The ingenious idea of Chinese President Xi Jinping (for which he definitely deserves a Nobel Peace Prize) was to revive the ancient Silk Road as a modern way of communication and cooperation between countries that will lift a billion people out of poverty.
The emerging network of economic corridors, enhanced transportation routes, logistics zones, ports, and manufacturing centres which stretch from China to Europe is founded on the premise of countries and companies working together in the pursuit of their individual economic ambitions.
In addition to the economic benefits, the greatest value of the Silk Road was the exchange of culture. Ideas, Art, religion, philosophy, technology, language, science, architecture and every other element of civilization were exchanged in these ways from country to country bringing peace and prosperity to ordinary people in the world.
Of course, such an idea of win-win concept does not suit today's Anglo-American alliance, which is trying its best to preserve its Neo-colonial domination in the world based on the exploitation and enslavement of other nations, even at the cost of a destructive nuclear war.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkqFwJ-eBrA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YFdN7cw_cU

Make sure you swallow, Xi likes that.

rhino wrote on Apr 5^th, 2021 at 12:48pm:

Make sure you swallow, Xi likes that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BleNvvqdOKc

Sure - the moment CCP tries to dominate the world market for petroleum peace will break out...... your moves are so transparent.....

Something wicked this way comes... Chinese expansionism will not be allowed to go beyond a certain point.... and aiming directly at the petroleum as some kind of 'ancient trade route' is as clear as a bell.. and is a war cry to the rest of the world.

Better for your lot to sit back and trade happily and make profit, yes?  Striving for world control will not work - never has, never will... and it is clear who is the aggressor imperialist here....

Ever get the feeling you've been cheated?

The silk road was managed by the Muselman, Athos. Your Chow didn't get a look in.

Same with the seas, all run by the Europeans. The East Asians made the goods, the Muslims and Christians ran the trade. That's the way it was - for a millennium.

Now Xi's cunning, I'll give him that. He wants to take the Silk Road and the Pacific. If he's smart, he'll join forces with the Russians and take Central Asia - the Silk Road.

That leaves the Pacific, currently under the influence of Uncle and his friends. There, Xi's not so smart. Taking islands off the Filipinos and Viets isn't making him any friends. If Xi was smart, he'd talk a bit more - that's what Uncle does, he makes friends and influences people. Okay, he lost a few friends over Vietnam and Iraq - dumb, Xi needs to remember that.

Xi could easily become everybody's buddy. He's got enough stuff to share round, but he stands off in the corner on his own. Not speaking English doesn't help either. He's stubborn like that, but he's giving it a go - it's now compulsory for all Chinese schoolkids.

Xi's not ready yet, but give him 30 years. By then, he should have his Silk Road and his Pacific and his global trade hegemony.

If he wants to control anything more than global trade, he needs to play it smart, make more friends and stay out of fights.

Do you think he can do that?

Athos will get back to you after he has consulted his handlers.

Karnal wrote on Apr 5^th, 2021 at 2:26pm:

If he wants to control anything more than global trade, he needs to play it smart, make more friends and stay out of fights.

And to think his Uncle Deng walked beside him, like Major Tom's mother, imploring him 'To get things done, conceal your guns from everyone'.

rhino wrote on Apr 5^th, 2021 at 2:29pm:

Athos will get back to you after he has consulted his handlers.

;D

Karnal wrote on Apr 5^th, 2021 at 2:26pm:

The silk road was managed by the Muselman, Athos. Your Chow didn't get a look in. Same with the seas, all run by the Europeans. The East Asians made the goods, the Muslims and Christians ran the trade. That's the way it was - for a millennium. Now Xi's cunning, I'll give him that. He wants to take the Silk Road and the Pacific. If he's smart, he'll join forces with the Russians and take Central Asia - the Silk Road. That leaves the Pacific, currently under the influence of Uncle and his friends. There, Xi's not so smart. Taking islands off the Filipinos and Viets isn't making him any friends. If Xi was smart, he'd talk a bit more - that's what Uncle does, he makes friends and influences people. Okay, he lost a few friends over Vietnam and Iraq - dumb, Xi needs to remember that. Xi could easily become everybody's buddy. He's got enough stuff to share round, but he stands off in the corner on his own. Not speaking English doesn't help either. He's stubborn like that, but he's giving it a go - it's now compulsory for all Chinese schoolkids. Xi's not ready yet, but give him 30 years. By then, he should have his Silk Road and his Pacific and his global trade hegemony. If he wants to control anything more than global trade, he needs to play it smart, make more friends and stay out of fights. Do you think he can do that?

