tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7174365426491035419.comments2023-12-29T19:36:37.539+00:00peezedteepeezedteehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08280444890826046800noreply@blogger.comBlogger135125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7174365426491035419.post-79724995608287671382014-05-26T13:33:23.243+01:002014-05-26T13:33:23.243+01:00Different? Yes. And also, as a consequence, really...Different? Yes. And also, as a consequence, really quite attractive.<br />I did enjoy this post - and the others I read. And also some comments you left elsewhere. If I didn't have to now go and do what it is that I should be doing on a Bank Holiday Monday (attempt to remove mildew from a much-neglected sash and case window as it happens) then I'd read some more. But I've bookmarked you and I'll be back. <br />Which sounds - most unintentionally - like a threat now that I read it over.<br />Thank you for brightening my coffee break.sansserifhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16445280597626572292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7174365426491035419.post-37846654013667232942014-03-13T10:25:39.972+00:002014-03-13T10:25:39.972+00:00Sounds like a good idea, dont think the government...Sounds like a good idea, dont think the government is ready to do it...Bomber Leather Jacketshttp://www.leathermadness.com/categories/Bomber-Leather-Jacketsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7174365426491035419.post-20749351299626319012012-01-07T16:23:01.725+00:002012-01-07T16:23:01.725+00:00The music is called "Puffin' Billy" ...The music is called "Puffin' Billy" and was written by Edward White. It was used as the signature tune to "Children's Favourites" on the BBC Light Programme from 1952 to 1966.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7174365426491035419.post-76748508005097230822011-12-13T10:42:55.702+00:002011-12-13T10:42:55.702+00:00I hate to think how big the bucket has to be which...I hate to think how big the bucket has to be which must follow these guys around.1q23https://www.blogger.com/profile/17681774922317014815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7174365426491035419.post-88591094973948443792011-11-27T15:51:07.105+00:002011-11-27T15:51:07.105+00:00could watch it all day--very pretty traincould watch it all day--very pretty trainAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7174365426491035419.post-49393181622415564052011-10-10T08:30:35.800+01:002011-10-10T08:30:35.800+01:00Fact One: Brits only do rioting when the weather&...Fact One: Brits only do rioting when the weather's nice. <br />Just think of the mods and rockers, Tottenham, Toxteth, naughty Notting Hill etc. etc.<br /><br />Fact Two: Brits do not riot during the (domestic) football season.<br /><br />Fact Three: As with lots of other demos which are now happening, Brits only (but always) riot and protest when there are Conservatives in the government.<br /><br />Fact Four: Brits do not begin to understand that it is capitalism with a free market economy which creates the 'have not' society alongside the 'have it all' society. If we want to change that then we have to become Marxist or Communist or something else very un-British.<br /><br />Fact Five: Within a few weeks we'll all have our heads back in the sand until next summer.1q23https://www.blogger.com/profile/17681774922317014815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7174365426491035419.post-39872572888274824022011-08-28T19:41:03.785+01:002011-08-28T19:41:03.785+01:00Remember Iltyd Harrington well. Also wondered whe...Remember Iltyd Harrington well. Also wondered where he went......Vodka drinkernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7174365426491035419.post-53432711622400887672011-08-14T14:50:06.713+01:002011-08-14T14:50:06.713+01:00Don't worry; normal service will be resumed wh...Don't worry; normal service will be resumed when the X Factor reappears on TV. The rioters may be impoverished but many of them are incredibly stupid and will be so easily distracted by shiny, transient things that are an intelligent person's waste of time.<br /><br />No wonder Simon Cowell's pledged £50,000 for the cleanup :)David Hastingsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7174365426491035419.post-39379545764116096442011-07-19T09:02:47.829+01:002011-07-19T09:02:47.829+01:00Wow, just come across this, now if only the cyclis...Wow, just come across this, now if only the cyclists in London could cycle like this and obey the traffic signals...Barneyhttp://www.londonplumbers.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7174365426491035419.post-82342374906121545552011-06-07T21:33:05.131+01:002011-06-07T21:33:05.131+01:00This was a solid decision that has been in effect ...This was a solid decision that has been in effect for a long time now. The statistics speak for themselves.ajlounyinjurylawhttp://www.nyautoaccidentlaw.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7174365426491035419.post-4747772754243486642011-04-03T01:56:50.579+01:002011-04-03T01:56:50.579+01:00There's a great reason why that whine reminds ...There's a great reason why that whine reminds you of the older units - they both use the same type of traction motor, the English Electric 507.<br /><br />And yes, the Class 507 (closely related to the dual-voltage 313) also uses EE507 motors. I'm not sure whether that coincidence is accidental.