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Have your say</span></a> <a id="hot-5" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/commentisfree+world/swine-flu" name="&lid={blogFrontHotTopics}{Comment is free + Swine flu}&lpos={trail}{4}"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/7/21/1248171516743/DNA-test-kits-of-the-the--001.jpg" width="60" height="60" alt="DNA test kits of the the influenza A(H1N"/><span class="contents"><strong>Swine flu:</strong> The government has suggested 65,000 deaths is the UK's worst case scenario. Are you worried?</span></a> <a id="hot-6" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/commentisfree+world/afghanistan" name="&lid={blogFrontHotTopics}{Comment is free + Afghanistan}&lpos={trail}{5}"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2008/08/21/poppyfarmers.jpg" width="60" height="60" alt="Poppy farmers in Afghanistan"/><span class="contents"><strong>To Helmand and back:</strong> With losses mounting in Afghanistan, the military intervention is coming under scrutiny. Does it make sense?</span></a> <p id="bubbling-under"><b>On the radar:</b> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/21/jupiter-asteroid-lembit-opik" name="&lid={blogFrontHotTopics}{We need a cosmic plan | Lembit Opik}&lpos={trail}{6}" title="Lembit Öpik | We need a cosmic plan">Dodging asteroids</a> · <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/jul/22/bruce-springsteen-fan-religion" name="&lid={blogFrontHotTopics}{All that heaven will allow | Sarfraz Manzoor}&lpos={trail}{7}" title="When does fandom become religion? | Sarfraz Manzoor">Springtseen v God</a> · <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/youth-clubs-funding-council" name="&lid={blogFrontHotTopics}{| Harry Phibbs}&lpos={trail}{8}" title="Keep councils out of youth clubs | Harry Phibbs">Youth clubs</a> </p> </div> <div id="cif-picks"> <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript"> // <![CDATA[ if (isExternalSystemOn("pluck")) { insertStyleSheet('styles/wide/pluck-on.css'); } // ]]> </script> <div id="main-trailblock" class="trailblock"> <h2>Editors' picks</h2> <div class="full"> <h3><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/green-jobs-market-vestas-strike" name="&lid={blogFrontPicks}{Even the Isle of Wight wants Miliband to buck the market | Seumas Milne}&lpos={trail}{1}">Even the Isle of Wight wants Miliband to buck the market</a></h3> <div class="byline"> <a class="container" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/green-jobs-market-vestas-strike" name="&lid={blogFrontPicks}{Even the Isle of Wight wants Miliband to buck the market | Seumas Milne}&lpos={trail}{2}"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/contributor/2007/09/28/seamus_milne_140x140.jpg" width="60" height="60" alt=""/></a> <div class="trail-text"> <strong>Seumas Milne: </strong>Wind turbine workers have shown only public action will deliver green jobs. The same goes for beating climate change <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/green-jobs-market-vestas-strike?commentpage=1" name="&lid={blogFrontPicks}{Even the Isle of Wight wants Miliband to buck the market | Seumas Milne}&lpos={trail}{3}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350685740 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> <ul class="sublinks"> <li class="bullet last"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cif-green/2009/jul/22/vestas-wind-factory-environment" name="&lid={sublinks}{Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx | Gregor Gall}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="link-text" rel="nofollow"> Gregor Gall: Striking workers learn to think green</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="full"> <h3><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/michaeltomasky/2009/jul/23/barack-obama-healthcare-press-conference" name="&lid={blogFrontPicks}{Michael Tomasky: Sales pitch still needs work}&lpos={trail}{4}">Obama's sales pitch still needs work</a></h3> <div class="byline"> <a class="container" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/michaeltomasky/2009/jul/23/barack-obama-healthcare-press-conference" name="&lid={blogFrontPicks}{Michael Tomasky: Sales pitch still needs work}&lpos={trail}{5}"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2007/11/19/michael_tomasky_140x140.jpg" width="60" height="60" alt=""/></a> <div class="trail-text"> <strong>Michael Tomasky:</strong> At his healthcare press conference, Obama didn't give Americans the passionate argument he needed to sell the idea <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/michaeltomasky/2009/jul/23/barack-obama-healthcare-press-conference?commentpage=1" name="&lid={blogFrontPicks}{Michael Tomasky: Sales pitch still needs work}&lpos={trail}{6}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350694224 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="full"> <h3><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/norwich-north-byelection-candidates" name="&lid={blogFrontPicks}{Undecided in Norwich North | Cath Elliott}&lpos={trail}{7}">Undecided in Norwich North</a></h3> <div class="byline"> <a class="container" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/norwich-north-byelection-candidates" name="&lid={blogFrontPicks}{Undecided in Norwich North | Cath Elliott}&lpos={trail}{8}"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2008/06/06/cath_elliott_140x140.jpg" width="60" height="60" alt=""/></a> <div class="trail-text"> <strong>Cath Elliott:</strong> Despite the money and media attention focused on the Norwich North byelection, for the first time ever I'm a floating voter <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/norwich-north-byelection-candidates?commentpage=1" name="&lid={blogFrontPicks}{Undecided in Norwich North | Cath Elliott}&lpos={trail}{9}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350678263 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="full"> <h3><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/us-census-ageing-population" name="&lid={blogFrontPicks}{Our ageing world isnt a catastrophe. Its a triumph | Zoe Williams}&lpos={trail}{10}">Our ageing world isn't a catastrophe. It's a triumph</a></h3> <div class="byline"> <a class="container" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/us-census-ageing-population" name="&lid={blogFrontPicks}{Our ageing world isnt a catastrophe. Its a triumph | Zoe Williams}&lpos={trail}{11}"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/contributor/2007/09/28/zoe_williams_140x140.jpg" width="60" height="60" alt=""/></a> <div class="trail-text"> <strong>Zoe Williams: </strong>We are healthier, living longer and birth rates are falling. Only the most blinkered of economists could fail to rejoice <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/us-census-ageing-population?commentpage=1" name="&lid={blogFrontPicks}{Our ageing world isnt a catastrophe. Its a triumph | Zoe Williams}&lpos={trail}{12}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350675893 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="full"> <h3><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/postwar-europe-education-history-eu" name="&lid={blogFrontPicks}{With