• idiotsavon replied to the topic The Kebab & Calculator

    @janetteb I think I can identify with your 5 star hotel experience. I once worked for a year on the phones at a company that touts itself as a “global concierge service” for “high-net-worth individuals.” (Translation: If you’re massively rich and you want it and it’s not entirely illegal, our minions will find a way.)

    How the other half live…[Read more]

  • idiotsavon replied to the topic The Kebab & Calculator

    Thanks @thane 16, much appreciated. Full disclosure: I have -ahem- “borrowed” somewhat from Bickerton. Here it is if you’re interested.  https://www.bbvaopenmind.com/en/articles/from-nation-states-to-member-states-european-integration-as-state-transformation/

     

    In your shoes I would definitely give some thought to the angle that “rational…[Read more]

  • idiotsavon replied to the topic The Kebab & Calculator

    This issue has caused serious tensions and rifts in my own family, and maybe for that reason, I feel the need to put my soapbox away and at least try to understand and respect the Leave argument, and to find points of agreement. That’s hard within my family at the moment, because – well, families. So I’m very appreciative of the explanations given…[Read more]

  • idiotsavon replied to the topic The Kebab & Calculator

    @thane16 Thinking about it, and re-reading your post, I’m not sure what you’re being asked to do. Is it a case of exploring the rational arguments both for and against God’s existence? Or is it more a discussion of whether rational argument is even appropriate when you’re dealing with an omnipotent God who, almost by definition, transcends…[Read more]

  • idiotsavon replied to the topic The Kebab & Calculator

    @thane16 I’m with @kevinwho about definitions. In particular, how are we defining God? Might be worth looking up Spinoza and pantheism. I’m massively oversimplifying but basically if we define God as the universe and everything in it, then you can establish God’s existence by simply pointing at a thing and saying “There you go.”

  • idiotsavon replied to the topic The Kebab & Calculator

    Oh, I’m so slow at this. I formulated some thoughts in my mind that applied more than two hours ago, and now I sit down to write and there’s loads more to read. And it’s bedtime!

    I do really want to respond to @thane16 just to say I really appreciated your comment, and I’m really glad to know this discussion has sparked an interest for you. I’m…[Read more]

  • idiotsavon replied to the topic The Kebab & Calculator

    @craig @jimthefish Blimey. That’s absolutely crazy.

    I don’t even know where I got my wrong opinions from. Sorry.

     

  • idiotsavon replied to the topic The Kebab & Calculator

    @craig Really?? I’ve been hearing that one so long I never thought to check. Surely a combination of Scottish Labour and SNP put a nice spanner in the works though?

  • idiotsavon replied to the topic The Kebab & Calculator

    Just to point out I wrote that at 8-ish then got distracted. I missed what followed.

  • idiotsavon replied to the topic The Kebab & Calculator

    Thanks @lisa for your comments. No big response from me just now. I’m mulljng it all over though.

    @craig Basically everything you said I agree with. (Except Scottish Independence. If that happens I’ll never see anything but a Tory majority again in my lifetime. Please think it through!) But it’s really refreshing and kind of nice to get an…[Read more]

  • idiotsavon replied to the topic The Kebab & Calculator

    @lisa I think we’ve misunderstood each other. I invented Fictional California precisely in order to point out that it is, to borrow your term, a false equivalency. I did this because I thought you were the one equating California with the UK. So my apologies for that.

    Anyway, no matter. We can both agree that it’s truly great what you’re doing in…[Read more]

  • idiotsavon replied to the topic The Kebab & Calculator

    @janetteb The local council in my home town was (and I suspect still is) extremely corrupt, too. A big part of the problem was/is that there is a generations-old tradition of voting for the colour of the rosette, not the calibre of the candidate.

    And gold filings?? My jaw dropped when I read that!

  • idiotsavon replied to the topic The Kebab & Calculator

    @lisa I really admire the fact that you’re actively campaigning for what you believe in, and Trump genuinely scares me, so hats off to you.

    I agree with @janetteb that there are corrupt individuals at all levels of government, as well as some truly noble people who reach the upper echelons. However, I also agree with you in principle that the…[Read more]

  • idiotsavon replied to the topic The Kebab & Calculator

    @lisa

    OK. Back for Part Two!

    You make the point that UK influence will be diminished due to Brexit. I agree, and I believe that’s a very good reason not to leave.

    I agree with you that the world is “under the influence of capitol markets, trade and corporations.” I’m not sure I agree that this influence “was the only thing that kept the world…[Read more]

  • idiotsavon replied to the topic The Kebab & Calculator

    @lisa Apologies, I’m a linear, point-by-point kind of person. The point I was addressing was the one about the Commission. I don’t know whether you have any response to anything I said on that particular point?

    – How much influence did the UK have with its vote in the EU?
    I’m not sure how I can answer that question. There has never been one…[Read more]

  • idiotsavon replied to the topic The Kebab & Calculator

    @toinfinityandbepond

    Good point 🙂

  • idiotsavon replied to the topic The Kebab & Calculator

    @lisa @pedant @miapatrick and everyone else

    I hope you don’t mind me chucking in my tuppence. I don’t pretend to be massively well-informed compared with others on this forum, and am happy to be schooled (preferably kindly.)

    Regarding the question of the Commission vs Parliament and democratic accountability.

    This article is from a few years…[Read more]

  • Busy time of the night but just logged in very quickly to say @cathannabel you most certainly are not alone.

  • idiotsavon replied to the topic Rosa

    @misterf55

    I know right. How could any parent possibly predict that this episode would have racism in it? And then to face questions from one’s own child about racial segregation and the civil rights movement?! As a parent myself, I can tell you that is absolutely not my job. I’ve written a very strongly-worded email to the BBC, don’t you worry.…[Read more]

  • idiotsavon replied to the topic Rosa

    Wow.

    Well, that was emotional.
    Watched it. Cried. Watched it again. Cried again.

    It was a bit of a mixed bag for me until about half-way in. Besides agreeing with points already made about the in-your-face preachy bits and exposition, I also thought the intel-gathering was maybe a bit overegged. (“Ryan, you fetch some bus timetables. Yas, you…[Read more]

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