Things Noticeable this week

[scoundrel]

Originally Posted by gordian_knot

This is how it always happens: the activists act and the bulk of the people are dragged behind, willy nilly. There wasn't a majority for the coup in Ukraine, the Act of Union, the Gulf War. Something becomes legitimate if the activists are successful and make it stick. Remember, the majority of Catalans wanted the referendum, even those opposed to independence, but it was denied by the Spanish government.

This is true. It is now up to the Spanish government to show enough resolution to make sure this does not stick. It is in effect a coup, and they need to suppress it, I devoutly hope without using excessive force; but a show of force will almost certainly be required as the Catalan government has already indicated that it will resist.

[cicciobuki]

Originally Posted by scoundrel

This is true. It is now up to the Spanish government to show enough resolution to make sure this does not stick. It is in effect a coup, and they need to suppress it, I devoutly hope without using excessive force; but a show of force will almost certainly be required as the Catalan government has already indicated that it will resist.

Oh, they're good at surpressing, they already showed that. Sadly they suck at everything else.

This mess is the Spanish governments own fault. They could learn from us Belgians here, by the way.
Instead of using violence and repression, the way to do it is to talk, negotiate and give the catalans something here and there (some symbolic things, some less important autonomy stuff) and keep them happy.

[Devius]

The Mail on Sunday reports on allegations that International Trade Minister Mark Garnier called Commons secretary Caroline Edmondson a sexist name and asked her to buy sex toys. Mr Garnier confirmed the claims to the paper but said the comment was part of an "amusing conversation" and asking her to buy sex toys was "good humoured high jinks".



Whatever happened to basic common sense?

[EDIT]Apparently the Cabinet Office is to investigate whether Mark Garnier broke the ministerial code after he admitted asking his former assistant to buy sex toys...so watch this space.

[Devius]

Originally Posted by cicciobuki

Oh, they're good at surpressing, they already showed that. Sadly they suck at everything else.

This mess is the Spanish governments own fault. They could learn from us Belgians here, by the way.
Instead of using violence and repression, the way to do it is to talk, negotiate and give the catalans something here and there (some symbolic things, some less important autonomy stuff) and keep them happy.

Quick question (which was raised on a BBC show last night):

if Catalonia continues to seek independence, what will their official currency be?
I'm guessing an independent Catalonia would be forced to leave the Eurozone, so will they revive the Catalan peseta? According to Wiki (and other sources on the internet), the peseta was a unit of currency in Catalonia until 1850:



Whatever their new currency is, it would be a certainty that Catalonia would face the prospect of bank runs, whereby the Catalans would be rushing to take their Euro savings out of Catalan banks, so that they’re not re-denominated in the new (and probably weaker) currency.

I recall the turmoil raised over this question during the referendum for an independent Scotland, so this is an interesting issue.

[gedly]

Originally Posted by Devius

The Mail on Sunday reports on allegations that International Trade Minister Mark Garnier called Commons secretary Caroline Edmondson a sexist name and asked her to buy sex toys. Mr Garnier confirmed the claims to the paper but said the comment was part of an "amusing conversation" and asking her to buy sex toys was "good humoured high jinks". Whatever happened to basic common sense?

This Jared O'Mara business really got me going. Men have smutty thoughts about female pop stars? Never! Are Girls Aloud too distraught with shock to comment on the fact that an MP once pulled his pud over them. I'm also pretty sure that Jared O'Mara isn't the only who thinks that the X Factor is rigged in favour of the fat, ugly ones.

One thing I hate about the BBC is its obsession with victimhood. Thing is, you're only a victim if you say what they want to hear.

[Devius]

Originally Posted by gedly

This Jared O'Mara business really got me going. Men have smutty thoughts about female pop stars? Never! Are Girls Aloud too distraught with shock to comment on the fact that an MP once pulled his pud over them. I'm also pretty sure that Jared O'Mara isn't the only who thinks that the X Factor is rigged in favour of the fat, ugly ones.

One thing I hate about the BBC is its obsession with victimhood. Thing is, you're only a victim if you say what they want to hear.

Methinks the BBC has thier own problems:

Radio 5 Live's George Riley suspended after sexual harassment complaints

The BBC Radio 5 Live sports presenter George Riley has been suspended by the broadcaster following complaints of sexual harassment.

