Jump to content

bust

Board Sponsors
  • Posts

    14688
  • Joined

  • Days Won

    226

Everything posted by bust

  1. Just looking at this product and thought if anyone was likely to have one of these it'd be you in your Fire Island Style. I know you like to impress when not in your unicorn outfit. After your opinion for a friend. Creative Beard Styling Comb Men's Beard Template Beard Styling Template Tool
  2. Thai Government should introduce DEI law and ship them all to Florida. Ideally 1100 S. Ocean Blvd., Palm Beach, Florida, United States
  3. bust

    Usa Thread

    Not sure if you caught his 100 day Cabinet Meeting. It was hilarious. They must be either terrified of him or being paid or promised a lot. These people have zero personal integrity. It's a fictional government.
  4. bust

    Usa Thread

    What an absolute clown 🙄
  5. bust

    Usa Thread

    Merika is joining that special club with North Korea, Eritrea, Iran, Turkmenistan, Myanmar, China, Vietnam, Cuba, Iraq, and Syria. Donald Trump signs executive order cutting funding for NPR and PBS In short: US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to slash public subsidies to PBS and NPR. The White House said the outlets received "millions from taxpayers to spread radical, woke propaganda disguised as 'news'". The executive order further demands indirect sources of public financing for the news organisations are rooted out. US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order designed to slash public subsidies for PBS and NPR, alleging "bias" in the broadcasters' reporting. The order instructs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and other federal agencies "to cease federal funding for NPR and PBS". It further demands they work to root out indirect sources of public financing for the news organisations. The order, titled Ending Taxpayer Subsidization Of Biased Media, says the media landscape "is filled with abundant, diverse, and innovative news options". US cuts government media funding Photo shows The exterior of a building from the street with a sign hanging off the front. US President Donald Trump slashes funding to a government agency that houses multiple media organisations including Voice of America, Radio Free Asia and Radio Free Europe. "Government funding of news media in this environment is not only outdated and unnecessary but corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence," the order reads. The White House, in a social media posting announcing the signing, said the outlets received "millions from taxpayers to spread radical, woke propaganda disguised as 'news''". The broadcasters get roughly half a billion US dollars ($A780 million) in public money through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and have been preparing for the possibility of staff cuts since Mr Trump's election. In comparison, last financial year the ABC received $1.137 billion in Commonwealth funding. NPR says, on average, CPB funding makes up only 1 per cent of its annual operating budget. Government funding makes up about 14 per cent of PBS's total budget, the network says. Individuals contributions, community engagement, production, and corporate support make up the other 86 per cent. Paula Kerger, PBS's CEO and president, said in a statement last month that the Trump administration's effort to rescind funding for public media would "disrupt the essential service PBS and local member stations provide to the American people". PBS airs popular children's programs such as Sesame Street. "There's nothing more American than PBS, and our work is only possible because of the bipartisan support we have always received from Congress," she said. "This public-private partnership allows us to help prepare millions of children for success in school and in life and also supports enriching and inspiring programs of the highest quality." CPB sued Mr Trump earlier this week over his move to fire three members of its five-person board, contending that the president was exceeding his authority and that the move would deprive the board of a quorum needed to conduct business. Just two weeks ago, the White House said it would ask Congress to rescind funding for the CPB as part of a $US9.1 billion ($14.1 billion) package of cuts. That package, however, which budget director Russell Vought said would likely be the first of several, has not yet been sent to Capitol Hill. The move against PBS and NPR comes as Trump's administration works to dismantle the US Agency for Global Media, including Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, which were designed to model independent news gathering globally in societies that restrict the press. Those efforts have faced pushback from federal courts, which have ruled in some cases that the Trump administration may have overstepped its authority in holding back funds appropriated to the outlets by Congress.
  6. bust

    f'n Ai

    I believe Whats App has encryption but never bothered with it.
  7. Although I'd seen it before still enjoyed A Bronx Tale. Taral Hicks was 😜 was and I liked Joe Pesci's little cameo at the end.
  8. bust

