are the ones that are still able to walk! Again, no doubt its wise to avoid the main streets of clubs and pubs, because of the drunken crowds in the streets and spilling out from the clubs and pubs.

But--I think the real question underlying the issue of 24/7 shops is how much government control there should be of the economy. If the government is restricting the hours of business, the questions are why, and to what effect? Some control is not a bad thing, too much control, in my opinion can stifle innovation and ingenuity.

dune

The funding for post-graduate degrees is strange system, to me as an outsider. Basically,it seems like either you self fund through some masochistic plan of working and saving, being the favorite relative of some rich uncle or get one of the few funding awards out there, whether through a studentship, an award from some other funding body, etc...to me this no doubt means that many deserving, bright and worthwhile prospective students are denied the chance to get that post graduate degree. That does not seem to be right. While going into debt is not the greatest option, I do think that the student loan scheme that is available in the United States does a lot to put higher education within reach of many.

tune

(up)(up) Thanks for all the replies in this thread anyway, I think everyone deserves a star for being a helpful user!

Good grief! If stores like the ones mentioned do enough business to justify staying open on Sunday, it does make you think the entire reasons for restricted trading on Sundays should be re-looked at in terms of the needs of a contemporary society. The idea of an 9-5 worker is not a reality for many people. Some people telecommute, other people may work really long or irregular hours, for others it may simply be preferrable to be able to do shopping on a Sunday--think of parents who have to take children to or from day care, or to or from school activities, who has time to cram a shopping trip into a packed schedule during the week, with tired and hungry children to boot for example? And why restrict hours on a Sunday--that speaks of a Christian heritage where people go to church on Sunday, but again, in contemporary society, you have people of a variety of faiths, not all of which hold their worship on Sundays, and others who do not do any sort of religious or spiritual worship at all. Shutting at Christmas for example may work a hardship on people whose religious tradition might include other days but not Christmas, and they have to get special permission to be away for those days. The whole idea of restricted shopping hours especially on a Sunday seems like an anacronism.

bone

Congrats to those who got funding and my sympathies to those who were disappointed with the news they got. I think its entirely possible to do well on a degree while you are working either part time or fulltime--its just a matter of structuring your priorities and your time. Its certainly do-able. What is the old saying, there is nothing as powerful as a made up mind? For myself, I found working while pursuing a degree forced a strict time management schedule, and a very focused approach to the work, and this was to my benefit, I think. Working probably has some advantages over not working, imo, and I don't think anyone should not pursue their dream...if you can self-fund through work, go for it.

goose

Those are very interesting laws and restrictions--Sunday trading limited to a large degree! I am not sure what the reasons/reasoning is behind the restrictions, but the convenience of a 24/7 grocery store should not be under-estimated.

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