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poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 18 (view)

How important is a sense of humor anyway? Posted: 7/1/2009 6:15:01 AM
I think you just have to know when to turn the funny off, that's the key. Precisely...and as this is in a forum for over 45's, it indicates the difference between what you found funny when you under 40 as opposed to how you react now. I was the 'class clown' at school. and was given some advice by my English Master ( bless him!)..'You would do well to study Falstaff, my lad'.. It didn't mean much at the time, of course, but made sense later on, as I will try to explain In the forces I could keep the billet in stitches by my antics; in my twenties I could reel of funny stories for hours, and was the life and soul of a party; in my late 30's I was invited to do stand up at a local club, and I was the one sent in to either warm up a dead crowd, or deal with a bunch of hecklers..in short..reasonably successful and quite popular as a result. However.. in my 40's, that was when the advice hit home. The hale, well met fellow with the funny remarks, tall tales, and idiotic actions is no longer amusing to an older crowd, so my 'style' had to change or I would be dropped like a brick as being another Falstaff..a sad , left over from the past, a childish adult who is something of an embarrassment in company! By observing the older, successful comedians Bob Hope, George Burns, George Carlin, and a host of British Comedians ,you begin to see that they quietly poke fun at everyday situations we are familiar with, are slightly sarcastic in a mild way, and tend to play on..and with words, rather than the more outlandish humour of the younger element In short..you go from the physical to the intellectual, indicating the transition between youth and maturity..horrible thought for many I know..LOL! It's the difference between a 17 yr being well oiled and standing with a lampshade on his head pretending to be a light stand, and having all his mates in stitches as a result , and some one of my age 71, doing the same thing for the same reason, and having everyone in the room pitying me for being totally senile, and considering having me committed for my own safety! I understand the confusion of the original poster as to what constitutes a 'sense of humour' many the ladies have as a requirement in their profiles, and there is no easy answer as what might be funny to one would be a turn off to another Basically I think it boils down to being able to laugh at oneself..events happening around you..and being able to laugh off traumatic events once they are over and done with without blowing one's trumpet over it. But then again, I might be totally wrong as that's my 'style ' right now, and I am still single..and nary a compatible female fishy in sight! Hmmmm?...Maybe my bait still has too much bite in it? Poshrat

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 3 (view)

Does anyone remember hearing anything about an electric car ... EV1? Posted: 6/28/2009 5:24:38 AM
Yes..even though I live in Canada I remember all the fuss over it at the time. California, trying to deal with the smog problems in it's major cities, took the auto makers to task to produce a non-emissions vehicle or be banned from selling cars in that state until they did. Both Ford and GM promptly produced electric cars for a pilot test, leasing them to a selected group, whilst they examined the feasibilities of the project..mainly to buy enough time to bring lobby groups on line to pressure the Californian state body to drop the ban. Once California relented and dropped the ban on sales of gas engine vehicles provided they cleaned them up some more..the electric car was dead..and they destroyed them all as a result Basically there were several reasons for their decision... a) Battery technology at the time meant a limited range of use, and they felt the demand from the public would not be there, even if they were offered as an alternative choice. b) the cost per vehicle to manufacture would have been high, ergo the price to the user would have been uncompetitive..I think they quoted 3x the price of a conventional car at the time c) charging times would be an issue with customers used to the in and out in a gas station, against an hour or more d) it would put a strain on the already high demands on the grid being experienced by many cities at that time if hundreds, maybe thousands, plugged in over night. e) Gas was cheap then..who would want higher electric bills to power their vehicle? Reasonable arguments at the time, and apart from the protests of those who owned one, and realized the benefits, very few others were even mildly interested. Things that weren't raised at the time, but were also reasons for the killing of the car were a) They didn't use gasoline at all..ergo the oil companies could see a massive drop in profits if everyone did decide to go electric only...no prizes for guessing who was amongst the main lobbyists for the change of the Californian laws. b) The after market repairs were virtually nil..no anti freeze, oil filters, oil changes,belts, additives needed....think of all the small businesses, service stations etc that would be out of jobs...all the electric car needed replacing motor wise were the brushes once in a while. Obviously they joined the lobby groups protesting their loss of income. c) Global warming hadn't been 'invented' yet..the only concern at that point was air quality in cities in the form of smogs, so it was easier and quicker..and to some degree cheaper, for the auto companies...although not for buyers, as we found out later, to literally choke the gas motor into burning MORE fuel to overcome the anti-pollution additions that they added to meet the lowered emissions standards. When the public began to become more aware of problems..and took up the 'Global warming religion'..they brought out the hybrids...a band aid solution that didn't have the oil companies lobbying, as they still use gasoline, nor the after market squawking about loss of business as they could see even more repairs due to the complications of the newer means of transport.. Eventually we might see the hydrogen fuel cells on the road..once the oil companies work out how to gain a monopoly on the manufacture and distribution of the hydrogen infra-structure needed, but I wonder what a) the vehicle will cost? b) what the fuel will cost? c)what the repairs will costs, considering the complications of the electronics on board, and replacement costs of the units involved? Goodbye the the era of cheap transportation for the Masses..get used to the idea..Good Lord Mr Ford..we're about to be dollared to death! And it won't make an atom of difference in Global warming..the climate is changing for many more reasons than our influence..but we won't find THAT out until we have been conned into yet another expensive means of transport I wonder if people will eventually be carbon taxed for producing excessive CO2 emissions from jogging, walking, or exerting themselves physically? It all contributes to global warming you know! LOL! poshrat PS..when you look into how much OXYGEN is being consumed by cars, etc, rather than the CO2 output..maybe we should be more concerned that we are using up a valuable resource we need to LIVE on this planet.?

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 43 (view)

YOU KNOW YOU GETTING OLD WHEN...fill in the blank Posted: 6/27/2009 6:14:58 AM
. . the owner of the fine a$$ you are admiring steps aside to let you ahead in the line at the bank because the seniors window is now free. ...you have to fish your dentures out of your morning coffee after reading an amusing post like that because it has happened to you recently! Thanks for the laugh... poshrat

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 7 (view)

Student fined £48 by bank for being a penny overdrawn! Posted: 6/25/2009 4:58:50 AM
My, how banking has changed in 50 years! When I was a lad back in UK..my first employer was a bank, my duties as a statement clerks was to post, by hand in pen and ink into the Accounts ledger all the cheques that passed through on a daily basis. If an account was likely to be overdrawn, or even made low in funds, I had to draw it to the attention of my senior, the Chief Cashier, who would immediately either call the customer..providing they were on the phone ( yes people..back then not everyone had a phone)..or send a letter advising them that if sufficient funds were not deposited within 24 hours..( again..the GPO delivered most mail sent today by the noon time delivery next day, so it was not even considered that they would fail to get the letter) the bank would regretfully be bound to return the aforesaid cheque causing the customer the embarrassment of an NSF cheque plus charges. Having been in the situation of the poor student not so long ago myself..the electric company decided to change their billing date without notifying clients, and as I relied upon my pension cheque to be deposited to cover the automatic payment set up, the bill hit the bank with a shortfall in the account...bounced and cost me the same double whammy as the student. Give them their due..they did hold on to it and post it when the pension arrived and cleared it through, otherwise I would have incurred even more charges..the electric company would have been hit for a returned cheque charge of about the same amount.., my credit record would have been lowered, and I would also have been hit with interest charges on top of that ...roughly double those I had already incurred 100$ for being 5$ short! I questioned this, of course, citing the fact I have been with the branch for almost 20 years, and pointing out how things used to be with a customer, and received the long winded explanation fo how computers do the work at head office levels, and the instant it sees red ink, no matter how much or how little..charges are automatically entered. I bit the bullet, but learned my lesson as no doubt the young lady has done...keep sufficient funds in the account to cover any unexpected events like that happening again! However..when I stopped to think of this...and looked at ALL the charges they lay on a customer today..what a cheek they have! it is YOUR money in there...and they charge you for the privilege of taking it out in any way, shape or form. You pay a 'service fee'..for what service I am not sure of any more certainly not the service you used to enjoy..each transaction costs you, whether over the counter or through an ATM, or a cheque through your account. Considering the number of these per month per person...just HOW did they end up needing to be bailed out? And how come these bail outs are in effect 'grants' as there seems to be no interest mentioned, nor any late fees if they don't pay back in the specified period of time..in fact, I haven't seen any mention of a due date repayment date either? In any other business, a failure on the part of management to handle a company's finances properly, would result in the company either going to the wall and closing the doors, or finding finances in a hurry to tide them over, and a complete replacement of those in charge as a result...certainly they wouldn't remain in place and have the outright gall to demand they be paid their 'performance' bonuses before leaving..AND severance packages when they do! At one time a Bank could be relied upon for advice in handling your finances..a place you could trust. Considering their performances over the past decade, I certainly wouldn't put any trust in any advice they would give me now...in fact I don't even trust them enough to have one account anymore..I have taken steps to spread my risk factor by having small amounts in several different ones! Poshrat

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 7 (view)

why are there no mag lev trains in the west? Posted: 5/25/2009 4:59:07 AM
Ironically, if you look up the history and development of MagLev trains, they were developed and tried in the US, UK, Canada and Germany, and either abandoned as being too costly, or scrapped because of repair costs due to technology problems. The company that supplied Shanghai with its famous high speed system, was a German maker by the way, whose fortunes hung in the balance after a bad accident on their test track killed passengers during an open day trial run. (Some one had left a repair vehicle on the track and it wasn't detected before the run began) Probably one of the main reasons for the reluctance to build and install such trains here is the fact they are patented in all countries to those who did the developments..mainly German in origin. North America is having enough problems dealing with the fact the Japanese car makers have all but destroyed the Mighty American Auto makers..the idea of paying Royalties to Germany for an alternative transportation system is going too far..heck..didn't we defeat these nations in WW2? poshrat

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 14 (view)

Quit playing the game? Posted: 5/22/2009 6:24:44 AM
Wait til summer when its traveling season... Gas will be back around $4 It is that already in most of Canada, and we haven't even made it through spring yet! In passing..it isn't the Government that hikes the prices, they just reap the windfall profits on the increased taxes every time the oil companies move it up a couple of notches! That's why their investigations into price fixing/gouging never seem to discover any 'problems' with the way Oil companies all mange to sell it at the same price...and also gives them an election platform claiming to be running surplus budgets from careful fiscal management! Poshrat..paying 99.9 cents a liter here right now.. 40% being taxes!

