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

Evening rg

Dotage: That won't work. To cling the pols greasy pole these days you must start young and should never have had a real job.

Coalition: Not really clear why you are quite so opposed to it. Mostly coalitions are formed amongst parties of broadly similar POV, leftists, rightist or centrist.

Also unless you specifically legislate against your going to have to accept that it will happen.

Also suppose you were of the left and the right wing were attempting to form a coalition govt and the only way to prevent this was to form a left wing coalition. Would it be acceptable to oppose the latter if it allowed a political grouping whose views were antithetical to yours to form the govt.

Manifesto commitments: I agree about reneging on manifesto promises. NuLabour promised a referendum on PR in 1997 and one on HoL reform in 2005.

Not convinced that has the Nutories one the last one they would not have reneged as well.

Scottish Parliament: One thing the do seem not to have is the bearpit effect of the HoC. Not sure that the AMS system is the best oprtion But, deep joy, we have four different systems STV (local govt), AMS (Scottish Parliament), FPTP (UK Parliament) and PL(European Parliament).

Also remember in Scotland we had coalitions until 2007 and the main reason we now have one is that SNP insist that the referendum they promised on independence is non-negotiable.

Most of the above is really for LTR1.

Airbrush kit. I won't pass the offer on it will only give her ideas and I am still waiting for the other shoe to fall, already.

Kurust: Are you sure this is a good idea? Another six to m nine months of untreated corrosion?

Worming: I trust it went well. If not TCP is better than Dettol

Just a thought might be easier to transfer pol stuff to leisurely LTR1.

Sucked in. Not for two days now. No hurry for replies here or LTR1. Fairly busy also.

bis später

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'Morning Bx4

I'll leave the airbrush kit under the table in case you change your mind. Your "other shoe" expression has an Edgar Allen Poe resonance about it.

I'm hoping the extensive Kurust application over winter would have seen me through the next six months or so. However routine washing at the weekend revealed more of the brown stuff on the inside of the pillion peg hangers. The Forth Bridge springs to mind.

The worming didn't happen because cat was hopping mad (maybe he needed worming) and there was insufficient staff available to apply the required restraint. SOs contribution was a regaling of a worming anecdote.

Agree LTR1 POL transfer. Sucked in yesterday morning, good ever since. Busy now too.

BSY

Morning rg

AFK: a visor down day and the SO and I are off for the weekend. SO AFK until Monday.

Shoes. Don't know about Poe overtones but noticed sudden loss of interest in quad after first ragtop was raised.


Forth Bridge: Just up the coast from where I was grew up mostly.

I don't think it is continuously painted any more. New high tech paint apparently. No use to you - I doubt if red lead colour works on riceburners Kurust application seems indicated.

Worming: We introduce it to ours in food; Its bete noir is its travel box. Adopts starfish posture and can only be handle by wearing welders gloves.

Sucked in. My virtue remains intact though there was temptation from Clintist. Little from Today boards.

Have a good weekend.

bis später

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'Morning Bx4

"…Kurust application seems indicated…"

You're not wrong there. A session playing hunt the brush instead of riding is well on the cards this weekend. It will be interesting to learn if the high tech paint does the business for the Forth Rail Bridge. I guess we will learn five years down the line if we hear of a multi million pound bridge strengthening programme.

I hadn't thought of using welding gloves to help worm the cat. How would the microscopic pill be held in the oversized mittens? I concur there is no easy way with the travel box. This can be a noisy smelly experience and a tail rack may be the thing? (only joking RSPCA).

MDT

Morning rg

coffee time

Kurust: Apparently the new 'magic paint' on the FB is an undercoat, glass flakes in epoxy resin.

Might work on the burner without requiring FB red topcoat.

Current evaluation says FB good for a 100 years. You might preserve your burner.

Welding gloves:Onny useful or stuffing into transport box. Curiously well behaved after that.

Worming: We use liquid wormer on food.

