Weather: Sunny bits, windy. 10.

Travel: The 0635 runs before the London train (and will do through the week). 1702 is on time, then get the 1710 (21 down leaving, 23 down arriving) and following 1742 (18 late).

The train home was late and crowded. This is so not unusual. I got to sit next to a group of people from American Express, complaining about their Christmas party. It's not being held in central Birmingham, see, but in a suburb to the north, and these people live to the west. Christmas parties bore me. They're a tense phenomenon, where you can't let go so much that the boss notices, and everyone knows it, and that's a drag. I'm taking leave to avoid my company's.
One of them talked about how to find a fruit machine that's set to pay out soon. Apparently, one can see a pile of money by looking underneath the far right reel, and when that's above a visible mark, it's set to pay Real Soon. Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me, the mark could be a fake.
A couple of them whined on about the variations in the price of CDs. One store is selling them for �13, another for �12, while one store is discounting certain titles to �10. I declined to tell them about amazon.de, where just about *every* title is �10, and some are even cheaper. They deliver direct to your door, and (because they're within the EU) there's no tax or duty to pay. (German VAT is 16%, Britain's is 17.5%. Result!) If you're ordering *exactly* four, HMV.ca becomes excellent value, at just less than �9 a disc, and no duty as it's a small order.
They left half way along the route. Thank goodness. I couldn't have put up with any more of their whinging. And the one directly opposite me was carrying a huge cardboard package, eating up half of *my* leg room.

Weather: Another hot Tuesday, with rain early and late. 13.

Travel: On time in the morning. Get the 1642 from Longbridge, running 18 late. It comes to a stop just past Northfield, and stays there for a good 5 minutes without an explanation or logical reason. That means we pick the people waiting for the 6-car 1702 to our 3-car train. Crowded. Pointlessly. Then we go right through platform 7, scarcely stopping within the station limits.
Shoot to platform 8, where the stopper to Stafford waits. Beaten away by the Glasgow train (boo). Chaos at Wolverhampton, where the 1800 fast to Shrewsbury has left New Street ahead of the 1742 stopper, and there's the 1804 stopper to fit as well. The 1800 arrives first, leaves first. It's a gamble to which of the stoppers will leave first, I plump for the 1804. A chap leaves that train to harangue the station staff just as the signal arrives. "Tell me, which train will be leaving first?" he asks. "Not the one you're on," says the guard, closing the door. He must be a closet Anne Robinson fan. Back tonight on the 1657 to Glasgow, running 31 late, then the 1742 running about 20 late.

Jaeda:
I have no idea how easy this would be to accomplish, but my vote is for Texas...if you come in march you miss most of tornado season, and the weather is usuallly nice.
Nice, as in above 41F? (I should coco!)

You can go to San Antonio and get the Texas atmosphere as well as the mexican phenomenon.
#Doo-doo-be-doo-doo#
Hey, she said "phenomenon."
#Doo-doo-be-do#
What is it about this word "phenomenon?"
#Doo-doo-be-do-do, be-do-do, be-do-be-do-do-doo-do-dooo.#

Dallas/ Ft Worth has the traditional country things, the Stockyards, West End, and various and assorted other things to see!
JR Ewing's ranch, the Lonestar studio, Cat Deeley Plaza...

My birthday is also in March, so it'd be perfect! You could see how the Texan Irish celebrate St Paddy's Day!
Do you know, I never quite figured there would be a Texan Irish community. It just doesn't sound quite sensible, for some odd reason.

I shall bear these things in mind. Much of where I go will have to do with exactly where the spring sale flights are to, and exactly how cheap they are. I don't intend to drive, and don't intend to re-locate halfway through the holiday, so it would be one or t'other. We'll see.

Well aside from my gushing over the whole heather thing, I finally told my sister about her...I had expected a huge upset but she took it well.
Good stuff. That's what sisters are for.

She's concerned for the life I've chosen to lead as it can be dangerous anywhere, but the South especially has an intolerance for anyone different.
After what you said below, going straight has its dangers, too. And not in a dissimilar manner.

I have dislocation in my right jaw and 8 - 12 broken teeth that have to be removed and implants put in. Thank the gods for medical insurance!
That's *teeth* implants, I trust. Unless you want half the list to start thinking about Jadea's Pears... oh curses, they've started already.

