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speedingpullet
Participant{sigh}….I should be at Glastonbury….
…. a merry Midsummer Eve to you all.
Participant{sigh}….I should be at Glastonbury….
…. a merry Midsummer Eve to you all.
Participantdrunkle said:
indians and pakistanis aren’t really asian. siberians are more asian than indian or pakistanis, at least, in the mongoloid respect. imo.Depends on where you come from Drunkle.
“Asian”, in the UK, is someone exclusively from the Indian Subcontinent – ie Sri Lankan, Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, and sometimes also Nepali and/or Bhutani.
People from parts of the world that Americans call “Asia” are normally called by thier country of ancestry/origin – ie Laotian, Vietnamese, Japanese, etc..
When India became independant, the UK saw a huge amount of immigrants from that part of the world – and not so many from what the US considers ‘Asia’. London does have the largest Vietnamese population in Europe, but immigrants from (US) ‘Asia’ are very few in comparison to the ones from the Indian Subcontinent.
Anyway, FYI
Participantdrunkle said:
indians and pakistanis aren’t really asian. siberians are more asian than indian or pakistanis, at least, in the mongoloid respect. imo.Depends on where you come from Drunkle.
“Asian”, in the UK, is someone exclusively from the Indian Subcontinent – ie Sri Lankan, Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, and sometimes also Nepali and/or Bhutani.
People from parts of the world that Americans call “Asia” are normally called by thier country of ancestry/origin – ie Laotian, Vietnamese, Japanese, etc..
When India became independant, the UK saw a huge amount of immigrants from that part of the world – and not so many from what the US considers ‘Asia’. London does have the largest Vietnamese population in Europe, but immigrants from (US) ‘Asia’ are very few in comparison to the ones from the Indian Subcontinent.
Anyway, FYI
ParticipantI taught basic math at both middle school and junior college level, and (gasp) didn’t allow calcuators in my class.
Its amazing the amount of panic you can engender by saying ‘put that away, you won’t need it’ – calculators have become a crutch for almost everybody.
OK – I was nice -once we got to the part where we used real numbers in decimal fractions, I let them use calculators.
Call me a push-over 😉
ParticipantI taught basic math at both middle school and junior college level, and (gasp) didn’t allow calcuators in my class.
Its amazing the amount of panic you can engender by saying ‘put that away, you won’t need it’ – calculators have become a crutch for almost everybody.
OK – I was nice -once we got to the part where we used real numbers in decimal fractions, I let them use calculators.
Call me a push-over 😉
ParticipantMeh, your great-great-grandparents were bitchin about the Irish, your great-grandparents about the Polish, your grandparents about the Jews and your parents about the 1960’s…..to every generation, a new immigrant ‘problem’.
I know its a serious issue, but I really do find it ironic that in a country – where 99% of the population come from somewhere else – there’s so much outrage that people from other countries have the temerity to try and do what your ancestors did.
Oh, the Horror!!
Don’t try and tell me that all your ancestors came here ‘by-the-book’, because its not true. I know mine came here every which-way, thier only excuse being that they did it long enough ago to be considered ‘legit’ now.
Unless you’re pureblood Native American then at some point in the last 400 years, one of your ancestors spoke a language other than English and/or was born in another country.And, as an interesting aside – the ‘baying for blood’ volume is in direct correlation to the state of the economy – when I first moved back here 7 years ago, no one had anything to say about immigration.
Now, I can’t turn on the TV without someone frothing at the mouth about ‘illegal aliens’- but now things have gone to hell in a handbasket over here, and someone is to blame. Typical ‘kick the dog’ mentality.
And as for the tired old ‘they’re using our health/school/welfare system!!’ – maybe you should be directing some of that ire towards the huge enormous scam that is the Insurance companies/Big pharma….why does it cost so much more for healthcare in the US than it does, say, in the UK? The UK is hardly 3rd World, yet it does a much better job for about the same tax money, per capita.
On a more practical note and ignoring the Moral Panic a moment… how much will it cost to deport 12 million people? Detention centers, more ICE enployees, etc… is it less or more expensive than bringing in a sensible immigration policy and enforcing the laws that already exist?
As the wife of an ‘immigrant’ I have to say that US polices are very, very broken – despite my husband being head-hunted to come and work here- and the majority of the paperwork being dealt with by his company, it still took 6 years (and 2 overnight ‘campouts’ in front of the Los Angeles INS building, plus two overseas trips to exit/enter the US for visa requirements ) from his intiital application to him getting his Green Card.
God only knows how long it takes, how expensive and frustrating it would be to try and do it on your own, espcecially if you’re in low paying unskilled work.