the passing of the last wartime Europeans, historys time has come }&lpos={trail}{13}">With the passing of the last wartime Europeans, history's time has come</a></h3> <div class="byline"> <a class="container" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/postwar-europe-education-history-eu" name="&lid={blogFrontPicks}{With the passing of the last wartime Europeans, historys time has come }&lpos={trail}{14}"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2008/08/26/tga.jpg" width="60" height="60" alt=""/></a> <div class="trail-text"> <strong>Timothy Garton Ash: </strong>Three major continental thinkers died in the last year, little noticed in insular Britain. Their life stories are extraordinary <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/postwar-europe-education-history-eu?commentpage=1" name="&lid={blogFrontPicks}{With the passing of the last wartime Europeans, historys time has come }&lpos={trail}{15}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350683352 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="full"> <h3><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/social-mobility-professions" name="&lid={blogFrontPicks}{Societys barriers are still in place | Lola Okolosie}&lpos={trail}{16}">Society's barriers are still in place</a></h3> <div class="byline"> <a class="container" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/social-mobility-professions" name="&lid={blogFrontPicks}{Societys barriers are still in place | Lola Okolosie}&lpos={trail}{17}"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/7/22/1248262276147/lola.jpg" width="60" height="60" alt=""/></a> <div class="trail-text"> <strong>Lola Okolosie:</strong> People from middle-to-low-income families still face enormous obstacles to success in the professions – as I did <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/social-mobility-professions?commentpage=1" name="&lid={blogFrontPicks}{Societys barriers are still in place | Lola Okolosie}&lpos={trail}{18}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350666800 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> <ul class="sublinks"> <li class="bullet last"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/teachers-social-mobility" name="&lid={sublinks}{Teachers: the key to social mobility| Sheila Lawlor}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="link-text" rel="nofollow"> Sheila Lawlor: Teachers are the key to social mobility</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="full"> <h3><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/open-left-radical-ideas" name="&lid={blogFrontPicks}{Open Left is not radical enough | Sunny Hundal}&lpos={trail}{19}">It's time for the left to get radical</a></h3> <div class="byline"> <a class="container" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/open-left-radical-ideas" name="&lid={blogFrontPicks}{Open Left is not radical enough | Sunny Hundal}&lpos={trail}{20}"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2008/05/07/sunny_hundal_140x140.jpg" width="60" height="60" alt=""/></a> <div class="trail-text"> <strong>Sunny Hundal: Open Left:</strong> The real ideas will only come once Labour is out of power and free from the burden of political positioning <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/open-left-radical-ideas?commentpage=1" name="&lid={blogFrontPicks}{Open Left is not radical enough | Sunny Hundal}&lpos={trail}{21}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350659983 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> <ul class="sublinks"> <li class="bullet "> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/tony-benn-labour-left" name="&lid={sublinks}{Arguments the left has to win | Tony Benn}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="link-text" rel="nofollow"> Tony Benn: Arguments the left has to win</a> </li> <li class="bullet seriesindex last"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/series/open-left" name="&lid={sublinks}{Open Left}&lpos={trail}{2}" class="link-text" rel="nofollow"> More comment on Open Left</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="full"> <h3><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/iraq-prisoner-abuse-uk" name="&lid={blogFrontPicks}{Cruel truths from Basra | Richard Norton-Taylor}&lpos={trail}{22}">Cruel truths from Basra</a></h3> <div class="byline"> <a class="container" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/iraq-prisoner-abuse-uk" name="&lid={blogFrontPicks}{Cruel truths from Basra | Richard Norton-Taylor}&lpos={trail}{23}"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/contributor/2007/09/28/richard_norton-taylor_140x1.jpg" width="60" height="60" alt=""/></a> <div class="trail-text"> <strong>Richard Norton-Taylor:</strong> Abuse of Iraqi prisoners reveals a lack of discipline among UK troops and arrogance at the MoD <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/iraq-prisoner-abuse-uk?commentpage=1" name="&lid={blogFrontPicks}{Cruel truths from Basra | Richard Norton-Taylor}&lpos={trail}{24}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350677262 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="full"> <h3><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/globalisation-local-companies" name="&lid={blogFrontPicks}{The stealth of Starbucks | Priyamvada Gopal}&lpos={trail}{25}">The stealth of Starbucks</a></h3> <div class="byline"> <a class="container" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/globalisation-local-companies" name="&lid={blogFrontPicks}{The stealth of Starbucks | Priyamvada Gopal}&lpos={trail}{26}"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2008/05/28/priyamvada_gopal_140x140.jpg" width="60" height="60" alt=""/></a> <div class="trail-text"> <strong>Priyamvada Gopal:</strong> Focusing exclusively on market excesses distracts us from the inbuilt flaws of corporate globalisation <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/globalisation-local-companies?commentpage=1" name="&lid={blogFrontPicks}{The stealth of Starbucks | Priyamvada Gopal}&lpos={trail}{27}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350684633 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="full"> <h3><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/boris-johnson-london-david-cameron" name="&lid={blogFrontPicks}{Donts from Boris do-little | Dave Hill}&lpos={trail}{28}">The lessons of New Boris</a></h3> <div class="byline"> <a class="container" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/boris-johnson-london-david-cameron" name="&lid={blogFrontPicks}{Donts from Boris do-little | Dave Hill}&lpos={trail}{29}"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2008/02/29/Dave_Hill.jpg" width="60" height="60" alt=""/></a> <div class="trail-text"> <strong>Dave Hill: </strong>David Cameron will be watching London closely. His destiny may hinge on its 'do-little mayor' <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/boris-johnson-london-david-cameron?commentpage=1" name="&lid={blogFrontPicks}{Donts from Boris do-little | Dave