Luv2play

I read an article about the founder of Binance a couple of weeks ago. If I recall correctly, he graduated from McGill University, my alma mater, in the late 80s. He was cited as being Canada's latest billionaire, worth about $1.3 billion. I guess today that would be somewhere south of half a bil today.

Were you travelling to a region where smallpox is endemic? I can't remember the reason for my vaccination in 1966. I believe I had one much earlier when I was in primary school in the 50's but can't find the certificate.

Interesting to read of your experience. Is there any sense that the supplies of vaccine are abundant, such that no criteria for qualification to receive one are required? Recalling the early days of 2021 and Covid, supplies of vaccine could become problematic if cases ramp up.

By coincidence I was going through my old files to update my estate planning, something my executor asked me to do several months ago, and came across my vaccination certificate for smallpox from 1966 when I was at university in Montreal. So quite old and although it was supposed to be a one time shot to last a lifetime, I wonder how much protection it still offers, assuming it also protects for Monkeypox. I don't intend to get a booster at this point but that could change.

I'm also not a believer in crypto currencies but thought they were not supposed to be linked to equity markets. Also not supposed to be influenced by inflation. Now it appears they only go up when markets are bullish and inflation is low. As a hedge crypto appears to be a dud.

Today it was reported that a vaccination clinic has been set up at a bathhouse in Toronto's gay neighbourhood. Officials are worried that with Gay Pride festivities coming up soon, Monkeypox could spread and are taking steps to avert a public health crisis. So far Toronto only has a small fraction of the cases seen in Montreal.

I don't need a definition to know I am included. Doesn't bother me a bit. I feel comfortable in my older, somewhat wrinkled, skin.

Today for the first time the CBC radio network reported that most of the Monkeypox cases in Montreal, which now number 98 confirmed, have been traced to a sauna, which was not named. All appear to be gay men or men who have sex with men. Montreal has the largest number of cases by far, which yesterday totalled 112 in all of Canada including Montreal. Toronto only has 5 cases. Smallpox vaccines are now being administered to at risk individuals and those who are likely to come in contact with infected people, which includes sex workers. I was in Montreal last weekend so am monitoring myself but I avoided saunas and stripper bars. Dud see some escorts though since a trip to Montreal wouldn't be complete without doing so.

A British expert on the news tonight said the condition is brought on by an activation of the dormant chickenpox virus which can also cause shingles. If it occurs in the area of the ear hearing can be affected and paralysis in the face can occur. Treatment includes steroids. He said around 75 percent recover fully. So cause for concern obviously. He seems to be young to have this happen. Shingles tends to appear in middle to late middle age to most people I know who have contracted it.

I had to adjust the setting on my phone. Now I heard his interview. Interesting story of his body building career. Hope he recovers.

I'm not a fan of his music but I appreciate the way he rose to stardom through his own talent and efforts. I hope he makes a recovery as he obviously gives much pleasure to his fan base.

The PM serves at the pleasure of his elected sitting party members. If they want, they can kick the PM out, as they did Margaret Thatcher.

You couldn't ask for anything more than three days in a lovely setting like Montreal with an escort each evening for company.😛

It was a very nice visit. One of my guests enjoyed the Jacuzzi and outdoor pool with me and we had sunshine to boot. They also have a nice bar lounge off the lobby which we frequented. The rooms are great for indoor sports!

I agree on both points.

What did he go to prison for?

You make some good points but I would argue that the Victorian Era ushered in as great a change in society as Queen Elizabeth's time on the throne. The industrial revolution, which started in Great Britain, transformed life with inventions that surpassed even those of the last 70 years. Transportation; horses to trains and sail to steamships, communications; the telegraph and telephones, modern medicine, electricity and the lightbulb, modern sanitation, photography, the list goes on. All these developments changed the lives of the ordinary citizen much more than the way we live our lives any differently than our grandparents.

Absolutely. I'm a case in point.

The monarchs I cited from centuries ago did have more power than those of the 19th and 20 centuries, who as pointed out exercise influence rather than power. Influence is a sort of soft power but often works more effectively in certain situations than raw power. Just look at how powerful governments often resort to influence rather than have the potential backfire from trying to order people to do something through a naked exercise of power. During her lifetime Queen Elizabeth has had to contend with powerful leaders like Margaret Thatcher who was not given to subtle exercise of power. In the end, Thatcher's power evaporated in an instant when she lost the confidence of her own party members. The Queen just sailed on to dealing with John Major, Thatcher's replacement.

I am more turned on by the guy doing the licking and what he has showing between his legs.

He certainly has some physical assets to bring to the marriage. Hopefully he is also well endowed where it counts, at least in my assessment of suitable partners I would choose. Lol

When the British have a popular leader leading a strong government with majority support in Parliament, then the Queen does tend to fade into the background which is as it should be. But when the elected government or their leader is on the ropes, then the stability in government institutions which the Crown embodies acts as a stabilizing force and the Queen's presence is reassuring to the public. Prime ministers come and go but she has carried on for some 14 PMs, I believe is the number, since ascending the throne. When history is written, the age is often defined by the Monarch, not the governments. Just think back as far as the First Elizabethan Age or Henry VIII, or the Victorian Age or the Edwardian Age. The Queen has reigned so long that I think her epoch will become known as the Second Elizabethan Age.

Yes indeed, the poor bishop beside her can only move on the black tiles.

As I understand the role of the British monarch as a constitutional ruler, their role is to advise, be consulted and warn where necessary the duly elected government. Obviously the monarch needs to be mentally capable of fulfilling these roles. In the event the Queen was no longer able to do this, I think a regency would be established, as it was for George III when he lost his mind. In the US where the president is both the head of government and head of state, this problem was encountered with Woodrow Wilson when he suffered a massive stroke and we are told his wife became the go-between. Maybe someone more familiar with the US constitution can detail when changes were made to reflect this reality. I think another change was made in the rules of succession after the Kennedy assassination when the ancient speaker of the house McCormick stood next in line after Johnson became the president in 1963. The British don't have a written constitution as such but rely heavily on convention and precedent and the rule of law, which has served them very well over many centuries. By contrast all the rules written into the US constitution appear to be not serving the American people very well these days, at least in my humble opinion.

This just had to happen on a day I didn't tune in to see what was happening. At least I was engaged at the time in the activity we are here to discuss primarily so my missing in action prevented me from being a contender for the 2 millionth post. Anyway congratulations Lucky. Your name makes you a suitable winner and I was as usual luving to play at the time you were winning the contest.