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

Reeperbahn: Bit of a fake the Reeperbahn. Mostly for tourists. Unfortunately when we have 'newbie' visitors a visit is obligatory. After years of honing my tourist guide skills I can now do the Reeperbahn tour in around 35 minutes.

Maybe I should see if it can be found in miniatur world? Even quicker

leather: Clearly you are not of my generation. Were you so a certain picture of Marianne Faithfull would be forever engraved on your memory.

The Wen: One of the few cities I really don't like.

Other adjustments: This is beginning to sound a bit obsessive. I happily leave that stuff to the SO.

local taxes: Currently we have Council Tax but a move to local income tax. The structure here is more like Germany.

evangelists: That struck me too. I thogt it odd that blue was not evangelistic at all wherea the Clintists tended to be.

Scotland has its 'national' parliamentary and at the local level are fairly large unitary regional authorities. We don't have the equivalents of district councils.

Subsidiarity:: I am not sure it implies the assumptions you make about, for example, selection one might have an overarching principle of equal access to education and yet still have subsidiarity.

LT referendum: Perhaps he should go for it using our new LTR 1 model.

on-side: Agreed

Hi Bx4

Ah that's better my screen went white on black in H2G2. For a moment I thought it was the wine. Also let me start by saying I'm sorry I missed your post on LTR1 because it got placed on remand.

I do remember Marianne Faithfull for saying she didn't want to hang anymore with Mick Jagger because she didn't want to imagine him doing Satisfaction at sixty. Imagine no more Marianne.

I always find The Wen tiring and always feel dirty coming back from it. You've just caught me having finished attending to the brake discs. I don't just muck about with the chain, in fact if I'm obsessed with anything it's the brakes. The slightest bind and I'm ready to pounce with the socket set. In the event attention with a meths soaked rag was all that was needed and everything was singing.

Subsidiarity is a concept that I feel we don't quite agree on. Taking selection as an example again (btw I have no children awaiting selection so no axe to grind); does Subsidiarity refer to the delivery of education or the delivery of education policy? What's wrong with individual authorities having different policies so long as they are subject to democratic scrutiny by their constituents? What seems to happen is that the local authority are made to deliver highly detailed policy. If that's the case then what's the point of local democracy if services have to be delivered in a straightjacket? This is why I think Local Authorities should be done away with along with local taxation unless something far more akin to what I interpret as Subsidiarity is practised.

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"...Perhaps he should go for it using our new LTR 1 model..."

Right now he'd struggle to learn anything about referendums on LTR3. However he might want to take issue with you for calling him a Tory.

Post in poky: Don't see why it should be. It was mostly about the decision making structure in unions and a bit about temporary assignment of proxies in referendums. I did sign of with bs in full though.

Basically the union bit was simply to say that if you want to get involved in the decision making in Unions it starts at branch meetings.

No doubt I will get a minatory e-mail from the dementors. If I am lucky i may get banned

Faithfull: But do you remember the picture with the bike and the leathers.

The SO does not look like MH but, still, rather more like the young Juliette Greco. (IMO, that's worth a few brownie points).

The Dirty Wen: I share your view. Strangely not a effect that many other cities have on me.

Brakes: I prefer to leave that sort of thing to my personal mechanic. I prefer mucking about with wood

Subsidiarity: No problem if the individual authority wholly funds the selective system from within its own budget and that the selective schools are not funded by the parents of those who do not benefit from them.

Doing away: Not sure the notion of being governed completely from london is an attractive option

bs (being careful)

Short post as might wake up SO with my typing

Yes I'm sure you're right about the branch meetings.

I've had a post deleted for typing Turkey in German.

Alas I don't remember the photograph. I'm sure you earned brownie points through your subsequent comment.

I think you are in danger of being type cast as the BMW owner who doesn't do his own maintenance in Zen...

"... funded by the parents of those who do not benefit from them..."

