malumbu

Nope but there is a classic Jag and a Ford Consul disguised as a NY taxi on the pavement by Moor Park/Wood Vale rusting away. The Saab is taxed but not MOTd - it is not quite exempt but that is someone else's business. I was gifted a slighly older Saab which was a non-runner but could have been sorted. We parked it in a quiet street in Liverpool but never saw it again. If you don't register your vehicle as stolen with DVLA it stays in the system so I check from time to time whether any of my three stolen vehicles turn up. I expect they were broken for parts many years ago.

I live in Lewisham and I am really happy that others are reducing the cost of my council tax. Funnily enough I have had a FPN (rather draconian) in the past from Lewisham so bitter irony there. My favourite fine was speedin in the Tyrol as they were a pleasure to do business with, the fine was not draconian, no points on my license and it didn't affect my insurance. I do try not to make a habit of getting tickets.

first mate Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I think that reference to being like a reformed alcoholic or born again christian is telling. > There is a danger in being so zealous in your desire to reform or convert others you lose perspective.> This thread is even worse than comments page on the BBC website for having a proper discussion rather than a whinge fest (note I am doing this to make a point rather than insult the masses). On the Beeb by the time you have posted a reply there has been about 30 separate comments. It feels the same here except that most of you insist on posting copies of previous long posts meaning it is even more difficult to navigate. Anyway two quick points 1. The comment about born again Christians etc was self deprecating. First mate if you check you find that the word gullible is not in the dictionary. No shite Sherlock 2. Many people will not give up their cars no matter how easy you make it. I am the peoples poet, my work is done and I will now return to the Lounge. Oh I do have a great story about Court Lane but that can wait.....

Funny world isn't it. We were promised an easy Biden victory but woke on Wednesday to find it difficult to understand what was happening. Those more in the know new that Trump would fare better than expected and it would be a slow burn victory for Biden. But even so the Beeb was so cautious contributing to our mass anxiety. Looking back at other predictions this article was published on 15 October and on avoiding prosecution "That seems to be what Trump is preparing now: insurance against a loss, so he can skate past criminal charges and live out the playboy post-presidency he has longed for since taking office." interesting reading including comparison of Trump with Mussolini https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/10/lazy-cowards-dont-start-civil-wars/616720/ Title is Lazy cowards don't start civil wars.

It's knew not new. I knew that... For some light hearted distraction here's some nice views of his bald patch https://www.google.com/search?q=trump+bald+patch&safe=active&rlz=1C1GCEV_enGB856GB856&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=JRFBKMR9nuE_pM%252CTPrNdrp0iuuwEM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kQNOCBBA6GmHawoH12MU9t_jPbUNQ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjDt7fu4e7sAhW9QhUIHfAgBtQQ9QF6BAgKEAo&biw=1200&bih=690#imgrc=JRFBKMR9nuE_pM Others have photo shopped what he would look like without the comb back across and side, and without the spray tan - it's a great improvement and he would look far more statesman like. He could also take Keith (RIP) place in Prodigy http://forgetoday.com/2019/03/05/a-tribute-to-keith-flint/

Mulumbu is a walker, cyclist, hitcher, public transport user, motor cyclist and driver she/he has a better perspective than most. She/he knows lots about this issue and can reflect back over the years on how her/his behaviour has changed due to a mixture of wanting to improve the environment and health, and some of the hard measures in particularly parking charges. This makes her/him a little like a reformed alcoholic or born again Christian when it comes to this discussion. She/he would love others to have a more informed debate rather than just blather on about Southwark, TfL and the Mayor. Here's a nice piece of work about making it easier for commuters to Heathrow not to drive by the nudge unit. This shows sadly that many people are so wedded to their car dispelling the myth that people would readily switch and emphasising the need for hard interventions. Read it and discuss. I'm sure you all can't be pretend experts on stats and the like. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/586376/sustainable-travel-evaluation-of-low-cost-workplace-interventions.pdf

Quality comment (not). Hopefully in jest. And in jest they wouldn't get a kicking they's get a good telling off.

