UnkNuk Posted January 5, 2023 Share Posted January 5, 2023 The most and least peaceful countries in the world (2022 rating) according to the Institute for Economcs and Peace (whatever that may be). (Iceland is the most peaceful. At #163, Afghanistan is the least peaceful. Canada came in at #12. US at #129. https://www.visionofhumanity.org/maps/#/?utm_source=join1440&utm_medium=email&utm_placement=newsletter 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnarcore Posted January 5, 2023 Share Posted January 5, 2023 10 hours ago, UnkNuk said: The most and least peaceful countries in the world (2022 rating) according to the Institute for Economcs and Peace (whatever that may be). (Iceland is the most peaceful. At #163, Afghanistan is the least peaceful. Canada came in at #12. US at #129. https://www.visionofhumanity.org/maps/#/?utm_source=join1440&utm_medium=email&utm_placement=newsletter Need to visit Iceland sometime. For a small country they sure produce a ton of great music. Long winter inside must be a factor 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post RUPERTKBD Posted January 7, 2023 Author Popular Post Share Posted January 7, 2023 No good place for this, (AFAIK, we don't have a World Cup Skiing thread) but it's been a while since Canada was relevant on the WC circuit and this is a great result: https://www.msn.com/en-ca/sports/cycling/it-s-a-dream-come-true-canada-s-valérie-grenier-wins-giant-slalom-gold-in-slovenia/ar-AA164wxv?cvid=c83090687e8f4f5098faed99ddcc653d Quote Canada's Valérie Grenier skied her way to the top of a World Cup podium for the first time in her career at a giant slalom event in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, on Saturday. Grenier, of St. Isidore, Ont., finished in a two-run combined time of one minute 55.01 seconds for her first-ever World Cup medal. "I still can't believe it," Grenier said in a post-race interview. "It's a dream come true, I've been wanting this for so long I'm going to cry I'm so happy." The 26-year-old is the first Canadian winner of a women's World Cup giant slalom race since Kathy Kreiner won in Pronften, Germany, in 1974. Grenier's best finishes in her 89 previous World Cup races were fourth in this race last year and fourth in a super-G in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, in 2019. Grenier won three medals — a gold, a silver and a bronze — at junior worlds between 2015 and 2016. But she broke the tibia and fibula bones in her lower right leg in 2019. "I had four breaks and it just took a really long time to heal. So since the injury, I kind of focused more on giant slalom," she said. "I feel like finally everything is coming together and I'm finally skiing at my best." Italy's Marta Bassino (1:55.38) was second and Petra Vlhova of Slovakia (1:55.41) completed the podium. Three other Canadians didn't advance to the second run. Britt Richardson of Canmore, Alta., was 35th in 59.67 and Sarah Bennett of Stoneham, Que., 54th (1:00.79) while Cassidy Gray of Invermere, B.C., did not finish. 4 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuckin_futz Posted January 9, 2023 Share Posted January 9, 2023 Tried to burn down an immigration center. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UnkNuk Posted January 9, 2023 Share Posted January 9, 2023 On 1/7/2023 at 12:27 PM, RUPERTKBD said: No good place for this, (AFAIK, we don't have a World Cup Skiing thread) but it's been a while since Canada was relevant on the WC circuit and this is a great result: https://www.msn.com/en-ca/sports/cycling/it-s-a-dream-come-true-canada-s-valérie-grenier-wins-giant-slalom-gold-in-slovenia/ar-AA164wxv?cvid=c83090687e8f4f5098faed99ddcc653d And while we're talking about Women's World Cup Skiing, Mikaela Shiffrin isn't doing too badly either: https://www.bbc.com/sport/winter-sports/64172395 Mikaela Shiffrin equals Lindsey Vonn's women's World Cup wins record Mikaela Shiffrin equalled the women's record for World Cup skiing victories with the 82nd win of her career. The two-time Olympic gold medallist is now only four World Cup victories short of the overall record held by Sweden's Ingemar Stenmark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UnkNuk Posted January 10, 2023 Share Posted January 10, 2023 Another Russia https://open.spotify.com/show/1edslXTCkkMFeN8htn1iAy I've heard of Boris Nemtsov but knew little about him other than that he was a political opponent of Putin and had been murdered in 2015. So I found this seven part podcast very interesting. Narrated by Ben Rhodes and Nemtsov's daughter, Zhanna, they give an overview of Nemtsov's life and recent Russian history. The three minute trailer: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gurn Posted January 12, 2023 Share Posted January 12, 2023 85 days away from the World Chess championship No location, no sponsors, no hotels, no events scheduled around the 2 contenders: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bishopshodan Posted January 17, 2023 Share Posted January 17, 2023 Time for drinkers to pull thier head out of the sand. I have been going on about this for over a decade. I used to be a director of a liquor group so I was fully aware of the studies. Recomended max conusuption is now 2 drinks per week...not 2 drinks per day. Uvic did a study a while back and tried a trial run up north of