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Water vapour is a greenhouse gas !!!!Morris_Dancer said:Mr. Neil, then allow them use e-cigarettes inside. Unless the hospital's attacked by the aliens from Signs, water vapour won't hurt anyone.
Worse still it causes green mold!!!!!
http://www.mold-advisor.com/what-is-mold.html
And probably pneumonia for all I know.
You make my words, water vapour will emerge as one of the most dangerous substances on the planet.0 -
looks interesting - added it to my "to buy" listMorris_Dancer said:Conducted an interview with a chap whose book may interest some here (historical fiction meets sci-fi). It's up here:
http://thaddeusthesixth.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/an-interview-with-andrew-p-weston.html0 -
You're still voting Tory right?Sunil_Prasannan said:
Not yet - having said that, mum may have dumped stuff straight in bin while I've been working in the Midlands during the weekPulpstar said:
Had any literature from Lee or Wes yet ?Sunil_Prasannan said:TNS (online!!!) is the new Gold Standard!
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Mr. Dodd, I hope you recovered entirely, and that the clown suffered more than bruised pride (his own damned fault for abusing the pavement).
Mr. F, are you sure? Using evidence and reason to formulate policy would be a rather dramatic change...0 -
That is exactly what an Egyptian Minister said was likely to happen.Morris_Dancer said:Mr. Pulpstar, sounds tremendously serious. They're not stupid. They won't try invading Italy (probably go for Italy, it's nearest), but they could easily send over 'refugees' to commit acts of atrocity.
Just one more reason cutting Defence would be bloody stupid.
Also IS have publicly stated that their next target is Rome. Even allowing for bravado, I think IS fanatics would try and do something like that if they had the men, materials etc. They are explicitly modelling themselves on what happened in the 7th century and later when Muslim armies did attack Europe and were successful in Spain and got quite far into France. Muslim raiding parties also attacked Sicily and Southern Italy.
We would be foolish not to take them at their word.
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Mr. Flightpath, Xerxes knew water was the enemy. He was a visionary, having the Hellespont lashed.
Mr. Floater, let me know what you think. Don't read much sci-fi or historical fiction but it sounds interesting.0 -
You're not reading what I've written. The contraction has ALREADY happened. The hit associated by a Default has already occurred in the Greek Economy.edmundintokyo said:This is a few days out-of-date but 145 billion Euros isn't nothing. And these will be the accounts of the people who can't easily move it out of the country: Small and medium-sized businesses that need the money day-to-day, and unsophisticated savers (pensioners etc).
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-02-17/greek-banks-said-to-need-more-emergency-funds-as-deposits-drop
Anyhow say we go with this plan and their economy contracts by 10% or 20%. What do you think that does to government tax receipts? I know there's an argument that this is better for them long-term, but if the voters didn't like austerity, wait until they try the "abrupt hit".
Why are there still deposits and where is the money coming from that's flowing overseas?
Quite simply, this is the money being shoved into the Greek economy from the ECB. I would accept a small part of it will be newly generated wealth but the vast majority is simply the Debt being recycled and those in a position to benefit from the money moving it offshore.
Ordinary deposits do not exist any more. Small businesses will keep their entire working capital in cash, larger business will no doubt have taken measures to ensure their working capital by using offshore accounts but that will have happened YEARS ago.
All that is happening now is money is being churned via the ECB and the Greek Elite who still benefit from government contracts and largesse grabbing most of the bailout funds and offshoring it.0 -
Miss Cyclefree, in 2005 when the loonybins had their little police-escorted march one of the placards read something like "Islam will conquer Rome". It would seem a reasonably likely strategy for the maniacs.
We should also try and help Tunisia to remain if not strong, at least capable of repelling external and internal Islamic State threats.0 -
If you had said in 1997 that John Major was an asset and Blair a liability in an election, you probably would have been sectioned
Blair an election liability and Major an asset, say voters
https://yougov.co.uk/news/2015/02/18/blair-election-liability-and-major-asset-say-voter/0 -
Interesting poll on the effects of past leaders intervening today:
https://yougov.co.uk/news/2015/02/18/blair-election-liability-and-major-asset-say-voter/
The Blair hate is extraordinary. Plenty of those Tories and UKIP voters actually voted for him. At the risk of sounding like John Rentoul I don't quite get it myself. Perhaps it's a personal sense of embarrassment.0 -
I guess you meant that sarcastically, but I'd assume the answer would be "yes". Since the car makers can get sued and the driver no longer controls the car, insurance will presumably move from the driver to the manufacturer or the rental/lease/taxi firm. It comes out the same in the end, because the costs end up getting passed on to the driver one way or the other.Flightpath said:
Will car manufacturers pay the insurance quotes and indemnify the driver when his auto car runs somebody over?___Bobajob___ said:
As you are a Londoner I guess you cycle or use cabs/tube?antifrank said:
.....
I both regularly bike and (fairly often) drive. The former informs the latter. You are damned right in your analysis – many people either a) don't know the rules of the road or b) wilfully ignore them.
Driving right up to the back of cyclists, cutting them up so badly that they are essentially pushing them off the road, tail-gating other cars so, if one stops, they go straight into the back of them.
Self-driving cars should solve much of the problem – as they are not subject to the Mr Toad tendency and will be programmed to keep a reasonable distance at all times.
Oh I forgot, machines are perfect.
They won't perfect, but they won't be allowed on the road until they're substantially better than us monkeys. This may not be long, as we're exceedingly crap at driving.
Extra question: Will we be following the quaint example in your post and still calling the person who tells the car where to go the "driver"?0 -
I'm very very proud never to have voted for Tony BlairTissue_Price said:Interesting poll on the effects of past leaders intervening today:
https://yougov.co.uk/news/2015/02/18/blair-election-liability-and-major-asset-say-voter/
The Blair hate is extraordinary. Plenty of those Tories and UKIP voters actually voted for him. At the risk of sounding like John Rentoul I don't quite get it myself. Perhaps it's a personal sense of embarrassment. 0 -
It is also time to tell Amnesty to do one and send the immigrant boats back by force. Be sunk or go back to Africa. Any boat that lands will be loaded up and sent back to Africa.Cyclefree said:
That is exactly what an Egyptian Minister said was likely to happen.Morris_Dancer said:Mr. Pulpstar, sounds tremendously serious. They're not stupid. They won't try invading Italy (probably go for Italy, it's nearest), but they could easily send over 'refugees' to commit acts of atrocity.
Just one more reason cutting Defence would be bloody stupid.
Also IS have publicly stated that their next target is Rome. Even allowing for bravado, I think IS fanatics would try and do something like that if they had the men, materials etc. They are explicitly modelling themselves on what happened in the 7th century and later when Muslim armies did attack Europe and were successful in Spain and got quite far into France. Muslim raiding parties also attacked Sicily and Southern Italy.
We would be foolish not to take them at their word.0 -
Very few people ever did!Pulpstar said:
I'm very very proud never to have voted for Tony BlairTissue_Price said:Interesting poll on the effects of past leaders intervening today:
https://yougov.co.uk/news/2015/02/18/blair-election-liability-and-major-asset-say-voter/
The Blair hate is extraordinary. Plenty of those Tories and UKIP voters actually voted for him. At the risk of sounding like John Rentoul I don't quite get it myself. Perhaps it's a personal sense of embarrassment.
