indiepanda

espelli Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > My favourite examples of good Old Testament > thinking are here: Why can't I own a Canadian? Lol, I've read that one before, but it still makes me chuckle evey time.

Interesting. However, if it costs minimal amounts of money to bring them to the standard of normal products, I am not sure that the issue is as simple as whether supermarkets should run a loss on cheaper products for the those who can afford no better. I suspect supermarkets use the different priced ranges to ensure that they can charge each consumer as much as they are willing to pay - so the more affluent consumer chooses the "taste the difference" type range because they can afford it and think it tastes better (though maybe not as much better as the price differential), but they can still sell to less well off consumers at the prices they can afford. If the value range was acknowledged to just be the same nutritionally as the main range and tasted as good, then sooner or later it would become known the only difference would be the snob value of having the fancier packaging, and some more affluent consumer would starts buying the value range, really eroding the supermarkets margin and benefiting people who were capable of buying the more expensive products anyway. It's the same principle coffee shops employ - the people who are willing to provide a higher profit margin to the coffee shop signal it by choosing the large, decaf, soya, extra shot capucchino with syrup etc - which would probably cost the consumer at least double what a regular americano would cost but certainly doesn't cost the coffee shop double to make. All that aside, it's hard to suggest that sausages or pies should form part of a really nutritious meal - I would have thought if supermarkets wanted to be more responsible, controlling margins on fruit, veg and unprocessed meat would be more important?

Lizziedjango Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > No the solicitors don't always charge you if the > sale doesn't go through indiepanda. And yes, I > think most people are politer(?) - more polite - > to the solicitor than the agent. It isn't rocket > science why. Kind of proving my point - is it any wonder some estate agents live down to low expectations if people think is acceptable to be rude to them purely because of their profession. I have to admit I don't know why more people don't choose to sell their houses themselves if they really don't like estate agents. There seem to be a lot more people willing to bitch about them than there are willing to take on the work themselves. After all, if they have done "very little" it couldn't be that difficult to do yourself.... Oh, and I was charged by solictors for both sales I started that didn't go through, so some certainly do charge - I don't believe I said they always charge.

Asset Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Last transaction I did the eastate agent did about > 15 minutes work but got thousands of pounds, the > solicitor did hours and hours and only got a few > hundred. doesn't seem fair really. Well, if the solictor is daft enough to offer to do it at a bargain basement price that's their choice. In any case, estate agents only get if they sell, and plenty of houses placed with them don't get sold, but they still need to make a living and cover all the costs of running the agency. I think solicitors charge you whether the sale goes through or not. I also wouldn't be surprised if most people are a lot politer to the solictor involved in the transaction than the estate agent. Edit: I should say I am not an estate agent. I just don't like seeing all of them tarred with the same brush because I've had some who have been very professional.

Ted Max Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > ""Tony?" says Nicky. "How was your week?" > > "I was talking to a homosexual friend," says Tony, > "and he said that ever since he was a child he > found himself attracted to other boys. So why does > the church think he's committing a sin? Are you > going to Hell if you commit a sexual act that is > completely normal to you? That seems a bit unfair, > doesn't it?" There is a murmur of agreement from > the group. > > "First of all," says Nicky, "I have many wonderful > homosexual friends. There's even an Alpha for gays > running in Beverly Hills! Really! I think it's > marvellous! But if a paedophile said, 'Ever since > I was a child I found myself attracted to > children', we wouldn't say that that was normal, > would we?" A small gasp. "Now, I am not for a > moment comparing homosexuals with paedophiles, but > the Bible makes it very clear that sex outside > marriage, including homosexual sex, is, > unfortunately, a sin." He says he wishes it wasn't > so, but the Bible makes it clear that gay people > need to be healed. > > "Although I strongly advise you not to say the > word 'healed' to them," he quickly adds. "They > hate that word." I think that sums up why I wouldn't go near the Alpha course very well, I find that so offensive. Much the same as I ended up finding the Catholic religion, having been raised Catholic from a young age. And as for the Jehovah's Witnesses... grew up next to a family of Jehovah's and the children really weren't encouraged to think for themselves... I don't like using words like brainwashing, but I did feel it was inappropriate how young they would be dragging them out knocking on doors with them. I read Dawkins and one thing he especially objects to is describing a child as being a Catholic etc - saying they aren't old enough to make a choice, and I am certainly with him on that. I am not sure if I believe in god or not, just confident I don't believe in religion.

