What did you do when the Olympic Torch passed by?

[FamilyWiggs]

:lol:

That's optimistic I'd say - especially if FW has started following the Welsh team!

I'm sure football has some effect, but it can't be as great as the Olympics.

It's worse than that, we've bought season tickets for Wrexham FC this season! :lol:

To judge by my trip to the Lakes or FF's to Dorset, I reckon the Olympics were a bit like 16 consecutive world cup finals or Royal weddings.... with 20m people watching the telly at home. Not many people in the shops as a result. Certainly the traders who paid a lot for market stall pitches outside the Olympic Park expecting 80,000 people a day through the market were somewhat unhappy at TfL's competence in spiriting people away from the venues efficiently and effectively.

 

[Flyfisher]

I do wonder if trader get themselves into an unrealistic frenzy about the money to be made from big events. Wasn't it fairly obvious that lots of people would be staying at home to watch the excellent television coverage?

Remember all the hoo-hah surrounding the 1999 total eclipse of the sun in Cornwall? Predictions of millions of people flocking west, blocking the roads, food and fuel supplies running short, hotels and guest houses putting up their prices to ridiculous levels, etc.

All the hype completely put us off travelling to Cornwall to view the eclipse so we booked a ferry to France and had a very pleasant leisurely and uncongested drive down the coast to a lovely little French town and watched the whole thing in a cloudless sky - unlike Cornwall as it turned out.

 

[Flyfisher]

I see Westminster council is trying to encourage shoppers back to London's west end after the Olympic lull by offering free parking.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-19304943

Frankly, a chauffeur-driven limo wouldn't persuade me to shop in the west end. Last time I went to the theatre on a Sunday afternoon, Westminster council ticketed me while I was parked quite legally and I had to pursue them all the way to a parking tribunal to get the ticket cancelled. :twisted:

 

[biffvernon]

"Detracted much and added little"???

Just a little bit of balance and a few pesky facts are required biff. Irksome I know, but that is real life for you. :roll:

McDonalds are a corporate sponsor. I'm sure you think they are evil.

Yep, you've got it in one. The world would be a better place without McDonalds (and Dow are even more evil).

It's good to see that McDonalds has been banned from Bolivia, to be followed by Coca Cola on that auspicious date 21st December 2012.

 

[Feltwell]

I reckon the Olympics were a bit like 16 consecutive world cup finals or Royal weddings.... with 20m people watching the telly at home. Not many people in the shops as a result.

That's quite a fair assessment I reckon, except that - speaking as one who is back in the evil world of corporate retailing - for a world cup half the population rush out to buy beer, crisps and pizza. For the Olympics they don't rush out to buy anything.

Feeling quite smug right now when I walk into other retailers and see they still have loads of Olympic tat to shift. We decided not to do anything special for the Olympics, and oh boy has that proven to be the right decision. The only Olympic stuff we have got - chocolate, which was underwritten by the manufacturer - has been a flop, apart from big chocolate gold medals which have done quite well. Good to see the healthy eating spin-off from all that sport :wink:

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Yep, you've got it in one. The world would be a better place without McDonalds (and Dow are even more evil).

It's good to see that McDonalds has been banned from Bolivia, to be followed by Coca Cola on that auspicious date 21st December 2012.

Wake up biff, you're really are being silly, even if joking.

McDonalds employ 420,000 people worldwide, 85,000 of them in the UK. I'm sure each one of them will be pleased you'd like to do away with their employer. Do you have a plan for replacing those jons, plus all the upstream suppliers? :roll:

I really don't want to continue being an advocate for Ronald on a PPUK forum (I'm sure everyone is as bored as me by now), but the need to inject a little reality into your claims makes it necessary.

Oh, and as for those pesky facts again.... McDonalds hasn't "been banned from Bolivia" as you claim, in December this year. They pulled out last year because their 8 restaurants there were habitually loss-making. Nutty socialist President Evo Morales has jumped on their withdrawal, but a little late. Stable door, horse, bolted.

They're banning Coke because it is unhealthy and "it is in line with the Mayan calendar and will be part of celebrations for the end of capitalism and the beginning of a culture of life; The planets are aligned after 26 thousand years; it is the end of capitalism and the beginning of communitarianism”, according to a Bolivian government minister.

