The General Discussion Thread

[Publish Date updated to restore to front page]

Okay as an experiment here it is. Discuss your favourite generals here!

Well perhaps… Really this is simply the place to post news-items, fun-items or whatever takes your fancy. In short just post what you want here.

It’s just another wee experiment – comments welcome.

Squonk.

[Image: General Sir Anthony Cecil Hogmanay Melchett (Stephen Fry)]

17,285 thoughts on “The General Discussion Thread

  1. Actually, may be less work, but different. Not top down. Less about him, sell less books?

    Whatever…Hero’s *sigh* ..

  2. glenn_uk

    Go to http://websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901/

    I’ve just verified there is an unmarked station at that freq and you can listen to it on websdr. Ask in the live chatbox as a lot of real radio experts hang out there. With a bit of luck you might get an answer. Or possibly the SAS crash through the door 🙂

    However I’ve just found this later post saying it is gone. There is certainly something on that freq right now though.

    http://stoneship.org.uk/~steve/blog/?p=425

    Gone
    Posted on 2012-02-07 by admin

    I can’t believe it.

    It’s gone.

    Someone’s gone and demolished my Mystery Mast! The artefact that once stood in a field near Llandow in the Vale of Glamorgan was what got me building radios again after all those years. I eventually worked out that it was almost certainly a hyperbolic longwave navigation or positioning system.

  3. Went to see the doctor because I had a tapeworm. She gave me three cocktail sausages, three cheese rolls, two chocolate Ă©clairs and a large hammer. “What’s this?” I asked.
    “On the first day” she said “insert a sausage up your arse, followed by a cheese roll, and finally a chocolate Ă©clair. On the second day do the same. On the third day, insert the sausage, followed by the cheese roil, and wait. When the tapeworm sticks its head out and says “Where’s my chocolate Ă©clair?”, bash it over the head with the hammer”.

  4. Squonk; “So yes it does mean mods act arbitrarily within their own judgement of whether a rule is infringed or not by Craig’s specific statement.”

    Surely that can’t include making up their own rules, like this new “productive” one !

  5. I wrote:

    Looks like a full halo (that means heading towards us) CME from SOHO coronagraph imagery to me – that’s from today’s new CME. However the automated CACTUS CME detector is indicating no CME based on that imagery as of now. That’s weird. See what NOAA/NASA say in the next update at 0030 GMT.

    NOAA update confirms CME but no estimate of intensity yet – http://www.solarham.net/wwv.htm

    Solar Activity

    .24 hr Summary…
    Solar activity was at high levels.

    …In addition, another (new) CME was observed with this event. Based on initial available SOHO LASCO coronagraph data, as well as the source location, the trajectory of this event will likely have an Earthward component. Once additional LASCO imagery becomes available, further analysis and subsequent models runs will be performed to better ascertain the intensity, timing, and duration of any additional geomagnetic storm response from this latest CME.

  6. Not seeing anything here, but hills to the north cut off the view. Still a bit of what might be termed astronomical twilight, it really is a fascinating time of the year.

    The nights have started closing in on us now, though. Hope everyone is preparing for the Winter.

  7. If we get a high end X flare and associated earth directed CME about now then it might be time to stock up on candles!

  8. As I see it having rules is bad enough, but enforcing them upon contributors?

    Don’t know how the “unproductive” one came up, interesting result. But nothing beats the ‘uncivil’ one for me. Considering the devious machinations that take place, and are allowed most obviously when ‘supporters’ do it.

    Honestly, for me, fuck that blog. It’s so fucked, though a telling reflection of larger society in many ways.

    (ps, what could be more unproductive or disruptive/divisive than removing comments ?)…

  9. Ishmael,

    If you want then use the contact button and contact Craig as he explicitly requested people to do – that is if you genuinely want to raise any issue you feel strongly enough about. However If you contact him and say “Fuck your blog and your mods” then I wouldn’t expect a sympathetic response. ..