Gerrard Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > In my humble opinion, the Magnolia is by far the > best place to go for a Sunday roast locally. I > have often been left disappointed and spent a long > time avoiding pubs for a roast because the quality > can often be lacking, portions are small, or I can > simply make a much better meal at home. This is > not the case with the Magnolia, the quality is > excellent, portions are huge and the service is > very attentive and friendly. It has quickly become > my favourite pub on Lordship Lane. How much do they charge for a roast? I'm hoping to find somewhere a bit more reasonable than Franklins for next time my parents visit - despite me paying (or probably because I was paying) my dad looked shocked by the prices in Franklins - and to be fair I've eaten better for less money too.

I think it's a bit unfair to tar all estate agents with the same brush. I've bought and sold a couple of houses over the years and I haven't had a bad experience with any of the ones I completed a transaction with, the one who sold my last house in particular did a great job. I've more issues with the solictors involved in for all they are supposedly the "professionals".

microbite Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > A thread for "who has done who?" on the forum > instead of a "who's who" thread > A thread for posting marks out of 10 > A thread for "who I actually intended doing but on > account I drank soo much at the ED Forum night out > did this person instead" thread do you have something you need to get off your chest? ;-)

I can't say as there is any political party who represents my views if you go by their policies. Some parties do to some extent but no one enough that I really feel happy about voting for them. And then of course they rarely stick to their policies anyway if it suits them to do otherwise. I think you get some people in politics who are genuinely there because they believe in what they stand for, but an awful lot of them just seem to be there because they love the power, forgetting they are meant to be there to serve us. I still can't believe they are allowed to vote for their own pay increases. Surely it should be pegged in line with the average earnings index or some other objective measure - like average public sector pay award for example.

PeckhamRose Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Answer to number one: Beauty Plus with dulwichmum! Can't say I blame her to be honest. It's one thing being funny in the lounge section, but taking a pop at someone's business during a recession, particularly when that business for something that most people would see as a bit of a luxury purchase, is not on. I'm sure plenty of people only look at this forum on the odd occassion to get a recommendation for a local company - they aren't going to know it's meant as a joke.

LuvPeckham Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hmmm > > howabout > > "If I was the opposite sex would I want to shag me > if I met myself (as I am now) in a bar?" > > Gets kind of tricky as it implies that you fancy > the same sex as yourself, that you are critical of > yourself if you say no and also that you are weird > for even thinking about it > > (oh and the answer from me is no, I would be too > busy trying to work out what the hell I was doing > dressed up as a woman -- again) lol, this really made me laugh out loud... you've clearly given this FAR too much thought. If you really want to entertain me, you could post pictures of the last time you were dressed as a woman!

LuvPeckham Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Spoilsport is all I can say > > I am not allowed to drink after that 'incident' > and the 'police report' that followed ::o Lol. My incidents have only been of the foolish / unfortunate variety... no police reports involved.

LuvPeckham Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hmmm > > Curiousity now raised to a new level > > tell me (sorry us) more lol, catch me at the EDF drinks one day and I might be daft enough to share.

LuvPeckham Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > too late Indiepanda far too late Oh trust me, I could have said a lot worse... and I don't embarass that easily either ;-)

Annasfield Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > SeanMacGabhann Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > > > > badly > > > Yeah but Sean Mac. Bad sex is better than no sex. so right. and even worse, bad sex with a guy who actually thinks he is good at it. (hmmm I'm in danger of "sharing" too much at this rate... I'll stop before I embarass myself)

doctormoll Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Or Naples, where some drivers do not even stop for > a red light at button operated pedestrian > crossings! So true, never experienced anything like it. I know Italian drivers have a bad reputation but in Naples they are bad even by Italian standards. Having lived various places outside of London, I would say people in towns outside of London are a little quicker to stop than they are in London. Driving in London is an altogether more scary experience than outside London too... I use public transport for some journeys that might be quicker by car and I could claim it because I want to be green, but that's just a fortunate side effect!

