>there is an interesting occurance that i have noticed for years and i know that i am not alone. ireland is a developed country, and like other countries there seems to be a pecking order as to which countries news we receive. our own lives come first, then other western nations, then some others might make it but only if the events are extremly severe. i believe that all lives are equal reqardless of nationality but in todays media this is not portrayed as such, maybe this is because of the thousands of people who die in africa each day from hunger, disease, war, none are westerners. even within our own nations when is the last time on the news we saw something about a celeb, compare that to the last time we saw an article about a homeless person who died! it is not right but it is the way it is and it not a mark of a truely civilised society.

Yes, well, I have noticed this time and again, in the news. While it is logical for Cochabambinos to be especially interested in what happens in Cochabamba, for instance, yet the news are sometimes completely out of proportion.

>P.S. i am impressed about your use of the word wank given that you first language is not english :)

Well, I catch on some words now and then... but on the other hand, there are always some words, which you might find quite common, that I don't know, and have to look up or ask.