Thought Id start this one going because its rather dead on this board at the moment and I suppose all my usual muckers are either at the Stella tennis event watching Dim Tim (lose again) or at Henly Regatta eating cucumber sandwiches (they wish,...NOT).

Anyway please feel free to just talk to yourself blast away and let it go on any company or subject you wish. Just wish Id thought of this one before.

cheers GF.

The amount of money thrown at animal charities, and they cant find a few quid for koala mittens? I mean, how many do they need??


Piss taking?

4 each of course!

Is there as much money thrown at animal charities in Australia as in this country? Personally I prefer animals to some human beings! I've got two dogs and they are loyal, well behaved, funny, appreciate my efforts to make them happy, don't pass any criticisms when I behave like a tw-t and are very good company.:-)

DB4,

You may think that you are not fit for the Old Girls home yet, but ask your children what they think.

Ps.

I had an Irish Setter, called Paddy amongst other names. (Seems a long time ago.)

He was always getting me into trouble.

That's right Fred - always blame the dog, one if the few things we are agreed on!! :-))

I'm not a big fan of Piers Morgan, but he is right;


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2903930/PIERS-MORGAN-accept-Paris-murderers-aren-t-real-Muslims-won-t-MUSLIM-world-say-too.html

From what TANKER as been saying , he must be aged about 84 [ went in the army , instead of down the pit's] that would mean he enlisted at the start of the WW2

I am sure he mentioned the days he spent in the trenches in WWI. He said something about playing football with the Germans and telling them that we should all join up into one big federal state (someone must have overheard him at the time!).

We probably lost that match with the Germans on penalties as well.

Comet 'Lovejoy' should be visible (????) tonight as a small green fuzzy glow in the vicinity of Orion's belt.

Then it goes off on its orbit and won't get back anytime soon until about 8,000 years have elapsed. So that's not very friendly of it, is it?

the comet will apparently be visible for the next 2 weeks

http://uk.mobile.reuters.com/article/idUKKBN0KJ0EJ20150110?irpc=932
LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservative Party said it would introduce tough strike laws for some public service workers if it wins the general election in May, prompting anger from unions, which called the proposals an affront to democracy.

Under the Conservatives' plans announced on Saturday, a strike involving health, transport, education or fire service workers would require the backing of at least 40 percent of eligible union members to be legal.

The move comes after a series of strikes last year by public sector employees, including teachers and firefighters, and stoppages by rail workers on London's underground train network that caused chaos for millions of commuters.

Many of these strikes would have fallen foul of the new proposals. Cameron has previously argued industrial action without proper backing was unjustified.

"A strike in the public sector affects many people who have no chance and exercise no authority over that strike whatsoever," Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin told BBC Radio. "So before it takes place it ought to have the support of at least 40 percent of the members that trade union."

Better to make it 51% for all strikes.

"Labour accused the Conservatives of "playing political games with the unions.""

I love that line! Of course Labour wouldn't for one minute be playing political games with the problems in the NHS.

Another helping hand for unscrupulous employers by their mates and employee bashing party/Government.

It should be 51% and the workers who vote against strike action shouldn't have to run the gauntlet of picket lines every time they turn up for work.

It should be a straight majority and employees should abide by the vote result.

The trouble is that very few vote in strike ballots. Therefore a straight majority of those voting is not representative. Secondly, the unions don't ballot for each strike. They may get a majority of the few who vote, but then use that result for later strikes claiming a mandate for more strikes which are sometimes a year later. There are plenty of union members who don't want to strike, these rule changes will make it more difficult for the minority of activists to disrupt people's lives.

why is it unreasonable to insist that 40% of the membership have to vote for strike action before it is can be taken legally?

and surely a "straight majority" = >50%

by the way, why should employees be forced to join a union, though thank goodness that is less widespread than it used to be?

equally, why cannot a member "voice" his opposition to a strike by refusing to abide by it?