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Simon Kirby
Posted on: Sep 2 2017, 07:28 PM


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QUOTE (Biker1 @ Sep 2 2017, 05:52 AM) *
Saw this on the news page and have some advice on how to deal with annoying buskers.

Busker silencing. laugh.gif laugh.gif

So violently assaulting anyone who annoys you is both fine and laughable? I disagree.
  Forum: Newbury News · Post Preview: #117022 · Replies: 20 · Views: 27,911

Simon Kirby
Posted on: Aug 16 2017, 07:47 PM


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QUOTE (Turin Machine @ Aug 16 2017, 05:27 PM) *
Nah, pineapples is foreign. Keep em out I say. Nice orange pippin is all you need. Ham an apple pizza rulz.

Cox's Orange Pippin isn't particularly English you know - it's the offspring of a French emigre coming originally from southern Kazakhstan. Mind, crab apples are native - yum!
  Forum: Random Rants · Post Preview: #116949 · Replies: 10 · Views: 14,579

Simon Kirby
Posted on: Aug 15 2017, 03:51 PM


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I think we've had a reasonable run, but like newbury.net before, I think the rot's set in here and the forum is in terminal decline.
  Forum: Newbury News · Post Preview: #116939 · Replies: 68 · Views: 81,178

Simon Kirby
Posted on: Aug 15 2017, 03:45 PM


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QUOTE (Andy Capp @ Aug 14 2017, 11:52 PM) *
While Facebook has good reach, it is a rubbish platform for debate.

I rather like the way comments can be addressed to specific comments and nest, so that a discussion can go off at something of a tangent without derailing the thread as a whole. FB also makes it really easy to post images as it hosts the image itself, and I like the way it renders a preview of links too. It's a better medium for discussion IMHO.
  Forum: Newbury News · Post Preview: #116938 · Replies: 68 · Views: 81,178

Simon Kirby
Posted on: Aug 11 2017, 06:51 PM


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QUOTE (SirWilliam @ Aug 11 2017, 11:41 AM) *
My feeling is that as long as we live in a market force environment anyone with the means is entitled to spend it on whatever they choose . If we start dictating who has the right to a use of the diminishing resources the outcome will be anarchy on a global scale.
History has shown us that Countries will go to war over resources , whether that is water oil or food , and the most sensible way of maintaining the status quo is to share it around.

Little doubt something along these lines will manifest itself before long especially if global population is not controlled but we all know that is not going to happen.

Sorry, but are you arguing that you can only have access to life's essentials if you are wealthy? Societies have certainly gone up in flames when the privileged believed that - "Qu'ils mangent de la brioche", etc, etc.
  Forum: Random Rants · Post Preview: #116921 · Replies: 171 · Views: 169,937

Simon Kirby
Posted on: Aug 8 2017, 06:46 PM


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QUOTE (blackdog @ Aug 8 2017, 05:08 PM) *
And think of the eco impact of manufacturing that many panels!

I've no seen this analysis, but it would be interesting to see the per-kW environmental footprint of solar as against coal, oil, nuclear, wind, wave, and hydro. I may be wrong, but I'd guess that the environmental impact is less than for fossil-fuels generation and nuclear, so all things being equal solar might well be a good strategy if we could also develop better energy storage.
  Forum: Random Rants · Post Preview: #116885 · Replies: 171 · Views: 169,937

Simon Kirby
Posted on: Aug 8 2017, 06:10 PM


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QUOTE (blackdog @ Aug 6 2017, 09:43 AM) *
Not really, most of the oaks for ship building came from forests planted for that purpose and were replaced to provide more in a few decades time. We've lost a lot of woodland since wooden ships went out of fashion.

