justsaying2

English is becoming the main common language but will not take over completely. Other nationalities make an effort to maintain their own language and value it more dearly, particulalry those un the UK with Engish as a second languge. For them English is merely a tool enabling them to access financial security through education and work. For socialising/family/news media/TV/movies/current affairs, its all done in their mother tongue with a few English/ameericanisms thrown in. Second generation immigrants have something few 'English' people have - access to fluency in other languages enabling them to have the best of both worlds. By building a wider skills set, they use their bilingual abilities to create internet sites, make movies, do business in other select languages - those with only one language will certainly lose out in the future. No time to be smug, learn another language, quick!

We're all just a bunch of wobbly chemicals with reactors giving us sense - common sense. We are all interconnected and not here for any reason other than that we exist. We'll die out as the dinosaurs did and other chemicals will bond and form new species - those stronger, smaller survivors, such as the afforementioned flesh eating worms will survive. Nature will evolve according to the most resilient living things - we are part of a process and our belief that we are more 'rightful' of a place on the planet than any other living thing, will be our downfall, as will our self obsession which is our main downfall and a seemingly inbuilt human defect which will be our end. It will take far more than 100 years however - time goes much quicker than future predictors usually envisage - look at 1984. We'll be here arguing for generations to come - I'd give it 1,000 or more years before the final human eyeball is sucked. Just make the most of it and for God's sake (?)leave some for someone else!

Bladerunner! This type of thing has always gone on though - people just know more about it now. At least we have the chance to discuss things - intelligence is opening up thankfully - perhaps the common sense of the majority may finally be heard and the hypocrites made to give their money back!! Reform is inevitable whatever happens

Rabi yes, Imam absolutely not, unfortunately

right to life for trying to save lives I should have thought - they're meant to be killing to protect others - that's the only justifiable fight. Fighting over oil - well, that's another matter (pardon the pun)

totally agree

that was a wonderfully apt gradual slide from highbrow discussion into comedy skit - how typically English!! Very entertaining for my first venture into the Drawing Room and very in keeping with the recent weather - togoggan run descending into slush - love it!