Making the news today....

[Johnsond]

1 hour ago, sime42 said:

I always feel a bit sorry for the Kurds. I'm sure they've done their fair share of bad shit at times, but they seem like the least bad of all the constantly waring factions in the mess that is the Middle East. They're often mentioned in the context of opposing the nastiest Islamist groups in the area, like ISIS and often left to do the job alone. Though I barely see them get much international recognition. They're not even allowed to have their own country ffs.    

 

 

Just a moment...

BLOGS.TIMESOFISRAEL.COM

 

Kurds in retreat as US allies switch to backing Syria's new leader

WWW.BBC.CO.UK

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The US fought IS with the Kurds for years. Now, Donald Trump is siding with Syria's new leader.

 

 

Absolute warriors men and women ( Yazidi in particular) alike. 
The last sentence on the attached image might give you a clue. 

Kurdish religion is diverse, with the vast majority of Kurds practicing Sunni Islam (Shafi'i school), followed by significant minorities of Shia Muslims, Alevis, Yarsanis (Yarsanism), and Yazidis. While predominantly Muslim, Kurdish culture has historically included indigenous, syncretic beliefs, often emphasizing religious tolerance

.

 

[Mesterh]

Look, i'm sure you'll get over it, stop whining.

 

 

[Squaredy]

10 hours ago, Mesterh said:

I would be pulling my kids out of that school TBH.

Yes, the oldest one is now home-schooled.  Youngest one we would like out, but he has a great circle of friends there.  So for now we are keeping a very close eye on things.

[AHPP]

23 minutes ago, Squaredy said:

Yes, the oldest one is now home-schooled.  Youngest one we would like out, but he has a great circle of friends there.  So for now we are keeping a very close eye on things.

Home school them too. 

[Squaredy]

On 12/02/2026 at 17:22, Mark J said:

I knew very little about Zarah Sultana.  I now feel I am a bit better informed. 

 

Calling one of the most successful entrepeneurs to come out of the UK this century currently employing 25,000+ people a parasite says a lot about her.  Presumably all people who work hard and do well are parasites.  And perhaps those people who get a job in the public sector and then expect endless increments (regardless of performance) or even worse those people who decide it is a mug's game working for a living are the salt of the earth?

 

Or maybe the bitterness she displays towards Ratcliffe is because he is (along with thousands of other wealthy people) the living proof that if you tax wealthy people hard enough they will go.  Which is a phenonenom that has been know about for a very long time and yet still some people pretend it doesn't happen.

Edited 2 minutes ago by Squaredy

[Squaredy]

21 minutes ago, AHPP said:

Home school them too.

Well as I say he has a great circle of friends at his current school.  And do I think he (and my wife and I) have the commitment and motivation to make a success of home schooling?  Maybe not right now.

 

I have a lot of scepticsm about schools, but I think that they can be very good.  Just a shame that so much nonsense idealogy has been sucked in by stupid teachers and other senior leaders.

Edited 6 minutes ago by Squaredy