LondonMix

He's also recently claimed (in the last 24 hours or so) in defense of his statements that London is so radicalized there are areas of it the police are terrified to enter. Of course, the mayor, Cameron, the MET etc have come out condemning his statements about London as nonsense.

I got that, I was just agreeing with you! Otta Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > LondonMix Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > > > Otta- Ben Carson is his own worry. > > > Indeed, that's what I was getting at. Didn't mean > to come across as saying he would be a good > candidate, Thomas sounds like a total arse.

I'm American so I still follow US politics fairly closely and read the US press. Plus I was home recently for Thanksgiving so was able to experience some it first hand. Blah Blah Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Thanks LondonM. You seem to know what's going on > there. Otta- Ben Carson is his own worry. Of course, compared to Trump, anyone can seem a bit better than they are but the Republican party is truly in crisis.

I agree with all of that. These kinds of waits are not standard, not even for NHS in its current state.

No, he doesn't have the support of the religious right (not its leaders at least). He's not religious, twice divorced, runs casinos and has supported abortion rights. Still some traditional evangelical voters are connecting with him not on religious grounds but based on his other rhetoric. He is very unlikely to win-- 20% of Republic voters in the primaries is well below 10% of total voters in the US (more like 6%-7%). As the Republican field narrows, Trump is unlikely to win other candidates' supporters in my opinion (but who really knows). If you support Rubio and he drops out, you are more likely to switch to Bush or Cruz before Trump I think. He might pick up some of Ben Carson's supporters but even then, I think he is simply too off putting to too many people to win the Republican nomination much less be elected president. The majority of the country think he's unhinged.

The Republican party don't want him to win the nomination. They in very many ways are trying to undermine him. Because of concerns that he would run as a 3rd party candidate though and split the ticket, they don't want to alienate him too much (which is also why they got him to sign a pledge). Its a complicated dance but both the moderate right and all of the left are pretty horrified and shocked at his campaign and his success. The fact that he's had a platform for so long with so much support has seriously damaged America. I support Hillary but I absolutely am terrified of a Trump candidacy. Not because Trump could win (that's extremely unlikely) but the longer he has this platform the more he is tearing the country apart. Leaders are supposed to help us rise above the basest elements of ourselves and all he does is play on everyone's worst instincts and impulses. It makes me incredibly sad as an America.

This place is awful. They don't follow NICE procedures for newly pregnant women (i.e. the refer first time mothers for their booking appointment which itself is usually once they are 8-10 weeks pregnant) without giving them any advice on what they can or can't eat or to take pre-natal vitamins. For some first time mothers, this is a massive disservice that sets them and their children up for poorer health outcomes. This is national policy and they simply don't do it. I got a letter from them saying it was time for a routine exam (that must be carried out periodically). When I called up they said they had no appointments for the rest of December and won't be releasing any more appointment dates until Friday and I should ring up early to get a spot. What sense does that make? The exam I need is a required medical exam that needs to take place within a specific period of time. Surely it shouldn't be a lottery of who can ring up first on the day! As a system it makes no sense so I'm glad they are getting someone in to help. I have private insurance but like others have said, there are numerous thing for which your NHS GP is still responsible. This place is truly becoming terrible.

Is this a wind up? Maybe people do pick on you and DF but not in that thread and not that poster. S/he never mentions you, DF does in his bizarre accusation. In the thread where the OP does complain about you, the complaint is that you are taking the thread of topic (which was true). What do you think Admin should do in those circumstances?

I think the approach a school takes to the points Saffron has raised shows their general approach at communication with parents and how well they try to facilitate information sharing and community building for working parents. For many, those are details that are important when choosing a school and so I think Saffrons original post was very helpful. OP, do you know where you will be living or are you trying to choose where you?ll live based on the school you ultimately get into? All the schools you?ve listed are good so I wouldn't stress out about it. If you want the most POTENTIAL choice before you can actually visit, your best bet is to live on the triangle of roads between Pellatt and Thompson bordered by Crystal Palace and Landcroft Rd. From there, depending on the exact road you have a reasonable shot at Goodrich, Heber, Dulwich Hamlet, Harris East Dulwich Primary and Bessemer Grange at a push. Bessemer is becoming increasingly popular though so that might no longer be realistic from this section of ED anymore. Good luck! Edited to add Harris East Dulwich whose new school building is under construction nearby and might be an option as well.

Louisa- you do realise the OP in the thread never mentioned you right? Only DF? And that the OP has only posted a complaint about you hijacking threads once? DF's suggestion that the reviews are genuine is absurd. I suspect if he keeps at it, he'll be locked away here in the lounge with you soon too.

There are nut jobs everywhere who give men and women dodgy looks. I don't think most people / women / mothers think anything of seeing men of any age on their own anywhere. The park is a public place for the entire community. Cafes are public places for the entire community. I get that it would be unpleasant though. I'm lucky in that I'm largely oblivious to what other people are doing around me. Perhaps, I'm constantly getting dirty looks from the community and am just blissfully ignorant!

