Boris Johnson

lardyninja said:

thieves' windows." Also, the Islington Tribune reports, BJ hates
traffic-calming schemes because road humps "necessitate the use of
4x4s". Not for the first time, we ask: why is this man not yet PM?"

I think that road "pillows" are dangerous to cyclists.
When I'm driving, I aim to straddle the pillow with my wheels.
Not a cyclist, but I once almost sideswiped a motorcyclist when I was
pulling up to some traffic lights with a hump in front of them.

Full-width sinusoidal humps I am OK with, car or cycle. Easy enough to
cycle over them. The sinusoidal bit is important - and I'll bet they
cost more.

After a life time of political 'leftness' this is the one Tory that I
can agree with. He gives the appearance of being a bumbling Toff at
times but when one examines the substance of some of his
pronouncements they make a lot of sense. He was quite brilliant on
HIGNFY - those acerbic wits of messrs Merton and Hignall I think seem
to genuinely like the man.

His statement yesterday that the reason that the teaching profession
is being feminised to such a degree that in certain stages it is 20/80
per cent in favour of women is because men are far too scared of being
labelled paedophiles even if they tell off or bump into children is so
true - but that is another issue.

In the end anybody that rides a bike cant be all bad.

"John Hearns" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

Full-width sinusoidal humps I am OK with, car or cycle. Easy enough to
cycle over them. The sinusoidal bit is important - and I'll bet they cost
more.

My local council only do seem to do whale humps, with no profiling at all.
they just put 5 new ones on the way home. The one on the up hill left hand
bend when I'm having to go round parked cars is a real problem. it's cut off
at the ends, but there are always card parked on it.

I vote for Boris.

Jc.

"lardyninja" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In today's Grauniad:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/diary/story/0,,2039702,00.html

"Spotted, at the influential Islington Cyclists' Action Group the
other night, the helmetless member for Henley, complaining at
having
another bike nicked. "I'm calling for sharia law for bicycle
thieves,"
declares the Bozzmeister,

[snip]

In Washington DC we were in favour of the Code of the West. After
all, bike theft is essentially similar to horse theft, so the
penalties should obviously be the same.

Jeremy Parker

"lardyninja" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Not for the first time, we ask: why is this man not yet PM?

Maybe you might ask that but I'm not sure many people in Liverpool would be
in favour! He should stick to what he's best at. I like him on Have I got
news for you but from what I've seen of him (on varied TV moments, not just
HIGNFY), he seems to come across as too bumbling to be PM. I'm sure the
media just like to show him in that light but I'd very much like to see
(much) more of the competent, professional Boris if I was to be satisfied he
was fit for that role. I suspect many of the party MPs would feel the same
way about having him as their leader. He doesn't so much come across as a
safe pair of hands as a fun pair of hands....

It's really great that he cycles though (without a parliamentary shoe
delivery car following behind).

Paul M

"John Hearns" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I think that road "pillows" are dangerous to cyclists.
When I'm driving, I aim to straddle the pillow with my wheels.
Not a cyclist, but I once almost sideswiped a motorcyclist when I was
pulling up to some traffic lights with a hump in front of them.

Full-width sinusoidal humps I am OK with, car or cycle. Easy enough to
cycle over them. The sinusoidal bit is important - and I'll bet they cost
more.

I read a while ago that these things cost "between GBP7.5k. and GBP10.0k.
each." The article seemed to refer to the full width thingies. It was
(perhaps) 5 or 6 years ago this appeared.

I personally don't like them, I had a very heavy fall on one a year ago - I
now know a bicycle will fit into an ambulance! Also I carry fragile goods
in our company van and these horrible things sometimes damage my companies
property.

Their "other" name is entirely appropriate - "sleeping policemen". They are
intended to substitute for law enforcement and sometimes do - but our High
Street has had 3 peds killed by speeding motorists in the past two years.
All killed on "humped" zebra crossings.

BTW I like Boris -enormousely. For me he's a throwback to when politicians
were fun, had character and were enjoyable.

John
www.calder-clarion.co.uk

in message <[email hidden]>, John Clayton

(') said:

BTW I like Boris  -enormousely.  For me he's a throwback to when
politicians were fun, had character and were enjoyable.

Ditto. I'm so far to the left that none of the English parties appeal to
me - but when Boris Johnstone was in a spot of bother a couple of years
ago I sent him an encouraging email, and got a very human (and humorous)
reply. We could do with a lot more like him.

As usual, the AI .sig generator has chosen wisely.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

I shall continue to be an impossible person so long as those
who are now possible remain possible -- Michael Bakunin

Paul Murphy said:

"lardyninja" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Not for the first time, we ask: why is this man not yet PM?

Maybe you might ask that but I'm not sure many people in Liverpool would be
in favour!

