Harnser

"I doubt he [Melenchon] would have any problem becoming Macron's tame P.M. In a way I would find it more entertaining than the invisible man purporting to be P.M. at the moment!! " Castex the current PM is the original invisible man, that's why he is Macron's prime minister, little visibility or character, no danger to Macron, the perfect choice! If you remember what happened when Macron's previous prime minister, Edouard Phillippe, fell from grace because he became more popular than Macron so had to be got rid of, I could see the same situation playing out with Melenchon who could play to the gallery of his left-wing supporters as PM to his hearts content!

It's the same old - all over again. Dominique Strauss Kahn - convenient rape accusation allegedly choreographed by political enemies linked to Nicolas Sarkozy. Francois Fillon - 2016 convenient financial scandal following which Macron was elected. And now Marine Le Pen, blatant interference by the EU's tame anti-fraud investigation unit, dragging up allegations from years ago to support their poster boy Macron.

Nothing to do with favourite candidates - I was highlighting the dubious action of the EUSSR doing their best to enhance the election chances of their biggest fanboy. And the EU seem to be continuing to try to do "a Fillon" on MLP Marine Le Pen (RN) and her relatives are accused by the European anti-fraud office of having embezzled around 600,000 euros of European public money during their terms of office as MEPs, according to a new report revealed on Saturday by Mediapart and handed over to French justice. "I am surprised by the always strong timing about the revelation" and its "instrumentalization", reacted to AFP Me Rodolphe Bosselut, the lawyer for Marine Le Pen, campaigning for the second round of the presidential election. Me Bosselut also says he is "dismayed by the way Olaf (European anti-fraud office) acts, without contradictory character" and on "old facts of more than ten years" for some. https://actu.orange.fr/politique/marine-le-pen-visee-par-un-rapport-europeen-de-lutte-contre-la-fraude-CNT000001LTtE5.html Funny that this report should be publicised a week before the election isn't it? Scummy way to run an election IMHO.

That's ok - I was particularly amused by the reference to the town name "Humpty Doo" https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-08/humpty-doo-name-mystery-history/9400266#:~:text=The quick answer is that,was established early last century.&text=As the general store and,is today%2C the name stuck.

https://www.deepl.com/translator

I was trying to view and reply to Ken's comment on my post about the Aussie tiling spam and all I got after clicking on the notification icon was this, Why? What have I done wrong? I was logged in ok! Oops! You do not have permission to view this topic.

The flaw is that Melenchon has "instructed" his voters to not vote for Le Pen, meaning that they should abstain or vote for Macron. Abstaining isn't going to help Macron, and I can't somehow see many dyed in the wool left wing Melenchon voters voting for Macron.

Strange that there are no comments on the first round election results on this forum. One of the surprising local results is that around us about a dozen communes including ours voted Le Pen. In our commune Le Pen was first with 28.6% followed by Melenchon with 22.8% with Macron third on 22.1% Zemmour trailed behind on 5.5% Strange french political joke. How do you find a Le Pen voter? Look for a communist who has been burgled twice. Hmm - I'm still chewing that one over!

. Statistical analysis has revealed that 66 per cent of Le Pen’s manifesto is left-leaning, focusing on healthcare, public services and redistribution. Conservative economics such as free market reforms and small government comprise only 21 per cent; in 2017 it was 35 per cent and under her father in the 1980s it was 80. Despite this Le Pen is still depicted, in the words of this week’s New York Times, as ‘hard-right’ and ‘anti-immigrant’. She is neither. She has made a clear distinction between Islam and Islamists, stressing she has no enmity against the religion, which earned her the ridicule of Macron’s interior minister, who accused her of being ‘soft’ on Islam. As for immigrants, as Le Pen stressed in a recent TV debate, she welcomes genuine refugees, such as Ukrainians, but not young men from Africa in search of better economic opportunities.