Sucked in: Being off for a period I find it is becoming easier not to get sucked in. Mostly gegners talking to each other.

Shelves: Measured up for CD shelves so jig and template building tonight.

Hope you had a good weekend.

bis später

'Afternoon Bx4

The weekend was good though I concentrated on a complete lube service rather than reach for the Kurust. I judged that the spots of rust were of lesser importance. I hope that you and Bx4 SO had a super weekend away.

I'm sure that when the Humber and Severn bridges were built they were "good for a hundred years". Unfortunately corrosion has led to special measures being needed to keep moist air away from snapping suspension wires. I'll not trouble the Forth Rail Bridge prediction as I certainly won't be around to verify it.

Cat will not be well behaved after being put into carry box. Perhaps I should provide plasma screen entertainment with a thumping bass soundtrack like human teenagers have. I'm not sure what a "gegner" is though I've only been sucked in to the extent of having the odd exchange with Magnetist and Old-Leftie etc.

I did read somewhere that CD cases are the size and shape that they are so their shelving could be made by adapting vinyl storage. This was supposed to help record shops to adapt to the new technology at minimum cost. Nothing heard about EU referendum meantime.

MDT

Evening rg

Lube job: Tristram Shandy again. I think you need two burners - one to fiddle with, one to ride.

Weekend: Quite fun. Trip to Copenhagen to see some old friends.

Humber/Servern: Bit like the Forth Road Bridge which is in a similar state. The rail bridge is much more robust as it was built 120 yrs ago, just after the original Tay Rail Bridge got blown over.

Cat box: Once in ours is quite relaxed though lugging welding gloves is a bit tedious.

gegners: Gegner der britischen Weltreichspolitik

the mesmerist: Your a braver man than I am. I had enough of Trevor's 'physics' on the delusion thread. I did have a quick look - is he now claiming to be a 'Chartered Engineer'?

O_L: Noticed him punting Clause Four at the capitalist running dogs.

CDs/Black vinyl: Could be right, vertically at least. 2 CDs = 1 BV plus finger space. Doesn't work depth wise, of course. It has also been suggested that accommodation should be made for DVDs

EU referendum: Seems very quite - though I haven't checked the HoL site. Ony thing I heard was the Irish/Aherne thing

The shelves are calling

bis später

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'Morning Bx4

Extending the discussion about shelving; I also heard that DVD cases were made to marry up to VHS cases again so shops wouldn't have to spend money re jigging their display shelving. I have shelving of my own to repair in Rice Burner's room. The floor is scattered with displaced containers. No wonder I don't ride much these days – it's too tricky to recover the bike for tripping over hazards.

I started the O_L run with Clause 4 yesterday. I'm reading a book about the Dresden air raid which contains some history. It seems that "the slump" provided the optimum conditions for a polarisation of politics. Maybe Clause 4 can make a come back as one business after another requires state aid in what we are not allowed to call a recession. I'll call it stagflation instead. Perhaps the clones have had their day? Viva la difference.

I too wonder which institution mesmerist belongs to as a Chartered Engineer. It appears that in his employment academic and professional qualifications are optional. I wonder if all the Chinese students in his care appreciate this point. Also it's no wonder the public are confused about what an engineer is. I don't think I'd want to cross the Forth Rail Bridge on foot, let alone a train, if it had been declared safe by a washer filter un-blocker.

Gegner der britischen Weltreichspolitik is just about within my understanding without resorting to the dictionary I noticed SO thumbing through last night. I'm not sure why. Have fun with the shelving. I'm glad Copenhagen was fun, it's been years.

MDT

Evening rg

bad hair: Today was: Current work machine reaching its performance limits so little progress. Looks like my departure might be a bit delayed.

VHS/DVD: In the continuing search for troof. I have applied empirical testing and although verticality works, depth does not DVD cases a bit deeper than VHS.

Shelves yours: Dexion?

