Ted Max

It might also help if any particular vested interest at a given time desisted from using "the BBC", "Parliament", "the police" instead of targeting their ire at the individuals responsible. Of course, the temptation to advance ones cause by generalising from the particular is too much to resist, vis the "great, something to hammer the Beeb with" stuff coming from Rob Wilson, Maria Miller and David Cameron (more codedly) at the moment (this is just a current example, of course). Unless, of course, you genuinely believe in the culpability of systems and processes, which is fine for generalising your target, but also gives the wrong-doers a let off, "It was the system that was wrong, not the people involved." Yes, this has implications for things like corporate manslaughter responsibility and "institutionalised racism" but what the hey - we're talking about the public discourse here, not legal culpability as defined by law. Finally, call me a loony but institutions should exist to serve people, not rule them. The majority of the respect and trust should flow from the institutions, not to them. Insert tail/dog metaphor here.

StraferJack, this was the best seasonal thread, although its altruistic intent was cruelly derailed: http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?20,583793,page=1

Pretty sure you could auto-generate the following threads over the coming weeks: Where to go for fireworks/ bonfire night? HOW F*CKING MUCH for a Christmas tree? Can I get a turkey from WmRose without "pre-ordering"? In-laws at Christmas? (Family thread) Gym membership offer (ED Businesses)

If you're going to flounce, please remember all your personal items. Returning 45 seconds later for your umbrella/gloves/child ruins it.

Marian Keyes, there.

Thanks. Just for completion's sake: Mummy's Boys = Madonna-Whore complex and growing collection of screengrabs of Viccy Coren off of "Only Connect" saved to password-protected file on home computer. Plz now to be carrying on with high-minded gender studies debate.

Disgraceful scenes, right enough.

"He's a real Women's Man, that one. He's always hanging round the feminist bookshop displaying his credentials, the fecking creep."

Has anyone else been too late to take advantage of an advertised offer?

Sleazy 70s cock-wielders were always described as Ladies' Men. Tom of Finland types unaware of their latent homo-eroticism were Men's Men. Burt Reynolds was both. I'm not sure what a Women's Man would be.

GET UP EARLIER.

You are Julian Fellowes AICM Christmas Special Downton Abbey Boxset.

Is this like snog, marry, avoid?

Walking HRT experiment and egomaniacal talent-void Edwina is Currie with an ie. That's a an idea, Michael. Another idea I had was that Curry Wars could be decided by a knockout comp between celebrity endorsers. So Monica "Mo" Ali (Tandoori Nights) could have at it with Jenny Eclair (Curry Cabin) over three two minute rounds. Winner goes through to a decider versus the winner of Angela SE22 mag (Surma) and Mark EDF (Dulwich Tandoori).

Imagining Mark Curry Googling himself and seeing page after page of the *other* Mark Curry's career, laid out in front of him. Red carpet photo shots, his bessie mate Jamie Foxx. Meanwhile...Dinner Theatre in Sonning. I hope he has a hobby. That said, the *other* Mark Curry appears to be on the slide as well, which no doubt provides some small cheer.

Mark or John? Choose your favourite here. Mark needs your votes, though. June 1986, Curry joined the children's television programme Blue Peter. 1998, Mark Curry presented a DIY show called Change That and also presented the final series of the popular quiz show, Catchphrase in 2002. 2007: An episode of Last of the Summer Wine, entitled "Will The Nearest Alien Please Come In" 2008 Pantomime at The Capitol Horsham 2011 Curry appeared at the Mill at Sonning, Dinner Theatre in Berkshire, in "Wife Begins at 40". 2012 Mark joined Talk Radio Europe, the English language talk/variety network in Southern Spain on FM. This employment has now ended. Mark is now hoping to crowd-fund his book 'Trust Me I'm a Blue Peter Presenter' through Unbound. Bloody hell, Mark, hang in there old son. The wheel always turns.