I don't think that's entirely right. Forests have been managed for at least a thousand years, but as I understand it trees weren't planted as such, it was more a case of managing what just happened to grow, and it wasn't until the Napoleonic wars and cruk oak was desparately scarce that woodland was planted as such.
  Forum: Random Rants · Post Preview: #116884 · Replies: 10 · Views: 14,391

Simon Kirby
Posted on: Jul 12 2017, 06:56 PM


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QUOTE (blackdog @ Jul 12 2017, 07:42 PM) *
WBDC is the legal entity that operates under the name of West Berkshire Council - when they go to court they do so under the WBDC name.

http://www.edf.org.uk/0038-west-berkshire-...whc-2222-admin/

Thanks, I didn't know that. How curious.
  Forum: Random Rants · Post Preview: #116672 · Replies: 11 · Views: 14,885

Simon Kirby
Posted on: Jul 12 2017, 06:54 PM


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QUOTE (blackdog @ Jul 12 2017, 07:32 PM) *
Interesting point though, does UNESCO status have any impact in British/European law?

It's managed through the usual planning legislation, much like an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The National Park designation already provides good protection and like you say the WHS designation is just kudos.
  Forum: Random Rants · Post Preview: #116671 · Replies: 45 · Views: 128,758

Simon Kirby
Posted on: Jul 12 2017, 08:37 AM


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QUOTE (Berkshirelad @ Jul 12 2017, 09:28 AM) *
When did West Berks. become a county? No wonder they have ideas above their station rolleyes.gif

It is a District Council - hence WBDC - part of the Royal County of Berkshire

We're in the ceremonial county of Berkshire and West Berkshire Council is our local government unitary authority and one of several in the ceremonial county of Berkshire. Unitary authorities don't have subordinate district councils and there is no WBDC.
  Forum: Random Rants · Post Preview: #116665 · Replies: 11 · Views: 14,885

Simon Kirby
Posted on: Jul 11 2017, 08:42 PM


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QUOTE (je suis Charlie @ Jul 11 2017, 09:09 PM) *
Not interested if you're happy with the definition, its THE definition! Clear, precise, definitive. "Exclusion based on colour" is the nitty gritty. No weasel words, no fudging, no obscuration, no 'corbynisms". Its racism. Fundamentally, in word in ethics and in law.

Exclusion based on colour is just one part of the definition, and for a thing to be racism by this definition you need to have both the exclusion element and the detriment.
  Forum: Random Rants · Post Preview: #116648 · Replies: 63 · Views: 71,228

Simon Kirby
Posted on: Jul 11 2017, 08:39 PM


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QUOTE (Andy Capp @ Jul 11 2017, 08:51 PM) *
Unless you are white and want to apply for an internship.

But if you're white you don't need an internship to put you on a lavel playing field in the job market, you already have the advantage over BAME candidates because you're white. But yes, if a white candidate wanted to take advantage of the institutional racism and cultural disadvantage that has kept BAME candidates out of the performing arts then for sure, they'd want to get on an internship too so they'd be equally qualified as the BAME intern and secure the job because they're white, just like it's always been, but is that just?

  Forum: Random Rants · Post Preview: #116647 · Replies: 63 · Views: 71,228

Simon Kirby
Posted on: Jul 11 2017, 07:10 PM


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QUOTE (SirWilliam @ Jul 11 2017, 11:37 AM) *
My submission is that placing it under the auspices of an "outside" organisation does not in itself guarantee the continuation of the status quo. Is it of greater importance to generate prosperity in an area or maintain it like a museum frozen in time?
Little doubt World Heritage Status will assist the local economy but the cost to the environment is the footprint of the increase in countless walkers on the fells.
The "visitor centre" at Stonehenge is a monstrous blot on the landscape as opposed to a direct contributor to the traffic chaos. If the stones were not there the problem would still exist. Based on that premise if we moved Winterbourne Stoke and upgraded the 303 to dual carriageway for its entire length then it would benefit many, ( as did the Newbury bypass ), but is it right?

Incidentally, I have given your question over evidential support a little thought and to be honest most of it is anecdotal and therefore of little clout. Let us return to this in 100 years and see.

I don't think your A303 example helps your argument.

