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Offbeat

Teacher reassigns over masturbation essay he gave to students

Surely most educators encourage the "carrot and stick" approach. In the light of his poor judgment, perhaps his celery should be suspended for a month?  (Tuesday Nov 10 | post #19)

Offbeat

Man steals kiss, woman bites off his tongue

Worse news I'm afraid, when his camel found out, she got the hump!  (Tuesday Nov 10 | post #5)

United Kingdom

A student is recovering in Pinderfields Hospital after being se...

I guess the students will now be baa-ed, or locked up in the royal mint?  (Oct 21, 2009 | post #3)

United Kingdom

'Miracle' budgie found floating half a mile out to sea survives

I guess that Nick Griffin MEP punctured its dinghy, it was lucky to find a friend. "They come over here, stealing our cuttlefish!" Beautiful plumage.  (Jul 9, 2009 | post #30)

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Pesky pigeon comes up a Treat

It would make a pleasant change from "crunchy frog".  (Jan 29, 2009 | post #2)

United Kingdom

things to do in tower block council estates

Enjoy cloud formations and take-up plane spotting. When it's dark you could run a pirate radio station.  (Dec 2, 2008 | post #4)

United Kingdom

Investment sorted for North London Line

There is widespread support in the English Midlands for the rebuilding of the Great Central Line and for an electrification of the Bedford-Sheffield route to reduce journey times and pollution. Considerable investment would be required from the private sector for either project and that of course would need a viable banking sector! The much discussed Swindon-Cambridge railway route might be even more beneficial and there are signs that private capital accrued by Chiltern Trains could accelerate progress on the Aylesbury-Bicester-Oxford section in the short term.  (Dec 2, 2008 | post #2)

United Kingdom

Gatwick second runway

The size and shape of the airport prevents such a runway being completed within the current perimeter, unless the use of each runway was heavily constrained for reasons of proximity. You are overlooking the proximity of the densely populated areas of Horley and Crawley and possibly pre-empting the outcome of the planned Public Inquiry into a second parallel runway at Stansted. Where is your evidence that Surrey/Sussex would benefit economically from local air traffic capacity increases, in comparison with Cambs/Essex/Hertfo rdshire who might gain from Stansted's enlargement? Much evidence suggests that air travel growth simply leads to more Brits holidaying abroad, far outweighing the additional spending of foreign visitors to the UK, thus air traffic increases might harm the balance of trade and deepen the recession you are predicting. Climatic impacts are a further reason to proceed cautiously with any airport projects around the world.  (Nov 8, 2008 | post #4)

United Kingdom

Is it Great Britain be a next shining, beacon hopeful nation?

You are right to recognise the maturing governance of the USA, although many individual States there seem to sustain some prejudice and disproportionate sectional interests. The UK really needs to revise its "first past the post" electoral process before it can set a good example to other European countries, let alone the wider world. Continually postponing the reform of the House of Lords doesn't show the UK in a good light, but keep on dreaming and campaigning for some social progress.  (Nov 8, 2008 | post #9)

Offbeat

89 frozen ferrets found in Va. home

In the olden days the Scandinavians used to make Grimms' Ferret Ales, or so I've heard.  (Jan 31, 2008 | post #12)

United Kingdom

British government says sorry after mislaying details of 25 mil...

It appears that the internal mail operations of Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs who sent these disks are contracted out to TNT. If the contract was let after the organization took on the role of UK Customs regulator, it seems highly regrettable that such a major player in the international freight trade was so engaged. Without pre-judging that company, whose culpability has yet to be clarified, it would seem wise to place the contract elsewhere or to use in-house staff when delivering such sensitive material, as soon as possible.  (Nov 26, 2007 | post #10)

United Kingdom

British government says sorry after mislaying details of 25 mil...

This is a shameful episode exposing the loss of a sound public service ethos across much of Britain and a belief that financial targets are the "only ones that matter". Privacy appears to count for little, and the government should put its own services in order instead of expending so much energy on telling the public how to avoid crime and micro-managing every contractor, local authority and health trust as if it knows best. Doctor David Kelly died because the government cared less about protecting his identity than about preserving their own reputations. Will we ever know how many people on this lost database are going to suffer serious consequencies due to this bizarre and unforgivable error?  (Nov 21, 2007 | post #3)

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Favorite Saying or Expression

The despotism of custom is everywhere the standing hindrance to human advancement - John Stuart Mill  (Nov 18, 2007 | post #1306)