DJKillaQueen

I think any driver that doesn't check passeger side mirrors in London is running a real risk of not only injuring cyclists but motorcyclists too. It takes just a second to check that mirror, it's no great inconvenience to do so. One accident I had was at a junction. I came up the cyle lane on the inside (the lights were on red) and as I was parallel with the lead car the lights changed. That driver then turned left and took me round the corner with her, my head stopping inches short of her back wheel when she stopped. So there you go...a driver not checking mirrors before moving off, even when alongside a cycle lane with a cylists box in front of her. According to the Police, Insurers and everyone else, her fault entirely.

Chrisptopher may be more sensitive than many but that's ok. Will he sell millions of records if he wins the competiton? No, and that may damage his confidence more than any other aspect of taking part in the show. I still think James is miles ahead of everyone, from a commercial talent perspective. He may not win the competition but he will be the one that wins from a career afterwards.

I agree that hand signalling is important. For some cyclists though, the combination of signalling to turn right, whilst trying to look over the shoulder, to see if it's safe to manoevre to the centre of the road etc is very tricky, when traffic is busy. How it's supposed to work of course, it that when the cyclist signals, the follwing driver is supposed to slow down to allow the cyclist to move accross the road into position to make the turn safely. What I find though, is that often, you are waiting for a car that will let you move, to the point where you have to force the vehicle to let you make the manoevre. Yes, cyclists need to signal, but vehicles need to give way as they are supposed to as well. On cycling proficiency courses, I did mine at school when I was 10 years old. It seems to me entirely sensible that all schools provide cycling proficiency courses for children. The best thing I ever bought for my cycle was a wireless indicator set. I've had many drivers tell me how good they think they are. Maybe requiring something like that on cycles might be a more useful aid to safer cycling.

Apparently though, Christopher is getting the most public votes each week, and getting twice as many as the nearest to him. Cowell is not happy about it.

SF...it is estimated that as many as 1 million drivers on UK roads either have no insurance, licence or both - so a system of insurance, testing and licensing isn't a guarantee of anything. Binary Star is correct. Cycle Tax would cost more to enforce than it raises and what would be the policy for under 18's exactly (who are exempt from tax)? Insurance too is formulated by outcome (i.e. cost to the insurers). Bad cylcing is not the main cause of cost to motor insurers. The hatred of cyclists that Binary alludes to is a real one, and like all hatred of any single group, disproportionate. I have driven both cars and vans, and motorcycles for the past 20 years. I have also cycled (on public roads) for around 30 years. I've have been knocked off my bicycle by drivers a total of six times. Five of those occasions were drivers overtaking me and then turning left in front of me. I've had one motorcycle accident when a car pulled out of a side road in front of me. I've had two minor car accidents, neither of which were mt fault. Those experiences alone tell me that some drivers behave differently around cyclists than they do other vehicles. My genuine view is that some drivers have an impatience with cyclists, because they travel at a slower speed. Those are poor drivers. And those drivers are often the same kinds of drivers that bully other motorists too. Increased congestion is probably the main factor in testing the patience of impatient drivers. The first rule of the highway code is 'to avoid an accident if you can'. Cyclists are always going to be more vulnerable than vehicles. Yes there are bad cyclists, just as there are bad drivers, and just as it's unrealistic for every incidence of bad driving to be picked up and prosecuted, the same goes for cyclists. Safe driving/cycling is an attitude, but it's not one guaranteed by licensing alone.

And here is exactly why the fire union fail to win the support of the public. http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/11/05/fire-brigades-union-poster-cuts-kill_n_2075529.html?ncid=GEP Am I alone in thinking it a distasteful campaign slogan?

I think also that his inexperience of Washington was a factor. I think his ambition was genuine, but the reality of getting anything radical done is much harder. I think he'll be better, and more sucessful this time round.

That's a very brave post Victoria. And it raises genuine issues around physiology and sexuality. Thousands of babies are born every year with both genetalia, with doctors having no idea as to which gender those babies truly identify. And sadly, many people have no idea such a thing exists.

KidKruger Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > On a point of clarification DJKQ, are you saying > that if one person in a heterosexual marriage > changes their gender having believed they were > really always that other gender and wanting to be > acknowledged by all including the authorities as > of the (new) gender, actually REALLY considers > themselves NOT of the new gender and therefore > still in a heterosexual relationship ? > In short, are you saying that it is a heterosexual > relationship because the partners are now both > same gender ? > > Genuine question, not a challenge ! My point was more a case of, why would it matter? SF believes that such a relationship can never work. That's such an absolute statement to me, based on what? Based purely on the point that one person is of transgender, and then calls others patronising! Whether any relationship survives or fails depends on so many things that I have to ask why would SF suggest that this kind of relationship can NEVER work. I can only go on previous debates with SF, the gay marriage thread being one example, to have some idea of SF's standpoint on these kinds of issues. I doubt SF in reality knows very much about gender dysphoria.....but even that aside, to assume to know that any kind of relationship can never work is just naive.

To be fair SF, the only person patronising anyone is you, by dismissing everyone else?s genuinely good wishes. You claim the issue for you here is about deceit (and that?s why such a marriage can?t work). I suspect the real issue for you is that a transgender person has entered into marriage, an institution you consider to be the sole preserve of religion, and the privilege of men and women only. Are you really thinking, that once a person goes through a gender transition, they are no longer in a heterosexual marriage? I suspect that is where you will probably end up with your argument. Deceit on the other hand can be cause of the downfall of any relationship, and more specifically deliberate deceit. But that is something very different from someone dealing with a complex situation within a society that is not always forgiving. I hope on this occasion you really do take on board the reply that Victoria is going to give you, and learn something.

