Cameron's First Term: Part 2

Well this article say that drivers on the Victoria, Central and Jubilee lines just open the doors.

http://www.railway-technology.com/features/featuredriverless-train-technology/

Magna Carta

@Simonator - It is and isn't a fuss really. As the elected representative of the British people abroad, he really should have known those facts, wherever he was educated. I agree Cameron is the best we have at present. In that situation Milliband would have just crumpled.

@Bobby - I have looked up Letterman and he is notorious for his irreverent style and courts controversy more often that not. When presenters interview famous people it is usually polite, in the UK at least, to give them or their advisors a brief idea of the areas you'll want to discuss. It doesn't do your show's prospects much good, if you embarrass someone so that others won't want appear in future either. It was obvious to me that Letterman deliberately asked questions that he thought Cameron might have difficulty in answering, which at the very least was discourteous.

I think Cameron handled himself very well, some politicians would have tried to squirm and bluff their way around it, but he was honest and said I don't know. But it was an error of judgement for him to have agreed to appear, and Letterman has done himself no favours either. It wouldn't surprise me that there wont be many senior foreign politicians wanting to appear on his show after this.

However you make a fair point about what I called him. I have picked up other people before for doing just that so I won't be a hypocrite. I will apologise for referring to him as a pratt, and withdraw it, as there was no cause for name calling. But I won't apologise for calling him smug, because he is.

@Sirius - I would have said Elgar as well, I don't think many outside professional musicians would know about the song originating from the poem "Rule, Britannia" by James Thomson and set to music by Thomas Arne in 1740. He was obviously like me thinking of "Land of Hope & Glory" written by Elgar in 1902. A quite easy mistake that probably 95% of the population would make. All of us know what the Magna Carta is, and what its part in history was, we all know it is a document which first forced a King of England by a group of his subjects, the feudal barons, to limit his powers by law and protect their privileges. What it is, is more important than being aware of an exact Latin translation.

@Sirius

That's always been the case since automation was introduced. That doesn't say it works perfectly. It's not a case of better sensors or improved technology. It's the environment. It's not easy to explain, suffice to say that if you could spend 5 minutes in a tube tunnel, you'll get the picture.

since you assert "If tube trains become completely fully automated then the drivers won't have a job. If the drivers don't have a job then they won't need a trade union. If there is no need for a trade union then Bob Crow won't have a job.", which may be well true, then what do we do with the displaced?

The country was already pretty stuffed by the time he took over.

"Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen pounds nineteen and six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery."

As to un-manned tubes, I think its got to happen one day.

London's Victoria Line opened 1967 (a member of staff opens & closes the train doors and presses twin start buttons, but does not normally drive the trains).

London's Central Line converted to automated operation in the mid-1990s (a member of staff opens & closes the train doors and only drives the trains on Sundays; at other times trains are computer driven).

London's Jubilee Line converted to automated operation in 2011 (a member of staff opens & closes the train doors).

London's Northern Line is due to be converted in 2012.

Actually Nick it's R2-D2 but he is no good as a bar tender, best stick to tea.

Get me a beer

Afterthought - Could skilled Tube motormen be re-trained to drive overground trains? I don't know, Sirius probably will.

Yep that was a goodie! Cue Major General Robert Ross August 24, 1814, after defeating the Americans at the Battle of Bladensburg. His name may be Letterman, but he won't be on my xmas card list this year.

Mr Letts has never been my favourite columnist, but even he agrees that basically the lad did well, and took it in good humour.

Q.Letts

If anyone wants to see an original copy of the Magna Carta, then Lincoln Cathedral is where to go and one of only 4 surviving originals.
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It's good to be back amongst friends and colleagues

Finally, confirmation of what many thought..... just how many do we have currently in power?

Hubris & a pillock who thinks God is the only one to judge him
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We all have our opinions of Tony Blair, and no one more than me, I can assure you. But don't write him off just yet, he may even now surprise us all. I fervently hope not, but we will see.

We all have our opinions of Tony Blair, and no one more than me, I can assure you. But don't write him off just yet, he may even now surprise us all. I fervently hope not, but we will see.

A quick history lesson for "our infallible, unflappable" politicians......

15 Things everyone should know

Knew 14...didn't know about the 1911 Parliament Act.
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Treachery or treason?

Happy New Year Army - You're sacked!

This deficit really is hitting home, so can we now see the "Bloated" Civil Service" reduced in size?
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