It has already been done 90%.
:D

rhino wrote on Apr 5^th, 2021 at 2:29pm:

Athos will get back to you after he has consulted his handlers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmFg3P5VHQ0

athos wrote on Apr 5^th, 2021 at 3:32pm:

rhino wrote on Apr 5th, 2021 at 2:29pm: Athos will get back to you after he has consulted his handlers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmFg3P5VHQ0

Well - they don't get attacked here by me and any of mine.... we stand up for them and nobody will do it.

athos wrote on Apr 5^th, 2021 at 3:31pm:

Karnal wrote on Apr 5th, 2021 at 2:26pm: The silk road was managed by the Muselman, Athos. Your Chow didn't get a look in. Same with the seas, all run by the Europeans. The East Asians made the goods, the Muslims and Christians ran the trade. That's the way it was - for a millennium. Now Xi's cunning, I'll give him that. He wants to take the Silk Road and the Pacific. If he's smart, he'll join forces with the Russians and take Central Asia - the Silk Road. That leaves the Pacific, currently under the influence of Uncle and his friends. There, Xi's not so smart. Taking islands off the Filipinos and Viets isn't making him any friends. If Xi was smart, he'd talk a bit more - that's what Uncle does, he makes friends and influences people. Okay, he lost a few friends over Vietnam and Iraq - dumb, Xi needs to remember that. Xi could easily become everybody's buddy. He's got enough stuff to share round, but he stands off in the corner on his own. Not speaking English doesn't help either. He's stubborn like that, but he's giving it a go - it's now compulsory for all Chinese schoolkids. Xi's not ready yet, but give him 30 years. By then, he should have his Silk Road and his Pacific and his global trade hegemony. If he wants to control anything more than global trade, he needs to play it smart, make more friends and stay out of fights. Do you think he can do that? It has already been done 90%. :D

Oh? How many military allies China have?

Athos is working hard to earn his 50c.

Belgarion wrote on Apr 6^th, 2021 at 7:59pm:

Athos is working hard to earn his 50c.

You know how they like to work.

You?

Sir Grappler Truth Teller OAM wrote on Apr 6^th, 2021 at 6:04pm:

athos wrote on Apr 5th, 2021 at 3:32pm: rhino wrote on Apr 5th, 2021 at 2:29pm: Athos will get back to you after he has consulted his handlers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmFg3P5VHQ0 Well - they don't get attacked here by me and any of mine.... we stand up for them and nobody will do it.

Yep.

One wonders why a road would be built this far down, there is no where else to go.

Our own, 'police' how far everyone can go, there is no such thing as freedom to live if you are not prepared to conform.
There is no prosperity if you speak out of turn....

Perhaps australia is the new communist country already.

No wonder the other site is having cows over russia and china becoming further fast friends.

AussieAmAndARC wrote on Apr 8^th, 2021 at 6:44pm:

One wonders why a road would be built this far down, there is no where else to go. Our own, 'police' how far everyone can go, there is no such thing as freedom to live if you are not prepared to conform. There is no prosperity if you speak out of turn.... Perhaps australia is the new communist country already. No wonder the other site is having cows over russia and china becoming further fast friends.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO3izbn201s&t=2941s

https://youtu.be/belm4kDAHgM
The Unstoppable Growth of China's High-Speed Rail Network


ChaseLearnsLanguages  1 week ago
I laughed out loud when he said the line in California was going to be done in 2029.

New Silk Road a future flashpoint....

Sir Grappler Truth Teller OAM wrote on Apr 11^th, 2021 at 1:34am:

New Silk Road a future flashpoint....

The whole free world congratulates and pays tribute to the great Chinese people who sacrificed themselves to accumulate capital through slave labor and to be able to stand in the way of the great Satan by saving humanity from the Anglo-American colonial imperialists. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-W4YetUHhKM

Victor Sunny wrote on Apr 9^th, 2021 at 8:14pm:

https://youtu.be/belm4kDAHgM The Unstoppable Growth of China's High-Speed Rail Network ChaseLearnsLanguages  1 week ago I laughed out loud when he said the line in California was going to be done in 2029.

