Soop Dogg

Of course I can see that - in fact that's part of what I was getting at when I said referred to religion getting "perverted and used frequently as a justification by a leader looking for a reason for going to war". It gets used in this way because it is such a strong draw and unites people, sometimes in a totally wrong way, such that they can justify in their own individual minds, committing attrocities because it is 'right'. It's funny that you should mention the Protestant and Catholic situation in Northern Ireland as that is where I'm from. (I'm the only one in my family living on the mainland) I've experienced more than my fair share of the effects of sectarianism in my life and have seen the effects of criminal 'godfathers' at the top of their organisations using men from the streets and housing estates to do their dirty work for them (on both sides) and then using religion to justify their 'cause'. I'm a firm believer that you need to start with kids - getting them together from different communities/cultures to play together in the school holidays and such like - let them experience each others culture for themselves and NOT just leave them to be tought bigotry by their parents etc. Let them make their own minds up about each other and see that people from the other community are humans and they can enjoy and benefit from each others company. Unfortunately they tend not to do this sort of thing until the situation is already very bad. Society is then left trying to change minds that are already engrained with hatred and bigotry and people who have by then lived through unspeakable violence and are so tainted that it's all but impossible to change things without a concentrated effort over a number of generations. Northern Ireland is starting to go the right direction, but this really is still just the start for many of the people over there. I just hope that the many foreign migrant workers that are landing there now (like they are on the mainland) aren't arriving too soon after the 'troubles' and become the new focus for some peoples hatred.

Well said, Penguin. The argument of religion being the cause of alomst every war you can think of is an easy band wagon to jump on. Wars are normally about greed for land/riches etc or caused by some megalomaniac who wants to take over the world. Hitler wanted to build a master race and take over Europe/the world, Argentina went to war over the Falklands etc. etc. It very rarely starts out over religion, BUT religion is perverted and used frequently as a justification by a leader looking for a reason for going to war. The old 'God is on our side - we need to tackle this evil enemy' thing gives credence to going to war and helps in getting recruits to take up arms for the 'greater good'. Most wars are down to man and his own greed.

I didn't say whether I thought it should be built or not, that's my own business. However, when you add something like 'we're paying for this because it's taxpayers money' to your argument without first looking to see if your statement is actually true, then you discredit your own argument and run the risk of people thinking that you are having an unreasoned, ill-thought-out rant. Those people who may have agreed with you might then disassociate themselves from the argument because you have already discredited the whole point of view when someone points out the truth. i.e. If you want continuing support for your point of view, do a little research and make sure what you are saying is actually based on fact before you dive in and post something that isn't true.

While people will find many other reason for opposing this project, the use of taxpayers money probably shouldn't be one of them. I haven't been able to find any evidence that this is where the money is coming from. Here's more background info for those who are interested: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/politics_show/6040892.stm http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2006/09/25/do2502.xml

That's brilliant!

But is that imperial gallons or US gallons? (Like it makes any difference to me!!)

We all probably consider we're doing ok as we can drive a nice car such as the Supe. However, there's always someone who's better off. Some more so than others..... CLICK

Yep - I was going to say there is what I suppose you could call a Supercar meet on this weekend - at Le Mans!

Did you pay for your insurance by DD? was it paid for monthly/quarterly/annually? Also, did you get your insurance by directly contacting NU or did you use an intermediary? (broker)

That's how Norwich Union policies work too. I have 4 car policies with NU and they all renew automatically unless I contact them to say I don't want it to renew. They all say something to the effect of 'To renew your cover, you need do nothing. Your cover will automatically continue if we do not hear anything from you' Not sure how Supradibbs problem has happened TBH.

I could mention the URL........

Looking at the picture again - is that road to the left a dual carriageway? Is this not therefore a one-way road and the traffic parked on the brickweave part are all facing the other direction? (And indeed there is a road marking for traffic going against the direction of the dual carriageway) I'd say you were parked on a different road in this case. Traffic can't be said to be on the same road if there's a one-way restriction on the tarmac bit that is being contravened by the traffic on the brickweave bit. If it was all one road, then the cars following the 'exit' sign would be committing an offence. (Or at least I'd make this the basis for any argument!)

It all depends on whether the brickweave bit is private land or not and where the boundary lies between the private land and the highway. Generally the 'highway' includes the verges. If the boundary is marked by the edges of the bricks, and anything beyond that is maintained by the council, then they have you I'm afraid. (Because your drivers side wheels are on the 'highway') If both 'roads' in the pic are public highway, then the only way out that I see with this one is if they are separate roads. In that case, you might be able to successfully argue that you considered yourself to be parking on the road where there were no parking restrictions. (i.e. I clearly parked on brickweave avenue, not tarmac street. The double yellows are on tarmac street - there's no restrictions on brickweave avenue) It's certainly worth disputing if you don't mind losing the extra cash in the event that you lose. I have to say though, that the person issuing the ticket was being a bit picky!

I think you mean the EGCV. (Exhaust Gas Control Valve) Normally only one half of the downpipe is open until the 2nd turbo comes on line. At that point, to cope with the increased exhaust volume, the EGCV opens up the other half of the exhaust. (You've probably noticed the change in exhaust note in sequential mode when the 2nd turbo comes in) In TTC, the EGCV is open all the time and both turbos spool together, so it sounds rather more 'beefy'.

I have this image of an astronaut digging around in a tool kit and pulling out a little tin with 'Space Shuttle Puncture Repair Kit' written on it and containing a stick of chalk, a tube of glue and some patches of varying sizes and shapes!

And there's the voice of experience! This place has soooo many uses! I've just gone and bought a Cingular card - thanks! Now - where to go to get my phone unlocked!

Cheers mate. I appreciate any help I can get!

I would - but my trip is a surprise (I have a kind of 'foster-mother' who doesn't know I'm coming to see her!) and I'll be staying the first few days in a hotel in Minneapolis, which is quite a few miles from where those who know I'm visiting actually live. (Otherwise I'd get them to drop off a sim card at the hotel) Unfortunately I need to get a card either before I travel or as soon as I get there.

:d :d

I'm off to the US in a few weeks and want to buy a SIM card for my mobile so that I don't have to pay extortionate rates for calling friends over there. Has anyone here done this before and can recommend where I can get a card from? I know there are various suppliers on Ebay, but like to buy on recommendation.

Of course not! Just having a laugh with you bud.

Plus the fact that you could run the risk of overheating the cat.

Maybe you should take things a little less seriously. You'll do yourself an injury, you know!

You shouldn't really hear a clonk like this in the circumstances you describe, although it could be something really minor. It won't do any harm to get the car in the air and just check for any play in the U/J's in the driveline, just to be on the safe side.

Found this on Pistonheads - looks like a photoshop! http://www.dunlopix.com/P6104072b.jpg However, it seems this was a F40 day on Sunday: http://www.dunlopix.com/P6104006b.jpg