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Member for

12 years 11 months

Posts: 2,841

John I can see the increase in vigilanty patrols and summery justice meted out to the perceived perpetrators.
As for the Police they are either thick or bent(the bent ones falsify the records)the thick ones don't notice!

Why are we paying the Police? Ask our Chief Constable. Oh silly me you can't see link
http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Suspended-Avon-Somerset-chief-constable-Nick/story-21451227-detail/story.html

Member for

12 years 11 months

Posts: 6,535

This is interesting, tho' not entirely enexpected. A report in today's D.Tel. issued by German pollsters shows that the larger EU member countries would like Britain to stay in the EU but, France, La Belle France, would like to see us leave !

There's gratitude for you.

Member for

11 years 5 months

Posts: 11,141

By 52% I recall. My entirely subjective experience of many years travelling and living in France lead to me to the conclusion that there was far more warmth to us in rural France than urban France.

Member for

12 years 11 months

Posts: 6,535

That is certainly my experience.

Member for

12 years 11 months

Posts: 6,535

My newspaper carries a brief report concerning the possibility of British air strikes on Islamic State fighters in Iraq and Syria.

I don't think that this will take place. I think that the reason why this hasn't already happened is because of fears concerning opposition from our resident Islamic population. If my reasoning is correct, it demonstrates a belief that many have held for some time namely, that British foreign policy is being shaped by the possibility of internal threats linked to violent street action.

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12 years 11 months

Posts: 2,841

We have had threats before and that has not stopped us. I believe it is the other way around its the silent Islamic population that runs scared in this country. If they spoke up things like Rotherham and 7/7 may not have happened.

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12 years 11 months

Posts: 6,535

Did any one see last night, that rather amazing and revelatory TV program on the sinking and grounding of the Italian cruise liner Concordia ?

The film on show was shot by passengers carrying video cameras and mobile phone cameras. It was of excellent quality. There was evidence of panc among crew and passengers but, on the whole, the conduct of many, apart that is from the Captain, was exemplary.

I would think that this collection of films would make an excellent SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) instructional video. The Captain is plainly 'out of his depth' (no pun intended) and much of what followed can be laid at his lack of direction and command.

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12 years 11 months

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The headline in today's D. Tel. informs us that up to thirty Islamic jihadists formerly domiciled in this country have been killed in Syria and elsewhere. The total could be higher at perhaps fifty.

Some, might take some quiet and not-so-quiet satisfaction at this outcome but, consider; these were primarily young men, who died fighting for the fiercely held beliefs. They died believing in their immortality and their passport to Paradise. They died for their cause.

We would all do well to remember this.

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12 years 11 months

Posts: 2,841

As long as they die in Syria and not here. I shed no tears for them.

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15 years 9 months

Posts: 686

Wonder how many have gone out there and found that their "holy war" isn't quite as holy or one sided as they perhaps thought, discovering that this isn't play station and that there are a good number who don't subscribe to their beliefs and fight back.

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11 years 5 months

Posts: 11,141

Tough!

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12 years 11 months

Posts: 6,535

To-day's D.Tel. features a letter from a reader concerning a new film called The Imitation Game which tells the story of the cryptographer, Alan Turing.

The letter goes on to mention the name of Bill Tutte. Genius is a much over used term but, in the case of Turing, Tutte and Tommy Flowers - in the light of their contributions to the war effort - carries an emphasis that can be measured.

Without ever seeing a copy of the actual machine, Bill Tutte set to work and made an exact copy of the German Lorentz code machine. Lorentz was vastly more complicated than Enigma, whose code it was that Alan Turing broke. It was said that this work by Bill Tutte shortened WW2 by two years.

Tommy Flowers is remembered as the engineering genius responsible for constructing the worlds first programmable electronic computer; Colossus.

At long last, it is announced that a memorial to Bill Tutte has been unveiled at his home town of Newmarket. Many would think, not before time. It was, it is said, for security reasons connected with the Cold War, that neither Tutte nor Flowers' WW2 work was rewarded after war's end.

When you consider how much diminished now is this country, remember; it was thru' the deeds of men such as this that this country played such a crucial and pivotal role in winning the war.

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17 years 5 months

Posts: 9,738

Tommy Flowers not only engineered Colossus.....he paid for much of it out of his own pocket!

Now that its significance is appreciated it is heralded as a great British success story that shortened the war (which it did) however, in typical British style, the development of Colossus was starved of funds because those that held the purse-strings didn't believe that the engineers could do what they claimed was possible...

...post-war Tommy Flowers was 'handsomely' rewarded financially.....he may even have broken-even!

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12 years 11 months

Posts: 6,535

Most of us are familiar with TripAdvisor now meet Nick Advisor.

The D. Tel. (5th Nov). reports that jails are now to be given a grading according to the comforts and amenities they offer to the prospective criminal.

Something akin to the star grading system is envisaged. A clink might have a wash hand basin, soap and towel or, central heating with a loo in one corner. Ir might have a TV or, interior sprung mattress. There might be room service with cream tea. A selection of music could be available: Classic FM, or, Modern or Traditional jazz.

The permutations leading to five star status are almost endless. The snags are obvious. Are we, despite the best exertions of the Police in denying the same about to see an explosion in the prison population related to the lure of extravagant prison comfort. I can see a huge bulge in the statistical curve in the run up to Xmas.

It is something that I might consider. Turkey and plum duff all to myself in my own surroundings and all without having to put on that false but well practised act of bonhomie.

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11 years 5 months

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Talk about a skewed version of history!!:(

Member for

19 years 3 months

Posts: 106

Talk about a skewed version of history!!:(

Are you sure? History is written by victors and in this case, Britain was the victor. Hence we may have never heard of theses stories which may be true.

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11 years 5 months

Posts: 11,141

If you take the trouble to find it there is a wealth of material about this with the blame levelled at the British as much as elsewhere. You might argue that Nationslist Indian sources are no more likely to take an objective view.

It was discussed openly when I was at school a very long time ago and is an historical incident with a complex background.

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11 years 5 months

Posts: 11,141

From the press today - posted without comment!!

"An excellent primary school in rural Lincolnshire has been denied the top grade by Ofsted inspectors. Problems with literacy, perhaps? Nope. Bad at sums? Actually, the kiddies’ maths is rather good.

I’m afraid the sad fact is that Middle Rasen Primary School has been found guilty of being “too English” or not multicultural enough. In vain have the headteacher and parents pointed out that it is hard to do anything about Ofsted’s criticism that the pupils “lacked first-hand experience of the diverse make-up of modern British society”.

When 97% of your community is composed of suspect white natives the opportunity for “first-hand interaction with their counterparts from different backgrounds beyond the immediate locality” are few and far between. The Market Rasen pupils are doubly handicapped because each and every one of them has English as his or her first language.

I know, shocking, isn’t it? What hope is there for a school where all the kids speak the same language as the teachers? That’s obviously going to present a major barrier to learning."

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9 years 6 months

Posts: 1,613

Like it or lump it, those kids are probably going to be in for a rough time when they move to the cities to attend university.