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I felt the same way about "The Basketball Diaries". It had an 18... moreI felt the same way about "The Basketball Diaries". It had an 18 certificate in my country, but I think every 15 year old should see it because of its hard-hitting anti drugs message.
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Yes, that happened to me with the orchestral theme tune to "The Room"
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There seems to be a modern trend towards "appropriating" what we... moreThere seems to be a modern trend towards "appropriating" what were originally family names (e.g. Taylor, Madison, Piper) as given names for girls. Conferring surnames on boys as given names is a much longer-established practice, indeed there were examples as far back as the 19th Century or earlier. I don't think I could give as many as 26 though.But there are a few examples of traditional given names also being surnames. Miranda is one example that springs to mind. And there was once a British cabinet minister called Francis Maude. May used to be a girl's name as well, but I don't think it has been used since about 1930. less
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Depends what you mean by "anti Zionism". If it means denial of I... moreDepends what you mean by "anti Zionism". If it means denial of Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state, then it is antisemitic. If it means criticism of specific actions done by the Israeli government, such as settlement building, then not necessarily. But even in the second sense, it can slide into antisemitism if it becomes an obsession.
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There is a tradition within Islam, especially Sufism, of venerat... moreThere is a tradition within Islam, especially Sufism, of venerating Awaliya (singular Wali), a concept often translated as "saint" - and of making pilgrimages to their tombs.The practice however incurs the disapproval by many "radical", or ultra-conservative revivalist, Muslims, especially Wahhabi and Salafist.There is no central authority to confer sainthood, as there is in Catholicism, so I assume that someone being recognised as a saint must depend on consensus and local tradition.
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I tjhink it's 7 handtowels and 5 bathtowels but it's a long time... moreI tjhink it's 7 handtowels and 5 bathtowels but it's a long time since I did an inventory. It may sound a lot for a single person, but 2 in each category are what I think of as mainly "guest" towels.
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"Look what I found in my beer" by The Beautiful South.
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It's happened 3 or 4 times since I started using Facebook. I may... moreIt's happened 3 or 4 times since I started using Facebook. I may have accepted one or two (in cases where we had at least 2 mutual Facebook friends already) but now I ignore them.
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Probably not. My family come from the West Midlands, a region of... moreProbably not. My family come from the West Midlands, a region of England where very few Nordic people settled.
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Yes - it was very impressive technically and gave a real sense o... moreYes - it was very impressive technically and gave a real sense of peril, as well as an insight into the climber's personality and personal life. I'd recommend it.
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Last weekend. Watched "Free Solo" in an Imax.
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"There is a light that never goes out" by The Smiths.
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Around 400,000 people live in Cardiff and about half that number... moreAround 400,000 people live in Cardiff and about half that number in Swansea. This is out of a total population of some 3,000,000.The northeast and the Valleys, which have an industrial character and a coal-mining past, voted Leave but by a much lesser margin than comparable industrial and mining regions in England. Two majority Welsh-speaking districts in the north-west went Remain but in other rural areas the picture was more mixed.
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If I'd been 20 years younger when The Incredibles was released .... moreIf I'd been 20 years younger when The Incredibles was released . . . I'm sure it would have been Elastigirl.
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September When It Comes by Roseanne Cash and Johnny Cash.
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This is what I find mid-boggling...In 2010 a hitherto unknown sp... moreThis is what I find mid-boggling...In 2010 a hitherto unknown species of archaic human, called Denisovan was discovered and identified just from a finger bone fragment in a cave in Siberia. Scientists proved it was a separate species by extracting mitochondrial DNA. They later found that some Denisovan DNA survives in modern humans in parts of Asia but especially in Melanesians, Papuans and Australian Aborigines.
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The biggest stumbling block at the moment is the Irish border (a... moreThe biggest stumbling block at the moment is the Irish border (also known as the Northern Irish border or British Border in Ireland):From Wikipedia: "The Irish border question is a controversy about the impact that Brexit, the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, will have on the Republic of Ireland–United Kingdom border on the island of Ireland, in particular the impact it may have on the economy and people of the island were customs or immigration checks to be put in place at the border. It was prioritised as one of the three most important areas to resolve in order to reach a Withdrawal Agreement."A particular source of contention is the so-called "backstop", which is briefly explained here:https://fullfact.org/europe/irish-backstop/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3-eAr4Cx4AIV7ZztCh3gCQ-LEAAYASAAEgLskfD_BwEMore generally, the difficulty in reaching a withdrawal agreement is compounded by the partisan and (in the Conservatives' case) intra-party d... less
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Not offensive, just lame and silly. A half-baked idea poorly exe... moreNot offensive, just lame and silly. A half-baked idea poorly executed, with badly-written lines. I watched some Wilkinson Sword ads for contrast showing "stereotypical" male behaviour and found them much more inspiring.
