If this post makes it through to the page, I’m having the same problem too. I’m using Safari on an iPad. I have been able to get posts onto the site, but only by getting to the Database Error page, and using the link therein.

I probably misused the term ‘money grabbing’ and I have to admit to being biased aginst the ‘big boys’ having a relative who recently lost a retailing business, which took him the best part of his working life to build. This was at the hands of one of the big chains who do pursue targeted ‘predatory’ practices, in order to secure the lions share of local trade. Terms such as ‘ they’re businesses satisfying the needs of their shareholders etc, etc, can be used to justify anything, and it often is.

In the town where I live, and we’re not talking large here, we have two of the big chains here. One of them now has a stranglehold on our towns petrol supply, as it has driven two local garages out of business. Needless to say, following the demise of the second garage, it was surprising to see the fuel price at the supermarket site creep up, no doubt, good business practice.

The same chain has recently been granted permission, to build a ‘mini store’ on a site in the middle of a secluded, residential part of town. This site is within very easy walking distance of two already thriving convenience stores, and a newsagents. If this is not predatory behaviour, I don’t know what is.

Personally, I believe it is these very business practices, and the relentless driving down of the cost of food to unrealistic levels, by whatever means possible, that has been instrumental in bringing about this ‘horse meat’ scandal, and I venture to suggest, that is probably only going to be the tip of the iceberg. Good business practices they may be, but I believe that they are in good part, responsible for helping to bring about this sorry situation.

I think the real issue here is not the presence of horsemeat per sei. It’s the fact that someone, somewhere, knew what was going on. Now who are the culprits in this mess? The money grabbing supermarket chains? The meat suppliers, whom the same supermarket chains, have obviously failed large style to monitor/audit sufficiently? If I was to go into a supermarket, to buy frozen horsemeat, I would expect it to be horsemeat, and to be labeled as such. I’d be well miffed to find traces of Aardvark or Echidna in it.

But seriously, this is a grim set of circumstances, and goes to the heart of a commodity that these supermarkets should treasure above all else…consumer trust, built over many years, but demolished in minutes.

The final report on these battery fires might not be so easy on the ears to Boeing and the 787.

Indeed not. I wonder how badly affected the delivery schedule will be.

In other words the phrase ” I got there on my merits” which seemed to mean everything when I was young, might become the benchmark for achievement once again.

Well, it would be good to see 😉

An EU homosexual taskforce will be set up, the purpose of which is to ensure that ‘gays’ are adequately represented by means of enforced quotas in the workplace.

I’m a gay man, and I don’t want an ‘EU Task Force’ or anyone else’s come to that, looking out for, or making any ‘special arrangements’ for me, I suggest that no self respecting gay man would. Throughout my working life, I like to think that I got to where I did, through hard work, as opposed to satisfying any ‘quotas’ imposed by anybody.

Yes I was. And I attempted to differentiate between a country outside the EU which acts entirely independently of it other than complying with any regulations or tariffs relating to trade with the EU. And this goes for any nation selling to any other nation in the world. Whereas within the EU every nation is governed to a greater or lesser extent by a myriad of regulations and laws which apply ONLY to those members of the EU.

No country is really independent, as in this modern world, all are governed by the economics of a truly globalised society, which transcend national boundaries, wether they be EU ones or not. IMO we are deluding ourselves, if we think we are living in a truly ‘economically independent’ entity, but sadly, there’s no such thing. Indeed if anything, it is going to be even harder in the future, for nation states to hold on to any real fiscal independence and meaningful sovereignty. Both are underpinned by global economics, not by flags, or national history. important though they are.

Very nice pics. I really like that Iberia ‘retro’

It certainly is, wow, it’s a looker sure enough. Glad to hear about the good lady’s job too! Pleased for u both:):)