gary v1
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Posts posted by gary v1
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I'm sure the 2nd law of thermodynamics is often used to try and disprove evolution as well:
'The Second Law of Thermodynamics states that the state of entropy of the entire universe, as a closed isolated system, will always increase over time. The second law also states that the changes in the entropy in the universe can never be negative'
Entropy being the disorder of things they argue that evolution is a decrease to entropy and so doesn't hold up against the 2nd law. Of course what they ignore is the 'in a closed system' part. The external energy source of the sun would mean nature is not a closed system so entropy can indeed decrease, so again being very selective with facts to suit their argument.
NB I haven't done any chemistry since 2nd year uni though and even then I was shit at it so feel free to correct me here.
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Cool thanks. How do these things even get started? Wish I'd known this as the time so I could have challenged the guy, but it was the first I'd ever heard of it. I suppose anybody casting doubt on a record Jewish persecution is unlikely to entirely trustworthy.
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I recently got Anne Frank's diary out of the library which I found an interesting and ultimately heartbreaking read. However, upon returning it I was told by another library user that the whole thing had been written with biros which had only just been invented and wouldn't be available to her. I didn't engage the guy in conversation as I had a sneaking suspicion he was a crazy Jew hater who was casting doubt on the holocaust?
He may or may not have been but has anyone else heard this? I recently saw original drafts of the diary in Amsterdam but wasn't looking out for what they were written with. I think biros were invented in 1938 so it's not impossible Frank would have had one about 5 years later? But I'm not sure how quickly the took off? The Franks were reasonably affluent before the war and Anne and her sister and were very scholarly so not unreasonable that they would be early adopters?
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Enjoyed that article, thanks. Some of the theories seem a little far fetched, particularly anything that implicates Stephanie. But, it's certainly curious that the call logs don't have any calls to her on the day of her birthday, given how many other people seem to get called.
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Apologies for exhuming an old thread, but is anyone else listening to Serial (http://serialpodcast.org/)? For those unaware it's a weekly episodic podcast exploring the investigation into a murder of a high school girl in Baltimore in 1999. It basically breaks down the witness testimonies, detective investigations, interviews etc, and is trying to establish whether the guy who got convicted did it or not. I'm probably not doing it justice, but it's an absolutely fascinating listen.
Yes! Absolutely addicted to this. It's very well put together and I like the fact that she's very open minded and she herself is having the same doubts and back and forth indecisiveness that I'm constantly having. I think he could have done it but that he should never have been convicted of it. I don't think its a spoiler to say there's plenty of reasonable doubt.
Can't wait for the next episode. I have a longish bus journey up to Belfast on Friday so I know how I'll be spending the first 40 minutes or so. That and football weekly extra.
This thread has given me some ideas as I'm always on the look out for podcasts. Recently worked through all the 'There's no such thing as a fish' which is the podcast from the QI researchers (or elves, if you rather) giving out all the interesting things they've discovered that week. They themselves are also pretty funny and have good chemistry with each other so it makes for a fun and informative program that feels a lot more natural and moves at a zippier pace than QI itself.
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I think it's fair to say though on age break down that pensioners were much much more NO than other age groups. To e expected I think if you lived through/fought in the war and aren't really part of the 'devolution age'. What I'd like to see is extensive new powers, see if we can make a success of that and then see if there's a will for another vote in 20 years. It was maybe just too big a leap in 2014. But by 2034 the parliament should have further enhanced its reputation and the 70% or so NO vote in the pensioners age group should be reduced by folk dying off if nothing else.
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So UKIP have got their first MP elected with possibly another to follow. Why are so many people voting for them? They don't seem to have much in the way of policies as far as I can tell? Can someone tell me for instance what the top rate of tax would be under a UKIP government or what their plans for the NHS are? Where do they stand on TTIP, strongly against surely? If so then why why aren't they making a big deal of it?
