Firstly I'd like to offer my appreciation for how everyone has completely ignored the idiotic smoking post. I imagine we probably have as many smokers as non-smokers, but at least the rest of us have some little intelligence about our vices.
Secondly, there is a debate at the very bottom of this blog which has now entered the realm of the hypothetical.
What should the US and Britain do about Iraq. Should they go home, go hard, or go long? And what will the middle east look like in the scenario you propose?
Some would say it would be victory by the Islamo Fascists... surely not really all that different from the current victory of the Western supported Facsists regimes in Egypt and Saudi. and the Quasi dictatorial states of Kuwait, Turkey, and Israel (at least for certain proportions of the populations).
Nevertheless, if America = good, then killing even innocents in the name of America is surely also good. Hmm, sounds rather suspect and quasi-religious. I don't think we need to wonder if the atheist, secular, and democratic creed is capable of as much fanatical our might = right to kill as religion.
Friday, November 24, 2006
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Smoking is great!
I doubt I'm gonna even bother replying to any comments to this post because it will just be full of non-smoker fascists telling me how stupid and evil smokers are!
But I thought this was interesting - it comes from www.quit.org
While smoking has been clearly identified as the cause of many diseases and other health problems, as described above, it has also been observed to reduce the incidence of some diseases (endometrial cancer, Parkinson's disease, ulcerative colitis, hypertension of pregnancy and Alzheimer's disease). This is known as a 'protective effect'.
There is evidence to suggest that smoking reduces the risk of cancer of the endometrium (membrane lining of the uterus) in post-menopausal women by an estimated 30% in current smokers. This may be because of the effects of smoking on oestrogen levels. Smoking is known to affect other oestrogen related phenomena: for example, both a woman's age at menopause and her bone density after menopause are related to her oestrogen levels. The action of cigarette smoking is opposite to that of oestrogens in each instance: relative to other women, smokers have an earlier age at menopause and bones that are more brittle. The risk of endometrial cancer is substantially increased by the use of drugs containing oestrogen. Therefore it is not inconsistent that tobacco smoke could counter the effect of oestrogens and reduce the risk of endometrial cancer.
However if some degree of protection from endometrial cancer is afforded by cigarette smoking, it fades to insignificance when compared to the numbers of lives lost through smoking. Some 30 times as many lives are lost due to smoking than saved through lowered incidence of endometrial cancer. Researchers have acknowledged this: 'The present findings [about endometrial cancer] do not have direct public health importance since cigarettes, overall, have serious deleterious effects. However, if these results are confirmed, elucidation of the underlying mechanism whereby smoking reduces the risk would be of interest and might be useful in the development of strategies for preventing endometrial cancer.'
It is estimated that the overall aetiological fraction of endometrial cancer prevented in ex- and current-smokers is -0.10. This means that for every 100 cases of endometrial cancer observed in a community where smoking occurs, if smoking were absent from this community, 10 more would occur.
Tobacco also appears to have a protective effect against Parkinson's disease and hypertension of pregnancy. The overall aetiological fractions for the effects of smoking are -0.35 for Parkinson's disease in men and -0.22 in women. In women, the aetiological fraction for hypertension of pregnancy is -0.07.
The effects of smoking on ulcerative colitis are unclear. In their review, English et al conclude that there is limited evidence that current smoking protects against ulcerative colitis and that there is also limited evidence that past smoking causes ulcerative colitis. The overall effect of ever smoking is that 8% of ulcerative colitis in men and 3% in women is caused by ever smoking.
Recent research indicates that smoking may also protect against the development of Alzheimer's disease in some measure. However, as with the other conditions listed above, tobacco use is not recommended as a prophylactic: 'Although the association is compatible with a protective effect of smoking for familial Alzheimer's disease, it has no relevance for prevention of Alzheimer's disease because of the adverse health effects of smoking.'
But I thought this was interesting - it comes from www.quit.org
While smoking has been clearly identified as the cause of many diseases and other health problems, as described above, it has also been observed to reduce the incidence of some diseases (endometrial cancer, Parkinson's disease, ulcerative colitis, hypertension of pregnancy and Alzheimer's disease). This is known as a 'protective effect'.
There is evidence to suggest that smoking reduces the risk of cancer of the endometrium (membrane lining of the uterus) in post-menopausal women by an estimated 30% in current smokers. This may be because of the effects of smoking on oestrogen levels. Smoking is known to affect other oestrogen related phenomena: for example, both a woman's age at menopause and her bone density after menopause are related to her oestrogen levels. The action of cigarette smoking is opposite to that of oestrogens in each instance: relative to other women, smokers have an earlier age at menopause and bones that are more brittle. The risk of endometrial cancer is substantially increased by the use of drugs containing oestrogen. Therefore it is not inconsistent that tobacco smoke could counter the effect of oestrogens and reduce the risk of endometrial cancer.
However if some degree of protection from endometrial cancer is afforded by cigarette smoking, it fades to insignificance when compared to the numbers of lives lost through smoking. Some 30 times as many lives are lost due to smoking than saved through lowered incidence of endometrial cancer. Researchers have acknowledged this: 'The present findings [about endometrial cancer] do not have direct public health importance since cigarettes, overall, have serious deleterious effects. However, if these results are confirmed, elucidation of the underlying mechanism whereby smoking reduces the risk would be of interest and might be useful in the development of strategies for preventing endometrial cancer.'
It is estimated that the overall aetiological fraction of endometrial cancer prevented in ex- and current-smokers is -0.10. This means that for every 100 cases of endometrial cancer observed in a community where smoking occurs, if smoking were absent from this community, 10 more would occur.
Tobacco also appears to have a protective effect against Parkinson's disease and hypertension of pregnancy. The overall aetiological fractions for the effects of smoking are -0.35 for Parkinson's disease in men and -0.22 in women. In women, the aetiological fraction for hypertension of pregnancy is -0.07.
The effects of smoking on ulcerative colitis are unclear. In their review, English et al conclude that there is limited evidence that current smoking protects against ulcerative colitis and that there is also limited evidence that past smoking causes ulcerative colitis. The overall effect of ever smoking is that 8% of ulcerative colitis in men and 3% in women is caused by ever smoking.
Recent research indicates that smoking may also protect against the development of Alzheimer's disease in some measure. However, as with the other conditions listed above, tobacco use is not recommended as a prophylactic: 'Although the association is compatible with a protective effect of smoking for familial Alzheimer's disease, it has no relevance for prevention of Alzheimer's disease because of the adverse health effects of smoking.'
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Well done Prince Charles
Prince Charles has gotten the death sentace commuted on Mirza Tahir Hussain who was banged up in Pakistan 18 years ago for shooting a taxi driver in a struggle. He maintains the taxi driver tried to sexually assalt him, pulled a gun and it went off as Hussain tried to fight him off. He immediately turned himself in but got banged up under Sharia Law.
The death sentace has been lifted but the dead mans family still want him dead. The taxi drivers mum says she will set herself on fire if he is released so he still has a long way to go.
The question is, would an elected head of state have had the same pull as a member of the Royal family and future King of England did. We may not give a toss about the Royal family but the rest of the world still regard them very highly.
For this reason alone I would vote against any Republican movement that formed in this country.
The death sentace has been lifted but the dead mans family still want him dead. The taxi drivers mum says she will set herself on fire if he is released so he still has a long way to go.
The question is, would an elected head of state have had the same pull as a member of the Royal family and future King of England did. We may not give a toss about the Royal family but the rest of the world still regard them very highly.
For this reason alone I would vote against any Republican movement that formed in this country.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Is it time to scrap the human rights act?
What the fuck is going on? Criminals with drug addictions given compensation for the stress caused by the "cold turkey" tactics. Hamza saying deportation to his home country violates his human rights. Examples like this are plentiful but where were the human rights of the bankers exported to the US on fraud charges? Have we gone fucking mad? I mean surely these addicts benefitted from getting off drugs? Surely this was a step towards rehabilitation, at least from the point of view that they are no longer required to rob our homes to feed their habit?
Surely Hamza by coming to this country seeking refuge means he has to abide by our laws or risk exportation once he's served his sentence for violating those laws?
Perhaps stories where the Human rights act works doesn't sell newspapers so can anyone give examples where this act actually made things better for anyone?
Surely Hamza by coming to this country seeking refuge means he has to abide by our laws or risk exportation once he's served his sentence for violating those laws?
Perhaps stories where the Human rights act works doesn't sell newspapers so can anyone give examples where this act actually made things better for anyone?
De-sensitised
Is there anything human beings are incapable of becoming desensitised to?
People crap in eachothers mouths for pleasure.
People blow up little children.
People conduct gas chamber genecide, rocket launcher genocide, and burry people alive.
People eat other human beings.
People are quite at east speaking about 2million dead, 40 million dead... war, famine, disease.
People who rape babies get a couple years in prison.
People will torture others including dissolving their limbs in acid, poking holes in every imaginable place, straining, breaking, cutting, and poking in every imaginable way.
And that's the thing, nothing is unimaginable, nothing too grotesque for human indifference, nothing which doesn't require just a tiny bit of justification and adjustment. And who provides the justification? Corrupt, inbalanced, and infantile leaders through repetative, naive (or corrupt), and wholey pandering media.
Even our "righteous indignation and shock" has limits, is easily manipulated, and rarely channeled except for political ends.
Reality is insane.
People crap in eachothers mouths for pleasure.
People blow up little children.
People conduct gas chamber genecide, rocket launcher genocide, and burry people alive.
People eat other human beings.
People are quite at east speaking about 2million dead, 40 million dead... war, famine, disease.
People who rape babies get a couple years in prison.
People will torture others including dissolving their limbs in acid, poking holes in every imaginable place, straining, breaking, cutting, and poking in every imaginable way.
And that's the thing, nothing is unimaginable, nothing too grotesque for human indifference, nothing which doesn't require just a tiny bit of justification and adjustment. And who provides the justification? Corrupt, inbalanced, and infantile leaders through repetative, naive (or corrupt), and wholey pandering media.
Even our "righteous indignation and shock" has limits, is easily manipulated, and rarely channeled except for political ends.
Reality is insane.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Why I hate Australians
Do Australians actually have any redeeming qualities. Don't say you know a nice Australian - a good bloke - because I bet he has been living in West London for 15 years, and his parents were born in England. He doesn't count.
They live in a beautful country, with an excellent climate, a whole continent to explore. They have a reasonable standard of living, love a barbie and a beer, and a dip in their swimming pools.
They have no political enemies living on their borders, and would be the country most likely to survive and thrive after a nuclear holocaust.
So why are Aussies such wankers. Racist, ignorant, stupid - genetically thick, close-minded, sport obsessed, soap watching morons. With an Aussie, everthing has to come down to the lowest common denominator.
They single handedly humiliated, subjugated, and destroyed their indigenous peoples.
They offer nothing to the world in terms of technical or scientific advancement - not even a good sun bloc!!
They scream and cry and debate endlessely about the only thing that registers on their political radar, and thats immigration - convienently forgetting that they serve as one of the best examples of how mass immigration supplants and destroyed an indigenous culture - through numbers and force of arms alone in a few generations.
I hope that twenety million Vietnamese boat people manage to land in Australia. Payback's a bitch.
The cricket fans among us will know that the Ashes are currently being contetsted. The England team have only been in Australia for three days, and already, their british born Sikh bowler is being abused for no other reason other then he is brown. The same happened to the South African black pace bowler Ntini, when he was there a few months earlier.
So I have had enough.
If you are Australian and reading this blog - FUCK OFF! I hate all of you, without exception.
If you are not Australian and reading this blog, remember what I have said when you are meeting an Australian. Your intention should be soley to humiliate and embarrass. Remember it' s okay to say what you want because we all know the Aussies love to banter. If they get offended, remember to say fair dinkum and move on to your next target. If it helps refer to their geneology and the fact that they really are the spawn of scum. I know its a cliche, but trust me, it really works. Also, ask them how long they have been visiting the UK, and when they intend to return. If they have stayed here for longer then six months, ask to see their visa. Take down their details and report them to the authorities. Make them feel like an illegal immigrant.
The Yanks are bad enough - but at least they can say "we are the richest country in the world", or " we have the biggest army in the world" or " we run the world". They have some substance to base their arrogance and superiority. Aussies have nothing apart from a sun tan, a few swimmers and a cricket team. A nation, a people, a culture that amounts to nothing and never will.
Watch out Aussies - I'm a coming!!!!!!!
They live in a beautful country, with an excellent climate, a whole continent to explore. They have a reasonable standard of living, love a barbie and a beer, and a dip in their swimming pools.
They have no political enemies living on their borders, and would be the country most likely to survive and thrive after a nuclear holocaust.
So why are Aussies such wankers. Racist, ignorant, stupid - genetically thick, close-minded, sport obsessed, soap watching morons. With an Aussie, everthing has to come down to the lowest common denominator.
They single handedly humiliated, subjugated, and destroyed their indigenous peoples.
They offer nothing to the world in terms of technical or scientific advancement - not even a good sun bloc!!
They scream and cry and debate endlessely about the only thing that registers on their political radar, and thats immigration - convienently forgetting that they serve as one of the best examples of how mass immigration supplants and destroyed an indigenous culture - through numbers and force of arms alone in a few generations.
I hope that twenety million Vietnamese boat people manage to land in Australia. Payback's a bitch.
The cricket fans among us will know that the Ashes are currently being contetsted. The England team have only been in Australia for three days, and already, their british born Sikh bowler is being abused for no other reason other then he is brown. The same happened to the South African black pace bowler Ntini, when he was there a few months earlier.
So I have had enough.
If you are Australian and reading this blog - FUCK OFF! I hate all of you, without exception.
If you are not Australian and reading this blog, remember what I have said when you are meeting an Australian. Your intention should be soley to humiliate and embarrass. Remember it' s okay to say what you want because we all know the Aussies love to banter. If they get offended, remember to say fair dinkum and move on to your next target. If it helps refer to their geneology and the fact that they really are the spawn of scum. I know its a cliche, but trust me, it really works. Also, ask them how long they have been visiting the UK, and when they intend to return. If they have stayed here for longer then six months, ask to see their visa. Take down their details and report them to the authorities. Make them feel like an illegal immigrant.
The Yanks are bad enough - but at least they can say "we are the richest country in the world", or " we have the biggest army in the world" or " we run the world". They have some substance to base their arrogance and superiority. Aussies have nothing apart from a sun tan, a few swimmers and a cricket team. A nation, a people, a culture that amounts to nothing and never will.
Watch out Aussies - I'm a coming!!!!!!!
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Robbery in motion- off the bus onto the tube
So I am on the tube and I see 5 young "yobs" which is the best description of hooded 18-20 year olds travelling in a pack causing trouble. They push through the train and I go back to reading.
They get off at my stop and threw something at a young woman and banged on the tube doors.
I'm usually reading a book, but I decide this is a better time to be wary, put my book away, place my bag over my shoulder properly, and uncap my pen and hold it in my fist inside my pocket.
I check into the tube to see the two bewilldered girls and look back up at the youth laughing and then running up the stairs.
I follow warily, and they cross the street in front of me. The blockbuster they tried to go into is closed, and I walk past them, checking inside the windowpanes for anyone getting close to me. I'm not nervous, but calculating.
