You shouldn’t curse your ISP, as I spent most of this evening doing – you should instead be resetting your router – or so I’ve now learnt. Apparently occasionally for no apparent reason their settings disappear and you have to do this. Which requires a minor act of contortion to press a button for which purposes you really wouldn’t want to suffer from arthritis or some other fine motor skill problem.
Grr – don’t you love computers…
In 1950 America’s life expectancy was in the world’s top ten; it is now 30th.
On average, Chileans can expect to live longer than the average American, even though GDP per person is about a quarter of America’s. A Cuban male has a better chance of surviving until 65 than an American male, even though GDP per capita in the US is about eight times Cuba’s.
The figures suggest Americans have, on average, traded longevity for higher incomes over the past 50 years.
This story about young men being vulnerable to random attacks reminded me of a discussion I had during a recent cycle ride. I learnt of an off-road route of which I was previously unaware, the Greenway, which would help me to construct a circular half-day route around London – Greenwich, Woolwich, along the Greenway to the Regent’s Canal, then Islington and home. Not a quick route, but pleasantly off-road.
But someone I was discussing this with said “that’s not a route for a woman on her own”. And it is through some dodgy areas of London, and a woman cyclist overhearing commented she’d done it but been spooked by the burnt-out cars.
I said, however, that as a woman I was quite likely safer on that sort of route – a woman is much less likely to be seen as a challenge, perhaps a territorial challenge – to the local youths.
Not to say that it is absolutely safe, of course, but why do these warnings only get given to women, and not to the men who are at least as much at risk of harm?
I’ve now semi-completed a long overdue redesign for My London Your London. So I got to spend a few hours yesterday pretending that I understand CSS and PHP (by the time-honoured method of changing one thing at a time, then looking at the results, saying “oops, didn’t mean to make that column over-write the one next to it” then having another go.)
I think it works in Firefox and IE, but I’d particularly appreciate anyone using another browser checking it out. I’ll also appreciate any design comments and suggestions – I know I’ve got some readers with strong ideas about web design! It is not now fixed width. I know the last time I did this that was considered best; is that still the case?
For the (semi-)techies, it uses the Hemingway Bright template, and I found the discussion of the original Hemingway theme here very useful.
Interesting, un-Time-like piece about “pay what you can” restaurants in the US. Or you can offer to wash the dishes…
“Our philosophy is that everyone, regardless of economic status, deserves the chance to eat healthy, organic food while being treated with dignity,” explains Brad Birky, who opened SAME with his wife, Libby, in October. Customers who have no money are encouraged to exchange an hour of service — sweep, wash the dishes, weed the organic garden — for a meal. Likewise, guests who have money are encouraged to leave a little extra to offset the meals of those who have less to give. “We’re a hand up, not a hand out,” says One World owner Denise Cerreta, who prides herself on the fact that everyone can afford a meal at her café.
Anyone know of similar in the UK? (I know of some theatres that are “pay what you can” at least one night a week – but I think you have to pay before you see the show…)
… you’ve got to love it for its sheer over-the-top eccentricity.
“Norfolk was degraded from the Order of the Garter, his achievements being removed from his stall at Windsor and, as custom demanded, being kicked into the moat.”
From Elizabeth the Queen
Wikipedia obliges in setting out the names of some 20th-century recipients who were so treated, but doesn’t say if the ceremony has survived:
The Sovereign may “degrade” members who have committed serious crimes, such as treason. During the First World War, several Stranger Knights who were monarchs of enemy nations had their memberships revoked. The appointments of Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany and Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria were annulled in 1915.[3] The membership of Emperor Hirohito of Japan was removed after Japan entered World War II, but he was reappointed after the war by Elizabeth II. (Thus, Hirohito was uniquely made a Knight of the Garter by two different Sovereigns.)
Google didn’t oblige. Anyone know? And have any archaeologists followed up on this opportunity?
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