³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

Ooooooooooooh, a bunch of idiot politicians who think they can control the climate. What delusions of grandeur these fools have.

IS BROWN A FRUSTRATED MAFIA GODFATHER?

He seems to want to surround himself with Machiavellian 'Names' like Tony - 'the tooth' - Blair, and Mandy - 'the mince' - Mandelson. Who might James - 'he who is called Gordon' - draw to his side next? It is like watching Yoda go over to the Dark Side.

Carbon

Oh they are at it again with this carbon nonsense. How is that from pre school I've studied ecology, even did a bit on the UK climate models that contributed to a Nobel. Yet some politicians who did art history and political philosophy last week discovered climate change and over the weekend and serious believe they can manage the ecology of a planet by discussing cap and trade. They are completely delusional.

I can't really be bothered even to discuss carbon and Earth systems.

Handbrakes are good, they have them on cars. Quite important really. If you didn't have one your car would roll down a hill and crash. The funny thing is if you leave them on no matter how good the engine they will affect the performance of the car. All that complex technology completely undermined by a two of bits of composite material, a couple of springs and a bit of steel cable.

When people take a driving test they have to be able to use a handbrake. Strange thing is if people only learned about and were tested on handbrakes, they wouldn't be able to drive a car. The handbrake being only part of the system which controls a car.

Anyway enough about handbrakes and cars, I should be enquiring about politicians and carbon and Earth system processes.

Celtic Lion

apparently patronage of groups like the jnf [brown blair and cameron] that discriminates by race is no bar to office. it does not even raise any questions. Even though the charity commissioner is blocked from entering India to investigate if hindu groups are raising money in the uk that is used for for ethnic cleansing those groups can still raise money? isn't that evidence of an institutionalised discrimination culture is considered acceptable?

given blair has been the worst prime minister the uk ever has had why would anyone consider his judgement as anything but fundamentally flawed?

UK AS PART OF AN EU OF 'INDEPENDENT, LOOSELY ALIGNED NATION-STATES'- YES;

UK AS PART OF AN 'EU SUPERSTATE'- WOULD CEASE TO EXIST AND THEREBY WOULD HAVE FORFEITED ITS 'WORLD INFLUENCE' IN TOTALITY!!!!!!!!!!!

The UK as a 'central player part' of an EU which is structured as: an aligned- TO VARYING DEGREES AND LEVELS- association of independent, sovereign nations would be but one of many international bodies in which the UK can, in the future, maintain and improve its historic constructive role worldwide...

But, a UK as part of a 'Lisbon Treaty facilitated' 'EU superstate', made up of surrender monkey, amalgamated 'former-nation-states' would eventually end up being trammeled by Continental ego's and memories-of-empires aspirations run-amok...

The EU was not conceived to eventually become a 'superstate political body', striding the international stage as a 'lock-step unit'- made up of amalgamated nations...

Its main purpose was intended to be, as a group of loosely, and to varying degrees aligned nations*, that by its existence, acted as an obstacle to a repeat of the worst of Europe's past:

- never ending wars;

- ethnic and racial intolerance/pogroms; and

- subjugation of/inappropriate profiting from overseas peoples via badly administered colonies and Empires...

* in social, economic and legal policy areas...

Unfortunately, should the UK allow itself to be part of the intellectually dishonest lie that is the Lisbon Treaty- GETTING OUT LATER WOULD NOT RETURN TO THE UK THE HIGH STANDING AND INFLUENCE THAT IT NOW HAS...

A 'superstate' EU will loose the most productive functional characteristic that has been a prominent part of the various EEC/EU models existing until today: the abilities of INDIVIDUAL EU MEMBER NATIONS to counterbalance each other and to act as checks and balances to stop less than desirable policies/laws from coming into force and/or to amend them...

Once the 'political unit' of the EU changes from what it has been for over 5-decades: 'individual member nations' to 'individual adults'- ALL member nations will have allowed themselves to be subjugated to a political governance structure that, down the road- could legislate or act in ways that would not be agreeable to or in the best interests of individual 'member' nations' peoples- but nothing will be able to be done by the respective 'member' nation- other than damagingly attempting to get out of the 'superstate EU'...

There ought to be an EU- but not an EU that by its existence extinguishes the sovereignty and world-role of its member nations...


_________________
Roderick V. Louis,
Vancouver, BC, Canada

Could someone please inform Mark Urban of the difference between Europe and the European Union?

Europhiles repeatedly confuse the continent - Europe - with the political entity - European Union.

Why do you fail to mention Lord Monckton's claim that the climate change conference is a thinly veiled attempt to bring about world government? See www.miatoday.com .

Oh how one just loves the legal "profession"....
Time after time they get away with it....

Is anybody honest in this country these days?

Brilliant interview by Jeremy on who could be the future President of the EU, as Blair is not one of the favourites to win....Excellent reports by David & Richard too.

The best of the night was Jeremy's interview with Sir Michael Lyons and then the Shadow Minister, Hunt. As pointed out, would the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ not suffer more as a result of job losses? Would the right people be retained? Also loved the way it was pointed out, that although the salaries of certain staff at the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ was higher than the PM's, it did not include 2nd homes, expenses etc. Priceless!

Tony Blair as president is likely to precipitate an EU Corporate Nazi inspired Fourth Reich, run in the interest of Wall Street. The indigenous populations of individual EU nation states will be enslaved on the hypothesis of alleged climate change regulations that members of the Corporate Multinational Cartel can easily circumnavigate. The stock market parasites will embezzle most of any international development aid allegedly aimed at promoting environmentally friendly projects in " third world " countries. Blair will follow Hitler's example and first extend the EU to Turkey ( ally of Germany in the Great War ) and following in Rommel's footsteps perhaps also North Africa.

The object of the exercise will be to flood the EU with evermore cheap migrant labour and therefore ensure that most people will end up working for minimum wage. Not only that they will also have to suffer being parasited on by employment agencies, the current disputed alleged " scab labour " being operated in an attempt to break the current postal dispute is a prime example of what is likely to be expected in future.

It would appear that were are on the brink of the " New Dark Age " Winston Churchill foresaw with the anarcho capitalist Trotskyites in total control of Europe. Perhaps watch out for the outbreak of at least virtual " civil war " in several EU member states over the next five years if Blair gets in ?

LAW IS NOT JUSTICE ANY MORE THAN THE EU IS EUROPE (#9)

Hi Lizzie. Lawyers are amoral at best - and proud of it. I always feel Hoon epitomises the breed. Small wonder so many move into Westminster politics.

The barrister who gets the out-and-out villain 'off', rises in his profession in both status and income. What is the mentality of such a person? The term 'parliamentarian' is virtually synonymous with barrister. Winning is all.

It would seem that honesty is neither required nor prized in these professions - maybe that is the problem, not lack of honesty as such?

One can't help wondering what they tell their children is a good way to go through life.

from mimpromptu
Doesn't the Chairman of the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ, Sir Michael Lyons, have a lovely smile?
I'm so happy I've e-mailed Sir Michael stating my views on objectionable activities by a few of the Newsnight bloggers and inviting him to consider reading my own contributions.
I thought it was a splendid conversation between Sir Michael & Jeremy!

from mimpromptu
I'm rather pleased with Gordon & Tony beginning to lose their footing in Europe after what they've been up to, violating Madam Mim's most basic human rights & trying to impose unbearable restrictions on her everyday life, etc. I'll spare you, Bloggers, the gory details. You may be aware of most of them anyway.

from mimpromptu
According to a pole conducted by an organisation called Eurobarobemeter, Poles are the greatest optimists in Europe.
(^_^)
mim

from mimpromptu
Streetphotobeing
The other day I wrote about how many people, including well known ones, hide behind or try to use Jeremy Paxman and his images to promote themselves, which, obviously, is a great sign of weakness.
There is one other person they do it to/with and that is the President of the USA, Mr Barack Obama.
Although I still have my doubts about who he sides with as regards Madam Mim, I do quite like the way he is with others, be they poor or be the rich.
mim

from mimpromptu
Methinks jj’s having a problem with his pump
I wonder if his belly is a bit of a lump?
Is he now green or is he now yellow
Oh, what a foxy & cunning a lump of a fellow!

#9 from mimpromptu
There is a lot of truth in what you've been saying about lawyers, Ecolizzy, but it doesn't mean why one should give up on seeking justice and truth, however long it has been taking. And, I'm sure, like with any other profession or walk of life, not all lawyers are crooked and only out there piling up their pennies dreaming of golden mountains.
mim

11 - its already happening but our media blogs it out. France, Germany both have virtual civil war, this is a clip from US

from mimpromptu
Streetphotobeing
I've written to you a couple of times about a homeless young man who used to sell Big Issue outside M&S and Sainsbury's in Fulham Road and who once recited one of Shakespeare's sonnets to me. I contacted Sir Malcolm Rifkind's PA to see whether she could help him get proper accommodation as he was in danger of having his legs amputated due to terrible infection. She was most helpful but it turned out he was registered in Wandsworth. When I went to see the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖless Unit there they also were very eager to help Tim.
When I saw him a few days ago he was very unwell, couldn't eat and generally feeling very sick. His face was turning all yellow. A day or two before that I saw a man with a moustache hanging around and looking very suspicious. I did consider this as a bad omen for some reason. Then another day I saw another fellow with a moustache and a strange earring hanging out of his left ear. He seemed to look like a bit of devil incarnate. He was at the bus stop but never got on a bus and instead kept hanging around, staring at me and behaving very strangely. I considered it as a continuation of the previous ominous event.
I have just learned that Tim died last night. I intend to contact the Police and medical authorities to make sure that the reasons for his death are properly investigated.
mim
P.S. Is this what this country's about? All games? Having a laugh? Symbols and signs? Cowardice?

I'd also like to add that I absolutely loved the director's style in Richard's report and Jeremy's interview with Hunt. It's great to have the programme shot at different angles, both with the autocue/view through the cameraman's screens, the mixing of colour/b&w. More please :o)

Lawyers

One area the NAO hasn't covered is lawyers and police officers forging arrest and custody records in police stations together with associated evidence.

This allows memmbers of the public who have never commited an offence, been arrested or charged with an offence to be convicted for crimes the police and lawyers have fabricated.

The lawyer signs a custody record saying he has seen a client, which they never has, so can claim from the legal aid, the police get a 100% clear up for offences they have invented.

Simple and lucrative.

Celtic Lion

#8 anointed one

There must be some substance to what you write. The conference will do nothing regarding climate change. So what is it's purpose. one must ask by default.

Celtic Lion

#11 Brossen99 That's a very bleak picture you have drawn, but one I entirely agree with. People here don't seem to have woken up to the fact we are importing very, very cheap labour. I think the upper classes of all degrees, think whooppee I can get this and that work or product really, really cheaply, and don't think about the longer term impact on them. They are so ruddy smug, they think I'll always have my job, but one day they won't, because the poor won't be able to support their lifestyle. We really are mugs here and can't see we are being over run and what is happening to our society.

from mimpromptu to Streetphotobeing
For all I know it may turn out to be a great big joke, a 'masterstroke' in the continuum of testing my humanity and sexual preferences/commitment.
I shall do some further reasearch this morning into things.
mim

#19 wappaho Thanks for your clip, I don't know how you found it! Yup I think that type of behaviour will become the norm. And yes I know it's definitely going on in France, and all being kept very hush, hush. Look at the rioting at the New Year there, not a mention of it on the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ. Thousands of cars and property burnt all over France, but hey the Beeb turns a blind eye. It was even happening ten years ago, my son lived there and witnessed it, but never a mention here. It's just those frenchies (it's not) being all fraternityish and socialist.

Did you also see the rioting that's been happening in Sweden, in particular Malmo. Do you ever see it on our news, good lord no, it's those modern tolerant Swedes, nothing upsets their country. I think there are a good many european countries in serious trouble within their borders, but hey everythings fun, spending, and great in euroland (parliment).

from mimpromptu to Streetphotobeing
I've just been in touch with the Battersea Coroner's office who confirmed Tim's death. Tim's first name apparently was in fact Thomas and his surname - Drummond.
I've been asked to contact the police directly which I shall do as soon as I can.
I shall be sending further reports throughout the day.
mim

26
- info about Europe is out there, it just has to be searched for.

- if two 'concerned citizens' can foster in-situ Development, why can't governments?

what a *-up mess i.e. pre-meditated disempowering of European peoples through migrant flooding.

Mim, I haven't read a post for a while - what is it about? Who is Tim/Tom Drummond?

from mimpromptu
This is to let you know that I have now spoken to the Police about Tim's case.

#28 Wappaho

Thanks for the development link. Makes sense. That is common sense, unfortunately not Government sense.

the carbon cult

the carbonites seemed a bit shinning eyed if not fanatical? full of threats they think themselves gods?

Cutting off the Goolies

the bbc maybe rearranging the deckchairs...
if it was in the private sector the bbc would be like itv- on its knees.
JP was playing both sides of the fence. first saying the bbc is public sector and now saying it should be compared with private sector. which is it?
the licence fee could be halved and used for news, online and investigative journalism. leave the pap to the commercial channels.