I see a young woman with a large cary bag on my left going to her car as I walk past and I think to myself, dangerous target, I hope she is wary too. I kept going.
I'm half a block away and I hear the pelting and running of the youth, laughing as they rush past me, followed quickly by screams for help "I'll give you anything, money, whatever you want, pleeaaaseee" she continuously screams.
I run after the youth half heartedly, trying to keep contact and within visual range, but aware I'm all by myself, with a bag, a plastic pen, and a nice suite...
A truck pulls in with two guys looking out, I wave at them, they are around the corner, and I rush in... it's a blind alleyway, 5 little criminals, darkness, and me. I stay back. The guys in the truck observe then drive away.
I walk back and two of the young guys are lurking in the bush, I move towards them and they run off... neither had the bag, what's the point?
Now a little group of people gather around the frantic woman, it has all her keys, wallet, all her work on her laptop, she is alone... no shoes on.
We're standing there and a yobbish looking bloke tries to saunter out across the green, the place they had run into was a culdesac, the only exit was to launch over a security fence onto the tube lines. I can't recognize him, but I stop him. He gets irrate with me. I tell him he looks like one of the guys who was part of it. He claims innocence, gets angry with me for accusing him of "looking like a criminal" and says "he would never cause a young woman so much misery" he then asks for a fag and one of the guys gives him one, some of the women who have gathered apologize to him and say no one was accusing him.
I walk up and say, "what are you doing here."
"Visiting a friend."
"What is his name?"
"Punch you..."
"Go ahead, that would make things a lot easier."
"Charlie Hackle, punch you is his tag."
"Fuck off."
He goes around and mingles and then walks off. I'm annoyed, I should grab the fucker, but really, what's my interest? He'll deny it, no one saw him do anything, he has no bag on him, the victim doesn't recognize him... Still I should have grabbed him till the cops came, the others aren't as keen though.
The cops come, calm the lady down. I go to the tube station to see if any of them have tried to go back.
We mill around waiting for the cops, but they don't need any statements unless we actually witnessed the snatch. None of us have. I offer to escort the attractive blonde home, she's nervous. I give her my card, we walk, she's from Brazil, USA, Birmingham. She'd never been robbed once in Brazil, or in the states, in Birmingham she was mugged twice and burgled once.
An aspiring actress, was rather pleased to meet her. But I'm still aggravated. I made the right calculation, the 5 of them could have beat me down and probably enjoyed caving my head in, but I was still tempted to run in, although I am pretty certain most people would have watched me get shit kicked.
I have decided I did what I could, that I would have done more if a vigilante crew had formed, but my philosophy of a fight is finish the fuckers hard, so I'd probably be in a jail cell with a ruined suit and a black eye with the laptop still gone, and my bag too...
So I've decided next time I'm in a situation like that I'll aim for a preventative approach. I'll take the warnings and stay with the woman instead of walking past and minding my own business. I knew she was a good target, and I should have taken responsibility for that.
Still hoping the attractive brazilian girl gives me a call...
They get off at my stop and threw something at a young woman and banged on the tube doors.
I'm usually reading a book, but I decide this is a better time to be wary, put my book away, place my bag over my shoulder properly, and uncap my pen and hold it in my fist inside my pocket.
I check into the tube to see the two bewilldered girls and look back up at the youth laughing and then running up the stairs.
I follow warily, and they cross the street in front of me. The blockbuster they tried to go into is closed, and I walk past them, checking inside the windowpanes for anyone getting close to me. I'm not nervous, but calculating.
I see a young woman with a large cary bag on my left going to her car as I walk past and I think to myself, dangerous target, I hope she is wary too. I kept going.
I'm half a block away and I hear the pelting and running of the youth, laughing as they rush past me, followed quickly by screams for help "I'll give you anything, money, whatever you want, pleeaaaseee" she continuously screams.
