Marmora Man

KidKruger Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > david carnell, the same is not true here. > > the flood was not man made (unless you're saying > man creates the flood every 2000 years). > floods eventually dry-up, and take a lot less than > a quarter of a million years to do so. > nuclear disasters don't give us a chance to > clean-up and move-on, their output perpetuates > almost indefinitely, but we do get a chance to > mourn the dead, and the disfigured, and the > genetically flawed and sterilised, generation > after generation. > > i'm not anti nuclear per se but I am amazed how, > given the extremely dire consequences of failures, > nuclear facilities and their purported safety are > given the rose-tinted treatment when it comes to > considering long-term viability. KK - you're assuming some strange powers to nuclear radiation - an error that so many people make and that persists in the face of scientific fact. Post Nagasaki and Hiroshima there were not masses of mutilations and genetic modifications that have persisted down the generations. Both cities are now completely habitable and have been for over 50 years. The Chernobyl Forum, a group of eight U.N. agencies, and the Ukraine, Belarus and Russia governments, have estimated the death toll at only a few thousand as a result of the explosion. U.N. agencies have said some 4,000 people will die in total because of radiation exposure. as Nashoi has pointed out the Radio 4 programme Material World presented a very balanced and science based article of the Japanese nuclear plant problems - their worst case scenario didn't even come within a country mile of the sci fi armageddon picture you paint.

But you're probably only ever going to attend an Olympics once in your life - ?200 for a once in a lifetime event isn't too bad surely? That's how I'm looking at it - I can be as cynical and down beat as the next man, but for this I choose to look at the glass half full. Regrettably staging an Olympics is costly - the costs have to be covered in some fashion and high ticket prices, use of VISA etc are all part of the devil's pact that has been struck.

Radio 4's Material World was an excellent and balanced programme - then followed by the PM News with Matt Frei talking of the "fears stalking Tokyo residents as the rain falling on their cheeks might be carrying radioactive death". Brilliant journalistic copy - lousy facts and an idiotic statement. At present the radiation levels in Tokyo have not risen significantly above regular background levels. All the scientists commenting have made the point that Japan has taken the right measures - issued iodine to those within 50 miles of the problem (prevents take up of radioactive IO2 by the thyroid - which was the major cause of Chernobyl death and illness, established exclusion zones and are working sensibly to contain and control the outbreak. All three operating reactors shut down immediately in response to the earthquake, so the safety systems worked as designed despite being 30 years or more old. It was the tsunami that wrecked the power supplies to the pumps which is creating the propblem of not being able to dissipate the excess heat. It was lack of power that has led to the problems at Fukoshimi, as the pumps lost both main, and both back up systems in the tsunami - and new power cables have been laid - the UN International Atomic Energy Authority is now saying that the situation is grave but stable. Logically, the next step will be gaining greater control of pumps and reducing the threat of further damage / escalation of the problem. BTW - The TImes yesterday was making the point that even if the death toll rises to 25,000 (which is likely) this represents just 1 in 6,000 of the Japanese population - horrific but sustainable. Equally, the main Japanese infrastructure remains in place with goods & services available. The very real danger is not the physical dangers but the psychological damage to confidence that the nuclear scare stories are contributing to.

I do not want to underplay the problems the Japanese are facing at the Fukishama Nuclear plant. However, the media hype and what almost appears to be glee in reporting the problems seem to be missing an essential point and focussing disproportionate effort and reporting on the nuclear problems. Jpana has experienced a major earthquake measured at 9 on the Richter scale, followed by a devastating tsunami. The total deaths have yet to be calculated but are estimated to be far in excess of 10,000 with associated infrastructure and economic damage. To date the nuclear problems have led to no deaths, a few hours of high, but not huge, level radiation in a very localised area with radiation levels outside 12 mile the exclusion zone being barely above natural background levels. In the 60 year history of domestic nuclear power there are estimated to have been no more than 5,000 deaths directly associated (if that - it is difficult to find reliable and unbiased facts - I would think the figure is much much lower) - while over the last 60 years deaths from coal mining or the oil industry will be much higher. Germany has, in response, even shut down all its reactors for safety checks - yet they are not in a earthquake / tsunami zone.

