In the news

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               Unions dismissed today's long-awaited proposals to shake up banking as a  "weak gesture" that failed to hold banks to account for the crisis they  created. 

                                            The Independent Commission on Banking report recommended that Britain's  biggest banks are given until 2019 to implement proposed reforms  supposedly designed to prevent another taxpayer bailout. 

The Treasury described it as "impressive" and an important step towards a new banking system.

But unions and the Robin Hood Tax campaign dismissed the report as a missed opportunity to put in place effective regulations to restrain greed and recklessness in bank boardrooms.

Unite national officer David Fleming warned that workers faced more uncertainty over their future because proper reform had been "kicked into the long grass.

"This report is another missed opportunity in preventing a repeat of the financial crisis in the future. Simply creating a firewall is at best a weak gesture and at worst a pointless act which will not in any material way impact the behaviour or culture at the top of the banks where this crisis was born."
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-- Bank shake-up 'just a gesture'

There's so much long grass around these days. Perhaps a metaphorical lawnmower is needed before any more reforms happen.

Fuck

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14883521

That facility is right on the Rhone (2nd biggest river in France, the Loire also has several nuclear power stations on its banks, as do a few other rivers), above Avignon, hope there isn't a leak as the Camargue delta (and my mum's home-town) is down-stream. Amazed that there's been anything in the news about it, as the French state is generally incredibly secretive, and very sensitive when it comes to nuclear 'incidents'. At the time that the Chernobyl cloud was passing over Europe, according to my mum's best friend (who lives in France), the cloud was reported by the french media, except that they never mentioned it passing over France...

In fact, if it all goes off, I'll have to find another wine to drink, as nearly all my fave wine comes from just on the other side of the river.

^It's always the innocent who suffer.

There's so much long grass around these days. Perhaps a metaphorical lawnmower is needed before any more reforms happen.

Yeah I'm getting so sick of these wild Pokemon attacking me all the time. I'm nearly out of super potions!

^It's always the innocent who suffer.

My mum's cousin lives about 40k from the site, and he is far from an innocent. Also, the nearest big town is Orange, and the lovely people there elected a Front Nationale mayor not so long ago.

More news from France

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/sep/11/jacques-chirac-african-cash-claim

France has a shocking history in Africa so it's not very surprising.

Kenyan pipeline fire

http://www.theage.com.au/world/at-least-120-dead-in-kenyan-petrol-pipeline-fire-20110913-1k6ko.html

Horrible.

Jesus, that's just awful.

Not the first time that's happened in Africa, and it won't be the last. Stealing fuel from pipelines is a way of life in several countries.

In fact, if it all goes off, I'll have to find another wine to drink, as nearly all my fave wine comes from just on the other side of the river.

Southwark..?

Will someone PLEASE tell Boris to wear his helmet straight?!

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-mayor/article-23986508-boris-rides-to-rescue-of-hurt-cyclist.do

that is straight, he has a kidney bean head, he hides it with that thatch of straw he calls hair.

RLJing Boris. Tut tut.

What's going on in Farringdon?

Twitter claims it's a downed cyclist but I was riding through whilst the police were taping off and there were no vehicles or cyclists anywhere near the junctions.
There were also far far too many police and armoured vehicles on the way.

I counted 9 police vehicles and a mid sized van with the windscreen smashed.

Where was the van?
If it really is a cyclist I hope they're okay.

On the bridge that passes over the railway line just before the lights.

Why would you need police dogs for a road accident?

Not wanting to be reactionary but there was no van or vehicle of any kind, smashed or otherwise, on that bit of road as I rode through at 8:35 (Whilst they were taping up all four sides of the cross road).

All seems odd. Hope nothing too bad has occurred. I guess we will have to wait and see rather than speculate.

Not wanting to be reactionary but there was no van or vehicle of any kind, smashed or otherwise, on that bit of road as I rode through at 8:35 (Whilst they were taping up all four sides of the cross road).

i went through at the same time and didnt see anything either. all of the roads going up from farringdon road to leather lane were shut off too

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3813248/Bath-eel-wriggles-into-willy.html

Headline says it all really.

jaigermaister
I bet eel never do that again!
53 minutes ago

guffaw