h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

'Scores of Carlsberg workers walked off the job in protest Thursday after the Danish brewer tightened laid-back rules on workplace drinking and removed beer coolers from work sites, a company spokesman said.

The warehouse and production workers in Denmark are rebelling against the company's new alcohol policy, which allows them to drink beer only during lunch hours in the canteen. Previously, they could help themselves to beer throughout the day, from coolers placed around the work sites . . .

Carlsberg's truck drivers joined the strike in sympathy — even though they are exempt from the new rules, [company spokesman Jens] Bekke said. The truck drivers are permitted to bring three beers from the canteen because they often don't have time to have lunch there.

The trucks have alcohol ignition locks preventing drivers from driving drunk, he added.'

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/04/08/carlsberg-beer-work.html#ixzz0kYs05BIE

OK, I givge up - what's AA alcohol ignition lock ?

Ah, ta google.

How do they make it unfiddleable then?
Maybe the boss has to be there, supervising his fleet of 20 ?

in France, after the storm that devastated part of the Atlantic coast, the plan of scheduled house demolitions has been unveiled, making a lot of people angry.

http://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/2010/04/08/01016-20100408ARTFIG00543-xynthia-les-zones-noires-presentees-aux-habitants-.php
Sorry, couldn't find a link in English.

To sum it up :
Over the years, people were given permission to build houses in zones that were already classified as risky at the time, because noone took the risk seriously.
Then the storm, Xynthia, came and it was a catastrophe.
So they have proof that the zones actually are risky.
And the houses are now to be pulled down.
The owners don't agree with the decision (regardless of the risk, they will not have their homes destroyed).

... Brings to mind pictures of a man in a dressing gown lying in front of a bulldozer.

Interestingly, only 25 of the homes scheduled to be destroyed are primary residences...my sympathy level has fallen a bit.

RF

"... Brings to mind pictures of a man in a dressing gown lying in front of a bulldozer"

Anyone remeber the original film 'Vanishing Point' The vanishing point for the super-charged Dodge Challenger in that film was the Bulldozer - way to go

Yes excellent film, norti

Going back to stunningfrenchie's link. That woman in the lime green top at the front, in the photo, looks like she's really giving that bloke some loud mouth.

I'm sure they just their shoulders in a traditional gallic fashion and said "Tant pis". That's pronounced 'Taunt P' BTW and it's in the Oxford English Dictionary, so I don't need to transalte

I saw that woman in the TV news too. She was indeed very impressive.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8611275.stm

Woman finds comedian funny when he makes jokes about other people, not funny when the joke is about her or her family.

'On May 7th and 8th 2010, a truly historic event will take place in Africa. Five hundred grandmothers from across sub-Saharan Africa will come together in Swaziland for the first international Grandmothers’ Gathering on the continent. On May 8th, up to 2,000 grandmothers will hold a solidarity march in the capital city of Manzini, to call for support and action the world over to support them as the struggle at the frontlines of the AIDS pandemic to create a hopeful future for their families. '

http://www.stephenlewisfoundation.org/african_grandmothers_gathering.htm?hq_e=el&hq_m=579466&hq_l=2&hq_v=cbe294f52b

Gordon Brown blocks peerage for army chief Sir Richard Dannatt http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7094306.ece

Proof were it needed that Brown is a spiteful shit

Aren't all politians

Proof, if it were needed, that we need an elected Upper House (or to go back to the lottery of birth).

At least the lottery of birth negated the cronyism and lavender lists we see now. Democracy in the UK is a joke we are governed by an unelected Fedral Europe , a result achieved by politics which the British armed forces resisted against so many despots from the continent

The old system wasn't without it failings, I readily admit, but over the centuries positions and protocols were put in place to ensure the excesses and self-serving nepotism of the lower house was kept in check. New Improved Dictatorial Labour swept away those protocols under a modernise guise, truth is they couldn't stand to be challenged as all despots do. Denmocratic government from the dictatorial incumbants is a As always the media, including the supposedly indepenadnt BBC is cynically manipulated or simply supressed with 'D' notices

Ok, so I'm just an allegedly isolationist boring old fart of a Monday Club Conservative. Bring it on all you left wing trendies, do try to resist the urge to simply seize the moral high ground and pontificate, or worse still stop to crude moral and emotional black mail I welcome intelligent and reasoned debate Harummmp!!!! "Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells"

>>I welcome intelligent and reasoned debate<<

Then don't use statements like: "Democracy in the UK is a joke we are governed by an unelected Federal Europe".

I realise everyone has their own opinions and are entitled to express them, but my response to a statement like that is to say get a grip!

I don't know where to start on pointing out how wrong a claim like that is.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7094308.ece

Anybody think centralised storage of data is a good idea? Is your data safe when grubby politicos can get a hold of it and use it to their own ends?

Then take a grip HonestIago, utilse a seperate thread if you need to and explain yourself! You're welcome to your opinions, back it up with reasoned debate.

Grandmothers in Swaziland. Sad that the crowd for that is manageable. Oh, well! Better luck next generation!!!

On the cancer leaflet thing, what is the problem with sending them to people who have cancer or are being tested for it? Should those people not be the first to know what a (potential) new government are going to do to their treatment options? Should they not be informed as soon as possible? I know it was done as a campaign ploy rather than a public health notice, but still, who else would you send that information to?

Anyway, in other news;

Authorities in the German city of Muelheim spent 100,000 euros on a three week mission to recover a missing snake -- only to discover it had died.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6383RV20100409?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FoddlyEnoughNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Oddly+Enough%29&utm_content=Google+UK

>> what is the problem with sending them to people who have cancer or are being tested for it? <<

The main problem is that the information was untrue. I have a real problem with that, and I'm surprised that you don't.

RF