bridge too far

Interesting post StL. Like you I don't usually buy extended warranties but when we moved house 5 years ago we bought a load of new stuff from Comet. At the time, one of my daughters was a Store Manager, although not at the store we got our stuff from, and we had a Comet 'family' discount card. We bought those extended warranties that repay in full if there's no claim. I set diary reminders on my PC and, since none of the items had failed, I called in my premium for every one of them - quite a tidy sum. But, as my daughter pointed out, most people forget and Comet sold loads of extra warranties at this time because of this deal, but made loads because of people's memory lapses!

and / or Fulthorpe?

My all time favourite is Eggs Benedict. Closely followed (but not at the same meal) by poached haddock with a poached egg on top. Yum.

I sort of agree with you on that one (apparently being told what to think, not HIPS per se). Nobody likes laws if they feel their individual liberties are being constrained. But sometimes laws are for the greater good of all of us. I don't like being told what speed to drive but I sure as hell would create if someone killed one of my family because they were driving too fast. I don't like some of the Health and Safety Legislation, but if my mother broke her leg because a local council hadn't bothered to keep pavements in good condition and, being blind, she'd tripped up I'd be furious. You and I might be sensible, rational people but sometimes we - meaning most of us - have to be protected from those that aren't, don't you think?

Not really, silly.

FYI I may be very wise but I'm not Nostradamus - I'm just quoting him.

NickH - the financial regulations were relaxed in the Reagan / Thatcher era. However, it is true that the financial sector was given more independence by GB. It's funny, isn't it, how people who normally moan about too much red tape also moan when red tape is relaxed. I'm no economist but I can grasp that there are two ways out of the current global financial crisis. Remember it IS global so what one country does in isolation these days will have little effect. 1. Reduce taxes and give individuals the opportunity to spend more and thus kick-start the economy. The risk is that people hoard because they're frightened. And the other risk is that it won't immediately address the job losses and will therefore lead to an increase in public spending on benefits, and thus a further reduction in taxes received. 2. Borrow more. Our borrowing against GDP is still lower than many other countries. By borrowing, the public sector capital programme can be brought forward, creating more jobs thus stimulating the economy. More jobs = two things. Firstly, if people feel more secure about employment, they'll be more likely to spend and a trickle-down effect will ensue. Secondly, if more people are working, there'll be less public spending on non-tax raising exercises such as unemployment benefit and all the knock-on benefits like housing benefit, free prescriptions etc. etc. And more taxes will be paid to the Treasury. Most countries are pursuing the second option (with the exception of the US at the moment, because Dubya chose to give tax breaks to the wealthy). I do believe that lessons have been learned about the lack of regulation in the City. Steps are being taken to tighten things up again. We can't criticise this move if it means an end to irresponsible lending, both large and small and also means a return to the days of banks taking less risk.

I was thinking that way too ESB. I cancelled my party membership when we went to war, after many, many years of very active work for the party at a highish level. Even so, there was no way I could vote for the foppish lot or the fence-sitters. I have, however, just rejoined. The main reason for this is because I KNOW that GB has and will continue to do the sorts of things I expect of a Labour government. Already huge steps have been taken to address child poverty issues and I can see directly, through my work, that there's been a great deal of investment in schools and hospitals. Not to mention his very genuine concern about the problems in Africa. The press (well, certain sections of it) will lambast him because that's what they do but I know, first hand, that he's a very principled man. People will criticise him for having 'no personality' - as if 'personality' is all that's needed of a Prime Minister. I'd rather have no personality but very real principles, intelligence and gravitas any day. And, if you know him for real, he's a very funny man too

Of course it doesnt - any more than NickH's did.

Could it be this quatrain? 243 The great empire will be torn from limb, The all-powerful one for more than four hundred years: Great power given to the dark one from slaves come, The Aryana will not be satisfied thereby.

Until my computer gardens, decorates, restrains from farting and ****** scratching, takes things upstairs that need taking upstairs, and puts the bog seat down it is, without a doubt, female.

I think that should read SHOUT it like a native

You have a spectron telescope? Wow!

I understand. :-({|=

The latter, no doubt. He is struggling to keep pace with Chameleon on the hypocrisy front as it is.

Did they also say 'cos you lot have already come over here and taken all our houses but haven't bothered to learn our language?'

As old as my tongue and a little bit older than my teeth A lady never divulges her age, don't you know.

Did you read El Diario Correo too?

Nooooo! Really? You think?

I see what you did there - that's very clever . I welled up because I'm old enough to remember how bad things were for black people not so very long ago. I empathised with Jesse Jackson's emotions in that so much had been achieved since the days of segregation (in a comparatively short time in fact). Some of us sympathise and empathise with people, their pain and their joy - some of us are hard-nosed cynics. I'm glad I'm the former and I'm glad I'm not a perpetually angry person like you. You must find it quite hard to live with yourself sometimes.

To change the name to Black House would be on a par with changing the name of Buck House to Doe House just because we have a female monarch.

I would have voted for him because he's comparitively young, very intelligent and hugely confident. I think he has a good deal of gravitas too. Compared with the idiot who preceded him, he's bound to be great

I think what she says about career politicians is very pertinent. A large number of MPs from either side are Oxbridge educated and often lawyers. Having said that, didn't Obama study law? However, I digress...... I well remember the old days when the Labour Party used to have its 'A' and 'B' lists of potential candidates. The A List comprised people that were to be considered for winnable seats. Many of them (and my ex-husband was one) were supported by Trade Unions. Although a lot of people moan about the influence of the Trade Unions on the Labour Party (conveniently forgetting the equal and parallel influence of the city and big business on the Tory Party), this did at least mean that some potential Labour MPs had 'normal' backgrounds. For example, my ex-husband, although a full-time official for the construction trade union, had started his working life as a joiner. I guess part of the problem is that MPs are actually not that well paid, considering the work that the good ones do. A working class MP might feel unable to take the risk of becoming an MP because, should his / her seat be lost at the next election, it might be difficult to get back into the previous employment or trade :smt102

So men with beards and moustaches are, in fact, female? Is that what you're saying?

Dunno - I don't speak Spanish (apart from the basics like coffee and beer). This came from my Spanish friend. :smt102