Date: Thu, 7 May 1998 00:14:01 +0100 (BST) =46rom: artactivism@gn.apc.org (john jordan) Subject: GLOBAL STREET PARTY Press release: from reclaim the Streets - for immediate use THOUSANDS TO GYRATE NOT G8 AT THE GLOBAL STREET PARTY - BIRMINGHAM MAY 16TH 1998! On May 16th, as leaders of the most industrialised nation-states in the world meet at the G8 summit in Birmingham before flying to Geneva,(1) tens of thousands of people will join the Global Street Party - simultaneously transforming the privatised, polluted streets of 33 cities in 21 countries (and counting!) into places of celebration and empowerment: a true global commons.(2) In Birmingham, after the partygoers rendezvous at Birmingham New Street Station 4pm on May 16th, roads will be blockaded, sound systems installed and lampposts, tarmac, railings and walls decorated in a mass occupation and transformation of an undisclosed location. Joining the call for Global Ecology not Global Economy(3) and offering an alternative =91transnational= =92 dream of a future where cooperation not competition is the common currency, the streets of Birmingham will be reclaimed with performance, art, music, dancing and games to laugh in the face of the G8 under banners reading =91G8 My Planet=92, =91Gyrate Not G8=92, and =91Reclaim the Streets=92 in over 50 = languages. And, as 100=92s of clowns help give the event a mischievous edge, it=92s anybody=92s guess which of the world leaders, their governments and corporat= e cronies will end the day with a pie in the face! The Global Street Party was called by the direct action group Reclaim The Streets (RTS)(4) . An RTS activist said: =91Cars, roads, pollution, surveillance and the like didn=92t just spring fr= om nowhere but are results of a political and economic system. That system is going global: the resistance, if it is to be effective, must also be global=85.The streets could be the forums for the direct control of >coordinated communities by the people who live in them. Instead we are told we need a =91globalisation=92 involving the further concentration of power = in elite=92s like the G8 and the W.T.O. This is so seriously unfunny we just ha= ve to laugh! =46or further details contact Reclaim the Streets on: Phone: 0171 281 4621 e-mail: web: http://www.hrc.wmin.ac.uk/campaigns/rts.html Notes for editors: 1. World leaders (and/or their emissaries) fly to Geneva on May 17th to commemorate the 50th anniversary of GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade), and to applaud the success of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) its younger, more rapacious ally. They may even chat about the latest takeover scheme: the Multilateral Agreement on Investments (MAI), designed to let global business override local environmental and social concerns in the interests of economic progress. 2. Here=92s the Global Street Party list as it stands at the moment: Bogota (Columbia), Berlin, Bielefeld, Thuringen (Germany), Lyon (France), Birmingham (U.K.), Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne (Australia), Tel Aviv (Israel), Geneva (Switzerland), Turku (Finland), Madrid (Spain), Ankara, Istanbul (Turkey), Gothenburg, Stockholm (Sweden), Dublin, Derry (Ireland), Seattle, New York, San Francisco, Berkeley (U.S.), Prague (Czech Republic), Olympia, Toronto, Vancouver (Canada), Athens (Greece), Luxembourg (Luxemburg), Ljubljana (Slovenia), Bratislava (Slovakia),Utrecht (Holland), Turin (Italy). 3. The Global Street Party is one of many actions happening under the banner of Peoples=92 Global Action (PGA). PGA which was founded at an international conference in February in Geneva attended by more than 300 delegates from 71 countries to discuss joint actions against World Trade Organization (WTO), =93free=94 trade and corporate rule. Actions include a Peoples=92 Trade Day in Geneva on May 18th and 3 days of action, information sessions and demonstrations in several Canadian cities also starting May 18th. Planning is underway for a massive demonstration in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, by Garment Workers Unity Forum against WTO, World Bank and IMF, a =93No Trade Day=94 in the USA, and a Speakers=92 Tour in Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka to raise awareness about the role of the WTO. 4. Reclaim the Streets (RTS) is a decentralised direct action network seeking the rediscovery and liberation of the city streets and public spaces. It first became active in 1992, became absorbed in anti-roads protests and was revived in early 1995. It came to widespread public attention with the blockading and occupation of Camden High street, London on May 16th =9195, a street party with free music, food and clean air replac= ed the usual traffic and pollution and public space was reclaimed for the day. Since then there have been parties in Islington (London), 10,000 people on the M41 motorway in west London in July 1996, 25,000 on the 1997=92s March f= or Social Justice/Street Party in Trafalgar Square (with the Liverpool Dockers), as well as over 30 parties all over the country (including Sheffield, Oxford, Brighton, Bristol, Cambridge etc) and increasingly worldwide (including Sydney, Tel Aviv, Vancouver & Amsterdam). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~GLOBAL STREET PARTY, May 16th 1998: 28 parties in 19 countries! ENGLAND - Birmingham, meet New St. Station 4pm. London Street Parties, June 6th 1998 - Get down and local...North info: 0958 795189; South info: 0961 398257 General info: Reclaim the Streets: 0171 281 4621; rts@gn.apc.org LONDON MEETING EVERY TUESDAY 7pm : 28th April Meeting will be at Prince's Community Centre, 91 Kennington Lane, corner of Opal Street, Kennington Tube= =2E To send emails to Genetic Engineering Network: To receive info about genetics only, subscribe to =46or info on RTS only, subscribe to , specifying "RTS = only" To receive info on both and more, subscribe to , specifying "allsorts" Reclaim the Streets PO BOX 9656 London N4 4JY 0171 281 4621 http://www.hrc.wmin.ac.uk/campaigns/rts.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ !!!!................GLOBAL STREET PARTY.......................!!!!! @@@@@@@ SATURDAY 16 MAY - 3pm Birmingham New Street Station@@@@@@@@@ =A3=A3=A3=A3=A3=A3=A3=A3=A3=A3=A3=A3=A3=A3=A3=A3=A3=A3=A3To coincide with G8= Summit.=A3=A3=A3=A3=A3=A3=A3=A3=A3=A3=A3=A3=A3=A3=A3=A3=A3=A3=A3=A3=A3=A3 also simultaneously in Ankara, Berlin, Bogota, Bratislava,Brisbane,Debrecen, Derry, Dublin, Geneva, Gothenburg,Istanbul, Madrid, NewYork, Ljubljana, Luxemburg, Lyons,Nantes, Olympia, Paris, Prague,San Franscico, Seattle,Stockholm, Sydney, Tel Aviv, Torino, Toronto, Turku, Utrecht, Vancouver...the list grows daily... http://www.hrc.wmin.ac.uk/campaigns/RTS/global1.htm !!!!!!!!!!!"THE RESISTANCE WILL BE AS TRANSNATIONAL AS CAPITAL"!!!!!!!!!!!!

Reclaim the Streets is probably one of *the* most stupid organisations yet devised. Try and get people to stop using their cars by inconveniencing them so that they're late for meetings/appointments/work/picking the kids up from school. Politics of the inept.

