World Miscellaneous Forum

What will you do if you know your time is nigh?

What do King Bhumibol of Thailand and Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia have in common ?

I am very curious to know how other folks in non US countries heat their homes.
I have an oil burner, lucky me huh? With heating oil climbing to 5.00USD this season I better start looking for a backup system that's cheaper.
Any suggestions?
How do you keep costs down?
Thanks!

Anybody have this irritating thing? How do you deal with it? Seems like there are no remedies.

Did you know you can't post silence on VT. if you try you get an error message saying the question is too short. Even if you just put a full stop it does the same.

Why can't we have a silent thread for people to come to experieice inner peace and calm when the misc forum gets too hot to handle???

Last night I was thinking about my last trip to France and how completely marred it was by the friend I went with. He bascially invited himself, changed all our plans to accomodate his schedule, and then spent the entire time whining non-stop, eventually blowing up at me at the airport when I said I thought our bags were coming down one chute and they ended up coming down another (which was right next to the first one). Keep in mind that he was broke at the time and I paid for the apartment we stayed in!!!

Has anyone ever had the same experience? What did you do about it afterwards? My friend and I no longer speak so I'm curious to know how other people who had this experience handled it.

Yesterday I had an audition for an organist/choir director postion at quite a posh church. Everything seemed to go reasonably well and the interview portion was cordial enough, though everyone held their cards close to the chest.
This morning I got a phone call from the minister telling me they loved my playing---they had no idea the organ could sound like that, etc, etc--- and that I gave extremely succinct and articulate answers to some very difficult questions, and that unless somebody on my recommendations list sabotages it they're almost certain to offer me the job.
(I don't actually want the job according to the terms on offer.)

Of course, this is a great ego boost, but still, I feel as though I've hoodwinked them. I've pulled the wool over their eyes. They must be either deluded or gormless.
Apparently this is not uncommon. It's called impostor syndrome, and musicians are especially prey to it.

Does this happen to you? Is there a cure?

I have noticed that were my lap-top be stolen, my life's history goes with it for the ride.

From my first tentative use of one to it being an indispensable companion spanned only 20 years.

Hardly anything important is not stored in it.
Hardly any question asked I cannot find the answer on it.
Hardly any actionable part of my living does not pass trough one of the programmes therein.

So an unnatural ritual has developed since my addiction:

On waking, between first and second coffee Emails get checked;
Some get answered.
Currency rates are scanned.
U.S. and Asian Stock exchanges viewed.
Bank-balances checked and a to-do list readied.
And, obviously, VT is consulted for fun.

During the rest of the day it acts as a sketching tool, a photograph repository, a calculator, telephone, Mobile updater, Address -locator and shopping tool.

Nightly I upload "MY DOCUMENTS" in a Memory-stick for security and Safety.
I never realised this 1,7 Kg plastic box spends as much time with me as the clothes on my back.

What use do you have for yours?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7522952.stm

How does this name grab you

Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii

some poor kid in NZ has had to be made a ward of court to legally get this STUPID name change --are some people gormless or what

Lately I have been having some fun answering questions on the Forum, especially in the last few months, I have been in Australia, Europe, SE Asia and India and USA.
Since I want to enjoy doing this, this is how I select the questions to answer:
1. I look at the left hand side and look at the destinations the questions are about. I dont read questions about places I know nothing about but are popular in the forum: Croatia, Palawan etc
2. i get a little bit more pleasure if the person making the query has written something in his or her profile. exceptions are that someone needs an urgent answer and has joined VT that day.
3. If i see the word CHEAPEST in teh title of the question I bypass it. I am sure everyone wants to know what is the cheapest way to get to one place to the next, it just spoils my mood to answer.
4. A smile when names which has become familiar to me appear, and there are some very good people on VT who are sincere, polite,and knowledgeable.
5.As a quirk, I like writing positively about Malaysia and negatively about Singapore
6. There are people of a certain nationality in Asia, who are not mature enough that each time someone writes something critical, such as: as a single woman, the traveller was hassled in that country, there is a retort of personal abuse or impolite remark. They have not learned the western ways of discourse.
7. When I am in remote areas for one week at a time, VT does provide some relief of boredom for me.
And thanks to all of you, who take time to answer questions .