What about childless couples, should they have to fund other people's children's education? I don't think being governed from London will be something for those north of the border will have to worry about for much longer.

For me either there is local democracy or there isn't. I certainly don't detect it in this neck of the woods so why not do away with the pretence? I know I'm in a minority of one here as we are supposed to all cherish our local democracies hence whopping election turnouts.

BDT

branch meetings: be careful newbies tend to get conned into the really rubbish jobs. Branch treasurer or secretary are to be avoided. Being the right kind of delegate is quite good.

German: On checking I am not sure its that - I got away with bs in a previous post. I get annoyed at the inconsistency. I had a whole debate with EOO on another thread on German grammar (with examples).

Photograph. It was a still (or a publicity shot) from a film called 'Girl on a Motorcycle'. I can't find a link that shows it. Did find one of JG though.

Type cast. I AM that BMW owner. I want to ride it - the rest for me is, as they say, mince.

Childless: Not sure. My problem with selection is that I was a victim of it. I was one the first working generations to go to a high school. Comps if well run are, IMO, better.

Border: Might be good for those South of the border too. Focus attention on the implications of being a small nation state in the 21st century.

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"...Did find one of JG though..."

I found a couple of black and white snaps of Ms Greco and lost the desire to revisit Ms Faithfull.

"...the rest for me is, as they say, mince..."

I enjoy both the maintenance and the riding. Years ago I heard the expression "look after your car and your car will look after you" and believed it. I occasionally mess around with wood too.

"...a victim of it. I was one the first working generations to go to a high school..."

I think we went to the same school, our classrooms were at opposite ends of a 500-mile corridor. It was a terrible time to be in education, even back then I felt like a guinea pig.

England will always see itself as all conquering and special. The United Kingdom will disappear, it's only a matter of time.

MDT

PS the Jack Straw 2004 quote in case I can't find it again for LTR1. I think he's talking about how UKIP deprived the Tories of an even stronger first place.

"Across Europe, we have seen sitting governments receive significant protest votes against them. Only in the United Kingdom has the major opposition party received an even bigger protest against it,"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3804803.stm

rg high

Coffee break been in since 0745 (local)

LT3 Referendum: I think you are the only on-topic poster there

See you have been sucked in again. No doubt I will but not now. LT3 may be at the 'peter out' stage. Another one for us.

I think we are due for a new anyway. I recall that the HoL should start debating it soon.

Tory: As a fellow alumni albeit a proletarian one I feel I have the right.

Anyhow if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck and..........

Must dash getting to poke about in cells today better than cutting C++

bs

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'Morning again Bx4 ('Afternoon for you)

I had unsubscribed from LTR3 only for Cerberus to dig out one of my old posts. Trust me to get sucked in again. I wonder how much coverage the HoL debate will have? I really can't see ping pong with the other place developing.

I'm sorry I misunderstood your support for semi-permanent proxies ascribed to Governments and others (see LTR1). I fear I have also missed the point of your "if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck" nor " I feel I have the right".

This is probably because I've had no coffee today. Good luck with the cells, be sure not to get locked in.

MDT

Sandwich at desk lunch (having too much fun to go out)

Duck/right Your 'go' post about skippy not being happy about my calling him a Tory.

Trying 'steely-eyed resolve' wrt LTR3

must dash catch up with rest later.

bs

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The highlight for me on LTR3 this morning was the news of "very substantial progress" Gordon Brown was making on VAT free Eco fridges. OK the cynic in me says it was all a set up from the start so the big man could be seen strutting his stuff on a continental scale, nether the less my 23 year old freezer is leaving pools of water on the floor and I'd appreciate cashing in on his success really soon. Saturday morning would be good.

You see it doesn't matter if he's "old" Labour or "nu" Tory so long as he is leading the EU in the right direction. This means (if his car policy is an example) the most polluting fridges will have to go up in price to allow their Eco friendly siblings to be sold more cheaply.

