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Post Info TOPIC: Never been away - just busy!


Banana Republic

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Never been away - just busy!
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Um...no I'm not away on holiday..yet


I've just been really busy at work and not been able to log on for ages....but it's the company BBQ today and as just about everybody else is there (and I'm still stuck in the office), I thought I'd pop by!!


So, did ya miss me? Now that Live8 etc has passed and Edinburgh has returned to normal (well as normal as it can be given the Festival has started!!) anybody got any juicy gossip or something worth debating / having an intelligent conversation about?


I see Mo Mowlam has died..she was a remarkable woman...didn't suffer fools and all that.


Got e-tickets for Disneyland Hong Kong!!! Can't wait



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Tonight

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Alison wrote:


conversation about? I see Mo Mowlam has died..she was a remarkable woman...didn't suffer fools and all that.

Who's that: congratulation with the tickets

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camilla sørensen


The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

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I was also saddened to hear about Mo Mowlam. A few years back I had tickets to see Parkinson being filmed and she was one of the guests. She talked about surviving illness. She came across as an incredibly strong woman.


She was a senior cabinet minister in the labour party in the UK, once secretary of state for Northern Ireland.



-- Edited by Jules at 15:19, 2005-08-19

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Tonight

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Ah ok, so thats why I've never heard of her. Thanks Jules, you are always so helpfull

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camilla sørensen


Dave

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Alison wrote:


Um...no I'm not away on holiday..yet I've just been really busy at work and not been able to log on for ages....but it's the company BBQ today and as just about everybody else is there (and I'm still stuck in the office), I thought I'd pop by!! So, did ya miss me? Now that Live8 etc has passed and Edinburgh has returned to normal (well as normal as it can be given the Festival has started!!) anybody got any juicy gossip or something worth debating / having an intelligent conversation about? I see Mo Mowlam has died..she was a remarkable woman...didn't suffer fools and all that. Got e-tickets for Disneyland Hong Kong!!! Can't wait


 


Alison... Now tell us, was it as bad as you expected? Protesters marching on Edinburgh? Anarchists ruining the place?


To be honest I'm surprised to see you back...



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Tonight

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Hey there, we missed you!!

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Ian


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A view from Auchterarder Residents - G8 Protest

For all affected by the anti-G8 march at Auchterarder on the first day of the G8, it was a day of uncertainty and contrasting images.


Protesters heading for the organised demonstration probably woke on Wednesday, satisfied that they had won the right to protest close to the venue for the G8 summit.

However, early morning violence by some anti-G8 protesters elsewhere threw that plan into doubt and the police, at one stage, pulled the plug.


The Auchterarder protesters eventually got their wish but the contrast came when a predominantly peaceful march was affected by some of the disorder seen elsewhere.

Safety and order was paramount for police in Auchterarder and, with serious violent confrontations ongoing in Stirling, perhaps they could not be blamed for feeling twitchy.

Could safety be guaranteed during the planned G8 Alternatives demonstration in a village 10 miles north of where officers were putting their G8 public order training into practice?

Many demonstrators in Auchterarder were at pains to stress that they were not there for trouble but had a message to deliver to world leaders.

Indeed, members of the Clown Army, which had been evident in Edinburgh, kept local children entertained as they waited for a "yes" or "no" answer from organisers who were meeting police to discuss the fate of the march.

Residents we spoke to before Wednesday said they would keep an open mind.

"We are not their enemy," one shop owner told me last week as he stocked up on supplies to sell to the expected 5,000 visitors, plus a strong number of media teams.

By 1000 BST, a small number of demonstrators against the G8 could be seen cycling through the village.

Dressed in colourful costumes and carrying a rainbow flag emblazoned with the word "peace", they danced along the High Street followed by curious stares as their stereo blasted out the cartoon song "Who's afraid of the big bad wolf?".

Numbers began to steadily swell, with the arrival of 35 busloads from Edinburgh and Glasgow and a 4,000-strong crowd congregated in the village park.

A final (final) decision from police reversed an earlier "no" to a "yes" and after a short delay - a policewoman had to be treated on the route for leg injuries after a colleague in a police car accidentally knocked her over - the group began to move.

