Trump won, Europe is fucked, the world is becoming a toxic and fascist nightmare, the whole of Africa is reverting to corrupt tribalism, China must remember that repressing millions is ultimately futile and Putin is running a once proud population into the ground, making friends with and giving sanctuary to other "leaders" of disrepute.
You get my drift. I'm going back to reading books and listening to my LPs in a fairly simple, isolated life. Bye for now.
Coterie is a noun and means the following:
- An intimate group with unifying common interests or purpose
- An often exclusive and sometimes private group of people
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| Coterie's are not necessarily a "clique of mates" |
I'm aware of how childish this article is, but I don't care.
I remember a craze in the 70's for improbable book titles?
To illustrate my point here are those I remember; even the lame ones.
Flying High - by L.E. Copter
I Fell Off A Cliff - by Eileen Dover
Falling Down - by Willie Bounce
Naughtiness - by Ben Dover and Phil McCrackin
Naughtiness 2 - Reah Entry
You're Nicked! - by Les B. Avenue
Understanding Fossils - by Dina Sore and Terry Dactyl
I Love My Truck - by Laurie Driver
I Love My Spectacles - by Seymour Clearly
Surviving A Tiger - by Claude Bottom
I Escaped - by Scott Free
Loneliness Is Tough - by Billy Nomates
Going Solo - by Willie Stroker
Being Different - by Tom Boy
Being Musical - by I. Singh
Saving Money - by Penny Pincher
I'm In Advertising - by Bill Boards
Where's Wendy - by Peter Pan
Winter Travel - by Bob Sleigh
I'm Not Ready - by Hugo First
I'm So Tired - by Mustafa Rest
Making Porn - by Ivor Biggun and Ivor Whopper
Making Porn 2 - by Ivanna Fucku
Getting Lucky - Willie Fucker
Lucky With Women - by I. Pullem
Take Me If You Can - by Hugh Mungus
I Can't Breath - by Dick Sucker
I Can't Pay Now - by Bill Melater
Dressing Windows - by Annette Curtain
Languages Are Easy - by Polly Glot
Hanging Wallpaper - by Polly Cell
A Brilliant Film - by Stella Cast
Getting Drunk - by Johnnie Walker
A Big Win - by Jack Pot
Puddings - by Roly Poly
Spanking - by Rosie Bottom
A Little Bit Of Pain - by Dick Thrasher
How To Nag - by Mona Lot
Classic Tankards - by Toby Jug
Hearing Things - by Isabel Ringing
Birdsong - by Dawn Chorus
Telling Tales - by Hugh Liar
Wildlife Water - by Lily Pond
Smelly Feet - by Jim Shoes
I Shot A Sheriff - by B. B. Gunn
Portable Light - by Tilly Lamp
I Give In - by Hugh Winn
Meeting Deadlines - by Justin Time
Signs Of Poor Workmanship - by Lucy Screws
Worthless Trinkets - by Nick Nacks
We Can't Agree - by Miles Apart
I Need Aspirin - by Ed Ache
What Are The Facts - by Sir Cumspection
Spunk On The Bed - by Mr. Completely
Plastics - by Polly Propelene
I Can't Lift That! - by Dickie Back
Tough Times - by Helen Back
Prickly Plants - by Holly Bush
A Fish Supper - by Chip Fryer
Procrastination - by May B. Later
School Starts - by Wendy Bellrings
Posh Schools - by Ivy League
Spend, Spend, Spend! - by Rich Mann
Not Digital! - by Anna Log
Exotic Shrubs - by Jasmine Grower
Going Bareback - by Johnnie Dumper
Loving Sex - by Randy Sod
Going Down! - by Fanny Licker
Danger At Sea - by Coral Reef
Ploughing - by Connie Lingus
Good Food - by Chris B. Bacon
You'll Want To See This - by Mike Hunt
How Embarrassing - by Fanny Farts
Child Abuse - by Moe Lester
Bad Smells - by Hugh Farted
Being Broke - by Penny Less
Don't Do Drugs - by Crystal Meth
Know Your Future - by Krystal Ball
Fantasizing - by Jack Off with Rudi Thoughts
The Love Of Men - by Gay Bouy
Too Much Booze - by I.B. Sick
Big Tits - by Norma Snockers
Pre-coming - by Dick Trickle
Playing The Fool - by Dick Wad
Small Dicks - by Justin Cider
Keep Safe - by Jock Strap
A Scottish Valley - by Glen Coe
Strong Winds - by Gale Force
I'm so annoyed - by Gunter Killem
I Love Tea - by Ginger Biscuit
Felling Trees - by Tim Burr
On The Beach - by Sandy Bottom
Exciting Stories - by Cliff Hanger
Easy Money - by Robin Banks
Scamming - by E.Z. Money
Where did they go? - by Mary Celeste
As Good As Butter - by Marg A. Reen
