mockney piers

The woodman has shut? When did that happen?

Moo's wisdom is ∞

Seriously, have you ever considered a positive outlet for all that neurotic energy. The BBC always appreciate a dedicated energetic staffer.

I don't think anything is created to enrich the nation as such. Well maybe invading places. Banks were created to facilitate finance and were created by private individuals to enrich themselves. It's all got a bit more complicated since but the core remains the same. I don't think the profit motive is intrinsically immoral, though like shrink, unchecked it can give rise to immoral behaviour. But then so can enriching the nation. The road to hell after all...

;) Actually I just found my first ever crazy ear hair, so you're not far wrong!

Ah yes, one of my favourites. A staple in Viet-Anh Cafe in Camden. Mmmmm.

Tough one Nette, tough one. I'm inclined to think I'd have gone with the floppy hats.

Why try to look for commonality in something so complex, can't it be that any theory on something as hugely chaotic unpredictable and emotional as human interaction is pointless and that each case has it's own set of reasons, some common most not, that leads, in each case, to similar consequences. I used to work in risk systems in investment banking. The idea that empirical analysis could be applied to unpredictable systems and quantify the levels of risk faced. It turned out to be complete bollocks, but even worse gave the bankers the very confidence to take greater risks because a bunch of numbers said they were within limits, I'm just not sure what purpose this weather theory serves, especially given that it's total bollocks. How do high performing Asian economies fit in, what about Brazilian growth, Indian? What about California for that matter?

I think it would be remiss of any academic not to include religion as a factor, and the literacy argument is at least a little persuasive. My problem is that any theory when dealing with anything as complex as society, culture, economics, socio-economics, politics, climate, industry, international trade, war, strife and an interaction of all of the above, tends by its very nature to be reductionist, and then by definition simplistic. Fukuyama is far from stupid, which shows just how tempting historical determinism (history led to this moment) is. It's the same thing that drives people to constantly fall for 'the end of the world is nigh'. People like to think that their own time is somehow more significant than time gone before it. Agreed that 'i told you so', even a leeeeetle bit of schadenfreude is understandable among those so inclined. It's the obvious glee (especially given the suffering and woes caused) that some have seen fit to do it with that many of the posters on here find so distasteful.

In fact GG is so far (comparatively) surprisingly sane, it's only a matter of time before colours are posted to the mast though (pun intended). For instance UT managed to be plausibly not Mike there for a bit, though the suspicions were strong.

"The argument goes against rational economical theories which want[s to] fit its principles in one neat conceptual bag" I'd say a) scratch economical from above, and b)so the rational theory is trying to fit everything into a neat bag, thereby implicitly "because it's hot" isn't?

And where does Ireland fit into all this with its crappy weather? Oh hang on, is it catholicism, yeah that's it, it's catholicism.....and err....greek orthodoxy..... Oh hang on, Austria's catholic too, but it's cold, well actually it's really pretty hot in the summer apart from the really tall bits. Hmm maybe there's a germanic exception to the rule. Croatia, hot check, catholic check, but that's a pretty rich place, especially considering it was communist for so long... Rule of thumb, if the exceptions and provisos to your rule start mounting up, then your hypothesis is probably a bit pants.

Weber was rather begging the question though, as is paphio. "Given that Northern protestant states are more successful, it is the northerness and protestantness of states that makes them successful" That's the problem with using historical determinism. Had he tried that a hundred odd years before hand he'd have wondered why it is that northern protestant states are unable to find any political unity, and would probably have determined that it's their very northerness and protestantness. In other words, yes, tosh.

I can do Portugal too if you like. Italy at a pinch, though as its economy is never that far from that of the UK despite its rubbish politics, it probably doesn't need me to do so. Nice of you to cherry pick Southern Italy though. Isn't that a bit like saying rain makes people want to mine underground or stay at home unemployed, just look at wales?

There was I thinking that Spain may have remained a primarily poor agrarian economy, devastated by the napoleonic wars and torn apart by a century of political instability and strife which witnessed almost total loss of its empire, was plunged into bitter civil war and suffered many years of military mismanagement, before finally entering the European Union and understandable splashing the cash offered as the country escaped poverty for the first time but only had limited time to modernise and diversify its economy before global financial crisis hit. Stupid me, it's because it's hot there, well for at least 4 to 5 months of the year.

Just don't expect Pete to take responsibility if one of his sauces explodes scattering shards of glass around the room or anything. A pity, because he does a rather fine dried chipotle, luckily I still have backlog to get through.

There was I thinking that Greece may have remained a primarily poor agrarian economy, neglected under torpid Ottoman rule, was plunged into bitter civil war within decades of independence and suffered many years of military mismanagement, before finally entering the European Union and understandable splashing the cash offered as the country escaped poverty for the first time but only had limited time to modernise and diversify its economy before global financial crisis hit. Stupid me, it's because it's hot there, well for at least 5 or 6 months of the year.

"pragmatists who only change habits if they believe opinion is widespread" That doesn't sound like pragmatists, more like sheep. The Financial Services Authority? I'd have thought they'd have more pressing matters. Weird.

Private Eye are feeling rather smug about it all, seems they've pointed out on a number of occasions over 9 years that he's fabricated tales.

I've nothing against iPhone. I mean I did think it a bit rum that there was no warning that iOS4 would render the iPhone 3 unusable, but my son destroying tit via the medium of drool rendered that whole gripe academic anyway. In terms of apps I guess there are a few exclusively iTunes apps, but none that I miss (well, I have them on my ipad) and other than that there's no difference between an iOS app and an android one except that the latter is easier to write and you can even do so on a PC, meaning the contributor base is absolutely massive by comparison, oh and developers aren't hamstrung by restrictive T&Cs looking after Apple's interests. Oh and Swype, if iPhone 5 doesn't ship with swype then more the fool apple. I always hated the iOS autocorrect, but now on my ipad I sooo resent having to type a letter at a time, it's like soooo 20th century. Just swype man!!!

Plus every newspaper splashed with 'Ford ditch NOTW' is pretty good as free publicity goes!!!

I bet you Ford end up getting a much better deal once the dust has settled, call me an old cynic, it's just I'm reminded of a certain overpaid scrotty lass from Croydon who seemed to do rather well from the whole 'cocaine photos' thing at the end if it all.

It's just dropped to page four as the last update was june 24th. http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/list.php?6,page=4 Feel free to legitimately update it, but remember bumping is against the rules. More speed less haste ;-P

Actually thinking about it, almost certainly US spelling autocorrect/swype decision (depending on whether it was phone or ipad). Plus such pedantry is a little unbecoming. And he's far too old to be a journalist-in-training, weak excuse, especially considering the scale of his naughtiness; one wonders how many people he bothered interviewing in the first place. Still as SJ points out, at least he didn't hack their phones.

Solutioneer. Aaaagh. Actually a 'solution' rarely is one.