Errrr that would be MARK Thatcher . . . . . . . .

and in the idiot's defence, a lot of people get lost on the Dakar but the shit sheets only mention it if you are related to someone famous and they can use it as an excuse to make both parties look like idiots - piss poor journalism for piss poor 'news' rags.

Cancelling this rally and and The Dakar rally really do seem like good ideas, yes you CAN take the risk but they are very real risks, the Dakar has regularly been subjected to ambush and the like by gun toting morons who would be more than happy to kill you and hack you to bits for good measure cos they want your wheels ( sound like Beaumont Leys or Brauny in the old days) so why put competitors lives at risk just to make the point that 'we are not bowing down to terrorists and nor are our dead comrades.

I'm sick ...

... of all this apologising for distant past crap,

OK so what happened was usually wrong, often only when judged by todays morals/standards, but do they apologise to every single individual? nope just to the odd few to appease those who ask for it.

Don't they see Its not about the apology it's about them looking good by saying

"Oh yes %organisation% got it wrong we apologise unreservedly to the family/fans/friends of %famousname%"

<whisper> There that will get them votingforme/buyingourproduct/offourbacks.</whisper>

Judge today's actions by today's standards and yesterday's actions by yesterday's standards.

If and only if they are found to be appropriate then apologies all round but otherwise if it was appropriate for the time then leave it be! If Genghis Khan did not go around beating the shit out of all and sundry I'm pretty sure there would have been someone else to step up to the mark as it was pretty normal for its time (if you look at the real history and not the eating babies kind). So don't start asking for apologies for his behaviour. Oh! they already did?? thats it I'm off

Paris, cos no-one should have to apologise for her! well maybe......

Just as an aside,

>Microsoft reminds businesses and consumers that if they buy a computer with software pre-loaded it should come with proper documentation and backup discs.

A good while ago, friend bought a PC from NEC, no backup disks, make your own from the backup partition etc etc.

BUT the system did not have a cdr just a cdrom drive!! Its bad enough that they expect you to make your own, it's even worse when they know that you can't !

errr

I would point out that I am always interested in what the bearded tw#* is up to. and also that there has been far too much sun lately please make it rain again as I am missing the floods etc.