Almost a year later I stagger to the birthplace of my genetic code and find a disgruntled native. Oh well, I adore England, Cornwall, Wales, Scotland and everything about them...clotted cream, most especially. Been there three times, and wish I could manage to live there.

If I can't get back to Africa someday, I'd love to live in Kendal, in the Lake District. It is so beautiful. And there's a fantastic hot chocolate shop there - they even have rose flavoured hot chocolate!

Oh yes, rose flavoured and scented everything. How glorious!

You've been there?

You long for Africa, Ree? And hot chocolate, you must like hot fudge sundays.

I always long for Africa - but I was lucky to have those 8 weeks there a few months back. And yes, I LLLLUUUUUVV hot chocolate, hot fudge sundays, cold chocolate sundays, ANYTHING that's bad for a person. I just don't understand why the bad things always taste so much better than the good things! Do you like sweet things? Do you ever go to England, Terry??

Nope, never went. Not yet, anyway. I have been cross either ocean

Too busy putting up all those gadgets of yours, huh?

Ree, I have been to Kendal. Most lovely. All of that area is, you cannot be sighted and not be moved by the beauty of the place. (I tried to answer this using telnet but the response went one direction and I another...!)

went to London and Bath and Stratford and wherever Cheltnam is held (in Cheltnam?) Bath was my absolute FAVORITE!

Why the fondness for Bath?

I've never been to Bath, I have to admit. Everyone always says it's such a great place - must go and see it in December. Are you thinking about Cheltenham, Stacey?

Bath is on my "next time" list. (British English is NOT phoenetic!)

Nope! But Cheltenham does exist - about an hour or so by car from Manchester. I wondered whether Stacey might have been confused by the fact that this one IS actually written as it is pronounced. The English are so weird ....

Hey, that is my ancestral home (and yours too in part)...that is what makes us "interesting". (My other 1/2 is German, as well!) Cheltenham is another lovely Spa town...Regency architecture and all. Bath is special for both the Regency building circling around, but also for the incredibly well-preserved Roman Baths from which we get the name for the facilities in our homes...!

I really really MUST go see Bath. I love Roman architecture. I love those ancient Roman walls in Northern England, and that wall around York, and those strange Roman pillar constructions (do they have a decent name??) that you see in the most unlikely places sometimes. Or like Oxford and Cambridge - it is just incredible to be in a place that has seen civilization for so very long.

They are called Pillars, as far as I know...they were erected to extol the accomplishments and virtues of the leader at the time. If you really like old stuff, get yourself to Avebury which is the largest stone circle in Britain, and of course, Stonehenge. If you manage to get to Stonehenge when there are newest people around it can be quite magical. I found it most profound, though I had heard so much about it (mostly new-age junk) that I did not want to see it at first. I have returned each time I have been back to Britain. Cornwall is full of megalithic goodies, and Glastonbury has the auro of things Arthurian. Definitely wo th a visit, also.

I've seen Avebury, and that was amazing. But not the other things - I'll put them on my list. I think I'll take summerschool in Bath next year to start with.

Oooh, loverly! There are wads and gobs of stuff on the net to help you choose just which is the right one for you - or several. Anything I can do, let me know!

I'll tell you closer to the time, then you can tell me all the loverly things I can go see.

Will do! With pleasure *grin*

Why the fondness for Bath? --- first of all I LOVE fountains, and Bath has tons of fountains. My favorite part at the time however, was being inside something so old, with such a history. Fun to imagine the peole who had spent time there... And you know how in the U.S., if something is over a hundred years old, they wisk it away to be stored under glass and never seen or touched by human hands again? Well, they had this mosaic there... what was left of it... dated to 3 A.D. I was allowed to touch i ! Everyone was allowed to really explore. Much more touchy feely than our relic cities. Plus the functioning part of the town was just so authentic and quaint... and I liked the way it smelled... Are you thinking about Cheltenham, Stacey? --- if that's the one with the horse races... big horse races... lots of money... fancy dresses... lots of drinking... really fun actually!

NOOOOO!!!! That IS Cheltham. I didn't make the horse connection with you! Cool! Did ya ride anything when you were there?

*laugh* (supressing witty response) ... not any horses if that's what you mean!

Now that's a connection I KNEW you'd make! ha-ha!

S. will be in London all week. I'm off to the video store!!

8 die as trains collide in London 160 injured, at least 17 seriously, in fiery wreck MSNBC staff and wire reports LONDON, Oct. 5 � At least eight people were killed and some 160 injured Tuesday when two trains packed with commuters collided and burst into flames near London's Paddington station. The last survivors were freed from the wreckage some five hours after the crash, NBC's Charles Sabine reported from the scene. AMONG THE injured, at least 17 were in serious condition. Survivors told of a fireball immediately after the collision and the rush to flee. One woman said it was "mass panic" as passengers rushed the doors in the car she was on. The collision occurred about two miles from Paddington, near Ladbroke Grove. Another passenger said her wagon "went up into flames" and tipped over. "There were really badly hurt people, badly burnt people," echoed another commuter. "Some people have been impaled by seats." And one of the passengers who saw the fireball recalled how he wondered if he and others would perish in the flames. SIDE CRASH? Passenger Mark Rogers said he "was reading a book and found myself crashing into the person opposite me. The train was going over and over and over, and people were thrown onto the floor." "People were screaming, a person pretty clearly dead, a woman who was thrown out of the train," he added. The accident happened at an intersection on the busy rail line, and might not have been head on but rather from the side. "I think we hit on an angle, on the side," said BBC radio editor Phil Longman, who was on board the inbound train. An engine and a front car were on their sides, he said, and another was pointing at the sky. One of the train drivers survived the crash, but he could not confirm the fate of the other one. The cause was not yet known, but it comes as public dissatisfaction with the railway system's performance is at an all-time high. Consumer groups and regulators say the system, privatized two years ago, cannot cope with passenger traffic that is growing faster than forecast. They are calling for more investment for train maintenance. The accident happened on the same line as a 1997 train crash that killed seven people and injured 150. EIGHT WAGONS DAMAGED Reuters journalist Wolfgang Waehner-Schmidt, who was on one of the trains, an inter-city Great Western Trains service from Cheltenham to Paddington, said the collision was with a smaller local train. The other train was headed away from London, toward Wiltshire. It had left Paddington Station about five minutes before the accident happened shortly at 8:11 a.m. local time. Waehner-Schmidt said about eight wagons were damaged and smoke was coming from some of them. "We were in one of the last carriages. We got out immediately, smashed the window and jumped out of the train," he added. 'AMAZED WE ARE ALIVE' Andrew Hoskin, who lives near the scene of the crash, said: "It is a terrible mess. One train is completely off the rails." Danny Firth, a passenger on the Great Western train described the crash as "an almighty bang and everything that was in front of me came flying forward. There was fire outside. It was general chaos. People were walking around with burns and bruises." "I am amazed we are alive," said a 21-year-old woman sobbing with shock and relief after clambering out of a twisted carriage. "The first I knew there was a sudden brake. The train flipped over on to its side. There were sparks and screams and seats falling all apart and lots of glass." The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

Oh John - how terrible! Did you also post this in Obit?

