woofmarkthedog

Domitianus Wrote: > And cramped parking, making it difficult to open > doors, is not a problem for those without > children???? We just slither through > keyholes????? This stuff about "safety" is > claptrap. This is simply a matter of CONVENIENCE, > not safety. And those with children are very > accomplished at making the world feel that > everything should be made more convenient for them > just because they have made a certain lifestyle > CHOICE!!! --------------------------------------------------------- Domanatrix Quite often I park my car with the "booster seat & mandatory scattering of toys inside" in the parent only bays, even though I have no child with me......Ahhh ha ha.... Coz I can , I make that life style choice & it's blinkin brilliant Really it's so convenient & knowing grown ups like yourselves will bridle......ohh top, top banana Where do you shop, i'll keep a look out for you Cheers W**F

gallinello Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Apologies for the length of this, but lest we > forget all HER 'achievements': > > Margaret Thatcher presided over the destruction of > more industry in Britain than that destroyed by > the Luftwaffe in the Second World War. She plotted > to smash the National Union of Mineworkers and to > dismantle the welfare state and all the reforms > that had been fought for over decades by the > working class. She slashed welfare payments, > attacked the old and the sick and basically > co-ordinated a one sided civil war against the > British (and Irish) working class. There were many > people in Britain whose lives were cut short by > unemployment, by sickness and poverty as a result > of the politics of Thatcherism, many families that > fell apart, many children who went hungry. Yet, > she was admired by Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, > who wants her to have a state funeral, the sort of > event normally reserved for royalty. > > Thatcher represented a new brand of Toryism, > ostensibly more middle class and "ordinary" than > many of their predecessors. Thatcher and Norman > Tebbit - the Chingford Skinhead - sought to appeal > to the backward prejudices of the middle class and > to layers of the most backward workers. Thatcher > was heralded as possibly the first woman Prime > Minister. She would understand therefore the needs > of ordinary women and so on. Hardly a day went by > without her appearing on telly armed with a > shopping basket bemoaning the lot of the "little > people." The fact is however that she was anything > but ordinary. Married to oil millionaire Dennis > Thatcher, she represented the most vicious and > small minded layers of the bourgeoisie. > > The ideas of class compromise and a formal > commitment to the goal of full employment that > were dominant in both big parties during the > period of the Post War boom and were based on the > theories of Keynes were abandoned. Thatcher > embraced monetarism and neoliberalism. Her > ideology was a ragbag of reactionary prejudices > and crackpot economic theories, but they > represented a coherent set of ideas and programme > to attack the working class with. > > It's no surprise that the dominant economic and > political ideas that Thatcher and Reagan supported > were those of the Chicago school of economics - > ideas known as monetarism - that had been promoted > by the likes of Milton Friedman and Hayek. These > ideas had been tried before of course. They had > been put into practice in Chile under the > murderous military regime of General Pinochet. > There the 'Chicago Boys' had advocated tight > monetary controls ostensibly to reduce inflation - > which means smashing up the public sector, mass > privatisation and attacks on the poorest in > society. > > This was combined with a political programme to > advocate self help, standing on your own two feet, > and all the other alleged petty bourgeois virtues. > Thatcher went as far as to say that there was no > such thing as society. This was the green light > for a massive onslaught on the working class, > their communities and their organisations. This > onslaught wasn't restricted to Britain either. It > generated a programme of liberalisation and > deregulation, that was ruthlessly applied by the > IMF and the World Bank across the ex-colonial > countries. Thatcher dressed up this reactionary > programme as the logic of commonsense and thrift, > armed only with a handbag (and a small onion for > when she needed to shed a tear - according to > Private Eye) she set off to put the world to > rights. > > Thatcher's programme of privatisation and so > called "popular capitalism" was wrapped up with > the idea of a "property owning democracy", where > everyone owned their own council house and had > shares in the gas board and the electricity board. > They would travel to work on privatised buses, or > privatised tubes and trains. Because everyone was > thereby "standing on their own feet" they would > forget about the evil ideas of socialism and > accept the god of "market forces". The fact is > though that the assault on the public sector had > much more to do with providing productive fields > of investment for the bosses. Compulsory > competitive tendering and the internal market > within the health service served to batter down > wages and conditions across the public sector. In > the ?service? sector the vast majority of costs > are in wages. The logic of compulsory competitive > tendering meant that private companies could > undercut council services, by the very > straightforward policy of cutting wage levels and > staff numbers. Thus, once they had also built > their percentage profit into the equation, > resulting in a massive growth in the exploitation > of some of the poorest sections of the working > class. Of course Thatcher also opposed the minimum > wage as it would ?harm industry?. > > The recession between 1979 and 1981 had a huge > impact on the working class. Unemployment shot > through the roof as millions lost their jobs. What > was the Tory answer? These, they said, were weak > old fashioned industries that were uncompetitive > and overstaffed. In other words they took the same > attitude as their Victorian predecessors; they > introduced ?laissez faire? capitalism. In other > words Thatcher did absolutely nothing; the Tories > just let the industries fold with calamitous > results for working class communities up and down > the country. What about the unemployed? Well, they > were lazy, layabout shirkers, ?moaning minnies? > and scroungers. The Tories slashed the number of > tax inspectors and took on hundreds of people to > police the benefit system. There were huge tax > cuts for the rich while benefits were cut and > people were encouraged to ?get on their bikes? and > look for work. > > Did the medicine work? Monetarism meant that > unemployment went higher sooner in Britain than in > any other major capitalist country. Neoliberal > policies didn?t solve anything. They are now > totally discredited and the policies introduced by > Thatcher in the 1980s are seen as being a factor > in the present crash. > > One of the biggest factors in the victory of the > Tories in the general election was the Falklands > war. Out of the blue, or at least it appeared to > be, the Argentinean army invaded the Falklands > Islands or Malvinas a small bleak and utterly > inhospitable group of islands with a tiny > population massively outnumbered by sheep, > penguins and elephant seals. The Argentinean > Junta?s invasion unleashed a wave of jingoism on > behalf of the press, which Thatcher used to > present herself as a great war leader, casting > herself as the successor to Winston Churchill, > Joan of Arc and of course Britannia. The Tories > sent a task force to the South Atlantic to retake > the islands in what was essentially the most > expensive election campaign in history. It?s clear > that the Argentine military were surprised by the > level of the response from the British. > > But for Thatcher it was too good an opportunity to > miss, an opportunity to play on all of the long > faded traditions of the British Empire, Rule > Britannia and so on by showing ?the Argies? who > was boss. > > Thatcher has always been portrayed as a strong > leader. She was certainly dogmatic, stubborn and > inflexible, but her longevity in power was > achieved in part as a result of accident and in > large measure as a result of the absolute > incapacity of the Labour and trade union leaders > to seriously challenge the Tories. Weakness and > prevarication invite aggression and the Labour > Leaders helped to create the conditions whereby > the Tories were able to lay in to the working > class for over a decade. Thatcher was no great > thinker either. Her social base within the Tory > Party was the nouveau riche, the petty bourgeois > upstarts and the yuppies, the city slickers and > the wide boys, the very same people who brought us > the credit crunch. Large parts of the country were > decimated, whole industries wiped out of > existence. Dogmatic monetarism drove the Tories? > politics and it was the working class that > suffered. > > Viva the grocer's daughter! --------------------------------------------------- "But other than that...... she was alright!" "Go on Mag's.....break a leg!" W**F

