The Bigger, Badder, Even More Serious Thread [4]

[leelee]

When down east here privatized the water , several people died and there was a big trial and it was scary and now countless people are on meds because of some make money quick scheme and it is un privatized now scary.

[Pettytyrant101]

British comedian/presenter Bill Oddie tackles the dangerous Banker in its natural environment in the style of his Spring Watch nature series to highlight the destruction by HSBC of Borneo's forests-



"Is he going to charge? He is a banker, of course he is going to charge!"  

[Pettytyrant101]

A follow up to somethnig I mentioned a while back- the EU recently demanded the UK government either put up or shut up on their tales of 'benefit tourism'- the claim immigrants come to the UK just to milk our benefits system and dont contribute to it.
Its been a big part of Tory rhetoric in an attempt to counter the political threat of UKIP.

However first the EU's own report could not find anything to substantiate the claims and then the UK government failed to provide any actual figures to back up their claim, whilst still continuing to make it.

Now this-

'Immigrants to the UK since 2000 have a made a "substantial" contribution to public finances, a report says.
The study by University College London said recent immigrants were less likely to claim benefits and live in social housing than people born in Britain.
The authors said rather than being a "drain", their contribution had been "remarkably strong".
Immigrants who arrived after 1999 were 45% less likely to receive state benefits or tax credits than UK natives in the period 2000-2011, according to the report by Prof Christian Dustmann and Dr Tommaso Frattini from UCL's Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration.
They were also 3% less likely to live in social housing.
Those from the European Economic Area (EEA - the EU plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) had made a particularly positive contribution in the decade up to 2011, contributing 34% more in taxes than they received in benefits.
Immigrants from outside the EEA contributed 2% more in taxes than they received in the same period, the report showed.
Over the same period, British people paid 11% less in tax than they received.

The report also showed that in 2011, 32% of recent EEA immigrants and 43% of non-EEA immigrants had university degrees, compared with 21% of the British adult population.
"Given this evidence, claims about "benefit tourism" by EEA immigrants seem to be disconnected from reality."- BBC

Meanwhile in la-la 'all foreigners are bad and out to get us' Tory land-

'A spokesman for the government said: "We welcome those that want to come here to contribute to the economy, but it's absolutely right that we have strict rules in place to protect the integrity of the British benefits system to ensure it's not abused."
He added that this was why the government was strengthening measures to ensure that only benefits are only paid to people who are "legally allowed to live in Britain".


And back in the real world-

'a separate UCL study released on Tuesday warns that the government's target to cut net migration to the UK to the tens of thousands is "neither a useful tool nor a measure of policy effectiveness".
That report argues that actions to cut work-related, student and family migration have damaged the UK's reputation as a good place to work and study.'

I think it can now be safely be said that the Tory fear-mongering over immigrants stealing our benefits and women are, what is better known as, a crock of shit.

[Eldorion]

Pretty terrifying (though in the end lucky) news: two planes carrying skydivers collide mid-air, all survive the fall to the ground.

Video here.

[Mrs Figg]

 wow

[Pettytyrant101]

 Wouldnt like to have to do their laundry.  

[Eldorion]

The video really is something else, btw.

[Pettytyrant101]

I found this disturbing-

'A US company that has developed an "electronic backpack" that fits onto a cockroach allowing the its movements to be controlled by a mobile phone app has defended itself against cruelty claims.
The Backyard Brains company says that the device is intended to get children to be interested in neuroscience.
For the "electronic backpack" to work the cockroaches have to be placed in icy water to subdue them before sandpaper is used to remove waxy coating on the the shell of the insect's head.
An electrode connector and electrodes are then glued on to the insect's body and a needle is used to poke a hole in their thorax in order to insert a wire.
Their antennae are then cut, and electrodes are inserted. A circuit is attached to their backs, and signals are received through a mobile phone app allowing users to control the cockroaches' movements to the left and to the right."- BBC

It seems to be an early years animal cruelty kit  
We go down the line of using other living things as children toys and the games a bogey.  

[halfwise]

Very creepy indeed. I'd love it in a research lab, but....

