miga

That's the beauty of borrowing other cuisines' recipes - you're not burdened by what your granny and her granny before her did. The original is nice in context, but if you have no emotional investment in the right beef ragu recipe you're free to do whatever you please.

When I started doing my MSc in a slightly tangential field to what my degree was in, I was flabbergasted at how "result focused" a lot of my colleagues were. A lot of people in their 20's, 30's, 40's who were already working, doing a course to help them in their career or to change career (presumably), paying for it (or being sponsored by their employer), but totally focused on marks, rather than on learning the thing itself. There was a lot of whingeing about how the material was delivered ("wah, wahhh, where are the video recordings"), assignment "group work" etc. I felt quite bad for the course coordinator, to be honest. As for copying - if it's maths or some kind of quantitative thing, there's usually a right way to do it, so as long as presentation is different, I guess it's more a question of personal ethics.

I never tip - I hadn't even considered it in an Uber until this thread, which is odd given that I invariably tip in black and mini cabs. I can't say I always have a chat with the guys, but I don't remember being impolite. Maybe the drivers are more forthright in their feedback, the fact that these days you're asked "what went wrong?" if you give less than 5 to the driver makes me think that the ratings on the two sides are asymmetrical. Yes, it is all a bit Black Mirror.

That's the thing, I must be now up to hundreds of rides, so it's not like a single aberration, but rather a persistent view. Maybe I've just got an off-putting personality, I was looking for some sucvour, none to be founf.

Mine's 4.72. Seeing as most drivers seem to have at least 4.8, I wonder what it is I did and when....Maybe something I said when I was drunk.

stringvest Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Chld a citizen and needs looking after so social services BS - child not a citizen by default. I know - I'm not, so my child's not.

Brexit couldn't have a better advert than Blair's continual endorsement of remaining.

"Young man thinks it's totally cool to cycle with headphones in. "It's like a soundtrack to my own London film" - says Nathaniel.".

JohnL, she wasn't apologising for the effects of sanctions, but for not pointing out that it's all Saddam's fault. Her track record is not one of a pacifist, but of someone who's not afraid to cause human suffering if it achieves some policy goal. So when she hops on the liberal values bandwagon, it surprises me it's not met with a chorus of boos from people who might remember what the US did to Iraq. No surprise that social media simplifies stories, but it really ground my gears yesterday to see Albright come out with that little gem.

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On FB this morning someone I know liked Madeleine Albright's offer to convert to Islam (as did tens of thousands of others). For various reasons this virtue signalling and tolerance flexing really annoyed me, but not least her cobtinuous cold acceptance of huge human suffering in the name of American foreign policy objectives. For example, http://fair.org/extra/we-think-the-price-is-worth-it/. Meanwhile, Slayer's Tom Araya winds people up with a doctored photo of the band and Trump, and by calling anti-Trumpists snowflakes, and all of a sudden it's "Fuck Slayer", when other band members are clearly anti-Trump. To recap, Madeleine "Collateral Damage" Albright is tolerant and virtuous, and we must put Slayer records on a pyre because Tom Araya makes sketchy jokes. Four legs good, Trump bad.

Dunno about insignificant - 5th by GDP, top 10 army, financial capital of the world in London, culturally influential, a handful of elite universities etc. etc. Not the most powerful empire any more, but that finished 100 years ago. I'll go out there and make a bold statement that it's a lot more tolerant and inclusive than most European countries. One thing I've noticed is that, as far as prejudice goes, a lot of people aren't very fond of Great Britain abroad, ascribing to it all sorts of historical nefarious politicking (with a decent basis in the truth, to be fair).

Train is of French origin, and Modern Toss already had a great suggestion for that - "Crawling S.it Weasel With Broken P.ss Cupboard".

You work with what you've got. Until the serfs come with burning pitchforks. ETA: By which I mean, you gotta do wotcha gotta do.

Jeremy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Yep disparity is inevitable in a capitalist > system, but the earnings of the super-rich do not > bother me at all as long as they pay their tax (a > huge caveat of course... I'm talking > ideologically). What should concern us is quality > of life for the poor and vulnerable, and ensuring > there is no "cycle of poverty". Well I'm not bothered by displays of great wealth either - if you take the long view, the trappings of wealth of our age will probably seem as ridiculous to our descendants as the day long gorging on food practiced by feudal lords does to us. We live in a system rooted in the accumulation of wealth, but with finite resources. We believe that we can participate in this economy and do well for ourselves, and we'd like the opportunity to accumulate wealth (which is why every side of politics, Corbyn included, rabbits on about opportunity, aspiration etc.). But on the other hand, we also believe that kids shouldn't be hungry, people should have a roof over their heads, the holy NHS should remain "free" etc. And the latter doesn't square with the former, so politicians temper with things like top or minimum pay, welfare state etc. Before the state started tempering with the economic system, or trying to kerb its natural tendencies, there was also a huge wealth gap (Marx' 1850s that you mentioned through to like 1930s-1940s), and since the state has stopped tempering with the system (or freed it up a bit) - the last 30 years or so - the wealth gap has increased. People like us, who (I assume) work fairly well paid white collar jobs don't feel the pinch much - yet.

Jeremy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > rendelharris Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > I don't think anywhere above I've said I want > capitalism destroyed, have I? > > Well the discussion seemed to start with you > paraphrasing Marx, comparing capitalism with > feudalism. My answer was that mobility is a > fundamental difference, and that capitalism itself > isn't bad provided certain mechanisms are put in > place. So I guess we've kind of come to an > agreement... I think it started with me half-jokingly saying inequality is inevitable in our system, then someone said 'would you rather feudalism?' etc. Anyway, there was mobility in feudalism too, you could earn your freedom by going to a city (hence the saying "city air makes you free") or joining the Crusade etc. What were they all complaining about with their missing teeth and their funny medieval headwear.

That's one measure, and if we thought it wasn't possible to better ourselves life would be very bleak. But then there are all those studies indicating the wealth of your parents is the best predictor to your future wealth.

BrandNewGuy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Whereas the feudal system was an egalitarian > paradise.... m'lord. I see what you did there, but I made no direct comparison to other systems, especially not ones largely left behind a long time ago. My point is that wealth inequality is just a function of the economic system we live in. Surely that's not controversial?

Income inequality isn't an artefact of a particular government, but of the capitalist system.....man.

Jeremy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > ???? Wrote: > ---------------------------- > > Ramones T shirts > > Problem is that this daft trend has ruined it for > those of us who actually like the Ramones. Maybe > it will be OK for me to wear my Ramones T again in > 2030 or something. If you like 'em wear it - Topshop shouldn't get to ruin your fun. Philip Green can do one, I'm still wearing my punx tees.

titch - do you feel like starting another thread now :) my lowlight - this was the first year where it became apparent that i need to look after myself as i head into early middle age. i used to be proud of my ability to treat my body like a temple of sin and still get up in the morning and play football - no longer.

Otta Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Thing is, attacks like this are becoming so common > that we're all getting desensitised to them. That > doesn't mean they're any less terrible, but what > else is there to say? And have been much more violent and frequent in Iraq for over a decade, but those barely make it into the bylines these days.

It's so bloody difficult to organise a test drive! Why can't they keep a database of what car is free when and deal with it in one swift phonecall???

He's pretty smart and funny....maybe your attraction is more than just skin deep?

Mick Mac Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > unless there is some long term > political message that works for the greater good > over time. i think that bloke out of KLF burning all that money is more a pub quiz curio these days, rather than a political act with lasting repercussions.