There have been a number of developments this year that have shown why cryptocurrencies are anything on the scale from useful to completely essential and necessary.

We can start with the Canadian government freezing bank accounts of people that it suspected were part of a protest movement. Whether you agree with this protest or not, if this doesn't make you think that all currency being centralised is problematic, then I don't know what will. And let's remember that Canada is generally viewed as a liberal country.

https://twitter.com/PnPCBC/status/1493372424674553859

Secondly we can look at the invasion of Ukraine which recently began. Many Ukrainian people want to leave the country, but if their money is in banks, then they could have a lot of trouble getting hold of it. They might not be able to withdraw from ATMs and their bank cards might not work. People reporting on twitter all of their money in banks is frozen and the only funds they can access is crypto.

https://mobile.twitter.com/usleepwalker/status/1497255981851496449?t=hzHOTqJWX4PzC_ZcPbU_-A&s=09

Finally let's look from the other side. It is being talked up that Russia is being removed from the international banking system (ie Swift payments etc). If this is succesful then this means that Russian companies will find it very hard to export. I am sure many people in Russia just want to make a living and run their business and don't support an invasion like this. If Russian businesses use crypto then they can continue.

I am an MMA fan but watched the boxing last night including all of the prelims as I was in the casino. I can't believe some of these matches. One guy was 2-72. Another guy was literally off the street. When he was walking in I wondered if he was a Youtuber or if this was a charity match as he was so out of shape. I am struggling to comprehend how these fights end up on a prime time ppv card. Is this how it always is with chronic mismatches so people can pad their records?

Anyone else think that this view of the Big Air venue is absolutely amazing. Glad to see some brutalist concrete in the Olympics.

 

Click to see full-size image.

Hi Keith, I am very happy with this news! Thanks for sharing and glad you got some great care and help.

good luck blondes!

If the ref views this as a direct free kick offence, which I believe a push is, then he should blow his whistle for a foul and the result is a penalty. If he deems it an indirect free kick offence. Obstruction? Then it is an indirect free kick at the closest point on the field of play - on the byline. It should be treated like any other foul with regards to issuing a yellow card if the offence deserved it.

I watched the first two Alien films recently. Never seen them before because I just assumed they were like the later ones which I thought were quite average. Man. They were both amazing, so much claustrophobic tension and each by a different legendary director.

well I am sure he is in no hurry to leave with his three year jail sentence in Serbia waiting for him. This has gone quite absurd now. Like a ripple effect from when you tell one lie.

He is just cringe. (as my 14 year old cousin would say)

Oh and he believes that he can change the molecular structure of water with his emotions.

Yoou wont be old enough but he must be the Uri Geller of the tennis world. Reasonable to think him oddball I guess

Oh I am old enough. I think I remember everyone had to touch an orange spot on the TV to help England win Euro 96. Or maybe I just made that up?!

Great thread here:

https://twitter.com/BenRothenberg/status/1479730371679850500

He is just cringe. (as my 14 year old cousin would say)

Oh and he believes that he can change the molecular structure of water with his emotions.

After reading a lot about this I am still confused as to whether if you are not vaccinated but have a recent Covid infection you are allowed to enter Australia.

A few things do not make sense.

As far as I am aware the deadline to apply for the medical exemption from Tennis Australia was on 10 December, but Djokovic claims he had Covid on 16 December. This timeline doesn't match up. What did his application say, the application that was approved? It couldn't have said he had Covid in the past six months because at that point he didn't. So he got an excemption for something else?

Secondly, as has been pointed out by many, the fact he had Covid on 16 December but was out and about on the 17th and 18th.

There is also this bizarre idea that I have that Djokovic was out and about trying to get Covid so he could get the exemption, rather than getting a vax.

I think the Aussie government just has to take the L now and move on. Hope he gets booed out of the stadium.

Well done to the winners! Gutted to miss out on the trophy. I thought it was destiny in the Yahoo league for me to meet Tal in the final, but Ironside pipped me in the semi.

