Paul Brownjohn @Paulos_the_fog@social.cleverlibre.org

Just had an SMS purporting to be from http://metamask.io with whom I have never had any dealings, so far as I can recall.
Message is that they have detected an unusual signature request, whatever that is, so I assume it's a scam of some sort
Look out folks - it won't be just me they target!

@scuba_nut53@mindly.social

I haven't visited the USA but I'm told that portion sizes over the pond are absolutely gigantic compared to what you would be served in Europe. The average American's alleged fondness for pizza, burgers, sugary confectionary and ice cream probably doesn't help either, nor does the iniquitous habit of adding substantial quantities of sugar to, of all things, bread. Needless to say, sugar is not generally added to bread dough over here; in fact in France, it would be against the law (there is a law in France concerning the purity of bread; only wheat flour, salt, yeast and water are permitted in bread dough. Oddly, the Germans have a similar law to ensure the purity of beer - only malt, yeast, hops and water is permitted. A lesson in European priorities!) I cannot help but say, though, that the bread in France is undoubtedly the best I have ever tasted in my life. No matter where you go in France there is always a bakery selling superb bread baked on the premises by artisan bakers; they are open 7 days a week from the crack of dawn until usually 7 or 8 in the evening.

The latest findings by researchers suggest that exercise doesn't help nearly as much as was thought in maintaining a healthy weight although it does have other health giving benefits. The only thing that really works is eating and drinking less; particularly drinking less sugary drinks like cola and of course alcohol which Prof Roy Taylor who recently made some very interesting discoveries about T2 diabetes, described as "liquid fat".

@hollybrigstocke

The real local food here in Luxembourg is nothing to write home about; it being rather in the German style of "kill a pig and boil it for several hours". However, Luxembourg's proximity to France and Belgium both of which boast excellent cuisines means that the quality of fresh produce is extremely high. The presence of French supermarket chains in Luxembourg also means that fresh fish, meat, fruit and veg are of absolutely the highest quality (when I need fresh Perigord truffles at a mere 2,500 €uros/Kg or caviar at equally stratospheric prices, I just nip down to my local-ish branch of the French Auchan supermarket chain where they will have them in stock, if in season 😆). Certainly, a shop at Auchan absolutely knocks the spots off any chain in the UK, even Waitrose!

The only food shopping experience in the UK that compares with Auchan is Harrods food court or Fortnum & Mason but the prices at Auchan are much more affordable even if they are a bit higher than their discounting competitors like Lidl, Aldi & Colruyt.

It seems simple to me:

because of Brexit, the UK supermarkets decided to switch their custom for some varieties of fresh veg from EU producers to non-EU producers, notably Morocco.

Morocco has experienced bad weather and production has thereby been curtailed.

At the same time, British growers were impacted by fuel costs to heat greenhouses absolutely spiralling out of control, resulting in many of them shutting down their growing operations due to the impossibility of making a profit at the margins that the big supermarket chains allow them (which are, in effect, next to nothing).

The current tory government have shown themselves to be totally useless at ensuring the Britain has food security as they twatter on about market forces being the answer etc etc. Meanwhile in mainland Europe there are no shortages whatsoever of fresh vegetables; the shelves are groaning under the weight of fresh tomatoes!

I live in Luxembourg and I can attest to this. The other day I did a quick shop in my local Aldi where there were 5 varieties of tomato in stock. Yesterday I went to my local Colruyt (a Belgian supermarket chain) where there were substantial quantities of around 10 varieties of tomatoes on the shelves!

Is Brexit to blame for the current empty shelves in the UK - well yes, for the most part, yes it is to blame.

Were präts like Rees-Mogg right about being able to save money on food after Brexit? Yes, of course they were - if there are no fresh veg, you can't really spend money on them, can you?

Can you imagine doing this in the USA where cars are king! If you made people walk or cycle, given the massive rate of obesity in the US, the heart attack rate would spiral out of control!

Thus far, the most sensible idea I have seen is in Luxembourg where the government have made all forms of public transport; buses, trams and trains, absolutely free! Just for the real pedants, I will add that there is still a modest fare if you wish to travel 1st class on the trains which I sometimes do as it generally keeps me away from people coughing!

https://www.wired.co.uk/article/car-free-cities-opposition

@stephenfry

You won't mind if I stick to my customary pink grapefruit joice, will you?

@stephenfry

Hmmmm - nasty!

One of the very best breakfasts I can remember was in a nameless hotel in Sri Lanka, about 25 minutes drive from Colombo airport where I was overnighted whilst on a Business Class flight from Bangkok to London (I had so much baggage that it was cheaper to fly Business and get the much larger baggage allowance than to pay the excess baggage fee). The breakfast was in the form of a buffet and there were more than a dozen varieties of curry, dal and unidentified side dishes, all of which were absolutely delicious. I have a grave weakness for curry and indeed for Indian style food in general, so this was paradise for me!

@MarkHoltom

The answer is obvious - one feeds one's dog on caviar!

@kityates

Yes, but I'm sure he'd have been fine if the figures had been presented to him in Roman numerals!