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Not sure this is quite the right thread for this but on the subject of podcasts has anybody been listening to 'Serial' from This American Life. A journalist has done a lot of investigation into the murder of a school girl from 1999 in Maryland. The ex-boyfriend was convicted but basically on the evidence of one person. There's only been 2 episodes so far but the journalist looks into the nature of their relationship, the evidence, a possible alibi, deficiencies in the defence case and so on. A lot of the the prosecution's case doesn't really add up but that's certainly not to say that he didn't actually do it.
It's really gripping stuff and very well put together. Reminded me a little of the Luke Mitchel case in Scotland and i can't wait for episode three. I think there's going to be 12 in total so lots more to be revealed and I reckon if it can raise awareness of a potential miscarriage of justice then it's all positive.
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Obviously some of those posts are racist and unacceptable. But to play devil's advocate here, is there not an argument to say that because we are in the EU we have lost control of our borders and as such we end up letting in even convicted murderers such as the suspect here?
Personally I think the freedom of movement is fantastic and isolated tragedies like this shouldn't impact on it.
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Certainly interesting. If that happens then surely the only advantage of First Past the Post doesn't really apply anymore. If we just end up with coalition governments anyway under FPTP we should really just switch to a PR system?
Would Labour consider a minority government? It worked well for the SNP in Holyrood.
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The first post in this thread for exactly one year coincidentally.
Anyway today Nick has been kicked out of the BNP. They've pretty much disappeared over the last few years. Is it just most of the people voting for them have moved onto the more socially acceptable UK Independence party?
Also Cameron has said Tories will increase the threshold at which people paying tax to 12,500. Which sounds good but turns out it won't be to 2020 so what with inflation isn't quite as good as it first sounds. This good news for the poor is offset by benefits that would be frozen for 2 years thus reduce in real terms. The money saved from this is conveniently what we expect to spend bombing ISIS.
Who do people think will form the next government? I can't see anyone getting a majority as it stands. Personally I'm hoping for a Labour-SNP coalition. We'd be kept in Europe at least (unless Labour decide to back a referendum, but I don't think that's likely, is it?)
From a scottish point of view I think the Labour vote will collapse if Brown's home rule promises aren't kept (which of course they won't be). Interesting times!
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I've lived in Dublin through 2 easters now and didn't know that. I take it as evidence that I don't have a drinking problem after all.
It is ridiculous though. Same with later starting licensing on a Sunday and so on. Religion should play no part in law.
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After thinking drinking slightly less beer and walking into work was the reason I'd lost 3 stone it turns out I actually have Type I diabetes which fairly sucks. Plus side is it's made me re-evaluate my diet completely and now generally just eatingsloads of salad, nuts, yoghurt, berries and fish. Got to inject insulin but I'm low carbing by my standards (about 100g a day) and manage to be controlling it ok thus far (about a month).
I got the news on the day I left for my stag do which wasn't ideal. Still I'm feeling ok about it now to the point where it's not completely on my mind all the time like it was the first couple of weeks. As a result I don't think I'll be doing the marathon I was considering doing in october but will try for another half some point later in the summer. haven't done one since my first about 6 years ago.
On the plus side of diabetes I'm very almost at a healthy BMI now due to my body breaking itself down for fuel as it couldn't get it from the usual channels.
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I love black pudding and don't really understand what's so bad about the ingredients? It doesn't seem much worse for you than a typical sausage for instance. Also I'd never heard of Casu Marzu which is quite interesting but much more disgusting. I'd rather not worry about maggots leaping off my food when trying to eat.
Anyway these stories come up now and again about banning 'black coffee' or whatever because 'they' won't let you say that anymore. Just ask people who exactly isn't letting you say such a thing. It's ridiculous to think you can ban a word as opposed to society changing to make certain words socially unacceptable such as 'negro' or 'nigger'.
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I made all the text tiny and can't turn it back. It's hurting my eyes!
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I got bought a Woodforde's Wherry Real Ale Kit for Christmas, so I'm looking for some kind of starter kit for myself also.
eBay has this kit for around
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Tommy - there's a great home brew shop in Partick at the bottom of Dumbarton Road. Owned by the Williams brothers I believe of Fraoch and joker IPA fame. They're very friendly. Just go in and say you're interested in getting into home brewing and they'll sort you out with what you need and give you some advice.
