WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

[PanBiker]

The barrage opened in 1966, by my reckoning that was 47 years ago not 55. Can you please give references on what you base your statement that it is considered a total ecological disaster. There have been minor changes to the ecology in reduction of some species but balancing increases in others and from what I read is far from being considered a disaster. The barrage has recouped all of it's construction costs and is now producing power cheaper than nuclear. Of course I could be the victim of a conspiracy by all the scientists, but I don't think so.

One source of my information, I have others:

How France eclipsed the UK with Brittany tidal success story

[Big Kev]

I spotted this the other day, Gus has kindly put it on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =1&theater
Oh dear!

[Stanley]

Maz, thanks! I brought that up, lavatory got 100%.
So, barrages, we're all wrong again.... Ah well.
Kev, they've obviously never heard of articulated vehicles. Well spotted!
Must remember to vote and have my annual eye test.....

[Thomo]

As a qualified sign writer, I find mistakes very amusing, it was possibly computer generated though, many modern signs are. There is a good one on Albert Rd in Colne attached to a plumbers shop:-
"C HEATING ENGINEERS" the space between the C and the H is only half width, and there is no comma!

[Tizer]

The barrage opened in 1966, by my reckoning that was 47 years ago not 55. Can you please give references on what you base your statement that it is considered a total ecological disaster. There have been minor changes to the ecology in reduction of some species but balancing increases in others and from what I read is far from being considered a disaster. The barrage has recouped all of it's construction costs and is now producing power cheaper than nuclear. Of course I could be the victim of a conspiracy by all the scientists, but I don't think so.
One source of my information, I have others:
How France eclipsed the UK with Brittany tidal success story

Panbiker, he obviously doesn't look any further than his drinking pals and they must have some strange ideas. He'll tell us black is white and wonder why we don't believe him.

Thomo, Kev...it's not just the written word that gets garbled and not just Pendle that does it. I was listening to a Radio 4 programme about wildlife a few days ago and it ended with the sound of birds, specifically cranes, whose whooping call is often said to be like a bugle. The BBC lady who provided the link with the next programme said "...and we end there with the sound of `buggling' cranes". Now, I always thought the birds were noisy bugglers! (PS. we had 14 go over us yesterday in 2 flights of 7...and they were definitely bugling; I listened carefully for buggling but couldn't detect it.)

[Wendyf]

On the same lines, my attention was drawn to this headline on the BBC website this morning.
"Mystery of 200-year-old British soldier found in the dunes of Holland."
Shouldn't he have been pensioned off by now?
LINK

[Marilyn]

...there are dunes in Holland?...

[Tizer]

Wendy, an interesting tale, thanks for the link. I notice the button maker was based in Covent Garden. I'd have been even more interested if the button had `Soho' on it - one of the big button makers for the military around the 1790s was Matthew Boulton and he'd recently got James Watt to put steam power in his Soho, Birmingham, factory and it was so good they also made the first steam stamped coins there (the big `cartwheel' pennies and tuppences).

Maz, no shortage of sand in Holland! Here's more than you want to know about Dutch sand dunes! ....LINK

[Stanley]

Sand in Holland. When I was in Dordrecht which is built on sand the council were relaying a main street. They stripped all the paving off and after roughly levelling the sand they flooded it to consolidate it and then laid the road on top. No wonder so many of the multi-storey houses lean forward into the street!
The fact that Rayner's Opticians wanted a 'deposit' on my new glasses on the grounds that it was required by the 'powers that be'. I gave them a dusty answer saying that if they didn't trust me after all these years that was their problem not mine. They backed down of course. A sign of the times, people are expected to submit to the computer or someone else's rules. Not this kiddy!

[hartley353]

The barrage opened in 1966, by my reckoning that was 47 years ago not 55. Can you please give references on what you base your statement that it is considered a total ecological disaster. There have been minor changes to the ecology in reduction of some species but balancing increases in others and from what I read is far from being considered a disaster. The barrage has recouped all of it's construction costs and is now producing power cheaper than nuclear. Of course I could be the victim of a conspiracy by all the scientists, but I don't think so.

One source of my information, I have others:

How France eclipsed the UK with Brittany tidal success story

Apologies for typo should have read 45 years ago,My archive on this subject is now two years old, so should have agreed with your figure.On the day it opened the estuary behind the barrage was completely devoid of plant and animal life, it took a further 20 years for any sort of life to re-establish, what was once a beautiful seaside resort where children played on golden sands and bathed in fresh clean water, is now buried under a sea of mud metres deep, caused by siltation. When the then french president opened the Barrage he was quoted as saying to one of his aides " We have made a grave mistake". The french power company EDF state they have no plans to travel this route again. The power generated by this project can in no measure make up for the damage caused and it now stands as testement to the stupidity of men. The English professor could have saved many years of useless endeavour by studying this example.