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In the Sixties, there were still plenty of people driving who had never had to take a driving test. Safer cars, the introduction of breath testing, and generally a more responsible attitude towards driving have driven down casualties enormously. Also, surgeons are much better at saving lives than they were 50 years ago.peter_from_putney said:
A remarkable statistic is that over the past 50 years, during which time the number of vehicles using Britain's roads has incresed many times over, fatalities have fallen by over 75% from around an horrific total of 8,000 p.a. in the mid '60s to well below 2,000 p.a now. This must be largely as a result of vehicles being so much safer now as well as from the growth in the motorway network over this period.antifrank said:TheScreamingEagles said:
You don't drive do you ?antifrank said:
If you're not paying attention to the speed limits, what else are you missing when driving? When you're in charge of a ton of metal travelling at high speed, it's reasonable to expect you to be on your top game at all times.TheScreamingEagles said:
It's the variable speed limit ones that pee me off.antifrank said:
Or alternatively, drivers could obey the law.Patrick said:I'm in shock - A very sensible idea from the Labour party:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2958286/Labour-BAN-stealth-speed-cameras-motorways-forcing-painted-bright-yellow-drivers-them.html
No doubt this will be in the Tory manifesto draft by tomorrow morning...
You're doing 70. Sign comes up that says you're now in a 50 and there's a camera about 50 yards away that clocks you before you've had the chance to slow down and you get three points on your license for bugger all.
Variable speed limits are on a big board on the screen. You get there and it goes from 70 to 50.
The camera is right next to the 50 sign. Most motorists can't slow down that quick.
In 100 years' time, the average attitudes to driving today will seem as incomprehensible to our great grandchildren as the 19th century attitudes towards the Opium Wars seem today.
Urban congestion also helps reduce casualties. You can't do much harm when you're crawling along. Paradoxically, very few people die on motorways, either, because the field of vision is so good.
The most dangerous roads are country roads. People tend to pick up speed, and then someone steps out in front of them, or an animal leaps out.
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Don't recall that specific study, but certainly it's a topic of hot debate. There's clear evidence that it isn't a gateway to smoking (i.e. the other way). Additionally, there's clear evidence that people go from (say) 10 a day to 8 e-cigs + 2 cigarettes. What is unproven is whether they then go from 8+2 to 10+0.Neil said:
Didnt the WHO find that there was insufficient evidence to conclude that they helped people quit smoking?Charles said:"Harm reduction" can't possibly be an acceptable solution because, although it may save thousands of lives, and significantly increase quit rates
But I'm of the view that 8+2 is better than 0+10.0 -
John Major's stock is certainly quite high at the moment also, so not surprised to see that. Everyone thought the Major Gov't wasn't great at the time but looking back it was halycon days.0
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Are Angus Reid doing any GE2015 polling or have they simply given up after last time? ..... One simply never hears of them, at least in the U.K.0
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I'm not the one advocating vote-swapping for partisan advantage. It relies entirely on trust so it depends on how much you trust the other person to vote the way you want and expect them to. It's completely unenforceable and without verification but there you go.Charles said:
The point is that the current system is set up as a constituency based approach.
If you don't like it, campaign to change it, perhaps have a referendum to ask the people what they would prefer: the current system or an alternative.
Don't do an end run around the system. That's just being cute.
I come back to what has always been my central problem with FPTP - why should 36% of the vote (as in 2005) provide 100% of the power ? In my view, 36% of the vote should be 36% of the seats (with variations for England, Scotland, Wales and NI).
That strikes me as "fair" - there will be those who argue it is not a recipe for good governance. I would argue that there are plenty who castigate the current system for giving all the power to the largest minority and that majoritarian Government is no guarantee of good governance. Indeed, one might argue long periods of domination by the largest minority leads to a clear decline in the quality of that governance.
The Party system (which is already a network of coalitions) would rapidly evolve to suit the new way of voting. There would be a recognisable centre-right bloc of parties and one on the centre-left. That's how it works in many other places with proportional systems.
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Absolutely right it's almost as bad as Dihydrogen Monoxide:Flightpath said:
Water vapour is a greenhouse gas !!!!Morris_Dancer said:Mr. Neil, then allow them use e-cigarettes inside. Unless the hospital's attacked by the aliens from Signs, water vapour won't hurt anyone.
Worse still it causes green mold!!!!!
http://www.mold-advisor.com/what-is-mold.html
And probably pneumonia for all I know.
You make my words, water vapour will emerge as one of the most dangerous substances on the planet.
http://www.dhmo.org/facts.html0 -
No sign of them since 2010.peter_from_putney said:Are Angus Reid doing any GE2015 polling or have they simply given up after last time? ..... One simply never hears of them, at least in the U.K.
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And fundamentally, I take the view that the interests of Hartlepool may not be the same as the interests of England as a whole. So the good people of Hartlepool need someone who they can be sure should speak up for their interests, even when it diverges from the national interest. And they should have the ability to kick that individual out if they don't do their job adequately.stodge said:
I'm not the one advocating vote-swapping for partisan advantage. It relies entirely on trust so it depends on how much you trust the other person to vote the way you want and expect them to. It's completely unenforceable and without verification but there you go.Charles said:
The point is that the current system is set up as a constituency based approach.
If you don't like it, campaign to change it, perhaps have a referendum to ask the people what they would prefer: the current system or an alternative.
Don't do an end run around the system. That's just being cute.
I come back to what has always been my central problem with FPTP - why should 36% of the vote (as in 2005) provide 100% of the power ? In my view, 36% of the vote should be 36% of the seats (with variations for England, Scotland, Wales and NI).
That strikes me as "fair" - there will be those who argue it is not a recipe for good governance. I would argue that there are plenty who castigate the current system for giving all the power to the largest minority and that majoritarian Government is no guarantee of good governance. Indeed, one might argue long periods of domination by the largest minority leads to a clear decline in the quality of that governance.
The Party system (which is already a network of coalitions) would rapidly evolve to suit the new way of voting. There would be a recognisable centre-right bloc of parties and one on the centre-left. That's how it works in many other places with proportional systems.0 -
Never experienced Naples. Pisa was enough for me! Italy is the absolute worst place to drive in Europe, in my experience.Sean_F said:
Try driving in Naples. You'd long for the pleasure of driving in London.___Bobajob___ said:
Must admit I don't think London is any worse than any other city for driving either. Driving in town is pretty lousy everywhere, in may experience.TheScreamingEagles said:
I used to drive in London, it is fine.Morris_Dancer said:Mr. Ajob, maybe some enlightened Yorkshire drivers like Mr. Eagles would be willing to teach Londoners how to drive in a nicer manner?
Scariest place to drive is in Russia. Where every lane is treated as an overtaking lane, even the ones that are for oncoming traffic.0 -
Pulpstar wants me to vote LabourTheScreamingEagles said:
You're still voting Tory right?Sunil_Prasannan said:
Not yet - having said that, mum may have dumped stuff straight in bin while I've been working in the Midlands during the weekPulpstar said:
Had any literature from Lee or Wes yet ?Sunil_Prasannan said:TNS (online!!!) is the new Gold Standard!
You want me to vote Tory
I am torn....0 -
It's something I like to quote regularly to people who regard our roads as exceptionally dangerous.peter_from_putney said:
A remarkable statistic is that over the past 50 years, during which time the number of vehicles using Britain's roads has incresed many times over, fatalities have fallen by over 75% from around an horrific total of 8,000 p.a. in the mid '60s to well below 2,000 p.a now. This must be largely as a result of vehicles being so much safer now as well as from the growth in the motorway network over this period.antifrank said:
If the number is on a big board on a screen, you should be able to read it from a fair distance.TheScreamingEagles said:
You don't drive do you ?antifrank said:
If you're not paying attention to the speed limits, what else are you missing when driving? When you're in charge of a ton of metal travelling at high speed, it's reasonable to expect you to be on your top game at all times.TheScreamingEagles said:
It's the variable speed limit ones that pee me off.antifrank said:
Or alternatively, drivers could obey the law.Patrick said:I'm in shock - A very sensible idea from the Labour party:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2958286/Labour-BAN-stealth-speed-cameras-motorways-forcing-painted-bright-yellow-drivers-them.html
No doubt this will be in the Tory manifesto draft by tomorrow morning...
You're doing 70. Sign comes up that says you're now in a 50 and there's a camera about 50 yards away that clocks you before you've had the chance to slow down and you get three points on your license for bugger all.
Variable speed limits are on a big board on the screen. You get there and it goes from 70 to 50.
The camera is right next to the 50 sign. Most motorists can't slow down that quick.
One of the reasons that I rarely drive is because I am keenly aware of the responsibility I take on when driving. We live in a nation of Mr Toads who are quite insouciant about the annual death of a small village every year on the roads.
In 100 years' time, the average attitudes to driving today will seem as incomprehensible to our great grandchildren as the 19th century attitudes towards the Opium Wars seem today.
The Highway Code was introduced in 1931 in response to the unacceptably high numbers of road fatalities. They had reached about 3,000 a year, a little higher than they are now.
As you indicate, extraordinary.0 -
Tony Blair will not acknowledge that no weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq (despite him saying that he had no doubt on the point) and that the aftermath of the invasion of Iraq was far worse than the public had been led to expect. It is probably too late to do so now, but his unwillingness to acknowledge these two points, coupled with his apparent enthusiasm for profiting from his post-premiership period, has meant that the public have formed a very damning view of his integrity.Tissue_Price said:Interesting poll on the effects of past leaders intervening today:
https://yougov.co.uk/news/2015/02/18/blair-election-liability-and-major-asset-say-voter/
The Blair hate is extraordinary. Plenty of those Tories and UKIP voters actually voted for him. At the risk of sounding like John Rentoul I don't quite get it myself. Perhaps it's a personal sense of embarrassment.
I don't think he gives a toss about what other people think of him any more.0 -
A BBC report on the dire state of the NHS in Wales which curiously omits to mention the party of government:
http://m.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-315037470 -
I think you are about right there Charles.Charles said:
Don't recall that specific study, but certainly it's a topic of hot debate. There's clear evidence that it isn't a gateway to smoking (i.e. the other way). Additionally, there's clear evidence that people go from (say) 10 a day to 8 e-cigs + 2 cigarettes. What is unproven is whether they then go from 8+2 to 10+0.Neil said:
Didnt the WHO find that there was insufficient evidence to conclude that they helped people quit smoking?Charles said:"Harm reduction" can't possibly be an acceptable solution because, although it may save thousands of lives, and significantly increase quit rates
But I'm of the view that 8+2 is better than 0+10.
I am now the proud owner of a V-Revolution, which is pretty good on the highest setting, although I'm looking to change my juices (the generic ones I bought with it aren't great in flavour compared to mates' ones I have tried). Mystic seems to be the brand to go for.
I find that, if I'm having a night on the sauce, I'll have a fair few puffs on the vape, followed by the odd real fag.
In days gone by, I would have nailed a whole packet of fags on a big night. So, yes, I agree with your analysis.0 -
Charming.MaxPB said:
It is also time to tell Amnesty to do one and send the immigrant boats back by force. Be sunk or go back to Africa. Any boat that lands will be loaded up and sent back to Africa.Cyclefree said:
That is exactly what an Egyptian Minister said was likely to happen.Morris_Dancer said:Mr. Pulpstar, sounds tremendously serious. They're not stupid. They won't try invading Italy (probably go for Italy, it's nearest), but they could easily send over 'refugees' to commit acts of atrocity.
Just one more reason cutting Defence would be bloody stupid.
Also IS have publicly stated that their next target is Rome. Even allowing for bravado, I think IS fanatics would try and do something like that if they had the men, materials etc. They are explicitly modelling themselves on what happened in the 7th century and later when Muslim armies did attack Europe and were successful in Spain and got quite far into France. Muslim raiding parties also attacked Sicily and Southern Italy.
We would be foolish not to take them at their word.
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Remarkable to think that the drink driving laws were seem as the evil work of the nanny state when first proposed. I wonder how many lives they have saved over the years? Ditto seatbelts.Peter_the_Punter said:
It's something I like to quote regularly to people who regard our roads as exceptionally dangerous.peter_from_putney said:
A remarkable statistic is that over the past 50 years, during which time the number of vehicles using Britain's roads has incresed many times over, fatalities have fallen by over 75% from around an horrific total of 8,000 p.a. in the mid '60s to well below 2,000 p.a now. This must be largely as a result of vehicles being so much safer now as well as from the growth in the motorway network over this period.antifrank said:
If the number is on a big board on a screen, you should be able to read it from a fair distance.TheScreamingEagles said:
You don't drive do you ?antifrank said:
If you're not paying attention to the speed limits, what else are you missing when driving? When you're in charge of a ton of metal travelling at high speed, it's reasonable to expect you to be on your top game at all times.TheScreamingEagles said:
It's the variable speed limit ones that pee me off.antifrank said:
Or alternatively, drivers could obey the law.Patrick said:I'm in shock - A very sensible idea from the Labour party:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2958286/Labour-BAN-stealth-speed-cameras-motorways-forcing-painted-bright-yellow-drivers-them.html
No doubt this will be in the Tory manifesto draft by tomorrow morning...
You're doing 70. Sign comes up that says you're now in a 50 and there's a camera about 50 yards away that clocks you before you've had the chance to slow down and you get three points on your license for bugger all.
Variable speed limits are on a big board on the screen. You get there and it goes from 70 to 50.
The camera is right next to the 50 sign. Most motorists can't slow down that quick.
One of the reasons that I rarely drive is because I am keenly aware of the responsibility I take on when driving. We live in a nation of Mr Toads who are quite insouciant about the annual death of a small village every year on the roads.
In 100 years' time, the average attitudes to driving today will seem as incomprehensible to our great grandchildren as the 19th century attitudes towards the Opium Wars seem today.
The Highway Code was introduced in 1931 in response to the unacceptably high numbers of road fatalities. They had reached about 3,000 a year, a little higher than they are now.
As you indicate, extraordinary.0 -
@SeanF
Another factor in the sixties was the huge number of stupid, irresponsible young men like me driving around.0 -
2,000 a year is still a very high number of deaths by any objective standard. Most activities that resulted in that many deaths would have been made illegal long ago.Peter_the_Punter said:
It's something I like to quote regularly to people who regard our roads as exceptionally dangerous.peter_from_putney said:
A remarkable statistic is that over the past 50 years, during which time the number of vehicles using Britain's roads has incresed many times over, fatalities have fallen by over 75% from around an horrific total of 8,000 p.a. in the mid '60s to well below 2,000 p.a now. This must be largely as a result of vehicles being so much safer now as well as from the growth in the motorway network over this period.antifrank said:
If the number is on a big board on a screen, you should be able to read it from a fair distance.TheScreamingEagles said:
You don't drive do you ?antifrank said:
If you're not paying attention to the speed limits, what else are you missing when driving? When you're in charge of a ton of metal travelling at high speed, it's reasonable to expect you to be on your top game at all times.TheScreamingEagles said:
It's the variable speed limit ones that pee me off.antifrank said:
Or alternatively, drivers could obey the law.Patrick said:I'm in shock - A very sensible idea from the Labour party:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2958286/Labour-BAN-stealth-speed-cameras-motorways-forcing-painted-bright-yellow-drivers-them.html
No doubt this will be in the Tory manifesto draft by tomorrow morning...
You're doing 70. Sign comes up that says you're now in a 50 and there's a camera about 50 yards away that clocks you before you've had the chance to slow down and you get three points on your license for bugger all.
Variable speed limits are on a big board on the screen. You get there and it goes from 70 to 50.
The camera is right next to the 50 sign. Most motorists can't slow down that quick.
One of the reasons that I rarely drive is because I am keenly aware of the responsibility I take on when driving. We live in a nation of Mr Toads who are quite insouciant about the annual death of a small village every year on the roads.
In 100 years' time, the average attitudes to driving today will seem as incomprehensible to our great grandchildren as the 19th century attitudes towards the Opium Wars seem today.
The Highway Code was introduced in 1931 in response to the unacceptably high numbers of road fatalities. They had reached about 3,000 a year, a little higher than they are now.
