david_carnell

@ Brendan - And all you?re doing is being patronising to those people. Coming across some Sudanese tribesman who still thinks it?s appropriate to mutilate his own daughter?s genitals, you?re essentially ruffling his hair and saying ?Ah, bless, they?re so different from us aren?t they ? and therefore it would be wrong of me to judge his actions?. To which I say absolutely not. I am perfectly entitled to believe that my western, liberal standpoint is superior in this instance. Not always, I grant you. But on this emotive issue, and on many others, I AM going to judge and I?m going to be right. In the past, now and in the future, I will be right. That may be seen as western arrogance, but fundamentally, it?s true. Although how this is relevant to the LibDem/Tory coalition is anyone?s guess! Unless the Tories plans for Sharia law?.wouldn?t surprise me and the Cornerstone Group would probably get very excited.

From my favourite current blog, Left Foot Forward: The inequality in new VAT hikes

Oh come on Brendan that's drivel. In that case, kindly keep your opinions to yourself when bumping into BNP voters in East London. Having not grown up here you are clearly not in a position to point out the ignorant bullsh*t that informs their prejudices. You couldn't possibly understand the difficulties they face now that Johnny Immigrant has taken "their jobs". Utter nonsense. Of course you can. And as for judging other people's cultural habits - I'm doing that too! You know about female circumcision? Well I'm telling you now it's wrong and no amount of woolly, liberal pinko crackpots are going to tell me to be all sensitive about it. Ditto forced marriages and general female oppression. I'm not a women, I don't live in the third world or in some Sharia-state but I know it's wrong an I'll shout it from the rooftops.

Bob.... 1) No 2) No and Yes respectively 3) Yes, although less unlucky than watching it on Sky Just be glad there isn't a time difference for this World Cup that means people getting "into the spirit of things" at bugger-off-o'clock in the morning.

I nearly choked on my alfafa bean salad!

Hello Bud @ 40/1 scraped home 5th after looking in contention with 3 to jump. Paddy Power pays out to 5th place so I made my money back on all bets and a little bit more (but not much). A decent result. PGC - Can't believe Coombes has closed down. This must have been their busiest weekend of the year! It's not as fun wearing a trilby for online betting....

Well, goes to show what I know. My big fancy Whinstone Boy, didn't even get a ride. My new, amended, picks are: Can't Buy Time - To win @ 33/1 Arbor Supreme - To win @ 12-1 Ollie Magern - E/W @ 100-1 Hello Bud - E/W @ 40/1 Eric's Charm - E/W @ 50/1

My picks (fresh from my win at Cheltenham I'm very excited): Arbor Supreme (to win) Knowhere Hello Bud Whinstone Boy Eric's Charm (all e/w)

But clip on braces?! Oh dear. Buttons. On the inside. Braces by Albert Thurston. Them's the rules.

Well now.... I once sat next to young Matt in a Japanese restaurant in mornington crescent about 12 months ago so I don't feel ashamed in claiming credit as the inspiration for his dress sense. The tweed is a good look although some proper fitting moleskins and sturdy brogues will be more useful in fighting Daleks than his current ensemble. We do have similarly foppish hair and a penchant for red-heads(shhh). Ahoy-hoy.

I like the Actress....much better than the Village.

Bank holiday Sat? You're driving(?!) to Brighton(?!?!?!?!). With a toddler and a heavily pregnant woman in tow. World. Of. Pain. I mean, seriously? You're actually considering this? Braver man than me.

No life some people....

I admit defeat. :-$

It's april 1st and I claim my ?5.

Darren Huckerby? Once described as being like a "speedboat without a driver". As an aside to last night, when the fuck did people start calling it "Camp Nou"? It's the Nou Camp! Nou. Camp. In that order. I don't care if the Spanish do it the other way around. Without coming across all Al Murray - this is England. English. Nou. Camp. Or New Field. Even better.

What a coincidence....I trade in Bordeaux too. The case of '96 Ch?teau Haut-Brion I bought has appreciated in value nicely. What year have you lost money on, old bean?

Alright Gordon Gecko, don't get your pants in a twist. Some of us aren't versed in as many ways of losing money as you are!

Rhinestone Cowboy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I have backed Switzerland on Betfair @ 330 Long > shot but pretty decent coach and if they finish > 2nd in group recon they trade down to 270 where I > cash in Can you explain this please? You've put money on the Swiss to win the World Cup(?!) but only need them to get out of their group in order for you to make a profit?

Despite a terrible qualifying campaign, bitter internal infighting and a drug-addled, tactically naive manager I'm going to back Argentina. What odds can I get on that? I can't access gambling sites at work but fancy a flutter. Dark horses? Got to be the Ivory Coast now they've got Eriksson as manager.....

He reminds me of Le Tissier. Not the quickest or the hardest worker but a deft touch, skills, great vision and can score goals. Le Tissier would have had a national team built around him if he was from continental Europe. For once the English got a player of skill and craft. And the man was barely picked. Disgrace.

Ant Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Seems a good time to share this link: > http://voteforpolicies.org.uk/ > > Obviously I'm not saying we should all vote based > purely on what the site says, but it may help to > take a step away from all the faff and noise, and > it might challenge a few assumptions about where > to place the old x. Based on 4 policy areas I'm a member of the wrong party. 100% Green Party.

A report from the respected Institute of Fiscal Studies would seem to suggest a decade-plus of a Labour government has, in fact, been redistributive. The Guardian covers the report here. Sadly the report also notes: The IFS said that while the tax and benefit system as a whole has redistributed from rich to poor, it has arguably had only a marginal effect on overall income inequality Only Singapore, the US and Portugal have more income inequality, according to UN figures The full report can be found here.

Mmm...Trickers? Brogue boots are a very much "the thing". I'm liking the stripy sock too. But if we're getting serious there really is only one shoe shop: http://www.johnlobbltd.co.uk/catalogue/fullsize_images/Website_shoes_boots/Website_boots/Navvycut/closestitch.JPG Proper hand-made Lobbs.

Someone with the initials D & C having funnier cheese-based jokes than me?! NEVER! What's the most feminist kind of cheese in the world?? Germaine Gruyere.......