?700m debt - easy. Don't collect rents properly for years. Fudge the budgets, roll over "overspends" and assume illusionary savings some time in the future Borrow to fund capital projects against poorly thought out business cases that don't repay as planned. Use capital receipts to fund revenue spending - then carry on spending when the capital runs out as it's harder to admit the truth and cut spending to match income. Fund politically popular but costly projects that cannot be afforded but that will win votes at next election. Pretty standard actions for many local authorities - of course you have to work hard or be supremely optimistic [idiotic] to reach ?700m - but Southwark has done it.

nununoolio Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Let me know details of where, when and who > (description of owner and dog) and i will > endeavour to catch and fine them. It's a part of > my job that I love. > > PS. You can also obtain free dog bags at housing > offices or the parks buildings at Peckham Rye and > Dulwich Park Do you carry out surveillance operations? I know there are two / three irresponsible dog owners in my area. I cannot identify them despite looking over the last few months - it would seem I'm not around at the right time. The council did respond to my request to clean up and repaint the "bin it & bag it" stencils but the problem remains.

Remarkable consensus - I agree with Hugenot, D-C & ????. Totally prattish concept. If the "protesters" are truly anti war there are far better avenues of protest.

I second the Apple Store genius bar solution. My wife's 23 month old iPhone3 had problems and yesterday they simply swapped the phone for a refurbished iPhone 3 and extended the warranty period for a further 3 months. No questions, no quibble and all managed by a very helpful assistant who gave us additional advice.

Apple. My Apple Mac is now 8 years old, has had a memory upgrade but is otherwise still very very good, speedy and capable (and has never been hit by a virus). Cost per year is, arguably, better than any Windows based PC where a change every 4 years seems about par.

Has anyone done this? I'm thinking of visiting friends in Spain but want to avoid Sleazy Jet and make the journey part of the holiday. I understand the French /Spanish overnight trainhotel sleeper train from Paris to Madrid is an enjoyable way to travel

And you missed a cracker - moving from easy confidence of an historic win while Strauss & Bell were batting to despair as we lost quick wickets during the Power Play (why do England always, always fall apart during a power play) to that most rare of results - a tie. Good stuff and infinitely better than my son's preference for the Carling Cup Final game.

silverfox Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > "...some of the political decisions - particualrly > the one that guaranteed all Irish bank debt were > foolish..." > > Tricky one this. The question is what would have > happened if the Irish government hadn't made this > guarantee? Bankruptcy obviously. The Irish people > losing all their savings? Also, many mortgages in > the UK were taken out with Irish Banks. Would > thousands of people here have lost their houses? Much, indeed probably the majority of the Irish bank debt, was held by institutions and other European banks. Many of those institutions and banks were also in debt - to have their Irish bank loan guaranteed was better than they expected, they would have been making provision for bad debt but suddenly didn't have to. Ireland could probably have got away with just guaranteeing personal debt.

SeanMacGabhann Wrote: Sean - Quids & I sometimes agree, sometimes disagree. We are not the same person tho' ------------------------------------------------------- > maybe true quids but none of that has much to do > with the EC > > ireland's croneyism and corruption go back way > further than any of that > > But the dark miserable place Ireland was before it > joined the EEC? If anyone wants that they are > indeed barmy > > Besides, it's not just this post - silvefox > generally makes me wonder

SEan, It's not "bonkers" to point out that Ireland's politicians and their endemic cronynisim with business engineered a huge property based boom on the back of low interest rates that were set by ECB in the 90s and '00s to suit France and Germany but that did little for the smaller fringe states of the EU. I would agree that once the crash hit some of the political decisions - particualrly the one that guaranteed all Irish bank debt were foolish but the seeds of the disaster were, indeed, set many years ago.

