I've recently moved to a new flat - So will be without full time internet access for a while. I also have some big deadlines coming up, so I won't be able to post that often (if at all) for the forseeable future.
Catch you all later.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Through Early Morning Fog I See, A Vision of the Things to be,.....
First point - Who knows where the title originates from?
Now to the task of 'blogging' -
I'll be brief, i'm going to take a wild, drunken-style swing at the people who prophesise the doom of our society along the lines of 'it's all going to hell, the kids are out of control, blah blah blah'.
I'll start in a high brow manner, so the descent into inanity and childishness afterwards will be all the more dramatic and painful.
So let me quote (in modern, not old, English) from 'The Sermon of the Wolf to the English', it was written over a thousand years ago,
'But this nation has become, as it may appear, very corrupted by manifold sins and by many crimes, by murder and evil deeds, by avarice and greed, by stealing and robbery, by the barter of men and pagan abuses, by betrayals and trickeries, by attacks on kinsmen and manslaughters, by violation of holy orders and breaches of divine law, by incest and various fornications'
Sound familiar? Of course it does, its pretty much the editorial of every sunday newspaper in the Western World.
Let us pluck some perspective from the great historical tomes and our general critical thinking - For the vast majority of humanity, this is the best time to be alive, things have never been better.
When someone is in their nice home office, in a quiet low crime street in a pleasant London suburb, sipping their home made expresso, writing an article complaining about how awful modern life is on their laptop, ready to email it to the editor so they can turn the HD widescreen tv on to watch part of the DVD boxset of 'Bleak House' - I cry 'Thou art a hypocrit, vile piece of journo-trash, go back from whence thou camest - wanker'
As I posted on a certain internet forum a few days ago - 'I get the impression that the past must have been such a wonderful place to live - such a pity i'm stuck in the present and only have the future to look forward to'
Let's get a few things straight, the past wasn't some glorious hayday of love, tolerance and no crime - it was pretty much just as life is now, similar fears and challenges, except we now have the internet and many, many wonderous advances in medicine. Nothing is ever perfect, no generation ever gets it right and most people are 'doomed' to repeat the same mistakes and fight the same fights that their parents generations did (but have now forgotted, apparently) - Doesn't mean that we are doomed, it just means the previous generation, like all others, 'failed' to achieve the unachievable society - that glorious existance that they remember, though it never was.
I'm not saying that there aren't major issues, but these issues are managable and beatable if we are honest about their nature and existance, and if we are honest about what really needs to be done about them, and not just resort to the usual window dressing. Only then can we make the drastic improvements we want, but until that time we'll just continue to progress the way we have been since before the bronze age - 'climbing out of hell, one inch at a time'. The problem with the 'it's all gone wrong compared to how it used to be' mentality is that it's got an inaccurate picture of the past, so it's views of the present and vision for the future will always be slightly off - thus most of the people with this mentality can never think up any realistic solutions to the problems that plague our societies.
Well, i'm bored now - So are you, if you're honest. Also, notice how vague I was when talking about 'issues', it lets you fill in the blanks with what you deem to be important, but you'll always remember that it was my blog that brought it up, hee hee, cunning! (Actually no, not really)
For a final flourish and on a completely unrelated note - Dimitar Berbatov you ungrateful, sulking dickpole, i'm glad you fucked off to Man Utd, we didn't want you anyway, moody git.
Now to the task of 'blogging' -
I'll be brief, i'm going to take a wild, drunken-style swing at the people who prophesise the doom of our society along the lines of 'it's all going to hell, the kids are out of control, blah blah blah'.
I'll start in a high brow manner, so the descent into inanity and childishness afterwards will be all the more dramatic and painful.
So let me quote (in modern, not old, English) from 'The Sermon of the Wolf to the English', it was written over a thousand years ago,
'But this nation has become, as it may appear, very corrupted by manifold sins and by many crimes, by murder and evil deeds, by avarice and greed, by stealing and robbery, by the barter of men and pagan abuses, by betrayals and trickeries, by attacks on kinsmen and manslaughters, by violation of holy orders and breaches of divine law, by incest and various fornications'
Sound familiar? Of course it does, its pretty much the editorial of every sunday newspaper in the Western World.
