European Tribune - Community, Politics & Progress.

But you lost a day off you could have taken some other time. I'd have been gutted in your position.

the BBC wouldn't be able to broadcast from TVC without a huge stock of fans & fan-heaters to make up for the inadequate A/C & heating.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 12:07:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Well I'd have had to work at home which my boss did and the rest of my team, but I'm fairly sure some other colleagues used it as a free day off.

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 05:15:28 PM EST
[ Parent ]

work ? At home ? Maybe a bit. But also read the papers at leisure, catch up with filing and tidying up. Be on ET.

you could read all these long boring incomprehensible articles about why Wall St ended up believing in the Magick Pixie eternal money well. You won't understnad it, but the underlying message that among these people are bigger crooks and greater fools than you could possibly believe comes home loud and clear.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 05:33:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

As it actually snowed here, I didn't go and sign on. But I guess I'll have to tomorrow come what may (and it's going to be much colder tonight).

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 12:21:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Mormon Gulags (none / 0)

Am I the only one who wasn't at all shocked by this?

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 11:36:31 AM EST

I saw that earlier. It's amazing what people will do to other people. And what they get away with.

Jesus died for somebody's sins but not mine - Patti Smith

by dvx (dvx.clt ät gmail dotcom) on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 11:58:42 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I don't know how they get away with it. Unfortunately, Utah, as others pointed out, is so thoroughly controlled by the LDS that it becomes nearly impossible to do anything about it. The feds have a difficult enough time going after the Mormons in West Texas and northern Arizona, but Utah is a whole different ballgame.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 12:08:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Interestingly enough, it was state charges that brought down the polygamists in AR and TX, but strictly speaking they were Mormon schismatics (FLDS). We probably would never have heard anything if they had been reconciled with the Mormon establishment.

Jesus died for somebody's sins but not mine - Patti Smith

by dvx (dvx.clt ät gmail dotcom) on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 12:17:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Well, waddaya expect from a cult. Love thy neighbour ? One of the dreadful things I discovered in the aftermath of the Prop8 vote were the stories of ex-LDS gays about how they'd been thrown out of allegedly loving families. Truly ghastly.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 12:10:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

They're all cults.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 12:19:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

That's just the tip of the iceberg. You might want to read this if you get a chance.

Jesus died for somebody's sins but not mine - Patti Smith

by dvx (dvx.clt ät gmail dotcom) on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 12:19:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

It's interesting how LDS people get voices in their head supposedly from God, commit atrocities yet are considered upstanding members of society.

Peter Sutcliffe (aka Yorkshire ripper) heard voices in his head supposedly from God, committed atrocities and was fortunately locked up in prison for life.

I guess it helps to found your own religion before you go around killing women for pleasure.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 12:29:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

If Pat Robertson and Ali Khamenei didn't carry the titles "Reverend" and "Ayatollah" in front of their names, they'd have spent their lives on street corners wearing sandwich boards and shouting their nonsense from atop parked cars for all our entertainment.

Alas, if you've got a religious title, you can say anything and do just about anything.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 12:48:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I suspect that if these guys hadn't gotten religion, they would have succeeded in some other line of work in which sociopaths excel: organized crime kingpin, CEO, republican senator....

Though as I understand it, you need to demonstrate some pretty sharp reasoning skills and the ability to perform some sophisticated exegesis to get to be an ayatollah. Which is more than anyone has ever seen Robertson do.

Jesus died for somebody's sins but not mine - Patti Smith

by dvx (dvx.clt ät gmail dotcom) on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 01:17:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Mormon Gulags (4.00 / 3)

Unfortunately one of the most potent effects of religion is the way that it turns attention-seeking angry nobodies into influential somebodies.

People who are sweating about Darwin are looking in the wrong place. It's the consistent way in which the Paisleys, Khomeinis, Robertsons and (for all I know) a Sikh and a Rabbi or two have ridden religion to the top of a war-mongering murderous pile of nonsense that makes ideology, and especially religious ideology frightening.

People not knowing about evolution is barely a sideshow.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 02:26:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

There are more here under Testimonials

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 12:33:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]

And the place is apparently staffed by Mormon missionaries. That doesn't qualify as church-supported abuse?

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 12:52:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Most religion based education counts as abuse in my book. Every perosn I meet who went to a church school seems to have horrific tales of violent abuse from the "fathers". Doesn't seem ot matter which religion or version of, religious education seems to attract a certain brand of sadist.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 01:02:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I haven't known people who were abused in religious schools, at least not physically. Emotionally, perhaps, but what I'd have consider emotional abuse, they wouldn't have.