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7174365426491035419.post-6581385281494575432011-02-26T23:11:07.505+00:002011-02-26T23:11:07.505+00:00Fascinating, especially as it is slightly speeded ...Fascinating, especially as it is slightly speeded up. Thanks for posting thisstitcherypokeryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04141121564698085402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7174365426491035419.post-67454057986370468222011-02-24T14:49:27.441+00:002011-02-24T14:49:27.441+00:00PZT, You are so right. Even I can't believe th...PZT, You are so right. Even I can't believe the recent ads from NO2AV. Suggesting babies will not get cardiac care, soldiers will lose flap jackets etc if AV wins. Just making up numbers for the cost of counting machines when none will be used. Australia has had AV for 90 years and still counts the votes by hand. My only hope is that this disgaceful campaign backfires on them. <br /><br />Cheers for the link.Neil Hardinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01333739272733802133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7174365426491035419.post-12501089479166694752011-02-07T09:30:49.628+00:002011-02-07T09:30:49.628+00:00I would rather that the person closest to me in th...I would rather that the person closest to me in the NHS (my own doctor) who should know me best and to whom I have easiest and pretty much guaranteed access, should be the one who has to justify any 'no' decision on treatment to me and not some anonymous bureaucrat who I have never met.<br /><br />The success or failure of such a policy relies on the calibre of GPs and the relationship each of us has with them but I'll wager it'll bring the money closer to me as the 'customer' and should do away with some more of the 'men in grey suits'.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7174365426491035419.post-62439880783172213152011-01-28T14:57:43.464+00:002011-01-28T14:57:43.464+00:00"[P]referential voting could lock in more lef..."[P]referential voting could lock in more left of centre governments in the long term."<br /><br />Yeah.<br /><br />http://www.labourlist.org/tories-consider-informal-anti-labour-pactJamiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04992989840233745094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7174365426491035419.post-88333524703153645192011-01-28T14:54:45.613+00:002011-01-28T14:54:45.613+00:00Alas, this Tory-led government has been so very ri...Alas, this Tory-led government has been so very right wing and the Liberals so very near invisible in their 'leftward dragging' role that the AV referendum is already a referendum on Liberal involvement in the coalition, rather than on voting reform.<br /><br />The referendum has therefore already been lost. This isn't good news, obviously.<br /><br />I can see why a rump of Liberal voters are okay with what has been got (runways, Crossrail, ID cards) but these were all things the Tories were pledged to do anyway.<br /><br />So far, it seems that, if it's Tory and Liberal policy, it goes through. If it's Tory policy, it goes through. If it's Liberal policy, it's ditched immediately *by the Liberals themselves*. They're not even sticking to the coalition agreement as they fall over themselves to throw their lot in with the Tories.<br /><br />I suspect that this confirms what Labour party members used to say when I was a member of the Labour party: the Liberals pretend to be radicals of the left, but they are political whores, happy to be radicals of the right as well.<br /><br />As for reigning in the Tory Eurosceptics... nah. The truth of the matter is that we cannot leave the EU. The Tories know that it would be impossible and economically ruinous and that the Americans would object loudly too.<br /><br />All the Tories can do is resist further integration publicly (whilst doing it behind the scenes). This is what they've always done anyway. They don't need the Liberals for that.Jamiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04992989840233745094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7174365426491035419.post-51928619256336074452011-01-28T14:27:10.992+00:002011-01-28T14:27:10.992+00:00You're right, I certainly welcome those consti...You're right, I certainly welcome those constitutional changes. They, and the abolition of the ID scheme, are definitely on the positive side of the balance sheet.<br /><br />Whether AV "locks in more left of centre governments in the long term" is a very moot point, but anyway is answering the wrong question. The proper criterion for judging a voting system is not whether it is likely to further one's own political aims, but what is best for the voter. I am in favour of preferential voting because it frees the voter from voting tactically, i.e. trying to guess what other voters are doing. However, it looks as if we could very well lose the referendum, and then where will we be?peezedteehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08280444890826046800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7174365426491035419.post-69740790073828558202011-01-28T12:13:43.082+00:002011-01-28T12:13:43.082+00:00Agree with your summary and I know you were not tr...Agree with your summary and I know you were not trying to duplicate the article to which you referred but was surprised you didn't mention the welcome AV Referendum, the abolition of the Labour ID card scheme and the much welcome dampening of the Tories usual Euroscepticism by their Lib Dem 'ballast'. Lords reform is on the list. Four really important achievements in my view. I also welcome fixed term parliaments, as I have always thought the ruling party advantage in calling election dates, to be morally outrageous. There have been a host of other smaller administrative changes which are also to be welcomed. I deplore all the cuts but am prepared to hold my nose and tolerate them temporarily just to get the referendum which I care about much more than anything else, having craved a more preferential voting system for 45 years... I think preferential voting could lock in more left of centre governments in the long term. I seem to be one of very few people looking to the long term, constitutionally.Chrishttp://kif1@mac.