Have a MOAN!!!

(((forfreddie))) - that is a pretty disgusting day ! I am so sorry about your phone !

I once did a top knot thing with my hair and it gave me a headache so that's one hairstyle out ! ( Also I looked like a samurai warrior . *LOL*)

Touchwood touchwood, Forfreddie !!!! I ain't looking for trauma right now ! *LOL*

Re. top knots ... Teletubbies Po - of course and sumo wrestlers! *LOL*

There was one annoying person at the gym who was constantly staring at me for whatever reason . They wouldn't stop even though I stared right back at them so I changed cardio machines ,quite pointedly.

The hairdo reminds me of Pebbles Flintstone.

Hope you recover your phone.

Oh yes, Pebbles- forgot that one *LOL*

Sympathy for your lost photos-- and the phone itself, of course! I don't suppose you would recognize him if he came back in? Is there a security camera that might have caught him?

Well, mine is pale, political incorrect and nonsense in comparison to the story of forfreddie, but tonight happened something that happens regularly at the supermarket: raspberry-yogurt was outsold. And I moaned with the exclamation "F*** capitalism and free trade if I can't have my raspberry-yogurt." Confronted with such a situation I ask myself (once more) why many of my East German compatriots desperately craved to have the Berlin Wall torn down 20 years ago...

Sorry to hear about your phone.

Can't say I have noticed that hairstyle. I guess it's supposed to be a top-knot?

That's really a shame about your phone and all those photos. Phone theft is sadly becoming all that more common these days.

Aww...(((forfreddie))). I'm sorry about the phone. That sucks.

Pebbles' top knot was actually a high ponytail anchored by a bone -- not the top knot thing as pictured above. I don't like the way that looks either. Some hairstyles are just irritating to look at, aren't they?


^^^Looks painful!


^^^I actually kinda like this one, but only she could get away with that. Maybe. On second thought she looks a little sad that she has to wear that get-up, that expression that dogs have on their faces when their people dress them up in costumes.


^^^Looks goofy. Just...wrong.


^^^This one looks like a hat that the younger royals wear now on their foreheads.

My day wasn't too bad overall, thank goodness! No complaints, no emergencies, no dramas. But the night is young yet!

I had a good day actually.

That hairstyle hasn't hit my neck of the woods at all. Must be a UK thing. Reminds me of those beehives of the early '60s though those were much more extreme than this and took hours to put together.

Somebody tried to prize the the petrol cap off my car last night. They weren't successful - but the cap is now slightly loose and damaged and won't shut properly.

Yep, some bastard had the reflective strip in my car's bumper off last night. The car is only a month old and I'm fecking angry about it. Why do that?

Things then got worse. I woke up this morning with a touch of gout (undoubtedly due to over-indulgence so it's probably my fault) and it hurts like a bastard. If you've had it, you'll know what I mean.

I am attempting to organize and shed some clutter today, and it is difficult! That is my moan today. I am emotionally attached to my clutter, but it is getting out of hand. I am trying to prioritize, asking myself, "what would be essential to keep if I lived in a caravan?" Not that I am going to, but I'm trying to motivate myself to set some limits. The idea of living in a caravan is very appealing to me. Maybe I can just leave all the clutter and take off in one. Not much of a moan, I know, but this is hard for some of us.

First and foremost, all my kinds words of support and encouragement, also a smile of hope and of cheering up to my fellow posters.

As for my moan of the day:
Getting a bit queasy and concerned about the general state of economy. What has is to do with me? Easy: the longer the recession, the more scarce, exhausting and underpaid the commissions and jobs for freelancers. As it is an open secret here on Basenotes, yes, I am a freelancing translator-interpreter and work from my home office. Now, the charm of this activity relies also on its ups and downs, in forcing one to adapt to downturns and then eventually laughing it off once recessionary times are surpassed and tides start to turn again.

Meanwhile, and even if just for personal comfort, not just economic advantages, I will need to ramp up the quantity and the standards of my applications for project-based assignments and collaboration contracts. Simultaneously, won't decrease the pace of hoarding some currency reserves for "rainy days", even in increase the amount of savings a bit whenever I can.
Also, thinking about ways to branch out in some near future without or even between the boundaries of my current occupation.

Thanks for listening me out and hope for stress-free and cheerful days for anyone on this thread.

(((Hug))), Ken Russell.

My eyes!!! Lol, what is that? I haven't seen those knots before, really??? Cause that makes the 80's/90's high hair deal look good, lol. Well, kinda, haha. It's like you walk into the salon and ask for Pebbles. Lol. That's my moan..those pics! Lol!



Who knew she was a trendsetter? Lol. Alls that is missing is the bone. That's what they probably will do next. lol

Well, I had a fucking disaster of a hair day today, and so I actually wore the top knot under a knit cap: No joke. After the day was done, I was laughing when I saw all of this discussion and thought: "How perfectly ironic!" Little did I know that I also currently sleep every night with the coiffure most coveted by trendsetters in the UK--except--I suspect--most aren't men! The good of sleeping in the top knot is that it encourages volume in the back: Something we men often ignore. So my (long) hair, which is quite ringletty, doesn't go all flat in the back, I sleep with it all piled atop my head this way, and that system works out famously. Today, though, I couldn't get it to look remotely presentable so, after trying, I just twisted and turned it back up into that "pepples" nought, and threw a striped knit cap on over it. I'm on holiday just now, so little difference it made! I place my "Moan" squarely in the "Raspberry Yogurt Department!"

