Gently Back Into the Water 823


I had excellent news from my cardiologist yesterday.  Ready to think about other things now.  I am horrified by the continuing stream of ” royal” baby hype on television.  Truly pathetic – is this 1313 or 2013?  Who buys into this nonsense?

I thought the Lib Dem take on Trident missiles was hilarious.  This small group of islands does apparently need to retain the ability to wipe out one third of the urban population of humankind, as a defence against something undefined – possibly people we invade getting too annoyed about it – and  in order to increase our “influence” in the World.  As we plainly have less influence than the Germans, who don’t feel this need for the power of obliteration, I do not quite see how this works.  Nor do I see Pakistan, which does have nuclear weapons, as very influential.  Nor do I quite understand how our influence can be increased by possessing something  under effective American control.  But there you are.

Anyway, the Lib Dems have come to the intellectually scintillating conclusion that we do need this world shattering power, but we don’t need it on Wednesday or Thursday afternoons or on Saturday mornings, which will be cheaper.  Brilliant, and plainly does not dodge any big ethical or practical questions at all.

 

 

 

 


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823 thoughts on “Gently Back Into the Water

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  • Herbie

    Habby has already been caught out comparing Gazan water consumption favorably to that of the UK, a place where consumption will be relatively low (about 25%).

    Then I looked at habby’s other comparisons, mostly favelas in the poorer parts of relatively poor places.

    Surely Gaza with its beautiful sun, sea and sand should by now have developed a thriving tourist industry with all the knock-ons in employment and trade etc. Fishing is another area that seems signally underdeveloped.

    These Gazans are being deliberately held back!

    I’m sure there must be some international law or moral code somewhere which points out that that isn’t very nice.

    I’ll put my neck out here a bit, given current moderation focus, and further suggest that supporting the doing of that to a people is even less nice.

  • Jay

    @Passerby.

    Thanks for your prophetic work.
    You well have highlighted the irregularities.

    All a bit of a paradox really.

    Given the NHS is being re-organised, it should be fair to assume this day and age in a sane society as such we would like to atain and maintain; Health care would be available to absolutely everybody.

    Absolutely being one of Prime Minister Cameron’s favourite adverbs- usually with brilliant in his usual uttering’s.

    The piss take applied liberally these days is invariably unforgiving and will at cost I fear be detrimental to the coming seed.

    Nice post Passerby.

  • Sofia Kibo Noh

    @Herbie.

    You could even say that’s downright bad manners. But, of course, that would be anti-semitic.

  • Ben Franklin -Machine Gun Preacher (unleaded version)

    Rouge; Everything compassionate is a joke to the authoritarian until absolute control loses ground.

    I think it’s a sad clownishness that’s like the proverbial iron fist in a velvet glove. The liberal (open and generous) versus the conservative (closed loop-stinginess) often results in too much sympathy (as opposed to empathy) from the most liberal amongst us. They aren’t burdened with inconvenient emotions.

  • Ben Franklin -Machine Gun Preacher (unleaded version)

    Heh Sofia. Conservatives in the USA use that tac with considerable success. Any critique of Zionists is an attack on Israel and therefore, antisemitic.

  • Ben Franklin -Machine Gun Preacher (unleaded version)

    “less nice’

    Now you’ve done it Herbie.

    Jon. Cleanup on aisle 1144

  • AlcAnon

    That Diana movie by Keith Allen. I hadn’t realised until just now that he’s the father of Lily Allen.

  • A Node

    Macky says: “Sorry A Node, I can’t take the credit as it was Parky’s link !”

    Oops, thanks Parky …. though I was 60% right first time.

  • technicolour

    Habbakuk, have you watched ‘To Shoot an Elephant’?

