Jerry_Atrick

I have just had my peanut butter addiction cured:

Au Contraire Monseiur. . .I won't fall over at all Sir ! I share a table on a regular basis in both pubs and eateries with some 'Remainers' . . .I'm quite happy to state my position, and not walk on eggs. If folks disagree with me, I don't kick them in the nuts NOR eject my teddies at near VNE from the perambulator either. . . . FCS,. . .if we ALL agreed on EVERYTHING. . . . there would be no further need for discussion forums like this one. . . . and others. . . . this will only happen when the Religion / Science / Body Politik is forever settled to everyone's accord ?

( Oh, . . .and the exit meme for the Jocklanders, is actually 'Scotzit' BTW - Well,. . .it IS on some 'Other' forums I visit. . . ! )

 

I gather that at a recent meeting in Europe, between Nicola Sturgeon ( AKA 'Wee Nippy' ) and Theresa May. . .I think it might have been in Germany,. . May told Sturgeon something like Fekkenoffenhausen - you're not getting a Scotzit referendum AGAIN. . .until the Art50 negotiations are done. . . )

Just catching up on the thread as I have been away a lot and when at home busy as a beaver; typing on a phone keyboard is not great; reasom for short replies to other threads. Anyway, to clarify my assertion that Phil Perry may have to pick him up off the floor, I meant in surprise rather than disagreement - there aren't too many people from these fair isles nor the rest of Europe that want a truly federal state. Indeed, if we all agreed on things, life would no doubt be easier, but a hell of a lot more boring...

Jerry atrick you inviting Turnbull over there sheeet he's on the bus along with bishop Barnaby lambie and a gaggle of greens Andrews you keep em neil

Oi Storchy! Steady on, ol' boy. Although, in the spirit of free trade, we'll pack our sponging parastical pollies off to Aus - Hmmm.. I think I have go the hang of international trade negotiations...

Do you write for the Daily Mail Jerry? They got into a bit of strife for putting a pic of Sturgeon and May on the front page and discussing their legs in great detail.

...based on what happens to their skin after too many deep fried Mars bars... (as the great man says, I'll get me 'at)

Alas, even writing for the Daily Wail would be a better job than I have now. I recall the controversy, but didn't actually see the photo or really pay too much attention to it. Anyway, I am guessing the the caption was something like, "Nice leg, shame about her face!"

(I permanently wear me hat - saves time finding it on the way out...)

Well, Art 50 has been triggered, and we start the up-to-2 year negotiations and a journey into the unknown. If Mr. Turnbull was smart, he would skive off the Aussie taxpayer and be here quick smart - there's benefits to be had in starting to strike a free trade agreement in principle that can be activated the second UK formally exits. I was a little surprised at the movement in the £ today as all markets knew that Art 50 was being triggered, but even @ $1.61-ish to the £, there are some great opportunities for Aussie companies to export competitively if they didn't have the 20% customs duty after which VAT is added. To be perfectly honest, there are a couple of a/c manufacturers that could do well from it (in the SSDR category for example).

Although I would naturally lean to an integrated Europe and am even not afraid of a federal European state (Mr Perry - you can pick yourself up off the floor, now), I did vote out, despite the industry I work in probably suffering the most (have I mentioned I want to be given the big A?). The reality is the EU had, at least in perception, become a self-serving Eurocratic monolith and fund-sponge and to be honest, as a new-UK'er (aka immigrant), despite a lot of concessions given to the UK, it did seem to take the mick out of the UK, on balance. The inability of the EU to curb France's disregard of the rules when it suited them; the exchange rate mechanism which sent the UK broke (cap-in-hand to the world bank), and even the total arrogance at David Cameron's attempts at getting concessions to avoid the referendum did expose it for what it had become. The leader of the Greens at the time (an Aussie lass, I believe) also said she was, in principle, in favour of the EU, but the institutions are too broken to fix and a shock like this may well galvanise it into reform.