I also fully recommend the Bon Accord. Best Ale pub in Glasgow. Always 10 ales on tap with 9 rotating (Deuchars is constant). Great whisky selection too if you like that sort of thing.
Best pub I found in Newcastle was in Byker and called the Cumberland Arms. Nice quaint place with a fire and 5/6 ales on tap.
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Soap is/was just as bad as Ally Clark, though. They were both utter, utter arseholes when it came to the Old Firm. Not sure why you're taking sides here....ahh. Of course.
They were both bad but from memory I remember Ally being worse. I wouldn't say I was taking sides though as they were both arseholes. You're implying I'm a Celtic fan but I'm certainly not. Its a typical response if anybody voices an opinion that criticises one side but not the other and why so many people need to add 'of course Rangers/Celtic are bad too' to any discussion,whether it involves them or not.
Anyway, fine. Nobody agrees with me and it's quickly become very tedious.
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This forum could do without you. Thanks.
Undoubtedly true but doesn't change my point that I think we can do without the kind of thing I'd expect out of Ally Clarke back when the scottish football thread was poison. Clearly others don't have a problem with it so I'll let it drop.
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That may well be the reason it was given to him but the whole 'Big Jock Knew' thing pretty much purely exists for group of football fans to show their delight that children were abused at another club. As such is something I thought we could do without.
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For someone who has always taken a very responsible view when it comes to violence and abuse against woman I was disappointed by Houchen's pick of 'Bog Jock Knew' as a username for another poster. For those fortunate enough not to be familair with West Coast of Scotland football rivalries this is a slogan adopted by Rangers fans that revels in past cases of sexual abuse of children at Celtic boy's club.
Any chance of a change?
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Probably not but if there's one thing that's made me seriously consider going for it is UKIP's local election results. We're really just so politically different from the rest of the UK.
Really enjoyed the 6 minutes clip on the channel 4 news website covering the key points of the UKIP conference. Clearly a huge bunch of buffoons.
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Fucking hell - being a Pakistani immigrant sounds amazing!
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Two things:
On the Irish Ale front, always had a lot of love for Kilkenny on draught but I have only seen it in bottles for about 10 years.
On the forgotten beers front, I was really fond in the late 90s of a beer called Boston Beer. I assumed it was some American beer that was discontinued and the only Boston Beer brandname I'm familiar with is the parent company of Samuel Adams. Is there a beer encyclopedia anywhere?
Wasn't a huge fan of Kilkenny. Only really noticed it for sale in kilkenny but I prefer the Smithwicks, though that's not particularly great. Fine for a couple though and generally the best non-stout any pub has on here.
Currently watching the hurling on TV and drinking a big bottle of Jenlain Ambre
General Erection 2019
in Off Topic
Posted · Edited by gary v1
A government bond is just a loan from the government to the bondholder. It pays a fixed rate of interest and then the initial loan is repaid when the bond matures. With a government bond you know exactly what you'll be getting paid in the future. e.g. a £100 bond that pays you the £100 back in 10 years time and £2 a year interest every year until then. Payments are known in advance and fixed. You can sell your bond to someone else and they'll receive the future payments instead. You may get more or less than the £100 face value but this will depend on interest rates at the time (or in other countries the credit-worthiness of the government - think Greece).
With a share the return is totally unknown. You may get paid dividends out of the company profits but how much or if you get any dividends at all is not known in advance. You can also sell your share on the market to someone else but you could get more or less than you paid. If you own shares you own a part of the company so if the company goes bust your share becomes worthless.
So in summary it's impossible to know if you'd be better off with the shares or the government bonds until further down the line. In general a well diversified portfolio of shares usually gives better returns over time than government bonds but returns are much more volatile than the safe and steady government bonds. The UK government will never go bust (because they can always print more money to buy back the shares via the central bank which is what quantitative easing was. If the UK government is ever in a position it can't pay bond holders then you have more to worry about than your bond investments). However, presumably the shareholders would rather keep their shares or else they would have bought government bonds to begin with.