Search results

How would that view relate to something like the Flynn effect? (This is a genuine question, rather than an attempt to argue with what you've said - I only recently came across the FE, so would welcome some scientific perspective upon it).

Sorry, Vim, wasn't ignoring the question... I will confess to being spectacularly out of my depth when it comes to economics, so the following is largely based on vague intuitions and political inclinations. I certainly think there's a lot of mileage in the argument that banks being too big to...

No doubt. The squeals of indignation from within said sector at any concrete reform proposals probably won't help either.

Fair point. I probably didn't phrase that too well - I guess I have an element of disappointment at just how toothless and unimaginative the attitude of most government ministers has been since the crisis and the fact that King is far less scared to speak out just hammers that impression home.

It shows just how far the Labour party has gone from it's traditional base when the governer of the BOE is a more outspoken critic of banking practices than any of their major figures...

Housing is a massive issue in most parts of the country, but issues around social housing never quite managed to be trendy enough to rise up Labour's public service agenda in the same way as schools, NHS etc. Harder sell to middle-England, perhaps? The main problem being huge quantities of...

From Wiki on Oldham: A few years back, I worked for a company who did research for local authorities on housing needs - carrying out surveys to assess particular shortfalls in housing provision (especially social housing) in the area as a guidance for future planning policy. One of the...

Very good point. While it can be too glib to simply blame neo-liberalism for the rise of the BNP, it is undeniable that even well-functioning markets create winners and losers; that a level of instability and insecurity is impossible to avoid. The idea that hard times or declining...

Can't help thinking that it's going to degenerate into such an antagonistic circus that Jerry Springer might be more appropriate.

But how well does it go with Bovril??

I did similar to the OP this time last year, returning to academia after 7 years away & also felt a bit of a sense of culture shock in getting to grips with the particular style of writing and argumentation. While, as others have suggested, I don't think there's any way around getting to grips...

They just don't really seem the type for bitter feuds between disparate elements of the party, do they? Mind you, there certainly is an element of tension between the liberal and social-democratic aspects of the party (a legacy of their formation from the old Alliance, perhaps?) The thing is...

Chelsea banned from making any signings till 2011! I reckon this is a good thing. Big clubs have been playing fast & loose with contracts for too long.

I'm a big fan of Warner, but wasn't entirely convinced by TDL. He seems to alternate between two main styles with his novels: a tender, lyrical, intimately-observed character-driven style (Morvern, The Sopranos, The Worms Can Carry Me To Heaven) and a psychedelic tinged take on the picaresque...

Mind you, I do enjoy being lectured in the importance of competition and free markets from someone who reached a position of power and influence on account of being the bosses son...

Had a feeling you would definitely get at least one goal - even when all the first choice defenders are playing our defence looks far from watertight. I was quite amused that the sky cameras kept picking up on the fan who'd turned up in fancy dress: Looks like he's really enjoying the game...

Yeah, that definitely was a Sunderland fanzine - not sure it's still going. Crazy to sack a manager so early. Whilst, from the outside anyway, Gunn always looked a bit out of his depth, if that's the case you should have got someone else in over the summer rather than let him assemble a squad...

I love this bit from Hannan: "I just say, as an elected representative myself, no politician can disregard his constituents' opinion" So that's why you're appearing on talk shows in a foreign country coming out with a slanderously skewed portrait of a public service that is about as loved as...

As a Sunderland fan of the best part of 25 years, I can certainly sympathise with that feeling. The worst part being that on the rare occasions you feel even cautiously optimistic (as I currently do going into the new season), at the same time you always have a nagging sense that abject...