StevoR - which end of Marmora? We have been concerned about "street corner" groups for a while on Marmora / Scutari corner. Some fairly overt drug dealing too. Pics did take action about a year ago - only resulting in a couple of ASBOs.

RosieH - thank you for your words of common sense. I support fully your statement.

sunbob Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Marmora Man wrote > Cuts to lollipop ladies and mobile libraries (tho' > personally I'd cut fixed libraries and keep the > mobiles) don't affect people's incomes. > > They do affect the income of the people providing > those services, who will now be either unemployed > or on reduced hours/pay. Of course you're right, but Southwark Council is not a charity. It is not the role of local government to overspend it's budget in order to keep people in employment.

I would argue that the need for cuts is agreed across all political parties - it is only the pace and depth of the cuts that is in debate. What I dispute is that the Coalition government is perpetrating some form of massive con on the public as an excuse for ideological driven cuts. That the placing / target of some of the cuts, in some areas reflect political ideas is neither strange nor unacceptable but representing the whole issue as morally wrong and bad mouthing this government is a poor argument.

Ridgley - illogical. Cuts to lollipop ladies and mobile libraries (tho' personally I'd cut fixed libraries and keep the mobiles) don't affect people's incomes. Equally, poverty, of itself, does not breed criminals - to say it does is to tarnish the majority of law abiding but poor in this country and city. It is condescending in the extreme.

Brendan, Are you suggesting that there's not a structural deficit, or that it just a figment of coalition minds? All government ministers live in a bubble no matter of what political persuasion, T Blair reputedly didn't know how to programme his mobile phone or send an e-mail on leaving No. 10. To suggest that the current government is perpetuating some form of con on the general public is a foolish argument. While some politicians enter parliament to advance themselves, the majority (and here I include G Brown despite diskiking his policies, economic and political stance) do so in a sincere belief that their political credo will advance the interests of the country. You may disagree with the political direction and decisions but please allow that their decisions reflect their understanding of the situation and actions necessary to

citizenED Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > If the Big Society is complementary and not > competing with Big Govt, then why all the cuts? > Why not just encourage people to be more community > spirited? The Clarkson example, I an guessing, > happened prior to cuts. Cameron was postulating a political idea that has become to be called Big Society well before the coalition came into being. The cuts are not part of the idea - they are the inevitable response to the structural deficit inherited from G Brown & co.

Brendan, Have you ever tried to bid for a gov't contract - I'm in the middle of doing so. The documents to be completed run to several hundred pages with 21 Annexes to be completed. If anyone can swing an "old boys" deal through that bureaucracy they're bloody clever.

Simplistic headline - "Government to purchase more services from the private sector" would be nearer the truth.

C ED, I don't think this is an either / or question. The Big Society (lousy name) is complementary rather than competing. It's about looking for local, community based, individual and personal solutions rather than immediately turning to Gov't for funds and help. We have become accustomed to expecting "someone else" to do it for us - whether it be clearing snow, assisting the elderly, running a library, organising a sports club and so on. Until about the mid '60s most libraries were run by volunteers supervised by a small cadre of professional librarians at the centrev of the borough or council, nowadays we expect them to be provided by the local council and complain when they are closed but complain equally when council tax rises. If libraries, or similarly government provided services, are important to the community it is incumbent on them to help find an appropriate solution to their provision - which may be gov't funded, charitably funded, funded through philanthropy ort staffed by volunteers. Gov't should concentrate on the big things - foreign policy, defence, the economy etc and let more local arrangements flower in other areas - let a thousand flowers bloom!!

When I was a lad, growing up in East London almost all the terrace houses we lived in still had an Anderson shelter - usually by then doubling up as a damp, smelly and intriguing (to a 5 year old) shed cum storage area. Our garden, from memory, was about 15' wide x 50' long backing onto a Tube Line.