  10. Squonk, I covered that general point before, above.

    I don’t need another bloody lecture.

    God what’s with you people.

  11. I did not mean it as a way to get my own way in it.

    I meant fuck that blog. Didn’t ask for your opinion on the matter.

  12. Ishmael,

    All I am saying is that venting here to a very small audience which doesn’t usually include Craig to best of my knowledge is pointless. If you’ve already made your mind up about Craig’s response in advance then don’t contact him.

  13. Didn’t ask for your opinion on the matter.

    Erm who’s blog are you on right now? You’re going to get my opinion whether you like it or not – It’s my personal blog!

  14. “If you’ve already made your mind up about Craig’s response in advance then don’t contact him”…..??

    Just don’t get it do you?

    I don’t care about ‘audience’ ether.

  15. ” It’s my personal blog!”

    Good for you, hope you enjoy it.

    “You’re going to get my opinion whether you like it or not …”

    Thanks big man. Saved me a lot of hassle.

  16. “You’re going to get my opinion whether you like it or not 
”

    That’s the definition of a blog. It’s nothing particularly personal.

    Anyway it’s late and I need some sleep.

    Good night.

  17. @Resident Dissident, just noticed your 10.33pm post (at CM’s); perhaps my eyesight is failing, can you point me to where the new moderating rules state that comments should be “productive”, and to the accompanying difinition guideline as to what constitues “productive” ?

    Seems to me that the Blog was ticking over just fine, before the introduction of these new moderating rules; surely best moderating is low key, and not this in your face arbitrariness !

  18. @Habby, another censored reply from that “Free Speech Forum” that I don’t want you to miss;

    Habbabkuk; “Mad Macky” ?

    Thank you, I think for you “Half Brain Habby” captures your essence quite well; but I have to be careful because “arbitrariness” seems to have a long standing attraction to me, like the time I addressed you as “Half Baked Habby”, and was actually threaten with a Ban as a result ! :O

    “Friends in high places Habby” ! 😀

  19. Squonk; “All I am saying is that venting here to a very small audience which doesn’t usually include Craig to best of my knowledge is pointless.”

    On the contrary, it’s very interesting hearing your particular povs on this issue.

  20. It’s all over macky, notice how it also ‘works’ here. How subjective outlooks are turned into ‘objective’ truths?

    All the so called oppositional ‘left’ are like this. Take Richard Seymour, always babbling about objective truth to shut down any opposition to his man spreading. Then bitches about the un-habitable ‘left’…

    It’s all about taking/ exercising there own power over others, getting “their own” audience, there own ‘significant’ place in history within the system that serves class interests of witch they are apart and support. Give them real opposition and you find out what’s what, as I have.

  21. Like the Green party said to me, forward your own interests if you want your opinion heard, climb the pontifical ladder within the party. and that’s democracy? Get your own blog. same difference.

    Being a citizen, no, you can’t expect any voice being just one of the people. Or just mutual respect it seems, This is democracy.

    These conceptions of it go way back. They are trained into peoples heads, and they really don’t seem to see the fundamental contradictions. But who cares if you have “your own” whatever.

    “Our lives are not our own. We are bound to others, past and present, and by each crime and every kindness, we birth our future.”

  22. What’s really a pisser is they accuse me , and shut me down if they can, for doing or being like them in this….

    It just not paramagnetic is it? to expect democracy, they don’t even admit to themselves what they are are up to imo. ie Promoting the idea of an “electable left” …when i’v seen myself how parliamentary systems are instruments of class power. This shit ain’t going to fly.

  23. @Ishmael, love the quote, and embarrassed to state that I’ve never heard of David Mitchell before; going to have to do some reading ! 🙂

  24. Macky

    Well, it’s not ‘high culture’, or I haven’t even read the book…Film is nice though.

    Ps, above was meant to be….It’s* just not pragmatic* is it?

  25. climb the political* ladder…

    God what a mess. Extra sloppy bad day for me.

