The unimportant news thread

[kishnevi]

King Mihai I of Romania lying in state at the Royal Palace in Bucharest. I queued up for 9 (nine!) hours to pay him my homage.

Nine hours!
There are probably not that many who can remember back to the time when he actually was King.  But he must be a powerful symbol for the Romanian people.

[Florestan]

Nine hours!

I took my place in line at 16:00 and I left the Royal Palace at 24:50. At that time there were still thousands of people in the queue.

There are probably not that many who can remember back to the time when he actually was King.  But he must be a powerful symbol for the Romanian people.

He is indeed the powerful symbol of the traditional Romania and of what we might have been had the communism not taken us over. And the contrast (in character, morality, thought, speech and behavior) between him and the present political establishment is enormous. Ninety-nine percent of the latter are not even fit to polish his shoes.

[zamyrabyrd]

He is indeed the powerful symbol of the traditional Romania and of what we might have been had the communism not taken us over. And the contrast (in character, morality, thought, speech and behavior) between him and the present political establishment is enormous. Ninety-nine percent of the latter are not even fit to polish his shoes.

I saw part of the procession on TV, very impressive. With more coverage and airing out of communist fallacies, who knows, maybe a return to an enlighted monarchy might be in the cards?  There are still models and precedents in Europe and Britain that can be emulated.

[Florestan]

I saw part of the procession on TV, very impressive.

We watched it all (we were away from Bucharest) and at some point drove 45 minutes to a railway station to see the funeral train passing by (it went slowly so the crowd could see the coffin and the royal family; the atmosphere was unbelievably solemn and impressive). The King was buried in Curtea de Argeș, the first capital of Wallachia and the official funeral site of the Romanian kings. Now all four of them lay there. It was a very long day and probably the most impressive and heartfelt state funeral Romania has, or will, ever seen.

I don't know what the future will be, but I will always remember December 16, 2017, the day when I saw history passing by in front of me. King Mihai I of Romania is the man who at the tender age of 23 defied Hitler by taking Romania out the military alliance with Nazi Germany and ordering the Romanian Army to fight against the former ally (not a single officer or soldier disobeyed this order) thus shortening WWII by at least six or seven months. He tried his best to oppose the USSR-backed communist takeover of Romania and was forced to abdicate at a gunpoint and a blackmail. Also, he was contemporary with 16 USA presidents, 8 popes and 4 UK kings. A remarkable statesman, a true gentleman, a devout Orthodox Christian and a genial, amiable and modest person. Requiescat in pace.

With more coverage and airing out of communist fallacies, who knows, maybe a return to an enlighted monarchy might be in the cards?

There is very, very little chance but one can never say never. If God wills it, it will be. We can only hope and pray.

[Ken B]

We watched it all (we were away from Bucharest) and at some point drove 45 minutes to a railway station to see the funeral train passing by (it went slowly so the crowd could see the coffin and the royal family; the atmosphere was unbelievably solemn and impressive). The King was buried in Curtea de Argeș, the first capital of Wallachia and the official funeral site of the Romanian kings. Now all four of them lay there. It was a very long day and probably the most impressive and heartfelt state funeral Romania has, or will, ever seen.

I don't know what the future will be, but I will always remember December 16, 2017, the day when I saw history passing by in front of me. King Mihai I of Romania is the man who at the tender age of 23 defied Hitler by taking Romania out the military alliance with Nazi Germany and ordering the Romanian Army to fight against the former ally (not a single officer or soldier disobeyed this order) thus shortening WWII by at least six or seven months. He tried his best to oppose the USSR-backed communist takeover of Romania and was forced to abdicate at a gunpoint and a blackmail. Also, he was contemporary with 16 USA presidents, 8 popes and 4 UK kings. A remarkable statesman, a true gentleman, a devout Orthodox Christian and a genial, amiable and modest person. Requiescat in pace.

There is very, very little chance but one can never say never. If God wills it, it will be. We can only hope and pray.

Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead.
So is Lord Protector Cromwell.
Napoleon Bonaparte isn't looking too good either.

[nodogen]

The royal wedding is set to clash with the FA cup final.

Seems like the right thread.

[Todd]

Fuck yeah!

[kishnevi]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/12/17/linda-sarsour-accused-enabling-sexual-assault-harassment-in-workplace.amp.html

[Spineur]

There are good friends and there are great friends

https://pagesix.com/2017/12/13/george-clooney-gifted-14-friends-1m-each-says-rande-gerber

[Todd]

There are good friends and there are great friends

https://pagesix.com/2017/12/13/george-clooney-gifted-14-friends-1m-each-says-rande-gerber

Pre-emptive hush money?

[Baron Scarpia]

Sarah Palin's son  Track arrested for assault on her husband.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/18/politics/track-palin-arrested-domestic-violence/index.html

The last time Track Palin was arrested for a violent assault Sarah Palin blamed Obama. I wonder who is at fault this time.

[Karl Henning]

Oh, that'll be Obama still.  As a scapegoat, he will be evergreen.

[kishnevi]

Sarah Palin's son  Track arrested for assault on her husband.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/18/politics/track-palin-arrested-domestic-violence/index.html

The last time Track Palin was arrested for a violent assault Sarah Palin blamed Obama. I wonder who is at fault this time.

Given the alcohol and pain medication aspect of this episode, I would expect the next bit of news to be "Track Palin Admitted to Celebrity Rehab Clinic".

[Karl Henning]

I just saw a TV ad for this, and at the end, I found myself almost involuntarily thinking, Look at all those happy white people.


Fair disclosure:  I am white, and I hear me some Bible at least once a week 40 weeks out of the year.  But, Lawd, not out of a portable appliance.

[Turner]

2017: "The Year in Journalists' Facial Expressions"

https://twitter.com/brianstelter/status/943294459596496896

https://www.thecut.com/2017/12/best-reporter-reactions-2017.html

[Turner]

Progress in history:"Macedonia Says It's Ready To Give Up Claim As Sole Heir To Alexander The Great's Legacy"

https://www.rferl.org/a/macedonia-yugolsavia-greece-alexander-great-name-dispute-eu/28935265.html

[Ken B]

The Great Stupiding continues apace https://news.hjnews.com/logan_hj/teacher-parents-weigh-in-on-nude-artwork-incident/article_cbcb8316-9f6e-56b7-93c1-14807cc595a9.html.

[Todd]

UN chief issues 'red alert' for the world

[bwv 1080]

Now hipsters can discover the all-natural joys of dysentary and cholera

https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/raw-water-latest-dangerous-natural-health-fad/

[Ken B]

Now hipsters can discover the all-natural joys of dysentary and cholera

https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/raw-water-latest-dangerous-natural-health-fad/

When I was young our town had a referendum on fluoridating our water supply.

Here's the road to prosperity for depressed Flint, just up the road: water exports.