Don’t get me wrong – I’m not saying we should do nothing, but it really chaps my hide to hear the amount of jingoistic and xenophobic $rap that’s been flying around recently – losing every single ‘illegal alien’ tomorrow will not make America any better than it is today. The illegal ‘problem’ is a symptom, not the underlying illness.
Enforce the laws that exist – fine employers who use illgal labour, bring in ID cards linked to the INS system.
Allow only spouses and children of people working here long-term (2 or more years) entry and issue short-term (6 months out of 1 year) guest worker visas for people ( without thier families) to the many thousands who come here to work seasonally.
Make it easier to work here legaly, and far fewer people will come (with thier extended families) through the underground. Far fewer will overstay thier welcome if they know that it won’t be a years long, life-and-death struggle to re-enter the next time.BTW – don’t know if anyone watches Penn & Teller’s ‘Bull$%it!” on Showtime.
A couple of weeks back, on their ‘Immigration’ programme they hired some illegal aliens to build a section of wall similar to the border fences going up.
After building it, the construction workers were asked to try and get past it- fastest time – about 5 minutes with the help of some tin snips…The border fence is at best only a psychological barrier. At worst, an insane amount of money for about 5 minutes of stoppage time for someone crossing the border ilegally.
And – the Foreman who recruited the workers (at a local hardware store) was also a Foreman on the section of fence built near San Diego. According him, his construction company was fined over 50 times for using illegal construction workers to build the Border Fence…. 😉
ParticipantMeh, your great-great-grandparents were bitchin about the Irish, your great-grandparents about the Polish, your grandparents about the Jews and your parents about the 1960’s…..to every generation, a new immigrant ‘problem’.
I know its a serious issue, but I really do find it ironic that in a country – where 99% of the population come from somewhere else – there’s so much outrage that people from other countries have the temerity to try and do what your ancestors did.
Oh, the Horror!!
Don’t try and tell me that all your ancestors came here ‘by-the-book’, because its not true. I know mine came here every which-way, thier only excuse being that they did it long enough ago to be considered ‘legit’ now.
Unless you’re pureblood Native American then at some point in the last 400 years, one of your ancestors spoke a language other than English and/or was born in another country.And, as an interesting aside – the ‘baying for blood’ volume is in direct correlation to the state of the economy – when I first moved back here 7 years ago, no one had anything to say about immigration.
Now, I can’t turn on the TV without someone frothing at the mouth about ‘illegal aliens’- but now things have gone to hell in a handbasket over here, and someone is to blame. Typical ‘kick the dog’ mentality.
And as for the tired old ‘they’re using our health/school/welfare system!!’ – maybe you should be directing some of that ire towards the huge enormous scam that is the Insurance companies/Big pharma….why does it cost so much more for healthcare in the US than it does, say, in the UK? The UK is hardly 3rd World, yet it does a much better job for about the same tax money, per capita.
On a more practical note and ignoring the Moral Panic a moment… how much will it cost to deport 12 million people? Detention centers, more ICE enployees, etc… is it less or more expensive than bringing in a sensible immigration policy and enforcing the laws that already exist?
As the wife of an ‘immigrant’ I have to say that US polices are very, very broken – despite my husband being head-hunted to come and work here- and the majority of the paperwork being dealt with by his company, it still took 6 years (and 2 overnight ‘campouts’ in front of the Los Angeles INS building, plus two overseas trips to exit/enter the US for visa requirements ) from his intiital application to him getting his Green Card.
God only knows how long it takes, how expensive and frustrating it would be to try and do it on your own, espcecially if you’re in low paying unskilled work.
Don’t get me wrong – I’m not saying we should do nothing, but it really chaps my hide to hear the amount of jingoistic and xenophobic $rap that’s been flying around recently – losing every single ‘illegal alien’ tomorrow will not make America any better than it is today. The illegal ‘problem’ is a symptom, not the underlying illness.
Enforce the laws that exist – fine employers who use illgal labour, bring in ID cards linked to the INS system.
Allow only spouses and children of people working here long-term (2 or more years) entry and issue short-term (6 months out of 1 year) guest worker visas for people ( without thier families) to the many thousands who come here to work seasonally.
Make it easier to work here legaly, and far fewer people will come (with thier extended families) through the underground. Far fewer will overstay thier welcome if they know that it won’t be a years long, life-and-death struggle to re-enter the next time.BTW – don’t know if anyone watches Penn & Teller’s ‘Bull$%it!” on Showtime.
A couple of weeks back, on their ‘Immigration’ programme they hired some illegal aliens to build a section of wall similar to the border fences going up.
