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.

Nice to see Health and Safety being taken seriously.
My local swimming pool like most modern pools, has the water level almost to the top of the pool sides. Obviously any movement in the pool causes a fairly large amount to splash/flow over. No problem, as this is the design that stops water coming back at swimmers from the side, also the water returns back into the pool via filters.
Round this pool there are several free sanding warning signs saying, ' Beware the sides of this pool are slippery'. These signs are almost at the waters edge.
As a regular swimmer, I know most swimmers feel that there is a far bigger danger of tripping over the signs than there is of slipping on the very obvious wet pool surround.
I don't blame the pool management, as no doubt if the signs were not evident and someone did slip, they would likely sue the council and win.

Health and Safety is a joke, I can't say more (for legal reasons) until next week.
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Health and Safety in itself is a good thing. You only have to look at the deaths many year ago in such as the building trade, compared to those now. The problem as always is the politically correct brigade take things to extremes.

George.... Sounds interesting. Hope you are not involved in a frivolous H and S action. I do appreciate that if you are or know of any ongoing court actions you can not say too much, so not pushing you in any way.

greekman --my 'is a joke' comment is extreme, but certainly as regards to my position the comment applies.
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George,

I don't think your...is a joke... comment is all that extreme. My reply was not having a go at that part of your post, as I am sure that most people including yourself think the basic need of H and S are well intended and required.

greekman---I didn't think for one minute that you were 'having a go' I've read enough of your posts to realise that. Yes H&S has it's place of course.
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It doesn't help when you get Idiot teacher's taking children out to sea in canoe's and up mountain's when they have been warned about bad weather.

aldwickk-------you are right, one of my ex colleagues lost his son in the Lime Bay canoe disaster.
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George,

OK. Just did not wish to be misunderstood, as if you had taken my remark the wrong way and it had upset you, you might require counseling.

Counseling, now there is another word that has been overstretched in use.
In my own profession as a Police Traffic Officer, my force bought in a system where if you had attended any road death, or other traumatic experience the welfare office would contact you to see how you were dealing with the aftermath of that incident.
I had no trouble with that, nor did I need there services, but some did. The problem now is, that we, the general public are offered counseling almost as a must have.
Many years ago before most police forces closed their bars, the best way of dealing with a traumatic incident was to have the final stages of any debrief in the bar.
I found that those involve were far more likely to 'open up' after a couple of pints, than under counseling.
Yes there is stress out there in the big wide world, and sometimes help is needed, but we have gone so far down the 'counseling mollycoddling' route that it is almost required that you have to admit that you have a problem.
Me, a couple of pints after work did the trick fine. Being driven home after of course.

Too late greekman been to see my shrink already because I was so upset at your comment. Ha!Ha! Couple of pint sorts me out as well, my daughters reckon two pints is more than I can take these days.
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That bring's us on to post traumatic stress in war zones.

One to look out for in 2012. It's going to be much faster than a bullet! (well, most bullets!)

Northampton engineers helping to power record-breaking attempt to reach 1,000mph

Northampton Chronicle
Sat Nov 13, 2010



ENGINEERS from Northampton are working on an engine which will help power a record-breaking attempt to drive a car at more than 1,000 mph.

Workers from Northampton, St James- based Cosworth have built a special version of their Formula 1 engine to be used in the Bloodhound Supersonic Car, which it is hoped will reach 1,050mph when it is driven across a South African desert in 2012.

Cosworths chief executive, Tim Routsis, said staff at the Northampton firm had been delighted to work on such a prestigious project.

He said: The invitation to participate in such a high profile and adventurous project is both exciting and a privilege for Cosworth.

We look forward to working with the Bloodhound team to develop the new technology necessary to achieve the record and inspire a new generation of engineers and scientists.

Bloodhound has been designed by the British team which set the current land speed record of 763 mph with their Thrust car in 1997.

As well as the Cosworth power unit, Bloodhound will also be powered by both a rocket and a jet engine.

The Cosworth engine will be used to supply fuel to the rocket, pumping the fluid at an average speed of 75 pints a second.

As well as their engine, Cosworth will also supply electronics for Bloodhound which will help control the vehicle and allow engineers and members of the public to see data beamed back from the car during its record attempts.

The car will be driven by Wing Commander Andy Green, who piloted Thrust in 1997.

He said: Ive met graduate engineers who are adamant our previous record was what inspired their career choice as youngsters.

That sort of thing makes all the effort worthwhile. Bloodhound will be so much faster and, we hope, will fire up every school kid about science and technology.

Bloodhounds record-breaking attempt is planned to be held on the Hakskeen Pan in South Africa, a space the size of 4,800 football pitches, during summer 2012.

Last week, the Cosworth engine secured another success with its first pole position (*) since the company returned to Formula 1 earlier this year.

(*) Nico Hulkenberg's surprise run to pole position for the Brazilian Grand Prix

"Hollie" in a 360 degree pose:

Here

Lovely lines, the ones on the Bloodhound aren't bad either.
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ShareCrazy Gold Poll http://www.popmodal.com/video/798/Margaret-Thatcher-The-Iron-Lady-at-her-Best


Who is the greatest PM Britain has ever had?
Gladstone
4%
Churchill
36%
Thatcher
49%
Blair
4%
Walpole
7%
Total Votes: 123

No Gordon Brown? ;)

No Cameron or his vanity box. 8-)

Edit,

What a poser he is!

Can't seem to see the last two posts for some odd reason. Have I missed anything important?

Nor did I. Thank technology.