A real disaster. Those poor people.

Hideous scenes, I'm afraid. Almost unbelievable that this happened on a line that connects with where the Southall train crash happened two years ago, killing seven. Ridiculously, the "public enquiry" into that crash was still going on. These are my italics, because everyone here seems to regard it as normal that the enquiry should take so long, at a time when clearly very few changes have been made and millions still pour into cities by train each day. There have been repeated complaints by drivers that they could not properly see the red signal that is taking most of the blame for this crash. Easy to be wise after the event, I know, but really...

The coverage we are getting is quite graphic...the only thing worse than being in the crash has to be the rescue personnel who are gingerly picking through all of that jagged, burnt and twisted metal looking for victims. My sincerest sympathies! Mark, that has to be a government enquiry...ours go on for years and years and, if it is like the Warren Report on JFK's assasination, the findings will not tell the story. That is the line to and from Reading and Slough, is it not? We used that line a great deal and know how congested that place really is!

The horror of it is still sinking in. We go to church not far from Reading and are waiting news to hear if any friends were involved. Today they are assembling a huge crane to start working on the first class carriage (wagon)that became a fireball. One report from a survivor from the carriage said 50 people were in it. The numbers just keep rising. They are now checking cars left in station car parks to try and work out who's missing. Unbelievably some cars in Reading statin car park have been broken into by thieves. We're all stunned.

More than ever the ringing, still-operative cell phones they have been finding with loved-ones trying to locate the owners...terribly sad. Last evening I posted a picture from the BBC on http://www.spring.net/yapp-bin/restricted/read/news/9.205 Please check it out before they remove it...it is still up at this hour. The enormity of it all defies attempts to put it into words...!

I know the complaints that have been going on in England. There was a whole article in a Manchester Newspaper when I was there, just 2 months ago. Why can't the authorities just take these people seriously, for once? I mean, it's not like drivers make these complaints for the fun of it, is it??

They've just had the initial inquiry report on TV. That line of track has been ordered closed until they resite the missed signal (which everyone's been complaining about). There's also a review of driver training and working practices. According to drivers, on that route they habitually started work at 2 am for an 11 hour shift. So, by 8 am they would already be tired and yet have to handle the busy rush hour time. Seems stupid to me. one bit of good news it that lots of people who had been reported issing have rung in to confirm they are home, so the numbers are down to around 127. Still terrible, but a glimmer of hope.

Eleven hour shifts? That's proposterous! I hope the drivers are going to make a MAJOR fuss over this, it's high time.

Last I heard, they were threatening to strike.

The final number dead now appears to be about 40. Still dreadful. We hope a complete review of the rail system will come out of this - but ..... Today was a very sombre day as people reflected on the week. There are strong questions being asked about privatisation of the railways. Did you know the track and the rolling stock are run by two different companies since British Rail was sold off by the government?

No, Maggie, I had no idea it was not under the umbrella of the national government...privitization can be a Good Thing - but only if the private companies are held to strict guidelines. I cannot believe two companies were controlling such interdependent things as the carriages and rails. Terrible! I am afraid it could have been much worse (though, for all involved, it was horror upon horror)...!

Villagers Protest Topless Hair Salon LONDON (Reuters) - Irate villagers demanded the closure of what was billed as Britain's first topless hairdressing salon. Men visiting the ``Mipples'' salon in the Buckinghamshire village of New Bradwell get a haircut plus the chance to see the stylist without her top on. Owner Gary Mernagh said the salon was just meant to be ``a bit of fun'' but it has provoked a storm of protest in the village and calls for its closure.

Not great PR to name your place that sort of name if you are gonna make friends with the ladies of the town. And, if you do not make friends with the ladies, you're in big trouble.

Ok, where the last 7 posts?! *frown*

make that 17 posts... Guess they got lost in the Wash just like King John's treasure...!

missing posts from server change Resp 46 of 62: Maggie (sociolingo) Thu, Jan 27, 2000 (13:05) 3 lines I LIVE in Buckinghamshire!!!!!!! Where did you get that Marcia - it didn't even make the local newspaper!! lol!! I wonder if they fog the windows so people outside can't see? The mind boggles. Resp 47 of 62: Marcia (MarciaH) Thu, Jan 27, 2000 (19:36) 1 lines It showed up on the Reuter's news ticker which runs across the top of my desktop. I clicked on it and sent it to John asking where I could post it (almost facetiously). He suggested here, so here I put it. Hmmm....How did it escape the notice of the town busybodies, who would pass it on to you??? *lol* Let us know if you hear anything more about it! Resp 48 of 62: Marcia (MarciaH) Thu, Jan 27, 2000 (20:00) 1 lines Considering what is going on inside, they probably fog up the windows without trying...! Resp 49 of 62: Alexander (aschuth) Fri, Jan 28, 2000 (13:39) 3 lines Judging from the brits I met, this definitely should lead to loads of better groomed males in the region. Field agent Maggie S. Lingo, investigate! Resp 50 of 62: Marcia (MarciaH) Fri, Jan 28, 2000 (14:20) 1 lines Yes, please! We NEED to know all you can tell us about this happening...or perhaps you should send in your DH to bring out a first hand report? ;) Resp 51 of 62: Maggie (sociolingo) Sun, Jan 30, 2000 (11:12) 36 lines sorry guys (and gals) the story's dead - it was from October. The village is the other side of the county to me, about and hour and a half's drive away. anyway, I did dredge this up for you from the news archives. Topless hairdresser battle will go on - 28-10-99 Mipples, the topless barber shop in New Bradwell's High Street, will open for business on Monday despite a residents' protest led by Beverley Scales. The shop is being run by Gary Mernagh, son of Woburn Sands mayor Tommy, and has attracted much controversy during the past week. And just days before its official opening, Beverley has vowed to continue her campaign in the hope of changing legislation regarding councils' licensing powers. She said: "If necessary I'll lobby Parliament as there should be some sort of legislation for things like this. It may be too late for New Bradwell but at least it would stop this happening in other places." Councillor Paul Day, who represents New Bradwell, Greenleys and Wolverton, has given his support to Beverley's campaign. He said: "As elected councillors people expect the council to have powers to deal with something like this. "We want to see how councils can get the authority for licensing such premises in the future." "But in New Bradwell's case, it seems only the number of customers will determined whether it's a success or not." So far Beverley has gathered 350 signatures in a petition against the shop which she intends to present to the environment committee meeting at Milton Keynes Council next week. Since the story was reported in last week's Citizen, local radio and television stations have all expressed interest, with the saucy Sunday Sport also keen on covering it. "Everything has gone well," said Gary. "I'm looking forward to opening and we're anticipating a good reponse." Resp 52 of 62: Marcia (MarciaH) Sun, Jan 30, 2000 (12:43) 1 lines Very Interesting, Maggie! Thank you for posting this article. How very curious! It does not sound as though the owner is quitting his desire to open an establishment wherever he can, but it is goinng to be tough wherever he tries! Resp 53 of 62: Maggie (sociolingo) Sun, Jan 30, 2000 (16:01) 1 lines To be honest, there are topless bars in towns all over, I guess it's just no-one's done it in a hairdressers before - or in a village. Perhaps the location's the problem (for some people). I don't reckon it'll catch on, there's not been much about it. Resp 54 of 62: Marcia (MarciaH) Sun, Jan 30, 2000 (16:32) 1 lines In Buckinghamshire???!!! Really?! Not here! Not even on this side of the island that I know of. I am most astonished! (Is my American puritanism showing again?) Topic 20 of 42: 'England' Resp 55 of 62: Maggie (sociolingo) Mon, Jan 31, 2000 (16:59) 1 lines I'm not saying I approve, just the facts of life. Resp 56 of 62: Maggie (sociolingo) Mon, Jan 31, 2000 (17:03) 7 lines On a happier note - You may have heard of the huge millennium wheel that's been constructed on the southbank of the Thames opposite the Houses of parliament in London. Here's a funny appeared in the paper: A texan tourist looked in awe at the London Eye millennium wheel. 'Wow,' He said, 'We have nothing so enormous back home!' His London host replied, 'If you think that's big, wait until you see the size of the hamster'. Well, I think it's funny, but I don't know if the humour travels well across the Atlantic! Resp 57 of 62: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) Mon, Jan 31, 2000 (23:27) 5 lines Travel to http://www.spring.net, the new site. Kiss this one bye bye. Resp 58 of 62: Marcia (MarciaH) Tue, Feb 1, 2000 (11:02) 3 lines I kissed it, but it is far from being as satisfying as kissing... (Sorry, my mind was wandering far from HTML and Yapp for a moment) Congrats, Terry! Maggie, I KNOW you do not necessarily approve of what is an actuality!!! You don't happen to work there, do you? (Just asking...*giggle*) Resp 59 of 62: Marcia (MarciaH) Tue, Feb 1, 2000 (11:08) 1 lines Oh, another thing, British humor translates absolutely spledidily to this lady of English heritage. Especially when it contains something about Texas, as well. Hilarious! Thanks for sharing... Response 60 of 62: Maggie (sociolingo) * Tue, Feb 1, 2000 (12:58) * 1 lines can't get in the new site - didn't it like my British humour???? Response 61 of 62: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Wed, Feb 2, 2000 (07:17) * 1 lines You can now! It was just a license limitation, that's been fixed. Response 62 of 62: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, Feb 2, 2000 (14:32) * 1 lines Terry, why are you posting using the ip??? Shall I change back?? Back to regular programming

