bridge too far

Men's mathematics: 9 inches = barely visible

Passport tales no. 3: Last year we were all off to France by Eurostar for a canal holiday. I'd reminded my kids months before to make sure their passports were up to date. Day of departure and I asked them all, jokingly, 'have you all got your passports?' My oldest daughter, normally so well organised, said 'oh no, I'll go and get it'. She came back and said 'it's out of date by 3 months'. I thought she was joshing at first, but she wasn't. We got on the innernet to the Passport Office, French Embassy, Eurostar etc. etc. It was a Saturday so we didn't get much joy with phone calls. My daughter then said 'oh well, I won't go - you all go without me (in a martyred tone)'. My youngest daughter then phoned Eurostar again and all we could hear was 'oh right, oh really, OK we'll try that'. She told her sister that the clerk at Eurostar had said 'just turn up with your old passport and a utility bill / driving licence and you should be OK' He hadn't actually said anything of the sort and she'd lied to her sister. You know what - we did just that and, apart from a short interview with a Gendarme at Waterloo (Eurostar station then) she got through with no trouble at all. And no trouble on the way back either!

Don't be so sniffy

Wiki says: "According to a speculative article in The Guardian in May 2006, there are rumors that director Terrence Malick has been linked to a possible screen adaptation of the novel" I thought I'd seen a screen version of it years ago but maybe it was a televised drama :smt102

Presumably the children's fathers are supporting the mothers and the offspring? After all, it takes two.....

MB he's used all the Spurs jokes printed in the Guardian on Tuesday (I think) and transposed us for Spurs. He's not even original!

I wonder if it will be that simple if the imminent recession (apparently) kicks in and a lot more people are unemployed? It might not be so easy for them to go on to find a job that pays more than social schemes. My main concern would be for the children. We can rant on ad nauseam about how wrong it is for some people to have children but the inescapable fact is that those children are there, through no fault of their own, and they need to be fed and clothed.

"Some countries insist that your passport is valid for at least six months after the date you enter the country. If you have any questions about this, ask the country's consulate or embassy in the UK." http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/TravellingAbroad/PassportsAndVisas/DG_4019505

My grandson loves things like 'grow your own worms', farting cushions etc. But maybe that's because he's a boy or maybe its because they're the sort of things I like Seriously, I reckon educational stuff is a good idea or a book on a serious topic that's dealt with in a fun way.

Downs Syndrome might result in learning difficulties or a mental HANDICAP. That's not the same thing as a mental ILLNESS. Mental illness covers a myriad of disorders. OCD has been mentioned; bipolar disorder; anorexia etc. etc. In the same way as someone who has, say, cancer has a physical (medical) ILLNESS whereas someone who has lost a limb in an accident has a physical HANDICAP. But I second your second point. I used to teach dance to children with Downs Syndrome. They were great and so affectionate. Unfortunately, some people take advantage of them.

I_N_S I wish I had time to answer your post but I'm off out. But I do have to tell you that Downs Syndrome is not a mental illness at all. It is caused by a chromosome imbalance (the child has an additional X chromosome I think but I haven't got time to check that out).

Thank you MB

Absolutely agree with you

And demote yourself to the level of the criminal? I thought you were more intelligent than that TBH.

There were two parts to the post, Hatch and the second part was dependent on the first. Go read it again

Sorry - done.

Then let's just hope that no close male relative of yours (because most paedophiles are men) have faulty brain wiring or a brain tumour (see my most recent post). No doubt you'll be first in the queue to pull the switch?

Sorry JFP - it was Influenced.com that said: INFLUENCED.COM It seems clear that Paedophiles can not be rehabilitated so their illness is terminal However - you did say that you agreed I'm in favour of euthanasia (my mum has a terminal illness and is suffering big time but hanging in there. All she wants is to die). And I believe it is the right of an individual in a civilised society to choose to end his or her life if it is intolerable, such as that young rugby player. But you could argue, could you not, that a murderer or a paedophile should not be allowed a civilised choice as they haven't behaved in a civilised manner. But what about this: "The sudden and uncontrollable paedophilia exhibited by a 40-year-old man was caused by an egg-sized brain tumour, his doctors have told a scientific conference. And once the tumour had been removed, his sex-obsession disappeared." http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn2943-brain-tumour-causes-uncontrollable-paedophilia.html

You're the one making the point, not me. You were the one saying that paedophiles have a terminal illness and therefore should be put down. I'm demonstrating the flaw in your argument, that's all. This may be clearer if my edited version is now visible.

Paedophilia is not a terminal illness. Terminal illness is a medical term to describe an active and malignant disease that cannot be cured or adequately treated and that is reasonably expected to result in the death of the patient. This term is more commonly used for progressive diseases such as cancer or advanced heart disease than for trauma. Paedophilia is defined as a psychological disorder in which an adult experiences a sexual preference for prepubescent children. It does not, in itself, cause the death of the paedophile. No significant curative treatment for paedophilia has been found yet. There are, however, certain therapies that can reduce the incidence of paedophilic behaviors that result in child sexual abuse. Some recent research has suggested that paedophilia may be caused by faulty brain wiring. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7116506.stm Please understand that I am not defending or condoning paedophilia. I'm just pointing out to you that you cannot apply your 'test' of 'putting someone down' because they have a terminal illness to a paedophile.

And, RS, taking the point you're making to its logical conclusion: Only Native Americans should become President.

It also has pedals. Do you suppose he might be a pedalphile?

Why would he have a piano in his pocket :confused:

Don't start fanning my flames, sweetie. I told you I'm too busy to play today :smt018