bridge too far

This. But the received wisdom is that men who rape do it to exert power and not (necessarily) for sexual gratification. I think I'm right in saying that the majority of male rapes are carried out by heterosexual men.

I was hearing today that 50% of prisoners don't even have the reading age of an 11 year old. I am in no way on the side of offenders but it does occur to me that maybe some people get into crime because they've been let down by our education system. Not being able to read must be a real handicap if you're trying to get work and maybe that's why some resort to crime. Prison should be about punishment but, more importantly, it should be about rehabilitation. Teach a prisoner to read and write and s/he might develop some self-esteem and stand a better chance of getting work (well, not at the moment, obviously...) http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/may/03/illiteracy-innumeracy-prisons Old article but the subject has been raised again recently.

The same could be said of men. I would have thought, in a civilised society that anyone should feel able to walk safely through a park alone, day or night. Rather than criticise the victims, it would be better to have a pop at the perpetrators, don't you think?

1. the Marquis de Sade lived in the 1700s 2. Greek paedophilia (note the correct spelling) was, apparently although this is dubious, prevalent hundreds of years ago. Society in general has moved on. Ancient Greek paedophilia has nothing to do with these two cases where adults have been raped. You might just as well say that the English have a predisposition towards sending children up chimneys. You should be ashamed of yourself for such xenophobic (mis)stereotyping

I think this says more about you TBH Stupid

What on earth is going on? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-15142258 (No smart-alec answers please - it's a rhetorical question really)

Most women wouldn't agree with that statement, I bet. Rape is dreadful - full stop.

I'd certainly be happier with him as PM than the current gruesome twosome!

He obviously doesn't watch it either Andy. Anyone who watched the final of the men's US Open this year couldn't have failed to notice the extreme physicality, stamina, strength and suppleness on show.

Nobody gets to vote for the PM. Goodness only knows how many times this misconception has been aired. I shall vote as I always do for someone to represent my constituency as MP. Sadly, my choice won't win as s/he will be up against Dave.

I've never thought him to be the greatest orator on earth and he sort of proved that yesterday. He shouldn't try to be funny because it doesn't work. But I don't for one moment doubt his sincerity and I think he showed a willingness to lead on thorny issues (as he has in the past e.g. phone hacking). There's no doubt that there's a lot wrong with some of the values of this country and he's right to question those values and talk about how they could be changed. One of shallow values in this country is the willingness of people to judge people soley on celebrity, charisma and appearance. So, by so wittily referring to his nose, you have successfully reinforced said shallow value.

Perhaps the review has been commissioned because of the very real concerns of front-line police officers and Chief Superintendents about the large scale cuts and the proposed election of Commissioners? If so many people actually working in the police forces are so opposed to the Coalition's plans, it's only fair to have a wholescale review of the issues? Those issues didn't arise when there was a Labour government. Of course, Labour could sit back and do nothing but it's the job of opposition to examine arising issues. Just a thought.

And now they're criticising him for going to a selective grammar school. Well, hello - that's the education system in Kent. No comprehensive system there; it's grammar school or secondary school.

This is what they have to do The men's tour requires players to compete in a minimum of 12 events along with the four majors. The tour finishes at the end of November, a month after the women's equivalent. This is followed by the Davis Cup final from http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/14977449.stm posted earlier. Each major takes about two weeks to complete so that's 8 weeks on majors. The other events (Masters) (think about what used to be called the Stella Artois) take at least a week. Then there are Davis Cup matches (usually 4 days each round). Then there's all the travelling from one side of the globe to the other. The Australian Open is held in January and any player worth his / her salt will warm up with some of the satellite events immediately prior to each slam. [h=2][/h]

But Dave said that a fixed term parliament would stop pre-election vote maximisation.

This is Labour's plan, I believe.

But still expect to see a big tax giveaway after year 4 just before the next election.

Err - yes he can http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15054351

Panorama tonight is about Syria. Are you sure it's not another channel?

We're coffee maniacs and we've tried a number of percolators / heat on stove methods over the years. We've had a Dolce Gusto machine for about two years now and absolutely love it. It's a pod system and it delivers the most consistent quality. It's got a good variety of pods (including iced coffee - the nearest we've ever found to our favourite iced coffee from a cafe at the foot of the Acropolis) and great if, like us, you like strong coffee.

Then, I would respectfully suggest, either the consultants also think there's nothing that can be done (most sinus problems being caused by viruses or fungus) or you need to complain. That said, waiting lists are getting longer again.......

Most people with sinus problems find they have a pain in the nose rather than the arse! My sympathies really because I sometimes have sinus problems. There's not a lot that can be done in all honesty but you can always ask your GP for a referral.

I think you can check for meningitis by pressing an upturned glass on the spotty area http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/meningitis/Pages/Symptoms.aspx Here's stuff about shingles, although I'm sure you've already checked it out, especially as you've already had chicken pox http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Shingles/Pages/Introduction.aspx Thank goodness for the NHS eh?

Do they use toilet rolls down there?

A distant relative's band is there tonight, on stage 12.30 The band is called Deadwax http://www.deadwaxband.co.uk/