EVERYBODY says they want peace in Ukraine, and a number of other places, but they won’t meet to talk about it despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s latest attempt to at least start talking face to face in Istanbul, Turkey.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is not going, as indicated by the official list, because he is not interested in negotiations, just conquest. Maybe this is an honest response.
United States President Donald Trump is not going, because Putin isn’t going, and thus he won’t to be able to make a grandstand statement claiming all the credit. This is a self-interest statement.
People are dying but egos seem more important. The world is heading the wrong way and we all know two leaders who are driving us all over the cliff.
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The real boss
I and millions of others have always liked Bruce Springsteen and have listened to his words for decades and today I am even more appreciative of his words.
His full diatribe on Trump can be read elsewhere but some quotes “America is in the hands of a corrupt and incompetent administration” reflect the views of so many Americans and citizens of the world, but few have the opportunity to voice this to so many.
Springsteen is just one voice, a clear supporter of previous democratic US Presidents, but a voice we should listen to.
The Boss has spoken!
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A real social media challenge
The New Zealand Government is looking to ban social media access for under-16s by 2026. This will come as a great surprise for the U16s as they probably don’t read newspapers often and social media sites might not publicize their own partial demise.
A number of countries are working on restricting access to social media but with little success so far. Banning anything is difficult given the freedoms most countries promote and protect.
Banning social media will be more difficult given some, probably most, will lie or cheat to maintain their youthful drug of addition, likes and followers. Any technological bypass will be sent around the world before their parents can finish a nice cup of tea.
Social media, once the realm of cat videos and family photos, has broadened to include dangerous Instagram challenges and videos of the consequences. It has great potential, as did nuclear power although the ex-citizens of Chernobyl might see a different future.
Rather than ban, governments should monitor, clean and promote the positive and punish the negative.
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The word wizard?
The English language is complex and apparently difficult to learn as a second language.
Wikipedia says the English language has over one million words, many archaic, technical or obscure but the printed Oxford dictionary only has 171,476 major words apparently.
There, however, may need to be a few words added to the dictionary, both from the mind of President Trump, “Covfefe”, which nobody seems to have a definition for.
The second word is “Equalizing” which he created: “There’s a new word that I came up with, which is probably the best word.” Although puzzlingly, this word gets a mention in the Oxford dictionary already, both online and in print. Well done, Oxford, to move so fast!
There have also been Trump l-related health phrases including “Trump derangement syndrome”, which I and millions of others seem to suffer from. Apart from mood swings and frustration, I am not sure what the other effects are.
When will the pain end?/PN