[Eldorion]

That's pretty horrifying, and not just because I have a phobia of bugs.

[Lancebloke]

Good luck to the people of Vietnam and it's neighbours over the next few days. I know quite a few people in the Philippines so hope they are all ok. Looks pretty bad out there.

 

[halfwise]

Possibly the most powerful storm on record - worldwide. And it's headed for Vietnam.

[Mrs Figg]

I found this disturbing-

'A US company that has developed an "electronic backpack" that fits onto a cockroach allowing the its movements to be controlled by a mobile phone app has defended itself against cruelty claims.
The Backyard Brains company says that the device is intended to get children to be interested in neuroscience.
For the "electronic backpack" to work the cockroaches have to be placed in icy water to subdue them before sandpaper is used to remove waxy coating on the the shell of the insect's head.
An electrode connector and electrodes are then glued on to the insect's body and a needle is used to poke a hole in their thorax in order to insert a wire.
Their antennae are then cut, and electrodes are inserted. A circuit is attached to their backs, and signals are received through a mobile phone app allowing users to control the cockroaches' movements to the left and to the right."- BBC

It seems to be an early years animal cruelty kit  
We go down the line of using other living things as children toys and  the games a bogey.  

thats sick. they seem to think its ok because its small, if the cockroach was a large animal there would be an outcry. I know the roaches are vermin, but torture is torture.

[Mrs Figg]

just read about the storm. thats scary. 200mph winds.

[Eldorion]

I was reading about the storm too and its terrifying.  Reportedly there were over 100 deaths in the Philippines already.  RIP.

[Pettytyrant101]

I just heard from a friend of mine over there in Cebu City- fortunately she and her family are fine.
But the news out of Tacloban is just horrific with up to 10,000 feared dead there.

[David H]

I just heard from a friend of mine over there in Cebu City- fortunately she and her family are fine.
But the news out of Tacloban is just horrific with up to 10,000 feared dead there.

And I'm afraid it's only going to get more horrific over the next few weeks, without even basic infrastructure to get food and medical attention into the countryside.
Responding to these sorts of international disasters has historically been something the USA has done very well.
I hope all the insanity in DC hasn't f***ed it up.

[Lancebloke]

And I'm afraid it's only going to get more horrific over the next few weeks

From what I have heard, there are entire towns of 50, 75, 100 thousand plus that are completely under water and cut off. I think you are right that this is going to get worse as they uncover the extent of it and also struggle to get to those that are injured but could be saved if they are reached in time.

[Pettytyrant101]

I saw this interview on BBC.
Now maybe its just my male ears but it sounds to me that what she says here boils down to- I will happily whore my body if it keeps increasing the amount of money I am making, and that makes me one of the biggest feminists in the world. What am I missing?  (and dont worry she doesnt actually sing in this vid, Im petty but Im not cruel)

[Mrs Figg]

she is a cretin End of story.

[malickfan]

Wow, she is wearing clothes for once (Cyrus, not Figgs)!

Is it just me or is it mainly American teenage singers/artists wo go off the rails?-Maculay Culkin, Cyrus, Britney Spears etc is it a cultural thing? Because part of me wishes the Haryy Potter kids went a bit crazy...

[Eldorion]

Wasn't Daniel Radcliffe addicted to alcohol for a couple of years? He managed to keep that private for the most part, though.  And one of the guys who played Crabbe and Goyle got kicked out of the last movie cause the cops caught him growing pot.

[malickfan]

Oh yeah that's true, though apparently Radcliffe is now a Gabling/Energy addict now (according to the British Tabloids that is), I think it was just Crabbe (well whoever the shorter one was) the guy was an idiot he barely had any lines in the films yet must of made loads, I think he's in Jail for assault now?

[Mrs Figg]

I think Young actors in Britain have the advantage of nobody sucking up to them at school. From what I have read they get the piss taken at every turn. which probably keeps them grounded. I think in the US people are more polite and maybe in Hollywood theres a lot of yes men giving the kids everything they demand before they are old enough to know better. ie Lohan. teen cribs

[David H]

Wow, she is wearing clothes for once (Cyrus, not Figgs!)