In the Guardian on Blair and the EU Presidency:

'The French made clear in Brussels last night that Blair was losing their support. Jean-David Levitte, Sarkozy's most senior foreign affairs adviser, said: "The UK is not in the eurozone, nor in the Schengen [free travel area in the EU] and it has a number of opt outs. These are not advantageous in this search for a candidate." '

Whilst we will never know whether Blair had much support within the UK for this "almost symbolic post" its curious that that is how the French and Germans see the post.

Does this not then suggest that this is another step on the Federalist road map for Europe - despite the denials - as a symbolic post usually just requires a stuffed shirt with a pulse?

Does this then not suggest that Lisbon was indeed not just tying up loose ends?

If so then should we not have had a referendum?

Is it any wonder that Labour is losing support not just to the other major democratic parties but to the BNP who one presumes, though from contradictory and elastic statements, would not be democratic if they had the choice?

Brown writes off Iraq as an issue before the inquiry as though the invasion was no more than childish horseplay.

You can only hope that the next batch of elections in the UK and in Europe will focus minds on what the people of the nations want.

I am all for Europe but one that is not Federalist, that is democratic in its operation and spirit and one that does not enlarge before it has resolved the serious internal issues it has on agricultural subsidies, corruption and so on.

Good leaders lead and take the people with them - they don't leave them behind at some junction.

#4 kingcelticlion
"Oh they are at it again with this carbon nonsense. How is that from pre school I've studied ecology, even did a bit on the UK climate models that contributed to a Nobel. Yet some politicians who did art history and political philosophy last week discovered climate change and over the weekend and serious believe they can manage the ecology of a planet by discussing cap and trade. They are completely delusional.

I can't really be bothered even to discuss carbon and Earth systems"

I remain sceptical about your background as the politicians rely on the advice of scientists and the huge majority agree that there is climate change due to human impact via CO2 throughout the world.

Many of the politicians therefore would not need to have scientific qualifications and rely on having sound judgement.

You yourself commented the other day that in regard to Marcus Garvey and the Klu Klux Klan that with the KKK what you see is what you get.

For neutral readers that should set a few alarm bells ringing.

#17 mimpromptu

Lets be pleased to be spared the hysterical theology of the hideous racial politics of National Socialism!

It could be coincidence but perhaps the science that was included in Rageh Omah's "Race and Intelligence" on Channel 4 sank in and that poster has reconsidered those false certainties offered to unwilling eyes.

More probably the far right have found an outlet where the readers are more gullible and weak willed and are trying to instill the virtues of tyrannical dictatorship and the Fuhrer state.

Possibly there are those who are trying to make sure that there is distance between those who have openly praised National Socialism and Hitler style policies as an alternative to democracy and the "modern and progressive" BNP who "are not a Nazi party".

Has there ever been a party that did NOT want to communicate its genuine views and who complained to the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ that they received an "early Christmas Gift" of excessive attention on Question Time?

I think Nick Clegg would beg for the time!

Has there ever been a leader (convicted for inciting racial hatred) who after decades of history and trials and personal accounts could not offer an opinion on the Holocaust?

We are approaching a general election.

#2 barriesingleton

"He seems to want to surround himself with Machiavellian 'Names' like Tony - 'the tooth' - Blair, and Mandy - 'the mince' - Mandelson."

I am no fan of Brown but you could see likenesses between Brown and Griffin. One eye though one was lost to rugby and the other an accident with a shotgun cartridge in a fire.

I am sure there is a pun there. Nick "Doh!" Griffin?

Griffin has a conviction.

Nick "the con" Griffin?

Nick Griffin had a grandfather in the RAF - like Newfazer - and is hazy about the Holocaust - like Newfazer!

Nick "tail gunner" Griffin?

Of course I believe that it is still the case that the BNP can't be in the armed forces and its not good form to use "black humour" about the generals with a reference to Nuremburg if you are hazy about the basis of the Nuremburg trials.

By the way if Newfazer was in fact the bashful Nick Griffin could all of his posts be used by the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ to calibrate what his views on the Holocaust are?

I don't think any clinch the argument about Griffin - but then a hundred oblique comments could perhaps be the same as a few direct and honest statements.

So ....

#35 from mimpromptu
thegangofone
I didn't consider the BNP as having anything to do with Tim. Although you may be right to some extent, I still think it is more to do with a self-appointed deranged 'dictator' who unfortunately is still linking and 'running free'.
As he has accused me of all sorts of things, I hope I will be allowed to post this link by suggesting it is to do with jj and I hope the Police are now making proper enquiries about him rather than turning a blind eye to his activities.