Whether or not the UNESCO WHS designation helps or hinders the landscape, inhabitants, and visitors is open for debate and I suggest it depends very much on your perspective.
  Forum: Random Rants · Post Preview: #116644 · Replies: 45 · Views: 128,758

Simon Kirby
Posted on: Jul 11 2017, 06:59 PM


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QUOTE (Biker1 @ Jul 11 2017, 07:17 PM) *
Wasn't me that started it on this thread!
Didn't you spot the tongue-in-cheek emoticon?? laugh.gif

Fair enough. wink.gif
  Forum: Random Rants · Post Preview: #116643 · Replies: 45 · Views: 128,758

Simon Kirby
Posted on: Jul 11 2017, 06:50 PM


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QUOTE (je suis Charlie @ Jul 11 2017, 08:57 AM) *
"The term "racial discrimination" shall mean any distinction, exclusion, restriction, or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin that has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life."

Its racist. By definition and by intent.

I'm happy with that as a definition of racism, however I don't agree that this racially-selective internship is racist by that definition. It's racially selective, that's undeniable, so it undeniably passes the first part of the test, but does that racial selection have the "purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life". Certainly taking a job is unambiguously an exercise of a fundamentl freedom in the economic field of public life, but this isn't a job, it's an internship designed to give the successful applicant equality of opportunity with non BAME condidates in applications for jobs in the creative sector.

The crux is that, all other things being equal and given the internship works as intended, a non-BAME individual who hasn't taken the internship is not going to be disadvantage in an application for a creative job but is going to be equally qualified on merit with the BAME intern. No one is disadvantaged so the racially-selective internship isn't racist.
  Forum: Random Rants · Post Preview: #116642 · Replies: 63 · Views: 71,228

Simon Kirby
Posted on: Jul 11 2017, 06:39 AM


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QUOTE (TallDarkAndHandsome @ Jul 10 2017, 10:16 PM) *
Racism. Don't care how you package it. Nothing less. Again I ask what would be the reaction to a job advert for whites only interns. I would be disgusted - as I am about this. Its indefensible.

No, not racism. Racism is the discrimination that has excluded BAME candidates from the creative industries. Creating internships to redress the disadvantage of BAME candidates so that they can compete for jobs at parity with non-BAME candidates doesn't discriminate against anyone, it just creates a level playing field.
  Forum: Random Rants · Post Preview: #116630 · Replies: 63 · Views: 71,228

Simon Kirby
Posted on: Jul 11 2017, 06:30 AM


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QUOTE (Biker1 @ Jul 11 2017, 06:08 AM) *
Grammar Police warning!!
It's actually "centre" on this side of the Atlantic!! tongue.gif

Give over, do we really need to nit-pick over spelling?


QUOTE (Biker1 @ Jul 11 2017, 06:08 AM) *
Oh and I thought the closure of the A360 at Stonehenge was done in an attempt to alleviate the jams there on the A303?

I wouldn't know, but the point is that the A303 has suffered from traffic jams for decades because it's a largely single-lane road that carries heavy traffic and because people have a tendency to slow right down to have a good look at the stones as they pass. Sir William's argument was that the traffic jams were caused by the visitor cente but the traffic jams existed decades before it was built and this spurious example was his only support for his argument that UNESCO would be bad for the Lake District.
  Forum: Random Rants · Post Preview: #116629 · Replies: 45 · Views: 128,758

Simon Kirby
Posted on: Jul 10 2017, 07:38 PM


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I think it's important to recognise that these internships are not jobs, they are training opportunities to give underrepresented BAME candidates the opportunity and experience to succeed in open and fair recruitment for future jobs.
  Forum: Random Rants · Post Preview: #116622 · Replies: 63 · Views: 71,228

Simon Kirby
Posted on: Jul 10 2017, 07:33 PM


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QUOTE (je suis Charlie @ Jul 10 2017, 06:35 PM) *
Proof? Evidence? Figures?

And then there's what the BBC said about it too. http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnew...sentation-plans
  Forum: Random Rants · Post Preview: #116621 · Replies: 63 · Views: 71,228

Simon Kirby
Posted on: Jul 10 2017, 07:27 PM


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QUOTE (je suis Charlie @ Jul 10 2017, 06:35 PM) *
Proof? Evidence? Figures?

