Where is everybody?

[joy]

I haven't seen any posts here for a couple of days.

[Gina Man]

On Wed, 3 Oct 2018 15:55:48 -0700, joy <jgay...@dslextreme.com> wrote:

>I haven't seen any posts here for a couple of days.

I heard that Sue in Oklahoma passed away...

[Sue in Ok]

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sue in Ok]

On Wednesday, October 3, 2018 at 5:55:51 PM UTC-5, joy wrote:
> I haven't seen any posts here for a couple of days.

Hi Joy! Not much new to report-been reading about those folks that are trying to get to USA thru Mexico...it could mess up my husband's trip to Mexico if Trump has to close the border...hope it does not come to that...how are you? Have you heard from Dalin lately?

[joy]

Hi Sue! No, I haven't heard from Dalin in a while.

I'm okay. I've been having internet problems for a couple of weeks. I
switched providers and now I'm having a problem getting everything set
up so I can access my new email through Thunderbird. I'll get it
figured out eventually, I'm sure.

[Gina Man]

Ah, so it would appear that the rumors of your demise are somewhat exaggerated.

[Sue in Ok]

I am enjoying the fall weather/cooler temps :) Hope you are having better luck with your computer,ect...

[joy]

Thanks. I think it's all straightened out now.

The weather here is in the low 80's. It's supposed to warm up over the
next few days. Summer in Southern California just doesn't know when to
quit. ;-)

[Sue in Ok]

till loving fall weather- also wanted to wish a Happy Birthday to all having one in November! : < )

[joy]

Thank you. Thank you for my aunt, too. She'll be 99 in a couple of weeks.

[Sue in Ok]

I'd share my age but why give these poor bored spammers a break? lol!!! I don't read their negative posts as just the titles are whacked! ;) I am so glad us ladies were brought up better and KNOW better ;)

[Mick]

On Mon, 05 Nov 2018 12:48:35 -0800, Sue in Ok wrote:

> I'd share my age but why give these poor bored spammers a break?

I'm pretty sure they are trolls, Sue. [Troll: (in folklore) an ugly cave-
dwelling creature][Caves with internet connections - my how the world
moves on] ;-)

Spammers fill your inbox with junk, hoping to sell you something
questionable or get your bank details. Or both.

--
Mick.

[joy]

Very true. I use "Create Filter from Message", so I never see the
headers more than once.

[joy]

It's good to see you, Mick! How are you and Wendy doing?

[Mick]

On Mon, 05 Nov 2018 16:52:51 -0800, joy wrote:

> It's good to see you, Mick! How are you and Wendy doing?

We're both well Joy. My new knee is behaving itself so walking is a much
nicer idea. Everything else is 70 years old with everything that that
brings. ;-)

Good to see you back quizzing. I did enjoy finishing no lower than third
for a while but still.... ;-)

--
Mick.

[Sue in Ok]

thanks Mick....anywho give a troll an inch-they take a mile (thus all the recent wacko new posts! lol!) gosh they must get bored easy! lol!

[Sue in Ok]

Hi Joy! I voted today-did not even have to wait in line-it was that easy and quick! now am waiting for results....

[joy]

Hi Sue! I dropped my ballot off at city hall a few weeks ago. There
was no line, but the ballot box was already full. I talked to a friend
tonight who dropped hers off a few days ago, and she said there was a
line just to put the completed ballot in the box.

[Sue in Ok]

My husband votes that way-absentee as he is usually out of the country when we go to vote-he has to get his ballot notarized.

[Mick]

On Sat, 10 Nov 2018 16:05:13 -0800, Sue in Ok wrote:

>> Hi Sue! I dropped my ballot off at city hall a few weeks ago. There
>> was no line, but the ballot box was already full. I talked to a friend
>> tonight who dropped hers off a few days ago, and she said there was a
>> line just to put the completed ballot in the box.
>
> My husband votes that way-absentee as he is usually out of the country
> when we go to vote-he has to get his ballot notarized.

Following this election of yours maybe even more keenly than 2016 (I did
think that one was a done deal - wrong), I am amazed at how many hoops
you lot have to jump through to exercise your democratic rights (Brian
Kemp? Never heard of you. ;-)). And it's impressive to see just how many
do make the effort.

--
Mick.

[joy]

I believe there was a record turnout this time, because people are so
polarized.

[Sue in Ok]

Hope you nice ladies and gentlemen and your family had a nice Thanksgiving!

[Bob Flora]

Hello, Mick.

Amazing how people keep showing up on this newsgroup who were here
probably 18-20 years ago. Have you been to the US since the last time
you stayed with us? I just read that you're 70, with a new knee. I just
turned 80 last August.

[Mick]

Hi Bob. How's things in Marion?