    “To shoot an elephant” is an eye witness account from The Gaza Strip. December 27th, 2008, Operation Cast Lead. from the only foreigners who decided and managed to stay embedded inside Gaza strip ambulances, with Palestinian civilians

    First part here:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXHB2dnd42Q

  • Sofia Kibo Noh

    @Ben. 11 55pm

    Sadly it isn’t only among US conservatives that “anti-semitic” is accepted as covering any notions of opposition to any detail of Zionist criminality.

    It is a dishonest and irrational insult to all of us, but to Jewish people especially.

  • Herbie

    Excuse the poor production values.

    We’re being a bit occupied.

    And in a not very nice way, with indeed with much bad manners attendant. Thanks, Sofia.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW7PN9fn9PQ

    Yup. Prime location. Very underdeveloped. Lotsa potential. Med coast.

    You avin a laff!!

    Nope.

    Why aren’t all the brilliant genuises of Hedge, Private Equity and Sovereign wealth funds, not to mention all the other funds in the equity universe, all over this place with investment in this ripe paradise?

    Oh, Wait.

    Yeah, yeah. I know. Until it’s really really cheap, and don’t come with no sitting tenants.

  • Sofia Kibo Noh

    The “anti-semitic” slur insults all Jewish people by implying that ethnic cleansing, endless violence towards the victims, destruction of homes, orchards and wells, keeping a whole population underemployed and hungry,(the list is all but endless), is somehow a part of Jewish identity. It has to be if any criticism of these actions is “anti-semitic.

  • Jives

    Habbabkuk,

    “Is this a reference to the attempts of Macky, Komodo, Herbie, Fred, Doug Scorgie (he of “Habbabcunt” fame), Jives and various others against my goodself?”

    *****************

    Oh do give over you silly narcissistic billy bully.

    You’ve already been roundly spanked by Doug Scorgie today,as ever,for your disingenous guff and lack of replies to questions that you can’t spin.

    Run along now dear Habba…i busted you on your first ever post here,such was your ham-fisted yet nasty enough incompetence.

    Aren’t there some ladies of a certain age you can go and gang-stalk with your pathetic bully boys,as per all bully boys?

  • Ben Franklin -Machine Gun Preacher (unleaded version)

    I hasten to add that I intend no schadenfreude in my comments, though it may appear I am exulting.

    I don’t trivialize the importance of free and easy speech, and it’s important to keep that principle as sacrosanct and Holy of holies in the development of the human species. It’s the only way to be sure.

  • Sofia Kibo Noh

    You cannot continue to victimize someone else just because you yourself were a victim, there has to be a limit.
    Edward Said

    Good to see you back Mackey.

    Goodnight all.

  • BrianFujisan

    Sofia @ 12;42

    Exelent Post…. What is it about this Crime Shielding word antisemite…

    Sorry Jon i have to agree with Mackey’s thoughts on the wording of Cryptonym’s post. Please keep heart though. and keep up the good work

    It seems we don’t care where the next Bloodbath will arise

    Chossudovsky: They know in whose hands these weapons fall because al-Nusra is the only relevant military or entity, paramilitary entity in Syria, which is currently fighting government forces.

    So, in effect, all or most of the military aid from US and allied forces including the United Kingdom is in fact channeled through the Supreme Military Council to al-Nusra. And I should mention also that al-Nusra is being trained in the use of chemical weapons and in fact that training is often entrusted to private security companies – in other words mercenary companies and British mercenary companies.

    http://tv.globalresearch.ca/2013/07/inside-syria-britain-violates-own-anti-terrorist-legislation

  • Blegburnduddoo

    Thank you Sofia for the link at 12.53a.m. on 24 July.
    Truly haunting photo. Would make a wonderful poster.

  • Macky

    “Good to see you back Mackey”

    Thanks Sofia, but I’m still in the middle of an overseas holiday, however I’m getting so concerned at the nonsense that is going on here, that I’m having to fit in seeking WiFi connections between sight-seeing & beach times !

