One of my oldest and dearest friends has gone public on his support for Scottish Independence. I am greatly cheered by this. More thoughts later.
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While there are those who contribute to this blog who would discard all Russia Today reports this one is quite similar to MSM which appears to catching up a bit, probably because it too has a reputation which has fallen into disrepute over recent years. Further it includes reference to Craig Murray’s evidence to the Commission on Torture.
http://rt.com/news/blair-cia-kidnap-program-713/
Sorry, not the Commission on Torture but the Joint Committee on Human Rights regarding torture.
Mr Scorgie
“Perhaps you could provide links to prove your case”
______________
“Let us say, Mr Scorgie, for the sake of argument, that I posted to the effect that the Jews were the source of all evil, and supplied quotations from “Mein Kampf” as links.”
“Would I have proved my case by providing those links?”
Habbabkuk I’m sure there are extreme right-wingers that would quote from Mein Kampf but, as you know, it proves nothing.
_______________________
Exactly, Mr Scorgie, that’s precisely what I was getting at : links by themselves prove nothing.
Why, then, you somewhat tiresome pleas for links, links, and still more links?
Would not your energies be better channeled into assessing the quality of any links supplied – even if that meant upsetting your fellow Eminences?
How would a partial subscription charge for the NHS improve healthcare and treatment of patients?
Mr Scorgie
A short while ago I posted “The earth revolves around the sun”.
I should like to thank you for – exceptionally – NOT asking me to provide a link.
Some signs of progress there..
Please provide links to support the assertion that Doug is showing signs of progress.
Of course it’s difficult to deny the Sun is the center of the Solar system now, just as we now know tomatoes are not poisonous. But the ignorant still hold sway on their intransigence wrt to matters they can thinly deny without abject embarrassment.
”
The unsigned document according to which Galileo was prohibited from teaching the Copernican theory:
Special Injunction (26 February 1616)
Friday, the 26th of the same month.
At the palace of the usual residence of the said Most Illustrious Lord Cardinal Bellarmine and in the chambers of His most Illustrious Lordship, and fully in the presence of the Reverend Father Michelangelo Segizzi of Lodi, O.P. and Commissary General of the Holy Office, having summoned the above-mentioned Galileo before himself, the same Most Illustrious Lord Cardinal warned Galileo that the above-mentioned opinion was erroneous and that he should abandon it; and thereafter, indeed immediately, before me and witnesses, the Most-Illustrious Lord Cardinal himself being also present still, the aforesaid Father Commissary, in the name of His Holiness the Pope and the whole Congregation of the Holy Office, ordered and enjoined the said Galileo, who was himself still present, to abandon completely the above-mentioned opinion that the sun stands still at the center of the world and the earth moves, and henceforth not to hold, teach, or defend in any way whatever, either orally or in writing; otherwise the Holy Office would start proceedings against him. The same Galileo acquiesced in this injunction and promised to obey.
Done in Rome at the place mentioned above, in the presence, as witnesses, of the Reverend Badino Nores of Nicosia in the kingdom of Cyprus and Agostino Mongardo from the Abbey of Rose in the diocese of Montepulciano, both belonging to the household of the said Most Illustrious Lord Cardinal.”
“without abject embarrassment” Heh. What am I saying? They are invulnerable to shame and embarrassment, as we’ve had reinforced in the past few days. 🙂
Goss
“While there are those who contribute to this blog who would discard all Russia Today reports this one is quite similar to MSM which appears to catching up a bit, probably because it too has a reputation which has fallen into disrepute over recent years. ”
Except that the anonymous source gave the story to the Telegraph and RT is merely
reporting on it.
“But the ignorant still hold sway on their intransigence wrt to matters they can thinly deny without abject embarrassment.”
Another classic. I’m framing them and hanging a series in the lavatory for guests to enjoy.
Clark
“How would a partial subscription charge for the NHS improve healthcare and treatment of patients?”
__________________
Clark, you’re missing the point.
Introducing such a charge would neither, of itself, improve or worsen the NHS; it would however, if other spending levels were maintained, provide more money for the NHS.
I think you’ve missed the point because my original post underwent a diversion for which Technicolour is largely to blame. I had pointed out that the monthly charge suggested an idea by Lord Someone or other (I forget his name) was merely a variant on how the healthcare systems current in all western European countries are (partially) financed; and I concluded by observing that those systems seem to work perfectly well. Technicolour responded by posted his link to an article in the Telegraph which referred to a report lauding the NHS. That response was not an answer to the points I had made, but instead attempted to take the discussion along the path of “where is healthcare better or best”.
Now as to Technicolour’s link itself. This was an article based on a certain report (which was not referenced properly, as it happens). A read through the numerous comments to which that article gave rise reveals the following salient points (I only take up a couple of them, and it would only be fair to say that those points were challenged by other commenters on the article):
– the report on which the Telegraph article was based only dealt with the excellence (or otherwise) of the NHS in the matter of chronic illness
– there are other reports, most notably by the OECD and the European Commission, which appear to establish that the UK’s NHS does not do so well in the provision of healthcare
– this is in part because the indicators in those other reports cover a wider field of inquiry; for example, they include preventive healthcare, non-chronic illness healthcare and healthcare outcomes (eg, for various forms of cancer).
Had I read all the comments, I would no doubt also have found elements similar to those some other posters here on this blog have pointed to – eg the question of expectations.
This is why I advised Technicolour not to pin his colours to firmly to the mast of that Telegraph article and the report on which it was based. But, as I’ve said, it is in any case diversionary to attempt to take the discussion along the lines of “free at the point of use makes for a better health service” when the starting point was simply to note that a “patient pays something at the point of use” system is common currency in continental Europe.
Hope that helped.
Anon
“Please provide links to support the assertion that Doug is showing signs of progress.”
