steveo

Fair question, I was unaware of your two term presidential policy. Over here the people elect a member to an area we call an electrate, there is around 150 electrates across Australia. The party that recieves the most representatives is then called on to form a government.That successful party then elects a leader, the prime minister, and a deputy leader and then on to parlimentary members that control portfolios, foreign affairs, health, education and so on.

Seems Australias have been quite emphatic in removing the Howard lead government here in Australia. With a couple of key issues being blamed for the fall of the eleven year reign by the conservative parties, the most telling being work place aggreements, rising inflation and rising interest and its on going participation in the very unpopular Iraqi war. On top of losing power, John Howard is only the second prime minister of Australia to lose his seat by being voted out by his own electorate. Maybe he should have moved on like Blair to avoid this most humiliating demise. It will be very interesting to see the America peoples decision on President Bush at the up and coming election.

You are absolutly right here bilco.Just a little off topic, I am stripping out and renovating and old colonial farm house.The difference in the daily rates between carpenters has varied from $200 to $480 per day.When questioned, the higher rates are from builders with multiple employees that have to fork out huge overheads as mentioned by Atom.

In Oz unleaded until this week have been around $1.30 / litre or about $5.50 AU gallon ,think that would be 2 pound 20 p. In the last few days has jumped 20 cents per litre.

On a golf tour in Ireland, Tiger Woods drives his shiny new BMW into a petrol station in a remote part of the Irish countryside. The pump attendant, obviously knows nothing about golf, greets him in a typical Irish manner completely unaware of who the golfing pro is "Top of the mornin' to yer, sir" says the attendant. Tiger nods a quick "hello" and bends forward to pick up the nozzle. As he does so, two tees fall out of his shirt pocket onto the ground. "What are dose?", asks the attendant "They're called tees" replies Tiger. "Well, what on god's earth are dey for?" inquires the Irishman. "They're for resting my balls on when I'm driving", says Tiger. "Fookin Jaysus", says the Irishman, "BMW tinks of everyting!

A major earthquake, measuring 9.1 on the Richter Scale has hit New Zealand this morning. 350,000 New Zealanders are missing, and over 100,000 have been reported injured. The country is totally ruined and the government doesn't know where to start with providing assistance. The rest of the world is in shock: Canada is sending troops to assist the country. The USA is sending food, medical aid and money. France is sending doctors, nurses and medical supplies. Russia is sending tents and warm clothing. Australia is sending 350,000 replacement Kiwis.

Thats a goody biff. You can see why blonds have all the fun.

Think thats bad, on a local level near my home town there is an Aboriginal mission village ( Australian aboriginals are mostly b l a c k ) that is adjacant to a creek that has been sign posted as Black creek up until a couple of years ago. There is now after a period of no signs, a new creek name, Plumbago creek. Nothing was said about the change, they just did it, got to keep the natives happy !

Sorry about that, Im probably not the sharpest knife in the draw but it is encouraging to hear that some of the other member riders have the riding skill sense to feel a difference and can use it to the advantage it was obviously designed for.

So the switch changes the carbie Nigel, not the timing? or are we back to the 8000 rev thingy.

Thats OK, maybe Im just a bit fussy and can feel the difference a little bit of grooming can achieve. I have a 250 as I found it was all I needed for my capabilities. If I rode it any more Im sure there would be an impending domestic ! Would like to take up your offer for a test ride but then I would think it unfair if you could not evaluate mine........pretty sure you could have a lend of my file !

If you need to rev your bike to 8000 to feel a difference between the switchs function I would suggest you do not spend enough time on your bike. I idle my bike at a quick tick over. Have found to really smooth out the engine tick over, I file off half a ml from the slide cutaway. this in conjunction with dropping the needle one notch ( this will depend on altitude Ive found) as well as the addition of a set of boysen gives a silkie smooth engine that is almost impossible to stall. The only time I would ever use the sunshine setting is on a long trail ride or if in a section that has minimium approach and required second or third gear, steep enbankment or a long hill climb. But Im no expert rider ! Advance and retard is correct.

On the sunshine setting the timing is advanced and gives a much more aggressive power at the expence of a rougher idle speed and a tendancy to easily stall or bog the motor of the bottom. The cloudy setting gives a more even idle with a much smoother and predictable engine responce from right of the bottom.

At a guess BS, grievious bodily harm is when it causes you to have grave concerns about fronting a beak for what you did to the prick thats wronged you. Actual bodily harm is when you catch the scum to teach him a lesson and come off more sore and sorrow than your target.

