Loz

Most people aren't, at heart, xenophobic, but they do lash out and go tribal when they are scared. If we leave Europe/ban immigration/have a big top rate of income tax/renationalise the railways will the lives of the average Brit be any better? Almost certainly not. The problem seems to be that all of the parties are listening to the solutions being proposed, but not actually trying to understand what is the base cause of the fears. It's a classic IT issue - people say "I need one of these", when actually having one of those won't solve their actual business pains. Until the politicians understand what is paining the working class, they'll never work out what will be the cure and all that will happen is they will grab for any worthless policy that seems popular.

david_carnell Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Loz > > I'm not giving any of those things a value or merit. I'm just saying it's what the majority want > according to polling. My point was - isn't that exactly what UKIP are doing?

david_carnell Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Interestingly, the public are to the left of Miliband on a number of issues. Rail, energy and > mail renationalisation, income tax, minimum wage, zero-hour contracts and rent-capping yet on all of > these issues Labour remain silent. But aren't some of those just UKIP-style play-to-the-irrational-fears-of-the-masses stuff? Would rail be any better nationalised? Energy prices in the UK are some of the cheapest in Europe - would nationisation change anything? What would mail renationalisation achieve? How did raising the top level income tax rate in France work for Hollande and would it actually raise any more money? Does rent capping actually work, when you consider rents in Berlin has risen three times the rate of London in the last 10 years? I want serious policies that make a difference, not idelogical fiddling.

david_carnell Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Interestingly, the public are to the left of Miliband on a number of issues. And yet, the most interesting thing about these by-elections was the swing. Normally, the swing goes from left to right to left, depending on the colours of the government of the day. But in these elections the swing from Tory/LibDem has gone to the right. Which probably means that the old-world view of left-right politics is now completely irrelevant.

Thanks to everyone for their replies. Especially seemster - they are exactly the sort of tips I was seeking! The main reason I was looking for a LLC is protection of my own assets. The 'company' would be to contain a forum similar to EDF and I don't want a random attempt to sue for libel to affect my own bank balance. I don't see the company making a whole lot of money (though hopefully it won't make a loss, either!). So, almost certainly no VAT and will try to avoid PAYE/NIC by not paying myself. Would that be simple enough for me to administer myself or would I still need an accountant?

What's the difference between the Aussie and England cricket teams? Aussies only sledge the opposition.

Having just seen part of Nick Clegg's speech, I'd say he easily won the battle of the party speeches over Miliband and Cameron. Quite warm and engaging when he gets going.

I reckon I can guess how you earn the bonuses. After all, everyone likes a happy ending.

I am so surprised they allow dogs (well, any animals) in eating establishments over here. As far as I've seen, in most countries it is illegal (guide dogs excepted). I like dogs, but I wouldn't eat anywhere that had dogs in.

Prior always seemed to come across as a bit of an a***, so bullying accusations don't surprise me greatly. Wasn't he prime suspect in the jellybean stupidness as well?

Don't think it is rhyming slang. I think it started as a city-boy/trader description for a less-than-attractive female.

I'm looking to start a limited company for an internet business. Has anyone else ever done this from scratch (preferably not using an off-the-shelf company)? Any tips/lessons learnt?

How does the 'affordable housing' part of this (or any, really) work? Is it rent only, or can you purchase them? And, if you can purchase them, what stops the buyer selling it on at ginormous profit and thereby making it unaffordable again?

Is this the first time ever Cheryl has rejected someone from South Shields?

I must say, I can't really get too fussed about shifting a plaque that probably isn't in the correct place anyway. And none of the houses they are intending to build would sell for "multi-millions of pounds". Even in the Village, you need a very big house on lots of land to attract that sort of dosh.

Otta Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I don't watch Dr Who, but three separate fans have said to me they think the new series is shit. What > are others thinking? The first story and the Robin Hood one were genuine cack. Since then, though, it has picked up and is now looking back on form. But, from my experience, there has always been a subset of Dr Who fans that think that the most current series is crap.

Different dimensions. I think, if I remember correctly, the doctor once explained the 'bigger on the inside' thing by holding up a small object that seemed much bigger than a much larger, further away object, showing that it was all 'relative' (i.e. the 'r' of TARDIS). Or, as Father Ted did with cows, "Small. Far away". :o)

Course it is. It's lyrics are "Naaah naahh na-nah. Naaah naahh na-nah. Naaah naahh na-nah naahh na-nah naahh na-nah."

Well you could have Mendelssohn's "Wedding March"...

Just off the top of my head. January - Pilot April, Come She Will - Simon & Garfunkel September - Earth Wind & Fire October - U2 November Rain - GnR December 1963 - Frankie Valley & The Four Seasons Sunday Bloody Sunday - U2 Monday, Monday - Mamas and Papas Friday On My Mind - The Easybeats Mind you, if you do lyrics you can cover the lot with Calendar Girl (Neil Sedaka) and Friday I'm in Love (The Cure)

I opened it and had no clue as to why you posted it. I suspect they thought it was spam of some sort. Not surprising when you just post a link with no explaination (and it's bad form to do that, anyway).

Someone did a DVLA check in the Guardian comments section and discovered that the plate does indeed belong to a Porche. That's not to say Top Gear didn't do it on purpose, but it does seem legit.

Sorry, Maxxi. I win.

I used to go to Reading from ED quite a bit. Train to LB, Jubilee to Baker St, quick change across platforms to Bakerloo and onto Paddington to get the fast train. I could usually do it in about 90 min. There is a train from Waterloo, but it stops everywhere and takes forever. When I did drive, I found the quickest way is cross to the A3 via Wandsworth, round the M25 and onto the M4. Traffic was highly variable, but usually snarled up at most Reading exits except the one near Madjedski (which luckily was the one I wanted). I did cross Wandsworth or Battersea Bridge and jump onto the A4 a few times (avoiding the congestion charge zone), but you had to be lucky not to hit some heavy traffic going that way.

*says hello to Salsaboy by smacking him in the face with a custard pie*