BrandNewGuy

BB100 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > BrandNewGuy Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > BB100 Wrote: > > > -------------------------------------------------- > > > ----- > > > They are pests. I have seen them in flocks > > hound > > > some of our local birds by constantly > following > > > them and pecking at them if they land. > > > > As I've mentioned before, there's scant > evidence > > of parakeets 'bullying' other birds or winning > out > > in food competition with indigenous species. > The > > London Wildlife Trust opposes any 'cull', by > > saying that the parakeets are as 'British as > > curry' :-) > > Open season on parakeets > > > > There is evidence that they can cause damage to > > orchards and vineyards (as do a number of > > indigenous species), but existing arrangements > for > > farmers and landowners can allow them to take > > action already. > > > > Unfortunately, people often jump to conclusions > > about 'invader' species which aren't borne out > by > > the evidence. > > > The 'evidence' I was referring to was witnessed by > my own eyes. It obviously needs more official > research. Video would be much appreciated. The "official" reserach takes in years of observation and has no axe to grind.

rahrahrah Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > BrandNewGuy Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > As I've mentioned before, there's scant > evidence > > of parakeets 'bullying' other birds... > > How about flying off with 'status' dogs? Yeah, that is a negative, I guess. But on the positive side, I'm glad some locals having been putting out orange liquid in bottles for them to sip from hummingbird-style ;-)

BB100 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > They are pests. I have seen them in flocks hound > some of our local birds by constantly following > them and pecking at them if they land. As I've mentioned before, there's scant evidence of parakeets 'bullying' other birds or winning out in food competition with indigenous species. The London Wildlife Trust opposes any 'cull', by saying that the parakeets are as 'British as curry' :-) Open season on parakeets There is evidence that they can cause damage to orchards and vineyards (as do a number of indigenous species), but existing arrangements for farmers and landowners can allow them to take action already. Unfortunately, people often jump to conclusions about 'invader' species which aren't borne out by the evidence.

Otta Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > You're quite right SJ, that people could have a > prayer before the meeting if they felt the need. > Equally though, those who don't like it, could > just ignore it. Which is what the judge said, so why is the C of E up in arms?

Well, he wasn't mentioned on the story and this thread's now gone off-topic, so from that point of view bringing up Dawkins' name hasn't been helpful...

Those will be ring-necked parakeets. Escaped once upon a time but now recognised as a breeding species in the UK.

Even the BBC managed to get this story wrong. The judge did *not* rule against Bideford Council saying prayers before a meeting. He ruled against them including it as part of the agenda and thus the "important business" of the council. If they want prayers before the meeting, non-compliant councillors can happily absent themselves, but if it's part of the "important business", it's not right for the council to allow councillors to absent themselves. So they're free to say prayers before the meeting, just as Tower Hamlets are free to say Muslim prayers before theirs - just so long as no one is obliged to turn up, listen and/or take part. Far from this episode being part of a "militant secular" attack on Christianity, the reaction looks more like a concerted attempt by the C of E establishment to muscle its way back into public life as in the "good" old days.

Heaven Is In Your Mind - Traffic

Yes there are.

A shout-out for Jimmy McDonough's Neil Young biography "Shakey" - and look out later in the year for Neil's autobiography "Waging Heavy Peace". Worst biography? Jerry Hopkins' and Danny Sugarman's hilariously OTT "No One Here Gets Out Alive": "My personal belief is that Jim Morrison was a god."

You can hear skylarks closer to home - try a sunny morning on Erith Marhes, which is walkable from Belvedere station. Spring and early summer are the best times for hearing the songs.

Great! When do we start...?

Huguenot, I'm not sure there's any more to be read into this happening at this time than that the government is hoping the double whammy of Hester refusing his bonus and Fred being publicly horsewhipped will give enough fresh meat to the ravneous public so that they don't clamour for real change - and it will draw Labour's sting on the issue. Cynically, I fear the government's right...

It's almost certainly a blackbird - or possibly a robin or wren. As Sue says, they're plotting out territories already. We have a male wren by our house who strikes up at about 5.00am - very loud and distinctive song: hit the Sounds button here.

Change the record, fazer71. If you have a "solution", why not get engaged with this thread instead of indulging in pointless sniping?

