded, because there isn’t a quorum of senate confirmed cabinet members, even if the intent could coalesce. “I like acting”. Rat cunning, right there.

 

Edited August 21, 2019 by Nogravitasatall

[joyceraye]

2 hours ago, Nogravitasatall said:

I read that just getting the trucks with food and necessities across the Channel will be challenging, just because they will have stop and park for customs checks. 20km queues. The modern economy is built on “just in time” supply chains. This breaks the chains.

And who knows what troubles will again arise in Northern Ireland.  It’s not like there’s history or anything.

It’s very vexed. November 1 is coming quickly for the UK. And then there’s next November.  Plus, the inverted yield curve occurrence. And the Greenland thing. It goes on.

It’s all too weird.

Edit: And as others were speaking of American constitutional amendments, I understand the 25th has been evaded, because there isn’t a quorum of senate confirmed cabinet members, even if the intent could coalesce. “I like acting”. Rat cunning, right there.

 

I think if I lived in Greenland and thought the Russians might come one night and take over the island for nothing, but the US was not only offering protection but also to pay me a royalty on the profit from local resources, like they do in Alaska, I might just give the matter some thought. Whom do I want for Head of State ? Putin,Trump, Her Majesty. Hmmm. Putin ,Trump, Her Majesty. Decisions, decisions.

I gather the place is not currently for sale anyway and there's no referendum pending so it's not an immediate problem. Apparently the last president to ask to buy was Truman in 1954. ( I looked that up, I didn't remember it. )

Edited August 22, 2019 by joyceraye
punctuation

[Nogravitasatall]

2 hours ago, joyceraye said:

I think if I lived in Greenland and thought the Russians might come one night and take over the island for nothing, but the US was not only offering protection but also to pay me a royalty on the profit from local resources, like they do in Alaska, I might just give the matter some thought. Whom do I want for Head of State ? Putin,Trump, Her Majesty. Hmmm. Putin ,Trump, Her Majesty. Decisions, decisions.

I gather the place is not currently for sale anyway and there's no referendum pending so it's not an immediate problem. Apparently the last president to ask to buy was Truman in 1954. ( I looked that up, I didn't remember it. )

That’s the whole point. It’s in the “what the hell? ” column. Why, just why?

And regarding Russia. Extremely unlikely, given NATO. But wait... who wants to kill that again. Starts with T.

Crazy.

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/08/trump-defects-autocrats/596518/

Edited August 22, 2019 by Nogravitasatall
Referencing

[Tensor]

 

6 hours ago, Nogravitasatall said:

Edit: And as others were speaking of American constitutional amendments, I understand the 25th has been evaded, because there isn’t a quorum of senate confirmed cabinet members, even if the intent could coalesce. “I like acting”. Rat cunning, right there.

That's not quite true.  Yes, it's been evaded, but not for that reasons.  For one, it doesn't say quorum of cabinet members.  The wording of the amendment, says "The Vice-President and the principal officers of the executive departments..."  (there's another possibility, that the congress passes a law designating another body as the deciding group, but that's not likely with a split congress, and not enough to override the for sure veto).

 Anyway, back to "The Vice-President and the principal officers of the executive departments...".  It doesn't distinguish between a senate approved secretary and an acting secretary, principal, could be deemed, the one in charge.  Now, I'm sure that there would be some sort of legal challenge,  if the president decided he wasn't going to go, on whether or not the acting secretary is the principal of that department.  Not to mention that as there are a lot of "Acting" heads of departments, those are quite loyal to Trump and won't vote him out.  

It's really a moot point, right now.   Note the phrase, "The Vice-President AND, the principal..."   The Vice-President would also have to agree, and at this point, Pence is not going to try to get Trump removed from office this way.   That Pence refuses to act is the biggest reason the 25th Amendment hasn't been invoked yet.

 

 

 

 

[Nogravitasatall]

47 minutes ago, Tensor said:

 

That's not quite true.  Yes, it's been evaded, but not for that reasons.  For one, it doesn't say quorum of cabinet members.  The wording of the amendment, says "The Vice-President and the principal officers of the executive departments..."  (there's another possibility, that the congress passes a law designating another body as the deciding group, but that's not likely with a split congress, and not enough to override the for sure veto).

 Anyway, back to "The Vice-President and the principal officers of the executive departments...".  It doesn't distinguish between a senate approved secretary and an acting secretary, principal, could be deemed, the one in charge.  Now, I'm sure that there would be some sort of legal challenge,  if the president decided he wasn't going to go, on whether or not the acting secretary is the principal of that department.  Not to mention that as there are a lot of "Acting" heads of departments, those are quite loyal to Trump and won't vote him out.  

It's really a moot point, right now.   Note the phrase, "The Vice-President AND, the principal..."   The Vice-President would also have to agree, and at this point, Pence is not going to try to get Trump removed from office this way.   That Pence refuses to act is the biggest reason the 25th Amendment hasn't been invoked yet.

Thanks for the clarification. I’m sure if there is an opportunity to game it, it will be gamed.