putting health warning labels on products. As soon as the big alc companies caught wind they demanded the gov step in and remove them. They did. Now Health Canada want labels nationaly, so far the big companies are saying no. They claim they already advertise that people should 'drink responsibly'. However, do they advertise to 'drink responsibly cause alcohol can cuase a bunch of deadly deseases'? Wonder if we will see law suits in the future like we did with tobacco. https://globalnews.ca/news/9413517/canada-alcohol-use-guidance-ccsa/ Alcohol can affect various organs, putting people at increased risk for cirrhosis, pancreatitis, gastrointestinal inflammation, heart disease, multiple cancers as well as injury from falls, violence and motor vehicle crashes, according to research compiled by the CCSA. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alflives Posted January 17, 2023 Share Posted January 17, 2023 25 minutes ago, bishopshodan said: Time for drinkers to pull thier head out of the sand. I have been going on about this for over a decade. I used to be a director of a liquor group so I was fully aware of the studies. Recomended max conusuption is now 2 drinks per week...not 2 drinks per day. Uvic did a study a while back and tried a trial run up north of putting health warning labels on products. As soon as the big alc companies caught wind they demanded the gov step in and remove them. They did. Now Health Canada want labels nationaly, so far the big companies are saying no. They claim they already advertise that people should 'drink responsibly'. However, do they advertise to 'drink responsibly cause alcohol can cuase a bunch of deadly deseases'? Wonder if we will see law suits in the future like we did with tobacco. https://globalnews.ca/news/9413517/canada-alcohol-use-guidance-ccsa/ Alcohol can affect various organs, putting people at increased risk for cirrhosis, pancreatitis, gastrointestinal inflammation, heart disease, multiple cancers as well as injury from falls, violence and motor vehicle crashes, according to research compiled by the CCSA. Wow! Maybe I should cut back on my drinking? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuckin_futz Posted January 19, 2023 Share Posted January 19, 2023 (edited) Alec Baldwin to be charged with involuntary manslaughter over Rust shooting By Nadine Yousif & Gareth Evans BBC News Actor Alec Baldwin will be charged with involuntary manslaughter over the shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was killed on a film set when he fired a prop gun. Mr Baldwin had been rehearsing a scene for the Western film Rust when the shooting happened at a ranch near Sante Fe, New Mexico in October 2021. Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the film's armourer, will also be charged. Lawyers for both said they intended to fight the charges in court. Santa Fe's District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies announced the charges on Thursday, adding that they would be filed by the end of the month. "Actor and producer Alec Baldwin and armourer Hannah Gutierrez Reed will each be charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter," the statement read. "I have determined that there is sufficient evidence." "On my watch, no one is above the law, and everyone deserves justice," she said. Both face up to 18 months in jail and a $5,000 (£4,040) fine if convicted. They will be tried by a jury, prosecutors said. Film director Joel Souza was also wounded in the shooting, but prosecutors said no charges would be filed in connection with that. The film's assistant director David Halls entered a guilty plea to a misdemeanour charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon, prosecutors said. He will spend six months serving probation. In a statement, a lawyer for Ms Hutchins' husband, Matthew, said he supported the filing of the charges. "It is a comfort to the family that, in New Mexico, no one is above the law," he said. But Mr Baldwin's lawyer, Luke Nikas, called the decision "a terrible miscarriage of justice". "Mr Baldwin had no reason to believe there was a live bullet in the gun - or anywhere on the movie set," Mr Nikas said. "He relied on the professionals with whom he worked, who assured him the gun did not have live rounds. We will fight these charges, and we will win." Ms Gutierrez Reed's lawyer, meanwhile, said the announcement was the result of a "very flawed investigation and an inaccurate understanding of the full facts". "Hannah is, and has always been, very emotional and sad about this tragic accident," Todd Bullion said. "But she did not commit involuntary manslaughter." Ms Hutchins died in hospital shortly after she was shot in the chest by a prop gun fired by Mr Baldwin on set. The incident resulted in accusations of negligence and led to calls for better safety protocols on film sets. An initial investigation into the incident found there was "a degree of neglect", producers were fined more than $136,000 by the New Mexico Environment Department for failing to enforce safety protocols. The film's production company, Rust Movie Productions, argued that it was not responsible for supervising the film set, "much less for supervising specific protocols such as the maintenance and loading of weapons". After the shooting, Mr Baldwin said the gun had misfired. He