Let us pluck some perspective from the great historical tomes and our general critical thinking - For the vast majority of humanity, this is the best time to be alive, things have never been better.
When someone is in their nice home office, in a quiet low crime street in a pleasant London suburb, sipping their home made expresso, writing an article complaining about how awful modern life is on their laptop, ready to email it to the editor so they can turn the HD widescreen tv on to watch part of the DVD boxset of 'Bleak House' - I cry 'Thou art a hypocrit, vile piece of journo-trash, go back from whence thou camest - wanker'
As I posted on a certain internet forum a few days ago - 'I get the impression that the past must have been such a wonderful place to live - such a pity i'm stuck in the present and only have the future to look forward to'
Let's get a few things straight, the past wasn't some glorious hayday of love, tolerance and no crime - it was pretty much just as life is now, similar fears and challenges, except we now have the internet and many, many wonderous advances in medicine. Nothing is ever perfect, no generation ever gets it right and most people are 'doomed' to repeat the same mistakes and fight the same fights that their parents generations did (but have now forgotted, apparently) - Doesn't mean that we are doomed, it just means the previous generation, like all others, 'failed' to achieve the unachievable society - that glorious existance that they remember, though it never was.
I'm not saying that there aren't major issues, but these issues are managable and beatable if we are honest about their nature and existance, and if we are honest about what really needs to be done about them, and not just resort to the usual window dressing. Only then can we make the drastic improvements we want, but until that time we'll just continue to progress the way we have been since before the bronze age - 'climbing out of hell, one inch at a time'. The problem with the 'it's all gone wrong compared to how it used to be' mentality is that it's got an inaccurate picture of the past, so it's views of the present and vision for the future will always be slightly off - thus most of the people with this mentality can never think up any realistic solutions to the problems that plague our societies.
Well, i'm bored now - So are you, if you're honest. Also, notice how vague I was when talking about 'issues', it lets you fill in the blanks with what you deem to be important, but you'll always remember that it was my blog that brought it up, hee hee, cunning! (Actually no, not really)
For a final flourish and on a completely unrelated note - Dimitar Berbatov you ungrateful, sulking dickpole, i'm glad you fucked off to Man Utd, we didn't want you anyway, moody git.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Back to the real world
So, now the holiday is over and i'm back to the real world of things to do, people to see and work that has an ever approaching deadline.
But i don't care about any of that shit - i'm just gonna have a quick rant about things.
First, and the MOST annoying thing in the world:
- If you quote a price on a product and/or service, INCLUDE TAX IN THAT PRICE!!!
When you are not used to it, it is very annoying to pick up a product that is quoted as, say $7.50, yet you are charged $8.30 for it.
Just include the tax in the quoted price, it's not hard, it's not difficult and you won't piss off confused little britishers trying to buy things.
Second, why are we, as western societies, so unimpressed by planes and air travel?
- Think: We are only the third generation of humans, ever, that can so convincingly give the middle finger to gravity and soar, thousands of feet in the air. Think of the miracle of air travel, how we can watch films, get given food and alcohol and sit in a fairly comfortable chair as we are propelled through the air by huge turbines.
How small the world is, now we can do that?
Air travel is easily one of the greatest things humans have ever done, we should respect it more and not take it for granted.
Third,
- It would be nice it i could take one, just one, walk through the departure duty-free section (the place with all the shops and food places, before you board the plane, you know the one) of Heathrow airport without being attacked by people peddling cologne, perfume or some other overpriced eye-watering stink in a fancy bottle.
Here's the honest truth: All colognes and perfumes divide neatly into 2 separate smells - Rent boy or hooker. (Of course, there's a third section - it contains the perfume or cologne you sometimes wear :) )
Well, thus ends the quick rant.