A recent survey that I am privileged to see, including workshops/round tables confirmed the obvious, most drivers/users prefer the convenience of the car. It would be probably no different to ten years ago, if anything even stronger attachment, particularly those with families (the reason SUVs are more available/marketed). Environmental factors and cost generally don't have an impact. I'm waiting for this to be made public, but it's not rocket science echoing other surveys. That is why you need to inconvenience drivers; you may not be happy with the LTNs (hopefully Southwark have more balls than Wandsworth) but rather than saying "yes we want to save the ice caps, breathe clean air, but don't want this" do you have any better suggestions? The obvious one is road pricing but successive governments have not had the balls to put this in place. Here's a nice link to a Green Party AM on road pricing, and a relevant question posed to the GLA. Read and educate yourselves, and yes I know I am being patronising https://www.onlondon.co.uk/caroline-russell-london-needs-smart-road-pricing-now/ https://www.london.gov.uk/press-releases/assembly/caroline-russell/mayor-keeps-road-pricing-plans-under-wraps

Thinking about who is going to tell Trump (drawing straws) took me back to the parodies of Hitler in the bunker, low and behold (several more on Youtube), this will be the best 3 minutes of your day, its almost starting to get fun

You have to dress up properly to do this sort of thing, I was disappointed that some of the people were not wearing hats. Even in 1897 standards were beginning to slip. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/old-hat-why-the-heady-days-are-over-495010.html

I've claimed home expenses for years, anyone who ever checks work e-mails at home will be using some of their broadband. Ever since Blackberries (remember them?) were issues there was an implied view that 9-5 in the office was a thing in the past for clerical workers. This needed an office area too as you should separate your home and work life. I put in a modest estimate, and explain that on the form. I've also claimed for public transport where I cannot cycle to a London meeting but go from home rather than the office. My employer wont cover this as they say it is home to office. I simply cost up the cycle in terms of the mileage rate and take this away from the cost of public transport. It all sounds very finicky but I just use the same wording each year and do this on a point of principle. I've saved ?1000s over the years for my employer by boxing clever on the cost of travel - short cutting the official procedures using budget airlines, advanced train tickets and the like (there was a lag of a number of years before the system caught up. Using my own personal Oyster (pre-contactless) to save on public transport. All sounds a bit petty but there should be a simple petty cash system for short journeys. Of course I don't go to meetings any more, so will simply do the ?6 a week and to be responsible do this for say 44 weeks of the year. The self assessment form is pretty straight forward, the only downside is that unlike 15 years ago it is much more difficult to get hold of someone from HMRC. They were extremely helpful in the past.

Reminds me of the late 1980s Spitting Image sketch with Jason and Phil, they proclaim their heterosexuality and doing it with girls, or some similar phrase. If this looks a bit weird I am replying a marketing post about some legal high that has now been taken down.

God this is knackering, I hoped it would be all over by bedtime but it's so slow I'm going to bed now. I've been e-mailing friends and rellies in the States who are all playing it with a straight bat, "whoever wins, that's democracy and we should all respect the outcome" but of course we are all hoping that Biden's vote will continue to increase and he will win by more than 270/268. He is so insipid but hopefully we will be proved otherwise. I think we in the UK are so anti-Trump with the exception of Farage and the Tory right that we fail to see why he attracts the middle America vote - we are better off, we want these naughty people put in their place (law and order), we don't see the world beyond our county or state borders, it's all a commmie conspiracy. Bit like middle England really. Except a massive internal market, natural resources etc. They can get away with being insular. (Sweeping generalisations) PS I have a sneaky feeling that Trump new that late votes would surge towards Biden and hence the combative approach of challenging postal votes etc in recent weeks etc etc.

Well that worked a treat..... Thinking further two schemes - more radical Annual quota of road miles driving - say you were allowed 6000, but could trade if not used. Like carbon credits, and the proposed air miles credits. I don't know how you would credit walking and cycling beyond this would be a means to reduce miles driven. This would also encourage car sharing (let's imagine a world without Covid). How you would enforce this, flexibility according to need (eg those with medical or other special needs higher allowance) is not clear. Scheme two would be simply to reward people for cycling and walking rather than driving. Some organisations pay good mileage rates for cycling (not aware of anyone paying for walking, but don't see why not) on official business. I saw a wonderful scheme that Pfizer operated when they had their manufacturing in Sandwich. Credits to those using bus bike or foot to get to work. Preferential parking for car share. Solo car use parked furthest away - so still allowed but discouraged. Can't find any examples of the former, as a search just comes up with tax allowances. But rather than shoot this down do give some thoughts on how this would work in practice. An annual flying allowance (or high use levy) has been put forward so it is not total pie in the sky. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2019/jul/19/carbon-calculator-how-taking-one-flight-emits-as-much-as-many-people-do-in-a-year

Had a lovely cycle today, the sun shone if a bit chilly, lots of people out in the parks and cafes open for takeaways. Roads really quiet, wow I thought this LTN business is working a treat. Then I sadly realised we were in lockdown. Looking at the post above I went to a talk about wouldn't it be wonderful not to have cars - this was from the connected mobility/ mobility on demand where we would have a choice of connected means to get around, eg car club, autonomous pod, active travel and the current forms of public transport. Instead we have streets full of parked cars that are used for a few percent of the time. I've posted many a time on the lounge about the fundamental need to change our car culture if we are to tackle climate change and air quality. This challenges the right to drive what we want, when we want, where we want, and how we want. Sadly voluntary behaviour change will not deliver this as shown on this and related threads, and for twenty years since Blair's bloody nose (fuel protests) respective governments have not been properly prepared to take on the driver lobby through fiscal means - fuel duty but preferably a road charging scheme (fairer for most). Instead we have blunt/clumsy interventions, but I am looking forward to the occasional older diesel vehicle being off the streets come ULEZ #2. I'll be posting some views for discussion on the lounge. Happy to debate there rather than have rocks thrown at me here. As I am not in power you wont be able to protest or take me to the courts.