Who cares what the Liverpudlians favour? They'd be better off if they
got themselves jobs rather than moping around feeling sorry or themselves.

Quoted message said:

He should stick to what he's best at. I like him on Have I got
news for you but from what I've seen of him (on varied TV moments, not just
HIGNFY), he seems to come across as too bumbling to be PM.

That's just because you aren't listening to what he says. Or perhaps
you don't understand his carefully crafted arguments.

Quoted message said:

It's really great that he cycles though (without a parliamentary shoe
delivery car following behind).

Apparently he can cycle and use a cellphone at the same time, so he
should have no problem walking and chewing gum... (disgusting habit).

Al C-F said the following on 23/03/2007 12:34:

Quoted message said:

Apparently he can cycle and use a cellphone at the same time, so he
should have no problem walking and chewing gum... (disgusting habit).

He's already one-up on The Shrub then :-)

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

Ditto ditto....I'm about as 'Old' as Labour gets, but people like Boris just
brighten up our lives, don't they. Alan Clarke was another old rogue I found
completely irresistable...I heard just the other day that he was once asked
by a journo, when the Tories were mired in *their* sleazy scandals, whether
he had any skeletons in his closet - 'Dear boy,' he said, 'I can barely get
the door shut.'
"Simon Brooke" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

in message <[email hidden]>, John Clayton

(') said:

BTW I like Boris -enormousely. For me he's a throwback to when
politicians were fun, had character and were enjoyable.

Ditto. I'm so far to the left that none of the English parties appeal to
me - but when Boris Johnstone was in a spot of bother a couple of years
ago I sent him an encouraging email, and got a very human (and humorous)
reply. We could do with a lot more like him.

As usual, the AI .sig generator has chosen wisely.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

I shall continue to be an impossible person so long as those
who are now possible remain possible -- Michael Bakunin

"Al C-F" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Paul Murphy said:

"lardyninja" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Not for the first time, we ask: why is this man not yet PM?

Maybe you might ask that but I'm not sure many people in Liverpool would
be in favour!

Who cares what the Liverpudlians favour? They'd be better off if they got
themselves jobs rather than moping around feeling sorry or themselves.

Following in Boris's footsteps I see!

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

He should stick to what he's best at. I like him on Have I got news for
you but from what I've seen of him (on varied TV moments, not just
HIGNFY), he seems to come across as too bumbling to be PM.

That's just because you aren't listening to what he says. Or perhaps you
don't understand his carefully crafted arguments.

Actually I and many other people listen very closely to what he says. Do you
seriously think what he said about the Liverpudlians shows sound judgement,
excellent diplomacy and the sort of stuff an excellent PM is made of? Don't
get me wrong, he's a fun, likable guy but as much as I'd like to think he
would excel, I believe he'd have issues in the PMs shoes.

Paul M

Paul Murphy wrote on 23/03/2007 18:33 +0100:

Quoted message said:

Actually I and many other people listen very closely to what he says. Do you
seriously think what he said about the Liverpudlians shows sound judgement,
excellent diplomacy and the sort of stuff an excellent PM is made of? Don't
get me wrong, he's a fun, likable guy but as much as I'd like to think he
would excel, I believe he'd have issues in the PMs shoes.

Its funny how we expect our PMs to be all proper. The Australians seem
to manage just fine with fairly plain speaking Prime Ministers.

--
Tony

"...has many omissions and contains much that is apocryphal, or at least
wildly inaccurate..."
Douglas Adams; The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Paul Murphy said:

"Al C-F" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Paul Murphy said:

"lardyninja" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
> Not for the first time, we ask: why is this man not yet PM?
Maybe you might ask that but I'm not sure many people in Liverpool would
be in favour!

Who cares what the Liverpudlians favour? They'd be better off if they got
themselves jobs rather than moping around feeling sorry or themselves.

Following in Boris's footsteps I see!

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

He should stick to what he's best at. I like him on Have I got news for
you but from what I've seen of him (on varied TV moments, not just
HIGNFY), he seems to come across as too bumbling to be PM.

That's just because you aren't listening to what he says. Or perhaps you
don't understand his carefully crafted arguments.

Actually I and many other people listen very closely to what he says. Do you
seriously think what he said about the Liverpudlians shows sound judgement,
excellent diplomacy and the sort of stuff an excellent PM is made of? Don't
get me wrong, he's a fun, likable guy but as much as I'd like to think he
would excel, I believe he'd have issues in the PMs shoes.

I think he shows acute observation, plain speaking and a certain integrity.

Unlike our current PM, who is busy building his career on the American
lecture circuit at the expense of the country.

On 23/03/2007 19:06, Tony Raven said,

Quoted message said:

Its funny how we expect our PMs to be all proper. The Australians seem
to manage just fine with fairly plain speaking Prime Ministers.