Hill}&lpos={trail}{30}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350679164 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="cif-extra"> <h2>From the paper: <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/mainsection/commentanddebate">Comment</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/mainsection/leadersandreply">editorials</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/g2/features">G2</a></h2> <div class="reduced"> <h4>Alexander Chancellor</h4> <h3><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/23/alexander-chancellor-politicians-holidays" name="&lid={blogFrontExtra}{Chastened politicians are opting for a bucket-and-spade holiday| Alexand}&lpos={trail}{1}">Chastened politicians are opting for a bucket-and-spade holiday</a></h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/23/alexander-chancellor-politicians-holidays?commentpage=1" name="&lid={blogFrontExtra}{Chastened politicians are opting for a bucket-and-spade holiday| Alexand}&lpos={trail}{2}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350683294 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> <div class="reduced"> <h4>John Shipley</h4> <h3><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/23/liberal-democrat-newcastle-city-council" name="&lid={blogFrontExtra}{Response: Lib Dem councils are a key example of the spirit of urban amb}&lpos={trail}{3}">Our record in power shows that we have vision and ambition</a></h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/23/liberal-democrat-newcastle-city-council?commentpage=1" name="&lid={blogFrontExtra}{Response: Lib Dem councils are a key example of the spirit of urban amb}&lpos={trail}{4}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350667872 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> <div class="reduced"> <h4>Editorial</h4> <h3><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/23/afghanistan-malloch-brown-helicopters" name="&lid={blogFrontExtra}{Afghanistan: Dangerous illusions}&lpos={trail}{5}">Afghanistan: Dangerous illusions</a></h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/23/afghanistan-malloch-brown-helicopters?commentpage=1" name="&lid={blogFrontExtra}{Afghanistan: Dangerous illusions}&lpos={trail}{6}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350684929 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> <div class="reduced"> <h4>Editorial</h4> <h3><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/23/liberal-democrat-nick-clegg" name="&lid={blogFrontExtra}{Liberal Democrats: Progressive austerity}&lpos={trail}{7}">Liberal Democrats: Progressive austerity</a></h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/23/liberal-democrat-nick-clegg?commentpage=1" name="&lid={blogFrontExtra}{Liberal Democrats: Progressive austerity}&lpos={trail}{8}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350685258 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> <div class="reduced"> <h4>Editorial</h4> <h3><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/23/in-praise-of-burma-vj-documentary" name="&lid={blogFrontExtra}{In praise of … Burma VJ}&lpos={trail}{9}">In praise of … Burma VJ</a></h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/23/in-praise-of-burma-vj-documentary?commentpage=1" name="&lid={blogFrontExtra}{In praise of … Burma VJ}&lpos={trail}{10}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350683732 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="related"> <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript"> // <![CDATA[ if (isExternalSystemOn("pluck")) { insertStyleSheet('styles/wide/pluck-on.css'); } // ]]> </script> <div id="cif-recent-header" class="trail trailblock"> <h3>Latest posts</h3> </div> <ul id="cif-auto-trail-block"> <li> <span class="date"> 19min ago </span> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/jul/23/armando-iannucci-in-the-loop-washington" name="&lid={latestCifPosts}{ | Spencer Ackerman}&lpos={trail}{1}">How to succeed in Hollywood without really trying</a> </h3> <div class="trail-text"> <p><strong>Spencer Ackerman:</strong> Writing for Cif landed me an improbable gig: giving Armando Iannucci an insider's tour of Washington for his film In the Loop</p> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/jul/23/armando-iannucci-in-the-loop-washington?commentpage=1" name="&lid={latestCifPosts}{ | Spencer Ackerman}&lpos={trail}{2}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350484915 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </li> <li> <span class="date"> 1hr 19min ago </span> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/jul/23/faith-schools-board-deputies" name="&lid={latestCifPosts}{Schools and schisms | Geoffrey Alderman}&lpos={trail}{3}">Schools and schisms</a> </h3> <div class="trail-text"> <strong>Geoffrey Alderman:</strong> The Board of Deputies of British Jews must not take sides in the case of admissions to the Jews' Free School <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/jul/23/faith-schools-board-deputies?commentpage=1" name="&lid={latestCifPosts}{Schools and schisms | Geoffrey Alderman}&lpos={trail}{4}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350601182 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </li> <li> <span class="date"> 2hr 19min ago </span> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/henryporter/2009/jul/23/left-state-individual-failure" name="&lid={latestCifPosts}{The left must think beyond the state | Henry Porter}&lpos={trail}{5}">The left must think beyond the state</a> </h3> <div class="trail-text"> <p><strong>Henry Porter: Open Left:</strong> Disrespect for the ordinary individual is at the heart of Labour's failure, and they must acknowledge it to move forward</p> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/henryporter/2009/jul/23/left-state-individual-failure?commentpage=1" name="&lid={latestCifPosts}{The left must think beyond the state | Henry Porter}&lpos={trail}{6}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350663378 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </li> <li> <span class="date"> 13hr 19min ago </span> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/iran-executes-baluch-activists" name="&lid={latestCifPosts}{Iran to hang three more Baluch activists | Peter Tatchell}&lpos={trail}{7}">Pressure Iran to stop executions</a> </h3> <div class="trail-text"> <strong>Peter Tatchell:</strong> President Ahmadinejad is intensifying his repression of the Baluch minority, with 19 campaigners executed since last month <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/iran-executes-baluch-activists?commentpage=1" name="&lid={latestCifPosts}{Iran to hang three more Baluch activists | Peter Tatchell}&lpos={trail}{8}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350679195 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </li> <li> <span class="date"> 14hr 19min ago </span> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/europe-united-nations" name="&lid={latestCifPosts}{Its time for a united Europe | Dominique Moisi}&lpos={trail}{9}">It's time for a united Europe</a> </h3> <div class="trail-text"> <strong>Dominique Moisi:</strong> Europe's