Gasping

Mag-nipple-cent?

Buttons are too stiff

Good question Bored Girl! Congratulations to the two of them anyway.

Not to be funny about this, but this is akin to asking people to keep a look out for a BMW that was stolen. We need specifics or we are more useless than usual.

I think this is like marriage and those self-help books on the same subject. It is a good thing to have all the different opinions at hand, but what works for me might not work for you. My cadence averages out at 85. Am I a great cyclist? Hell no! Is Lance at and average of 90? *hat, coat, exits stage left*

So I had a look at the simplistic financial calculations and came up with something far scarier than presented here. I will in all likelihood continue to buy from my LBS, but look at the compounded problem described below. Assumptions: a) The product costs R1.00 from CRC and includes shipping to RSA. b) VAT is 14% c) Duties for SARS is 15%. Assuming that on average the Gross Profit made by each party is 25% (not markup), then the following table applies. I have used running totals to simplify. Part Cost = R1.00 Include VAT = R1.14 SARS = R1.31 25% GP (markup of 34%) = R1.76 It is not quite R1.00 becomes R2.00, but here it starts getting interesting. Part cost to Distributor = R1.76 VAT = R2.00 25% GP (markup of 34%) = R2.68 Part cost to Distributor = R2.68 VAT = R3.06 25% GP (markup of 34%) = R4.10 Also bear in mind that the VAT charged by SARS to the Distributor is refundable because it is for resale not use by the business. In this same way, the VAT payed by the Retailer to the Disty is also refundable. I can make it cheaper by charging 20% GP. Then the whole calculation comes out to a Retailer price to me of R3.33. The VAT reimbursement still applies. Everyone will plead poverty here and claim lower GP margins, but in all reality when you are not in the FMCG business where you can charge lower margins because of the volume being moved (read CRC) then the going rate is 25% GP plus. I do not deny anyone making a profit - please do not make a "killing" on my purchase.

Give him our best and wish him a speedy recovery

I'm not going to venture how long ago I think that was. So hang on a minute. Last year the cops still cared?

Sorry. I thought this has something to do with your municipal account.

Bean there, done that?

Say that without proof and it is slanderous. I choose the glass that is half full. I do not believe that the world is corrupt and devious. There are SOME people who are that way, but not everyone. Even if he did it for the reasons you imply - so what? He can "serve his time" and then come back. Do you not think people can be rehabilitated? I was a drug addict. Does that mean I will be a user until the day I die? What about the last 30 years (on 10 July)?

Why? Nolan has done something illegal. Nolan was caught. Nolan has co-operated with the powers that be. Nolan has been given an 18 month ban. Nolan will (God willing) be back. A lifetime ban? Jeepers, that is harsh. The reasons for this transgression are well publicised. Even if he doped to get an unfair advantage instead of helping him over an injury, why would you want to take away a man's earning potential by using his talent. "Let him who is without blame cast the first stone" and all that. If you have never in your entire like broken any rule or exceeded the speed limit or shuffled figures around for tax purposes or even walked out of a shop with more change than you were entitled to, then go ahead. Come on people. Let it go. Let him serve his punishment and then take a wait and see stance when he returns. If he learns from his mistake, then all in all a good thing had happened. If however there is nothing learnt from this, then there is another issue at hand here.

Well said. What are the three words you hate hearing while maikng love? "Honey, I'm home!"

I always thought that when it comes to F******, it was more of an Audax event as opposed to a time trial. Ladies, care to comment on this?

Sorry, I did not see that post. Good post though - proof that you can have your cake and eat it (more like share it with the little one).

My prayers are with him. Thanx for the update.

.... that "they" still have not dropped and my voice is still squeaky?

May his Doctors be clever, his nurses cute and attentive, his physio kind and his recovery swift and complete.

Ratty, who said that women should not be able to comment on this? Your points are all valid - even from a chauvinistic point of view they cannot be argued. Would you rather have kept on cycling instead of having the little 'un? That is where this all started.

... that nagging little rash after a one-night stand?