#28 wappaho Thanks for the links, yes I read the first one, but not the second. That's a heartwarming story! The trouble is it seems to need small acts on a personal level to help, governments are too cumbersome, and usually the powerful and un-needy get the help and money! Wouldn't it be good if instead of europe adopting towns (twinning)within itself it chose a much more needy one. The other problem is I think a lot immigrants are ill informed of the riches they are going to make here. Yes compared to their own country they will be richer, but poverty stricken when it comes to their mental health and living without their family and friends. I suppose that's how desperate poverty makes you get.

#38 from mimpromptu
ecolizzy
I don't know whether you are a 'slanted' woman on a revenge trip or whether you are a transvesting man.
If you're referring to me, you're wrong, I could earn pots of money in Poland and live a very comfortable life indeed surrounded by loving people.
At the age of 21 I was already earning more money than my mother who was a Surgeon. Most of your posts are laughable and prickly attempts at making me upset or something like that and it just does not make any sense what you're up to.
mim

Please mim don't upset yourself, I'm talking about third world poor people, not you at all. Please be careful of assuming people are writing about you, very few of them are. : )

Nos 38 and many other ecolizzy posts

Are yes ecolizzy a women who supports jaded_jean - he who countenances Afgan women's rape, thinks the mentally ill are poisonus and is 'agnostic' on the holocaust. Yes arnt you a fine up standing member of the British. Well as far as I'm concerned along with your far right friends on here; beneath the contempt of a swotted blue bottle impaled on a porcupine spine just after belching up its last meal of dog poo.

#34 Go1

It is about understanding scientific methodology etc. When I was invited to attend the conference to set up the new generation of UK earth system models, we had a certain amount of pre conference information.

The jist was that the conference was to be a discussion of 'blue sky' (their words) thinking regarding modelling the earth system. ie an anything goes no boundaries look at Earth systems. That was part of the scientific brief I was given.

Now the project was funded by the NERC, natural environment research council, which obtains it's finances from DEFRA.

So the speakers opened the conference on the scientific aspects of what we were to do. Then the man from DEFRA spoke-the government funder. He then specifically stipulated what ever we did had to be directly compatible with the existing Hadley Centre models.

Don't bother asking Susan Watts or any of the environmental correspondents they weren't there. Whatever the original scientific brief was immediately compromised and had to fit in with the parameters of the Government's funding brief. What and how the models looked at things was not an open scientific exercise, but determined by a political financial restriction.

You must also remember what even many scientist forget. Models are only representations of reality, they are not reality. Go back 500 years and 99% of scientists may agree that the best representation of reality is that the earth is the centre of the universe and the heavenly bodies orbit round it supported on crystal spheres. That was their consensus of the model of reality. It took people like Copernicus and Galileo to gradually change this consensus and move the paradigm on to another construct.

Forget climate change for a short while, it is a small convenient soundbite. What we should be talking is effective sustainable planetary management to referencedce to number of underlying agreed references.

Unfortunately the management of our planet has been historically done by the political-economic system, which has objectives which are or may be not compatible with sustainable planetary management. This historical system of control is not going to give up it's controlling interest.

So effective planetary ecological management has to be somehow incorporated into a political economic system in a way which they can still have control over it with reference to their existing norms and institutions.

Hence we have climate change equals carbon equals cap and trade etc. carbon replacing money of the historical trading and banking power structures. What you then have is not the most effective way or representation of understanding or managing a planet. But a way which is more compatible with the methodology of existing global power structures.

It is not the right way or the best way. They couldn't even manage a simple sub system of a sub system of a planet- the economic system.

Do you really think having made a mess of that they are going to do any better? Carbon is just one part of the ecological homeostasis of the planet. The political economic power structures of the planet have decided this is their tool for management and control. And this is going to be done through cap and trade.

Each step they take is further away from a true full understanding of how a planet operates, further into an over simplified reductionist construct, further from the reality. But it is being done not to just effectively manage a planet, but also to fit in with existing artificial political economic power structures. Effective methodology has been compromised.

I agree that carbon is part of the climate processes of the planet so I am part of the 99%. But I will never accept that the deliberately over simplified concept of climate change is only carbon will ever work.

There is more to a planet than climate and there is more to climate than carbon. In this march to global control control of the population by carbon trading and allocation etc, the real dangers and the proper solutions will be missed by the narrowing of vision and focus on carbon carbon.

Celtic Lion

DID I REALLY READ THAT?

