Huguenot

Aside from confusion at why anyone would voluntarily abdicate responsiblity to a reporting hierarchy where the decision makers can't be challenged without risking excommunication and burning at the stake (literal and/or metaphorical), the thing I always wondered was... How do believers balance their faith in a supernatural being against scoffing at kids who believe in Santa Claus and the tooth-fairy to explain away the inexplicable? What about the Pantheon of Greek and Roman Gods? Are they all wrong, and you're right? Doesn't that sound completely bonkers? Really, really bonkers? I can't accept answers involving the following: social benefits (that's politics) and the ten commandments (that's philosophy). Religion seems to leverage those two elements to deliver power, control, segregation and eventually tribalism and hate.

Mebbe we'd get into trouble with Enid Blyton - she wasn't considered so cool by the PC brigade for a while?

*surfs up with a roar of outboards going into reverse, bow wave crashes over family of voles trashing their home, propeller wash churns up river bottom and spatters mud across wednesday morning picnickers* *bikini clad wannabe essex girls titter admiringly and grab for another asti spumanti* *can't understand disapproving frowns...*

try isc.ro, that's where myself and mogs play

Aha! A Scot!

Macroban, I'm sure nobody's going to endanger traffic. It comes across like you're trying to threaten Council members with legal action just for having a view? Is that trying to shut down debate? I may have misunderstood. Is this an appropriate way to ruin Fireworks night?

I like to be surrounded by art too, and have never yet considered the local provision to be clutter. I don't quite understand JA's original post: is this saying there is a current petition inviting us to tick 1-4 (not 3a/3b)? Is JA saying (s)he reckons they're all 'nice', but doesn't think art is a good option, or is this on someone's petition? What are we being invited to do - specify whether we're LDI, or establish ourselves as a PISAG? Assuming I'm an L and a PISAG, I did have some sensible suggestions months ago: I'm not a great fan of abstract art, but would like to see something celebrating either Viscount Lord Bolingbroke, or wasn't Enid Blyton born here on LL? A bronze of our favourite local writer ties in nicely with buggies, and our rural gentle friendly village community feel.

and when home-hunters call

but she's got an unreasonable mouse

It suddenly seems everywhere on draught. Did some big brewer discontinue a line and then bring in Peroni (following someone else doing it with San Miguel?)

Hurrah for Peroni! It's irresistable! Bloody hell, can't get there quick enough! BTW, how did everyone else find out about my favourtie tipple?

There will be a fair in a different village hall/location every weekend from mid-November to Xmas. Always has been. St. Barnabus Hall always have a couple - perhaps contact them and ask them who their 'competitors' are?

Mass hysteria has an interesting background. Sociologists observe that mass hysteria usually takes place when large groups of individuals feeling 'guilty' about something identify a scapegoat upon which to project their anger: in finding and destroying a victim the mob absolves itself of responsbility. For the Diana 'People's Princess' episode, I felt that the most extreme reactions were seen amongst the groups who most fed on the tabloid frenzy that eventually destroyed her: they wanted/still need either the paparazzi, the government, the monarchy or the secret service to shoulder the blame and suffer a penalty. It's like a mediaeval blood sacrifice. For 9/11 it was mostly Americans unfamiliar with random acts of violence that indulged in the hysterical clamor for reprisal and revenge; it seems to me that they were struggling to resolve the question over whether their culture and the rapaciousness of their society (and hence themselves) were really to blame. The MM situation has parallels (although I don't believe they're entirely appropriate): I'm guessing that there must be a vast amount of mums, dads, older siblings, guardians and carers who can imagine a moment in their lives where they weren't paying as much attention as they believe they could, and they could have been victim to a similar crime. I can number myself amongst them. The fact that MM was beautiful, that the parents were professional carers, and that the event took place on a carefree holiday compounds the sense of unfairness. The obvious and rational solution is to love and care for our nearest and dearest a little bit more carefully next time. We can never be absolved of responsbility. An hysterical reaction, with its mass media coverage, absence of rationality and easy creation of scapegoats can be a deeply disturbing reaction to those of us who see our society becoming increasingly fragile. As much as it feels good, mass hysteria gets the wrong people hurt. Current potential victims are the parents, then police, and innocent bystanders. I don't think the MM reaction is hysterical - but it's walking a desperately sharp knife edge.

