SeanMacGabhann

Jamma's correct keef, but I'm liking your wii suggestion too I'm not sure if Jamma invented the phrase "woo" but he/she certainly ran with it the most for a while there

I have been going to comedy in ED for about 8 years now, following the East Dulwich Comedy club through it's years at the EDT, the the Mag, then briefly Camberwell New Rd, before they found a permanent home at the Hob in Forest Hill More recently Joe Rowntree pulled in some fantastic bills at the GutRocking nights at the EDT and, Pull The Other One has been a revelation at the Ivy House. A beautiful theatre at the back of that place, a very varied cabaret atmosphere and an appreciative crowd So all in all - pretty well served I would say. However, last night i went along to the Hob's new material night - top standups doing new material. I think it was only the second one they have done but what a stonker it was. ?3 for nearly three hours of excellent performances. I found it hard to believe that my companions hadn't heard of Daniel Kitson before last night but they are avowed fans now. Anyway, it gets advertisd in the what's on thread so keep an eye out for future bills. But do go, it's fab What other great comedy nights have you had in the area? Anyone been to the new NunsHead nights?

Huggers - that last post was weeks ago - you must be on to series 2 by now... And those last 4 episodes in series 1.. emotional or what?

And again I have to ask - where on the planet is this vision of small government working? The OP spent rather more time complaining about his lot and lazy staff than "big government". Prices are rising everywhere and it has rather more to do with global events than it does this government (which sounds like I'm pro this government, when I'm not - but fairs fair)

MM isn't bound by the same rules as the Advertising Standards Authority

oh - and it's a looong time since I was "?g" :-S

* buys some shampoo for possible hair-washing-suddenly-required excuse * ;-) Come along Jamma - we can discuss woo

Declan - come now, you and I of all people know what a fence is... The truth is often in the middle - people shouldn't be so down on it

thanks TP - the landlords of the George Canning and Sun & Doves in Camberwell were heavily involved in posting about this last year but it's useful to be reminded again. And fingers crossed for the future

well to be fair to LE, that is exactly what she is trying to do - she is taking the course and collecting evidence collection Wether it is considered impartial, neutral evidence is another matter. And frankly there are thousands of different but similar things one would have to sign up for to be sure of sifting through all of the evidence. If I ever ever tell any of you that I am signing up for a Dianetics course - please try and stage an intervention.

I did a double-take as well. But come on - is masterchef a "guilty" pleasure? I love it

Yep - the one on the hill in Exeter (used to be a hotel) is a bit of a flagship for the chain. Very plesant on a summer day. food is still inedible crud tho. And it's pretty grim on a busy weekend night too (whihc is true of many places in Exeter to be fair, some of which I really like)

I had to be restrained snorks, I had Lady MacGabhann over my shoulder vetting me. She could tell that I was in one of those moods... But the fact is some of the people I hold dear have their leanings so it would ill-suit me to "do one". Plus people tend to listen more if one is not ranting.

why thank you m'aaam. It will make up for the one that annoyed you then. Apart from the usual frustration on both sides that the other lot can't see their point, I am finding the conversation itself not bad. Fair play to Bizzy for at least continuing to address most questions. Well, sort of ;-)

Lol Postings thread ahoy. Although, for the record I would consider myself a very lucky man

what keef said

she might well think that of us TT - but after the OP posted I figured the danger had passed

I'm almost touched by HLB's conversion to serious discourse, but if I worry about any move to preventing any potential crime Unless it's by this guy http://www.pikesoft.com/blog/media/2/20060727-minority_report_gestural_ui.jpg going back to the OP - I don't doubt the sincerity of the fear involved and hope she is feeling ok. But reading the description of the incident again...well... assuming there was no malice involved... doesn't it sound a BIT like a scene in a film where the guy does that, the girl likes him, they have a drink and Rowan Atkinson performs a marriage service? Imagine someone less cynical than us who walked up the main street (not a badly lit back street for him) and though - I may never see her again. She was lovely! But if I go and tell her that now she will think I am mad. or worse, dangerous. * walks some more * But I have to tell her. She may laugh at me but I;m going to tell her He could well have been more frightened than her. Seriously I know I know it may have been more sinister than that. But if he meant harm then he surely would have done something?

Or if you fancy a bit more drama, there is always The Capitol in FH. Or if you prefer summer sun and outdoor benches the Fox on The Hill. But life is too short to be looking into the face of a "fiver for a curry and pint" and wondering who is being shafted to bring you that deal. Not least you for eating the over-salted, over saturated, broiler chicken But enough about W'spoons. PubCos (not necessarily landlords or pubs themselves) charge too much for beer these days. This much is true. Let's see how they deal with dwindling customer base now they can't go for the easy option of automatically selling the venue for real estate.

Nope, words fail me on this one Don't?? As in "thou shalt not"? Am I being commanded? Bizzy I'm not denying you your beliefs. Have them. May they serve you well. But don't assume you are immune from criticism for holding them. You can't command respect. Respect is earned. You have feelings, I get it. I have no innate wish to hurt those feelings. I don't know you from Ad.. well anyone. But as long as you proclaim your beliefs I have the exact same right to repudiate them. And I don't command anyone to respect me for it. People can dislike me as they wish.. how and when did I do this? I have been to a few fire and brimstone sermons, but most of the ones I have heard are just dull repetitious "be nice to one another" stuff. Nothing wrong with that is there? I just don't need to go to mass to hear it. I Already Get It Not really. Y'all read from the same book. Interpret it differently maybe but a "common belief system" it surely is Sounds like the dictionary definition of unhappy to me. But again, if you are happier now, good for you. But your chosen belief system, just because it makes you happy, ain't necessarily true I'm REQUIRED to have a theory? Well if someone said a giant turtle wandered past the planet earth and dropped a few passengers and we went from there.. it's a theory I guess. I could ascribe to it. But why would I? I'd rather go "gee I dunno. and I don't much care". Biology and evolution is so infinitely fascinating and wonderful and amazing.. it doesn't NEED an explanation. It just is... You think I'm punishing you?? Disagreement = punishment??

