tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36070744.comments2023-10-20T10:08:03.133+01:00SomeBeansSomeBeanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076372969807940310noreply@blogger.comBlogger576125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36070744.post-57990090598975884482011-06-16T14:34:20.542+01:002011-06-16T14:34:20.542+01:00@mama lu - the government is already involved - it...@mama lu - the government is already involved - it prohibits medics from providing any assistance in suicide.<br /><br />@usethebrainsgodgiveyou - I think your first paragraph is spot on. In the programme Andrew had previously attempted suicide by using hoarded medication and had "failed". <br /><br />There's a difference between assisting someone who has made their own decision to die and encouraging someone else to kill themselves because *you* think *their* life isn't worth living and to me is clearly wrong. I'm writing here about my decisions about me.SomeBeanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11076372969807940310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36070744.post-11377441202100850942011-06-15T12:02:14.456+01:002011-06-15T12:02:14.456+01:00Suicide is always an option for the atheist, or an...Suicide is always an option for the atheist, or anyone for that matter. What is to stop it? Giving it the dignity of being assisted is the crux, without those assisting being criminalized.<br /> <br />Phil speaks of the fear of abuse. There are members of society that others may feel would be better off dead.In fact, one such organization of handicapped individuals refer to themselves as "not dead yet". They live in fear of being "assisted" beyond their will.<br /><br />Perhaps one day society will deem those they consider "ballestexitenz" better off dead because of their expense without contribution.Usethebrains Godgiveyouhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05026223483117357541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36070744.post-64394438464711702822011-06-15T10:26:43.453+01:002011-06-15T10:26:43.453+01:00I don't see any dilemma for an atheist. Believ...I don't see any dilemma for an atheist. Believers have it much worse, suicide being counted as murder. If you do not want to live, choose suicide and do not mix the government in your scheme. Any govenrment assisted euthanasia is morally wrong, not to say evil. I'm Jewish and remember; you and your allies in this matter simply do not wish to remember the role of goverments in assisted murder of the infirm and the Jews.Mama Luhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15035631806602299464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36070744.post-49652691981195671442011-06-14T20:21:06.319+01:002011-06-14T20:21:06.319+01:00@billynojob yes, it's not really clear to me h...@billynojob yes, it's not really clear to me how widely opposition to a "right to die" is a Christian position, it is simply they who are brought forward in debate. Life hasn't been a Christian absolute in the not very distant past - see capital punishment, to which I am absolutely opposed on principle rather than pragmatic grounds.<br /><br />@Phil in the end it does come down to ghoulish details. I don't think we should rule it out because abuse is possible but the question of who should be "allowed" assisted suicide is difficult. The absolutist liberal position is to say we don't judge the conditions, simply that there is no coercion but I feel uncomfortable with this.<br /><br />Perhaps ultimately concern about these details is unimportant because it's seems possible that in places where there is "right to die" available it is little used and simply serves as a reassuring backstop.SomeBeanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11076372969807940310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36070744.post-5755619925505822872011-06-14T19:57:36.115+01:002011-06-14T19:57:36.115+01:00I always find this issue very difficult to discuss...I always find this issue very difficult to discuss, because whilst I believe in the rights of an individual to choose how they live, this doesn't extend (at least to the same extent) to how they die.<br /><br />It's not so much that they shouldn't have the right, it's more a fear of the abuse that I feel will be the inevitable result. Not everyone belongs to a loving stable family environment. Also, I'm not sure where you 'draw the line', what kind of disease qualifies or will it be open to all? Will a 70 year old feeling alone and depressed be helped on their way? A 60 year old? etc.