Ops-Normal.org

I see Boris's sloping shoulders have such an angle on them now that his torso almost looks like a stick!
Although obviously that's not his fault either.

The basic problem is that the World's ocean-going navies aren't doing anything about piracy, mainly because the only viable method is the same as it ever was, sink the pirates with gunfire. And governments are afraid of the media reaction.

My cousin and his then girlfriend drifted into a bar in Ireland on a Sunday. The bar keeper drifted over and announced "I'm sorry, I can't serve you now, it's Holy Hour" "Not a problem", they said, understanding. A few minutes later, polishing a glass, he drifted back "Would ye like a drink while ye...

Said it was quicker to round them up this way.

I am giving this to Ex-A, and he should know!
Take it away, Sir.

I recall one misty, hazy morning over the Straits of Gibraltar, when one of our crews decided to bounce what they thought was an enemy aircraft out searching for the fleet we were defending. At the last second, the blob clarified into a submarine conning tower. They escaped by the skin of their teet...

I hope there aren't any "Well, he looked like a duck to me" incidents.

I am pulling off all the trim from two windows which need replacing. Underneath is a potted History of Canadian Wallcoverings of the Last 100 Years. They never removed anything, just slapped more on top. One floor I did earlier had 18 layers. Also included is a History of Canadian Fasteners: Nails, ...

When I took a party of schoolgirls to Florida 20 years ago, it was illegal in that State for women to skydive on Sundays. So we had to shift to Monday. I believe they have now rescinded that law. Town ordinance are even more ridiculous. ISTR that there are State rules in the Rockies that require a c...

The first whistleblower to die being John "If anything happens to me, it's not suicide" Barnett, who died by suicide.

The 2015 UK General Election polling errors were studied by some highly respected academics at the request of the pollsters' own Council. They were very thorough and looked at all the usual excuses - people lying to pollsters, 'shy' tories (as you mention), etc, aided by some comprehensive post-elec...

I had several chats, in the USA, with a guy who ran his own painting business. He supported Trump (then President) not from any particular liking for him as a person, but simply because he largely did what he said he was going to do. Much of that was getting rid of not just pointless, but actually c...

Red Sea and Suez canal still being avoided by all but traffic from some muslim nations.
Traffic thru Suez is down by 55% in numbers of ships, and 67% in terms of volume.
Operation Prosperity Guardian is a complete and expensive failure.
https://portwatch.imf.org/pages/c57c79b ... 6ea9c97ef0

Well that applies to every western leader for the last 30 years at least.

Lightning does strike twice.
A Russian T-64BV destroyed near Bilohorivka. The first FPV pierces the cope cage and immobilizes the tank after which a second FPV hits it at the same place, causing detonation.
https://mstdn.social/@noelreports/112369929138762317

I've worked in the Sandpit. There were some other ex-pats working there too. We were the only ones doing any effective work. With the exception of the odd Jordanian or Egyptian, who were OK, and had as low an opinion of the rest of Arabia as the ex-pats. At least the more educated Omanis were pleasa...

:)) A lot of that sounds familiar! Maybe these, from my little Island, will also ring a bell. When the hairdresser asks how you want your hair done, you reply "short". In 10 years, you have never heard any other customer ask for anything else. You know there's a storm forecast because almost all the...

Ukraine received Western weapons from some partners with a permission to strike at Russian territory.

As I said a while back, I think this is an essential part of a successful Ukrainian strategy for this year.

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/05/1/7453799/

When driving across Canada a few years ago, I got a slow leak from one tyre at about 10pm. It was in the middle of the great New Brunswick forest. The isolated gas station that appeared out of the gloom was closed, but I pulled in anyway. Sticking out through a hole in the garage wall was a tyre inf...

It's hard to find a big organisation that actually has a back up for anything these days. All the big shops shut down here if there's an internet failure. They could take cash instead of cards, but management won't let them sell anything because the electronic inventory system wouldn't be usable. Fo...