Daisy

hey all just read this article. it's interesting. I think they do have something similar in the UK, or at least it rings a bell of sorts. Would you ever? http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/20/japan-relatives-professional-stand-ins celia

yeah, my dad once looked into it. I can't remember what for now, maybe just office admin stuff - he had solicitors firms. but it didn't happen in the end. though of course here in the UK using indian and such call centres for business has had a lot of flack. with some business now using as a soundbite that they purposely use english centres because people were getting fed up with not speaking to people, one of the sameish accent, but more people that couldn't really understand what you were saying / difficult to communicate with. I try and be patient, but it can be exaspereating at times, especially if you are in a hurry. check out slumgdog millionaire. I presume you have the same anyway.

oops, yeah what you said

I don't really ever hear the word dude over here. though one friend does, but she is definitely the exception. never heard snuggles before either, but doesn't appeal either. I've heard 'squee' recently - but these type of words seem to be an internet thing as far as me coming across them . another friend used to detest and feel sort of sick at the word 'chunks' though.

One of the letters about it from that wiki page you posted.

I think you are likely right about that anecdote. All the stuff that I have heard about that war sound absolutely horrendous and off the scale of anything that I can imagine - that people were really put through that, that it was allowed to happen. The bittersweet tale that I remember the most is about christmas day, and how soldiers on both sides on that day emerged into no-man's-land to play football and swap gifts. Before resuming war the next day. As well as of course the young age that people were in the war, and that literally whole villages would be wiped out of their men in one go, devastating whole communities with such force. It also makes me really appreciate that I don't have to participate in war - that I have a choice. Where those then, including my granddad didn't, as well as others today in different countries. What is making this even more poignant for me is thinking that someday the last world war II veteran will pass away. That is much more real to me knowing many of those that did serve whether abroad or at home in some capacity. And still at least able to chat to them about their lives and experiences, no matter how trivial. (and don't forget, things like trench foot)

I mean this as a tribute. Yesterday the last British veteran of the First World War, Harry Patch, died at age 111. Last week Henry Allingham who also was a world war I and II veteran died at age 113. I find it quite sad that the last living link has gone. Whenever Remembrance Day (poppy day) comes around I always tend to think of World war II, maybe because my granddad served in the 2nd, or maybe because in school I studied the 2nd more. But the 1st really was a terrible war. A guy on the TV mentioned that the number of dead that we mourn in Afghanistan in a year is about the number who could die in an hour in the first world war trenches. The headline of the newspaper this morning was "war is organised murder, and nothing else", it was something that Harry Patch had once said. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-last-of-the-noblest-generation-1761467.html It was only once he was 100 that he started talking about the war. He reminds me of my granddad in these senses. He does talk about the war, but not very often and only about little details, nothing about what really happened, his friends and all those that he lost that were close to him while he survived. The latest titbit I got was a tale about the tube in London and whenever he was there using Camden Town station for a free bunk they provided for soldiers. So no hostel fee, and no hard cold floor all the other people there to flee the bombs would have to put up with. It was strange - I'd stood on that very station a few days before he told me that. He also detests war - and his favourite song that he wants played at his funeral is Imagine by John Lennon. He also doesn't like people being cavalier about war or politicians who are too keen to agree believing they don't really know what war is like, the horrificness of it. I don't know what the actual statistics are now, but at one point a quarter of all homeless in my country were army veterans, while the army now claims that it is only 1 in 10. Still, ridiculously high, the same as those who suffer Post Traumatic Stress and all those other war related effects. The other day I met a lady who is about to become an Officer in our army. She told me that it was the only vocation that she could find that fit her skills, I wish I could think of something else for her. There must be. She asked me what I thought of the army, and I could only reply that I couldn't separate it from politics to really answer. She told me she agreed and very much understood my answer and what wars are really about. However she felt that she was doing it for people like us, who would be sold by those at the top without a care without experienceing it themselves. In a way I can understand her logic, and I didn't argue back, I didn't want to. But all I could really think was I was going to be adding another person to my list of those that I watch with dread the news reports of deaths from the battlefield. Anyway, here is to remembering all those that have fought and died and lived. all those affected.

we have quite a lot of music that doesn't make it across the pond I think. I'd like to think that he did it for himself and no other reason. However, I am cynical of the News of the World and their tactics. They may have been going to out him anyway, and so he agreed to do the exclusive interview, in exchange for them not to print pictures or other details, or even just him doing it on his own terms (but with their publication of course). It is a common trick with them. However will never know. Either way I am happy for him and that he has come out in the media . here is an article about it from a journalist, including this excerpt: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jul/11/notw-phone-hacking-private-investigators oh, and they were going to do it with Will Young as well after the first pop idol(?), and he jumped it and did it early too.

