Magere Hein

This is the first time I hear his name. I'm slightly worried about him not passing the famousness test. regards, Hein

Man is not a Turnip either. I think that rather strains your theory. Some men are Swedes. Some are Frogs. "Theory" Mr. Josco? Logic. Pure and irrefutable. Ooooh, I like this. Lessie. Widely Known Fact: A man is not a potato Ergo: That which is not a man is a potato. Another Widely Known Fact: A chip is not a man. Ergo: A chip is a potato. QED, Hein

This probably explains why most of us are apathetic towards the monarchy. I can remember the Queen being driven down the main road in Clydebank in 1986, there were no crowds or cheering people as you see in other parts of the country, in fact I was the only person there at the time and that was a coincidence as I was heading to the shops for a bottle of our 'other national drink' which is the best hangover cure known to man! Grin. I remember Amsterdam, 30 April 1980 well. Fine day, that: coronation for the current Dutch monarch and lovely riots for the Dutch. (Finally a use for that smiley. It looks pretty much like a balaclava.) Her reign, 25 years now, was boring, disappointingly so after such a promising start. We rarely notice her presence. She's good at her job, in the way of a good football referee, and the current baby boom in the royal family is very effective PR. The Dutch republicans keep a low profile at the moment. Even Prince Bernhard can't cause scandal anymore. BTW, nice Marillion .sig. regards, Hein

I must admit that I feel bad about that. A bit. BTW, I've noticed that it happens quite often that there's a considerable gap between registration and first post. Mine lasted a month and a half. regards, Hein

That, and which year's list? If she can sing and dance at 101, chances are that she's in good health. regards, Hein

Members (definition 2b) of a "girl group"? I'm confused! regards, Hein

Mebby something about chain gangs? regards, Hein

I suppose it's called rolling with the times. If the Germans had arrived in the UK, I guess much of the same would have happened here too, regardless of what that drunk Churchill said. I think what happened during the occupation of the Channel Islands shows what would have happened if Britain would have been conquered: some collaborated, some resisted and most people tried to get on with their lives, exactly what happened in occupied Europe. Of course, in hindsight things look different than when you're in it. In 1940 few people expected that the Nazi's would be beaten eventually. regards, Hein

It's not something I'm proud of, but the fact is that both my parents and all my grandparents were collaborators, varying from being members of the Dutch Nazi party to taking up political positions under the Nazi regime and joining the SS. After the liberation they all received prison sentences from a few months to several years. regards, Hein

I used to live in Heerlen, a town often invaded by German shoppers, and had the same experience there. No, it's spelled 'Korinthiërs' in Dutch. The Dutch translation of that verse reads: "Dood, waar is uw prikkel? Hel, waar is uw overwinning?" regards, Hein

Only the language though. Remember the punch up between 1940 and 1944. The Dutch won't forget that unfortunate episode easily. That said, the close relationship between the Dutch and German languages is a reflection of the close genetic relationship between the Dutch and German peoples. As a matter of fact, quite a few of my ancestors were German. regards, Hein

Dutch and German are closely related. If you know one, you can understand the other. The standard versions of the languages differ quite a bit in grammar, pronunciation and word meanings. However, the northern dialects of German are very close to the eastern dialects of Dutch and mutually understandable. regards, Hein

"It's life, Jim, but not as we know it." regards, Hein

It's a shame such heroism doesn't get attention outside the UK. I wonder how many Welsh agree with me that it's also a shame it wasn't used for a more important cause. regards, Hein

Makes me proud, a country that has produced cars where seats and doors are optional extras. Old French cars, I love them. The four I had was this model: I used to have a DS as well. Lovely car, but bloody expensive to keep running. regards, Hein

Yup. regards, Hein

Had one! The version with two back doors and no back seats. In canary yellow. The umbrella handle, you mean? regards, Hein

Were any living Deathlist 2005 candidates present? regards, Hein

Let's hope he and his fellow self-appointed members of God's ground crew follow John Paul II's splendid example. regards, Hein

There's nothing wrong with paying politicians. After all, they have to pay the bills just like anybody else. Somehow a system in which only people who can afford it can be politicians seems wrong. It seems to be time to repeat the quip about people getting the government they deserve. Things aren't any better in the Netherlands. The oppositions grumbles, the government spins, the coalition parties approve and that's the end of it, most of the time. Since most political parties have dumped their ideology, the result is a government of shop keepers and a parliament of yes-men. I wonder, would a system in which we punish failing representatives not just by non-reelection but by additional public flogging improve things? regards, Hein

Can you explain why a hung parliament is reason to call a new election? I happen to live in a country where, due to proportional representation, a single party majority in parliament is extremely rare. It has its problems but seems to work. regards, Hein

History is bunk (Henry Ford) Henry Ford was wrong (Me) Whatever (Archie Bunker) regards, Hein

Pope revolving door The First? Pope Mister the First? regards, Hein

An African Pope for the first time since Gelasius I, who led the church between 492 and 496. Interesting possibility. Archconservative, but looking at his age perhaps 'our man'. Good candidate for 2006. regards, Hein

More arguments against the monarchy. Anyway, to answer the question: three days is a bit short notice for a state funeral, but the audience happens to be in the neighbourhood... regards, Hein