SeanMacGabhann

I don't think too many people, Polanski included, would go as far as to suggest he is innocent silverfox! The discussion after all this time is how to proceed. Polanski is in the frame at the moment but if you are looking for celebs to jail for underage sex with boys or girls in the 70s, well, take your pick Do we say that the 70s were different, we as a society have moved on and don't accept that now or do we say we don't accept it now and we shouldn't allow admissions of it then? Aren't there enough biogrophies (from Led Zepplin, to Bowie, to Jack Nicholson and everyone in between) where underage sex (with groupies, fans, whoever) is frequently alluded to or even described? Are we willing to retrospectively trawl the files until we have have gottem all?

Surely it is more twattish to suggest that because one knows one CAN steal with ease, one is going to? I'm glad the girl in question is safe, and am even more impressed with her bravery. Whilst shopkeepers are probably well-advised to instruct staff to let potentially dangerous criminals flee, if more individuals reacted as she did there would be fewer criminals willing to risk it. I'll buy her a pint if I see her

I'm not trying to be provocative or stand up for the guy - I'm broadly in agreement with quids, piers and everyone else on here but I am trying to try and figure out why this particular case doesn't quite anger me in the same way For example - don't paedophiles consistently re-offend? Given how long ago this has happened (and I'm not saying "fuggedabboudit") has he done anything like it in all that time? Does that make a difference? I don't think that him being in "entertainment" gets him off anything. But when other entertainers are exposed, they tend to be ostracised pretty quickly - but this isn't happening here (and I don't believe that has anything to do with Judaism, Hal!) That is saying something.. I just don't know what yet

I doubt it's anything to do with that, Hal Good article from Joan Smith in today's Guardian on the case http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/sep/29/roman-polanski-arrest-whoopi-goldberg

Well I wasn't talking about Americans - more the Bush administration

I just read the same thing at lunch - but is it THAT surprising? really?

The thing keeps on giving mSecure - I have about 4 dozen logins for various banks, accounts, cards, "research" etc - Some of them often fall into disuse because I can't remember which security questions I "tweaked" for security. Now this app keeps track of them all. Sounds silly, but it has made some aspects of my life a lot easier. And obviously it's protected so if I lose my phone... Spotify - you need to shell for the premium spotify account, but the quality of streaming on 3G and even Edge is fantastic. Failing that yuo can setup offline playlists so the next time you hit wifi, it downloads them all seamlessly. Yes it cossts a tenner a month but I havent bought a CD since NearestTube - opens the camera which you can wave around anywhere in London - and it then overlays with every tube and train stop, along with how long it takes to get there. Crosswords - download crosswords from many global papers/periodicals - cryptic and consise, today's and previous. Always good to have a fresh crossword to hand

*Bob* has hacked Dom's account again...

Not wittering - expressing some of the things I was trying to say better than I managed - but I'm going to keep schtum on this thread now as a couple of people have pointed out to me offline that I'm sounding bitter. And that's not what I'm trying to do MrBen or The Chair - sorry if I have pulled this OT

I know I'm not being very clear with my posts, so it's my fault I'm not getting my point across - at no point did I intend to say that I thought non-married relationships were MORE successful per se Nor am I trying to "prove" anything, anecdotally or not. The idea was to suggest that the institution itself wasn't absolutely necessary. That doesn't make it undesirable or without specific benefits. It's just that, given the subject is pre-nups, if a relationship is to fail, married or not, I would prefer it to be possible to not involve lawyers etc. Although I see Brendan's point as well

But IF this was in the "What is ED listening to" thread then I would agree wholeheartedly with everything Piers and the reviewer said. IB was born to make 3 star albums. Which to be fair, is at least one star more than I would have predicted in the early 90s

And it made you laugh did it?

"And relationships outside marriage often last far longer than those within... Not heard this one before, what's your source?" I wasn't citing any sources - just an observation of friends and colleagues over the last 20 years. I doubt my experience is unique either. Surely most people know lots of friends with marriages that haven't worked and equally know lots of people in long-term relationships? I'm not saying not marrying is better than marrying. I know plenty of happily married couples etc etc and I hope everyone of them lasts. I guess I am sounding bitter - but I'm trying to say that splitting up happens. A lot. Even to married people. And the process of divorce is, in my experience, enough to make me think more than twice about risking it again

Anyone watch Brooker's Gameswipe last night? Get thee to your iPlayers if not - good interview slots with Graham Linehan and Dara O Brian as well

Where is it? And what date?

Alfie - the CPT was my forst forum drinks (2 and a half years ago? Is that right??? Wow) and I had all the same worries You'll probably just know when you see them but have a look at pictures from previous meetings Feb and March links here I don't think I can make this one tho

Funnily enough Townley gives me the willys at night as well - it's the feeling exposed on either side by a lack of housing I reckon. Sorry to hear about your friend's actual mugging there tho. I suspect most roads on ED have a similar mugging story (or several)

website seems to be all about Sarah Brown being the star of the show - maybe the focus will shift by tomorrow For what it's worth I've been agreeing with quids on this debate

I'm with giggirl and her distaste for physical assault But then she praised That Woman and called her "down to earth and likeable" - which has made me reconsider That Woman is just... it's not her ubiquity. It's not her utter utter lack of class. It's the very obvious (look into her eyes!!!) disdain she displays for the rest of humanity, as they flock to praise her "well, say what you like but she knows how to make a bob or two. And she looks after Harvey".... Sod it, I'm off to slap myself in the face in the vain hope I can erase her from my mind

Those of us an public transport are grateful t'eater

My parents were deperate for me to go to Uni. A LOT of pressure. Schools in Ireland used to do day-trips to the various Unis and colleges so we could get some idea of what we fancied I wasn't the lease bit interested. Finally, on the last possible visit to NIHE Limerick I was captivated by the sociology, languages and humanities courses. I couldn't wait to tell the folks... Turns out they wanted me to do a PROPER degree - engineering or summat. What kind of job would I get with "humanities" they wanted to know So I never went. Left school (and home) at 16. Kind of wish I had gone to Uni for the atmos but mostly glad I made my own way. The question from the OP can be interpreted in many ways - from my time hanging around friends halls and speaking to those who went - yeah it definitely is "all it's cracked up to be" Is it necessary for most? Probably not

Come on Fred - someone with such a finger on the pulse would make an uber-councillor. You can obviously do it much better than anyone else. Stand for election I say Has anything the council done ever been any good enough for you?

Dang it - for a minute there I thought the news was more... personal MrBen Having being through this particular mill before, I would argue against the institution of marriage before I would argue for or against pre-nups. If you are married, or intending to then by all means don't take this as an attack on your choices. And I hope yours lasts - I just hated the intrusion of institutions into a personal matter when the time came to seperate. And relationships outside marriage often last far longer than those within. I know there are practical benefits to marriage as well but on balance... And as MrBen states, statistically it is as likely as not (I would guess the 45% will be a lot higher in 20 years) As for the 50/50 split - trickier to call. Mine ended amicably and whilst it wasn't 50/50, we were able to agree which bits were fair. But if you throw in a nasty seperation, all bets are off, hence pre-nups I guess. I'm rambling I know but in short - I'm against marriage, pre-nups and automatic 50-50 splits

aren't all you dads in the CPT this Friday anyway?

As Brendan already pointed out Jeremy and as I already knew...