But i don't care about any of that shit - i'm just gonna have a quick rant about things.
First, and the MOST annoying thing in the world:
- If you quote a price on a product and/or service, INCLUDE TAX IN THAT PRICE!!!
When you are not used to it, it is very annoying to pick up a product that is quoted as, say $7.50, yet you are charged $8.30 for it.
Just include the tax in the quoted price, it's not hard, it's not difficult and you won't piss off confused little britishers trying to buy things.
Second, why are we, as western societies, so unimpressed by planes and air travel?
- Think: We are only the third generation of humans, ever, that can so convincingly give the middle finger to gravity and soar, thousands of feet in the air. Think of the miracle of air travel, how we can watch films, get given food and alcohol and sit in a fairly comfortable chair as we are propelled through the air by huge turbines.
How small the world is, now we can do that?
Air travel is easily one of the greatest things humans have ever done, we should respect it more and not take it for granted.
Third,
- It would be nice it i could take one, just one, walk through the departure duty-free section (the place with all the shops and food places, before you board the plane, you know the one) of Heathrow airport without being attacked by people peddling cologne, perfume or some other overpriced eye-watering stink in a fancy bottle.
Here's the honest truth: All colognes and perfumes divide neatly into 2 separate smells - Rent boy or hooker. (Of course, there's a third section - it contains the perfume or cologne you sometimes wear :) )
Well, thus ends the quick rant.
Monday, August 18, 2008
I'm off, catch you all in the funny pages....
As of early tomorrow (tues 19th) morning, i shall be on holiday for a few weeks.
Email contact is still an option, but there may be a delay in my reply.
Everyone, play safe - but have fun. :)
Email contact is still an option, but there may be a delay in my reply.
Everyone, play safe - but have fun. :)
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Jesus titty fucking Christ - Now i have your attention....
Some things that i've always known, have just dawned on me: -
By the hammer of Thor, i'm 21!
By the hammer AND beard of Thor, i'll be 22 in October!
By the bow of Apollo, i'm studying at university!
By Odin's Raven, it's already 2008! I remember the 90's......
By the sandals of Jesus, it's already halfway through August!
By Merlin's wand, i'm going to Toronto next week!
By King Arthurs' sword, my older brother's moving to Korea in less than a week!
By the crook of Anubis, the Star Wars films aren't actually that good!
That was fun, i wonder if i'll be struck blind by the obvious again tomorrow.
By the hammer of Thor, i'm 21!
By the hammer AND beard of Thor, i'll be 22 in October!
By the bow of Apollo, i'm studying at university!
By Odin's Raven, it's already 2008! I remember the 90's......
By the sandals of Jesus, it's already halfway through August!
By Merlin's wand, i'm going to Toronto next week!
By King Arthurs' sword, my older brother's moving to Korea in less than a week!
By the crook of Anubis, the Star Wars films aren't actually that good!
That was fun, i wonder if i'll be struck blind by the obvious again tomorrow.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
EU << Democracy
I recently attended a small talk given by the conservative MEP (Member of the European Parliament) for the south east of England, Daniel Hannan.
He did not paint a very rosy picture of the EU's current method of operation, not a rosy picture at all.
I'll start with the Lisbon Treaty (i'm not going to get into whether it's the same as the European constitution - though it bears many striking resemblances):
- BEFORE the national governments had even starting debating the treaty in the respective national parliaments, the EU was already acting as if the treaty was in force, an example of this is the numerous EU embassies that have opened all over the world, enforcing an EU foreign policy, an EU foreign policy that has no legal basis.
- The Irish voted 'no' (the lucky bastards got a vote) - from what i gather, one of the main reasons they voted 'no' was because none of the 'yes' politicians bothered to actually explain what the treaty was going to do, why would that be? So, by the rules of the EU, the Lisbon treaty is finished, it needs all 27 members to accept it or it can not come into force, yet the EU and the national governments are steam rolling it through and ratifying it, none of them has said what will happen to Ireland, who DEMOCRATICALLY rejected this treaty
Notice something very critical here, there has been no criticism of the Lisbon treaty yet, just the way the EU is ignoring due process to force it onto the people of Europe.