Chants ranged from "people have the power, we're growing stronger by the hour", to "drop the debt" and "can you hear us in Gleneagles?".

All in all, it was good-natured and peaceful as local people lined the streets to wave the marchers off, some even joined in waving to friends taking pictures of them from windows of nearby houses.

The event was far smaller than Saturday's Make Poverty History march in the capital and far quieter too. Samba bands do not travel well, which is good news for those with sensitive hearing.

Perhaps the biggest contrast, though, was the lack of aggression and violence in the main parade. Tension was all too evident in areas around Stirling and in Edinburgh two days before.

Anti-G8 campaigner and MP George Galloway said: "There is no violence here. The only violence is inside the minds of the eight men meeting in the hotel nearby."

Another protester told me: "We wanted to come here and march. We've done that. It's been a great day."

Others, however, were not content with following the planned route, which took them no closer than 500 yards to the Gleneagles complex.

A strong police presence stood behind temporary fencing - officers on foot supported by colleagues in full riot gear and backed up by intimidating lines of others on horseback.

Their message was clear - Thou Shalt Not Pass.

Yet some did. A large number broke off from the main route and managed to breach the outer security cordon before being pushed back by police in riot gear with dogs after rocks and stakes were thrown.

Things, however, settled down.

On the village high street, shops that had opened stayed open and protesters who had followed the official march route filed into chip shops and coffee houses before boarding their buses home.

Local people continued about their daily business, only looking up when the odd clown cycled past.

Perhaps this is premature but, casting my mind back to previous G8s and the levels of violence witnessed in Genoa in 2001 and Seattle in 1999, a question forms - will Gleneagles set an example for how future G8s should be policed?

Yes, there have been clashes and yes police have responded - too harshly in the eyes of some.

But no bullets or baton rounds have been fired. Water cannon are not in sight. Nor has CS gas been sprayed.

Officers on foot, backed up by colleagues on horses and dog handlers have kept the worst of the trouble at bay with minimal injuries on both sides.

Protesters have kept their democratic right to march near to the summit venue and eased the fears of Auchterarder locals with their friendly nature towards villagers.

"We're still standing," one elderly lady told me with a relieved smile as she walked her dog in the park where a small number of protesters remained singing songs and swapping stories.

And with day one of the summit nearing its end, there is growing confidence in Auchterarder that it might just stay that way.



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Ian


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Dr Mike Rowe, from Leicester University's Department of Criminology, said that despite the media's portrayal violence had been at a minimum. Click the link for rest of story.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4661127.stm



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Banana Republic

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'course I was coming back...something to do when it's quiet in the office (and hey, I like you lot...make me smile! )


As for G8 - most the the protesters were fantastic but there were those minority idiots who were there purely to cause trouble (some of them local yobs that wanted to fight with the police etc). I think the bomb blasts in London prevented any escalation as people were shocked what had happened there and were impressed with Blair's swift response. He may not be the best "el presidente" but I thought he did well that day (as to him not going to Mo's funeral...that's a different issue...OK, he didn't like Robin Cook so would have been a bit hypocritical going to that funeral but I think he should go to Mo's).


 


 



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In the Long Grass

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they were scumbags

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Dave

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Thanks Ian for providing the texts! I find it very interesting, and I'm glad that in comparison to eg Genua, Gleneagles seems to have been relatively peaceful!

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Dave

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Alison wrote:


'course I was coming back...something to do when it's quiet in the office (and hey, I like you lot...make me smile! ) As for G8 - most the the protesters were fantastic but there were those minority idiots who were there purely to cause trouble (some of them local yobs that wanted to fight with the police etc). I think the bomb blasts in London prevented any escalation as people were shocked what had happened there and were impressed with Blair's swift response. He may not be the best "el presidente" but I thought he did well that day (as to him not going to Mo's funeral...that's a different issue...OK, he didn't like Robin Cook so would have been a bit hypocritical going to that funeral but I think he should go to Mo's).    


 


I'd got the impression that you disliked everything connected to Bob Geldof and just made the effort to try and save your hometown from destruction...


In any case, welcome back. Analysing minds are always needed!



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In the Long Grass

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give blair a break.i like him hes good.he even turned up at the x factor auditions to see the wierdos, sorry, hopefulls then and managed to come out with a smart remark and not make a fool of himself or anyone else

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Banana Republic

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Oh and the Iraq war was a figment of my imagination?


