Zaardvark

When I was 5 I was stung a few hundred times by a swarm of bees trying to set up a hive in a tree in our garden. Still, it means I don't react much to the one or two bee stings I have had subsequently, which were certainly less painful than encounters with angry bus drivers (whose names may or may not begin with A). However evil the bast**ds may be at times they are essential to food production so live and let live I say. Best Z

Hi, A few things 50 generations is unlikely to be enough time for there to be significant effects of selective pressure. Experience is thought to affect the activity of genes (the amount a gene is expressed) via what are called epigenetic mechanisms. These changes may be partly heritable but the extent to which they are is unknown and it would (currently) seem unlikely that all bar a small few of these changes would persist beyond a couple of generations. The biggest issue, as far as I can see, is that having kids at 20 is physiologically easier than at 30, and children of the 20 year olds would have a better chance of their parent looking after them until adulthood especially as 2000 years ago the average life expectancy would have been ~40. Parents starting at 30 would also have fewer kids for obvious reasons and, combined with more complications in birth, overall it would seem to me that the group with younger parents would have some advantages as well as being considerably more numerous. Best Z (sometimes a geneticist) edited (more than once) for spelling

Thanks guys- useful advice indeed. I am looking into what you recommended - thinking I might try to persuade them that we could live like kings in Turkey for a month for less money. Best Z

Hi Advice sought. My in laws wish to vist italy during August for one month (high season I know, no other option as teacher in the family) they prefer to go to Tuscany, want us to go with them and and to rent a villa for one month. Prices look rather scary on the web - can anyone recommend a good deal? What about in a neighbouring but similar region? If we go for one month can we ask for a discount? Best Z

By 'trolling' I mean expressing insincere opinions in the hope of generating discord and diagreeing - look at the start of this thread for an example. Good night - we can continue this tomorrow. Best Z

Hmmmm.... Just to clarify someone critising PCness does NOT mean “I am not a(n) [insert noun/adjectival noun], but [insert qualifier]…” I deeply feel that discrimination on any grounds is unjustified but how on earth does criticising people who accuse others unjustly make me guilty also??? What are you making insinuations about me when I expressed on my concerns that moral policing and trolling of the forum is making it an unpleasant place? What about the messages at the start of this thread? Do they not indicate that the trolls have seen that this is a vulnerable area where forumites are more concerned about coming accross as PC than robustly defending they and their friends from unjust charges? How do you think people should describe other people, when the need arises? How can they/should they avoid mention of their ethnicity? Best Z

Hi, I thought it was clear in my earlier post but, to paraphrase that, in this context I take it to mean being hypervigilant and complaining whenever people refer to someone's ethnicity in any way what-so-ever in this forum, including asking that people not to refer to themselves as they wish and such posters wishing that we share their obviously deeply felt political correctness. Best Z

Well - could you give us some guidelines then? Criticising PCness that may not be sincerely meant is surely not something in the league of 'Winterval' reporting? Accusations of racism, are sometime warrented and justly those posters are condemned but on this forum this does not happen much but rather people look for it where it does not exist (I remember my experience of it: http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?20,150900). We have gone OTT on the whole thing in this forum, IMHO. Best Z

P.S.:))

And I used to get mistaken for harry Enfield too - but it was [pre] armadillo's! [/pre] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tsWB--WAJs

Hi, Re Asset's post - perhaps it is time to define what reactive PC posters on here want. Asset does not have a history of doing the things I list below but obviously others do. Thus do reactive PC posters on here want: (a) people not to refer to someone's ethnicity in any way what-so-ever in this forum, for to do so would risk being non-PC, including asking that people not to refer to themselves as they wish; © us to share their obviously deeply felt political correctness; or, given what Admin has said, (d) are a large proportion of the posters objecting to the use of 'black', 'white', 'dreadlocks', 'exotic', etc., trolls who just like seeing people squirm? I guess my point here is that people on here object to even slight transgressions of the above, seeing the negative in everything that is posted here. But please, can we not allow people to refer to THEMSELVES as they wish to, at the very least. This forum is a wonderful place - let's not allow petty morality (morality condeming non-existant sins) to ruin it. Best Z.