Maggie, England is here! There'll Always Be An England...!!!

Something's still strange - I can get to this on the address you gave me in the email, but it's not showing when I get inthrough spring.net!!! Sorry if that sounds wierd. When I get to travel conference it's not in the list despite me asking for 'all'. Any ideas?

I usually do not go in via travel/all. But, I just did and there was no topic 20/England listed...you are right! Must still be glitches to iron out. I will try to bring this to the attention of the magicians of Spring!

Thank you most kind lady. BTW tonight I can't get my list of conferences to come up either. It's late, I'm going to bed!

Funny, It Doesn't SMELL Like a Mailbox... LONDON (Reuters) - Letter-Writers Have Been Dogged by Bad Luck in a British Park. People mailing their letters in a Yorkshire park have mistakenly put them in a red bin for dog waste, thinking it was a mailbox. The box should have been green, but a local building firm supplied a red one. ``The color indicates to everyone that it is a postbox,'' said town councilor Geoff Richardson.

oh YUK!

If you get any really nasty mail, now you'll know why!!! Imagine expecting a red pillar box to be for anything other than mail?! It should never have been put up until it was repainted. Amazing!

Bet the person responsible never owns up!

*LOL* I sure wouldn't. What a mess!

BTW I still can't get in apart from through the bookmark. Did you see the mass murder case here involving a general practitioner (GP) doctor? He's been put away for life, but they're looking at at least 175 counts of murder. Talk about shock waves.