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It's important to teach kids to use their leisure time construct... moreIt's important to teach kids to use their leisure time constructively. This is especially so with older children, those of 12 upwards, since they are subject to so many temptations and bad influences - drugs, alcohol, pressure for underage sex, excessive social media use. But I don't see why it has to be music or sport - if you want a child to take up a self-improving pursuit, it might just as well be painting or design or carpentry or electrical assembly. We can't all be good at the same things - where possible parents need to build on interests or talents that their child already shows signs of having. But an excessively structured life may not be a good thing either, and especially not if it is motivated by competitiveness and vanity on the part of the parents instead of what is really best for the child. less
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I enjoyed "Just Go With It" (a Jennifer Aniston / Adam Sandler c... moreI enjoyed "Just Go With It" (a Jennifer Aniston / Adam Sandler comedy) at the time, but it was forgettable - I can't really remember anything much about the plot or any funny lines from it. I was surprised to learn it was awarded two Golden Raspberries.
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Or:"Prepositions are not words to end sentences with".
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It would be difficult to enforce - billionaires would always fin... moreIt would be difficult to enforce - billionaires would always find ways of concealing their assets. Perhaps a better solution would be have a quota system for the selection of appointees or candidates to run for office? So many from each income bracket?
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I've never been very good at influencing people anyway, but I wo... moreI've never been very good at influencing people anyway, but I wouldn't accept any such payment on principle.
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I don't think there is any qualitative difference in meaning, ju... moreI don't think there is any qualitative difference in meaning, just that "bell3nd" is a stronger insult.
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He has a seemingly unmatched ability to alienate and antagonise ... moreHe has a seemingly unmatched ability to alienate and antagonise people around him, as well as a record of dishonesty, which on the face of things ought to rule him out as Prime Minister. But I don't think we can be confident of this. From many Tories' point of view, he's a nice, safe, pseudo anti-establishment candidate - controversial and belligerent enough to spice up the party's image, but conventional on policy issues.
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"The Night"
Beware of his promiseBelieve what I sayBefore the n... more"The Night"
Beware of his promiseBelieve what I sayBefore the night is ending Be sure of what you're saying
Cause he paints a pretty picture And he tells you that he loves you And he covers you with roses And he always keeps you dreamingIf he always keeps you dreaming You won't have a lonely hour If the day could last forever You might like your ivory tower
But the night begins to turn your head around And you know you're gonna lose more than you found Oh yeah the night begins to turn your head around
Beware of his promiseBelieve what I say Before I go forever Be sure of what you're saying
Cause the words might come too quickly If you really think I'm leaving And goodbye might come too easy If you really think he loves you If you really think he loves you You would give yourself completely If the day could last forever You would give yourself completely
But the night begins to turn your head around And you know you'... less
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I don't think coffee affects my "style". I like coffee but I am ... moreI don't think coffee affects my "style". I like coffee but I am not completely addicted to it - I will have one cup of coffee on a typical day, very rarely a second one. Often a day will pass in which I will drink no coffee at all, just tea.
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Wales was about 50-50; the border districts and the Valleys vote... moreWales was about 50-50; the border districts and the Valleys voted Leave but only by a narrow margin, with the West and the South coast cities being pro-Remain. However, I fear you may be right in saying that the referendum and deal won't lay the issue to rest once and for all. March 29th may just be the end of the beginning.
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I voted Leave and I do not regret my choice. I accept that the f... moreI voted Leave and I do not regret my choice. I accept that the full separation from the European Union that I would prefer, is now unlikely to happen, and that we will end up in a sort of semi-detached arrangement with the EU. I still prefer this outcome over staying in on the present terms, and have even written to my local MP to ask her to push for a bi-partisan solution. I fear that the likely alternative will be a Conservative leadership contest with Boris Johnson becoming Prime Minister, followed by a new General Election, which the Conservatives would win.Anyway, happy Friday afternoon! less
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No reliable contraception, for a start!
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I read the "Atlantic" article and am not convinced by Secretary ... moreI read the "Atlantic" article and am not convinced by Secretary Clinton's claim that democracy is in crisis because of a "small group of right-wing billionaires..who spend time building an alternative reality". Has there ever been a time when billionaires didn't have a disproportionate influence on politics?I guess all democracies have their problems.
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I guess it depends what you mean by "good".
The set-up is simila... moreI guess it depends what you mean by "good".
The set-up is similar in some ways - both our countries have a highly adversarial system dominated by two parties. But the American system seems to accommodate a greater diversity of opinion within each party, whereas in the British system strict obedience to the party line is the norm. Or at least it was until the recent Brexit turmoil, which has seen the Conservative Party splitting into at least three factions.My opinion of the two main parties has been deteriorating year on year, but if right now if I had a gun to my head and a ballot paper in front of me I would choose Labour as the better of two undesirables.As for Trumpicans, I don't think there are many of them in the Parliamentary Conservative Party, in fact if such people exist they would be more likely to support the UK Independence Party. less
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There's nothing embarrassing about Willie Nelson!
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"Saturday Night and Sunday Morning" by Alan Sillitoe.And "Byzant... more"Saturday Night and Sunday Morning" by Alan Sillitoe.And "Byzantium - A Surprising History of an Empire"
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It Takes Two by Kim Weston and Marvin Gaye. In fact it may even ... moreIt Takes Two by Kim Weston and Marvin Gaye. In fact it may even be my favourite song of all time.
