Of course not!

"G8 leaders agreed in July to meet the pledge to double aid for Africa by 2010. But, within months, America said it was unsure if it would commit to the agreement. European finance ministers are also back-tracking, especially in France and Italy. The British Government stressed at the time that, for the pledge to be met, countries needed to increase their share of GDP given to aid to 0.7 per cent, and Britain said it would do that by 2007. Our share of donated GDP stands at 0.5 per cent; it is now accepted that we will not hit the target until 2013. In any event, this target would only bring Britain up to the level of spending of the Jim Callaghan era of the late Seventies."

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/politics/article335180.ece

It's so easy to stand up and say we will do this and then we will do that...while the spotlight is there...while the world is watching and can see what responsible nations we are. Not quite so easy to go away and actually put our little hands in our little pockets and pull out the farthing we promised.

I am reminded of the glorious caricatures of John and Fanny Dashwood.

"After 80 years in Hundred Acre Wood Winnie the Pooh is to get a female friend, replacing Christopher Robin, according to reports."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4512770.stm

Am I dreaming again! Is this sick or what, or is it just me, age catching up with me or something. I'm pretty laid back about stuff generally. I live and let live. But this is a hard one to stomach. I love Pooh, the real one. The one that walked across the pages of Winnie the Pooh in black and white drawings with prickles in his bottom. The Pooh that watches the real tigger bouncing through the pages of House at Pooh Corner. The one that sings, tiddley pom. How much it stings, tiddley pom, how much it stings, tiddley pom what they are doing. That isn't Pooh, that Disney-warped corruption, that is some American bear passing himself off as Winnie TP. It's a sham-pooh!

"A new study suggests that having too many males of one species could lead to more sexual aggression toward females and ultimately the extinction of the species."

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/11/1130_051130_sex_ratio.html

"Blogs reflect power of the pen

The continuing growth of blogging has changed the way journalists think about their work, argues technology analyst Bill Thompson. And it is for the better."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4492150.stm

"A ship in the harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for."
- unknown