    …..Though climb the (pontifical) ladder, may be even better 🙂

  26. @Ishmael, I see you are being moderated out of existence over at CM’s; your “non productive” comments are certainly producing something !

    A bit like all my profanity free replies to some very offensive flame-baits always getting deleted, but the disgusting offensive flame-baits are always allowed to stay !

  27. re-post before it goes.

    And it’s totally ON TOPIC via Craig’s Unelectable Left narrative above.

    But, No No, Me must follow the leaders narrative framing. “Yes I agree Craig”, “your so right Craig”, all that unproductive (xxxx) stays.

  28. Some just can’t admit when they are wrong, they simply can’t do it. It would destroy the inflated idea of themselves constantly maintained in the eyes of others and themselves.
    Breakdowns can be very productive. Some of mine have been great for me.
    But no, we must maintain ourselves for the good of others. Blaa blaa blaaa.

  29. Never apologize, never self reflect. Never treat people like human beings. We are the masters…etc

  30. Ishmael,

    Please, this getting too much. Are you planning on filling up my entire blog every day with a comment every few minutes consisting of complaints about another blog?

  31. And they treat you like this of being indignant at the in-justice, I imagine I got an “uncivil” block on the last one….Have you seen how Craig lays into people sometimes?

    It all begs belief. It really does.

  32. http://www.solarham.net/wwv.htm

    :Product: Geophysical Alert Message wwv.txt
    :Issued: 2015 Jun 23 1205 UTC
    # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
    #
    # Geophysical Alert Message
    #
    Solar-terrestrial indices for 22 June follow.
    Solar flux 135 and estimated planetary A-index 54.
    The estimated planetary K-index at 1200 UTC on 23 June was 5.

    Space weather for the past 24 hours has been severe.
    Geomagnetic storms reaching the G4 level occurred.
    Solar radiation storms reaching the S3 level occurred.
    Radio blackouts reaching the R2 level occurred.

    Space weather for the next 24 hours is predicted to be strong

    :Product: Forecast Discussion
    :Issued: 2015 Jun 23 1230 UTC
    # Prepared by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
    #

    A CME, first observed on LASCO C2 imagery at 22/1836 UTC, associated
    with the M6/2b flare at 22/1823 UTC, produced a full halo signature.
    Modeling of the CME calculated the speed around 1047 km/s.
    Suggested onset at Earth is expected from late on 24 Jun (day 2) to early on 25 Jun (day 3)

  33. Ps, can I just say one comment, 5 words to round my my discussion with Macky? it’s not about you or Craig specifically…

    You won’t have to worry about me for the rest of the day, and longer.

  34. Ishmael: That is well out of order. Kindly apologise to Squonk, who has been nothing but accommodating to you.

  35. http://spaceweathergallery.com/indiv_upload.php?upload_id=113913

    Details:

    Aurora
    Taken by Chris Cook on June 22, 2015 @ Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA

    The aurora did not disappoint this evening! I captured this view in deep twilight from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. I positioned myself on a beach overlooking Cape Cod Bay so I could capture the reflection in the water at low tide.

    Taken with a Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L lens, ISO 3200, 15 sec exposure.

  36. That is incredible – would it be visible to the naked eye at all, or is some time-exposure necessary to detect it? How far south could such a spectacle be observed?

  37. I’m fairly certain much of the UK would have seen naked eye Aurura last night had it not been for still too much light at peak storm periods. It came in bursts last night so some minutes were much brighter than others. I nipped outside for a bit at a period of extreme storming and there did seem to be some green tinge to the northern twilight but overwhelmed by the below the horizon sun. Thought of getting my camera and tripod for a long exposure but that was too much effort!

    It is possible we’ll see another severe storm tomorrow night. NOAA/NASA hasn’t issued a strength forecast yet.

    http://www.solarham.net/ is a great site for the latest reports. You can use their link to the real time Aurora prediction page to see what the likelihood of seeing anything at your location.

  38. Squonk, thanks for the photo’s and CME etc. updates. It’s clear here tonight; I might try for a photo’ of Venus later.

  39. Suhayl Saadi; “I am despondent about the situation wrt Palestine. I think that is rational. Sorry. I hope I am wrong.”

    Perhaps you should keep such negative despondency to yourself, otherwise you run the risk of appearing to be SLYLY & deliberately be undermining support for the Palestinians

    Suhayl Saadi; “When I express agreement with you, or indicate that I feel you have added to the discussion – you seem unwilling to acknowledge it – instead I am seen as “backtracking”. You never, ever acknowledge any statements made by people whom you ahve decided you are agianst. You seem to direct more vitriol at these people that at the forces Craig Murray is ranged against.”

    That I very rarely express acknowledge with comments with which I am in agreement with, doesn’t mean that I don’t agree ! I take it for granted that most of us here are basically on the same page (trolls excepted), and see little point in continually expressing agreement; rather it’s when I don’t agree with either a particular pov, or with somebody’s bad behavior, that sometimes motivates me to comment; there doesn’t seem much point preaching to the converted when we all singing basically from the same hymn sheet, etc.

    Suhayl Saadi; “Coming onto this whistleblower’s blog and appearing selectively to disparage people – not just their views, but them personally –
    who rationally support that whistleblower might not be the most fruitful way of communicating.”

    That’s the thing isn’t it, blind loyalty triumphs reason ?! Take Craig’s position on Ukraine, & Russia generally, it’s no accident that it out of step with every other leading Lefty commentator & analyst, that is because it is BONKERS, driven by loaded irrationality; yet the loyalist supports here have used very underhand tactic to try & shut down what debate as they consider it as an “attack” on Craig; well sorry, Craig is not infallible, and if he gets it wrong, which I think he does quite a lot, he should be pressed on it so he can try to convince otherwise; having loyal little guarding lap-dogs automatically jumping on people to suppress dissent, is going always going to get an adverse reaction from people like myself.

    Suhayl Saadi; “Your criticims of me wrt what you call “the race card” echo those made in the past by Alfred (Can Speccy) and his supporters. You also seem to support those here who espouse what you call, “political Islam” but disparage those who support left-wing and progressive Muslims and socialists in Muslim-majority socities/countries. Indeed, you have made statements which I believe have essentialised people.”

    I really can’t make much sense of this, apart from trying to SLYLY associate me with a known racist; I probably know less about Islam then you, but I sure do recognize prejudice when I come across it, and on this blog it is Islamophobia more than Anti-Semitism, that I believe is the real problem.

    Suhayl Saadi; “I could be just as aggressive in writing if I wished to be; it’s not difficult, in fact it’s much easier. But I see little point.”

    Perhaps you can point out my aggressive words, my use of vulgar terms, or my use of expletives ? A echo of Clark’s accusation that I “use words as a weapon” !! 😀 Funny how challenging criticism is often attempted to be deflected by complaints about “tone”; you should be aware that in fact I do already automatically toned down & self-censor to a certain extent because despite Craig’s hypocrisy, this is far from a “Free Speech Forum”.

    Suhayl Saadi; “What do you think about white supremacism? It’s not a “sly” question, it’s simply the subject at hand. Please consider sharing your thoughts. Thank you.”

    No it is not the subject at hand that I’m interested to discuss on this issue, as I’ve told you several times now; so yes, you can deny it all you want, but the only reason why you would ask such an insulting question, is to SLYLY attempt to insinuate that I’m a racist; how would you feel if I kept going on about sexual repression being a major factor in mass shooting, and then started o question YOUR position on rape, gay sex, extreme sex, pedophilia etc ? You seem to suffer the from the same mindset condition that Clark was displaying when he insisted on me declaring that I was not working for the Kremlin (!), simply because I disloyally dared disagree with Craig’s position on Ukraine; such McCarthy type smearing tactics speak volumes about the people who make them, and it’s all bad, very, very bad.

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