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

Morning rg

queries: an SQL man?

plan: Hope so. Hate coding. Test runs OK.

our fair isle: No current plan is R75 combo here not there. Schematic suggests car not switchable. Intend to pass off Luftwaffe eye candy as postmodern irony.

trike: an eventual replacement when decrepitude means boxer 1 no longer viable.

impressed: IMO, far too easily.

new message. Still haven't looked at how to start new thread. Good idea though.

Parliament channel: We are on broadband feeds at moment. Had brief look at debate. Few attendees most of the time. Still think HoC chamber is pants.

See you got an ID card debate. About time.

Must dash. Time to earn euros for SOs prior transport demands.

bis später

'Morning Bx4

I've been absent prepping rice burner and those nice people at the bike shop gave me a Z750 to play with. The moment I saw it I knew I was going to have fun.

"…SQL man?"

No and Yes, whatever works really. I have a small but useful collection of self written programs though the basic wizards do 95% of the work.

"…Test runs OK…"

Good news.

"…Luftwaffe eye candy as post modern irony…"

Just a thought, does this sort of thing go down well in a country that bans the swastika? Do people like to be reminded of the war (asked with half an eye to Basil Fawlty).

"…Still haven't looked at how to start new thread..."

It looks like we may not want to straight away as your post generated a page break?

"…think HoC chamber is pants…"

It's a pantomime.

"…an ID card debate…"

Like a few other posters I now especially disbelieve anything any government minister says about any policy. My latest thought on ID cards is that a central database should contain our names and photographs and that's about it. We wouldn't carry a card at all; the retailer or other interested person would retrieve our photo on a secure computer link in order to verify our ID. No one apart from me likes this idea though.

"…Time to earn euros…"

I'll settle for pounds today.

MDT

good news: Good - less code cutting. Less good - I am on a per diem.

Eye candy: No swastika involved. I have checked - post modern irony is OK.

paging: Didn't notice. Good though

Pantomine: I was talking about the interior decor. Too retro. Compare

http://www.explore.parliament.uk/Parliament.aspx?id=123&subSection=true
http://www.explore.parliament.uk/Parliament.aspx?id=125&subSection=true
with
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/chamber/index.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Espace_L%C3%A9opold#Hemicycle

ID cards: Biometric passports here (demanded by the 'Land of the Free') but not ID cards (still cardboard and all that's needed for Schengen travel). No legal requirement to carry it, I'm told. Some stores apparently trialling retinal scanning but I haven't come across it.

Summary posted.

Have a good weekend must dash

bs

.
"...per diem..."

Each diem a bonus? Code cutting progress a clear demonstration of competence to a new employer.

"...I have checked - post modern irony is OK..."

I'm pleased and look forward to further progress reports (isn't this post corporate)

"...the interior decor. Too retro. Compare..."

Indeed I did compare and would also suggest the Senedd across the water http://picasaweb.google.com/michas.fotos/BesuchVonTim1326042007/photo#5062203866425500050 I think I'd rather the political system in this country fixed before the architecture.

"...Biometric passports here (demanded by the 'Land of the Free')..."

I've always thought that those who want to visit the US should have been made to pay extra for biometric passports. Why should we be bullied into accepting their standards for non-US travel? As a matter of interest Embassy Issued passports are not valid in the US because they are not machine-readable (another US demand).

"...Summary posted..."

I'll read it tomorrow with fresh eyes, and in the meantime also wish you a good weekend.

PS

Just time before curfew to report that rice burner has a shinny new bi-coloured chain. The shop warned me it needed to be run it. Sure enough the bike sounded like a nineteen thirties racing car on the ride home – an intensely mechanical whine like a gearbox that had lost all it's oil. This was most odd.

