Looks like we could be geniuses then....

[Richard Mason]

Just read this article in the Torygraph which says that 25% of the world's geniuses are British, or 1 in 2.5 million of us, compared with the poor dumbass yanks who only have 1 genius per 6.9 million inhabitants. Needless to say, the inhabitants of Ecuador don't stack up, although Tibet has one, so that's nice.

Now as an ex-pat, I'm reasonably proud of my heritage, even though close to half of my life has now been spent in Aus, so I'm not knocking this except, have a closer look - how did they reach this verdict?

Well apparently, "Creators Synectics, a global consultants firm, chose their geniuses by awarding scores out of 10 to each entrant against a number of factors: paradigm shifting; popular acclaim; intellectual power; achievement and cultural importance. The firm emailed 4,000 Britons this summer and asked them to nominate up to 10 living people who they considered geniuses."

Hmm, so no possibility of just a teensy bit of cultural bias creeping in here then?

[Lazlo]

Originally Posted by Richard Mason

Hmm, so no possibility of just a teensy bit of cultural bias creeping in here then?

What? In the Daily Telegraph?

Perish the thought.

Originally Posted by Richard Mason

Now as an ex-pat, I'm reasonably proud of my heritage, even though close to half of my life has now been spent in Aus

Not a fan of Norman Tebbit then?

[Richard Mason]

Originally Posted by Lazlo

What? In the Daily Telegraph?

Perish the thought.



Not a fan of Norman Tebbit then?

Well I guess I definitely fail the Cricket Test - I'd be viewed with contempt by my Aussie mates if I supported Australia/The Wallabies anyway.

As for the Army Test, I definitely passed that one, as I was a member of the Aus Army Reserve for 10 yrs, although that's not such an issue - Aus and the UK are differrent countries, although culturally very similar, more like moving to another region of Britain in some respects and militarily, we continue to bat for the same side, as we always have done. My sporting loyalties are mainly British, certainly in team sports, less so in Athletics etc but politically, I'm more Aus than Brit and in occasional diplomatic disputes (few and far between), I'd side with the Aussies.

The biggest to date has been the State Pensions dispute. If you are a British OAP who emigrates to Aus, (or anywhere else outside the EU I believe), they freeze your State pension at the level it was when you left, so there are British OAPs who retired and emigrated to be close to their families, who are now receiving UK pensions at a rate frozen in time from maybe 10 or 20 years ago; despite the fact that they've paid tax and NI all their lives and you'd think they'd have an entitlement, especially as in other respects, such as health care, coincessionary fares etc, they are costing the UK govt Sweet FA.

The Aus govt has been topping up ex pat UK pensioners payments for years now, whilst the UK govt which has an obligation to provide some support in retirement refuses to come to the party and is letting another govt pick up the tab for them. It hasn't won the UK govt any friends here.

Anyway, rant over.

[A. Berk]

Originally Posted by Richard Mason

we continue to bat for the same side, as we always have done.

Don't the Aussies have a big parade with a bunch of guys who all 'bat' for the same side?

kreBo

[Richard Mason]

Originally Posted by A. Berk

Don't the Aussies have a big parade with a bunch of guys who all 'bat' for the same side?

kreBo

To continue in the cricket parlance, I'll let that one go through to the keeper.