I think I read it in the Daily Mail.
  Forum: Random Rants · Post Preview: #116620 · Replies: 63 · Views: 71,228

Simon Kirby
Posted on: Jul 10 2017, 07:23 PM


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QUOTE (SirWilliam @ Jul 10 2017, 07:17 PM) *
On a side issue, though relevant to the original post, the problem has been exacerbated by those who think they know how to manage these things as opposed to actually knowing.

Yes, you said that, but you haven't shown that to be true, and your example of the traffic jams on the A303 being caused by the visitor center is not supported by the evidence.
  Forum: Random Rants · Post Preview: #116619 · Replies: 45 · Views: 128,758

Simon Kirby
Posted on: Jul 10 2017, 07:13 PM


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QUOTE (je suis Charlie @ Jul 10 2017, 07:56 PM) *
And water erosion, and frost erosion, oh and copper mining, lots n lots of that!

No, the landscape is basically glacial with U-shaped valleys.
  Forum: Random Rants · Post Preview: #116618 · Replies: 45 · Views: 128,758

Simon Kirby
Posted on: Jul 10 2017, 05:37 PM


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QUOTE (SirWilliam @ Jul 10 2017, 11:12 AM) *
This is why I cited Stonehenge as the model. When it was a few sarsen stones in a field visited by unruly school kids and a few odd bods who called themselves Druids / new age travellers etc it had little or no impact on either the local economy or traffic. Then the boys in beige built a monstrosity called a visitors centre, closed off a main road and caused a continual traffic jam ...

Sorry, but this isn't true. From Wikipedia:

QUOTE (Wikipedia A303 Road)
Since the 1950s, the A303 has been criticised for being inadequate for the level of traffic along it. In 1959, it was reported that a typical queue for holiday traffic along the road could be as much as 15 miles (24 km).[28] As of 2016, over 35 miles (56 km) of the road west of Amesbury remains single carriageway, interrupted by various sections of dual carriageway. The switches between the latter to the former act as bottlenecks and are major sources of congestion along the route.
  Forum: Random Rants · Post Preview: #116613 · Replies: 45 · Views: 128,758

Simon Kirby
Posted on: Jul 10 2017, 05:14 PM


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QUOTE (SirWilliam @ Jul 9 2017, 08:07 PM) *
Now I am all for conservation but history shows us that when we place these things in the hands of people who live miles away then it is a recipe for disaster, ( a bit like the pricks in Westminster ). Most people only visit the lakes in summer but it is a landscape forged by millenniums of weather, ( usually VERY wet ), hill farming and a singular lack of human intervention.

If I remember my O'level geography right, the Lake District is a landscape forged by glaciation rather than weather as such.

Do you have specific examples of "these things" that have ended in disaster at the "hands of people who live miles away"?
  Forum: Random Rants · Post Preview: #116611 · Replies: 45 · Views: 128,758

Simon Kirby
Posted on: Jul 10 2017, 05:07 PM


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QUOTE (TallDarkAndHandsome @ Jul 8 2017, 09:18 PM) *
As this job is based in London and white British people make up less than 50% of the capital now surely they are now an ethnic minority?

https://creativeaccess.org.uk/opportunity/t...duction-intern/

Also if I advertised for a job and said "whites only" what would the social and media reaction be? My guess is I'd end up being prosecuted. Odd world....

And I just noticed... PESTON

Black, Asian and other minority ethnicities are grossly underrepreented in the staff of the BBC, so there has been some long-standing institutional discrimination on the part of the BBC against employing BAME candidates, or else the opportunities have not been there for BAME candidates to qualify as the best candidates for the job, or both. Either way I can see the justice in positive discrimination to redress this.

OK, so an advert that so explicitly discriminates against people on the basis of their ethnicity is pretty objectionable if you believe in equality of opportunity, but all the same I can still see the justice in this.

However, the injustice that remains is that only candidates who are independently supported can accept an internship in London on £15k, so this kind of positive discrimination may possibly even out the institutional discrimination that has historically excluded BAME candidates from jobs at the Beeb, but it only reinforces the discrimination against candidates who aren't the children of rich parents.
  Forum: Random Rants · Post Preview: #116610 · Replies: 63 · Views: 71,228

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