Interesting Links for 27-10-2011

[andrewducker]

• There is "disagreement" over whether an independent Scotland would be part of the EU
  (tags: Europe scotland uk independence )
• Will Britain get its EU Referendum after all?
  (tags: Europe politics uk )
• Nokia launches Windows Phone range. Looks shiny, but too locked down for me.
  (tags: Windows MobilePhones nokia )
• Ken Clarke in rift with Theresa May

Comments

[artkouros]

That first chicks with guns photo is my next door neighbor all over, even down to the carousel horse and dolls.

[strawberryfrog]

I'd be happier with the Green Party's science and energy policy if they didn't run screaming in superstitious dread at the word "nuclear".

If they adopted some of the Pirates' pro-govt-transparency and personal-privacy ideas I'd be happier too. I don't really see an ideological clash between Green and Pirate, just a difference in what they focus on.

[steer]

That windows/nokia thing amuses me. The phone hardware is a slight redesign from the Meego based N9. Is this the first time that someone's taken an existing product designed for Linux and thought, "maybe we could get windows to run on that"?

[steer]

I did think of that as another possible example (I bought, and indeed still use, a first generation eeepc, although the linux version on it was horrible and quickly removed).

[gonzo21]

And that's assuming the EU would even allow an independant scotland to join. I suspect the pressures on the EU at the moment probably mean they're not eager to allow membership to any more small nation states that might require large amounts of central funding to remain viable.

[the_gardener]

There is "disagreement" over whether an independent Scotland would be part of the EU

This looks like a piece of scaremongering by conservatives (small-c and Capital-C) who don't wish to see the UK break apart. There is simply no precedent whatever in EU law for a declaration of autonomy or independence by a territory or region which is part of an existing Member State; it does not therefore automatically follow, as the article claims, that the newly autonomous or independent state would be regarded as a candidate country which has to undergo a complete accession process. Indeed, the newly independent country would already be party to the acquis, through the signature of the Member State from which it was seceding; it would therefore already be compliant with all applicable EU law. In such circumstances, therefore, it is more likely that there would be short transition process in which the newly independent country signed its own acquis documents, ratified the Treaties in its own Parliament, and nominated its own Commissioner. "

[gonzo21]

You know what I find slightly odd about the whole europe question.

The way the politicians are adamant that we won't get a referendum on whether or not we should be part of the EU. Like they know the people would vote no, but it's infinitely better for us to be part of the EU than out of it.

Which means they really need to do a better job of explaining to we, the people, exactly why being in Europe is a very good thing indeed.

[iainjcoleman]

If they were, hypothetically, to do so, how do you think you would hear about it?

[nancylebov]

Hearing loss linked to dementia.

And I've heard (sorry, lost the source which is a shame because I think it was in a spectacularly good video about Deaf culture and not putting deaf people into a marked state) that old people people aren't stigmatized in Deaf culture. At the time I thought that it simply meant a different culture could have different-- and better-- values, but it might be that old people who sign are in better mental shape because they're less likely to lose social contact.

[laplor]

I think you're right on with this.

My observations of my son and my father-in-law, who both have hearing impairments, supports the idea that people who cannot communicate properly (when their aids are not functioning) will withdraw.

Of course this is not the only cause of dementia, but it may make it worse. I seem to recall reading that mild dementias are often related to things as fixable as medication side-effect - it makes sense that sensory impairments could be a factor.