Loz, they are not asking for the donation of used SIMs but rather brand new, unused pay as you go SIMs from the providers indicated. Please go ahead and post the dangers of handing over a used phone if you want, ideally with tips on how to best avoid the dangers if you have that information. I'm sorry you are annoyed but it was a point worth clarifying for those that might want to donate but would be put off if it involved providing their sim with their phone (which is not at all what the organisation is after).

The greenest bit is in Los Feliz (near Silverlake). The neighbourhood is very walkable and green and is right by Griffith Park which is amazing snd quite lush in large parts near the ground but also with great hiking trails up to the observatory. If I were ever going to live in LA, that's where I'd live for sure. With the exception of that neighbourhood though, I completely agree with that general characterisation of LA as not nearly green and walkable enough compared to London.

I've only been for a week but I really liked it, especially East LA and downtown. Its like several small cities in one each with its own really distinct flavour. Really affordable independent theatre (in the north), great hiking, crazy beaches, a terrific arts and culture scene, great food etc. Its really ugly in parts and the traffic is beastly but I loved it. ???? Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Jeremy Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > LA? Eurgh... > > > LAs a great place, I'm a big fan

Yes, you are totally right. This is different as its the reverse but I know what you mean. Cities constantly change and evolve. I suppose what I'm saying is that the features of these cities as we know them and what I like about them (hubs of artistic creativity, social diversity, etc) will become less salient as other features replace them. I don't think they'll disappear, just transform into something less appealing. BrandNewGuy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > LondonMix Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > Global cities like London, San Francisco, New > York > > feel like they are at the very beginning of a > slow > > but terminal decline. > > That's what lots of people were saying in the late > 70s and through to the mid 80s. There was massive > flight from these cities and what was left was > often (rightly or wrongly) perceived as > undesirable. And that was working class and middle > class flight. But the doomsters were wrong, these > cities changed in ways no-one had foreseen and I > suspect that will happen again.

Summer 2016 was the last I heard but that might not be the case now with the changes to the application. Salsaboy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Anyone know when it's due to open?

Is it definitely closing? Someone somewhere else on the forum said it was going to be a burger place but I don't know if that's true. easytiger Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > What's the seacow going to be turned in to?

I was trying to be conciliatory offering to take down the posts now that its clear that the group isn't asking for old sims as has repeatedly been falsely claimed on this thread. I don't feel the need to take down anything I've said but thought offering to do so might induce others to at least correct their statements. I see now there is no point, which is what it is. I've not called you or anyone else any names by the way. That simply isn't true. To anyone who is interested, the group do very much need (new) Labara or 3 pay as you go SIMs as indicated on their website. There is a shortage of these relative to phone donations. They also need cash contributions towards topping up the SIMS.

Transparently?! Ok... You are clearly just looking for a fight so I'll stop taking the bait

Okay, I've read my old posts and while I thought that's what I was saying when I said they weren't requesting people to provide their Sims from their phone and expose themselves to identity theft, I could have said they want new SIMs from companies, individuals in the industry and beyond. It was clear to Sue by the way but I accept that while the reading was obvious to me, it might not be crystal clear to everyone given the separate request for old phones.

Okay, I misunderstood then. Good luck in your search for a new 2 bed house in the spring. Azalea Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Closer to 800k can mean 751k and doesn't mean 800k > plus.

They are not asking people for their SIMS! Again, email them if you don't believe me. So, with that said, I do think the characterization of the groups requests and objectives as CRAZY should be deleted and I think suggestions that they are asking people to donate their old sim cards should be deleted as its inaccurate. I do think a link should replace DF's first post that instead provides the best way on erasing your phone as the website suggests you should for those that might not be familiar with best practice. That's not what is in DF's first post but I think it is a very good idea. Those are my views. Go ahead and disagree with me but unless you have something new to say about it, I'm done responding as we are just repeating ourselves at this point which is dull. miga Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > LondonMix Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > What exactly is it then that I am saying that > you disagree with? > > Seriously, what are you taking issue with that > I > > have said? > > The most recent thing that you've said that I > disagreed with is this misquote: > > > You agree that the characterization of the > appeal to help refugees as "CRAZY" is fine > > Which I've already neutralized. > > In general on this thread I've disagreed with > your: > * asking people to delete their posts > * initial misinterpretation of this group's web > site, from which you then backpedalled** > * inability to concede the validity of some > posters' circumspection. > * incorrectly characterizing this group as a > charity (admittedly a minor point) > > So let me just restate my original point, for > avoidance of confusion: > > > DF might have used language that's a bit OTT, > but the information on how to prepare > > your phone and/or SIM on that web site is pretty > scant, so a worthwhile point to consider > > for anyone contemplating donation. > > > **You said: > > > They aren't asking individuals for their SIMs in > general, just the smart phones. > > They are asking companies and people working in > the industry for sims that are pay > > as you go without roaming fees in Calais that > the charity will then top up with donations. > > Which has already been countered.