Slump: Possibly though working class movement preceded depression by quite a bit going as far back as Chartists.

Clones: You may underestimate there persistence. I have been toying with what would happen on Today Board if PHB was elected. Would they still complain?

The Mesmerist: Trevor originally claimed to be a researcher/lecturer in a 'Russell' university and now he's a Chartered Engineer. Is he now lecturing in engineering to the Chinese.?

http://www.engc.org.uk/registration/Register_Sections.aspx

Seems more a posh lab rat thing.

Engineer: mah grandaddy, the railroad man, was an engineer though of the steam engine variety. He did take me on foot across the FRB once.

Gegner: My wörterbuch tranlates it as 'little Englander'

Referendum debate: It appears that the HoL is in recess. Here's the timetable:

http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2007-08/europeanunionamendment.html

Shelves: must

bis später

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'Evening Bx4

Just passing really. You beat me to it for I looked up the HoL schedule this afternoon. There could be an interesting debate (paraphrasing) "where does the government think the European project is going"?

Forth Bridge: Wow you've been where only the few go on foot! Mesmerist: Yes I think if he was Chartered he wouldn't have such a bl**dy great chip on his shoulder. If PHB were elected it would make little difference on the today MB because so many of us are anti career politicians and even more so political parties full stop. We make grumpy old men look like Young Liberals. I did have a conversation with someone this afternoon about making local politics relevant. The only way to do this is to wrestle power from the clutches of central government. Gordon Brown is a target for me because he is at the pinnacle of a rotten system.

I'm sure you're right about the Chartists though they've not featured in the Dresden book yet. I'm only on page 53. The shelves are recycled (appropriate for a cycle shed). I think I've got some scrap angle I can use as part of the fixing to stop my trip hazard(s). You note the Heath Robinson approach as compared to your custom made shelving operation.

Too bad about the hair, be thankful there was a power failure here. I ventured out in the sunshine instead of sitting with fingers glued to the keyboard. BTW whats Dexion? Also thanks for looking in the wörterbuch.

MDT

evening rg

bad hair: Looks like we are going to get a couple of serious Sun Workstations. Spent today looking at them.

Dexion: I am amazed I thought everyone had come across dexion.

http://shop.instant-shop.com/stodec/product290226.html

PHB: I think their are a few who are genuinely disillusioned with all politicians (like me) most seem to be yr typical Daily Hate/Torygraph right wingers.

Chartists: Nothing to do with the firebombing of Dresden, as far as I know. If you can get hold of it Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse 5 is a novel about it. Vonnegut was a POW in Dresden during the firebombing.

sucked in: Nearly happened to day weird post about ad 17 fold increase if furriner drink driving. Total innumeracy.

HoL. Not sure its mostly in committee so I don't think we'll hear much till report stage (May/June)/ Irish referendum will floow shortly after I believe.

Of to measure finally bookshelves for hall. Variable size books so no jigs or templates.

bs

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'Evening Bx4

Your synopsis of the Slaughterhouse 5 hit a nerve. A near relative of mine was a PoW in Hamburg when it was bombed by the Americans. I never established how he came to be there though his description of the event was such that the experience hurt. Shock and awe sixty years before shock and awe?

Dexion: Yes I had come across it without knowing what it was called. In fact this is exactly what my workbench is made of. The bike-shed shelving is recycled chipboard, nothing special, just free and rickety. Not a patch on your custom made product. I think one of the early HoLs debates is a "committee of the full house" so maybe it will make it to the parliament channel.

I had the odd pop about this and that today. I was accused of not doing the maths. Apparently some people think an increase in crime is not an increase if the population rises. Tell that to those who run the prisons. There are contributors who are anti Brown/Cameron/Clegg. In fact I can't think of any of the regulars who are avidly pro Cameron. Brown doesn't need critics on the Today MB, according to 5 Live Drive and PM his own are turning against him. Ye of little faith. Apparently much has to do with presentation. My tip is stay off American TV and keep attacking Cameron's contradictions. Catch phrases like "getting on with the job" are also a no no.