Blair's made good AND bad decisions..


(if you'd read my comment I said he's handled the London bombing really well but I wasn't impressed with his handling of Mo's funeral...partying in the Bahamas instead).



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In the Long Grass

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i stand by my decision that the iraq war was the right thing to do

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Banana Republic

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Yes, I'm sure Iraq was worth it for the scores of servicemen that returned from Iraq in body bags...


or the family of Ken Bigley (and others) who watched their loved ones decapitated...


or the thousands of Iraq citizens who were killed for being in the wrong place at the wrong time..


or the families of the London bombing victims which some believe was retribution for invading Iraq.


(but then again, the families of Haliburton and other US companies in Iraq are getting great Christmas presents this year from the bonuses received!!)



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Banana Republic

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And for the record...I don't live in Edinburgh (never have) so it's not my home town...


Do work there though...(well, on the outskirts at least!)



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In the Long Grass

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its a war for petes sake.people are going to die.its like the london bombs.cos charles de menezez died everyone else has been forgotten.he and those killed in iraq are innocent victims of the terrorist leaders in the world.and anyway it cant be changed now

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Banana Republic

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So what's your point caller?


That war is OK (so what if people are killed - you'll forget about them as soon as the next big issue comes along?!). Sorry, but you don't seem to have the faintest idea about the real world out there...


There are never any Winners or Losers in a war...only people affected by the fallout!!


You can't invade a country just because you don't happen to like the person running it (even if you are called Bush).


If that was the case, half the world would invade America coz they didn't like Bush!!!


 



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In the Long Grass

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then maybe we should invade america.and lose our greatest and strongeat ally.if we invaded america russia would attack us and their nfar stronger.and who would support us.its not a case of not liking the leader its a case of weather the leader is morraly wrong.

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Banana Republic

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Now there's an idea...perhaps they could invade Dallas, Texas...they'd be justified as;


1) they don't like Bush


2) Texas is in the middle of nowhere and nobody really cares about the people that live there (some trailer trash / Jesusland freaks)


3) We can steal their oil and send in our companies to reap the benefits


(and before I get a whole host of abusive responses - I'm being ultra sarcastic to try and get over a point).


The war in Iraq was NOT justified. There were NO weapons of mass destruction found. OK Saddam isn't a very nice person but neither is Mugabe (where's the American troups there..um, forgot...nothing worth stealing!!).


America cannot invade another country simply coz it doesn't like the person involved (or assasinate their leader as a call from Pat Robertson Evangelist on Hugo Chavez...http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1555178,00.html) THAT'S Terrorism.....



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Banana Republic

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Blair is a poodle to America...for the big oil companies...


 


Ever heard of PEAK OIL?!



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Banana Republic

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Oh, and please attempt a spell check before you submit...makes you look like a 10 year old! (LOL!!)



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In the Long Grass

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like i said its not a case of not liking them.blair is not a poodle in one way;poodles lack the aposable thumbs.it would be a fantastic idea to invade dalls as my 'friend' lives their.she is actually my large, pompous, now-it-all neighbours giant sized (at the age of 10 she weighed 11 1/2 stone) grand daughter who bombards me with emails about algebra and her failures at long distance running and football.

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Banana Republic

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And to be honest, I don't think the rest of thew World would really care if America was invaded..(and Russia? Since when were they the best of friends with America..OK, Putin might shake hands with Bush at dinner meetings but they don't spend a week at Ranch Bush swapping recipes for hamburger relish and discussing family!!).


China would be happy as would mean more oil for them..(they are currently trying to secure as much oil as possible)..


North Korea / Cuba etc (all the other Axis of Evil countries) would be happy as Bush wouldn't want to invade them...


Canada would at last be able to exist without being the next to the "neighbours from hell"...


France could concentrate on keeping their workers from striking instead of tut-tutting at Bush...


Alaska could enjoy the scenery rather than the survey ships drilling for oil....


Yep, there are loads of countries out there that would give their right arm to have a pop at America. Being an ally makes you a target (I don't agree with everything Blair says..I think he's an intelligent man - though X Factor - please?!. He is human though and makes mistakes...Iraq was one of them...).


