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Topics - Franko

#1
This will be a useful reference in a few months time when we need to remember who not to touch with a barge pole;

I'll start;

Virgin Airlines
Wetherspoons
Sports Direct
#2
General discussion / What is "Good Money"
February 05, 2016, 05:06:10 PM
OK folks.  We've been having a lot of career/job based discussion on here over the past few days.  During it I've heard people mention the phrase 'good money' a few times.  I'm just trying to get a feel for what, in everyone's eyes, would constitute 'good money'.  This is take home pay, which you have left in a week after taxation/national insurance/student loan repayments etc.  I.e. the figure in the bottom right hand corner of the payslip.  I've done it on a weekly basis as I think it's easier to envisage.

I'm in the wee 6, so have set the poll up in the Queen's Sterling but if we used an indicative exchange rate of e0.80 = £1 to try to level the playing field.  I appreciate that taxation levels are different north and south (NHS etc) but this is just a general indicator.

It's an anonymous poll so please leave egos at the door.  For what it's worth, IMO, anyone taking home more than £500 p/w would be earning what could be termed 'good money'.
#3
General discussion / The Ched Evans Thread
November 19, 2014, 10:26:17 AM
Where'd it go?? Mods?
#4
General discussion / Another Major Criminal In Court
January 05, 2011, 04:25:18 PM
Not sure of where to put this so just started a new thread.

What a joke...

A driver has been convicted of a criminal offence for flashing his headlights at oncoming motorists to warn them of a police speed trap ahead.
Michael Thompson, 64, believed he was doing his 'civic duty' by alerting drivers on the opposite side of a dual carriageway.
When stopped by a police officer Thompson disagreed with the suggestion that he was 'perverting the course of justice' and was then allegedly told: 'I was going to let you off with a caution - but I'm not now.'
Thompson denied wilfully obstructing a policewoman in the execution of her duty on July 21 last year, but was convicted after a trial at Grimsby Magistrates' Court.
He ended up £440 out of pocket after being fined £175, ordered to pay £250 costs and a £15 victims' surcharge.
Thompson of Grimsby, north-east Lincolnshire, told the court he was warning motorists for safety reasons.
He said he had been involved in an accident a year ago when two drivers in front of him braked sharply after seeing a speed trap and although he braked in time another motorist crashed into the back of his vehicle.
'It is not an offence to warn people of a possible speed trap because of the danger involved with vehicles braking quite hard,' he claimed.
'It's a civic duty to warn people. I flashed my lights. I had a very good reason to warn oncoming motorists, in my opinion. My first thought was:"This may cause an accident."

'I tried to warn vehicles that there was a speed trap. Because I challenged the officer he would not let me off with a warning.'
Thompson was pulled up as he headed out of Grimsby on the A46 at 10am. He claimed the officer involved was a 'Rambo character' who was acting like 'Judge Dredd' in using the law unnecessarily.

One solicitor at court criticised the decision to prosecute as a 'ridiculous waste of taxpayers' money' and said the defendant, who represented himself, should be praised for his actions.  Defending the decision to prosecute, a spokeswoman for the Crown Prosecution Service said: 'Cost is not a consideration in our decision to prosecute.
'When a file is provided to the CPS from the police, it is our duty to decide whether it presents a realistic prospect of conviction and whether a prosecution is in the public interest.  'In accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors a prosecution was deemed appropriate.'

Prosecutor John Owston told Thompson he was not trying to avoid an accident occurring. He said: 'You were doing it to warn them of a speed trap because as a motorist you don't want other motorists to be caught speeding. You wanted to make sure that people who were speeding slowed down.'
Mr Owston added: 'The natural reaction of most drivers in those circumstances would be to brake. Your first reaction would be that there is some sort of hazard ahead and I will approach it at a lower speed.
'You are causing people to brake to avoid going through a speed trap at an excessive speed and all it does then is allow people, when they are past it , to pick up speed again and speed on.
'It's not the speed trap that causes the accident it's the idiot behind the wheel who brakes heavily that causes the accident.'
Magistrates rejected Thompson's defence.
Presiding magistrate Jean Ellerton told him: 'We found that your flashing of your headlights was an obstruction, we found that you knew this action would cause vehicles to slow down and cause other motorists to avoid the speed trap and avoid prosecution.'
Thompson, a married man who is now semi-retired, said he was 'disgusted' with the verdict and intended to appeal.
He said: 'It's a sad day for justice because the law is being abused. I flashed a vehicle for a good reason in the interests of safety.'
The offence of obstructing a police officer carries a maximum sentence of one month's imprisonment and/or a £1,000 fine.
Andrew Howard, the Automobile Association's head of road safety, said: 'It's an unusual case, but I have heard of this happening before. There are lots of people who are not aware of this law.'
Mr Howard said 'a lot of people would be upset' to be prosecuted for such an offence.
Solicitor Anton Balkitis, a specialist in motoring law, said most motorists who flash at other drivers to warn them of a speed trap 'think they are doing people a favour'.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1343959/Driver-flashed-headlights-warn-motorists-speed-trap-fined.html#ixzz1AB7RqyC7
#5
Fookin hell.  Something must have seriously flipped in this spacer's head...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/10214661.stm
#6
Lets gauge the opinion of the GAA Board faithful on this...

I'm taking Calzaghe... although I dont think he'll win it...