OK, being serious about this weather for a minute
07 January 2010, 10:59 AM
#31
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It snows every year though, maybe not to this extent, but usually enough for some people to not get into work. It gets icy every year without fail.
So yes, we should have snow ploughs, gritters, hell we could even get some grit!
So yes, we should have snow ploughs, gritters, hell we could even get some grit!
07 January 2010, 11:11 AM
#32
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When I were a lad... back in Dec 1991 it snowed and snowed and snowed. We were without electricity for 3 weeks solid which meant no creature comforts that we take for granted these days like heating, lighting, TVs etc. We all stayed at home and just got on with it.
Why do we, as a nation, let the media drive us into panic mode? So what if the kids are off school, so what if you can't get to work, who really cares? Enjoy the snow and get your sledges out - it beats staying in and letting the media make your life a misery.
Why do we, as a nation, let the media drive us into panic mode? So what if the kids are off school, so what if you can't get to work, who really cares? Enjoy the snow and get your sledges out - it beats staying in and letting the media make your life a misery.
07 January 2010, 12:21 PM
#36
Nobody really appreciates the demand on transport infrastructure until it is disabled.
I think a big problem with living, work and industry now is its far too footloose (technical term for location is independant of its demand or resources). Historically, residential areas used to grow up inbetween and alongside industrial and commercial areas, as the people working there needed to live close by. This was because people did not have transportation, and such didn't travel much further than the nearest town. Nowadays this is no longer a requirement, as such these areas are largely segregated.
The result is people live further away from their work place, materials/goods are shipped from further away, and as such the infrastructure as a whole has a massive demand on it, of which did not exist to thirty odd years ago; as back then more people lived close to their workplace, and business and industry was located within close reach of their supplier chains as well as their clients.
This is why we grind to a halt now. Nobody can walk to work, or to the shops/schools etc. Likewise employers are restricted as they can't send a few employees on foot to their supplier with a sack truck as they are now located too far away.
I think a big problem with living, work and industry now is its far too footloose (technical term for location is independant of its demand or resources). Historically, residential areas used to grow up inbetween and alongside industrial and commercial areas, as the people working there needed to live close by. This was because people did not have transportation, and such didn't travel much further than the nearest town. Nowadays this is no longer a requirement, as such these areas are largely segregated.
The result is people live further away from their work place, materials/goods are shipped from further away, and as such the infrastructure as a whole has a massive demand on it, of which did not exist to thirty odd years ago; as back then more people lived close to their workplace, and business and industry was located within close reach of their supplier chains as well as their clients.
This is why we grind to a halt now. Nobody can walk to work, or to the shops/schools etc. Likewise employers are restricted as they can't send a few employees on foot to their supplier with a sack truck as they are now located too far away.
07 January 2010, 12:22 PM
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In earlier times when we used to get this sort of weather regularly in winter, we were all used to it and were able to cope far more easily. That went for driving as well, despite the fact that the roads were not gritted or cleared so much as we have seen recently, even though it has dropped off in places now. Skinny tyres made it easier to drive on loose snow and people seemed to be able to manage easily with the odd bit of a slide etc.
Public transport kept running, the buses helped to clear the roads too, and people were less likely to throw it all up in the air and give up.
It is almost as though the nanny state has made people dependent on it and that they expect everything to be done for them without them having to stir themselves and do something to help themselves. If it gets a bit difficult so many seem to stop trying and achieve nothing.
Schools hardly ever closed, not only children but also the teachers used to manage to get to work. You get the impression that they are not prepared to even try now!
The suing mentality is rife now of course. No one used to look at that as the first option if something happened. If they fell over on the ice or made an error in other ways, they used to generally regard it as their own fault and shut up about it rather than thinking of how they could make a nice little profit! No wonder people are frightened to do anything useful in case some drongo sues them for it.
People were used to having to think for themselves and were practical enough to be able to do something without expecting the State to do it for them. Perhaps we need to get away from the stand back attitudes which have been engendered in recent times.
Les
Public transport kept running, the buses helped to clear the roads too, and people were less likely to throw it all up in the air and give up.
It is almost as though the nanny state has made people dependent on it and that they expect everything to be done for them without them having to stir themselves and do something to help themselves. If it gets a bit difficult so many seem to stop trying and achieve nothing.
Schools hardly ever closed, not only children but also the teachers used to manage to get to work. You get the impression that they are not prepared to even try now!