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 2 (view)

Comparision of UK and US comedy / Humour Posted: 5/22/2009 6:11:32 AM
Hmmmmm..10 years ago I would have agreed with you whole heartedly that there was a vast difference between UK and US humour, but now I would say the boundaries are becoming blurred In the past, Brit humour was quieter, more subtle, relying on word play, double meanings, coupled with references to off colour jokes that anyone who had been in the forces would recognize, made fun of just about everythng that was either mundane or topical news, and before PC reared it's ugly head, NOTHING was sacred..not even Royalty. US humour on the other hand was more along the lines of slapstick, loud, brash, and in your face type of thing, relied heavily upon poking fun at people or situations in a more direct manner..sometimes touching on raw nerves even, for its 'shock' value..and in a number of cases, relying heavily on dubbed laugh tracks to let the audience know it was supposed to be funny. However, since broadcasting in UK removed many of the restrictions from script writers about what could and couldn't be done on air, and a newer generation demanded more real life..and language!.situations, I think UK humour is no longer funny, but more mildly amusing in its content, and is rapidly becoming more along the lines of US humour of 10-15 yrs ago. Ironically, many US comedians seem to be discovering that the UK way of old is now popular..someone like Ellen DeGeneres is a refreshing act to see and listen to, after something like 'Little Britain' from the UK! If you want to see what I mean, BBC has an on line radio station http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio7/programmes/a-z and they play comedy programmes from the 50-60's along with programmes from recent years, where you can compare those done under strict censorship conditions, and how they got around them, and today's more 'free for all' society. To me anyway, today's UK humour is more like US humour with a slightly posher accent....LOL! Poshrat

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 4 (view)

Quit playing the game? Posted: 5/17/2009 5:33:36 AM
Unfortunately, it is because so many of us have quit 'playing the game' that prices at the pump and in the stores are on the increase. It is all a part of the cycle in the mass consumer society we have built up over the years. As spending slows, demand falls, along with production, and in order to remain in business, companies need to make a profit..ergo..with less product going out the door, the prices have to go up to maintain a level of income that allows them to remain solvent Increasing prices mean fewer people can afford to buy the products, as most are either now on tighter budgets, or out of work, and many companies, having lost a competitive edge in their particular market, either close their doors, or become swallowed up by a bigger concern that is riding out the storm, thus reducing the competition in that particular area. The US auto industry's present situation is a prime example right now. Once all the fall out is over, and the recession bottoms out, and things start picking up again, consumer confidence returns and spending starts again, there are fewer products to buy, and far less competition over prices, and a period of inflation starts, as people will pay the prices demanded in order to have what they want..inflation is always due to too much money chasing too few goods, until production catches up with demand, and competition between companies to gain the most market share becomes the norm again. Pump prices of gas are no longer so closely tied to world oil prices or the demand for it. Refining, at some point, has a break even cost that they have to achieve...and if the sales at the pump drop below this, then the price has to increase at the pumps to remain in profit. If the profits are too slim, then money isn't spent on building new refineries , or doing exploration, bringing new resources on line etc..so don't look for any drops there once things ease up..there will be more competition for the already existing stocks, price per barrel will soar again, and we will be forced to pay the going price..which is likely to be a lot more than we've seen before. Face it folks..we have all enjoyed 20 years of buy, buy, buy, with no thought for tomorrow..and guess what? Tomorrow has arrived ! Now we either say bye bye to the mass madness of having to have the latest, newest, improved product as soon as it appears, and start demanding products that last longer than a year at best, aren't throw away the instant they go wrong as repair parts cost more than the original product, and seek more sustainable ways of living rather than continue to rape the planet of raw materials that are fast running out..because the next set back in the cycle is likely to be a disaster, and whilst I am at an age that I am not likely to be around for it...my grand kids will be. Poshrat

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 13 (view)

More on cars: do you care what a woman drives? Posted: 5/16/2009 6:42:06 AM
Again...not so much as what she drives, but how she keeps it...and how she drives it! Admittedly I would hesitate to be a passenger in any car of garish colour, with the interior done up with nick nacks and doo dahs making it look more like a boudoir or her dressing table...and certainly think twice of being a passenger in something resembling a garbage bag recently attacked by a raccoon Messy machine, messy person, messy driver. However..both my daughters drive small cars..a Matrix and a Cobalt. Both are immaculate inside, with no added extras..BUT the carpets on the passenger sides of each bear my foot prints embedded in the firewall as I spend most of the time traveling with them with both feet frantically trying to operate an imaginary brake pedal on my side! Usually goes with snide comments such as 'If you keep putting that brake on, we'll never get there on time'...and "Now you know how we felt when we were passengers Dad!'..or the one that hurts the most 'I haven't had MY licence suspended'.. and I daren't add 'YET" under my breath either. sighs I should never have taken them with me when I was racing..nor taught them to drive I suppose? BUT I wish I had met a lass that drives like either of them now, when I was in MY 40's.... Poshrat who has obviously slowed down a lot!

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 15 (view)

Why are youngsters on here? Posted: 5/16/2009 6:07:19 AM
As a dinosaur from the dark ages BC ( before computers! I wish the internet had been available in my teens and twenties! I didn't drink following the advice of my doctor after a bad accident, so pubbing and clubbing such as it was then was out, and the smell of the places, plus the smoke laden atmospheres didn't strike me as the venue to find a lass I would want to date. If she was comfortable in a place I wasn't, there wasn't much point in getting to know her from the start! That meant a lot of legging it around sea side towns, beaches, stores, streets and in those days coffee bars to try and chat up some lass that caught my eye...and I would have saved myself a lot of time, effort and money and fruitless one night stands ( not the sexual meaning of today, by the way)..and a couple of getting 'done overs ' in a back alley as she 'forgot' to mention she had a jealous boyfriend/husband lurking in her life...LOL! Not to mention the embarrassments of all the put downs after the come ons that girls like to play back then..'players' aren't something new guys..they've been around for generations About the only places to meet socially were church functions..and I am not religious, or local dances, and in both cases, the parents were usually present keeping a watchful eye on their daughters...so you had to pass their 'standards' to even get into conversation with them I was really glad when newspapers began running personals ads..I used them a lot and started meeting ladies far closer to my ideals than previously encountered. The internet came along as I hit my 50's..and again I met many ladies through sites like this whose company I enjoyed, and now in my 70's have 'pen friends' around the world..funny thing that..,they are all well out of reach of my budget these days...maybe they feel safer that way..LOL! I say go ahead young un's..USE the internet all you like to meet up with someone who meets your ideals..at least reading the profiles posted helps eliminate those you aren't interested in, and emailing a few times lets you know whether you want to meet the person on the other end..at least it hasn't cost an arm and a leg to find out you have little in common. As for the wets and wimps that go on about internet dating being useless, or they would never do it..ignore them. They probably have the personality of a used Kleenex, and know full well it would show through if they even tried. As for those who decry dating sites as being for losers or full of dangerous types you want to avoid...real life is like that anyway,..at least this way you can hit the ignore buttons if you run into one on line, not get pounded out in public as I was! Poshrat..always open to emails..(especially from the younger ladies!)...LOL!

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 12 (view)

Barnsley Pub Landlady finds loop hole and re introduces smoking... Posted: 5/13/2009 5:26:56 AM
LOL! As she has probably found out already, despite smoking bans brought about by the 'nicotine nazis' as we label them here, and the claims that non-smokers would now come out and patronize pubs and restaurants as they can enjoy a smoke free atmosphere...the blooming tightwads still stay at home. All it has done is reduce the income of many places as smokers would rather stay at home now. Here in Canada, our restrictions on smoking now have us having to be at least 30 meters from and entrance or opening( ie window)..and 'nipping outside for a smoke' at -30 ~C ..or lower! in our winters isn't funny..but it still hasn't stopped many of us doing it! And as some Malls have a 'no smoking ' ban extending into the parking areas as well..you can't even nip into the car and light up..nor can you smoke in the car with someone under 18 as a passenger. (although that one I can agree with.It does make sense.) What doesn't, is an incident the other day when I pulled up at the traffic lights with my window partly open and a ciggie on the go. The person in the in the vehicle next to me yelled something about 'not wanting to catch cancer' and wound up her window....the fact it was a massive 4x4 spewing more pollutants out it's rear end whilst sitting there for 5 minutes, than I could manage to exhale in a year of smoking didn't seem to matter.....LOL! Poshrat

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 2 (view)

Why is the USA Homophobic? Posted: 5/13/2009 5:04:00 AM
Simple answer..Yes they are afraid of the electorate Reasons are equally as simple. Firstly, many states are still fanatically religious, and the Brimstone and Hell preachers point out the Bible condemns it..so it's a Sin. Secondly, many American males are proud to be called 'Red-Necks'..and being 'Gay' just ain't Macho...but it's real Macho to beat one up of course..(even if it does take a group of you to do it) Abortion has the same stigmas attached for the same reasons, and has similar outcomes. It's a sin to kill an unborn baby, but okay to bomb a clinic and injure/kill the adults performing the Act. Both are highly charged emotional issues, and any would be candidate claiming to be anti either or both is likely to get the winning ticket in an election, so the bulk of elected officials aren't about to rock the boat on either issue. Poshrat

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 47 (view)

