petergear

I eat a lot of takeaway so feel fully qualified to comment Chohk Dee is fantastic. Fresh veg, tasty dishes... Mmmm. The Great Wall ranked top for me, for years, but I've been favouring Chohk Dee lately as they're new, loads of exciting tasty dishes, am working my way slowly through their new menu! Also they do an unbelievably good deal at lunch; only £3.50 for a huge "lunchbox", which is essentially a main course and rice/noodles all in one container, INCREDIBLE value!!!!! Am eating one right now as I write this. Yum yum. Most folks seem not to even realise they exist; they're in the old "Oslas Too" building, a few doors north of Conochies on the street. RECOMMEND!!

Outrageously, the BBC have refused to show a charitable appeal for humanitarian aid to the civilians in Gaza. Their suffering is too "politically contentious" apparently. I can't see how members of the public will confuse a humanitarian appeal, for people in desperate need in Gaza, with unbalanced reporting??? There's a standing public service agreement to broadcast Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) appeals, and commercial terrestrial channels ITV, Channel 4 and Five are all doing so. If the BBC continues to refuse, it will set a terribly dangerous precedent -- implying that civilians in politicised conflicts shouldn't get humanitarian aid, that we have to stand aloof from their suffering to maintain some kind of amoral neutrality. To add your complaint to the many thousands now being sent to the BBC on this issue, follow the link below: http://www.avaaz.org/en/bbc_charitable_appeal/?cl=177434583&v=2772 To donate to the Disasters Emergency Committee's Gaza appeal yourself, follow the link below: http://www.dec.org.uk/

A horrific business http://www.amnesty.org.uk/news_details.asp?NewsID=18032

No Gibber, I chose no to. I don't enjoy arguments quite as you seem to, and quite frankly there are many other people I'd much rather spend my day conversing with. Besides, I felt anyone reading each of our posts, would make up their own minds about it without need for further input. I am not anti-US, I am anti the US arms trade, anti-corruption, and I'm not much of a fan of horrific brutality either, come to that. And regards the rest of your reply, "foll-dee-rol"...!

http://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/publish/article_17.shtml From the website of "Jewish voice for peace": "Israel cannot build a society based on the principles of democracy, human rights, and compliance with international law while brutally occupying another people and their land. The United States is currently paying for that occupation with its annual aid. That's why Jewish Voice for Peace urges the U.S. government to suspend military aid to Israel until Israel ends its 37-year occupation of the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem."

http://www.christianaid.org.uk/emergencies/current/gaza-crisis/index.aspx?gclid=CMbBq82CjpgCFYwh3godQFFXDQ

Just found a link to a useful resource, the "Washington Report on Middle East Affairs", "published by the American Educational Trust (AET), a non-profit foundation incorporated in Washington, DC by retired U.S. foreign service officers. "AET's Foreign Policy Committee has included former U.S. ambassadors, government officials, and members of Congress, including the late Democratic Senator J. William Fulbright, and Republican Senator Charles Percy, both former chairmen of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs does not take partisan domestic political positions. As a solution to the Palestinian-Israeli dispute, it endorses U.N. Security Council Resolution 242´s land-for-peace formula, supported by seven successive U.S. presidents. In general, the Washington Report supports Middle East solutions which it judges to be consistent with the charter of the United Nations and traditional American support for human rights, self-determination, and fair play." They have info on funding for Military Aid and State Aid. Quotes from archive material from 2001 (http://www.wrmea.com/archives/Jan_Feb_2001/0101015.html): "Israel is the largest cumulative recipient of U.S. aid since World War II" "the U.S. gives Israel all of its economic aid directly in cash, with no accounting of how the funds are used" "The only condition the congressional foreign aid bill places on military aid to Israel is that about 75 percent of it has to be spent in the U.S." It is incredible how much money the US gives to Israel. One of the main reasons taxpayer money is given is so that it can be spent lining the pockets of arms dealers. That's democracy for you... This explains the US - Israel relationship: "The U.S. aid relationship with Israel is unlike any other in the world," said Stephen Zunes during a January 26 CPAP presentation. "In sheer volume, the amount is the most generous foreign aid program ever between any two countries," added Zunes, associate professor of Politics and chair of the Peace and Justice Studies Program at the University of San Francisco. He explored the strategic reasoning behind the aid, asserting that it parallels the "needs of American arms exporters" and the role "Israel could play in advancing U.S. strategic interests in the region." Although Israel is an "advanced, industrialized, technologically sophisticated country," it "receives more U.S. aid per capita annually than the total annual [Gross Domestic Product] per capita of several Arab states." Approximately a third of the entire U.S. foreign aid budget goes to Israel, "even though Israel comprises just…one-thousandth of the world's total population, and already has one of the world's higher per capita incomes." U.S. government officials argue that this money is necessary for "moral" reasons-some even say that Israel is a "democracy battling for its very survival." If that were the real reason, however, aid should have been highest during Israel's early years, and would have declined as Israel grew stronger. Yet "the pattern…has been just the opposite." The U.S. supports Israel's dominance so it can serve as a surrogate for American interests in this vital strategic region. Israel has been a testing ground for U.S. made weaponry, has funneled U.S. arms to third countries that the U.S. [could] not send arms to directly,…Iike South Africa, like the Contras, Guatemala under the military junta, [and] Iran." Zunes cited an Israeli analyst who said: "'It's like Israel has just become another federal agency when it's convenient to use and you want something done quietly." Or not so quietly... http://therealnews.com/t/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=3098 I've no doubt Gibber will go through this lot and try to justify the massacre, or claim bias or whatnot, but there's no justifying an atrocity like the one going on just now. Have a read of the poster in the Save the Children window next time you're passing, folks.