Meanwhie in the real world, we don't tend to make economic or health policy based upon astrology. Perhaps that is why Bolivia is only ranked 103rd by the UN in terms of GDP, behind Tanzania and Trindad?

C- biff. Must try harder.

 

[Gareth Hughes]

McDonalds employ 420,000 people worldwide, 85,000 of them in the UK.

Or, to put it another way, about 0.2% of the working population of the UK. 0.2% is, as you've said earlier in relation to that proportion of the national expenditure that has been spent on sports day, "a piffling amount".

Interesting how one sees the same figures differently in different contexts, isn't it? :roll:

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Meanwhie in the real world, we don't tend to make economic or health policy based upon astrology. Perhaps that is why Bolivia is only ranked 103rd by the UN in terms of GDP, behind Tanzania and Trindad?

Whereas happy Bhutan is 169th.
And the Isle of Man is 155th. And poor struggling Jersey about 150th.

When bandying statistics about, always check there isn't something to trip you up. :roll:

 

[FamilyWiggs]

McDonalds employ 420,000 people worldwide, 85,000 of them in the UK.

Or, to put it another way, about 0.2% of the working population of the UK. 0.2% is, as you've said earlier in relation to that proportion of the national expenditure that has been spent on sports day, "a piffling amount".

Interesting how one sees the same figures differently in different contexts, isn't it? :roll:

:lol:

Tell you what, we'll emloyee them all in State Margarine factories instead and we can have more Olympics Games! :wink:

TBH I'd expect Bhutan, Jersey or Man to be behind Bolivia, with its gas and mineral/metal resources

 

[JoceAndChris]

Well, here's a confession. I love McDonald's. Love the fact I can be starving, up to my eyes in chicken poo and paint and garden trimmings, and just throw a pashmina over my whole muddy ensemble, jump in the car in my wellies and within 7 minutes I'm at the drive thru, don't have to talk to anyone or be seen, can enjoy perfectly tasty hot food cooked by someone else, no washing up, cheaper than any meal I ever make myself. They're wonderful, and god bless every one of their staff!

 

[biffvernon]

McDonalds employ 420,000 people worldwide, 85,000 of them in the UK.

Ah yes, we must never stop doing something that employs people. The argument is often trotted out by supporters of the tobacco and armaments industries. We must keep smoking and bombing or it could put jobs at risk.

(Love the picture you conjure, Joce.)

 

[LadyArowana]

Well, here's a confession. I love McDonald's. Love the fact I can be starving, up to my eyes in chicken poo and paint and garden trimmings, and just throw a pashmina over my whole muddy ensemble, jump in the car in my wellies and within 7 minutes I'm at the drive thru, don't have to talk to anyone or be seen, can enjoy perfectly tasty hot food cooked by someone else, no washing up, cheaper than any meal I ever make myself. They're wonderful, and god bless every one of their staff!

The other wonderful thing about Micky D is that they have bathrooms! I cannot tell you how many times I have been in some outlandish place where something that can be flushed is a rarity and been so happy to see a franchise. Tend to be a "fillet o fish and regular fries" person rather than anything burger wise, but it has sustained me many times when the alternatives were few and far between, or even less like "food".

 

[FamilyWiggs]

And free wiffy. Which reaches the carpark. So even freerer, as no purchase needed. Been useful to me many a time.

Free t'internet. Free loos. Food that Joce thinks is nice. And they build hospice accommodation for sick children. I bet they even like elephants MiLady. Those welcoming golden arches are just like Mother's embrace.

They really are magnificent in their global corporate benevolence aren't they? :wink:

EDIT: OK I'll stop on McD's now as Mrs FamilyWiggs (SWMBO) has pointed out I am also becoming the pub bore!

 

[Flyfisher]

These debates remind me of religious zealots trying to save non-believers from their sins. That never seems to end well either.

 

[biffvernon]

eah, I'm bored with the Olympics now. It's all so last week. Let's talk about Assange and Pussy Riot.

Here's Craig Murray (Good Bloke): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlt_IiQvjNo&feature=share

 

[FamilyWiggs]

It' all very straightforward:

There's Australian wanted by the Swedes but hiding from the British in a building owned by the Ecuadorians because he's scared of the Americans.

Meanwhile the Japanese are squaring up to the Chinese over some islands that the Taiwanese want, a nation which the Chinese also lay claim to.

Simples. 8)

I suspect the realpolitik answer to the diploamtic squabble is that Assange surrenders to extradition to Sweden to face questions and any ensuing charge/trial. Following the conclusion of that legal exercise (and any sentence if he is found guilty), he should be returned to the UK, where he can then either travel to Ecuador or face extradition proceedings from any other nation (if any are served).

What he shouldn't be allowed to do, in my mind, is escape facing questions on the sexual assault allegations, because of the politics of Wikileaks.

As for Pussy Riot, I've emailed Putin to say I've heard Justin Bieber and One Direction also singing derogatory songs and will he please imprison them too! :wink:

 

[biffvernon]

He has never sought to escape facing questions and there is no allegation of assault.

For a thorough review of the affair from a Swedish perspective try http://nnn.se/nordic/assange.htm

 

[FamilyWiggs]

He has never sought to escape facing questions and there is no allegation of assault.

For a thorough review of the affair from a Swedish perspective try http://nnn.se/nordic/assange.htm

That doesn't look a very unbiased source, when you read it.

I took this from the BBC:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11949771

"Mr Assange was arrested under a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) because he has been accused of committing serious crimes in Sweden. These alleged crimes comprise one count of unlawful coercion, two counts of sexual molestation, and one count of rape. The offences are alleged to involve two women and to have taken place in August 2010. Mr Assange denies the allegations."

Certainly sounds like allegations of sexual assault to me.

Wiki has this:

On 18 November 2010, prosecutor Marianne Ny asked the local district court for a warrant for the arrest of Assange in order for him to be interviewed by the prosecutor.[22] As he was now living in England, the court ordered him detained (häktad) in absentia.[23][24] On appeal, the Svea Court of Appeal upheld the warrant on suspicion of våldtäkt (rape), olaga tvång (duress/unlawful coercion), and two cases of sexuellt ofredande,[25][26][27][28] which has been variously translated as "sexual molestation",[29] "sexual assault",[30] "sexual misconduct", "sexual annoyance", "sexual unfreedom", "sexual misdemeanour", and "sexual harassment".[31][32][19][26][27] The Supreme Court of Sweden decided not to consider a further appeal as no principle was at stake.[citation needed][33] On 6 December 2010, Scotland Yard notified Assange that a valid European arrest warrant had been received.[34]

Assange has not yet been formally charged with any offence;[35] the prosecutor said that, in accordance with the Swedish legal system, formal charges will be laid only after extradition and a second round of questioning. The High Court found that the Swedish process has reached the stage of criminal proceedings, which would be equivalent to having been charged under English process.[36]

Anyway, we're now so so so far off PPUK topic, I suggest we stop.

 

[Flyfisher]

As I understand things, Assange is only wanted for questioning by Sweden. He has not been formally charged with anything yet. I've also read that he has offered to meet with Swedish police in the Ecuadorean embassy to answer their questions, but the Swedish police have refused his offer.

Why would they refuse such an offer? Why do they wish to insist on a heavy handed extradition process just so they can ask him some questions - especially when he has already offered to speak with their police, but over here?

Also, Assange is Australian. Is it right for the UK to hand over a foreign national to another country? I could understand sending him back to Australia, or at least asking the Australian government what to do with their citizen. Perhaps they've already done this, I don't know.

I'm not a great one for conspiracy theories but I do think the world would be a poorer place without whistleblowers, so any attempts to stifle them must surely be a bad thing.

As for Pussy Riot, the consequences of their actions were fairly predictable. I suspect a similar thing would happen in the UK if a band pushed their way into Westminster Abbey and played next to the altar. Didn't that Gilmour fellow get banged up for swinging on a flag on the Cenotaph? Not to mention some harsh sentences for looting during last summer's Tottenham riots. So, whatever people may think of heavy-handed Russian justice, it would seem to be reasonably consistent with our own.

 

[Flyfisher]

Anyway, we're now so so so far off PPUK topic, I suggest we stop.

Perhaps we should have an off-topic topic? Could be fun as long as people don't get offended, throw their toys about and storm off. :wink:

Erm, OK, on second thoughts . . . .