Why is the Death Penalty Punishment? Posted: 5/6/2009 6:08:13 AM
Hi aitche taking a life of a murderer isn't the same. How can you condem their actions when you're carrying out the same thing? If you regard the taking of another human's life as murder,whether with state or military sanctions, then obviously the Death penalty has no place in your life, or the system you live with. Fair enough. Here in Canada I live under a similar system, so I have to abide by the same rules, for the same reasons..the rulings of the majority are opposed to capital punishment My views differ and I have the freedom to express them, although most may not agree with me, but that is the privilege of the Free societies we both live in today..courtesy of the thousands who died protecting it. To move on...many posters regard the idea of 'murdering a murderer' as revenge and not justice...but surely, that is what the 'justice system is all about anyway? You commit a crime..you are punished for it, and by all accounts, crimes involving money, especially large amounts, seem to carry 'revenge issues' as the sentences can carry terms as long as those given to someone who takes another's life! Does this make sense?..or is it merely a reflection of what the courts view as more important..making money illegally is more of a crime than taking a life, so we have indeed become a society where life IS cheap.? As for 'Life sentences'...most who receive them seem to be eligible for parole at some point, and many get off early as a result. The system needs to be overhauled with regard to this factor..either LIFE is the life of the prisoner concerned, and not that of his dog! As for prisons, or the death penalty being deterrents against people commiting crimes, NO! neither were intended to be such, although in the backs of most people's minds the fact they exist might help them to reconsider their actions before they do them, but in a criminal mind they don't think they are going to get caught out anyway. Heck..even 'law abiding citizens' break laws daily..minor ones admittedly, but why did you buy a car that can do twice the offialy posted limit if you didn't intend to use it once in a while? The fines don't deter you if you think the road is clear, do you? Prisons are merely places to 'park' offenders for a period of time, with some vague hope they will 'learn their lesson', and upon release, become model citizens again. Unfortunately, most learn even more about being unlawful whist inside, from the mistakes of others, and come out more determined than ever to commit the 'perfect crime', as the system has made them more resentful than when they went in, and the stigma of a criminal record they now carry makes lawful life more difficult for them. As for the cry of 'look at the innocent people who went to the gallows in the past, and the ones being released , as later evidence and better techniques have been brought to bear on their cases'..I think that shows a need to overhaul the whole system of criminal investigations and the Justice system along with it. No system is infallible, nor will it ever be, which is probably the strongest argument against the Death Penalty being carried out in all cases, and even I would bow to that opinion. But..and again I quote the Sheriff on that talk show when asked why he was in favour of that penalty 'If you have a dog that turns feral or rabid on you, injuring or killing livestock or people, you shoot it. It doesn't stop other dogs from doing the same , but it does remove one menace from the area.' If you have a KNOWN killer in your midst, why do you want to keep it alive in a cage for years..and then let it loose after a certain period of time? And why is putting it down so abhorrent to so many? Is the Death penalty a punishment? Yes..the the society the created the conditions that brought a killer into being. If it isn't prepared to deal with it by removing it completely, then it has to pay for it's continued existence. Poshrat

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 18 (view)

Why is the Death Penalty Punishment? Posted: 5/5/2009 6:55:17 AM
Okay..as everyone has posted against the Death penalty so far, let's get the ball rolling:- No-one has the right to take another's life - regardless of what they've done. Only IF you regard ALL life as sacred..in which case you starve to death very quickly, as no cow, pig, fowl or fish did you any harm, but you happily cook and eat the carcass parts served up on the table...and before a vegetarian steps in..the seeds you eat are the future life of a plant, and the veggies were all possessed of life, which was cut off in it's prime. So..we are down to the basic law of Nature..you kill to eat, and survive. If you qualify the above statement as only human life...the question is WHY? What makes US so special in the scheme of things? Collectively as a Society of a Nation, any time our Country, way of Life etc, are threatened by another aiming to take us over by force, we immediately recruit our younger element, stick them in a uniform, put them through training teaching them how to kill the 'enemy'..ie anyone in a different uniform, usually speaking a different language, and quite often, having a different skin colour..legalized murder on a grand scale..but that's okay...we call it War. I know..I was conscripted in 1955 to do just that..fortunately any real threats were over by then, so I was never called upon to perform. Bring it down to an individual level, and it takes on a whole new light. Should an individual, or a group break into my home, threatening violence to my person, and I employ what I was taught all those years ago, and do physical bodily harm to them..in my mind they are the 'enemy', right?..then I get charged and sentenced despite the fact I was defending myself and my property..they weren't wearing a 'uniform' so now it isn't legal. However..today..many of the 'enemies' of a Society don't wear conventional 'uniforms'..but go under the cover of 'Freedom fighters/terrorists/ religious fanatics, and they aren't always males of 18+ either, but they do have to common aim to disrupt, take over and in doing so , kill as many innocent people as possible. But if caught before doing their deeds...we shouldn't kill them because it's 'murder'? Yes I am FOR the Death penalty..obviously...and certainly for the following crimes: The killing or badly injuring of a police officer in the course of his duty..especially if it was a case of resisting arrest. If you cannot face the consequences of whatever crime it is they came to arrest you for, you do not have the right to kill an officer to escape that justice. Serial killings. Someone who enjoys killing others isn't likely to be rehabilitated..why do they deserve to live? Child killers. Someone with a mind warped enough to take pleasure from sexually assaulting/torturing a child and then killing it to destroy the evidence doesn't rate 'special treatment' in jail to prevent the other inmates from tearing that person apart..as they will be if not kept in solitary. Hostage takers: Anyone holding another person's life as a bargaining chip for their own means..whatever they may be, has no value of another's life, and therefore his/her life is equally valueless. especially if they have already killed or injured a hostage to prove their point. I admire the SAS for their attitudes in cases like that. Storm the building, free the hostages, and take no prisoners. If the other posters regard the death penalty as 'murder', and have a problem with who should perform the unpleasant task of taking another's life regardless of how THEY took someone else's, that's fine..I can understand their sqeamishness, as they may never have had to end the life of a pet in agony, worked in an environment where killing an animal was a part of the job, or have never experienced the trauma of a family member or close friend being killed under horrific circumstances. I have, and therefore have no qualms in volunteering to undertake such a task. The only request I would have is, none of the ritual and 'three ring circus' media coverage that goes with it. No electric chair, no lethal injection, no hangman's noose..just a plain and simple revolver and a full chamber of bullets. Alternatively, the suggestion of an Alabama sheriff on a US TV talk show, when he was asked how he would go about dealing with such criminals and the death penalty. 'Build a jail with one cell..place the convicted murderer in it. When the next convicted murder is sentenced, you hand hi a gun with one bullet in it and tell him to 'clean out the cell so he can take possession' There was a stunned silence in the audience when the implications of that idea sank in..letting a murderer commit the 'legal murder' of another murderer. I thought it was neat idea myself. I don't believe in keeping killers in cages at taxpayers expense. If you are going to treat them as 'animals' locked away in confinement for years..isn't that equally as inhumane? Poshrat

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 11 (view)

Agricultural subsidies Posted: 4/27/2009 5:43:19 AM
Not the best of places to be right now, and since 9/11 they have made it even more difficult for Canadians to move down there and get work permits or resident status Even marrying a US citizen is now fraught with problems as a friend of mine has found out! Canada has tightened up on it's permanent status regulations, so he is now working down there on a green card, as he has skills that are still sought after right now, but his wife can only spend a limited amount of time up here when they come visiting his family, as she isn't officially a Canadian. If they pull his card for any reason, they will have to keep crossing the border for the limits of time each is allowed in the other's country, and neither can work whilst there. Gotta love politics

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 9 (view)

Agricultural subsidies Posted: 4/25/2009 6:13:23 PM
: poshrat: you are basically advocating a system of robbing peter to pay paul. Well...Yes! Basically that's what most wealthy western countries are doing isn't it? They are 'robbing' you with taxes, in order to 'subsidize' the social services they provide for everyone including both those who can and cannot afford them.. education, health, transportation, power distribution, etc ( even the privatized industries get some form of government help in the form of grants, or low cost loans etc if they squawk loud enough)..So why not farming? Okay..after reading some of the observations here by others, providing they are accurate, then I agree..someone should be looking into what the subsidies are and how they are being used..or abused...which could be said about every area the Government is pouring 'stolen' tax monies into. If you prefer to live in a country that expects the wage earner to pay for and provide for themselves in most areas, pay the full price for goods and services, I would suggest you try the US of A. ..just make sure your employment is secure, their social safety net has large holes in it...especially where health coverage is concerned. Which is I chose to remain here in Canada, despite lucrative offers over the border several times..my present medical conditions would have long ago crippled my bank account for drug costs. Poshrat

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 6 (view)

Agricultural subsidies Posted: 4/25/2009 6:01:08 AM
I think the OP is another disgruntled townie who has confused Farming with Agri-business..certainly the mass produced food industry is reaping vast rewards for the investors, but it's about as far removed from farming as it is possible to be, and is a cause for concern on this side of the pond as it is removing small farmers by the hundreds these days. Fine if all you are concerned about is the bottom line price for the product on the shelf, but frightening when you look at their environmental impacts, the treatment of the animals and land involved, and the vast amounts of chemicals used, and absorbed into the goods on your supermarket shelf...none of which appear on the ingredient listings of course. Merely because someone may own vast tracts of land..100's or 1000's of acres..seems to own a new truck every couple of years, and doesn't appear to be short of cash in their pocket, doesn't make them 'rich'...believe me, if you sit down and go through the farm ledgers, the amounts of money flowing in and out would scare the wits out of the average person, and if you take the years final income, and divide it with the number of hours worked, the 'wage' they receive per hour in most cases isn't that much above the minimum wage in the working world Farmer's are self employed over here..meaning they pay double of all the government deductions the normal employees pays to begin with. To remain competitive, they have to invest heavily into newer equipment...some of which would buy a fairly decent house these days..a set of tires for a modern tractor, would buy a decent family car, and you don't want to know the maintenance costs on half the equipment they need to be running for only short periods of a year..and they have to be done as fast as possible or they lodse the window of operation for that particular machine..and there's no driving it into the local garage..it has to be done in situ where it broke down...ask a farmer what an emergency call out on a combine is likely to run him...he'll start quoting telephone numbers to you! I don't know how subsidies work over there, but here they were put in place to prevent the wide swings in prices caused by glut and scarcity due to variable weather and market conditions of the past..remember farming is at the mercy of Mother Nature, and she can be very uncooperative at times The basis of subsidies was to ensure farmers got a reasonable return for their efforts, and the public paid a reasonable price over the counter. Naturally bureaucracy stepped in , and the media made a big deal about farmers being paid NOT to produce at times to keep prices steady..but that is the only 'silliness' that people love to jump upon If you would rather your farming industry live or die by whether it is profitable, by all means press for that, and watch the land vanish under housing estates, and import your food from other, less expensive sources..but stop to think of the implications there First of all, those countries you list do not have the same regulations in place governing what is used in production, the same quality control standards, and in many cases, in order to gain income from agricultural exports, the farmers are at the mercy of the Agri businesses of the US working into their production..ie chemicals and GM modified seeds, and for the most part..the population is being deprived of their own food needs in favour of exports And when you no longer have any sustainable farming in your own country..consider the vulnerability you face if your suppliers decide to cut you off..or just as oil producers have done..form a food cartel to set prices It would bring you to your knees far faster than any nuclear threat, or guns and bullets mate.