Yes, I turned 70 back in April. Can't say it worries me too much. New
knee got fitted in June last year. A year and a half on, and I'm
extremely happy with it. 'They' did talk about doing the other one but
getting the one done has balanced my walking back to how it should be
(pretty much) so I'm carrying on with just the one replacement. For now
at least.

We made one more trip across the Atlantic, couple of years after we last
saw you. We spent a spent a couple of very sticky weeks down south. We
based ourselves in Houston where a friend lives and had a look round. Got
as far as Nawlins.

We decided, after that one, that long haul flights weren't for us any
more and we stay over here for our holidays. Wouldn't mind going back to
New England, but I can't face airport queues and cattle class seats.

Must be getting old. ;-)

--
Mick.

[Bob Flora]

On 12/18/2018 6:44 AM, Mick wrote:

> Hi Bob. How's things in Marion?
>
> Yes, I turned 70 back in April. Can't say it worries me too much. New
> knee got fitted in June last year. A year and a half on, and I'm
> extremely happy with it. 'They' did talk about doing the other one but
> getting the one done has balanced my walking back to how it should be
> (pretty much) so I'm carrying on with just the one replacement. For now
> at least.
>
> We made one more trip across the Atlantic, couple of years after we last
> saw you. We spent a spent a couple of very sticky weeks down south. We
> based ourselves in Houston where a friend lives and had a look round. Got
> as far as Nawlins.
>
> We decided, after that one, that long haul flights weren't for us any
> more and we stay over here for our holidays. Wouldn't mind going back to
> New England, but I can't face airport queues and cattle class seats.
>
> Must be getting old. ;-)

Well, at 80 I AM old. Suffering with the worst cold of my life for the
past two weeks, coupled with a shortness of breath which has made
breathing continually difficult, a problem Mike has also, so we've had a
real struggle. Laughingly, I've been to a half dozen doctors who've run
extensive tests-MRI, CT scan, X-ray, Gamma ray- and they all tell me I'm
in very good health.

Glad to hear about your knee replacement- an occupational problem I
suspect-too much time squatting.

Haven't flown in several years and have no desire to fly anymore. As you
note, too much hassle at the airports.

I gather Wendy is well, say hello to her for me.

[Bob Flora]

On 11/11/2018 5:19 AM, Mick wrote:

> Following this election of yours maybe even more keenly than 2016 (I did
> think that one was a done deal - wrong), I am amazed at how many hoops
> you lot have to jump through to exercise your democratic rights (Brian
> Kemp? Never heard of you. ;-)). And it's impressive to see just how many
> do make the effort.

Depends. If you have a valid drivers license you simply register once
and you stay registered. Show the license to the registrar and vote.
Quite simple. The hell is in getting the original driver's license.

[Mick]

On Sat, 22 Dec 2018 11:35:03 -0500, Bob Flora wrote:

> Well, at 80 I AM old. Suffering with the worst cold of my life for the
> past two weeks, coupled with a shortness of breath which has made
> breathing continually difficult, a problem Mike has also, so we've had a
> real struggle. Laughingly, I've been to a half dozen doctors who've run
> extensive tests-MRI, CT scan, X-ray, Gamma ray- and they all tell me I'm
> in very good health.

Interesting Bob. Every other year, I do a job for a local company between
Xmas and New Year when the car park is empty. Normally takes me about
three hours and a year ago, there I was, getting stuck in, when I found
that I couldn't breathe. That is, of course a slight exaggeration, I
could breathe but everything else seemed like real hard work. I sat in
the van for a while, recovered a bit and carried on. Ten minutes later I
had to admit defeat and, basically, I did the three hour job over four
days, a bit at a time.

Come the New Year I go to see my doctor. He listened to my chest and
asked 'Have you ever been exposed to asbestos?'

I sort of died inside, and said yes, but he assured me that I wasn't
going to die of whatever I had but he thought my lungs had been damaged
by exposure.

To cut a long story short, a series of tests and X-rays proved him right
and now I use an inhaler morning and night, get checked on a regular
basis and basically, can't do some of the things I used to.

So I sympathise with your problems.

> Glad to hear about your knee replacement- an occupational problem I
> suspect-too much time squatting.

Right knee took the full impact of a 60mph bike wreck when I was twenty.
Shattered the femur and broke the pelvis. I was lucky to keep the leg.
They told me I'd be an arthritic cripple by forty but they were wrong.
The construction site work, coupled with playing squash through my
thirties, didn't help.

I was told I needed a new knee twelve years ago, but I kept putting it
off, hoping they'd find a cure. And then I had no choice.

> Haven't flown in several years and have no desire to fly anymore. As you
> note, too much hassle at the airports.

I doubt I could do long haul cos the other knee doesn't like being in
that sitting position for hours. Besides, not sure how my breathing would
be in airplane 'air'. One day we'll try a short hop to Paris or even Rome
and I'll get a better idea, but for now, we holiday in Britain. ;-)

> I gather Wendy is well, say hello to her for me.

She's fine. Says 'hi' right back.

--
Mick.

[Bob Flora]

On 12/26/2018 10:29 AM, Mick wrote:

> Interesting Bob. Every other year, I do a job for a local company between
> Xmas and New Year when the car park is empty. Normally takes me about
> three hours and a year ago, there I was, getting stuck in, when I found
> that I couldn't breathe. That is, of course a slight exaggeration, I
> could breathe but everything else seemed like real hard work. I sat in
> the van for a while, recovered a bit and carried on. Ten minutes later I
> had to admit defeat and, basically, I did the three hour job over four
> days, a bit at a time.

My shortness of breath came on fairly quickly. Went to see a
pulmonologist, whose technician ran a series of breath and inhaler
tests. None of the inhalers did anything. Chart went straight up and
straight down. He couldn't find anything wrong.

> Come the New Year I go to see my doctor. He listened to my chest and
> asked 'Have you ever been exposed to asbestos?'
>
> I sort of died inside, and said yes, but he assured me that I wasn't
> going to die of whatever I had but he thought my lungs had been damaged
> by exposure.
>
> To cut a long story short, a series of tests and X-rays proved him right
> and now I use an inhaler morning and night, get checked on a regular
> basis and basically, can't do some of the things I used to.

Had five different inhalers. None worked.

> So I sympathise with your problems.

Sorta disgusting to have a breathing problem the doctors can't identify
or treat.

>
>> Glad to hear about your knee replacement- an occupational problem I
>> suspect-too much time squatting.
>
> Right knee took the full impact of a 60mph bike wreck when I was twenty.
> Shattered the femur and broke the pelvis. I was lucky to keep the leg.
> They told me I'd be an arthritic cripple by forty but they were wrong.
> The construction site work, coupled with playing squash through my
> thirties, didn't help.
>
> I was told I needed a new knee twelve years ago, but I kept putting it
> off, hoping they'd find a cure. And then I had no choice.

Fortunately, I was seldom exposed to severe physical strain, other than
for a few days on inspection trips.

>> Haven't flown in several years and have no desire to fly anymore. As you
>> note, too much hassle at the airports.
>
> I doubt I could do long haul cos the other knee doesn't like being in
> that sitting position for hours. Besides, not sure how my breathing would
> be in airplane 'air'. One day we'll try a short hop to Paris or even Rome
> and I'll get a better idea, but for now, we holiday in Britain. ;-)

I've dreamed of taking one of the Viking river cruises down the Danube,
but I suspect it is only a dream. I think I'd never hold up to much
walking that travel requires.

I've done some major repairs to the house since 2014: new concrete
driveway, new gutters, replaced some siding, new windows, new roof, new
furnace, new kitchen appliances, new downstairs carpet and kitchen
floor, newer car, and added a truck. Done, finally, so now I can just
enjoy, along with three Win10 computers and five tablets, which are
still my main hobbies.

[Mick]

On Thu, 27 Dec 2018 16:00:59 -0500, Bob Flora wrote:

> My shortness of breath came on fairly quickly. Went to see a
> pulmonologist, whose technician ran a series of breath and inhaler
> tests. None of the inhalers did anything. Chart went straight up and
> straight down. He couldn't find anything wrong.

That would worry me a bit. I mean, I hate it that I've been 'asbestosised'
but at least I know that, in theory, it's not going to get worse.

>
>>> Haven't flown in several years and have no desire to fly anymore. As
>>> you note, too much hassle at the airports.

Our local airport is pretty much hassle free and we will fly from there,
but big ones like Heathrow just ruin the holiday before it even gets
started.

> I've dreamed of taking one of the Viking river cruises down the Danube,
> but I suspect it is only a dream. I think I'd never hold up to much
> walking that travel requires.

That is my main problem. Although the new knee is fine and doesn't
restrict me, the other knee does a bit, so I have to be aware of how far
I've walked, knowing that I have to get back.

> I've done some major repairs to the house since 2014: new concrete
> driveway, new gutters, replaced some siding, new windows, new roof, new
> furnace, new kitchen appliances, new downstairs carpet and kitchen
> floor, newer car, and added a truck. Done, finally, so now I can just
> enjoy, along with three Win10 computers and five tablets, which are
> still my main hobbies.

2014 was when I started on this place. I've done loads myself but the
breathing thing has meant I've had to hire in men to do things like the
drive, or basically anything that requires digging.


Nearly finished though. I'll soon be joining you in the 'full time
hobbies' world.

--
Mick.

[Bob Flora]

On 1/1/2019 2:48 PM, Mick wrote:
> On Thu, 27 Dec 2018 16:00:59 -0500, Bob Flora wrote:
>
>> My shortness of breath came on fairly quickly. Went to see a
>> pulmonologist, whose technician ran a series of breath and inhaler
>> tests. None of the inhalers did anything. Chart went straight up and
>> straight down. He couldn't find anything wrong.
>
> That would worry me a bit. I mean, I hate it that I've been 'asbestosised'

> 2014 was when I started on this place. I've done loads myself but the
> breathing thing has meant I've had to hire in men to do things like the
> drive, or basically anything that requires digging.
>
>
> Nearly finished though. I'll soon be joining you in the 'full time
> hobbies' world.

