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copperDolomite

Listed below are comments made by copperDolomite between Wednesday, 7th October 2009 and Friday, 20th November 2009.

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Why cars are greener than buses (maybe) 10:21am on 20 Nov 2009 Justin, you say:
Even though travelling by car can be less polluting than public transport you should always take the public transport option.
That's because buses and trains are running anyway. They will be out there generating CO2 whether you ride them or not. So when you choose to take your car, the pollution you create will be on top of whatever the public transport option is producing.

But they won't be running anyway if we don't use them enough. Many services are far from frequent in the evenings, in rural areas, etc.
Thanks for keeping a tab on the spin and keeping us informed of the data - much appreciated.
Back to work, slowly 06:48am on 18 Nov 2009 This will be useful for me. I'll take it with me to the dole when I next sign on and use it as part of the regular explanation I have to provide as to why I don't yet have work...
Why was David Nutt sacked? 00:00am on 02 Nov 2009 This is not about drugs. It is about the political misuse and abuse of science and scientists.

How many years does it take for a young school-leaver to reach the dizzy heights of postdoctoral research in biological sciences? It was a minimum of 7 years study in my day. Win yourself a postdoctoral position and you are still considered a mere trainee. In some parts of Europe, you will not reach that stage until you are 30 years old. Prof. Nutt is not only a highly qualified scientist, he trained in medicine too. He understands his subject.
How many of our MPs can compare with that? Scientists are intelligent, highly trained individuals. Take a look around the Parliament. Just how many of our MPs place value not only on spin, but pseudo-science too.

To have this political interference appear this weekend, of all weekends is frankly laughable. People were named as witches and burned at the stake. Thankfully, the Enlightenment arrived here in Europe and with it, and understanding for the need of evidence, not spin, not opinion. See this BBC web page.

There is not one single reason why Prof Nutt should be silenced. Not one, and certainly not by the paltry, patronising politicians of the UK.
Nutt gets the sack 10:09pm on 01 Nov 2009 This is yet another worrying example of politicians failing in their jobs. Their job is to deal with the data they have available. It is not to pretend the data is something that it is not. Where have we seen that before?
Time and again politicians look for data to support their policies, rather than basing their policies on the data. If the politicians want to make a moral judgement, then they should have the morality and gumption to say so.
To expect Professor Nutt or any other scientist to hold his tongue regarding data or any other aspect of their work is a morally corrupt expectation. Sadly, the politicians (both main parties) seem to be so far gone with their ideas of what the public are entitled to hear, read, do or see, they are left incapable of making even the simplest of judgement calls when it comes to communicating with the public.
There have been enough examples of this in the past, and here is yet one more. Imgaine if Professor Nutt was gagged by a profit-making company in the same way, asked to keep quite certain information that may affect the public view of the company, information about a drug they may or may not take? Rightly, there should be a public outcry.
The government is the law-making body of this country. Our politicians are responsible for creating the laws of this country. We entrust these people to perform their job, yet they seem to value opinion over evidence. This is a disgraceful failure of politicians, whatever their party, to grasp the difference between politics and scientific research. Just how many of these MPs have studied science, have a grasp of what science, and just as importantly, what it is not? The scientific method is not an idealogy. It should not be bent to suit ideology.
No scientist should ever be gagged. No data, out with the security services, should ever be hidden from the public. The public are entitled to honest information.
How many more examples are we going to have?
Professor Nutt, a highly respected scientist, has performed magnificently. Well done Professor Nutt.
Nutt gets the sack 11:33pm on 30 Oct 2009 The joke here surely, is the Home Office rejecting evidence! Or is that the scandal?

Can I ask what current government policy is on gravity?
A prize deserved? 00:39am on 10 Oct 2009 There is nothing left wing about recognising the dangers climate change pose to each and ever one of us. That single change alone is enough to be awarded the prize.

He has beaten in a fair election a regime that has deliberately tortured people, a regime that had to cheat in order to remain in power. And he is closing down the era of that torture. That makes a difference internationally.

He has spoken at the UN, and is working to improve the effectiveness of that institution unlike the President he replaces.

And importantly, he has, by winning the American election changed the world view many of us held of America, from a selfish, pathetic joke, to one where just maybe, the world seems a brighter place, a place with a little more promise and hope than two years ago.

America is still looking rather nasty when it comes to internal politics, but on the international stage, America has an improved image and, with others is working towards world peace with a new energy.