I don't have time to keep going back and forth on this. I emailed them. They don't want anyone's old SIM card!! Email them yourself if you don't believe me- they respond very quickly. They want new SIM cards donated to them. Whether that was crystal clear or not from the information on their website we can debate until the second coming but they have now confirmed that to me in writing so I really am not going to continue arguing whether its the case or not. ETA- Before, I assumed that anyone who actually bothered to read the site would have realized they weren't asking for old SIM cards. I accept now that its possible that someone may simply have drawn the wrong conclusion. Despite all of the back and forth on the thread, for the sake of the organisation, I hope people will correct the information, whatever the reason the incorrect statements about the SIMs were posted. Anyone who does so, I'll happily delete my responses to them about it from the thread. Loz Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > LondonMix Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > Sorry Loz, I didn't mean to suggest that they > > would only accept SIMs from industry people. > > Your very long diatribe was against the very > specific risks of handing over your sim card, > which is not what is being asked by the charity. > > and > > They are asking companies and people working in > the industry for sims that are pay as you go > without roaming fees in Calais that the charity > will then top up with donations. > > Amusingly, you keep telling everyone else to read > things properly. You could start with your own > posts. > > > Given that they are asking for pay as you go > SIMs from very specific companies, for me > > it was clear that they didn't want everyone's > phone with its SIM but only a specific type of > > SIM from 2 named providers as its own separate > donation. > > > It is 100% clear that you didn't know or ready > any of that based on your post on the matter. > You > > based on DF's post very clearly thought they > were asking for people to hand over their sims in > their > > phone and even asked why they would need them. > > > Actually, I did read the website and, as I have > shown, it does ask for SIMs. You are the one who > seems to be making stuff up that isn't on their > website. E.g. they don't ask for two specific > companies, as you claim, but actually says "for > example pay as you go SIM's from Lebara or 3." (my > emphasis). > > > Agreeing with a broad characterization that > donating is crazy I think is irresponsible. You > > disagree, which is your right and clearly > nothing I can say on it will convince you > otherwise. > > Weasel words, and dishonest ones as well. You have > been a master of misrepresentation on this thread. > Nowhere did I say that. I said, quite clearly > that "I'm with DF - there is no way I'd hand over > a SIM.". And then I explained quite clearly the > rational behind that statement. > > > I think it is disparaging and reckless to post > information undermining the efforts of an > > organization trying to help people without > bothering to fully understand the request and > > clearly explaining what you think is wrong with > it. > > You are the one that doesn't seem to fully > understand what they are asking. On the other > hand, I did read it and understand it, saw what > the dangers were and I very, very clearly > explained why. I am really annoyed you have > accused me of disparaging the charity, no matter > no many weasel words you use to try and justify > it. > > If anyone has made this particular charity look > bad on this thread, it would actually be you. > You've inadvertently represented it with a rather > deranged-sounding voice, wildly misrepresenting > what people say and calling names at anyone who > dare contemplate discussing or questioning any > aspect of the request.

Miga my entire issue with DF is that he characterized the request as CRAZY , which based on the facts I've read, I don't believe it is. If he had said, those considering this should ensure they correctly erase the data on their phone as the company has instructed and linked to the best ways to do this I have repeatedly said I would have no issue with that. What exactly is it then that I am saying that you disagree with? Seriously, what are you taking issue with that I have said? miga Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > LondonMix Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > You agree that the characterization of the > appeal > > to help refugees as "CRAZY"is fine for reasons > I > > don't understand at all. > > Jeepers - misquote much? I already said DF's > original wording was OTT but that I understand his > circumspect reaction.

Sorry Loz, I didn't mean to suggest that they would only accept SIMs from industry people. On the website they say 'SIMs from companies, brands and individuals in the industry and beyond.' Given that they are asking for pay as you go SIMs from very specific companies, for me it was clear that they didn't want everyone's phone with its SIM but only a specific type of SIM from 2 named providers as its own separate donation. Given that if you want to donate SIMS you need to email in for additional information, it is clear that the donation is completely separate from the general request for smart phones. To get all the SIMs they need to equip the phones will require bulk donations, and they are not just planning on taking them from the general public coming to the SOHO drop off point. Otherwise, why would there be a need to contact them separately? It is 100% clear that you didn't know or read any of that based on your post on the matter. You, based on DF's post very clearly thought they were asking for people to hand over their sims in their phone and even asked why they would need them. I do think it is disparaging and reckless to post information undermining the efforts of an organization trying to help people without bothering to fully understand the request and clearly explaining what you think is wrong with it. Agreeing with a broad characterization that donating is crazy I think is irresponsible. You disagree, which is your right and clearly nothing I can say on it will convince you otherwise. I'm not sure there is anything left for either of us to say.