    Usa Thread

    Hegseth must have a copy of the ‘golden showers’ video
  9. Myanmar junta accused of hoarding aid as local groups scramble to respond to earthquake When Meredith Bunn and her team pulled a pregnant woman from the rubble of her collapsed home, she had already been trapped for days. The woman was six months along. "We tried to save her child but it wasn't possible as she suffered from infections," said Ms Bunn, a medical worker who has spent nearly a decade in Myanmar. With hospitals overwhelmed, they tried to transfer the woman to Yangon, but military attacks forced multiple detours. She eventually made it, but her child did not survive. "After the earthquake, the majority of deaths were from people with minor to major injuries," said Ms Bunn, who is also the founder of grassroots aid group, Skills For Humanity. "They weren't treated. Infection and disease just attacked … it was a breeding ground with no clean water." One month after a magnitude-7.7 earthquake rocked central Myanmar, nearly 200,000 people are displaced and more than 50,000 buildings lie in ruins. Yet survivors are receiving inconsistent aid, with local groups and international responders racing to fill the void as monsoon season approaches. Warehouses of aid withheld by the military Photographs obtained by ABC show perishable supplies, including tents and emergency provisions, stockpiled at the Ministry of Social Welfare's warehouse in Naypyidaw. The packages, some bearing the ASEAN symbol, were meant for immediate use, according to an eyewitness who requested anonymity and photographed the warehouse on April 4. "The military failed to do that, and when I returned last week the aid was still there but I couldn't photograph as now they have security," the source said. "I think they may be keeping that aid for the election campaign." Grassroots responders say this isn't an isolated case. "There's multiple witnesses and photographs … some aid is being left to spoil as it is in a space with no consistent temperature control," said Ms Bunn. The junta, local administrators and ASEAN did not respond to the ABC's questions about the military’s handling of aid. Dr Aeron, representing the exiled National Unity Government (NUG) who spoke under a pseudonym for safety reasons, raised concerns that assistance delivered through ASEAN may not be reaching those most in need when going through the military. "The worst-hit areas are controlled by the military, not us," he said, urging ASEAN to investigate and improve transparency. He also called on international donors to work directly with local groups to prevent the military from politicising aid. In wealthier neighbourhoods of Mandalay, Myanmar's second-biggest city, which was hit hard by the quake, robust Red Cross tents have been erected. But just outside city limits, families sleep under a patchwork of tarpaulin shelters or in the open heat, with temperatures often exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. Medical relief under surveillance Although dozens of countries sent medical teams, only Malaysia's field hospital appeared to be allowed by the military into Sagaing city — one of the worst affected areas. "We suggested to relocate to a more populated part of Sagaing 20 minutes away," said Colonel Norulisyam Shuib from the Malaysian Armed Forces Field hospital. "But the military said it was outside their controlled area." The site they were assigned — an empty stadium — had hardly any residents nearby. Despite limited access to people, the Malaysian team treated about 2,000 patients. But according to Colonel Shuib, only 15 per cent were earthquake-related; most suffered from chronic illnesses. Myanmar's healthcare system has collapsed since the 2021 military coup. Local mobile clinics are stepping in discreetly, often with the tacit approval of sympathetic officials within the junta's General Administration Departments. "Some of them are trying to do things without the top knowing," said Khin Ohmar from human rights group Progressive Voice. "They give informal permission so that groups can work quietly." One such group has reached nearly 200,000 people, primarily through transferring cash to them. "Now we are back to treating chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes," said one team member. "People really need access to good food and sanitation." Military restricts access Access to rural or opposition-controlled areas remains fraught. Local humanitarian groups say junta-aligned militias are actively obstructing aid. "Some people have been running from bombings in Sagaing rural areas to the city," said Khin Ohmar. "Aid