South African voters mildly rebuked the ruling African National Congress in today's local elections by avoiding the polls and giving the opposition Democratic Alliance unanticipated levels of support. The ANC captured 60 percent of the vote by Wednesday evening, and the opposition Democratic Alliance attracted around 29 percent in the second municipal election since the end of white rule.

The Democratic Alliance, formed by the June merger of the New National Party (the renamed mainstay of the apartheid system), the Democratic Party (traditionally the party of white liberalism), and the Freedom Alliance, took Cape Town, while the ANC will control the five largest other cities. One local council seat was decided by the toss of a coin, when, even after several recounts, the candidates were tied with 2,266 votes each. The piece's headline may contain a subliminal message: "Flip of coin means no beating about the bush."

Weather: Sunny spells. 10.

Travel: First madness of the week, as the 1702 (which appears to have come from Redditch, not turned back in the Longbridge siding) comes into the Black Hole of New Street, Platform 12. The other platforms are almost straight, have three sets of stairs and one escalator. With good movement, ten people can go up or down at various points along the platform length. 12, though, only has one set of stairs, wide enough for just four lanes of people. That's bad. When a full train is replatformed at the last minute, there will be a lot of people wanting to come down, a lot of people wanting to go up, and a significant chance of a nasty crush developing. This will prove fatal some day, and I publically urge Railtrack (as station owners) to put some extra stairs in. Show your commitment to safety and spend some money.

Jeff:
We all agree it's OK to be obsessed right?
Abso-tiddley-lutely.

I rarely post to the egroups I'm on but when I do, they're somewhat tangential and long.
Tangential is good. Hell, *use* of the word "tangential" is good. Long is better.

An observant reader writes: Ever since the early 90s, the owners of the trademark LISTSERV have been fighting a losing battle. They've been trying to discourage people from using the name of their product, a form of email list management software, as a synonym for *any* email list management package, or email lists in general. In his post above, Jeff used the word "egroups."

Dr Wordsmith writes: Yes, yes, this is all very well. Do you actually have a question? This is cutting into my drinking time.

A reader writes: Patience, dear doctor, patience. Egroups is the name of a specific email list service, being used here in a more generic context. Do you suppose that this trademark will also become used as a generic designator? Will the company's recent takeover by Yahoo! Inc affect the position. Indeed, should Yahoo! receive a payment everytime someone who is happy shouts "yahoo!"?

Dr Wordsmith writes: Some very interesting questions. I have no idea on any of them. Meantime, the bar at the Pen and Quill is open, and mine's a treble.

Maybe this has been discussed on here before, but what are people's theories as to why the last name "Chase"?
This is a blindingly obvious question. This is a blindingly obvious *good* question. One that I don't recall being discussed in the five years I've been round here.

My gut feeling is that a character with a complex-sounding given name, like Angela, needs the counterbalance of a simple last name. It gives a certain air of realism; parents with a simple family name tend to give their offspring polysyllabic names, with the reverse argument also holding.

As to why "Chase"? Two sybillants - the "wet" ch and s sounds. *No-one* in the household has a sybillant in their given name - Angela, Patti, Danielle, Graham all come from the tongue and the back of the throat; throwing the surname forward physically *feels* like it's rounding the name off.

Still doesn't explain why "Chase" exactly, nor what symbolism there might be.

Weather: It starts to rain at midday, and doesn't stop. Heavy rain in the evening, 12.

Travel: A long wait at Wolverhampton for the 1804 (dep 1813, right behind the fast to Shrewsbury.)

Dunja:
I feel so sorry for this people the they have to go across town just to get drunk before Christmas.
It's madness, really it is. People think it's a good thing to trek miles out of their way just to have a low-quality meal, knock back gallons of "free" wine, and boogie away to a C-grade band who - if they had any *real* talent - would be performing to paying punters.

That said, people think getting drunk is the be-all and end-all of a night out. I don't understand these people, really I don't.

What about smiling to colleges you would rather not share the room...
Smiling at colleagues? Plus ca change. Do it all the time.

Good to know but we out of Europe (but in Europe) have to pay tax... what a ...
This is true; however, these people whining about having to pay through the nose for Westlife CDs when they can get them far cheaper with a little research will get zero sympathy from me.

But taxes are bad, in general. Sales taxes are worse, they're brutally regressive, and appear hidden to Joe Public.