last chance to be a credible actor in a multipolar world rests on its ability to present a united, responsible voice <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/europe-united-nations?commentpage=1" name="&lid={latestCifPosts}{Its time for a united Europe | Dominique Moisi}&lpos={trail}{10}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350683525 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </li> <li> <span class="date"> 15hr 42min ago </span> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/saudi-arabia-deradicalisation" name="&lid={latestCifPosts}{Saudis velvet glove against terror | Jason Burke}&lpos={trail}{11}">Saudi's velvet glove against terror</a> </h3> <div class="trail-text"> <strong>Jason Burke:</strong> Saudi Arabia's programme to reform low-level militants has added welcome detail to the understanding of radicalisation <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/saudi-arabia-deradicalisation?commentpage=1" name="&lid={latestCifPosts}{Saudis velvet glove against terror | Jason Burke}&lpos={trail}{12}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350683290 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </li> <li> <span class="date"> 16hr 19min ago </span> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/jul/22/afghanistan-iraq-prisons-obama" name="&lid={latestCifPosts}{ | Sean Duggan}&lpos={trail}{13}">From Gitmo to Bagram</a> </h3> <div class="trail-text"> <p><strong>Sean Duggan:</strong> The US must overhaul Afghanistan's prison and judicial system to deal with the coming influx of detainees</p> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/jul/22/afghanistan-iraq-prisons-obama?commentpage=1" name="&lid={latestCifPosts}{ | Sean Duggan}&lpos={trail}{14}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350670919 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </li> <li> <span class="date"> 17hr 19min ago </span> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/conservatives-banking-regulation" name="&lid={latestCifPosts}{Reshuffling the regulatory deckchairs wont work | Prem Sikka}&lpos={trail}{15}">Tory banking regulation tastes stale</a> </h3> <div class="trail-text"> <strong>Prem Sikka:</strong> The Conservatives' response to the world's biggest financial crisis looks lacklustre: reshuffling the deckchairs won't work <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/conservatives-banking-regulation?commentpage=1" name="&lid={latestCifPosts}{Reshuffling the regulatory deckchairs wont work | Prem Sikka}&lpos={trail}{16}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350669563 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </li> <li> <span class="date"> 18hr 49min ago </span> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/pubs-close-binge-drinking" name="&lid={latestCifPosts}{End of a boozy British tradition? | Open thread}&lpos={trail}{17}">Calling time at the bar</a> </h3> <div class="trail-text"> <strong>Open thread:</strong> Record numbers of pubs are closing down, and yet binge drinking seems to be on the increase. So what's going on? <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/pubs-close-binge-drinking?commentpage=1" name="&lid={latestCifPosts}{End of a boozy British tradition? | Open thread}&lpos={trail}{18}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350669471 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </li> <li> <span class="date"> 19hr 19min ago </span> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/jul/22/healthcare-barack-obama" name="&lid={latestCifPosts}{ | Jonathan Oberlander}&lpos={trail}{19}">Stitching together healthcare reform</a> </h3> <div class="trail-text"> <p><strong>Jonathan Oberlander:</strong> Obama's healthcare plan, while not ideal, is a huge step forward and the closest the US has ever come to comprehensive reform</p> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/jul/22/healthcare-barack-obama?commentpage=1" name="&lid={latestCifPosts}{ | Jonathan Oberlander}&lpos={trail}{20}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350637659 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </li> <li> <span class="date"> 19hr 49min ago </span> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/jul/22/ireland-catholic-abuse-ryan-report" name="&lid={latestCifPosts}{Catholics want accountability | Breda OBrien}&lpos={trail}{21}">Irish Catholics want accountability</a> </h3> <div class="trail-text"> <strong>Breda O'Brien: </strong>Continued revelations of abuse by priests in Ireland has left many Catholics in despair at the slow pace of reform <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/jul/22/ireland-catholic-abuse-ryan-report?commentpage=1" name="&lid={latestCifPosts}{Catholics want accountability | Breda OBrien}&lpos={trail}{22}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350666011 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </li> <li> <span class="date"> 20hr 19min ago </span> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/tony-blair-dick-cheney" name="&lid={latestCifPosts}{Hes not a very naughty boy | Terry Jones}&lpos={trail}{23}">He's not a very naughty boy</a> </h3> <div class="trail-text"> <strong>Terry Jones:</strong> He's just been led astray by that Cheney kid. Or so Tony Blair's mother would have it ... <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/tony-blair-dick-cheney?commentpage=1" name="&lid={latestCifPosts}{Hes not a very naughty boy | Terry Jones}&lpos={trail}{24}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350630130 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </li> <li> <span class="date"> 20hr 49min ago </span> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/jul/22/terrorism-threat-level-us-al-qaida" name="&lid={latestCifPosts}{ | Paul Cruickshank}&lpos={trail}{25}">Assessing the risk from al-Qaida</a> </h3> <div class="trail-text"> <p><strong>Paul Cruickshank:</strong> The UK has reduced the official threat of an al-Qaida terrorist attack. Should the US follow suit?</p> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/jul/22/terrorism-threat-level-us-al-qaida?commentpage=1" name="&lid={latestCifPosts}{ | Paul Cruickshank}&lpos={trail}{26}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350636285 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </li> <li> <span class="date"> 21hr 19min ago </span> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/afghanistan-helicopters" name="&lid={latestCifPosts}{Time for honesty over Afghan mission | Richard Norton-Taylor}&lpos={trail}{27}">Time for honesty over Afghan mission</a> </h3> <div class="trail-text"> <strong>Richard Norton-Taylor:</strong> The wonder is not that army top brass are now openly calling for more resources, but that they have not done so before <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/afghanistan-helicopters?commentpage=1" name="&lid={latestCifPosts}{Time for honesty over Afghan mission | Richard Norton-Taylor}&lpos={trail}{28}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350660250 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </li> <li> <span class="date"> 22hr 19min ago </span> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/harry-potter-half-blood-prince" name="&lid={latestCifPosts}{Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx | Bidisha}&lpos={trail}{29}">Why stifle Harry Potter's magic?