TheBaronOfFratton
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^Well I'm glad you played at least! 
^Actually, I'm not much of a fan of She Bangs The Drums - maybe it's due to overexposure? I had a cassette(!) of early singles and b-sides that a friend gave to me, and it had this version of Full Fathom Five that I've not heard anywhere else; it's certainly not just Elephant Stone played backwards. My other favourites are Sugar Spun Sister and Don't Stop...Were you a fan Michael*? I know you're a few years younger than me, but they're kinda like The Smiths in that respect - a stage into 'indie' appreciation!
Oh, very much so! Though I will admit to rolling my eyes a bit when I'm out and about and 'She Bangs The Drums' comes on for the ten millionth time, I still count the Roses as one of my all-time favourites. And I'm actually quite happy about the reunion - the idea of them getting back together just for a few big gigs didn't really appeal because Ian's voice is pretty awful live - but since they're promising new material, my interest is officially piqued. I only hope the album arrives before the realisation sets in that they hate each other - the band surely deserves a better send-off than that now-infamous Reading festival set.
I read that the tickets were going for upwards of £1000 - which seems a little excessive?! And then I read that Shane Meadows was going to film the whole thing anyways, so roll on the dvd release. 
^Ah yes, I heard about that. Damn those who sold their tickets for hugely inflated prices, presumably just minutes after buying them too. I think I'll be happy enough just to check out the DVD when the time comes.
Speaking of live performances (as well as obsolete formats), I just remembered - what really hooked me on the band was getting the 'Complete Stone Roses' VHS one Christmas. It was all on there - the lurid Pollock-inspired artwork, the much-loved gig in Blackpool, not to mention the famous 'amateurs' rant - that tape was virtually all I watched for the longest time.
Also nice of the lads to announce the reunion on University Challenge... 
^Superb! 
Hey B, how were the parties? 
^I fear you may be bordering on the precipe of my knowledge of such things here! What is certainly true is that despite a wealth of natural resources (plus soybeans, beef and all it's by-products) - it's never really recovered from the idiotic military Junta that took over government in the mid-70s. About half a million companies went bankrupt during that time, and the succession of knee-jerk reactionary "governments" that followed never sorted it out - leading to the complete financial collapse in 2001.You are also dealing with a continent in general whose 'leaders' all like to keep themselves in pocket and pat each other on the back whenever possible... "Deals" are rife, I'm sure.
Germany and Japan were bombed to ashes- The USAF and Bomber command eliminated 1,000,000 + enemy civilians and turned over 50% of their urban areas into rubble in WW2. Both Axis nations had > 5-6 million young men sent to the graveyard. Both nations were effectively 3rd world countries by the end of hostilities. Yet, their human capital- what was left, that is- was still alive and rebuilt their countries rapidly into first rate powers.
Japan is weak in natural resources but pre- 1990 has continually maximized the expansion of their civilization. Singapore, the Asian tigers-...and the pockets of wealth in China & India have outperformed the United States even during its (excluding WW2) highest growth periods. China, effectively a crony capitalist country run by an elite political class, alone now contributes as much to human knowledge (R&D, intellectual property, doctoral work, new VC funded business) as all of Europe. Export-promotion and import-substituting has succeeded there but it failed in Latin America.
All of these successful Asian countries are incredibly corrupt by American standards- their legal frameworks are just much inferior to that in North America/Europe. Japan has 15 times fewer lawyers than America. The plutocracies in Japan and China are far more powerful- politically and economically.. than those in my own country.
I understand that there has been a case of the 'Resource curse'- a nation becomes reliant on the production of raw materials and this tends to shift power to military and political forces who fight over pieces of the overall pie. But Baron, I'm asking about economic capabilities of Argentinian people- capacity of the indigenous population to work hard, educate themselves, create new businesses, perform civic responsibility, perform creative achievements, build long-lived organizations, compete in the global economy, etc. It's about the matter between the ears and the capacity for productive action.
Beyond generalizations- I've never lived in Argentina so I don't really grasp why so many seem to be drawn towards ineffective ideologies such as Marxism and Socialism & the far right. Why not a middle way?
^Well, yes, I was aware of the outcome and aftermath of WWII actually - but I take your point that both Japan and Germany became economic powerhouses despite the obvious loss of life and infrastructure.
