Thought Id start this one going because its rather dead on this board at the moment and I suppose all my usual muckers are either at the Stella tennis event watching Dim Tim (lose again) or at Henly Regatta eating cucumber sandwiches (they wish,...NOT).

Anyway please feel free to just talk to yourself blast away and let it go on any company or subject you wish. Just wish Id thought of this one before.

cheers GF.

What is art?

A cleaning woman at a German museum who mistook a sculpture for an unsightly mess has destroyed the valuable artwork beyond recognition, a spokeswoman for the western city of Dortmund said Thursday.

The cleaner at the city's Ostwall Museum went to work on the Martin Kippenberger installation entitled "When It Starts Dripping From the Ceiling" which was valued by insurers at 800,000 euros ($1.1 million), she said.

The late contemporary master had created a tower of wooden slats under which a rubber trough was placed with a thin beige layer of paint representing dried rain water.

Taking it for an actual stain, the cleaner scrubbed the surface until it gleamed.

"It is now impossible to return it to its original state," the spokeswoman said, adding that the damage had been discovered late last month and that the work had been on loan to the museum from a private collector.

She said that cleaning crews had orders to remain 20 centimetres (eight inches) away from artworks but it was unclear if the woman had received the directive from the external company that employed her.

Works of art not infrequently fall victim to zealous cleaners. In 1986, a "grease stain" by Joseph Beuys valued at around 400,000 euros was mopped away at the Academy of Fine Arts in Duesseldorf, western Germany.

Internet 'weighs the same as a strawberry'

Using some very rough maths, it's been estimated that the internet weighs about the same as a medium-sized egg.

A man with his mind on his work.

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Major berg forming in Antarctica

Scientists are monitoring the birth of a monster iceberg in West Antarctica.

A rift has formed in the shelf of floating ice in front of the Pine Island Glacier (PIG).

The surface crack in the PIG runs for almost 30km (20 miles), is 60m (200ft) deep and is growing every day.

US space agency (Nasa) researchers expect the eventual berg to cover about 880 sq km - an area the size of Berlin. It should break away towards the end of the year or early in 2012.

Immigration Minister Damian Green blamed Labour.

"The immigration system we inherited was chaotic and this government is working to fix the mistakes of the past by making better decisions, ensuring cases are properly tracked, improving intelligence and speeding up removals.

"I am determined to deal with the historic asylum cases left by the last government and we are making real progress tackling the archive to trace these individuals.

"Since taking office we have nearly doubled the number of failed asylum seekers removed within one year of their application and now conclude cases quicker, with almost two-thirds decided within a month."

I would believe anything Damon says, at any moment in time.

Mind that goes for any present coalition "politician".

Aids,

Where were your ancestors from?

What I have noticed, is the change in political speech by Osborne and your Dave.

Besides blaming their parents for their ongoing problems in this country, they are now saying in Cannes "what we have to do" from the terraces.

They seem to be going down a bomb.

I am glad they are not going to support the Greeks, or others in the Eurozone.

Europe has a long memory and their stance bodes well for the future.

Bur it is good to have diversions from the failing economic policies and being able to blame "immigration" and "repatriations" and the "grubby" unemployed for our present economic problems.

As was thetory criticism of the previous government, the uk's problems are not related to "world problems", but due to the coalition's incompetence.

Row, row, row the boat on to the rocks.

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" I would believe anything Damon says, " I will have to agree with you there Fred.

[ Fred in a fluster quickly hit's the edit button ]

" Where were your ancestors from? "

How far back do you want me to go ?

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A fair question.

But, to answer it, would take an amount of work which appears overwhelming, even if I lived long enough to do so.

Have pondered similar for a long time. The answers are even more confusing,

I would not like to have the responsibility for any decision made.

However:-
1) I am fed up with the political leaders who are strutting about the national and international stage making nationalistic statements for political and home consumption for party followers.
2) I think although the Markets have an importance they should be ignored while:

a) An attempt to analyse what could be seen as a European a common goal for all within Europe.
b) To consider that those ideals and goals should be beneficial for the members of the of the EU and the rest of the world, while being cognisant of the needs and wishes or the groups which are being represented. That is, to be equally responsive to the needs of those of others countries or groups. (Not to advantage oneself at the detriment or abuse of others.)

c) To accept that we are due to the period of technical advances we are in, the global market and the actions of one community are reflected back on the initiated of the action, even if there is a delay.

d) To review the Capitalist principles and theories and realise that there are limitations to it. Realising persona, or national acquisition, is not the only measure of a successful or happy existence. I have noticed with many wealthy people I have known, that it wasnt the wealth they had which gave them satisfaction, but the improvement of the skills they employed in doing so.

e) Recognition that capitalism has its advantages, but needs to be restrained by a leash for the good of society as a whole.

Aids,

Sorry to ignore you.

I will give you a chance.

In your case, one generation would be enough.

Ps.

Can I take my tongue out of my cheek now.

8-: )

Has you are talking about my generation , I thought I would put it to music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=594WLzzb3JI

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That is not the way to treat Aids.


8-)

But what do you expect in a crazy world.

===========================

Well that's taken the edge off of my day!.

Mnamreh,

Well it made me bloody angry, although I am not surprised by the judges decision.

I've lot count of the number of repeat criminals that on being told by their briefs that this time they are almost certain to be sent to prison do the following whilst awaiting trial.
1 Get a girl pregnant (one of the best ways to keep out of prison).
2 Form a stable relationship, or move back into the family home (well until after the sentencing)
3 Start looking after a sick relative
4 Get a job (anything will do)
5 Enroll in some sort of course.
6 Volunteer for counseling (thats a favorite with the judges)
7 Take up religion, which on seeing the error of their ways, makes them determined to change (works best with female judges).
8 Donate a kidney or some other organ (OK never known anyone do that, but thats probably because no one has thought of it yet)
And of course it goes without saying, they are always filled with remorse.

I have been in court so many times where I have heard defending briefs spout out this rubbish, but you would be surprised (perhaps not) how many times it works.
The problem with most judges, is that they do not live in the real word and although seeing and hearing from the dregs that appear before them, they are so out of touch its pathetic.

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