After building it, the construction workers were asked to try and get past it- fastest time – about 5 minutes with the help of some tin snips…The border fence is at best only a psychological barrier. At worst, an insane amount of money for about 5 minutes of stoppage time for someone crossing the border ilegally.
And – the Foreman who recruited the workers (at a local hardware store) was also a Foreman on the section of fence built near San Diego. According him, his construction company was fined over 50 times for using illegal construction workers to build the Border Fence…. 😉
ParticipantRustico – there are several beuatiful examples of ‘underground’ houses in the UK.
Here’s one featured on the Uk’s Channel 4 recently – http://tinyurl.com/2sgtsl
The one I like the best – but can’t find a link for – is a huge circular house, lined with windows and skylights, which only juts up about 4 foot above what looks like a normal field. Underneath is a 4000 sq ft house that uses minimal energy to heat/cool – with good insulation(!) and lots of natural light. Above, sheep graze on the ‘roof’. I’d love a place like that…
My only problem here in CA would be the risk of a big quake, but its just one of many, many different ways of building a house.
Funnily enough, as i write this, the guys next door are erecting the framework for my next-door-neighbour’s extension. The work looks OK, but obviously doesn’t include insulation in the new walls or roof, nor any provision for solar panels.
Wonder what the cost breakdown would be for building it more ‘green’, as compared with the heating/ac bills they’ll be paying for it in the future?
Participantquerty007 – let us know how it goes!
We’re very interested, eventually, in building our own eco-friendly place, but as first-time buyers this time, we’ll probably renovate a ‘fixer’ for full insulation/solar etc…so any leads and/or references would be greatly appreciated.One thing I saw recently that really piqued my interest was using recycled shipping containers for pre-fabs. A lot of them come fully insulated, with A/C and hardwood floors, and only get used once or twice before being dumped at the port of entry. You can buy 6 or 7 of them and modify them to make a great house, plus you’d be helping with the environment as they’re just sitting around taking up room.
There’s an architect that specalises in modifying them – I found a lot of good info about it on Tree Hugger:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/01/shipping_contai.phpAnyway good luck and please share your tips and tricks!
May 11, 2007 at 11:24 AM in reply to: OT: Relationship advice, tips on how to get over an ex… #52481ParticipantWhat GoesUp – I was in the same situation, just before I met the man who became my husband. Its true, if cliched, that time heals all wounds. It WILL get better, but in the meatime there’s lots of things to do to make yourself feel ‘human’ again
Do things that make you feel great physically – there’s no better antidote to the depression and lack of self-worth you feel – no matter who broke up with whom – than feeling and looking fit and healthy. Turning heads is a huge psychological rush, and even if you don’t feel like following up on anything at the moment, its great to know that other people find you attractive.
Its a way of showing love for yourself – if you feel anything like I did when I broke up with my old boyfriend, I needed to spend time just being nice to myself, because no matter how ‘amicable’ the break-up, theres always a tendency to feel a bit worthless and unlovable. You’re neither – you attracted this woman in the first place, and you’ll attract other women again, in time. Take care of yourself both mentally and physically, and you’ll soon rebound, bigger, stronger, faster, smarter…
Spend time on reinforcing your old friendships, and making platonic new ones. The old adage ‘friends will get you through times of no lovers, but lovers will never get you through times of no friends’ is so true.
Laughter is incredibly healthy, and just getting out and talking to people about stuff other than your own problems really helps to clear the cobwebs out. I found talking to people about their own lives and problems helped me put my own troubles in perspective. I found it all too easy to sit and brood about ‘what if..?’ when being on my own, but found being surrounded by good friends and just chewing the fat incredibly theraputic. Good friends are the best medicine you can have.
And, as hard as it may be, cut off as much contact with her, her friends, places you used to go together, etc…if she keeps on ringing you up wanting to ‘just be friends’ tell her that, at the moment, that’s just not possible for you. If she truly does want to be a friend, then she’ll understand.
If she doesn’t, then recognise that thats her problem – she doesn’t want to give up on the relationship, no matter how damaging it is to both of you. She’s probably just repeating old patterns you both used to fall into, beacuse she’s so used to it – she doesn’t know how to react to you in any other way. She’s not your girlfriend any more, so you don’t have to dance the tired old dance anymore. She’s only human, too, so recognise that her perception may be as out of whack as yours is at the moment.
Judging from what you’ve been saying about your conversations with her recently, she doesn’t seem to clear on what she wants either. All this chatter about ‘you’re insecure’ and ‘going out and having fun in Vegas’ sounds like her mechanism for coping. Know it for what it is – her stuff – don’t get sucked back into it, and look after yourself.