BTW I presume that bike tax remains unchanged (following the recent budget)? Have you heard of any changes in the pipeline from the Bundestag?

MDT

Faithfull/Greco I agree.

http://www.votolatino.com.ar/2003/fotos/greco.jpg

maintenance: I'll do it if I have to though the SO is more into things mechanical than me.

wood. I wanted to be a cabinet maker. Finally managed to get a small woodworking shop set up.

School: I think we might have been guinea pigs too but a different generation. The first wave of postwar working class kids to go to Grammar School. I don't recall it as being terrible but rather exciting.
My secondary school years almost exactly parallel the emergence of rock & roll and all the others things that led to the 60s.

England: I think you may be right about the 'all conquering and special' mindset. Certainly appears to be the main driver on LT3. I wonder when, if ever, the realpolitik of living in a 21st century of competing superpowers will sink in.

UKIP/Tories: I think the Tories have a real problem because of their schizoid attitude to Europe and I think the public don't trust them because of this. I think Vince Cable description of them as

“in office, supporting European integration, but in opposition, supporting the worst features of anti-European populism”

is pretty accurate.

I see you sre plamnning a 'visor down' day to morrow (a degree of 'steely resolve' after unsubsribing may be indicated.

I am as well so no hurry for a reply.

bs

Sucked in: You have only yourself to blame

HoL: I think your right. The second reading start on April 1.

Here is the timetable:

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

ping-pong: I hadn't realised that one stage is officially called the ping-pong stage. see 'key to abbreviations ' at top left of link

the cells: I had a most enjoyable day in the cells.

stuff: Is done. Of course I won't tell the SO that I had help

negotiations: The transportation have been successfully concluded.

Catch you after your visor down day.
bs

Morning rg

eco fridges: I am afraid the latest saga of Skippy in Europe has passed me by.

However googling a bit I think one can conclude that he wins either way.

If he (and his new best friend Sarko) get their way Skippy can declare that he has fought and won Albion's case in the Empire. If he doesn't he can claim that the Empire has prevented him from bringing in 'green' measures.

freezer: The decision to avoid purchasing a new burner may have been a wise one.

Prices: I assume that VAT will in fact increase on on eco-hostile fridges. I am almost certain it will increase *more* on these than is strictly necessary to offset the tax losses on eco-friendly ones.

Bundestag: I am currently without personal transport here and will, as a result of having been completely out negotiated by the SO, continue to be so for some time. Therefore, I have not been following the doings of the BT on burner taxation.

Remember today is a visor down day. A 'steely resolve' should be maintained.

bs

LTR3: I see the 'visor down' strategy has not been wholly successful.

I thought I had posted earlier to tell you I was in poky again (on the sharia thread. apparently not.

Given that I appear to be suffering a plethora of poky events those who watch over us may decided on stronger sanctions.

So if I disappear, it's nothing you said.

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Lunchtime and it's time for some catch up. Thank you for the photograph of Ms Greco. I did try and find another to return the complement alas only got into trouble for violating a policy so gave up.

My father used to be a cabinet maker for part of his life and some of his talent may have rubbed off just a little bit. The home of Rice Burner was built by me from a kit though I'm most proud of the foundations which (touch wood) haven't moved. In contrast the "garage" floor looks like the San Andreas Fault in 1906. My "cabinet making" these days is adaptations to existing furniture, varnishing is my favourite bit.

England has seen a catastrophic decline during the second Elizabethan age. Yet like the Lithuanians (another country that lost its empire) the English still consider themselves special. Come to think about it don't all countries in the EU think this about themselves?

I think the Tories are damned if they do and damned if they don't. They are supposed to be the opposition and as Iraq proved there are no brownie points to be won for supporting the government. I agree that as signatories of both the EEC and EU they look pro EU to me. The self styled "real opposition" are Vince Cable and the Lib Dems who appear in contrast to be the most split on Europe (if the main referendum vote was any sort of guide).