Huguenot Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > It's a bit like Cameron slamming down his hand and > announcing a tax on the UK production of Camembert > and Bordeaux. :))

And there's a certain irony that most of the positive contributions on the thread suggesting practical actions that we can take now seem to come from those who were opposed to CPZ. I suggest we all decamp over there and throw in our penn'orth. Only by looking at all the issues surrounding local car use, parking, public transport etc are we likely to improve the situation or at least stop it getting worse.

Misty Roses - Tim Hardin

Jah Lush Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > There are no CAMRA beards in the CPT to the best > of my knowledge. Though I like a drop of ale > myself you'll find most of the regulars drink > lager or Guinness. They do however do a nice pint > of Doom Bar and when it's on Spitfire or London > Pride. You'll find plenty of those real ale buffs > in Hoopers though. And in mentioning Hoopers > there's one pub that has changed for the better > and still kept it "real". Agreed about Hoopers - it's the closest thing locally to my "perfect" pub, though Mrs BrandNewGuy pointed out to me that they have a troublesome licence review for "public nuisance" to contend with.

binary_star Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > BrandNewGuy Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > it's the beer not the pub their judging. > > I went in the CPT once for a bitter. The barmaid > offered me a taste of the guest ales etc etc, it > was typical CAMRA pub style service. Problem was, > of the other two people I was drinking with, one > drank lager and the other was on spirits. They > didn't want to sit in the dingy bar with surly > locals and furniture that smelt a bit damp just so > I could enjoy a "good" beer (it really wasn't). > > Personally I welcome the change and I'm hoping > someone does something with The Castle as well! Fine, but herrd seemed to be suggesting that if they do up the CPT the "CAMRA beards" would be ruffled. All I was suggesting that belonging to CAMRA does not mean you prefer sub-standard pubs. I've made my feelings clear on here about the CPT, so any improvement is welcome. Personally, I don't think there's a really decent pub in ED, but given our "demographic" I'm not sure it's possible any more.

herrd Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Who cares if the CAMRA beards are ruffled? Eh? So a decent boozer shouldn't have at least one decently kept real ale? CAMRA aren't generally fussy about pubs - you might be surprised to find lots of Wetherspoons in the Good Beer Guide. But, as they say, it's the beer not the pub their judging.

Seven By Seven - Hawkwind

peterstorm - Hear, hear. At the conclusion of the C*Z episode, I was adamant that pro- or anti-C*Z residents should genuinely try to come up with short-, medium- and long-term ideas for East Dulwich's transport/parking needs. Let's throw all ideas into the pot, however crazy they might seem... Don't expect government (national or local) to solve our problems for us.

Oh, and it's very disappointing that the Council didn't lead/initiate/encourage/follow this sort of discussion instead of focusing on the C*Z...

I agree with much of that (except for The Simpsons-style monorail bit...), but there are things we can do now. I'm doubtful of the provision of extra parking (beyond the obvious action of bringing obsolete doctor's or disabled bays etc back into use). I suspect - without any evidence to back it up - that making parking easier increases the likelihood that more people will come and park and thus does not solve your problem in the long run. In the same way, it took planners decades to work out that building roads, by and large, adds to road use rather than eases congestion. Build it and they will come... But I suspect we can ease a certain amount of local parking without attracting further cars into the area. If we accept where we are at the moment in East Dulwich with regards to the number of residents' and local workers'/businesses' cars, and the number of available spaces, there are things we can do now. 1. The painting of bays in heavily parked roads. They needn't have any legal force, but they do encourage "tidy" parking. 2. The Council (and/or local residents with parking problems) should approach the bigger local schools and businesses and lean on them to produce a "green" action plan or whatever you want to call it. Part of that would be to ask how many of their staff drive to work and ask how many might be able to carpool or go by public transport (if necessary with some incentive). 3. Provision of car club places - I'm not sure to what extent, but I certainly intend not buying another car after our current (13-year-old) one conks out. We'll make do with taxis for local trips, car club for medium ones and car hire for long journeys, never mind using public transport whenever "convenient". If car owners take depreciation into account as well as tax, insurance, fuel, MOT and maintenance, they might be surprised at the real cost of owning and driving a car...