david_carnell

Just run faster...

LadyNorwood Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > D_C said "Those rich enough are already leaving > the system for private healthcare for any > non-emergency care." They're not actually leaving > the system, they're still contributing to the > system and paying for private healthcare which, in > an ideal world, leaves the system with the same > resources but fewer drains on it..... But, sadly, > this isn't an ideal world and the system continues > to be at breaking point... Look, I don't want to be pedantic and nor do I want this to degenerate into a debate on public v private health BUT your statement is too simplistic. They are leaving a system if they are only choosing to use it when there are no other options available (ie. emergency care) that they can pay for to receive a supposedly superior service. Where do you think the doctors and nurses come from for those hospitals? Who paid to train them? What could they be doing if they weren't operating on deep-pocketed CEOs? Private health uses up just as many resources as it frees.

Indeed, and there just isn't always an easy solution of back-office paper shuffling to fall back on. Some professions and trades are well suited to employing those in their 60s and 70s (law for example) but other much less so. If you're going to extend the pension age, and I'm relatively happy with the arguments to do so, you need to provide support for those it affects.

I think increasing the retirement age is a must. It could possibly be graded - those over 40 now have to work to 70. Those under 40 to 75. I agree that the formula for state pensions that was concocted in 1945 is no longer viable and needs reforming. With life expectancy rising we need an expectation that people will work for longer. The question though, is finding suitable employment for them. You might live longer but the human body still has frailties in the 60s and 70s that make it unsuitable for certain occupations. Means testing the NHS would be a failure. Those rich enough are already leaving the system for private healthcare for any non-emergency care. The cost of assessing income would be so tortuous and expensive it would probably wipe out any savings. Encouraging young, skilled migrants with job offers to come and pay taxes would be a start. Incentives for increasing the birth rate possibly. Or a full scale admission that the current economic model is doomed to failure. Our rapacious consumerism and desire for constant growth can no longer be sustained.

So only one team in history has ever recovered from a 0-2 deficit to win a series. I'd settle for a draw right now! So, about these tiddlywinks then....

Diana = media whore Please don't even try and compare her to someone who fought to end apartheid.

El Pibe Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Nelson, kicked the french about, rasied awareness > for gay rights!! I was going to make that joke. Even wrote it out. Plus something rude about Di. Then hit back on the browser. Damn.

Diana?! Are you freaking kidding me?! Churchill - he pioneered chemical warfare ffs! I know you can be an utter WUM at times but this is just a piss take.

I wasn't really personally backing her btw, just a few that popped into my head. I don't even know what her politics are/were (my bad). I would counter on Bevan, that just because his fame may not be great beyond these shores is no reason not to praise him.

Choked on a ham sandwich didn't she?

No - I try not to go to Sydenham. Too middle class. ;-)

What's a working class bookshop? Free pork pie with every volume on coal miners?

Ghandi Mother Teresa Aneurin Bevan

Have to go for whoever picked Springsteen. Is that Blair? Oh the shame. The shame.

The early Nigel Slaters are good too. That was my first cook book and I still have a rather tatty version now.

Is this the safety risk where you've put the bumbo on top of a table or the like?

They've set up a trust so it's unlikely to.

Dopamine1979 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > A bottle of good scotch. > > A DVD box set. > > Some free time to drink the former and watch the > latter. > > http://www.thecoli.com/styles/default/xenforo/smil > ies/thumbsup.gif How do you retweet on the forum?! THIS. A thousand times this. The Lions tour DVD is very good I've heard (in case 'er indoors is watching).

Then there's Silk Road, The Bear, Crooked Well, Johanssons, the falafel place...the new creperie. The Vietnamese sandwich place by the hospital too. All excellent scran. An unloved corner of London that has a surprisingly high culinary hit rate.

So according to the chaps in the Village Grocery (nee Payless), the old hairdressers, Chaz's, is to be the Italian cafe. But they have lots of building work to do and it won't be open for 6months!

What authority does the council have over granting planning permission based upon the number of affordable homes within the development?

We both have iphones and use the BabyMonitor3G app which works very well. It utilises the wifi network where you are staying and can cross networks too which is useful when your hotel has private room but free public wifi. If you want it, it allows video and also you can speak to your baby too although I've never done or wanted to do so. It saves taking a monitor on holiday or the expense of a babysitter when you're only effectively downstairs from your room or on a terrace. I've never felt concerned over safety by doing so but appreciate others might not be so happy.

Another tragedy. My sympathies to his family and friends. As someone who cycles daily to and from Victoria, the issues surrounding cycling saftey are numerous. A few thoughts below: - Cycling infrastructure is poor to atrocious. There are almost no segregated cycle lanes and the sooner major junctions are given "cyclist priority" phased lights the better; - Cyclists can be their own worst enemy. I see far too many "bike ninjas", all dressed in dark clothes and no lights going as fast as possible, weaving through traffic. In an urban environment I'm ambivilent about the benefits of high-vis but wearing headphones seems utterly bonkers despite what DJKQ will tell you; - The arguments continue to be a vicious circle. Cyclists will continue to ride in aggressive-defensive manner until roads are designed with them in mind and drivers begin to recognise us as legitimate road users. BUT by not riding in a courteous and sensible manner cyclists continue to damage their own reputation, endanger their own safety and the chances of better infrastructure provision; - Drivers are still poor at 'thinking bike' and appreciating vulnerable road users. I think further training as part of the driving/HGV test on cycle awareness is a good start; - I don't like the way that it is deemed to constantly be the requirement of cyclists to 'make' themselves safe i.e. helmet, high-vis, endless lights etc etc. It would be as ridiculous to ask all cars to be painted white as they are easier to spot in the dark. Or for every driver to wear fire proof overalls to eliminate any deaths due to fire in crashes. Pedestrians aren't expected to dress like a quarterback to cross the road despite the inherent danger in doing so and the high number of pedestrian deaths every year. The heaviest burden or responsibility for safety should rest with those in charge of the vehicles causing the most harm in an accident from HGV to car to motorcycle to bicycle to pedestrian in that order.

I actually find minor roads to be less safe. Far more parked cars and blind turnings with cars pulling in and out unable to see me, no cycle lanes and much less space in general. Plus, unless it's a regular journey, on back street cut thrus I'm trying to figure out where I'm going rather than 100% focussing on the road itself. I can understand why it works for other cyclists though. Horses for courses.

76252 - some of the obscure Scottish ones that I confused with obscure NIrish ones ruined me.