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

UK By-Election Results

Croydon North
Steve Reed (Lab)15,898
Andy Stranack (C) 4,137
Winston McKenzie (Ukip) 1,400
Marisha Ray, (LD) 860

Middlesbrough
Andy McDonald (Lab) 10,201
Richard Elvin (Ukip) 1,990
George Selmer (LD) 1,672
Ben Houchen (C) 1,063

Rotherham
Sarah Champion (Lab) 9,866
Jane Collins (Ukip) 4,648
Marlene Guest (BNP) 1,804
Yvonne Ridley (Respect) 1,778
Simon Wilson (C)1,157
Simon Copley (Ind) 582
Michael Beckett (LD) 451


So Overall We have
Labour
Ukip
Conservatives
...
Lib Dems

That Rotherham result is a shocker both for the Tories and the Lib Dems. It also reveals just how little chance UKIP have got of ever getting an MP via election: if they can't win even with a huge event that favours them, they're not winning for a long time.

<< trust in the police varys massively based on people backgrounds>>

Absolutely. The police aren't highly thought of by boy racers or football fans either - law abiding groups who encounter the police more often than others. In fact, any grouping who come into contact with the police regularly have a low opinion of them.

There's a reason for that - the police are generally arrogant, confrontational, boorish, egotistical s who generally work on the assumption that everyone is guilty of *something*. That makes them a pretty unpleasant bunch to rub along with but it's exactly the qualities you want in a service tackling crime and criminals.

How sad for you, swl, that your police service is "arrogant, confrontational, boorish, egotistical".

I am a law abiding citizen of a city with a bit of a reputation for gang violence, murder and al Shabaab recruitment. I also have had fairly regular contact with members of the local constabulary through 911 calls, traffic stops, petty crime reports at the local Community Police Station, information calls, twitter posts, friendly hellos on the street, etc. and I have always found them to be polite, professional, often affable, regularly witty and clearly educated individuals. I'm glad to have them as members of my community.

Sorry you're stuck with a bunch of stereotypes.

>>..work on the assumption that everyone is guilty of *something*. <<

It's more than an assumption, it's a psychological strategy
based on a general truth that everyone has suppressed guilt.

By presuming that the suspected perp is guilty of something
the policeman has an edge in the conversation. Anyone less
than a hardened criminal type will often 'confess' or at least
be more 'agreeable' to the officer's demands.

And of course, like anhaga, I consider myself a law abiding
citizen in a free society and have no problems with coppers.


I understand many of the euphemisms people have for cops
but I've never understood why anyone calls them 'the fuzz'.
(Ooops - this is not the thread for such drift - I'll ASK)


~jwf~

The Ukip foster parent story - http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/nov/30/ukip-row-many-reasons-children-removed

It seems the kids were removed from their birth parents after allegations the father was sexually abusing his daughters but it was successfully argued in the courts that their right to be brought up in traditional culture trumped this.

*successfully argued in the courts* only makes it law, not right!
Ask any barrister who wants your money!

Surely in that case it would be a bad idea to ask any barrister who wants your money?

01 Dec 2012) Civilian demonstrations in kuwait as Kuwaiti Ruling Party manipulate election process
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20558824

28 Nov 2012) David Cameron expected to sign big security deal with Kuwaiti ruling party
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20530427

Is Bernie Ecclestone about to get whacked?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/20579360

Maybe been watching too much Boardwalk Empire, but this sounded like a Mob Boss to me:

"Di Montezemolo, 65, said: "We must respect the elderly, especially when they can no longer control their words. Seniority is often incompatible with certain roles and responsibilities."

Another benefit claimant for us to feed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20586343

They just keep breeding.

PP.

don't we all?

Lego towers can be made to be stupidly high - 3591m by one lab's test
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20578627

The remarkable lengths Edinburgh Zoo is going to to persuade their pandas to breed.
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/environment/wildlife/article3618621.ece


Have they considered putting them on Income Support?

This zoologist says 'f ...' the pandas.


http://pinktreefrog.typepad.com/amphibianavenger/2012/04/fk-the-panda-save-the-salamander.html

Uch, royal pregnancy seems on every news media I turn to.
Where's Cromwell when you need him?

Being an equally dictatorial leader as the king he disposed

You could read about Stuart Hall instead http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-20605267

The Duchess has been released from hospital

The BBC News 24 channel are still talking about the "babygro" that was handed to Prince William last week. It's been on every headline segment. I saw that mother holding a baby who handed over the gift, and it was a bodysuit, not a babygro. I don't know why I am annoyed by this but you'd think someone would have told the BBC by now, to stop repeating the same error.

Not to worry, I've emailed them now