The three, no-less-true-despite-being-obvious, examples you quote quids were not operating under the banner of secularism nor aethism - they were just ... well you can use your own adjective here. But nor were they operating in a vacuum. Rome for example was all too aware of Hitler's operations. It's inaction tells us all we need to know. I remember growing up in Ireland and hearing stories of local churches blessing guns bound for Germany. And whilst the Catholic church found time to ban Lady Chatterly et al, Mein Kampf remained un-banned. If I focus on catholocism, be assured it is only because that is my background and may every little black-hearted christian brother who beat me with a lead-filled leather strap find forgiveness and redemption in... oh dear me no. There is no redemption. But really, if I say catholocism, you can insert the religion of your choice Bizzy. I have no fear* of insulting Islam just as much * I say no fear. Clearly many of "the faith" are more deranged than others and would happily have me and my family. And probably all those who read this forum. It doesn't make them right. I should also point out that in fairness, some of the christian brothers who taught me were genuinely sound, Good Guys. Interestingly, of the 3 Good Guys, 1 commited suicide and 2 left the brotherhood/catholic church. Again, make your own judgements

we might need cheaper drinks - but we don't need a Wetherspoon. Besides one doesn't have to go far for a cheaper drink (hello Hoopers, CPT et al) - but people's stated desire for a cheaper drink seems ill-matched with their willingness to walk the extra yardage. Ergo, the drinks on LL aren't TOO expensive

Bizzy As I hope anyone who knows me will testify, I'm not big on resentment. I have a very low level of tolerance however for any form of irrationality. I heartily condemn, for example, people (and I include my family in this category) who bemoan high levels of taxation, yet can't actually tell me what level of tax they are paying. Or how they compare with other countries. Is that relevant? Well yes it is - if I can't expect people to be able to conduct basic conversation on something that matters each and every day and touches on every part of our lives, then dealing with people who want to say how important their chosen fiction is, is really really bothersome I can't see, hear, smell, taste nor touch concepts such as love. Or trust. But I cherish them and hold them to be true. I am not some arch-scientist who deals only with matter. What I resent isn't really your chosen fiction. If you want to believe in what you believe in and rationalise it the way you do, more power to you. But it's not a level playing field. Faith - be it islam, christianity, judaism - whatever - bedevils the world globally - men with beards who condemn others and tell them what to do. if it's Catholics preaching against abortion, Islamicists preaching female circumcision - whatever - it all stems from someone holding a holy book and saying "hfkkgfkgksg GOD ilgiseghieg YOU BAD IF dskalhkshgkhgk ". And these are not, as one would hope the deranged preachings of the loony minority. But enshrined in the power structures of the country where the particular faith holds sway Saying "ahh but someone who is an aetheist blew up Monument X" is not ascribable to a faith. Aethiests are not a shared common belief system. But there is not a single positive attribute which religion claims, which is not shared by any rational human being. The 10 commandments?? All enshrined in law prior to Jesus. Human beings already possess this innate treatment of others. If you take god or allah out of any equation, the human reality remains a truism. You say religion taught you to think for yourself. yet to complain when people who actually think for themselves "pick holes" in your arguments. You were obviously unhappy and have found some peace in faith. I don't really begrudge you that But again I say to you - when you say - "If you think about the size of the universe, the intricacies of the human body, you're eyes are better than any camera around, the miracle of childbirth, emotions we experience...the list goes on. Is it so bad to think that a higher being could have made this?" Is it so bad? yes - it's downright weird - who would create such a thing, leave us to our own devices, judge us - and WHY would they? It's dark outside.. whistle if you need to - but it doesn't mean anything

oh you have soul for sure Bren...

oh please - there is an infinite number of things we can never know for sure do not exist - why pick this one???? What possible purpose does believing serve?? Are people bad without belief? What? What purpose is there? Frankly none. And if a higher power does exist, well what a twisted pervert creating a species such are ourselves, giving us "free thought" and then punishing us if we "mess up" It's just mental to think any such being exists. Not mental in a "oh the earth is flat - no it isn't kind of way" - but proper barking twisted. Either way. Let's say believers are right and I am wrong... what possible good does that serve? Oh there IS a nutter god who thinks we should have a little test down here - well done you are right. But he is still fucked up proper mental. Ah but now I don't understand his higher purpose do I? There is literally no end to the rabbit-warren people are prepared to go down in the search for this fecker. And if he exists then what? Really? I mean it. SO WHAT?? It only makes everything we do in this life worse not better Far better surely to wake up tomorrow and be nice to people. Listen to what;s going on around you. Make decisions. Judge a politician (or whoever has power in the real world) by what they say and do and not because of their personality Why are people aggressive towards religion? Because it seized power a long fucking time ago and has yet to relinquish it. If you HONESTLY think that any person who genuinely does not believe in God could get away with, for example, Obama's inauguration last week you are deluded. It is "nice" to be acknowledged as a non-believer in his speech but the exact same person and policies would NOT be allowed power if he was an atheist. THAT is a damn fine reason to resent religion. For a start