"...it needed to be run it..."

run in

Morning rg

new employer: Not strictly my employer. It's a biotech company cooperative in which we all have 'shares'. As I am officially retired I don't draw a salary any more hence per diem.

architecture: You shouldn't discount the effect of architecture. It's been argued that the bearpit of the HoC promotes the 'Punch and Judy' style of politics.

biometric passports. Agree about the US if one isn't planning to travel there, then there's no need or biometrics. Perhaps an optional insert.

summary: No hurry. You'll see its not intended to provoke a detailed response

eyes: Still bad? Hope they get a bit better. No hurry in any case. I am fairly visor down myself and have other things to do at weekend.

30s racing car. Cool! Beakpads still outstanding?

Have a good one.

bs

.
Not a reply to diem (yet)

Sun, 09 Mar 2008 17:59 GMT, in reply to Boredbyfour Message 1793

"...You forgot the [LT thread] in between... two moribund threads to go ..."

You're right I had forgotten all about it. Then again I don't think I've posted there yet.

"...We seem to have a basic disagreement about whether voting, in elections and referendums, should be compulsory or not..."

Correct.

"...it is necessary if we are not to have a 'democratic deficit' in which an unrepresentative minority makes decisions..."

Point taken, I wonder whether adding compulsion would distort the result and is there a case for a nota option for those genuinely not wanting any of the above?

"...binary choice referendums where a number of mechanisms might be used to avoid a minority decisions..."

Thinking out loud an argument put forward by some anti referendum posters is that most people are simply disinterested in making a decision which opens the door to minority decisions. In these circumstances I can see virtue in compulsory voting where the electorate are encouraged to vote with the government/parliament.

"... recall...regard it as a secondary issue..."

Content.

"...broadly in agreement that mechanisms, including referendums, are desirable to overcome [ceding of power to represetatives]..."

Yes

"...We both agree that some form of PR is better than FTP, and have touched on the hybrid AMS system and pure PR systems but not looked at them in detail..."

True

"...On referendums we differ as outlined above but seem to agree that we need to consider referendums held on the basis of decisions of the legislature/executive are distinct from those resulting from democratic initiatives..."

True

"...We have touched on how an initiative might be triggered but not gone in to it any detail though you have suggested something akin to the Walden 'trigger'..."

True and I'm sure Walden would be chuffed to find out his trigger finger could be remembered in perpetuity.

"...We agree the Swiss model may be worth looking at in this context since they have a particularly mature system of referendum usage but we have not gone into it in any detail..."

True

"...We haven't really looked at issues like facultative an mandatory referendums or binding and non-binding ones..."

I can't see the point of a non binding referendum?

"...To clarify I am not looking for you to respond to these points in detail here but merely to say whether this is a reasonable summary and for you to add any points I may have missed...."

I think you can see from above that your summary is an accurate reflection of the debate so far. You mention our disagreement about compulsory voting, I'd be content for this providing every election and referendum was to be held under a regime of compulsory voting. I suggest an experiment be held for the 2010 General Election.

"...it might be an idea to adopt a 'visor down' approach and deal with a specific topic at a time..."

This is a plan.

"...We could begin by looking at PR before moving on to referendums proper.."

OK

"...the SO and I are going out tonight so I must dash..."

My SO and I are having car trouble which will occupy our energies. I think your night out sounds like more fun.

I heard on the radio that the Clegg wants a changed democratic system, perhaps he'd like to join this debate?

I apologise for typos and gaffs I'm running up to curfew (missed it so trying to post here instead).

Bis später

.
"...biotech company co-operative..."

I am impressed. I've always tended towards the physical world myself though latterly have concentrated on the commercial side of things. I've always worked for others though remotely from big offices which gives the feeling of a large fish in a small pond.

"...the bearpit of the HoC promotes the 'Punch and Judy' style of politics..."

I think claiming to want to abandon "Punch and Judy" was Cameron's biggest mistake so far, a co-operative approach means sharing the blame when things go wrong whilst the government keeps all the glory when the outcome's good. Clear blue water is needed otherwise what's the point of not voting Brown? Even the Clegg says he doesn't want to go into a cabinet with either of the big two.

"...eyes: Still bad? Hope they get a bit better..."