The actual treaty is an enigma to someone like me who has not read it, so can only count on testimony from the politicians who claim to ahve read it – that's unreliable information at best.
However, here's a list of 10 things in the treaty,
1.“The European Council shall appoint the High Representative of the Union for foreign affairs” – That is already happening, creating political ambassadors for the EU
2.“Member States shall support the Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy actively and unreservedly, in a spirit of loyalty and mutual solidarity” - I'm sorry, what the fuck? Unreserved support, I think not – Who decides the policy? Where's the provision for debate here?
3.“The Common Security Policy shall include the progressive framing of a common Union defence policy. This will lead to a common defence” - Yes, so a European Army
4.“The European Parliament and Council may establish minimum rules concerning the definition of criminal offences and sanctions” - So, fuck the national parliaments, let the EU control all law making powers.
5.“Europol (Pan European police force, to be created by the Lisbon treaty) shall combat forms of crime which affect a common interest covered by a Union policy” - Ok, so a European Police force
6.“The Union shall develop a common policy on asylum, visas and short-stay residence permits” - Right, so nations have no power to decide on their own border policies
7.“The European Council shall elect its President, by a qualified majority, for a term of two and a half years, renewable once” - The European Council, a council full of appointed commissioners (normally failed politicians), will appoint a President of Europe, NOT the people of Europe.
8.“The Union may take initiatives to ensure co-ordination of Member States' social policies” - And what initiatives would they be? Who sets the Unions Social policy?
9.“The Union shall take measures to ensure co-ordination of the employment policies of Member States” - Indeed, so forcing national elected governments to kowtow to the EU
10.“The Union shall have legal personality” - And so can act like a sovereign state.
If that doesn't point to a United States of Europe, I don't know what does. Note how this will not be a federal enterprise as many people claim, the national governments will mean nothing – This is more modelled on the old USSR - all decisions being taken undemocratically by appointed bureaucrats in 'central government'.
Now, how would any of that benefit the citizens of Europe? Where was the mention of them? Where was the mention of democracy?
The answers are No, absent and worse than invisible.
Now on the EU in general:
- According to the German government, 84% of the laws passed in the last few (i think it was 20, but can't be sure) years have been to comply with the latest EU fad, sounds a lot, no?
- For the last 13 years the auditors have refused to close the books on the EU, the numbers simply do not add up, how the hell is that acceptable to anyone?
- The European parliament doesn't actually make a lot of the rules that we attribute to 'Brussels', it's the 27 appointed (so unelected) commissions that do.
Severe financial irregularities, a monopoly on all decision making and those decisions made by appointed commissioners (so no hint of democracy there), are these the actions of an honest organisation?
The examples above are but a drop in the ocean of the real issues the EU has. By saying that, i'm assuming that the EU wants to be a democratic and representative body, something i'm not sure of. In fact why is there never an open discussion of the EU's long term direction? Why do they not trust the people with this information?
I'm not anti-Europe – I'm anti the current EU. I want co-operation within Europe (free market agreements and the like), but that doesn't mean that everyone in Europe should lose their ability to democratically elect people to change the laws that affect them.
It's about time that the national governments stood up to this and defended European democracy. The people of Europe deserve better.
To conclude;
Democracy: Hard won (MILLIONS have died for it), but lost so easily - in this case, to the sound of laughter and applause in an opulent conference centre in Belgium.
He did not paint a very rosy picture of the EU's current method of operation, not a rosy picture at all.
I'll start with the Lisbon Treaty (i'm not going to get into whether it's the same as the European constitution - though it bears many striking resemblances):
- BEFORE the national governments had even starting debating the treaty in the respective national parliaments, the EU was already acting as if the treaty was in force, an example of this is the numerous EU embassies that have opened all over the world, enforcing an EU foreign policy, an EU foreign policy that has no legal basis.