As you indicate, extraordinary.0 -
Stodge
Surely one issue with your argument re FPTP arises from the fact that we are a parliamentary democracy. We're not merly electing the legislature but the executive, which is drawn from the legislature. I'd be delighted to have a fully PR election of the legislature if the election of the executive was separate. But I do think a more presidential approach is better when trying to decide who gets to be PM. FPTP is a workable hybrid that has served us well for centuries.
(and , yes, now that we are in a multiparty world that historical fit may no longer be there I accept)...0 -
If only you'd had someone walking in front of your car waving a flag to warn other road users like Jack W had when he learned to drive.Peter_the_Punter said:@SeanF
Another factor in the sixties was the huge number of stupid, irresponsible young men like me driving around.
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Major is quite simply the most underrated Premier ever – he won an amazing victory on the stickiest of wickets through sheer determination and personal vigour and managed to stay in office through arguably the most turbulent and moribund parliament of modern times, while being viciously attacked by an out-of-control Right. He deserves a better place in history than he got.MaxPB said:
The Tories would do well to deploy him in the North and Midlands.Pulpstar said:John Major's stock is certainly quite high at the moment also, so not surprised to see that. Everyone thought the Major Gov't wasn't great at the time but looking back it was halycon days.
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Don't be so hard on yourself, Peter. You are definitely not stupid, irresponsible OR youngPeter_the_Punter said:@SeanF
Another factor in the sixties was the huge number of stupid, irresponsible young men like me driving around. 0 -
That's kind of like the Shipman approach to the elderly. Just get rid of them.Neil said:
Charming.MaxPB said:
It is also time to tell Amnesty to do one and send the immigrant boats back by force. Be sunk or go back to Africa. Any boat that lands will be loaded up and sent back to Africa.Cyclefree said:
That is exactly what an Egyptian Minister said was likely to happen.Morris_Dancer said:Mr. Pulpstar, sounds tremendously serious. They're not stupid. They won't try invading Italy (probably go for Italy, it's nearest), but they could easily send over 'refugees' to commit acts of atrocity.
Just one more reason cutting Defence would be bloody stupid.
Also IS have publicly stated that their next target is Rome. Even allowing for bravado, I think IS fanatics would try and do something like that if they had the men, materials etc. They are explicitly modelling themselves on what happened in the 7th century and later when Muslim armies did attack Europe and were successful in Spain and got quite far into France. Muslim raiding parties also attacked Sicily and Southern Italy.
We would be foolish not to take them at their word.
Simple.0 -
Motorways: not so much the 'field of vision' as the lack of things to hit which are travelling at a very differet speed (either stationary or in the other direction).Sean_F said:Urban congestion also helps reduce casualties. You can't do much harm when you're crawling along. Paradoxically, very few people die on motorways, either, because the field of vision is so good.
The most dangerous roads are country roads. People tend to pick up speed, and then someone steps out in front of them, or an animal leaps out.
A car doing 90mph hitting one doing 70mph is like hitting a solid wall at 10mph. Hitting an oncoming car in a 30mph zone is like hitting a solid wall at 30mph.0 -
Would you feel sorry for someone who falls off a ladder while trying to enter your home illegally?Neil said:
Charming.MaxPB said:
It is also time to tell Amnesty to do one and send the immigrant boats back by force. Be sunk or go back to Africa. Any boat that lands will be loaded up and sent back to Africa.Cyclefree said:
That is exactly what an Egyptian Minister said was likely to happen.Morris_Dancer said:Mr. Pulpstar, sounds tremendously serious. They're not stupid. They won't try invading Italy (probably go for Italy, it's nearest), but they could easily send over 'refugees' to commit acts of atrocity.
Just one more reason cutting Defence would be bloody stupid.
Also IS have publicly stated that their next target is Rome. Even allowing for bravado, I think IS fanatics would try and do something like that if they had the men, materials etc. They are explicitly modelling themselves on what happened in the 7th century and later when Muslim armies did attack Europe and were successful in Spain and got quite far into France. Muslim raiding parties also attacked Sicily and Southern Italy.
We would be foolish not to take them at their word.0 -
I like the french knockout system, where if no-one gets more than 50% there's another round of voting.stodge said:
I'm not the one advocating vote-swapping for partisan advantage. It relies entirely on trust so it depends on how much you trust the other person to vote the way you want and expect them to. It's completely unenforceable and without verification but there you go.Charles said:
The point is that the current system is set up as a constituency based approach.
If you don't like it, campaign to change it, perhaps have a referendum to ask the people what they would prefer: the current system or an alternative.
Don't do an end run around the system. That's just being cute.
I come back to what has always been my central problem with FPTP - why should 36% of the vote (as in 2005) provide 100% of the power ? In my view, 36% of the vote should be 36% of the seats (with variations for England, Scotland, Wales and NI).
That strikes me as "fair" - there will be those who argue it is not a recipe for good governance. I would argue that there are plenty who castigate the current system for giving all the power to the largest minority and that majoritarian Government is no guarantee of good governance. Indeed, one might argue long periods of domination by the largest minority leads to a clear decline in the quality of that governance.
The Party system (which is already a network of coalitions) would rapidly evolve to suit the new way of voting. There would be a recognisable centre-right bloc of parties and one on the centre-left. That's how it works in many other places with proportional systems.0 -
Not if they were as useful as driving, they wouldn't.antifrank said:2,000 a year is still a very high number of deaths by any objective standard. Most activities that resulted in that many deaths would have been made illegal long ago.
0 -
The evidence that I've seen is that smokers only remember a few of the fags they have - perhaps the one when they wake up or the one with the cup of coffee after lunch. Most of the rest are just habit/autopilot.___Bobajob___ said:
I think you are about right there Charles.Charles said:
Don't recall that specific study, but certainly it's a topic of hot debate. There's clear evidence that it isn't a gateway to smoking (i.e. the other way). Additionally, there's clear evidence that people go from (say) 10 a day to 8 e-cigs + 2 cigarettes. What is unproven is whether they then go from 8+2 to 10+0.Neil said:
Didnt the WHO find that there was insufficient evidence to conclude that they helped people quit smoking?Charles said:"Harm reduction" can't possibly be an acceptable solution because, although it may save thousands of lives, and significantly increase quit rates
But I'm of the view that 8+2 is better than 0+10.
I am now the proud owner of a V-Revolution, which is pretty good on the highest setting, although I'm looking to change my juices (the generic ones I bought with it aren't great in flavour compared to mates' ones I have tried). Mystic seems to be the brand to go for.
I find that, if I'm having a night on the sauce, I'll have a fair few puffs on the vape, followed by the odd real fag.
In days gone by, I would have nailed a whole packet of fags on a big night. So, yes, I agree with your analysis.
So the one that they actually appreciate they carry on smoking a real cig for; the ones that they don't remember, you substitute for a safer alternative
Can I suggest you look out for this brand [Voke]. Not available yet, but much safer than e-cigs: has been approved by the MHRA.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/09/12/uk-health-ecigarettes-brit-am-tobacco-idUKKBN0H70R220140912
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-02-12/bat-smokeless-nicotine-partner-discusses-ipo-with-zeus-capital0 -
Jack was limited to the speed at which the dinosaur could pull his cart.Neil said:
If only you'd had someone walking in front of your car waving a flag to warn other road users like Jack W had when he learned to drive.Peter_the_Punter said:@SeanF
Another factor in the sixties was the huge number of stupid, irresponsible young men like me driving around.0 -
Much worse, in fact. Water vapour is aerosolized dihydrogen monoxide. Run for the hills!logical_song said:
Absolutely right it's almost as bad as Dihydrogen Monoxide:Flightpath said:
Water vapour is a greenhouse gas !!!!Morris_Dancer said:Mr. Neil, then allow them use e-cigarettes inside. Unless the hospital's attacked by the aliens from Signs, water vapour won't hurt anyone.
