Jeremy

Is it any good at catching mice?

I really don't see the problem with voluntary/non-paid writing. As hobbies go, it's far from the worst one I can think of. The suggestion that they are motivated by vanity or propaganda has to be one of the most cynical things I've ever read on this forum!

Undisputedtruth Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > knowing what I know Photoshop and Dreamweaver, if I remember correctly.

Derelict house + PJ Pizza = perfect day out

HAL9000 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > No one who has worked in the front office would > ever say that out aloud. Believe me, I've heard people say it out loud! It's true that clients seem to love them, but it's a topic which tends to divide opinion.

Huguenot Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > and yet now there both claiming they can do it by feeling the woo of the gradient. hmm... where did I claim that? Or Hal, for that matter? As you say, it's dependent on the political situation, and nobody know how that will pan out!

I agree that it's ambiguous - but I don't hold technical analysis in high particularly high regard anyway. It's pretty much the banking equivalent of astrology. As for your suggested strategy, Hal... a wide straddle like that sounds extraordinarily risky, I hope you won't be putting your life savings on that one!

Most of the street supports the pub, and does not find it a nuisance in any way. However, the ruling does seem fair and appropriate for a residential area.

Greece exiting the Euro may bring stability long term. But if Greece default, in terms of immediate impact, it will be hit hard. If you're going to take a directional view on the Euro, it would have to be short. As HAL9000 is presumably alluding to, trading the volatility is bound to be a more common strategy.

But that's the point, Fenton... most of us living here don't want to turn it into anything. ED isn't perfect - there's always room for improvement, and I realise that for some people SE22 was a compromise. But I still don't like the idea of people moving here in the hope that it will turn into something else.

I'd be very surprised if any serious investor did that.

There would be chaos. Bond prices would plummet, as lenders would now require inflated yields. Market confidence in the Euro would take a big hit, anticipating a shortage of money, QE, and devaluation. I wouldn't rule out the collapse of a few European banks (half of Greek national debt is with German banks).

Snow is pretty rare in London... but we've now had significant snowfall for three consecutive winters. Just a coincidence?

Otta Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > old Estonians are made Knights. Estonians?

There's no way that's a VIC20 screenshot...

UDT = programming god

Dreamweaver and Photoshop, eh? Didn't realise you were an IT expert as well as a financial guru!

DamianH, you are right in that people taking out unrealistic mortgages were a part of the problem, but financial institutions have an obligation (moral and legal) to provide products/services that are suitable for the customer.

In all honesty, I don't particularly care about a few advertising boards going up. This is hardly an area of outstanding beauty. I'm more concerned by James' suggestion that the council failed to negotiate a good deal.

I think the point KK is making is that he was knighted for his success, which (potentially) came about from taking risks... and now he's been stripped because it ultimately didn't work out. It's easy to say in hindsight that he screwed up, where were all these experts in 2004 when he was originally honoured?

maxxi - Ken's talking about pulling Essex girls and snorting coke, not shooting up with Bosnian prostitues.

The car argument doesn't stack up... first of all, there's plenty of parking in Peckham, and secondly, you CAN actually drive along Rye Lane!

When it comes to RBS and Hester (and pretty much anybody's salary), what you think is fair is not relevant. They have to pay people competitive rates if they are to have any hope of attracting/retaining reasonably capable staff. It may stick in the throat because they're largely govt owned, but the more important issue is getting the company back to health so that us, the taxpayers, can get our ?45bn back. The hysterical media, naive general public, and disingenuous opposition are crippling them as a company. It is daft to suggest that ?1m basic + ?1m bonus is excessive for a CEO of a major company, especially one who now has such a large responsibility to deliver.

Nice work Loz! The dwarf-ramsay-lookalike-pornstar-eaten-by-badgers thing is definitely a hoax. Still funny, though. For some reason, my favourite bit is the "diamond-encrusted Soda Stream" quote.

Sue, I agree wholeheartendly with your comments regarding Hoopers. Someone who moves next to a pub and then complains about the noise obviously has a screw loose. It is an asset to the neighbourhood.