London calling...

[pfx]

I will never vote again

Therefore I would expect to see no comment from you on the government, councils or opposition after the next election.

Really, that is the sort of attitude that has the Conservatives and Labour running the country in cycles. If all the people who said they won't or don't vote as it isn't worth it, suddenly decided to start voting for alternatives to the status quo, imagine what changes it could bring about. Voter apathy is what is killing politics, not just politicians for all their woeful traits. People died for democracy and to throw that right away is shameful.

 

[wholbr]

Hi Everybody.

PFX is perfectly correct in stating that democracy and democratic government is something which everyone of us needs to protect. One famous politician once stated “democracy may not be perfect but all other forms of government are ten times worse”.

Having said that, it is understandable why so many people in Britain are totally disillusioned with the established political parties and the career politicians that are in them. However, that can be changed by the fact that we live in a democracy where so many institutions are governed by elected lay members and thereby anyone can join any political party, trade union or such organisation as the numerous Chambers of trade and commerce and become involved and through that fight for change.

If you do not like what you see in the Labour Party, Conservative party or a lesser party such as the Greens then find out where the local constituency party is and join whichever one depending on your basic views. From there attend the local meetings and put your views forward as that is a place where your ideals and beliefs may be accepted by others and pushed forward to eventually become policy.

The above is how the Thatcher's and Blairs of this world got control of their parties and instigated the policies that has brought Britain to the low it is now. They got control because of apathy, of people not going to meetings like the above, they realised that small groups can gain tremendous power within democratic organisations.

If you throw in the towel and say I will not vote again you abdicate the right to have any view on how Britain should be run. If you do not like what you see in Britain today then join the democratic institutions we have and fight for change from within, that is the way forward and if enough people do that we will have change.

Bill

 

[Euphod]

In Chicago if you don't vote, don't worry....somebody else will vote for you!

 

[rjhowie]

Can agee with wholbr on getting involved as I have been an involver for most of my life. Too many will moan but do nothing as long as life isn't a bitch to them - the entertainemnt places are open, pubs, clubs, shops, go on holiday and be selfish.

Euphod did make me smile at the aside at Chicago. Both it and the State of illinois have had such a long activity of corruption that folk just seem to sigh and accept it. Even Governors have ended in jail!

 

[Paulsw2]

Well, the Olympics is on, bonkers opening ceremony but I loved it, saw the flame last Thursday, haven't seen so many people out in Brixton for years, and so far so good. Was out in central London last Wednesday and again on Saturday. Tube fine, though obviously lots of Olympic tourists who haven't got a clue where they're going and not really sure about tube etiquette!

Wondering whether to go and have a look at the Olympic park over the next fortnight (you can get tickets to go in.) If so, think I'll get the Javelin from St Pancras!

Paul

 

[wholbr]

Hi Everybody.

Well, the Olympics is on, bonkers opening ceremony but I loved it, saw the flame last Thursday, haven't seen so many people out in Brixton for years, and so far so good. Was out in central London last Wednesday and again on Saturday. Tube fine, though obviously lots of Olympic tourists who haven't got a clue where they're going and not really sure about tube etiquette!

Wondering whether to go and have a look at the Olympic park over the next fortnight (you can get tickets to go in.) If so, think I'll get the Javelin from St Pancras!

Paul

I have to agree with everything you say their Paul. The opening ceremony was an absolute triumph of innovation which gave the world a great insight into our history and humour characterised through our ability to laugh at ourselves. After stating in an earlier posting on the thread that I was not interested in the Olympics, following the opening ceremony I have watched the football and then found myself shouting at the TV screen on Sunday while watching the women's cycling road race which found everybody talking about it in the office today. We then found ourselves watching the men's gymnastics late this afternoon again in the office on a couple of PC monitors with everybody shouting and bawling in support of the British team.

Therefore I freely admit to the whole of this forum (as I did to all the employees in the office this afternoon) that I was wrong. I am now absolutely hooked on the Olympics and I would wish to thank every Londoner (especially Paul) for bringing such a great spectacle to Britain and showing the rest of the world including Mick Romney how it can be laid on in such an overwhelming manner in the world's greatest city.

