Whitey Grandad

That's me! Engineers (the real ones, not boiler repair men) are practical scientists. They have to both comprehend and apply the science. Theoretical scientists spend all their time trying to get funding for their pet theories and projects and very often fail to see the bigger picture. Some of them do some useful stuff but before you get too excited about their research you should always look to see who's funding it. (My original comment didn't say 'better', I said that engineers were way ahead of scientists, or was it 'beyond'?)

The only 'debunking' I saw related to the total energy output from the sun and not to any possible effect of high-energy rays on cloud formation. As I said, there is no science for this at present so it is not included in any climate models.

There is a definite and unavoidable correlation between sunspot activity and the earth's climate. The solar activity to which you refer is total energy output which is, quite frankly, an unbelievably simplistic approach to the interaction between events on the sun and what happens here. If you examine the relationship between mean distance between the earth and the sun you will find a strong relationship with the occurrence of ice ages. The only warming effects on earth come from the sun. To pretend that what happens on the sun does not affect our climate (and weather) is preposterous.

Why would you want to rein in expectations???

There is no science at present quantifying the relationship between solar & cosmic radiation and its effect on the earth's weather, hence it is not included in any climate models. Perhaps we shall know more if this experiment gives us any new info: http://public.web.cern.ch/public/en/spotlight/SpotlightCloud-en.html

I think its caused by the mpeg encoding. It's an optical delusion.

That should of course have been 'best Ipswich player on the pitch'.

Iphones only come in white or black. How divisive is that?

And another thing.... all we hear about are Blackerrys. Never a mention of Whiteberrys, Asianberrys, Chineseberrys, Afro-Caribbbeanberrys etc.

You'll forgive me if I don't get overexcited just yet. At my age you have learnt to wait and see what happens.

Some clubs spend that one one player... The world's gone mad, I tell you.

It all depends on your type of work and where you will be doing it. We're not city types ourselves having moved away from London 40 years ago. My advice would be to look for transport links and how you will commute. After that it all depends on how much you want to spend.

If you go along the coast road at Lee on Solent watch out for the speed camera near the hovercraft slipway where the road dips. There is also one near Fareham creek about 200 yds after you go under the railway viaduct (A32?).

No, the Receiver of Wrecks has to be notified (and contrary to popular belief that is not Southampton Football Club). Having said that, most looters were allowed to keep their loot. http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/mcn/2007/October/october23-30/oct2607salvergersallowedtokeepbmws/

Of course, not all instances of looting occur in inner-city deprived areas. Remember the MSC Napoli in Dorset? http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/uk_msc_napoli/html/6.stm

Did I mention Jason EWEll?

Hi Eric, you must be bored. Ted Drake Now I'm stuck.....

It didn't happen when I, or my mother, or my grandmother were young.

That much is true. You only have to read this forum.

But then we can all tell that you are obviously not being serious.

Well, they are supposed to demonstate 'balance'. Why, I bet the even staged some riots with white kids, just to even things up. (winky tongue-in cheek thingy)

Tsk! That's the BBC for you.

The problem is that they weren't.

It does happen, apparently: http://www.cpfc.org/forums/archive/index.php/t-220246.html I think some (Arsenal, Tottenham? )include a certain number of games, Man Utd will charge you for the game whether or not you actually go to it, I saw one reference to the effect that Arsenal include Champion's League games in their ticket price (not that they always qualify for it). I know that the FA Cup regulations about sharingthe gate money take into account the situation where a cup game has been included in the cost of a season ticket. http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Season-ticket-price-outrage-Premier-League-fans-in-revolt-over-massive-hikes-article738885.html

Hello again Eric, nice to see the pedants are up early (early for me that is). You are quite correct to point out that I should have said 'I didn't miss going'. (I'm not sure whether or not I hate imprecision).