touching the monkey's bum
I'm sure local insurance companies are practically dancing on their solid mahogany tables at this news. The real punishment for speeding isn't what the law doles out, it's what appears when you next go to renew your motor insurance - a massive premium hike. Northern Ireland motor insurance is shockingly expensive, lack of competition and the percieved risk from the troubles are often cited as reasons. The worst part is the feeling that you do absolutely nothing about it, you can run a defence against the law, but not against the insurers - if they hike the premium you either accept it or go elsewhere, yet magically when you go elsewhere they've increased premiums too. Gah. What's a boy to do?
«6 CommentsJune 20, MMIII»
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You've arrived at the homepage of Stephen Stewart. The archive is available here for those who want it. This site is happily hosted by Dreamhost. Click for more?
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I work as a web designer in Belfast, and I live by the sea in a shoe. You can see me here, doing my livejournal pose as idoru called it. If you need to you can email me at carisenda -at- gmail -dot- com.
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Recommended Viewing
- 300
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Does exactly what it says on the (comic book) tin. Loved it. - Little Miss Sunshine
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Very funny, disturbing (the beauty pageant) and completely messed up -- but in a good way. - Laputa: Castle in the Sky†
Story great, characterization a little on the weak side -- though the big robots are cool. - Porco Rosso
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Stylish, funny, exciting. - Grave of the Fireflies†
Very sad, which was a little unexpected since I didn't know much about it before watching it. Can be a little too slow in places though, otherwise it's very good. - Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind†
The story can get a little dense at times what with the various factions, but still really enjoyable, inventive and engaging. - X-Men: The Last Stand
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Opportunity, talent, money - all blown. Over 3 films X-Men has hinted of something great that could have been, this last one says "No, sorry - not going to happen". Bah.
The best solution is to take up two wheels, small number plate, dark visor and handy pop-up middle finger.
Note to The Kids: Your stoopid wee scooters don’t count. Get a real bike.
Well, I’m already on 2 wheels as I now cycle everywhere. But I have been looking into the petrol powered versions - the bike sequences in The Matrix got me thinking you see, was it a Ducati 996 she rode off the building? Or was that the freeway bike?
It’s that or the tweaked L200 I’ve been dreaming about. Try filtering past me in that.
I can filter by anything, me. And at ludicrously high speeds, too.
Get yer dad to teach you to ride. Else I will on my bike. Did I ever mention how much I love biking? It is great. 130 on a ‘Busa was the best thrill of my life. Of course, it scared me to death and I had to sit down for a bit. Story can be told upon request.
I need a bigger bike. 64 bhp just doesn’t cut it with me anymore. I need triple figures.
I still think flying Dukes of Hazzard style through the night air on 4 wheels is the greater thrill (whilst seeing how fast I could drive down 2 miles of concrete farm lane). However in this case it was probably the more expensive as the car was a write off as a result. Us nutter country boys, I dunno…
Speeding is fun. To bad a bunch of bureaucrats won’t let us have it, citing silly reasons like “safety” and “protection of human life”. Fascists.
Insurance in NI is only expensive in comparison to the rest of the UK. Try getting insurance in the Republic. My Dad got a renewal last week up from 700 to 1000 euro. He is 62, with 40 years no claims, driving a 10 year old Merc. A mate of mine is 30, on a provisional, drives a 12 year old Honda Civic (which cost him 750 euro) and his 3rd party insurance is 4000 euro!
Most insurance companies will simply not provide quotes for drivers under 25 (or quote a specious 5 figure annual premia). They’ve introduced a penalty points system this year, but it has not had a huge effect.
Car Insurance cost is just another example of the many costs that reveal the truth behind the fallacy that the standard of living in the South is now very high.