There are troubled waters ahead, but it is in both parties interests to make the best of it. However, I fear it will become a dogs breakfast thanks to having to have 27 nations of quite varied cultures and aspirations approve any deal. And let's not forget France - a country I love - but one that is as stubborn as my old man was and will hold a position for the sake of it. EDF's (or Areva's) Euro Pressure Reactor should be given up for small module reactors - but they won't - too bloomin proud. #

Now we have Nicola Sturgeon wanting to fire her own version of Art 50 and get Scotland to leave.. So we go from Brexit to Sexit!

This made me larf, but then, I have had a couple of glasses of red (Penfolds, this time), and am a slight introvert, except when hiding behind a pseudonym on aviashun forums

Yes

FACT CHECK: Were 20 Koalas Rescued From an Animal Brothel in Australia?

this is nigel farage leading the revolution

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What that table says is that the "populist" movement is gathering momentum; what it doesn't say is UKIP (and I am in no way, shape or form, a follower or subscriber to their policies) obtained 12.6% of the vote in the 2015 election, so despite them not securing a seat, they seem to have broad support - interestingly they added 9.6% of the national vote since the last election: Results of the 2015 General Election - Election 2015 - BBC News. Also what it doesn't mention is the conservatives are in hot water, particularly in South Thanet, where they are accused of overspending their expenses limits for local electorates - and I believe the sitting MP or a treasurer is being referred to police for criminal investigations, as well as the Tories being fined 70K. If there was a breach of the electoral spend limits in South Thanet, the election for that seat will have to be run again. Only the Hanson-like way UKIP is being run since Farage has disembarked will save the Tories from a white-wash.

It didn't take a 16 minute video to work out the Wilders has increased is support as a percentage of the population - UKIP have been working harder and longer than Wilders - and the European pollies and press celebrating it as a country turning its back on populism because the vote was less than the pollsters was predicting is at best ignorant; at worst dangerous. Le Penn is the next test - she is expected to easily take the first round of voting - but lose the second. The pollsters are predicting a loss at the second round, however, I wouldn't be so sure, but even if she does lose the second round, the margin will be a barometer of whether or not populism is still on the rise or starting to fall..

Apart from the Eastern European countries, it will be the original club... so I am sure they will have a good time...

To get back on track, House of Lords passed the bill; it goes to the Queen for assent and the Art 50 trigger is likely to be pulled towards the end of March..

It could be next week, but apparently the Eurocrats and pollies will be in Rome celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome... A little bit of poignant irony... and it shows that the UK is a considerate country after all..

I would guess (stress to say without doing any research - so is only my theory on the most tenuous anecdotal evidence) that most of the population growth is in the developing countries where there are great strides being made in making available medical care to reduce the infant/child mortality rate, however, greater strides have to be made. The result - the population are having many kids still because the infant/child mortality rate is still too high for individual families to bare, but it is not as great (across the board - in specific areas it probably hasn't changed) - and there is the cultural expectation of a high birth rate anyway. The result - increasing population.

In western societies, the natural population growth rate is probably a lot slower as the infant/child mortality rate is a lot lower and the primal instinct to produce enough to carry on the bloodlines has eroded over the years in favour to balance that with a comfy material life. The problem is, western societies as a whole are ageing and that means there will be a lot of older people for whom someone is going to have to pay for medical and palliative care. That's where we need the young blood to come through. This is probably why immigration is going to be important.. Should the human race wake up and not doom itself to extinction, in (quite) a few generations, as the rest of the world catches up technically, global infant mortality is reduced resulting in a global declining population, the mood will change from keep them out to throwing real incentives to welcome them in...

Well, that's one theory of mine, anyway.... if it ever does happen before we implode, it will be well long since I have fertilised the daisies...

I don't like hearing how various politicians and experts know more about running the country than the likes of me. I reckon the evidence shows that they are mainly looking after themselves. And they have shown themselves to be totally lacking in morality. I think much of our gas has been sold to China for 5 cents a kg on a 50 year contract.The country is on the fast route to disaster. Nobody in power has any answers to overpopulation, resource depletion and climate change, yet ALL of these things need to be solved if the grandkids are going to have a decent life.

 

Pauline, for all her silly comments about vaccination, at least would slow the insane level of immigration. How gullible of you guys to swallow the anti-Hanson stuff so easily.