Some Cockney for you. See what you make of this! Being a Londoner I can understand most of it, but there were still a few that beat me. There�s a crib sheet below. You might want to be a bit careful - I think the list is English English not U.S. English! From: http://www.bio.nrc.ca/cockney/ compiled by Simon J. Foote I was in the Karsi, sitting on me Kyber, using the grey matter, when I thought, wouldn't it be nice if me Dutch made some Rosy. She got some fresh Adam's there. So I went down the Apples and told her. We could go up to the Rubba. Me in me best Whistle and Titfer and me new Daisy's, and her in her best bib and tucker with her new Tile. It's a long Frog but we'd do it O.K. on Shank's Pony. That's if our Plates last out. Probably see a couple of me Chinas there with the Arrows and a Pig or two. One's a Brummie, one's a Scouse. He might have his Geordie mate with him too. Could see another China of the way, he's a Septic but not a bad bloke. Likes to knock you a bit though. If I see the Runner, I'll probably put a Pony on a Nag, but if there is a Peeler about, he'll probably have it on his toes. If he gets Nicked he'll be Banged up for a full moon. I'll ask for a Butcher's at the form if he's on his Jack. If I win I'll get a Lardy and some snout for her. She's a bit Mutton at the moment but you should see the M nces in her Boat and her Barnet is a joy to behold. Won't even mention her North and South. Lovely as ever. English/Cockney Rhyming Slang Dictionary Cockney English 'appeny dip Ship Abergavenny Penny Acker Bilk Milk Adam And Eve Believe Adam's Pants Airs and Graces Faces Alan Border Out of Order Alan Whickers Knickers All night rave Shave All Time Loser Boozer Almond Rocks Socks Alphonse Ponce Ancient Greek Reek Andy Cain Rain Apple Core Score Apple fritter Bitter Apples and Pears Stairs Archer 2000 Aris Arse Aristotle Bottle Army and Navy Gravy Artful Dodger Lodger Arthur Bliss Piss Arthur Scargill Gargle (drink) Aryton Senna Tenner Bacon and Eggs Legs Bag (of sand) 1000 Bag of Fruit Suit Bag of Yeast Priest Baked Potata See ya later Bale of Straw Raw Ball of Chalk Walk Balti Basil (Faulty) Band of Hope Soap Bangers and Mash Cash Barclays Bank Wank Barnaby Rudge Judge Barnet (Fair) Hair Barney Marlin M'Darlin Barney Rubble Trouble Barry Crocker Shocker Barry White Shite Bat and Wicket Ticket Battle Cruiser Boozer (bar) Bazaar Bar Bed & Breakfast 26 Bees and Honey Money Ben Cartwright Shite Bended (knees) Cheese Bernard Matthew Queue Bernie Flint Skint Bernie Winter Printer Big Dippers Slippers Bird (Lime) Time Biscuit (and Cookie) Rookie Biscuits and Cheese Knees Bo Peep Sleep Boat (Race) Face Bob 1 Shilling (5 pence) Bob Hope Dope Bob Squash Wash Bobby (Moore) Sure Bobby Moore Score Borassic Lint Skint Boris (the bold) Cold Born and Bred Bed Bottle and Glass Arse Bottle and Glass Class Bottle and Stopper Copper Bottle of Glue 2 Bottle of porter Daughter Boutrous (Boutrous Gali) Charlie (cocaine) Bow and Arrow Barrow Brad Pitt Shit Brahms and Lizst Pissed Bread knife Wife Brian (Clough) Rough Bricks & Mortar Daughter Brigham Young Tongue Bright and Breezy Easy Bristols (Cities) Titties British Rail Email Brixton Riot Diet Bromley by bow's Toes Brown Bread Dead Brussel Sprout Shout Bubble and Squeak Greek Bubble bath Laugh Bugle Nose Bugs Bunny Money Burnt Cinder Window Bushel and Peck Neck Buster Keaton Meeting Butcher's Hook Look Cab rank Bank Cain and Abel Table Callards Trousers Cambridge & Oxford Ugly Face Captain Cook Look Captain Hook Book Cardboard Box Pox Carpet 3 Cash and Carried Married Cat and Cages Wages Century 100 Chalfonts (St. Giles) Piles Chalk Farm Arm Charing Cross Horse Charlie (Chan) Tan Charlie Nash Slash Charlie Pride Ride Charlie Ronce Ponce Chas 'n' Dave Shave Cheese and Rice Jesus Christ Cheese rind Four of a Kind Cheesey quaver Favour Chevy Chase Face Chicken and Rice Nice Chicken Oriental Mental Chicker Haircut China (Plate) Mate Ching 5 Chipmunks Trunks Chocolate (fudge) Judge Christian Slater Later Christmas crackered Knackered Cilla (Black) Back Claires (Raynor) Trainers Claret (red wine) Blood Cobbler's (Awls) Balls Cock & Hen Ten Cockel Tenner Cockel (Cock & Hen) 10 Colonel (Gadaffi) Cafe Colonel Gadaffi Cafe Cozzer's Cops Cream cookies Bookies Cream Crackered Knackered Crown Jewels Tools Currant Bun Sun Custard and Jelly Telly Daisy Roots Boots Dancing Fleas Keys Danny La Rue Clue Danny Marr Car (flash one) David Gower Shower David Mellors Stellas (beers) Day's Work 100 Dead Horse Tomato Sauce Deaf and Dumb Bum Deep Sea Diver Fiver Deep sea glider Cider Derby Kelly Belly Desmond Hackett Jacket Dicky (Dirt) Shirt Dig the Grave Shave Dixie Deans Jeans Dog and Bone Phone Dog's Eye Meat Pie Donald Trump Dump Dot & Dash Cash Doug McClure Whore Douglas Hurd Turd Drum (and bass) Place (House/flat) Drum and Bass Face Drum and Fife Knife Drummond & Roce Knife & Fork Duane Eddies Readies (cash) Duchess of Fife Wife Dudley Moore's Sores Duke of Argyles Piles Duke of Kent Rent Dunlop tyre Liar Dustbin Lid Kid Eartha Kitt Shit Earwig Twig Eddie Grundies Undies Edgar Alan (Poe) Tow Edinburgh Fringe Minge Egg Yoke Joke Eiffel (Tower) Shower Elephant & Castle Arse-hole Elephant's Trunk Drunk Elsie Tanner Spanner Emma Freud Haemorrhoid Far East Priest Farmer Giles Piles Farmer's Daughter Quarter Father Ted Dead Feathers 33 Fine and Dandy Brandy Finsbury (park) Mark Flight Lieutenant Biggles Giggles Flowers & Frolics Bollocks Flowery Dell Cell (prison) Foot pump Dump Fore & Aft Daft Forest (Gump) Dump Fork and Knife Wife Forsyte Saga Lager Four Seasons Reasons Frank Bough Off Fred McMurrays Worries Fridge Freezer Geezer Frog and Toad Road Fug(ly) Ugly Garden Gate Mate Gary Glitter Shitter (arse) Gathers Cops Gay and Friskey Whiskey Geoff (Hurst) Thirst George Raft Draught (Draft) Georgie Bests Breasts German bands Hands Germans Hands Ginger Beer Queer God Forbid Kid Gold Watch Scotch Goose's (Neck) Cheque Grand 1000 Grass (in the Park) Nark Grasshopper Copper Gravy lumps Dumps Green (eggs & ham) Exam Gregory (Peck) Cheque Gregory Peck Neck Gypsy's (Kiss) Piss Haddock & Bloater Motor Hair Gel Bell Hairy knees Please Half a Gross Dose Half inched Pinched Ham and Cheesy