Riley was due to cover the Rugby League World Cup for 5 Live, but was absent from the opening match between Australia and England on Friday and Saturday’s match between Wales and Papua New Guinea.

Riley did not respond to a request for comment, but he is understood to have been informed of his suspension on Friday morning. He presents the sports news on 5 Live’s breakfast show with Nicky Campbell and Rachel Burden. He was due to appear on Friday’s programme to discuss rugby league, and Campbell and Burden previewed his appearance during the show, but he never appeared.

Riley joined 5 Live, which is based in Salford, in 2004. He has also presented sports events on television for the BBC and fronted Channel 5’s Football on 5, which shows Football League highlights , between 2015 and 2017.

It is understood the BBC has received eight complaints about Riley and that they are being handled by the broadcaster’s internal corporate security and investigations team. The team is led by Carol Ann Kinley-Smith, a former Metropolitan police detective, and is currently handling various allegations of sexual harassment.

The BBC is expected to make a decision about Riley’s future following the inquiry.

Source:
https://www.theguardian.com/media/20...ent-complaints

[CARLTON BROWN]

Originally Posted by Devius

Apparently the Cabinet Office is to investigate whether Mark Garnier broke the ministerial code after he admitted asking his former assistant to buy sex toys...so watch this space.

For the last week or two, we've been told by the media - especially the BBC, how women are being constantly victimized in the workplace by sex obsessed bosses and senior staff.

Okay, I have seen this occasionally, but since Weinstein came to people's attention, sexual harassment has been being blown out of all proportion into something of epidemic proportions. The majority of women with half a brain know exactly how to deal with this kind of thing on a relatively low level and I would also mention that in the past, I've had to put up with many men and women in senior work positions who have simply been everything from obnoxious to bullies. That's the way of the world I'm afraid.

As for this latest crap about Mark Garnier asking his secretary to buy some sex toys, so what? If it was such a big deal for her, she simply had to say no. The majority of women I've worked with, who have generally been very smart and confident individuals would have found the whole thing highly amusing and not been offended in any real way.

[Devius]

Originally Posted by CARLTON BROWN

For the last week or two, we've been told by the media - especially the BBC, how women are being constantly victimized in the workplace by sex obsessed bosses and senior staff.

Okay, I have seen this occasionally, but since Weinstein came to people's attention, sexual harassment has been being blown out of all proportion into something of epidemic proportions. The majority of women with half a brain know exactly how to deal with this kind of thing on a relatively low level and I would also mention that in the past, I've had to put up with many men and women in senior work positions who have simply been everything from obnoxious to bullies. That's the way of the world I'm afraid.

As for this latest crap about Mark Garnier asking his secretary to buy some sex toys, so what? If it was such a big deal for her, she simply had to say no. The majority of women I've worked with, who have generally been very smart and confident individuals would have found the whole thing highly amusing and not been offended in any real way.

As I've said elsewhere on the VEF sexual harassment has been around long before Weinstein appeared, and will continue long after he becomes a memory. I'm also fed up with those tut-tutting when they should be turning the microscope to focus on the misogyny within their own professions (I see the BBC has gone quiet about the gender pay-gap these days).

But no matter how close or friendly Mark Garnier is/was with his secretary, as a minister for Her Majesty's Government, he should have applied some basic common sense and thought about whether there would be any negative feedback should his actions come to light.

I agree with you 100% that this is trivial, but MPs and Ministers will always be under the public spotlight.

After all Sir Peter John Viggers thought it was a good idea to claim £1,645 in MP expenses for a "floating duck island", and look what happened to him....

[Devius]

Holy $hit...

Hollywood star Kevin Spacey has made an apology after being accused of making a sexual advance toward a child actor.

Anthony Rapp, who was 14, said Spacey invited him to a party and seemed drunk when the alleged incident happened.

Spacey, who was then 26, said: "I honestly do not remember the encounter, it would have been over 30 years ago.

"But if I did behave then as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behaviour."

Rapp says he is sharing the story now after the Harvey Weinstein scandal.

Details:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-41799026

[philll_77]

Originally Posted by Devius

Rapp says he is sharing the story now after the Harvey Weinstein scandal.

More likely he thinks there's a cheque with his name on it...