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 67 (view)

Workers who earn 150k or more to pay 50 percent tax...Is it Fair? Posted: 4/24/2009 6:15:33 AM
hi Hula moo ""The UK income tax was reintroduced by Sir Robert Peel in the Income Tax Act 1842. Peel, as a Conservative, had opposed income tax in the 1841 general election, but a growing budget deficit required a new source of funds. The new income tax, based on Addington's model, was imposed on incomes above £150."" I stand mildly corrected..I was going on what my Grandfather told me about UK income tax in his day..and as most were on very low incomes, they were nowhere near having to pay income taxes I would hazard a guess that 150 pounds in his day would be roughly 150k pounds now..LOL! The UK also has a wide range of indirect taxes So have we..and they end up being taxes upon taxes..supposedly illegal..but when did the governments every take note of the laws they draw up for us? Gas (petrol) outlets have tried to let people know just why it costs so much at the pump by printing out the taxes included Federal excise tax 10% Provincial excise (Quebec) 15.2% Federal GST ( VAT) 5% Provincial sales tax 7.5% Some areas have a transit tax added to cover the delivery costs...and they are now considering adding another 2-3% 'carbon tax' on top of that lot...making it about 37% -40% overall! Paid for out of earnings already income taxed to fill a car that had taxes paid on its purchase, and licence fees paid to drive it there and register it for road use, plus insurance to make it all legal, of course...LOL!

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 6 (view)

Bank stocks and market rally Posted: 4/24/2009 5:38:28 AM
Poshrat -- I've been talking inflation for some time, but am always told about $1.00 hamburgers. 1$ hamburgers?..gee I remember .25c ones! They were available at around the time you were born..I came to Canada in 1966, and was immediately stunned by what a weeks earning here could buy in comparison to UK at that time, including cars and houses. The guidelines issued by the banks then for a loans on a car and a mortgage on a house were 3 months earnings for the car and no more than 3 years gross income for a house My income was 100$ per week before any deductions..ergo 1200$ for a new car which would put me into easily into a Mini, a VW bug, or a fully laden Chev V8, and if I came up with the required 10% down..up to a 16,000$ house. Translated to today's prices I would need 1500$ per week ..18000$ for the car and 234,000$ for the house..the main difference being the amount taken from my paycheck would make paying for the loans more difficult, and both the car and house would not be as 'upcale' as in the 60's.,,and I'd be hard pressed to walk off the boat into that sort of income to start! With the rally, small investor me pulled out profits last Thursday prior to Citi's financials being released (900 million in losses being reported via audit). Ready for the next ride though. Good for you! Obviously you have taken the time to study the Market, and realized long ago , that despite all the blurbs in the media about it being the Economic indicator of the Nation's health and wealth, it really is no more than a glorified cross between a lottery and a casino, and if you approach it with that in mind, staying away from the Big Boy's card tables and playing the small profits slot machines stands you a good chance of making money, and maybe even hitting a jackpot once in a while... and only 'gamble' with money you can afford to lose..as my father advised me! I don't know how things are around your area, but it is becoming noticeable in big box stores here, that the 'cheap import lines' are vanishing, shelves are starting to have bare spots, and the prices on what is on display are edging slowly upwards. Simple answer..profit margins are too slim on the cheaper items without high turnovers..so they go, better profits on the high ticket prices which is what is needed to stay in business, and here is where the inflation spiral begins. As people begin to loosen purse strings, choice is limited, and they are willing to pay the extra for what is available..and away we go until competition begins again, which in the case of this set back could be a few years down the line in my opinion...so a long inflationary period is ahead of us. Knowing more money was made during the great depression than any other time in history...are we (the average consumer) just looking at 'discount priced' stocks...or do we really see our bank and businesses failing? If the government had NOT stepped in, they would have failed..plain and simple. Greed, and mismanagement being the main culprits, and the only thing saving the CEO's and board members from being as guilty of fraud as the Enron scandal, is the fact they have legally been awarded by contracts, the amounts swindled illegally by the executives in that company! Basically, if they had been allowed to collapse, the shock wave would have been catastrophic, and the result even worse than the Great Depression. Right now, we are deferring the 'pain' to let it fall down gently, and passing it on to future generations to pick up the pieces eventually All very well bailing out a leaky boat with larger buckets, but someone has to plug the leaks before they get bigger! Poshrat

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 31 (view)

Workers who earn 150k or more to pay 50 percent tax...Is it Fair? Posted: 4/23/2009 6:38:17 AM
Perhaps this is the point in time to question whether taxes on incomes is the best way to go about ensuring everyone pays their 'fair share' towards the nation's economy and services? Income tax was brought in as a 'temporary measure' during the 1914-18 war to help the government pay for the massive outgoings it was faced with..prior to that, there was NO tax on income, merely on spending, in the form of a 'purchase tax', which was a hidden tax added to all goods sold over the counter. This was eventually abolished when VAT came in as a visible tax. Considering the army of public servants now employed in collecting income taxes, the vast amounts of paper work it entails, and the multitude of laws surrounding the whole mess, along with the numbers of lawyers and consultants making their incomes from making them understandable to those of us trying to make sense of them, maybe it is time to return to that old system of taxing people by what they spend, rather than what they make? Doesn't it make more sense in a society that has become hell-bent in destroying the planet by excessive consumerism to make those that regard possessions more important than the welfare of the planet we all live upon, pay up for the damage they are doing? If the lower income brackets weren't taxed in any way on income, but the VAT (GST here in Canada) were raised to say 30% -50% ? on everything sold..or resold ( yes here even used items resold are subject to both GST and provincial taxes...helps to keep income taxes down!)..then the considerations when buying would be more on whether they could afford an item, rather than be left with so little in the pocket after working to know they cannot... For those making the bigger incomes..sure they can afford it..but do they want to pay the fee as well? There's no tax shelter they can farm some income into to avoid paying the tax any more..no avenues to write it off under an 'expense'..if you want a 100,000 pound car the tax is 30,000..if you have to have a 1 million pound house..you pay 300,000 pounds in tax on top of it..yes..as in the old days..PURCHASE tax was on everything bought. At least it would do away with the ridiculous situation many people being laid off are finding themselves in. My daughter, after 22 years with a company shedding staff like crazy, was let go with a severance package of close to a year's income 70,000$ As this is 'income' in a large lump, subject to 50% tax..Yes you lot in UK..we get hit with 50% tax way under the 150,K pounds ( 300,000$)....she has to dump it into her pension fund where she cannot touch it until retirement..and then it is subject to tax as she starts trickling it out of course. Ergo..she now has to scramble to find another means of income, despite the fact she had enough to last her through at least a year....but after taxes, about enough for 6 months! Now..if only she could find a way of existing on a few weeks wages for the next 20 years..she'll be well set for a splurge when she retires...LOL! Poshrat

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 2 (view)

Bank stocks and market rally Posted: 4/13/2009 11:29:59 AM
No..more like the speculators who got burned, prodding things up to encourage the little investor back in with real cash so they can recover some of their lost 'paper wealth' again. The most obvious indicator of a recovery will be when the Federal banks start increasing their interest rates, and the Major banks do the same, as inflation takes over when consumer confidence is restored. As companies have cut back production..goods become scarce, and once the recovery starts, too much money chases too little goods and inflation rears it's ugly head again. Same pattern every time..first pull the rug out from under the working stiff...housing market collapses, investors pick them up cheap, hold on until mortgage rates begin to spiral up..sell them off for a profit, and put the profits into the stock and commodities markets as they climb again. ..then pull out cash as soon as the next glitch comes along, and park it in high interest , high yield investment papers offered by banks trying to ride out yet another storm It was just an unexpected Tsunami this trip ....LOL!

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 2 (view)

STUPID HEALTH MYTHS !! Posted: 4/6/2009 6:51:24 AM
Thanks for posting this, and thank goodness there are still some people brave enough to go against the grain to debunk the nonsense passed off as 'expert advice' where eating is concerned. Basically we are still 'hunter-gatherers' dressed up in a thin veneer of civilization, which has, unfortunately, brought about an abundance of choice of what is available to eat, in vast quantities, and requiring very little effort required to obtain it in our affluent western world. I grew up in war time UK, where food was rationed in quantities per week that most now scoff down in a day, and my eating habits were formed in early childhood. The vast platters placed in front of me nowadays defeat me by half way through the meal, and whilst I still feel a twinge of guilt at leaving most of it uneaten, at least my parent's chiding about all the 'starving children in China' no longer holds sway..I know they are better off now than they were..now if they had told me about the children in Africa, maybe I would still feel humbled? I eat what I like, and like what I eat. I don't buy anything in a box with a fancy label depicting a gourmet meal inside, nor do I dine where the food comes across the counter as fast as I can order it, and I mute TV commercials extolling the virtues of meals in a minute, and all the other blather they insist does me good. The biggest laugh I have had recently was to read the label on a box of cereal my grandson insisted on eating for breakfast during a stay here. After a list of compounds I had never even heard of..it concluded with a warning 'May contain wheat'..which left me wondering if this was an indication there might possibly have been some nutritional content contained therein! As the remainder of the packet was put out on the bird feeder when he left, and was rejected by both birds and the visiting squirrels, I can only concur that even they thought it useless calories..or chemicals? I am fortunate enough to be able to grow my own veggies, harvest my own fruits, and do deals with local farmers for meats and eggs. We have a local butcher and baker in town who still supply things as they should be ..about the only things I have to buy that pass through a processor , are butter and milk. I eat twice a day..the times determined by when I am hungry, and the content of the meal, by what makes my mouth water..let your body tell you what it wants and feed it accordingly..even if the combinations on the plate would never appear on a menu anywhere. My doc shudders at my 'diet' which includes a high amount of sugar, and the deep fryer is in regular use, but regular blood checks show everything to be normal and well below the 'worry points' of people of my age (72) I tip the scales at 165 lbs , have done so for yearsand have shrunk to about 5'6'' from the almost 6 foot I once was..( which ironically means my BMI is too much for that height..LOL!) I walk as much as I can, roughly a couple of miles with the dogs, weather permitting, and generally ignore all advice from others as to slowing down and not attempting to do what I do do at my age...grins In conclusion..not everyone is built to be as narrow as an arrow as I was fortunate to be born like, but the statement Dad always went by still holds true 'If you can't see your feet, cut down on what you eat...and start using them to get around until you lose the round bit blocking the view!' Poshrat