Does anyone think that the crossings of LL at the GG rounadabout would not be necessary if there was a pedestrian crossing at LL/East Duwich Grove? best Z

Thanks for that - will trudge off there for chocolate for the missus (it seems she claims it will help her with recently acquired bad back).... Of course, I won't be touching the stuff. Best Z

Anyone been there today? Best Z

Looks like this might be the only way for me to fly to Paris today:

P.S. mu?zhik also mou?jik or mu?jik or mu?zjik (mōō-zhēk', -zhĭk') n. A Russian peasant.

A google search reveals... The highest scoring 7-letter word is MUZJIKS. The tiles total 29 points and it scores 128 on the first move.

Fair enuf. Looks like I missed the point about someone missing the point.... Best Z

Mick I put in the different prices as some (such as government figures) break down prices changes by type of house, which equates to cost, and these can be different. The quotes are also there to indicate where I was quoting from the nationwide's website calulator. Can't say I appreciated your immediate sarcastic response. Z. Re: Has the ED housing market reached the bottom yet ( II ) Posted by: rachel4 Today, 11:49AM The BBC has just posted a story that London house prices fell 15.9% in 2008 ... [news.bbc.co.uk] Options: Reply To This Message•Quote This Message•Reply via Private Message (PM)•Follow This Thread•Report This Message Re: Has the ED housing market reached the bottom yet ( II ) Posted by: Zaardvark Today, 12:50PM Hi, This story is about uk house prices. Finding the nationwide's figures for Greater London requires using a tool on their website: "Results:- A property located in Greater London which was valued at ?100000 in Q4 of 2007, would be worth approximately ?84929 in Q4 of 2008. This is equivalent to a change of -15.07%." and it is the same if you put 500k as the base price "Results:- A property located in Greater London which was valued at ?500000 in Q4 of 2007, would be worth approximately ?424645 in Q4 of 2008. This is equivalent to a change of -15.07%." best Z Options: Reply To This Message•Quote This Message•Reply via Private Message (PM)•Follow This Thread•Report This Message•Edit Post Re: Has the ED housing market reached the bottom yet ( II ) Posted by: Mick Mac Today, 02:16PM Yes, lets hope we all know how to calculate 15%. Edited to add history so people can see what I am talking about and to correct a mistake.

Hi, This story is about uk house prices. Finding the nationwide's figures for Greater London requires using a tool on their website: "Results:- A property located in Greater London which was valued at ?100000 in Q4 of 2007, would be worth approximately ?84929 in Q4 of 2008. This is equivalent to a change of -15.07%." and it is the same if you put 500k as the base price "Results:- A property located in Greater London which was valued at ?500000 in Q4 of 2007, would be worth approximately ?424645 in Q4 of 2008. This is equivalent to a change of -15.07%." best Z

You should have a look at page 1 of this discussion. Z.

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Hi, Skin colour was reported to decribe the youths, not for any other reasons, as MitchK pointed out. Indeed I thought that reporting this might be a good reason and generating the reason for a group of us to talk with the manager of Sainsbury's to encourage him/her to beef up the security - ban dogs from the general area and put a kiosk or similar in the park that is open along with lighting. Best Zaardvark

Hi, The police came and the sainsbury's staff were quick quick in dealing with it. The guy who was attacked did not appear to be seriously hurt as far as I could make out. Best Zaardvark

Hi, Saw a fight last night (Sat c.7.15) in Sainsbury's - group of Black youths were hanging around the front, looking for someone, then after I went in (with my toddler), they saw the guy they were looking for and set about him just past the security guard's station (a large group with dogs). I have seen odd things in the park next to Sainsbury's, and my wife has seen trouble before at the Sainsbury's entrance. Does anyone know the basis for this? It seems a recurring problem? And does anyone know why the small park remains unlit at night-time even though the gates are open and many people use it as a shortcut after dark? Best Zaardvark