Easy Ham Shanks Yanks Hammer and Tack Back Hampstead Heath Teeth Hampton Wick Prick Hank Marvin Starvin Harold Wilson's Stilsons (Pipe Wrenches) Harry Dash Flash Harry Lin Chin Harry Monk Spunk Hay (Stack) Back Henry Moore Door Hey Diddle Diddle Middle Highland Fling Ring Hillman Hunters Punters Hit and Miss Piss Holy Ghost Toast Horse and Cart Fart Horse and Cart Heart Hot Cross Bun Nun How's your father? Lather I Suppose Nose Ice-cream freezer Geezer Irish Jig Wig Iron Hoof Pouf Itchy Teeth Beef Ivory Band Hand J. Arthur Rank Wank Jack 'n' Danny Fanny Jack (Jones) Alone Jack (Tar) Bar Jack (the Ripper) Kipper Jack and Jill Hill Jack and Jill Pay the Bill Jack and Jill Pill Jack Jones Own Jack's (Alive) 5 Jackanory Story Jackson Pollocks Bollocks Jam Jar Car (old one) Jeckyll & Hyde's Strides (trousers) Jerry (Cottle) Bottle Jimmy (Riddle) Piddle Jimmy Hill Pill Jimmy Nail Hell Jimmy Orner Corner Joanna Piano Jockey's whip Kip Jockeys (Whips) Chips Joderall Banker Wanker Joe (Baxi) Taxi Joe Blake Steak Joe Blake Snake John Cleese Cheese John Major Wager (bet) John Major Pager John Skinner Dinner John Wayne Train Johnny Horner Corner Kate Steak Kate (Carney) Army Kate Mossed It Lost It Ken Smee Pee Kettle Watch Khyber (Pass) Arse Kingdom Come Bum Kuwaity Tanker Wanker L-Rig Girl Lady from Bristol Pistol Lady Godiva Fiver Lager and Lime Spine Lar-dee-dar Cigar Laugh and Titter Bitter Legs 11 Lemon (Curd) Girlfriend Lemon and Lime Crime Lemon Squeesy Easy Lemon Squeezer Geezer Leo Sayer All dayer Lesley Crowthers Trousers Lester Piggot Bigot Light and bitter Shitter Lillian Gish Pish Linen Draper Paper Lionel Blair (Night)mare Lionels (Blair) Flares Little & Large Marge Loaf (of Bread) Head Long Un 100 Longers & Lingers Fingers Loop the loop Soup Lord Lovel Shovel Lords and Peers Ears Love & Kisses Mrs. Mae West Best Mark Ramprakash Slash Mars Bar Scar Master McGrath Bra Melvyn Bragged Shagged Merchant Banker Wanker Merlyn Rees Peice (lunch) metric miles Piles Michael Miles Piles Mickey Rourke Pork Milton (Keenes) Jeans Milton Keynes Jeans Minces (Mince Pies) Eyes Moby Dick Sick Monkey 500 Monkey (Wrench) Wench Mork & Mindy Windy Mother Hubbard Cupboard Mozambique Keek Murray-mint Skint Mutt and Jeff Deaf Mutter & Stutter Butter Mystic Meg Leg Nails and Tacks Fax Nanny Goat Boat Nanny Goat Coat Nanny Goat Throat Nat King Cole Dole Natter Chat Nelson (Mandelas) Beers (Stellas) Nelson Eddies Reddies Nervo 9 Nervous Wreck Cheque Neves 7 Niagara falls Balls Niffty 50 Nifty Fifty (pounds) Nightboat to Cairo Giro Noah's Ark Shark North and South Mouth Nuclear Sub Pub Nuns 'n Habits Rabbits Nuremberg Trials Piles Ocean Going Squid Quid Ocean Pearl Girl Oily Rag Cigarette (fag) Old Pot And Pan Husband Omar Sharif Grief One Time Looker Hooker Ones & Twos Shoes Orchestra Stalls Balls Oxford Scholar Dollar Oxo cube Tube (underground) Pam Shriver Fiver Paraffin Lamp Tramp Pat and Mick Sick Pat Malone Alone Paul McKenna Tenner Paul Weller Stella (Pint of) Pearly Queen Seen Peas in the pot (Peasy) Hot Peckham Rye Tie Peddle & Crank Wank Pen And Ink Stink Pete Tong Wrong Peter Pan Tan Petrol (Tanks) Yanks Philharmonic Gin and Tonic Pie and Liquor Vicar Pie and Mash Slash Pig's Ear Beer Pimple 'n' blotch Scotch (whiskey) Pineapple Chapel Pineapple Chunk Bunk Ping Pong Strong Pinky & Perky Turkey Pistol Lady of Bristol Pittsburgh Steelers Peelers (police) Plates (of Meat) Feet Plates and Dishes Misses Plimsoll Mark Park Polo (Mint) Bint Pony 25 Pony and Trap Crap Porky Pies Lies Pot (of Glue) Clue Prison Time Bird (Lime) Queen mum Bum Quid Pounds (currency) Rabbit (& Pork) Talk Radio Rental Mental Rasberry ripple Nipple Raspberry Tart Fart Razor Blazer Rhythm and Blues Shoes Richard The 3rd Turd Ricki Lake Fake Rifle Range Change Roast Pork Fork Roath 4 Rock'n'Roll Dole Rocking Horse Sauce Roger Moore Door Roller Coaster Toaster Ronald Riches Bitches Ronnie Barker Marker (pen) Roof Rack Back Rory O'Moore Floor Rosie Lee Tea Rouf Cinque 45 Round the Houses Trousers Roy Hudd's Spuds Rub-A-Dub-Dub Pub Rubber Dub Sub Rubber Duck Cook Rubber Glove Love Ruby Murray Curry Rum & Coke Joke Russel Harty Party Rusty Nail Jail Salmon Cigarette Salmon (and trout) Snout (cigarette) Salvador Dali Drink Sandshoe Thank-you Santa's Grotto Blotto (drunk) Saucepan Handle Candle Saucepan Lid Kid Sausage And Mash Cash Sausage Roll Goal Schindler's List Pissed Scooby (Do) Clue Score 20 Scotches (Pegs) Legs Scratch yer head (Scratcher) Bed Screaming Alice Crystal Palace Septic (Tank) Yank Sexton Blake Fake Shake and Shiver River Shawshank (Redemption) Pension Sherbert (Dab) Cab Sherman Tank Yank Shovel & Pick Nick Skin And Blister Sister Sky Rocket Pocket Slits in a Dress Mess Snout Cigarette Snow and Slush Flush Sock & Blister Sister Son 'n Daughter'd Slaughtered Sovs Pounds (currency) Spanish Archer Elbow Stand at Ease Cheese Steffi (Graff) Laugh Stench Dame Judy (Dench) Stevey Bould Cold Stoke on Trent Bent Strange'n'Weird Beard Strawberry Rhone Phone Sweaty Sock Scot Sydney Kidney Syrup (of Fig) Wig T & H 8 Taters (in the Mould) Cold Tea Leaf Thief Tea Leafing Thieving This & That Cat Thri'penny Bits Tits Tick-Tock Clock Tiddly Wink Drink Tilbury Docks Socks Tin Bath Laugh Tin Tack Sack Tit For Tat (titfer) Hat Todd Sloane Alone Tom and Dick Sick Tom Foolery Jewellery Tom Mix 6 Tom Tank Wank Tom Tit Shit Tommy Tucker Supper Ton 100 Tony Blair Hair Tony Slattery Battery Top Hat Chat Town Halls Balls Tramp (on a bench) Wench Trombone Phone Trouble and Strife Wife Tumble down the sink Drink Turkish (Bath) Laugh Turkish Delight Shite Turtle doves Gloves Twist and Twirl Girl Two & Eight State Two Bob Bit Shit Two Fat Ladies 88 Two Little Ducks 22 Uncle Bert Shirt Uncle Billy Chilly Uncle Reg Veg Uncle Ted Bed Vera Lynn Gin Veras Cigarette papers Veras (Vera Lynn) Skins Von Trappe Crap Wallace and Grommit Vomit Weasel & Stoat Coat Weeping Willow Pillow West Ham Reserves Nerves Weston (Super-Mare) Nightmare Whiskey (and soda) Voda (mobile phone) Whistle and Flute Suit White Mice Ice Widow Twanky Hanky Wobbly Jelly Telly Wooden Plank Yank Wooly Hat (and scarf) Laugh You Must Crust You're having a Giraffe Laugh Yuri Geller Stella (the beer)