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 2 (view)

Our soldiers...Just what are they dying for Posted: 3/22/2009 6:24:29 AM
Purely Politics. If you remember the famous Bush statement 'You are with Us in the war against terrorists, or against us and support them', it left the Canadian Government little choice but to be seen as 'with them, or suffer having even more embargoes place on our exports to the US of A We were already embroiled in the softwood lumber dispute, and the BSE scare at the time, and if we had turned off the oil taps i retaliation, of course, they would have had reason enough to just walk in and take over the oil sands 'defending their democratic rights under NAFTA ' We had the choice of either joining in the invasion of Iraq, or the peace keeping mission in Afghanistan..as our troop equipment isn't designed for conflicts any more, most of it being so out of date, our government chose the latter . Afghanistan is a Nation that has been at 'war' for over 1000 yrs...it has defeated major Nations time and time again in their attempts to take it over, and the idea that a handful of Canadian troops would succeed where they had failed, indicated that the Powers that be who made the decision had absolutely NO idea or understanding of the culture they were dealing with. I have one young relation who has just returned from that arena. At this point he is trying to adjust to the fact it is safe to venture out in public, and not be on edge at every man, woman and child in the crowd with a tanned skin isn't about to attack him, or suddenly explode near him in a hail of shrapnel and flying body parts. Like the shell shattered veterans of WW2, he refuses to talk about his experiences, and tries to bottle them up inside, with the inevitable result that they eat him from within, and result in nightmares no-one can understand unless they have 'been there, done that' It was a pointless exercise from the start..remains such, and will continue to be so, until someone has the sense to pull our troops out , and leave the almighty US of A to sort out the mess they created to begin with. We cannot 'win' anything there..we are not welcome there, nor can we impose a 'democracy' on any nation that doesn't want it to begin with, and we cannot change a culture we don't understand to begin with. It is a fanatical religious power base to begin with, and even that is at war within itself between fundamentalists and moderates, just as is evident in Iraq, Iran etc. They are not in the least bit afraid of any Mighty Military machine..they are fully prepared to die for their cause, either en masse, or individually, and they make no discrimination between innocent civilians or worthy opponents when they do their deeds of destruction..everyone who is not 'one of them' is the enemy..the same mentality that Bush displayed when he started all of this. And if you dig deep enough, you will discover this all boils down to two things oil and the US control of the market Iraq was beginning to sell oil in Euros, and Afghanistan had linked up with Saddam to pipe it through that country to both China and India..that represented a major threat to the US hold over the World's markets. Since Iran began trading through its oil bourse in other currencies, they have become a 'nuclear threat'.... It all boils down to Politics and Power

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 9 (view)

Corporal punishment at school Posted: 3/6/2009 7:09:38 AM
As an old codger who went through the Legalized brutality system called 'Public Schools for Boys' in the 40's and 50's, I think more of my education was rammed up my rectum in the form of' Six of the Best' than ever went in through my ears! If you blubbered whilst receiving your punishment, you got a couple more, and if you neglected to Thank the Master for administering your 'just rewards', he'd bend you over again and add another 3 at least! Not only at school, either. If you misbehaved in public, any adult had the right to smack you around the head.poke you with an umbrella etc. My worst day was getting caught scrumping gooseberries. The farmer let a billy goat into the field, and after managing to escape that animal, I was caught by the farmer..given a hiding, passed to the village constable, who thumped me again. He took me home to my parents, and explained what had happened..needless to say I got larruped again...and then he went and told the local school Head master, who handed out a few more in front of the school at assembly next morning...I had let the school down as well as my parents! I had difficulties for days trying not to squirm in my seat and get yet another lot for fidgeting in class. No sooner left school, than I was called into in the forces, as conscription was still in effect, and another couple of years of learning discipline and being made a Man of by another bunch of sadists...LOL! However..I don't think it did me any harm in the long run. Taught me to deal with the hard knocks life can throw at you along the way, and I honestly feel sorry for today's wrapped in cotton wool generations ..they are in for a rude awakening when they get into the Real World. poshrat

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 49 (view)

Englishmen in America Posted: 3/2/2009 5:59:32 AM
Why do the English put u in color? We didn't put it in..you blighters took it out! Hence the difference in pronunciation of both colour (col-ore) and humour (hum-ore) as opposed to the US col-er and hum-er Why do North American newscasters insist on using 'We'll be back momentarily..' before going into a commercial break. To a Brit it indicates they will appear for a brief instant, and vanish again..which in some cases would be preferable...the commercials are funnier than they try to be. The correct term is 'We'll be back in a moment'..indicating they will be away for a short period of time before returning. Why do the English live in flats instead of apartments? Flat = level or horizontal..ergo living on one level..usually of a converted house, or a property designed and built for that purpose, each floor as a separate living area. The concept of building multi level monstrosities with multiple dwelling units on each level was a uniquely American idea, and how one can call them 'apartments' always baffled Brits..apart from living like lab rats in individual cells of course..LOL! Why would any one play rugby esp if he has any looks at all? It's all a part of the English masochistic Tradition born in the legalized brutality system of 'Public school Education.' that led to Manhood..the Rite of Passage in short. A bent nose, a missing ear or teeth, or at the very least , scars on the butt from canings ,were regarded in much the same way as dueling scars on the Prussian Elite....signs of a survivor, and one not to be messed with..LOL! As opposed to the 'Macho' of the North American sports player wearing full body armour ( note arm-ore not arm-er) and going at it like gladiators in an arena rather then limiting the action to the one carrying the ball, in a form of rugby they insist on calling FOOT ball, and demanding Brits now call REAL FOOTball..Soccer! How long is a cricket match? That's like asking 'How long is a piece of string?' It can be a one-day match, or last as long as a week..the term 'Retired for so many runs after so many wickets' should give you a clue..grins* they might have been kids when they started ..now they are drawing pensions before the game is over.... As for tea in little individual bags..shudders another mass-produced mess masquerading as 'The real thing'..but then, what else can you expect from a country that doesn't build teapots with a strainer in the spout...LOL! Poshrat

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 3 (view)

Non-drug pain management... Posted: 1/20/2009 7:05:14 AM
Hi fritzle If you are at the point where you will cheerfully strangle the next medical expert who states' I am sorry. there's nothing more medically we can do for you You have to learn to live with it' and hands you a prescription for pain killers, then we're on the same wavelength. If waking up in the morning includes doing an inventory of what hurts and what doesn't, and your day is governed more by what you can do rather than what you can't, then we are roughly in the same condition...LOL! And that's half the secret of dealing with it..laugh a LOT. Laughing releases endorphins in the body and the brain..the 'feel good' chemicals which help to counteract the knots of pain annoying you. Myself, I listen to comedy programs as much as possible, avoid gloom and doom programs, news reports etc...I don't even bother reading newspapers any more..someone is bound to let me know the latest 'sensation' sometime during the day. Mind you, your sense of humour tends to become slightly cynical and sarcastic if you don't watch it..grins I keep out of the company of others who delight in telling me about their aches and pains. latest diagnosis, and colour of pills they are popping..not too easy in my age group believe me, which is why I tend to enjoy much younger company whenever possible...and any time they start in about their aches and pains, a glower will usually have them change the subject right smartish... If possible, get a pet. Having something living and relying upon you for it's well being really helps to take your mind off yourself..especially a dog that becomes set in a routine. Hard to refuse to go 'walkies' when there's a pair of sad eyes looking at you and a head resting on your thigh pleading to go out..again..LOL! Finally, and this may sound barmy to some..have LONG talks with your body, especially the bits that hurt. Make it quite plain you are NOT going to put up with this nonsense for much longer, and then embark upon some action that you know will niggle it..right now I am having a no nonsense talk with a pair of hands that seem to be reluctant to hit the right keys in order to do this posting grins so forgive any typos spell check fails to notice! Hope this helps and eases things a bit for you

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 10 (view)

If I knew then............what I know now Posted: 12/24/2008 5:21:45 AM
Thanks for the 'Pause to reflect' thread, and Yes I did so several times between 30 and 40 years of age, but having hit my 70's... No..if I changed anything in my past, I wouldn't be who I am today, and as I have had to live with myself for the past 10 years, I rather like who I turned out to be and am quite comfortable with myself the way I am. Note here..I live by myself..NOT alone, as many people would say. I have a great bunch of kids, who keep in touch regularly, and the grand kids visit as often as they can, all of whom regard me as a 'weird granddad' at times..but wouldn't have me any other way. I have a small circle of select friends with pasts murkier and more eventful than mine..grins so we have a lot in common, and conversations never flag believe me..we have all been there, done that...and come out with different results, so we compare notes quite often, and in all cases we can honestly say we have LIVED life..maybe more than one, as most of us have had second..or even more! chances at it. And I have never forgotten the morning my kids demanded I came down to listen to the record they thought summed up my attitude to things..Joe Walsh 'Life's been good to me..so far!' Best compliment I ever had....even if I didn't have the money to do half the things he did...LOL!

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 5 (view)

No escaping the law. Posted: 12/16/2008 6:52:57 AM
Adds a whole new dimension to 'Are you being served?'...maybe they can start a new TV series..'Have you BEEN served?' As for stupid emails on this side of the pond, mainly 'financial ' scams telling me my account has been suspended and to relog in to clear it...mostly American banks of course..they have yet to learn that .ca. in the web address is Canada and NOT California. Offers to join in some overseas scam to become an instant millionaire several times over..mainly some country whose average income per annum is less than my pension per month Viagra/Cialis offers..heck at 71 and single for 20 years, I need memory pills first and a female companion second and probably a doctor's certificate third , before even thinking of using those products... I do think it's a bit off suggesting I need breast enhancements to be attractive though.....just because my parents called me Robin....and it happens to be more common as a girl's name over here!