added that he did not pull the trigger and was not aware that it was loaded. "I don't know what happened on that set. I don't know how that bullet arrived in that gun. I don't know," he said. Mr Baldwin has also filed a lawsuit against several people involved with the film, including Ms Gutierrez Reed and Mr Halls, alleging that they both failed to check the gun carefully. In October, the 64-year-old actor and the film's production company reached a settlement for an undisclosed amount with the family of Ms Hutchins. It came after the cinematographer's husband filed a wrongful death lawsuit which alleged violations of industry standards. "All of us believe Halyna's death was a terrible accident," Mr Hutchins said in a statement at the time. "I have no interest in engaging in recriminations or attribution of blame." Production of the film had been scheduled to resume this year, with Mr Hutchins on board as executive producer. Edited January 19, 2023 by nuckin_futz 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedestroyerofworlds Posted February 5, 2023 Share Posted February 5, 2023 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UnkNuk Posted February 5, 2023 Share Posted February 5, 2023 China Condemns U.S. Decision to Shoot Down Spy Balloon The Chinese government said the downing of the “civilian” aircraft was an “excessive reaction,” and that it “retains the right to respond further.” https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/02/04/us/china-spy-balloon So tell us, China - how would you react to a US balloon sailing over your country? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazzle Posted February 5, 2023 Share Posted February 5, 2023 1 hour ago, UnkNuk said: China Condemns U.S. Decision to Shoot Down Spy Balloon The Chinese government said the downing of the “civilian” aircraft was an “excessive reaction,” and that it “retains the right to respond further.” https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/02/04/us/china-spy-balloon So tell us, China - how would you react to a US balloon sailing over your country? This should be a very big story. What "right" does China think it has? It's somehow wandered into the wrong airspace. https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/us-response-china-spy-balloon-1.6737412 I don't know if China will use this as a pretext for something more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RUPERTKBD Posted February 5, 2023 Author Share Posted February 5, 2023 On 1/17/2023 at 7:32 AM, bishopshodan said: Time for drinkers to pull thier head out of the sand. I have been going on about this for over a decade. I used to be a director of a liquor group so I was fully aware of the studies. Recomended max conusuption is now 2 drinks per week...not 2 drinks per day. Uvic did a study a while back and tried a trial run up north of putting health warning labels on products. As soon as the big alc companies caught wind they demanded the gov step in and remove them. They did. Now Health Canada want labels nationaly, so far the big companies are saying no. They claim they already advertise that people should 'drink responsibly'. However, do they advertise to 'drink responsibly cause alcohol can cuase a bunch of deadly deseases'? Wonder if we will see law suits in the future like we did with tobacco. https://globalnews.ca/news/9413517/canada-alcohol-use-guidance-ccsa/ Alcohol can affect various organs, putting people at increased risk for cirrhosis, pancreatitis, gastrointestinal inflammation, heart disease, multiple cancers as well as injury from falls, violence and motor vehicle crashes, according to research compiled by the CCSA. Jeez, Bishop..... Sure, maybe we'd live longer, but would life be worth living without beer and whiskey? (and steaks) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boudrias Posted February 5, 2023 Share Posted February 5, 2023 19 minutes ago, RUPERTKBD said: Jeez, Bishop..... Sure, maybe we'd live longer, but would life be worth living without beer and whiskey? (and steaks) 2 beers a week? I don't partake as I used to but still? I can't help but think of the closing on the doc "Trophy Town". The old Smokies are sitting in the Trail Hotel drinking a few pints as they tell hockey stories. All of them in their '80's. There was a time when the Pub created community. Pretty soon people will be sitting in front of their screens full time. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedestroyerofworlds Posted February 5, 2023 Share Posted February 5, 2023 12 hours ago, Dazzle said: This should be a very big story. What "right" does China think it has? It's somehow wandered into the wrong airspace. https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/us-response-china-spy-balloon-1.6737412 I don't know if China will use this as a pretext for something more. I think they thought they would get the same response that they got from TRUMP. https://www.businessinsider.com/conservatives-blame-biden-chinese-spy-balloon-crossed-into-us-trump-2023-2 Republicans are blaming Biden for letting a suspected Chinese spy balloon cross into the US. It happened 3 times during the Trump administration, officials say Republicans are criticizing the Biden administration's response to the Chinese spy balloon. "Would Trump have let China fly a spy balloon over our