at9

This is the sarcastic version of GIYF: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=giyf

The idea of encouraging people to do their own basic research first goes back to well before google existed. The comment "RTM" (with optional F before the M) may go back to the 1950s. Judging by a wikipedia article there's quite a bit of sociological and educational background to this sort of comment. I even discovered some related acronyms that I would have had to google in order to decode.

@Tom-NL, I like your JFGI reference. In the UK we have a dangerous organisation called Ben's Bargain Centre

Thank you, Tom N-L. I don't know what GIYF means either.

GIYF is the polite version. GIYF = Google Is Your Friend

JFGI is the crude alternative.

That sounds like an idea, and I'm all for giving prep school boys a run for their money. Teach them what life is about before they go to Eton and it might stop them from messing all our lives up.

Like sticking a starting handle up their big ends. Oh, sorry, I forgot. That's standard practice at prep schools

Like many members, I look regularly and post when I feel I can contribute.

It reminds me of the thing the clown used to turn the titles at the end of Camberwick Green.

Camberwick Green? Isn't that found at the bottom of the Walworth Road on the way to Herne Hill?

Megan, the battery replaced a wind up clockwork device. It was called a starting handle. I can just about remember my dad starting one of his cars that way when the battery was flat. Here's a photo of one I found online: http://a2.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/123/0d737ce0a3dc328262041cd95a4c7bf7/l.jpg

Could be worse.You could suddenly switch to Russian, or even arabic. Megan, as a special gift to you when you have this problem with german I hereby present you with a matching pair of: öö

There's a problem in that URL. Here's the correct URL: http://www.imakebootsngloves.com/new_products.html

He's jolly strong, and he normally keeps it fixed on a little pole in front of him.

That's racist And sizist. And probably politically incorrect

Megan, what you're describing is an emergency fanbelt repair. Won't help if the battery is flat. It's barely relevant to modern cars as the fan is usually electrically powered. Modern cars usually have at least one belt. One drives the alternator which charges the battery. The engine will run without it but the battery will gradually go flat. A red light will be illuminated on the dashboard to show this fault. I doubt if an improvised belt would actually drive a modern alternator.Another belt (sometimes the same one) usually drives the power steering pump. If that belt fails your steering will be exceeding heavy. Yet another belt may drive the air conditioning compressor. Not essential.

May I commend this book to all those interested in this fascianting subject. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ronald-Searles-Non-sexist-Dictionary-Searle/dp/0285628658

You will probably also need to replace the battery. Car batteries don't like being flattened and usually have a very short life after that, even if they appear to have recovered. You may also think it a good idea to spend £80 or so per year on a comprehensive assistance package including an option that will help you at home. AA and RAC charge rather more than this but there are better value packages, often as an optional extra with your car insurance. The best value I've yet found is here: http://www.autoaidbreakdown.co.uk/

Is there anyone here from MANchester? Sorry, meant PERSONchester. Or was it Kangaroochester? Or Qwlodzjslkjhsdjikgschester? Whoops!

It's the highest mountain in Wales, but I suspect as a Canadian you'd not be that impressed.

Megan, you might need to explain Wales as well

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=snowdon

In the UK there are many stories about daft folk going up mountains with grossly inadequate footwear or clothing. The montain rescue people save their lives despite their stupidity. I wonder if this sort of thing happens in the alps, rockies, or anywhere else where they have rather higher peaks.

I was just about to post about this article and found somebody had beaten me to it. PS: Why does the forum software appear to disallow mutliple capitals in thread titles? BBC, SLR and TUC have been changed in Bbc, Tuc and Slr.

In English this is Morton's Neuroma. I had a painful small lump in the ball of one foot. Didn't know what it was so went to the doctor who said it was Mortons Neuroma. He suggested using these: http://www.compeed.co.uk/compeed-footcare After a few days it improved a lot. ALthough I can still feel a slight lump there is no pain. Got the same iin theother foot now but that doesn't hurt. http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/mortonsneuroma/Pages/Introduction.aspx I was amused when the doctor said that the problem is far more common in women than men. When I sked why he mentioned high heels and badly fitting footwear. I don't wear HH all the time, probably only about 10% of the time so I don't think that was the cause for me.