Quoted from another Telegraph article: "Almost 300 Palestinians have been killed in the last two days alone. By contrast, rockets fired from Gaza have killed 17 Israeli civilians in the last seven years. Since Israel completed its withdrawal from Gaza in September 2005, about 150 Palestinians have been killed by its security forces in the territory for every dead Israeli civilian. Faced with this astonishing ratio, Israel's government will find it extremely hard to argue that its response has been proportionate." The link to the full article: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/3999523/Analysis-Israeli-politics-lies-behind-Gaza-attacks.html

I suspect this thread should be part of this thread: http://www.shetlink.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1120&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=250 Anyway while I'm here.... I found a couple of aricles on this subject in the Telegraph. Personally, I'm wholly disgusted by the Whitehouse response, which completely backs Israel's massacare on Gaza. Thankfully the UK and UN have at least issued statements calling for "restraint", although unfortunately these statements have not yet been backed by any action: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/4016432/Israel-declares-war-to-the-bitter-end-as-death-toll-rises.html There have been protests across Europe: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/4016850/Gaza-attacks-Israeli-strikes-spark-protests-across-world.html Anyone wishing to sign a petition calling on our leaders to assist in brokering an immediate ceasefire can do so here. Please take the time to do this: http://www.avaaz.org/en/gaza_time_for_peace/?cl=161468217&v=2605

Phusiam (at the Glen Orchy, on Knab Rd) are a truly superb Thai takeaway. They do a whole range of stuff, from natural-tasting-subtle-delicious to goodness-gracious-me-that's-lively. Good honest Thai grub, thoroughly recommend it (you can actually taste all the natural ingredients - which is always a plus!!). I do like the Great Wall as well, consistently excellent, top marks to them too. I've linked to a handy site below, with all the local takeaway menus gathered together in one place. Incredibly handy (I can never understand why the local takeaways don't have websites showing their current menus!!). I'm sure the link must have been posted by someone in this thread already, but here it is again, just to make sure. Not always totally up-to-date, but near enough for anyone's purposes. Whoever the genius is who assembled these takeaway menus online, thank you v much: http://www.sheltie.plus.com/Takeaway%2011-11-07.html

Sounds completely sane to me. I have no idea why our government don't make sweeping legislative changes immediately to minimise the damage. I believe most people would welcome such a move. Our government managed to successfully ban smoking in public places, something which at one time would have been unthinkable, but when it came, was almost universally welcomed (well, certainly accepted at least). I would liken hardline "eco" legislation as something most people would similarly welcome. Perhaps girsecutters of the future will be wooly once more!!! Cars are simply going to have to shrink and slow down (horse and cart used to do fine at one time), motorbikes will become more popular, sea travel will be made under power of sail once more. A slower pace of life might not be such a bad thing anyway. A friend of mine pointed out to me a few years ago how many aspects of life are reliant on oil; many chemicals & medicines, packaging, all the millions of little things made of plastic... and how in one generation from now, kids will be learning in school of our generation's pathetic inability to desist in our short-sighted consumption, and will be unable to believe that such a precious commodity was burnt Cue the return of the Rayburn and the tushkar. I think the days of grasscutting as we know it are soon to end, I am going to offer my services rotovating peoples' lawns to turn them into vegetable patches, and invest in a hand-push model (without an engine) instead, for those who can't bear to give up their ornamental lawn....!

Hear, hear. The present laws surrounding fisheries are insanity. It beggars belief that there isn't a better system in place.

You can sign the emergency petition which is going to be delivered to the UN Security Council. Link below http://www.avaaz.org/en/stand_with_burma/tf.php?CLICK_TF_TRACK

Hi folks, If this has appeared in this thread already, then please accept my apologies. A short while ago, Avaaz.org successfully delivered a massive petition to the environmental ministers of the G8 countries. In 8 days' time (June 6th), the G8 leaders meet in Germany, along with the leaders of five of the world's most polluting countries, to decide the fate of the world's climate. The stakes couldn't be higher. Avaaz.org will present a further petition at this summit. If you're willing to take two minutes to sign it, you will add your strength to the call of many thousands across the globe, who are now asking leaders to act in order to preserve this planet for ourselves and for our children. Here's the link: http://www.avaaz.org/en/climate_g8/c.php Cheers, Peter

Oh I forgot - she uses a little garlic as well. As I say, the best reestit mutton soup I've ever had. And yes, she did use neeps and carrots. You can't have it without neeps and carrots!

