Steven P

We lost about 400 apples in the last storm (sad enough to count them...) - not quite there to eat but stewed they will do for pies and crumbles - and they freeze OK stewed up. Not tried yet, but I believe sliced they will freeze just as well like that.

Not sure the Epstein thing will kill him off, if the voters were to be persuaded that he was conspiring with Maxwell to keep Epsteins crimes away from the courts they would have been persuaded by now. Not to say that moving on with Trumps many other failings makes him innocent, politically there is little more to be gained I think. Would need a video of Trump in the act as it were. I think the game plan now is to make Vance electable, spend the next 3 years working on that.

I suspect right to left: Road. Kerb. Garden.

It has been fairly clear this time around that -given the same security knowledge Biden had, and he had before- his view of the world and the US is at odds with what is happening in reality. Things like recently the 'crime wave' in Washington where a week later the National Guard were litter picking are a good example of reality not matching what is in his head. Someone else is passing on a world view to him. It is also well known that he never actually reads any briefs in the first place... the world outside the Whitehouse isn't given in bare facts, but is narrated by whose turn it is to translate facts to him. The forces behind him arn't mysterious and shadows, Vance is a big force in persuading him and behind Vance are the likes of Thiel. Makes sense though that Vance shapes the current administration if he is tipped to lead the next. You're right though, not a mysterious conspiracy but in plain sight that he is being manipulated from behind. I've often referred to the 'emperors new clothes'.. which is what I see happening.

Maybe, my thinking is when he was elected he was mostly all there mentally and at that would never voluntarily quit. Behind the scenes you would have to be fairly confident then that medically you can declare him unfit and then to replace him with who you want - too much of a risk I think when it has been clear for a while that a lot of people know exactly how to play Trump. Dementia isn't a straight line thing "Have these symptoms here, in 1 year you will have these", hard to predict then when his marbles will go. Physically - remember he is the president that is in the best shape, ever, doctors have never seen anything like it - but also monitored by doctors - so am not sure they would get him on physically grounds either. So I think the plan was always keep him as a puppet this term, keep Vance in the background, present but not over bearing, with hints he is 'ready to take over' then next term Vance steps in. A bit of momentum keeping him in place... but you are right, if the time comes, he will be dropped pretty quick.

No, his hands are because he vigorously shakes hands with many people, and to a lesser extent his left hand with many Boy Scouts, didn't you get that memo? You would however expect a scar or missing bit of ear if a bullet had gone through it, especially considering the bandage he was sporting afterwards, but if he had just bashed it as he was pushed to the ground all would be OK. But that would just need a sticking plaster for about an hour, and where is the publicity in that. However they did say it went through his ear like a miracle. JD Vance indicating he is ready to take over if Trump falls ill.... (where is Vance this week, more holidays than Trump spends golfing), got to keep Trump in power this term though to keep playing him.

Yes there was something odd about that one the more you look at the videos from other angles.

Likewise a wall full of CDs and DVDs, all my cars have CD players, house has CD player, and I even found my old discman the other week (along with the converter to plug into a car tape player for the first car before I upgraded to a JVC stereo in the days that you could).

You pay too much attention to the political posts on here....

About 30 years ago the radiation from mobile phones was going to kill us. We haven't died.

I am doing this... kind of... along the back fence a good layer of wood chip to break down but then level the ground enough to mow the brambles, nettles etc that grow through the fence - ground level is all over the place at the moment - point is, in some cases it can work... but not on their own. Depends on the weeds you get you might consider ways to embrace them or use what grows there as a guide to what plants to plant as replacements

You're an old man, must have met thousands of people in your time. Did you ever meet a 'furry', ever talk to one? Have you ever been scared by a person wearing a onesie? To be honest, I am a lot younger than you, the thousands of people I have met are perhaps more my era, and I have never met one either. Scared of what is statistically improbable in society? Enough to make an issue of it? Perhaps time to leave the pages of the printed press, the Telegraph, Mail and Express and come back to reality to check it out every now and then. 'Alphabet people'.. again, so a man might like to touch another man - what is there about that that makes them different to you or me? Again a fear propagated by the press you read I suspect, come to the real world, it really isn't that scary. ... I say scary.... you appear in you messaging more aggressive than a lot on here.. and yet there you are, scared shitless by what people do in their bedrooms.

And yet, deemed mentally sound to buy 3 guns. Got to wonder how he got that way without someone taking an interest - mental health, family, law enforcement or whoever.

Not Trump bashing but a comment on Vance: Words to the effect of: "The Trump administration has been more transparent on the Epstein files than any other issue" - makes you wonder then if that is transparency is all the other press briefings just made up stories? "I've been on the job training for US president for 7 months if Trump falls ill" - a few months ago there would have been a strong denial of any illness but today? and in other news, Ukraine war has been cancelled, no hostages in Gaza, and the US Militia are sorting out Washington DCs crime problem by litter picking

I haven't read the story yet this morning but usual story I reckon: Disillusioned kid Gets parents gun (that is meant to be secured?) Wants to make a name for themselves is currently often the 'reason' (as opposed to previously to settle some score) Shoots the easy targets In the US blame will get shifted about but never any responsibility put onto the parents for leaving the gun handy in the first place, and there will be strong defence that the type of gun used has a place in society. I'll have to read the story later but I bet that is a fair summary?

I reckon that is the plan but he is too stubborn to stand aside, so will be played like a puppet from behind the scenes

... though they reckoned last week that the fledglings can do with some help. I am the same, will start proper feeding after Autumn. I've never read up on the myths surrounding the 10ft thing and rats - so guess what I've just been doing ! I reckon the 10ft thing is in specific cases, centre of the take away areas in town, farm animal food stores, docks, but generally your house or mine, they are far far away (more than 10ft anyway). Chicken runs - I reckon they pass by at night but arn't sitting waiting about 10ft away during the day. Made me think though, brought one of the trail cams in last night for a look and a charge, got birds, insects, deers, a couple of squirrels but no rats passing by - never seen rats on them either.. so all in, I am more clever today than I was yesterday, but 10ft from a rat is a bit of a myth

Ahh, but it is dead easy to pick and choose isolated news stories at will, ignore those that don't fit, and push your own agenda. Likewise, my experience of people is that they are all the same regardless off nationality and religion - you get dedicated family parents, very clever academics and utter arses in about the same portions.

Yes, bird feeders, or rat feeders if you like - all the suggestions are only put out 1 days food at a time (RSPB and so on).. but of course it is more convenient to fill up a months word of rat food in 1 go. Our birds get a handful of nuts each morning, and so far no rat problem.

And before Brexit they would have been assessed in France, the UK - along with the rest of the EU - agreements to return to them to the first safe place... and that agreement was torn up then.

A weird coincidence that they are blaming Trumps tariffs and import taxes but not increasing prices worldwide - and they are not the only worldwide postal service doing the same, just the only one relevant to most of us on here.

and in the lunchtime news today, Trumps import taxes are reported to be responsible for the Royal Mail to halt their regular mail deliveries - they will add 50p to each package now to cover processing. 2 options: UK businesses will suffer that due to the goodness if their hearts, reduce the pay perhaps to workers to compensate. Or, the US customer will pick up the tab. Hmmm wonder which - a man for the people increasing their costs again.

for batteries, they are selling converters between some brands so you might not be just limited to Einhell and Makita if you can get a converter. Not sure about lifespan though, my petrol ones are still going strong so haven't considered the alternatives yet.

The rapist, Trump, gets more mental as he goes... This mornings news included the quotes "In Europe, they call me the President of Europe" and "The (US) people are saying they would like a dictator. I am not a dictator" Very much thinking case of emperors (presidents) new clothes where he is just told any rubbish to keep him quiet - which makes me think he isn't in charge any more. Oh, and another here, 200 percent tariffs because the Chinese arn't selling him magnets (that was an unhinged clip as well)

But that's the business model they have worked on for years. Flip side of that are a lot of the parks are very profitable with the van owners (chunk of the business is ground rent to van owners) - talking to a rep a few years back the holiday parks don't own most of the caravans, not all are hired out - so putting in a load of immigrants is going to hurt that business too. Other big revenue is the bar... which immigrants on pennies a week cannot afford... but the van owners will want open for their own weekend away... not all the cash is the £50 a week per person Only saying, I am sceptical that they would be housing immigrants at the same time as holiday makers and owners.