What gets me is how many people seem to think it's ok to always be late because they can text to say "running late" - as if that makes it ok to leave you hanging around for ages waiting for them.

I am not sure in the case of music most parents are anything more than just older, I've had way more good recommendations from friends than my parents anyway... I'm not sure mine ever recommended anything to me actually. Grew up hearing big band and jazz when I was a kid which was mainly my dad's choice. I still like a bit of that stuff but it looks a bit odd next to the rest of my collection which is mainly guitary - indie ish bands.

giggirl Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > indiepanda Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > Sounds about as romantic as having a boyfriend > > taking texts from their ex while you are > cuddled > > up in bed together after sex > > > > Not I know any woman lame enough to put up with > > that kind of behaviour. Honest > guv...(*blushes*) > > My jaw dropped. That's shocking. You need to > have a word. Oh I did, eventually got through... and in any case he's an ex now. Going out with him was like living an advertisement for why being single is quite an attrative option!

Sounds about as romantic as having a boyfriend taking texts from their ex while you are cuddled up in bed together after sex Not I know any woman lame enough to put up with that kind of behaviour. Honest guv...(*blushes*)

Beej Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > God - after reading this thread, I am soooooooo relieved to be gay! I may regret asking this, but am curious to know why? My gay friends seem to have had the same sort of issues finding a long term partner as my straight ones.

Good luck with the interviews. x

zephyr Wrote: > You are right - unfortunately as nurses and > midwives are 'protected' hospitals cut other areas > to make ends meet. This is usually support staff > and clerical staff thus increasing the pressure on > clinical staff. Seems to me in recent years it's been cleaning they've cut back on - putting it out to the cheapest contractor instead of using their own staff. What a great idea that turned out to be! Hopefully they've learned from that mistake now. I appreciate nurses do a really tough job for not fantastic money - my brother in law is a mental health nurse and he teaches safe restraint techniques that he has learned to other nurses after getting attacked by various patients and I honestly don't know how he manages to do his job and stay so cool. I'm sure I'd last 5 minutes, if that. I can talk to difficult people, but feeling like my physical safety might be at threat... no thanks! However, I do think most jobs are getting more stressful and pressured these days - not just nursing. If it's not the health system creaking under the pressure of a growing aging population or the education system being pushed to get higher exam passes, it's shareholders wanting the companies they own to deliver ever increasing levels of profit leading to endless "restructuring" and cut backs in staffing so no one feels their job is safe. If anyone can tell me they have got a well paid job that involves regular hours (i.e. minimal unpaid overtime) and no stress I would love to know what it is, I can't think of one.

Oh dear, going to miss this and the next one too. At least not because I am going to be working or too tired after working late though, so that's an improvement over last year!

I think it's not just relative cost that makes people fly rather than get the train. I've been to Edinburgh a few times, by train and by plane for both work and seeing friends. If you book early enough the train is cheaper. However, I've been up there for work, and to be there for a 9am start on a Monday is impossible by train unless you want to travel up on the Sunday (which frankly I resent), and that then means paying for a hotel for a night, cancelling out savings. And, having travelled by train the last time I went up to see a friend, it took me something like 9 hours to get home because of all the engineering works on a Sunday. If I'd travelled by plane, I could have had an extra half day to enjoy with my friends, instead of having to lug bags from train to coach back to train etc etc. I value my time more than the difference in price, so it's awfully tempting to fly if it cuts the time in half or better. I suspect part of the problem with flying is that we don't pay the externalities that our travel imposes on the world - if we did it would be a lot less affordable, and trains would probably seem more appealing (not sure how much pollution they cause too mind you). If trains are remotely comparible on total journey time (i.e. allowing for all the check in and waiting about nonsense) you get via plane, there is really no comparison, I'd pick trains everytime. Well, provided they aren't so crowded I have to stand that is....