There is a post above that beggars belief and debarks the Blogdog.
'Bizarre' is to mild a word. What is going on?

#43
Which one in PARTICULAR??????????????????

I was looking for a site to join in sensible, comprehensible, reasoned, polite, adult debate on issues that affect our lives. Preferably one where each individual's level of entry and opinion/belief was respected if not concurred with.
Still searching.
The TRUTH may be out there. The problem is, be they of a religious or poltical persuasion, as soon as anyone thinhks they have found the truth, we are all DOOMED!

There is one post above and it is not mine which I find unbelieveable, unbelieveable that someone would write it and unbelievable that it got past the mods.

If anyone disagres with my views on climate change. All I can add is I am very concerned of what is being presented by politicians and the media as the truth.

For the sake of my family and friends I would much prefer that with a proper team as project manager control, the pretenders stood aside and let us sort out the planetary ecosystem.

At present we are being taken along a branch along the evolutionary tree of life that leads to extinction. Unfortunately in the kingdom of the blind the one eyed man is king.

Celtic Lion

ALL THINGS IN MODERATION - BUT SOME ARE MORE MODERATED THAN OTHERS (#44/45)

I try to stick to a policy of support for (what seems to me) cogent, rational stuff. I admit I sometimes poke fun, but I never intentionally attack a person, and I try hard not to involve myself in any of the punch-ups. The moderation is just SO incomprehensible, and the post to which I referred at #43 so extreme as to be easily identifiable, I felt my comment was enough yet could not fall foul.

Brightyangthing - I too wanted to find a forum of gravitas and cogency but it was not to be. I now see that the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ ethos is virtually purged of those two attributes (with just a few exceptions). As our mad world winds up saltiness, sweetness, loudness, alcohol content, nastiness, sexiness and violence, while the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ calls it 'edgy' and sees that it is good, so it is reflected here. I admit to a degree of 'if you can't beat 'em join 'em' in my posting, but I will gladly decamp if a grown-up forum ever materialises.

Go1 "For neutral readers that should set a few alarm bells ringing."

Oh no! Not the alarm bells - I won't be able to hear all the murders going on!

Lizzie "governments are too cumbersome" or, simply composed of people who don't care?

remember, child and workers' rights in the UK didn't come from nowhere, they came from people in positions of power having the WILL to use their power to the benefit of people outside the power structure.

Someone on here wrote an excellent comment about institutions preseving their power. That's how institutions work. Those at the top will do anything to resist change simply because change tends to redefine who should be at the top.

They say a bad workman blames his tools - actually it's true that the skill in skilled manual work is as much about knowing which tool to use as about being able to use it - you could say the same thing about institutions. The institution is a tool created to make and manage policy. If the policy-making tool is not working, it's time to visit the toolmaker, not waste more time blaming it.

"poverty stricken when it comes to their mental health and living without their family and friends" - on Jamie's road trip he met a chinese family fresh into New York, working in a cafe. The father had been a businessman in China. I was quite surprised, I thought businessmen in china would be quite comfortable - the truth is what immigrants gain in the west is freedom of mind. It may not, as JJ points out, be real freedom but, a bit like Newtonian physics, that doesn't matter 99% of the time/space continuum. Freedom to associate, to laugh, to believe. I also think a lot of illegal immigrants don't know why they take the risk - I believe there is an innate drive towards modernism, I don't think, in the long run, it's within our biological control to retain traditional social structures any more than we could go back to being hunter-gatherers.

addendum - postmodernism is, hopefully transitorily, a form of collective guilt imposed on the majority for the past sins of a minority.

street "beneath the contempt of a swotted blue bottle impaled on a porcupine spine just after belching up its last meal of dog poo" - some advert for UK political discussion! no wonder the french squirt their boils in our direction! :)

42 - (the MoL?) I enjoyed the post very much. "Effective methodology has been compromised." So true. I think it starts in the research application process, there's no point suggesting to use new methodologies when the policy-makers-funders only understand older methodologies. Research does not drive policy, as we believe/claim that it does.

Ditto post #42.
Fascinating. Eye opening. Thought provoking.

9. At 11:42pm on 29 Oct 2009, ecolizzy
Is anybody honest in this country these days?

Yes. Just not in politics or the (well, certain outposts of certain) media.

Which may explain how some moderation is more or less moderate than others. And seeing abuse rather requires an objective appreciation of what it might be, no matter that some on 'the team' may agree with it or not.

All simply good material should the licence fee folk decide to discuss contracts and Charters with their unsatisfied customers in court.