Category: Europe,

Effort to unlock secrets of 3,700-year-old woman ‘Ava’ – BBC News

On By peanutgallerynhIn Europe,, Science and Stuff,Leave a comment

…She was buried in a pit dug into solid rock and her skull is an abnormal shape which some suggest was done deliberately using bindings.

Maya Hoole believes advances in technology could reveal more about the remains known as “Ava”.

“…My interpretation suggests that the layout of the burial fits into a much wider trend extending as far south as North Yorkshire, and possibly much further beyond.”

Short and round skull shapes were common amongst this group, but Ms Hoole said the Achavanich specimen is exaggerated and of an abnormal, uneven shape.

The archaeologist said: “There has been much debate amongst the archaeological community for many decades about the shape. Some argue it is a hereditary trait, whilst others think there may have been a practice of head-binding which creates the distinct shape.

Effort to unlock secrets of 3,700-year-old woman ‘Ava’ – BBC News

hmmmm

Man, 55, ‘pulled a veil from a Muslim woman’s face’

On By peanutgallerynhIn Chick Stuff,, Europe,, Media and Culture,, Religion,Leave a comment

Peter Scotter, 55, was in court today accused of ripping a veil from a Muslim woman’s face before throwing it on the floor of a busy shopping centre in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear.

Man, 55, ‘pulled a veil from a Muslim woman’s face’

I have said more than once that I disapprove of women covering their faces in public. I also support bans on the practice. For me it is a matter of the rights of all women trump the preferences of a few.

That said…

In no way is this OK. This is assault. Pure and simple.

There is no ban on facial veils in the U.K. and even if there was one, it is not up to the citizenry to enforce such bans. Vigilante morality police that control how women dress are the province of backwards outposts, not civilization. This man violated this woman’s space and should pay a steep price for his actions.

President of Locarno Film Festival defends burka ban 

On By peanutgallerynhIn Chick Stuff,, Europe,, Religion,Leave a comment

In Switzerland, people show their face and shake hands, Solari said in an interview on Tuesday with newspaper Blick. “Whoever comes here should abide by our rules” he added.

The case of two teenage Muslim brothers at a school in Therwil who refused to shake the hand of their teacher before and after class – a common practice in Swiss schools – generated headlines around the world at the beginning of April.

…The legislation does not specifically mention burkas or Muslims, but states that “nobody in public streets or squares may veil or hide their face”. It doesn’t apply to headscarves.

President of Locarno Film Festival defends burka ban – SWI swissinfo.ch

mmmhmmm

Dark Ages royal palace discovered in Cornwall – in area closely linked to the legend of King Arthur 

On By peanutgallerynhIn Europe,, Science and Stuff,Leave a comment

The mysterious origins of the British archaeological site most often associated with the legend of King Arthur have just become even more mysterious. Archaeologists have discovered the impressive remains of a probable Dark Age royal palace at Tintagel in Cornwall. It is likely that the one-metre thick walls being unearthed are those of the main residence of the 6th century rulers of an ancient south-west British kingdom, known as Dumnonia.

Dark Ages royal palace discovered in Cornwall – in area closely linked to the legend of King Arthur | Archaeology | News | The Independent

cool!

 

German train attack: Afghan knifeman ‘wanted revenge’ for friend’s death – BBC News

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To get a feeling for the wider ramifications of this attack in Germany, you just need to take a quick look at Twitter in German. Racist and xenophobic comments against asylum seekers compete with equally impassioned arguments in support of refugees – including a tweet by Green MP Renate Kuenast asking why police had killed the attacker rather then injuring him.

This has provoked in turn another storm online, saying the perpetrator is getting more sympathy than the victims.

Over the past few months, since the EU agreed a deal with Turkey, numbers of migrants coming to Germany have dropped dramatically. And the issue has vanished from the front pages. The debate had shifted to a more nuanced one about how best to integrate the new arrivals. And the ferocity, fear and sometimes hate appeared to have dissipated. But the news that the attacker was an unaccompanied underage refugee shows that the division running through Germany about Angela Merkel’s stance on refugees is still very much there.

German train attack: Afghan knifeman ‘wanted revenge’ for friend’s death – BBC News

sigh…

Ethicists say voting with your heart, without a care about the consequences, is actually immoral

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,, Europe,Leave a comment

Finding a candidate who embraces your values is understandable, crucial even. But fervent idealism, which places support for a certain candidate above all practical consequences of that support, is foolhardy. According to ethicists, it’s also immoral.

“The purpose of voting is not to express your fidelity to a worldview. It’s not to wave a flag or paint your face in team colors; it’s to produce outcomes,” says Jason Brennan, a philosopher at Georgetown University and author of The Ethics of Voting. “If they’re smart, they’ll vote for the candidate likely to best produce the outcome they want. That might very well be compromising, but if voting for a far-left or far-right candidate means that you’re just going to lose the election, then you’ve brought the world further away from justice rather than closer to it.”

Brexit shows why voting with your heart, without a care about the consequences, can be immoral — Quartz

Mic drop

 

 

 

 

(image via http://www.popsugar.com/tech/photo-gallery/35352043/image/35352167/Drops-Mic)

EU Commission Boss Juncker Fails To Understand His Own Rules Over Brexit Leaders And Patriots – Forbes

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Jean-Claude Juncker has once again show his remarkable capacity for mastering the detail of how his own organisation works by deriding the manner in which a couple of the Brexit leaders will not be taking part in the negotiations over Britain leaving the European Union. The point being of course that neither of the two people he is criticising, Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage, would have been part of the negotiations anyway. So to argue that they are “not patriots” for not being part of the negotiations is really very odd indeed.

EU Commission Boss Juncker Fails To Understand His Own Rules Over Brexit Leaders And Patriots – Forbes

what a shit show

CNN anchor links U.K. ‘Brexit’ vote to xenophobia | Washington Examiner

On By peanutgallerynhIn Europe,, Race,Leave a comment

Xenophobia and anti-immigrant views played a key role in influencing the outcome of United Kingdom’s vote to leave the European Union Thursday evening, said CNN’s Christiane Amanpour.

….U.K. voters were swayed largely by nationalism and xenophobia when they decided this week to ditch the EU. Her repeated claim reflected her personal analysis, but she also pointed to recent article in the Economist, which argued in favor of the U.K. staying in the EU.

CNN anchor links U.K. ‘Brexit’ vote to xenophobia | Washington Examiner

Well, duh…

Wasn’t the other name for this vote, “Let’s make the U.K. white again?”