Shortness of breath created a problem with nerves after three weeks. I
slept a bit Jan1- then awake till this AM, nervous wreck. Slept a few
hours after visiting doctor and getting some tranquilizers, more or less
OK now. Probably the most miserable Christmas holiday I've ever spent.

Glad to see you're about to finish up your home renovations. These old
houses eventually need some replacements. I'm down to replacing three
light fixtures and two recliners-hopefully tomorrow. Fortunately, we've
had a fairly mild winter so far, very little snow.

[Mick]

On Thu, 03 Jan 2019 20:23:48 -0500, Bob Flora wrote:

> Shortness of breath created a problem with nerves after three weeks. I
> slept a bit Jan1- then awake till this AM, nervous wreck. Slept a few
> hours after visiting doctor and getting some tranquilizers, more or less
> OK now. Probably the most miserable Christmas holiday I've ever spent.

It was lack of sleep that led me to the doctor in the first place. I
found it impossible to sleep properly because the noise of my own
breathing would wake me up. Very disconcerting to start with. He tried me
on the weakest inhaler but that was of little use, so I use the next
strongest and sleep perfectly fine these days.

> Glad to see you're about to finish up your home renovations. These old
> houses eventually need some replacements. I'm down to replacing three
> light fixtures and two recliners-hopefully tomorrow. Fortunately, we've
> had a fairly mild winter so far, very little snow.

Can't imagine a winter where you live with hardly any snow. Enjoy it
while you can. ;-)



--
Mick.

[Bob Flora]

Got the two new recliners, one in the living room with a cloth covered
plywood lapboard that makes a great desk and place for a computer and
mouse, so I can watch TV and compute at the same time.

Finally got over the cold and the nervousness, with the aid of some
prescribed tranquilizers that allowed me to get some sleep.

Warm (50's) all last week, with a little rain. Now it's going to get
cold during Jan and Feb, our coldest months.

Weather in The UK seems moderate, although there was a lot of snow in
Eastern Europe.

What do you think of Brexit? From here May seems to be having a hard
time getting it done without losing her office. There seems to be
considerable interest in a second vote.

[Jean B.]

Gee, Guys, what are we? Getting older or something? (I am commenting
on this thread, not just the last comment by Bob.)

I decided to peek in on the groups while I am confined to home because
of very communicable bacterial conjunctivitis. I am also just
recovering from the flu and other woes.

I wonder how an inhaler differs from a CPAP machine? (For some reason,
the discussion seems not to be alluding to a medicine that one breathes
in, but I'm probably just ignorant.) I wouldn't be able to get to sleep
without my CPAP machine.

Probably stupid comments, but I wanted to chime in on the only recent
thread here.

[Steve]

wotsit Jean B. sed...

> I wonder how an inhaler differs from a CPAP machine?

CPAP machines pump air into your nose while you sleep. This
prevents the throat from closing. This is used to treat sleep
apnoea.
Inhalers come as preventers and relievers to treat breathing
ailments like asthma and COPD.
I use inhalers for my asthma.

<waves at Mick>
I've been lurking a while waiting for something to reply to.

[Mick]

On Sat, 12 Jan 2019 13:27:03 +0000, Steve wrote:

> <waves at Mick>

<Me waves back excitedly>

> I've been lurking a while waiting for something to reply to.

Blimey mate. Your desperation to keep usenet alive is even worse than
mine. Keep it up. ;-)

--
Mick.

[Mick]

On Tue, 08 Jan 2019 20:44:46 -0500, Bob Flora wrote:

> Weather in The UK seems moderate, although there was a lot of snow in
> Eastern Europe.

There, you had to say it. For the next three days it was bloody cold,
although maybe not as cold as Eastern Europe. Back up to 10c this morning
though. Positively balmy.

> What do you think of Brexit? From here May seems to be having a hard
> time getting it done without losing her office. There seems to be
> considerable interest in a second vote.

No-one talks about Brexit in this country. We just let them get on with
it and one day we'll find out whether it was a mistake or not. If/when
May goes, I dread to think who will replace her. As for a second vote, if
one were to happen and overturn the first one, you can compare the civil
unrest that would ensue, albeit in a more measured 'British' way, with
that which would follow Mike Pence assuming the mantle of POTUS.

Huge swathes of folks would object in the strongest possible way, to
their democratic vote being set aside, as it were.

--
Mick.

[Mick]

On Fri, 11 Jan 2019 20:03:16 -0500, Jean B. wrote:

> Probably stupid comments, but I wanted to chime in on the only recent
> thread here.

