I'm not sure if you can access the above link outside the UK, the BBC blocks some content access based on the location. However if you can get to the page, click on 'LiSTEN' and then skip forward to the last 15 minutes of the programme in order to hear the obituary.

If you can access the webpages, for a taste of what is broadcast news wise to us in the UK, might I suggest listening to the Today Programme, The World at One and, or PM, all of whose pages can be reached from the page listed. Each one programme has a distictive style and content approriate to its broadcast time.

For an insight into the British psyche I would suggest listening to Home Truths.

The schedule has been tight, of late. I was able to establish the Links you had shared, bb. Thank you. They have all been excellent to date.

Frankly, I have been deriving a good deal of pleasure reflecting on your recent posts. It seems almost a shame to respond. Of course, I would never let that stop me.

It would be even more enjoyable if this discussion could include well reasoned thoughts and observations from even more members.

A quick response to our Osama discussion, bb . . .

The longer Osama waits, the more politically irrelevant he becomes; the easier he is to locate; the more tedious and meaningless his existence. He is far too narcissistic to be off-stage for long. He must do something that will put him back in the game.

This is the same reason why I believe that ultimately he “would gladly sacrifice himself.” His dethronement would be too grievous a blow. His own culture would be forced to reject him. Like Hitler, he will exit us first.

The strategy in Iraq is starting to work. Sunni militias are fighting Al Qaeda insurgents. The recent elections and post election rhetoric provide an opening for the Sunnis to participate in a new government which will cede them semi-autonomous authority.

Any major attack against the West by Al Qaeda would be a fatal error. He may not realize this, but he is probably intelligent enough not to risk increased global support for the U.S. and British war against him.

How could the Katrina catastrophe generate hate sentiments towards the U.S.? The only possibility that comes to mind is something like “divine retribution.” Certainly the British are too sophisticated to fall for this kind of tripe?

A “Root of All Evil” discussion must soon be forthcoming. It is simply too ripe with possibility and controversy.

The following post first appeared on the above named Thread by zoukfer that can be referrenced at:

http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org/forums/wcg/viewthread?thread=5637



My own answer to your first question, zoukfr: “The question is more, should a research be avoided if there's a risk of using it with bad perspectives?” actually highlights the inherent paradox involved with scientific research which you have alluded to.

Scientific research is inherently academic as are most scientific researchers; therefore its purpose is almost identical to its rationale/methodology: Hence the term “pure research.” This is where we get the stereotype of the “mad scientist” who is unable to avoid the “research compulsion” to achieve success regardless of the consequences either to him, or to the world.

Of course, funding sources (and by implication intended future use); impact of prevailing academic environment (including bias, publication potential, internal politics, etc.); impact of prevailing legal and social environment (i.e., stem cell and cloning research); integrity of the research/researchers (i.e. recent cloning scandal in Korea); perceived potential market (uses for) research evidence that could enhance or jeopardize corporate and government agendas/interests; and so on, all factor into even the “purest research.”

Since researchers know that “research rewards” go to “he who publish first (not necessarily best)” there is a constant pressure to “stay at the cutting edge” in one’s field. Furthermore, since all research gets immediately put into “the body science,” there is very little lag time between finding “a statistically meaningful relationship” and everyone else know about it, as well.

As a result, researchers (as well as interested 3rd parties such as government, military, corporations) know that everyone else is either hot on their heels or one step ahead. Given the market or strategic implications of the research results, the more the research topic has been carefully followed (if not actually funded/sponsored by the most interested parties with the most available resources). The result is that corporations and governments (which include the military) may be even more interested in research that has the maximum destabilization potential since this information serves to exaggerate both the potential risk and the potential reward factors simultaneously.

The inescapable conclusion, zoukfr, is that so long as the research work itself is not actually discovered to be in violation of established current legal and ethical guidelines, that can be and actually are enforced, man is powerless to contain the inner and outer pressures to investigate the universe to the best of his capabilities. Simply put: If man can: Man will. Man’s unique neuroanatomy/functionality makes it naturally inevitable.

The question then becomes: If we can not stop progress, can we at least be certain that it will always be put to good use? Unfortunately, if are simply honest with ourselves, we must admit that the answer is obvious: Of course not. Look at history. Look at current events. It is simply not our nature. Still, we do have to at least try to minimize the inevitable damage.

The topic of introducing religion into the educational curriculum seems to me to be an excellent question for discussion. Unfortunately, it is also a separate topic that I will have to “chime in on” in a later post.

This story played out slightly differently here in the UK, possibly because it does not appear to include any Ford jobs in the UK, not that there are that many left. The emphasis was more on a realisation by Ford that they needed to go for new more efficient manufacturing facilites using Japanese style design and manufacturing techniques.

However what the pundits picked up on was that Ford needed to pick up on its build quality and reliability if it truely wanted to compete with Japanese manufacturers. As many also pointed out that most cars produced by Japanese companies are no longer imported but manufactured in country and that buying American to protect American jobs could no longer be held to be true.