Arthur Pewtey

That’s the spirit ! If you can’t deal with the debate – close it down. I bet you’ve won stacks of arguments using that clever ploy.

You have very clearly lost this argument. Most contributors are on the side of equality and against your rather insidious style of misogyny – you are the only one out on a very distant limb. I am suggesting the thread is closed as it is way way off topic and is frankly becoming an insult to the many women that do difficult and dangerous jobs every bit as well as their male counterparts. I suggest that if you are indeed as one poster said, a time traveller, (that can be the only explanation frankly) you transport yourself into 2012 with the rest of society.

I think what Britons find frustrating is that in Europe, the UK is the source of most of the pop music from the last 50 years and yet cannot win a competition such as Eurovision. The reality is however that many countries vote politically and those that don’t such as the UK, France, Germany etc. find themselves sidelined.
I think the UK should do as Italy did and withdraw from the competition.

Engelbert Humperdinck – is that truly the best we can do – well no, it isn’t so I think it might an ironic choice – someone with a sense of humour. EH wasn’t even a “great” in his heyday! What a bizarre choice.:confused:

Having said, we’ll still watch it – car crash TV at its best.

Re 24

VX927 Yes, Miss Stewart as you rightly claim, has the qualifications and met the selection criteria exactly as, no doubt, five hundred or whatever number is applicable, of her male colleagues.

That means that she was selected more because of her gender than anything else. By applying logic, it is impossible to see it any other way.

You’re not Mr. Stewart, are you ?

John Green

One can only assume it never crossed your mind that Flt. Lt Stewart may actually have been better than her male colleagues? No, it wouldn’t have done would it.

She clearly reached the high standards expected of an RAF officer and fast jet pilot and to suggest she has only achieved what she has because she was female is frankly ludicrous.
True social engineering was in denying jobs and positions to women they could clearly do as well as any man. Thankfully most of us have moved on from such an archaic viewpoint.
I wish Flt Lt Stewart all the best in whatever she does next. She has provided no end of inspiration to many.

More movies.

The Illusionist (2010)

Adult animation based on a Jacques Tati story about a magician at the end of his career. Very endearing and beautifully animated.

High Noon (1952)

Gary Cooper takes on the bad guys. Shown in real-time the tension really builds up and the fear is palpible. Classic film and no wonder.

Battle Los Angeles (2010)

Aliens invade the world and they confronted by who else but the US Marines. Great special effects but the rest is gung-ho militaristic nonsense. Hollywood can do better than this.

Kalifornia (1993)

Writers David Duchovny and Michelle Jones travel to California and share a ride with “trailer trash” Brad Pitt and Juliette Lewis. Things degenerate rapidly with lots of bloodshed and violence. Decent enough but sometimes isn’t sure what it wants to be – serial killer movie or commetary on poor America. Juliette Lewis though is, as always, quite brilliant.

If you Google “humanist weddings” you might find something or at least get some ideas. I’ve been to a Humanist wedding and the readings were very good indeed; I only wish I could remember what they were!

Timeline (2003)

Time travel movie based (loosely) on a Michael Crichton story. Some history students end up in 14th century France. Not too bad , if a little predictable.

The Truman Show (1998)

Imaginative Jim Carrey drama. Even more relevant today in an age of almost 24 hour reality TV.

From Paris with Love (2010)

John Travolta is an unconventional foul-mouthed government agent fighting terrorism in Paris. Lots of stunts, shooting and explosions. Great fun.

Paycheck (2003)

Ben Affleck is an engineer who sells his last three year’s memory for a large sum of money. He subsequently finds himself involved in a complex plot. Based on a Philip K Dick story, this was actually quite good with some clever stuff going on.

Tomorrow When the War Began (2010)

A group of Australian teenagers go camping and return to find their country has been invaded by a foreign army. More holes in the plot than a Swiss cheese but strangely compelling and in the end quite absorbing. Not as bad as I thought it was going to be.

From Hell (2001)

Based on Alan Moore’s graphic novel, this is a take on the Jack the Ripper story. Johhny Depp is the London detective who befriends prostitute Heather Graham in an effort to find the killer. Very good indeed.

I take it then that this isn’t true then

“The organization was originally known as the Confederate Air Force. Following a membership vote in 2001 and made effective on January 1, 2002, the organization is now known as the Commemorative Air Force.”

That appears to be a vote, a sort of democratic thing that the members decided. If some decided that the use of “Confederate” was inappropriate then that is a good thing. It may have made the organization rather more attractive to contributors. That, I would suggest, is actually a good thing.

Nowadays I think that rather than a bizarre left wing plot, people are more aware of their past, its symbology and its meaning to others. Most have moved on, some it appears have not.

Good to see the Daily Mail-ist phrase “PC brigade” in use though. It would seem Daily Mail-ist right-wing paranoia is also in evidence.

I would suggest that those who still call it the Confederate Air Force do so out of ignorance.