California is a state in the US with a population of 40 million, China is a country with a population of 1.4 billion slaves. Its easy to do stuff with 1.4 billion slaves to work with.

China launches app for citizens to report anyone who has 'mistaken opinions' or 'denies the excellence of socialist culture'
The app and hotline has been released ahead of party's 100th anniversary in July
It will allow citizens to report others for 'mistaken opinions' shared online
China's cyber regulator CAC launched the app along with a statement on Friday
It wants citizens to 'actively play their part' in reporting 'historical nihilists'
Many have been arrested and punished for speaking out against the party online
China's internet is tightly censored and most foreign social media networks, search engines and news outlets are banned in the country






We've had such an app in the West for years. It's called Twitter.

Frank wrote on Apr 21^st, 2021 at 4:58pm:

China launches app for citizens to report anyone who has 'mistaken opinions' or 'denies the excellence of socialist culture' The app and hotline has been released ahead of party's 100th anniversary in July It will allow citizens to report others for 'mistaken opinions' shared online China's cyber regulator CAC launched the app along with a statement on Friday It wants citizens to 'actively play their part' in reporting 'historical nihilists' Many have been arrested and punished for speaking out against the party online China's internet is tightly censored and most foreign social media networks, search engines and news outlets are banned in the country We've had such an app in the West for years. It's called Twitter.

:D :D

athos, please do not stop posting!  You make me laugh and bring a sense of comedy which is often lacking in this forum....You are worth every one of your 50c posts! ;D


BTW...Mao's portrait weighs 1.5 tonnes...... ;)

athos wrote on Apr 12^th, 2021 at 4:23pm:

Sir Grappler Truth Teller OAM wrote on Apr 11th, 2021 at 1:34am: New Silk Road a future flashpoint.... The whole free world congratulates and pays tribute to the great Chinese people who sacrificed themselves to accumulate capital through slave labor and to be able to stand in the way of the great Satan by saving humanity from the Anglo-American colonial imperialists.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-W4YetUHhKM

Careful - you are giving away the whole party expansionist and oppressive policy platform there... and who it is directed against....

Confucious say... man who kick dragon in shins while gloating, sure to end up with pineapple in rear...

Oh dear athos....your dissemination of PRC propaganda has failed! Victoria's belt and road is no more! Your masters will be displeased - off to the re-education camp for you!

Perhaps you wish to claim asylum?   ;D

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/victoria-s-belt-and-road-deal-with-china-torn-up-20210421-p57l9q.html   

Belgarion wrote on Apr 21^st, 2021 at 9:09pm:

Oh dear athos....your dissemination of PRC propaganda has failed! Victoria's belt and road is no more! Your masters will be displeased - off to the re-education camp for you! Perhaps you wish to claim asylum?   ;D https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/victoria-s-belt-and-road-deal-with-china-torn-up-20210421-p57l9q.html

Ah, so .. humbly... perhaps the asylum wishes to claim him....

the question of reducing chinese domination boils down to this.

will the west get off their obese lazy asses and make their own shoes, clothes, tv', computers, furniture and phones.

and even more so
china id transitioning to a cheap renewable environment and has a mass produced electric car that will sell for about 5,500.

will all the chodes in the west continue to pay 30,000 for a western car made inefficiently by unionised workforces or will they buy the chinese car for 5,500 and have all that extra cash to spend on maccas and beer and netflix.

i know what i think will happen.

add in chinas lust for designer babies and in a generation , most chinese kids will be 6 foot 6 with a IQ of 120.

we seem to be encouraging the disabled and intellectually delayed to pump out kids  ::) ::).

all in all, despite the feet stomping and sooking by the west, i think china will win.

i look into the eyes of Xi and i look into the eyes of people like merkel and trudeau and jacinda and the glazed over eyes of Biden and i cannot see these hopeless beta male / female specimens being anything other then impotent to take on china.

Dan signed up for 100 billion partnership with Xi.

