The Happy News thread

[Kotik]

It's done

Former Lutheran pastor and civil rights campaigner Joachim Gauck was elected German president yesterday with 900 out of 1.200 votes He is the first ever German president, who is not a member of any political party. With his election, both highest positions in Germany - president and chancellor - are now taken by people from former East Germany. Both had been part of the dissident movement that fought against the communist dictatorship in East Germany. Proof that democracy works

[Alelou]

Just back from Staten Island and New Jersey, where we welcomed a new grandson, Antonio, into the world.

P.S. His working nickname is "Batman" but we think this will change before the birth certificate gets filled out.

[WarpGirl]

YEY! My new Nephew comes next month.

[Weeble]

Congratulations Alelou!!!!!

I'll go get my self a cigar and save you the trouble

Keep us posted WG

[Bether6074]

Congrats, Alelou. That is awesome news!!

One day last week I went back in to the boards over at House of Tucker and read some old posts. Was feeling sentimental, I guess. I did not even recognize myself. One putdown after the next. Zero self-esteem. No self-confidence. I am not that person anymore. It's nice to see my progress on record like that. The new me may be a little unsure at times, but I'm much more confident and appreciative of myself now. I've come a very long way and I'm proud of it. Felt like celebrating it.

Hope everyone here is healthy and well.

[panyasan]

Congrats with your grandson, Alelou!

Bether, good to hear from you. It's funny when you read your posts from awhile, isn't it. Good for you that you feel so much confident and appreciative about yourself!

[Asso]

Antonio was the name of my father. I hope that this name might mean something great for your grandson, Alelou. You know, for me, but not only for me, my father was a great man. I'm happy for you, Alelou.

[Kotik]

Congrats fro the new grandkid, Alelou

Good to hear about your newly evolved self-esteem, Bether It's always weird to see one's own writings after a long time. Not too long ago I saw some of my earlier website-attempts from 1996 Damn, my English was bad back then.

[Alelou]

Thanks, all. Asso, there was actually quite a debate right through the last hours of labor between mother and father about Antonio vs. Antonino. (They had a girl's name agreed upon, but not a boy's.) I will be happy to tell them that Antonio gets the seal of approval from an Italian friend. (My son-in-law is half Puerto Rican, half Cuban, but was adopted by his Italian stepfather and he wanted the names to match).

Bether, it's nice to hear that you are doing so well. It's sort of like being born again!

[Kotik]

I'm now, officially, a pirate

As May 1st is a traditional day of taking a political stand, I used this day to do, what had been at the back of my mind for quite a while now. I became an active member of the Pirate Party Germany.

Arrrh, matey

[Distracted]

Makes sense to me that you would be, once I read the party platform. I personally think the name "Pirate Party" is an unfortunate association, though. I wouldn't think that a political party with a name historically associated with pillaging and burning would have a tremendous following among those without a sense of humor.

[Kotik]

We're quite a sizeable force by now The pirates entered two regional parliaments so far with two more regional elections coming up. Polls for the upcoming federal elections peg us at about 12% of votes, which would makes us the third largest faction in the federal parliament.
The name indeed has been rooted in irony, but has not neccessarily anything to do with seafaring pirates. The party was founded five years ago, when the government started passing opressive copyright laws, which went far beyond protecting intellectual rights. Those laws granted de-facto censorship rights to the industry. Half of youtube is blocked in Germany. Effectively, due to these laws, it is now forbidden in Germany to make a safety-backup of a legally purchased CD or DVD. Although the name Pirates might imply that we condone piracy of intellectual property (which was the ironic idea behind the name), the party in fact supports protection of intellectual property, but fights for more fairness towards the customer.
The other main selling point is, that the pirates are radically democratic. Decisions are not made by a select circle of party leaders, like in all other German parties. Major decisions are always made by a poll among all registered party members.

[Cogito]

Major decisions are always made by a poll among all registered party members.

This sounds idyllic, but I can't help thinking that the original Greek intent of decision-making done by the people relies on 'the people' being well-informed and capable of fully understanding the issues and implications. A full time competent governor should meet these criteria; general party membership typically won't. For matters of principle and fundamental long term priorities, this is fine. But for day-to-day decisions about running the country I'd be concerned that this approach would lead to the people deciding on the basis of a short-term and/or selfish and/or simplistic viewpoint, and the votes of the well-informed and well-intentioned members would be lost in the noise. I sincerely believe that a benign dictatorship held accountable to a set of fundamental principles is probably the most effective form of government. When I see some of the oiks around here it horrifies me that they have the right to decide our country's fate. Fortunately most of them would have trouble putting a cross inside a box even supposing they could be bothered to find a polling station, but if some notorious celebrity managed to get them interested we could end up with really terrible decisions. We've already seen how easily mass opinion can be swayed by just a few people in charge of the media. Running the country on the basis of mass opinion doesn't seem like a good idea.

[Silverbullet]

Hooray, hooratt, first of May.

outdoor boozing starts today.

SB

[Transwarp]

Hooray, hooratt, first of May.
outdoor boozing starts today.

You have to wait until May..?

a benign dictatorship held accountable to a set of fundamental principles is probably the most effective form of government.

The problem with holding dictators accountable is... well, they're dictators.