</a> </h3> <div class="trail-text"> <strong>Bidisha:</strong> The director of The Half-Blood Prince, David Yates, seems to have turned a dark and beautiful book into an episode of Friends <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/harry-potter-half-blood-prince?commentpage=1" name="&lid={latestCifPosts}{Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx | Bidisha}&lpos={trail}{30}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350653498 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </li> </ul> <p id="all-stories-link"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/all" name="&lid={blogFrontRelated}{All posts}&lpos={blogFrontRelated}{1}">All today's posts</a></p> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://feeds.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/commentisfree/rss" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="rss" class="feed" name="&lid={blogFrontRelated}{Webfeed}&lpos={blogFrontRelated}{2}">Webfeed</a> <div id="blogs-calendar"> <div class="capsule"> <h2>Comment is free archive</h2> <div id="calendar-container"> <table title="Calendar for July" summary="Calendar for July" id="calendar"> <thead> <tr> <th colspan="7" scope="col"> <strong class="month">Jul 2009</strong> <a title="Previous month" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jun/29/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Previous}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{1}" class="previous"> <img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/76753/common/images/calendar/left_arrow.gif" alt="Previous" height="18" width="19"/> </a> </th> </tr> <tr class="month-nav"> <th scope="col" title="Monday" class="first">M</th> <th scope="col" title="Tuesday">T</th> <th scope="col" title="Wednesday">W</th> <th scope="col" title="Thursday">T</th> <th scope="col" title="Friday">F</th> <th scope="col" title="Saturday">S</th> <th scope="col" title="Sunday" class="last">S</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr class=" has-links "> <td class="not-this-month first">29</td> <td class="not-this-month ">30</td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jun/29/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 1}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{2}">1</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jun/29/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 2}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{3}">2</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jun/29/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 3}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{4}">3</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jun/29/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 4}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{5}">4</a></td> <td class="last"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jun/29/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 5}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{6}">5</a></td> </tr> <tr class=" has-links "> <td class="first"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/06/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 6}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{7}">6</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/06/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 7}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{8}">7</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/06/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 8}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{9}">8</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/06/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 9}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{10}">9</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/06/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 10}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{11}">10</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/06/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 11}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{12}">11</a></td> <td class="last"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/06/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 12}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{13}">12</a></td> </tr> <tr class=" has-links "> <td class="first"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/13/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 13}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{14}">13</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/13/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 14}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{15}">14</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/13/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 15}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{16}">15</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/13/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 16}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{17}">16</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/13/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 17}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{18}">17</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/13/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 18}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{19}">18</a></td> <td class="last"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/13/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 19}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{20}">19</a></td> </tr> <tr class=" has-links "> <td class="first"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/20/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 20}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{21}" class="today">20</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/20/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 21}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{22}">21</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/20/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 22}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{23}">22</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/20/week" name="&lid={calendarNavigation}{Calendar 23}&lpos={calendarNavigation}{24}">23</a></td> <td>24</td> <td>25</td> <td class="last">26</td> </tr> <tr class=" "> <td class="first">27</td> <td>28</td> <td>29</td> <td>30</td> <td>31</td> <td class="not-this-month ">1</td> <td class="not-this-month last">2</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="section-contents"> <div id="mpu1"> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if(isExternalSystemOn("displayads")) { var src = 'http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://ads.guardian.co.uk/js.ng/spacedesc=mpu1&comfolder=mobilesitekeywords&keywords=%2C&site=Commentisfree&bandwidth=broadband&url=%252Fcommentisfree&rand=302587484&series=&system=blog&tile=5619204&blockVideoAds=false&'; generateScriptTag(src); } //]]> </script> </div> <div class="tabs-container" id="recent-activity-top-ten"> <div id="recent-activity-header" class="page-heading trailblock"> <h2> Cif by numbers </h2> </div> <ul class="tab-toggle javascript-on"> <li id="recent-activity-top-ten-1-link"> <a href="#recent-activity-top-ten-1" class="active">24 hours<b></b></a> </li> <li id="recent-activity-top-ten-2-link"> <a href="#recent-activity-top-ten-2" class="inactive">7 days<b></b></a> </li> </ul> <div class="pane-wrapper"> <div id="recent-activity-top-ten-1" class="recent-activity-top-ten-pane tab-toggle-pane"> <h3 class="js-hider">24 hours</h3> <div class="most-commented"> <h3>Most commented</h3> <ol> <li class="first"> <span class="rank">1.