Coffee Shop Forever, It's time to kick bottom and drink coffee! Options

[Olen]

A point of corection - the man the police shot hadn't even fired his gun (though he did own one and if he pointed it at them then he got what was coming, but I'm not sure I'd trust anything either side says frankly). The protest after that I understand, the Met have a shocking track record with race relations and general relations with the poorer communities, but then it just turned into looting with no political motive.

The fact it spread so quickly (as it has to a lot of cities in England) does suggest that there's something wrong on both sides though. Certainly the arson and looting is completely wrong, but I bet in the storm after it no one actully asks (let alone addresses) why these people were doing it. Why do they feel alienated from the state and police and without hope? I suspect there's failings on both sides, the very presence of primarily non-white areas suffering from deprevation suggests this.

What really scares me though is the number of people calling for the use of excessive force against them, the same people who condemn other countries when the same is done there. I'm not saying they shouldn't use force, but calls for live ammunition? Really?

It's that more than the riots which makes me want to pack in with this country and move up north again.

This post has been edited by Olen: Aug 10 2011, 09:18 PM

[D.Foxy]

What is happening in Merrie ole England is that, sadly, England is finally catching up - in a bad way - with the rest of the world.

For a long time English society was more or less self-policing: most other large cities of the world would have gnashed their teeth in envy at only an average of 3,000 police officers on duty in a city the size of London. Even the 'extraordinary' presence of 16,000 bobbies on duty today, compared to the size of London, would seem to be a joke to them.

If London was as policed as other cities her size she would need 10,000 bobbies on normal duty with the ability to expand, in emergenices, to 30,000 and more. And recent events will push her in that direction.

[haute ecole rider]

Okay, enough bad news for now.

Just spent the day at the railroad museum in WI, where I have worked on wooden car restoration in the past.

For the first time in 11 years, steam ran again on the Rattlesnake Line. This is a big deal for a museum that is supposed to be about steam railroading at the turn of the last century (1900). All of their working steamers hit the major maintenance downtime, and funds are tight for this non-profit. So restoration has been very slow.

Anyway, the Flagg Coal Company #75, a tiny little tank engine (well, tiny next to the steamers), came to visit for this past week. This weekend they made a special train up with the Copper Range coach #60 and its sister combine #25. It is the latter car that I put in a few hours restoring these past couple of years. Anyway, these old cars (108 years old) saw service for the first time in 20 years on a special train this weekend. Five trips today, and both cars are filled with reservations. I got seats for myself and a friend for the second trip today, and we both enjoyed the ride. It was great to smell coal smoke again - something that takes me back to when I was three years old and riding these trains all day in the summers.

Here's some pictures:

Coming around the bend. It's a tank engine, meaning it carries its water in a tank over the boiler, instead of pulling it behind itself in a tender.

Workin' on the railroad. That cab is soooo tiny it's standing room only for two guys. The coal is stored in the back corners of the cab. You can see some on the left side of the picture. That cab is so small I swear the guy is stoking the fire with a spoon instead of the usual shovel.

The brass eagle. Even tiny locomotives get something to be proud of.

Return to the depot. The locomotives pull the train out of the station. At the end of the line, the locomotive uncouples from the train, runs around, and recouples onto the rear of the train. It then pulls the train backwards to the station. That's the coach #60 directly in front of the locomotive. The combine (baggage/coach) is in front of that, and mostly out of sight.

Switching to run around to the front of the train for the next trip.

Olen, it's been terrible reading about that stuff in England. It's normally so, well, civilized. Now it's becoming like the rest of the world.

[Olen]

I think the civilised reputation is a bit of a myth really. Like anywhere there are bad bits in cities, perhaps not as bad as in some places but there's plenty of most you wouldn't go near. A lot of areas have a raging facist movement too who are a charming group of people with slightly too large a following. Certainly the whole of the UK (probably moreso in Wales and Scotland) is an example of gun control succeeding (being an island helps) which helps. Anyway...

Great pictures of the trains there. Steam trains are nice machines, I've always found there's something pleasing about them. Glad you enjoyed your ride and thanks for sharing.

[grif11]

Well, I've returned with an unburned caravan!

I had a brilliant time, apart from hearing about the riots (although looting is a better word). However, I am glad to be back home, with internet and no need to arch over whenever you stand up.

[Kiln]

1. I think the civilised reputation is a bit of a myth really. Like anywhere there are bad bits in cities, perhaps not as bad as in some places but there's plenty of most you wouldn't go near. A lot of areas have a raging facist movement too who are a charming group of people with slightly too large a following. 2. Certainly the whole of the UK (probably moreso in Wales and Scotland) is an example of gun control succeeding (being an island helps) which helps. Anyway...

1. I completely agree.

2. Sort of...since the gun control laws there have been alot more stabbings and people clubbed to death. As long as there are people they will find a way to kill each other with or without firearms. I for one am against disarming law abiding citizens.