oops, sorry, some the tabs haven't come out in the word list. The last word is the english one usually.

Did not hear about the GP (who apparently forgot: "First, do no harm.") How ghastly! Sounds like a gothic novel in the making - or a dreadful movie! Interesting word list...and I have not yet figured out how to post tables without that happening, but I will!

I wonder if we save the detabled word file as rtf it would hold the tabs when cut and pasted? the one above was also in a table but I selected it and then converted it to text. However, I left it as a word file and then cut and pasted. I think it may the same trick as posting tables in the body of an email. The Northern Ireland peace process has broken down badly today and the government has put the devolved parliament into suspense over the decommissioning of arms (or rather lack of it).

I'm not familiar with rtf offhand...I thnk I will still try to remove the tables with my html compositor first. Yup! Ireland is having their "troubles" again. I suspect the Barclay's bank bomb today in New York City was somehow connected.

rtf = rich text format (a 'save as' option with Word). It saves the file in ASCI but retains at least some of the formatting from word. I hadn't thought about the Barclays bombing being related to the Norther Ireland peace talks, but I guess you're probably right.

Of course! And I will transfer it to WordPad which I use for just about all composition...that is one of the options! I'll post more of the bombing when I hear more.

Ethics fear over gene bank for medical trials Half a million people may be invited to take part in what would be one of the world's biggest public health exercizes. A national 'gene bank' is being planned to help create a new generation of drugs and treatments for conditions including cancer and heart disease. the data would be used by government health officials, scientists and pharmaceutical companies to investigate the genetic and environmental roots of diseases. .... A key factor in setting up the scheme - called the UK Population Biomedical Collection - has been the establishment of a national DNA collection in Iceland [in which the Icelandic government SOLD the nations medical records to pharmaceutical companies without people's permission!]. britain, with its large island population would be well-placed to embark on a similar venture. NHS family records offer an added advantage of 50 years of data for most of the nation. Whew! whatever happened to patient confidentiality????

Really!!! I'm sure your name would be disguised so only your closest friends and relatives and folks in the nearby towns would know who you were ;)

I'm for medical research, but this one beats me on ethical grounds. the thought of my GP being able to sell my medical records ...... BTW I still can't get into this topic from the travel conference, or my conferences in main - I'm getting in directly as ana ddress instead.

Maggie. bookmark this until they get it sorted out: http://www.spring.net/yapp-bin/restricted/read/travel/20/new

Done. The Oldest Known Valentine in English The oldest known valentine message in the English language has been discovered in the British Library. Written in Norfolk in 1477, the letter from a young lady to her fiance goes on display at the library next month. "My heart bids me evermore to love you over all earthly things" it reads "and if my friends say that I do amiss they shall not stop me from doing so". 'Technology may have changed, but some things are the same' A spokesman for the library said.

Maggie, that's great fun. Please post that on: http://www.spring.net/yapp-bin/restricted/read/porch/56/new

Just watched a BBC programme on the Domesday Book. It's now belived that in 1085 prompted by the imminent Danish Invasion of England, William the Conqueror ordered an inquest to find out what was happening in the country. this was not just for tax purposes but to find out who he could trust. the original inquiry took only 7 months and used the saxon system already in place with shire courts etc. The domesday book itself is now believed to have been completed by William the conqueror's son, William Rufus in 1089-90 and can be considered to be a guide to settle the land register. This was the start of public records in England. It is housed in the Public Records office in london, in a huge Oak chest. Over the next few weeks other programmes in this series will look at other areas of English public life - next week it's obscure taxes.

Oops i forgot - you can visit their website www.BBC.co.uk\history

http://www.bbc.co.uk\history will make it easier for people to use. Yup! It was so complete that it was supposed to be good till Doomsday (spelt domesday then!) Sounds like my kinda show...I'll be going straight to that url. Thanks!

Queen Elizabeth Catches Knicker Thief? LONDON (Reuters) - A former British army officer has admitted to trying to steal Queen Elizabeth's underwear and being caught red-handed by the monarch, the Sunday People newspaper reported. The attempted theft took place during a fire which ravaged Windsor Castle, one of the Queen's residences, in November 1992, Captain Nick Carrell, a former member of the Queen's elite bodyguard, the Life Guards, told the newspaper. Carrell said he had been helping to clear out the Queen's private apartment, removing priceless items of furniture, paintings and clothes. ``Yes, I admit it. I was planning to steal a pair of the Queen's knickers. I was helping to clear out her private apartment when I pulled open a chest of drawers. ``I was amazed to see it was filled with the Queen's underwear and I put out my hand to take a pair. Suddenly I realized she was standing right behind me, watching my every move. ''I don't know what she thought, but the Queen didn't say a word. It was all very embarrassing,'' Carrell told the newspaper. The ``surreal situation'' had ended with him hastily scooping up the contents of the drawer, putting them in a black bag and taking them to safety.

Oh how funny, i've never seen THAT one in the news!

From the Berwickshire Gazette, an English Newspaper: A report has revealed that two traffic patrol officers from North Berwick were involved in an unusual incident whilst checking for speeding motorists on the A1 road between Oldhamstocks and Grantshouse. Last May, they were using a hand-held radar device to trap unwary motorists on the Edinburgh to London trunk road. One of the unnamed officers used the device to check the speed of an approaching vehicle, and was surprised to find that his target had registered a speed in excess of 300 miles per hour. The $5000 machine then seized up and could not be re-set by the bemused officers. The radar had in fact latched on to a NATO Tornado aircraft in the North Sea, which was taking part in a simulated low-flying exercise over the Borders and Southern Scotland. Following a complaint by Sir William Sutherland, Chief Constable of the Lothian & Borders Police force to the RAF liaison office, it was revealed that the officers had a lucky escape - the tactical computer on board the aircraft not only detected and jammed the "hostile" radar equipment, but had automatically armed a Sidewinder air-to-ground missile ready to neutralise the perceived threat. Luckily the Dutch pilot was alerted to the missile status and was able to override the automatic protection system before the missile launched. The Police have so far declined to comment, although it is understood that officers will be advised to point their radar guns inland in future.

Nothing like getting your news stories about England from a poster in Hawaii.

BTW North Berwick is in Scotland (not England) - it's near Edinburgh.

I know, but that was the form in which I got it, so I posted it as is. You cross the Tweed on that neat bridge (btw, that river is not tweed. No little white nubby things in the water at all!) and you find yourself in receipt of different-looking pound notes.

Have you been to Queensferry - on the other bank of the river to Edinburgh, underneath the railway bridge?

No. We took The Flying Scot and embarked into the Scottish sunshine from Edinburgh's station. On our way up that hill from the trains to the main street I managed - just - to avoid slipping on a dropped crochet hook. It is now in my collection and I have used it often and wondered what is was working on originally. Lace, no doubt. It is a very fine one.

That station was originally a loch!!! - and therefore underwater. My husband really upset a scots friend and me because he insisted on doing his 'famous' scots accent whilst walking up Princes Street with us. I have never let him forget it either!

Oh, my dear! How mortifying!!! No wonder one has to climb up and out of that station. I can picture it...a former loch is obvious, now that I think about it. Must tell my ex and son. They were wondering about it, as well. Does it ever flood? There is the Museum across the street from the station, as well, isn't there?

I don't remember hearing about it flooding. It was done last century I think. I saw a programme on TV last night about various castles, edinburgh being one. I guess it must have looked even more spectacular with the loch, although I don't know when it was built - some of it looks quite modern. Haven't been to the museum. We'll be up there again probably in March or April to take meetings as we're gearing up for our trip and fundraising.