Dan from victoria.

how much more desperate is new guinea, samoa, nigeria, mexico, brazil, south africa.

there will be peace because the west are simply too lazy, cowardly and mediocre.

the west are not the same west who stormed the beaches on D Day.

now they are the west who hide in their bedrooms so they wont have to sneeze and who have a police foce that washes the feet of black citiznes to show their humility .

directionless entitled weak self loathing chodes.

athos wrote on Apr 12^th, 2021 at 4:23pm:

The whole free world congratulates and pays tribute to the great Chinese people who sacrificed themselves to accumulate capital through slave labor and to be able to stand in the way of the great Satan by saving humanity from the Anglo-American colonial imperialists.

The Chinese accumulated capital through retaining slaves? Bizarre that you would admit that.

lee wrote on Apr 22^nd, 2021 at 11:41am:

athos wrote on Apr 12th, 2021 at 4:23pm: The whole free world congratulates and pays tribute to the great Chinese people who sacrificed themselves to accumulate capital through slave labor and to be able to stand in the way of the great Satan by saving humanity from the Anglo-American colonial imperialists.  The Chinese accumulated capital through retaining slaves? Bizarre that you would admit that.

Not surprising... The CSNSP has indoctrinated the Chinese people to the point that they aren't even aware they're admitting to crimes (even crimes against humanity).

aquascoot wrote on Apr 22^nd, 2021 at 5:41am:

there will be peace because the west are simply too lazy, cowardly and mediocre. the west are not the same west who stormed the beaches on D Day. now they are the west who hide in their bedrooms so they wont have to sneeze and who have a police foce that washes the feet of black citiznes to show their humility . directionless entitled weak self loathing chodes.

But Woke and Emotionally Correct!! 

Late 18th century France had a similar cult of sentimentality that ended only in the festival of the guillotine and two decades of war.

aquascoot wrote on Apr 22^nd, 2021 at 5:41am:

the question of reducing chinese domination boils down to this. will the west get off their obese lazy asses and make their own shoes, clothes, tv', computers, furniture and phones. and even more so china id transitioning to a cheap renewable environment and has a mass produced electric car that will sell for about 5,500. will all the chodes in the west continue to pay 30,000 for a western car made inefficiently by unionised workforces or will they buy the chinese car for 5,500 and have all that extra cash to spend on maccas and beer and netflix. i know what i think will happen. add in chinas lust for designer babies and in a generation , most chinese kids will be 6 foot 6 with a IQ of 120.

This is true proletariat society run on sound Marxist-Leninist principles of Chairman Xi, comrade.

You see decadence brought on by monopoly capitalism and embrace dialectical materialism of Chairman Xi. This is good socialist thinking. You view weak imperialist thinking and say ah.

China number one, America and running dog class enemies number ten. We win, based on sound socialist principles and Party discipline.

You mind if we read out your post on our factory loudspeakers?

Karnal wrote on Apr 22^nd, 2021 at 5:53pm:

China number one, America and running dog class enemies number ten. We win, based on sound socialist principles and Party discipline. You mind if we read out your post on our factory loudspeakers?

With the addition of the favorite postscript of the National Socialists' broadcasts... 'And that's all you need to know'.

Frank wrote on Apr 22^nd, 2021 at 1:01pm:

aquascoot wrote on Apr 22nd, 2021 at 5:41am: there will be peace because the west are simply too lazy, cowardly and mediocre. the west are not the same west who stormed the beaches on D Day. now they are the west who hide in their bedrooms so they wont have to sneeze and who have a police foce that washes the feet of black citiznes to show their humility . directionless entitled weak self loathing chodes. But Woke and Emotionally Correct!!  Late 18th century France had a similar cult of sentimentality that ended only in the festival of the guillotine and two decades of war.

French Revolution was instrumental stage of revolutionary thought, comrade. Then Paris Commune, then Bolshevik revolutions and glorious Chinese rebirth of 1949.

Simple dialectic theory, is it not? Through guidance of proletariat class we will defeat class struggle and bring about end of history. Long live revolution! Long live CCP! Long live Chairman Xi!

NorthOfNorth wrote on Apr 22^nd, 2021 at 6:03pm:

Karnal wrote on Apr 22nd, 2021 at 5:53pm: China number one, America and running dog class enemies number ten. We win, based on sound socialist principles and Party discipline. You mind if we read out your post on our factory loudspeakers? With the addition of the favorite postscript of the National Socialists' broadcasts... 'And that's all you need to know'.

