CraigGilchrist

All the arguments on this thread are, as I expected from the title, completely infallible. Well done. There's definitely no reason you shouldn't just quit your job and go on benefits; go for it. I notice you say you wouldn't do so without transferring the house and business to your family though. One thing you seem to be missing; he's been "given" this house, you OWN yours. When your mortgage is cleared, if it's not already, you own a house that you've worked hard for and deserve. Likewise your business. What does this guy have? A council house that's worth nothing to him, and a shitty GTO that is worth less and less by the day. I for one am about to burst with jealousy, because he's got 100 channels of crap on Sky to while away his depressing life. These threads are all the same; people ranting about how those on benefits have "won", and we've all "lost" because we work hard and earn the things we have in life. Lets not even touch on the warped opinion that drug dealers live fantastic lives (hint: it's not like the baddies in Bad Boys). I have a much better quality of life than any people I know on benefits, I don't have debt, I work in a job I enjoy, and as a result I can buy nice things whenever I like. I have many times the disposable income you can have on the benefits system. When I retire I'll own my house, have a great private pension, and money in the bank to enjoy the rest of my life too. And I'll have done it all by happily contributing my taxes to the upkeep of this country, and support of people on benefits, while still having spent plenty of my life's earnings travelling, eating at nice restaurants, drinking at nice bars, buying myself gadgets I don't need, and on and on. You carry on whining and being bitter, and I'll outlive you by ten years by not getting my panties in a bunch over how other people live their lives.

What do you mean "Celebrate Christmas"? I don't go to church and sing hymns or anything like that, but I spend time with my family, have a big dinner, give gifts. There is 0% religion involved in what I do at this time of year, but practically the whole country is shut down, so what else to do? And your pile of scripture above? Unlike the writers of the bible, scientists are burdened with proof. If you research most of what you've stated you'll see you're quite wrong. Go read about Pythagoras to start with, who predates the book of Job by thousands of years, and his theory of a spherical earth that was later proven by science.

I only just got back into my flat after the ground floor flat had a fire back at the start of October - dodgy electric blanket, no smoke alarms. Fortunately once the fire was properly raging it was so bad it set of everyone else's alarms in the building. http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Residents-flee-flats-as-faulty.6565534.jp

7050. Got stuck on that stupid Square/Disney crossover game... off to Google.

The Big Lebowski is the one film I've watched most I reckon.

A bump and an eBay link. Ends on Saturday if you are interested in trying to snag it at a lower price: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Gibson-SG-Voodoo-/170511624281?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item27b348e859

Possibly a top secret front? I'm the jerk that pressed the pedestrian crossing and made you have to wait as I strolled across the road. Saw the mkivsupra.net stickers so thought I'd post up.

Cheers, it is gorgeous. I'm really not good enough at guitar, nor do I spend enough time playing, to justify owning this thing! Will still be sad to see it go though

I know there are a few guitar fans on the site, so in case anyone's interested, and before I list it on eBay, I thought I'd show you my Gibson SG Voodoo. It was an engagement present from my now ex-girlfriend, so I'm looking to sell it now. Also need the space as my guitar collection is getting a bit big now! There's a slight scuff on the back of the neck (as shown in the picutres), but no buckle rash or anything on the back of the guitar. Only other 'bad' bit is that the combination lock is broken - seems to happen frequently with these Gibson cases. Looking to start the haggling at about £800...

But, you see, this is part of the problem. People believe this shit and get in a rage. Rags like the Daily Mail print any old bullshit, people believe it and get into a rage without questioning, and before you know it it's entered into public consciousness as fact! Here's your fine, upstanding English woman who was told to get her son off the bus. It really did happen. No, really. http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/Bus-row-mother-branded-liar/article-2277819-detail/article.html And another couple of articles about this wonderful, honest woman: http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/archive/2004/09/22/Wiltshire+Archive/7268522.Woman_stole_from_her_hosts/ http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/archive/2002/05/28/Wiltshire+Archive/7349282.Woman__18__in_custody_for_string_of_offences/ There is no ban on falgs or shirts, there is not threat to "Britishness" except in the minds of lunatics who believe what newspapers print to serve the political agenda of their owners.