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/israel-wall-security-palestine">Israel's barrier to progress</a> (281) </li> <li> <span class="rank">2.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/jul/22/race-america-henry-louis-gates">Race to the finish</a> (175) </li> <li> <span class="rank">3.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/tony-benn-labour-left">Arguments the left has to win</a> (168) </li> <li> <span class="rank">4.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/jul/22/ireland-catholic-abuse-ryan-report">Irish Catholics want accountability</a> (94) </li> <li> <span class="rank">5.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/europe-united-nations">It's time for a united Europe</a> (90) </li> </ol> </div> <p id="most-commented-link"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/mostcommented" name="&lid={mostCommentedAndViewedTabbedContent}{more most commented}&lpos={mostCommentedAndViewedTabbedContent}{1}">More</a></p> <img id="top-pluck-logo" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/76753/common/images/icon_pluck.gif" height="14" width="112" alt="Powered by Pluck"/> <div class="most-viewed"> <h3>Most viewed</h3> <ol> <li class="first"> <span class="rank">1.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/21/swine-flu-fear-deaths">Just two months of swine flu sniffles, and madness reigns | Simon Jenkins</a> </li> <li> <span class="rank">2.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/20/social-mobility-inequality-milburn">Most babies' destinies are still determined by birth | Polly Toynbee</a> </li> <li> <span class="rank">3.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/jul/22/debt-interest-religion-usury">Jonathan Freedland: Heard the one about a rabbi, an imam and a priest, who walk into a bank?</a> </li> <li> <span class="rank">4.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/jul/22/race-america-henry-louis-gates">Race to the finish | Lola Adesioye</a> </li> <li> <span class="rank">5.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/pubs-close-binge-drinking">Calling time at the bar | Open thread</a> </li> </ol> </div> <p id="most-viewed-link"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/mostviewed" name="&lid={mostCommentedAndViewedTabbedContent}{more most viewed}&lpos={mostCommentedAndViewedTabbedContent}{2}">More</a></p> </div> <div id="recent-activity-top-ten-2" class="recent-activity-top-ten-pane tab-toggle-pane initially-off"> <h3 class="js-hider">7 days</h3> <div class="most-commented"> <h3>Most commented</h3> <ol> <li class="first"> <span class="rank">1.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/israel-wall-security-palestine">Israel's barrier to progress</a> (281) </li> <li> <span class="rank">2.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/tony-benn-labour-left">Arguments the left has to win</a> (168) </li> <li> <span class="rank">3.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/jul/22/ireland-catholic-abuse-ryan-report">Irish Catholics want accountability</a> (94) </li> <li> <span class="rank">4.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/europe-united-nations">It's time for a united Europe</a> (90) </li> <li> <span class="rank">5.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/iran-executes-baluch-activists">Pressure Iran to stop executions</a> (83) </li> </ol> </div> <p id="most-commented-link"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/mostcommented" name="&lid={mostCommentedAndViewedTabbedContent}{more most commented}&lpos={mostCommentedAndViewedTabbedContent}{1}">More</a></p> <img id="top-pluck-logo" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/76753/common/images/icon_pluck.gif" height="14" width="112" alt="Powered by Pluck"/> <div class="most-viewed"> <h3>Most viewed</h3> <ol> <li class="first"> <span class="rank">1.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/jul/16/daniel-dennett-belief-atheism">The folly of pretence | Daniel Dennett</a> </li> <li> <span class="rank">2.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/20/social-mobility-inequality-milburn">Most babies' destinies are still determined by birth | Polly Toynbee</a> </li> <li> <span class="rank">3.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/20/tatler-most-invited-list">Tatler's 'most invited' list makes me want to be sick | Tanya Gold</a> </li> <li> <span class="rank">4.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/19/david-mitchell-cricket-air-travel">David Mitchell on why the government shouldn't protect cheap air travel</a> </li> <li> <span class="rank">5.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/12/jimmy-carter-womens-rights-equality">The words of God do not justify cruelty to women | Jimmy Carter</a> </li> </ol> </div> <p id="most-viewed-link"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/mostviewed" name="&lid={mostCommentedAndViewedTabbedContent}{more most viewed}&lpos={mostCommentedAndViewedTabbedContent}{2}">More</a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div id="binary-poll" class="binary-poll trailblock"> <h2>Poll</h2> <h3><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/poll/2009/jul/22/food-and-drink" name="&lid={cachedBinaryPoll}{| Poll}&lpos={trail}{1}">Cutting cutbacks</a></h3> <form action="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/users/poll/submitanswer" type="POST" class="binary-poll-form"> <p id="binary-poll-trail"> A new study says <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2009/jul/21/knife-manners-etiquette-debenhams">sales of knives in the UK have plummeted</a> as the nation increasingly prefers to eat using just a fork. Have you cleared out your cutlery drawer and ditched the knife? </p> <input type="hidden" name="pollId" value="350659821"/>  <div class="canvas-wrapper"> <canvas id="binary-pie-chart" width="140" height="140"></canvas> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ jQ(document).ready(function () { var pieData = []; pieData[0] = {sliceValue : 12}; pieData[1] = {sliceValue : 88}; var pieChartView = new guardian.r2.PieChartView('binary-pie-chart', 'http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/76753/common/images/communities/percentage.gif', true); var pieChartController = new guardian.r2.PieChartController(pieChartView, pieData, 'binary'); }); //]]> </script> <div id="binary-poll-content"> <p id="left-answer-content"> <input type="radio" name="q-2303" id="a-4042" value="a-4042"/> <label class="poll-answer-losing" for="a-4042">Yes. Only snobs insist on using them.