The biggest problem I've found in people who attended religious schools is an inability to function in the real world. They're completely lacking in street-smarts. The public schools may suck -- okay, they do suck -- when it comes to teaching kids the material, but the kids generally come away with proper social skills and common sense.

That mostly applies to comparisons with Baptists and other Evangelicals, but even some Catholics, too. Catholic schools ain't what they used to be, I guess, because most older people I know who attended them are very sharp (and almost universally non-practicing).

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 01:17:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I think it really depends on the type of school. I'll be honest, protestant school kids scare me. However, the inner-city kids who go to Catholic schools, and there are A LOT of them given the huge immigration of Hispanic families, are pretty freaking social and street-smart.

The kids who go to secular private school also seem socially awkward to me.

I think it has more to do with the level of isolation from society than the religion factor. How private is the school, and are your parents sending you there to "protect" you from the world, or to educate you?

Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.

by poemless on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 01:55:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I definitely think there's an urban vs suburban element to it that's derived from the kind of family this or that kid comes from. Obviously it's going to be tough to be isolated in a city, while I think suburbs are partly designed to facilitate it in a similar way to the private schools I'm familiar with.

I've never seen a secular private school, let alone known anyone who attended one. Or are you talking about charter/magnet schools and the like?

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 02:10:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I suppose the correct term is "Specialized schools". Like IMSA, Indiana Academy, the "Fame" HS in NY, etc. I guess they all get different types of funding. But they are not just open to anyone. I'm pretty sure the Latin School and the Lab Schools in Chicago are private & secular.

Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.

by poemless on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 02:33:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Really? There are quite a few in Los Angeles. Also, wouldn't all those fancy prep schools back east be considered secular private schools?

by Zwackus on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 07:08:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Prep schools are a Yankees-who-think-they're-Brits thing, so I don't know a lot about them, but I think most have religious affiliations (usually Episcopalian). Could be wrong.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 11:38:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Although, I think the reason I've not known people my age who were physically abused is because of the fact that the nuns generally don't bust your knuckles with rulers and books anymore.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 01:19:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Mormon Gulags (4.00 / 5)

Well, the Good Book says "spare the rod, spoil the child", doesn't it? And some Catholic priests are known to have a peculiar interpretation of what "rod" refers to. It all makes so much sense.

by someone (s0me1smail(a)gmail(d)com) on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 01:20:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Most religion based education counts as abuse in my book.

Excuse me, but wasn't most formal education somehow "religion based" up until a while back? Get any wider a brush and you should take up house painting.

Look, I am an atheist, and think all religion is nutty to various degrees, but I don't think we can conflate all religious education as abuse based on extreme examples. Not to mention the routine abuse that takes place in public schools. I felt a thousand times more secure & respected in Catholic School than I did in public school.

Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.

by poemless on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 01:47:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

no, not in the UK. Religion based education was pretty unusual in the UK until the rules were changed by the labour party a few years back. Before then there'd be the odd catholic or jewish school here and there, but a long long way from common.

And all the people I met who'd attended them, which may or may not have been a representative group, seemed to speak of a level of casual thuggery from their teachers I found shocking. So, maybe in the US that's a broad brush, but not here.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 02:02:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Ooops, sorry. that should be England, not UK.

Both Scotland and N Ireland have a very religiously divided education system, which probably accounts for the levels of sectarian violence that disfigures their culture. One of the best arguments against what the Labour party are encouraging in england is that we really don't want a dvided society like N Ireland's.

nb cannot comment on wales as I don't know.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 02:07:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I meant that the concept of formal secular education is a relatively modern concept. In ye olden days, book-learning was largely administered by religious institutions, and even when they were not, the bible figured into curriculum along with reading, writing and arithmetic.

It's quite in vogue to dismiss religious education by focusing on the Catholics for abusing little boys. But let's not forget that they've contributed countless libraries, schools and universities, and have often placed a higher standard on education than much of the public has.

Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.

by poemless on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 02:19:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]

BBC NEWS | Europe | Child elopers' Africa plan foiled

Actually I wasn't really concentrating on catholic schools, even tho' they feature in media narratives more than most. Protestants were mostly who I came into contact with, particularly from N Ireland where a brand of positively medieval vicousness from teachers seemed to be required. I'm not sure what educational standards had to do with anything that went on in them.

