Gonna be London then !

Glad to hear it this morning. London is a great city!

Which amuses me, as one of the blokes from my LUG (who's also a member of the FSF) couldn't post the result of the EU vote on software patents quickly enough.

Both of which are excellent news (except the Oly's, if you're a Parisienne).


Curiously enough, I have some understanding of whats been going on in Europe recently (politically speaking).

Guessing, sure, but because previous tory administrations, and the current labour lot, have managed to side step nearly all the working time regs. Which apparently gives the UK a business advantage in the region of 32 billion - a lot of money!

Hence, the likes of Chirac and the German bloke, can't have a pop over most of it, but can have a go over the UK rebate from the EU.

Of course, if the gov didn't get the rebate, it'd go to the farmers, and of course a labour government wouldn't like that, as farmers, historically, are quite conservative people (i.e. tories) unlikely to vote labour. Plus that gives the chancellor of exchequer the extra 3 billion.


Given advantages of that magnitude, and that now we've got the 2012 Olys', I wonder whats gonna come out of Europe (or more precisely France) next.

We'll see

regards

John

Plus it's an excellent, if expensive, piss up (ha! it will be tonight, thats for sure).

regards

John

It's because you don't know Paris, man ! I know both, I am quite happy for London, less for
Londoners with the prices that will rocket, the probs with traffic congestion..

A city you have to pay to get into is fundamentally not very well-planned, or perhaps
is it just a lack of foresight..

Anyway, they have to be happy to have a derivative from their human losses in Irak,
which Chirac avoided for us...

cheers

It's good to know that it's just Chirac who is a bad loser! [/sarcasm]

the congestion charge is not a new idea and is used in other countries. It has significantly reduced congestion and has made London that bit easier to get around. The reason London is not very well planned is that it hasn't really been levelled since 1666, it has grown organically and is thus that bit trickier to traverse. It also gives London it's character and makes it a fun and interesting place to visit, live in and work in.

Anyway, back to the topic at hand: well done us!

Good I didn't want it to be in New York.

Hum? How do you know, that I don't know Paris? <sarcasm>Crystal Ball?</sarcasm>

It certainly is a beautiful city. So beautiful, that you get 4 or was it 5 traffic lanes of lunatics all trying to get round the Arc de Triomphe during "rush hour". Paris has some shitty little streets, just like London. Paris also has "rough areas", just like London.

The metro is generally cleaner, cheaper and more efficient, but also easier to get lost on unless they've changed the signs to a more sensible way since I was last there.

If you ask someone for directions in London, they will tell you, if they know themselves. Thats _DEFINITELY_ not my experience of Paris!

The food? I like french food.

The sporting locations? Well, the night before last, as I drove round the "north circular" it was impressive to see the new Wembly Arch lit up. The only thing we have yet to build is the Atheletics stadium (if I've read things correctly), and "the olympic village".

Personally, I would have been pleased if it was in Paris. It doesn't take me much longer to get there than it does to central London.


Unfortunately, it seems that Chiracs' comments might have back fired on him. Afterall, he is your president, but the Fins had 2 votes and the margin of Londons sucessful bit was 4 votes! (remember Chiracs criticisms by chance???). So for a head of state to bad mouth a competitor, well I'll leave it up to you to work out.

France generally has many, many things to be admired for. Perhaps those who were bidding for the games should have the good grace to just provide the ubiquitious "Gallic shrug" and leave it there!

Anyway, right now, those of us in "this neck of the woods" have a few more things to consider!

regards

John