I am in a part of the USA for a few days where there is no mobilephone reception but fortunately has internet connection through land line.

That amazing actress, Estelle Getty, died on Tuesday. She starred as Sophia in that wonderful series "The Golden Girls".
She died of advanced dementia, aged 84.
That was the funniest programme ever:-)Her acid one- liners were hilarious.
Some of her greatest moments- below.

http://www.postchronicle.com/news/original/article_212159675.shtml

just read our local newspaper and came across an article about a lady who had recently been diagnosed with MS

she thought she had a claim against her critical illness insurance so duly applied -- only to be refused because

" she attended a consultation years ago at the hospital which didn't produce any diagnosis but the consultant wrote to her doctor saying

"some of the symptoms this lady has could be early signs of MS - but i have not told her this"

neither did the GP and now the poor woman ( who thought nothing was wrong with her because the medical proffesion hadn't discussed these findings with her) cannot claim on her insurance because " she failed to declare the visit"

If you were not informed that something may be wrong with you - or could be the early symptoms of something you MAY go on to develop - how can you complete the insurance forms ---- unless you tell them everytime you have seen a consultant and what for ---- this would make these already long forms even longer and give the insurance companies even more chance or welching out IMO

Having said that - i tried to insist my Mortgage Broker imformed to TMPP insurers that i have back problems -- "nah - don't need to know - its only the usual - heart/cancer etc problems they need to know bout " came the answer --MORE than once -- Wonder were i would stand if i were to throw off sick with the old back problem ---- probably up the same creek this poor woman is at the moment

Makes you wonder why we bother with insurance in the first place eh?

What do Napoli and Novgorod have in common?

What is the most expensive gift you got from others or for yourself?

I finally gave in and bought myself a SL500 for my birthday, not new, just a 1992 as I like the shape better then the new ones.

I love, little baby ducks

Hello Friends! Going home on holiday Florida after 38 years!Not really sure what to wear to the beach,sunglasses,surfer shorts,sandels?

I'm trying really hard to give up artificial sweeteners. It's really not as easy as I thought it would be. I have no problem not drinking diet sodas or things like that but I drink a lot of herbal tea and it's KILLING me not to put Splenda in it. I tried using sugar, but the amount of sugar required to match the sweetness level of just one Splenda is obscene. Has anyone else tried giving them up? I'm not liking it at all. :(

Right...There seems to be a bit of snobbery about which browser to use. A lot of my friends keep telling me that Mozilla Firefox is soooo much better than Internet Explorer, but when I ask how it is better, they get impatient and say, "it just is".

Anyway, I've finally been persuaded to download and install firefox, which took ages...and I can't see what all the fuss is about. Apart from having a nicer logo of a curled up orange fox, it doesn't seem any different. If anything, Firefox seems to be slower, especially when it comes to loading pictures. I use the photo site flickr a lot, so I've noticed a big difference...and it's not my connection, as I've just tried it on internet explorer and photos load fine.

So, am I blind? Why all this pressure to install firefox? Are the big improvements all hidden ones? Can anyone persuade me not to click uninstall?

I saw James Taylor at SPAC (Saratoga Spring, NY) in the early
80s, just him and his guitar... beautiful summer evening.
Fantastic.

Jimmy Buffet was there just listening and walkin' around.

1) This is a picture of an octopus. It has eight testicles.
(Kelly age 6)

2) Oysters' balls are called pearls.
(James age 6)

3) If you are surrounded by sea you are an Island. If you don't have sea all round you, you are incontinent.
(Wayne age 7)

4) Sharks are ugly and mean, and have big teeth, just like Emily Richardson. She's not my friend no more.
(Kylie age 6)

5) A dolphin breaths through an arsehole on the top of its head.
(Billy age 8)

6) My dad goes out in his boat, and comes back with crabs. (Emily Burniston age 5)

7) When ships had sails, they used to use the trade winds to cross the ocean. Sometimes, when the wind didn't blow, the sailors would whistle to make the wind come. My brother said they would be better off eating beans.
(William age 7)

8) I like mermaids. They are beautiful, and I like their shiny tails. How do mermaids get pregnant?
(Helen age 6)

