Although my degree was in Management Science I studied 'Politics of the EU' as an optional course in my second year.
Historically, one of the first times European states worked together as a 'club' was as a group of so-called Christian countries who got together to repel the threat of the Ottoman Empire.
Post WW2 the main reason for European Integration was to somehow bind France and germany together so that a future war in Europe would not be started by these two countries attacking each other. We suffer, in one sense, to this day because France was able to gain huge concessions for its farmers who remain a strong political influence (the CAP has been a high price to pay for peace).
Churchill beleive that the UK had three 'spheres of influence' - the Commomwealth, the USA and Europe. He was pro the formation of a European Union, but I believe he meant for continental Europeans and didn't really consider the UK to be part of this Europe.
The Cyprus issue will not go away. Now that the Greek part of Cyprus is a member of the EU there is less pressure on them to come to an accommodation with Turkey........... this is something that MUST be resolved before Turkey can join.
Turkey's population were a year or so ago very positive about joining the EU - over 70% of the population wanted Turkey to become a member........... in more recent times that percentage has dropped to way below 50% (only about 42% of Turkish people now want to join the EU).
A previous thread mentioned human rights issues. Yes, Turkey does not qualify - you can still get jailed just for mentioning that Turkey was guilty of the genocide of Armenians within Turkey.
Borders: Turkey borders a lot of countries that are either in conflict or are unstable. With freedom of movement throughout most countries in the EU these border issues have to be considered very carefully. I bet it is quite easy to slip across the border from Iran or Iraq or Syria into Turkey. Once inside the EU a person who is 'up to no good' is likely to be able to travel with little likelihood of being stopped and questioned by 'the authorities'. This does pose a security problem.
A negative aspect of Turkey wanting to join the EU:
The military in Turkey have the duty, under their constitution, to ensure that there is a secular government. To qualify for membership the Army's powers will be curbed and an islamic government in Turkey is MORE not less likely.
Turkey's government has been a secular one since Attaturk; it would be a shame if Turkey became ruled by a fundamentalist islamic government as an indirect result of wanting to join the EU!
The one way I like to help a lady out is if she has an aching neck and needs a good massage; I've been told I have 'magic fingers'.........I get awesome pleasure by giving a lady pleasure and relieving her pain.
However, one can exchange a little pain for a much larger pain - me!
In the land of connecting singles Men and women intermingles Threading through the eyes of needles Flirting with both wimps and weasels Ladies fluttering their eyelashes Men flexing their humour muscles with splashes Of sometimes wit and sometimes other Oh, dear Lord is he my brother?
However, deep within CS there lies A coven of gorgeous witchy spies They only come out late at night To give poor old men like me a fright!
They hiss and giggle and brew up a spell To make poor men feel quite unwell But the truth is this, you see, In real life they're so pretty And prim and nice and sugary Especially if sat on your knee!
Oh CS witches coven You belong inside an oven! You are all so very 'hot' Methinks I love y'all a lot!
And on this day when the sun rises May I wish your day be filled with nice surprises If I could only cast a spell I'd give you Heaven, and never Hell
Now please be nice to poor old men And send them kisses (at least ten) You know we love you witchy lasses Cooked in wine and yummy molasses!
Hey - ........the sun is already blazing with a beautiful dawn, and it's going to be a GREAT day!
Five kids! Too damn right you don't need to mother another - your five kids plus me would make half a bleeding dozen!
I'm glad your ex supports his kids; even if you've split up that shows he's got some sense of responsibility. :)
IQ of 146, huh? I had mine measured when younger and it was 156, but age and alcohol must have taken their toll - I'd be pleased if i could score an IQ of 120 now!
Having a hign IQ is actually a heavy burden to bear..... I'd rather have a lower IQ and be perceived as a decent guy than the smartass I've been most of my life.
Cheers, anyway - and may the sun shine on you and bring you warmth and joy and good days ahead.......
I told my friend Wendy about some 'good-looking' Scandinavian guy I'd spoken to via the internet who lives in Spain. She said 'oh!'.........(there's no pleasing some women - her enthusiasm was almost palpable in its absence!).
She's so totally anti people meeting via the internet, yet used my email address for some site - now I get emails addressing me as 'Wendy' wanting to take me out!
I studied for a year in Sondesborg Southern Danish Business School back in 1993 (rather than go to the states in my 3rd year of a Management Science degree).
Brunette - Our flirtacious exchanges seem to have been censored.......maybe we ought to treat each other with respect as befits strangers and not bosum buddies?
I hope you have a wonderful day at work. I'm pleased that you are an independent woman; I suggest we go 'dutch' on our first date so you won't feel in anyway beholding to me!
Besides, we Gozitans, are renowned for being 'careful' with our ill-gotten gains.
You know a small pastizzi costs 9 cents. We can buy a LARGE pastizzi for 12 cents and cut it in two..that means a total outlay of 6 cents each!
I actually love my parents and I am also NOT a Mummy's boy....... I spent 90+ % of my adult life living thousands of miles away from my parents in different countries and it's nice to spend some time with them in their 'senior' years.
I'm glad I've had the opportunity to get to know both my parents bettwe - my dad was a work-aholic when I was a kid growing up. I used to think my mum was a little 'thick' when I was a kid although I loved her dearly; I've learned to appreciate and value her far more as a human being lately......... she stuck by my dad when he wasn't the easiest person to get on with when he was battling with his career.
Behind every great man there is usually the beneficial influence of at least one good woman.
I just got divorced from my American wife in January this year. She is a wonderful person, but her mom has been on her deathbed over 30 times in the past few years. She also loves her 'granbabies' very much.
I promised to ensure that she could go home once each year - with or without me....... I didn't, however, mean go home for nine months of each year and occasionally visit her husband!
My parents are both elderly. My dad's 88 and looked after my mother for almost two years for 21 hours per day after she became paralysed after a massive stroke back in 2004. My dad collapsed himself on New Year's Day 2006, and I'm doing my best to look after them in their lovely villa.
I don't want them to go into a nursing home while they both have quality of life here. It's my choice, but a relationship now would only complicate matters.......... so, for the time being at least, I am content to do my best for my parents, and just have a few friends i can chat to. So far I don't feel in any way resentful, if I did feel resentful I'd find a solution!
rusty_knight Forum Posts (6,840)
There are 20 witches in this world..........
10 are sleeping9 are casting spells
1 is reading this!