SeanMacGabhann

Tecnology is great - but it isn't the answer to everything. Some creative thinking on the part of the banks would be useful

Yup - from a live music perpective I have many more options than I did 5 years ago. I'm sure if you went 10 years further back people will say there was plenty of music around then.. but of the 7 years I've been here there seems to be more to do And let's not forget the Dream Machine and the gig they put on last week. people are doing interesting things - are we doing enough to support them? I'm not fond of the chain creepage (as discussed many times before - please not again) but I would say that the chains that have opened haven't really done too much to make it "more boring" - Walsh glazing might have been more real, but I don't think it added to the area's excitement quotia The demographic has become a smidge more "favourite team = Man U/favourite food = Pizza Hut/ Favourite music = Simply Red" But then I'm a snob

Lady Mac went along for the first time last night to the Duke and was very impressed. Of the 3 incarnations on that site I would give Page 2 - 7/10 Village Inn - 5/10 (harsh as it wasn't there long but from the exterior sign down, things weren't quite right) Duke - 8.5/10

We're probably not going to agree on this one Sue.. The priority is to protect people from abuse - but if we just ban things outright then we lose the capacity to be human Mark's comment about me above is a case in point - it might be true or it might not - but I am able to see the intent behind the words. As someone who was often called Paddy or Mick back in the day when the intent was clearly less than friendly I know too well what motivates some people. But more-enlightened souls were also able to turn that Mick statement on it's head and make it funny. Again - it's the intent - not the word

Who am I to argue.... (6)

Tony - trust me I feel your pain. None more grey than me!

I think there is a case to be made that people are often too quick to "be offended" these days - but in the incident described there is not a lot of grey area. It was offensive, aggressive and threatening

Exactly right Jeremy - and I had been trying to type a similar sentiment and getting nowhere so cheers!

Bags not getting the first round in

Yep - it's just beautiful. From the moment you realise the game has started (with you in silhouette) to the ideas presented in what appears to be a straightforward platform 2D effort. This and geometry wars 2 from a week or so back have kept me busy on the console front - classic stuff

Not sure I agree with you there - certainly the ones I know scratch a living from gigs and CD sales - if some are happy to give it away to generate audiences then fine, but if some aren't then I get that too You are right about the self-interest of the majors - just don't let that blind you into thinking the message is inherently wrong

The food is definitely an Achilles Heel at the Plough - but I doubt there is much they can do about - central oders from M&B HQ.... but I'm not going to use that as a reason to restart my chain thing ;-) As for Mr Ben - Inside 72 is the obvious casualty in the last 18 months and I still miss it like an old friend - but I doubt that has had a major impact on Matt's argument.

giggirl It's a really annoying advert - often show at cinemas - which shows a pub scene where the patrons starting singing a song at some bloke buying dodgy DVD's - altogether now "he's a knooock of Nigel, he's a.." etc etc

it's grim and rubbish as an advert Music copying I'm less bothered by but DVD copying (and computer games) I'm less partial to. I used to do loads, god knows - but in the end I stopped because I realised I had become more interested in quantity than quality and didn't appreciate them as much. Plus I had started to copy things which I actually would have bought - so my old defense of "well I wouldn't have bought it anyway - the artist is losing any money" started to be not true Basically, without any adverts, I started to feel grubby and ashamed

In other news... re: ID cards, security and whatnot When secure isn't Given also the state of chip and pin and card cloning mentioned in another thread, how anyone thinks giving any body electronic access to all your information is a good idea I don't know

touch?!

And yet if guys posted about how they do the same with Sharipova or whoever in their smalls - would there not be at least some tuttage?

Good post that, Jaws

don't think he is controversial and don't think many people jumped down his throat - no need for anyone to go looking for trouble where there isn't any

not the first time you've heard Antony is it Citizen? I saw a gread gig of his at the QEH a few years back - great stuff. Marc Almond came on to duet on one song, first performance after his bike crash

All theses lights and this still to come

absolutely buggie! - chicken sish should be as healthy as can be. Avoid the doner and all should be well

Another thing to do is have a second card with a very low limit - and use only that for day to day transactions - so even if it gets skimmed they can't do too much damage

I'm going to regret saying this - and I'm touching wood as I do - but am I the only one to have not been cloned yet? I've used all of the local cashpoints and used the card in most bars and restuarants, + SMBS, Val's grocers etc

oooh - invite us all around for a party, point them out to us and we'll make sure they don't want to stay ;-)