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 13 (view)

Has society really changed that much? Posted: 12/14/2008 7:43:08 AM
I agree with oldsoul, and I've probably been around longer than most posters here! GOOD old days?...well nostalgia isn't what it used to be that's for sure, and I have to say that when American 'family' shows began appearing on UK TV, we all thought they were either fairy stories, or comedies...did people really live like that? Wartime saw many lose their houses, possessions and we lived with rationing in amounts of ounces per week on just about everything..provided they were even available . No social safety nets, no health services meant you were in debt for years with any illness or injury requiring treatment, and the choice of drugs were limited to sulphurs, codeines, morphines or 'old wives remedies'..hospitals and operations were almost a death sentence to many Life was regimented..you wore a suit and tie for work, the quality of which plus the hat you wore indicated the social status of your position . Schools were more of a legalized brutality system, and more was pounded in from the backside than ever went in through the ears..and every adult had the right to clip you around the ear for misbehaviour in public. Yes the family gathered around the table for meals...mainly conducted in silence as 'children should be seen and not heard'..or the other famous phrases such as 'Don't talk with your mouth full' or 'Speak when you are spoken to' prevailed. Your first employment after leaving school was likely to be your job for life, with promotion depending upon someone higher up retiring, or dying, unless the business expanded enough to gain extra positions to be filled. Changing employers was frowned upon, and doing it too often had you regarded as unreliable, and therefore not worthy of being hired. Everyone senior to you was 'Sir', and only surnames were used to address anyone lower than you..the first name basis was between close friends, and certainly never in the work environment above a certain status..only labourers indulged in such familiarity! When my kids and grandkids want to know what it was like 'when I was young'..they tend to leave with looks of horror on their faces when I paint a more realistic picture of just what it was really like! Yes there were some delights I enjoyed because there were few distractions to keep me anchored around the house..we only had a radio ONE of them! and parents controlled the on-off switch., and hanging around close to home meant being given chores by the bucketful..we were never allowed to say 'I'm bored'..LOL! Walking miles though fields and lanes with the dog, playing with mates (both sexes)..if anyone had a ball and bat, we'd do it for hours until tempers frayed over rule changes...etc. and then either was the ever constant concern about what time it was and were we passed our curfew time...few of us owned a watch...or had anyone seen us doing something we shouldn't and passed that gem of information on to our parents? No matter..we usually got a thrashing when we made it through the door anyway.. we had to have done something to merit it considering the state of us when we got home. LOL! Yes things have changed..some for the better, some not so good perhaps..but I think the problem with older generations like myself, many have forgotten what they were like as kids, and what it meant to be one back then..they are too busy pointing out the faults of the young today and most of it is due to the jealousy they have about not having such advantages themselves 'when they were young little angels' No thanks..you can keep the past..I live now with a view to the future..'cos that's where I am going to be living tomorrow, and it looks a lot brighter than it did back then.

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 11 (view)

Why do men lose the ability to ejaculate as they get older? Posted: 12/12/2008 5:51:08 AM
he can't come!! So maybe it is time one of them went?...sorry couldn't resist that! Okay..been there myself. IF they are having sex on such a regular basis as to passed his point of replenishment..the slang term in UK is 'coming dust', he is at the point where an ejaculation becomes an internal thing..much like that of a woman When one lass did that to me after a night of passion I'll never forget..the result , for me, was like being plugged into a light socket, and someone turning the power on On the one hand it was the most mind blowing experience I had ever encountered..and I wanted it to continue, whilst on the other..it was the most excruciating agony my groin had ever known...and I eventually passed out for about 5 minutes When I came round to a smiling face stating..'Now you know what an orgasm is like for me', I could only manage a gasping 'How in blazes can you climax more than once a night?" If he has been that far..I can understand his reluctance to go that distance again..which might account for his reluctance to reach ejaculation... more a psychological than a physical problem. Maybe this helps?

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 5 (view)

Why do men lose the ability to ejaculate as they get older? Posted: 12/12/2008 4:30:38 AM
I'd suggest his 'ten minute teenage trigger' has worn off ! Seriously though, if he is capable of maintaining an erection for considerable lengths of time, he has probably reached the mind set where his concern is more in pleasing his partner than his own release, and ejaculation is a secondary factor to him Biologically, his replenishment time is longer, so Nature has rewarded him with staying power..unless he's using the little blue 'wonder pill', which can have the same effect, and cause problems like that, that they don't bother warning you about! I would point out to her that she is far more fortunate in having a Lover who can out distance her, rather than have one of the 'normal' males who rolls over and is asleep within minutes, having 'spent all his energies in the first round' and left her alone in the ring...so to speak. Some women just can't be satisfied can they?..and they'd love a man like that....LOL!

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 35 (view)

Get ready Canada, you're next. Posted: 12/10/2008 4:31:35 PM
I don't know if anyone else is struck by the irony of these bailout packages, but here goes to spark some more debates. America is the Capital of Capitalism...vehemently opposed to 'socialized medicine', citing it leading to Government take over leading to that dreaded word Communism. It is the Country busy in bringing Democracy to the rest of the world.... Strange thing is...in the 70's when the railroads went into decline..very little help was offered The 70's oil embargo caused hundreds of businesses to close their doors..no help there either. In the 80's when Holding Companies took over manufacturing companies, stripped them of their assets, and laid workers off, their pension plans gone..no one came to their aid When the dot com bubble burst in late 90's..who bailed anyone out? When the US airlines went to the wall at the beginning of 2000, they were told to file for bankruptcy .. no one gave them a second chance. At this point in time, the US Federal Government is now bailing out Banks, Investment companies, Mortgage companies, and now the Auto Industries, and placing oversight committees in charge to tell them how to sort themselves out, along with powers to close them down if they fail to perform. Isn't that just how the USSR worked before they collapsed? McCarthy must be turning in his grave right now...LOL! A lot of auto workers have reached retirement age now. Pensions that is what all the money is needed for. Precisely..the tax payers are being asked to fund the Union and the retirement funds if you look closely, and it was their excessive demands over the years that have helped to bring the Companies down. All the Big Three have plants world wide, have made massive investments there..maybe they should close those down and bring the money back to fund their at home operations first? (GM has already done so in Canada ) PS..I notice on the bail out plan going to the White house, the news reports state they have also included a pay increase for Federal judges at the bottom..sneaky!

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 26 (view)

Get ready Canada, you're next. Posted: 12/9/2008 5:34:31 PM
Chinese cars with 0 star safety ratings. Death traps mate, I'd rather walk. When I began driving 55 years ago, most of the cars available were probably less safe than the tests they have done on Chinese cars recently. We had to learn defensive driving in order to pass the road tests back then..speed was almost impossible, most cars were lucky to do the maximum limits without a tail wind downhill...LOL! Yes..things have improved somewhat, and in order to sell in Europe, USA, UK etc, standards have to be met, which the Chinese fail to do at this point in time. However..when the first Japanese, and later Korean vehicles hit the world markets, they only just scraped through the tests and were vilified by the media for it..didn't take them long to smarten up, and now look at their shares of the market place. Currently, most Chinese companies are listing their vehicles as conforming to ECC standards for emissions, but obviously lag behind in safety...obviously that market is where they intend to invade first It won't be long before they sort out what's needed there. And then they can get it together to meet North America's needs..especially if the Big Three become the little One!

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 19 (view)

Get ready Canada, you're next. Posted: 12/9/2008 9:25:46 AM
The infernal combustion engine has been around now for over 100 yrs, and as someone who has been licensed to be behind the wheel for over 50 of 'em, I feel I can justify my comments based on my experience on both sides of the pond. Most manufactures in Europe and Japan have had to concentrate on developing transport with the emphasis on economy and compact size because of smaller roads, and higher fuel costs, along with reliability because of the competition they face. The car was a means of transport required to meet what the owner demanded of it In the US, it is a totally different situation. Fuels has always been cheap..yes guys..even at 4.00$ US a gallon you were way under what most other countries were paying at the pump...so the manufacturers were mainly concerned with 'show and go' and a status symbol and selling a new model every year...mostly cosmetic changes to make the owners feel outdated Improvements, if any, were mainly in the power plant..more horse power, bigger is better, and the magic 0-60mph figure for getting away from the lights. Any real improvements in safety, reliability, warranties, emissions, etc. had to be forced on them by State or Federal Legislation, and their attitudes to that, were to come up with something almost impossible for the owner to work on, and cost and arm and a leg to be fixed at the dealers, and justify , for them, a huge increase in prices, along with any replacement parts being marked up to ridiculous amounts. Basically, a major repair now makes the car a throw away item, just as most electronic devices have become...it isn't worth fixing. The US auto industry has had one foot in the grave since the oil embargo in the 80's, when buyers flocked to smaller imports for better consumption, and the Japanese invasion not long after..they failed to see the writing on the wall, and continued on in their own sweet way making bigger machines once oil prices settled down again A run up in prices at the pump caught them with their pants down...but did they make any effort to pull them up? Not likely..too much profit margin in the SUV's..keep churning them out and offer incentives to buy them and negotiate with other makers of small cars to let them put their label on successful models in their lines..no real attempts to develop their own This last massive price at the pump increase has again caught them with pants around their ankles, with the economic downturn has revealing they aren't even wearing underwear enough to cover their butts..and they are begging the taxpayer to wipe them for them. Ironically..this is exactly what happened to the major manufacturers in UK in the 60's-70's anyone remember Austin, Morris, Hillman, Humber, Jowett, Lanchester, , etc..and the Government take overs that formed British Leyland?..Yup..once the Government stepped in and ran it..it died an unnatural death I suspect the same fate awaits the US makers ..especially if the Chinese invasion ever makes it through the red tape barriers they have managed to erect to prevent it happening Most of the Big three's vanished profits have been heavily invested in forming alliances over there..obviously with the intentions of closing even more North American plants, and importing low cost, high profit vehicles bearing the logos, without having to distribute the profits into pension plans and benefits as they do now. Again..they were caught out before it could happen...tough luck guys. I say let them go down the tubes now, rather than later, as I doubt whether their long term plans would have included the welfare of their American workers anyway. Yes there will be a large unemployment fall out as a result..maybe the costs to the government would be less than bailing them out..who knows? Then offer the Chinese manufacturers a foot hold over here, and bingo..all the auto workers and suppliers are back in business again..the buying public gets cars they can afford, and we haven't had to clean up someone else's mess for them out of our pocket.

