Sooo, why do you love your country? Or don't you?

Can you blame him?

By any standard, he is a God Awfully ugly man and she is generally accepted as a very attractive, if not beautiful woman.

Holy mackerel, Aidan - you're a heathen, godforsaken almost - I can certainly understand the English chipping in - I would probably have had to smack you.

That's certainly no way to make a cup of tea!

Apropos patriotism - we have seen good examples of the "Australia - love it or leave it" mob here - they're seriously awful people en masse!

I enjoy living here - and call it home - but - there are parts I don't like. On the whole, however, we have a pretty good life.

I distrust the routine use of the word patriotism, as to me it is routinely bellicose combined with various malodorous forays. My own view is very left, but I can roll my eyes across the spectrum. I'll say I'm attached for many good reasons to my country, see other posts.

Yeah, I must be weird then because I was just thinking watching that video that from some angles his face can be what I'd consider 'beautiful'. Michael Stipe is the same - sometimes he looks flat out ugly and other times he looks angelic and beautiful (to me anyway).

Yeah - but I think Julia Roberts was cashing in on the whole, 'Look at me - I'm marrying this quirky, talented, but ugly guy - that makes me more interesting and not just a pretty face.'

I don't know - I felt sorry for him in the whole thing- but then I would see it that way, wouldn't I- being a woman?

You are weird if you find his face beautiful in any sense. By the standard of symmetry alone, he is major league ugly.

This in no way invalidates your take on Julia Roberts (with which I agree).

Feeling sorry for him is also a valid reaction, but only if one appreciates that he is terribly ugly.

I couldn't care less what he looks like, but I hope he wasn't madly in love with someone who was playing with his affections. Instead I'm hoping he was wise to her all along and was OK with what was being traded.

But maybe that's because I'm a man.

Why I love america - everytime I hear this song, I feel like I'm back there on a soft, balmy, summer night - and it feels so wonderful

The music, so you can hear it:



and the lyrics so you can read about it:
"Girls In Their Summer Clothes"

Well the street lights shine
Down on Blessing Avenue
Lovers they walk by
Holdin' hands two by two

A breeze crosses the porch
Bicycle spokes spin 'round
Jacket's on, I'm out the door
Tonight I'm gonna burn this town down

And the girls in their summer clothes
In the cool of the evening light
The girls in their summer clothes
Pass me by

Kid's rubber ball smacks
Off the gutter 'neath the lamp light
Big bank clock chimes
Off go the sleepy front porch lights

Downtown the store's alive
As the evening's underway
Things been a little tight
But I know they're gonna turn my way

And the girls in their summer clothes
In the cool of the evening light
The girls in their summer clothes
Pass me by

Frankie's Diner's
Over on the edge of town
Neon sign spinnin' round
Like a cross over the lost and found

Fluorescent lights
Flicker above Bob's Grill
Shaniqua brings a coffee and asks "fill?"
And says "penny for your thoughts now my poor Bill"

She went away
She cut me like a knife
Had a beautiful thing
Maybe you just saved my life

In just a glance
Down here on Magic Street
Love's a fool's dance
I ain't got much sense but I still got my feet

And the girls in their summer clothes
In the cool of the evening light
The girls in their summer clothes
Pass me by

And the girls in their summer clothes
In the cool of the evening light
The girls in their summer clothes
Pass me by