Sorry, but I'm a Newcastle fan (2nd team, after Norwich), so I'll be hoping for 1 different result Not so bothered about winning the Championship; want us to guarantee promotion first before we worry about where we finish.

I watched the Norwich game on Sky Sports too, was so excited there was actually a Norwich game on, but wanted to switch it off to lower the blood pressure by half time. First penalty was bull, and the 3rd goal was just shy of being as bad as the Henry handball against Ireland... But the keeper kind of deserved to get sent off; no contact really, but he was an idiot to dive at the dudes feet.

Yup, I think we would have been sunk without Lambert. really turned the season around.

Yeah, I'm a "had one", but also a "planning on getting one" once I've got the money saved for a good TT or single.

I'm pretty sure that you both have to be first time buyers, unfortunately. When I was speaking to the bank about mortgages they said they had lower fees for first time buyers, but that we'd both have to be first timers to benefit. My guess is that the government aren't going to be any more generous..

Even better result for Norwich

Watched a little bit last night, but everyone's efforts have kind of been outshined by Eddie Izzard and his crazy running...

From my earlier post: "I'd be pretty pissed that they only served 8 years though.". So, no, I'm not saying 8 years is ok (explicitly the opposite). My point is that I'm opposed to the death penalty (and vigilante lynch mobs). I also don't think you can compare serial killers with an isolated murder, no matter how brutal the case. It's easy to take the side that serial killers such as Fred West are somewhat beyond rehabilitation, and in their case I feel that life in prison is a suitable punishment - because at that point it becomes about punishment, rather than rehabilitation.

I completely agree with this statement. That's why people like myself and danhicks are using the terms "subjective", and "objectively". The people on here saying "If it were my daughter/son..."; this is not objective thinking, it is reactionary, and emotionally biased. While my phrasing was poor, my argument is a considered one: - I think the death penalty is barbaric. - Volunteering to be an executioner moreso. - Many people have commited very serious crimes and been rehabilitated through the justice system, and at 10 years old they deserve the opportunity for rehabilitation. As for them being given jobs, new identities, etc. If it wasn't for the threat of vigilante justice - from people who (incorrectly) feel they are more qualified to determine whether someone is rehabilitated, or what level of physical punishment befits their crime - there would be no need to offer such protection. If you want to see that kind of justice, go to Cambodia, Somalia, China and see how much "better" their society is for it...

But who are you, or I, to deny it? Don't you think that makes us (or the justice system, executioner, whomever) just as guilty of denying the "right" to life? And therefore, in the interest of fairness, due the same judgement?

I certainly would. Execution = Murder. I don't agree with the death penalty, and couldn't ever support it. It's nothing but vengeance. I'd be pretty pissed that they only served 8 years though. And, Raven, "14...15...21?"; Nope, nope, nope. The age of the offender makes no difference. Objectively speaking (because I'm not a raving Daily Mail reader), I believe that the primary purpose of prison is for rehabilitation of offenders. When dealing with the issue of reoffenders then punishment should become a larger part of it, but 10 year old kids deserve the chance of rehabilitation before all you sick f**ks cut their heads off like we're living in the dark ages.

OK, stuck this on eBay now, together with all my legit games. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170452713207&_trkparms=tab%3DSelling

It was on the car when I bought it, I'm afraid, and I sold the car quite a while ago. Don't seem to be too many with that lip going about.

Yup; it's Regulus. Had the same one on mine.

Where in the Highlands is that? I'm supposed to be snowboarding at Cairngorm this weekend, but it looks like I'm trapped in stupid Edinburgh as the trains are off, and the roads are so bad they aren't doing buses. (I'm aware of the irony of snow ruining my snowsports weekend, but I'm still pissed off!)