Paul McCartney once raised an interesting point on this. Imagine how much grain is required to feed one pig through it's lifetime till its day of slaughter, and how that grain could otherwise be used.

That said, there is more than enough food in the world to feed everyone already. It's just how we distribute it that's the issue.

I suddenly have a desire for grilled pilchards on toast. Not had that in years but delicious.

You underestimate him. He used to live near me and I'd regularly see him in the library reading books on Nuclear Physics. Whose idea do you think it was to cover Chain Reaction?

Good question, I'd be interested to know too!

I'm in the same boat as you. As long as you remember that you are the apprentice, and therefore not expected to be an expert (yet) you'll be fine. I should imagine there is an initial settling in period before you find your feet. Most unis have induction classes and talks. I daresay there will also be others in the same position as you at the uni. Everything will be alright.

In which case, each to their own. Can we now move on from this debate?

Okay Golfpro. I'm prepared to apologise for my jokey remark, are you prepared to apologise for yours?

Hang on a minute Golfpro, my post was a joke as has been noted by just about everyone here. You'll read worse in the Daily Mail, Daily Express, Sun.......

Also, wasn't it you who rather seriously wrote:

"NL taxpayer pays for your education [and the rest] and then you bugger off putting nothing back into the country. Nice of you."

But please, don't let me stop you from picking me, DanB or anyone else up on their posts. If you use the search function and select my user name, you can find a whole rogues gallery of my posts to complain about.

It was the bloke who used to be in Steps.

Golfpro. It is an old redundant thread dated from July 2004. He/she hasn't posted since (that was the whole idea). Also, as a guest user they would not have received an email. I'd be amazed if they were still lurking/reading this board, especially considering the lack of response to the original thread until mine over 2 years later.

For the record, I was joking, as was observed on the day in question.

I'm glad we have established the terms of our contractual obligations to fellow posters. Now it's a case of waiting for serious questions to arrive so that we can serve the needs of students everywhere.

You are of course correct. I offer my sincerest apologies for discriminating against Masters students. However, I must make you aware that Post-doctoral students are also invited members of thos forum, and we should be as amenable to their needs as possible.

Okay, I understand the tricky problem of maintaining content focussed on PhDs. Distractions and temptations are bad. But with plenty of will and determination we will clean up these boards between the three of us.

Thank you DanB, it is encouraging to know that there are likeminded people on this board. May I enquire who the special guest is?