Marmora Man

Harriet has says that even if Fred The Shed's obscenely large pension is legal and was signed off by Ministers (probably including the Chancellor) the Prime Minister will ensure he doesn't get the full sum of ?693,000 pa, she implies that the government / Gordon will enact legislation to enable it to recover the pension fund from Fred. Harriet Speaks I have no wish, or inclination, to defend Fred's pension but I find Harriet's statement profoundly disturbing. Retrospective legislation should never be condoned - no matter what the purpose.

Pickle Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > On St Patrick's day 3 years ago I wore a wedding > dress :)) Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue - what was green??

SeanMacGabhann Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > You may have reasons against the following but > works for me > > Dab radio. Or online streaming at home. I rarely. > . Meaning never. . Listen to fm anymore > > Im aware of the cons but overall i prefer the > methods above I use both - but not in the car.

Sometimes - when driving in East Dulwich my default FM radio station - BBC Radio 4 loses signal and is taken over by loud "modern" music - I'm not qualified to describe it accurately except that it's some form of Rap(?) music. Has anyone else experienced this and is there anything I can do to stay tuned into the Today programme?

Ben Goldacre's illustration is good and demonstrates the Government's illogicality. On the subject of commercial organisations holding our data - two points: 1. We voluntarily give them access - it is a choice and we can, if we wish, choose to avoid. 2. They are, in general, looking at mass, rather than individual, data - how many SE22 residents shop in Sainsbury's and buy Macleans toothpaste every month. They are not linking it to my flight from Damascus, my flickr photos from Istanbul and my telephone conversations with business colleagues in Kuwait to make connections that aren't there. It should not be necessary to intrude on law abiding individuals. I like the idea that, if I choose, I could pay cash for everything, rent a property under an assumed name, use internet cafes, have no car or driving licence, no TV or TV licence and no passport - and thus live a life unfettered by Government intrusion. As every day passes we are more likely to have to prove our existence and identification to Government just to live our lives. I think this is fundamentally wrong.

This event Liberty Event passed under my radar, otherwise I would be there protesting at Government plans to extend further the surveillance society. The current Communications Data Bill, being promoted by Jaqui Smith, could create a database of e-mails and telephone messages between us all. Jaqui Smith has said that a more efficient means of storing data such as the timing and location of phone calls made by terror suspects would avoid more wide-scale surveillance of the public. She argues it will help prevent terrorism and murders such as Soham and that intecepting 'chatter between potential terrorists' - in other words you and me - is 'vital for national security.' Shami Chakrabarti, director of Liberty, says: 'The thing we have to worry about is what happens next, because the government is already mooting plans to create a central government database where they hold all the information.' We must oppose this bill - I would recommend lobbying our MPs - but Tessa J and Harriet Harperson are unlikely to oppose the government line.

But - is here anyone out there with seaweed, pine cones and years of observations to give me confidence to book the caravan in Cornwall?

Marmora Man Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > MM - only the other day it was reported that > individuals were given a budget to manage their > medicines. I believe using the money for a holiday > was the favourite response! > > And your problem is? > > If an individual chooses to spend their money on a > holiday rather than medicine - let them. BUT - it > must be their money and not money given back to > them by the state. So don't tax them for medicines > in the first place. See following link - personal budgets for social care are working according to research. Personal Care Budgets

Are there any amateur meteorologists out there that can, with some credibility, forecast this year's summer in UK? For every year since 1999 the Marmora family, have taken summer holidays in Cornwall. We've had 4 good fortnights, three average but the last two were diabolical. Am considering reversing family tradition and going where the sun shines for sure - but ......... some have said that this year's hard winter, berries on the holly, late daffodils all point to a great summer. Can I rely on this kind of thinking? Any views??

Shouldn't that be a game of double entendre?

Sitting reading the Times and listening to Test Match Special on Radio 4 on a summer's afternoon would be quintessentially English.

Logically they should - reduced income from tax revenues at central government, businesses closing - thus losing business rates and defaults on mortgages leading to losses of council taxes, should all equate to a sensible matching reduction in costs. At present this is not the road that government is taking - for reasons that some would support. Personally I would prefer that Southwark Council looked carefully at its budget and determined what was essential spending and what was discretionary - and cut costs in that way. I would vote personally for losing the free magazine "Southwark Life" and similar vanity publications / activities, tho' I doubt we'll see that happen. An in depth review of the budget might reveal other possible savings. However, it was cheering to note that Boris Johnston has successfully argued the case for not increasing the Mayor's precept on our council taxes and financed the static budget by dispensing with much of his predecessor's vanity projects - transferring the spend to more important areas.

I see the EDT is holding national days - St Patrick's on 17 March & St George's on 23 April. Questions: 1. Will they also be celebrating St David's & St Andrew's Days? 2. What is appropriate dress for each of the various days? Do I have to dig out my Morris Man outfit for 23 April, find a daffodil for St David, a kilt for St Andrew and dye my hair green for St Patrick?

There's also a K&K at Borough Market.

ratty Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > > > > > and another called "The Fawcett Inn" > > > Which I used to be a regular in! A fine boozer! Me too - in my time (the 70's) the landlord was a miserable old git - it was part of the charm(?).

Not good to come between man and wife - particularly when both armed with Stella.

Contagious: On a more serious note it reflects Dawkin's thesis that ideas can be passed on in a similar fashion to genes. He used the term "memes" to describe the way in which ideas / beliefs are transmitted around a society. The EDF has evolved in a Darwinian fashion from a small group of individuals into an online community through a system of feedback and reinforcement. My first experience was to offer something, for free, on the sales & wanted section. The person who collected the item left a message on the forum thanking me and offering to provide a favour back if he could. This positive experience reinforced my use of the forum, as did subsequent online arguments / discussions / debates. Different contributors have developed different strategies for success on the EDF - humour, contrariness, light touch commentary, basic news etc.

I support hunting in theory - have never had the opportunity to do it for real. Would like to try game shooting of birds and deer. I do fish and cook the trout that I occasionally catch - have tried to catch salmon on the River Dee - but with no joy. An excellent day out tho'.

We tried for a year - but the worms didn't seem to like our kitchen waste. We were spending a fortune on various additional goodies to put in the damn thing to keep it all sweet and the worms happy - but this didn't work either. Now have a redundant wormery and a baby compost heap.

11d - pint of mild at the Crown, Elsenham after Boy Scouts. I was 16 yrs old.

HonaloochieB Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > There is a pub called the Cockwell Inn. and another called "The Fawcett Inn"

Agree - inappropiate, the management should have intervened.

MM's simple rules to improve both houses of parliament: 1. To become an MP an individual has to demonstrate a minimum of 10 years in employment unrelated to direct politics - IE Political research, lobby groups and political consultancy won't count. 2. Life peers, if appointed, may serve for a maximum of two terms. On completion they may retain the title but not return to the House of Lords or the Commons. Neither will ever come about but if they were enacted it might, just might, bring some common sense to the legislature and avoid some of the ridiculous and atrocious laws we currently endure.

All achieved in my life so far EXCEPT - reversing a caravan & eating a red hot curry.

Would this new crossing outside Somerfields be in addition to the Pelican crossing beside of Iceland? The one that is about 45 yards from Somerfields? If there is to be an additional crossing the whole lane should be considered. We already have 3 crossings between EDT roundabout and the Magnolia and at, roughly, 250 yards apart seem practical for both pedestrians and through traffic. * Zebra crossing by the EDT - Fine. * Pelican crossing by Iceland - Fine * Pelican crossing just down from Le Chandelier - Fine * New crossing - where? The other changes I support - slowing car speeds in side roads is a good proposal.