<br /><br />These questions seem tasteless (ghoulish?) - for which I apologise - and it's why I expect when this issue is in the news they traditionally go to someone religious for a more palatable response - albeit one which any non-religious person (such as myself) would disagree.Phil Rusehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13040474351783645703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36070744.post-89962729068075761302011-06-14T19:41:12.830+01:002011-06-14T19:41:12.830+01:00I think you capture the dilemma clearly and with g...I think you capture the dilemma clearly and with great dignity. It's a pity that this has become a controversy played out on the field of religious belief, and I say that, as you know, despite the fact that I have such a faith.<br /><br />It is entirely untenable for a minority in our society to hold those without such faith to account as it were on this basis. The argument is inevitably "discarded in a moment" as you rightly say. This is sad, because there are serious arguments about what the consequences for society might be if our lives become negotiable rather than absolute. That has nothing to do with faith, because one can take the view that human life is an absolute for other reasons.<br /><br />As the ability to prolong life in ways that seem increasingly pointless advances, as it surely will, this is something we all have to face up to. Short-circuiting the issue by appealing to a belief I have, that you don't share, is as pointless as it is invalid.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36070744.post-2071272084104233092011-06-14T17:40:52.520+01:002011-06-14T17:40:52.520+01:00@jason - I'll allow you your just- about-on-to...@jason - I'll allow you your just- about-on-topic hijack ;-)<br /><br />I did a quick survey of local party websites when I made the Chester one, it surprised me that none of the parties were particularly uniform in their presentation. Wordpress is nice standard, open technology for making websites although it's probably illiberal to make local parties comply with central edicts!SomeBeanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11076372969807940310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36070744.post-68174363184288920802011-06-14T11:31:58.163+01:002011-06-14T11:31:58.163+01:00This is a great post. I think far too few Lib Dems...This is a great post. I think far too few Lib Dems are aware of how great WordPress is for creating and maintaining a website.<br /><br />I run <a href="http://www.politicointernet.co.uk" rel="nofollow"> Politico Internet</a> and am also a Lib Dem member and activist in Reading. <br /><br />I feel quiet passionately that as a party we need to up our game with regards to websites- see my <a href="http://www.libdemvoice.org/opinion-on-liberal-democrat-ecampaigning-22786.html" rel="nofollow">articles</a> on <a href="http://www.libdemvoice.org/opinion-social-media-priorities-22803.html" rel="nofollow">Lib Dem Voice</a> - and have a few things to add.<br /><br />The idea of developing a website locally before moving it to a live server is great - though not all people have the time/inclination to get familiar with MySQL.<br /><br />It can be tricky to move your entire WordPress website from one place to another - which is why I have licenced and installed the <a href="http://pluginbuddy.com/purchase/backupbuddy/" rel="nofollow">BackUpBuddy</a> plugin for all my customers.<br /><br />This way, you can backup, migrate and restore your WordPress website to your hearts content, both the files and the database. The plugin also allows you to automate backup schedules and send your backup to an offsite cloud-based system like Dropbox.com.<br /><br />See my YouTube video on how easy backups can be <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfWkYEno1Lw" rel="nofollow">here</a>. <br /><br />With regards to WordPress themes. I've used a few in my time, and like most things in life, I found that paid-for, or 'Premium' themes tend to rock. Which is also why I provide a premium theme with my hosting packages. It should be easy to change colours and logos, and it is, with the right theme, see <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0vi0PWxZfE" rel="nofollow">my other YouTube video for a demo of this theme</a>.<br /><br />I have a twitter account, I'm available if not 24/7 (I have to sleep!) then at least within office hours, and will often answer e-mails outside office hours, and I can register domain names or accept them to be pointed from just-the-name which from personal experience I know to be a great company.<br /><br />My prices - for what I offer - I think are very reasonable. They are certainly cheaper than some alternative hosting providers, though I too am wary of a race to the bottom price-wise, a business has to be sustainable in the long term.<br /><br />In short, I think my company removes a lot of the learning curve and problems you describe when starting out with WordPress. I install if for you, provide a very flexible theme, some great plugins to start you off, and I can host it for a reasonable price.