Thank you for asking. The right one is good for nothing these days but near infinity vision (which is jolly lucky for my optician says I'm still OK to drive/ride).

"...30s racing car. Cool!..."

I thought so too, I cleaned/lubed the chain this afternoon and checked the tension. I think I do all this because it's one of the few things I can do myself.

"...Brakepads still outstanding?.."

The fronts were OK (believe it or not the mechanic said my bike was well maintained), the rears were replaced and are behaving themselves (I was told there was a risk that the calliper may have had to be dismantled).

Hope your and Bx4 SO had an enjoyable night out.

BS

Afternoon rg.

Lunchbreak. Thing are fairly hectic here so I'll try and reply this evening.

The SO's work commitments mean that she is returning to the UK tomorrow. So I'll have a bit more time.

I'll take the referendums debate back to the original thread.

Bis später

.
'Afternoon Bx4 (and it's a wild one)

"...I'll take the referendums debate back to the original thread..."

Good plan, I'll try not to miss curfew by seconds (again).

BS

Car trouble: Seems you get on vehicle on road and then.....


Night out. We had a good time. The cat and I are on our own tomorrow. At least I'm not in a hotel.

impressed: No need. None of it was planned. Just got lucky when some 'pure' research turned out to have commercial applications.

physical/large organisations: I know what you mean I wanted to be a cabinetmaker. I have always been lucky enough to work in fairly small semi-autonomous teams.

Punch and Judy: Though adversarial need not involve the Punch and Judy antics of the HoC.

Clegg: Odd strategy.

Near infinity vision: Good though that it means you can still ride.

Chain: The Way of the Allen Key

Callipers: At least your on the road again

Night out: A good time thanks.

Wild one: I heard. Not uncommon weather for NW Scotland but we are used to it which makes a difference.

Curfew: Does h2g2 remain open longer - hadn't checked.
bs

.
'Evening Bx4

"...Curfew: Does h2g2 remain open longer ?.."

It seems so! I managed to post here after being rebuffed on LTR thread 1. Alas I can't stop by just now so LTR1 will wait till morn.

BS

Morning rg

Later: Off to the airport with SO. Atmosphere somewhat frosty as a result of her suggestion that I might want to think about a small rice burner as a runabout here.

Not a good strategy for one who wants me to cough up for a street legal quad AND a 'new beetle'.

LTR1: Catch it later so you somewhat slipped into LT Direct mode again.

Must dash
BS

.
I sympathise, I'm having my own "car trouble" with having to fork out for a new clutch (twice as expensive as the recent service MoT chain & rear pads on the bike). I explain about bike clutches being "wet" rather than "dry" and that they have shock absorbers built into the rear wheel and rice burner can sports shift without the clutch. I can almost glimpse the lead balloon out of the window. Having said all that I saw a cute two thousand pound rice burner in the shop the other day. Warn SO that the weather's still ropey here.

BS

.
"…LT Direct mode again…"

I was using it as an example; honest I'll forget all about it now (especially as I've posted too much already on the LTR3 thread). I want a new thread on the pledge of allegiance we're all supposed to swear. I actually shouted "Oh God" to the radio. Even SO was surprised.

Technical stuff: Way too much information and not a strategy I would adopt. I suggest try claiming psychological damage will result if denied access to use of riceburner.

I tried this at airport. I thought the moment of parting might earn me a bit of sympathy

£2000: I don't think an 'I could always replace it' strategy has legs.

Weather: Apparently not so bad, winds 35 km/h in Glasgow and 11 km/h at home.

LTR3: I thought your level of posting was quite restrained.

Allegiance: I missed it but found it online. On PM a representative of the Scottish Govt. said 'Shove it' only more politely.

SO's surprise: At the proposal or your sudden leap to faith?

Cough up: I have been rather sternly been told to tell you that that mine also coughs up.

Anyhow, just me and the cat, who is currently not Diogenes, here at the moment.

Curfew: still open 2355hrs your time.