I suppose we will have to suffer once again a severly limited
infrastructure over the period of this insane holiday, extending far
beyond merely limited transport options. Of course, if this was truly
a secular country, instead of one dominated by the Christian religion,
it would not happen. It would be a holiday like any other public
holiday, though still subject to consumerist exploitation, with all
the implications for climate change that this involves. Another
undesirable aspect is the promotion of hypermobility, flights abroad
and additional car journeys among widely distributed families. We also
have to thank the Victorians for the sickly sentimental version of
Christmas we all must suffer for several days, bombarded by the media
and subjected to ludicrous music in supermarkets.

Which makes the celebration of the Winter Solstice today, and New Year
in a few days time, as something to appreciate and a respite from the
imposition of cruddy Christmas.

So, all you non-motorists out there, a merry Solstice and a happy New
Year.

Doug wrote:

Misog. What about the motorists, are you not going to extend greetings
to what is probably the majority of the population?

On 22 Dec, 05:28, NM all.com> wrote:

No way. What is there to greet? They cause serious harm by their
choice of personal transport.

In article <1684b713-fd30-4d0c-9ea4-
d02e4aed14ce@n20g2000hsh.googlegroups.com>, Doug says...

24 hours Doug, that's all. Surely as an environmentalist, you'd be all
for it.

"Doug" riseup.net> wrote in message
news:1684b713-fd30-4d0c-9ea4-d02e4aed14ce@n20g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...

Grumpy Old Man Alert!

Doug wrote:

I just *knew* Doug would be 'bah humbug Christmas'

Doug (Doug riseup.net>) gurgled happily, sounding much like they
were saying:

Indeed. That's why people use cars.

You've said umpteen times that public transport should NOT be improved to
help persuade people out of cars and onto it. Are you now changing your
mind?

Conor (Conor hotmail.com>) gurgled happily, sounding much
like they were saying:

You jest.

We've got no trains from the 25th to 29th. Shame 'erself is working in
town on the 27th & 28th. Still, at least there's Rail Replacement
Buses... They'll only add an hour each way.

On Fri, 21 Dec 2007 21:28:27 -0800 (PST), Doug put finger to keyboard
and typed:

The funny thing is that, back when Britain probably was a "Christian"
nation in some meaningful sense, there was public transport on
Christmas Day. The decline in PT around Christmas has actually
paralleled the decline in churchgoing. So, whoever it is that's to
blame for the lack of transport options around this time of year, it
certainly isn't the Christians.

On Fri, 21 Dec 2007 21:28:27 -0800 (PST), Doug riseup.net>
wrote: