"While it is true that the United States Constitution does not permit any citizen to hold a title of nobility “from any King, Prince, or Foreign State” under Article 1, Section 9, Clause 8, that doesn’t prevent anyone . . . from holding an “honorary” title. Indeed, honorary knighthood is not full knighthood but an award presented on behalf of the Sovereign to any non-Commonwealth citizen whose work has benefitted the United Kingdom. "Several Presidents have been knighted by the Queen, including George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan, but Eisenhower has received honors from Her Majesty twice (technically three times). In 1947, he was honored as a WWII military leader as a Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of Bath and the Order of Merit. As President of the United States, he was honored again with the GCB in 1957." https://anglotopia.net/british-history/ten-americans-with-honorary-british-knighthoods/

Old age has not been kind to Samurais. Japan needs to address its aging demographics first.

After the dissolution of the USSR, I started seeing more and more news articles and films/TV productions framing various stories with China (or some Chinese looking persons) as villains. Then 9/11 happened, and everything changed. “Islamic extremism” sucked all the attention away from China, the villains in films/TV then look like Arabs/Middle-Easterners. That, I believe, gave China 10+ years of essentially being “left alone” to develop with little outside interference. Heck, the US’ anti-terrorism rhetorics and policies have even given various dictatorial powers excuses to designate internal oppositions “terrorists” and be suppressed with excuses and methods that would have elicited world criticism before 9/11. The likes of Putin benefited from this as well.

@mark said in Paging Phibes!: @Doctor-Phibes I found this about the phone. Pretty impressive. I remember dropping this phone into a bucket of water not long after I got it and was amazed that it survived. I thought the constant 16+ hour exposure might be worse for it. The Samsung Galaxy Note10 is rated IP68, using the Ingress Protection rating system. The dust rating is 6 (highest level of protection), and the water resistance rating is 8 (water-resistant up to 5 feet for up to 30 minutes). Yeah, IP 68 should protect it against almost anything as long as you don't take it diving. The only thing that could harm it would be hardening of the gasket over time, but phones don't really last long enough for that to be an issue.

@Mik said in The Hospital Mafia: @George-K said in The Hospital Mafia: Owens - who welcomed her first child in January 2021 - began the begrudged account Saturday by recalling how she declined both antibiotics and the contraction-inducing drug Pitocin while going into labor for the second time last July. 'I had been very vocal about not wanting to be loaded up with unnecessary drugs during labor,' the Republican firebrand shared, adding that both times she had given birth, not a single complication arose. 'The doctor wanted me to take antibiotics, and I declined,' Owens said. Because you know better what's good for your labor, right? Because your series of 2 uncomplicated births gives you authority to make decisions, right? Because your years of commenting on TV and blogs gives you the knowledge to determine what's necessary and what's not, right? Yeah, I had the same reaction. Looking for a cause to champion, even if it is bad for people. I find her account of hospital personnel behavior suspect. As much as she says she suffered, I bet they suffered more.

@Jolly said in How Can I Bear It?: I think this is Tom's last season. I think so, too. Otherwise, I don't know how to predict what's going to happen. I rely on his long experience and, especially right now, his vaunted coolheadedness on the field. As for his weapons, the sports press seems to think highly of them. And everyone is excited about Godwin's return.

Dream on. Senate would never do that. Look at Clinton Trump.

No prisoners! [image: john-belushi-in-pirate-costume-bettmann.jpg]

Two-tone kitty with a fluid drive.

The show, which will air on ABC, focuses on Nicole “Nic” Searcy, a detective with the Los Angeles Country Sheriff’s Department Hmmm.... [image: 1662902958645-image.jpeg]

@Mik said in The Queen's Speech: Isn't that the truth. The framing is what is so pertinent to the times. Just a decade off of WW2, the dawn of the atomic age, television, transistors, the first computers...A speech made in rapidly changing times...And it shows how good she was at adapting to change, while still holding on to the best of the old ways and making the UK's monarchy relevant. I think her second vision of the future occurred after Diana's death. Just as this Christmas Speech helped to personify the Queen and give people just a glimpse of her drawing room, I think she saw the outpouring of public sympathy after Diana's death and knew the monarchy would have to open up a bit more and let them become more relatable as people to her subjects.. Her genius is in knowing just how much to do...Too little and the Royals are no better off. Too much, and you have what we have with Harry today - one of the most popular Royals at one time, Harry has dissolved into a pussy-whipped B-list celebrity. Either excess leads to a severe weakening of the monarchy.

And they did another at 9:03.

@George-K said in Hay Aqua!: [image: 1662896919217-img_1384.jpg] "H'yarr, and as ye do, well-heed me the 5 Clickbait Writing Mistakes Ye May Easily Avoid."

@blondie said in Come Ride With Me: Fun fact .. Rod Stewart is a model railroader. 1500 square feet worth.... https://allthatsinteresting.com/rod-stewart-model-trains