Thread's about drinking, Pibe, not posting on the Forum.

http://i49.tinypic.com/34e3ztx.jpg

You brought up that 12 year old girls have an inflated notion of their own maturity, compared to boys, as a result of mestruation. Fine. She said that by doing that you were considering 12 year olds "fair game" in furthering your anti-women's issues agenda. Fair game as in, "He's so keen to debunk women's issues as valid that he will hook into his argument anything that looks to help his cause, even the sexual development of 12 year olds". There's no other suggestion there other than what you have chosen to load upon it to sustain this, "She called me a peedo" stance. I have no dog in this fight, I'm just trying to help you here as you seem to be struggling a bit.

"I just wanted to make it TRIPLY clear I wasn't calling H a paedophile" She so is calling you a peedo, dude.

Awesome thread. H, srsly. Can you read? Pretty clear that the only meaning of what RosieH wrote is that you had a hard-on for your agenda, not for 12 year old girls. I think you need a smear test yourself, old son.

SF - To answer your first question - because I'd like to know how someone with no official mandate has been attempting to influence government policy, and also if that lobbying had any effect. You'd have to be massively uncurious or accepting of your role as a subject to just accept it's none of your business. Let's say he's attempting to divert NHS resources into homeopathy, or change planning law, or defend hereditary rights of peers, you might want to know. I'm open to the suggestion that as he wrote these particular letters in expectation of privacy, he's entitled to that. BUT, and it's a pretty massive but, from now on he should be keeping his big fecking nose out of it OR accept that he can have his interests but expect to be treated like everyone else (ie not be a constitutional monarch with a defined role of political neutrality in a parliamentary democracy). At the very least, let his correspondence be open and on the record. Anyway, in the wider scheme of things, Charles lobbying for the landed gentry, pastiche architecture and prescription water on the NHS is far removed from the corporate rapine that has always troughed at the teat of government (or something - I need Snorky for this bit). All lobbying should be, as far as possible, open and transparent. H, I cannot be defined by mere nationality. I am above such trifling, dysfunctioncal, dissonant and dissipated mundanities... (continues on for 9 paragraphs)

http://www.google.com/news/story?pz=1&cf=all&ned=uk&hl=en&q=attorney+general+charles+letters&ncl=d1B45a95Vmt-pfMpThUu_UpXUdZbM&cf=all&scoring=d "Much of the correspondence does indeed reflect the Prince of Wales's most deeply held personal views and beliefs. The letters in this case are in many cases particularly frank," he said. TRANS: "He comes over as a bit of a green inker" "They also contain remarks about public affairs which would in my view, if revealed, have had a material effect upon the willingness of the government to engage in correspondence with the Prince of Wales, and would potentially have undermined his position of political neutrality." TRANS: "No really. This stuff gets out, he's toast as king. Plus, he's a pain in the arse. And rude." Grieve finished: "In summary, my decision is based on my view that the correspondence was undertaken as part of the Prince of Wales's preparation for becoming king. The Prince of Wales engaged in this correspondence with ministers with the expectation that it would be confidential. Disclosure of the correspondence could damage the Prince of Wales's ability to perform his duties when he becomes king." TRANS: "See above. Also, I'm going to pretend that this was all preparatory 'what if' hypotheising, rather than full on polticial lobbying. But on the other hand, if this stuff gets out the pretence of constitutional neutrality will be busted, so I appear to have contradicted myself" "It is a matter of the highest importance within our constitutional framework that the monarch is a politically neutral figure able to engage in confidence with the government of the day, whatever its political colour." TRANS: "ARE YOU READING THIS, CLARENCE HOUSE, I SAVED YOUR ARSE THIS TIME BUT GET A GRIP OF YOUR MAN AND GET HIM TO STEP AWAY FROM THE BASILDON BOND, FFS."

Nurse, he's out of bed again.

Can we hear more about the trembler with the strawberry jam lady, Curtains? Left along on the smokey patio as the others moved inside for a warm up. Her teeth clashing into yours with surprising vigour. The smell of menthol and mulled wine on her breath. You, shocked into inertia, strangely but only briefly compelled to submit to the force of her unbidden desire. Her snort of derision as you broke off and hurried inside. But ever since, the jam and the special simper, just for you. And the curry, coating your palate with guilt and shame.