Advantages: we have many different cultures
Disadvantages: people aren't willing to accept some of them

...french people round the corner" will not constitute a threat to our language. As some writers have rightly said, we do not need an external threat to our language. As it is, we are already making enough a mess of it without anybody’s help. That is a shame. But it does not mean that English is in decline. Centuries of cross cultural relationships or friendships have not cancelled the heritage of our language. Because England is increasingly becoming a multi-cultural nation – the importance of regional differences, including language differences is being increased, not decreased. England's success depends on people realising that unity can only be brought about on the basis of a recognition of what makes us different. It does not come from making everyone the same. Unity of different cultures is not about creating robots that cannot... Read review

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Advantages: Well-written, quite interesting, some mild humour, good observations
Disadvantages: Confusing style, not much plot, too many characters

...of Chinese and other descent. For me, growing up in multi-cultural Birmingham, and now living in Cyprus, it seemed - well, rather ordinary. Call me a philistine, but it's not a book I'd choose to buy new. For anyone interested in Chinese Americans, or indeed any cross-cultural issues, I'd recommend it in a low-key way when you have a few days spare and nothing better to read. I understand a film was made of this book; perhaps it's one of the few books that would be better in movie form, since it would give a clear pictorial image of what the author - herself a Chinese American - wanted to convey. Re-printed many times, it's now published in paperback by Vintage, and is available at Amazon for £5.59. They also have several copies of the old Minerva Press edition (the black one) for considerably less, so perhaps I'm not the only person... Read review

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Advantages: Any culture is better than no culture at all
Disadvantages: It doesn't actually exist

...So obviously, opinions in this category should follow a Q & A format. Disappointed already, eh? Sorry, but there’s no such thing as UK culture. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland plays host to a wonderful disparity of cultures. And despite the will of the people generally, this pot pourri of cultures has been marketed as some sort of collective since the days of James VI (and, apparently, I) Alastair Campbell’s ancestors must have been spinning in the 1700’s. I hope he’s proud of that, at least as a diversion, given that around the same time his other ancestors were massacring McDonalds, men, women and children, on the frozen slopes of Glencoe. So already you know where this is going! I sincerely hope England win the World Cup. If they do, I will applaud them. On one condition. That every pundit... Read review

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Advantages: Britain
Disadvantages: London lost its charm

...Almost 20 years ago I arrived in this country for the main reason of learning english. I virtually spoke not a word of the 'Queen's communication' but was determined enough to 'have a go'. I found work and got on with life. It was hard to get my head around this foreign language stuff at first, but as I had no choice I had to do it. London life back then was fun. The city was exciting with so many people, places to go and different cultures. It seemed that everyone added something to this mixture of diversity, which gave London such a great aura of internationality. Yes I was much younger then and I loved the city and the life within it. Now, almost 20 years later, I am worried. Why? Well, I HAD to learn the language, unlike new arrivals these days, who get everything translated for them. What's their incentive to even care... Read review

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Advantages: helps people who genuinely have a claim and need the money
Disadvantages: some claims sound ridiculous, and also ppl are confused about the issue

...Lately the media has been giving us scare stories about "compensation culture" - the idea of a culture where people receive compensation for any little injury (physical or psychiatric), no matter how it was caused, and this will apparently lead to a "nanny state" (another stick to beat the government with!). Look beyond the headlines and it's a different story. First, a brief history and explanation of this thing. There are 2 big branches of law in England and Wales: civil (or private) law, and criminal law. There are many branches within these, and the two big ones in civil law are the law of contract and the law of torts. "Compensation culture" is to do with the law of tort: an area of law that enforces people's "duty of care" towards each other, for example food manufacturers have a duty of care to their customers by making... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: easy money
Disadvantages: no trust

...Britain has gone mad concerning the compensation culture. It just seems that everyone is willing, without any remorse or guilt, to sue anyone for the slightest of reasons. In some cases family members are making claims against each other for the simple reason of making easy money. There are even criminal organisation who are deliberately causing accidents involving motor vehicles, such as removing brake lights and then suddenly stopping in front of another car, then claiming for whiplash and other injuries, then making a claim against the innocent motorist that they have just 'conned'. There are many similar 'stunts that these criminals use and as it is hard to prove against there claim then the insurance companies simply pay out, thus forcing the companies to raise there premiums for everyone else. Britain has become a nation... Read review

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Advantages: Free parking
Disadvantages: Out of fashion shopping mall

...INTRODUCTION Brent Cross Shopping Centre was one of the first shopping malls to be built in the UK. It was opened in 1973. Brent Cross is archaic compared to modern shopping centres such as Bluewater and Lakeside Thurrock. The shopping centre is situated in Northwest London. BRENT CROSS AND ME From the mid 1970s to the early 1980s my parents and I regularly visited my uncle in East London. We combined almost every trip with a visit to Brent Cross. Most of the time I had nothing to buy so I simply followed my parents like a bored teenager. In 1980 my school gave me some book vouchers as a reward for running the school tuck shop. I spent these vouchers in WH Smith at Brent Cross. In 1987 I took my mother to Brent Cross via tube. My father was in India at the time attending his brother’s wedding... Read review

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Advantages: Can exercise while watching baby.
Disadvantages: Too big.

...I have just managed to get rid of my Cross trainer. Well, when I say get rid of, I mean sell. Yes I did actually manage to sell it and get some money back on it. OK, so it may have been to my sister who`s other half is into fitness and has a whole room as an indoor gym, but so what! It is out of my house. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + I bought the Cross Trainer afew years ago when I had a child at home. The idea was to exercise while watching him, a lot of mothers know how difficult it is to get much exercise with toddlers at home. What is a Cross Trainer? * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The Healthrider E330 Cross Trainer is an exercise machine that burns calories very quickly. It is quick at burning calories in comparison to exercise bikes or even steppers (which are better than... Read review

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Advantages: Fun for all, relaxing to play
Disadvantages: A little too slow if your after a bit more action

...Cultures is a resource management game based around Vikings. You control a small group of Vikings and train them to do various jobs like being a huntsman, baker, farmer, etc and you build them places to live and work. The game is cute and the Vikings do not go rampaging about the land, looting and pillaging. It's not that kind of game and they aren't those kind of Vikings. You build your community. Male Vikings go to work and female Vikings cook them dinner and have babies. When two Vikings get married and have somewhere to live, you can tell them to have a baby. The baby arrives and grows up. Once the baby (boy) reaches adulthood, you can train him to do whatever job might be required. Baby girls grow into women, who then have more children (if you want). Care needs to be taken to ensure that there is enough food... Read review

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Advantages: Great debut
Disadvantages: Not many

...The Ordinary Boys hail from Sussex and 'Over The Counter Culture' is their debut album, and quite impressive it is too. In fact, it is one of the best new albums I have listened to this year. The Ordinary boys take influence from the Smiths and the Jam but puts these influence into hyper-mode with a fresh upbeat driven record. Front man, Preston, sounds uncannily like Morrisey but, in my opinion, uses his voice in a much better way (I find Morrisey a bit annoying). Indeed, the Ordinary Boys take their name from Morriseys 'Viva Hate', so you can definately see where their influences lie. An album full of cracking riffs, catchy pop-like tunes, great lyrics, and a scattering of ska-like brass, this is definately an album to listen to! ------------------------------------------ Track List: 1. Over The Counter Culture (03... Read review

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