Tothesunset

I think that ship has sailed.

Bit harsh:

Shall we have a picture of dogs for no good reason? OK: (The one that's impersonating a teddy bear is our son's.)

The past decade hasn't been interesting?

Indeed. Had I been I suspect I may have been even keener on dogs!

We think it's a great idea:

If you take the dog to dinner on a formal night do the need to wear a bow wow tie?

I thinks it's nice that their pee patch looks like green grass. I guess that's more to please the owners, what with dogs being colour blind and all.

Don't you start!

Yes. And I agree.

The Magnificent Seven! (Where's the bald one?)

For Cooler Glasto may I put in a word for The Carpenters. Not only did Richard pen some catchy tunes but Karen had, surely, the pre-eminent voice of her generation. A few get close - Annie Lennox maybe, Eve Cassidy perhaps - but nobody can match that soaring, smokey purity. I'm not alone. Paul McCartney thinks so too!

tnm6217, Good for you for taking a stand. Companies that overpromise and under-deliver are, sadly, more the norm than the exception. You are fortunate to have the skills to pursue this. If only all companies were held to account then we might all get better service. And on a point of principle it matters not what the value of the dispute is in monetary terms. Just while we are on the subject, how do fast food outlets get away with photographs of the perfect burger when what they deliver often bears only a passing similarity to the advertised item?

When S and G did their "Old Friends" tour (2003ish, I think) we saw them at the Koelnarena in Germany. They really were outstanding. That might well be the only concert at which I knew every word to every song. When people talk of the great singer/songwriters they talk (rightly) of Dylan, McCartney, Elton and so forth. Somewhere on the top 5 there must be a spot for Paul Simon. He can go from the gentlest tenderness to coruscating inventive all wrapped in the sweetest of melodies and pitch perfect arrangements. You don't have to be a flashy performer to be a genius! I'd also like to vote for Carol King.

During an REM concert? That's me in the corner...