Fast Food - by Donna Kebab
Too Much Drink - by Stu Per
Never Drunk - by Ginger Ale
Playing Safe - by Pru Dense
Killing People - Tommy Gun
Stuck On The Loo - by Tom Tits
Master HTTP - by Dot Com
Palindromes - by Hannah
Toilet Training - by P. Here
Taking A Stroll - by Wanda Round
I Love Dancing - by Lindy Hop
Stay Safe! - by Luke Bothways
What A State To Be In - by Ken Tucky
Racing Cars - by Monty Carlo
London Airports - by Stan Stead and Heath Row
Itchy Scalps - by Dan Druff
Break Windows! - by Chuck Stones
Stealing Cars by - Joy Rider
What's That Smell - by Hugh Stink
Big Bags - by Carrie More
Static Electricity - by Bri Nylon
Getting Lost - by Wanda Off
Not Understanding - by I. B. Thick
I Love Christmas - by Carol Singer
Who knows what I am - by Polly Morfus
Talking Rubbish - by Poppy Cock
Gay Pride - by Les B. Friends
My Favourite Weed - by Dan D. Lion
Sunny Days Ahead - by Wendy Rainstops
Resolving Heart Conditions - by Angie O'Gram
Old Cars - by Mini & Morris Minor
Sporting Cars - by Mini CooperI Love Synthetics - by Polly EsterHit Records - by Poppy TunesGreat Beers - by Stella ArtoisBingo! - by Tom BolaSalad Oil - by Olive TreeMountain Safety - by Guy RopesCat Toilets - by Kitty LitterToo High - by Al TimeterI'm Cold - by Jack FrostI'm The Leader - by Hugh FollowmeGood Phones - by Sam Sung.
Benjamin Netanyahu (on/off prime minister of Israel since 1996) is being squeezed as never before, because of his apparent desire to erase Israel's "Palestinian problem" and fight off internal dissenters, whilst hoping the USA doesn't turn into a "frenemy", as it seems to be doing as Israel's period of grace comes to an end with the election of President Trump, though former President Biden's earlier censure of Israel seems to have been forgotten, as he agrees an 8 billion dollar export to Israel. Perhaps a reward to Israel for "breaking" Hezbollah, or to shore-up Israel if Iran cuts-up rough about the collapse of Syria. Who really knows anymore.
South Africa cited Israel for Genocide in Gaza, as did Saudi Arabia and the USA was fast losing diplomatic patience with their "errant child" as Netanyahu stepped out onto very thin ice. Biden decided strong words were not enough and refused to use its veto for a UN Security Council resolution that an immediate ceasefire in Gaza be agreed as Israeli forces continue to destroy humanitarian infrastructure, emphasised by (then) vice president Kamala Harris (who effectively ran the show until Trump won his second term). She met with and told Netanyahu, the Gaza war has to end. The UK seems to be falling in with this sentiment now as they officially withdrew their opposition to the International Criminal Court's desire to issue an arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu, and have suspended arms sales to Israel, an act that Netanyahu said was "shameful" (which seems a bit rich to me).
By rejecting strong signals from the USA (and others), to get his house in order and stabilise their seemingly never-ending Palestinian "problems", the hubris of Benjamin Netanyahu will be his downfall, for if these two fall-out Israel would indeed look like a little country; Iran would become bolder and Israel would "have to" execute an "overwhelming" response, as is their want. Netanyahu's 4th visit to the US senate neatly underscored the poor state of their relationship, for whilst he said to the US, "our war is your war" (which it is not), dozens of influential people did not bother to attend. Is the USA beginning to step back from Israel? Possibly distancing US support for military actions that have produced this obscene statistic.
The USA put a shot across his bow by reiterating that supplied arms must be used legally and within international law, yet the Israeli's have "gone over the top" against Palestinians and Hamas in Gaza, causing the Dutch to refuse F-35 parts and many other suppliers to question their role in this, including the UK. The USA has also started to sanction Israeli individuals as a cease and desist policy, though this is proving ineffective.