YES, me being sarcastic again..Scottish humour I guess...



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In the Long Grass

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hey it was funny at the time(x factor that is)i love the scots and thats not be sucking up.my dad spends a lot of time up in wick and we often holiday in inverness.just out of intrest did anyone watch 'taxidermy-stuff the world' the other night?

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Banana Republic

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Yes...


(that little girl was scary!!)



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Banana Republic

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And that's probably why so many people don't "get" America....


"I lurve to watch the deer...I could sit for hours watching them...but I also enjoy killing them...strange that...."


Um....and these people have nuclear weapons.....


 


BE AFRAID...BE VERY AFRAID!!



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In the Long Grass

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i laughed so much at that bloke who caught the fish, fondled it for a while and gazed at it hopefully as it fell stone dead into the fish tank

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Banana Republic

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It was the girl playing with the deer heart that I found somewhat disturbing.. (think she had 666 written at the back of her forehead!)


"coooool!" when they were tipping the blood out...


um, not my idea of a fun day out for the family!


As for the coyote death squads...(Ok, they are seen as vermin but made fox hunting over in the UK look like a quaint game in the park).


 


 



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Banana Republic

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Anyway, gotta go...work and all that....

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In the Long Grass

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i wasnt too keen on the leaopard guy myself.a lion got in the way so he killed it pretty disgraceful.that little girl seemed only capable of expressing her opinion as cool.*phone rings runs to living room, mobile rings runs to bedroom, phone stops, answer machine starts, mobile stops, runs downstairs to turn off cooker, phone starts again*geesh im wacked now.

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V Deep

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You two had better cut it out before I start lobbying my gov't to invade the UK.  I've no clue what sort of choices Blair's made as leader, but I think he's a hottie (except for the awful neckties) and I'd like to have him as a pet.  Actually, I might like to have all of you as pets.  So, if you like your independence, stop your silly "threats" and behave!  After all, those might be WMD buried in your backyard.  I'm told they're really small and easy to hide....


By the way, do you have any oil?  Apparently you don't have any fish left.  Poor Scots!


 



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In the Long Grass

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we have cut it out if you hadnt noticed.wer now discussing taxidermy on the tv



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Drag Me Down

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Sounds like a very interesting show, wish I could've seen it. 

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Banana Republic

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It was...


Quite depressing (yes the leopard guy was an idiot...that necklace with the body parts was just sick!). Had to agree with the British guy about those that shoot the animals to stuff them aren't true artists as to understand the body structure / movement of an animal, it helps if you see it actually moving...and not just twitching after death!


Yes, Scotland has oil (and gas) - it's offshore in the North Sea...freezing cold / windy and not the easiest place to invade!!



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Banana Republic

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Oh and there's nuclear material about 10 miles from where I live...


Also been inside Sellafield, Dounreay, Torness, Heysham 1 and 2 and Hartlepool nuclear power stations (the fun job I have so tend to glow in the dark these days LOL!!)



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In the Long Grass

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my dad is sometims up at sellafield and dounraey.you might have seen him.as for the invading the north sea it seems like a pretty bad idea.the troops would die of hypothermia

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Tonight

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The taxidermy show sounds dreadful. Hopefully it was British. No offense! but America has a really violent & destructive reputation, so I suspect it was a show on American TV, wouldn't surprise me. Just for the record, everyone in the U.S. is NOT in favor of invading (ok, occupying) Iraq but since the majority of voters picked the president, one has to wait it out, still support the troops who are stuck over there. The VietNam days were not good ones at all; very sad all around and demoralizing for the troops, even when they came back & were for the most part ignored or shunned; and although the U.S. is considered to have lost that war, here we are again. Myself, I am just counting the days for a government change by legitimate means. I do enjoy listening to Tony Blair's speeches though & I like him! As long as citizens use their voting privileges, we who don't agree are obliged to sit out their terms.

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In the Long Grass

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on the taxidermy show there was an american leopard/lion hunter, a little girl from america who 'loved to watch the deer.but i like to shoot them too', aswell as various guys who were dutch,swedish and several other countries.personally i found it hilarious.not the killing (tho the guy with the fish was very ammusing) just the seriousness they took towards competing.

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