![[personal profile]](http://s.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
members hotel deal site
Sep. 8th, 2010 08:34 amWe've just launched a new 'members only' hotel deals site. Go here to join up. The first deals will be available on Sept 20.
feedback requests
Jul. 12th, 2010 02:37 pmI repeated a previous mistake today :-(
I wrote an email like:
Later I had to send a followup stating what the initial email should have said:
There, much better.
I wrote an email like:
I want to do X. Does that sound reasonable?
Later I had to send a followup stating what the initial email should have said:
I'm going to do X at 2pm unless I hear any objections.
There, much better.
because I am an optimist
May. 12th, 2010 09:47 am(and a Lib Dem supporter) I think it's better to see some Liberal policies and influence in a compromise government, than no Liberal policies and influence in a Conservative or Labour majority or minority government.
Maybe more comment on policies if I have time later.
Maybe more comment on policies if I have time later.
coalition schmoalition
May. 10th, 2010 04:22 pmEver since I was old enough to have a vague understanding of the political system in Britain, I wished there would be a hung parliament, which would result in bringing in proportional representation in order to make a coalition deal with the Lib Dems.
What we have now has not turned out to be quite what I wished for. The main stumbling block is that the combination of Labour and Lib Dem seats does not add up to enough to make a majority. Even a so called 'Rainbow Alliance' would control a dangerously slim majority, and may result in concessions to Scottish and Welsh nationalists that we can ill afford. Clearly this is why Labour have made the more attractive offer to the Lib Dems.
The Conservative offer grudgingly includes a referendum on 'Alternative Vote' - but the Conservatives have been open about the expectation that they would oppose it. And anyway, AV is not proportional representation. It creates some more appearance of fairness, and might actually benefit the Lib Dems in some places, but it doesn't create a situation where small parties can gain seats.
So maybe we'll end up with a referendum where the people who really want proportional representation have to vote against AV, and the Conservatives will be able to point and say "look, we offered reform, and you didn't want it." I'm not sure how I would vote.
See, I knew the election was going to be disappointing.
What we have now has not turned out to be quite what I wished for. The main stumbling block is that the combination of Labour and Lib Dem seats does not add up to enough to make a majority. Even a so called 'Rainbow Alliance' would control a dangerously slim majority, and may result in concessions to Scottish and Welsh nationalists that we can ill afford. Clearly this is why Labour have made the more attractive offer to the Lib Dems.
The Conservative offer grudgingly includes a referendum on 'Alternative Vote' - but the Conservatives have been open about the expectation that they would oppose it. And anyway, AV is not proportional representation. It creates some more appearance of fairness, and might actually benefit the Lib Dems in some places, but it doesn't create a situation where small parties can gain seats.
So maybe we'll end up with a referendum where the people who really want proportional representation have to vote against AV, and the Conservatives will be able to point and say "look, we offered reform, and you didn't want it." I'm not sure how I would vote.
See, I knew the election was going to be disappointing.
job seekers
May. 4th, 2010 04:17 pmForgive me for being naïve. I hear politicians saying they'll stop 'the dole' for people who repeatedly refuse to take jobs which are offered to them.
Do people repeatedly refuse to take jobs which are offered to them?
Do people repeatedly refuse to take jobs which are offered to them?
geeky question
Apr. 19th, 2010 03:11 pmI have an iPod and a PC. When I connect the former to the latter, I would like it to automatically copy over the most recent podcast(s) from a certain directory on the PC, onto the iPod. This should not require any user interaction after plugging in the iPod.
The PC is running Ubuntu 9.10, and gtkpod works with the iPod - but I'm tired of opening a file browser and dragging files over every time.
Any suggestions?
The PC is running Ubuntu 9.10, and gtkpod works with the iPod - but I'm tired of opening a file browser and dragging files over every time.
Any suggestions?
creme egg comparison
Apr. 17th, 2010 11:14 am
US vs. UK creme eggs.
