Yes, every society has its problems - but why should anyone be immune from comment? Britain isn't perfect, far from it, and you're welcome to comment about it.

I'm always rather puzzled by people who deny anyone else the right to criticise them. They're often the same sort who don't like people telling their kids off, claiming that it's their job to do it while failing to actually do so.
Personally, if someone sees my kids doing something wrong they're welcome to tell them off and I'll generally support them, too.

It's perfectly fair to isolate murder by gun since that's what we're talking about. You specifically mentioned firearms in Switzerland and implied that they don't get misused. They do.

Another cultural meme that has passed me by, I'm glad to say!

So many memes, so little time.

The myth of Switzerland being a safe example of gun ownership is still being trotted out, I see.

It ain't true. Its murder rate is over twice that of, for example, England. A while ago I looked out the murder by gun rate and that was even higher, comparitively.

Please - if you're going to defend the indefensible at least play fair and don't make up the data.

Ah, it's one of these regional things - I've never heard of it!

Unfortunate timing, what with Nissin's poison noodle scare...
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/536641/2230027

While it's a fun idea and some of the artwork is very good, it really does show the difference between (the bulk of) artists and scientists.
Take, for example, the text that goes with caesium.

[caesium]...can be produced solely by nuclear reactions.

Not true, it's a naturally occuring element, though there's noticeable amounts of radioactive caesium in the environment that /has/ come from man made nuclear sources.

[caesium]...is strong enough to etch glass, flesh and bone.

No, its hydroxide is.

...it is one of the most biologically hazardous components of radioactive waste and nuclear fallout,

No, it's not as readily absorbed as many other radiopollutants.

Really, I despair of the standard of scientific education that leads to someone being unable to glean even basic information about something without reading some sentences out of context and getting the wrong end of the stick.

Is is a prerequisite of an anthem that it should have a range that only a good singer can span? OK, so God Save The Queen only covers an octave or so, but maybe that's why it sounds like a funeral dirge. It's certainly hard to make it sound even remotely interesting.

Something to the tune of Eternal Father, Strong to Save (the Navy Hymn) would be splendid - you can really make it sound like you mean it with that tune.

We had a neighbour in London who had twelve cats. He and his wife had catflaps in all doors because, although they liked a bit of exercise, there's such a thing as too much.
They also had a fox that lived in/under the conservatory.
Oddly, the house didn't smell.

I'd dispute that God Save The Queen is the anthem of choice of most people in the UK. Those who can be arsed to express a preference usually plump for Jerusalem to Parry's tune or I Vow to Thee My Country, to the tune of Holst's wossname.

Is it reasonable to sum up a candidate's views on sometimes very complex subjects in a single snippet?

I think you'll find it's actually a special fork for dining with Amy Winehouse to keep her away from your drink.

Love the Gentle Light, but neither of my two are gentle enough. It'd last a night or two before it got flumped upon.

That'll be why I rarely buy £150 toys! Camera - well that gets used most weeks - sometimes several times a week. Table saw - most weeks, often more often. Chop saw likewise, lathe less often but still monthly.

Our living room was taking around 120 Watts on standby. Two computers, two monitors, two printers, two pairs of speakers, two reading lamps, router, print server, modem, set-top-box, telly, hi-fi, scanner etc.

Now it's all plugged into a new circuit controlled by a big switch by the door - on the way to bed at night it goes off and saves around £1/week.

Next - the chargers locker...