______________
You’ve got me there, Anon!! 🙂
Wild and unfounded speculation.
“Another classic. I’m framing them and hanging a series in the lavatory for guests to enjoy.”
Don’t forget the postcript. The quote isn’t complete without it. I wouldn’t advise placing it near the WC. Constricted sphincters don’t ease the constipation.
An additional funding method for the NHS would need new administration facilities thus increasing costs. The article linked by Technicolour suggests that the NHS is already cost effective.
If it ain’t broken, don’t fix it.
If you think the NHS needs more money, it could simply be allocated more money via the current funding routes. On what grounds are you advocating a change in the way the NHS is funded?
All these bankers seem to have more insider knowledge that is inconvenient.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-04-07/ceo-liechtenstein-bank-frick-murdered
Oops
Things fall apart…
“Donetsk separatists declare independence, set May 11 as date of referendum”
“The latest development in Donetsk is an indication that the (Kiev) government is losing its grip over eastern parts of the country fast, despite its attempts to keep a straight face.”
http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/donetsk-separatists-declare-independence-set-may-11-as-date-of-referendum-342366.html
What looks to be happening is that the economically viable parts of former Ukraine are joining Russia, leaving the EU to fund and live with the backward fascist bits.
And all Putin has to do is let entropy do its work.
These neocons who are running the west aren’t very bright, are they.
After three spectacular losses in a row, surely we ought to be thinking of a change of management for our team. Our present lot just aren’t world class, are they.
I’m sure we can all agree on that.
“Wild and unfounded speculation.”
____________
I fear you are, as so often, absolutely right!
Hurby
“After three spectacular losses in a row, surely we ought to be thinking of a change of management for our team.”
___________________
Aren’t you being slightly illogical with yourself, Herbie? By calling for a change of management, you appear to be asking for a better, sharper management. That better, sharper management might just get the better of your hero rasPutin in future. Is that what you’re hoping for? If it is, then I might just have to withdraw the charge of blind anti-Westernism with which I’ve taxed you in the
past.
And now, stop being such a chump.
From a quick check of the DNS etc they seem to be a strange lot – “Best Companies Ltd”. They have FIVE Mail Exchange (MX) servers for that domain. That’s ridiculous overkill and I have to wonder what that’s for. These servers are also on four different subnets and are configured to support encrypted email (STARTTLS) (although that’s become more common recently).
I have found at least two ?brothers*, running a variety of management consultancy-type outfits, with various holdings and an LLP or two, at a Wrexham address. Capitalisation isn’t huge. No names, and no packdrill, but that’s enough data, Squonk. Another director in the group seems to spend his time travelling the world and handing out prizes to ‘good’ employers – what this means is currently undefined – but the prizes seem to be paid for by other people.
*Might account for the similarity of style.
Clark
“If you think the NHS needs more money, it could simply be allocated more money via the current funding routes. On what grounds are you advocating a change in the way the NHS is funded?”
_________________
Clark, you aren’t listening. I am not advocating anything; if you had bothered to read my posts carefully, you would have noticed that I was commenting on the suggestion made by Lord X by pointing out that financial participation by the patient at the point of care is an established feature of western European health care systems. Or can’t you understand my English?
As to your “if it ain’t broken claim” – I’d be careful about following up on that argument if I were you. A system where, apparently, you are lucky to be able to get an appointment with your GP in the same week (it probably won’t even be with your own GP) or where (as I saw the other week when on a visit)these “NHS walk-in centres” or whatever they’re called are overflowing with people whose expressions indicate that they’ve been there for several hours, does not appear at first sight to be a system to be proud of. Continental Europeans wouldn’t be.
Anon,
“Except that the anonymous source gave the story to the Telegraph and RT is merely reporting on it.
Please point me to the place in the Telegraph article which RT copied to make reference to our blog leader.
“In 2009, former ambassador to Uzbekistan and former Rector of the University of Dundee, Craig Murray, gave evidence to the Joint Committee on Human Rights that:
“When in early March 2003, at the meeting in London, I was told that it was now policy to accept intelligence that may have been obtained from torture I was very surprised. I was told directly that that had been agreed, that it had the authority of the secretary of state and had come from Jack Straw. I was told that he had discussed it at a meeting with Sir Richard Dearlove.”
However, he did state that while a CIA operative had been in attendance at an interrogation session and MI6 had received information via the CIA, there had “on occasion” been instructions not to use evidence obtained through torture. “
Habbabkuk, since you seem incapable of understanding context,
if the funding method ain’t broken, don’t spend money on fixing it.
Dear, oh dear.
No, habby. A sharper western management wouldn’t involve itself in these zero sum games, especially with the sun in their eyes and the wind at their opponents back.
Insofar as sensible European leadership is acutely aware of this problematic, we must conclude that the US neocon agenda is antithetical to European interests.
” I am not advocating anything”
I can see the epitaph now.
John Goss
Since you acknowledge that our MSM produced a story that was critical of our governance, which was then duly reported by RT, could you please let us know where in the Russian MSM we can find stories that are critical of the Russian regime?
Perhaps you could point us to something regarding the Russian government stirring up unrest in Western Ukraine in order to provide a pretext for further land grabs. Or where they comment on the resolve of the Ukrainian authorities in not rising to such provocation.
Further to b.co.uk …
It’s part of the JH Austin Group, and JHA does IT, which I guess accounts for its high count of mailservers:
http://www.jh-austin.co.uk/WhatWeDo.aspx
Lists its people on another page on-site….
Crawford will retire in a few years. Get your apologies ready. 🙂
They’re Microsoft Certified Partners, so the high licensing costs of multiple servers providing access to Legions of meat-puppets to ply their trade and test newly configured intrusion programs.
http://www.jh-austin.co.uk/News.aspx