We brought home some British creme eggs from our trip, and also bought some US ones after we got back.
Garden is go!
Apr. 3rd, 2010 06:04 pmWe got started on this season's planting.
Still need to make some fences to keep the woodchuck and rabbits out :-/
Still need to make some fences to keep the woodchuck and rabbits out :-/
Suddenly we have some Spring-like weather, so we managed to do some gardening tasks at the weekend. We pruned some shrubs. We also got to use our own compost for the first time - we topped up both our raised beds with compost from the finished container, and then reorganised the 'in progress' compost back into that container. I amused myself by converting a broken box fan into a compost-screening box.
Also did a couple of shopping runs - toys and other supplies for $babygirl to have on the plane, and a bunch of stuff from Home Depot for a few projects like baby-proofing the house. One day maybe we'll find time to do the actual work :-/
Also did a couple of shopping runs - toys and other supplies for $babygirl to have on the plane, and a bunch of stuff from Home Depot for a few projects like baby-proofing the house. One day maybe we'll find time to do the actual work :-/
still occasional culture shock
Jan. 21st, 2010 12:32 pmAt lunch today there were hot dogs, baked potatoes, and chili. There was a table with lots of different toppings on. I had a little panic because I didn't know which toppings were meant to go with which item, so I didn't get any. (Though I managed to put some mustard on my hot dog).
In hindsight I could have just combined the foods however I liked, but never mind.
I'm a bit put off because I had a filling this morning and my mouth feels funny.
In hindsight I could have just combined the foods however I liked, but never mind.
I'm a bit put off because I had a filling this morning and my mouth feels funny.
librarying
Nov. 10th, 2009 08:11 amI seem to have become a regular library user again for the first time since I was in my teens. I joined the local library a few months ago and have been several times.
Looking back, I went through a 'single young professional' phase where I just bought any books I wanted to read, and it seems kind of silly in retrospect. When I moved over here I got rid of maybe half of the books I had, mostly by giving them away.
I can't say my taste in reading has improved though :-) I've been working my way through some Cherryh, Heinlein, Bernard Cornwell's Saxon stories* and Simon Scarrow.
*Anyone else noticed he seems to be repeating his Arthur series at times? Though Uhtred is somewhat less likeable than Derfel.
Looking back, I went through a 'single young professional' phase where I just bought any books I wanted to read, and it seems kind of silly in retrospect. When I moved over here I got rid of maybe half of the books I had, mostly by giving them away.
I can't say my taste in reading has improved though :-) I've been working my way through some Cherryh, Heinlein, Bernard Cornwell's Saxon stories* and Simon Scarrow.
*Anyone else noticed he seems to be repeating his Arthur series at times? Though Uhtred is somewhat less likeable than Derfel.
Yesterday was my second anniversary of being a US resident. In another year I can apply for naturalization (actually I can send in the forms 90 days ahead). I have a timeline on my whiteboard at work, which I mark off once a month.
In a perverse way I feel slightly annoyed that my child is going to beat me to being a dual national.
Despite it not feeling like that long, we've moved house twice (three times if you count the move over here). Glad we don't have to do that again for a while.
In a perverse way I feel slightly annoyed that my child is going to beat me to being a dual national.
Despite it not feeling like that long, we've moved house twice (three times if you count the move over here). Glad we don't have to do that again for a while.
Bob Crow is an ass
Jun. 9th, 2009 02:25 pmThe Tube strikes might be more convincing if they didn't do them without fail every summer.
election results
Jun. 7th, 2009 07:47 pmOh noes! We mustn't have proportional representation: we might end up electing a Green candidate, and we don't want bloody hippies* speaking in our parliament.
*Get your hair cut.
*Get your hair cut.
yet another livejournal clone
May. 4th, 2009 08:15 amSo far, I have signed up in order to reserve my name. Maybe, I will post more at some point.
