My neighbour was burgled recently, and within 10 minutes three police cars, and six coppers turned up. The next day, forensics arrived and by the third day, we had posted details of the break-in and advice through our letterboxes. Then nothing, I’m pretty sure this is the usual way police go about ‘reassuring the public’, reactive not proactive, that we once had from the boys in blue.
Category Archives: Thinking allowed
How far could you go for $18?
You probably haven’t heard of the journalist Anne Kadet, for why should you as she lives in New York?
Anne writes regularly on Substack under the name Café Anne. Here she stalks the streets of the Big Apple finding interesting people to write about.
For the 100th post, she had a brainwave after being sent a $100 Christmas gift by an admirer of her project (she even has over 330 admirers willing to pay for her free posts).
She then decided to ask 100 New Yorkers for $1 of wisdom. At the end of this piece of random research, 64 gave their nuggets for free.
She then polled her readers on what to do with the remaining $64. Fifty-six per cent voted to fund another adventure. Now bear with me here, she decided then to divide the money four ways corresponding to the 4 poll options and using the percentage voted for each option.
This left her with $36 for the next adventure which she then opted to have two ‘adventures’.
Half of which was to be spent on an arbitrary taxi ride, and the purpose of this rambling post. Hailing a taxi near her home she asked the driver: “Could you take me in any direction until the meter gets to $18, please?”
Hoping to be taken to an interesting place with plenty of people worthy of writing about, the driver’s few words were to get her to confirm her request.
Little was spoken thereafter until they reached the corner of Broadway and Chambers Street.
“Is okay?” he asked.
Not really. They were at the city’s Civic Center, which is mainly government buildings—an unlikely spot for adventuring. As she said: “But what could I do?”
This got me thinking if a London cabbie had the same instruction. First, he would ask for confirmation, he would want to know why, ask her all about her blog, and then, using his knowledge of London, take her somewhere that was really interesting with people to interview.
So where would $18 (£14.21) take you?
Assuming this was undertaken during a weekday, starting from London’s topographical centre: King Charles I roundabout at Trafalgar Square this could get you for instance to Shakespeare’s Globe, London Zoo or Broadcasting House.
Plenty of scope at these places to talk to interesting people.
Or with the traffic nowadays 100 yards up the road to Charing Cross Station.
A level laying field is needed
In London, there are 9,000 buses and 15,000 black taxis. How many were killed and seriously injured by buses, and how many by black cabs? But black cabs continue to be banned from London’s roads by Transport for London. Why?
Election mania
I have just made a disappointing discovery. With all this hoo-ha about forthcoming elections, I thought a quadrennial service might be coming our way. I’m not talking about the forthcoming general election. Nor the London Mayoral vote, as living in the extreme north-east of London, the current, and front runner is unlikely to improve our transport or living standards, as with an elderly population around here there are few votes to be gained for him.
No, this four-year service will arrive in 2 years, in time for the local elections. This ceremony, once performed with a broom, now one of those long-handle pickers will see our streets cleaned. Alas, the leader of our local authority has just announced bankruptcy in weeks, so that might spell the end of this ancient tradition.
English not spoken here
Transport for London has paused the English language test for Private Hire Drivers. This was a licensing requirement, but as a large number of Public Hire drivers were not passing the test, TfL has decided to pause this requirement. Imagine travelling to one of the world’s most popular capitals, and not being able to communicate with the driver in the language of that country. An incredible safety concern!
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