Mumsnet could do better (la quatrième partie): cheese wars and chickens

[79Helene]

Merailers assemble! The doors are open for part 4!

tbf US politics has more impact on the UK than UK politics has on the US. I've watched a bit of Charlie Kirk's work on the internet. Who should I be more wary of, the person I disagree with that will debate with me reasonably, or the person who will kill me for those differences?
My heart goes out to his family and young children.
That shot at 200 yds takes much practice I imagine, but you would know better than me I think.

The building the gunman was spotted on was 130 meters away, so about 140 yards. Given that he was probably firing prone (lying down), with the rifle resting on a brace or with one hand under the stock, it's not that hard a shot. He also likely had a scope. An adult man standing upright is a pretty big target.

I earned a Sharpshooter badge in the army and would have considered that a pretty easy shot with a good rifle. But the attacker was obviously not a novice marksman.

Edited to add that they've recovered the weapon and some other evidence. I don't think it will take that long to find the killer.

https://nypost.com/2025/09/11/us-news/charlie-kirk-shooter-is-of-college-age-used-since-recovered-high-powered-bolt-action-rifle

As I've mentioned before on mn, my colleagues and I listened to the news as 9/11 unfolded, the next day one of them asked if I'd heard the rumour that Jewish workers were told to stay home that day🙁

Thank you for your reply. As you say, with practice and a good rifle.

I remember that rumor. Pretty odd considering that the attackers were Saudi.

Indeed. Public facts were scarce in the immediate aftermath so people made up their own according to their prejudices.
Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.

The WSJ is reporting that they recovered the ammunition with the rifle, and that it had some interesting markings on it.

https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/charlie-kirk-shot/card/ammunition-in-kirk-shooting-engraved-with-transgender-antifascist-ideology-sources-pdymd1sXXMSlVRhpvR4b

I couldn't read the whole article, but what I did read...yikes. The phrase 'wind them up and let them go' applies to too many people these days.

It was the Jewish period before the high holy days, where there are extra prayers in the morning (selichos) so some Jewish men were late going in to work on September 11th as a result, and were not caught up in the attack. Many Jewish people were there and died (my friend’s uncle famously stayed with his friend, who was in a wheelchair, and died with him) as some pray selichos at night or go extremely early to pray, or were not religious, but people started rumours that the Jewish people knew about the attack. There was some bizarre thing about dancing Jews as well, I can’t remember, but it’s also bandied around as ‘proof’.

Ironically the first person believed to have been killed in the attack was Daniel Lewin, who was killed on flight 11, annd according to reports attempted to stop the hijackers. Jewish and a former IDF soldier.

there are multiple memorials to 9/11 in Israel, I saw one recently in Eilat.

They’re all out for the Emmy’s last night with the red broaches. I will insert a picture but it may take a while to appear.

The red hands? Supporting tearing another human apart as a fashion statement. Clueless or evil or both. But I bet she won't wear fur because people might judge her.😶

She doesn't specify where she wants a ceasefire does she? Yemen? Syria? Ukraine? Or one of the many other armed conflicts around the world? Maybe she doesn't know and someone asked her to carry their bag for them, she should be careful, people have got into terrible trouble doing that.

Yes unfortunately having looked her up I was quite clear what conflict she was talking about. I didn’t know who this girl was before I saw this photo. Quite a few people were wearing the red hand pin, I’d like to think it was ignorance more than hatred but I’m unsure.

I hope they haven't seen the pictures I have.

There were at least a couple of yellow ribbons. I like to think Scarlet Johanssons gown was made of 'yellow' ribbons, but some people have tried to cancel her already for her Jewishness on SM, so only speculation.

I never thought about that about Scarlet’s dress, you never know! She looked lovely.

Saw this post on Facebook this morning. I’m sure this took guts, well done to her. (image coming)

Laser-based ‘Iron Beam’ interception system declared operational

https://www.timesofisrael.com/laser-based-iron-beam-interception-system-declared-operational/

Aaaand the real Jewish space laser/ giant lightsaber is operational! Thank Gd, and may it never be needed.

This is great news. Lots of countries, including the US, are working on similar systems. I saw a demonstration of a high power laser last year. You had to wear special protective glasses. It cut through a half inch steel plate in a minute or so.

I hadn't known that the US provided a lot of the funding for Iron Beam until I read this in the WSJ last night.

Israeli Lasers and American Defense - The Iron Beam can intercept drones and other threats of our age

I'm certainly happy that we're an investor, as our own efforts will benefit from the technology sharing.

It's important to realize that with an effective range of six miles or so, this is not going to eliminate the need for traditional missile based air defenses, but it will certainly be a useful part of a layered defenses strategy.

Well done, Israel!

I think where it will come into its own is against low cost drones which can overwhelm traditional rocket based defence systems, both physically and economically.
it’s an interesting technology

It is indeed. It's a Jewish Ground Laser! 😁

As usual, The War Zone website has a lot of technical and background info for people like me.

https://www.twz.com/news-features/israels-iron-beam-laser-air-defense-system-has-downed-enemy-drones

Changing the subject slightly but I signed this today. https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/738421

Done

Me too. Thanks.

Signed. Thanks 👍🏻

Signed :) thanks @BeretInParis

Following Keir Starmer's actions today, my relative in the UK wrote this and sent it to him. (She gave me permission to post).

" Sir Keir
I am a British Jew
Today you struck at my heart and I sobbed
You handed Hamas a trophy
You intensified antisemitism
You made my life more dangerous
I am ashamed to be British
Yours, in abject sorrow and abandonment
*
"

Of her 5 grandchildren, 1 lives in Israel, and I believe at least one more has just moved, or is in the process of moving.

Personally, I feel betrayed. Keir might as well have signed execution orders for the hostages himself. The chance of Hamas releasing them with Britain endorsing a Palestinian state has just drastically reduced, and the chance of the war ending soon has gone right down with it. I do not understand those celebrating - this will cause both sides to entrench.
May Hashem protect the hostages and bring them home 🎗

My heart goes out to you. I left the Labour Party as soon as I heard they were going to do this, for what its worth. Its appalling.