Time to get on with the jobs myself.

MDT

Morning rg

US Bombing: Though of course Operation Gomorrah was a combined USAAF/RAF operation.

The area of Hamburg where we used to live, Eimsbüttel, had been seriously hit in the first Gomorrah raid (the 'firestorm raid was 2 days later). In our street only two of the original houses remained.

Of course, Hamburg, unlike Dresden, was arguably a legitimate military target and the death toll of the whole of Gomorrah was much less than in the pointless Dresden bombing.

http://www.rense.com/general19/flame.htm
http://timewitnesses.org/english/~lothar.html

Dexion. Most woodshop shelves are Dexion.

HoL Debate: I watched the HoC vote on the link I gave you. It also carried the Hansard text of the debate. I don't know if the committee stages of the HoC will be available.

Maths: Not surprised you were chided. Numeracy does not seem to hold sway on the Today threads. You were right in the distinction between absolute number and rate.

Cameron: They may not be pro-Cameron (though as he moves to the right this will change) though many of them seem 'nasty party' Tory to me.

IMO, an interesting difference between Bambi and the PHB, Bambi took Labour to the right whereas the Tories are taking Cameron to the right.

Brown: Never been a fan. 'Sons of the manse' don't do it for me - especially middle class one's from Kirkcaldy

The Sun: Excellent passed all tests with flying colours and so fast. I'm getting (not buying) one at home when I return.

We're a bit behind schedule so it looks like I'll be hear longer than planned. SO and cat leave in about 10 days.

Will finish shelves before she leaves in order to avoid varnishing

At least extra time will make a significant contribution to Boxer 2 fund

Hi Bx4

Just passing.

Early on in Taylor's book he cites evidence of industrial activity in support of the military in central Dresden. What was the phrase of sixty years later "collateral damage"? I'll write more later. Must rush.

MDT

'Afternoon Bx4

Like you yesterday I'm waiting for the sun** to put it's hat on. I didn't know the name of the Hamburg operation "Gomorrah" nor that the RAF were involved. Thank you for that. I'm also grateful for the Dresden links. Rebuilding was going on in the year that I visited and I was very pleased to be able to contribute a little to the Frauenkirche project (which was happening at the end of the road that my hotel stood in). The house I lived in was destroyed by the Luftwaffe and rebuilt after the war. A crater remains in next door's garden.

I can only sensibly watch HoL debates on the TV (if the opportunity arises) due to the lack of broadband. I agree if Cameron "moves to the right" he may "hoover up" support from some Today MB contributors. Though for that to happen he'd have to abandon any ambition to aspire to the middle or clone ground. He'd do well to remember the fate of two baldies and a Howard. I don't take much interest in Cameron* so will take your word that he's being moved to the right by his party. Brown looks ill (see the photo) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7355901.stm. Perhaps this will be the mechanism by which regime change takes place?

I'm really pleased for you getting the new computer up and running. Finishing the shelves is definitely a good idea. The number of half finished projects in this house are a disgrace. I was looking at burner site this morning. There was nothing there to yearn for though I hear what you say about Boxer 2.

MDT

*Aside from the question of the referendum

**The one in the sky

Morning rg

Industrial activity: I have also seen it justified as there being military columns transiting Dresden, Dresden being a military communications centre. However one wonders in any of these situations why there was no significant prior bombing.

I came across this op-ed piece by the military historian John Keegan which is interesting in that it shows Churchill and the Head of Bomber Command trying to distance themselves from the decision:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2005/10/31/do3103.xml

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'Morning Bx4

From your link "there is nothing nice or admirable about any war". I read about the Second World War from time to time to remind myself what a horrible business it was and how different our lives are today. This war had a huge impact on my family hence my particular interest in the conflict. The intent of my earlier post was to point towards the notion that there wasn't always a straightforward "black and white" guide to whether an action could be "justified" with hindsight. A policeman once told me there was no such thing as a fair fight.