I did like Paul's comment regarding the Olympic visitors not understanding " tube etiquette". I think what he meant there was that the visitors do not hang on to the bars tight enough while standing and therefore finish up with their heads in someones lap every time the train accelerates or brakes.:hehe:

Again, thank you Paul and all Londoners for bringing the Olympics to Britain. And I will say again, I was wrong, I was wrong, I was wrong and very glad I was

Bill

 

[pfx]

I know it's illegal to criticise the opening ceremony or anything Limpicks but (since I vote and therefore am perfectly justified in excercising my opinion) I'm going to risk arrest by saying that I thought the opening ceremony was awful. Whatever happened in the stadium just didn't come across well on TV, the coverage to me at least, being completely disjointed. I'm sure the whole thing must have looked great from a stadium seat where you got a feel for the whole thing but the TV producer made it appear like a series of vaguely related skits. I was really disappointed to discover that it was the real Paul McCartney 'singing' as I was under the impression that it was Cilla Black doing a parody act!

Now that we're past that though, I get to watch the main event and I've enjoyed everything so far - archery, volleyball, mens' gymnastics. It would be nice if the commentary teams could show a little decorum though (the screaming towards the end of the mens' gymnastics was shocking). I know they're all behind the British team but come on.

 

[rjhowie]

Much to sympathise there with that last comment although I think the opening idea may have been a goodly idea in print. It was certainly unique.....

On a wider note, I thought that the history angle was woefully out of kilter altogether. The NHS wouldn't mean much to foreigners even if a Mary Poppins attitude was included! And where were other important highlights such as Penicillen, railways, television. internet and many other worthy attributes started here? In addition for goodness sake why "Jerusalem"? This was meant to be Great Britain not one home nation. The song doesn't apply to the other 3 home nations and too heavily on one to the detriment of the others. Screaming commentators are not very professional at all and i have heard then on other sporting occasions and puts me right off. However I really trust the event goes well with all the effort put into the project and the crowds attending as well as the millions watching.

 

[amigacooke]

In addition for goodness sake why "Jerusalem"? This was meant to be Great Britain not one home nation. The song doesn't apply to the other 3 home nations and too heavily on one to the detriment of the others.

That's probably why it book-ended choirs from Northern Ireland (Danny Boy), Scotland (Flower of Scotland) and Wales (Guide me oh thou Great Redeemer). Also, Tim Berners-Lee (who appeared) didn't invent the internet, he invented the world wide web.

 

[rjhowie]

Fair points and willingly accepted. My only caveat is that the whole arena portrayal was still more settled for down south with the green and plesant land symbolising the tradition of our southern cousins. Apart from that was passable.

 

[Paulsw2]

thank you Paul and all Londoners for bringing the Olympics to Britain.
Bill

I can take no personal credit, except that I'm helping to pay for it through my council tax. But thank you Bill anyway!

On the tube again this evening, but almost as quiet as the grave. Obviously people have been listening to the dire warnings and staying away from central London! Wonder if it'll stay like this for the whole fortnight? If so, I might go out shopping!

Paul

PS. "Wiggo, spin to win"!!!

 

[rjhowie]

By jingoPaulsw2. You are a mighty generous man. Thanks from a traditional, frugal Scot from the north of the Kingdom.

 

[Euphod]

So much for the incredible increased sale for local merchants!

 

[wholbr]

Hi Ed and Everybody.
I don't think it's just London Ed that business is very slow. I was down in Cornwall for two days last week on a business trip and things were very bad down there. Cornwall is one of the leading holiday destinations in the UK and this should be their busiest month. However, there are plenty of hotel rooms available and also caravan accommodation on all the holiday parks. There seem to be very few people about outside the main centers and everyone I spoke to where in despair about the future of the region which with the exception of the holiday trade is already one of the most depressed regions in the country. There are also press reports of similar situations in Cumbria, North Wales, Yorkshire and Devon.

The problem is not the Olympic Games is the fact that many people working in private industry have not had a pay rise in the last three years or more and those working in the public sector have either lost their jobs or they are not spending anything because of the fear of losing their jobs. The simple fact is the austerity policy of this government is not working, it will never work with even the Institute of directors and other similar bodies who where staunch supporters of this policy when it commenced are now saying there has to be a change (so much for the brains of Britain).

My business is in somewhat of a niche market and we remain very busy at the present time. I am one of the lucky ones who did not have to borrow any money for its start-up so that relieves much of the pressure that other business are suffering. What I fear most is that this recession now has the first signs of turning into a full-scale depression and the implications if that occurs will affect every business and every person in the country.