I sort of agree with the above, but I would argue that overpopulation is the cause of resource depletion and climate change - if there weren't so many people in the world, at least the draw in resources which lead to climate change would be lower. However, over-population is a global issue of too many people being born - immigration is a (multi) cultural issue..

For the last sentence, I would reword it to be something like

Pauline, for all her silly comments about vaccination, at least would slow the insane level of immigration which hides some cultural issues. How gullible of you guys to swallow the Hanson stuff so easily.

How dare you even suggest such a thing, I merely show the glass of glen fiddich the water jug. People who put ice or anything else in good whiskey should be deported :( lol

Ermm.. Why do you think I live in the UK?

I got into Scotch for a very short while, but it at least had to have ice...

While FGM is a horrific cultural practice that should be wiped out, I don't think the incidence would be very high in Australia. And it is a cultural thing rather than religious, with various sub-groups from various places in Africa and the Middle East doing it.Meanwhile in Ireland... they just found 800 bodies of kids from baby to 3 years old in the sewer of a catholic institution for single mothers. Some figures suggest that the death rate of babies of single mothers was up to 5 times higher than that of a married couple, because of the actions of the catholic church.

 

Maybe we need a royal commission into whether christianity is just a religion...

I was going to Like this post, but didn't want to come across as anti-Christian or specifically anti-Catholic. However, the point is well made; I can't think of one religion where there hasn't been some controversy. Religion has, as far as I can tell, been the alternate power base used to control the masses (pun not intended). Unf, in all walks of life, there are opportunistic predators who pursue their, in some cases extremely demented and perverse, ends and use the tools of control and the positions of trust to satisfy them. The societal perception of the trustworthiness of these roles and societal acceptance of the control they exert results in extreme fear of the victims speaking up until the perception and importance of these institutions within society soften.

This is the same for any institution in society where there is trust and control. Religion (cults), politics, police, schools, hospitals, and even celebrities it transpires...

erm, ahem, yes, well we have all been there ;)

I agree that citizenship shouldn't be unconditional. Immigrants should be required to undertake lessons to obtain a basic grasp of the local language; they should be given a basic education of the laws and culture of the land (like Fosters is only for the tourists) and how they trump the laws from where they come from and crazy religious laws. Like here, any serious offence should have the option to revoke citizenship gained through naturalisation - and that includes incitement to commit serious crimes (such as Abu Hamza and inciting terrorism, from memory). On the flip side, immigrants should be encouraged to live and share their culture - this is what makes embracing countries a rich tapestry.. Is it Bridge St in Richmond where there are fantastic Vietnamese restaurants; Lygon street of many years ago had wonderful Italian restaurants; Lonsdale St had great Greek restaurants; Sydney Road and Turkish restaurants, I still recall having the best Peking Duck I have ever had in Chinatown and of course there are some fantastic Lebanese and Persian restaurants about.

Also, the different lifestyles, religions (if one wants to sample them) are all there to see and provide everything from the solemn to the musical experience. I have been to Greek, Italian, Muslim, Indian, Russian and Jewish weddings and each are a fantastic array of sights, smells, laughter and fun (though can cost a bit in crockery). Although, I do blame them for my widening girth... There is the argument that some religions - particularly Islam - incite violence - there may be some element of truth to extreme outliers, in the same way there are still organisations using the thin veil of christianity to perpetrate violence, most notably KKK, but apparently a few others: Christian terrorism - Wikipedia.

Back to the topic - @octave's post way back on P33 (apols - just catching up), is a good one in that it points out there are benefits and costs to any sort of international relationship. The problem perceived by the popular press was that the EU is undemocratic and overstepped its mark in wanting to become a USoE, as well as the perennial migration debate. I could give some reasons why it is more democratic than the UK - at least in theory.

I have only lived in the UK while It has been in the EU and I have noticed some very good things come from it (why a population would want to vote its basic human rights away, I am not entirely certain), but the problem is the average person doesn't see everything, but can be wholly affected. The first thing is the mass of migration form the eastern European countries of trades people who massively impacted the local building industry. Suddenly, those wanting to do building work had a choice of quality tradespeople wanting to do a good job, but at cut rate prices - and sending a lot of the money back to their homeland. While this benefitted those householders and building companies, it put a massive strain on existing tradespeople and their families. The popular press picks up on this and spreads the evil that is the EU. There are probably other examples as well, but without addressing legitimate concerns of many ordinary people adversely affected, a lot of angst built up.