Quite - a no-[censored] PM would make a refreshing change.

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

"John Clayton" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"John Hearns" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I think that road "pillows" are dangerous to cyclists.
When I'm driving, I aim to straddle the pillow with my wheels.
Not a cyclist, but I once almost sideswiped a motorcyclist when I was
pulling up to some traffic lights with a hump in front of them.

Their "other" name is entirely appropriate - "sleeping policemen". They
are intended to substitute for law enforcement and sometimes do - but our
High Street has had 3 peds killed by speeding motorists in the past two
years. All killed on "humped" zebra crossings.

Generally to get round them even in a car with generous road clearance (not
a 4x4 but a 1960s designed saloon) you have to head into the middle of the
road. If you duff up and fail to slow down enough or move out enough yuo are
in danger of either taking off (have to be going stupidly fast to do this)
or more likely having a vehicle that is not properly in control (I reckon
when I hit one at 15mph it was getting dodgy.)
I failed to heed a warning from a bus driver contact who said that the ones
in lochee haven't worn down much yet. Luckilly the horrible scarping noise
wasn't a marooned Saab and just a mud flap a bit more scratched than normal
(I ripped the exhaust off on a kerb one that wasn't as high as most of
these.).

When cycling round them if there are cars on the inside i have to go into
the middle of the road. This is guaranteed locally. in Tayport where they
have just been installed.

One of the obvious issues with Speed Pillows is that they are a lot higher
than a sleeping policeman.

Although going again by the Saab ground clearance, the Pillows are much more
effective as i can just batter across most S.P. as if i was in a 4x4. Same
applied to the bikes too.

Quoted message said:

BTW I like Boris -enormousely. For me he's a throwback to when
politicians were fun, had character and were enjoyable.

Can't agree more

Niall

On 23/03/2007 21:34, Niall Wallace said,

Quoted message said:

Generally to get round them even in a car with generous road clearance (not
a 4x4 but a 1960s designed saloon) you have to head into the middle of the
road. If you duff up and fail to slow down enough or move out enough yuo are
in danger of either taking off (have to be going stupidly fast to do this)
or more likely having a vehicle that is not properly in control

In the local paper just yesterday there was a story about someone who's
fence had been knocked down yet again by a 4x4 trying to avoid speed
bumps. The road in question is residential, and has a sharp bend
"protected" by these pillows. Said 4x4 drivers drive down the centre of
the road to avoid driving over the pillows, regardless of the fact that
this is on a blind bend... inevitable avoiding action results in cars
crossing the pavement and through garden fences.

Idiocy knows no bounds!

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

On Mar 23, 9:34 pm, "Niall Wallace" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I failed to heed a warning from a bus driver contact who said that the ones
in lochee haven't worn down much yet. Luckilly the horrible scarping noise
wasn't a marooned Saab and just a mud flap a bit more scratched than normal
(I ripped the exhaust off on a kerb one that wasn't as high as most of
these.).

I always feel at risk of sliding off them sideways. I'm not sure they
are strictly necessary there.

The thing that really pisses me off is people insisting on screaming
past me then braking like crazy to go slowly over the speed humps. A
few times I've nearly ended in the boot.

Quoted message said:

When cycling round them if there are cars on the inside i have to go into
the middle of the road. This is guaranteed locally. in Tayport where they
have just been installed.

One of the obvious issues with Speed Pillows is that they are a lot higher
than a sleeping policeman.

Although going again by the Saab ground clearance, the Pillows are much more
effective as i can just batter across most S.P. as if i was in a 4x4. Same
applied to the bikes too.

Seems to do OK in the Mondeo.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

BTW I like Boris -enormousely. For me he's a throwback to when
politicians were fun, had character and were enjoyable.

Can't agree more

Niall

Likewise.

...d

Paul Boyd said:

On 23/03/2007 19:06, Tony Raven said,

Quoted message said:

Its funny how we expect our PMs to be all proper. The Australians seem
to manage just fine with fairly plain speaking Prime Ministers.

Quite - a no-[censored] PM would make a refreshing change.

John Howard isn't a plain speaking no-[censored] regular guy. He's a right
twunt.

hth,

Tony B

Tony B wrote on 24/03/2007 07:47 +0100:

Quoted message said:

Paul Boyd said:

On 23/03/2007 19:06, Tony Raven said,

Quoted message said:

Its funny how we expect our PMs to be all proper. The Australians
seem to manage just fine with fairly plain speaking Prime Ministers.

Quite - a no-[censored] PM would make a refreshing change.

John Howard isn't a plain speaking no-[censored] regular guy. He's a right
twunt.

hth,

I guess the Australian population must be right twunts too having
re-elected him three times making him the second longest serving
Australian Prime Minister. Bit like the Brits and TB really ;-)

HTHT

Tony