Jeremy

Don't buy a netbook. Yes they are small, but underpowered for modern use, and the screens are too small for "work" type stuff (word processing, spreadsheets, powerpoint, etc). Buy a proper, basic laptop. PCs don't come with word or Excel, unless you pay extra for it. I would start with openoffice, with a view to upgrading later if he needs to be able to load the files onto college PCs (without having to fix all the formatting).

Well... I never said it was pleasant down there...

I have a feeling they're going to be OK. They have food, water, and medicines. They have contact with the outside world - they can talk with their families and they know that rescue efforts are underway. There are doctors and psychological experts on the surface trying to make their conditions as tolerable as possible, and trying to establish a routine for the miners.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JJJAYrYMcQ

I think you've made a huge leap from appeals for charity to charging for treatment. I don't think there has ever been an implication that people who have received treatment *should* pay. This is not a step towards privatisation.

You appear to be quite mad. Are you asking how long it has been since the start of civilisation?

Congratulations silverfox, it seems as though you have out-thought Stephen Hawking! Have you considered writing to him with your discovery? Have you contacted The New Scientist? I think the world should know. May I suggest that the title of your paper should be "OI HAWKING! STICK TO BLACK HOLES!"

The millionaire thing is a red herring, he won't be using his own money to pay for hotels when attending conferences, etc.

I don't think that people should stop publicising charities or asking for donations because of a small minority, who - due to bad experiences or health issues - may mis-interpret it. People think their privacy has been invaded? Is this seriously the first time you've received unsolicited post? Get real! Are you saying you are against hospitals asking for charity at all? The thing is, no amount of money is ever "enough". We could probably increase the NHS budget by 50%, and they still wouldn't have the resources to provide the "ideal" service

As other have said, it either means the drivers aren't insured for heavy lifting, or there is only one guy. I had a cast-iron fireplace insert delivered a few years ago, by default they just leave it on the road on a pallet. The driver implied that he'd take it inside in exchange for a tip... I found it cheeky in the extreme, so took my chances and dragged it inside by myself.

If anyone received a letter and found it inappropriate, I suggest they reply asking to be removed from the fundraising mailing list. Other people... suggest you mind your own business and stop trying to drag King's through the dirt. I think your behaviour is absolutely disgraceful.

Yep, I think we're talking about rolled-up camping mats. I've not heard anything about TVs either... but I guess they might have been able to get ultra-small TVs through the bore hole.

Hi Liz. If text/email is your priority, then maybe the Blackberry is better. But web browsing is infintely better on the iphone!

This place : http://www.thegundocklands.com/ Used to do a plate of crunchy pork crackling as a bar snack. Not been there for a while though...

Minkey and hpsaucey - please let me know approximately where you live, so I know never to go within a 100m radius!

david_carnell Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Although wikipedia is only a self-editing encyclopedia - it could just as easily be Huguenot's opinion. Of course! It is just one definition, as is Huguenot's. Neither are definitive (but at least the self-moderating nature of Wikipedia means that you generally end up with something that the majority can agree on). The thing is, the dictionary definition of the word is fairly broad. So to say that vegetarianism and gastronomy are incompatible... is taking an interpretation (or perhaps an extrapolation?) of the word and running with it. Oh and... Luxembourg isn't the world, but world does contain Luxembourg last time I checked (although I've never actually been there)

I actually agree with Huguenot. It is a good cause, even if you don't agree with the means - so I'm not comfortable with the public hanging. This isn't America, hospitals are not businesses.

Huguenot - your defintion of gastronomy is an interesting one, but it is your personal interpretation. For instance, Sean's wikipedia link talks about food along with culture and discovery, but actually makes no reference to indulgence or anything of the sort. I doubt you will find a definition (from any noteworthy source) which explicity excludes vegetarianism. I may be wrong... show me some sources which back up your definition/interpretation...

I dunno, we all place constraints on our diet to a certain extent... moral reasons, religious beliefs, cultural norms. There are plenty of things I wouldn't eat.

How about... the intelligence to choose not to follow our instincts?

Pied a Terre, Marcus Wareing, Rousillon, and others do veggie menus... if they aren't gastronomic, I don't know where is!

Maybe "disrespectful" was too strong a word, but plenty of veggies love food as much as any meat eater. In fact I think sometimes vegetarianism can trigger a strong interest in food and cooking. Personally I love eating meat, but I don't think you *have* to in order to eat well. Some of the best restaurants in London offer veggie tasting menus.

Let's get real for a second... if you go to Westfield, you are NOT going there for soul, independent stalls, or to look at paintings. You're going there for high street/designer brands with convenient parking/transport. Nothing wrong with that, if that's what you want. But if that's what you're after, I reckon the west end is better. The shops in Westfield are mainly quite small compared with the large Oxford St stores.

SeanMacGabhann Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > oxymoron alert Bit disrespectful... surprised to hear you say that!

"former pub"??