Not stupid Jean. I still don't know what a CPAP machine is, even after
Steve explained it. But I know what an inhaler is ;-)

Getting old? Certainly but it's not old age that is my (breathing)
problem, just old practises. No-one told me about asbestos back in my
(comparative) youth. We just worked, breathed it in and then did it all
again the next day. Years later when I *was* fully aware, I started
praying that it wouldn't kill me cos it's a nasty way to die. Well my
prayers were answered, or so they say, it ain't gonna kill me but my
breathing capacity is reduced significantly by the damage caused.

Quite manageable but it does make a difference. I need a shot or two from
my inhaler to sleep at night, for instance.

Hope your 'other woes' are improving, particularly the conjunctivitis.
Not nice, that one.

--
Mick.

[Jean B.]

Mick wrote:
> Not stupid Jean. I still don't know what a CPAP machine is, even after
> Steve explained it. But I know what an inhaler is ;-)
>
> Getting old? Certainly but it's not old age that is my (breathing)
> problem, just old practises. No-one told me about asbestos back in my
> (comparative) youth. We just worked, breathed it in and then did it all
> again the next day. Years later when I *was* fully aware, I started
> praying that it wouldn't kill me cos it's a nasty way to die. Well my
> prayers were answered, or so they say, it ain't gonna kill me but my
> breathing capacity is reduced significantly by the damage caused.
>
> Quite manageable but it does make a difference. I need a shot or two from
> my inhaler to sleep at night, for instance.
>
> Hope your 'other woes' are improving, particularly the conjunctivitis.
> Not nice, that one.

I was very sorry to read about your asbestos exposure, Mick, but glad to
hear it's not going to "get you". It seems like our pasts are catching
up with us!

[Mick]

On Sat, 12 Jan 2019 14:15:19 -0500, Jean B. wrote:

> I was very sorry to read about your asbestos exposure, Mick, but glad to
> hear it's not going to "get you". It seems like our pasts are catching
> up with us!

That's so true. My two 'favourite' A words, arthritis and asbestos.
Without those two, I'd still be 18 years old. ;-)

--
Mick.

[Bob Flora]

On 1/11/2019 8:03 PM, Jean B. wrote:

> Bob Flora wrote:
>
>> Finally got over the cold and the nervousness, with the aid of some
>> prescribed tranquilizers that allowed me to get some sleep.
>>
>> Warm (50's) all last week, with a little rain. Now it's going to get
>> cold during Jan and Feb, our coldest months.
>

> Gee, Guys, what are we? Getting older or something? (I am commenting
> on this thread, not just the last comment by Bob.)
>
> I decided to peek in on the groups while I am confined to home because
> of very communicable bacterial conjunctivitis. I am also just
> recovering from the flu and other woes.
>
> I wonder how an inhaler differs from a CPAP machine? (For some reason,
> the discussion seems not to be alluding to a medicine that one breathes
> in, but I'm probably just ignorant.) I wouldn't be able to get to sleep
> without my CPAP machine.
>
> Probably stupid comments, but I wanted to chime in on the only recent
> thread here.

Well,hello, Jean B.
Haven't heard from you in many years. I see you've had a rough holiday
also. I've been feeling bad since the first week in Dec, just now
feeling half decent. Not getting old, AM old. :-(

l'm not sure what a CPAP machine is, apparently something you wear to
help you breathe at night. An inhaler is a tube attached to a small
bottle that emits a gas that opens up breathing passages that are
congested from a cold or worse, used intermittently. There is an
emergency inhaler used in extreme cases. Didn't have that problem, it
seemed that oxygen just wasn't getting to the muscles.

Like you I only checked in here occasionally, because the site is so
seldom used. Just replied to Mick, an old friend who visited us on his
trip to the US in 2001. Guess that dates all of us because I remember
you from about the same time. Cheers!

[Bob Flora]

On 1/12/2019 8:50 AM, Mick wrote:

>> What do you think of Brexit? From here May seems to be having a hard
>> time getting it done without losing her office. There seems to be
>> considerable interest in a second vote.
>
> No-one talks about Brexit in this country. We just let them get on with
> it and one day we'll find out whether it was a mistake or not. If/when
> May goes, I dread to think who will replace her. As for a second vote, if
> one were to happen and overturn the first one, you can compare the civil
> unrest that would ensue, albeit in a more measured 'British' way, with
> that which would follow Mike Pence assuming the mantle of POTUS.
>
> Huge swathes of folks would object in the strongest possible way, to
> their democratic vote being set aside, as it were.

I've looked all over and can't find a discussion of what happens to UK
if Brexit goes through. EU says they won't reopen the deal. Can't
imagine UK not trading more or less openly with the EU as it is your
major trading partner. From here it looks messy. Add the problems Trump
is causing with EU and UK? trade,our government shutdown, and it is all
very confusing.

[Woe]

It is to wonder why so many people who know
practically nothing about anything feel compelled
to speak up and display their ignorance where
there is little or no interest in hearing it???

--
Woe is me!

[Steve]

wotsit Woe sed...

I wanna hear it, I want to hear your opinion too.
It's better than looking at a blank screen.

[Steve]

wotsit Mick sed...

I dunno, there's barely a pulse and someone has nicked the
defibrillator. I've had to bin the google groper filter so that
there is something to read...

[Mick]

On Sat, 12 Jan 2019 23:50:14 -0500, Bob Flora wrote:

> I've looked all over and can't find a discussion of what happens to UK
if
> Brexit goes through. EU says they won't reopen the deal. Can't imagine
> UK not trading more or less openly with the EU as it is your major
> trading partner. From here it looks messy.

I have no idea what the deal that is on the table amounts to. No-one
seems interested in telling us, the plebs in the street, what's involved,
other than banging on about the Irish border. Personally, I'd imagine
that if the deal is agreed by Parliament, we will leave the EU and few
people will notice the difference. Without the deal, everyone will notice
the difference for a while but within say, three or four years,
everything will be hammered out properly and life will go on.

But I could be wrong.

> Add the problems Trump is
> causing with EU and UK? trade,our government shutdown, and it is all
> very confusing.

I find the whole Trump/shutdown thing highly entertaining, but then since
our media stays well away from it, my only sources are late night talk
shows viewed on Youtube a day or so later. Stephen Colbert, Trevor Noah
and Seth Myers. The Holy Trinity of humour. ;-)

--
Mick.

[Mick]

On Sun, 13 Jan 2019 09:28:38 -0500, Woe wrote:

> It is to wonder why so many people who know practically nothing about
> anything feel compelled to speak up and display their ignorance where
> there is little or no interest in hearing it???

But shorely Mr (or Ms) Woe, that's the very reason that the internet was
invented. It has no other discernible worthwhile use.

And presumably your very presence here proves your own point.

--
Mick.

[Mick]

On Sun, 13 Jan 2019 15:36:01 +0000, Steve wrote:

> I dunno, there's barely a pulse and someone has nicked the
> defibrillator. I've had to bin the google groper filter so that there is
> something to read...

There's this great new 'thing' that's getting rave reviews in some
quarters Steve. It's called 'book'. Apparently books are just crammed
full of things to read, like words. And more words. I mean, whatever will
they think of next.

Doubt it'll ever replace Facebook though. ;-)

--
Mick.

[Steve]

wotsit Mick sed...

>
> On Sun, 13 Jan 2019 15:36:01 +0000, Steve wrote:
>
> > I dunno, there's barely a pulse and someone has nicked the
> > defibrillator. I've had to bin the google groper filter so that there is
> > something to read...
>
> There's this great new 'thing' that's getting rave reviews in some
> quarters Steve. It's called 'book'. Apparently books are just crammed
> full of things to read, like words. And more words. I mean, whatever will
> they think of next.

Ah yeah, books. I listen to audiobooks, I can do that while
walking etc. But you can't get much of a conversation out of a
book and you definitely can't get a reaction from it when you give
it a little poke.

> Doubt it'll ever replace Facebook though. ;-)

Pah, facebook <spit>!
There's enough info out there about me without me giving it away
on a plate. I really, and I mean really, don't understand peoples
willingness to put everything out there. Didn't they read 1984?

[Mick]

On Sun, 13 Jan 2019 23:14:44 +0000, Steve wrote:

> Ah yeah, books. I listen to audiobooks, I can do that while walking etc.
> But you can't get much of a conversation out of a book and you
> definitely can't get a reaction from it when you give it a little poke.

Good points. I actually still prefer old fashioned paper books, although
mostly I read out of copyright stuff from Project Gutenburg, either on me
Kindle or on here. So not much paper.

No reaction from either.

> Pah, facebook <spit>!
> There's enough info out there about me without me giving it away on a
> plate. I really, and I mean really, don't understand peoples willingness
> to put everything out there.

I'm one of the outlaw millions that play on FB with a fake ID. Only on
there to look at, and post, pictures of railway stations. If I ever stray
from that (extremely rarely) it does seem a bit drossy, and what info
they can glean from my alter ego, they are welcome to.

> Didn't they read 1984?

When does that fall out of copyright? I, roughly, know the plot and the
lyrics to the Bowie song, but I've never actually read it.

--
Mick.

[Steve]

wotsit Mick sed...

According to wikipedia it's already out of copyright in Australia,
Canada and a couple of other countries. You'd have to wait until
2021 here in Blighty.

I, roughly, know the plot and the
> lyrics to the Bowie song, but I've never actually read it.

I read it must be getting on 50 years ago. What a scary thought!

If your email addy is valid I'll send you the .mobi and you can
sideload it on your Kindle.

