SeanMacGabhann

I know we differ, and that's fine too but is it REALLY a momentous occassion. The very idea of sovereignty was practically abandoned decades ago . When was the last time the country took a sovereign decision?

thus wrote Al Swearagen in Dakota 1888 I'm all for it

Oh I don't intend to defend labour. Call it incompetence, call it weak, call it deliberate.. they have mucked their chance up. They are bad bad bad But do I think things will be worse under a Conservative government? Absolutely - I think the Tories are basically admitting as much

depends who you are - I don't suppose you or I will do much worse but an awful lot of vulnerable people will see things differently

that wasn't how you instigated it I hope newbie!

5 4 3 2 1 . . . .

Does she have a forum on her website Sue? You could go on there, or her facebook page maybe?

I thought you might Mick - but I understand your reluctance to "go there" as well. It's almost too much to contemplate, and GigGirl's post was very moving I don't know if the film softened the reality or not but even if the film was only 50% true and was really harsh on the Nuns, it's still savage

Horrible story GG. I mentioned the laundries in a previous post but no-one picked up on it. The point is these places were not someplace where some "wrong uns" held sway - they were INSTITUTIONALLY sanctioned. That is why people are so willing to have a go at the Catholic Church, not because one or two bad priests have been caught Ireland is obviously the focal point, being so dominated and all but I have heard a few English Catholics pipe up in recent days and say they too have suffered over many years in this country. I don't think we wil lsee the full scale of this for years

fixed

I'm out of Laphroig so perhaps I could have them? Googling the question doesn't result in any sage answers (use to perfume letters anyone?) so far I wouldn't imagine it's any more harmful than any other chemicals which get used in the house and end up in the drains (washing machine, bleach etc)

I agree Ted But I would also extend that to the summer months when the sun is shining. Having being deprived for 10 moonths it's criminal to have us inside for those warm days

double-literal or double-post?

I don't see any problem with that. My ongoing guilt is entirely a Catholic thing which is entirely due to the fear instilled by people I was told to trust. I wish people shook me out of it earlier. But if people accuse me of being overly concerned by guilt because of my Catholocism, I can't deny they are right. it's what Catholocism DOES particularly well... But I can't change being a bloke, white or irish (well, for the most part)

It's a very "clever" clue but I'm not sure I would ever be able to solve it with 13 blanks. At least with the Telegraph one you feel al lof them contain enough clues on their own But when you get the logic of E(13) you can't help but say bravo to the setter

But what we are talking about there is indoctrination rather than anything else - and I wouldn't be for that. American culture as we understand it is pretty pro-gun (because of it's history yadda yadda) . I want to be able to argue with as many pro-gun people as I like without fear of offending their sensibilities

ooh I know that one... i read about it a couple of years ago rather than solved it tho so will keep schtum

She wouldn't be the first quids! hunca - I wouldn't say there should be NO boundaries but I would expect more robustness from people with faith

Why would we be different Brendan? As for beliefs - If Lady Mac suddenly decides she is becoming a scientologist, do I respect her belief? or do I understand that she is about to be indoctrinated and told to cut off non-believers (which is one of their doctrines)

race or sex are immutable characteristics tho faith is either a) a choice as an adult or b) an indoctrination at childhood it certainly isn't comparable

pfft - he won't even tell me if I got the last clue right or not I was introduced to cryptics during my first London stay - This Daily Telegraph book was invaluable the Telegraph remains my favourite crossword - shame they charge for online access to it

Private eye

on the same topic, from today's Fiver "800 YEARS AND 90 MINUTES OF OPPRESSION With half of his native country submerged under water and its economy in ruins, the Fiver's knobbly stick-waving, green felt hat-wearing, alcoholic Irish cousin Theme Pub O'Fiver has lots to be worrying about. Needless to say, the Republic O'Ireland's non-participation in next year's Adidas Coca-Cola Emirates Kia Sony Visa Budweiser Castrol Continental McDonald's MTN Satyam FNB Neo Africa Prasa Telekom Ultimate Macari's Traditional Fish And Chips World Cup finals is first and foremost on his list of concerns. Younger Fiver readers may not be aware of the fact that the Irish had actually been given a bye to the World Cup final, only for Thierry Henry to throw a spanner in the works by picking up the ball in a qualifying play-off, running the length of the Stade de France pitch and flinging it at William Gallas's head to set up the goal that earned France a place in South Africa at O'Ireland's expense. The bollix. Needless to say, the Irish accepted this setback in much the way you'd expect from a country that prides itself on being the world's friendliest, most laid-back race, whinging so incessantly about the injustice of it all that they've now been reduced to the lowly status of Object of Ridicule for Fifa president Sepp Blatter. "They have asked, very humbly 'Can't we be team No33 at the World Cup?' They have asked for that, really," giggled Sepp, conjuring up images of poor auld Theme Pub tugging his forelock, repeatedly shouting the words "turty-tree" and being escorted out of the dormant volcano that serves as Fifa HQ by the hired muscle. "I will bring it to the attention of the executive committee but if we do that, we will also have to bring in Costa Rica," Sepp added, alluding to the offside goal that helped Uruguay win their play-off against the Costa Ricans, which nobody cares about because Riverdance wasn't invented in Central America. In the extremely unlikely event that Fifa decides to pander to O'Ireland's wishes, the Football Association of Ireland is set to table assorted other completely reasonable requests, among them a demand that they be allowed to play in January's African Cup of Nations and be appointed 1961 Double winners instead of Spurs. "The FAI today confirmed that it attended an hour-and-a-half meeting, at its request, with Mr Sepp Blatter, President of Fifa, on Friday in Zurich," diddly-ayed an FAI statement issued earlier today, confirming that the amount of time that the put-upon Irish have spent under the heel of oppression from assorted overlords now stretches 90 minutes beyond the usual 800 years. "

I wish I was as svelte as MrBen surely anyone living in the are for more than a year or two and a prediliction for curries will have tried them all at one stage?

A point quids often makes and with which I concur