Deep in the green, here. However, now I say grilling unless I mean BBQ (smoking). Maybe because Rob got really into BBQ for a bit so we changed our terminology to match? But chili has beans.

[image: 1777933698576-20260504_203744-resized.jpg] Neighbour's azaleas

My opinion is not an argument nor a disagreement with any other opinion expressed in this thread or in any other thread. My opinion is Fetterman is a tool of the Israeli lobby. I think he's a fool and an ass, when he belligerently waves his Israeli flag, the flag of a foreign nation, at anyone and everyone, in the halls of Congress.

@AndyD said: women need general anaesthetic and a 3+ days stay I missed that it said 3 day stay but am puzzled as to why someone would need to be hospitalized for that long. I'm assuming that keyhole surgery is what we on this side of the pond call laparoscopic. I had my gallbladder out that way and I was in by 9, home by 2 the same day. Yes, definitely general anesthesia. I was never in a hospital room, only in the operating room (theater to you!) and in recovery for a few hours. Did take two or three weeks before I felt pretty much back to normal.

@Daniel thank you!!

Link to video Diana.

Middle Eastern version of our old saying Red sky at night Hormuz alight; Red sky in the morning US stock crash warning.

Yeah, me too. Charleston, SC is a big deal in the US, though. It's a rare Southern "Old Money" enclave with a very claustrophobic and strange society, imo. I want privacy and would no matter the price point. Charleston is anything but a privacy oriented place.

Nothing will be done until the Dems have a majority in both houses, if then. Why not focus on the themajority first?

He's a Fox News anchor. It's a joke.

There was another, "assassination attempt." It got worse reviews than Melania's movie.

@CHAS said: We are going to Norway in June. Where is that field? Sounds like fun! Going anywhere else besides Norway? Tell us more....

Compliment is an art form as is complaint. For me, I don't speak to my phone. I only type. I don't like the ubiquitous automated phone systems much, either. I've been known to repeat, "agent," fourteen times before I get one. I can't get out of answering some yes or no questions,giving my name and date of birth, and sometimes verifying my identity by repeating back some random, bland sentence. Maybe it's too much to ask for, but, at my age, I'm doing my best to avoid AI. I don't understand it. I'm not sure I want to..., either. I'm convinced, in my ignorance or lack of it, that, at least, the term-- "artificial intelligence" is misleading. I don't believe, as a philosophical matter that intelligence can exist without consciousness. I flat don't believe machines have that. But that's just me. I have enough to think about with the complexities of a modern Android phone and it's endless software updates. I hope to buy a computer, a printer, , a subscription for printing (?), a subscription for Word (?), Internet access, of course, and maybe cable. I'll have my hands full. I have the most beautiful writing desk with claw feet. It's vintage, solid hard wood, tongue in groove, a pencil draw, three drawers down each side, the bottom right draw, in fact, is double height, disguised to look like two drawers. It even has sold hard wood covering the back. It was a gift. I'm going to research it but my guess is that it was mass produced in New England in the '40's or '50's. It belonged to a wealthy man who moved to Florida from New Hampshire. I've always liked it. I was offered it once but said no because I didn't have the space. I was offered it again recently and, of course, I said yes. I'm not letting go of it for love or money. It only needs a good polish, and I insist on doing myself, after it's in its new home. I'l have a long work table; I hope 60" and sold wood (not wood veneer glued to solid wood), and I'll need a chair. I plan to buy my Pixel 10 XL and keeping my current phone. Of course, I'm hoping they introduce the 11 and the price falls. But, this is the one thing I've always allowed myself. Not clothes, not vacations, nothing really, one nice car and one nice watch (these once)... electronics. I might be sleeping on a futon mattress on the floor and coordinating good, inexpensive recipes (well, that's a given) but my office/ study will be the indulgence I'll have first when I can afford it. But it's still a "want" and I have plenty of "needs." I'm not ignoring AI; I'm just giving it as little of my time and energy as possible. I apologize in advance for ignoring the specifics of the OP. This is my MO. It's a survival strategy for me personally. I have more to learn and more decisions to make right now than there usable hours in a day. 🤪

@Axtremus I remember this, from back when my kids also found it amusing.

@jon-nyc Have you read The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón? Novel set in Barcelona, 1945. Murder, madness, doomed love… My friend said it was a must-read. I enjoyed it, but maybe not as much as she did.

Good for you. I love Walmart+. I couldn't live without it.