Walsingham

Crikey. In which case I would suggest that you exhibit more courage in daily life than any hockey player. Even one playing against women.

If I was leading this country I wouldn't have invaded Iraq to cause this situation in the first place. I firmly believe that a nation, and people, needs to stand on its own two feet and take on the threats, either internal or external, on its own. If it is meant to survive, it will prevail. If not, then it won't. I would help as much as possible, don't get me wrong, but I would not help a country to a point that puts my own in risk, either economically or militarily. And if I'd been in charge we'd have prepared differently for the post-war situation and listened to the generals who suggested we shouldn't disband the Iraqi Army. All of which isn't worth a brass dollar. This isn't an exercise in flattering your peculiar drive to achieve total isolation from everything except earwigs. This is the centre of gravity of the next 100 years. Globally and locally. As for helping only in as much as you are not cost anything or put at risk. Drivel. 1. You are always at risk, and every action and inaction has a cost. Your proposed line of action would reduce the United States to a fragmented mess of two-bit states, bereft of influence, or protection from exploitation by other less bizarre strategic minds. 2. I put it to you that you are talking like the farisee as described by the esteemed Martin Luther King. You are asking 'If I help Iraq what will happen to me." I've already made clear my prediction on that. But I also put it to you, as Dr King did, that the more important question is if we do NOT help Iraq what will happen to them? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_agUA-htonQ

Small aside, if you want NA 'booze' to taste stronger, add the juice of grated root ginger.

I'm guessing our regent thought "with allies like that, who needs enemies?".. I mean Lord Nelson took our entire navy (the second biggest in the world at the time) and bombed our capital. Talk about hurting our pride. Besides, Denmark has always had a good relationship with France - how could we kiss-and-forget. On behalf of Lord Nelson I apologise. In his defence I can only point out that according to letters of his he is known to have been unable to sleep because he was not "killing Frenchmen". Clearly this genocidal enthusiasm overmastered his natural finer feelings towards our no doubt gallant allies.

Sand, you are truly suggesting that if you were decision maker (and since you live in a democracy you are a decision maker) you would cheerfully abandon the entire country to disaster? As a human being I put it to you that you must be on just about the lowest possible rung, bereft of either compassion, honour and even common sense.

More context: A survey shows 2/3rds of British public believe we are losing the war in Iraq. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6976637.stm This contrasts with the view of soldiers of all ranks coming back who believe they are being undermined at home, rather than in country. They believe not enough is being done to tackle foreign support of the insurgents, and just generally get very irate about the total ignorance of the public! As I said above, there is a great feeling of shame at leaving in the way we are, after so much effort. Many have sevred multiple stints in the country, and many of teh officers also served in the Balkans. They know what could be coming, despite the years of effort to avoid it.

Since we never seem to get anywhere on this topic, I may as well revel in it and begin with Sand. In fact, call me Bill Murray from now on. The Iraqis are deciding their own fate right now. They had a pretty good stab at a free election and are now governed by their democratically elected government. I'll say that again, because it seems to escape the cheap seats. The Iraqis voted in their own representatives, and at no point have those representatives asked us to leave. The people who want us out do so on the authority of the balaclava and rifle, nothing more. I'll say again that abandoning a country, indeed abandoning an entire region, over a point of order in the circumstances leading up to the current trouble is nothing short of infantile. We face a situation now with real people. Do you think it is going to be of any comfort to anyone on the ground if we say "Hey ho, chaps, never mind the outbreak of civil war, genocide, ethnic cleasing, and the partition of your country between Iran, Turkey, and Syria. If you think about it we should never have gone in in the first place. Ta ta." We're in a very sticky situation at present and finger pointing, as usual, gets us nowhere. Since we've become serious now, I'll add that I am sorry that out troops are pulling out, as an obvious component of a general withdrawal. As you know I have many friends in HM Forces and they're none too proud of it either.

Denmark wasn't interested in joining the war, but considered England the most realistic ally if they were to join anyone - then England demanded Denmark navy, obviously we refused, they bombed, and then Denmark sided with Napoleon.. call us bitter loseres, but would you do any different? *thinks* Yes. I'd have puffed on my pipe then kicked Bonaparte in the chins.

Not so. It greatly complicates urine tests.

Indeed. Destruction to our heritage! A pox upon all beauty! etc etc.

I'll warrant it looks bad, but we've been planning that pullout since autumn 2004! The British people for some reason are more supportive of our involvement in Afghanistan. Nonetheless, it feels bad to back out on you chaps.

In which case I hope he has the best of luck. It's an admirable goal. I wouldn't worry too much. Just keep in mind that your geek market is very parochial. I think my point does apply after all. Certainly there are anime geeks, but the rest of the geek market can get very snooty about them. *thinks* Unless you made a geek specific range of marketing fronts for each geek genre. *thinks* I should be in bed asleep.

British universities are far superior. They opt instead for an arrogant sort of apathy where the students do pod all and claim this is being cool. Their only diversions are rowing, drinking tea, and flatulence. Much better than fraternities.

No. The 'empty' segments have to be enjoyed on their own accord (for their beauty, a concept which apparently is unknown in cinema). The symbolism is actually quite elementary and only a small portion of the whole. Can't comment on those films since i haven't seen them, but judging from this trailer it doesn't look like something i might be interested in. My taste in cinema is fairly limited though. I tend to find the other arts (literature and music in particular) to be much more satisfying. Their beauty? Surely you jest, sir! *drops monocle* How are they enjoyable in their own right? I meanI sat through the original opening of Lawrence of Arabia and enjoyed it, but I'm damned if staring at a man walking around in a circle followed by the equally thrilling experience of seeing him listlessly fulfil inflight checks qualifies as either edification or entertainment! I am sorry to be so strident, but Kubrick abused my goodwill generated in his other films and stole two and whatever hours of my life! If he were still alive I'd bloody well take them off him! I've never been so bored, and I've been to Witney.

Well I pushed myself hard today, even if I failed to make warp speed. Just keep trying, I guess.

Yeah and seee if they side with Bonaparte again!

Do continue...

Moving to chapter 8...

Anyone else still checking their miles and a halves? I've been consdiering this business of a mile and a half (3.4 km) in 10.5 minutes. That's about 5m/s! It sounds ruddy impossible. I don't believe humans can move that fast... *regards solid lard-based physique dubiously*

Lyric Suite, I shall resist the urge to feel patronised since I'm sure that was not your intention. Your suggestion is, I take it, that: 1. 2001'a long seemingly empty segments of watching hostessses and men walking around are loaded with symbolism that makes them in fact full. Whereas I put it to you that I have watched films that are seemingly empty, and are packed with stuff happening past the surface. 2001 is not one of those films. It is a case of the Emperor is extraordinarily dull and self-involved. For comparison I draw your attention to In the Mood for Love - Wong Kar Wai 9 Sonatine - Micheline Lanctot The latter is especially apposite since it takes a short story and makes a short film out of it. Rather than taking a short story and dragging it out into a feature film.

Never having heard her off a carefully edited an balanced track I would suggest she is not a great singing in a Ella Fitzgerald, Ruth Moody sense.

If there's a sign telling you to move to consoles then it's not a sign from God.

Thanks for asking, samm. It certainly seems that way. I had to scrape a lot of dust out, but far less than I expected. I'll be keeping an eye on her as time goes by.

Wankers, the whole lot of you.