<br /><br />Sorry to hijack this thread a bit, but I know the problems local parties are having, and I've felt the pain myself which is the reason I started Politico Internet. I'd love for your readers to consider using Politico Internet as a web host.jasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14059100673495566089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36070744.post-24478896306181819512011-06-12T11:31:03.078+01:002011-06-12T11:31:03.078+01:00@Sharon - thanks for your comment - I see from fo...@Sharon - thanks for your comment - I see from following your signature you have quite a lot of experience with this! I might give the import/export route a try next time (I'm thinking of migrating this blog to self-hosted wordpress). Now I've discovered maintenance mode and have some web hosting it may be easier to just develop in-place. <br /><br />Another reader has suggested a couple of resources:<br /><br />1. <a href="http://www.kompozer.net" rel="nofollow">http://www.kompozer.net</a><br />"It’s free, writes good clean code, and has its own FTP programme."<br /><br />2. <a href="http://www.oswd.org" rel="nofollow">Open Source Web Design</a> "...a useful source of templates"SomeBeanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11076372969807940310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36070744.post-72274064998213995052011-06-12T10:54:07.469+01:002011-06-12T10:54:07.469+01:00I tend to use the WP export/import as XML function...I tend to use the WP export/import as XML function to make the initial transfer from my local to web host (or to move an existing installation to a new location). I find it much less hassle than trying to transfer the database through phpmyadmin as there's no need to worry about changing URLs.<br /><br />But one caveat - the XML transfer method doesn't remove any existing data (posts, categories, metadata, etc) from the WP you import to - it just adds the new stuff to the database. That means the database transfer method is safer if for any reason it's crucial for ID numbers to remain the same (for most installations this probably won't matter, but it might do if you use permalinks based on post IDs rather than dates).Sharonhttp://sharonhoward.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36070744.post-29204047126946301732011-06-08T10:17:04.510+01:002011-06-08T10:17:04.510+01:00This post is superficial and a complete misunderst...This post is superficial and a complete misunderstanding of the issue. A total distraction from the real (and important) debate. The fury - at least from thoughtful commentators - has nothing to do with the NCH itself. It's not about "how other people wish to spend their money". That particular phrasing is a crass attempt to simplify what is an immensely complex issue with much broader implications. <br /><br />This is about meritocracy and liberal egalitarianism being thwarted by aristocracy - the NCH is merely a step (albeit a significant and rather public one) in the latter direction. And this looming aristocracy is so crudely and dangerously defended under the guise of libertarianism and pragmatism (and you unproblematically accept these arguments in your blog post without fully engaging with their complexity). <br /><br />Meritocracy and aristocracy are ideal types that are never fully manifest. They do, however, exist along a continuum and are mutually exclusive in principle. Any decision to support new, unaccessible institutions indicates that one is comfortable moving towards the latter end of the continuum at the expense of the former. It is contributing to the commodification of university education, rather than taking steps to protest or limit this commodification. <br /><br />Take, for instance, a comparison with healthcare. If Dr Oz decided to open a private hospital in London, which would charge exorbitant fees to 75% of those who requested surgery (allowing only 6% to receive free treatment, the others vague 'subsidies'), what kind of healthcare culture would that create? It would be a step towards privilege for the wealthy, possibly undermining the entire idea of equal healthcare in Britain if it catches on. This is, of course, not a strict analogy, but it does bear out the concern.<br /><br />That is the issue, which you fail (knowingly or not) to sufficiently address in your post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36070744.post-13193550934790780802011-06-08T09:48:47.363+01:002011-06-08T09:48:47.363+01:00@Nico - you don't get everyone a better car by...@Nico - you don't get everyone a better car by banning people from buying Mercedes.<br /><br />A large fraction of academia seems to be arguing that NCH *won't* be offering a quality education.<br /><br />I'm interested by the idea that you can extract £9k pa over the odds from the wealthy for a few celebrity lectures. But go have a look at the overseas fees our universities are already charging.<br /><br />I wish academia would make like they were looking for solutions, rather than simply bemoaning the lack of cash and all setting maximum fees. U of Buck has some interesting ideas in this area and it's a pity they're the only example in the UK I can cite.SomeBeanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11076372969807940310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36070744.post-31509836173747090742011-06-08T09:26:17.425+01:002011-06-08T09:26:17.425+01:00Hello Ian,
