Another Sherlock.
(Does Sherlock really like/not mind MP&tHG? How would he deal with the questioning to get over the bridge? Hmm. He's probably made a study of the weights of swallows.)
I've often wondered what I'd grab if there were to be a fire. Logically it should be passport containing visa, but instinct isn't the same.

I think you put all that very well LSM.
    I guess those who work in the Forces or certain areas of gevernment, or historians who have access to private papers etc, are more used to the reality of the chaotic side to events. I remember very clearly being told how close certain negotiations in an African country came to failing by someone who was involved, I didn't want to believe it for the reason you give. I wanted to believe that at least 'nowadays' somehow everything goes exactly according to plan, 'in a gentlepersonly fashion'... The longer I live and learn, the more frequently I conclude there is/was no one right decision to many things, however it's reached, that can satisfy those at the time and those who come after. Glad I don't have to make those kinds of decisions.

LSM wrote:

...willingness to get delightfully lost in fictional tragedy while at the same time abhorring the real thing

Indeed! Something to do with 'knowing its fiction' so that tragedy isn't real?  Or being told the line of reasoning behind the shocking actions? Whatever it is, some writers are very good at it.

We have had both ways round on the cinema here too 
Benedict as monster last year, and as Frankenstein this year 
It was like both my Christmases had come, 12 months apart....

(They should give up the 'Live boradcast' riff. We also get some Shakespeare from NT...do they think we really belive they are starting their performance at 1 in the morning to suit EST?)

Enjoy!

Edited to say now had time to check online, and it's TGG.
Though perhaps there's something similar in ASIP?

A perambulating bear in (TGG)
with US connections.

I guess my response is to say that after some hours of fiddling, swearing
(eg " 'pon my life, haf't  I never encounter'd such a format conversional conundrum since t'last time I dids't so encounter one" and similar archaic Blackadder-inspired utterances)
and rending of hair,
the answer was

"Ah, Britigander, if you are simply trying to save your nice .jpg etc image formatted to 100x100 pixels in Adobe Photoshop before following my other instructions, you will not realise that this is not an efficient way to do it. Because you like to keep your photos on your computer and share them with people in a different way from Flikr et al you can have had no idea that such programmes not only offer a way of putting images etc on the web for people to look at online in Flikr but also as spring board for situations like on websites until I, m0r, was a hero and told you; PLUS  they also offer a range of 'sizes' of your nice detailed image that, despite being only 100x something pixels, magically do keep all the fiddly widdly bits of not only the mitt that is Michigan Lower Province but the wonky shark/goat with a bag on its nose which is the Upper Province which you feel compelled to include for no reason, but it's a free world. Kind of.
    Therefore, put it on Flikr first and try testing the results of posting different size images in the message area using 'preview' on the 'bored' site until you feel confident enough to risk actually putting a url into the avatar url box and pressing 'go'.

only way waaaaaay more succinctly.

I really am a very very long way behind in knowledge about these things.
But nevertheless, behold my avatar success
(OK, yeh, channeling Buffy, old habits die hard. I need to get with the programme). 

Sorry I didn't explain very well, m0r , I do appreciate your patience with the less up-to-date-social sited such as myself. As a research lab specialist, training and trouble shooting are a

Dumb question:

How can a 100x100 pixel avatar look as detailed as the ones on this board? Is it really a limitation of size (at any one time)?

kissing as a greeting

But still not between blokes in UK, right?
(In the public gaze, a hearty hug is still as far as it goes judging from last night.)
Still a bit of taboo. Sigh. The ritualistic kissing of women at public events: double sigh. One doesnt always get a choice.

....take a leaf out of the Japanese book, and always carry discete wet wipes if more than the air gets lip contact... 

That looks quite a practically sized handbag. Besides camera phone, comb and compact, wonder what she has in it? Being practical, perhaps lots of Kleenex in those little packets, as crying may follow any result and can be handed round as necessary; and smelling salts in case the surprise of winning totally overwhelmed Andrew?

Edited to add

Brilliant 'short train' simile, Davina, great instant image of big adoring eyes and tongues hangin out. 
(And perhaps Harry's too)

We're already on to episode 3 but it is being read by the author (Mark) himself, with typical aplomb.

It was broadcast on Sunday but you can listen to it any time for a week afterwards. As far as I can tell, Radio4 extra is available free online anywhere outside UK.

It's about a British spy, Lucifer Box, and is set between the Wars. Since he is Mark's creation, Lucifer is a flamboyant, resourceful character, a kind of all-action (oh yes) version of Mycroft but with a very different sibling. And possibly flashier clothes.

Mark has also recorded Black Butterfly. Most of what is on this radio channel is broadcast at least once a year, though exactly when varies. 

And please can anyone tell me what the music is?

Just cllick on Radio on the BBC home site, and then Radio4 extra. It broadcasts drama, comedy (including Cabin Pressure) including , book readings etc, no news or music. Most of it was made for Radio4 originally, including all the Merrison/Williams or Sachs Holmes adaptations, and many other good things. They have a special section every day called 'The seventh dimension'  for science fiction, which includes anything from Poe to Red Dwarf. The Lovecraft readings are particularly fine IMO.
It has kept me sane since I left the UK.