In The News

[Dartfordian]

The London mayoral election reaches new levels of immaturity as Ken photoshops Dave and Boris to look like Star Trek aliens (Antoryans?)

I wonder if Paramount's lawyers keep up with English politics?

[Boo]

Originally Posted by Dartfordian

The London mayoral election reaches new levels of immaturity as Ken photoshops Dave and Boris to look like Star Trek aliens (Antoryans?)

Does anyone know what exactly this is meant to prove? In what way does this help people make an informed voting decision either for or against KL?

I'm quite bemused by the whole thing.

[SpaceSquid]

Originally Posted by Boo

Does anyone know what exactly this is meant to prove? In what way does this help people make an informed voting decision either for or against KL?

I'm quite bemused by the whole thing.

I assume it's "They're so blue and out of touch they may as well be aliens." Rhetorical short-hand, in other words. That said, were I in charge, I'd have put that quote actually on the poster. Well, I'd have come up with a decent idea instead, hopefully, but you know what I mean.

[Boo]

Originally Posted by SpaceSquid

I assume it's "They're so blue and out of touch they may as well be aliens." Rhetorical short-hand, in other words. That said, were I in charge, I'd have put that quote actually on the poster. Well, I'd have come up with a decent idea instead, hopefully, but you know what I mean.

Ohhhh I see. Yeah I needed to change down a mental gear for that!

[Big Orange]

Originally Posted by peanut

. And much as I agreee with you about water being privatised investment in inferstructure has been greater since they were privitaised so that argument is a lame duck.

Well Themes Water plunged 270 million pounds into a water desalination plant which why I said the ineffiiciencies in the SE England water infrastructure is really only "comparative" (we're not India, Brazil, or South Africa). And there must've been many decades of complacency if water meters have hardly been installed in the UK (in comparison to much of mainland Europe, where in many countries you still have to drink bottled water).

And there's also the factor on how old the leaky piping is: around a third of water pipes in the London area are well over a century old, and similar extreme age also likely led to a entire water pipe network bursting catastrophically in Northern Ireland during a recent winter (affecting 4000 homes). The passion surrounding privatisation of infrastruture is mainly about how much people pay and the influence of foreign owners.

And if people think tactical response units that includes military special forces seem overkill, how about SAM missle sites? Tactical units at the London Olympics are essentially a waste of resources alongside the rest of the horribly bloated event, but at least they make sense after the Munich fiasco: SAM missiles seem way too much of a double edged sword in a crowded urban area.

[Basileus]

Originally Posted by Big Orange

SAM missiles seem way too much of a double edged sword in a crowded urban area.

useful threat against any rioter this summer.
Unless they get their hands on them.

[Pie Man 70]

Originally Posted by Big Orange

And if people think tactcal response units that includes military special forces seem overkill, how about SAM missle sites? Tactical units at the London Olympics are essentially a waste of resources alongside the rest of the horribly bloated event, but at least they make sense after the Munich fiasco: SAM missiles seem way too much of a double edged sword in a crowded urban area.

Yup, that is govt overkill right there, to prevent terrorists from flying aircraft into the olympic stadium we're going to blow it out of the sky and shower flaming debris over a densly populated area, that'll show em. Still, missiles on roofs, makes you feel safe eh? Well it does if you're an idiot.

From twitter apparently the residents of the buildings who whistleblew on the missiles and complained about not being consulted (A reasonable complaint as it is effectively someone militarizing your home) they have been told they will not have their tennancy renewed and will be out befor ethe olympics. Yay Free speech

[Big Orange]

Originally Posted by Pie Man 70

From twitter apparently the residents of the buildings who whistleblew on the missiles and complained about not being consulted (A reasonable complaint as it is effectively someone militarizing your home) they have been told they will not have their tennancy renewed and will be out befor ethe olympics. Yay Free speech

Christ, that's seems rather dickish towards random bystanders (unlucky to be in the way of the state/corporate juggernaut ruthlessly clearing the path for the Olympics). I can see stuff like this eventually provoking more rioting.

[Basileus]

On the water debate upthread

Interest report on the register on the cost and impact of desalination.

it is Londoncentric but it makes interesting reading

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/05...ergy_analysis/

...
In order to make all the water a person requires, then, a desalination plant needs approximately 1 kWh per day. A kilowatt-hour, purchased on the wholesale electricity markets, can generally be obtained for six pence or less at the moment: the necessary energy would cost a water company say £22 per person annually.
...

...
Beckton cost just £270m to build. Another 15 such plants - enough to provide London's entire water supply if required - would cost approximately £4bn, an investment of just £500 for each person living in the city. Enough desalination plants to provide half the supply, which would make the city completely drought-proof for the foreseeable future, could have been built for less money than Thames Water has spent reducing leaks in the last nine years ...

[Perdide]

Every time I hear about the Olympics it's seems as if a small group of people want to shaft the nation for their own political/business orientated motives. It's quite depressing. The original announcement we had won the bid was greeted positively but absolutely everything since has generated hostility and resentment for the Olympics themselves.

Funny, because Seb Coe's original vision was to have the most inclusive Olympics ever, it seems he's achieved that by making sure there's not a person in Great Britain who hasn't been stung in some way by the Olympics farce.

Crap logo, massive overspend, ticket lottery which favours the rich, torch bearers have to pay to keep them, touch route can't have any-none official Olympic symbols on it, evicted a chunk of London, restricted traffic routes to favour the sponsors/dignitaries, Olympic Villiage has no kitchens making it useless after the games without expensive refit, militarise London... And these are only the ones I can remember!!

I've also seen the price of some of the tacky official merchandise! Unbelieveable!! It makes merch' for other events look positively affordable and classy.