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 7 (view)

Liberal leader replacement: Appoint or Elect? Posted: 12/8/2008 7:12:48 PM
Considering the Liberal party caucus choice for leadership at present is between Ignatieff, who in the past 38 years, has only been back in Canada for 3, and Rae, who was once the NDP premier of Ontario. whichever one they try to appoint is likely to cause an outrage from the membership demanding a full blown election. As for forming a coalition after that, with some disgruntled party members wanting someone else at the Head of the Pack, I would imagine there would be so much in fighting going on, a Federal election would not be far behind anyway. And despite the costs of doing so, I think the Governor General's best bet is to dissolve Parliament when it re-opens if they force a vote of Non Confidence through against the Conservatives..in which case, the Party should ask Harper to step down and make way for someone more acceptable to the voters if they have any hopes of remaining in power. If nothing else, this period of playground politics has shown many of our elected representatives in their real light..power hungry people out to better themselves rather than doing what is right and needed for Canada and Canadians in these troubled times.

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 4 (view)

Is too much technology affecting children's creativity/imagination? Posted: 12/8/2008 6:36:38 PM
"Do you think that having MOSTLY toys with technology and/or a set way to play with them, are or are not a detriment to developing a child's creativity and imagination? I think that will depend upon whether the environment around the child stimulates their curiosity or not . Whilst most of my generation were content to play with their clockwork toys in a sort of structured manner, I was always trying to find out how they worked...along with many other things around the house...I could take things apart ..just had trouble putting them back together working again...I did get better at it later in life..LOL! Todays 'toys' including computer controls now appear in remote controlled undersea research, military weapons, and bomb disposal equipment, and the latest concept cars now feature a similar means of control..meaning us old fuddy duddies are going to really be in a quandary when it comes to using them! And if you want to know just how much things have changed in a control cab..take a look inside some of the latest farm and heavy equipment these days..starts to resemble a 747 flight deck Things have changed a lot over the past generations...how many women can still stitch a sampler at 8-10 years old as my grandmother did?...make all the clothing for a family as my mother had to during wartime?..or prepare meals from scratch? How many boys today can build a wooden go cart from bits and pieces?..Make their own fishing line, play anything outside a structured sports environment and wearing all the equipment?..as most kids now are wrapped in cotton wool and kept close to home, is it any wonder they prefer to sit and play on computers in their bedrooms? Yes in many cases, having toys that think for them, most kids will not exercise their imagination, but some will..and some will want to know how they work, along with wanting to improve them, or even create newer ideas for the upcoming generations. The universe is unfolding as it should...no need to worry, even if we no longer understand it...LOL!

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 7 (view)

if we knew how long we had Posted: 12/4/2008 1:05:19 PM
No sex? What a bizarre recommendation, esp. in the light of the many recognized benefits of sex. How times have changed in the 50 some years since you got the advice. You have grandchildren so obviously ignored that advice. LOL! Darned right I did..pretty much all of it...and I think I have outlived the doctor that gave me that list. I did do a fair amount of damage to myself though..got stabbed by the steering column in the midsection, before flying though the windshield...darned near cut myself in half as a result. (Seat belts were not a part of cars back then) grins when ladies claim a man doesn't know what having a baby is like, I can boast of having given birth to a steering wheel by Caesarean section..LOL! Sex wasn't impossible..just difficult for a while with a few missing abdominal muscles..but where there is a willing lass..there was always a way!

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 3 (view)

if we knew how long we had Posted: 12/4/2008 4:04:07 AM
Well..as someone who has had his share of close calls with the Grim Reaper, and has the scars to prove it, and has variously been told I have 'about 1/2 hour left to live' to '6 months at best' and the latest 'a few more good years if you don't respond to treatment' I can offer my views with some degree of experience..LOL! Firstly..laying in a hospital bed on life support you realize there isn't anything that's a 'Fate worse than Death' and you start doing some profound 'soul searching' especially with regard to what Life means to you. Secondly..you get some real surprises as to the people who come to visit you in this condition, and their reactions when there. Those with a sense of humour are most welcome, whilst some who sit and start telling you about some minor complaint they have, or problems in their life etc. you could cheerfully strangle ..even at the risk of tearing out the IV's keeping you alive! Thirdly..when you are discharged with a list of 'Dont's' that include 'No smoking, no drinking, no late nights, no parties, no physical exertion, no heavy lifting, no emotional involvements and NO sex'...at 23? Doctor you have to be joking? What is the point in living? As a result..you tend to make a rude signal as you leave, only Ma Nature tends to tap you on the shoulder from time to time to remind you of some of the things you are supposed to do... so you learn to adjust and work around them. What it does do to you though, is make you Live one day at a time..shed the useless baggage most delight in carrying around, and develop a sense of humour others find difficult to understand at times You don't waste time doing things you don't like or enjoy; you don't waste time in the company of people who have little in common with your interests; and you don't put up with the petty nonsense of a work environment, or in any relationship you are involved in; as for dealing with some jumped up jackanape in a position of authority trying to exert control over you..you bypass such people and go above them to have them dealt with. To most of the above, I guess I come off as 'self centered and aggressive'..certainly anti-social..LOL! On the other hand, you no longer judge 'books by their covers' or see situations as black and white...you notice the grey areas more, and become more tolerant and perhaps more understanding when you learn the reasons for someone else's situation. Obviously, many of the few that I call friends are 'survivors' themselves..little pieces of information come to light that let me know they have suffered setbacks..and in some cases..more than mine, in my opinion. Currently..as my doctor points out at each visit..I am living on' borrowed time'..an expression that amuses me as I have no idea who passed me over some of theirs to use, but I am certainly grateful to them. I use it in trying to pass on to my kids and grand kids the sheer joy of BEING ALIVE, and use the time reading, gardening, walking dogs and generally keeping my place, my car and myself in as good a shape as possible..and posting to forums on POF if I see something worth speaking out about. Now for a point to ponder...IF it was proven there is no such thing as 'Life after Death'..that carrot that keeps most people behaving in society..the promise of more and better to come if you believe.....just what would you do with your life from the point you were told that? Me? I'd continue just the way I am..I am happy to be here..and seek no rewards later. so my actions today I judge for myself as to whether they were worth while, and whether they helped someone else.

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 8 (view)

How would one survive winter in Canada, Ontario, Kingston? Posted: 12/1/2008 5:15:19 AM
G'day Mate! As a transplanted Brit who spent some time in Kingston years ago, I can tell you that it is a University town, with stacks of places to eat, and does have a night life for someone of your age to enjoy..LOL! As for climate and clothing..don't believe what you read on official sites. First of all there is what is known as the' Lake effect'..meaning it is a damp cold, and in summer a humid heat...both require some getting used to, but my own experience was that it didn't bother me too much the first year here...it seems to take time to become acclimatized to the wild swings in temperatures Secondly, don't expect 'seasons' as you might be more used to in Oz. There is a sort of mish-mash of temps throughout winter..example..here in Ottawa it is snowing..rain forecast later, and temps around zero ~C..later in the week they forecast -19 at night..meaning the snow will have been thoroughly soaked, and set like concrete..one of the Canadian truths is 'If you don't like the weather right now, wait an hour, it will probably change! As for clothing..best to find a Giant Tiger store for some of the cheapest and best suited to yourself and your pocket book . Anything carrying a 'Thinsulate' label..gloves, jackets. hats, boots will be light weight, and WARM..and at MY age, on pension..it's even more important. Secondly..dress in layers...I made the mistake of buying good sturdy, heavy clothing to begin with, and soon found out it was better to use lightweight layers as most Canadians do, along with the fact it is also cheaper to do so, and as most of the outerwear, boots etc get destroyed in the one winter season due to the excessive use of salts on the sidewalks and roads..so unless your job requires you to look super smart at all times...just do like most of us and buy what's needed for the season and dump it afterwards..or make it do a second one for 'scruff times' Oh yes..with your hair cut, a hat or 'toque' will be a must..the wind chill factors can lower temperatures a lot and bare exposed skin knows about it in no time! Summer is simple..shorts, Tee and sandals mostly..it's the other extreme then! If you would like more help/info by all means email me..I can't email you as POF has 'censored' me in some way..probably either age difference, or the fact that at some time I was contacted by 'someone looking for sex' and that has put up the barriers on my behalf. Bl**dy stupid situation as far as I am concerned....at my age on a cold morning, I am not sure what sex I am ..I have difficulty finding it!

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 8 (view)

:laufh: worlds oldest drug stash :laugh: Posted: 11/29/2008 9:41:49 AM
During wartime UK, many people smoked dried cabbage leaves mixed in with whatever little tobacco they could get. The idea of the smell should register with the anti-smoking brigade right about NOW...LOL!

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 4 (view)

I am glad to meet you Posted: 11/23/2008 5:11:51 AM
Considering the financial debacle currently underway in the US, maybe they should consider an accounting system that holds Executive staff accountable for their actions when they run their Companies into bankruptcy? Especially when they arrive in company jets for Senate hearings, and it is discovered their salaries and bonuses for the past year are in the multi million dollar ranges, and they are there to beg for a multi billion dollar bail out! One amusing comment on a BBC News program was the fact that one of the books required for a course on Economics in a certain school, available in its book store, is called 'Business Ethics', and attached to the cover is the note:- 'NOT for sale in the USA' I think that says it all !

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 180 (view)

Minimum Wage Posted: 11/19/2008 5:51:18 AM
He's a little upset that he's only getting $300 a week. Maybe you should point out that if he was working in a Minimum wage job of $8.00 an hour ( current level in Ontario Canada)..despite his gross being more, his take home would be less due to deductions As a pensioner in Canada..that would be the extent of his income if he had to rely on just 'state' pension, but at least he would not have the worries of health coverage if he were living here Once the fall out from the collapsing economy in the US bites home, I can see a lot of the attitudes being voiced here, becoming very different as the 'Pull up the ladder Jack, I am on board' types find themselves on a sinking ship..LOL! Maybe the Richest Nation in the World will begin sharing its wealth with its people, just as most Western Nations have learned to do. It baffles me why you still resist a National health service and leave yourselves open to financial ruin the first time a major illness sets you back Perhaps all the jobs with medical benefits built in rapidly vanishing, you might see a change of heart from those opposing it when they fall victim to the system now? And a Minimum wage level might not seem such a bad idea either , eh guys?

