david_carnell

mooncake Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > We actually also ended up redesigning our family > bathroom upstairs in order to accommodate a > laundry chute straight down to the utility room... > after someone put the idea into my head on that > thread... We don't have a chute but in our new house our washing machine and tumble dryer are stacked above one another in a cupboard in our family bathroom upstairs. I have to say it seems an excellent idea so far. Our laundry basket is upstairs so the transfer from basket to washing machine to tumble dryer to wardrobe is much less faff. It might be different when the weather improves and we want to hang things out mind you. The only downside is the noise upstairs means not putting on a wash late at night.

Because it's about power....not belief. It allowed the Taliban to hold power and fear over the population and it allows nearly all other religions to do the same. Do this. Don't do that. You'll burn in hell for this. You'll get xyorz in heaven for that. So on and so forth. All nonsense. I'm shocked these chaps haven't been caught yet but no doubt there will be clamouring that France requires more invasive surveillance a la the UK from tomorrow. The Sun are already suggesting that our best hope of avoiding similar is giving the security services more powers in their editorial. Thus missing the point of all of this. It's about freedoms.

I laughed but, you know, clique privilege and all that.

In September 2012, Charlie Hebdo courted controversy by publishing cartoons of a naked Muhammad. Charbonnier, known as Charb, justified the decision at the time, telling RTL radio: If you start by asking whether or not you have the right or not to draw Muhammad ? then the next question is, can you put Muslims in the paper? And then, can you put human beings in the paper? In the end, you can?t put anything in, and the handful of extremists who are agitating around the world and in France will have won.

It's not a hate spiral. That would be me blowing up a mosque in revenge. This is about basic freedoms.

x-post with SJ

Dear god?! Seriously? You don't get that response? It says, proudly, we will not be cowed. We will not be initimated by your acts of violence. We will defeat you not by a machine gun but by freedom of speech. There are many of us. You are few. That you do not represent Islam and take your prophets name in vain when committing these acts. If we stop publishing these things, because of "offence", because of consequences like this, terrorism wins. And we all lose.

Otta Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Can I just make this VERY VERY clear. I am not > saying that what he did was any less of a rape > than dragging a girl down am ally. I was simply > saying that I suspect (and could be wrong) that in > HIS mind they are different. Sorry, yes, I didn't mean to imply that. Apologies if that's how it came across.

#jesuischarlie

Otta - I agree with you that it is both interesting (in an unfortunately bleak way) and controversial. I think your observation of Evans is probably roughly accurate although attempting to second guess a sexual criminal's motives and beliefs is a sticky wicket. He was convicted of a crime. End of. And rape is rape no matter whether it is in a hotel room invovling drink and drugs or in a dark alley involving violence. Next time he's unconscious through drink, rape him and try telling him he just hadn't said "no" so you thought it was ok. Then see if he changes his mind.... He has yet to show remorse, which I think is an ongoing problem. A full scale admission of guilt and apology would probably go a long way to help with any redemption. Nevertheless, he's served a sentence deemed suitable for the offence (whether you agree with it or not is moot) and while possessing a criminal record is entitled to now try and become a functioning member of society again. I guess I'm uncomfortable with him becoming a footballer again for a couple of reasons: 1) Like it or not, professional footballers are role models and this is a terrible example to set young, impressionable men who follow the game. Evans' lack of remorse reinforces this and suggests that beyond a relatively short custodial sentence there are no long lasting consequences for committing such a crime. Unfortunately his victim will have to live with it her entire life. If he were deprived of his first choice profession, it's not much of a price to pay really is it? 2) Football clubs are, or should be, representative of their communities. I know this has been eroded in the modern era to an extent but in many places they are still the heartbeat of a town. Employing a character like Evans suggests a a disrespect to a vast swathe of that community - namely women. A club wishing to act responsibly, no matter the footballing benefits, should have nothing to do with him. If he had qualified in many other professions, a similar conviction would also bar him from returning to them - in this instance I think football should be similar to that.

Haha....yes....good point. Can't even blame the drink as I was driving.

taper Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Transpontine is a Roman/Latin term for over the > bridge I think. So South London Yeah, this. Over the water/river/ocean. So just a reference to being on the "other side" I guess. Cracking 4-1 victory on Sat. Great game, high turnout and wonderful atmosphere. Forza Hamletti!

Was Heathrow here when you moved to London? Gatwick? Luton? Stansted? Right, then pipe down. Or do you never take holoidays yourself? Or simply travel by train to Birmigham before boarding to avoid being a hypocrite?

Gosh, yes, fireworks on NYE - who'd have thunk it? Those people and their fun.....where will it end?

You live in London. It's noisy. There are major infrastructure sites nearby. If you want peace and quiet go and live on the Isle of Skye.

Installation?! I can just imagine MrBen utilising the spare room. Bare, stark. White walls. A single light flickers on and off. On and off. Repeat. Title: The futility of man.

The bar at Duck and Waffle at the top of the Heron Tower nr Liverpool St Station. Amazing views, excellent drinks, reasonable prices. If you get peckish the food is also excellent. I hear good things about the bar in Centrepoint too - imagine the views are equally stunning. http://duckandwaffle.com/menus/cocktails/ http://www.paramount.uk.net/restaurant-bar/

Come on EP, you can make a ham without much effort! Have you got a good pork supplier yet?

Don't know old your toddler is but on Xmas eve we are taking ours to bowling, probably at Elephant and Castle. It's cheap, indoors (so warm and dry), they have the miniature bowling shoes which mini-D_C loves and the ramp things to push the ball down. A game for a family of four can easily last over an hour and is good fun. There are also two great places for a cheap lunch afterwards - Mamushka (Polish food in the shopping centre) and Dragon Castle (for child-friendly dim-sum).

The beef mince from the Butchery is a genuine joy. Dry and well aged it is perfect burger material.

I am also Namibia but that was on one night for the work xmas do. I've been on call and sober the rest of the time.

Ooh, the odd sacred cow knocked over in that. Jolly good read though. And as one of the comments points out, the civility of the comments section is a joy to behold.

Haha - brilliant. Worst bit of advertising ever. Hopefully the FRM will leave it in place as a warning to others. I suspect it might well be a spam or malware link though.

Has anyone used youth hostels (YHA or independent) for cheap family breaks at weekends and the like? Warmer and more comfortable than camping but better value and more flexible than a B&B and cheaper than a hotel. Was thinking of trips to the countryside and the coast for 1-2 nights. Leave after work on a Friday, 1-3 hours drive away and come back on the Sunday. Any thoughts or recommendations?

It's weird - some years it seems to be given to people who actually haven't achieved much (plucky British losers etc). So you assume the "personality" element is there to compensate for that. Then again, Damon Hill won when he lost in F1 so god know what the criteria is/was. Shocking that Ronnie O'Sullivan, the greatest player to ever pick up a cue has never even been nominated, let alone won. I think it's the same for Phil Taylor. Both have "personality" and have dominated their sports - what gives?