cannot go to those areas." In Madya, Singu and Tabeikkyin — areas struck by both conflict and the quake — military restrictions have left survivors without support. "Only villagers are responding in those conflict areas," said Ko Htin of the Myanmar Emergency Response Coordination Unit, which is organising grassroots groups. "International groups can't reach these places and are being restricted by the military." Phone lines and internet remain cut. "The military has continued burning villages," said Ko Htin. "We struggle to even hear about deaths." According to the opposition-aligned NUG, the military launched 63 attacks in the first four days of April, killing at least 68 civilians. These included air strikes in Chin, Kachin, Karenni, Magway, Mandalay and Sagaing. On April 17, junta leader Min Aung Hlaing assured ASEAN chair Anwar Ibrahim of a ceasefire. By the time their meeting ended, new attacks had already been reported. Recovery overshadowed by bureaucracy The UN Development Programme (UNDP) estimates 2.5 million tonnes of debris from the earthquake needs to be removed. In Sagaing alone, up to 80 per cent of buildings are damaged or destroyed. Some homes still standing may need to be demolished due to structural damage. "You just see their crying eyes," said Thet Aung, a local volunteer. "It's a huge cost they can't afford." UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, has set up sanitation stations amid rising cases of waterborne diseases, while the World Food Programme (WFP) has shifted to cash-based aid so locals can also support small businesses and markets. Yet relief efforts remain critically underfunded. "It is misery on top of misery," said Michael Dunford of WFP Myanmar. "People are being pushed to their limits." Titon Mitra of the UNDP added: "Getting people into permanent shelters could take two years — or more. And that's when you have a functioning country. Here, we don't." Beyond funding, transitional housing efforts face hurdles such as land rights, getting around military obstructions, and rising supply costs. Meanwhile, the junta has reminded Mandalay residents they must continue to pay electricity bills — even as many have no homes. ASEAN aid under scrutiny There are growing calls for transparency around ASEAN-managed humanitarian aid, which is also funded by Australia. The ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance did not respond to requests for comment on the military's mismanagement of aid. "For decades, the Myanmar military has exploited natural disasters by manipulating and obstructing humanitarian access," said the Special Advisory Council for Myanmar, which includes former UN Special Rapporteur Yanghee Lee. "The junta now pursues this same strategy." Khin Ohmar's network has documented junta-aligned militias, such as Pyu Saw Htee, stopping locals distributing aid by telling them they don't have permission to enter certain areas. Access to displaced communities in mixed controlled regions or areas that aren't junta-controlled like Mingun or smaller townships in Mandalay and Sagaing division remain limited. A doctor in Sagaing told Human Rights Watch that junta authorities had confiscated medicine being transported to opposition-held territories. Grassroots groups fill the void With international access curtailed, local civil society organisations are on the front line of the quake recovery efforts. But the scale of the work is overwhelming. "Trying to find those individuals who have had to pick up and run, exhausted in the jungle or bush, is one of the biggest challenges," said Annette Hearns of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA). In southern Shan State, aid organisation Sonne International is helping residents of Inle Lake. "People are still in tents," said Jochen Meissner, the group's coordinator. "Locals now say they want bamboo or sturdier structures so we are giving them cash so they can build their own designs." The local group Doh Eain is also providing mental health support and kits to build transitional housing. Meanwhile, trauma remains a massive unaddressed issue. "The first responders in many areas where international aid organisations couldn't get to were inexperienced," Ms Bunn said. "After seeing the injuries, some just broke down. We had to get a psychology team from Yangon to speak with them [first responders] by phone." As larger aid agencies lay off staff due to funding shortages and smaller NGOs are locked out of key zones, there are warnings the clock is ticking. And monsoonal rains are due any day. "People want to live in dignity," said UNOCHA's Ms Hearns.
  10. bust