I was expecting that the NCH announceme...Hello Ian,<br />I was expecting that the NCH announcement would create a strong debate, but not the furore that ensued. Personally, I do not like the idea that rich people can jump the queue to quality education only by the virtue of being rich. <br />However, the reaction has been excessive in some cases (smoke bomb?). My concern is more that this reinforces the idea that if you're rich, you get access to whatever you want/need: politicians (donations), jobs (internships), media (advertisement) and now education, independently of need or democratic oversight. It was ever thus of course, but this development makes it worse in my opinion. It is the UK moving towards a US system, and as a good Continental I tend to resist that. Reform the system to be more efficient, get ideas from other places, why not, but copy what comes from US just because it's from there doesn't make sense to me.<br />The celebrity side of it I find disturbing also, as has been mentioned elsewhere you can hire J-Lo to sing at your birthday party if you have the wonga, but that won't make you a good singer.Nicohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05451083510383812797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36070744.post-42262605181842203442011-06-07T16:50:55.909+01:002011-06-07T16:50:55.909+01:00The NCH is NOT a university. It is a private tuiti...The NCH is NOT a university. It is a private tuition enterprise preparing students to sit UoL External exams like many other 'colleges' do around the world. Students registering with NCH will have to be individually and independently registered with London International Programmes. Registration with NCH and succesful completion of NCH courses is neither necessary nor sufficient (i.e. it is irrelevant) to obtaining a UoL degree. The UoL press release makes everything clear : http://www.londoninternational.ac.uk/media/press_releases/new_college_humanities.shtml<br /><br />This is a very sad story indeed. NCH pretends to be a Uni ('to rival Oxbridge', lol) when it is not (it awards no degrees, it conducts no research). Then it tries to pass as a 'liberal arts college' which is clearly not as it has no curriculum of its own and prepares students for some other institution's exams.<br />Then it uses the worst marketing of its kind, trying to downplay the fact that it is just a preparation centre for UoL External Exams and that all the additional coursework contributes nothing towards the UoL degree with which NCH is not affiliated in any shape, size or form.<br />Add the fact that UoL External charge 3.000GBP IN TOTAL for the same BA degree, compare it with 54K that NCH charge, and you have the educational scam of the decade.<br /><br />Then AC Grayling resigns (perhaps gets 'resigned') from Birkbeck to lead his 18K per year non-college, non-university, exam-prep school. What a sad conclusion for someone whose academic writing I've struggled with in pleasure.Cristohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07499259757868054517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36070744.post-17922514183788563492011-06-07T13:30:43.190+01:002011-06-07T13:30:43.190+01:00@SarahEbner - unfortunately I'm the wrong side...@SarahEbner - unfortunately I'm the wrong side of the paywall! I think the attack is on the opportunity being offered to the very wealthy for a celebrity-academic based education. <br /><br />@Alix - the introduction of the Oxbridge comparison on all conceivable occasions is a bit of a hobby horse for me ;-) The Oxbridge tutoring model as implemented for sciences (typically 1 to 3 rather than 1 to 1) is very similar to that I've experienced at Bristol as and undergrad and at UMIST as a lecturer.<br /><br />The distinguishing features of Oxbridge, to my mind, are the college system with the majority of small group teaching based in the college communities which are much stronger (and wealthier) than their equivalents elsewhere. And the wine cellars.SomeBeanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11076372969807940310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36070744.post-85183694006638507982011-06-07T13:17:43.886+01:002011-06-07T13:17:43.886+01:00Thanks for writing this - quite a lot more fact-ba...Thanks for writing this - quite a lot more fact-based than most of the mainstream media stuff I've read.<br /><br />I tend (as a separate issue, I hope) to agree with most of your points. I do take issue with the Oxbridge comparisons being necessarily fatuous though. It's pretty clear that the Oxbridge tutorial system is what these august profs have in mind when they big up the importance of one-to-one tutorial teaching. I think they're right about this, so the reference point is not unfavourable.