My midder-in-law makes the best reestit mutton soup I have ever tasted. She soaks the meat in cold water for a while, then discards the "soak" water before boiling the meat in fresh water. This way the salt content is reduced a little, but the "goodness" isn't. Oddly enough she adds a little celery sometimes as well, for extra flavour. I'm not a particular fan of celery, and I'm sure adding celery isn't an old traditional Shetland thing, but as I say her soup is absolutely fantastic. I couldn't find any overt evidence of celery and I wouldn't have known it was in there if she hadn't told me.

I would urge anyone who is unhappy with the state of maintenance of grassy areas or flower beds this year to please either email a councillor, or phone one. This way your complaint will not be "swept under the carpet" quite so easily. Here's a list of councillor details, current on 12th March 2007 (and a link to the contact-details page of the SIC website, if anyone needs a more current list after, say, election-time - http://www.shetland.gov.uk/coins/member/_list.htm ): Convener@sic.shetland.gov.uk Sandy Cluness, Lerwick North Central, 01595 695612 florence.grains@sic.shetland.gov.uk Sandsting, Aithsting & Weisdale, 01595 840243 brian.gregson@sic.shetland.gov.uk Unst & Fetlar, 01957 702350 Leonard.Groat@sic.shetland.gov.uk Lerwick North, 01595 692278 iris.hawkins@sic.shetland.gov.uk Scalloway, 01595 880579 barbara.cheyne@sic.shetland.gov.uk Delting East & Lunnasting, 01806 588272 eddie.knight@sic.shetland.gov.uk Lerwick Harbour & Bressay, 01595 693099 or 690796 Alistair.Inkster@sic.shetland.gov.uk Burra & Trondra, 01595 859697 Jim.H.Henry@sic.shetland.gov.uk Lerwick Sound, 01595 694621 Bill.Manson@sic.shetland.gov.uk Northmavine, Muckle Roe & Busta, 01806 522338 Gordon.Mitchell@sic.shetland.gov.uk Dunrossness, 01950 422338 John.Nicolson@sic.shetland.gov.uk Yell, 01595 880693 Drew.Ratter@sic.shetland.gov.uk Delting West, 01806 544295 frank.robertson@sic.shetland.gov.uk Walls, Sandness & Clousta, 01595 810283 josie.simpson@sic.shetland.gov.uk Whalsay & Skerries, 01806 566224 Tom.Stove@sic.shetland.gov.uk Cunningsburgh & Sandwick, 01950 431434 Willie.Tait@sic.shetland.gov.uk Sandwick, Bigton & Levenwick, 01950 422243 William Nicolson Stove, Lerwick Clickimin, 01595 694612 Leslie Angus, Lerwick South Central, 01595 692276 Cecil Eunson, Lerwick Breiwick, 01595 880115 Jim Irvine, Nesting, Whiteness, Girlsta & Gott, 01595 693777 Robert Geoffrey Feather, Lerwick Upper Sound, Gulberwick & Quarff, 01595 690896 Up-to-date list of councillors available here: http://www.shetland.gov.uk/coins/member/_list.htm

Well, Golder Landscapes are being allowed back to continue with the open-spaces contracts...

Saw the fireworks tonight. An absolutely stunning display, well worth the wait. Personally I think this year's was the best-orchestrated display yet. Most enjoyable!

There are a few very stylish (?!) light fittings in the ceiling, which would be worth a few bob on ebay.

Enjoyed the article McFly. I've quoted a small section below: "A report published by the Oxford Research Group this summer argues that our defence policies are self-defeating. They concentrate on the wrong threats and respond to them in a manner which is more likely to exacerbate than to defuse them. The real challenges to world peace, it contends, are presented by climate change, competition over resources, the marginalisation of the poor and our own military deployments."

Thanks for that BigMick. Peerie beegars! Phoned Graeme's wife, to let them know about the problem, and he had it fixed within minutes. Cheers.

I was browsing Tait & Peterson's website and noticed it was powered by Force10, which I think is Graeme Storey's firm. Anyway, thought I'd have a look-see, and clicked on the link to Force10's page. This showed instead: http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r46/petergear/screenshot3-12-06.jpg I nearly pooped my breeks. After a moment or two's consideration though, I'm guessing the hack has been restricted to the website itself? Afraid I don't know much about this kind of thing. Tried Googling H2S04, but a quick glance didn't turn up anything immediately obvious. Never seen anything like this before. Thought Shetlink's geeks & nerds might be interested.

No, surely they aren't serious???? That's criminal. How embarrassing. Somebody MUST stop them, before ANY are sold to anyone, who might EVER be seen, anywhere, ever ever ever Hold on a minute though, one of those will make a perfect present this Xmas for Tirval! Ha! I take it all back. Sorted

BBC News website, 10th November: "The casualty figures reveal how very one-sided Gaza's conflict is. In the past nine days alone around 80 Palestinians have been killed. And altogether, close to 400 have died - many of them civilians - since the Israeli army intensified operations in late June. Over the same period, on the Israeli side, there have been three deaths. They were all soldiers, and one of them was killed accidentally in friendly fire." A link to the full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/6135912.stm Also, a link to another article, about Israel violating Lebanese air space http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/6131458.stm