Walsingham

Small query: you weren't a woman originally? Not since the last time I checked. Good. Because that would certainly have increased the unexpected shock value of your news.

I'm increasingly and unutterably depressed by the total shocking and incoherent mess the democratic nations are making of everything. We are neither soberly and educatedly taking action, nor just getting drunk and getting on with things, but soberly and hysterically running in small circles and watching the X Factor. The prospect of the fulcrum of world events being controlled by a certifiable loon of either party is simply par for the course.

Small query: you weren't a woman originally?

With affectionate disrespect, Orogun, you sound like you're advocating a return to old fashioned pre-1900 colonialism.

I understand that there are conflicting stories of how Greece wound up in the mess she is in. but as I understand it, she now stands at a crossroads. She can take a loan from the Eurozone and IMF, with attendant austerity cuts in public spending. Or she can go bankrupt and have no public spending. I therefore have two questions: 1. Is this summary accurate? 2. If it is accurate then how does a populace completely fail at simple logic? No spending vs some spending? It's a no-brainer.

I agree with the general thrust that progress is being made, and that the situation could completely unravel if we pull out. That will NOT be 'OK'. Strategically the opposition will claim that they won in Afghan, in spite of being consistently kerbstomped. Operationally you are going to see a concomitant rise in recruitment, and a return of trained indivdiauls from Afghan to other countries. Pakistan, Yemen, Iraq. All places we can't afford to get any worse because we have no rescue plan for these countries. Having said this I cannot believe that the UK is going to maintain its commitment so I find it hard to condemn the yanks for cutting and running. I simply think it's inexpressibly foolish and wasteful. This is not to say that the commitment to Afghan should be open ended. If it is that will only become a kind of colonialism. BUt the latrenative is that we need to deliver three things: economic growth, military security, and a political 'heart' or fire to enliven the minds of the Afghans. Yet I also think that all three are doubtful. We can't currently deliver economic strength in our own countries. The Afghan security apparatus is not as horribly compromised as Pakistan, but has a long way to go in terms of trade skills. And Hamid Karzai is a drugged up loon; not the kind of man to inspire a nation Ataturk style.

I'm eagerly looking forward to everything going back on bloody paper. They said I was mad to buy filing cabinets! Mad! MAAAAAAD!

I've decided that when I retire and open my bar I'm going to have people searched for croquet mallets.

Not exactly safe for work, but hilarious.

hah. I shall consider a medley.

That's just bloody silly. You could stab someone far easier in a club, and possibly even get away. Not going to happen if you start balsting. But maybe it's a question of deterring gun-holders.

When you stumble onto him storing his porn on it? Indeed. For that would be a terrible duplication, since I am certain to already possess anything a right thinking individual would enjoy. EDIT: In today's work I keep coming across pictures of Hindu swastikas. I don't care how ancient the original purpose is, swastikas of any kind give me the willies. People insisting a swastika is nice drive me beyond willies and into creeping abdabs. Giant fething bronze wall hanging swastikas go beyond that and into new ground I'm going to call gonkwobbles.

Mmmmm... nice non-slip handle.

Starting to regret introducing my housemate to Fallout New Vegas. I keep finding him glommed onto my machine like some kind of cyber-mollusc. I mean i know how addictive it is myself, but at what stage am I entitled to tell him to gakking well buy his own computer?

Gorth, that's a neat way of putting it. If I piss in a lift am I doing anyone a favour by highlighting how easy it is to piss in a lift?

What if they're Russian, Chinese or North Korean, though? Russia and China have authorities, and they certainly won't be protecting this type of behavior. China has been the source of numerous hacking attempts. Attempts subsequently linked to the apprehension of dissidents. Further, you have multiple statements by senior PLA staff in the past ten years indicating a drive towards multi-dimensional 'capability' - i.e. cyber space. After all, if you have an opponent who relies on info technology, where do you hit him? I think you may be being naive, Hurlshot. Of course, it doesn't prove anything. I'm just saying you might be. I think the more sensible approach by China would be a 'fostering' approach. they don't crack down on hacking as much as they might, then purchase looted information on the open market. Far more simple and deniable than running a branch of government that can't be held at arm's length. Rather akin to Pakistan 'using' militant groups for so long. ~~ At some levels it's probably good to have some big breaches, because I don't believe these organisations had been taking hacking seriously. On the other hand I think there's a ludicrous notion that all hacking is good. SOCA handle hugely important data concerning ongoing investigations into very nasty chaps. Is it really sticking it to the man to break open an investigation into heroin smuggling? Or is it destructive narcissistic bull****?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13848510 Lulzsec apparently delivered a DDoS attack on the UK Serious Organised Crime Agency today. Thoughts?

In my mind London covers a cone shape, emanating from somewhere around Slough, and going at least as far south as Brighton. In meeting which I now propose we erect an Israeli style separation barrier. Any residents passing checkpoints out of London should be checked for tweeting equipment, and lattes. Then punched square in the nuts.

You've obviously never heard the term "Estonian sandal" I haven't had the pleasure of visiting the blessed plot recently, I did however have the pleasure of seeing a cross section of the British society in a McDonald's near Piccadilly Circus at night. I'd say it was a rather enlightening experience. Could you help me broaden my horizons further by explaining this "Estonian sandal"? I don't regard Londoners as English, anyway. An Estonian sandal is somewhere beetween a Jellicoe hangbutte, and a Minsk albtaross.

You've obviously never heard the term "Estonian sandal"

This is a blatant attempt to curry favour for your drug legalisation program. Because I now want some of whatever you're smoking.

You can't still be dreaming. You're late for your exams. But I didn't study! You'll be fine. Here, have a dachshund.

You can't still be dreaming. You're late for your exams.

I enjoyed the trash on the beach bit. Seriously.