The World Today

[Drewmidorn]

I live very frugally, except for the cigars. Paying the bills is important of course, but there's not much I'd miss apart from books and music.

[G-man]

And a Cuban

I would agree entirely... I just haven't quite managed to get that really nice 60ft yacht I want. Once I've got that I can contentedly sit back and desire little more than: fine cigars, good whisky, top rum, well-tailored clothes, expensive watches and fast cars...

Woman or two or three!
Can't forget or other Rib!

[Simon-JG-hr]

Women aren't just materialistic objects... they're a necessity.

[TJCoro]

The Basic Necessities!

Like food, water, fine puros and women.....unless

Not that there's anything wrong with that!!

TJ

[deltawhisky]

Yeah, materialism definitely plays a role. I think it's in our nature, to be honest. Okay, capitalism is a factor. The trading regime we find ourselves in creates dosh (most of the time), and there are always going to be winners and losers. Is this linked to happiness though? I'm not going to edge towards that sort of deeper philosophy.

As for the power of the media, Dave, I think you're absolutely right. That Jenkins fella writes some good stuff. I'm not gonna get academic here, as it will get on a lot of your nerves, but there is a theory about 'speech acts' -- if the powers that be say something is wrong / a big issue that needs to be sorted out -- then the issue concerned is going to have some big coverage, and is going to turn some big heads.

Interesting stuff everyone!

[Simon-JG-hr]

Just an interesting little thing about the way we think in 'the West'...

The countries of Scandinavia have considerably higher suicide rates than those of Western Europe. Interestingly, they also rank higher than the likes of the UK, US, France etc in the 'happiness' tables.

Why is this? Well, they call a spoon a spoon.

All of this is clear to see in our media. People in the UK (and the journalists are particularly to blame) are quite happy to bend the truth so that it fits their idea of what something should be. In a coroner's case, in borderline cases they will often declare accidental death (or whatever), whereas in Sweden they would say it was a suicide if that was how it appeared (accuracy as opposed to the expediency that not upsetting the relatives would achieve). Likewise, a journo will do whatever is necessary to meet his/her needs - in their case it is to sell papers, and sensationalism usually does a shade better than accuracy...

I did laugh the other day when someone told me that we needed more reporters in Afghanistan for an 'objective' view of what was happening. Objective? Reporter? Same sentence? They get paid to sell papers, nothing else.

[yankeefan]

the world today

some very good posts here. if the 24[ 7 media did not put the fear of god into people everytime they spoke no would would pay attention to them and tj i,am glad you noticed my take on the lyrics. i too am a big fan of the beatles.

[TJCoro]

Come Together...!

and tj i,am glad you noticed my take on the lyrics. i too am a big fan of the beatles.

UKCF Beatles Cover Band






...being cheered on by the UKCF Owner

TJ



Can't we all just get along?

[deltawhisky]

Mr Coro, where do you get these smilies from? They're surely not on the smile list provided by the forums? There's a fiddler smile there! Goodness!

[TJCoro]

There's a Fiddler in the Folder!

Mr Coro, where do you get these smilies from? They're surely not on the smile list provided by the forums? There's a fiddler smile there! Goodness!

A fiddler???? I don't see not stinkin' fiddler!! What are you drinkin' tonight?


If the serious one were here (senor serious), he would tell you that a slightly different group of smilies pop up each time you open the folder.

But I think it's a UKCF Mystery

TJ

[Drewmidorn]

There's definitely a fiddler!

[deltawhisky]

Violinist, then. Tea, to answer your question! :-)