He's had his warnings and the USA will no longer stomach his wanton destruction of Gazan citizens, for they are overflying Gaza for drops of aid and have constructed a huge floating pier, thereby defying what this apparent despot wants. Having said that the US still offered Israel a $1 billion carrot, no doubt to hold back a domestic stink by powerful and assertive supporters of Israel in the USA.
There is no doubting Netanyahu is a survivor, but his problems are really stacking up as Israel continues to sorely vex it's biggest ally, that has refused to help with retaliatory attacks on Iran because they want Israel to come to its main sponsor's heel; indeed a lever of funding received by Israel has been pulled for an ultra orthodox unit of the Israeli defence forces, ostensibly for human rights violations. Netanyahu rejected these cuts, which was ironic as they are not his by right and he must now keep control of ultra reactionary Zealots under his command, as many are being reported by whistle-blowers for treating detainees very badly.
The USA may wish to tie his hands in order to keep theirs clean and with Trump in control Israel may be tossed to the "dogs"!
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| Benjamin Netanyahu |
Netanyahu, for so long the strongman of Israeli politics, is now being pressured from within Israel as the Gaza war edges beyond conflict into a genocide. His prior attempts at fiddling with their constitution (courts) remains unresolved and very unpopular, with many seeing him as flawed by despotic tendencies and possible corruption, though he may just be espousing his fanatical Zionist political backers. (Do you believe this?) He is maybe coming to the end of his reign of influence for rejecting the USA is not going to be good for him, regional stability, nor Israel. Internal dissent is being made public, with "his own people" willing to undermine his political standing; some now calling him a danger to Israel as seniors begin to disengage from this every more serious mess. Even those in the Israeli war cabinet are extraditing themselves from Netanyahu's legacy of rampant vengeance or possibly feeling relief as he relieves them of their role(s); he may be working from a bunker soon?
His enduring problem now is that he has put himself between a rock and a very hard place: his rock is his stated and expected commitment to eradicating Hamas (and its sponsorship), whilst his very hard place is that where much of his strategy in Gaza is deemed by many to be a genocide. His apparent "Kill 'em all" approach is the very thing that undermines his global standing, yet any deal with Hamas is not wanted by the influential hard right who are damaging his tenure at the top in Israel, for the survival of Hamas amounts to his own defeat, as would a total breakdown of support from the USA who are currently restricting themselves to words of advice and aid for Palestinians trapped in Gaza. The International Court Of Justice ordered Israel to cease yet there are no signs that Israel is listening, for Netanyahu says there will be no Gaza ceasefire, nor let-up of actions against Lebanon until Israel's uncertain war aims are achieved, even as the United Nations adds Israel and Hamas to the list countries committing violation of children. Netanyahu's policy in Lebanon seems to be twofold: 1) Systematically eliminate key Hezbollah personnel by bombing Lebanon relentlessly, thereby 2) undermining Lebanese succour for Hezbollah and anyone aspiring to aid/utilise them, such as President Assad before his recent abdication (to Moscow) following the collapse of his Syrian regime, from which I'm sure much further turmoil for Israel and the middle east will precipitate.
Side Note: Ultra orthodox Jews living in Israel are now deemed eligible for conscription into the Israeli army and as the war in Gaza grinds on their indignation in obvious in their selfish collective protestations. Their religious exemption has been removed and funding for their seminaries suspended, but at last they will be able to "fight" those that their fellow right-wing political brethren seemingly want eradicating. I hope their sincere beliefs will protect them from PTSD and the carnage they are now expected to embark upon, and that battle-hardened troops (some refusing to return to Gaza after r&r) will greet them into their world without any resentment toward their orthodoxy. If lucky enough to hold dual nationality many could possibly scuttle back to their productive studies in another country?
For readers who need a short recap of why Israel started stripping away its good-standing in the world, read this, or for a broader understanding try this.
Final Note: This is where the war is, but I no-longer feel a need to express further thoughts regarding Benjamin Netanyahu, as his policies and the aftershocks from this war will rumble on and spread as such things do when all parties (Israel, Palestinians, Hamas and more recently Lebanon) and Hezbollah and Houthis are intransigent. (What is Hezbollah?) Any US President wants (global) peace but there's no chance whilst these parties merely want to kill each other (with the malevolent assistance of Iran); Hamas infuriated Israel so much that Netanyahu has grossly over-reacted in order to sell his "saviour of Israel" mantra, when in fact many in Israel have wanted to see the back of him from before the war, with an enduring "peace" for Israel. His actions must be manna from heaven for Iran's aspirations in the region, as must his ICC arrest warrant for war crimes which I genuinely believe Israel will allow, post-war, in order to clean their political slate and keep the USA "onside". He (and Israeli forces) are behaving like a killer in a shopping mall, killing all they can before "the law" arrive in some form to make it all stop.