I hear you, Forfreddie.
Without wanting to derail, hijack this thread and/or giving it a politically incorrect turn, I also think that private or even public initiative on simply individual level is hardly enough anymore to stop not just economic downturn but more generalized social disarray, especially in more or less recessionary countries.
I am almost certain that young professionals, free-lancers, self-employed as well as mid-range to senior employees would be more involved in public (not necessarily political action), if more of hard-earned their tax money was redirected into sustainable economic growth rather than feeding an increasingly bureaucratized and ineffectual administration (ineffectual especially in terms of economic policies, but also health care, culture, education etc.).
However, even the most miserable situation may be a step forward. Even the less socially involved regular citizens would understand that, during recessionary times, not just that the private sector of the market will be working harder and providing more at the same prices, but also that they are allowed to demand more "return on investment" for their tax money.

In other words, extreme situations like these often raise exclamation marks towards the important decision-makers, prompting them to understand that progress and change are the absolutely necessary and unique solution.

The irritating thing is that they didn't nick the strip, they just pulled it off and left it by the car.

Still, at least my gout has cleared up now. TFFT, it's very painful indeed.

Now, THAT, is a moan! Isn't it interesting to witness the very lights of previous civilization spiraling into "the New Third World," while, for instance, places like Abu-Dahbi or others, even Tehran, are spotless, and orderly, provided one doesn't sneak a poke about the areas where they are doing the beheading, the stoning, the torture, etc? Britain and America have been the examples shown to the world over the course of the 20th Century. (Britain, of course, for hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of years, spawning America.) NOW: The UK is a mess, America is disaster, both populations are miserable, and the direction both countries seem to be taking points to a kind of "India," where in the happy few have everything whilst the middle classes disappear entirely, leaving 98% of the population to "serve" the 2% of the Wealth Sector as slaves: This is what the current "OCCUPY" movement examines in America. I haven't set foot in the UK since the mid 80's, and already, I found it over-run by immigrants--to the point of being uncomfortable--at least in comparison to France: I also found it, again, in the 80's, RIDICULOUSLY expensive, (again) in comparison to France. I can not possibly imagine the "disease" afflicting it today, as it is generally known that: It has become *More* expensive/impossible to live there, and the population of *non-local-custom-adapting-immigrants* has grown by massive amounts, when, already, 30 years ago, both sets of details were shocking to an outsider such as i, who am not British. Imagine, though, a bit, how it is in America, where they let homeless and vagrants and transients die in the gutters for lack of food, water, and, mostly, medication. ONE DOSE of medication in the US might cost upwards of $800.00 to $1000.00 US if purchased without insurance. A stay in Hospital can cost upwards of $20,000.00US per day if uninsured. A visit to Accident Emergency, $15,000.00US without insurance. With the recent implosion of the American economy, families are living in vans and automobiles. Whole neighbourhoods have gone vacant, with their populations booted out by banks who owned the mortgages of these homes: There is no recourse when unemployed. Benefits last a specific time, then, nothing. The pittance that is "Wellfare" (Or whatever it is called) could not possibly keep anyone in proper shelter or food, and a month's worth of it might buy ONE dose of medication--and in THIS climate, there is left, in the entire country--remember how big it is--precisely ONE alms house: Laguna-Honda Hospital in Northern California: That is *ONE* alms house, for the ENTIRE population of the US. To get in, takes a miracle. In the same climate, consider that, every day, hundreds of thousands of immigrants arrive from China and the Middle East, all highly skilled, to compete for jobs which are so scarce that for every one available it is said that there are 800 to 1000 qualified applicants to fill it: The ones who get them typically are the ones who will accept the lowest pay. Atop the immigration situation, SCHOOLS are now OVERRUN by applicants from China, who will do ANYTHING to get their single child "in," including making million dollar donations. Tuition to these (private=public in the US) private schools is outrageous: $30,000.00 per year for one child, starting at 6 years old, increasing to around $60,000.00-$80,000.00 per year at college level. For a child to attend "Pre-School," (starts at 3 years old) the cost can be from $7000.00 to $10,000.00 per year. Obviously, these are for private institutions: However, public ones, baring few exceptions, provide not only scant education, but a very real source of malaise amongst parents, as "Columbine" type violence has become a mainstay, and is very real: Daily, "Variations on this theme" occur. So.....this new system proposed by the National Jerk/Megalomaniac Obama, will be interesting to see implemented. Consider also: There are no choices for Americans in Politics: You get: "Milk Chocolate" (Democrats) and "Dark Chocolate" (Republicans): Republicans become increasingly frightening, whilst Democrats become increasing out of touch: Witness the Idiot Robot Mitt Romney--a terrific danger to the entire world if elected--the *only one* the Republicans could manage to challenge Obama. A friend of mine marvels: "They can't do any better because nobody in their right mind would want the job" --This--I'm afraid, is *So True.* There's MY majestic moan! Umph! That felt good!!!!!!

