bridge too far

However, not quite as rosy as first thought! http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/11/26/george-osbornes-autumn-statement-leaves-families-1600-a-year-worse-off-says-ifs_n_8654656.html?1448543676

Cheers Lou! Deep in the article, there is mention of the increase in transgender hate crime and homophobia. Many on here were saying it didn't really exist these days. So highly relevant in my view.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-34890231

Selective quoting. I notice you didn't answer this bit "IS murdering people in cold blood in the name of Allah represents Islam about as much as the Lord's Resistance Army killing and mutilating children in Africa represents Christianity."

But didn't we support the Taliban when they were fighting the Russians?

Hasn't the West's intervention (and swapping its allegiances) caused a lot of the dreadful state in the area? I've just read this article from a couple of montsh ago but remarkably prescient now http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jun/03/us-isis-syria-iraq

Brilliant post Hamilton Saint!

Source?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-34754889

At the time, the rest of the world thought Cameron had been a bit previous - jumping to conclusions before the facts were known. As for your last sentence - well, let's face it, this government IS pretty weak. U turns left, right and centre!

Take your pick! Big demonstrations in central London (not covered by the media), Jeremy Hunt being caught out by spinning the so-called pay rise for junior doctors, Home Secretary announcing more snooping, David Cameron looking even more of a **** in PMQs......... And that was just yesterday!

Or because this ''news' could detract from other bad news on the day (puts cynical hat on)

My god are you lot still at it? Jeez!

Oh for ****'s sake - shut up the lot of you.

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/13929879.UPDATE_Saints_fan_arrested_after_Cherries_fan_seriously_injured_after_match/?ref=rss

What are you on about Hypo? My many gay friends don't live in ghettos. Like you and me, they live where it suits them for work etc. Do all hypochondriacs live near hospitals?

People don't 'resort' to homosexuality

Yeah I saw that and asked Mr TF why his team wasn't featuring. I'm proud to say I got 3 pointless answers -go me

Another point to be made is this. Some parents fork out a small fortune for tutoring. Their children are being force fed practice papers. So, if the child gets through, it may be that they've just managed to pass (based on the tutoring) but they don't really have the ability to learn in a pressurised academic environment. So they struggle and probably feel like failures anyway. And if they still don't get through, in spite of the £££ being spent on tutors, they'll probably feel guilty about wasting their parents' money. Poor kids

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/10/15/american-gun-laws-toddlers-with-weapons-are-shooting-one-person-a-week_n_8303510.html?1444924218

And this is the nub. I went to a grammar school in the 60s and I wasn't the only working class girl there, far from it. We have selection here in Buckinghamshire and it's a sad fact that the 'successful' children predominantly come from private schools or have had extensive tutoring. A couple of years ago, the Council tried to make the 11+ tutor-proof but it hasn't worked. The stats that have been trotted out today are recognisable here (number of children entitled to free school meals v children from private schools / tutoring of the same ability). The grammar schools are academies so effectively they're able to pick and choose at whim. The local boys' grammar school, particularly, has delusions of grandeur although, interestingly, it didn't perform as well as the top comprehensive schools in neighbouring counties. Generally, there is a 'pass mark' of 121 (I think, although it may have changed). However, getting 121 doesn't mean your child automatically gets in to a grammar school. Often the school will choose children from out of county middle class areas / private schools rather than local children with the same result!

Won't the much vaunted TTIP agreement ensure that the US gets what it wants with regard to Europe?

Interesting view point http://thefreethoughtproject.com/mainstream-media-refuses-syrian-conflict-video/

The tragedy that he referred to was the tragedy that OBL hadn't had a trial or verdict - you know, the right that most of us in the Western world take for granted. He wasn't suggesting for one moment that OBL's death IN ITSELF was a tragedy FFS!