59 replies to this topic

[gingerjon]

Wimp.

I take musicians hostage and force them to play at knifepoint.

I would but it's my knee, y'know how it is ...

[JohnM]

Have you only just discovered it yourself?

Yes.

I think a trust is a good idea..but not the only way to run a paper, of course.

I started reading Fame is the Spur after it was serialised on Radio 4 Extra. The book started with a dramatic incident during the Peterloo Massacre. Being from Manchester originally, it stimulated me to have a prod around on the net which lead me eventually to that section of the Guardian (I recall the fuss in Manchester when the name Manchester was dropped and the paper moved south. At senior school in 1961 we went to the Manchester Guardian/MEN print works on Cross Street and saw the old Linotype machines in operation.) Later, in 1964, I attended a mates birthday party at the Manchester Reform Club (built for Manchester's Liberal Party elite) as his parents were in that category.

See? I am not entirely without soul or culture. It is just that Guardian in my view has moved quite a long way from its Radical - Liberal roots. Just because it is poorly laid out, generally humourless, miserable and includes Polly Toynbee does not make it any better an organ .

As an aside, Shabby Tiger takes place in the general area where parents lived until they were bombed out of the theatrical boarding house my paternal grandma ran.

You can play " At knifepoint " here http://www.audiospar...ound_iid.412489

Edited by JohnM, 14 December 2012 - 03:14 PM.

[Phil]

Google's Chairman Eric Schmidt said £2.5 billion tax avoidance 'is called capitalism'


He's right, time to bring the whole rotten edifice down.

[Northern Sol]

It is hardly a convincing argument that because of one company using tax loopholes, we should allow the far-left to destroy the economy.

[Phil]

It is hardly a convincing argument that because of one company using tax loopholes, we should allow the far-left to destroy the economy.

and like one of Pavlov's dogs.....

[Northern Sol]

and like one of Pavlov's dogs.....

Says the guy behind post number 43.

[Steve May]

The problem with changing search engines is that Google works and I've yet to find another that works as well or better.

Following this comment I decided to ditch Google and have been searching for something as good.

I have settled on Blekko, which I've been using since Christmas and it seems to do everything I need without all the Google bloat. I am not sure what their ethics are like, but I have satisfactorily proved to myself that the only thing that keeps Google in business is user laziness.

The irony is, of course, that I found Blekko by searching on Google!


DuckDuckGo is much hyped but useless BTW.

[John Rhino]

It seem to me that politicians are tackling this complately the wrong way by going after tax havens etc. It seems as if they don't want it to work as we have several within a few miles, Jersey, IOM etc that could be sorted in a few months.

I would get the EU to agree that any company with, say, more than £10M of sales within a country has to have a properly registered sales office in that country. Reputable companies do it - look at the bumph that came with your camera or similar, there in an office address nearly everywhere.

If they complain that this would be far too expensive then they can have the alternative of clearly stated sales figures for each country in their annual accounts on which they pay the right amount of tax. After all they do know exactly what these figures are.

All this rubbish about attracting business is a red herring. Are Amazon et. al. going to leave the UK - not on your life!

[markleeds]

Plenty of online retailers to fill any void if amazon do go.

[tim2]

Plenty of online retailers to fill any void if amazon do go.

Same with coffee houses. That paragon of social responsibility Tesco has invested in a chain of boutique coffee shops without particularly mentioning that they are involved.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20943739

Which goes to show that you have to either know the proprietor personally or do some good research if you want to avoid filling a megacorp's coffers.

[gingerjon]

Same with coffee houses. That paragon of social responsibility Tesco has invested in a chain of boutique coffee shops without particularly mentioning that they are involved.

http://www.bbc.co.uk...gazine-20943739

Which goes to show that you have to either know the proprietor personally or do some good research if you want to avoid filling a megacorp's coffers.

There's a Harris & Hoole near me and they do an excellent job of pretending to be an independent coffee shop. I've been in once, checked their prices, and left without buying.

[Futtocks]

I never use coffee shops, as they all seem to do exactly the same thing. Automatic, push-button Espresso with boiled milk added (and various other adulterations), which you have to order in naff cod-Italian jargon. Served Chernobyl-hot, naturally, so by the time the coffee's cool enough for you to taste it and realise how thin and nasty it is, you've walked far enough away that you can't be bothered to go back and complain. And the prices! Dear God!

Make a very modest investment in a grinder, a filter cone* and some papers. Then try a few different coffee bean types, find your favourite(s) and make your own ideal cup of coffee. If you want a coffee for your morning commute, a thermos mug is worth getting.

*or a filter coffee machine, which are dirt cheap if you avoid boutique labels.

[MikeW]

http://www.thedailym...s-2013011055551

[JohnM]

I personally will always support independent coffee shops...you know, the one that don't buy their water from corporate water companies like Anglian water, those that don't buy their electricity from corporate suppliers like Eon, and those that don't use coffee makers from corporates like Gaggia. It seems that Totnes has something like 40 + independent places where you can get coffee. Too much caffein!!

[gingerjon]

http://www.thedailym...s-2013011055551

I take the extra quirk with the coffee to be the equivalent of pubs that have bizarre agricultural implements (and/or hurling sticks) on the wall.

You'll be telling me next that Frankie and Benny's isn't really an Italian-American New York diner magically transplanted to High Wycombe Shopping Centre.

[JohnM]

Its a front for the mafia.

[Futtocks]

Following this comment I decided to ditch Google and have been searching for something as good.

I have settled on Blekko, which I've been using since Christmas and it seems to do everything I need without all the Google bloat. I am not sure what their ethics are like, but I have satisfactorily proved to myself that the only thing that keeps Google in business is user laziness.

The irony is, of course, that I found Blekko by searching on Google!


DuckDuckGo is much hyped but useless BTW.

Given Blekko a week's tryout, but it isn't giving me as good results as Google. Like them or not, Google is still up there with the best as a search engine. So now I'm using StartPage, which uses Google to generate search results, but doesn't track or share personal information etc.

[JohnM]

After Starbucks, etc comes..... Apple.

[Padge]

I never use coffee shops, as they all seem to do exactly the same thing. Automatic, push-button Espresso with boiled milk added (and various other adulterations), which you have to order in naff cod-Italian jargon. Served Chernobyl-hot, naturally, so by the time the coffee's cool enough for you to taste it and realise how thin and nasty it is, you've walked far enough away that you can't be bothered to go back and complain. And the prices! Dear God!

Make a very modest investment in a grinder, a filter cone* and some papers. Then try a few different coffee bean types, find your favourite(s) and make your own ideal cup of coffee. If you want a coffee for your morning commute, a thermos mug is worth getting.

*or a filter coffee machine, which are dirt cheap if you avoid boutique labels.

or drink tea

[CANETMAN]

You Starbucks lovers are lucky you dont work here (Moscow) i am just off to the office and will stop off at Starbucks en-route for my early morning fix.

Small cafe latte Roubles 230.00 (£ 4.30:(((((

Worth paying though for the russian girl watching value alone (I think i will take some pictures this morning and post:)

CM