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 13 (view)

Kids and Horror Movies Posted: 11/15/2008 6:47:36 AM
Me again, just to add something everyone here may find amusing. Despite my interest in the macabre , I remember being scared out of my wits when my parents took me to see 'The Wizard of Oz', and I know I spent most of it with my cap pulled down over my eyes, and my fingers in my ears whenever the Wicked Witch appeared. It wasn't until I was older I realized what it was..my mother was 'bi-polar' in in her manic moods, her laugh and some of the punishments she dreamed up in that condition..well I leave that to the readers imaginings..LOL! The only adult movie that really disturbed my psyche was 'The Serpent and the Rainbow', which is based on truth and covers the West Indian zombie culture...it is more to do with the psychological aspect than the gore involved in horror movies. You know your children, you talk to your children. Well said!..but how many parents actually do that these days? Come to that how many parents even know their kids? I think the greatest compliment my daughters ever paid me was ... ''Dad..the reason we have so many friends, is because we have the only parent in the survey who they can come and talk to when they have problems..and YOU LISTEN!" Mind you..some of their problems made horror stories look pretty tame ,I will admit.

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 8 (view)

Kids and Horror Movies Posted: 11/14/2008 4:11:30 PM
Well..as a child growing up in UK when there was no television to watch, I read a lot, beginning with the Mother Goose nursery rhymes, moving on to Grimm's fairy tales, and later when the ban on American 'horror' comics was lifted, I absorbed quite a few of those. Museums always had a section of Medieval times..weapons, instruments of torture etc, and of course, there was always an exciting trip to Madam Tussaud's waxworks, and the Chamber's of Horror's section..a place my parents refused to enter, but of course fascinated me. When my kids were young, I was involved in Special effects for a while and got many of the magazines covering the 'blood ,snot and gore' effects on screen. Naturally my lot delved into them, and grew up understanding that what was shown on a screen was just a glorified Adult Fairy tale..and all was okay until my 11 year old son did a show and tell at school on how the 'Alien' movie was made...it horrified the Teacher of course, and many of the parents..most of whom wouldn't have gone to see it anyway. Kids LIKE to be scared once in a while..otherwise Fun Fairs wouldn't offer the thrills and such in the rides, Haunted houses etc. but as long as an adult or parent can offer reassurance that it's all part of the 'game' of growing up, I think it is acceptable Wrapping children in cotton wool and keeping them away from all of this until they are 'adults' is likely to have negative effects when something horrific or tragic does occur in front of them, or to them..in MY opinion anyway.

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 24 (view)

Sex for gasoline -- how many gallons per encounter....... Posted: 11/14/2008 12:04:32 PM
Instead of a penny for your thoughts. ...it's a liter for your peter? Or VICE versa of course...LOL!

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 4 (view)

Today I Remember Posted: 11/11/2008 6:15:31 AM
I shall spend most of today in tears, and saying quiet 'Thank you' the those who gave up their young lives that has allowed me to live through to this age of 71 enjoying all the benefits of what they fought and died for. I will remember the face of my grandfather, who was in the medical corps of WW1, when he tried to describe the horrors he had seen and had to deal with..and his fury at discovering one war time grave site in UK had been badly neglected..and his efforts resulted in in being tidied up and is now on a par with those in European countries. I will recall being dragged through the streets in blackout conditions at 4 yrs old to get to an air raid shelter..only to emerge in the morning to find the house we lived in , was no longer standing, and my only toy..a tin truck, had gone with it. Being evacuated to stay with strangers until my parents were relocated to war time housing, and my father's collapse under the strain of working in an aircraft factory by day, and doing fire watch duties at night. Of sitting threading needles for Mother as she sewed clothing, gloves and made quilts to raise a few pennies cash for the meagre rations we had in UK at the time until dad was back on his feet enough to work again. I can also Thank both of them for their sacrifices, now I understand how much they gave up to ensure my sister and I had enough to eat, something to wear to school, and tried to shelter us from the horrors of what was really happening at the time, and the consequences of what would happen if we lost the war. And even though I am not religious enough to attend any Church, nor do I believe in the One God...I do pray my children and my grand children will never have to endure such conditions ever again. I shall also say 'Thanks' to those who fought through the post war years for free education, medical coverage, unemployment, and welfare benefits..the degree of 'socialism' Americans have yet to enjoy..as without any of these that I have had to avail myself of over the years, I would not be living comfortably in my own place in my twilight years. Thank you..everyone of you who has contributed something to making my life a lot easier. I DO appreciate it.

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 2 (view)

New Zealand immigration policy re: health Posted: 11/11/2008 5:33:53 AM
Canada already has such a policy in place. All immigrants are required to undergo a detailed medical examination before their application is considered. I know a friend of mine, who got married when abroad, had to wait three years to be united with her husband, as his medical showed he was 'unfit' and had to undergo a lengthy treatment, and be cleared before being allowed into this country. I have no idea what it was, as she didn't tell me. I do know she footed the bills as there was no socialized medicine system there, and the miserable jerk deserted her three years after arrival. Canada's immigration requirements have tightened up over the years since I arrived in the 60's..so much so that I would never have made it through the requirements now, and ironically, nor would most Canadians already here. Health requirements are strict, a degree is almost mandatory, a high level of comprehension in either of the official languages and a working knowledge of the other adds the points required to even be considered. Assets of over 100,000$ also helps to ensure consideration However, such high standards are not applied to refugees, who are not allowed to work and remain on state support until their refugee status becomes one of permanent resident which can take up to 3 yrs to process. I gather if it is refused, we foot the bill to return them to their country of origin. Incidentally..the state support provided is twice the amount that a pensioner receives per month..funny old world isn't it?

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 63 (view)

Minimum Wage Posted: 11/7/2008 6:50:28 PM
$8.00 an hour (about $15,360 a year) is hardly "PAR" with what most any others make in this province ... between $40,000 and $140,000+. Just a sobering thought for the younger element here...that figure is PAR with what you will receive on state pensions in Canada..the combination of the Federal and CPP, and any Old age supplement you may be eligible for..it's the maximum amount you will receive. Try living on it..it's an exercise in Fiscal Management the Banks could well be obliged to do, rather than be bailed out. Federally, you don't pay taxes on that amount, provincially you may well have to..here in Quebec it is considered 'earned income' for the purposes of contributions to health and drug plans..they nick 250$ a year off me for that. As for the poster who considered minimum wage suitable for increasing pension income...not here in Canada. Earning anything above the pension once you receive it, has them reduce it on you by the amount of 50 cents for every dollar earned..and as the earnings are subject to all deductions anyway..it is a 'no-win' situation. If you have a private or foreign pension income, this will also reduce the amounts you will receive from the Government plans, until you receive nothing from them at all at around 100,000$ a year Welcome to the Golden years..better have the Gold before you get here...LOL!

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 28 (view)

Photo Radar.... I was driving along, minding my own business Posted: 11/4/2008 5:16:19 AM
Posh rat dont be an ass....... There is such things as mechanical differences. Racer.. I have been driving and fixing cars for well over 50 yrs now, and the excuse of 'mechanical differences ' just doesn't cut the mustard any more, unless the car has been extensively modified, or it is of an age as to qualify for registration as an antique. Cars I drove as a kid were lucky to get to the maximum speed limits, and that was down hill with a good tail wind..today's off the showroom floor models would have been suitable for a Fomula 1 race car about 20 yrs ago to satisfy the lust for performance, and ironically, some of the old clunkers I drove back than got the same milage per gallon/liter as todays, despite the claims of manufacturers..even the much vaunted hybrids which owners are still trying to achieve anything close to the EPA test claims Yes, the old cable driven speedo's were notoriously inaccurate, but since the advent of the computer controlled contraptions, hall sensors etc .the reading on the dash is pretty much spot on Around here, they often have the roadside speed checks, telling you what you are doing as you approach them..my 90' Olds with a digital readout ( another detroit delight or disaster depending if it is working), and with 14 inch wheels on..the cheap version's size..at 50kms on my clock, I am actually doing 48kms. When I swop over to 15' wheels from the deluxe version, 50 on my clock is 50 on theirs...and if an 18 yr old machine is that accurate..then today's delights have to be that close as well. Yes, I am one of those annoying old sods you come up behind doing just under or at best just on the posted limit, forcing you to pass to satisfy your ego at being in front, but that's always been fine by me..you hit the radar traps ahead of me, or flush out the cruiser hidden in the bushes...so don't be upset if I give you a cheery wave as I pass whilst the cop is writing the ticket...LOL! I'd be quite happy to meet you on a race track any time..even at my age now, and see how fast you can go if you want to race..I used to enjoy that myself..but where you might pull away on the straights, I'm sure I'd catch you in the corners...especially in the wet! BUT on a public highway?..no thanks..you want to go fast? GO PAST! I've done my share of contributing to the Government's road funds . Oh..for the person upset with me being a Quebec driver...grins I am an ex-Brit..cut my teeth in London's traffic, and Britain's narrow country roads, where you learn the size of your machine to the centimeter, along with it's stopping distances in millimeters or else! Driving Montreal is a piece of cake compared to anywhere in UK...LOL!

poshrat

Joined: 7/3/2005

Msg: 8 (view)

Photo Radar.... I was driving along, minding my own business Posted: 11/3/2008 4:39:59 AM
Isn't there a bit grace allowed??? 4 or 5 km isn't a whole lot!! shakes head..you just don't get it do you?..the LIMIT posted is the SPEED LIMIT the MAXIMUM you are allowed to do..ANYTHING over it is above that limit and you are breaking the Law. Yes I know..there are stretches around here that tempt you to do otherwise, and the limit seems silly considering the distance you can see ahead of you..but think of it this way If you earn 100$ a week, and spend a 'little over that limit' every time you shop..eventually you are going to have to pay interest to cover your over-expenditure..right? So..for every time you go a 'little over the limit' in speed, you eventually pay interest in the form of a fine. Case closed. Who knows anything about those monsterous machines that suck more money out of us innocent speed demons??? LOL! They are there to encourage you 'innocent speed demons' to part with more of your money if you can't be bothered to watch you lead feet. Okay..we don't, as yet, have them in Quebec..we still have the cruisers hiding in side roads etc..but you don't want to be caught on their radar either, and pulled over..especially if you only speak English! LOL!

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