This post has been edited by Kiln: Aug 14 2011, 11:46 PM

[Kazaera]

Random interjection -

Yesterday I had the luck of being able to see live renaissance music at a festival (...the festival, really) - using traditional instruments from an instrument museums, wearing costumes and with costumed dancers! In the interval I got to try playing on a vielle (precursor of a violin) and a rebec, which is related. It was a really amazing experience

...I am also now fighting the idea of working out what kind of music and dance they'd have for my Morrowind fic and adding in sacbuts, rebecs, shawms and cornetts. (Hey, they've got lutes, why not other medieval instruments?)

This post has been edited by Kazaera: Aug 15 2011, 12:32 PM

[Acadian]

Random interjection -

Yesterday I had the luck of being able to see live renaissance music at a festival (...the festival, really) - using traditional instruments from an instrument museums, wearing costumes and with costumed dancers! In the interval I got to try playing on a vielle (precursor of a violin) and a rebec, which is related. It was a really amazing experience

...I am also now fighting the idea of working out what kind of music and dance they'd have for my Morrowind fic and adding in sacbuts, rebecs, shawms and cornetts. (Hey, they've got lutes, why not other medieval instruments?)

How neat! I've used lutes, harps and singing in my fic, but fear that I have kept that aspect pretty simple. There certainly are loads of possibilities however. Aren't renfaires fun?

[Olen]

I assume by 'the festival' you were up in Edinburgh? Great city. I recommend getting up Arthur's Seat if you haven't already and over the North Side towards Duddingston there's a pub called 'The Sheep's Heid' which is great if you like old fashioned places with good food, it's been open since the mid 1300s.

</Random bit of tourist info>

For those who don't know the festival it's the biggest festival of comedy, arts, threatre, and just about anything else you can imagine (and some you wouldn't) in the world and makes it impossible to actually live in the city for August.

This post has been edited by Olen: Aug 16 2011, 09:38 PM

[grif11]

It sounds pretty neat! I'll have to try to get in next time.

The only medieval show I've been to was a jousting tournament. It was great fun!

[minque]

So tomorrow I will travel north, to another NPP for a project that will last app 6 weeks. Anyway I will have internet access so I will be in touch with you ..and post my story!

[Acadian]

Safe trip to you minque! If you go any farther north though, won't you be in Skyrim? I'm so glad you will be able to stay in touch. Hmm. . . what is NPP?

[Zalphon]

So tomorrow I will travel north, to another NPP for a project that will last app 6 weeks. Anyway I will have internet access so I will be in touch with you ..and post my story!

See you when you post again

[Kazaera]

I assume by 'the festival' you were up in Edinburgh? Great city. I recommend getting up Arthur's Seat if you haven't already and over the North Side towards Duddingston there's a pub called 'The Sheep's Heid' which is great if you like old fashioned places with good food, it's been open since the mid 1300s.

</Random bit of tourist info>

For those who don't know the festival it's the biggest festival of comedy, arts, threatre, and just about anything else you can imagine (and some you wouldn't) in the world and makes it impossible to actually live in the city for August.

Yep, that's what I meant by the festival! And I actually lived in Edinburgh for four years - went to uni there - so I commiserate on the city getting crowded... although I often missed most or all of the festival season because I was home for the summer, so when I got off the train it was just "where did all these people come from?!"

[minque]

Hi! A colleague set up a network so..HERE I am again! Now an NPP is a Nuclear Power Plant

We're living in barracks, its ok but in our barrack there are dogs! 8 dogs with their trainers i.e security guards...Well I'm not so pleased about that so we'll see! There are 7 of us and 4 dogtrainers so I suppose or rather HOPE they move the dogs BEFORE they find out I smell CAT!

[Athynae]

Yes that would probably be a bad thing, might not get the ending of the story....then I would have to take evasive action and send the dog catchers or something. Use the stealth mode when walking around them and stay safe. Sorry about the six weeks in a barracks too, might not be too bad depending on who the company is. hehe.

But just to set something straight I really think you should be more careful of the volatility of the NPP than the guard dogs, just sayin...

[minque]

Yes that would probably be a bad thing, might not get the ending of the story....then I would have to take evasive action and send the dog catchers or something. Use the stealth mode when walking around them and stay safe. Sorry about the six weeks in a barracks too, might not be too bad depending on who the company is. hehe.

But just to set something straight I really think you should be more careful of the volatility of the NPP than the guard dogs, just sayin...

Dogs are gone for now! I'm not afraid of doggies...and even LESS afraid of NPPs! Been in that business fpr more than 16 years so I feel very comfortable with nuclear power!

And no we do not have any riska of tsunamis or earthquakes in Sweden, and also knowing the business means knowing about the safety regulations and routines. I feel very safe!

Missing my kitties though!....

[Zalphon]

Minque, you should get a dog They're great...

Also...fair warning to all you 90's gamers out there... If you have to reinstall Fallout 2 and try to keep your saves, give up on it... Good bye, Advanced Power Armor, 5,000 caps, and more plasma weapons than money can buy...

This post has been edited by Zalphon: Aug 21 2011, 08:29 PM

[minque]

I had dogs when I lived with my parents, that was ok my mom was home all day and could look after them. Now its impossible, nobody home for many hours. cats are ok they can be alone during the day as long as they have food, water and a litter box!

Besides...cats are cuter, softer and more beautiful....

[Zalphon]

Male cats are just dogs who've forgotten they're not cats.