Eric look what you have started ...... I hope you have plenty of heart glue.

bon3yard Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Ah, I remember it well. The season on Belgian > Crochet. Underated. ---------------------------------------------------- May I add walloon niche lacemaking to be precise.

OOOOooooh look AGAIN on the General interest RANTFEST page. It is getting madder & better all the time, the best thread on the Forum* See the Sainsburys disabled parking thread ( latter posts ), Oooo now thats what I call handbags at dawn, oh yes keep it up... AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH * IMHO

*Bob* Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > BBC4 has enjoyed ratings as preposterously low as > 800 in its time. -------------------------------------------------------- 801, I watched it last night !

AllforNun Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > They have been bred to form a new group. Standby > for battle lines regarding custody. ---------------------------------------------------------- Oh you couldn't make it up, have you read the press (you know ,the sh1ttier red tops ) seems the mafia are "involved" too and as an aside he was bald the poor fella, I don't know why but that bit shocked me more somehow! Oh boy..... W**F W**F

emc Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I too resent the 'past it' comment - I'm nearing > 40 and don't feel (or indeed look so am often > told) much different to late twenties, early > thirties. I've got a big group of girlfriends and > we discuss Loose Women type stuff but loads of > other stuff too - politics, world events, > whatever, along with the usual loose women stuff > - kids, sex, how crap men can be, make-up, losing > weight, counsel on each other's personal traumas > (if needs be!) etc, etc. > > That's why I like the show, it makes me feel warm > and fuzzy and makes me laugh out loud....I work a > few floors down from the show at ITV and if there > was a job going on it I'd be there like a shot! > > If you don't like it, bloomin' well turn over or > turn off. > > And yes Carol was married to Chris Evans, but now > engaged to toy boy researcher she met on the show > - good on her! -------------------------------------------------- That's us told then ! W**F

dis-

annaj Wrote: ( But not these bits....here in brackets) ------------------------------------------------------- > Yes. Definitely, Ok, maybe....erm no! > > I like the classics and read, and occasionally > re-read,(having discovered that previously I had the book upside down) between new finds, but nothing > brings me joy like discovering a new writer (tied up in the back of my wardrobe), that I > love. Obviously, I avoid anything with a bright > pink or purple cover (even tough I'm colour blind) or anything recommended by Heat > or Cosmo (or Welding monthly), anything where the lead character has a > daft name (like Mr Pip or Mr Y) and is described as "beautiful, but sad" > and anything in the "tragic life stories" section > (yes, it does exist)...(tragedy ). The other day I spent a good (whole day) > choosing a book in Chener just picking things up > and having a read (outloud) of the first few (dozen) pages and > seeing what appealed or (appalled). It's one of life's > pleasures, surely? > > MMmmm I wouldn't make lots of recommendations,(Tandoori nights), no > because I sense we'd have wildly different tastes (I hate coriander) > and because it's not really the point, but The End > of Mr Y, by Scarlett Thomas (luckily I know it's scarlett coz it's written somewhere on the cover), that someone > mentioned earlier (PeckhamRose?) is original and > fascinating, although I felt a bit let down by the > ending (as some one had torn out the last few pages). Also, Mr Pip by Lloyd Jones, which PGC > mentioned the other day on another thread is a > beautiful and horrifying story that will make you > glad people are still writing (boring) new novels. "Sorry did I say something"...(oh I sometimes think one thing and say another)...ahhhmm Have a nice day.. w00f

SeanMacGabhann Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Today "Sean" is enjoying the delights of a cold > beer in his back garden. This will remain his plan > for much of the next 10 days > > Ergo, Sean is not "angry" > > But several threads have tempted him ;-) ___________________________________________________ See now what you've done! I am too.... ahem..."working" from home in the back garden.......but curious now as to which threads tempted the "Sean" ish....? Is it possible (in theory) to take gardening leave, from gardening leave ? If so I think I'm doing It...ahh.. W***

Tony.London Suburbs Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Every Area has its advantages. > > In the Summer I would always want to be out in the > glorious English Countryside, in the Fields, > Meadows, Woods etc... > > Alternatively I would like to be by the Sea which > is exactly what we attend to do after lunch. > > The Beach towels are already packed, we do not > have to drive through London and as we are right > on the A2/M2 we shall be on the beach in > Whitstable/Seasalter in just under 50 minutes from > our departure time. > > The only reason we have not left yet is because > high tide is not until 6.00 PM this evening...:)-D ----------------------------------------------------------- Just in time to walk in other people's dog turds & now with a sun baked crust......nice

mrs f Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I would like to donate my old computer, a MAC G4 > to a charity that will make use of it. > Does anyone know of any charity organisations that > accept computers? > Thanks. --------------------------------------------------------- I placed mine at mid-night in a large yellow "re-cycle..Erm..bin" I believe it went on to a land re contouring scheme, you know where they fill in the gap between two hills and then build a community centre on top shouldered by a new landmark Tesco so you can find it. Yeah, makes y'proud to do your bit sometimes. W**F

Tony.London Suburbs Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > We have a resident splendid Guitarist in Mikecg. > > He has not been around much recently so I assume > he is on some kind of World Tour.... ---------------------------------------------------- Na, Mikecg plays Y-Front guitar on his own so much it could be called self indulgent... as most bands walk on for an encore, he'd be inclined to mince off in a stropp...

Tony.London Suburbs Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > teh=the... > > Get wiv the flow Wolfsie... > > p.s Apparently its the abbreviated version so > hence its constant use... Rlleay hwo ncie F**W

Easties EL Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I take it, the music being mocked? (tu) _________________________________________________________ In the minimalist style of Andrew Pawson Yes

Easties EL Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Her Dreams Keep Calling Me > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzQd4rjYg5w ------------------------------------------------------- Saw your Youtube vid, I really must say ......................nice fireplace in the background where was that ? W**F

Tony.London Suburbs Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > *Bob* Wrote: > Cackling, screeching, end-of-the-pier, > faked-tanned, Sheila's-Wheels insured, leering > harpies. > > Does this or does this not mean that you like teh > ( see what I did there) show "Bob"sy? ------------------------------------------------------------- teh ?

bigbadwolf Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Still perusing the contents labels on shampoo > bottles Woof or have you graduated to the more > weighty manuscripts of shopping receipts. -------------------------------------------------------- Train tickets outward bound & then the return journey (which i see as a sequel)........& a new one comes out each day...Amazing

I prefer a "low simmer" with the lid cocked ...

Tony.London Suburbs Wrote: > p.p.s. How deserving for her lifelong commitment > to our great Nation that she is the first Prime > Minister since Sir Winston Churchill to be granted > a State Funeral. ------------------------------------------------------------ What whilst still alive, I mean I loved & loathed her but burying her whilst there is a pulse..... I mean c'mon W**F

I bet she's got "flip flop" heels as well .....ahhhh go on "kick my ba**s then"

LegalEagle-ish Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I sort of guessed what that bit meant, but the > shaking crows from nests bit kind of flumuxed me! Dulwich mum is back!

Yeah careful though, what's the pub up the road nr the lights opposite where National was? That was usually pretty choice.

bigbadwolf Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hello Marmora Man. > > I personally don't have a problem with all the new > novels coming out at the moment except for some of > the ghastly and shiny covers but concerning the > reading matter I suppose I have a greater and more > vivid imagination than others. > > Anyway, you can call me boring but recently I've > started reading more text books and journals on my > favourite subjects of History, Politics and > Geography because I'm often amazed at how much > I've forgotton of my education through GCSE's and > A-Levels. If you share my thirst for facts as well > as practical theory with a dash of colour I > strongly suggest you get yourself on the National > Geographic mailing list as. I've been reading them > religously for years now and I'm never > disappointed. The articles are accompanied by some > award winning photography. Check it out. ------------------------------------ Nerd.