Daily I read the news to find what’s happened next. Cliffhangers and plot twists every night! I’m 12,000km away. I have no idea what being there is like.

[Tensor]

31 minutes ago, Nogravitasatall said:

 

Daily I read the news to find what’s happened next. Cliffhangers and plot twists every night! I’m 12,000km away. I have no idea what being there is like.

It's depressing how accurate something written in 1953, like the quotes in this article.

[Nogravitasatall]

2 hours ago, Tensor said:

It's depressing how accurate something written in 1953, like the quotes in this article.

I want my suit. The Marauder one. Just in case.

The thing is people have been the same for a long time.  Some people have the insight to observe and predict and some others have the insight to observe and then grab the levers. I’ve known a psychopath - she knew how grab the levers. But she didn’t get 13 years of fake “reality” show and a $400m inheritance to build a public image and gain enough public confidence to execute her scams. 

Heinlein. Sigh. I’m probably not critical enough myself about his works. “Farnham’s Freehold” is pretty disturbing. Let’s hope his predictive powers were off there.

Its all going a bit pear shaped, really.

 

[joyceraye]

4 hours ago, Tensor said:

It's depressing how accurate something written in 1953, like the quotes in this article.

I didn't know about this book, thanks.  I loved Heinlein's work from when I was about twelve and graduating from Enid Blyton and Carolyn Keene to when I was about forty. Then his writing seemed to change and I didn't like it. Years later, someone who'd met him said it was because he was going senile. I think I'll get this book,though, and give him another go. 1953 won't be one of his later works.

[hokie3457]

I think if I lived in Greenland and thought the Russians might come one night and take over the island for nothing, but the US was not only offering protection but also to pay me a royalty on the profit from local resources, like they do in Alaska, I might just give the matter some thought. Whom do I want for Head of State ? Putin,Trump, Her Majesty. Hmmm. Putin ,Trump, Her Majesty. Decisions, decisions.

I gather the place is not currently for sale anyway and there's no referendum pending so it's not an immediate problem. Apparently the last president to ask to buy was Truman in 1954. ( I looked that up, I didn't remember it. )

 

Not to be pedantic, but it was earlier than 1954: Truman was in office from April 1945 to January 1953. (History major...)

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[joyceraye]

7 hours ago, hokie3457 said:

 

Not to be pedantic, but it was earlier than 1954: Truman was in office from April 1945 to January 1953. (History major...)

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Me too (eventually)  but I was in nursery or infant school at the time. It would be some years before I knew America existed let alone had a president. Perhaps the US proposed it while he was in office and got the answer in 1954 ? 

[Die Zimtzicke]

Has anyone heard anything about the sitcom The Inn Crowd, the show Jim Parsons was supposed to start working on  for NBC? I heard he was supposed to be doing another sitcom and then heard nothing more. I've been swamped with work and remodeling my house, though. I could have missed something.

I know he's supposed to get as much as $20 million a year in syndication money for as long as TBBT reruns are on the air.

[shell]

24 minutes ago, Die Zimtzicke said:

Has anyone heard anything about the sitcom The Inn Crowd, the show Jim Parsons was supposed to start working on  for NBC? I heard he was supposed to be doing another sitcom and then heard nothing more. I've been swamped with work and remodeling my house, though. I could have missed something.

I know he's supposed to get as much as $20 million a year in syndication money for as long as TBBT reruns are on the air.

Good for him.

He sounds like a busy guy. I think they're done filming Boys in the Band and I believe he was going to star in Michael Ausiello's book/movie. We'll have to see what comes next...

[Die Zimtzicke]

Interesting. I don't have FX so I've never seen it but it will have its 14th season start this month so, it will tie “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet” for longest-running live-action TV comedy in history.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/tv/ct-ent-its-always-sunny-in-philadelphia-longest-running-tv-20190905-yc77amzmqvhcnbhawgvtlms44q-story.html?fbclid=IwAR2FkwChgFy2GtKLB59vuubqsv0FLP_l3WyXwg5XSBrFUitNKDw-3o0q65M

[joyceraye]

Tonight's Pointless Celebrities (7th September ) has all its contestants from the world of Science and Space. It includes Maggie Pocock from The Sky at Night.

[Strawberry]

Here's a very belated link.

Abbey Road

[chucky]

It doesn't seem like 50 years since the release of Abbey Road. Time really flies by.

[Die Zimtzicke]

I've been baby sitting my grandkids over their fall break...they have the Disney Channel and love the show Jessie. The character named Ravi reminds me so much of Raj it isn't even funny. He's played by an actor named Karan Brar.

[Strawberry]

Reminder for anyone else here in the United Kingdom that might need reminding: clocks go back at 2am tonight.

[veejay]

6 hours ago, Strawberry said:

Reminder for anyone else here in the United Kingdom that might need reminding: clocks go back at 2am tonight.

Is this just another weird attempt to delay the Brexit?

I'm kidding, of course! 😉

[chucky]

I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Veterans Day. Being a retired sailor with many military veterans in my family, this holiday is especially important to me. So again, Happy Veterans Day!!!!