ecuk268

I hope that you're not referring to dune. I'm sure that he seeks a wide spectrum of opinion, examines the statistical evidence behind the more sensationalist and xenophobic headlines and then comes to a considered opinion using his formidable intellect (and what Nigel Farage says). Sarcastic? Moi?

'Effect' is a noun, 'Affected' is the past tense of a verb.

There's not a hope in hell of UK withdrawing from the EU. None of the major parties support it as they know ot would be disastrous for UK businesses. Neither the CBI or the TUC support it (not often those two agree). The EU is supported by (amongst others) Unilever, BT, BMI, BAE Systems, Ernst & Young, Ford Motor Co, Kelloggs, KPMG, Nestle and many other major employers. People might vote for UKIP for a laugh in the Euro elections, but they've achieved nothing nationally. They did increase their share of the vote by a massive 0.9% in 2010 but even their fellow nutjobs in the BNP managed 1.9%. Farage is a good laugh when you listen to him. Maybe he'd get elected in the US as they elected Reagan and they even seem to take Sarah Palin (we must stand by our friends in North Korea) seriously.

The problem with Kindles is that there is no second-hand e-book market. Apparently each e-book has a unique code that ties it to the Kindle where it's installed. I buy a fair few used books (some from Amazon) so why no used e-books?

If you let the BBC take advertising then the programmes will be created to get the largest audiences for the advertisers. This stifles innovation and creativity and we'd just see more of the garbage churned out by ITV. The founders of the BBC saw one of their objectives as education and, although I think that BBC1 has dumbed down somewhat, BBC2 and BBC4 still produce some good stuff that they couldn't do if they were dependant on advertising revenue. Same applies to R4, which despite it's somewhat stuffy image, produces an extraordinarily wide range of programmes. Not all to my taste, but always something to engage the brain.

Alas, no more Sandeesh. She didn't do a lot, but oh those amazing eyes!

Are they still going? Had an engine re-conditioned by them back in the '70s. Always did a decent job.

Compliments of The Daily Mash: Prepare to vomit.......... Royal engagement newspaper bull**** round-up: Each and every one us will be deeply affected by the looming royal marriage... (Peter Oborne, Daily Telegraph) In an important sense, this betrothal has far more to teach a new generation about relationships - and fidelity, too. (Bel Mooney, Daily Mail) For Kate and William, their engagement has profound national significance. They will help form our collective imagination. They are now part of what we are as a nation, how we define ourselves as individuals. (Peter Oborne, Daily Telegraph) As somebody whose business it is to study the human heart.. (Bel Mooney, Daily Mail - she actually wrote those words) Today we are wiser and perhaps more humane. The unrealistic expectations that destroyed Charles and Diana have gone. (Peter Oborne, Daily Telegraph - he's playing a blinder) It is rare these days that we glimpse broad sunlit uplands, but this is one such moment. (Daily Telegraph editorial - sweet ****ing Jesus) And the winner is (obviously)... Diana, the bride at every royal funeral and the mourner at every royal wedding, was present in more than just the engagement ring which sat so heavily on the hand of this young woman who must now walk a mile in her bloodied shoes, on a road leading who knows where. (Julie Burchill, The Independent)

Fforbes Phillipson-Masters

Can you quantify this? Just putting "fact" at the end of the sentence doesn't mean it's true.

As the pirates picked up about £600000 in ransom money, they'll obviously keep doing it.

There's an offer on Family Railcards at the moment. 10% reduction brings it down to £23.40. A couple of trips and it's more than paid for itself. http://www.familyandfriends-railcard.co.uk/online

Pretty good summary of yesterday's events: http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/society/britain-backs-middle-class-children-who-want-the-moon-on-a-stick-201011103243/

Those of us who lived through the wilderness years of Branfo*t are well acquainted with being tortured.

So where exactly do they grow the tea in Yorkshire?

Doesn't seem to have stopped the executives of the FTSE 100 companies averaging a 55% pay rise this year. And bear in mind it's 55% of quite a large amount.

They're perceived as a single-issue party, so they'll always be on the fringes. Despite his opposition to Europe it didn't stop Mr Farage claiming £2m expenses over 10 years on top of his £64k salary.

Judging by their electoral performance, not many people think so. Candidates standing: 570 Candidates elected: 0 If he was a football manager, he'd be sacked.

Who defines what is correct? What if they change their mind? How would we know?

You must have a very limited diet. No coffee, tea, potatoes, pasta, pizza, rice, dairy products from Holstein cows, any spices, the list is endless.

As the awful Mel from Wednesday's Apprentice might say: If you say I don't speak proper, you'll be retributed.

I'd fourth this. Live just up the road and go there regularly. Not cheap but good quality. They're in the National Sausage Championships again this year.

Interesting snippet on the news last night. The UK defence budget is around £10bn and is administered by 25000 civil servants. The Israeli defence budget is £9bn and is administered by 400 civil servants. Over manning???

Go back to '81 when Keith Speed the Navy Minister resigned in protest of the biggest cuts to the Navy ever by Thatcher. HMS Invincible was about to be flogged off to the Aussies when the Falklands happened and we were scratching around for merchant ships to transport troops and equipment. What are these expensive lumps of steel going to do for 10 years until they get their aircraft. They can't use Harriers as they're being scrapped too.

I get phone TV and broadband from Virgin and have had few problems. Broadband is around 8 to 9 Mbs and my V+ box works fine. My Sky Sports channels started breaking up at the weekend. Phoned them on Sunday and the engineer came yesterday and sorted it out. Maybe I've been lucky.