9) I'm not going to write about the sea. My baby brother is always screaming and being sick, my Dad keeps shouting at my Mum, and my big sister has just got pregnant, so I can't think what to write.
(Amy age 6)

10) Some fish are dangerous. Jellyfish can sting Electric eels can give you a shock. They have to live in caves under the sea where I think they have to plug themselves into chargers.
(Christopher age 7)

11) When you go swimming in the sea, it is very cold, and it makes my willy small.
(Kevin age 6)

12) Divers have to be safe when they go under the water. Two divers can't go down alone, so they have to go down on each other.
(Becky age 8)

13) On holiday my Mum went water skiing. She fell off when she was going very fast. She says she won't do it again because water shot up her fanny (Julie age 7).

Canada announced today that kayaker Adam van Koeverden will carry Canada's flag during the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Olympics. All the women at my workplace think he's an excellent choice as he was a Gold medal winner in Athens and he's a hottie! hehehe! We'd prefer that he wore his kayaking gear while carrying the flag but think that it won't happen.

So who has your country chosen to carry your flag at the opening ceremonies?

Do you remember that scene in Pulp Fiction where Vincent takes Mia to Jack Rabbit Slims.

Mia “Don’t you hate that?”

Vincent “What?”

Mia “Uncomfortable silences. Why do we feel its necessary to yak about b*lls**t in order to be comfortable?”
I just wondered how comfortable are you with periods of silence when your with other people? I've read that in some countries such as Estonia and Finland it is fairly common for folk not to feel compelled to speak just to break periods of silence
If I get no responses I'll know you all agree;)

What was the best? a real travelers night out, One of my best nights out was at ingoes Bazzar on Baga road Goa under the stars hot night good company listening to Bob Dilyn want to be's.

Searching for the fabulous "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" by Franki Valli on
youtube I found it with this clip full of Cary Grant. So far all you Cary Grant, as well as Franki Valli fans:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OlzYveML1o

By the way, anyone know the name of the woman at 1.54 in the clip ? Seen her face before but don't recall the name. I wish she would look at me like that.

Someone mention there is a restaurant with good food but it is on a boat.
It is on Pattaya beach. Does anyone know exactly where and what the name
of the restaurant.

Thank you, chosenone from America

Does anybody know?

Has anyone ever tried this site: http://www.couchsurfing.com

I met some people from England this evening who've said they've had all sorts of people stay with them.

But I'm curious about the experiences of others.

Robert

I'm flying to Belgium at Christmas to see my brother and sister-in-law. Because I am excited I'm checking out flights online to get a general idea of the prices. I am looking on a particular carriers website (a carrier I prefer to fly with) and they must be really stupid. I have a layover in Detroit which is fine then I fly into Amsterdam for a connecting flight into Brussels. The layover in Amsterdam is just 55 minutes. Who in their right mind thinks that somebody coming from the US can make it through customs and get on their flight ON TIME in 55 minutes? I'm sure it can be done, yes. But I did this same flight last year and let me tell you. It took 55 minutes just standing in line at customs!!!

I'm annoyed. This really isn't a question, more of a general comment.

We're about to embark on the wildness of my brother's wedding weekend. . .first extended family arrives tomorrow. I'm in the bridal party and helping host all the guests. I'm excited for it - the couple couldn't be more perfect for each other - but know that it's going to be a busy, busy weekend.

So, lighten my mood. . .what are your best (and maybe worst) wedding stories? Mishaps? Anyone walk out at the last minute? Any objections to the ceremony?

I want to hear it all! (And hope that none of it happens at this one!)

why hasn't the U.S. Congress passed legislation to eliminate the penny from the currency pool ? The cost of minting a penny is now more than $.02. The number of infectious organisms transferred from person to person by them is astronomical. The little coppers are filthy. Should congressmen stupid enough not to vote in favor of such legislation be removed from office ?

Next year marks the 100th. anniversary of the introduction of the Lincoln head penny ( issued to commemorate the 100th. anniversary of the great emancipator's birth ). 50 years later (1959) the sheath of wheat on the tail side of the penny was replaced with the Lincoln memorial. Other than that the only thing about the penny that has changed in the last 99 years is that deflation has decreased it's value to 4% of what it was 99 years ago.