- The Irish voted 'no' (the lucky bastards got a vote) - from what i gather, one of the main reasons they voted 'no' was because none of the 'yes' politicians bothered to actually explain what the treaty was going to do, why would that be? So, by the rules of the EU, the Lisbon treaty is finished, it needs all 27 members to accept it or it can not come into force, yet the EU and the national governments are steam rolling it through and ratifying it, none of them has said what will happen to Ireland, who DEMOCRATICALLY rejected this treaty
Notice something very critical here, there has been no criticism of the Lisbon treaty yet, just the way the EU is ignoring due process to force it onto the people of Europe.
The actual treaty is an enigma to someone like me who has not read it, so can only count on testimony from the politicians who claim to ahve read it – that's unreliable information at best.
However, here's a list of 10 things in the treaty,
1.“The European Council shall appoint the High Representative of the Union for foreign affairs” – That is already happening, creating political ambassadors for the EU
2.“Member States shall support the Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy actively and unreservedly, in a spirit of loyalty and mutual solidarity” - I'm sorry, what the fuck? Unreserved support, I think not – Who decides the policy? Where's the provision for debate here?
3.“The Common Security Policy shall include the progressive framing of a common Union defence policy. This will lead to a common defence” - Yes, so a European Army
4.“The European Parliament and Council may establish minimum rules concerning the definition of criminal offences and sanctions” - So, fuck the national parliaments, let the EU control all law making powers.
5.“Europol (Pan European police force, to be created by the Lisbon treaty) shall combat forms of crime which affect a common interest covered by a Union policy” - Ok, so a European Police force
6.“The Union shall develop a common policy on asylum, visas and short-stay residence permits” - Right, so nations have no power to decide on their own border policies
7.“The European Council shall elect its President, by a qualified majority, for a term of two and a half years, renewable once” - The European Council, a council full of appointed commissioners (normally failed politicians), will appoint a President of Europe, NOT the people of Europe.
8.“The Union may take initiatives to ensure co-ordination of Member States' social policies” - And what initiatives would they be? Who sets the Unions Social policy?
9.“The Union shall take measures to ensure co-ordination of the employment policies of Member States” - Indeed, so forcing national elected governments to kowtow to the EU
10.“The Union shall have legal personality” - And so can act like a sovereign state.
If that doesn't point to a United States of Europe, I don't know what does. Note how this will not be a federal enterprise as many people claim, the national governments will mean nothing – This is more modelled on the old USSR - all decisions being taken undemocratically by appointed bureaucrats in 'central government'.
Now, how would any of that benefit the citizens of Europe? Where was the mention of them? Where was the mention of democracy?
The answers are No, absent and worse than invisible.
Now on the EU in general:
- According to the German government, 84% of the laws passed in the last few (i think it was 20, but can't be sure) years have been to comply with the latest EU fad, sounds a lot, no?
- For the last 13 years the auditors have refused to close the books on the EU, the numbers simply do not add up, how the hell is that acceptable to anyone?
- The European parliament doesn't actually make a lot of the rules that we attribute to 'Brussels', it's the 27 appointed (so unelected) commissions that do.
Severe financial irregularities, a monopoly on all decision making and those decisions made by appointed commissioners (so no hint of democracy there), are these the actions of an honest organisation?
The examples above are but a drop in the ocean of the real issues the EU has. By saying that, i'm assuming that the EU wants to be a democratic and representative body, something i'm not sure of. In fact why is there never an open discussion of the EU's long term direction? Why do they not trust the people with this information?
I'm not anti-Europe – I'm anti the current EU. I want co-operation within Europe (free market agreements and the like), but that doesn't mean that everyone in Europe should lose their ability to democratically elect people to change the laws that affect them.
It's about time that the national governments stood up to this and defended European democracy. The people of Europe deserve better.
To conclude;
Democracy: Hard won (MILLIONS have died for it), but lost so easily - in this case, to the sound of laughter and applause in an opulent conference centre in Belgium.
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