Britain's railways are currently in a state of disarray because of speed restrictions imposed as a panicked PR stunt following a recent crashe. In 1829, inventor George Stephenson launched the world's first train, the Rocket, which travelled at 36 mph. In 2000, it took Mirror journalist Brian Reade 22.5 hours to travel from John O'Groats to Land's End, an improvement of 1.7 mph in 171 years.

A piece in the Manchester Grauniad described the "road hazard" caused by long Welsh words. The government has recently approved the use of illuminated electronic signs on British motorways to communicate "complex, lengthy and changing messages ... with which conventional painted signs cannot cope." In Wales, signs would have to display the text in both English and Welsh, and researchers are concerned that drivers will take too long to read the messages, leading to potentially fatal delays. The worst case scenario involves the first Anglesey exit of the A5 trunk road, to Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. Reports that this piece has been added here merely to bring this page up whenever someone types in the full name of Llanfair PG could not be confirmed at press time.

Weather: Wind dies down during the day, and there's the occasional passing shower. 8 and quite refreshing, really.

Travel: The 0635 is a couple of minutes late leaving, then gets held outside Wolverhampton for a late Virgin cross-country. That's a bit rich. We then pull into Wolverhampton as the London train is leaving - a poor show, but understandable. But we're *then* held behind the local stopper, for which there can be no excuse. Heads, roll.

Sara:)
me and the people that I work withdon't agreeon anything.
Remind me never to play (The) Weakest Link with your lot, then. Coz it'll be you voted off first, regardless of form.

basically they don't think gays should be together. or be allowed to have kids. or kiss in public.
I'll go for two of three, shall I? Dropping offspring is not on my agenda. The other two are. It's just a case of finding the right man to offend Essex's resident bigots.

they also don't think that there should be more than a day or so of paternity leave. as theyput it today 'itsnot necessary' - something of which I wholeheartedly disagree with.
And then they wonder why society in general, and English society in particular, has so many problems with its kids. Not enough good parenting, that's one of the problems. Irresponsible breeding, that's another. If you *must* do it, bally well do it *properly.* If having the father and/or mother at home longer helps to improve the lot of the kid, then make it so.

They know how I feel, but they always make these gay comments, and although I don't want to fight with them all the time, I also don't want to let their stupid/ignorant remarks slide by. know what I mean?
Of course, he said, reaching for his Section 29 cribsheet. They have no argument, they just trot out the same repetitive points time and time again. They're incapable of developing an argument. Something along the lines of...

--[surreal]--
You want people to hide their sexuality? Fine, great, cool. Suits me fine.

Kiss your girlfriend down the pub last night? Just a small fine, after all, the people who saw you and were offended might have been a bit drunk and didn't believe what they saw.

Engaged in a major kissing session while riding the train? How disgusting. That's gross, and it's indecent, and it's a trip before the local beak before you can say Jack's knockers.

Have kids? There's no way of hiding the fact that you've been, erm, at it. A long spell in prison looms, for perverting the public decency.

Want to get married? There's no bigger flaunting of your sexuality than that. Decapitation seems about right for that. Fancy that. Eeeeeeew.
--[/surreal]--

OK, completely far-out ramblings. But this is the sort of point that confuses the critics.

AND to add to this, I LIKE these people.
Have you no taste? (:

They are really really nice in every other way - they just judge people harshly. and talk behind everyone's back, of course. ugh.
Do not judge, lest you be judged by someone you've never met before.

On the thirty-second day of the count, Democratic candidate Al Bore lost two court rulings, and won one. The one he won set in motion close scrutiny of the remaining dubious votes in Florida, and cut his deficit in the state-wide poll to 154. Results are scheduled for Tuesday. The two he lost would have disqualified enough absentee ballots to put Bore in the lead.

The court fixes the standard of indentation as "a clear indication of the intent of the voter." This is a variable decision, changing from county to county. Indeed, it will vary *within* Miami-Dade county; those counted a few weeks ago used a permissive standard, those being counted now may be using a more restrictive standard.

Mathematical analysis suggests that most people in Florida left the ballot booth thinking they had voted for Bore. However, thanks to the complex voting systems used, it looks like Shrub will win the state with a majority of about 300 votes. This is, however, well within the margin of error inherent in any such mass counting process, so the most fair result would be to call the election a draw.

[Tell us something new! - Ed]

Weather: Heavy showers, 12.

