Ted Max

I have just witnessed a bumblebee expire. It came charging in through the open window like a an escaped convict being chased by a pack of hounds. It then essayed a series of high frequency volleys between the radiator and the wall, before backstroking its way across the Axminster. Finally, it righted itself, tucked its legs in, and died, looking directly up at me. If I was Bede or something I could make some remark about the bee's life reflecting the transience of man's impact upon the world. But instead I'm torn between hiffing it back out the window or adding it to my dead ladybird collection (2009).

Looking like a poor decision now, isn't it Dave? (sorry Muley)

Oh. It's Tale of Two Cities.

Gallinello's character is Gelsomina from La Strada. But still no idea on Dave's lawyer.

Maybe it's the long-standing nature of the current affairs magazine that is at issue.

My brother is a senior official at the Highways Agency and he has, as a favour, programmed in signals on the A2, A3, A20, A23 and other major arterial routes into South London, warning of likely disruption in the East Dulwich area. Local diversions will be in place, with Lordship Lane and Forest Hill Roads being one way for the duration of the event, and for 4 hours afterwards, to aid free through flow of traffic. Locals are advised to stock up on essentials as there will be no vehicular egress from the cordon during race hours. At least someone is thinking of the needs of the Motorist.

[tfl.gov.uk]

Direct trains at 15 and 45 mins past the hour. Takes about 30 mins. http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/en/pj/tt

I like good cheese, but avoid bad cheese.

Translation: I like drugs. (and shampoo)

I think this meets the tiny and irrational criteria: the use of "my" when people say things like: "I like my beer", "I love my football", "I like my curries hot". It gets on my tits, not sure why. I think its the indication that the speaker is a true connoisseur, and wishes to transmit a sense of superior knowledge, or ownership, of something. I like my preferences expressed less smugly.

Indeed. Your serve.

On the run after witnessing a brutal gangland killing, me and my friend are forced into transvestitism. An unwelcome birthday party surprise cannot deny each of us happiness, even if mine is not perfect.

The one with Mike off of Neighbours. Memento.

First Quite Interesting fact. There are no teams, or team captains, on QI. And Hona, you are magnificent when you're angry. Bless your little cottons. Baah, etc.

Oh. I see. A crosspost. Yeah, Snorky's a real straight up guy. But he doesn't rock the windswept blue V-neck look like Baron Steel of Aikwood. Second thoughts, we'd better not have The Baron in. He's packing too much Heat. Better get the Frowning Princess in instead - audience isn't going to get lairy when it's got the Windsor headscarf herself giving it the full beam from the chair.

David Steel, Quids. Former leader of the Liberal party? One of the SDP founders? "go back to your constituencies and prepare for government." No?

I think we need a bit 'more steel'. Yeah, me too. Smouldering. http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/images/p1980.jpg

I make my own - a little sage from the garden, some breadcrumbs, zest of lemon. Get it in there and don't forget to add the weight on when you work out your cooking times.

A piffling matter of no real consequence, Admin, but we seem to have had two posts disappear on the Who Am I Game thread in the Lounge. Perhaps you hate to see Keef do well, or can't stand Austen. Who knows.

What's going on here? I could have sworn someone (was it Keef?) posted "Emma" and TillieT gave him the nod. But those posts have now disappeared. (Did I imagine it? Is it time for my nap? Who did you say you were again, dear? I haven't got a son, but you can read the meter while you're here. Cup of Mellow Birds?)

Is it student union debating to think that the constant wail of Broken Britain from the Telegraph and the Mail (the two worst, but not only, culprits) has had a part to play in this coarsening of mood. Or am I blaming the messengers?

Cheers TLS. The thing is - your suggested answers are not too far off the status quo. It's tough enough, say, getting a first class cricketer a visa to come and play in this country, never mind rocking up at some UK embassy in Africa with a hopeful expression. And if we can find them (EDIT: Horrible icon retracted), we deport plenty of people. Which is to say, your suggested policy is clearly not the answer to changing people's minds about the "adverse" affects of having people that look different to them move in next door. Governments already talk tough on immigration, and it reinforces the perception that immigration is a bad thing. You welcome immigration, and accept we have a moral duty as a country with our specific past to accept it. And yet you bemoan its affects. Could we not apportion some of the responsibility on those of us who live in this country to accept immigration as a fact of life at worst, a duty at best, and welcome and live with it, as you appear to have done.

Tony, the contradiction in your argument is this: you say that you personally have no issue with living alongside, with and amongst people of different races and cultures. Yet, you posit, many other people do - and this leads to problems of polarisation, and votes for groups like the BNP. But your solution to this (close borders - deportation of "illegals") stems not from your own, creditable tolerance, but panders to the baser instincts of the very people with whom you disagree. Finally, you have argued that the poor are more affected - being less mobile and economically flexible. How then, was your working class Walworth community able to decamp en masse to the Eden that is Foots Cray, Bexley and environs?