Bill

 

[rjhowie]

Well I do hope your busines keeps itself above the water.One wee thing surprised me about you last insertion here. A Brit using 'center' instead of 'centre''! Tut, tut!

 

[wholbr]

Hi RJ and everybody.
RJ I have to say it's great to know someone who still values the English literary disciplines of spelling, punctuation and correct pronunciation. I always use Microsoft Word and Dragon NaturallySpeaking for almost all text writing especially when posting on this forum. It is difficult to use that when travelling on a train as you are likely to get the men in white coats coming on board at the next stop if other passengers see you talking to a laptop or tablet computer.

However, I did notice that the word "centre" was being printed out as "center" while dictating the posting and I manually changed the spelling only to see it reverted back again when I posted on the forum. I have thought about it several times during the day and have come to the conclusion that this is a Microsoft worldwide conspiracy. As their published ambition is to make a larger impact in the web browser market I believe that the plan is that every time someone enters a payment through their online banking using the Microsoft browser the payment name will be changed from whoever that person or organisation is to pay "Microsoft". The centre v center puzzle is only a trial for the above.

Seriously though, I am a strong believer in the use of traditional literary disciplines. We do many reports in the business which are often used in company disciplinary procedures or employment tribunal hearings. As someone who has sat on the bench as a magistrate RJ you have undoubtedly witnessed the way that solicitors will pick up on any ambiguous statement in a report and use it to cast doubt on the evidence or meaning of the content.

Leaving school at fifteen years of age I was absolutely hopeless with written English and consider that I am not much better now. I often write reports that are always passed through the two girls in the office both of whom have high qualifications in English and they usually completely re-write my efforts in terms of punctuation, pronunciation and grammar. People like those girls are difficult to find these days as employees which is a shame as so many young people do not seem to realize that they debar themselves from many excellent well-paid employment opportunities by simply not having the literary skills.

Perhaps that is the failure of the system and persons that educate them.

Bill

 

[rjhowie]

So true in much of what you say there Bill and I often groaned at the ignorance of many I had before me. Up here a magistrate sits himself (not in threes like down south) so you have to be on the ball more! My normal job was in education as a School Liason Officer (back in the old days a School Attendance Officer) or Welfare Officer again south? What I often found appalling for all the money pumped into education the ignornace of putting a sentence together or even being able to communicate with people even personally was something else. Even my local private cab firm is staffed by young lassies at base who illustrate the lack of communication skills. Americanisms slip in all the time which is a challenge. From time to time I have been amused whilst sitting with the driver and he shows me on the wee screen what a girl in her teens has typed and you have to wonder. If I was to jail folk for basic stuff Barlinnie up here would be full!

Bobby


On the Olympics. I haven't been watching it much as I have been trying to catch up on this rather trying build on Trainz of the whole of the present Ulster railway scene via N. Ireland Railways. What is pleasing is the tally of medals this wee island has been collecting and we aer at the moment in 4th place.

 

[AlanBradbury]

the ignornace of putting a sentence together or even being able to communicate with people even personally was something else. Even my local private cab firm is staffed by young lassies at base who illustrate the lack of communication skills. QUOTE]

And you are having a go at other people's written communication skills when you write stuff such as the above? :hehe:

Al

 

[pfx]

Bobby, should I point out that 'liaison', 'ignorance' and 'are' have all been misspelled? Similarly, the post in which you picked up on the spelling of centre, contains the word 'busines' and 'you' instead of your. If you're going to starting criticising people for spelling errors and poor grammar, the very least you can do is ensure that yours is nothing less than perfect.

As a rule of thumb, I only take issue with poorly written English if it gets to the point of being incomprehensible, my job not being that of an English teacher. However, there are a great number of crimes against the written word on this forum that I don't bother to mention.

Anyway, as this isn't a classroom and to veer back on-topic, I've continued to watch a few of the minority sports and was impressed to see a new World Record in the women's trap shooting which I appreciated more than some, being a marksman of considerably less accuracy myself! I also chanced across the curious 'sport' of race walking though thankfully, I chanced across another channel quickly thereafter (apologies to those who find race walking enthralling).

 

[fran1]

pfx,
I've just laughed out loud to myself (should be locked up and the keys thrown away) reading your post.
Womens trap shooting, a vision sprung into my head of toilet doors springing open and women blasting away at whatever target was flying past.
Off back to my padded cell now.