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with the date of the ban fast approaching how do people feel about this? will it be implemented correctly? what are different bars/clubs doing to embrace this? my local will be allowing smokers into the keg store out the back, hope it pisses down on them. I cant wait for it to start, no more smelly clothes and hair, wonder what the bar will smell like after a few weeks without the stentch of smoke?

[His mixed race heritage - with a white mother from Kansas, and a black father from Kenya - has led some observers to suggest that he is an African and an American, but not an African-American.]

Democratic Senator Barack Obama has launched his presidential campaign with a speech in which he pledged to "build a more hopeful America".
He began his official campaign with a call for the Iraq war to end, saying US troops must withdraw by March 2008.

Mr Obama, 45, is considered by many to be the first African-American candidate with a realistic chance of winning.

He, along with Senator Hillary Clinton, is leading the race for the Democratic Party's nomination for the 2008 vote.

A large crowd of supporters braved the sub-zero temperatures in Springfield, Illinois to watch Mr Obama make his announcement.

  In the shadow of the Old State Capitol, where Lincoln once called on a divided house to stand together, where common hopes and common dreams still live, I stand before you today to announce my candidacy for president of the United States

Barack Obama


Profile: Barack Obama 
He spoke to the crowd of his working life in the state over the last 20 years, first as a community worker, then as a civil rights lawyer and finally as a US senator.

He said it was the lessons learnt watching the daily struggles many faced that had ignited in him a desire for change.

"That is why, in the shadow of the Old State Capitol, where Lincoln once called on a divided house to stand together, where common hopes and common dreams still live, I stand before you today to announce my candidacy for president of the United States," Mr Obama said.

Changing politics

As he made the announcement the crowd cheered and chanted his name.

But having served just one term as a senator and with no experience of executive office, many have questioned whether Mr Obama's skills match his ambition.

As he declared his candidacy Mr Obama acknowledged that fact saying:

 


2008 main contenders 
"I recognise that there is a certain presumptuousness in this, a certain audacity to this announcement. I know that I have not spent a long time learning the ways of Washington, but I have been there long enough to know that the ways of Washington have to change."

Mr Obama said the first priority was ending the conflict in Iraq.

"America, it's time to start bringing our troops home," he said. "It's time to admit that no amount of American lives can resolve the political disagreement that lies at the heart of someone else's civil war."

Mr Obama was elected to the US Senate after Congress voted to support President George W Bush in his decision to go to war in Iraq, but in 2002 made a speech opposing the conflict.

He went on to criticise the current administration for what he called a failure of leadership to address issues like America's dependence on oil and a failing educational system.

Race issue

Mr Obama burst on to the national scene in July 2004 when he delivered a stirring keynote speech at the Democratic party convention.

His declaration that there was no white or black America, but a United States of America helped him win a seat in the Senate that year and subsequently set him on a fast track to vie for the White House.

HAVE YOUR SAY
Senator Barack Obama could help the US to win world support.

V Siva, Toronto


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Time magazine has dubbed Mr Obama "America's hottest political phenomenon" and US chat show host Oprah Winfrey urged him to announce his candidacy on her programme.

But instead he chose to launch his presidential campaign on the very spot where Abraham Lincoln once denounced the divisions caused by slavery.

However, unlike previous black presidential candidates, Mr Obama was not part of the civil rights movement, which correspondents say makes some African-Americans wary of him.

His mixed race heritage - with a white mother from Kansas, and a black father from Kenya - has led some observers to suggest that he is an African and an American, but not an African-American.  

Though undoubtedly ambitious and charismatic, with relatively little national experience and formidable opponents, including Mrs Clinton, many question whether he can really secure the Democratic nomination, and whether he has the depth of policy to match.

Mr Obama has tried to answer critics in recent weeks, introducing a bill that calls for the phased redeployment of US troops from Iraq.


This could be a very interesting race, it may all depend on the running mates and has the potential to one hellofa campaign, race gender and ex presidents all to the fore

Is anyone else having trouble with their NTL TV in the Belfast area? Mine has been off from 16:00 and i couldnt get the Customer Services number at all, kept getting the no such number tone.

Yes its here, my life is complete due out 27/07/07

Trailer  http://www.ntlworld.com/video/standard/play.php?page_zone=9342.5.1&url=http://www.substance001.net/the_simpsons_movie_trailer/the_simpsons_movie_trailer_1500k.wvx&title=The+Simpsons+Movie+UK+trailer

Restaurants and cafes in Belfast will soon be rated online under proposals to publish food safety information on a 'Scores on The Doors' website.
Councils across the UK have already signed up to the pilot initiative and on Wednesday night, Belfast City Council voted to follow suit.

It hopes to encourage food safety compliance and reduce food poisoning.

Eateries will be rated on the degree of compliance with food hygiene laws. It is hoped the site will be up by spring.

"Publishing this information will be a handy tool for consumers, allowing them to make an informed decision about where they eat," Councillor Peter O'Reilly, chairman of the council's Health and Environmental Services committee, said.

"It has the added benefit of encouraging Belfast's restaurants, cafes etc to keep food standards high.

Rating

"People will be able to log onto the website and check the rating of their local restaurant and even their corner shop.

"Businesses will also be provided with a certificate and encouraged to display the information on their premises." 
Customers can view restaurants' commitment to food safety

The council said that the scheme has been hailed as a great success in the US and Canada, where it has been in place for 10 years.

Damian Connolly, environmental health manager with Belfast City Council, said recent inspections showed the vast majority of food outlets in the city had high food safety standards.

The council believes the rating system will ensure they remain focussed on maintaining these standards

Although in the early planning stages, the council intends to follow a rating structure which awards 0-5 stars, five stars being the highest standard possible.

Premises rated will include everything from supermarkets to hotels and fast food restaurants.

The council plans to score all of the approximately 2,800 food businesses in the greater Belfast area and publish the result of inspections online from late spring.

An interesting and easy concept, but its only for food hygiene pity it wont cover the quality of whats on offer

Did anyone bother to make any, if so what.

No doubt there will be the smokers who wish to be non smokers, how are you doing at the minute and stick with it.

Surely this isnt a languague, someone is takin the piss, its like a mixture of Derry/North Antrim with west Belfast millie mixed in. have a lok an cee

Ulster Scots Phrase Book


Chapter One - Meeting and greeting people:
Chaipter Wan - Meetin an taakin tae fowk:



English / Inglish Ulster Scots / Ulster-Scotch
Hello!   Hi ye daen!
How are you?                  Whut aboot ye? ('bout ye? -- Ulster dialect)
Are you well?               Ir ye weel?
I'm fine                Naw [sae / oor] bad
I'm average --> good              Mair nor middlin
And you?                  Whut aboot yirsell?
Thanks / Thank you         Cheers / Thanks
   
What's your name?               Whut dae they caal ye?
Where do you come from?          Whur ir ye fae?
Where do you live?               Whur dae ye leeve at?

If you wish to emphasise a statement in Ulster Scots, you can simply add the tag 'hi' onto the end. For example:

"She?s qwur?n waarm theday, hi!"

"It is a very warm day today!"


ya couldee mak thon up

no doubt during the festive season we will over indulge with the evil alchol and suffer a hangover, has anyone got any proven cures for this?

what about deoralite before going to bed which stops dehydration, apparently

Got asked this today and diddnt know the answer, but I think ita one of those questions, no cheating

What is the nickname of the New Zealand basket ball team?