No doubt civilised men don't want to be portrayed as callous murderers. Perhaps this is the reason for our leaders wanting to distance themselves from the consequences of their actions. Perhaps if I'd been at war for five years with thousands of my own dead and wounded my sense of civility toward my enemy might have become blunted.

Nominally busy this week.

MDT

hi rg

impact: Sorry to hear that. The impact on my family was less direct. My father was in the RAF and was stationed near Hamburg after the war. What he saw changed his view about the validity of 'reprisal' carpet bombing.

hindsight: No I agree. Of course this applies to the 'post war' sanitisation of the role of our own 'war leaders'. I turned up one site which tried to exonerate Churchill from any involvement in the decision to firebomb Dresden.

civility: Yes I agree but then we should treat the fire bombing of Dresden for what it was not try to justify it.

IMO, the civilian population on both sides are the victims while the establishments on both sides made sure they were well protected.

Busy. Me too. Running simulations.

Bs(y)

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Hi Bx4

I hope the simulations are running well. Here I'm thinking of buying in some cardboard to replace missing staff with cut outs in case the client visits. The firebombing of any city can only lead to untold misery.

"There is a funny anecdote from the Blitz, when Churchill after viewing the carnage after yet another Luftwaffe raid pronounced belligerently; 'We can take it!!' and a little East End women shouted back, 'We are the ones taking it Mr Churchill, not you!!'" http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/foreign/kateconnolly/may06/churchill.htm

I've read similar stories of Churchill having verbal abuse loaded upon him from the abused. I'm hesitant to judge the actions of wartime leaders even when they were well protected. This isn't to justify any one action; it is to wonder whether we could share the same moral outlook without their experience. I wonder how a leader with Gordon Brown's famed moral compass would have coped with the abuse of the bombed out ringing in his ears and a sparkling target at the end of a cold dark night with a thousand bombers at his command. On the subject of another thread will he buckle to the pressure to change his budget one year on? This compass needle reacts to electoral fears; no one on Labour's side cared enough to vote against in 2007 when the legislation was passed.

MDT

Evening rg

Sky: I hope Phaeton's wingéd chariot' appeared.

Gomorrah: I think more British bombers were involved than US ones though I have seen it argued as to whether it was a USAAF daylight raid or RAF night raid that caused the firestorm

Frauenkirche: Slightly different approach in Hamburg. The spire of the Nikolaikirche has been preserved as a memorial but rest of the church has not been rebuilt.

One of the effects in is that modern Hamburg was rebuilt as a very open city which is one of the things I find attractive. Apart from the Nikolaikirche there are few reminders of the bombings apart from two of the enormous flaktürme (IV and V) remain. One of which has, oddly, been turned into flats and later into recording studios and a night club.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/snoother/502749010/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flakturm_Wilhelmsburg.jpg

Hol debates; I dont think the HoL committee debates are televised if not the text can be found on the link I gave:

http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2007-08/europeanunionamendment.html

If you expand the Debates, proceedings and transcripts of evidence link.

Cameron: I think his image is moving enough to the right to keep the nasties happy while not offending the the clone voters. I suspect if elected the party will revert to type.

Ill: May go with the territory look at Bambi in 1997 and 2007.

Regime change: Possibly , apparently he has met with potential rebels and has placated most of them. Looks like our Frankie will fail again.

My Sun. I had little do with setting it up just did the acceptance testing. It has been decided that I will get one that will be shipped to the island. Not sure about this.

The shelves proceed well. Looks like ready for varnishing Thursday.

burner site: So all thoughts of an upgrade are abandoned- you will stick with Tristram.

Boxer 2: Funding is looking good given additional per diem. Been thinking given the €/£ rate I am thinking that it might be worth looking at picking up an accredited secondhand machine in UK

bs(y)