Walsingham

I am probably being biased. I like to explore new orlds when I read, even history. I just wonder if you could find echoes of these themes in unexplored territory. What happened to veterans of the war? Did any go abroad and become mercs?

Sure, just take the side of my traitorous keyboard, that one didn't like it either You're threatening to drown me in a popular, but ultimately uninspiring wine? Meh. Could be worse. Gotta go somehow.

Serves you right for drinking Sauvignon. Ghastly stuff.

Sure no healthy system is afraid of a minority view at T1. But as T2, T3 etc. comes around ideas can grow. Then the 'legitimate' government is seen as the one selling out to foreigners, or coloureds, or communists. It's a grave mistake to presume that free ideas are good ideas. But in terms of censorship there's not many that should be banned. Incitement to murder, for example.

Leave it. The banks need that money so they can loan it out to people to buy houses at bubble prices.

It sounds harsh, even to me, GD. But hasn't that kind of ground been covered already? Wasn't there that film with Nicole Kidman did much the same thing? Speaking of which, regarding the above, MOST MISLEADING TRAILER EVER.

I did not know that! Of course, thanks to budget cuts I now have to store food leftovers in my own armpit.

More importantly, the former head of MI5 - Britain Secret Intelligence Service - has also spoken out against prohibition. I know there's a lot of opposed views on the board. But I really think at the point where someone like the former head of MI5 is saying it ain't working, then it's worth consideration.

Really struggling with the short winter days. Never noticed it before. Feels like midnight at about 1700!

I have decided that I woe it to future generations to have a paid team of anthropologists and linguists come into my office and record my furious expletives while attempting to write a formatted powerpoint presentations. Favourite so far today: "Gilded swan ****er."

To quote you "Applying the gospel of test everything first would leave us banging rocks together when the asteroid hits." Touche. You get weaving, and I'll light up these gibbons.

Actions spring from thoughts. The notion that any and all thoughts are innocuous is purest mountain-spring hogwash. EDIT: Please note that in line with new EU directives pure mountain spring hogwash is not intended to be used as an anti-dessicant.

*rage* And what if the energy expended in making these biodegradeables is 5 times that used on existing materials? There's far too little attention paid to systems thinking in these ostensibly 'green' ideas. No offence, Gorth. it's not like you're king of industry and are about to launch into this concept.

Taking those measures may be grossly insufficient. In which case you are drowning slightly less, but still drowning, in plastic. Applying the gospel of test everything first would leave us banging rocks together when the asteroid hits. Recklessness is built into our bodies. And I thank God daily for it. Although strictly speaking I don't believe in God. But one has to be grateful for good stuff. I suppose I should thank my ancestors.

It had its moments... bhut frankly I'd have preferred Old World Blues to have been darker as was implied in Dead Money. But then, we wouldn't have had all the knob gags. And I would not have hurt myself laughing. Voted.

Does sound engaging. Thanks for taking the trouble to write it up!

Chinese government makes beer. Budweiser are competitors. I guess. Pretty redolent example of what full state control results in. Oh come our glorious revolution, eh?

If I may make a gentle suggestion, stress is a known factor in lots of medical badness. Stressing yourself out over plastic may be killing you even if the plastic harmless.

GD, just wondering, but something I'd definitely buy would be anything covering French colonial wars, with your same themes in it. Particularly Africa. Same period, even. Could be interesting. Then the genuine historical facts would be as alien and fascinating as your counterfactual additions.

Agree with Gorth on interpretation, but woudl say that a ship is a pretty solid metaphor for life. Of course, you were in the Navy, so you probably have specific associations with vessels. possibly more of the responsibility thing.

If it makes you feel any better, tarna, we're none of us immortal. Except possibly Prosper. Sounds like you're handling it better than most people I know who've gone through it. Just keep in mind a bunch of them survived. Hope you will be one of the ones that does, mate.

Sweet Jesus. Talk about playing up to the stereotype that the rest of the world are arrogant ****ers. As if Hurlshot didn't actually know?!! ON TOPIC, agree with Cant. If they want to regulate for waste fine. But this is an unrelated claim. Of course, having no democratic accountability why SHOUDLN'T they regulate everything? Like soft-drinks, which likewise produce waste and take up scarce water, or beer which uses grain and is insensitive to teetotallers. I'm quite startled to note that no-one seems bothered by the fact that this is a non-democratic body reaching down from Mount Brussels* to penalise subordinate member state citizens and companies, over-riding elected assemblies. *Feel free to ridicule my geography, since you enjoy it so much.

I just put one of those daylight bulbs in my office. My God, it's like I just installed a new brain! Sooooo much better.

Obviously I am interested in finding fault with the EU. According to Angela Merkel we are on an inexorable slope towards full integration. However, that doesn't make this any less insane. The advertising doesn't say that drinking juice won't hydrate you. It says that drinking water will. That's simply true. End of.