Not to say that you have to exclude her forever – but until you can walk around places you went to/seeing her and her friends without feeling like a trainwreck inside, then you’ll be doing yourself a favour by staying away.
Chances are, down the line, you’ll meet up again and wonder what all the fuss was about.
I really like my ex now – but I wonder, when I compare the relationship I had with him to the relationship I have with my husband now, if I wouldn’t have made a huge mistake by staying with my ex, had the opportunity arisen.
The ex is a genuinely nice guy, but I thank my lucky stars that our breakup directly led to my meeting my husband – 8 years down the line, I wouldn’t take all the Tea in China for having my ex back, over my husband.Anyway, I’m sure that I haven’t said anything that the others haven’t said already.
Yes, you will feel like you’ve been shot in the chest for a while – losing a relationship is one of the biggest life stresses there is, short of the death of a child/parent/partner. Sometimes, its incredibly hard to bounce back, but bear with it, and be kind to youself.
I can’t stress that enough – just be gentle and kind to yourself.And – ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you strong’. It may feel like the end of your world at the moment, but try and see it as an oportuntiy to find out what you want from a relationship, what’s important to you. Sounds cold, but reflecting on your own wants and needs will make you a more rounded person, better suited to give love to another, when the time is right.
Personally, I don’t trust anyone who hasn’t had a devastating breakup – it really is character building, no matter how crappy it feels at the time. Nothing like personal meltdown for empathising with others troubles.Good luck mate.
ParticipantThe guy was sick. Not ‘ooo…my leg’s broken’ sick, but sick nonetheless.
Evil, no, crazy, yes.
Hitler was evil, Idi Amin was evil – this guy was a psychotic loon.He was involutarily sectioned back in 2005 and lied on his gun application about the fact. Three of his professors voiced doubt about his ability to perform and fit in, and nothing was done about it.
It’s too easy to label something you don’t understand as ‘evil’ – its a copout.
No, I’m not defending him – but to shake your head and brush it off as ‘he must have been evil, ergo we need more guns to protect ourselves’ misses the point.
ParticipantI know I couldn’t use a gun!
I’m a total klutz with anything involving moving parts… I’d probably end up firing through my wall and shooting my next door neighbours (stucco has the stopping power of wet cardboard), if I was unfortunate enough to be the victim of a home invasion.ParticipantHear, hear bugs – I couldn’t agree with you more. Good to hear someone with real experience of them being rational and reasonable.
I grew up in the UK, where deaths by handguns still make front-page news. Yes, there’s more illlgal handguns on the city streets than there were, but we can still count gun-related homicides in the hundreds, not the thousands.
If people really want guns, then set up Federal regulations – so that when you buy a gun, you have to register it – and attend a course where you not only learn to shoot it competently, but also have to learn about correct storage, cleaning and maintenance. Which gets reviewed every few years – you don’t allow an 80-yr old blind person to drive a car, so why should you allow them a handgun? Licence guns to responsible, capable adults – we have to do it for cars, so why not guns?
A small, but horrifying, minority of deaths occur each year when kids find mommie’s gun under the bed and go play cowboys and indians. ..Or when someone tries to use their gun in a home invasion and instead has the table turned on them – they rely on firepower rather than their wits to get themselves out of a bad situation.
Or, as you pointed out, a police officer (who supposedly has rigorous training in handgun use) gets shot with their own weapon. These kinds of tragic accidents could be reduced, if only there were stricter controls.NOTE – I’m not saying that handguns should be banned – I’ve lived over here long enough to realise that Hell Will Freeze Over before Americans give up their guns. As distasteful as I find them, you can’t mess with people’s 2nd amendment rights without serious repercussions. But there has to be a compromise, however minimal.
On the Virginia Tech massacre – personally I think that, even of there was a total ban on guns, Cho would have found another way to take down as many as he could….I don’t think the fact that he was heavily armed would have made a difference – he was determined to kill, and if not with guns, then he would have chosen another way. Maybe there would have been fewer deaths, but you can’t predict insanity.
Maybe the discussion should be about mental health, and the lack of provision here in the US to care for seriously ill people like him – rather than his method of killing.
I really don’t understand why – especially with organisations like the NRA – it all has to be black/white. Surely – to paraphrase Peter Parker “with great power comes great responsibilty”….yeah, have guns, but make sure that someone knows you do, that you know how to use them, store them and clean them, properly, and make sure that crazies/incompenents have Buckley’s chance of getting them. It may not stop future Chos – but it might help to stop some of the tragic – and totally preventable – accidents.
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