OVER THE HILL

Lots of comments in the Times of India-both for and against receiving the aid but this one stood out for me, satish (India) 1 hr ago (01:14 AM) First thank the British for making India what it Is today. If it wasn't for the British we would not be one country, but smaller kingdoms fighting against each other. Or rather, we might have been taken over by French, spanish, Dutch, Portuguese or some other power...which would have been worse. In the 17th and 18th century that's what the world's powers were doing- invading and conquering, so it isn't like we would have been left alone had it not been for the British. British were way milder than any of other mentioned powers. gandhi would have been shot point blank, had it been the Portuguese, Germans, or Spanish. They gave has railroads, modern system of government, postal system, set up the telephone and telegraphic system, built dams, canals, colleges, schools, sewerage system... all that we still use today. They left us with beautiful cities like Bombay, Delhi, Calcutta, madras...which we have managed to turn into giant overpopulated garbage dumps. They abolished the sati system, child marriage system, abolished the jizya tax, introduced industrial revolution....the list is endless. There are accounts of the British ICS officers supervising road construction in the sweltering summer heat personally on horsebacks. Which DC would do that today? Who knows, We still might have been under moghuls. English being the language of science and commerce in India has enabled us to become an IT superpower and BPO giant. our students are able to study abroad and compete with the best....none of which would have possible without english. We would have probably been fighting over which regional language should be made the lingua Franca in india...just like we still advent been able to settle Hindi's status. And btw, when one goes to England today, the British come across as extremely civilized, well mannered, and cultured people. Can we say the same about ourselves?

It seems bizarre to ban him now when the evidence seems to say that no advantage was gained and the substance was taken by accident. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/9063709/Alberto-Contador-handed-two-year-ban-for-doping-and-is-stripped-of-2010-Tour-de-Fr

Agree with Alps on this ! Going back to my original post,would it not make more sense if the money was spent on airplanes for the RAF rather than pretend it was aid money ?

India’s Finance Minister has said that his country “does not require” British aid, describing it as “peanuts”. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/9061844/India-tells-Britain-We-dont-want-your-aid.html Britain has sent more than £1 billion of taxpayers’ money to India in the last five years and is planning to spend a further £600 million on Indian aid by 2015.Can somebody explain why this is going on ?

It describes him as a " technically gifted midfielder" on that Stoke website !!

Thanks for posting this, I've been a fan of Breton music since the seventies . I was able to see Alan Stivell in concert three times back then and the music has stayed with me.

I think Jaidi is back in training now.

Lived up to his reputation tonight as a total ****.

Agree with Alps for the first time ever

You must be his script writer.

Can't wait for Clotterill's summing up of the game.

I laughed when Portillo got off at Eastleigh and asked three people what Eastleigh was famous for and they all said trains or railways,he then asked a railway worker and got the reply "I don't know ,I'm from Portsmouth "

A normally peaceful street in Calshot was inundated with enthusiasts hoping to spot a small brown bird. the Spanish Sparrow - the only one in the country http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/9465085.Birdwatchers_descend_on_Hampshire/ I really like watching birds in the garden but this I cannot understand.

Construction doesn't begin until 2016 and it may take ten years to complete so the costs are spread over many years. This is not just about speed but greater capacity on the railways , it will also be connected to HS1 so the larger sized continental freight wagons can run through to Birmingham.

With Bob Crow throwing his weight behind this project I suppose this was to be expected. http://newsthump.com/2012/01/10/first-hs2-drivers-strike-scheduled-for-2027/

Sorry to build your hopes up.

HMS Daring ,the Royal Navy's new type 45 destroyer leaves Portsmouth for her maiden deployment tomorrow. http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/defence/hms_daring_s_crew_are_ready_for_anything_says_captain_ahead_of_middle_east_deployment_1_3403891 According to the report this warship cost £1bn and five more are being built.

If it's just been serviced .I assume the plugs have been changed ,you could have a faulty spark plug. What bike is it ?

Good choice

D'urso obviously didn't see what happened he was suckered by the rolling about **** and Greer shouting in his ear.

Once Chaplow got injured there does seem to be a lack goals or goal attempts from the other midfielders. Has Cork ever had an attempt on target ? Also Fonte scored a few last season but, I think, none so far this.

Mack's humour is very subtle

I think you mean Horton Heath The unit behind the garage (not that I know anything about it of course)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2078386/Carol-Vorderman-sexy-tad-dishevelled-Santa-3am-party-photo.html Yes please

No but I have got a superb DVD of the "Battleship Potemkin".