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I have several playlists, and like to start each of them with an... moreI have several playlists, and like to start each of them with an uptempo happy number like:
- It takes two by Kim Weston and Marvin Gaye - There must be thousands by The Quads - The Happening by The Supremes - Angel of Harlem by U2 - Sukie in the Graveyard by Belle and Sebastian
But the song I am listening to most at the moment is "The Seventh Dub" by Groundation, last thing at night as it helps me to sleep.
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I prefer natural-looking women to those who are perma-tanned or ... moreI prefer natural-looking women to those who are perma-tanned or have had plastic surgery, so it would not make me any more likely to move to America!
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Mine is The Wild Pear Tree.
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Thank you for this very thoughtful contribution, Durdle. It... moreThank you for this very thoughtful contribution, Durdle. It is sometimes said - especially in a British context - that the Right won the economic war, the Left won the cultural war. On "bread and butter" issues like the free market versus intervention, nationalised versus privatised industries, and progressive taxation, the Right largely got their own way, whereas on social, moral and cultural issues, the liberal-Left (which is not the entire Left) pretty much got their own way. This is an oversimplification of course, but over the last 20 years it has often felt as though we are living under an artificial consensus - a meld of Thatcherism, extreme social liberalism and political correctness. The Tory Party has abandoned the last vestiges of traditional conservatism, embracing liberal identity politics with almost the same enthusiasm as Labour. The consensus has started to come under attack in recent years, both from the Left, with the rise of Momentum in Britain and populist movements in Mediterranean coun... less
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I read a little of it just out of curiosity because I was previo... moreI read a little of it just out of curiosity because I was previously unaware that Roy Cohen was a real person. I only knew of him from Angels in America.
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From Barnabas Fund website: "A prominent leader of the pro-blasp... moreFrom Barnabas Fund website: "A prominent leader of the pro-blasphemy law demonstrations in Pakistan, who called for the immediate execution of Aasia Bibi was a key speaker at an anti-terrorism conference in Manchester, in July. The radical cleric spoke alongside police chiefs and a family member of a victim of the IS-claimed terror attack on Manchester Arena last year, which claimed 22 lives."https://barnabasfund.org/en/news/barnabas-fund-warned-home-secretary-about-radical-cleric-hassan-haseeb-in-2016-%E2%80%93-so-why-was-hehttps://hurryupharry.org/2017/12/14/greater-manchester-police-and-%E2%80%9Ctolerance%E2%80%9D/ less
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My psyche is undisturbed. I feel complete equanimity towards the... moreMy psyche is undisturbed. I feel complete equanimity towards the Trump presidency.
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"...skipped a visit to the UK because of protests. They hate him... more"...skipped a visit to the UK because of protests. They hate him that much". People who go on protest marches are not necessarily representative of the wider population so I would be cautious about drawing any conclusions from this.But I think it must be a long time since there was a popular Republican president over here anyway. Polls that I have seen in the run up to US elections found British respondents favouring the Democratic candidate by about 6 to 1.
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It's a term invented by French film critics to describe certain ... moreIt's a term invented by French film critics to describe certain Hollywood crime dramas made in the 1940s and 50s. They tend to be dark in the literal sense, in that much of the action takes place at night, and in the sense of having a bleak or pessimistic world view, but with crisp, elegantly written dialogue and not much on-screen violence.
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"Where the Sidewalk Ends" and "Laura" - the latter even comes cl... more"Where the Sidewalk Ends" and "Laura" - the latter even comes close to being a comedy at times.
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I wouldn't go as far as to say "full of", but here in Britain we... moreI wouldn't go as far as to say "full of", but here in Britain we have been experiencing a big immigration surge since about 2001, which has probably affected London the most, but hardly anywhere is untouched by it. The town I live in is probably about 15% Pakistani, 5% Indian, 5% Black and biracial, maybe 2-3% other people of non-European origin. I'd estimate about 2/3 of people in these groups were born over here and therefore not immigrants in the true sense, but lately there's been a big increase in the number of Africans and especially Eritreans. I don't know how many Poles and other Eastern Europeans there are but it must be several thousand. I don't feel that I've been harmed by immigration but I don't feel I've derived a lot of benefit from it either, except from Turkish barber shops. Some would say the cheap carwashes that are springing up everywhere are a benefit, but I suspect most are staffed by undocumented immigrants so I won't use them on principle. As for the Romanian street accordionists and... less
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Many of Stevie Wonder's songs would be contenders for that title... moreMany of Stevie Wonder's songs would be contenders for that title. If I had to nominate one it would most likely be Part-Time Lover or I Wish.
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"Shariah". A meld of Shania and Mariah. Not yet a recognised nam... more"Shariah". A meld of Shania and Mariah. Not yet a recognised name, but it's one that could be conferred on a child if her parents were big fans of Shania Twain and Mariah Carey.
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I think it's just an empty slogan.
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For certain types of artificial paving that are designed to be p... moreFor certain types of artificial paving that are designed to be permeable to rainwater. This means less water runs off in heavy rainfall events, thereby reducing pressure on the storm drain system - if enough people do it - and reducing flood risk.
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