Seen in the News

[Stanley]

And the late Mr Speaker, John Berco, was left out in the cold.Shame on them.

[PanBiker]

Notable, and he the bloke who did more than any other speaker to bring sense to the proceedings, bloody disgrace. TM's husband and Boris's brother, what have either of them done for the Nation? They had a senior peer on this morning who slated the appointments he said the institution was far too big with over 800 peers, not necessary to hold the lower house in check. Most don't turn up and have no role in the legal proceedings. I think he called them "paper peers", that's about right.

[Tripps]

They used to get £320 per day exes jut for signing in. Now it's distanced they only get £160 for voting over the web. It is said that there has been a large increase in the number of 'noble' Lords voting.

[Stanley]

Increase to 830 peers could be a good thing. I've always thought that the best way to ensure radical reform was appoint so many peers as patronage that the institution became ridiculous. I think they have reached that point.
See THIS Breaking news. Nobody named yet and it is only an allegation but worrying for some nonetheless. The MP has been released on bail.

[Tizer]

This technology is going to save lives...
`'Baby shark' drones to help rescue helicopter missions' LINK

[Tripps]

The inevitable has happened. They didn't make the hundred years - due in 2026.

Belle Vue dogs to close

I doubt many will be at all concerned, and many will rejoice; but there are some sentimental memories here. My first visit there in about 1959, indirectly, probably changed the course of my life.

[PanBiker]

Never went to the dogs there Tripps but I did see Dr Hook and the Medicine Show live there in the auditorium 1974 I think it was.

[Tripps]

The dogs was on Kirkmanshulme Lane - I guess that concert would have been in the Kings Hall in the adjacent zoo complex down Hyde road. Stanley will tell you about the circus and George Lockhart the ring Master. Sylvia's Mother is my favourite Dr Hook number.

[PanBiker]

Truncated the band name to Dr Hook in 1975. Long time ago, cant remember other than it was advertised as Belle Vue in NME. First band I took Sally to see when we were first courting.

[Stanley]

Ah.... Belle Vue. Last of the great Victorian pleasure gardens. It had everything and it was a regular trip out for us.
The dos at Belle Vue were the big rivals to the White City in Salford.....

See THIS BBC report of a massive explosion in Beirut thought to be caused by 2,700 tons of ammonium Nitrate stored in a warehouse on the docks. Very dramatic video clips....

[plaques]

Tik Tok The Chinese video sharing site being forced to sell to the Americans. Why you may ask??
A few years ago a friend who was quite well up on software design told me people were working on programmes to assemble images taken and posted on the net by people taking ordinary snapshots. Once assembled they then had a walk round image for analysis. Spying done without the need for spies.

[Tizer]

`Millions to be paid out to women short-changed after state pensions blunder' Express
`The Department for Work and Pensions confirmed it was trawling through records to identify those due a windfall. Thousands have already been reimbursed after they did not automatically receive increased payments. The average refund is around £9,000, but some have received more than £30,000. The shortfall in payments is estimated at £100million and last night experts urged women of pensionable age to make their own checks, rather than wait for a call. It is believed hundreds of thousands could be eligible for reimbursements..'.

[Tripps]

The dogs at Belle Vue were the big rivals to the White City in Salford.....

No - White City was in what is now Trafford, Albion Stadium was in Salford.

White City Monday and Thursday
Salford Tuesday and Friday
Belle Vue Wednesday and Saturday.

All just eight races (by law I think), start at 7.30 pm finish at 9.45 pm. Time to go on afterwards.

The dogs which raced at White City actually were kenneled at Belle Vue - most privately owned, but all organised and run by the Greyhound Racing Association. just a business despite its official sounding title. They were transported there on race nights. So not rivals at all.

Salford was a dump, and a lot of the dogs were owned by the track, but they ran five dog races, which had a good following. It was no easier to pick winners !

**********************

This history thing is fascinating. I'm reading the M Phil paper on 'Black Face' to which which Tizer kindly pointed me. It starts with the research methods used, and I keep thinking of the LTP as I read it. How she tries to ensure that what she is told is actually true. Complicated by the fact that drink plays quite a part in Morris Dancing.

Quietly pleased with myself - I emailed the M Phil in PDF format to my (little used) Kindle, but couldn't get a size that suited so I've somehow got it onto my Tablet where its a pleasure to read.

[Stanley]

Senior moment David, I meant Trafford of course. Always associated it with Trafford Park factories.....

[Tripps]

File this under " What could possibly go wrong?" or "Only in Cambridge"

Dutch roundabout

I watched them build it - over several months. Only £2.3 Million.

[PanBiker]

So as a motorist you have to stop on the roundabout, OK if it's only single lane. I take it the crossings aren't pelicans? they would just cause havoc.

[Tripps]

Cyclists have priority over cars, but pedestrians seem to have priority over both of them. I can't recall ever seeing a pedestrian at that junction, but I'd guess that would put them in some danger. It would be a 'whites of their eyes' job for me.

[Stanley]

It would be a nightmare for a large wagon.... Like so many 'improvements' today the designers go overboard and introduce complications. They always make trouble. Think of Ian's toaster then a modern one that's connected to the web....

[Tizer]

Background information on the Beirut explosion...
`Beirut explosion: How ship's deadly cargo ended up at port' Ship's cargo

`Beirut explosion: Before-and-after images' LINK

[plaques]

Ordinary zebras are dangerous enough. I crossed Market St in the centre of Colne yesterday, waited until there was a reasonable break in the traffic flow before approaching the curb. This street is a 20mph zone. The next vehicle was an open back Hilux. What I didn't know was besides his load he was pulling a long trailer with a load of paving stones. Never moved as fast for ages.

[Tripps]

I strongly think the day of the Zebra Crossing with its Belisha beacons has gone. They are now a dangerous relic. Should all be removed.

[Stanley]

News full of BA sackings. They talk about their losses but have made no mention of the exorbitant loan interest they pay to their parent company which limits the profit in the UK and the tax they pay.

[Whyperion]

Tik Tok The Chinese video sharing site being forced to sell to the Americans. Why you may ask??
A few years ago a friend who was quite well up on software design told me people were working on programmes to assemble images taken and posted on the net by people taking ordinary snapshots. Once assembled they then had a walk round image for analysis. Spying done without the need for spies.

I suppose it is also possible to encode dance movements to particular signalling for transfering messages .
Given the amount of Google images alone there are enough photos of many places, that presumably you could see with your own eyes.

[Stanley]

See THIS Guardian article about an oil spill off the coast of Mauritius threatening a pristine marine environment. Such a shame, humans are not fit to occupy the planet!

[Stanley]

I note that David's roundabout has hit the national news. Well done David, you heard it on OG first. I'm listening to a Dutch planning expert on Today 'justifying' it. He isn't doing very well at the moment... He says that as there are more planned people will get used to them. Good luck with that.