The Off Topic Topic

[Valmy]

This is why it is best for celebrities to stay away from politics. 

So who the fuck should be involved in politics Mono? Divinely appointed kings?

[mongers]

This is why it is best for celebrities to stay away from politics.

She's been political her entire life, though. 

Beside I wouldn't class her as a celebrity, being an author I think she's every right to be involved politically; political debate needs more people who can string together a thoughtful, elegant paragraph or two, rather than sound-bites and bumper-stickers.

[mongers]

This is why it is best for celebrities to stay away from politics. 

So who the fuck should be involved in politics Mono? Divinely appointed kings?

Yes that's a good point. I think everyone should be involved as an aspect of civic duty, unless they've got some negative mental disability, say like being a narcissistic bully, oh. 

[Malthus]

Here's the actual op-ed piece in question:

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/am-i-a-bad-feminist/article37591823/

[Valmy]

Yes that's a good point. I think everyone should be involved as an aspect of civic duty, unless they've got some negative mental disability, say like being a narcissistic bully, oh. 

Well has been very vocal that the normal everyday Janes and Joes shouldn't participate since their views don't matter and make no difference. So now the rich and famous should also stay out. So who does that leave exactly?

[Grey Fox]

Yes that's a good point. I think everyone should be involved as an aspect of civic duty, unless they've got some negative mental disability, say like being a narcissistic bully, oh. 

Well has been very vocal that the normal everyday Janes and Joes shouldn't participate since their views don't matter and make no difference. So now the rich and famous should also stay out. So who does that leave exactly?

Party members, you know, how China works.

Fucking Mono.

[The Brain]

Here's the actual op-ed piece in question:

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/am-i-a-bad-feminist/article37591823/

I can add that to the other things I've been accused of since 1972, ..., of being a dominatrix bent on the subjugation of men (a rightie one, complete with an illustration of me in leather boots and a whip) ...

Link?

[Monoriu]

Yes that's a good point. I think everyone should be involved as an aspect of civic duty, unless they've got some negative mental disability, say like being a narcissistic bully, oh. 

Well has been very vocal that the normal everyday Janes and Joes shouldn't participate since their views don't matter and make no difference. So now the rich and famous should also stay out. So who does that leave exactly?

I've told you many times before.  People named Bush, Clinton, Trump and Obama 

[crazy canuck]

I see Aunt Malthus is in trouble with a certain crowd.

You should read her Op Ed.  It is really quite good. 

I'm guessing the 'reaction' to it made it a self-fulfilling prophecy?

Yep, and there is no way the people who are attacking her understand the irony.

[crazy canuck]

Beside I wouldn't class her as a celebrity, being an author I think she's every right to be involved politically; political debate needs more people who can string together a thoughtful, elegant paragraph or two, rather than sound-bites and bumper-stickers.

To the extent Canada has something one might characterize as celebrity culture, she is certainly one of the top celebrities we have.

[grumbler]

I've told you many times before.  People named Bush, Clinton, Trump and Obama 

But not the ones who are celebrities?   

[Monoriu]

I've told you many times before.  People named Bush, Clinton, Trump and Obama 

But not the ones who are celebrities?   

This is one of the cultural shocks I had in Canada.  In Hong Kong, Japan, Mainland China, celebrities seldom talk about politics.  There are exceptions, of course, but it is perfectly legitimate for them to say "I know nothing about politics." 

[Valmy]

We have lots of celebrities.

[mongers]

In local news:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-42702459

'Thomas Hardy' Wool Bridge collapses into River Frome

An Elizabethan bridge that features in Thomas Hardy's novel Tess of the D'Urbervilles has partially collapsed and been washed away.

Cracks began to appear on the Grade II* listed Wool Bridge, which crosses the River Frome in Dorset, on Thursday.

Since then the wall foundation has "slumped" and been washed away, a county council spokeswoman said.

The bridge has been closed to traffic for many years, except for pedestrians and cyclists, she added.

The council hoped to put large bags of aggregate into the river on Friday to help stop further erosion to the walls and to prevent damage to the arches.

"The longer-term plan for repair will be to wait until summer when the conditions are better, dam the affected area off, to allow it to dry out and we can see what has happened," the spokeswoman added.

A bridge is first recorded to have crossed this point of the river in 1343, though it is thought the current structure was built in the 16th Century, according to Historic England.

It features in Thomas Hardy's novel Tess of the d'Urbervilles due to its location next to Woolbridge Manor, the home of the d'Urberville family.

It was considered to be the best preserved Elizabethan bridge in Dorset.

edit:

Oh  and the location around T.E.Lawrence's grave is under threat from gravel extraction plans. 

[mongers]

Listening a radio programme about Tolkien, interviewed is the actor Robert Hardy, who describes being taught by both C.S.Lewis and Tolkien, lovely anecdote about going to a 'tutorial' in a local pub at 11am.