SeanMacGabhann

really ??? no, I mustn't

I HAVE to find a way to use this phrase at work tomorrow

how about a bit of Kenny Rogers

That has now happened to me more than once - I feel disproportionately bothered afterwards!

probably the same... see you on the other side

plain or spicy? (by the way cannonni, I suspect you are about to witness something known as lounging - ie a thread in th main ED forum veers off topic and so is moved to The Lounge)

* aghast at DM's bad news * Hope you are on the way to remedying the situation gorgeous * still thinks Brendan didn't get enough credit for a magnificent Big Lebowski quote last week *

if people are that keen it's worth pointing out that a fair few regulars on the forum go to the Plough to see Keef play at the open-mic night - next one is this coming Friday for example. I'm likely to be there and there are usually half a dozen or so regular forumites + a full pub anyway. It's a good night with some great music so just come along If you are lilkely to come but worried about how to introduce yourself or recognize us don't worry we can sort that out

All that being true tho' do we as a society just shrug or do we keep pushing the point home until the situation changes? Isn't the maxim "power is always taken it is never given" as true as ever? Would women have the vote or would the original slave trade have been abolished if we adopted a similar stance?

I'm inclined to agree with you CitizenEd on everything but the fact that I can see us scoring one goal. How we build on that I have no idea

absolutely Gemma... the old clich? of "the more the merrier" was never truer

photographic evidence of us al ltrying to go down to the Drum after the CPT has emerged http://www.igophoto.net/nick/images/__Shibuya.jpg

ooh the commitee are keen this time aren't they!? ;-) After the broo ha ha over where to choose last time I'm reluctant to wade in. I will say that if it was in the CPT again I would be very happy.

I would also recommend the End of The Road festival in Larmer Tree Gardens in Dorset - it's the last one of the circuit, held in September so potentially chilly but excellent music selection

do you know DM, I'm not entirely sure! I think what I meant was "some people are a bit apprehensive about coming to forum drinks but Susan doesn't seem like someone who gives in to apprehension" that's not much better is it? Where did I put my Articulacy for Dummies book again...?

I had a vague idea that this year would be undersubscribed - but never by this much. If the sun is belting down I will be well hacked off! (but pleased for those who made it)

I never got a chance to speak to you (much) on Fri night Susan - but I got the impression you are a hardy soul and we'll see more of you in any case ;-)

t'were so sudden is all..! I know threads often take a circuitous route.. but this one has managed nearly 20 pages of Nesbitt/Coleman/Bowen sightings before it took a detour - i was just surprised displeased? moi? knock yourselves out

how did these posts end up in the "famous people in ED" thread?? Please, feel free to start a 2nd homes are killing music (or something) thread - I'll be happy to join in!

cannoni You missed out on a great evening by just 2 days - about 30-40 forumites met up for a monthly drinks on Friday - so the next one of those will happen early May before then a few of us go to a regular comedy night at the EDT Other times we meet at the Open Mic night at the Plough Various other happenings get advertised on here - just dive in and come along

Only a snippet on youtube but surely the only song for today?

I agree to a point PrefertoRemainAnon - and I'm basically on your side Where I disagree is that (unlike instigating the Iraq war) - Gordon's actions were an act of political expediency. Political leaders sometimes need to carry people with them ( I think of Gerry Adams shouldering IRA soldiers coffins mid peace-process. I might despise the organisation and the act but had he not done it he would not have been able command his troops and the likelyhood is the bloodshed in Ireland would have continued. People like Robinson and Paisly on the loyalist side arguably did similar things) China is undoubtedly counting on the Olympics to give it credibility it doesn't deserve. And Seb Coe and others who argue that politics has no place in sport are wrong. But some quid pro quo is sometimes necessary. China appears to want to move towards international acceptance - and yet can't renounce all of it's power in one fell swoop (similarly with Britain and Ireland) I say this not as any apology for the regime but given the longer game, this may all be a tactical play... I don't disagree with the condemnation of China in the protests - i just don;t think the protests in and of themselves hold any kind of solution. To actually achieve some kind of progress in Tibet requires lines of communication (at this point I'd be interested in our South African correspondent's take on events back then - did protests similar to today's achieve anything or was it something else?)

After several re-written replies, I'm just going to basically agree with bon3yard's response No doubting China's inherent flaky human-rights positions (and Lady MacGabhann was in China for 3 weeks leading up to the cirrent situation in Tibet and witnessed first hand the different reporting there) but as we start to hand over not only the Olympic torch but (and less willingly) also the possible economic dominant position, I wish we were able to do so from a morally sounder position (by our own, possibly imagined, standards - I'm not yet equivocating China with the US and Europe)

I totally agree with the first sentence of yours BN5 - but isn't that the opposite of what Blair is saying? I genuinely admire your pragmatic stance as you've described in your own work - but I don't see that reflected in Blair's actions - I don't see a distasteful action taken despite "better judgement" - I see, not only a lack of judgement, an inability to make a courageous decision and a fall-back on "faith" reasons - but a wanton disregard for evidence, the consideration of others or anything approaching "reason" But I could be equally na?ve

THAT is a very good point. And something most of the sequels missed As for Halo- as a mega-franchise U was already suspicious and came to it very very late. But it's inherent humour (I defy anyone to not enjoy the many many lines uttered by the covenant) and very very satisfying combat