mockney piers

"muslims hate jews" Wow, and 'national trait' was skating on thin ice!!!! You might want to read about the hugely long history of tolerance of Jews by Muslims and compare that with the Christian world's, but hey, maybe that's the past. You're conflating the rhetoric of Arab (or indeed Perisan) regimes with widespread disgust at Israel's actions (not just in the muslim world to be frank, it's just that our leaders never want to rock the boat (ie upset the US)) with your own Islamophobia.

In fact the last time Israel was genuinely the victim rather than the agressor was 1973, hardly yesterday. I was born then and I'm almost middle aged, so half a lifetime to try and make some progress and zip. In the meantime northern Ireland and south Africa, supposedly intractable conflicts are virtually unrecognisable compared to their 1973 situations. I guess the only comparable conflict are the koreas, and impretty sure south Korea would happily normalise relations, meaning there is one candidate maintaing a state of conflict (in this case to justify immense state control by sowing the seeds of fear and paranoia). Israel uses similar language of victimhood and fear to justify it's continued imperial colonial control through the use of violence. I also loved HAL's 'what were they expecting', thank god some people have been willing to fight for freedom or we'd still have a bloody monarch ruling through Divine right wouldn't we!!

Eh? Germany killed 60,000 British civilians with bombs and we half a million Germans, all only 4 years before this nonsense kicked off. Using past acts to justify current aggression is the refuge of demagogues and fanatics. The fact is that if Israel doesn't want this sort of thing to continue it has to talk and normalise relations with everyone. But it won't settle with the Palestinians, hell it won't even agree to stop building new illegal settlements, so current strategy I think was most succintly described by Keef's missus*!! *'Noone loves us we don't care' for those who don't read whole threads and want everything in quotes

Dubious fact there jimmy. Can you back it up? Egypt, peace and cooperation. Jordan, peace and settlement. Lebanon, happy if Israel just stopped bombing/killing/interfering with them. Turkey, once stalwart ally. Saudi Arabia, america's best friend. Iraq, American puppet state. So, basically there is tension over occupied land with Syria and the ridiculous bluster of the idiot ahmedinajad, Iran not exacty a neighbour. Try thinking before trotting out trite nonsense. In Europe we Leary that peace is created through friendship, trade and mutual security. Armed tension as a delicate balance of power resulted on the first world war and 20 million deaths. Israel is pursuing a strategy of permanent conflict with acceptable level if threat rather than deal with it's own internal conflicts or address settlements and the theft of land and water in occupied lands. Pity the death of Rabin sadly and that Sharon did not die soon enough.

I'm inclined to think that the organisation bringing in the aid considers (quite justifiably*) the blockade to be illegal, and their 'offer' an affront particularly in the light of the goods that would be considered contraband (as mentioned fruit juices etc). Yes the running of the blockade was a deliberate provocation, but I can see why they did it. If a shopkeeper refuses to acknowledge the illegal demands of a gangster it may be unwise but ultimately they would have right on their side. If armed men came into his shop to enforce their rules, we might also think that attacking him might be unwise and almost certainly dangerous, but to say that the gangster shooting him dead is justifiable self defence seems to me a somewhat twisted world view. As regards the Jewish vote it is indeed a simplification, this series of short essays makes for interesting reading http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/05/21/the_special_relationship *the only support for it I've seen is that maritime blockades during wars are supported under international law. Rather weak considering the blockade was imposed as collective punishment for not playing ball and the 'war' that later ensued was a one sided and murderous assault, again as collective punishment destroying schools, industry, agriculture, 48% of health buildings and 14,000! homes - WHO figures)

Alligator probably still my favourite, but I'm still digesting this one and it's lighter on the hooks, but somehow more seductive, whereas I found Boxer rather aimless. Loving the new Crystal Castles album whilst on the subject of Canadanians.

this damned gold i've got. Anyone got any dunes? Yes, new National is good indeed. I think it's better than Boxer and almost as good as Alligator, maayyyybe even better.

Avi Buffalo. Hugely assured debut from four high school graduated. Thy were only sixteen when some of the dongs were recorded. Staggering really and well worth a listen (even if they do sound a bit like The Sleepy Jackson)

Oh gosh, I didn't realise it was so soon. Have a brilliant day and congratulations....weak excuse mind you ;-P The mocklet and I'd be up for it however; the pub not the wedding.

Marginally better this week. At least it vaguely felt like a police drama this week. And great ending too, I always knew Ruth had it in her. And Nicola Walker, she even looks great gobbing in slow mo'.

Speaks volumes, so to speak. Try [email protected] I can see where you're coming from though.

I've been caught up on my travels so today is looking not so good. Weirdly I'm free tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week though.

Anyone up for today as the sun is (finally) shining so?

you're right...no white kid would join a gang or mimic American gang culture, no siree. Though that was very funny admittedly.

Sorry chaps, cider == a bit poopooed in the head for me. A bit of a rarity for me these days, but weirdly nice. Apologies for the sense of humour bypass.

Cab rubbish Spanish speaking dads turn up? Calcetinas!!!yo.

David platt? Worst player scores best goal? I missed beckhams greece thing as I was in cuba, but Owen's against the Argies was pretty special.

Err. 'god and ulster' == religion and nationalism. Or cunt' and cunt' as I think of them. Hence bad.

and errr...weirdly scarily...

oh dear. Flags are why people die. Fucking bucnh of arse. Here was a good one though, and they all died needlessly, to no good end, and my lot lost, alot.

Sounds more like a case of someone not really listening and hearing what they want to hear. More of a misunderstanding than political correctness gone mad. I believe it's called 'doing a Gordon' now. Still, what an arsehole frankly!!

Thanks chaps. Didn't know scite (does anyone else pronounce it shite in their heads?) culd cope with such large files. Cheers.

He he, very funny!

Is anyone else confsed why a Danish beer is suddenly the epitome of all things English? It's just a bit odd frankly. (I suppose they ruled the south east for a while, but a bit before the Corinthian Casuals were formed surely). Anyone else going to the Kingstonian v Arsenal game atthe end of the summer btw?

Anyone any suggestion as to how I go about editing a 200mb text file?