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7174365426491035419.post-82004255445039604622010-10-21T19:48:37.093+01:002010-10-21T19:48:37.093+01:00A mutual acquaintance of ours says that the CSR is...A mutual acquaintance of ours says that the CSR is a price worth paying for the Preferential Voting referendum.<br /><br />In fact, he says, true Liberal/Liberal Democrats will accept *anything* and *everything* that the Tories can inflict, as PV is more important than anything else.<br /><br />He even accepts the destruction of the BBC - a price that the LDP will pay for PV.<br /><br />I say that the Liberals have, by cheer-leading for these evil cuts, guaranteed that the referendum will fail - it will be seen as a referendum on the Liberals, not on the voting system. People are like that.<br /><br />The referendum will therefore return a "no" and boot the debate into touch for another generation.<br /><br />My own feeling on this is that, whilst I won't bring myself to vote no, my previous plan to campaign in favour is non-operative. I don't think British democracy is mature enough for voting reform. Certainly not when it turns out we have one notionally left wing party and two very right wing parties.<br /><br />The LDP appear to be the German FDP in disguise.Jamiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04992989840233745094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7174365426491035419.post-4693028843873586942010-09-25T13:05:16.765+01:002010-09-25T13:05:16.765+01:00It may be more complicated than that. For one thin...It may be more complicated than that. For one thing, Boris Johnson has been lobbying hard for Crossrail to go ahead. For another thing, major work on it is already well under way. Also, the Tories' backers in the City very much want it, and they have to be appeased because they also wanted the third runway at Heathrow, which they're not going to get. But, but, we have to wait till the spending review in October to see how rail investment comes out of it overall. That's when we shall discover how far Hammond has managed to press the case with the Treasury, especially on mainline electrification.peezedteehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08280444890826046800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7174365426491035419.post-6432488617637628562010-09-24T08:57:41.422+01:002010-09-24T08:57:41.422+01:00Interesting that at a time of cuts left, right and...Interesting that at a time of cuts left, right and especially centre, Crossrail is still going ahead.<br /><br />There must be some in the Coalition who see the sense in spending money on trains when you're having to cut back on so much else.<br /><br />If Hammond was a petrol head then wouldn't he have tried to change this train into a new motorway somewhere?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7174365426491035419.post-38234385847387522102010-05-29T18:21:33.371+01:002010-05-29T18:21:33.371+01:00Please provide more information so as to understan...Please provide more information so as to understand easily.Marchttp://trainhornsdelivered.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7174365426491035419.post-75302248750539417942010-05-25T18:48:13.106+01:002010-05-25T18:48:13.106+01:00I accept that Trade Unions often display sectional...I accept that Trade Unions often display sectional interests - yet numbers of these pursuits have passing if limited justifications. But the Trade Union Movement is at its best when it pursues common interests, such as concerns for workers' rights and its support for the general well being - including matters of international solidarity. In my links section (but not in alphabetical order) click into "TUC International", "ToUCstone", "Eric Lee" and "Labour Start". <br /><br />Whatever the party political developments are on the left, I would look for a body which had sound Trade Union links - perhaps a reformed Labour Party which could attract some of the elements you cover. The difference between us is that you are a social democrat and I am a democratic socialist. Although I recognise that within the Labour Party I am now part of an endangered species.Harry Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01833380054575757928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7174365426491035419.post-70047425816642963082010-05-13T11:08:01.658+01:002010-05-13T11:08:01.658+01:00Hi PZT, I got carried away with my response to thi...Hi PZT, I got carried away with my response to this, it is a bit long, so it is posted here.<br /><br />http://electoralreformer.blogspot.com/2010/05/why-constituency-boundaries-are-as.htmlNeil Hardinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01333739272733802133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7174365426491035419.post-89315008663639005292010-05-03T10:30:15.768+01:002010-05-03T10:30:15.768+01:00Progressives can happily vote Lib Dem in about 562...Progressives can happily vote Lib Dem in about 562 constituencies out of the 632 seats in England, Scotland and Wales (about 90% of seats). <br /><br />63 of these constituencies already have Lib Dem MPs, Lib Dems can realistically beat Labour in another 20-30 seats and the Tories in another 10-20 seats.<br /><br />Apart from 72 Labour held seats (listed in Sunday's independent) which the Tories need for their majority, the other seats are safe Labour or safe Tory, so voting Lib Dem will not affect who governs us. This accepts that about 50 Labour held marginals are already lost to the Tories and therefore safe, the 72 Labour still have a chance of holding. In these 72 seats progressives should vote Labour if they want to keep the Tories out and have a hung parliament.Neil Hardinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01333739272733802133noreply@blogger.com