OT- The Queen's Christmas Day Message to the Commonwealth

[Andy_Faber]

Define profits and is the figure gross or net of the business owners own salary/ies?

I'll be more direct- if the Crown estates were run by an income-maximising individual instead of 'as is', what would be the individual's take?

[Andy_Faber]

Have any of you not sung the national anthem lately?
When attending events?

Have not sworn allegiance to the Crown when serving?

I always sing the anthem when sung by others, never talk over it when its on TV and used to stand for it when on TV as well. I actually show due respect for all anthems, mainly in solidarity with the folk of any such nation who also shows respect. Like it or not, we are organised into nation states and showing such respect is my way of reminding myself that nations and the folk in them should be united patriots no divided bigots. Trust that makes sense.

I've sung it twice for an 'audience', once solo, once as a duet, rather awkwardly with a young lady who could actually sing, I've also sung the American National Anthem (which is a bitch to sing) to an audience karaoke style off my phone after someone got stage fright.

Given the above it should go without saying that as an act of allegiance with Mrs Faber I sang 'Flower Of Scotland' at the recent rugger international we attended, albeit I missed out the bit where they shout 'B***ards!' about The English...

[swaledale]

RamAnag..

Before you blame her for coalition govt consider this:

Can a President do something better?
Anywhere in the world, after an election coalitions have to be found to provide stable govt. No President can dictate to any leader as to which party they can or cannot combine with.
The whole idea is to prod them along an avoid a case like Belgium's.
The Queen's duty is to ensure a Govt is in place. It's not her duty to dictate who should be the Govt.
Her job is to ensure an MP enjoys the confidence of the Commons in forming that Govt.
If the voters do not give a party a majority, the Queen cannot simply invite a leader to form Govt until they can prove to her they enjoy the confidence of the House.
In 1974 she allowed Labour to take over until October before agreeing to fresh elections.
I think the behind the scenes roles is understated but successive PM's have spoken about the crucial role she plays in many matters including this.

The fact remains in 2010 she did not sanction another commission for Gordon Brown to continue as her PM.
He was unable to provide majority govt and duly advised her to send for Cameron.

Look up the Lascelles Principles that describe HM's roles

Sorry Romanis, the Queen does not have that power, her inviting the leader of a party to from a government is pure theatre, in reality she has **** all to do with it and will agree with whatever her advisors tell her to do.

In theory she could exercise such powers in reality the Civil service advise what is the acceptable course of action, which makes it all such an opaque system and is yet more argument for the abolition of the Monarchy.

[ramAnag]

I always sing the anthem when sung by others, never talk over it when its on TV and used to stand for it when on TV as well. I actually show due respect for all anthems, mainly in solidarity with the folk of any such nation who also shows respect. Like it or not, we are organised into nation states and showing such respect is my way of reminding myself that nations and the folk in them should be united patriots no divided bigots. Trust that makes sense.

I've sung it twice for an 'audience', once solo, once as a duet, rather awkwardly with a young lady who could actually sing, I've also sung the American National Anthem (which is a bitch to sing) to an audience karaoke style off my phone after someone got stage fright.

Given the above it should go without saying that as an act of allegiance with Mrs Faber I sang 'Flower Of Scotland' at the recent rugger international we attended, albeit I missed out the bit where they shout 'B***ards!' about The English...

Not sure why you’d make such a point of singing the anthem when ‘sung by others’, Andy...and as for singing ‘Flower of Scotland’, trust it wasn’t at an international against England? That would be a ‘treasonable’ offence on a par with Princess Anne.
You’ll be singing Waltzing Matilda at the cricket next!
Happy New Year to you and yours anyway and COYR.

[Andy_Faber]

Not sure why you’d make such a point of singing the anthem when ‘sung by others’, Andy...and as for singing ‘Flower of Scotland’, trust it wasn’t at an international against England? That would be a ‘treasonable’ offence on a par with Princess Anne.
You’ll be singing Waltzing Matilda at the cricket next!
Happy New Year to you and yours anyway and COYR.

just an eccentricity of mine R, no it was v. Samoa

[swaledale]

I always sing the anthem when sung by others, never talk over it when its on TV and used to stand for it when on TV as well. I actually show due respect for all anthems, mainly in solidarity with the folk of any such nation who also shows respect. Like it or not, we are organised into nation states and showing such respect is my way of reminding myself that nations and the folk in them should be united patriots no divided bigots. Trust that makes sense.

I've sung it twice for an 'audience', once solo, once as a duet, rather awkwardly with a young lady who could actually sing, I've also sung the American National Anthem (which is a bitch to sing) to an audience karaoke style off my phone after someone got stage fright.

Given the above it should go without saying that as an act of allegiance with Mrs Faber I sang 'Flower Of Scotland' at the recent rugger international we attended, albeit I missed out the bit where they shout 'B***ards!' about The English...

Would not sing any song with God Save, Queen in it never mind about the cheery jingoistic rules the waves crap that belongs in another age and its a dreadful dirge anyway. It was as always designed to spur the "little man" sacrifice themselves to enable the elite to continue to live as they wish to, still I'm sure the Far right UKIP and others of that ilk are very good united patriots!

[Andy_Faber]

Would not sing any song with God Save, Queen in it never mind about the cheery jingoistic rules the waves crap that belongs in another age and its a dreadful dirge anyway. It was as always designed to spur the "little man" sacrifice themselves to enable the elite to continue to live as they wish to, still I'm sure the Far right UKIP and others of that ilk are very good united patriots!

Funny, I already guessed you wouldn't

[roger_ramjet]

But if its a dreadful dirge (which I fully endorse having been the first in thread to describe it thus) how can it inspire the little men to such self sacrifice?

[Andy_Faber]

But if its a dreadful dirge (which I fully endorse having been the first in thread to describe it thus) how can it inspire the little men to such self sacrifice?

If you think its a dirge, you clearly haven't spent enough time listening to Metal Machine Music. Would you like a copy, strangely that's one that never seemed to get nicked at parties.

[roger_ramjet]

Not one of Lou's finest hours - the main shame being that its a double album