Thanks for that tip e-dealer. Want to repace my kodak compact (after wearing it out lol)........

When I was a kid the prospective window cleaner would turn up with ladders and bucket and would offer to do them there and then. Maybe times have changed so much that it's no 'de riguer' to advance book for a window cleaner!

Yes PR...the December Ward Panel Meeting for Peckham Rye and Nunhead will take place at the Tenants Hall. Ward panel meetings are definitely an opportunity for local people to shape policing for the coming three months. A few years ago, theft from cars saw a spike and SNT policing was switched to target that with good results. Similarly positive results were acheived when targetting a spate of teenage robberies in Peckham Rye Park. The police themselves will be aware of recent increases in certain types of crime anyway but helpful intelligence often comes from local people and ward panel meetings are one place where local community leaders can feed intelligence. Also present at ward panels meetings are representatives from Southwark Council, including the Anti-Social Behaviour Unit, so issues that might not necessatily be a front line policing matter can also be raised.

It's a difficult one to address. Many attacks are often just a case of 'wrong place, wrong time' and we don't want to live our lives thinking 'what if'. Having said that though, the people that carry out these kinds of crimes are always going to look for locations that suit them, ie isolated and dark. Better lighting would definitely help (to deter both the criminal and to better allow those using the pask to assess danger) and given how small Warwick Gardens is, might be feasible.

I think x factor is awful this year. Jahmene and James stand out but I can't see Jahmene selling too many records. James has more of a chance. He should find a market in the 'Plan B' following. I really can't make my mind up about Ella. I don't think she's anywhere near Adele as a vocalist, but I think she may do well with her own songs. The rest I couldn't give two figs about, and I think the mentoring has been below par. Some of the song choices and styling has been just woeful. Totally agree with the above regarding a nasty side to Gary Barlow.

Ignore silverfox's bias Victoria. SF is the regular protestant for acceptance of anything outside of christian traditional family life. You are the perfect example for SF to realise how stupid it is to make any assumptions about other people's relationships. SF conveniently ignored my very valid point regarding the failure of an extremely high percentage of so called traditional relationships (and marriages). Given that nearly half of all marriages end in divorce, 'people in glass houses throwing stones' might be an apt description of SF's view.

I found that the kodak easyshare range in the compact market to be extremely good on image quality. Don't be fooled into thinking a higher megapixel count equals better images either. 9 mega pixels will deliver outstanding 10x8 inch prints for example on the right camera (depending on the sensor quality). The main disadvantage with compact cameras is being limited to jpeg picture compression. Whereas SLR 'bridge' cameras and above have RAW file options too. Plus if you want to get into adding filters, like UV and polarising then it has to be at least a bridge camera. Polarising filters are particulalrly useful on digital cameras because of the lesser ability of digital formats to cope with extremes of contrast (compared to film). If you are going to Aus in the height of summer and want beautifully deep blue skies, and amazingly saturated summer landscapes....then you are going to want a polarising filter. The downside for all digital cameras is battery consumption. Be sure to have spare batteries (including the rechargeable type that come with some compacts). And if you do go for a bridge camera....invest in decent rechargeable batteries and charger (like eneloop) for example.

I found that the kodak easyshare range in the compact market to be extremely good on image quality. Don't be fooled into thinking a higher megapixel count equals better images either. 9 mega pixels will deliver outstanding 10x8 inch prints for example on the right camera (depending on the sensor quality). The main disadvantage with compact cameras is being limited to jpeg picture compression. Whereas SLR 'bridge' cameras and above have RAW file options too.

Why are you so predictable sf? I'm guessing this irks your religious views, just like homesexual marriage. Any relationship can fail, just as similarly any relationship can work and stand the test of time. It ultimately boils down to the two people involved and has little to do with anything else (gender, age etc). The strongest relationships are often those that successfully weather the most difficult of times. Just because you can dig up one example of a relationship that couldn't survive the challenge of a transgender partner doesn't mean that ALL such relationships will fail. What if I said that because x percentage of heterosexual marriages fail (and a shockingly high percentage of them do) that heterosexual relationships can't work. Sometimes sf you do seem to leave your logical head somewhere else.

You're on the right track with the fuji digital 'bridge' cameras. But you could also consider something like this..... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Superb-Fuji-FinePix-S9600-SLR-style-Digital-Camera-9-Megapixel-28-300mm-Lens-2GB-/170934620793?pt=UK_CamerasPhoto_DigitalCameras_DigitalCameras_JN&hash=item27cc7f5279 I bought the above model camera second hand from a forumite and have not been disappointed. The 28-300mm lens is very good. And reviews at the time of the S9600 considered it the best of it's range. Fuji's finepix range has produced high quality cameras for the price range. You should look at reviews by reputable photography sites for some guidance.

I agree with you Mrs TP. Brody being asked to take care of The Tailor just didn't make any sense. And then it just went off the rail with the woods and spike thing. A blip on an otherwise excellent series.

There's an operation that's been running for the past few months targetting gun crime.

Hmmm....now I love DH so might just have to check out 'The Unit'. Whilst t'other side of the pond is producing some great writing, it's sad to see Uk screenwriting descend into ham. The new fashion seems to be period drama soap opera (Downton and The Paradise spring to mind). Lark Rise to Candleford has much to answer for.

Hmm the double agent thing might well be where it ends up...... The end of the last episode looked as though Carrie had just increased her chances of being fired from the CIA for a second time.

I would suggest complaining to the landlord or letting agent. As someone points out above, ASB may well be a breach of the tenancy agreement, making it fairly easy for the landlord and/or letting agent to take action. If that fails then I'd pursue it with Southwark Anti-Social Behaviour unit. Keeping a diary of disturbance is essential, as is a decription of culprits. Sadly it's not a quick process though.