I run after the youth half heartedly, trying to keep contact and within visual range, but aware I'm all by myself, with a bag, a plastic pen, and a nice suite...
A truck pulls in with two guys looking out, I wave at them, they are around the corner, and I rush in... it's a blind alleyway, 5 little criminals, darkness, and me. I stay back. The guys in the truck observe then drive away.
I walk back and two of the young guys are lurking in the bush, I move towards them and they run off... neither had the bag, what's the point?
Now a little group of people gather around the frantic woman, it has all her keys, wallet, all her work on her laptop, she is alone... no shoes on.
We're standing there and a yobbish looking bloke tries to saunter out across the green, the place they had run into was a culdesac, the only exit was to launch over a security fence onto the tube lines. I can't recognize him, but I stop him. He gets irrate with me. I tell him he looks like one of the guys who was part of it. He claims innocence, gets angry with me for accusing him of "looking like a criminal" and says "he would never cause a young woman so much misery" he then asks for a fag and one of the guys gives him one, some of the women who have gathered apologize to him and say no one was accusing him.
I walk up and say, "what are you doing here."
"Visiting a friend."
"What is his name?"
"Punch you..."
"Go ahead, that would make things a lot easier."
"Charlie Hackle, punch you is his tag."
"Fuck off."
He goes around and mingles and then walks off. I'm annoyed, I should grab the fucker, but really, what's my interest? He'll deny it, no one saw him do anything, he has no bag on him, the victim doesn't recognize him... Still I should have grabbed him till the cops came, the others aren't as keen though.
The cops come, calm the lady down. I go to the tube station to see if any of them have tried to go back.
We mill around waiting for the cops, but they don't need any statements unless we actually witnessed the snatch. None of us have. I offer to escort the attractive blonde home, she's nervous. I give her my card, we walk, she's from Brazil, USA, Birmingham. She'd never been robbed once in Brazil, or in the states, in Birmingham she was mugged twice and burgled once.
An aspiring actress, was rather pleased to meet her. But I'm still aggravated. I made the right calculation, the 5 of them could have beat me down and probably enjoyed caving my head in, but I was still tempted to run in, although I am pretty certain most people would have watched me get shit kicked.
I have decided I did what I could, that I would have done more if a vigilante crew had formed, but my philosophy of a fight is finish the fuckers hard, so I'd probably be in a jail cell with a ruined suit and a black eye with the laptop still gone, and my bag too...
So I've decided next time I'm in a situation like that I'll aim for a preventative approach. I'll take the warnings and stay with the woman instead of walking past and minding my own business. I knew she was a good target, and I should have taken responsibility for that.
Still hoping the attractive brazilian girl gives me a call...
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Who wrote these classic quotes?
1 - Man is a marvelous curiosity … he thinks he is the Creator's pet … he even believes the Creator loves him; has a passion for him; sits up nights to admire him; yes and watch over him and keep him out of trouble. He prays to him and thinks He listens. Isn't it a quaint idea.
2 - Man has been here 32,000 years. That it took a hundred million years to prepare the world for him is proof that that is what it was done for. I suppose it is. I dunno. If the Eiffel tower were now representing the world's age, the skin of paint on the pinnacle-knob at its summit would represent man's share of that age; & anybody would perceive that that skin was what the tower was built for. I reckon they would. I dunno.
3 - There has been only one Christian. They caught him and crucified him -- early.
4 - What God lacks is convictions -- stability of character. He ought to be a Presbyterian or a Catholic or something -- not try to be everything
5 - Satan hasn't a single salaried helper; the Opposition employ a million
6 - Blasphemy? No, it is not blasphemy. If God is as vast as that, he is above blasphemy; if He is as little as that, He is beneath it.
7 - It now seems plain to me that that theory ought to be vacated in favor of a new and truer one ... the Descent of Man from the Higher Animals.