[Mick]

On Mon, 14 Jan 2019 22:02:21 +0000, Steve wrote:

> According to wikipedia it's already out of copyright in Australia,
> Canada and a couple of other countries. You'd have to wait until 2021
> here in Blighty.

Perhaps I'll go to Australia. Or maybe not.

> I read it must be getting on 50 years ago. What a scary thought!

50 years ago everything was a scary thought, looked at from the here and
now.

> If your email addy is valid I'll send you the .mobi and you can sideload
> it on your Kindle.

Still charging me Kindle but the epub version opens nicely on this
laptop. So it will get read soon enough. Ta again.

--
Mick.

[Jean B.]

Unfortunately, I may have more to say on this topic in a couple of days.

[Jean B.]

I am rarely on the groups because I am usually spending my free time
volunteering at a local library.

I don't know why you and others who are here don't go to alt.sixtyplus.
There is more action there (but more to avoid also).

Yes, the CPAP machine helps me breathe at night. My throat tends to
cloe down the second I start going to sleep, as my muscles relax.

My confusion re "inhalers" was because I wasn't sure whether the
terminology is different in other countries--or whether there was
something by that name that I hadn't heard of.

I think it's helpful to feel young. My inner age is 16. In general, I
don't go around thinking that I'm old, even as I am about to turn 69.
But then there are those glitches....

[Jean B.]

I'm interested. I'd especially like to know what folks from the UK are
thinking. From here in the United States, it sounds like a real mess.
I'd also be interested in what role, if any, Russian meddling played in
creating this mess.

[Jean B.]

Mick wrote:
> I have no idea what the deal that is on the table amounts to. No-one
> seems interested in telling us, the plebs in the street, what's
> involved, other than banging on about the Irish border. Personally,
> I'd imagine that if the deal is agreed by Parliament, we will leave
> the EU and few people will notice the difference. Without the deal,
> everyone will notice the difference for a while but within say, three
> or four years, everything will be hammered out properly and life will
> go on.
>
> But I could be wrong.

I have been away from home for a while. I assume the vote is still
being held tomorrow (actually today, there). I hope you are right about
the ramifications.
>
...

> I find the whole Trump/shutdown thing highly entertaining, but then
> since our media stays well away from it, my only sources are late
> night talk shows viewed on Youtube a day or so later. Stephen
> Colbert, Trevor Noah and Seth Myers. The Holy Trinity of humour. ;-)

Interesting. I see talk of such things at the very front of my BBC home
page. I wonder if that is somehow geared toward me, given that I am in
the United States. It must be, because I sometimes wonder why the
goings on in this country are so prominent!

[Jean B.]

I am swimming in books! I adore them!

I have never joined facebook, but even when doesn't join, facebook is
tracking you. It is really maddening because if one isn't a member
there seems to be no recourse. (Facebook comes on my Samsung droid. I
also see it in the midst of all the crap that is connecting whenever I
go to a site....)

[Steve]

wotsit Jean B. sed...

I'm thinking it's a stitch up. Mrs May, who campaigned for remain
in the lead up to the referendum, deliberately negotiated a bad
deal with the EU so that parliament would not accept it. So the
choice is leave with no deal or remain in the EU. And with most
MPs being in the remain camp we will be remaining.
So much for democracy.
The Russians meddling in other countries affairs is nothing new.
What effect it may have had is speculation. It had no effect on
how I voted as my mind was made up before the campaigning.

[Mick]

On Mon, 14 Jan 2019 21:06:55 -0500, Jean B. wrote:

> Interesting. I see talk of such things at the very front of my BBC home
> page. I wonder if that is somehow geared toward me, given that I am in
> the United States. It must be, because I sometimes wonder why the
> goings on in this country are so prominent!
>

Must be a USA-centric home page. We do get mention of the Trump goings
on, but nothing compared with what is on US news channels on Youtube.

As fiction, the whole sordid saga would be riveting, but as true life
happenings, it's head shakingly sad. Whatever, I have to get my daily
fix from over there. Takes my mind off of Brexit.

--
Mick.

[Mick]

On Tue, 15 Jan 2019 12:28:28 +0000, Steve wrote:

> So much for democracy.

You can't blame Teresa, Steve. When Creepy Cameron walked out on his
grave misjudgement, not one of the 'Leave' big guns were interested in
taking his place. If there was a decent deal to be had, Johnson or Reece
Mogg would have been first in the queue for the job, but no. She's the
only one with the guts to try to salvage something, anything, from the
mess.

In essence, she would have been doomed to fail. The last thing Tory Eton
boys want is a strong successful woman in charge. It's true that I've
been intrigued, all along, why a staunch 'remainer' should be doing the
job, but the fact is, that by hiding away at the moment of truth, *they*
let her.

Democracy? I've heard of that. I'll google it when I have time. ;-)

--
Mick.

[Jean B.]