It's my understanding that Australians have no right to freedom of expression under the Australian Constitution. If you're comfortable with that in Australia, then I suppose we're both in the right places. We had the APEC meeting held here in Australia earlier this month Don. To protect your president for a four day visit was the official line given for our Government to spend over 300 million dollars in security measures. As well, they closed down the entire inner city centre of the largest capital city in Australia, to prevent the world from seeing the freedom we should enjoy to protest, so yes, maybe you are right on that point. Like America we thought we had freedoms you enjoy, but they are slowly being eroded by the propagation of fear and the ongoing charade of peace keeping as the reason for these unpopular measures by OUR leaders.

That may be true in Canada (which definitely has limits on unpopular speech), but in the United States we have a Constitution that guarantees us the freedom to make personal attacks (though it does not supply us a forum, and posters have zero rights here or on any other privately owned forum). In fact, down here, we cherish that right and we put in right up front in our Bill of Rights. Lane found out what happens with personal attacks ! It is obvious why the world is now seeing the USA in a different light, if this is the American way.

Definitly COPIED off me.....

That is exactly the point . The best riders from each country are not always in the selected team. An appraisal of the ring in or prefered riders that have been chosen over much better credentalled riders does give the selectors something to answer for when the results are not forthcoming !

Vinnie is going to feel real neglected by that question Cope ! They had a team entry in the TDN group A, so their must be a few handy riders there.

You must feel for both the ladies here. Without a doubt Laia would be feeling sooooo disappointed at such a mistake costing her a World Championship. Her day consisted of one dab, and a errant wheel placement , 6 points. Iris would be elated in her achievement of toppling the 7 times Ladies world champion fair and square. She has persisted in providing a strong challenge all these years and has been rewarded for hanging in. Well done Iris.

A London lawyer runs a stop sign and gets pulled over by a Glasgow Copper . He thinks that he is smarter than the cop because he is a London lawyer From London and is certain that he has a better education then any Jock Cop. He decides to prove this to himself and have some fun at the Glasgow cops expense!! Glasgow cop says," License and registration, please." London Lawyer says, "What for?" Glasgow cop says, "You didn't come to a complete stop at the stop sign." London Lawyer says, "I slowed down, and no one was coming." Glasgow cop says, "You still didn't come to a complete stop. License and Registration, please." London Lawyer says, "What's the difference?" Glasgow cop says, "The difference is, you have to come to complete stop, that's the law. License and registration, please!" London Lawyer says, "If you can show me the legal difference between Slow down and stop, I'll give you my license and registration; and you Give me the ticket. If not, you let me go and don't give me the ticket." Glasgow cop says, "Sounds fair. Exit your vehicle, sir." The London Lawyer exits his vehicle. The Glasgow cop takes out his baton And starts beating the f*ck out of the lawyer and says, "Do you want me To stop, or just slow down?"

Please explain...?

Bless me Father, for I have sinned. I have been with a loose woman. The priest asks, "Is that you, little Timmy Shaughnessy? "Yes, Father, it is." "And, who was the woman you were with?" "I can't be tellin' you, Father. I don't want to ruin her reputation." "Well, Timmy, I'm sure to find out sooner or later, so you may as well tell me now. Was it Brenda O'Malley?" "I cannot say." "Was it Patricia Kelly?" "I'll never tell." "Was it Sheilah O'Brien?" "I'm sorry, but I cannot name her." "Was it Kathleen Morgan?" "My lips are sealed." "Was it Fiona Grogan, then?" "Please, Father, I cannot tell you." The priest sighs in frustration. "You're a steadfast lad, Timmy Shaughnessy, and I admire that. But you've sinned, and you must atone. You cannot attend church mass for three months. Be off with you now." Timmy walks back to his pew. His friend Sean slides over and whispers, "What'd you get? "Three month's vacation and five good leads

That is one of the best snippets of advice you will find particularly for a Gas Gas.

Have my 2 year old granddaughter out for dinner every Sunday evening with her mum and dad. Pop always has her on his lap watching TV before dinner and we always have a little piece off cherry ripe chocolate together (our secret) but when dinner was served she was not feeling to hungery, so her mum tells her, poppy might give you a little bit of his cherry ripe chocolate if you are a good girl and eat up all your dinner.....put me right in it... told her, already had some mummy !!!!