</label> <span class="poll-answer-losing poll-stats">(12%)</span> </p> <p id="right-answer-content"> <input type="radio" name="q-2303" id="a-4043" value="a-4043"/> <label class="poll-answer-winning" for="a-4043">No. One must have standards – keep your elbows off the table too.</label> <span class="poll-answer-winning poll-stats">(88%)</span> </p> <p id="vote-button-content"><input type="submit" name="vote" value="Vote" id="submit-binary-poll"/></p> </div> </form> <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript"> // <![CDATA[ if (isExternalSystemOn("pluck")) { insertStyleSheet('styles/wide/pluck-on.css'); } // ]]> </script> <div id="comment-info-related"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/poll/2009/jul/22/food-and-drink?commentpage=1" name="&lid={binaryPoll}{| Poll}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350659821 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </div> <div id="rel-pickable-combiner-3" class="pickabletag tag-tag single-tag"> <h2 style="height: 42px" class="hasbadge"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/michaeltomasky" name="&lid={pickableSingleTagWithBadging}{Politics. And other stuff<br><small>Michael Tomasky on America</small>}&lpos={pickableSingleTagWithBadging}{1}"> Politics. And other stuff<br><small>Michael Tomasky on America</small> </a> </h2> <img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2008/11/18/MichaelTomasky_90x75.png" class="tag-badge" alt="" height="75" width="90"/> <ul> <li> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h4> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/michaeltomasky/2009/jul/22/henry-louis-gates-race" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{Michael Tomasky on Henry Louis Gates Jr}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="link-text">Michael Tomasky on Henry Louis Gates Jr</a> </h4> </div> <span class="date">22 Jul 2009 17.02 BST</span> </div> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/michaeltomasky/2009/jul/22/henry-louis-gates-race?commentpage=1" name="&lid={pickableSingleTagWithBadging}{Michael Tomasky on Henry Louis Gates Jr}&lpos={trail}{2}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350678588 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </li> <li> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h4> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/michaeltomasky/2009/jul/22/obama-healthcare-public-relations" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{Michael Tomasky thinks Barack Obama is losing the public relations war o}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="link-text">Michael Tomasky thinks Barack Obama is losing the public relations war on healthcare</a> </h4> </div> <span class="date">22 Jul 2009 16.53 BST</span> </div> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/michaeltomasky/2009/jul/22/obama-healthcare-public-relations?commentpage=1" name="&lid={pickableSingleTagWithBadging}{Michael Tomasky thinks Barack Obama is losing the public relations war o}&lpos={trail}{3}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350678030 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </li> <li> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h4> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/michaeltomasky/2009/jul/22/pharmaceuticals-industry-healthcare" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{Michael Tomasky: Herbs and drugs}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="link-text">Michael Tomasky: Herbs and drugs</a> </h4> </div> <span class="date">22 Jul 2009 12.26 BST</span> </div> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/michaeltomasky/2009/jul/22/pharmaceuticals-industry-healthcare?commentpage=1" name="&lid={pickableSingleTagWithBadging}{Michael Tomasky: Herbs and drugs}&lpos={trail}{4}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350659677 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> <div id="rel-pickable-combiner-4" class="pickabletag tag-tag single-tag"> <h2 style="height: 42px" class="hasbadge"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/henryporter" name="&lid={pickableSingleTagWithBadging}{<a href=http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral>liberty central</a><br><small><a href=http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/henryporter>Henry Porter on civil liberties</a></small>}&lpos={pickableSingleTagWithBadging}{1}"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral">liberty central</a><br><small><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/henryporter">Henry Porter on civil liberties</a></small> </a> </h2> <img 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pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </li> <li> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h4> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/henryporter/2009/jul/21/filming-police-judicial-review" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{| Henry Porter}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="link-text">Gemma Atkinson: Standing up for our rights | Henry Porter</a> </h4> </div> <span class="date">21 Jul 2009 16.11 BST</span> </div> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/henryporter/2009/jul/21/filming-police-judicial-review?commentpage=1" name="&lid={pickableSingleTagWithBadging}{| Henry Porter}&lpos={trail}{3}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350629310 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </li> <li> <div 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style="height: 42px" class="hasbadge"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/andrewbrown" name="&lid={pickableSingleTagWithBadging}{Free to believe<br><small>Andrew Brown on belief and unbelief</small>}&lpos={pickableSingleTagWithBadging}{1}"> Free to believe<br><small>Andrew Brown on belief and unbelief</small> </a> </h2> <img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2008/12/04/AndrewBrown_90x75.png" class="tag-badge" alt="" height="75" width="90"/> <ul> <li> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h4> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/andrewbrown/2009/jul/22/religion-sweden-lapland-contentment" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{A thought about contentment | Andrew Brown}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="link-text">Contentment among the mosquitoes | Andrew Brown</a> </h4> </div> <span class="date">22 Jul 2009 8.54 BST</span> </div> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/andrewbrown/2009/jul/22/religion-sweden-lapland-contentment?commentpage=1" name="&lid={pickableSingleTagWithBadging}{A thought about contentment | Andrew Brown}&lpos={trail}{2}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350643970 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </li> <li> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h4> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/andrewbrown/2009/jul/14/religion-islam" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{heady | Andrew Brown}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="link-text">Why Muslim women are unemployed | Andrew Brown</a> </h4> </div> <span class="date">14 Jul 2009 13.53 BST</span> </div> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/andrewbrown/2009/jul/14/religion-islam?commentpage=1" name="&lid={pickableSingleTagWithBadging}{heady | Andrew Brown}&lpos={trail}{3}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350247571 commenting-closed pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </li> <li> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h4> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/andrewbrown/2009/jul/10/religion-atheism" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{Errors of an old atheist | Andrew Brown}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="link-text">Errors of an old atheist | Andrew Brown</a> </h4> </div> <span class="date">10 Jul 2009 7.38 BST</span> </div> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/andrewbrown/2009/jul/10/religion-atheism?commentpage=1" name="&lid={pickableSingleTagWithBadging}{Errors of an old atheist | Andrew Brown}&lpos={trail}{4}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350067789 commenting-closed pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> <div id="editor-zone-2" class="trail trailblock"> <h2>Thread of the day</h2> <ul> <li> <h3><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/care-home-older-people-independence" name="&lid={soloTrailblock}{Response: Theres no need to be depressed at the thought of old age}&lpos={trail}{1}">There's no need to be depressed at the thought of old age</a></h3> <div class="trailtext"><span></span><strong>Response:</strong> We need not all fear ending our days alone in a care home. I'm still independent at 91, says <strong>Cicely Foster</strong></div> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/care-home-older-people-independence?commentpage=1" name="&lid={soloTrailblock}{Response: Theres no need to be depressed at the thought of old age}&lpos={trail}{2}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350638297 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> <ul id="editor-zone-3" class="tri trail trailblock"> <li class="major-heading "> <h2> You said it </h2> </li> <li class="normal first"> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/20/you-tell-us" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{What do you want to talk about?}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="link-text">What do you want to talk about?</a> </h3> </div> <div class="trailtext"> Post your suggestions for subjects you'd like us to cover on Comment is free <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/20/you-tell-us?commentpage=1" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{What do you want to talk about?}&lpos={trail}{2}" class="comment-count-info pluck-init-inline comment-count-id-350563156 pluck-commentable"> <span class="link-comment-count"></span><span class="link-comment-count-words"></span> </a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="major-heading "> <h2> You tell us </h2> </li> <li class="normal"> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h3> In <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/jul/22/race-america-henry-louis-gates">Race to the finish</a>, OneWorldGovernment <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/jul/22/race-america-henry-louis-gates?commentid=d2fcc9c0-2057-417c-afb0-9d80db2b15e2">says</a> the pool incident had nothing to do with race and had everything to do with class </h3> </div> <div class="trailtext"> </div> </div> </li> <li class="normal"> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h3> In <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/teachers-social-mobility">Teachers are the key... </a>, Eddienotatoff <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/teachers-social-mobility?commentid=39559816-1cd4-4ea8-ab54-ae252b83242e">points out</a> that 'good families' do not guarantee good pupils </h3> </div> <div class="trailtext"> </div> </div> </li> <li class="normal"> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h3> In <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/21/boris-johnson-eastenders-soap-opera">Political soap operas</a>, Somethingvwrong would like to see a show called <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/21/boris-johnson-eastenders-soap-opera?commentid=ac88be12-fc18-4f21-8a44-e5ff2f402c86">Survivor, the world tour</a> </h3> </div> <div class="trailtext"> </div> </div> </li> <li class="major-heading "> <h2> Twitter </h2> </li> <li class="normal last"> <div class="trail-caption"> <div class="linktext"> <h3> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://twitter.com/Cif_jessica" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{<a href=http://twitter.com/CIF_Jessica>Comment is free is on twitter</a>}&lpos={trail}{1}" class="link-text"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://twitter.com/CIF_Jessica">Comment is free is on twitter</a></a> </h3> </div> <div class="trailtext"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://twitter.com/Cif_jessica" name="&lid={trailItemImageAndTrailText}{<a href=http://twitter.com/CIF_Jessica>Comment is free is on twitter</a>}&lpos={trail}{2}" class="small mask"> <img alt="twitter" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/03/24/twitter.jpg" width="25" height="25" class="image-in-trail "/> </a> Follow us and send us comments, suggestions and tips for Best of the web </div> </div> </li> </ul> <ol class="most-read" id="editor-zone-4"> <li class="first"> <h2>Best of the web</h2> </li> <li> <span class="rank">1.</span> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://bitchmagazine.org/post/abortion-party-whats-in-a-name" name="&lid={bestOfTheWeb}{Bitch blog: ... About the abortion party article}&lpos={trail}{1}">Bitch blog: ... 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free&link=Comment is free_jbx_vac" name="&lid={jobsBox}{Geography Teacher - North East London|Comment is free}&lpos={jobsBox}{3}">Geography Teacher - North East London</a></h4> <p><span class="employer">prospero teaching.</span> <span class="location">north london.</span> <span class="wage">up to £150 per day.</span> </p> </li> <li class="odd"><h4> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090723091956/http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/job/887320/data-analyst?RSSSearch=0&gusrc=gu_jobs_box_Comment is free&link=Comment is free_jbx_vac" name="&lid={jobsBox}{Data Analyst|Comment is free}&lpos={jobsBox}{4}">Data Analyst</a></h4> <p><span class="employer">office of government commerce.</span> <span class="location">london.</span> <span class="wage">£33,409- £40,759.</span> </p> </li> </ul> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ function doSearchAllSubmitUK( form ) { var jobsSectionToSearch = ''; var freeText = ''; var searchTextField = document.getElementById( 'freetext-searchalljobs' ); var 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