ChrisIB

Was it me or was the robotic spider that Cassandra used reminiscent of Cyberman technology? As the last pure human (before we apparently interbred with other species) does she have sinister allies?

Many thanks!

Yep the router has a firewall (I made the assumption if it worked for a bit then that was not the issue) and was also not aware of the active vs passive ftp. Many thanks for the pointers, will investigate.

I have both a USB modem and a ADSL router. If I upload via the USB modem it is fine but if through the router it stalls after about a MB (both download fine). I am not using either at the same time and it happens on two different OS. Anyone any ideas? (the router has a standard Conexant interface).

Does anyone know of any email provider that sends free text alerts when you get mail? Vodafone charge 12p for each, Orange don't seem to work most of the time so any help would be appreciated!

Has anyone else had a problem logging into their Orange email? I use several different computers and it is the same on all of them.

Didn't know that but suspect they put their own brand on common things deliberately to stop having to pricematch!

Ironically I was with Demon but they seemed expensive (but good). Have found Tiscali broadband fine but have not had to use their support which I gather consists of waiting 20 minutes on a phone. Just a typical big telco I guess. My assumption that calls would be routed to Tiscali by prefixing a code before the call (like Onetel) was perhaps naive but then again they perhaps intended their customers to make that wrong assumption!

I had 2Mb broadband with Tiscali. For the same price they now offer an option with 2Mb and free weekend calls. I thought fine and upgraded. A few days later I got letters from them and BT (my line privider). It seems all calls will start to go through them in about 10 days with just my line rental to BT. It was in the small print but was not plain. Anyone know if you loose your options like caller display? A friend also said that the telcom providers indulge in dirty tricks so I may find the quality of my line suffers. Anyone any experience?

I have just been looking for a small oil filled electric radiator. There are quite a few stores selling an identical item (and I do mean identical). It is a 'Crown' or badged. Here are the prices: Netto 14.99 Morrisons 19.99 T.J. Hughes 20.00 (reduced from 25.00) Wickes 27.99 B & Q 34.99 I could see a few quid difference but surely it is not just down to buying power?

I think a lot of people hear a mate say something like "do it now, you probably won't be able too in 10 years" and off they go (that said, I workout and I'm still surprised at the difference between me at 40 odd than at 30, seems nature looses interest). If the brain keeps writing cheques the body can't fulfill, does it come down to ego then?

Is it like adolescence in reverse? As the hormone levels drop do your drives tend to disappear? I am in my forties and my older brother got a tattoo and ear-rings for the first time, he refers to it as his mid life crisis. Any of you guys that have gone through this care to share what I'm in for?

Just wondered if you think it was a good or a bad move?

Took my theory about a year ago and had a few lessons but now want to get serious. Didn't get on with Atlas, does any one know any good local trainers? Do they all charge about the same? Cheers

Just a note to say thanks for all the info. We ended up going round Ladybower from the pump station. Wonderfully clear views:)

My partner wants to go for a couple of hours walk tomorrow but we have done the three I know, Rivelin Valley, Stanedge pole and the dam past Ladybower. Does anyone know of any others that they would recommend? Cheers

No, we have a pension policy for retiring politicians. They get a well paid consultancy. Under previous governments even ministers had to wait a year before cashing in with some well paid job in industry, but under this sleazy lot Blair has indicated that he thinks even that is 'unnecessary'.

I guess First are just doing what any large company would in the circumstances. My main issue is why the providers of a core service for many that have no choice are allowed not only to get away with racking up prices but seemingly be rewarded with additional rail routes. The gov and council which both supposedly want to promote reduced car use and economic public transport appear to be either corrupt, incompetent or most likely ineffectual in their responsibilities.

The current edition (1148 ) of Private Eye has an article on FirstGroup's bus services in South Yorkshire (page 10). The Eye had alleged (1145) that First's fuel is pricecapped for the year. First responded that it's total fuel bill had risen by 26m. The Eye now reckons that is 2.6p more for each passenger it has so why the four increases this year? It also points out Devon passengers fares had risen by 33% and those in Somerset by 22% last week on top of a 23% increase in June. It heads the article with a comment that 'new' Labour seems happy to ignore the extortionate busfare increases when awarding lucrative rail franchises 'Thameslink' and 'greater western'. Sounds like someones being taken for a ride (sorry).

The junction opposite the Clairmont Hospital at Lodge Moor has to be one of the most dangerous. Every day cars are parked on the junction for 30 yards, there is no visibility coming onto the main Manchester Road, complete nightmare!

I was in Leeds the other week where First Group also operate the majority of routes. A FirstWeek ticket in Sheffield is just about to go upto 15.00, it is 12.00 in Leeds, why? I mainly use the 51 route which is not a subsided route (the council pay First a lump of money each year which subsizes many routes). I waited half an hour at rush hour for one (timetable says every 10 minutes) the other day, not unusual. Seems to me rather than Sheffield traffic being the cause of delays for non subsidized buses it is a cynical approach to pack them at peak times. First issued their 6 month results last week, they have been hit by a 13 M increase in fuel but still made 55M. A local cooperative bus company is the answer, seems to have worked for traffic lights as we seem to have enough of those!