Re: The Bigger, Badder, Even More Serious Thread

[Brian Boru]

I though I had posted here, it seems to be missing. Well confused.

[Kafria]

I though I had posted here, it seems to be missing. Well confused.

You had, but it's two pages ago as some so called serious members of the forum have been too busy discussing zombie apocalypses!!

To turn this back to what it's supposed to be: ( )

Saw this article today, was unaware the protests had spread to Europe (I know things are NOT good still in the arab states, but it's all died a bit of a death in the media since the 'lets rescue Libya time). is this the start of the greater revolution world wider as some have been hoping for or is Spain an isolated incident due to situations there?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13481592

[Gandalf's Beard]

The protesters, dubbed "los indignados" [the indignant], are demanding jobs, better living standards, a fairer system of democracy and changes to the Socialist government's austerity plans.

"They want to leave us without public health, without public education, half of our youth is unemployed, they have risen the age of our retirement as well," said protester Natividad Garcia.

"This is an absolute attack on what little state welfare we had."

Excellent .

It's important to recognize that this is not a Right Wing protest against an allegedly "Socialist" State (which i suspect The US media will no doubt try to spin it). It's a Left Wing protest against the current government which is imposing Right Wing "Austerity" measures.

GB

[odo banks]

All I want to know is, where did you get that footage of Steve and Biffo in happpier times, GB? I feel burgled!

[Gandalf's Beard]

All I want to know is, where did you get that footage of Steve and Biffo in happpier times, GB? I feel burgled!

From Ringdrotten who posted it.

I was going to post the Death Video from Youtube (it actually happened during filming), but I decided that would be tasteless.

GB

[odo banks]

Ringdrotten may be a Norwayan, but a burgler... No, come clean GB, you set him up, didn't you! (The Danes have strict Laws about receiving stolen property, you know... You'll get him into trouble with your liberal lawlessness!

[Pettytyrant101]

Can I say Ryan Giggs now? Um and just to be safe, I bring it up in the um context of debating the right of politicians to say what courts say noone else can, and the subsequent right of papers to then print that, and the wider issue of whats private anyway. Please don't sue me mad footballer. I've seen the photos of her- we all would have!

[Ringdrotten]

You're much too kind and thoughtful, Odo

[Kafria]

mixed feelings on this!
Resisted temptation to go look yesterday when twitter hit the news, but is it really in the public interest to know and isn't she just interested in publicity?

[Pettytyrant101]

I don't think it sinthe public interest. Its obviously somthing the public are intrested to kno about though or these things wouldn;t sell newspapers and magazines. It does seem a bit odd though, he gets immunity she got her name splashed all over the papers and not in a good way to begin with. That seems unfair. And it also seems to be a perk of the law avaialble onyl to the wealthy. If it were across the board then maybe it would be better.
The UK doesn't have a privacy law, this just the Courts interpreting the European Law on it. But a privacy law should really go through Parliament I think not the Courts.

[odo banks]

I've always found it piss-weak of pollies to shoot their mouths off in parliament, but refuse to air their slurs outside on the street!

[Gandalf's Beard]

I don't think it sinthe public interest. Its obviously somthing the public are intrested to kno about though or these things wouldn;t sell newspapers and magazines. It does seem a bit odd though, he gets immunity she got her name splashed all over the papers and not in a good way to begin with. That seems unfair. And it also seems to be a perk of the law avaialble onyl to the wealthy. If it were across the board then maybe it would be better.
The UK doesn't have a privacy law, this just the Courts interpreting the European Law on it. But a privacy law should really go through Parliament I think not the Courts.

Actually, UK's Privacy Laws are much stricter than the US's. The only difference being that the US's is written into the Constitution--and completely ignored. Having said that, the UK's privacy laws should go both ways, protecting both the Accused and the Accuser.

Personally, I couldn't give a Rat's Behind about the Love Affairs of a Footballer. Or an ex-Republican Movie Star Governors' . I only care about the love trysts (including gay sex) of "Family Values" Conservatives (which Schwarzenegger never claimed to be). The utter Hypocrisy of "Family Values" Conservatives should always be held up to the light.

I love it when "Family Values" Republicans like Newt Gangrene (Gingrich) get exposed as three marriage cheaters, especially when the cheating and divorces are horrible in that Gingrich dumped TWO Sick Wives. Or when "Family Values" anti-Gay Rights Republican Senators like Larry Craig get caught soliciting Gay Sex in Airport Bathrooms.