Argentina though, is (and was) a lot less populated than either of those countries - and even though we took in a suspicious amount of Germans in the 1940s, we still couldn't match their productivity... 
Interesting that both nations are (colloquially) described as 'efficient' and are seen as having a strong work ethic. Terms that are never applied to South American nations! And I suppose there you have it - you're almost asking for a country's psyche. I fear that being of dual-nationality and spending many years outside of Argentina (and really only Buenos Aires come to that, it's a country of 40 million people, 20 million of which live within the greater city area) perhaps I can't tap into that? Historically we do seem to like to be told what to do - and the current Peronist regime is an example - it's 'authoritarian populism' and an almost corporate nationalism, based on (often misplaced) pride in the country standing on it's own and seeking isolationism. This has historically been interspersed with angry bouts of right-wing dictatorships! 
^On lighter matters I had a lovely Hallowe'en. First party I fear I was overdressed (in that I seem to have made far more effort than anybody else), the second was more fun and had me fully embracing my Teen Wolf self by drunkenly "surfing" on car roofs...Hey B, how were the parties?
^Well, yes, I was aware of the outcome and aftermath of WWII actually - but I take your point that both Japan and Germany became economic powerhouses despite the obvious loss of life and infrastructure.Argentina though, is (and was) a lot less populated than either of those countries - and even though we took in a suspicious amount of Germans in the 1940s, we still couldn't match their productivity...
Interesting that both nations are (colloquially) described as 'efficient' and are seen as having a strong work ethic. Terms that are never applied to South American nations! And I suppose there you have it - you're almost asking for a country's psyche. I fear that being of dual-nationality and spending many years outside of Argentina (and really only Buenos Aires come to that, it's a country of 40 million people, 20 million of which live within the greater city area) perhaps I can't tap into that? Historically we do seem to like to be told what to do - and the current Peronist regime is an example - it's 'authoritarian populism' and an almost corporate nationalism, based on (often misplaced) pride in the country standing on it's own and seeking isolationism. This has historically been interspersed with angry bouts of right-wing dictatorships!
What do you mean? Like being told what to do? Also, are the right wingers concentrated in the countryside?
^I mean strongly centralised governments with authoritarian tendencies. Peron himself liked Mussolini's 'Fascist Corporatism' and styled himself thusly. Like I said - since the Second World War - whenever these governments have failed, military dictatorships have sprung up to take over. The people seems to want to be told what to think... 
I'm sure that many of the chief business leaders in your country, like all others, want as many anti-competitive conditions in their favor as possible. But you know, economic nationalism- is actually suitable for countries with industries that cannot compete effectively in the global economy. If companies in your country are unable to design and produce goods/services that the world market wants- then economic nationalism- if done successfully- may be the acceptable option. Trade protectionism, Infant industry protection, export promotion.
Germany and Japan are heavily regulated economic nationalists to an extent.
^I mean strongly centralised governments with authoritarian tendencies. Peron himself liked Mussolini's 'Fascist Corporatism' and styled himself thusly. Like I said - since the Second World War - whenever these governments have failed, military dictatorships have sprung up to take over. The people seems to want to be told what to think...
Baron, I mean, business- approach to work, approaches to ownership, creating new markets & companies. This is capitalism- the nation needs a constant supply of venture financiers + entrepreneurs + innovative business models for the market economy to survive. People who seek to assert themselves and carve out their own turf. Do the people have an employee mentally or do they seek ownership & command? What do they do with their time on this earth?
What I am implying here is that it is the economic & social superstructure- in essence, the nation's productive capacity driven by its own people- that drives politics in the postindustrial world. Perennially bad economies can drive perennially bad politics.
An economy and its blue chip corporations are not a pizza pie that's dived up - it's something that constantly being created, destroyed, and re-created.
^On lighter matters I had a lovely Hallowe'en. First party I fear I was overdressed (in that I seem to have made far more effort than anybody else), the second was more fun and had me fully embracing my Teen Wolf self by drunkenly "surfing" on car roofs...Hey B, how were the parties?
surfing on car roofs?
you better than me, lol. I´ve actually never surfed on car roofs, damn... I think I have to dress as a Teen Wolf to be able to do that and the car owners? :D
^I mean strongly centralised governments with authoritarian tendencies. Peron himself liked Mussolini's 'Fascist Corporatism' and styled himself thusly. Like I said - since the Second World War - whenever these governments have failed, military dictatorships have sprung up to take over. The people seems to want to be told what to think...