    f'n Ai

    I despise anything to do with Meta I use Signal and Line The only time I use Messenger is for FB Marketplace
  11. It's amazing you never really hear Popes condemning them considering most of them are manufactured in Italy
  12. bust

    Usa Thread

    This is brilliant however Bill Maher didn't think so Larry David: My Dinner With Adolf Credit...Lia Darjes, "Plate VII" Imagine my surprise when in the spring of 1939 a letter arrived at my house inviting me to dinner at the Old Chancellery with the world’s most reviled man, Adolf Hitler. I had been a vocal critic of his on the radio from the beginning, pretty much predicting everything he was going to do on the road to dictatorship. No one I knew encouraged me to go. “He’s Hitler. He’s a monster.” But eventually I concluded that hate gets us nowhere. I knew I couldn’t change his views, but we need to talk to the other side — even if it has invaded and annexed other countries and committed unspeakable crimes against humanity. Two weeks later, I found myself on the front steps of the Old Chancellery and was led into an opulent living room, where a few of the Führer’s most vocal supporters had gathered: Himmler, Göring, Leni Riefenstahl and the Duke of Windsor, formerly King Edward VIII. We talked about some of the beautiful art on the walls that had been taken from the homes of Jews. But our conversation ended abruptly when we heard loud footsteps coming down the hallway. Everyone stiffened as Hitler entered the room. He was wearing a tan suit with a swastika armband and gave me an enthusiastic greeting that caught me off guard. Frankly, it was a warmer greeting than I normally get from my parents, and it was accompanied by a slap on my back. I found the whole thing quite disarming. I joked that I was surprised to see him in a tan suit because if he wore that out, it would be perceived as un-Führer-like. That amused him to no end, and I realized I’d never seen him laugh before. Suddenly he seemed so human. Here I was, prepared to meet Hitler, the one I’d seen and heard — the public Hitler. But this private Hitler was a completely different animal. And oddly enough, this one seemed more authentic, like this was the real Hitler. The whole thing had my head spinning. He said he was starving and led us into the dining room, where he gestured for me to sit next to him. Göring immediately grabbed a slice of pumpernickel, whereupon Hitler turned to me, gave me an eye roll, then whispered, “Watch. He’ll be done with his entire meal before you’ve taken two bites.” That one really got me. Göring, with his mouth full, asked what was so funny, and Hitler said, “I was just telling him about the time my dog had diarrhea in the Reichstag.” Göring remembered. How could he forget? He loved that story, especially the part where Hitler shot the dog before it got back into the car. Then a beaming Hitler said, “Hey, if I can kill Jews, Gypsies and homosexuals, I can certainly kill a dog!” That perhaps got the biggest laugh of the night — and believe me, there were plenty. But it wasn’t just a one-way street, with the Führer dominating the conversation. He was quite inquisitive and asked me a lot of questions about myself. I told him I had just gone through a brutal breakup with my girlfriend because every time I went someplace without her, she was always insistent that I tell her everything I talked about. I can’t stand having to remember every detail of every conversation. Hitler said he could relate — he hated that, too. “What am I, a secretary?” He advised me it was best not to have any more contact with her or else I’d be right back where I started and eventually I’d have to go through the whole thing all over again. I said it must be easy for a dictator to go through a breakup. He said, “You’d be surprised. There are still feelings.” Hmm … there are still feelings. That really resonated with me. We’re not that different, after all. I thought that if only the world could see this side of him, people might have a completely different opinion. Two hours later, the dinner was over, and the Führer escorted me to the door. “I am so glad to have met you. I hope I’m no longer the monster you thought I was.” “I must say, mein Führer, I’m so thankful I came. Although we disagree on many issues, it doesn’t mean that we have to hate each other.” And with that, I gave him a Nazi salute and walked out into the night.
  13. Many not happy with these acts of disrespect.
  14. Nobody wears a nurse's outfit like you OH
  15. The war is over, the danger is not They found one while digging the foundations of a new hotel. Another was discovered in the middle of a park. A family spotted one in their garden. And Ho Van Lai and his cousins found several in the sand dunes, strange, rusted objects, no larger than a tennis ball. "I was just a 10-year-old boy, I was reckless," Lai said through a translator. Ho Van Lai was just 10-years-old when his life was forever changed by explosives from the war in Vietnam. (Picture: Supplied) Lai was playing with something that can be found across Vietnam: cluster munitions. And not understanding the risk, he picked up a rock and knocked it against those munitions. "The explosion killed my two cousins immediately," he said. "I lost my right hand, my right arm and part of my left hand. I lost my two legs and one of my eyes." South Vietnamese troops and western TV crews run for cover as a North Vietnamese mortar round explodes on Newport Bridge on the outskirts of Saigon. (AP) Lai lived near a former US military base in central Vietnam, not far from the "demilitarised zone" that once separated the communist North from the capitalist South. The explosives were the remnants of a two-decade struggle between these two powers and their ideological allies, including China and the Soviet Union in the north and the United States and Australia in the south. The war involved one of the largest aerial bombing campaigns in history, with the US dropping double the tonnage of explosives on Vietnam than were dropped by all of the allies during World War II. A