The 'visor down' day has sort of worked out so far and I only got sucked in once so far. I am intrigued by Cerberus' technique of highly strung aggression. I can't keep up; I don't even know what they are writing about half the time.

April 1, Mm hard to forget, I'll be listening to every word. The only point of interest is whether any of it makes it to the 0745 parliament slot.

I'm glad all the stuff is done. Does the transportation refer to the delivery of the quad?

"…Skippy wins either way…" – this is certainly true though he won't make any claim about evil empire, he's more subtle than that, he'll say that the jobs being done and phenomenal progress has been made. Meanwhile I'll buy my fridge with the VAT on it and forget all about the chink of light at the end of the tunnel. I agree the decision to put off a replacement for Rice Burner is sound. I really don't think this is the right time. I think you are being very cynical in your suggestion that non Eco fridges will rise in price more than is necessary to offset zero rating the former. As an aside why isn't there an Eco tax on air conditioning?

If you do learn anything about the Bundestag approach to taxing personal transportation I'd be interested to hear this. (This is not an excuse to go to the BMW showroom).

"… 'steely resolve' should be maintained…."

At all times!

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I'm sorry you've another post in pokey. Don't worry I had a couple of these events in the space of a day without ill effect. I wonder if we are allowed one pokey event per hundred posts or some such rule.

As you say the visor down strategy has not been wholly successful.

BDT

Lunchtime: Over for me so its back to the cells.

BMW showroom: Unlikely at the moment. As I said I have been out-negotiated on the transport front so a visit to the VW showroom seems more imminent. Although it has been agreed that I will be allowed a boxer 2.....after all other transportation requirements have been addressed.

Still the HVV continues to impress. I just found out that if I get a bus from Hamburg to the nearest stop to Övelgönne I can get the driver to call ahead to arrange for a taxi to meet me at the bus stop!

Still prefer the harbour ferries though.

Bundestag: I will endeavour to determine their policy on burners

Greco: What policy did you violate?

must

bs

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Sorry yes I forgot about the VW. You'll need to spend many hours more in the cells because the paint is water based and very expensive. On the positive side you know that you now have a ticket number in the queue for a Boxer.

I've never heard of buses being able to summon taxis. Yet this is such a good idea. The policy I violated was of the ISP. I didn't hang around so don't have any more detail than that. The strange thing is I had no trouble the other day when I did exactly the same thing. I can only think that the system has been "improved".

I have a process to complete and must close lunch.

BDT

Cabinetmaking: I have quite a lot of kit (acquired over 30 years) which and I am finally setting up my half of the old croft house as a woodshop.

I mostly do it for fun and either give the products away or stick them in sales for local charities.

Special: You may be right generally though some of the English seem unable to get past the fading embers of their glory days. Used to be something similar in Scotland but it seems to be being replaced by a new confidence. Maybe England would benefit from a degree of separation from the UK.

Tories: Largely agree. I wasn't suggesting that the NUCleggies are a viable opposition only that I think VC characterised the Nutory position rather well.

I am not sure that --IP are a serious opposition. Doesn't matter how well they do in Euro Elections they will have little concrete effect unless they achieve success on UK parliamentary elections.

Visor down: In retrospect this assessment seems wildly overoptimistic.

0745 parliamentary slot: TFT?

Transportation: The new sequence is Beetle, quad then boxer 2. I can't wholly through of the conviction that I have been completely outmanoeuvred.

eco-fridges. I think you analysis is correct but I bet I am right about the additional taxation on non-eco fridges.

motor tax: I am not doing to well on this, except Article 106 of the Constitution states that income from motor taxation accrues to the federal not the state government. Apart from this only stuff about HGVs

I have discovered the wholly unrelated fact, in my search for more information the Bundestag has converted to Linux which is what I use (mostly)

Does this interest in burner tax in Germany presage a migration event?