[hartley353]

Once again I am asked for proof. The evidence I have was gained by visiting the area, speaking to the people who have lived with this from its conceptions, seeing with my own eyes the damage that has been done, there is a great deal of imformation recorded by local, and international ecology bodies, go find. The fact it has not been repeated speaks volumes.

[Stanley]

The amazing effect the Crucible can have on two competent snooker players. Walden and Hawkins were reduced to struggling amateurs by the pressure of the semi-final. Fascinating to watch but so damaging for both of them. Two world class players floundering. The third frame was such a mess that half way through they both agreed to a re-rack. Never seen this at that stage in a frame before but the balls were all in one corner and unplayable.

[Stanley]

Niall Ferguson, author of 'Civilization' has had to apologise for saying that Maynard Keynes wasn't interested in the long run because he was gay and childless. I didn't have a high opinion of the book if you remember, he seems to have confirmed my prejudice.
Nigel Evans, Deputy Speaker, arrested on suspicion of rape (LINK) I realise this is only an allegation but one would think the police think they are on firm ground arresting such a public figure. What's happening to society? Or is it just that we have had our heads in the sand fir years.

[Nolic]

Comrade, I suspect its the fall out from the Saville inquiries and Stuart Hall pleading guilty to the charges against him. Perhaps also the current trial of the two men accused of raping a third in Debenhams in Manchester.
Victims of high profile abusers feel more confident in coming forward and less threatened , even if only by implication, that someone with "personality" status will be believed before they are.
Lancashire police are also very skilled and patient at dealing with victims realising that victims need time to recount their experiences without the impact of further trauma. I have seen this first hand and would be surprised if there is any other police force perhaps excluding the Met. that is as "professional" as Lancashire. Nolic

[Stanley]

Last night I saw the most exciting frame of snooker yet. The last frame of the session between O'Sullivan and Hawkins was a black ball game and absolutely superb. O'Sullivan leads but Hawkins is snapping at his heels. I think Hawkins may lose out but he's put up a wonderful fight!
Have you picked up 'Tweet of the day' on BBC R4? An excerpt of bird song each morning at 05:58. No doubt repeated during the day.

[Stanley]

See this LINK for the story of the girls held prisoner in Ohio. Only a few blocks away from where they vanished. Two 50 year old brothers arrested.
Jimmy Tarbuck arrested on suspicion of assault in 1970s.

[PanBiker]

Site says it's Doc's birthday today in which case - Happy Birthday Doc -

[Cathy]

Good news about the Ohio girls. I wish they would find the Beaumont children that went missing from Adelaide in the mid '60's (!!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DOC.... wherever you are

[Tardis]

Happy Birthday Doc

[Bruff]

The glorious weather here in Merseyside.

Been away for a bit. Had a few days in our capital. Did loads of walks I never managed in all my time there. Nice one on the river up from Hammersmith to Chiswick and another round Clerkenwell. This latter was May Day, and the left was out in force in Clerkenwell Green as I wandered into it from Farringdon Road. I counted the Iraqi Communist Party, the Greek, the Syrian and Turkish. Indians from Kerala and groups from Peru and Chile. Plus loads of others and of course, the British hard left - Spartacists, Trots, the lot and even a Maoist group. It was sunny, and a good time seemed to be being had by all. I wouldn't agree with almost everything any of them had to say, but it's rather life-affirming to see them out anyway. God knows why there were so many police around.

We then took ourselves off to France, for a good few days feasting on seafood and blood-rare steak frites and sniffing the Gouloises (outside the cafes - no smoking indoors there now which to my amazement is actually adhered to). All washed down with pichets of red and white at 5 quid a litre.

Richard Broughton

[Stanley]

Richard, glad you had a few days off and enjoyed them. As for police at demos on London, I get the impression that if the Mother's Union held one they would turn the riot police out! I still cherish the WI protest against Blair....
I was sad to hear a report on Farming Today that the conformation of heavy horses in Britain is changing as they are bred for show rather than work. I can't help comparing this with what Crufts did to dogs.

[PanBiker]

Today was V.E Day - 78 years ago.

[Tardis]

The actor, Sid James was born 100 years ago today

[Thomo]

Steady on Ian, if you are correct, then I will be 83 next month and not 73. I do remember it though as that was the day when our next door neighbours son and his mates beat the town up in their Spitfires. I also recall that I was hiding under the heavy table in the back room until my Mother took me outside to watch.

[PanBiker]

Sorry all, 68 years doh!