Worse still it causes green mold!!!!!
http://www.mold-advisor.com/what-is-mold.html
And probably pneumonia for all I know.
You make my words, water vapour will emerge as one of the most dangerous substances on the planet.
http://www.dhmo.org/facts.html0 -
I'm just not that convinced that very many people care that much about Iraq. (The ones that do care care intensely). The post-premiership behaviour explanation may well be nearer to the mark.antifrank said:
Tony Blair will not acknowledge that no weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq (despite him saying that he had no doubt on the point) and that the aftermath of the invasion of Iraq was far worse than the public had been led to expect. It is probably too late to do so now, but his unwillingness to acknowledge these two points, coupled with his apparent enthusiasm for profiting from his post-premiership period, has meant that the public have formed a very damning view of his integrity.Tissue_Price said:Interesting poll on the effects of past leaders intervening today:
https://yougov.co.uk/news/2015/02/18/blair-election-liability-and-major-asset-say-voter/
The Blair hate is extraordinary. Plenty of those Tories and UKIP voters actually voted for him. At the risk of sounding like John Rentoul I don't quite get it myself. Perhaps it's a personal sense of embarrassment.
I don't think he gives a toss about what other people think of him any more.0 -
@___Bobajob___
Major was at heart a decent man, and one of the few politicians I admire.0 -
Well yes, but then I live on the ground floor.Sunil_Prasannan said:
Would you feel sorry for someone who falls off a ladder while trying to enter your home illegally?Neil said:
Charming.MaxPB said:
It is also time to tell Amnesty to do one and send the immigrant boats back by force. Be sunk or go back to Africa. Any boat that lands will be loaded up and sent back to Africa.Cyclefree said:
That is exactly what an Egyptian Minister said was likely to happen.Morris_Dancer said:Mr. Pulpstar, sounds tremendously serious. They're not stupid. They won't try invading Italy (probably go for Italy, it's nearest), but they could easily send over 'refugees' to commit acts of atrocity.
Just one more reason cutting Defence would be bloody stupid.
Also IS have publicly stated that their next target is Rome. Even allowing for bravado, I think IS fanatics would try and do something like that if they had the men, materials etc. They are explicitly modelling themselves on what happened in the 7th century and later when Muslim armies did attack Europe and were successful in Spain and got quite far into France. Muslim raiding parties also attacked Sicily and Southern Italy.
We would be foolish not to take them at their word.0 -
That's the point. Driving is too damn convenient to too many people for them to worry too much about the very high number of deaths that the activity results in.Tissue_Price said:
Not if they were as useful as driving, they wouldn't.antifrank said:2,000 a year is still a very high number of deaths by any objective standard. Most activities that resulted in that many deaths would have been made illegal long ago.
Health and safety is an outrageous imposition when we're expected to comply with it, rather than (for example) an oil company or an airline.0 -
Definitely not, young Sunil.Sunil_Prasannan said:
Don't be so hard on yourself, Peter. You are definitely not stupid, irresponsible OR youngPeter_the_Punter said:@SeanF
Another factor in the sixties was the huge number of stupid, irresponsible young men like me driving around.0 -
Do you have any proof that they were seen like that? Temperance used to be a big public movement in the UK.__bobajob__ said:Remarkable to think that the drink driving laws were seem as the evil work of the nanny state when first proposed.
0 -
Not by me he wasn't.___Bobajob___ said:
Major is quite simply the most underrated Premier ever – he won an amazing victory on the stickiest of wickets through sheer determination and personal vigour and managed to stay in office through arguably the most turbulent and moribund parliament of modern times, while being viciously attacked by an out-of-control Right. He deserves a better place in history than he got.MaxPB said:
The Tories would do well to deploy him in the North and Midlands.Pulpstar said:John Major's stock is certainly quite high at the moment also, so not surprised to see that. Everyone thought the Major Gov't wasn't great at the time but looking back it was halycon days.
And he had to control a hopelessly fractious Party.0 -
It would actually be great if someone polling on ban x horrible substance would include DHMO as a control question...Anorak said:
Much worse, in fact. Water vapour is aerosolized dihydrogen monoxide. Run for the hills!logical_song said:
Absolutely right it's almost as bad as Dihydrogen Monoxide:Flightpath said:
Water vapour is a greenhouse gas !!!!Morris_Dancer said:Mr. Neil, then allow them use e-cigarettes inside. Unless the hospital's attacked by the aliens from Signs, water vapour won't hurt anyone.
Worse still it causes green mold!!!!!
http://www.mold-advisor.com/what-is-mold.html
And probably pneumonia for all I know.
You make my words, water vapour will emerge as one of the most dangerous substances on the planet.
http://www.dhmo.org/facts.html0 -
Scariest places to drive? San Francisco (blind junctions because of the hills) and Malaysia (no concept of lanes).
Scariest place I have been driven was probably northern Pakistan. And that was before the additional risk from the Taliban.... Blind overtaking with a drop of several thousand feet and no wall - just the road edge.0 -
My aunt knows him extremely well. He is a very nice man.Smarmeron said:@___Bobajob___
Major was at heart a decent man, and one of the few politicians I admire.0 -
Given the number of miles driven and the centrality of driving to people's lives, then I don't think the number of deaths occurring is very high at all. That's not to say it can't be lower.antifrank said:
That's the point. Driving is too damn convenient to too many people for them to worry too much about the very high number of deaths that the activity results in.Tissue_Price said:
Not if they were as useful as driving, they wouldn't.antifrank said:2,000 a year is still a very high number of deaths by any objective standard. Most activities that resulted in that many deaths would have been made illegal long ago.
Health and safety is an outrageous imposition when we're expected to comply with it, rather than (for example) an oil company or an airline.
Stairs are a truly dangerous mode of transport.
http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2012/nov/06/deaths-mortality-rates-cause-death-20110 -
No one is safe it can cross borders without limits.Anorak said:
Much worse, in fact. Water vapour is aerosolized dihydrogen monoxide. Run for the hills!logical_song said:
Absolutely right it's almost as bad as Dihydrogen Monoxide:Flightpath said:
Water vapour is a greenhouse gas !!!!Morris_Dancer said:Mr. Neil, then allow them use e-cigarettes inside. Unless the hospital's attacked by the aliens from Signs, water vapour won't hurt anyone.
Worse still it causes green mold!!!!!
http://www.mold-advisor.com/what-is-mold.html
And probably pneumonia for all I know.
You make my words, water vapour will emerge as one of the most dangerous substances on the planet.
http://www.dhmo.org/facts.html0 -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_traffic-related_death_rateantifrank said:
2,000 a year is still a very high number of deaths by any objective standard. Most activities that resulted in that many deaths would have been made illegal long ago.Peter_the_Punter said:
It's something I like to quote regularly to people who regard our roads as exceptionally dangerous.peter_from_putney said:
A remarkable statistic is that over the past 50 years, during which time the number of vehicles using Britain's roads has incresed many times over, fatalities have fallen by over 75% from around an horrific total of 8,000 p.a. in the mid '60s to well below 2,000 p.a now. This must be largely as a result of vehicles being so much safer now as well as from the growth in the motorway network over this period.antifrank said:
If the number is on a big board on a screen, you should be able to read it from a fair distance.TheScreamingEagles said:
You don't drive do you ?antifrank said:
If you're not paying attention to the speed limits, what else are you missing when driving? When you're in charge of a ton of metal travelling at high speed, it's reasonable to expect you to be on your top game at all times.TheScreamingEagles said:
.antifrank said:
Or alternatively, drivers could obey the law.Patrick said:I'm in shock - A very sensible idea from the Labour party:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2958286/Labour-BAN-stealth-speed-cameras-motorways-forcing-painted-bright-yellow-drivers-them.html
No doubt this will be in the Tory manifesto draft by tomorrow morning...
Variable speed limits are on a big board on the screen. You get there and it goes from 70 to 50.
