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.

William Hague to urge reform on visit to Burma

William Hague is the first British foreign secretary to visit Burma since 1955
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Burma: Battle for Democracy

Exiles watch
Is change for good?
In pictures: Clinton trip
Suu Kyi to rejoin politics
William Hague is visiting Burma, the first British foreign secretary to do so for more than 50 years.

He is expected to use meetings with the country's leaders to press for the release of more political prisoners.

His visit is the latest in a series by top diplomats from around the world, amid steps towards reform by the new government in Burma.

Burma held its first elections in 20 years in 2010, replacing military rule with a nominally civilian government.

Since then the new administration has freed pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and begun a process of dialogue.

Last month she formally registered her National League for Democracy as a political party, after boycotting the 2010 polls because of electoral laws that prevented her taking part.

In December US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Burma, in what was seen as an endorsement of the reform process - although Western observers say much more is needed.

'Political freedom'
Speaking ahead of his arrival in the capital, Nay Pyi Taw, William Hague welcomed the "encouraging" steps taken by the government.

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Analysis

Rachel Harvey
BBC News, Rangoon
William Hague is the latest in a series of high-profile diplomats to seek to engage the new government in Burma and to try to bolster nascent signs of reform.

Western officials have been encouraged by recent changes, including legalising trade unions, lifting some media restrictions and a limited release of political prisoners.

But there are still grave concerns about Burma's human rights record and the fact that several hundred political detainees remain behind bars.

"I am visiting the country to encourage the Burmese government to continue on its path of reform, and to gauge what more Britain can do to support this process," he said.

Mr Hague is the first British foreign secretary to visit Burma since 1955.

In Nay Pyi Taw he was due to hold talks with President Thein Sein, a former top general who stepped down to contest the polls as a civilian, and a host of other top officials.

He will then travel to Rangoon, Burma's commercial capital, to meet Aung San Suu Kyi, representatives of some of Burma's ethnic minority groups and dissidents.

Ms Suu Kyi's party plans to contest by-elections in April that could see her elected to parliament. Her party secured a landslide victory in polls in 1990 but was never allowed to take power.

The new government has released some political prisoners in recent months but between 600 and 1,000 journalists, dissidents and monks who led anti-government protests in 2007 are thought to remain behind bars.

Mr Hague said he wanted to see more progress on reform.

"Further steps are needed that will have a lasting impact on human rights and political freedom in Burma," he said.

"In particular, we hope to see the release of all remaining political prisoners, free and fair by-elections, humanitarian access to people in conflict areas, and credible steps towards national reconciliation."

There is now a general acceptance that change is under way in Burma, says the BBC's Rachel Harvey in Rangoon, but it is not clear how far or how fast any transition will be.

Mr Hague will be seeking reassurance that even if the speed changes, the direction of travel will remain positive, our correspondent says.

Are you in Burma? Do you have relatives there? What is your reaction to William Hague's visit? Send us your comments using the form below.

... Yes, maybe they'd like to keep him there.

I only wish Vince Cable the business secretary, or should that read 'anti business secretary' had gone instead.
Now that is one useless politician they are welcome to keep.

I disagree G/M, VC is the least of our worries.

I agree, I forgot about Nick Glegg.

I was thinking more of this mob... The entire membership of the "Con" Party.

Hays,

I think what Glasman' summary of Miliband and "Labour's parties" performance is fair.

But, I would like to listen to his views on the Tories Tiger Cameron (who looks more and more like a ham actor in a part to big for himself) and the coalition's dismal record of u-turn and U-turn and ineffective economic policies, which are pushing UK into recession.

The "labour party" has time to reorganise and re-think its policies. I hope they utilise it efficiently.

Capitalism, in its present form is failing,a reform to "thought out ethical capitalism" (whatever that is) would seem to be appropriate.

I don't think "The "markets" should be controlling the actions of governments, but that governments should be controlling the market and financial services for the benefit of all of society.

unfortunately, that is not the present situation in the UK or in Europe.

--------

Have a nice day.

How many Fire Engines does it take to rescue a seagull?

Oh my God!

In my much younger days, I visited St Ives one day, whilst on holiday in the area. Some of you might know that it isn't all that big and wasn't designed for traffic. When I went all those years ago, it was 'one way' for traffic.

Anyhow, a car hit a seagull and it was badly injured. The poor thing was not even able to flap about on the road after this mishap. Nevertheless, it was still alive and probably in very great pain, that is if seagulls feel pain.

I will explain that in my early childhood, I had experienced my farmer grandparents taking a hen, a duck or goose and 'wringing it's neck' to either take it to the table or to sell at the local market. And, at about 10 years old, they had trained me how to do this task.

So being kind of a brave young man, I determined to 'put this poor seagull out of its misery'.

Despite its size, it must have been quite young. As I wrung its neck, its head came off in my hand. There I stood, body in one hand and head in the other. The body twitched just a little and then.........

'Poooof', I disappeared as fast as I could! How absolutely bloody embarassing!

A good turn gone wrong or wot?

.

Is that a PFI low energy lightbulb? :-)

.

Used to be only two.
One to hold the bulb, the other to turn the stepladder.

.

It would have been cheaper to shoot it.

I suppose where the pellets of bullet lands has to be considered.

Perhaps, we could have got that a fit G. to climb the tree and dispatch it.

REUTERS - Eastman Kodak (EK.N) is preparing a Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing in case it is unable to sell its digital patents to raise capital, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.

The once-iconic photographic film pioneer is in talks with potential lenders to secure about $1 billion in debtor-in possession financing to sustain Kodak through bankruptcy proceedings, the Journal reported, citing unidentified sources.

The Chapter 11 filing could come as soon as this month or early February, the newspaper said.

Kodak shares fell about 28 percent to 47 cents on the New York Stock Exchange following the online report, which dampened investors' hopes that the company could arrange a quick sale of its patents or a financing lifeline to keep it afloat.

Kodak fault has been that they have been looking too negative for years.

Yes how the mighty have fallen - currently down 6.4% @0.44 having been as low as @0.36

Perhaps, just a flash in the pan, or over exposed.

Under developed (management).