Yes, the situation in the U.S. is downhill, and neither Republicans nor Democrats know what to do. You are right, MdM: not much of a selection between candidates. The middle class is disappearing.

FURTHERMORE, I'd like to remind people, on Independence Day, that the attractions that draw people to this country were paid for in BLOOD and at terrible risk by real people, and to not recognize that is to be worse than an ingrate, it is to be a parasite and a leech. Just a small reminder to all classes. I'm a little tipsy now, I admit it, and sentimental, but I feel very strongly about this. How many of us today in this countty have the kind courage and conviction it took then to take hold of our own destiny?

Well said.

Also remember, the blood that was shed was not just American. The American Revolution spawned and inspired the French Revolution, and a more massive festival of gore Western Civilization had never before witnessed, this having for effect that all of Europe was afterward plunged into mourning, fear and chaos for almost a Century. This is the Century that gave birth to the 20th Century: The Century of Western World War. Don't let's begin pondering on the amount of blood caused by the American Revolution, as, I'm afraid, none of us are equipped to grasp the scope: The Scene in Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining," where the hotel fills up and floods with it, I'm afraid, doesn't quite cut it.

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There's a Moan, good and proper, right there! ^^^^^

Yes, it is true that it was not ONLY American blood that was shed in the war for independence, MdM. We have discussed this before, vis a vis the Marquis de Lafayette, if you recall, as just one (important) example. I think it was actually Europe who birthed the "rights of man", not the Americans. America did not even exist yet. The Americans seized upon an ideal that was already simmering in Europe. Why do you think Lafayette would come volunteer for the Americans otherwise? The bloody French revolution would have happened with or without the American victory. I cannot think that the American revolution ALONE caused an ocean and a century of blood. Americans were not even major players until after WWII.

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Thank you. I do believe that. About myself, of course, too!

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No big moans today except from my dog who is terrified by the fireworks going off in the neighborhood. It's just getting dark and they're just getting started. It's going to be a long night.

While there is an answer to that, which explains my reasoning, which reasoning is seconded by many respected Historians, this is not the appropriate thread upon which to dissect it, as we're meant to have a good old moan here, not an half-witted political discussion: So, my moan, today, runs thus:

I've nothing but disdain for all this rah-rah: It's all bollocks. I've precisely the same amount, plus volumes more, for the French Fete Nationale, when the Political Party Le Front National go wild: These are the very same neo-fascists, in case any readers didn't already know, or conveniently forgot, who in the 80's marched about the streets of Paris in hoards chanting "Death To Jews!" and "Foreigners: Outside!" Typically, I would arrange to be in Holland that week, in order to miss this day, the "Quatorze Juillet:" Poo! Stuff & Nonsense! All of it! Now, I've merely to draw draperies, and entertain the dogs with unending chewy hides, as nothing will distract them from these, and entertain myself with a book, as nothing will distract we from this. I've a friend, a dear one, from Georgia. She tells it like it is: She's blonde, beautiful cornflower blue eyes, and speaks in that lovely sing-song accent. She also has a shocking case of potty mouth. Once, we were meeting at a mutual friend's house for dinner outside of town, where both of us live: Getting out of town that day was challenging--as there was one of those "games" and "we" apparently won it--or something--I'm not sure--but it had to do with a game. I arrived first. When my friend finally arrived, she was an hour late, and flustered: Visibly, she was fuming. After I had given her my customary cheek kisses, she blurted something out that I will use as a quote today, and I encourage readers to imagine it spoken in that deep Southern drawl:

"What I want to know is, why the fuck are ya'all so God damned happy?!?!"

Bravo!

My wife just got her American citizenship, and she's quite proud of it. She had procrastinated on doing the work for naturalization, but the election year has really pushed people to get off their rear ends, and she was not alone. Seeing a naturalization ceremony is something that I would recommend to all Americans.

It was a real sight to see - all these people from all over the planet who wanted to become Americans. When it was done, every new citizen in the packed federal courthouse got to stand up and say:

- "Good afternoon, Your Honor!"

- their name

- where they were from

- something personal

The latter ranged from poignant to hilarious. One lady from Wales jumped up, raised her arms, and announced exuberantly that she could now vote for Obama - everybody laughed and cheered for her, no matter what their politics. Many new citizens could barely speak the words, but the emotion in their voices and their best K-mart clothing, worn specially for the occasion, told the tale of how hard they had worked to get here, and how little some had been able to bring with them. It was clear that the following poem, inscribed at the base of a certain copper statue - a gift from friends - still has real meaning.

Congratulations to your wife, Red!! Yes, naturalization ceremonies, hokey as they can seem, are moving and good reminders of how fortunate we are to have so much that we take for granted, even the simplest things.

MdM, you are right, it is a complex historical issue, and not a topic for this thread. And I am not a deluded, half witted neo Fascist.