Good Q Muttley - I'd be interested in seeing the overall plans too! I'm aware the sometimes these things are counter intuitive: like the 50mph limits on the M25 which lift 'average' speed from 30mph to 40mph. Something to do with overcrowding at exits causing ghost traffic jams through over-compensation when braking at higher speeds. I'm not clear if they're losing 1 or 2 lanes from widening? Anyone know?

No Jan, I don't think you're right - but I do think this is relevant to the Walworth Road theme: the question is whether the roadworks / pavement widening is worthwhile...? I wasn't recommending car-free, I was recommending parking-free LL is already low volume items: whether it's high price boutique stuff, or low price 'quick loaf of bread' stuff(or social events). They'll always fit on your bike. In my eight years I've never seen anyone come out of SMBS with more than 2 bags. That kind of volume is still done with the Sainsbo run. We'd be trying to organise our neighborhood for a minority market. It may hurt Somerfield, but I reckon that getting rid of them would do all kind of good for local traders, so no harm done. Put an inside market there with traders renting individual plots. Walworth Road recognises that the arterial road has destroyed the community and contributed to social collapse in the area. All praise goes to them for delivering the greater good rather than short term thinking. Let's be smarter in ED and move now when we can still make a difference.

The China / India thing, as I've pointed out before, picks up neatly but effectively on barely reined-in middle class racism. For every 1 light buld per head of energy used by a Chinese resident, the UK uses 35 and the US uses 65. Mind you, to stand here on our soapbox blamming johnnie foreigner for the problems created by our parasitic behaviour is one thing, to doing it whilst grinding their faces into the ground with 'I don't give a sh*t' is quite another. The first is just rather myopic, the second more than shameful. Really quite unpleasant.

:)) I can dream....

That'll be me. I'm hoping they'll follow up with a CPZ and a 20mph limit then please God, people will stop driving 100 yards for a loaf of bread, or leaving the car outside my house for 3 days after they've driven to the pub. LL will be easier to cross, LL and NC traders will grow as visitors are drawn to the area because it's pedestrian friendly. Restaurants and cafes will thrive as visitors make more committed visits rather than just hopping in and out of their cars. There will be more space for cafe seats on the pavement, making it a great place to hang out and further increasing trade. Additional pavement space reduces push-chair aggravation, delivering happier locals. Crime will drop as pedestrian levels increase and criminal 'anonymity' drops. Locals will be less likely to buy second cars, increasing use of local shops rather than out-of-town malls, reinvigorating our sense of community. Simultaneous drops in second and first-hand car purchase mean that ED is doing its bit for the environment, and increased public transport use contributes to growth in services and security. We'll have lots of flowers everywhere, meaning Bumbalina's a much happier chicken. Yep, widen the pavements and bring us a CPZ.

Are they confirmed going to widen LL? Hurrah! The only thing it will remove is the parked vehicles I suspect - no change to traffic speed unless it goes up.

I thought it might be private property too Ant, but not 100% sure. I've seen them used when they appear to mark utilities too. It makes me wonder why the council would mark and pave those private areas, but not the ones lower down on LL and NC Road.

:))

*Puts matches back in pocket*

Yep, well, erm.. buses, know 'em all. Did anyone notice the most impressive takeover of all time this week? Was going to link it, but figured that if you really wanted to know, you'd look it up. Staphylococcus aren't you in Estonia? You could get shot for that?

Love and kisses to Jimbo, Mogbo and Miranbo. Which one of you buggers was spiking my drink?

Yep Harry, these are the ones, put 'em in the lorry....