Unlike in the US, religious education is a standard part of the curriculum in all schools here. Even faith schools must teach a multifaith "awareness", rather than the dogmatics of their own. I've always thought it was a good thing and would be sorry to see it go, the lukewarm standardised approach has led to a great deal of semi-informed atheism here as well as discouraging the sort of religious extremeism that feeds off profound ignorance of what's in the bible 9or other religious book). Course it ain't perfect, but I think it works reaosnably well.

As for focus on education, unions in the UK were associated with strong pushes towards educational improvments here right up till the mid 60s while religious institutions were often viewed as backward and superstitious.

There seems to be a considerable cultural divide here.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 02:39:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Mormon Gulags (4.00 / 4)

My Catholic school had at least two not so very suspected paedophiles - S&M games during PE is not funny - and a couple of outright cryptofascist wingers who used lesson time as an excuse to hold forth on their own unique political philosophies and the wonders of Margaret Thatcher.

The headmaster was in his forties and still living with his mother.

In one of the lessons in the first year the class was told that 'Thou shalt not kill' doesn't apply during war time - that's when God doesn't have a problem with killing. In fact it was a sacred duty, etc.

The chaplain was fronting for Opus Dei - although he has now recanted and become one of their most vehement critics. I spent an interesting few evenings visiting an Opus Dei student house in West London because of him - largely under false pretences, because the bible study groups were sneaked in as a side event for more legitimate, not to mention more interesting, activities.

Academically it was one of the best non-public schools in London. And still is.

Which was - you know - nice and all, considering. Although considering the hot housing and the emphasis on 'standards', depressingly few former pupils have had careers of any notable noteworthiness or success.

Not all of the teachers were insane - some of them were as mature and warm as I've ever seen elsewhere. But a significan proportion were a very real Pink Floyd nightmare.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 02:39:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Sorry this is kind of late... (4.00 / 2)

June 22-26, 2009
San Juan, Puerto Rico
11th Americas Conference on Wind Engineering
American Association for Wind Engineering & Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico
Website http://www.pupr.edu/11acwe
Contact Héctor J. Cruzado at hcruzado@pupr.edu or 11ACWE@gmail.com

Perhaps not this one, though...

September 7-8, 2009
Nottingham, UK
International Conference: Thinking and Rethinking the Cuban Revolution
Part II: "Politics, Ideology and Economics"
Department of Latin American Studies, University of Nottingham
Contact Antoni Kapcia at a.kapcia@nottingham.ac.uk

"Beware of the man who does not talk, and the dog that does not bark." Cheyenne

by maracatu on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 01:32:53 PM EST

Re: Sorry this is kind of late... (none / 0)

Will you be attending the September conference?

by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 01:49:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sorry this is kind of late... (none / 0)

I doubt it. If I go to the UK, it will likely be for the 11th International Network for Economic Research Annual Conference (4-6 September, 2009, at the University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland) [call for papers, pdf]

"Beware of the man who does not talk, and the dog that does not bark." Cheyenne

by maracatu on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 02:15:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sorry this is kind of late... (none / 1)

The September one might be pretty good. Nott'm had some interesting lectures on political economy when I was there.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 02:24:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sorry this is kind of late... (none / 1)

You just gave me an idea! Since the conferences are back to back, I might consider attending the Nottingham one, depending of course on how much financing I can get from my university!

"Beware of the man who does not talk, and the dog that does not bark." Cheyenne

by maracatu on Tue Jan 6th, 2009 at 11:39:17 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Something to smile (none / 1)

Two German children - aged five and six - have been stopped by police from eloping to Africa to tie the knot in the sun, reports say.
The budding lovebirds, identified as Mika and Anna-Lena, packed bathing costumes, sunglasses and a lilo and headed for the airport.
They even had the presence of mind to invite along an official witness - Anna-Lena's seven-year-old sister.
The three got as far as Hanover railway station before police intervened.
The young couple were "very much in love" and had decided to get married in Africa "where it is warm", police spokesman Holger Jureczko told the AFP news agency.

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 01:52:48 PM EST

Re: Something to smile (none / 1)

Aaaah, that's sweet.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 02:03:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

The fellow who brought the yummy cheesecake to our party has a diary up on kos.

Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.

by poemless on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 02:38:02 PM EST

Isn't it a bit early for a 2010 candidate diary, or have I missed something ?

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 02:53:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 1)

You missed something. :)

IL-05 is Rahm's seat. Since he's going to be Obama's Chief of Staff starting the 20th, he had to resign. Now there is no Congressperson in that seat, so we'll be having a special election shortly. HIGHLY contested seat.

