In the news

^ They're knocking that down to put up a service station.

It doesn't seem to be actual real money, it's pre-election bluster. A bribe, in other words.

The whole point is that its not just the henge (which isn't actually the stones - they're a later stone circle in the middle of a henge), the world heritage listed site is Stonehenge, Avebury and the surrounding environment. Which includes wood henge, the kings barrows, the avenue etc. The road cuts right through the middle of it all. It would never be allowed to be built today.

#BigYellowTaxi

This is interesting. Is there data to suggest it won't? That'd be nice.

Ah, Woodhenge. That ancient wooden pre-cursor to Stonehenge, lovingly re-created in concrete in the 1970's.

This is interesting. Is there data to suggest it won't? That'd be nice.

The DfT figures seem to show that car ownership increases but total car usage is remaining static.

More people want to own cars (not sure if this is just in line with population increase) but do fewer/shorter journeys.

Car usage as a total, not per car? That's terrific. Equivalent to dropping. But that could be an outcome of the downturn I suppose. Hopefully not.

As in less people will be carpooling, because according to DfT, will own cars later on.

That's the one.

Edward Snowden given an award in Sweden:

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2014/dec/01/nsa-whistlebloewer-edward-snowden-wins-swedish-human-rights-award

Somebody wrote in to my local newspaper complaining about a part of the Mini-Holland proposals that involves something called "Quieter Neighbourhoods". It relates to quietening down traffic by removing / reducing rat-running, slowing traffic down, etc, standard stuff.

They said "this scheme must be cancelled" because "there are 3500 residents in the affected area, and over 3500 cars".

I've no idea if it's true or not, or where they got their data from, but the statement initially made me lol and then it made me really angry :(

More cars than residents??

Maybe 3500 houses/flats, rather than people?

Or they were just talking out of their arse.

The one in walthamstow was really badly received too. I have my issues with it since they chose 'the village' as the safe zone and only yummy mummies live there anyway.

I see people driving 250m from their house on the same road as the supermarket and take 2 whole bags of shopping out of the boot. Insane.

the world has become a stupid place....

"Energy company Vattenfall is suing Germany for phasing out nuclear power and replacing it with renewables. In a secret court, the company is demanding a whopping 4.7 billion Euros in compensation. This lawsuit could have massive repercussions for other European countries turning towards renewables to replace traditional energy supplies. Vattenfall is not the only one lining up to squeeze Germany for making the right decision. Energy giants RWE and Eon are also demanding millions of Euros"

Just signed that petition.

Madness! What exactly is their grounds for suing?

I always find it amazing that there are these huge global decisions worth billions and at some point one person [Judge] will make the yes/no decision.

Maybe 3500 houses/flats, rather than people?

No idea. They did definitely say "residents", though. Think @BRM's analysis is probably the correct one.

FWIW the majority of people in my area (73% according to council data-gathering pre Mini Holland) are in support of traffic reduction/restriction, but those ones don't tend to get to get their letters printed in the local newspapers.

Yay for TTIP

TTIP

Bi-lateral trade agreements effectively do away with parliamentary (for the UK & other EU member states) sovereignty in exchange for corporate interests.

It's going to cost the tax payer a lot more than just the odd multinational suing nation states (in secret courts, obvs).

It's pretty much fucked.

But I thought that they are currently negotiating the TTIP treaty, so by what basis are they suing Germany now. Is there an existing trade treaty in place that also allows this sort of thing?

ISDS, part of TAFTA. TTIP is an extension / follow-on of this.

The Vattenfall case, under ISDS, bucks the trend for transparency, probably because suits under TTIP will be completely opaque.