<br /><br />Though I agree that in practice some commentators are using it as a jumping off point for an argument that goes "It's like Oxbridge! Nasty! Boo!"Alixhttp://fabulousblueporcupine.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36070744.post-89612898294581362712011-06-07T12:10:50.526+01:002011-06-07T12:10:50.526+01:00Good piece and analysis, thanks. I find it all qui...Good piece and analysis, thanks. I find it all quite fascinating and have some sympathy too (and also feel that many attacking NCH are really attacking the introduction of higher tuition fees, which is not actually New College's fault). I've written about it myself too (though there is a paywall...) and NCH have answered 10 of my questions too. http://bit.ly/nchgoodorbad and http://bit.ly/NCHQANDASarah Ebnerhttp://www.thetimes.co.uk/schoolgatenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36070744.post-82770312022215951342011-06-06T21:20:23.949+01:002011-06-06T21:20:23.949+01:00Yes, I was a bit surprised quite how quickly peopl...Yes, I was a bit surprised quite how quickly people took against it.SomeBeanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11076372969807940310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36070744.post-33435846259639287962011-06-06T21:03:16.786+01:002011-06-06T21:03:16.786+01:00I agree with all you've said here. I was gobsm...I agree with all you've said here. I was gobsmacked by the speed with which my twitter feed filled up with angry posts from people foaming at the mouth about this new enterprise. <br />I am interested to see how it works out, and I applaud anyone who is willing to try out different models of higher education in the UK.Katrinahttp://www.katrinagulliver.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36070744.post-18848346726459141012011-05-18T13:25:02.731+01:002011-05-18T13:25:02.731+01:00Expenses claims are for *up to* £26k - the actual ...Expenses claims are for *up to* £26k - the actual figures are published here: http://bit.ly/k4XFbd - I haven't looked through them.SomeBeanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11076372969807940310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36070744.post-14259458548069712612011-05-18T12:53:49.741+01:002011-05-18T12:53:49.741+01:00so 20% of lords only turned up twice a year and cl...so 20% of lords only turned up twice a year and claimed £26k in allowances?markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12965886731743359993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36070744.post-75274501979195270512011-05-10T06:57:52.323+01:002011-05-10T06:57:52.323+01:00@Phil as you highlight Labour has long been runnin...@Phil as you highlight Labour has long been running a general anti-Clegg campaign so it's natural they would bring it to the "No 2 AV" campaign, however the Tories recognised early that anti-Clegg was one of the key pillars of the campaign too.<br /><br />I think there was a late shift in the "Yes to AV" campaign to a straightforward anti-tory position. I think this was seriously misguided and unedifying.<br /><br />@Kav I think when Ed Miliband spoke at the TUC march it was obvious he was a loser, and his #r4today interview just emphasised the point.SomeBeanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11076372969807940310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36070744.post-13749332544482339512011-05-09T23:46:35.698+01:002011-05-09T23:46:35.698+01:00Considering that Ed Miliband supported AV is it no...Considering that Ed Miliband supported AV is it now ok to start a 'Ed miliband is a loser' meme?Kavhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02741198264370890465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36070744.post-80549687024720511902011-05-09T20:35:06.727+01:002011-05-09T20:35:06.727+01:00I've read a few analysis that reckon the "...I've read a few analysis that reckon the "No" campaign concentrated almost solely on the natural Labour voters -perhaps that's why they played the 'Clegg' card - since targeting Nick Clegg is what Labour have been doing for the last nine months?<br /><br />It was pretty unpleasant, almost as unedifying as Ed Miliband showing his complete lack of leadership skills over the AV referendum. Far too much party-political point scoring, instead of reaching out to those on the right who were sympathetic to AV. In that respect though I thought the LibDems' Tim Farron was terribly guilty.Phil Rusehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13040474351783645703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36070744.post-46639125403199029732011-05-08T16:31:48.922+01:002011-05-08T16:31:48.922+01:00Thanks Tim!Thanks Tim!SomeBeanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11076372969807940310noreply@blogger.com