And the the usual torrent of nonsense has begun from the brit forums. I can't help worrying how things may change for us "furriners" in France if Le Pen won ..... Not realising that MLP is the daughter of a Breton. Where did Bretons originate from? Bretons came to north-west France from Britain in the fifth century as Celtic refugees fleeing the invasions of Angles and Saxons. They brought with them the Welsh and Cornish languages from which Breton evolved as a distinct language. But Hey! Any slur that twists the truth is a good slur!

Any person's definition of extreme right depends on how far their politics are leaning to the extreme left! My answer to the rabid predictions of leftists who predict dire consequences if a free vote should result in a government that they don't like is:- Tough - ain't democracy wonderful!

If you want to know what MLP's manifesto and policies are use this link. It's her official plan without journalistic spin. Remember, scribblers always try to influence your opinion with their opinion. I read her plan before the last, election, there was nothing that could be described as remotely extreme about it. https://mlafrance.fr/pdfs/manifeste-m-la-france-programme-presidentiel.pdf

Back on topic Norman!

"Hydrogen isnt green, it produces Nox when burnt" Exhaust system after treatment like adblu urea/water injection is being used by Cummins Diesel in the USA now in preproduction testing to limit Nox just like euro 6 diesel cars here. And if you've got a new car that uses adblue don't start it from cold and bend down to check the towing hitch as I did last week and got a lungful of exhaust fumes - it smells like a mixture of ammonia and bleach and makes you cough and retch.

I would like to see a better analysis of the accident figures quoted, like in this dual axis block diagram manner, where it would make the possible cause clearer. For example - From the diagram you can see that the fatalities in the vehicule leger (cars) category are in the seul category (single vehicle accident) and are at more than twice the fatalities of colliding with other cars, which is not apparent by merely quoting the totals.

What I was trying to say , before the "can't edit" gremlin intervened ( this forum software is really weird) A bit sudden and and unheralded is this one - out of the blue one might say. https://www.midilibre.fr/2022/04/04/alzheimer-un-arrete-interdit-desormais-aux-malades-de-conduire-des-les-premiers-signes-de-declin-10213470.php I would ask the serious question - what are the accident statistics of drivers of various ages? Are us older drivers creating mayhem on the roads, compared to the usual suspects, the 20 to 45 year olds auditioning for the next mad max movie? Maybe some statistics from insurance companies could reveal the truth?

https://www.midilibre.fr/2022/04/04/alzheimer-un-arrete-interdit-desormais-aux-malades-de-conduire-des-les-premiers-signes-de-declin-10213470.php

Diesel is the fuel of the future. How can you power a big tractor or 400 hp combine, maize or bean harvester with batteries or the big white hope of the greens - hydrogen - totally impractical.

But electric car enthusiasts think they are powered by pixie dust don't they?

I was strangely amused that Michel Barnier, the EU failed dropout candidate, who had delusions of grandeur of being a candidate in this presidential election achieved the sum total of one signature. One? Really? Oh Dear.

With Europe focussing on the man who has his hand on the Russian gas tap, energy security is the most important subject for the forthcoming presidential election bar none. As President you must make your best efforts to keep the people warm and fed and with the affordable means to travel to their work and to the shops. Squeaky bum time for Macron?

Take a look at the policies of Valerie Pecresse compared to those of Marine LePen - there are marked similarities. But nobody is shuddering at the prospect of Pecresse getting elected.

"The pens are still there and are quite incredible. A visit well worth doing if you are interested In in 2nd WW history" I've been there as well, impressive structure, and features in the book/film Das Boot. As well as numerous references to the off duty antics of the crews around La Baule. https://uboat.net/forums/read.php?3,16891

Been there, looked all around the Forme Joubert and the old defences and cupolas, also the deck gun from the Cambeltown was on display at the Place du Commando, it was dredged up in the 60' or 70's after being blown off the deck by the huge explosion which wrecked the dock gate. https://www.saint-nazaire-tourisme.uk/offers/canon-du-campbeltown-saint-nazaire-en-2501079/