The suing mentality is rife now of course. No one used to look at that as the first option if something happened. If they fell over on the ice or made an error in other ways, they used to generally regard it as their own fault and shut up about it rather than thinking of how they could make a nice little profit! No wonder people are frightened to do anything useful in case some drongo sues them for it.
People were used to having to think for themselves and were practical enough to be able to do something without expecting the State to do it for them. Perhaps we need to get away from the stand back attitudes which have been engendered in recent times.
Les
07 January 2010, 12:34 PM
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Nobody really appreciates the demand on transport infrastructure until it is disabled.
I think a big problem with living, work and industry now is its far too footloose (technical term for location is independant of its demand or resources). Historically, residential areas used to grow up inbetween and alongside industrial and commercial areas, as the people working there needed to live close by. This was because people did not have transportation, and such didn't travel much further than the nearest town. Nowadays this is no longer a requirement, as such these areas are largely segregated.
The result is people live further away from their work place, materials/goods are shipped from further away, and as such the infrastructure as a whole has a massive demand on it, of which did not exist to thirty odd years ago; as back then more people lived close to their workplace, and business and industry was located within close reach of their supplier chains as well as their clients.
This is why we grind to a halt now. Nobody can walk to work, or to the shops/schools etc. Likewise employers are restricted as they can't send a few employees on foot to their supplier with a sack truck as they are now located too far away.
I think a big problem with living, work and industry now is its far too footloose (technical term for location is independant of its demand or resources). Historically, residential areas used to grow up inbetween and alongside industrial and commercial areas, as the people working there needed to live close by. This was because people did not have transportation, and such didn't travel much further than the nearest town. Nowadays this is no longer a requirement, as such these areas are largely segregated.
The result is people live further away from their work place, materials/goods are shipped from further away, and as such the infrastructure as a whole has a massive demand on it, of which did not exist to thirty odd years ago; as back then more people lived close to their workplace, and business and industry was located within close reach of their supplier chains as well as their clients.
This is why we grind to a halt now. Nobody can walk to work, or to the shops/schools etc. Likewise employers are restricted as they can't send a few employees on foot to their supplier with a sack truck as they are now located too far away.
07 January 2010, 12:38 PM
#41
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Thanks for you comments though. Maybe what I will do is get all my staff to move to the same street eh?
Do you work for the government? That is just the sort of thing they would come out with.
07 January 2010, 12:42 PM
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In earlier times when we used to get this sort of weather regularly in winter, we were all used to it and were able to cope far more easily. That went for driving as well, despite the fact that the roads were not gritted or cleared so much as we have seen recently, even though it has dropped off in places now. Skinny tyres made it easier to drive on loose snow and people seemed to be able to manage easily with the odd bit of a slide etc.
Public transport kept running, the buses helped to clear the roads too, and people were less likely to throw it all up in the air and give up.
It is almost as though the nanny state has made people dependent on it and that they expect everything to be done for them without them having to stir themselves and do something to help themselves. If it gets a bit difficult so many seem to stop trying and achieve nothing.
Schools hardly ever closed, not only children but also the teachers used to manage to get to work. You get the impression that they are not prepared to even try now!
The suing mentality is rife now of course. No one used to look at that as the first option if something happened. If they fell over on the ice or made an error in other ways, they used to generally regard it as their own fault and shut up about it rather than thinking of how they could make a nice little profit! No wonder people are frightened to do anything useful in case some drongo sues them for it.
People were used to having to think for themselves and were practical enough to be able to do something without expecting the State to do it for them. Perhaps we need to get away from the stand back attitudes which have been engendered in recent times.
Les
Public transport kept running, the buses helped to clear the roads too, and people were less likely to throw it all up in the air and give up.
It is almost as though the nanny state has made people dependent on it and that they expect everything to be done for them without them having to stir themselves and do something to help themselves. If it gets a bit difficult so many seem to stop trying and achieve nothing.
Schools hardly ever closed, not only children but also the teachers used to manage to get to work. You get the impression that they are not prepared to even try now!
The suing mentality is rife now of course. No one used to look at that as the first option if something happened. If they fell over on the ice or made an error in other ways, they used to generally regard it as their own fault and shut up about it rather than thinking of how they could make a nice little profit! No wonder people are frightened to do anything useful in case some drongo sues them for it.
People were used to having to think for themselves and were practical enough to be able to do something without expecting the State to do it for them. Perhaps we need to get away from the stand back attitudes which have been engendered in recent times.
Les
Where I am sat now if a car slides 12 inches it could well hit another car - that is a key difference these days.