I'm in democratic purgatory at the moment, without a Congresscritter, a Senator, or a Gov. who can govern. Good thing I have no interests the need to be represented or anything.

Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.

by poemless on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 03:02:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (none / 1)

A libertarian's dream.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 05:35:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Panetta to the CIA (none / 1)

This is odd to say the least, as Panetta doesn't seem to have any experience with intelligence.

Apparently nobody from the intel community escaped without taint from the torture program. Panetta is a big opponent of torture, though.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 02:59:42 PM EST

Re: Panetta to the CIA (none / 1)

Besides being a respected Dem congresscritter from Monterey Cali, he was clinton's CoS, and a member of the Iraq Study Group.

Skennah Kowa

by Crazy Horse on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 03:48:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

I picked this quote from an excerpt at Mish from the Lewis and Einhorn NYT article blazing its way across the internet. The authors' explanation of "wealth" epitomizes the ignorance --dare I say, delusion?-- that permeates economic wisdom today which is categorically dependent validating credit expansion financial schemes and regulatory policies.

I say delusion for the simple reason, so-called authorities reject cash accounting (macroeconomic MI, M2, M3) in order to illustrate transactions which have not occured and income though "recognized" has not been realized. This statement about mark-to-market valuation (price) is as unreal as ~~guessing~~ how much a new-to-the-world commodity might fetch. Why bother reading the article in its entirety?

In its latest push to compel confidence, for instance, the authorities are placing enormous pressure on the Financial Accounting Standards Board to suspend "mark-to-market" accounting. Basically, this means that the banks will not have to account for the actual value of the assets on their books but can claim instead that they are worth whatever they paid for them. (Lewis and Einhorn, emphasis added)

Why do they hate cash accounting?

The accruals (or matching) concept states that revenues and expenses are recognised as they are earned or incurred and not as money is received or paid. (Weetman)

FASB like other national "self-regulating" bodies solicits political favor. However GAAP is timeless: Current assets (e.g. securities, "rents", liens, bonds, MMF units) are claims on future income exactly worth whatever price (plus the obligation, a quasi-legal point) a buyer paid for them at any given point in time. That is when a transaction occurs. If there is no transaction, the value of an "asset" is worth exactly its price paid less its the value of the obligation (fixed) | 0 > x

If the value of the obligation is NEGATIVE, that is default or not income bearing (x≤ obligation) or x = ZERO income, default of rent not "negative interest" bullshit), the "current" asset is not an asset at all. (NB: interest includes principal payment by definition.)

Unlike a fixed asset subject to physical, functional wear, a current asset cannot be repaired to produce a marketable product (a security including bonds) unless "market makers" restore "confidence" in price appreciation (demand for interest or ROI) of the obligation during some future period. No one knows the future with the certainty ascribed to interest rates. We damn sure know that the price of labor (wage/salary) --neither fixed nor current) is near 19th century levels despite INFLATION, UNION BARGAINING, and PROFIT attibutable to INCREASING PRODUCTIVITY (the difference btw cost and quantity).

Otherwise, the value of a current asset is merely to report the absolute value (N x IPO)of a enterprise's obligation. Always remember, securities' offers are fixed volume quantities; issuer does NOT recieve, securities bearers do NOT recieve income from secondary market trading which is 95% of MSM "reporting" on corporate solvency. The only capital gain derives from change in price (not face value) of the financial instrument.

(You will never, NEVER, read a discussion differentiating fixed assets and current assets in the MSM. So get over it. Westworld one-percerters buy and hold fixed assets fixed assets in order to produced so-called current assets. Thus is the definition of classic resource "scarcity.")

So-called mark (price)-to-market valuation is little different in effect than mark-to-model valuation. Both price claims to transcend actual, real, income accounting in order to solicit credit Unlike mark-to-model valuation of an asset, mark-to-market valuation purports to capture the price of an asset IF SOLD in a SECONDARY MARKET. (See distinction between coupon and yield for bonds. Screw dividends. You did troll the ticker for dividends, aright?)

Lemme tell you, project valuation is dead. Because (unextinguished) debt is "good," if you can sell it to the next "owner." Criteria of project valuation comprise a conservative test of investment (savings) whereby lending to an enterprise SURLPUS money (idle, not necessary, excess) is productive insofar as money has no intrinic value except usury.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 03:17:24 PM EST

And, doggone it, people like him. (none / 0)

Franken wins.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 03:43:55 PM EST

Re: And, doggone it, people like him. (none / 0)

Although coleman still reserves the right to be an obnoxious eejit.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Jan 5th, 2009 at 04:01:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]