Vietnamese sapper checks for mines in no mans land between Cambodian and Vietnamese border in 1989. (Reuters: Andrew Wong) And while these bombs killed countless soldiers and civilians, some never detonated. They were swallowed by the jungle, buried underground or covered by reconstruction. And since 1975, these explosives have caused an estimated 100,000 causalities, including 40,000 deaths, according to the Vietnam National Mine Action Center. "The Vietnamese people should have peaceful and safe lives," Lai said. "The war ended many years ago but bombs and mines left from that war still pose a lingering threat." Area 'the size of Tasmania' still contaminated Vietnamese authorities estimate around a fifth of the country is contaminated with unexploded ordnance. (ABC News: Graphics by Jarrod Fankhauser) This year marks the 50th anniversary of The Fall of Saigon, the moment when northern forces overran the capital, ended the war and reunited Vietnam. But despite decades of investment by the Vietnam government, former adversaries like the United States and Australia, not-for-profits and communities, clearing the country of unexploded ordnance is proving almost impossible. That's partly due to the sheer scale of the task, according to Sabina Stein from the United Nations Development Program. "We're talking about a landmass roughly the size of the state of Tasmania that is still contaminated," she said. "And a lot of this territory is not idle. A lot of development has taken place and at times this has led to incidents." Vietnamese authorities estimate 18 per cent of the country is contaminated, a figure that has decreased by just 1 per cent in the past decade. Risk-education programs, particularly those targeting children, farmers and those who sell scrap metal, have helped reduce the number of deaths and injuries. But physical harm isn't the only harm that has endured long after the fighting stopped. Investors wary of the risks A worker breaks a concrete culvert as part of a road expansion project in Hanoi. (Reuters) Vietnam is in the midst of rapid urbanisation, with major infrastructure projects across the nation. But Ms Stein said projects were often delayed or made more expensive by the discovery of unexploded ordnance. "While development has not stopped, it has slowed," she said. "Many of the areas most affected are rural and more remote areas." The added time, cost and liability of removing explosives can discourage investors, particularly in places like A Loui province, where large areas are contaminated by landmines and ordnance. "This is a place that has huge tourist potential, it's beautiful," Ms Stein said. "And definitely that potential has been highly constrained by an inability to develop major infrastructure projects." Unexploded ordnance collected by not-for-profits in Vietnam. (Picture: Supplied) But some locals don't have the luxury of avoiding contaminated regions. "Farmers continue often to use land even though they know it's dangerous, but this is a result of land scarcity," Ms Stein said. "It has meant that a lot of farming avoids mechanised farming methods, which can be more high risk. "Which is problematic in a country that has ambitious development goals and wants to continue in what has been really an admirable path of poverty reduction." Removing bombs is back-breaking work Efforts to clear land of unexploded ordnance are coordinated with local authorities and communities. (Supplied) The labour-intensive nature of explosive clearance often requires strong coordination between governments, not-for-profits and local communities. Sarah Goring leads the Vietnam wing of the Mine Advisory Group (MAG), which has worked to remove landmines, cluster munitions and unexploded bombs in more than 70 countries since 1989. "We're trying to clear the priority areas. So where people are working, where people are living," she said. "Maybe they're building a new kindergarten and we go and clear it before they build." Some of the items found are so unstable that they need to be detonated on site. (Supplied) Alongside risk education, MAG do the painstaking work of clearing land in the highly contaminated provinces such as Quang Tri and Quang Bing. When explosives are uncovered, some are sent to regional depots for disposal. Others are so volatile they are detonated on site. Ms Goring remembers one instance where a 330-kilogram bomb was found during a home renovation. "This is real life for people. They find bombs all the time," he said. "Despite the legacy of the war and that it continues to impact people today, they are so positive and so about moving forward and making the best of a situation." Explosive legacy casts a long shadow A member of the Mine Advisory Group uses a metal detector to search for any explosives hidden beneath the surface. (Supplied) Those dedicated to the cause know it may be impossible to locate absolutely every explosive hiding above or below the surface. But new techniques, including satellite imagery, mobile phone reporting and social media education campaigns are helping reduce the threat. Today, Lai shares his story with students as part of a risk-education program at the Mine Action Visitor Centre, which is run by humanitarian organisation Project RENEW. "I've been doing quite meaningful work to prevent harmful accidents," he said. "I feel I am living as a helpful person to the society now." Ho Van Lai shows young Vietnamese students the extent of land mine contamination. (Supplied) One day, the risk of unexploded ordnance may be so low that this work will no longer be necessary. But Ms Stein warns that many other countries will have to tackle the same challenges as Vietnam. "It's going to be the reality for an increasing number of countries that have experienced such intensive bomb campaigns. We can think of countries like Iraq, Syria, occupied Palestinian territories, Ukraine," she said. "As we near the 50th anniversary of the end of the war, it is a very strong reminder of the multi-generational effects of such devastating aerial bombing campaigns."
  16. bust

