A Brit Abroad

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My name is Terry and I'm a 50 something year old dis-enchanted ex-pat Brit living in Cyprus. Why am I dis-enchanted? You'll find reasons enough throughout my tumble log, along with quirky items that amused me and things I think need highlighting, and occasional quotes from some of my favourite novels. Oh, and maybe some original work of my own.

For my personal family blog please visit me at
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CARE: Defending dignity. Fighting poverty.


Tue Aug 25
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Taleb: Our Leadership Is "Literally Incompetent". They Are Making Things Worse and "Rewarding The People Who Got Us Here"

skylounge:

from Washington’s Blog

Nassim Nicholas Taleb told it straight on CNBC today, saying:

  • We still have leadership that’s literally incompetent
    The government doesn’t see the problem. They are just applying patches.
  • The risks to the economy that were there before are still there. In fact, the risk to the economy is probably worse now than before. Fewer people employed today with same level of debt. We are just converting private debt into government debt.
  • Government has a lack of understanding of the disease. The government is treating a guy with lung cancer for a headache. Government hasn’t recognized problem of deleveraging. Structural changes have not been addressed. They’re not working on a cure. Not working to remove tumor
  • Obama has rewarded the people who got us there.
  • Giving Bernanke and the Fed more power would be like rewarding a school bus driver who crashed the bus.

    Watch the interview:

Original Link

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EARTHQUAKE!!!

We just had a 4.5M earthquake, epicentre was only a couple of kilometers from here. No damage other than to my underpants.

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Mon Aug 24
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this would be a big adjustment

abbyjean:

As reported in today’s Wall Street Journal, the Samoan prime minister has ordered a switch from driving on the right (a la the U.S. and most of the rest of the world) to driving on the left (a la Britain and its former colonies). The idea is that because Australia and New Zealand do it in the British style, the switch will make it easier and cheaper for Samoans to purchase used cars. The prime minister has also claimed that driving on the left could help more people escape tsunamis. (I’m having some trouble following the logic of that claim. Maybe you had to be there.) Opponents envision tremendous carnage as a consequence of the changeover, as well as a steep decline in the resale value of the cars that are currently in use in Samoa. The change is supposed to take place next month. (monkey cage)

Actually this belief that most of the world drive on the right and only a few ‘odd’ countries drive on the left is completely wrong. In fact around 40% of the world still drive on the left. UK, Eire, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Africa (in fact the whole of southern Africa), India, Pakistan, Cyprus, Bangladesh, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and several more I can’t remember at the moment but totalling 75 countries.

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Dog Humiliated In Front Of Entire Park | The Onion - America’s Finest News Source
CONCORD, NH—Banjo, a local border collie mix and loyal human companion, was utterly humiliated Tuesday, when his owner, 34-year-old Michael Ingram, loudly scolded the dog right in the middle of Cold Brook Park.
“Down, boy, down! What did I tell you about barking at those birds?” yelled Ingram, the dog’s supposed best friend, right in front of several other dogs, many of whom Banjo knew. “Look at me, Banjo. No more of that, okay? Just knock it off.”

Dog Humiliated In Front Of Entire Park | The Onion - America’s Finest News Source

CONCORD, NH—Banjo, a local border collie mix and loyal human companion, was utterly humiliated Tuesday, when his owner, 34-year-old Michael Ingram, loudly scolded the dog right in the middle of Cold Brook Park.

“Down, boy, down! What did I tell you about barking at those birds?” yelled Ingram, the dog’s supposed best friend, right in front of several other dogs, many of whom Banjo knew. “Look at me, Banjo. No more of that, okay? Just knock it off.”

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In an extraordinary decision, Judge Camarata denied the Burkes’ right to the child because of their lack of belief in a Supreme Being. Despite the Burkes’ “high moral and ethical standards,” he said, the New Jersey state constitution declares that “no person shall be deprived of the inestimable privilege of worshiping Almighty God in a manner agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience.” Despite Eleanor Katherine’s tender years, he continued, “the child should have the freedom to worship as she sees fit, and not be influenced by prospective parents who do not believe in a Supreme Being.

The Law: Can Atheists Be Parents? - TIME MAGAZINE
(via chvnx)

I’m an atheist and a good parent.  What the hell happened to the separation of church and state.  No court has the right to do what that judge did.  What about crazy fundamentalists who raise kids to hate?  That’s okay?

This world has gone nuts.

(via jmarie3) (via terryblakey)

Anyone notice the date on the article? Dec. 07, 1970

(via retropolitics)

I didn’t notice the date and now that I’ve investigated a bit further I’ve found that the ruling was later overturned

I think what’s interesting though is that none of us were particularly surprised to read of this and it serves as a sad reflection on today’s society that it should be so.

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