Aquascoot is a good Chinese name, comrade. It means running water. Chairman Mao wrote many good poems like this.

Revolutionary thought is like running water
It travels many miles through soil and fields
One day it will meet the cities and the sea
And all the people will drink together

It reads better in the Mandarin.

Karnal wrote on Apr 22^nd, 2021 at 6:22pm:

NorthOfNorth wrote on Apr 22nd, 2021 at 6:03pm: Karnal wrote on Apr 22nd, 2021 at 5:53pm: China number one, America and running dog class enemies number ten. We win, based on sound socialist principles and Party discipline. You mind if we read out your post on our factory loudspeakers? With the addition of the favorite postscript of the National Socialists' broadcasts... 'And that's all you need to know'. Aquascoot is a good Chinese name, comrade. It means running water. Chairman Mao wrote many good poems like this. Revolutionary thought is like running water It travels many miles through soil and fields One day it will meet the cities and the sea And all the people will drink together It reads better in the Mandarin.

In Mandarin and drunk, howling at the moon, I'd bet.

NorthOfNorth wrote on Apr 22^nd, 2021 at 6:24pm:

Karnal wrote on Apr 22nd, 2021 at 6:22pm: NorthOfNorth wrote on Apr 22nd, 2021 at 6:03pm: Karnal wrote on Apr 22nd, 2021 at 5:53pm: China number one, America and running dog class enemies number ten. We win, based on sound socialist principles and Party discipline. You mind if we read out your post on our factory loudspeakers? With the addition of the favorite postscript of the National Socialists' broadcasts... 'And that's all you need to know'. Aquascoot is a good Chinese name, comrade. It means running water. Chairman Mao wrote many good poems like this. Revolutionary thought is like running water It travels many miles through soil and fields One day it will meet the cities and the sea And all the people will drink together It reads better in the Mandarin. In Mandarin and drunk, howling at the moon, I'd bet.

Just wondering when these Yobbo fossils here will realize that China is a capitalist country
and that the CCP has nothing to do with communist ideology.
;D

athos wrote on Apr 23^rd, 2021 at 12:11pm:

NorthOfNorth wrote on Apr 22nd, 2021 at 6:24pm: Karnal wrote on Apr 22nd, 2021 at 6:22pm: NorthOfNorth wrote on Apr 22nd, 2021 at 6:03pm: Karnal wrote on Apr 22nd, 2021 at 5:53pm: China number one, America and running dog class enemies number ten. We win, based on sound socialist principles and Party discipline. You mind if we read out your post on our factory loudspeakers? With the addition of the favorite postscript of the National Socialists' broadcasts... 'And that's all you need to know'. Aquascoot is a good Chinese name, comrade. It means running water. Chairman Mao wrote many good poems like this. Revolutionary thought is like running water It travels many miles through soil and fields One day it will meet the cities and the sea And all the people will drink together It reads better in the Mandarin. In Mandarin and drunk, howling at the moon, I'd bet. Just wondering when these Yobbo fossils here will realize that China is a capitalist country and that the CCP has nothing to do with communist ideology. ;D

The party that rules China is a Frankensteinian amalgam of Stalinism and National Socialism.

A hand has four fingers and a thumb
Father, mother, brother, sister, and our local Party leader
Work together, comrades, for together we are strong!

Karnal wrote on Apr 23^rd, 2021 at 6:03pm:

A hand has four fingers and a thumb Father, mother, brother, sister, and our local Party leader Work together, comrades, for together we are strong!

Mrs Hand and her four daughters are looking after you, buftie?

As per?

Frank wrote on Apr 23^rd, 2021 at 9:35pm:

Karnal wrote on Apr 23rd, 2021 at 6:03pm: A hand has four fingers and a thumb Father, mother, brother, sister, and our local Party leader Work together, comrades, for together we are strong! Mrs Hand and her four daughters are looking after you, buftie? As per?

Touche`...

Opened this again - and had the same reaction - I laughed...

Recipe for peace?  Recipe for world war due to CSNSP expansionism.