That and the fact most modern cars have big fat tyres of course.
07 January 2010, 12:56 PM
#44
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07 January 2010, 01:02 PM
#45
I used to work for a company that was based on the opposite side of Birmingham; a 20mile drive which equates to 1.5hr commute in the summer.
It was because of the time taken commuting that I quit and joined up in a different business thats alot more local. Saved 3 hours a day of lost productivity/life: Thats over a month worth of time spent travelling saved for other purposes - business or pleasure (or wasted on SN ).
Thanks for you comments though. Maybe what I will do is get all my staff to move to the same street eh?
Last edited by ALi-B; 07 January 2010 at 01:04 PM.
07 January 2010, 02:27 PM
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Les, while what you say is true to a certain extent the workforce is way more distributed these days and there are far more cars on the road.
Where I am sat now if a car slides 12 inches it could well hit another car - that is a key difference these days.
That and the fact most modern cars have big fat tyres of course.
Where I am sat now if a car slides 12 inches it could well hit another car - that is a key difference these days.
That and the fact most modern cars have big fat tyres of course.
You are right of course that the traffic density is much greater and about the fat tyres. Still possible to make the necessary allowances though.
Les
07 January 2010, 02:33 PM
#50
Lets get all the local authorities to spend millions on fleets of snow ploughs and gritter wagons, even though it only snows like this once every 20 years.
Let everyone in the country be trained on how to drive and operate a snow plough and gritter wagon even though it only snows like this once every 20 years..
And while we are at it lets have buildings constructed to withstand major earthquake.
And while we are at it lets strengthen coastal defences to withstand a tsunami (spelling)
And while we are at it lets make it manditory for all buildings to install air conditioning because the temperature might reach 100 degrees this summer.
The authorities must make sure the only programme ever shown on TV is BBC News 24 on a permanent loop then this ensures panic and mass hysteria is promoted to everyone.
Let everyone in the country be trained on how to drive and operate a snow plough and gritter wagon even though it only snows like this once every 20 years..
And while we are at it lets have buildings constructed to withstand major earthquake.
And while we are at it lets strengthen coastal defences to withstand a tsunami (spelling)
And while we are at it lets make it manditory for all buildings to install air conditioning because the temperature might reach 100 degrees this summer.
The authorities must make sure the only programme ever shown on TV is BBC News 24 on a permanent loop then this ensures panic and mass hysteria is promoted to everyone.
You've only revealed the Labour Party's policies for the election, havenb't you?
07 January 2010, 02:46 PM
#51
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It is almost as though the nanny state has made people dependent on it and that they expect everything to be done for them without them having to stir themselves and do something to help themselves. If it gets a bit difficult so many seem to stop trying and achieve nothing.
I sympathise with those of you who have a business to run. I really do. But how many of you would be prepared to fully cover your employees' losses if they have an accident or become stranded trying to get into work? That's no greater risk than you're asking your employees to take; since you're the ultimate beneficiary of their efforts, shouldn't you also consider shouldering the risk?
07 January 2010, 03:26 PM
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Surely it's all got to be down to miserable old Gordon Brown 
. Since he moved next door from No. 11, just two-and-a-half years ago, the country has descended into rack and ruin. Foot & mouth, flooding, bird flu, swine flu, MPs' expenses, the longest period of economic recession in history and now the return of the freezing winter of discontent. Welcome back to the Dark Ages.
No wonder his comrades want him to go today! They just can't take any more of the misery!
. Since he moved next door from No. 11, just two-and-a-half years ago, the country has descended into rack and ruin. Foot & mouth, flooding, bird flu, swine flu, MPs' expenses, the longest period of economic recession in history and now the return of the freezing winter of discontent. Welcome back to the Dark Ages.No wonder his comrades want him to go today! They just can't take any more of the misery!
07 January 2010, 03:41 PM
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Can't agree with you there, taking responsibility for your own safety isn't something to be ashamed of. It seems that when conditions do turn bad, some people view it as a sort of macho p*ssing competition to see who can overcome the greatest adversity and make it into the office.
Got a mate over here at the moment who thinks it is "a bit brisk" given the temperature here this morning was -8... but then he's from northern canada and its regualrly -30 in his home town, guess what... people don't wait for the authority, they clear drives, pavements and go to work.
On a related note how come those blokes on ice road truckers can drive 600 miles through an Alaskan mountain and over the frozen arctic sea in -40 conditions and yet our lot can't make it up the A1 in -4 ???
