taper

I'd add Ruskin Private hire to the list of commercial carriers to watch out for. Also I think The Mayor, to his credit, now forces really bad and dangerous drivers to put a round stickers in their back window bearing the legend "Registered Mini Cab driver"; so they're worth looking out for.

Ah right, I assumed the towers/wooden bit had been opened. One man with a wheelbarrow working on it periodically yesterday. A big group of kids from Goose Green Primary were there having a summer picnic and all they could do was peer at the wooden towers through a fence.

That's pretty accurate. There's a clutch of conspiracy theories that say other factors forced the decision, eg commonly a desire to scare the Soviets; also that the Japanese were about to sue for peace. But the evidence suggests the desire to halt further US military sacrifice by ending the war quickly (which the bombs did) drove Truman's decision. Recent work in Japan shows the two bombs did indeed strengthen the peace element within the Japanese cabinet, who were able to prevail

I am full of self-loathing that I used the founder of Metcheck's grim conviction in aid of my marginal view that the BBC site is superior. By way of penance, I have replaced the BBC weather with Metcheck on my favourites bar!

I think if you publish something, essentially a private incident, on a public Forum for no other reason than to get a reaction, then you can't really complain when the reaction isn't one that pleases you.

Elegant perhaps. But not as accurate as the Met office. And MetCheck's owner is currently inside for 8 years for raping a 14 yr old boy

Apologies. I still think they're crap though

Seems half the new playground is shut again. Anyone know why this is?

I think Metcheck are pretty poor.

The computer graphic that moves across time, so you can see the rain sweeping across the UK, missing the south east and sticking over cornwall

I think Truman was under-rated. Much maligned because of Hiroshima/Nagasaki I suppose. But he called that right.

Unless you have to, I wouldn't rush. There's a lot of peer pressure to potty train before children are ready in my view. The longer you leave it, the easier it becomes

bob seeger and Woodie Guthrie were virulently against the US entering the war, I was somewhat disappointed to learn. But then I don't suppose it was a particularly easy call back in 39-40

The BBC uses Met Office data, and that is consistently one of the most accurate forecasters in the world - a lot higher than 30% for next day forecast. The British weather is highly volatile due to the Atlantic primarily), far more so than the US and most of mainland Europe. And very difficult to predict more than a couple of days ahead. The trick is to watch the dynamic forecast rather than rely on the static one/three/five day forecast.

The BBC.

No, but Pacha keeps going throughout the year i think. most clubs have a closing night late sept/early oct See here for a useful article on Ibiza as the season ends. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/holiday_type/family/article720959.ece

"he never achieved the same 'taking the whole town with you' feeling" You're damn straight he didn't, because the only team in the city of Nottingham is Notts County. Nottingham Forest are based in the Borough of Rushcliffe and are referred to by Notts fans (quite properly) as Rushcliffe Rovers. Notts used to regularly hand Forest their backsides when they played them in the old second division in the 70s. And did pretty well against them in the early eighties when both in the top division. I wonder who would play Jimmy Sirrel in the film. Now there was a manager. Come on you Pies

Very sorry to hear that. There was a mugging near Lyndhurst Way a week or so ago at 10:40pm (three young black men). Could be the area is being targeted. I hope the police are making the links.

BB You think going to the Telegraph and the Mail is a good way of engendering serious debate? I don't think they've neglected their children. I think what they did was in good faith. I think the school, in response to concerns expressed by others, has reacted proportionately. The school appears to have sought to deal with the issue privately with the parents and did not "run to" the Local Authority. It is the parents who ran to the media and have sought to use this minor incident to make a broader political point, thus exposing their children and the school to public scrutiny. Not good in my view

Spare a thought too for the school. Without knowing the full details, the Head at Alleyns seems to have been placed in an impossible position on what is a finely balanced issue. But the media storm that has erupted is damaging to the school and the children involved and blame for that would seem to sit with the parents. I can't think what they were trying to achieve through going to the press with this. Seems like narcissism of the worst kind to me.

"is it really our business to make such a public judgement" If the parents have made it a public issue, then yes.

Trailer's are safer with two. You can pick them up on the interweb for about $150 (or at Edwardes bikes on Camberwell Road). See here - http://www.is-us.co.uk/. More expensive versions (eg burley) available for about ?350, but I wouldn't pay that

"I don't think it was the parents who called in the press" It seems likely this story comes from the parents. Who else would push it?

Dulwich Mum Agree entirely. I'm uncomfortable too that the parents should seek national publicity in this way when the children involved are readily identifable and so young. I suspect they won't have a particualrly comfortable day at school.

On the HRA, I'd go with strengthened to reflect how the Courts have interpreted it. I'd prefer a written Bill of Rights, in which case you probably could abolish it.