2 - Man has been here 32,000 years. That it took a hundred million years to prepare the world for him is proof that that is what it was done for. I suppose it is. I dunno. If the Eiffel tower were now representing the world's age, the skin of paint on the pinnacle-knob at its summit would represent man's share of that age; & anybody would perceive that that skin was what the tower was built for. I reckon they would. I dunno.
3 - There has been only one Christian. They caught him and crucified him -- early.
4 - What God lacks is convictions -- stability of character. He ought to be a Presbyterian or a Catholic or something -- not try to be everything
5 - Satan hasn't a single salaried helper; the Opposition employ a million
6 - Blasphemy? No, it is not blasphemy. If God is as vast as that, he is above blasphemy; if He is as little as that, He is beneath it.
7 - It now seems plain to me that that theory ought to be vacated in favor of a new and truer one ... the Descent of Man from the Higher Animals.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Bus Incidents 2 - the peaceful way works
Not only do I have to tell people to pick litter up but also to take their feet off seats on buses...
Yesterday, got on the bus, two Bengali youths (baggy jeans, hair with cuts, hoodies etc) - asked one of them to take his feet of the seats - he says 'Why?'...
An older Bengali woman says to me "Just leave them alone"
I say "Why? Do you not think he should take his feet off the seats?"
She says: "I dont have an opinion, I'm just advising you..."
I try and read and let it go but...
"Sorry, but why can't I speak to them?"
"Because this is the inner city and you dont know if they have knives etc"
"I could handle these two! But I take your point and thank you"
I wait till she has got off the bus and turn to my friend with feet on the seats: "You two wouldnt try and stab me for asking you to take your feet off the seats would you?"
"No"
"Coz thats what she was saying - that you were so ignorant that that is what you might do"
Anyway, start usual argument about whether he would put his feet on the seats in his mothers house (of course, he wouldn't, they take their shoes off in the house! Smartass Muslims!). Then he admits he would if his Mum wasnt there and I'm telling him if his mum caught him she'd give him a beating and blah blah blah.
Didn't get anywhere reasoning with him but made him laugh and patronised him ("You'll understand when you're older").
Was thinking I had not gained any victory until they got off at Chrisp St, and the other guy (who hadn't said a word) turned to me quietly and said:
"Sorry about him mate, he was being a twat."
Then a Nigerian woman turns to me and says: "Thank God for people like you"
Suppress the urge to say "God didnt have fuck all to do with it..." and thank her.
Satisfaction - dharma restored!
Yesterday, got on the bus, two Bengali youths (baggy jeans, hair with cuts, hoodies etc) - asked one of them to take his feet of the seats - he says 'Why?'...
An older Bengali woman says to me "Just leave them alone"
I say "Why? Do you not think he should take his feet off the seats?"
She says: "I dont have an opinion, I'm just advising you..."
I try and read and let it go but...
"Sorry, but why can't I speak to them?"
"Because this is the inner city and you dont know if they have knives etc"
"I could handle these two! But I take your point and thank you"
I wait till she has got off the bus and turn to my friend with feet on the seats: "You two wouldnt try and stab me for asking you to take your feet off the seats would you?"
"No"
"Coz thats what she was saying - that you were so ignorant that that is what you might do"
Anyway, start usual argument about whether he would put his feet on the seats in his mothers house (of course, he wouldn't, they take their shoes off in the house! Smartass Muslims!). Then he admits he would if his Mum wasnt there and I'm telling him if his mum caught him she'd give him a beating and blah blah blah.
Didn't get anywhere reasoning with him but made him laugh and patronised him ("You'll understand when you're older").
Was thinking I had not gained any victory until they got off at Chrisp St, and the other guy (who hadn't said a word) turned to me quietly and said:
"Sorry about him mate, he was being a twat."
Then a Nigerian woman turns to me and says: "Thank God for people like you"
Suppress the urge to say "God didnt have fuck all to do with it..." and thank her.
Satisfaction - dharma restored!
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