Inadvertantly maybe. But I don't think that was intentional. If anything I think it was a forced coming out by the news of the world. But he seems comfortable that it doesn't really matter. here is a blog entry by him after the interview: http://www.officialduncanjames.co.uk/blog/

there was definitly hype here, I remember them always being on the radio. another of their songs. what is with all the bopping with their hands (more with all rise)-- other bands used to do that too. (pity the graphics aren't great) celia

yeah I saw that. that and the style of the news of the world. interesting choice to reveal the stuff to out of everybody. which does make me cynical of their motives. I read elsewhere he was pretty open in real life and joked in front of the press. but the 'exclusives' are a standard trick of the tabloids, and especially the leader NOTW, where they have some dirt or pictures and offer people a chance to reveal all in a nice way or have the stuff published. but yeah hope he does ! these are 2 tracks by them and a pic of the group. i remember some of my friends, well one in particular, being obsessed by them. with elton john, sorry is the hardest word: all rise: he's on the left.

hey all I just saw this article or rather interview with Duncan James. He is a member of Blue which was a UK boyband while I was in high school. no idea whether they made it abroad. It seems they are doing the same as everyone else and staging a comeback. In the interview with the news of the world he has come as out as bisexual saying before they did their comeback he wanted to be completely open with his fans. I quite like the interview and that he is so open about his journey. http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/showbiz/xs/402391/Blues-Duncan-James-I-have-flings-with-men.html celia (just thought though, I wonder whether he really was going to come out or whether the newspaper forced his hand)

A lady I met is immune to the HIV virus, she is taking part in studies to help the research. Sadly her husband died of AIDS due to being a haemophiliac and bad blood transfusions (I think HIV, there were numerous other things he got from the blood too). So yeah I'd heard about this too. As with David I agree there is more to do today and in numerous areas with health that aren't and others were frustration reigns for those who do try for numerous factors. But the pharmacetuials cooperating more would be a great help, if they ever fully will I doubt, but there has been some small progress there recently. If there was a vaccine or cure it could have an immense effect on Africa and other places in that region. But would the vaccine/cure be available to them and widespread and affordable? Another question, what would the world do if countries in Africa were able to turn their populations around, at least in that big mortality and caring area? Or the dynamics in their own countries of course. celia

the only time I've used twitter was to follow the news coming out of iran. and I doubt I will use it again. apart from to hear it quoted in articles. there was this report written by a 15 yr old that got published in the financial times this week that is making waves on technology and teenagers. Really sometimes adults and business men need to pay more attention to their children. He summed up, as I had already discussed with my friends, that twitter is for older folk, it is not really for the young. I don't really pay attention to it, I certainly don't use it (apart from that excepted case) and only when celebrities opinions are force-fed me if I read an article that quotes on of their tweets, as they even do for politicians now. I'm cautious . However with Iran, twitter too broke the usual holds on the news and what dictated how things could happen. things became more instantaneous and people-led, and the better for it (not that it will be so all the time). http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/jul/13/teenage-media-habits-morgan-stanley anywho, I thought Bruno did fairly well over here. I haven't seen it, and unsure if I want to. However the reviews range from better than Borat to it has less of an impact when you know Sacha baron-cohen is coming. H knows how to do a show though. celia

I've been thinking about kids recently too. and I want the same type of life as you too. where the two meet is going to be difficult to work out, the travelling thing at least goes right against it. pretty much at least. i'm shit at looking after our family dog though, so not in the near future at least , need more practice.

you are soo right about divorced people . i wish my mum would shut up about my dad and 'get over it', but that really isn't going to happen. But i think she is starting to try to deal with it, and the hurt she feels. i just wish she wouldn't try and embroil me in it, which still does even when I have told her countless times I am not interested in even her trying to get me to lay blame on my dad, let alone anything else. it seems an instinct she has , always. but yeah I get what you are saying kevin, I have a friend like that at the moment, and I agree with the some people don't seem to want to solve their problems. i can do some much, and I think she now knows some of what she needs to do to get on with her life, but I still doubt she will even begin, and some of it is not hard or tasking.

the media I have seen so far doesn't confirm that he has died yet, but says that some US media is reporting that he has done. while they stick with the [i wrote heart attack, it is cardiac arrest - which i assumed was american for heart attack (corrected by my mum ). today though english newspapers did say heart attack although still not said that so assume same mistake as me) --edit: ok, now I think they've changed it. sad.

Happy birthday! Hope its been a great one!!! celia

glad to hear you're coping and getting through it. xx

you've done more than me then, I only watched the first real episode. i just wasn't in the mood to sit in front of the tv.

nothing is off topic

I was wondering what they will fill it with instead. they won't want to lose their slot over the entire summer to other channels. but then if they've already lost the public then ... they aren't losing anything. but having something run so long kind of means they have it easy in terms of making programs and ensuring some at least watch, and bring revenue for the summer months. but then they are also surrendering huge amounts of prime-time over to the same thing for 3 months.

Is there a canadian version, or do you watch the UK one?

then why are you in the forum

I quite like her motto on life. Beinazir. though she came across a bit differently on her video, if her profile stuff is true and more like herself she seems like a nice person. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/bigbrother/dis...ontestant_id=75