Sorry chaps. This is the missing story from my "laugh or cry" strand.

[non sociopath skin]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/nov/18/pickles-curry-...

It's been a hard week.

Now wotcha gonna do. Laugh or cry?

The Skin

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. I think I tend towards 'laugh'

It's not going to solve the problem of millions of unemployed, but, in its area, training cooks for possibly the most popular form of restaurant in Britain here rather than relying on continued immigration from the sub-continent makes some sense. I suppose it depends on how much they claim it will solve the country's problems; so far, it doesn't seem to be getting a huge amount of publicity.

[T_i_B]

2. There's quite a bit besides curry in the article

Among the proposals are

• A new drive against "anti-Muslim hatred" in Britain and a recognition antisemitism is also growing.

Very good. Approve of that.

• Events to celebrate the Queen's diamond jubilee and the Olympic Games that bring together different communities.

I suspect this idea will fall flat. Might get a street party in Frinton on Sea out of this but I can't see people in inner cities taking up the Jubilee theme.

• An online integration forum, which includes a "barrier-busting site" to remove bureaucratic barriers and encourage different community and faith groups to come together.

I'm sorry, but as soon as the words "online forum" are muttered all I can think of are right wing trolls hijacking the whole thing.

• An initiative to establish common ground with Gypsy and Traveller communities.

Tories? Establishing common ground with travellers? The Conservative party policy (which is a big vote winner for them in some places) is to evict travellers from any ground, common or otherwise!

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. They need a new Barbara Cartland

I never thought I'd write that:

In the early 1960’s she campaigned for the rights of gypsies' to have a permanent place to live which resulted in an act of Parliament. One of the first gypsy camps was opened by Barbara Cartland in 1964 and called Barbaraville and there are now 14 in Hertfordshire. This has meant thousands of gypsies and their families have a place to call home and their children can be educated in their local area.

http://www.barbaracartland.com/static/life.aspx