Make Mine A Karma Koffee - Phoenix Karma

Do you let yanks into your thread? I stumbled onto this one and you have engaged in an interesting discussion. I am from LA and out here on the "Left Coast" we are trying to find a way to get rid of King George (we got rid of yours, now we are going after ours), after getting rid of his majority in Congress. Any ideas?

 

They're both important to me. They've both been very loving, very supportive parents, and I have a pretty good relationship with them. I think my Mum is more my practical, sensible side, my Dad's my more intellectual, creative, philosophical side. But both are essential to a well rounded human being. I'm not the sort of person who believes that you owe your parents love and respect simply because they are your parents. Love and respect is earned. Mine have earnt theirs....

 

Questions, so many questions, none for me?

 

What are you reading?

 

Last novel I read was Zadie Smith's 'The Autograph Man'. Currently I'm reading about a million books on the ideological coherency (or lack thereof) of the third way....

 

C'mon then precis "The Third Way" for me.

 

A third way between Thatcherite neo-liberalism and old Labour social democracy. In some ways a pragmatic response to processes of globalisation and individualisation which have made old Keynesian ideas less viable within the capitalist context. Redefines inequality as social exclusion, more about opportunity for all then either equality or equality of opportunity. A move away from ideology and towards evidence based policy. A certain degree of style over substance. Not a new, independent ideological project, rather a flexible framework under which there is a synthesis of old ideas, though largely these bias the market over wealth redistribution....

 

I had a feeling that you were quite advanced in your knowledge, Cambridge, nice to meet you Peace; but isn't being a hippy about not conforming, an ideology and not a kitsch fad or fashion?

 

I'd agree, though I don't see myself as that much of a hippy anymore. Maybe in my teenage years, but political realities just make that harder. I'm certainly not a pacifist. Nor am I in any way spiritual. I'm an atheist and, defining myself politically, I'm more of a revolutionary socialist - defining revolutionary quite broadly. Besides which, non-conformity can become a bit of a shallow mantra after a while. I've no problem with conforming to certain conventions. Not all laws are meant to be broken. And, I'm assuming this was the thrust of your question, I don't see being at Cambridge as conforming or non-conforming. It's simply about learning as much as I can in as much depth as I can whilst challenging myself intellectually....

 

Could you see your outlook on life and how we should lead ourselves possibly being different in 10 - 15 years down the road?

Ref: to the hippy tolerance thing.


No, I was sincere in the post, there were no double meanings.

Just picking up on your earlier post about Roti bread and other Indian food; have you had Dosa Masala before? Southern Indian breakfast dish, supposedly.

 

Everyone changes, I doubt my opinions or outlook will be the same as they are now. It'd make me pretty stubborn if they are. But then again, I'll never be voting Conservative!

I haven't has Dosa before, what's it like? How do you make it?

 

Dosa is a mixture of lentils and rice ground down into a type of paste. It's spread out onto a large hot flat pan. It comes up like a crispy doughy pancake. The masala is made up of potatos, green chillis, onions and a whole mixture of strong herbs and spices. It's like a huge tortilla wrap with the dosa is wrapped around the masala. It hot and really tastey, the dosa soaks up the juices of the masala and has that mopping up effect. It's a southern Indian dish that seems to be in all the states of the south, not so much in the north.

It's really good though.

 

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever put in your fridge?

 

Don't think I have put anything too wierd in my fridge. Usually eat the wierd things fresh!

 

If you had to be a vegetable, which one would you be?

 

If you bumped into Osama Bin Laden buying condoms in the all-night chemist, what would you say to him?

 

This is a citizens arrest. Followed by:


Wooooooooooohooooooooooo! I'm rich!

 

Swede....

 

If you bumped into George W Bush in the philosophy section at WH Smith's, what would you say to him?

 

The children's section is round the corner sir....