The camera is right next to the 50 sign. Most motorists can't slow down that quick.
One of the reasons that I rarely drive is because I am keenly aware of the responsibility I take on when driving. We live in a nation of Mr Toads who are quite insouciant about the annual death of a small village every year on the roads.
In 100 years' time, the average attitudes to driving today will seem as incomprehensible to our great grandchildren as the 19th century attitudes towards the Opium Wars seem today.
The Highway Code was introduced in 1931 in response to the unacceptably high numbers of road fatalities. They had reached about 3,000 a year, a little higher than they are now.
As you indicate, extraordinary.0 -
Remember, Sunil means blue.Sunil_Prasannan said:
Pulpstar wants me to vote LabourTheScreamingEagles said:
You're still voting Tory right?Sunil_Prasannan said:
Not yet - having said that, mum may have dumped stuff straight in bin while I've been working in the Midlands during the weekPulpstar said:
Had any literature from Lee or Wes yet ?Sunil_Prasannan said:TNS (online!!!) is the new Gold Standard!
You want me to vote Tory
I am torn....0 -
The Kippers would be a truly potent force if they were led by John Major instead of Nigel Farage.0
-
Probably deserved a better party than he joined.___Bobajob___ said:
Major is quite simply the most underrated Premier ever – he won an amazing victory on the stickiest of wickets through sheer determination and personal vigour and managed to stay in office through arguably the most turbulent and moribund parliament of modern times, while being viciously attacked by an out-of-control Right. He deserves a better place in history than he got.MaxPB said:
The Tories would do well to deploy him in the North and Midlands.Pulpstar said:John Major's stock is certainly quite high at the moment also, so not surprised to see that. Everyone thought the Major Gov't wasn't great at the time but looking back it was halycon days.
0 -
Unfortunately it seems just too much for us to copy Australia's successful approach to stopping economic boat migrants. Turn back or detain elsewhere then deport.MaxPB said:
It is also time to tell Amnesty to do one and send the immigrant boats back by force. Be sunk or go back to Africa. Any boat that lands will be loaded up and sent back to Africa.Cyclefree said:
That is exactly what an Egyptian Minister said was likely to happen.Morris_Dancer said:Mr. Pulpstar, sounds tremendously serious. They're not stupid. They won't try invading Italy (probably go for Italy, it's nearest), but they could easily send over 'refugees' to commit acts of atrocity.
Just one more reason cutting Defence would be bloody stupid.
Also IS have publicly stated that their next target is Rome. Even allowing for bravado, I think IS fanatics would try and do something like that if they had the men, materials etc. They are explicitly modelling themselves on what happened in the 7th century and later when Muslim armies did attack Europe and were successful in Spain and got quite far into France. Muslim raiding parties also attacked Sicily and Southern Italy.
We would be foolish not to take them at their word.0 -
Chelsea fans showing they haven't ditched their heritage*
*Their Combat 18 Heritage
Chelsea have strongly condemned a group of their supporters who have been caught on video singing a racist song and preventing a black man from boarding the Paris Métro.
The footage, obtained exclusively by the Guardian, shows the man repeatedly trying to squeeze on to a busy train only to be forcefully shoved out of the door and back on to the platform at the Richelieu – Drouot station before Chelsea’s Champions League tie against Paris Saint-Germain at Parc des Princes.
The fans on the train are then heard chanting a song that appears to be celebrating what has just happened and includes the line: “We’re racist, we’re racist and that’s the way we like it” while a black woman is standing directly in front of them.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/18/racist-chelsea-fans-push-black-man-paris-metro0 -
Turbulent AND Moribund?___Bobajob___ said:
Major is quite simply the most underrated Premier ever – he won an amazing victory on the stickiest of wickets through sheer determination and personal vigour and managed to stay in office through arguably the most turbulent and moribund parliament of modern times, while being viciously attacked by an out-of-control Right. He deserves a better place in history than he got.MaxPB said:
The Tories would do well to deploy him in the North and Midlands.Pulpstar said:John Major's stock is certainly quite high at the moment also, so not surprised to see that. Everyone thought the Major Gov't wasn't great at the time but looking back it was halycon days.
My 26yr old granddaughter, a Castle Point resident, said today that she intended to hold her nose and vote Tory to stop the Kipper, in spite of he fact that she'd prefer to vote LD.0 -
UK unemployment falls to 1.86 million
The number of people out of work in the UK fell by 97,000 to 1.86 million in the three months to December.
The unemployment rate now stands at 5.7% of the adult working population, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-315155560 -
RubbishFlightpath said:
More rubbish. How do YOU propose to pay for your home care when you are infirm? Everything you talk about has been paid in for over a lifetime to help cover the relatively short period left. Income is taxed. Our nation is turning into a nasty nation.JonCisBack said:
Pensioners poor? Really?!Flightpath said:
Because pensioners are wait for it... Poor. They rely on interest for their income. National Savings are available for everyone.Pulpstar said:
Why aren't they being offered to everyone if they're such a great idea ?Flightpath said:
More rubbish. You are actually giving the govt money for 3 years. It's called National Savings. Macmillan invented premium bonds. It's likely the govt will have 15 bn in its coffers and the interest it pays out will go straight back into the economy and pay vat.Pulpstar said:http://www.oddschecker.com/politics/british-politics/tatton/winning-party
If you are under 65 with no access to the Gov't free cash and need a 1% return on your money in 79 days... 1-100 looks generous
Don't worry, you will be old and near death one day.
Having paid off their tiny mortgages for their houses now worth 50 times as much ?
With their final salary pensions none of the rest of us have ?
With their free bus passes, TV licences and heating allowance ?
Claiming their state pension from 65 like I won't be able to?
Of course there are some poor pensioners, but those currently aged 65-80 have had a very favourable set of circumstances that subsequent generations simply will not be able to enjoy.
But they do get out and vote, to their credit, so it's no wonder they get bribed by politicians so much.
You are seeing untold generosity compared to future generations.
0 -
I like the french knockout system, where if no-one gets more than 50% there's another round of voting.anotherDave said:
Yes, I could live with that. Imagine the fun on here if the GE was one Thursday and Run Off Day was one week later.
How many constituencies would need the second vote - 300, 400 ? Not East Ham methinks.
Good fun for tactical voting fans as well.
I suppose there's no point suggesting the winning candidate should have the votes of 50%+1 of ALL registered voters, not just those voting or we'd never finish.
0 -
India. Easily the worst place to drive.MarqueeMark said:Scariest places to drive? San Francisco (blind junctions because of the hills) and Malaysia (no concept of lanes).
Scariest place I have been driven was probably northern Pakistan. And that was before the additional risk from the Taliban.... Blind overtaking with a drop of several thousand feet and no wall - just the road edge.
0 -
But then Major is a decent man, so it would never be on the cards.MarqueeMark said:The Kippers would be a truly potent force if they were led by John Major instead of Nigel Farage.
0 -
That's an argument for having power devolved down as far as practically possible, rather than to have a ridiculously outmoded electoral system that grants quasi-dictatorial powers to the Prime Minister of the party that receives less than two-fifths of the national vote.Charles said:
And fundamentally, I take the view that the interests of Hartlepool may not be the same as the interests of England as a whole. So the good people of Hartlepool need someone who they can be sure should speak up for their interests, even when it diverges from the national interest. And they should have the ability to kick that individual out if they don't do their job adequately.stodge said:
I'm not the one advocating vote-swapping for partisan advantage. It relies entirely on trust so it depends on how much you trust the other person to vote the way you want and expect them to. It's completely unenforceable and without verification but there you go.Charles said:
The point is that the current system is set up as a constituency based approach.
If you don't like it, campaign to change it, perhaps have a referendum to ask the people what they would prefer: the current system or an alternative.
Don't do an end run around the system. That's just being cute.