As I ran so well with injuries for most of the season, I guess that could have been my best chance to win, but I guess we will see next season. I'm just glad that my frequent trade offers for Antonio Brown were rebuffed by Forth. Phew.

[Tuivasa vs Sakai - to go the distance 7/4]

well that didn't go well.

Was a great card though!

I have a couple of UFC bets tonight on the undercard. Picking a couple of fights to go the distance. Should be a fantastic main event, really looking forward to it.

Tuivasa vs Sakai - to go the distance 7/4
https://www.oddschecker.com/ufc-mma/augusto-sakai-v-tai-tuivasa/will-fight-go-the-distance

Tuivasa came into the UFC fighting light a maniac and achieved some spectacular results. Eventually his lack of any tactics whatsoever caught up with him and he took a few losses when he got towards the top ranked guys Still think he has a lot of potential in a weakish heavyweight division. He has had a couple of easier fights to rebuild and now he gets a step up in class again.

Sakai is a pretty boring heavyweight yet he is ranked 11. He has a definite lack of power, but fights at a fast pace and is a good all round if unspectacular fighter. He is pretty good basically but I don't think he will get many finishes. He also works in an aquarium shop part time.

I'm banking on a new found maturity from Tuivasa and for this to turn into an ugly affair with Sakai dominating the wrestling and Tuivasa winning the striking. Of course Tuivasa could get the flash KO, but I like these odds

Anders vs Muniz - Anders by decision 9/2 BF or PP
https://www.oddschecker.com/ufc-mma/andre-muniz-v-eryk-anders/method-of-victory
I was looking for an underdog bet and I like this one. Muniz is 3-0 in the UFC but his first fight showed his stamina issues. Since then he got two quick first round subs. Impressive wins but this is the type of profile of fighter I am looking to bet against. Interestingly Anders has never been submitted in 20 fights. A former linebacker and a very strong well built physique, a slow paced fighter. He could be tough to take down and smart enough to earn the decision.

I am banking on Anders most of Muniz takedown attempts and then taking over the fight when Muniz suspect cardio strikes. Maybe Muniz wins the first but Anders wins the last two. I like 9/2 on that outcome.

[Tuivasa vs Sakai - to go the distance 7/4]

I have a couple of UFC bets tonight on the undercard. Picking a couple of fights to go the distance. Should be a fantastic main event, really looking forward to it.

Tuivasa vs Sakai - to go the distance 7/4
https://www.oddschecker.com/ufc-mma/augusto-sakai-v-tai-tuivasa/will-fight-go-the-distance

Tuivasa came into the UFC fighting light a maniac and achieved some spectacular results. Eventually his lack of any tactics whatsoever caught up with him and he took a few losses when he got towards the top ranked guys Still think he has a lot of potential in a weakish heavyweight division. He has had a couple of easier fights to rebuild and now he gets a step up in class again.

Sakai is a pretty boring heavyweight yet he is ranked 11. He has a definite lack of power, but fights at a fast pace and is a good all round if unspectacular fighter. He is pretty good basically but I don't think he will get many finishes. He also works in an aquarium shop part time.

I'm banking on a new found maturity from Tuivasa and for this to turn into an ugly affair with Sakai dominating the wrestling and Tuivasa winning the striking. Of course Tuivasa could get the flash KO, but I like these odds

Anders vs Muniz - Anders by decision 9/2 BF or PP
https://www.oddschecker.com/ufc-mma/andre-muniz-v-eryk-anders/method-of-victory
I was looking for an underdog bet and I like this one. Muniz is 3-0 in the UFC but his first fight showed his stamina issues. Since then he got two quick first round subs. Impressive wins but this is the type of profile of fighter I am looking to bet against. Interestingly Anders has never been submitted in 20 fights. A former linebacker and a very strong well built physique, a slow paced fighter. He could be tough to take down and smart enough to earn the decision.

I am banking on Anders most of Muniz takedown attempts and then taking over the fight when Muniz suspect cardio strikes. Maybe Muniz wins the first but Anders wins the last two. I like 9/2 on that outcome.