I like the radiators (perfect, imo) and fireplaces. I like that its stone built to keep out the elements. The closest we have to this in Florida is concrete block. Concrete block houses, apartment buildings, and hotels will stand up to hurricanes, if the there is no ground floor flooding, and if the roof doesn't fail, and both of these risks can be mitigated by researching the flood zone designation and the roof's age. In the case of ground floor flooding in a building concrete block built building, the damage can be fixed. These buildings have the added advantage of being sound-proof. I'm ruling out any apartment building that's not concrete block built in the '60's or '70's. The only thing I don't like about this house is it's two stories without a stair lift or a small elevator like a tube elevator. It's not ideal for "age in place." I've observed that sooner or later, nobody can walk up and down stairs. This is a nit-picking, academic criticism, since the chances of me being able to move to the U.K. and afford this house are approaching zero. I also already mentioned living in a remote location, and especially on an island, isn't for the faint of heart. Maybe it's perfect like it is because it was built this way.

I'd move to the UK if I had $$$$$. I'm not sure what good it would do but at least I could live in a Georgian house with gardens or in Andy's Grade I listed tower house with an elevator.

I saw that in the theater decades ago.

Oh, Ok. So, is Ukraine defending itself well? I'd say, no, when it's kidnapping conscripts off the streets. So, is Ukraine winning the war? Maybe it just needs more time, foreign weaponry, and foreign money. So, will Ukraine defeat Russia? It's Russia. Ukraine will never defeat Russia. Yet more Western media happy talk about yet one more bloodbath, IMO.

@jon-nyc said: [image: 1772647741619-bbffc5fa-7bf7-4ca5-8d47-bee35a7e29ca.jpeg] This is great. It's like thinking recycling plastic will save the oceans. The problem is out of control. Plastic doesn't only wash up on beaches in South East Asia. It washes up on beaches on Hawaii Island. There's no way for the U.S. to stop it. How are much poorer countries going to stop it? Carry on.

[image: 1772753416428-img_0912.jpeg]

@steve-miller Apparently Ethan Gontar makes those “Irish” videos with AI. Which is disappointing to me. I’d rather have humans make art/music.

@bernard Looks great, and I can taste it in my imagination! I haven’t had that in decades…

It's all fun and games until the world explodes in a nuclear conflagration. They want to control the arts? Ha. It reminds me of the famous Jack Nicholas line in the movie where Nicholas' character is on the stand and the JAG attorney played by Tom Cruise keeps asking him-- "Did you order the Code Red?!" Nicholas' character finally reaches his breaking point and snaps-- "You want the truth?!; You can't handle the truth!"

I miss having one of these on the front of my car. [image: 1772667109914-img_0162.jpeg]

I guess it was a ruse. I have an idea . Let's declare war on every country and people on planet Earth except Israel. We could get the news in a single day. I know it would save me a lot of time. Does anyone know off the top of your head how many wars the US is fighting including all of the countries now involved in the Iran conflagration? I sure don't.

Thanks for your comments! By the way, the object partly seen on the left is the grand piano, still covered with moving blankets. The window recesses may be too shallow to accept Roman blinds. I will try to post a pic. Formerly we had light curtains suspended from cheap lightweight rods mounted on the side moldings. Never looked good, and the curtains themselves are torn and ratty.

I guess they didn't think of this happening. Link to video

@Bernard said: There is that word again: fundamentalist. From The Cradle: US troops report commanders framing Iran war as ‘God’s plan’ —— As first reported by independent journalist Jonathan Larsen, a US combat-unit commander told non-commissioned officers that the war on Iran is part of “God’s divine plan,” allegedly claiming President Donald Trump was “anointed by Jesus” to ignite Armageddon. The complaint, filed with the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, is one of more than 110 logged within 48 hours from over 40 units across at least 30 installations. Complainants, including Christians, a Muslim, and a Jew, have requested anonymity to avoid retaliation. The Pentagon has yet to respond. According to MRFF President Mikey Weinstein, service members report “unrestricted euphoria” among segments of the chain of command portraying the assault on Iran as biblically sanctioned and tied to end-times prophecy in the Book of Revelation. One NCO wrote that such rhetoric is eroding morale and violating constitutional oaths, particularly for troops in Ready-Support status who could be deployed at any moment. The controversy unfolds as Secretary of War Pete Hegseth expands overt evangelical programming within the Pentagon, including prayer sessions and Bible studies aligned with staunch pro-Israel theology. Weinstein reports that many US commanders appear particularly enthused by the prospect of an intensely violent confrontation, emphasizing how much bloodshed they believe is necessary to align events with a fundamentalist Christian end-times narrative. This is so wrong. My mother's family through her NCO career military, Air Force, father, who served in WWII, Vietnam, and Korea, to whose house I was taken when born, and whose father and mother gave me a home from 14- 18, and a college education, knew perfectly well, and I understand perfectly well, members of the U.S. military swear an oath to the Constitution. This is Military Services 101.