  • Flaming June

    I had a lovely day in London if hot and tiring. Firstly a couple of hours at the National Gallery in the rooms that hold the works of the C14 Italian masters. So many different accounts of the Madonna and Child and so beautiful. A snack lunch in the crypt at St Martin’s in the Field opposite (recommended) and then a bus going nowhere up to King’s Cross. There is so much construction work taking place that the amount of traffic, which seems not to have been reduced one fraction by the congestion charge, crawls along.

    The concert was held in King’s Place located in York Way adjacent to the Grand Union Canal at Battlebridge Basin. It is an amazing concept of a developer and was built on a derelict site. It opened in 2008. The design and build quality is high and innovative.

    There are two concert halls and also art galleries in the basement and eight floors of office space above ground level where there is a café and restaurant. The Guardian occupy four floors, Network Rail, Veoilia and Wolverine (a US shoe and clothing company) the remainder. The public can use the large ground floor area as a walkway through to the canal towpath and the restaurant. There was a continual flow of people. The atrium is lofty with polished limestone floors, leather sofas, air conditioned – you get the picture – and it is maintained well. You can sit watching the Guardianistas at work in the floors above!
    http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/interactive/2008/dec/22/kings-place-guardian-peter-millican

    The area is undergoing a massive redevelopment. I counted eight tower cranes at work. Too much office space I thought. London is already overcrowded and thousands more people will be drawn in to work in them. Across the road from King’s Place is UAL Central St Martins in a converted Victorian granary and, in the revamped plaza at the front, there is one of those features where hundreds of kids were having a marvellous time in the dancing spouts of water. No 3 in this list
    http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2012/jul/24/50-free-things-north-London

    Not sure where all the money has been coming from but hey!

    Anyway the concert was amazing. Five young Palestinians aged between 14 and 18 (piano, flute, cello, violin and viola) performed solos to a very high standard. They also played other pieces accompanied by other soloists and the Choir of London. Quite beautiful and also very moving considering that they have achieved so much and have overcome the daily difficulties of their lives.

    ‘Since 2003 it has toured four times to the Middle East, focused on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, engaging with over 1000 local and visiting musicians. It has performed over 80 concerts in the UK and internationally, raising awareness for its charitable vision. It has established a Bursary Scheme for the best young Palestinian musicians to experience musical life in the UK. And it has generated, stimulated and enabled cultural transformation in the areas where it has worked, contributing to a revolution in musical life in Palestine.’
    http://www.choiroflondon.org/Choir_of_London/Choir_of_London_-_Home.html

    The bonus – meeting them and others afterwards with a glass of wine or orange juice provided. The concert was free. I will be sending a donation to this worthwhile group.

  • glenn_uk

    Macky wrote:

    Great minds discuss ideas,
    Average minds discuss events,
    Small minds discuss people.
    (Dedicated to all the Mary Bashers !)

    I see…. what does that say about you mate, given your comment was entirely about people?

  • Macky

    “I see…. what does that say about you mate, given your comment was entirely about people?”

    A cheap empty comment that actually says rather a lot about you Glenn_uk, but do feel free you give yourself an ego boosting brownie point if you think you’ve exposed a great big nasty hypocrisy on my part.

  • doug scorgie

    Habbabkuk (La vita è bella!)
    24 Jul, 2013 – 8:34 pm

    “Because, unlike some here, I don’t try and ‘win’ a discussion by lying.”

    I don’t think you’ve ever “won” a discussion here have you?

    Also you have yet to tell us who has been lying to try and “win” a discussion and what the lies are.

  • Habbabkuk (La vita è bella!)

    @ Macky (15h37)

    “A cheap empty comment that actually says rather a lot about you Glenn_uk, but do feel free you give yourself an ego boosting brownie point if you think you’ve exposed a great big nasty hypocrisy on my part.”
    ____________________-

    No, Macky, it says a lot about you (and well done to Glenn for pointing it out).

    It shows, for example, how stupid you are : you post a comment talking entirely about people and end it by saying that small minds talk about people.

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