I come back to what has always been my central problem with FPTP - why should 36% of the vote (as in 2005) provide 100% of the power ? In my view, 36% of the vote should be 36% of the seats (with variations for England, Scotland, Wales and NI).
That strikes me as "fair" - there will be those who argue it is not a recipe for good governance. I would argue that there are plenty who castigate the current system for giving all the power to the largest minority and that majoritarian Government is no guarantee of good governance. Indeed, one might argue long periods of domination by the largest minority leads to a clear decline in the quality of that governance.
The Party system (which is already a network of coalitions) would rapidly evolve to suit the new way of voting. There would be a recognisable centre-right bloc of parties and one on the centre-left. That's how it works in many other places with proportional systems.0 -
MM..If you ever drive from Mumbai to Poona take a look into the ravine on your left..hundreds of lorries at the bottom..The mechanical version of the mythical Elephants graveyard.0
-
I see the Bolshevik Broadcasting Corporation have ignored Bradford againTykejohnno said:UK unemployment falls to 1.86 million
The number of people out of work in the UK fell by 97,000 to 1.86 million in the three months to December.
The unemployment rate now stands at 5.7% of the adult working population, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-31515556
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/17/bbc-snub-bradford-again-fa-cup-reading-tv0 -
I can't think of anyone more unlike UKIP than John !MarqueeMark said:The Kippers would be a truly potent force if they were led by John Major instead of Nigel Farage.
0 -
Electricity is useful. As is going to work. People die at work, in fires and from shocks. Accidents happen in all walks of life.Tissue_Price said:
Not if they were as useful as driving, they wouldn't.antifrank said:2,000 a year is still a very high number of deaths by any objective standard. Most activities that resulted in that many deaths would have been made illegal long ago.
0 -
Not so many economic migrants seeking to get to Russia these days. Any reason why?FalseFlag said:
Unfortunately it seems just too much for us to copy Australia's successful approach to stopping economic boat migrants. Turn back or detain elsewhere then deport.MaxPB said:
It is also time to tell Amnesty to do one and send the immigrant boats back by force. Be sunk or go back to Africa. Any boat that lands will be loaded up and sent back to Africa.Cyclefree said:
That is exactly what an Egyptian Minister said was likely to happen.Morris_Dancer said:Mr. Pulpstar, sounds tremendously serious. They're not stupid. They won't try invading Italy (probably go for Italy, it's nearest), but they could easily send over 'refugees' to commit acts of atrocity.
Just one more reason cutting Defence would be bloody stupid.
Also IS have publicly stated that their next target is Rome. Even allowing for bravado, I think IS fanatics would try and do something like that if they had the men, materials etc. They are explicitly modelling themselves on what happened in the 7th century and later when Muslim armies did attack Europe and were successful in Spain and got quite far into France. Muslim raiding parties also attacked Sicily and Southern Italy.
We would be foolish not to take them at their word.
0 -
David Cameron is the new John Major.Pulpstar said:
I can't think of anyone more unlike UKIP than John !MarqueeMark said:The Kippers would be a truly potent force if they were led by John Major instead of Nigel Farage.
His Premiership ruined by a bunch of anti-European Headbangers, allowing in a Labour government.0 -
I think they are put of by Putin hiding in the closet and him acting all macho and invading countries.Neil said:
Not so many economic migrants seeking to get to Russia these days. Any reason why?FalseFlag said:
Unfortunately it seems just too much for us to copy Australia's successful approach to stopping economic boat migrants. Turn back or detain elsewhere then deport.MaxPB said:
It is also time to tell Amnesty to do one and send the immigrant boats back by force. Be sunk or go back to Africa. Any boat that lands will be loaded up and sent back to Africa.Cyclefree said:
That is exactly what an Egyptian Minister said was likely to happen.Morris_Dancer said:Mr. Pulpstar, sounds tremendously serious. They're not stupid. They won't try invading Italy (probably go for Italy, it's nearest), but they could easily send over 'refugees' to commit acts of atrocity.
Just one more reason cutting Defence would be bloody stupid.
Also IS have publicly stated that their next target is Rome. Even allowing for bravado, I think IS fanatics would try and do something like that if they had the men, materials etc. They are explicitly modelling themselves on what happened in the 7th century and later when Muslim armies did attack Europe and were successful in Spain and got quite far into France. Muslim raiding parties also attacked Sicily and Southern Italy.
We would be foolish not to take them at their word.
If only he came out, he and Russia would be at peace0 -
Exactly my point! That UKIP can't attract a leader of the quality of John Major shows their profound limitations.logical_song said:
But then Major is a decent man, so it would never be on the cards.MarqueeMark said:The Kippers would be a truly potent force if they were led by John Major instead of Nigel Farage.
0 -
Speaking of ex Conservative leaders
IDS bashing the bishops
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/11419923/Iain-Duncan-Smith-mocks-Church-of-Englands-dwindling-relevence.html
"Iain Duncan Smith says that when he heard Bishops talking about 'alienation and dwindling relevence' in pre-election intervention he assumed they were talking about their own congregations"0 -
Might be tinted specs but call me Dave doesn't compare to Sir JohnTheScreamingEagles said:
David Cameron is the new John Major.Pulpstar said:
I can't think of anyone more unlike UKIP than John !MarqueeMark said:The Kippers would be a truly potent force if they were led by John Major instead of Nigel Farage.
His Premiership ruined by a bunch of anti-European Headbangers, allowing in a Labour government.
0 -
I suspect the death rate when the main method of transport was horse and cart was higher than it is today by car.Sunil_Prasannan said:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_traffic-related_death_rateantifrank said:
2,000 a year is still a very high number of deaths by any objective standard. Most activities that resulted in that many deaths would have been made illegal long ago.Peter_the_Punter said:
It's something I like to quote regularly to people who regard our roads as exceptionally dangerous.peter_from_putney said:
A remarkable statistic is that over the past 50 years, during which time the number of vehicles using Britain's roads has incresed many times over, fatalities have fallen by over 75% from around an horrific total of 8,000 p.a. in the mid '60s to well below 2,000 p.a now. This must be largely as a result of vehicles being so much safer now as well as from the growth in the motorway network over this period.antifrank said:
If the number is on a big board on a screen, you should be able to read it from a fair distance.TheScreamingEagles said:
You don't drive do you ?antifrank said:
If you're not paying attention to the speed limits, what else are you missing when driving? When you're in charge of a ton of metal travelling at high speed, it's reasonable to expect you to be on your top game at all times.TheScreamingEagles said:
.antifrank said:
Or alternatively, drivers could obey the law.Patrick said:I'm in shock - A very sensible idea from the Labour party:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2958286/Labour-BAN-stealth-speed-cameras-motorways-forcing-painted-bright-yellow-drivers-them.html
No doubt this will be in the Tory manifesto draft by tomorrow morning...
Variable speed limits are on a big board on the screen. You get there and it goes from 70 to 50.
The camera is right next to the 50 sign. Most motorists can't slow down that quick.
One of the reasons that I rarely drive is because I am keenly aware of the responsibility I take on when driving. We live in a nation of Mr Toads who are quite insouciant about the annual death of a small village every year on the roads.
In 100 years' time, the average attitudes to driving today will seem as incomprehensible to our great grandchildren as the 19th century attitudes towards the Opium Wars seem today.
The Highway Code was introduced in 1931 in response to the unacceptably high numbers of road fatalities. They had reached about 3,000 a year, a little higher than they are now.
As you indicate, extraordinary.
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Last year in Paris Chelsea fans were accused of running rampage outside a pub and attacking PSG fans, but it later turned out and was confirmed by video evidence that the Chelsea fans were the ones attacked by PSG supporters and did no more than defend themselves.TheScreamingEagles said:Chelsea fans showing they haven't ditched their heritage*
*Their Combat 18 Heritage
Chelsea have strongly condemned a group of their supporters who have been caught on video singing a racist song and preventing a black man from boarding the Paris Métro.
