UK-US "Special Relationship" in jeopardy

So says the BBC:

Musk has been vocal on X over the past week concerning the grooming gang scandal, which was covered up by the Labour government from the 90’s onwards for a period of over a decade.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer accused Musk and British politicians who support his call for justice for victims of grooming gangs of jumping on a “far-right bandwagon.”

According to BBC Newsnight, there is “absolute horror at the highest levels of government at the incendiary language we have seen from Elon Musk.”

Huh. So Elon's statement of facts - that hundreds of thousands of british girls were systematically gang raped by Pakistani immigrants over the span of decades - imperils our special relationship?  Weird.

What actually seems to be imperiling the special relationship is the UK Labour government selling out our base at Diego Garcia:

Last ditch negotiations are underway in London as Starmer attempts to ram through his Chagos sellout before Trump’s inauguration. Earlier today Guido revealed how the deal would see UK nuclear options sold out as part of the giveaway…

...

Trump advisers now say the President is beginning to see Chagos as one of the same issues. “If Starmer sells out UK sovereignty disabling the US base and nukes, it’s going to make Trump as furious as over Panama” says one well-placed Trump team member.

Huh.  My guess is that Trump refusing to shut Elon up about the UK.Gov mass rape scandal is the least of His Magesty's Government's problems.

Gun control leads straight to this

Germany is revoking firearms permits for AfD party members.  AfD is likely to be the biggest party in the coming March elections.

Dad Joke CCCXLVIIII

My dog's not fat.  He's just a little husky.

Why to Democrats hate the poor, elderly, and the environment?

Biden quietly bans gas-powered tankless water heaters.

These are the most efficient design, so Democrats obviously hate the environment.  People will use less efficient models and burn more fuel.

And these are the least expensive models.  Manufacturers expect the ban to add $450 to the price of new water heaters.  The poor and elderly hardest hit.

Holy cow, the Democratic party really sucks.

George Strait and Chris Stapleton - Honky Tonk Hall Of Fame

It's a new year, and the surprise here is that everything new is old again.  Well, some things in country music are new but sound old.  With Byonce trying to break into the country charts, this song is a breath of fresh air.

Thanks 15 Million!

So 2024 closed out with almost 1.6M views, and yesterday the odometer here turned over 15 Million.

Happy 2025 to all, and many thanks for stopping by.  This place wouldn't be the same without you.

Face Vocal Band - The Parting Glass

We have come to the end of another year.  Modern New Years' Eve celebrations include the singing of Robert Burns' Auld Lang Syne, a traditional Scottish ballad. But that's not the only song that was included in the party.  This one is older, perhaps almost two hundred years older.  It sings of the sorrow of parting, of reminiscing of times now gone.  The "parting glass" was the final toast offered to a departing guest, frequently served when the guest mounted his horse (i.e. a stirrup cup).

Burns referred to this song, so it was not only common but famous in his day - the music was incorrectly attributed to Joseph Haydn (!).  But the song dropped into obscurity.  It was Tommy Makem and The Clancy Brothers who re-introduced it into popular use; it became a signature number of theirs, and they would typically close concerts with it.

 

So this New Years' Eve when everyone dusts off the old Robert Burns, hoist a glass of cheer to the anonymous authors of this.  We even now saddle up to ride into the New Year; a parting glass is not too much to ask from 2024.
 

The Parting Glass (traditional)

Of all the money that e'er I had
I spent it in good company
And all the harm I've ever done
Alas it was to none but me
And all I've done for want of wit
To mem'ry now I can't recall
So fill to me the parting glass
Good night and joy be to you all

So fill to me the parting glass
And drink a health whate’er befall,
And gently rise and softly call
Good night and joy be to you all

Of all the comrades that e'er I had
They're sorry for my going away
And all the sweethearts that e'er I had
They'd wish me one more day to stay

But since it fell unto my lot
That I should rise and you should not
I gently rise and softly call
Good night and joy be to you all

A man may drink and not be drunk
A man may fight and not be slain
A man may court a pretty girl
And perhaps be welcomed back again
But since it has so ought to be
By a time to rise and a time to fall
Come fill to me the parting glass
Good night and joy be with you all
Good night and joy be with you all

To all our readers, we wish you a happy and healthy New Year!