Debate: Politicians

Politicians need to spend as much time on their public image as on their public service.

Or do they?

What do you think?

Debate: Pseudonym

Pseudonyms are great. Their widespread use within the blogging community makes for lighter, brighter reading and viewing.

Your view?

Debate: Holiday

It's that time of year... so here's this weekend's subject for debate.

The essence of a good holiday is having to do absolutely nothing at all.

Or is it?

Debate: Roses

You are admired and loved. Whether it be from your most loved one, or two, or ten, you are to be gifted.

The fact of the matter is that there's nothing that says 'I love you' quite like a dozen red roses.

Agree? Disagree? Preferred alternatives? Do share.

Debate: Borders

This blog has been accused of trivia, even froth. The phrase 'shallow as a puddle' has been used. We refute this. Utterly. And to prove our point, we are offering a serious subject for this weekend's debate.

Should national borders be abolished? Please give reasons for your answer.

Shallow as a puddle, indeed. Bah.

Debate: Birds

I've been encourageing bird-life into our garden - the seed, nut and suet-filled coconut balls have been a major hit, as have the seed-feeders. The bird table - crafted from an old Christmas tree trunk, found sticks, and the bases of three plant pots - is like a bird shopping mall. However! Pigeons are dominating and, whilst it's nature's way, I want to see more Coal Tits and the little birds.

Should I let nature rule the nut and seed roost, or should I intervene with feeding devices that bar the bigger birds?

Debate: Balance?

Moderation and balance are over-rated. Excess can provide useful learning experiences by enabling us to push our own boundaries and those of others. If we were all, always, moderate and balanced, the world would be a very dull place.

Discuss.

Debate: Summer

The year is 2008: Summer of Love or Love of Summer?

Debate: Time Is Money

'Money-rich, time-poor.'

Time to change, or time to stop bleating?

Debate: Nee-mail?

It is vitally important that we have regular 'no email' days.

Discuss.

Debate: Should Children Rule The World?

Sometimes it seems to me that children are more sensible than adults; fairer; more clear-thinking. I was musing on this the other day, and it occurred to me that maybe children should govern, make laws, sit as judges etc. What do you think? Would it lead to world peace and harmony? Or would it be Lord Of The Flies on a grand scale? And, if the latter, would it really be very different to what we have now?

Debate: Leisure Travel

If Ordinary Joe can afford to travel extensively (planes, trains, automobiles) and he enjoys doing so, then he should. He should enjoy his travels, with no holding back. You only live once.

Do you agree or disagree?

Debate: Can We Shrink Christmas?

This post is inspired by an experience from last Wednesday morning, as I was driving into Dudley, past the Quality Hotel. I have never been to this particular Quality Hotel, so cannot vouch for its quality, but I have driven past it many times, and they frequently have banners outside advertising deals for the next 'special occasion' - Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Easter, you get the idea. Last Wednesday they were advertising Father's Day. Fair enough. But along the bottom of the banner, in largish letters, were the words 'Now Taking Bookings For Christmas.'

A couple of years ago, I was outraged when going out for a pub lunch on 1st September and finding a flyer for Christmas bookings on the table. 'That means Christmas lasts FOUR MONTHS,' I ranted. 'That's one-third of my YEAR dominated by Christmas.' Last Wednesday was the 9th of April. It seems that Christmas now has the same gestation period as a chimpanzee.

I have no problem with Christmas as such. It's an important festival in the Christian calendar, and as this country has, broadly speaking, been heavily influenced by Christian culture for a millennium and a half or so, it is bound to dominate life for a while. And naturally some people choose to spread their Christmas shopping over a long period, or make plans for holidays well in advance to ensure they can get their first choice. But couldn't we keep most of the pre-Christmas stuff - the advertising, the decorations, the hideous soundtracks in shops - to, say, the month leading up to the festival itself?

Debate: Size Matters

Smaller class sizes would make little difference to most children's experience of mainstream education. School league tables. Best schools. School improvement. Education system.
Au contraire? Education debate! Teaching or training? Skills for life?

Debate: Swearing

Swearing is not the &*$@ing problem that some would make it out to be.

Discuss. (And keep it clean, folks; this is a family blog.)

Debate: Pens and Swords

'The pen is mightier than the sword'.

But really, is it?

Debate: Television

Following m'learned friend's cultural initiative of yesterday, this blog moves that no earthly good has ever come of watching television. It's not called the 'idiot box' for nothing. Watching television rots your brain, fattens your body, alienates your friends, and ultimately takes over your LIFE!!!

Or does it?

What do you think?

Debate: Names

'To name a child after a hero or heroine of stage, screen, music, sport, or any other form of popular culture, is to play with fire', argued Ringo Johnny Depp Schwarzenegger Brown, of Monkey's Eyebrow, Kentucky. Discuss.

Debate: Harassment

Harassment is a trivial crime. Isn't it?

All thoughts, arguments, jokes, moans, contentions, opinions etc welcome in the comments box. Have a good weekend!

Debate: Competing Contests?

'Beijing Olympics - leave politics out of it'.

Your view?