The footage, obtained exclusively by the Guardian, shows the man repeatedly trying to squeeze on to a busy train only to be forcefully shoved out of the door and back on to the platform at the Richelieu – Drouot station before Chelsea’s Champions League tie against Paris Saint-Germain at Parc des Princes.
The fans on the train are then heard chanting a song that appears to be celebrating what has just happened and includes the line: “We’re racist, we’re racist and that’s the way we like it” while a black woman is standing directly in front of them.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/18/racist-chelsea-fans-push-black-man-paris-metro
I would like to see confirmation elsewhere than the Guardian of this, to begin with I know of no song with that line in. However it is well known that the worst of the Chelsea fans from the dark days of the 80's often use these European away games for a meet up, particularly the ones who now live abroad.0 -
Major left a golden economic legacy - but kind of by accident and via Black Wednesday. He believed in the ERM and things European, which surely disqualifies him from any historical claim to greatness. (That and fancying Edwina).0
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Predestination always struck me as a flawed religious belief, but its application to traffic behaviour around India is manifestly catastrophic.richardDodd said:MM..If you ever drive from Mumbai to Poona take a look into the ravine on your left..hundreds of lorries at the bottom..The mechanical version of the mythical Elephants graveyard.
Mind you I have similar misgivings around Finchley, where it seems many are driving according to The Torah rather than the Highway Code.0 -
Last Monday week, on a day not unlike today weatherwise, Mrs Stodge and I were heading north on the M1 when the car suffered a puncture just south of J10. I was able to manoeuver the vehicle to the hard shoulder and park up whereupon I suggested firmly to Mrs Stodge we vacate the vehicle.Anorak said:
Motorways: not so much the 'field of vision' as the lack of things to hit which are travelling at a very differet speed (either stationary or in the other direction).Sean_F said:Urban congestion also helps reduce casualties. You can't do much harm when you're crawling along. Paradoxically, very few people die on motorways, either, because the field of vision is so good.
The most dangerous roads are country roads. People tend to pick up speed, and then someone steps out in front of them, or an animal leaps out.
A car doing 90mph hitting one doing 70mph is like hitting a solid wall at 10mph. Hitting an oncoming car in a 30mph zone is like hitting a solid wall at 30mph.
She was reluctant to do so until I pointed out what a lorry or coach could do to the car at which poit she left the car with more than a modicum of alacrity. We were safely recovered from the roadside 30 minutes later and within 90 minutes were on our way but the hard shoulder isn't a safe place although trying to get over the fence into a farmer's field didn't look inviting either.
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Remind us - how old you were, when you retired?bigjohnowls said:
RubbishFlightpath said:
More rubbish. How do YOU propose to pay for your home care when you are infirm? Everything you talk about has been paid in for over a lifetime to help cover the relatively short period left. Income is taxed. Our nation is turning into a nasty nation.JonCisBack said:
Pensioners poor? Really?!Flightpath said:
Because pensioners are wait for it... Poor. They rely on interest for their income. National Savings are available for everyone.Pulpstar said:
Why aren't they being offered to everyone if they're such a great idea ?Flightpath said:
More rubbish. You are actually giving the govt money for 3 years. It's called National Savings. Macmillan invented premium bonds. It's likely the govt will have 15 bn in its coffers and the interest it pays out will go straight back into the economy and pay vat.Pulpstar said:http://www.oddschecker.com/politics/british-politics/tatton/winning-party
If you are under 65 with no access to the Gov't free cash and need a 1% return on your money in 79 days... 1-100 looks generous
Don't worry, you will be old and near death one day.
Having paid off their tiny mortgages for their houses now worth 50 times as much ?
With their final salary pensions none of the rest of us have ?
With their free bus passes, TV licences and heating allowance ?
Claiming their state pension from 65 like I won't be able to?
Of course there are some poor pensioners, but those currently aged 65-80 have had a very favourable set of circumstances that subsequent generations simply will not be able to enjoy.
But they do get out and vote, to their credit, so it's no wonder they get bribed by politicians so much.
You are seeing untold generosity compared to future generations.0 -
New Thread0
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I think this is a smear 99% of the decent Chelsea fans.TheScreamingEagles said:Chelsea fans showing they haven't ditched their heritage*
*Their Combat 18 Heritage
Chelsea have strongly condemned a group of their supporters who have been caught on video singing a racist song and preventing a black man from boarding the Paris Métro.
The footage, obtained exclusively by the Guardian, shows the man repeatedly trying to squeeze on to a busy train only to be forcefully shoved out of the door and back on to the platform at the Richelieu – Drouot station before Chelsea’s Champions League tie against Paris Saint-Germain at Parc des Princes.
The fans on the train are then heard chanting a song that appears to be celebrating what has just happened and includes the line: “We’re racist, we’re racist and that’s the way we like it” while a black woman is standing directly in front of them.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/18/racist-chelsea-fans-push-black-man-paris-metro
When I went to Stanford bridge only weeks back with half our group of Asian heritage,we had a fantastic time and the Chelsea fans we met were great.
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True...TheScreamingEagles said:
Remember, Sunil means blue.Sunil_Prasannan said:
Pulpstar wants me to vote LabourTheScreamingEagles said:
You're still voting Tory right?Sunil_Prasannan said:
Not yet - having said that, mum may have dumped stuff straight in bin while I've been working in the Midlands during the weekPulpstar said:
Had any literature from Lee or Wes yet ?Sunil_Prasannan said:TNS (online!!!) is the new Gold Standard!
You want me to vote Tory
I am torn....0 -
Cameron could never get the 43% who backed JM4PM including an extraordinary personal vote in his constituency. Let's compare their personal votes 1992 vs 2010.TheScreamingEagles said:
David Cameron is the new John Major.Pulpstar said:
I can't think of anyone more unlike UKIP than John !MarqueeMark said:The Kippers would be a truly potent force if they were led by John Major instead of Nigel Farage.
His Premiership ruined by a bunch of anti-European Headbangers, allowing in a Labour government.
Major - 48662 (66%/52%)
Cameron - 33973 (59%/43%)
That's total votes followed by the % of the vote they got and the percentage of registered voters who supported them. Amidst all the fuss last week about the Tory fundraiser I thought a vital point was missed. Previous Tory PMs may have cultivated the rich or admired 'buccaneering businessmen' but they were always quite careful about their own image. The one nation tradition that sustained them up to Heath, followed by Thatcher who was always the disciplinarian school marm even if her policies made loads a'money possible and Major was the ordinary bloke from Brixton. That care seems to have been completely lost under Cameron and Osborne. Perhaps they thought if it was okay for New Labour to have an unapologetic appreciation of wealth, why not them? That carelessness could be their undoing.
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We will soon be worse than a police state, pathetic. Fit the idiots better to stop people smoking real fags at the doors.Flightpath said:
Nicotine?Morris_Dancer said:E-cigarettes to be banned from Scottish hospital grounds:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-31360682
Not sure about the reasoning here, given the by-products seems to be some sort of vapour rather than actual smoke.
Plus it's meant to make you feel like Audrey Hepburn or George Clooney as opposed to The Crankies.
(I doubt the adverts will feature Cruella de Ville)0 -
Too far from London to waste money onweejonnie said:
Better still - upgrade the **** A1 to a motorway up to Edinburgh. North of Newcastle Upon Tyne it's a death-trap.Pulpstar said:Ditch the motorway speed limits, prosecute Lorries that attempt to overtake each other on the A1, middle lane hoggers and up sentences for drivers that drive recklessly past horses and cyclists on the roads.
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And a very good series of books they were too.Dair said:
This seems like a very direct "homage" to The Lost Regiment seriesMorris_Dancer said:Conducted an interview with a chap whose book may interest some here (historical fiction meets sci-fi). It's up here:
http://thaddeusthesixth.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/an-interview-with-andrew-p-weston.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lost_Regiment0
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