pap

Then if that's the case, we find new trading partners. It won't be the case, but even if it were, it's not the end of the world. My major client has a global customer base. For that reason, and that reason alone, it is doing very well at the moment. The Europeans might not be flush with cash, but they're making money hand over fist from Arab countries and operations in the Far East. Europe is close, but vicinity isn't everything.

It probably would, and we'd probably get it if that was our objective.

And FWIW, I don't think the EU situation is extremely complex. The only reason it appears so complex is that the institution itself is so bloody opaque and that our incumbent politicians are so focused on being seen to run the show that they deliberately obscure the extent of the EU's reach.

On the evidence of the last referendum, certainly not. Both sides of the debate will spread fear and mistruths.

You've made the point about not having direct democracy before, Andy. I'm not sure how well it holds up in this instance. The debate was triggered through the e-petitions system, a mechanism designed to address some of the shortcomings of representative democracy. Despite the calls for reform, the vast majority of MPs are not interested in changing the system, and every time the chance comes up, legions of them from all parties stand steadfast in support of the status quo. The system can't be seen as an excuse for their behaviour when they'll slavishly defend it as soon as their own interests are at stake.

I dunno. Most of us are capable of juggling several priorities, solentstars. I care about all the things you mention. Doesn't stop me from having a view on the EU. In fact, the only people who have stopped me from having a vote are the hypocritical cowards who put their career prospects over a chance for direct democracy. The fact is that all three parties offered referenda on the EU constitution, but weaseled out of those commitments, despite the fact that the same measures were put in place through the Lisbon Treaty. They are using the letter of the law to defeat the spirit of it, and have said outright that they do not trust the British public with its own future on this matter.

I listened to the whole debate last night. First, let me say this. Any MP that used the issue of Europe to bait its constituents during an election that voted no yesterday is utterly compromised at this point. William Hague is utterly compromised. Any MP who decided to waste Parliament's time by half-heartedly explaining why they were voting no is even worse. Actually, any MP who voted no yesterday is a disgrace, and has denied the British voter of a voice. The timing point came out in the debate yesterday. Several MPs noted that there is never going to be a good time. If we wait until we regain some of our prosperity ( i.e. not in this Parliament ), then people will say "but we're doing so well - we shouldn't leave now". Others in the "No" camp were banging on about some mythical future opportunity to get out. It's all a load of crap. There is never going to be a 'good' time to leave the EU, just as there is never a good time to leave any sort of relationship. I suspect the truth of it is that despite all the rhetoric about building a better Britain, these people are sh-t scared of the potential consequences and believe that this country incapable of living without membership of the EU. For many MPs, the EU is a handy get-out clause ( my hands are tied because of the EU ) that they've been relying on for decades. I don't think that many of them would actually be able to handle the running of an independent country. This isn't going away anytime soon. I'll be interested to see how the more rabid right-wing organs of press deal with the results.

I love Balotelli. He's a complete one-off.

Gaz... Sounds like your drive has gone dude ( one of my Xboxen is similarly afflicted ). I would just get a replacement drive. I believe MS will charge you £70 for an out-of-warranty repair. I would not recommend getting a second-hand XBox from Cash Converters etc, for one simple reason - you run the risk of not being able to play online. MS has a habit of sending "ban orders" down the wire that take hacked 360s off the network forever. Many of these machines get traded in for cash and you may end up buying a lemon, mate.

Gorkss was quality for Reading yesterday.

Steam has an offline mode. I've played previous versions of FM without a connection on Steam.

Like many, I'm happy enough with the point. Don't think for a second that Reading dominated us, but what they did very well was negate us, when of course, we weren't negating ourselves. Disappointed with discipline. First, wtf was Fonte thinking? Even though he was fouled, he could have been sent off for that. Really stupid behaviour. There were a fair few cards dished out in the game. The only one that I thought was genuinely undeserved was the one doled out to Steve De Ridder. No complaints about the Hammond sending off, but it should all be avoidable. Reading did a good job on us today. That said, very impressed with the defence. Kelvin Davis, once described to me as someone "who couldn't catch a cold", was blooming marvellous. Looks like he dished out a couple of bollockings on the pitch too. Football balances out. We deserved at least a point at Leicester and didn't get it, arguably deserved nothing today and got a point. The big positive? Steve De Ridder is ready to start.

The missus picked this up for me yesterday. I'm about six hours in. First, let me say that this game is a complete no-brainer for anyone who enjoyed the first one. No spoilage, but everything is bigger and we get to see a much wider cast from the pantheon of Batman characters. The increase in scope isn't limited to the characters either. Arkham City isn't the biggest open world you'll have romped around in, but it is far bigger than the first game and has a sense of completeness about it. In a lot of these games, the buildings just feel like empty facades. Not so in this case. It looks bloody amazing, at least on my PS3. While it isn't rocking 1080p ( very few games actually do ) the art style is gorgeous - you'd never believe that a city drenched in perpetual darkness ( and Gotham always is, at least so far ) would look so good. Frame rate is very good for an open-world game too. A word to anyone who is thinking of getting this game new. Download the Catwoman DLC before you start playing. Catwoman's stuff is not a separate campaign - more of a pallet-cleanser in the main Batman story. She is very fun to play though. Finally, for anyone who hasn't played either game and is a fan of Batman ( or games in general ), go play the first one. The second one is so far, looking a lot better - but the Arkham take on Batman deserves to be explored. Like the Nolan films, it takes itself pretty seriously, but deftly handles some of the villains that I suspect a film version wouldn't touch. Their take on Penguin in Arkham City is genius.

Does anyone actually think that, Falklands excepted, we actually have an independent foreign policy? Don't we just do whatever we're told, like a good little supplicant?

Interesting, but not surprising. You have to ask who the police are really protecting, because it isn't the people.

Those are interesting questions. Up to you to find out, really. Sure there is plenty of evidence out there for you to make an informed decision. Personally, I thought that the video was nicely made, deftly illustrating the hypocrisy mentioned by the individual poster. Regardless, if you're setting riot police on your own people, your society has a problem. I include us in that statement.

What, a baton baguette? The coppers were piling into people and dragging them about. For sitting down. I may have taken some linguistic liberties, my pedigree chum, but that's about the size of it. Obama can't claim any moral authority on freedom of speech and assembly when there are riot police in New York vigorously dispersing people who had turned up to protest. (Were you specifically looking for a police baton tastefully positioned within a long piece of bread? That didn't literally happen.)

Just a stab in the dark, but I think the context might be Obama banging on about foreigners getting the right to free speech and assembly when American citizens are getting a baton baguette for wanting to change the financial system.

Very good video. Youtubed for your convenience.

Kit it out with some lipstick and a wig

Did Pele ever score a goal with his nob? Would it have counted?

Like this?

I've been known to log the hours. I work from home now, so don't have the usual cues that it is time to stop working, such as everyone else buggering off. Ultimately, working late is not in your interests. Even if we temporarily suspend the law of diminishing returns (and that is a major factor), it gives a false impression of what can be achieved in any working day. Don't get me wrong - if there's an occasional crisis, show willing and get through it. If it is every day, get another job, because if it is every day, the company you work for is not being managed properly.

Personally, I don't think they have the slightest interest in you or me.

The non-unionised Chinese alternative?