I'd actually really enjoy that article....

Valentine's Day! Everyone complains about the fakeness of that one...

I suppose it depends what you mean by holiday - it's a real day off and that I definitely like. ;-)

As I'm guessing you're from Virginia, I think there is a MASSIVE distinction between what it means to Irish people in Ireland and what it means to the diaspora. In Ireland, it's most appreciated as a day off from work.

I take your point, but in Ireland, pretty much everyone I know would consider it the equivalent of like President's Day - an excuse for a day off, but not much more.

Actually, I think claiming that Irish people "observe" Paddy's Day is a bit much - maybe there was historical mass attendance, but everyone I know spends the day hiding out to avoid the American tourists...

I'm just going to blithely hope he means that in a Tommy-Tiernan "the Irish built their empire by immigrating and breeding!" way...

He's kind of right on it being a fake holiday - I mean, while I do get that when Irish people tended to be devout Catholics, it required the day off for Mass, but I don't think I'm alone in saying I consider it a thinly veiled excuse for a bank holiday...

But automatic weapons make it easier to kill a lot of people quickly. I'd rather effort be required!

I'd be more concerned about the fact that the most likely person to rape a woman is her partner and having a gun in the house where there is domestic violence can be a massive problem..

Teaching children about gun safety includes telling them (when they're old enough to understand) about safely storing weapons. It means keeping it FAR away from children until they're old enough to understand. I find it genuinely scary as a gun owner that, when a MASSIVE amount of children die from gun accidents,…

It'd be nice if he actually seemed interested in a constructive dialogue rather than lecturing her to try to score political points.

Natalia is lovely - she's just way too functional for where Adam is at the minute.

I totally agree with you - but my money is that crass commercialisation wins out over a need to make a more poignant movie. But I'd LOVE to be wrong.

Something tells me that will be glossed over for the kiddies....

Indeed. I don't want to buy her used clothes, but the name of the brands would be much appreciated!

It can be so hit and miss by post code, though. I went to a sexual health clinic near me and was informed they didn't give out contraception (because there was a separate family planning clinic and apparently contraception isn't sexual health?) Bleh. It is great that it's free, but practical access can be very hit…

Well, a lot of it seems to depend on what you did with the flashmob today. I work for a service which supports survivors and while most people do know domestic violence in a problem, I was really happy to spread awareness of specific support services in our local area (which a lot of people did not know about.)

Yes - I work for a domestic violence advocacy organisation and at the flashmob in our section of London, we coordinated with a stall with information on local services. I definitely felt like the attention we got from it was helpful to explain to people we ordinarily wouldn't reach about the support we can survive.

And yes, we (like plenty of gun owners) absolutely agree with restrictions. I see my gun as a privilege, not a right. If I'm irresponsible with my gun, I shouldn't be legally entitled to have one. It's kind of crap that America sees it as a right not a privilege.