h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Shooting at a Jewish school, believed to be linked to the shooting of 3 French soldiers of North African descent. This is weeks after Sarkozy was quoted as saying France has "too many foreigners"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17426313

Are Jews "foreigners"? I thought religion was optional / personal choice rather than linked to geographical boundaries. I would have thought it were possible to have both "home Jews" and "foreign Jews" - but maybe I am wrong.

It's a bit more complex than that with Jews as there tends to be an ethnic element to it.

Basically they're foreign in the same way that a black guy who was born in Dudley and speaks with a Dudley accent is foreign. In other words: not actually foreign but still claimed as such by some due to ethnic background.

... Also, just as foreign as the French soldiers of North African descent.
A bit like Muggle-borns who are magicians, but to some people they'll always be nothing but yucky Mudbloods.

Can't find the Eurovision thread so I'll put this here -

Arnold Dorsey's entry for the UK - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17429151

I quite like it

Yet another ill considered government plan driven by dogma.

http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2012/03/public-sector-private-pay

Public sector pay to be regionalised. On the surface of it it might make sense.

So. Nurses, Teachers and Social Workers could be paid less for working in areas where the job is toughest then.

Well done. Brilliant idea George.

But of course, if residents of say Bradford, don't need so much money to live on as say Epsom, let's extend this thinking logically and think who else gets their income linked to regional need.

Police officers.
Anybody claiming the state pension.
MPs.

Tories reverting to type.

PP

So where does London Weighting fit into regional pay scales?

"At least 10 teenage boys or young men under the age of 21 were surgically castrated "to get rid of homosexuality" while in the care of the Dutch Roman Catholic Church in the 1950s. "


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/netherlands/9153676/Dutch-Roman-Catholic-Church-castrated-at-least-10-boys.html

Helium stocks run low – and party balloons are to blame

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/mar/18/helium-party-balloons-squandered?INTCMP=SRCH

Merkel no longer set to campaign with Sarkozy

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/456ee0ea-6dee-11e1-baa5-00144feab49a.html#axzz1peyt2sX3

>> Mr Sarkozy told Europe 1 radio that "at one moment or another" he and Ms Merkel would appear together to talk about Europe. But he added it would "not be at a rally because an election campaign is the business of the French". <<

In French, this is called "letting people fall like an old sock". I could have told Ms Merkel, but she never asked me.

That's interesting! I think it's called "drop the dead donkey" here

but "letting people fall like an old sock" is just as effective

"Alberta bans smoking in vehicles with children present"

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/story/2012/03/20/edmonton-alberta-smoking-ban.html?cmp=rss

Harry Potter actor gets two year prison sentence.

His Lawyer said: "Although he had the good fortune to be in the Harry Potter films, it turned out to be not so good fortune." James Waylett - who has three low-grade GCSEs and a qualification in painting and decorating - " had struggled with his fame and began to use cannabis." He was pictured holding a molotov cocktail in his hand during the London riots and drinking stolen champagne.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-17449630

Jordin Tootoo, the first Inuk to play at professional (ice) hockey's highest level, has been nominated for the Masterton Trophy.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/story/2012/03/20/north-jordin-tootoo-masterton.html?cmp=rss



Tootoo is one of the most inspiring athletes out there.

Peru has cancelled a visit by a Royal Navy frigate as an act of solidarity with Argentina in its dispute with the UK over the Falkland Islands. Peruvian Foreign Minister Rafael Roncagliolo told news agency Andina Peru he supported Argentina's "legitimate rights" over the Falkland Islands.

He said: "This decision has been taken in the spirit of Latin American solidarity commitments undertaken in the framework of Unasur (Union of South American Nations) with regard to the legitimate rights of Argentina in the sovereignty dispute over the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding waters." http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17442215

Argentina's Foreign minister Hector Timmerman had threatened legal action against firms drilling off the UK territory, over which Argentina claims sovereignty. Mr Timmerman had told reporters: "The gas and oil that is found in the South Atlantic belongs to the Argentinian people." http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-17395537

yay little people!
go! go! go!
occupy
occupy
occupy
occupy the world!