You remainded me of mine own nation... maybe it´s this post-communist nature? Like people were used to being told what to do? Here, I feel like fighting against crowd bigger than the whole country... we need more years to grown up to be actually independent in our own minds. People still tend to vote for left-oriented parties. They are... "boxed" - I mean, like their minds are put into boxes they can´t leave. Many of the population still think that communism was the best path we´ve taken and politicians will use it. Here, in Bratislava, it´s different, at least a bit - people are more business oriented, they create a market, they no more want the occupacy of communist, the closing of frontiers, the ever present control and privatization... they want the free business to prove themselves. But outside of Bratislava it´s different, especially in the villages. Generally speaking, of course... they were used to being told what to do for so many years, that now, somehow, they don´t know what to do. They were workers, the labour class, they were not used to make inventions or be independent.
However... on one hand, they were more educated in agriculture, more nature-wise than now people are. They were not so.... vulnerable as people are now.
Everything has it´s pros and cons, doesn´t it...
^As I said before, you have reached the very edge of my business knowledge - this is your area of expertise, not mine! As it is I'm in the happy position of being freelance and self-employed, and am comfortable. I'm also travelled and highly educated so I'm hardly the typical Porteño demographic... The honest answer is I simply don't know.Baron, I mean, business- approach to work, approaches to ownership, creating new markets & companies. This is capitalism- the nation needs a constant supply of venture financiers + entrepreneurs + innovative business models for the market economy to survive. People who seek to assert themselves and carve out their own turf. Do the people have an employee mentally or do they seek ownership & command? What do they do with their time on this earth?
^Yes - you do have to be dressed as Teen Wolf, otherwise it's just vandalism!
you better than me, lol. I´ve actually never surfed on car roofs, damn... I think I have to dress as a Teen Wolf to be able to do that
Baron! Aurelia Gliwski went to the castings this year!
^As I said before, you have reached the very edge of my business knowledge - this is your area of expertise, not mine! As it is I'm in the happy position of being freelance and self-employed, and am comfortable. I'm also travelled and highly educated so I'm hardly the typical Porteño demographic... The honest answer is I simply don't know.
Alright, alright.. !
My questions were more directed towards the socioeconomic composition of the nation. I am just very curious..
So you spend much time in the UK? What are your degrees, btw?
^Wouldn't that be wonderful?!Baron! Aurelia Gliwski went to the castings this year!
I dare say they'll pass her by for "fan favourites" ( <_< ) Anja Rubik or Caroline Winberg though... 
^Alright, alright.. !My questions were more directed towards the socioeconomic composition of the nation. I am just very curious..
So you spend much time in the UK? What are your degrees, btw?
Yes, I've spent many years in the UK - we moved there when I was just a little baron, and then I came back to do my Masters degree (in Art History) there too. My Bachelors was in Literature, in which I specialised in US Lit, hence my time in the USA...
How about you - is it in this field? Sorry I couldn't be of more help with your interests. I keep abreast of politics obviously, but business and economics I have only tangential knowledge of.
I gave my first warning raise lol. I also deleted the spammer's post and gave a reason why it was removed. See I'm becoming a good mod already :hell yea!:
^You've just got to make sure you actually stick around longer than, say, about a month now(I gave my first warning raise lol. I also deleted the spammer's post and gave a reason why it was removed. See I'm becoming a good mod already :hell yea!:
) - and then you'll be gold!But, seriously, good news and congratulations. 
UGH
Baron!
It makes me SO angry that they overlooked Cintia AGAIN!
^Did you see my 'Totally Spurious' post? 
Illogical and frustrating isn't it? WHY??? Is it simply the tattoos?
On the plus side Behati's got two looks (which is, I'm sure EVERYBODY will agree, the most important thing 
) and Magda seems to be a cert - so I can't really complain... Probably won't stop me saying something though!
Cintia, and Aurelia, sure would have been something though.
I had some girls who's baroness potention I was curious about, but I don't care for rejection that much . I wonder if I should post here or pm them .