My father didn't drink and was quite a serious person, but loved throwing cracker jacks at my mother. For younger readers these would jump around the garden and were banned no doubt, with some other fireworks, as they were so dangerous. We could buy loose fireworks from the corner shop at a time when 1000s would get injured each year at home displays. As kids we were always lighting bangers (does this still happen?). I thought that as they banned more dangerous fireworks, generally stopped sales of loose fireworks, and raised the age you could purchase them injuries had fallen but can't find the stats on line. Take care all.

Interesting how the two furthest states, Alaska and Hawaii, are inversely mirrored. This election matters to us all with the US being the second most powerful country in the world. The 'us/me first' espoused by the current president, hides the bigger picture on a divided nation, foreign policy, the environment and the like. The latter would be the one persuasive reason for voting in the rather uninspiring Biden. But is the "I'll vote for Trump as I have been, and will be better off, he takes no shite and tells it as it is, irrespective of the craziness" of much of America that much different to what has happened here? Our lampooning of Trump, such as Spitting Image the other day, makes no difference to middle America. And if Biden does get in, he has had to rely on the catastrophic handling of Covid-19 rather than his own policies - wonder how the votes of 240,000 lost in the last six months or so would have affected the outcome (now that is conspiracy theory territory)

I posted on another thread about dumping stuff by Camberwell Old cemetery. It was a facetious post having a go at builders and the like who sometimes fly tip there. I expect the post above was making a similar point. Years ago Liverpool bin men let me cut up a sofa and put it straight into their dust cart. It was a double whammy as I found a tiny fortune that had slipped down under the seats, and also a Tag Heuer watch. Sadly a fake. Mattresses unlike sofas don't tend to have treasures inside them. Does anyone recycle any of the wadding?

In deed, although it is no longer manufactured from urine. I stated that because the petrol (or should I say diesel) heads refer to ad blue as cow or pig wee. It's a distraction from all the other stuff going on. https://www.commercialfuelsolutions.co.uk/is-AdBlue-pig-urine.html

No you need to use cow wee, that the basis of of the catalyst that reduces nitrogen dioxide to nitrogen in the catalysts of diesel cars. It may be a bit smelly and a funny USP - breath clean air with a tinge of ammonia

Unless it is fed with clean air, it will not filter out most of the pollution. Nitrogen dioxide is a gas so can't be filtered out, nor removed with reagents like activated charcoal. The particle materials are very fine, less than 10 microns (PM 10) so will go through filters. Masks and face shields would only be good if you can actually see the pollution for example a fire and the occasional visible smoke coming out of a car (normally a sign that the equipment has broken or been tampered with). But very sci fi: https://geekbloggeruk.wordpress.com/2019/07/14/have-you-seen-the-andromeda-strain/

No eggs, spaghetti or chocolate digestives in Lidl. I'd planned a lovely meal with these three ingredients tonight. PM me if you have stockpiled and would loan me some, or sell at an extortionate rate. Instead I'll be eating toilet paper.

Sorry for your news. A reminder for all to get their bikes security marked - police do regular sessions by Franklns every month. Not sure whether the next one will go ahead due to lockdown https://www.bikeregister.com/events?postcode=se233dq Do check ebay and particularly Gum Tree as it may well turn up there. If you are a member of the London Cycling Campaign you may also get free legal advice if you want to challenge the locker company. It may be that someone else left if open - have you checked with other users?

I worry about schools, and expect the rate and absences of staff and pupils to escalate in coming weeks. No matter how good hygiene and social distancing are, many older kids will mix as soon as they get out of the gates. Unions are clearly stronger and better at representing employees when there is high membership, which is almost universal in teaching. So feels understandable that the union wants to protect their members, one of the highest risk to Covid. That said yes it would be good to look at different models, I don't see teachers working behind screens, like at check-outs and on buses, but there could be a conversation about PPE.

I watched most of the documentary on the Beeb about Trump and Covid. Not sure how objective it was but it of course played to my beliefs. The most shocking visuals were the conspiracy theory brigade (hopefully a small minority) who voiced their disagreement by coughing at people, for example when told by store security to put on a mask. Farage and Y-L haven't followed suit. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000p36r