Alec John Moore

face

I like the idea of Streetbank since it is potentially more local. However, its seems to me, online communities work partly due to a critical mass of members and Streetbank hasn't achieved that, yet. So, you should join up and help make it work for you and the community. I've posted a few things on Streetbank but I hedge my bets and post the same thing on EDF and Freecycle as well if appropriate. I have a sander you could borrow but i won't charge you for its use. If you want to barter some produce from your garden/a bottle of wine a skill you could donate, Alec

In London in the 21st century you are never more than 6' (about 2 metres in new money) away from a giant rat.

and have you noticed a greater prevalence of high horses on EDF in relation to the other fora you've been trolling?

The average speed of London's road traffic at 12 mph hasn't changed in 100 years.

Also cigarillos.

Cue jrussel.

I like the idea of changing the pictures from time to time. Who is involved in deciding what is shown there?

Oh wad some pow'r the Giftie gie us tae see oorsels as ithers see us. Translates as: Oh, that God (or some other "power") the gift would give us to see ourselves as others see us. Robert Burns from To A Louse On Seeing One On A Lady's Bonnet, At Church

Is there an alternative to the WI, in ED or elsewhere? Despite its national website promoting a global, social justice, perspective on being a woman in the 21st century, the reality is that women would rather chat over sewing, or so it would seem. I know that well established organisations with origins in a different era try to reinvent themselves - I'm thinking of the scouting movement - with differing degrees of success, probably. There's also Woodcraft Folk as an alternative to the militaristic aspects of scouting. What do women who are not very politically active or church attending do if the WI isn't radical enough for them? It's a genuine question.

You might be able to roast beef but can you pea soup?

No, missed that. The most culture I get is a DVD on a Saturday night if I'm lucky.

Another of my favourites by Lee Miller If you read the extended caption you'll see that she was born in Poughkeepsie and I don't know if she ever picked her toes there.

The Millais painting of Ophelia has got me thinking. This is by one of my favourite women photographers, Lee Miller.

The women who posed for this photo were affected by mercury poisoning of the sea off their fishing village in Minimata, Japan in the early 1970s. The photographer, W Eugene Smith, composed a powerful photo essay about the whole story and campaigned against the Chisso Chemical Corporation which was responsible for the mercury pollution. Smith was beaten up by thugs for his efforts. Although it is a photograph, a comparable degree of skill, empathy and compassion (as well as moral outrage) went in to the image as you find in the paintings referred to. I'm not suggesting it is better or that photography should be considered an "art" form but there's an interesting juxtaposition visually between Tomko and Ophelia.

power

See these links for pics and info. It seems there's a night and day thing about the difference: http://insects.about.com/od/identifyaninsect/a/grassorcricket.htm http://www.wildaboutgardens.org/wildlife/insects/grasshopper-and-cricket.aspx

"A bright green grasshopper/cricket thingy jumped on to my hand yesterday - he appeared to have come from a hazel tree I was sitting under." I noticed a couple of those in our garden today and I've just twigged (pun intended) that I was standing under our neighbour's hazel tree. How does one tell the difference between a cricket and a grasshopper?

Pretty sure I've already signed this petition and that it's for the building on the corner of Camberwell Road aand Medlar St. SE5

The Polish builders we used recently are good with concrete. I could ask them.

"Yea, stop being a cent." Is that what you call a cheap jibe?

That would solve the "Chinese" problem since they can only come from Macadamia.

I've got some spare strawberry plants if anyone would like them. I can also report that I had my first barter with homemade this morning. Some freshly picked stalks of rhubarb were exchanged for a flat white and a croissant with butter and jam. Result!

Great strapline on the WI website: All kinds of opportunities for all kinds of women I'm interested in the perception and reality aspect of this. The old, abiding popular image of the WI would seem to be promoted by craftmaking such as bunting. However, if you look at the website of the WI then you will find that it is at the leading edge of civil society organisations working on global issues that enable women to have solidarity on issues that they have common purpose on. I'd love there to be an ED WI that is involved in the social justice issues that the organisation has identified as key and relevant to us all.

saga