Search found 3323 matches

by beardy
16 Mar 2016, 1:16pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: a bit of good news: bit of a smoking ban ..
Replies: 44
Views: 18642

Re: a bit of good news: bit of a smoking ban ..

It may have had a good effect anyway, despite that.
Some people out there will have stopped doing it just because it is forbidden by the authorities, even if not enforced. People are different. Some stop because they care about their children, some stop because they have been told it is a crime and other stop because they are afraid of punishment.
by beardy
16 Mar 2016, 11:19am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Every breath we take: the lifelong impact of air pollution
Replies: 598
Views: 83026

Re: Every breath we take: the lifelong impact of air polluti

The only pertinent fact that I could find was this
But the briefing says testing in France shows the devices do not work properly on 75% of cars.
by beardy
16 Mar 2016, 11:03am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Every breath we take: the lifelong impact of air pollution
Replies: 598
Views: 83026

Re: Every breath we take: the lifelong impact of air polluti

That article doesnt actually present a case or create an argument. It just bullet points a collection of rather random and unconnected facts to create an image.

Eg. Japanese (petrol?) cars have 18% lower CO2 emissions, pretty meaningless without context, do the Japs all drive round in small saloon cars rather than the SUV's that are common here?

I do agree with the idea of cutting all subsidies for the use of diesel and petrol.
by beardy
16 Mar 2016, 10:01am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Wiggins new role...
Replies: 13
Views: 1476

Re: Wiggins new role...

But I think he is a decent bloke and I can accept any differences I have with him.


But do you want him presented as, and listened to, as the voice of all cyclists?
by beardy
16 Mar 2016, 9:31am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Any Maths Genius To Explain why "5+5+5=15 is incorrect"
Replies: 139
Views: 6390

Re: Any Maths Genius To Explain why "5+5+5=15 is incorrect"

The difference is that the question isnt really a maths question but a question about a teaching method and to see if the pupil has grasped the concept about the teaching method.

A case of the "teaching and assessment" tail wagging the education dog.
by beardy
10 Mar 2016, 8:56am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Should the BBC be privatised?
Replies: 114
Views: 4346

Re: Should the BBC be privatised?

Charging people for ownership of a TV. Well no, you can have as many as you like. You are charged for the receipt of a data stream.


You can almost get away with distorting the truth to that extent but actually you cant.

If it was just the data stream, then those lucky rich people with two (or more) houses would not need a licence for every house, they would just have a personal/family licence. As it is you could carry your TV from house to house but not your licence.

Also charging for the receipt of a data stream implies that that we are talking about their data stream which they have had to transmit (and make content for), in practice you have to pay the BBC to receive streams supplied by their "competitors".

So "being charged for owning a TV" is much nearer to the reality of the truth than your mis-construction of the letter of the regulations is.

The car analogy would hold, if you only wanted cars on your own land and never to be driven on the road
by beardy
9 Mar 2016, 10:12am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: EU Ref...I Am Confused..Aren't You...
Replies: 1489
Views: 66095

Re: EU Ref...I Am Confused..Aren't You...

Though experience teaches us that once the vote is over and we have decided to stay or remain, it will make little difference to most things and that includes immigration.
Westminster liked to scapegoat EU for the immigration (when they didnt expect any referendum) but Farage backed them into a corner. The vote will determine EU membership but it will not cut down on immigration, you will get that either way the referendum goes, so long as people still vote Tory, Labour or SNP. If you want to cut immigration, you will have to go the whole way and vote UKIP (and I am not too convinced that they would stick to their policies once elected :lol: ).
by beardy
9 Mar 2016, 10:01am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: The German take on the cycle super highway...
Replies: 75
Views: 4825

Re: The German take on the cycle super highway...

Those of us seeking to do a long distance on a cycle are are a very small minority.
The most beneficial place for routes is relatively close major towns and cities.
Preferably with a fairly flat route (typically along a river).

Like Bristol and Bath or Nottingham and Derby but they are already pushing the range to the limit.
More suitable places will now be within an existing conurbation and just internal routes within London, Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester's etc "greater" areas. So that all of the route is of use rather than just to get from one town or city to another.
by beardy
9 Mar 2016, 9:31am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: getting to France/Holland
Replies: 38
Views: 2890

Re: getting to France/Holland

or should one retain flexibility and pay at travel time


I made that mistake last year on Dover-Calais (DFDS) £19 booked on line, £29 buying a ticket at the terminal.
I guess that if I had smartphone I could have booked the ticket in the reception and then collected it at the counter?
by beardy
8 Mar 2016, 10:27am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: EU Ref...I Am Confused..Aren't You...
Replies: 1489
Views: 66095

Re: EU Ref...I Am Confused..Aren't You...

pwa wrote:
kwackers wrote:
pwa wrote: I see that as a failing of the EU, and I think the EU is incapable of finding a solution that will give the UK a role we feel happy with. Leaving is the right thing for the UK and for the EU.

And having left then what? Refuse to trade with them?
You'll have no option, we can't afford not to, they know that and we'll accept similar (if not worse) conditions than we currently have whilst patting ourselves on the back for having "shown Johnny Foreigner" a thing or two...


You misrepresent my views. I want Free Trade (a concept as old as the hills) but not Free Movement of Labour. Trade with the EU will continue. Nobody says otherwise. The EU without the UK will need that, and so will the UK. The "Johnny Foreigner" attitude is mostly a figment of your imagination.

I would be dismayed if we ended up in an EU that included Turkey. That would be the absolute end.


I wonder why nobody (on either side) ever brings up The Turkish Model, instead of the Norwegian or Swiss Models.
by beardy
8 Mar 2016, 10:14am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: The German take on the cycle super highway...
Replies: 75
Views: 4825

Re: The German take on the cycle super highway...

The path in that bottom picture certainly doesnt look like 4 metres to me.
Photographs, like videos, make it hard to really judge distances.

Plenty of the roads around here are not 4 metres wide.
by beardy
8 Mar 2016, 10:09am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: EU Ref...I Am Confused..Aren't You...
Replies: 1489
Views: 66095

Re: EU Ref...I Am Confused..Aren't You...

So you think an Independent UK is going to keep more distant from Turkey for moral reasons?
by beardy
7 Mar 2016, 12:33pm
Forum: Cycling UK Topics and Discussions
Topic: CTC Begging Letter - March 2016
Replies: 37
Views: 2714

Re: CTC Begging Letter - March 2016

honesty wrote:I may tick the intend to box just to get the free badge. It doesn't bind you legally and you can get yourself removed from the spam list at a later date... ;)


You could donate the badge back to CTC in your will.
by beardy
7 Mar 2016, 12:28pm
Forum: Cycling UK Topics and Discussions
Topic: CTC Begging Letter - March 2016
Replies: 37
Views: 2714

Re: CTC Begging Letter - March 2016

The people who are responsible for this initiative and for the initiatives that have generated bad press for charities in general only get appraised for the money that they bring in and not on any harm that they may have done to those who dont pay.
by beardy
7 Mar 2016, 12:06pm
Forum: Cycling UK Topics and Discussions
Topic: CTC Begging Letter - March 2016
Replies: 37
Views: 2714

Re: CTC Begging Letter - March 2016

It is a charity, this is what charities do.

The old CTC winged wheel may be a toxic brand for the trendy set but no harm in exploiting it, to attract potential donors. :mrgreen: