Skybar - For general, off-topic or 'location unspecific' discussions

[newcastlepubs]

Originally Posted by merleb

You must be a keen supporter of the British Empire then...?

and the Romans .

I think that the [a?] difference with Tibet is:

• It was nominally independent before the Chinese came to vist
• It has a warm and fluffy leader who's very expert with the media. If some medalled, deposed generalissimo appeared on TV being rude about Beijing no one would give a sh#t.

[growly grace]

I am sorry that this has been moved to the bar because Newcastle University taking money from a murderous regime belongs in a discussion thread about Newcastle University and it's developments.

Lets see how the Newcastle University gets on if it organised a conference on the deaths of students at the Tiananmen Square, perhaps get one of the dissidents over, if get can get out the country that is.

Better still why not raise a Statue to the Sprit of Democracy outside the old library building I am sure the Chinese students will love to be photographed beside it on Graduation Day.

[AngerOfTheNorth]

Originally Posted by No Opinion

I hate this nonesense about China/Tibet. Is it worse than the USA systematically controlling Latin America since 1945, and now the Middle East? Or Saudi Arabia for persecuting 50% of their population by not allowing them to drive and wear repressive clothing? What about Russia for selling arms to the Syrian Government?

No, I totally agree that there have been a number of other pretty terrible abuses of power (hinted at by my suggestion that these things have never really stopped the UK - or numerous other large, powerful governments - from doing them). However it still doesn't really make it okay.

It's not a clean-cut issue, in short.

[WilfBurnsFan]

Not quite sure where to post this, but the University of Sunderland is to close the North East Centre for Lifelong Learning from this summer, the only surviving element being some of the language teaching. All of the non-language teaching will end, and the Centre's offices on the Newcastle University campus will close.

A sad end to eighty years of university-based adult education on Tyneside, and to one of the few remaining university continuing education departments in the country.

[AngerOfTheNorth]

That's no good; I remember going to night classes to learn languages there. Will anything fill the gap in the market?

[growly grace]

Did you teach a course at Lifelong Learning Mr Wilf?

[Squipper]

EDL march in Newcastle at 13.30 Saturday 25th May. Might be an idea to avoid the toon that day!

http://www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...38696516197018

[newcastlepubs]

Originally Posted by Squipper

EDL march in Newcastle at 13.30 Saturday 25th May. Might be an idea to avoid the toon that day!

http://www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...38696516197018

Oh lovely, thanks for the tip. There goes the neighbourhood !

[AngerOfTheNorth]

Originally Posted by Squipper

EDL march in Newcastle at 13.30 Saturday 25th May. Might be an idea to avoid the toon that day!

http://www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...38696516197018

Yup!

Unless you happened to be sympathetic to their views, of course.

[newcastlepubs]

Originally Posted by AngerOfTheNorth

Yup!

Unless you happened to be sympathetic to their views, of course.

Which I am not.... but even if I were there'll almost inevitably be some disorder...

By the way see if you can guess.... no cheating by looking at the facebook page..... see if you can guess the two pubs where the pre rally meeting will take place, perhaps along with a stiffener or two...

You'll be amazed, I know I was...really... [please read out loud with the stage direction 'dripping with irony' in mind].

[Squipper]

Originally Posted by newcastlepubs

Which I am not.... but even if I were there'll almost inevitably be some disorder...

By the way see if you can guess.... no cheating by looking at the facebook page..... see if you can guess the two pubs where the pre rally meeting will take place, perhaps along with a stiffener or two...

You'll be amazed, I know I was...really... [please read out loud with the stage direction 'dripping with irony' in mind].

One of them comes as no surprise from what I've heard about it but I'm not really familiar with either of them. Hand on heart I have only stepped foot in two different Newcastle pubs in the last 25 years!

[newcastlepubs]

Originally Posted by Squipper

One of them comes as no surprise from what I've heard about it but I'm not really familiar with either of them. Hand on heart I have only stepped foot in two different Newcastle pubs in the last 25 years!

Check the review on Raffertys on newcastlepubs.tk, gotham has been covered at some length in here too...

[AngerOfTheNorth]

Trust me NP, I wouldn't expect you to be on that march in a million years!

[merleb]

Originally Posted by Squipper

EDL march in Newcastle at 13.30 Saturday 25th May. Might be an idea to avoid the toon that day!

http://www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...38696516197018

After recent hideous events it may be that their ranks are greatly swelled. Although there is probably an unpleasant subset within their body you cannot argue against their overall mission statement: a renunciation of aggressive (Jihadist) fundamentalist Islam.

[newcastlepubs]

Originally Posted by merleb

After recent hideous events it may be that their ranks are greatly swelled. Although there is probably an unpleasant subset within their body you cannot argue against their overall mission statement: a renunciation of aggressive (Jihadist) fundamentalist Islam.

Which is exactly what yesterday was seeking to achieve, mobilising the a'hem enthusiastic [which I think we can think of as dim and violent] anti Islamic cohort. Which will in turn terrify some Moslems moderate and drive them into the arms of the nutjobs... and so on.

[Seamaster]

They're chugging in Eldon Square now.

Some particularly obnoxious specimens bullying those passing Boots into saving the panda or some such.

[AngerOfTheNorth]

Originally Posted by merleb

After recent hideous events it may be that their ranks are greatly swelled. Although there is probably an unpleasant subset within their body you cannot argue against their overall mission statement: a renunciation of aggressive (Jihadist) fundamentalist Islam.

..."Probably"? "An unpleasant subset"? I'd suggest that the vast majority of them - not just a subset - are a damned sight worse than "unpleasant".

And I'm not convinced that they have such a narrow focus upon aggressive fundamental Islam, but just that they're using recent evens to push their aim of attacking anyone who is in any way unlike them.

[Aylett 67]

Originally Posted by merleb

After recent hideous events it may be that their ranks are greatly swelled. Although there is probably an unpleasant subset within their body you cannot argue against their overall mission statement: a renunciation of aggressive (Jihadist) fundamentalist Islam.

I think a rejection of extreme Islam cuts across most political boundaries, not just the EDL. While I agree the last Labour government's obsessions with multiculturalism and immigration has led to the rise of these organisations, the EDL aren't people I'd go out for a drink with. Quite a few are the unpleasant, laddish football hooligan type.