GB

[odo banks]

Could not agree more, GB. These respectable types are like those respectable Pharisees Jesus harangued so effectively! Well dressed types, crowing it up the front of whatever brand of religious congregation they represent, spruiking pure morals and values, and then getting caught doing the opposite of what they preach!



(((((Getting caught out is not respectable at all in my humble opinion! )))))

[Orwell]

I'll make it plain, GB. I have a deep dissatisfaction and distrust of ideologues of every stamp! (Even Orwell, at times!) What you say about certain Right Wingers rings true; but all True Believers set themselves up for a fall. Preachers. Philosophers. Politicians. Hypocrites all.

[odo banks]

Present company excluded, of course!

[Orwell]

Not necessarily, Mr Banks!

[Orwell]

GB, am I understand that you believe in Right Wing Conspiracies and Brain Eating Zombies?

[Pettytyrant101]

The G8 is due to meet again. And further down the agenda under all the headline grabbing ME stuff they will be deciding 'how little or how much the internet should be regulated.' According to BBC news 'A group of internet bosses, including Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and Google boss Eric Schmidt, is heading to the summit to urge governments not to over-regulate the internet.'

For me the internet is the single greatest advancemnt for the evryday person the world has yet seen. It gives everyone access to knowledge. Yes it has its dark side but thats the thing about the internet- its free of lies and propoganda about humans, whats on the internet it was humans are really like- probably for the first time in history everything about us, what we really think, what we like (good and bad) is there. The thought of governments moving in, regulating it and turning into one massive virtual shopping mall is a horrible one. The internet and its freedoms are too sprecial to let that be taken away.

[Pettytyrant101]

Just got round to watching Obama's speech to Parliament in Westminister Hall- good sppech, lot of history in the air. Must be strange for a US President to be giving a speech in a building thats more than twice as old as the nation he represents- a reminder perhaps that America is a late addition to the ideals of civil rights and democracy.
This is probably only available in the UK but if you have a hunt round your news sites I'm sure you can find it- worth watching the full speech- if nothing else Obama's a great speaker.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/house_of_commons/newsid_9495000/9495513.stm

[Orwell]

A statesman above most statesmen. Brilliant speaker. (And loved his foreign policy in relation to Osama. Bugger you, Pakistan, we'll deal with Osama. How it should be done - when necessary).

[Pettytyrant101]

Saw an interesting set of stats on the BBC, comparing the number of visits abroad made by Bush And Obama at the same point in their Presidential run. Its spilt into Europe (UK, Czech Rep, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Denamrk, Portugal, Vatican, Ireland, Norway, Turkey, Belgium, Kosovo, Lithuania, POland, Romania, SLovenia, Spain, Sweden) Americas (Mexico, Canada, El Salvador, Brazil, Chile, Trinidad&Tobago, Peru) Asia (Japan, S. Korea, China, Afghanistan, India, Indonsia, Singapore) Middle East (Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia) Africa (Ghana).

It works out as;
Europe
Obama 17 Bush 19

Americas
Obama 8 Bush 7

Asia
Obama 10 Bush 4

Middle East
Obama 3 Bush 0

Africa
Obama 1 Bush 0

I find some of these stats quite interesting. They both have gone to Europe twice as many times as they have visited countries which physically border their own. Which seems odd. Especially given how many problems are caused for the US by crime just over its borders you would think they would pay more close attention.
Obama has also gone to Asia twice as often as Bush did, a sign of the changing world economy and its shift to Asia? And power always follows the cash.
Perhaps not suprisingly it seems Bush never stepped foot himself in the ME whilst he was at war there (reminiscent of his Vietnam service record!).
And poor old Africa, Obama gives it one visit and Bush never even bothered, for all the fine words at the G8 and the like about helping Africa nations it seems bothering to turn up there is too much effort.

[Gandalf's Beard]

.
And poor old Africa, Obama gives it one visit and Bush never even bothered, for all the fine words at the G8 and the like about helping Africa nations it seems bothering to turn up there is too much effort.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/05/28/budget.aids/?hpt=T2

GB

[Pettytyrant101]

How depressing. A similar argument has been growing here- the money just goes to corrupt governments, nothing ever changes etc. To his credit so far Cameron has rejected populist calls to cut the UK foreign aid budget.

[Gandalf's Beard]

Sorry for not being very present at the time. I'm having too much fun Theist Baiting at the JREF forum. It's a lot like Bear Baiting, but crueler.


GB

[Gandalf's Beard]

Just here to use the convenient image hosting capability of our forum to post this: