JohnM

Am I right in remembering that there is a place south of Paris which translates (politely) as Toilet in the Woods?

I seem to recall my late father telling me that, in days of yore, the medical profession would help people die. The trouble is, these days we have so much official accountability. On one hand that is good because the like of Harold Shipman must not be allowed to exist, but on the other hand it's a shame because an old fashioned Doctor probably would have given him a bit too much medicine....

Are they protected in France as per the UK?

I too like to touch a feminine side.

Absolutely brilliant idea to give the crowning moment to the young unknowns. Just fitted in with the "inspiring the next generation" message so well, Danny Boyle had obviously give things a great deal of thought. Good on him.

[quote user="Pickles"]Are you allowed to use the term "olympic" in "olympic workshop"? [/quote] I think we've got away with it.

[quote user="cooperlola"]Not that I'm amongst them, but surely somebody must be looking forward to the games as they seem to have sold a lot of tickets.  To read the press/Facebook/fora etc, you'd think nobody at all was interested.  I'm off to Belgium.[:)][/quote] Ermmm, I'm not "looking forward" to them, but I am glad them are around - I'm normally quiet in the summer term but Primary Schools have been going mad for our Olympic Workshop, so I've been earning! Yippee (does that make me one of the evil fat cats that are gaining from them ???)

[quote user="Pickles"]There are many anecdotes turning up concerning this shambles. [/quote] And G4S doesn't come out of many of them looking too good. A friend has just posted this on Facebook. security guards are 'failing to turn up' for work at Olympic sites - I wish they would stop putting it like that - my brother-in-law has a job doing Olympic security with G4S - he has his badge and security clearance to the highest level - they dragged him from Leeds to London at his own cost on his son's birthday party to pick up his security badges - but he has no work schedule or start date - in fact every time he rings they say he has to do some training - then he says they have already seen his certificate for that training (he has all his security training certificates and is a highly experienced guard) - then they check & say 'oh yes, so you do', wait for an email - then he waits and then rings them up.............. you get the picture!!!!!!!

Probably one of the most important things to remember is that Eurovision started because the European Broadcasting Union wanted to do "something".... "anything" to test / demonstrate it's capabilities on joined up thinking. I guess that "We" will not pull out because the BBC want to be part of the technological developments, but I guess they don't want to host it as it is too darn expensive. That means they will pick naff songs to make sure they don't win and pick up the tab next year.

I'd avoid the set up disk option if you possibly can, it will load up lots of other **** that you don't want. I'll see if I can find the easy step by step instructions and post them here for you (but if anyone else knows them, please "beat me to it".)

Serif do stop calling you if you take the **** out of their formulaic script enough. But I still get too many emails from them :-(

It is genuine Idun, but if you want.... I am actually working on his behalf so, send the money to me and I'll make sure he gets it...............

[quote user="You can call me Betty"] To be honest, I'm wondering why it's wrong to "shoot Finn down in flames" but it's perfectly OK to "shoot PaulT down in flames".  On a good day, you could argue that they could both have worded their posts differently, but if everyone's entitled to an opinion, then they are both entitled to theirs... [/quote] A good point and well put. I do think there are slight, but significant differences (well, I would wouldn't I?). Firstly, my opening gambit was to take umbridge at PaulT's remark but also to disagree with the sentiments of Finn's - my first foray into this debate was not the one that put anyone down. Secondly, Finn is a novice poster, a lurker of some years standing. PaulT is a seasoned poster with 1,234 posts (I had to put that in just because you don't often get the chance to put 1,234), PaulT has probably had a few sword crossing escapades on here, I think it is important to go easy on novices.

My objection is purely and simply : With 12 posts to Finns credit he/she comes on here and starts dictating what can and can't be posted!!!!!! As if the number of posts a person makes is the yard stick by which we measure the credibility of their argument. (Which we know is not true, think of prolific posters who could post utter tosh, Outcast for an old example and..... I'd best not mention a modern one but he does spring to mind)

[quote user="You can call me Betty"]In principle, yes. In practice, do forums really exist to fulfill the requirements of  their readers, or their contributors? [/quote] But this person did contribute and was shot down in flames for having the nerve to do so. Less than 10 posts.... well what right does she have to hold an opinion? I think she had every right (and I still disagree with her on the content of her post).

[quote user="PaulT"][quote user="Finn Dooley"] I’m sorry but what on earth is the point of this post? I look in on this forum for information and a bit of light relief with a cuppa,  not to have distressing and awful images brought to my attention, merely in an attempt to initiate some sort of  ghoulish “discussion”. This is a single isolated act of the utmost barbarism committed by some insane monster, and as such it is surely not worthy of any form of debate.  I'm sure we all have better things to do. [/quote] With 12 posts to Finns credit he/she comes on here and starts dictating what can and can't be posted!!!!!!   [/quote] Which she is entitled to do. I think she is wrong, but she has a perfect write to post the comment. It is a forum after all.

[quote user="Russethouse"] Easy : If PPP's language becomes the focus of a thread rather than the topic he has not complied with the Code of Conduct. [/quote] Which means..... neither have I because I am also taking the thread off at a tangent. May I amend my last line to include the words "in a separate thread in the non France section". I do apologise for my error (admitting I'm wrong is not something that I'm scared of - I grew out of that years ago).

[quote user="pachapapa"][quote user="AnOther"]Can you not write in plain English, your use of obscure vocabulary just makes you look pretentious and silly. [/quote] Personally I find plain english rather dull and boring, when such a rich and varied semantic inheritance is freely available. [/quote] An interesting point and one which I have sympathies with as I think it would be awful if "Language" became reduced to the level of teenage text messages. However, we should remember that language developed in order to facilitate communication and the the onus is on the speaker to ensure that the audience can understand the point that is being made. If the listener (reader) "needs" simple language, that is surely more important than the speaker's "desire" to use more flowery language? Interestingly of course, the type of language used communicates the type of person who is using it, but this is open to interpretation. PPP thinks the language he uses is acceptable because he finds plain English rather dull and boring, but at least one reader thinks it makes him look pretentious and silly. Both are right in their own way, but if the number of people who think "pretentious oaf" becomes too large, they will skip his posts because of his limited communication skills. Discuss the above using no more than 500 words, you may not peep at other peoples answer sheet, your time begins now.

My main beef is that they will not let you book early. When I've been trying to get a group together for skiing, we often do it 6 months in advance, and the trains wont let you book that early. So I end up booking the flight as cheap as I can and not waiting for the trains to become available.

The main thing I have told my friends and family is..... please don't "celebrate/worship/remember" the bit of ground where I died (especially if it was in a road accident). I'd much rather they remembered me in places where I "came alive".. a nice bench with a brass plate in a picturesque place, a sponsored seat in the theatre..... but if they even think of putting a tacky floral tribute at the roadside I will come back and haunt them. (If I die a hero they can put a huge great statue in that place, but that is the only exception!)

A friend in the valley tells me that They had already closed the piste slope that ran there, one or more days before the incident, on the basis of the unusual avalanche risk. Difficult decision closing a run in very attractive condition for adventurous customers but that is the decision that undoubtedlly saved lives. The woman operator at St. Francois interviewed by TF1 was clearly diligent and made good immediate judgements, stopping skiers getting on, keeping the lift running until the bottom stanchions started to buckle, radioing the top station when to emergency stop, etc. St. F-L management can be proud of their acheivement.

My assumption that you'd ask was based on how concerned you were when the chlorine factory in La Chambre caught fire! (That must be at least 4 years ago)! I remember being quite chuffed that somebody I only knew through a forum was so concerned about my well being.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/9123323/Skiiers-in-Alps-have-lucky-escape-as-avalanche-hits-ski-lift.html Yes, we are fine, nobody staying at my place this week. Feel very sorry for all those affected but as long as the news remains, nobody injured or killed, I'm happy.

Phurrrr.... it was a fix anyway War Horse should have won everything. (But only because I had some extra work and saw myself on screen for a whole 4 seconds..... now if that isn't worthy of an Oscar, what is )

[quote user="PaulT"]But everyone has different metabolic rates. [/quote] Agreed, so....... How do I know when I can drive again????? That's what I need to know to be sure of i) being safe - the most important thing and ii) obeying the law. (Yes, OK, my own breathaliser might tell me.... but I seem to recall that the police have previously considered these to be a bad thing!). I do realise the difficulties of saying when people are safe to drive, I just feel the authorities ought to be making it easier for those of us who wish to obey the law.