country?" Rep. Jim Jordan tweeted. Chinese spy balloons were sighted three times during the Trump administration, US officials said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuckin_futz Posted February 6, 2023 Share Posted February 6, 2023 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuckin_futz Posted February 6, 2023 Share Posted February 6, 2023 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaimito Posted February 6, 2023 Share Posted February 6, 2023 (edited) Canada had a balloon too. No one could shoot it down. Lmao https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/weather-balloon-canada-china-1.6737831 The time a wayward Canadian balloon caused an international stir — and thwarted 3 air forces The Sask. weather balloon survived more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition back in 1998 When a Canadian weather balloon veered into Russian airspace in 1998 24 years ago In this excerpt from a 1998 edition of The National, CBC's Reg Sherren reports on a Canadian weather balloon that drifted off course and ended up over Russian airspace. China isn't the only country to face questions about a curious balloon. Back in 1998, a 25-storey high runaway weather balloon proved to be an international headache for Canada. The helium-filled balloon — about five football fields long when deflated— was launched out of Vanscoy, Sask. on Aug. 24 with an innocent-enough task: measure ozone levels. But according to reports at the time, the instruments on the balloon failed to detach at the end of the test. The backup system also failed — sending the balloon aloft. Once it hit the sky's jet streams it was able to pick up speeds of 100 km/h, according to a CBC report. Canadian CF-18 fighter jet pilots caught up with the balloon off the coast of Newfoundland and took aim, firing more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition at it. But the balloon survived the assault, soldiering on over the North Atlantic. A spokesperson for the air force told the Associated Press that the fighter jets were equipped with air-to-air missiles but the pilots restrained from using the heavier firepower. "Citizens would not have appreciated having a missile blowing over their heads,″ said Maj. Roland Lavoie. "Also, it might be overkill, spending a couple of hundred thousand dollars on a missile to shoot down a balloon that's drifting away.″ Undeterred, the balloon meandered into British airspace, forcing air traffic controllers to divert transatlantic flights and catching the attention of the British press. A U.K. newspaper took aim at Canada's inability to shoot a massive weather balloon down, only for the Royal Air Force to also miss the target. A U.K. newspaper took aim at Canada's inability to shoot a massive weather balloon down, only for the Royal Air Force to also miss the target. (CBC archive ) "The top guns who couldn't pop a balloon," read one newspaper headline at the time, taking aim at the Canadian pilots. But the snark was premature. "It's a bit of a case of the pot calling kettle black," shot back Canadian Maj. Bernard Degagne on television. "In that the [Royal Air Force] also tried to bring the balloon down and were also unsuccessful." Even the muscle of the U.S. Air Force couldn't bring the balloon to Earth, according to a BBC report. The rogue balloon was spotted in Norweigian and Russian airspace before eventually crashing in Finland, more than a week after its chaotic journey began. The balloon, and its more than half a million dollars worth of equipment, was later returned to the Canadian government. While the balloon withstood a fighter jet hit, a spokesperson for the Canadian space agency said the shots fired at the balloon likely caused the craft to gradually lose altitude. U.S. shot suspected spy balloon down Saturday U.S. authorities had better luck shooting down a suspected Chinese spy balloon as it floated off the coast of South Carolina on Saturday. U.S. defence officials said the balloon first entered a U.S. identification zone on Jan. 28, entered Canadian airspace three days later and then re-entered U.S. airspace on Jan. 31. Beijing said the downing of the balloon violates international norms and it reserves the right to take further action in response. "The U.S. in insisting on the use of force is an obvious overreaction and a serious violation of international practice," according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sunday morning. Previously, China expressed regret that an "airship" used for civilian meteorological and other scientific purposes had strayed into U.S. airspace. WATCH | Suspected Chinese spy balloon shot down by U.S. Suspected Chinese spy balloon shot down by U.S. 2 days ago Video filmed from the ground captured the moment a U.S. military fighter aircraft shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon as it floated off the coast of South Carolina. Edited February 6, 2023 by Jaimito 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RUPERTKBD Posted February 6, 2023 Author Share Posted February 6, 2023 ^^^^ I have it on good authority that the balloon is question was made from the same material that KFC uses for it's cutlery.... ....no wonder they couldn't damage it.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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