General News Discussion

[eFestivals]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtyKofFih8Y

laugh? or cry..?

laugh my tits off.

It's easy for Morgan to look incredibly reasonable alongside that nutter.

[Guest]

laugh my tits off.

It's easy for Morgan to look incredibly reasonable alongside that nutter.

[zero000]

There's a very interesting article by Monbiot in today's Guardian, which is putting forwards the idea that the rise in violent crime during the 20 century, and it's subsequent recent fall, is all the result of lead poisoning (from petrol, pipes, and paint).

I've no idea how solid that idea might end up being (there's an amount of uncertainty about it currently), but it certainly seems to make logical sense.

The article is here:-

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/07/violent-crime-lead-poisoning-british-export

[eFestivals]

His article is based on this article in Mother jones (never heard of it before): http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2013/01/lead-crime-link-gasoline

thanks for that, it's a further interesting read.

[zero000]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtyKofFih8Y

laugh? or cry..?

[eFestivals]

mmmm, more fruitcake please mother.

[fred quimby]

There's a very interesting article by Monbiot in today's Guardian, which is putting forwards the idea that the rise in violent crime during the 20 century, and it's subsequent recent fall, is all the result of lead poisoning (from petrol, pipes, and paint).

I've no idea how solid that idea might end up being (there's an amount of uncertainty about it currently), but it certainly seems to make logical sense.

The article is here:-

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/07/violent-crime-lead-poisoning-british-export

[TalkShow Bob]

His article is based on this article in Mother jones (never heard of it before): http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2013/01/lead-crime-link-gasoline'>http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2013/01/lead-crime-link-gasoline I haven't looked at the studies myself but it does seem quite a compelling argument if the article hasn't overstated the findings of some of the studies. Particularly the state by state correlation of declining lead use and a corresponding drop in crime 20 years later.

[eFestivals]

It's a left wing American political mag...

that probably actually equates to it being middle ground (seeing as it's yank), which probably makes it the most unbiased and accurate publication in the USA.

[zero000]

It's a left wing American political mag, named after Ma Jones the famous strike leader and 'most dangerous woman in America'.

[TheGayTent]

Jessops going bust?

Edited January 9, 2013 by TheGayTent

[5co77ie]

Play.com has cited the closure of the Low Value Consignment Relief loophole as damaging its retail business and announced that it will shut down its direct retail business and become a marketplace only business

[5co77ie]

Proper punk!

Former Dr Feelgood guitarist turned solo artist Wilko Johnson has reportedly been diagnosed with terminal cancer and has chosen not to undertake chemotherapy, vowing to rock on for as long as possible and 'party where he can'.

The news was printed in the Southend Echo earlier today, and has seen a lot of fans posting about the sad news on social networks.

65-year-old Johnson was forced to pull out of a sold-out homecoming gig last minute back in November, after falling ill and being rushed to hospital in Southend. He was soon released, however doctors were required to perform a number of tests on him with results delivering the worst possible diagnosis of untreatable pancreatic cancer earlier this month.

Source: http://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/176753/9#ixzz2HUgtO8gR

[thetime]

Jessops going bust?

[The Nal]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20966790

Andrew Marr suffers stroke... That's a bit shit... Good luck to him!

[zero000]

Stress related? Hes had a rough couple of years.

[zero000]

Also here's a really good article about the benefit cuts the government passed yesterday: http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/the-welfare-bill-a-government-of-millionaires-just-made-the-poor-poorer--and-laughed-as-they-did-it-8443619.html

[TalkShow Bob]

Play.com has cited the closure of the Low Value Consignment Relief loophole as damaging its retail business and announced that it will shut down its direct retail business and become a marketplace only business

[abdoujaparov]

That's good news. That tax loophole was the last nail in the coffin to lots of independent record stores. No sympathy here, would be happy to see them go bust too.

[Rufus Gwertigan]

Or the consumers choice was to blame... We have chosen to shop at Supermarkets and on the net at the expense of local traders.

I don't deny tax loop holes have an impact, they do, but solely to blame ? Not even nearly... We value the base price of a product over the other things you can get from independent traders.

EDIT: Saying this modern independent traders can be more hassle than they are worth on factors which they used to be good at. Returning something to Amazon is pretty easy... Returning something to a local small trader can be more than problematic....

[eFestivals]

Good example of how tax rules impact real business. Not saying its right or wrong but jobs are on the line when playing with these rules.

Jobs come and go even if the tax rules don't change.

And if the negative affects get to rule the roost by stopping changes happening, then we're completely fucked as a society.

In this particular instance, the death of Play - jobs included - is without doubt a positive thing for the UK. The UK is no longer allowing itself to be fucked over by this particular outdated tax rule.

[thetime]

But usually it is due to them choosing the apparently cheaper option and convenience.

[t8yman]

play used to be great, back in the day when you could buy R1 dvds from the usa, since then its just amazon lite. and amazon dont take 8 days to get a cd to you.

[Rufus Gwertigan]

Shock horror people purchasing the same product cheaper elsewhere.

Just purchased a compact camera of amazon for £220 with £40 cashback and the same camera was £254 in jessops.

High street will need to start using the imagination as gwnerally people will go for the cheaper option.

[thetime]

I agree that is why I said apparently. Our area is flooded with the big Asian shops and their fruit and veg can be half the price what the supermarkets charge. The only problem is you have to buy shed loads of the stuff.