    Usa Thread

    I was referring to the Hannah Dugan arrest. Had no idea about the New Mexico incident. Any plans for the Orange King to be in Dallas on November 22 🙏
  17. bust

    Usa Thread

    Pot/Kettle/Black
  18. bust

    Usa Thread

    Any word on the penguins response? 😊
  19. bust

    Usa Thread

    The judge is a woman so she's wearing the DEI target as well if that is true. Might also add there's a lot of misinformation around. The fact is her courtroom, her rules.
  20. bust

    Usa Thread

    Yeah I was just watching that. Arresting Judges!!!! Pure intimidation. And remember it only one side of the story we are hearing.
  21. bust

    ANZAC day

    We Will Remember Them
  22. bust

    Usa Thread

    No he just had someone Photoshop them on to his knuckles
  23. bust

    Usa Thread

    Trump Makes His Most Unhinged Claim Yet About Kilmar Abrego Garcia Donald Trump has taken his tirade against immigrants with tattoos to new heights, baselessly claiming that Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s knuckle tattoos clearly associate him with MS-13. “This is the man, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, that the Courts are trying to save from being deported?” the president wrote on Truth Social Monday night. “He was supposed to be, according to the Judge and the Democrats, a wonderful father from Maryland, but then they noticed he had ‘MS-13’ tattooed onto his knuckles (and lots of really bad stories about his past!).” The post includes a photo of Trump holding up a photo of a hand, supposedly Abrego Garcia’s, with a marijuana leaf, smiley face, cross, and skull tattooed across the knuckles. On top of each individual tattoo is written M-S-1-3, the president’s way of explaining each tattoo clearly translates to an individual letter or number, which all together spell … MS-13? “This is the gang that is, perhaps, the worst of them all. What is wrong with our Country?” Trump’s post concluded, leaving out any explanation for how he broke the tattoo code.
  24. bust

    ANZAC day

    Lest We Forget While standing at the Dawn Service earlier today, an elderly gentleman related the story of the 30th Battalion who were assigned to defend Ari Burnu on the Gallipoli Peninsular. Their only protection a couple of sand bags which they would frequently retreat from to fire their rifles. As he finished he reflected on the sacrifices of the many which allowed us to be standing there this morning. As I watch what is unfolding around the world, I feel blessed to be here in Australia so far removed from all the hostilities abroad.
  25. bust

    Usa Thread

    I would be too. Your fellow countryman is very quiet 😊
×
×
  • Create New...