5t.
07 January 2010, 03:52 PM
#54
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I think you answered your own question there - it's regularly extremely cold, so people have all the right equipment and know what to expect. If it were like this here half the year I'd have a 4x4 with studded tyres, so would everyone else, and the roads wouldn't clog up. But it's not, and we don't.
We've had about 6 in of snow here, but in fact the roads aren't too bad - certainly not beyond the capabilities of a scooby. Unfortunately my office is down a single track country road which will be sheet ice by now, with a steep bank either side and a steady stream of tractors and other farm vehicles barrelling along it like they always do. (Do you feel lucky, punk?)
We've had about 6 in of snow here, but in fact the roads aren't too bad - certainly not beyond the capabilities of a scooby. Unfortunately my office is down a single track country road which will be sheet ice by now, with a steep bank either side and a steady stream of tractors and other farm vehicles barrelling along it like they always do. (Do you feel lucky, punk?
)
07 January 2010, 03:56 PM
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However your poiint about moaning about the council is plain wrong. It would be our problem were it not for the fact that we pay vast sums of council tax in part for this very reason.
Let me explain.
Up until 3 years ago the council were fantastic at gritting - they even gritted our small cul-de-sac. They knew when to grit, sometimes coming oiut on a night when you wondered why only to find by morning they were right.
Now they don't bother any more. Even the main roads barely get a look in as anyone who kmows the A56 Edenfield Bypass will concur.
Trouble is in that time they have put up council tax by over 20%. So quite frankly I will moan about them all I like. Gritting the roads is one of their jobs as is making sure our local grit bins are stocked witrh grit like they used to. They are being paid by the public to do a job, but they are not doing it.
If they want to cut my council tax bill by 20% instead of raise it I will stop complaining.
Anyway it is one of life's little pleasures, ringing them up and listening to their lies about why nothing is being done.
Last edited by f1_fan; 07 January 2010 at 03:58 PM.
07 January 2010, 03:59 PM
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I didn't ask a question really, it was a statement of fact. Regular or not it should be beyond the realms of intelligence to actually get off the sofa and shovel some snow instead of whinging about it.
5t.
5t.
07 January 2010, 04:02 PM
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OK read this slowly. It isn't snow. It is about two incles of compacted ice bound to the already badly potholed road surface on a 1 in 4 hill. Shovel some snow indeed. LOL!
07 January 2010, 04:14 PM
#59
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However just in case it's the latter I suppose everyone else lives somewhere where at the first sign of snow they form a committee passing a motion of no driving over it until a committee appointed task force has cleared the way and they then post watchmen to work round the clock to monitor further snowfall and should the be more ban the further movement of vehicles until the emergency task force can be reassembled and it is cleared again
No doubt anyone defying the ban is locked in the village stocks and pelted with snowballs or maybe if they look like a witch are dunked in the nearest freezing river.I am actually laughing at the 'allowed it to freeze again' comment. Should we serve a court order on it banning it from freezing or stand over it with blow lamps all night?
Last edited by f1_fan; 07 January 2010 at 04:16 PM. Reason: To point out how even more stupid the comment was
08 January 2010, 01:19 PM
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OK I Am trying to work out if you are on a wind up or actually retarded? I shall give you the benefit of the doubt for now.
However just in case it's the latter I suppose everyone else lives somewhere where at the first sign of snow they form a committee passing a motion of no driving over it until a committee appointed task force has cleared the way and they then post watchmen to work round the clock to monitor further snowfall and should the be more ban the further movement of vehicles until the emergency task force can be reassembled and it is cleared again No doubt anyone defying the ban is locked in the village stocks and pelted with snowballs or maybe if they look like a witch are dunked in the nearest freezing river.
I am actually laughing at the 'allowed it to freeze again' comment. Should we serve a court order on it banning it from freezing or stand over it with blow lamps all night?
However just in case it's the latter I suppose everyone else lives somewhere where at the first sign of snow they form a committee passing a motion of no driving over it until a committee appointed task force has cleared the way and they then post watchmen to work round the clock to monitor further snowfall and should the be more ban the further movement of vehicles until the emergency task force can be reassembled and it is cleared again
No doubt anyone defying the ban is locked in the village stocks and pelted with snowballs or maybe if they look like a witch are dunked in the nearest freezing river.I am actually laughing at the 'allowed it to freeze again' comment. Should we serve a court order on it banning it from freezing or stand over it with blow lamps all night?
So well put!Geezer