Republicans are repeatedly isolationists, so it is no surprise few of them could make it in the running for the prize.

#50. marineSemperfi
You my dear, appear to be all hat and no brain!

There isn't an exam for the Peace Prize, sweetie.

It is awarded by a committee who are presented with a list of nominees. Medicine and science require a lot of hard work in order to learn and importantly, understand the material on which you will be examined at a university. Do you really suppose the Peace Prize nominees are required to attend class? But, you wouldn't count that kind of thing as real work, obviously. Not like the real work that you do on your ranch.

Your vet will explain it to you honey, real nice and real slow, next time he is out on your ranch tending to your animals.
Cameron's very personal plea 02:14am on 09 Oct 2009 Sounds all good, fantastic even. If you are one of the ones who have been highly successful (ie as Enron illustrated, successful means ruthless).

But then there are the others. THe dinnerladies, the waitress, the delivery man. All of them should be scared. Very scared. Listening to the delegate interviews on the Daily Politics, I was horrified to hear the Tories have not changed. One of them really wants Housing Benefit cut.

So, the dole cheque you get will be eaten up in rent (as happens to many right now), leaving you with no money than you have now for food, no fruit, no veg and no winter electricity. So, the unemployed, most of whom are there due to the activities of traders will be forced into slum housing and cardboard city, particularly those who have no children (ie those who cost nothing in terms of school budgets and maternity care!).

The Tories, beneath the speeches have not changed. The areas of the UK still suffering from Thaterite policies will be brutalised again by this lot if we let them anywhere near Downing Street. Be scared. Very scared.

I predict a mass exodus of economic migrants, of UK people born and bred, to Africa!
The politics of 'proper behaviour' 03:13am on 08 Oct 2009 Life is and can be an absolute misery for those living in an area where bad behaviour is rife. We even permit kids to behave badly at school for far too long, ruining the life chances of themselves and others.

We need to reward good behaviour and punish bad behaviour. And this should not be restricted to those of working class. Many a kid from a well-off family can be a nightmare; I've experience of working with them in educational facilities established as the place to send them when no other school will have them. Their parents too.

Almost all of the kids, from poor and very wealthy backgrounds had nightmare parents (incompetent, selfish, or just plain brutal nasty people).

I look forward to all the same criticisms and asbos being directed to the financial industries where the employees and bosses have brought more misery and destruction to this nation than many working class have to their street.

We need a fairer society and it needs to be seen to be fairer.
The unknown soldier 02:30am on 08 Oct 2009 The police could confirm the story if true and no need to identify the family either.

We should always look for the evidence and be prepared to back it up, so quite right Mark.
We'll pay for banks to be virtuous 03:53am on 07 Oct 2009 Look,

The shareholders can demand all the profit they want. That doesn't mean that the profits are there, and it certainly doesn't mean they should get what they want.

The shareholders need to stop being so greedy. The demand for every increasing growth in profits is not sustainable.

Secondly, we need to understand that our need for banking is much less then we are told it is. We do not need to borrow money for a car. You can arrange your life to avoid borrowing to buy a car, or anything else. Buy now, pay later is just as bad as grandad told you.

Shop around for banking facilities. To me a bank is where you keep your cash. They've got it and making a profit as you dip in over the month. Dont pay charges. Go elsewhere. If everyone votes with their feet and moves next door to a better deal, the banks will learn.

Why so many companies need debt is beyond me. That, in most cases, strikes me as bad housekeeping skills. Companies, just like all of us should have savings accounts, not debt.

Get smart people.
We have allowed the financial giants to become our rulers. That sadly, is the mess we are in. We need to take our democracy back, and the way to do it is play them at their own game. Play so hard and put the banks back in the place as service providers, not the rulers deciding our fate.

Co-ops, mutuals, local credit unions. There is choice out there and all of us need to use them and our brains regardless of your income level.

One last thing. If the politicians don't make the banks virtuous, then it is the politicians who will pay with their jobs. I am still not impressed with how the city-slickers have been let off the hook.

Imagine, the headmaster taking all the naughty boys into his office and asking if they will AGREE to write out lines of 'I will be better behaved' 20 times! Absolute, utter nonsense.

You will do what your told, no perks, no pocket money for the rest of your time on this earth (they can work for a giro like so many others filling their days in the voluntary sector). If you don't like it, there is an alternative - basket case Zimbabwe is always looking for more people....

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