There are other examples - while Euratom is undoubtedly a good thing, EASA, for GA, was a complete shambles; the outdated Common Agricultural Policy penalised farmers for investing in better techniques. However, for the UK, there has been some good for GA - VFR night flying is now allowed and the CAA restriction on airports having PAL has been lifted (although there have been few, if any, takers because of planning restrictions on airfields - so a hollow victory). And the environmental and animal welfare provisions of the EU are generally seen by many form within the industry as a positive thing that probably would not have occurred in a UK self-governing society - for some time, anyway.

The point is, there is good and bad, but the people decided that it had had its day and there is time for a change. Sometimes money and the economy is less important than things like sovereignty, migration, etc. The remainers here like to argue that people didn't know what they were voting for with Brexit - I like to disagree; they may have been motivated by different things - but they were clearly warned by the remainers of the potential costs - it was the onl thing they could do with some semblance of competence. Enlisting the likes of Junkers and Obama to threaten destitude on the UK should they leave just galvanised them.

To @Phil Perry's point about the actor getting up and making a political speech at the end of the play - I personally agree he shouldn't have. I absolutely agree with free speech and the right to it... but I can't accept that someone has that right to impose their rhetoric or ideas in a private forum where the punters have paid for entertainment of a different kind. He can leave the theatre and petition people as they leave - absolutely his right. But in theatre, he was attempting to exploit a ready made audience who had no intention , for the period of time in the theatre, engage in any political debate.I would personally have been mightily peeved, esp having paid those prices, to have someone moan on regardless of whether I agreed or disagreed with his opinion. As an aside, for some reason, especially in the older theatres in London, I like to hang around, or be one of the last to leave, to soak up the atmosphere of the place and the night - I have paid my £60+ to do so. I don't want it ruined by someone looking to pedal their beliefs, whatever they are.

On the press, it is all #fakenews, more or less. The Breitbart (or whatever it is called) ran a show about the migration impact in Sweden , implying a massive (almost 3-fold) increase in the reported rapes in the country the year Sweden accepted some 650k refugees. What they didn't say was that that number had actually shot up a couple of years earlier due to changes in the law that reclassified various forms of sexual assault into the formal classification of rape, and that in the year that Sweden took the refugees, the number of reported cases had actually dropped compared to the previous year. So adding 650K of refugees significantly brought down the per-capita occurrence of reported rapes.

On the other hand, I had an ex-Marine officer working for me for a bit. He led troops in Afghanistan (more than one tour) and remarked virtually everything the BBC correspondents reported was not accurate at all, and they would take incidents out of context to dramatise or tone down the true events.

On the far-right politics that is growing in popularity - most of their attraction is in the protest vote - current people aren't listening and they are offering superficial solutions to complex problems - but are they the only ones doing so? How does the introduction of the citizenship test solve any of the problems of integration, numbers and other perceived issues people have with immigration?

Of course, the problem with the protest vote is you may not think that what you vote for will happen, but some stooped labour polly here was calling for a re-run of the referendum as she lodged a protest vote for Brexit thinking it would have failed and all she wanted to do was send the EU a message of the need for reform. Well, she got what she voted for and hopefully her electorate will, upon realising how stooped she is (whether or not they agree with her actual cast vote), vote her out.

Remember - voting for public office is not about voting for the most competent - it's about voting for the least incompetent.

After a few Jacobs Creek reserve (?) Shiraz's (no less, or should that be, no more).... this made me laugh.. Apologies - under the influence...

Reminds me of a steak restaurant in Denton, Texas, where there was a 76 oz steak on the menu. If only one person completed it, the whole table ate for free and they got their own commemorative plaque with their name affixed to the wall of fame (which I dubbed the memorial wall)... I say one of those steaks going to another table... it was massive and there is no way anyone could survive for long after devouring it in a single meal session.