david_carnell

I know you're speaking from a knowledgable position CitizenED so I won't argue beyond my reach. Of course Eton/Marlborough/Rugby etc are very different from minor public schools that exist all over the country; for a start I would imagine the fees are disproportionate. And indeed you are correct when asserting that those from the margins of sopciety are those in most dire need of a decent education with low class sizes, excellent facilities, top teachers etc etc when in reality they are likely to get the worst of all of those. It is a vicious circle of course. Bad school attracts only those teachers who can't get jobs elsewhere and so gets worse. Is unable to attract those children of parents who give a damn to try and improve things and so it goes round and round. But the fact that fee-paying schools still attract a tax-free charitable status does stick in the throat rather. Of course, I offer no answers. :(

Very good. You can remove tongue from cheek now.

Come on Brendan, that's a bit OTT. Opposing the ongoing educational privileges of the money-ed class in favour of extra investment in state education for all and forming the solid basis of a meritocracy is hardly the same as supporting Lenin now is it?

SimonM If Leeds do get back into the Championship (fingers crossed) then the matches against the Blades will be real hummdingers for more than the usual reasons. Natural rivalry in the fixture is already quite intense. In fact, I'd put games against you and the Wendies joint third in our grudge match list after United and Chelsea. Then you've got a couple of our players who Leeds fans liked and were sorry to see go. Killa especially was a hard one to swallow having come through our youth team. We wanted the next Woodgate - and we sort of got him, buggering off when we ran out of money, again! Hulse was always impressive though never scored as many as you thought he should have. Then the big factor, Blackwell. Hounded from Elland Road just months after taking us to the play-off final. Given time and resources I think he really could be a great manager. He had neither at Leeds. In hindsight it was a mistake but I doubt he would have stayed with us when we went down anyway. The reception he gets from the Leeds fans will be interesting. Not that I'd swap him for Gary Mac now anyway. Legend.

citizenED Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > It's one thing sending your kid to a fee-paying > school to prevent them rubbing shoulders with the > riff-raff and scumdingers. It's a totally > different thing to send them to a top public > school so that they meet the sons and daughters of > the ruling classes. Is it not just slightly further on the same scale?

Are you ex-forces MM? Spam seems to be endemic in the cuisine served to all three.

The page on the 185 has a picture of Goose Green roundabout! With a bus! Fascinating stuff. Irony

Ahh come one SimonM, we all know you're running scared. With Leeds in the Championship next season our Yorkshire derbies get a lot more interesting than Leeds v Huddersfield. You'll be battling with the Wendies to avoid the drop. On a more serious matter, how did the ex-Leeds boys do this season at Brammal Lane?

Yes, I'm aware of the legal differences but the point remains - why do the rail companies think it is perfectly accpetable for you to enjoy a train journey with the delights of a G&T whilst Bozza would like to prevent you from doing so. And like Ant, I would think anti-social behaviour due to alcohol is already illegal anyway so why bother to further legislate. It just smacks of populism, that's all.

Or the Waterboys.

Keef Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Have a word David, it is a very nice idea, and > trains with food / drink carts are not buses or > tubes are they. No, they are not. But they are still enclosed transport systems to which the same rules still apply. If it is deemed appropriate to sell booze on one but not be allowed to bring your own onto another there is some faulty logic somewhere. Unless the plan is to start selling TfL branded beer at bus stops and they want to eliminate the competition first. > I agree it may well be unenforcable, but it is a > good idea! I'm not the type to feel easily > imtimmidated, but I have felt nervous a couple of > times when a bunch of Stella guzzling tw@ts have > got on the bus and started abusing everyone! Granted, as have I; but do you not think that then challenging them to give up the aforementioned Stella might actually do more harm to passenger safety and wellbeing than just letting them swig a few cans on their journey?

I believe the parlance on the 606 boards is a WUM....or Wind Up Merchant! Quite accurate. Although I like you're idea Anna. So...anyone watching the League One play-offs on Monday? The Mighty Leeds take on Carlisle! Anyone? Anyone? No, alright then, just me.

Obviously it doesn't apply to those trains leaving/arriving into London that serve booze from a trolley or buffet car? What about a snifter from a hip flask? If I use a wine glass can I have a drink then? Who is going to stop me? A well thought out policy? Nah, this is Bozza we're talking about.

Ahhh, I've just looked at the Wimpy website and had forgotten the classic burger offerings. Bender-in-a-Bun http://www.wimpy.uk.com/images/menu/burger/bender.jpg :)) Always made me laugh even as a a kid.

Rose-tinted specs Bob. I have a suspicion that should I actually go to one now my palate would be assaulted. I fear after too many years of living off char-grilled sirloin steaks and caramelised onions served in a toasted sourdough buns something as ordinary as Wimpy would fail to cut the proverbial mustard. In the meantime an interesting list of ingredients in a McDonalds strawberry milkshake: Milkshake Base: Milk, skimmed milk, cream, sugar, skimmed milk powder, glucose. Stabilisers: E412 guar gum, E452 sodium polyphosphate, E407 carrageenan, E466 carboxymethylcellulose. Vanilla flavour. Strawberry Flavour Milkshake Syrup: Water, sugar, glucose syrup, strawberry juice concentrate, acidifier: E330 citric acid, strawberry flavour, preservative: E202 potassium sorbate , natural colouring agent: E162 beetroot juice concentrate. Mmmm.

HonaloochieB Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Seriously, the Wimpy bar is the best option, been > around since the late 50's I beleive so > practically traditional. > Plus they invented the Chocolate BowlerTM. I rest > my case. This would indeed be awesome, a childhood throwback. No only did they have the Chocolate Bowler but the almighty Knicker-bocker-glory as well. Not to mention the spicy bean burger for veggies and the almighty 1/2 lb-er burger. Great milkshakes. It was the only burger place my Mum and Dad would take me to as the food was cooked fresh and it got served on plates with proper cutlery. Love it!

Moi + 1

On the topic of right-wing bias in the press I would also agree with you (miracles will never cease, huh?). The Standard was particularly vitriolic in its coverage of the Mayoral election. Considering that its parent company (Assoc. Newspapers) also own one of the freebies it's beyond a joke. Not to mention the Mail & Express. Then there is the anti-Ken Murdoch group owning the Sun, Times, NOTW, Sky TV etc etc plus the Torygraph. How anyone claims the liberal bias of the media is often beyond me. Indeed, Ken is/was very different to the Labour Government (rather than your mention of the "party" which is again different). It often pains me to repeat how I can be a Labour Party member (no laughing at the back) and disgree with the government. It takes some people a while to grasp. Personality seems too have played a large part in Ken's downfall (and Boris winning) with many people I spoke to, and on here, disliking him, his nasal tones just as much as his policies. It's now a distinct part of the political game. If you are telegenic and charismatic you can get much further in politics than ever before - despite glaring shortcomings. Exhibit A would be a few members of the current cabinet! Edit - I'll let the Bromley slur slide quite happily as I have relatives in Kent who are very close to those you describe. I tend to dismiss the whole county as a touch insular and backward - including Bromley! Could we yet be friends, James? ;-)

James is that really you? Have you had a Damascene conversion? Only, I entirely agree with everything you just said and I don't think that's happened before! ;-) Spot on, comrade!

Alas they do not take up 2x as much road space. At 18m long a bendy is a mere 4m longer than a regular double-decker. The space is used more efficiently. Also, as much as I like the ideas of conductors there are complications. Firstly they cost money. This would have to be funded by fare rises. Secondly, one of the reasons they were originally phased out was because as fare collectors they became a target for both anger and attack. They would have to be specially trained and probably given stab vests in order to be safe. I suppose Oyster cards negate some of that though as there is no longer any cash involved. You really need a air-marshall style system to prevent anti-social behaviour on buses (which I presume is what is the intended result) but who would want or be capable of such a job?

Ooh, good stuff. Given the rising price of bread and the newly opening bakers opposite William Rose and the current bakers opposite Green and Blue I'll be intrigued by any price undercutting going on. Oh, and the bread from the ED Deli. Choice, choice, choice. Love your bread from the stall on Northcross Road so best of luck.

Sandperson is correct in all accounts: a) the bendy-bus was designed to allow easy access for disabled users and those with prams b) it holds more than double decker 120+ compared to 80-90 c) it is more fuel efficient and less polluting I do however worry about the sanity of an electorate that bases its voting behaviour on the design of buses. Are they really so divisive? On the competition issue: when working with the MoD they fund development costs for interested parties - the expense would mean very few competitors if they did not. Finally, for those torn between bendy and double-decker, a solution: the bendy double decker. I shit you not: Buggered if I'm driving that though.

We say: while a steel mesh cage hangs from the ceiling providing extra storage We mean: we forgot to design any kitchen storage space and these were going cheap from a pet store We say: The ceiling is part exposed concrete from the build process and part finished in plaster, lending some post-modern faculties We mean: We ran out of money towards the end and couldn't pay a plasterer to finish the job properly We say: A healthy sized larder cupboard is next door We mean: The government says you should eat more so there's room for a lettuce and a tin of aduki beans and no more We say: tiles are oversized and elegant in a caramel shade. We mean: stupidly large beige tiles We say: Access a private, decked balcony from here, ideal for swigging a mojito in the warmer months We mean: You'll need a drink when you see how much you're paying for a view of the Sainsburys car park

The touble with private funding of the arts is that it tends to focus on the very populist choices (and therefore the most profitable). Whilst the more fringe arts may not be evryones cup of tea they undoubtably benefit from central funding.

Thank you for standing up to central government; for opposing the PPP financing of the tube; for making public transport noticeably better than it was 8 years ago; for befriending democratically elected South American leaders and giving London access to cheap fuel; for being a international diplomat and attracting investment in cosmopolitan city; for sticking two fingers up to Associated Newspapers! Have a good retirement.