It was an iron age hillfort as I recall. So, it does date back pretty far as things human up there go. Nothing like as ancient as Scara Brae is, but not much else is! *sigh* I need to go back and see the things not yet visited by me and to reacquaint myself with the lovely things I have already met...some day.... I truly must have been incredible with a loch at the foot of that towering bluff. Think of me when you see Arthur's Seat. It is volcanic, you know!

Yes, they said that in the programme and it surprised me - extinct volcano - wow! We expect to be going to Dunfermline and Motherweel where we have groups that support us and our work. I hope others can be arranged. My favourite route to Edinburgh is up the roman road which crosses hadrian's wall.

It surprised me, as well. Can't be too many of those volcanic remnants around the Isles. That is a lovely ride up the Roman Road. Wish I were lint in your pocket for this journey...*sigh*

It was our girls favourite ride - seven blind summits!!!! Trouble is we're usually so busy up there we don't get time to play the tourist.

You must make the highland loop sometime just as tourists. It is spectacular!

Cotton Grows on Sheep, Children Say PARIS (Reuters) - Bananas grow in Britain, cotton comes from sheep and the Netherlands produce olive oil. These are just some of the misconceptions researchers heard in a poll of children aged between nine and 10 from European member states, which showed that the majority did not know how food landed on their plate. The survey for the European Council of Young Farmers farm lobby found that a quarter of children in Britain and the Netherlands thought oranges and olives were homegrown. Three-quarters of children in the EU did not know where cotton comes from, with a quarter saying it grew on sheep. Farmers were seen as kind and affectionate, but most children identified them as grandfather figures and just 10 percent said they were keen to follow in their footsteps, said the poll by market research company INRA Deutschland. ``Most children do not know where their food comes from,'' EU Education and Culture Commissioner Viviane Reding said in a statement. ``This gap in knowledge about the production, the transformation and the distribution of agricultural products must be filled in all of Europe, in particular concerning specific themes linked to consumer safety,'' she added. The survey polled 2,400 children in the EU's 15 member states over the course of 1999.

I'm not surprised. I'd never seen a cow until my honeymoon in Deveon when I was 20. I was horrified that they were so big. We visited a farmer friend of my husbands. he was in the milking shed when we arrived and we made our way there, and i spent the rest of the time pressed up against a wall absolutely terrified. We didn't have cows in London!

I was a suburban girl. I can also remember being terrified of them, but I did see one in books, magazines and such. With all of the Television these kids watch nowadays, you'd think they'd have seen at least a picture of a cow! Devon! What a lovely place to honeymoon with all that clotted cream and all...*sigh* Talk about calories...!

True, of course, I had seen pictures, but wow the reality! I think it's also because everything is prepackaged and kids just don't think about where it comes from. When I first grew carrots in my garden it cause a local stir - the kids had never seen carrots out of the ground - they somehow miraculously arrived in the supermarket.

*lol* That reminds me of my neighbor in Hilo growing her first peanuts. She never had any peanuts to harvest so she asked me to look at her plants to see what was the matter. (Are you familiar with how they grow?) She kept complaining that not only did she not get peanuts, but that the branches kept trying to dig back into the soil and she had to uproot them each morning. I gently explained to her that only by diving back into the soil could those peanuts form on the ends of those branches. She left them alone and proudly presented me with some of her first crop! Nature is more amazing than anything else, I think!

MAN HIT BY BUS GETS �500 REPAIR BILL A pub landlord knocked down by a bus has been sent a �526 bill for damaging the vehicle. Norman Green, 51, was crossing a Leicester city centre street when he was sent sprawling by the bus. He suffered four broken ribs, spent a week in hospital and could not work for 14 weeks. He was stunned when First Leicester bus group asked him to pay for repairs to a light and windscreen broken in the collision. It threatened to take him to court if he refused to pay.

The other half of the story (tony heard it on the TV in the gym yesterday) It was in a pedestrian area which allowed buses, taxis and pedestrians. He was advised to tell the bus company that he would be seeking damages for the incident. The bus company made a counter claim against him for damages as above. He ignored the first letter but when they persisted he put it in the hands of the solicitor and forgot about it. Now six months later he's received a reminder telling him to pay within ten days - he says he's going to ignore it.

I thought it sounded just a little bit too weird for that to be the entire story! Thanks for the edification.

Queen's Cook Dismissed for 'Poison' Remark LONDON (Reuters) - One of Queen Elizabeth's Kitchen Staff Has Been Dismissed After Allegedly making remarks about poisoning the British monarch's food, Buckingham Palace officials say. A palace spokesman told Reuters the woman had been relieved of her job as a kitchen porter about a month ago. ``She was taken on in December and dismissed at the beginning of February,'' the spokesman said. ``Her behavior was totally unacceptable.'' The News of the World newspaper identified the woman as Monica Traub, who worked at Sandringham Castle in eastern England, one of the Queen's many homes. The newspaper said she had suggested to a colleague that she was in an ideal position to kill the British monarch. The paper said Sunday she had asked a few days later where cyanide could be found.

It must be a slow news day. All they can quote is the News of the World?!

http://www.pa.press.net/news/royal/ROYAL_Monckton_112344s.html?pab093 ABDICATION PAPERS KEPT FROM VIEW Papers relating to the abdication of Edward VIII were held back from academics and journalists amid speculation they may cause royal embarrassment for the Queen Mother. Ten boxes of papers from the archive of the former King's lawyer and confidante Walter Monckton were available for scrutiny at the Bodleian Library in Oxford for the first time. But historians and reporters expressed disappointment that a mystery box of documents was withdrawn from public view until 2037. Historian and expert on the abdication Andrew Roberts said: "I don't know what is in the box because I have not seen the documents but it appears the crown jewels are missing from this collection." Speculation among academics was that the material - labelled box 24 - may contain papers shedding light on the Queen Mother's role in the abdication crisis of 1936. Oxford University professor of politics and government Vernon Bogdanor said the papers available did not contain any spectacular revelations but filled in vital historical gaps. Walter Monckton advised Edward VIII on his abdication after only a few months as monarch. Edward gave up the throne after he decided to marry the divorced Wallis Simpson and he later became Duke of Windsor. Prof Bogdanor said of the archive: "This is part of history and part of British constitution, but also a personal family matter and a personal family wound. I don't believe the Royal Family want that wound constantly exposed." Speaking of telegrams sent between Hitler and the Duke of Windsor during 1939, he said: "There is no evidence whatsoever that he has ever been involved in any treasonable activity against his country."

THIS DAY IN HISTORY - March 2 1882 Robert MacLean tried unsuccessfully to assassinate Queen Victoria at Windsor; 1949 The first round-the-world non-stop flight was completed by Captain James Gallagher and his 13-man USAF crew. It took 94 hours, during which the plane, Lucky Lady II, was refuelled four times in flight; 1958 A British team led by Vivian Fuchs completed the first crossing of the Antarctic, covering 2,158 miles from the Weddell Sea to the Ross Sea in 99 days; 1969 The French-built supersonic airliner Concorde made its maiden flight from Toulouse; 1988 A new political party was born when the Liberals merged with the Social Democrats to form the Social and Liberal Democrats.