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| Jews are not a target, Israeli state policy is |
I condemn not Jews, nor Jewish individuals anywhere for what is going on in Gaza and Lebanon, for that judgement is reserved for the Israeli state politicians and their principle "driver(s)". Not forgetting Iran of course. Thanks for reading.
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Sometimes it is good to remember that "little" people(s) of the world often achieve or survive many things, only to slip down the cracks of history, back into obscurity. Here is a French-born woman, Gisèle Pelicot, who bravely gave up anonymity in order to facilitate her unswerving determination to have her horrific abuse, by her husband and the men of a whole village, made known to the public (now world-wide). She has dignity and determination for justice that many should admire.
To start to understand her and her story start here.
Gisèle's is an extraordinary female abuse case, with the twist being that for decades her husband had regularly drugged her in order to film village residents raping and defiling her unconscious self, luckily without recollection by her. It was only the chance discovery of over 22,000 videos on her husband's computer that initiated the trial of a whole village.
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| Gisèle Pelicot (An dignified and inspirational survivor) |
This is the thirty-first in an occasional series of songs from my collection, with the intent of introducing music to younger readers that they may gain appreciation of music from the classic years, 1957-1990.
I have lived long enough to hear the "popular" music industry become ever-more formulaic, lazy, uninspiring and cynical; delivering "units" and "artistes" as interesting and memorable as polished mud.
Meaningful songs that eloquently convey a story, sentiment, or social comment and make it to national consciousness are rare these days. If you agree this song is meaningful, please introduce it to someone young; they might enjoy becoming "musical archaeologists".
Todays song, titled "Our Love Will No Decay", released in 1971, is by a group called Tir Na Nog.
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| Tir Na Nog are an Irish singing duo whose name is from Irish mythology |
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| From their eponymous first album, hear the song here |
OUR LOVE WILL NOT DECAY
Were the calf to die in the wombAnd the ewe to bear her lamb too soonShould the field of barley failAnd the baby at your breast grow paleOur love will not mildewed grow, noWere the snow to last into SpringAnd your fingers blue up to the ringShould you curse the icy blastAll your beauty, it destroys at lastOur love will not mildewed grow, noBut with every new-born dayThe same thought through our lives will always stayAnd the sun will shine through the dewThe baby will have rosy cheeks like youAnd our love will not mildewed grow, no
For the index of all songs in this blog click here
These are the songs in the "Word of the day" series.
Click on each to read about it.
#1 ENNUI
#2 MELANCHOLY
#3 ONOMATOPOEIA
#5 SANCTIMONY
#6 SAPPHIC
#7 DUPLICITUS
#8 SUPERCILIOUS
#9 PEDANTIC
#10 MALLEABLE
#11 FEBRILE
#12 LICKSPITTLE
#13 FENDERSMITH
#14 FRIPPERY
#15 CURMUDGEON
#16 NIGGARD
#17 FLUMMOX
#18 CORNUCOPIA
#19 DISPASSIONATELY
#20 DISCOMBOBULATION
#21 SCHADENFREUDE
#22 INCONTROVERTIBLE
#23 FECUNDITY
#24 DISSOLUTION
#25 GALLIMAUFRY
#26 OBFUSCATION
#27 POLYSEMY
#28 FACETIOUS
#30 OBSEQUIOUS
#31 CIRCUMSPECTION
#32 GAWPING
#33 FULMINATING
#34 ENCOMIUM
#35 MALEFICENCE
#36 CORUSCATE
#37 TEMERITY
#38 HUBRIS
#39 TRUCULENCE
#40 RIGMAROLE
#41 PERNICIOUS
#42 ACCRETION
#43 NITHERED
#44 NARCISSISM
#45 FESTOON
#46 GOBSMACKED
#47 FUGUE
#48 ERUDITE
#49 ELOCUTION
#50 MACHINATIONS
#51 ABROGATE
#52 SOUPÇON
#53 ACERBIC
#54 BLIMEY
#55 CRIKEY
#56 MISANTHROPIC
#57 AVUNCULAR
#58 SHENANIGANS
#59 SARDONIC
#60 GINORMOUS
#61 INSIDIOUS
#62 LASCIVIOUS
#63 FRISSON
#64 MESSIANIC
#65 COTERIE