The study referenced in this article should be in the running for an IgNobel prize: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/01/01/high_heels_are_hot/ http://www.improbable.com/ig/

Who are istr?

GIYF :-)

Apart from that, I can't recall seeing any ballet boots in shops in London. There might be the odd pair around Camden market if you look hard enough but that's likely to be a fruitless search. Not even sure that there are regularly any to be seen at London's 2 "alternative" markets, LAM and LFF. http://www.londonalternativemarket.com/ http://www.londonfetishfair.co.uk/ I think Alternative Footwear come to these markets sometimes http://www.alternative-footwear.co.uk/ and ISTR they are willing to bring down specific shoes if asked in advance.

ISTR seeing a few pairs in one of the fetish shops on Holloway Road. Possibly Atsuko Kudo, possibly not. I know one of the shops has closed since I was there a year or 2 ago. Sorry I can't be more precise.

Not the highest nor the most elegant but these 2" heels look very practical. The price is practical too, unlike the designer heels for men that have been available.

http://www.shoe-shop...0/invt/pav33286

PS: Quite a few of the women's styles from this company are available in UK9.

According to the UK Gender Recognition Act (2004) http://en.wikipedia....nition_Act_2004 a transexual (as defined in that act) must be treated for all purposes as their new gender identity. HHP policy therefore seems to be illegal. However this is of no practical consequence in most cases.

Those who are not fully transitioned M>F and are not legally recognised in their assumed gender are legally male. Period. Therefore HHP can exclude them from the girls' forum. Those M>F TS who are legally recognised as female can join HHP as female and nobody will know otherwise unless they say something. It would be wise for them not to.

That leaves a potentially tiny number of existing members, including one of the team, who have legally become female or are preparing to do so. I suggest that each of these is treated on a case by case basis and an individual agreement reached. I doubt this will involve significant effort for the team as the numbers are almost certainly tiny.

Not permitting guys on the girls forum is just as discriminatory as not permitting TG/TVs.

Don't think there's a problem with that particular discrimination under UK law, no more than having a "ladies only" area in a clubhouse, although discrimination based on gender is illegal in many respects. The problem is that in the UK a transitioned M2F TS is legally female for all purposes.Except apparently here at HHP. Those TV/TG folk who present convincingly as female when they are legally male are still legally male. If they are convicted of a crime they would go to a male prison, it says male in their passport. There is no problem with HHP barring these folk from the girl's forum. It's just that relatively small quota of transitioned TS people who are legally female. We may have one or more amongst us without even knowing it; we don't have a right to ask and if they don't tell there's no way of knowing.

I appreciate this is a complex and delicate subject for which there are often no simple answers. TG folk (of all types) can face unwarranted discrinination in many walks of life. On this basis, HHP's policy can be seen as a very minor thing,

I'm not really trying to influence HHP policy - it doesn't actually matter to me one way or the other - but it's possible that HHP's current policy could fall foul of UK law. HHP is based in the UK and hence has to abide by UK law. My understanding, which could be incorrect, is that a transitioned TS person must be treated as their new gender for all purposes. This includes passport and law enforcement. Hence HHP should allow a transitioned TS to declare themselves female. If they are a new member and say nothing about their TG history then nobody is any the wiser and I don't see a problem. The question arises when long standing member John Smith has become Jane Smith. I am fully aware that HHP is not a forum for TS/TV/TG issues and am entirely happy about that. In all other areas of life Jane is entitled to be regarded as female without question or prejudice. Except here at HHP. I'm really not sure of the best approach.

OK, cross the pond translation on this one please?

Is ' taking the piss ' comparable to ' talking trash ' or ' talking $hit ' or something like that? I honestly have NO CLUE and have never heard the term ' Taking the piss ' used before.

JFGI: http://en.wikipedia....Taking_the_piss

PS: Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Cuomo were most definitely not taking the piss when they warned you guys about the storm. My best wishes to all those in its path. I've been trying to contact a friend who lives in Manhattan (E 29th and 2nd) but his phone and cellphone are both out. No internet either Probably no power.. He's probably fine but it would be good to know.