Sir Grappler Truth Teller OAM wrote on Apr 23^rd, 2021 at 11:57pm:

Opened this again - and had the same reaction - I laughed... Recipe for peace?  Recipe for world war due to CSNSP expansionism.

No one has expanded more to the detriment of others than your Anglo colonialists.

:)

athos wrote on Apr 24^th, 2021 at 10:27am:

Sir Grappler Truth Teller OAM wrote on Apr 23rd, 2021 at 11:57pm: Opened this again - and had the same reaction - I laughed... Recipe for peace?  Recipe for world war due to CSNSP expansionism. No one has expanded more to the detriment of others than your Anglo colonialists. :)

Argh - brought civilisation to the Darkened Races... showed them the light... got close with China, too... told you I'm not Anglo - Irish, Scottish and German... Gaelics are quite different from Anglos etc.... don't think the same ways at all...

Frank wrote on Apr 23^rd, 2021 at 9:35pm:

Karnal wrote on Apr 23rd, 2021 at 6:03pm: A hand has four fingers and a thumb Father, mother, brother, sister, and our local Party leader Work together, comrades, for together we are strong! Mrs Hand and her four daughters are looking after you, buftie? As per?

A hand may hold a plough, a hammer or a gun
We till soil, make steel, kill foreign devil, free the people!
Our minds are disciplined with correct Party thinking
Our hearts are with the people
With this, our hands shape history!

athos wrote on Apr 24^th, 2021 at 10:27am:

Sir Grappler Truth Teller OAM wrote on Apr 23rd, 2021 at 11:57pm: Opened this again - and had the same reaction - I laughed... Recipe for peace?  Recipe for world war due to CSNSP expansionism. No one has expanded more to the detriment of others than your Anglo colonialists. :)

Anglo colonialist is like a snake
Some may have fear, but all enjoy the flavour of the meat
Apply correct Party thought, comrades, and have no fear!
All will soon eat meat.

athos wrote on Apr 24^th, 2021 at 10:27am:

Sir Grappler Truth Teller OAM wrote on Apr 23rd, 2021 at 11:57pm: Opened this again - and had the same reaction - I laughed... Recipe for peace?  Recipe for world war due to CSNSP expansionism. No one has expanded more to the detriment of others than your Anglo colonialists. :)

Do you think in a million years the Chinese would have evolved to build the kind of technology that supplies them with their lifeblood?   ;D

rhino wrote on Apr 24^th, 2021 at 11:00pm:

athos wrote on Apr 24th, 2021 at 10:27am: Sir Grappler Truth Teller OAM wrote on Apr 23rd, 2021 at 11:57pm: Opened this again - and had the same reaction - I laughed... Recipe for peace?  Recipe for world war due to CSNSP expansionism. No one has expanded more to the detriment of others than your Anglo colonialists. :) Do you think in a million years the Chinese would have evolved to build the kind of technology that supplies them with their lifeblood?   ;D

Or Japan? Or America?

The Russians were a backwater in the 1920s. Twenty years later, they fought back the Krauts and developed a prosperous post-war economy that put the first man (and dog) in space. No help from Uncle or Mother, far from it.

The Chows were a backwater in the 1970s. Fifty years later, they have the second biggest GDP in the world. No help from Uncle or Mother there either. The Chows are bit players in the global institutions, the GATT, WTO, etc, if they play at all, but they have developed in spite of the outside world.

I hate communism, but no one can deny its ability to industrialise countries quick.

Japan industrialised under a constitutional monarchy, and they lept ahead too. They went from a feudal society in the 1880s to an industrial superpower in the 1930s. After a post-war lull, by the 1970s, they were outperforming America and Europe in productivity: number two in GDP by the 1990s.

America was once a backwater too, decimated after the Civil War. The majority of Yanks were agricultural workers, like the Russians and Chows before they developed.

America industrialised through a program of mass immigration, absorbing the refugees of various European revolutions and the Great War.

The global economy is fluid. It's only monopolized by various powers at various times. The 20th century was American and European. The 21st, not so. Global production is increasingly centred in East Asia.

If Australia doesn't make up with the Chows, we're sunk.

Plenty of assistance from Mum and Pop there for the Chinese - the West set about assimilating them into cultural similarity via expanding capitalism for them... sort of like introducing Cane Toads....