Football: Terry Venables had a disastrous return to top-flight English soccer on Saturday as his Middlesbrough team slid to last in the Premier League after a 1-0 loss at neighbour Sunderland. A blunder by Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer sent Venables' Boro down to last place. The 'keeper let a shot from Sunderland's Michael Gray to slip through his hands and legs for the only goal at the Stadium of Light as Boro lost for the ninth game in 10. The victory sent Sunderland up to fourth while it was a nightmare start for former England coach Venables, who has taken on the role of first team coach under manager Bobby Robson until the end of the season.
With Bradford rallying from 3-1 down to force a 3-3 tie with Tottenham, Boro slipped to last place with just 11 points in 17 games. Bradford has 12.
South African striker Shaun Bartlett scored twice in his debut as Charlton rallied from 3-1 down to tie 3-3 with league leader Manchester United and end the Reds' streak of eight wins in a row. Bartlett, on loan from FC Zurich, gave Charlton an early lead at The Valley before strikes by Ryan Giggs, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Roy Keane swung the game United's way. Alex Ferguson's team was still 3-1 ahead with 15 minutes to go but goals by Bartlett and John Robinson earned Alan Curbishley's men a thrilling and deserved tie.
Arsenal cut United's lead to six points with a 5-0 crushing of Bobby Robson's Newcastle with Ray Parlour scoring a rare hat trick. Thierry Henry and Nwankwo Kanu added to Parlour's three for the Gunners at Highbury as Arsene Wenger's team shrugged off its scoring drought by outplaying Newcastle. The Gunners have 34 points to United's 40.
At Valley Parade, Tottenham's Ledley King gave his team the lead after a Premier League record 10 seconds. Though Jamie Lawrence levelled, two more strikes by Sol Campbell and Chris Armstrong put Spurs 3-1 up but Bradford hit back with goals by Dean Windass and Benito Carbone, the Italian's strike coming a minute from the end.
On a high-scoring day, Chelsea downed Derby 4-1 with two goals from Icelandic forward Eidur Gudjohnsen and more from Uruguay's Gustavo Poyet and Italy's Gianfranco Zola.
Manchester City ended a run of six losses in a row by crushing Everton 5-0. Costa Rican striker Paolo Wanchope led the goal charge for City, which is coached by former Everton supporter, player and manager, Joe Royle.
Leeds United's title hopes were further dashed by a 1-0 loss at Southampton for whom James Beattie scored his seventh goal in six games.
West Ham and Aston Villa tied 1-1 at Upton Park.
On Sunday, Ipswich beat Liverpool and Coventry beat Leicester, both 1-0,

The standings: MUN 40 ARS 34 IPS 30 LEI 29 SUN 29 LIV 27 ... MID 11 BRA 12 DER 13 COV 15
The points: MUN 1171 ARS 1113 SUN 1080 IPS 1050 (+5) WHM 1040 ... MID 880 (-3) BRA 891 COV 911 MCY 914 (+3) DER 919

Erin:
I am 14 years old, and pretty young to a lot of you,
Younger than most of us here, I believe. Unless we have a squad of toddlers lurking.

and I know that a lot of you won't care about or wont take me seriously
And you *know* this how, exactly? Speak, woman, speak!

I think being gay is okay. I mean gay people are just like any other people.
And hurrah for that!

And if your alright with god, your allright with me:). God made gay people, god made black people, god made hispanic people, white people, he made everybody! He loves EVERYBODY! and so should everyone else.:)
There's not much argument with that position, really. Anything else fails to observe fundamental Christian doctrine, and deliberately misinterprets the religious tenets to promote power and chaos.

I respect gay people, for showing who they really are, and not being ashamed of it, and not hiding.
Why, I might have to take this personally. In which case, thank you.

Because, I'm confused, and scared, and hiding...
Well, [hugs], and if we can help, we help.

Weather: Showers and wind. 11.

The Charts

#1 #1 Destiny's Child - independent women [week 3]
#2 64 Eminem - santa
#3 #2 S Club 7 - never had a dream come true
#4 NE Bob The Builder - can we fix it?
#5 #3 Leann Rimes - can't fight the moonlight

also new
#7 Birtney's Pears - stronger
14 Wyclef Jean & Mary J Blige - 911
27 Sisqo - incomplete
28 So Solid Crew - oh no (the incidental things)
35 Jay-Z - i just wanna love you
62 Daniel O'Donnell - morning has broken
67 Foo Fighters - next year

upwards
10 11 Tweenies - number one
11 13 Public Domain - operation blade
20 33 Bon Jovi - thank you for loving me
36 40 Lenny Kravitz - again