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I have faith! While Team Melli earned a hard-fought 2-2 draw vs New Zealand, they’re facing major disadvantages off the pitch and could be the reason we didn’t win our first game. • Training base in Tijuana, Mexico (forced to relocate from Arizona due to visa/security issues) • Must return to Mexico the same night after US matches — 5+ hours of travel + border delays, killing recovery time • 15+ key staff & officials denied US visas, leaving the team short on support • Limited fan tickets and extra political pressure The team feels oppressed how they are treated. It’s sad how politics bled into sports.

Would be great to see those pictures! Great to hear you had such a great time! I'm actually in the market for a new home here. Visiting a couple this week. So exciting times. Luckily (and obviously) we don't pay the eye popping prices of Amsterdam or London but it's definitely getting expensive for regular young people to buy here, especially since so many people like it here but the city itself is so very small. Truly blessed to be in a situation where I can just decide to live here in all comfort without sacrifices.

Yeh we were at the university actually for a few days, at a conference. I don’t have pictures on my phones, but I have some great shots of the cathedrals. The weather was great the week we were there, and the beer was the best I’ve ever had, even with the higher alcohol content. I was standing near the bottom of the main square, and this bagpipe player appeared and started playing, it was very moving given the surroundings. I’m going to dig some pictures out tomorrow and post some of that lovely place.

Yes, it's Ghent. I always tell people all over the world to not necessarily go to Bruges or Antwerp but head straight to Ghent when coming from Brussels. Ghent has even more charm than Bruges and far less tourists and chocolade shops. It's a student city with thus lots of younger people but obviously has evolved to become one of the more expensive places to buy or rent a home in Belgium.

Rebound in the currency has started

This reminds me of Ghent. Is it? I was once there with work, one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. Spent a few days and nights in the place, the main square was beautiful and canals right off it. Didn’t want to leave.

Looks like the Netherlands or Belgium.

Bastard heron. Would have shot it. I probably check my pond and how this years tadpoles are doing about 5-10 times a day. I thought about getting some small fish, but I was worried they might eat the tadpoles. Frogs often don’t have many places to go in cities, and since we are the only ones that have a pond they all seem to come to mine. Our pond is small - maybe 2m by 2m, but I could 20 frogs in it a few weeks ago. In a couple of weeks all the tadpoles will get their legs and start climbing out. I’d put more small ponds in around the house when the kids are older and if the wife lets me. If she doesn’t I’ll buy some land and do something with it. I just like seeing what wildlife I can attract to the garden. We put in some California lilac a couple of years ago and it took off, when I go near the bush you hear a swarm of bees, love it. people don’t realise that the small things they do in their garden can have a big impact on the immediate wildlife.

Absolutely. I've been living nearly all my life in what I still to this day call the most beautiful (albeit small) city in the world. I used to think people claiming their kid, house, city, country, ... is the best are silly but I do kind of believe this for my city. Obviously this is extremely subjective and you can choose many parameters to try and debate this, but in the end everyone values things differently. I still absolutely love going to the other side of the world, visiting awe inspiring nature or crazy cities like Tokyo, Bangkok or New York and then coming back to my small and well known city. It is the complete opposite and some form of safe haven where I can relax and soak up the beauty of the architecture and my memories here. Picture below (gonna dox myself here but that is fine) from a couple months ago in my home city and there are many well preserved historical spots like it. I'd hate to one day leave and never come back here, despite traveling for months every year already. It's truly part of my identity. Anyway, your post reminded me and made me reflect on this. So thanks for the discussion.

We had a pond and loved it. We put a couple of goldfish in it and then were giving goldfish away as they multiplied. Frogs fond it. Our daughter won a gold fish at a carnival by throwing a ping pong ball into a jar. That fish was over 20 years old living in the pond when a blue heron found our pond.

That's the most likely and rational solution. Cheers!

No, but I would keep guns in the cabin. My dream as a little kid was to be like the Cartwrights from Bonanza! Huge stone fireplace, horses, a big spread, etc...even a live-in cook named Hop Sing! Cheers!

I've been dealing with pros and cons of having a second home/vacation residence, and I feel like going somewhere a few months a year is optimal (if you can swing it with your work/family obligations), and then just getting a commercial flight and keeping a car in the garage can work out great!

No, I couldn't afford like a Citation. Really nice twin prop...yup. But then I have to learn to fly...that would be scary! The other option, which I'm leaning to, is to just go live somewhere different for a few months out of each year...get it out of my system. On a nice cabin on a huge piece of land...just a nearby town with necessities and medical...etc. Cheers!

The shart of the deal

Yep, the buildings in Europe are a lot nicer, the older ones at least. Modern buildings are often truly ugly. I had a friend who used to say that beauty of a city and landscape really mattered. He took his own life some years ago unfortunately. He wasn’t right about many things, but ive come to realise he was right about beauty and how it makes you feel is important.

America is good about natural spaces. England and Europe are much better on city beautification. I am assuming the very rich and monarchies paid for it all many years ago. Americans think you are crazy if you don’t build something as cheaply as possible unless it’s a private home or private club or something. Then they go and spend 20k every summer to go vacation in Europe. Aesthetics in your living area are very important to mental well being and happiness imo.

Unusual trading in the final half hour today in Baldwin Insurance Group - BWIN Either a short squeeze or someone heard a rumor (I guess it could be both things simultaneously)

You shoot/hunt, Parsad?

I see it the same as March and actually INR rallying over the last month but we must be looking at different charts. I don't expect a strong Rupee but nothing changed today that all of a sudden FX is a consideration it wasn't yesterday

Sorry, not directed at you.

So long story short is that Iran will continue to promise not to develop nuclear weapons?? The ONE THING that matters, Trump couldn't deliver. God damn it's amazing how this US administration royally fucked this up. What a bunch of losers.

I actually just meant buying 100 acres of land 5 hours away and then flying there from Vancouver, but agreed about your take. It's crazy.

Brilliant idea. One thing that really makes cities and towns beautiful are trees and managed green spaces along roads, houses. That’s one thing I notice and really appreciate about some American cities. And it invites in all sorts of wildlife which you don’t really get in the UK in built up area. Ditto. Part of me wants to farm it but as I get older the more I want to buy an area up, and rewild it as a private park. If it wasn’t for my kids I’d have small ponds all over my property. I have one pond and the place is jumping with frogs

I've long been fascinated by rich people who throw their life away in search of money they don't need. Insider trading, theft, etc. I can somewhat understand holding up a bank if you're broke. But this kind of stuff....?