First, mea culpa. Shoulda said Great Britain, not the UK.

From this side of the pond, I just don't see Theresa May doing that.
And how can the British stay in the EU without another referendum?

I am wondering how Theresa May can remain as PM. But who would want the
job when it involves negotiating the exit... or having another
referendum? It seems like a thankless task.

[Jean B.]

Nods. Yes, I feel the same way when I read about what's going on over
there. What's going on in the United States hits too close to home.
The Brexit mess, while extremely important, isn't as gut-wrenching for me.

BTW, ALL of the top stories on my BBC homepage are about the Brexit vote.

[Steve]

wotsit Jean B. sed...

Cookies. I don't log in to the web browser when browsing and I
delete the cache and cookies regularly and use an adblocker. I use
the Bromite browser on my phone, it's Chrome but with an adblocker
and the tracking removed. If I'm feeling extra paranoid I use a
VPN and incognito mode. I rooted my Samsung phone when it came out
of warranty and removed the crapware that Samsung put on it.
Facebook, Amazon, the Samsung appstore etc. But I think without
rooting it you can still disable the unwanted apps. Settings >
Apps > select your app and disable it. That's prolly safer than
rooting and deleting the app.

[Steve]

wotsit Jean B. sed...

You got it right the first time. The UK is GB *and* Northern
Ireland.

>
> From this side of the pond, I just don't see Theresa May doing that.
> And how can the British stay in the EU without another referendum?

I don't know. No-one does. I just have the feeling that those in
charge are going through the motions for appearances' sake.

> I am wondering how Theresa May can remain as PM. But who would want the
> job when it involves negotiating the exit... or having another
> referendum? It seems like a thankless task.

It's not been handled well at all. She should have negotiated a
clean break, instead she tried for half in half out which has
resulted in an utter mess that prolly no-one can fix.

[Bob Flora]

On 1/15/2019 9:43 AM, Mick wrote:
> On Mon, 14 Jan 2019 21:06:55 -0500, Jean B. wrote:
>
>> Interesting. I see talk of such things at the very front of my BBC home
>> page. I wonder if that is somehow geared toward me, given that I am in
>> the United States. It must be, because I sometimes wonder why the
>> goings on in this country are so prominent!
>>
>
> Must be a USA-centric home page. We do get mention of the Trump goings
> on, but nothing compared with what is on US news channels on Youtube.

It is. We have a BBC America channel that gives us interesting news
about the us and the UK. On 24/7 and very interesting to watch.

>
> As fiction, the whole sordid saga would be riveting, but as true life
> happenings, it's head shakingly sad. Whatever, I have to get my daily
> fix from over there. Takes my mind off of Brexit.

Even watching reasonably decent coverage of the Brexit issue, there
doesn't seem to be a viable idea what to do, despite the massive failure
of May's plan. As she said, the opposition has no plan at all. About as
bad as the US stalemate over Trump's "Wall," which a majority of
Americans do not want.

[Graham]

I live in the Netherlands and now have Dutch nationality, though I was
born British, and served in the Royal Navy, I receive a small pension
from my British Naval service. I get it cos of a European community
deal, don't ask me to explain it, that's what it says on the contract I
received when I retired 4 years ago. I mailed them last year asking what
would happen now Britain was leaving the EC. They finally replied in one
sentence,
'Thank you for you email dated 27th July 2018 You would still be
entitled to your UK state pension.'
I am guessing like everybody else in Britain they didn't have a clue
what will happen. I am guessing by no deal they ain't going to pay a
foreigner a pension. Thank god I took Dutch nationality 16 years ago or
I could be up shit creek without a paddle ;-)

[Graham]

BTW I wish they would hurry up and make up their minds, so I can get a
visa in time to visit my 93 year old mother in the spring, don't look
like a terrorist do I?

[Sue in Ok]

On Wednesday, October 3, 2018 at 5:55:51 PM UTC-5, joy wrote:
> I haven't seen any posts here for a couple of days.

now 10/23/19...not seeing Joy or David or Dalin here....

[Steve]

On Wed, 23 Oct 2019 20:12:13 -0700 (PDT), Sue in Ok
wrote:

>
> On Wednesday, October 3, 2018 at 5:55:51 PM UTC-5, joy wrote:
> > I haven't seen any posts here for a couple of days.
>
> now 10/23/19...not seeing Joy or David or Dalin here....

Dalin posted a while back in 60+.

[Bob Flora]

Well,gals,this old participant is still hanging around.

[Mick]

You be careful Bob. All that hanging will cause no end of problems with
your shoulders and elbows. ;-)

--
Mick.

[Bob Flora]

On 12/14/2019 10:30 AM, Mick wrote:
> On Fri, 13 Dec 2019 18:30:12 -0500, Bob Flora wrote

Looking for some old acquaintances like you here since son died
Thanksgiving day. That's two lost here in Marion.