Different argument all together. That isn’t gonna cause a return to the troubles of the 60s 70s 80s and 90s. The creation of a united Ireland very well could. And no to answer your question, I don’t watch or support rugby.

I will be supporting them, but if they changed the flag, got rid of our national anthem, replaced the president with a minor British royal and didn’t play in green then I wouldn’t. And they are the kind of changes we would have to make to placate the northerners

Surely Brian not voting yes due to the Flag, Anthem etc. contradicts what those in 1916 and War Of Independence fought for?

Fiachra the war of independence and the civil war were more about removing the king and getting a republic than about partition. If we had to unite we would have to compromise, on things like the commonwealth flags, anthems etc

Briain, you’re right we’d have to compromise; but is that such a bad thing?

Luca, you’re saying we shouldn’t do something because of the threat of violence? Well that’s literally letting the terrorists win……and they haven’t even done anything yet! Also, I think you aren’t giving the Unionist community enough credit for accepting a democratic outcome. We’ve all come a long way since the UWC strike that brought down Sunningdale. I’m not saying there’d be not trouble, I am saying that a few violent bigots shouldn’t be allowed to dictate to the rest of us

There are plenty of party members that have the same views as me, we like the social policies but switch off to the northern accents

You have one of the most productive imaginations I have ever encountered ‘Briain’.

I think FG and FF would have to put aside their differences then, because Sinn féin would be solely acting on their socialist agenda.. which beats the hell out of anyone elses efforts over the last 90 years.. to reuse a quote posted earlier; “A Capitalist Republic isnt worth the life of one Irishman”. Thats not what Sinn féin are campaigning for, they will not be done untill we are united under a socialist republic like we should have been 90 years ago..

I’m too young to have much of an opinion but right now Sinn Féin are looking like the only choice is the next election.. Though it will be hard to forget what they’ve condoned in the past it’ll be harder to forget what FF,FG and the other right wing politicians have done to this country in more recent years…

Danny, they are also socialists. So until the country is sufficiently socialist (from their point of view) they’d still be campaigning away.

There should be no problem with it, except when it’s perceived as a threat to the cosy status quo down here. We’ll all cheer on the whole of Ireland in the rugby today though. Sad.

And a team that is captained by a man from the six counties

If the EU were in charge of the referendum, they would keep voting until it’s a Yes

Fiachra. You have to remember that a large section of both FG/FF/Lab had no trouble for 70 years, with one man, one vote not being implemented in the North, had no trouble with companies in the North refusing to hire workers just because they were RC’s.

They know that when a united Ireland arrives, that FG/FF are going to be faced with a whole mass of voters, businesses etc that will not tolerate the attitude of “oh we have to skew the terms of reference for this contract so as to get this lad the work, even though he is multiples dearer, he is FF or FG etc etc”.

Ireland would be forced to act in a grown up fashion rather than the piggy bank of FF/FG.

You bet they’ll fight that tooth and nail. Neither party can survive in a modern Ireland, let alone a re-united one.

@Ross, Catch up, we are in 2012, people like yourself (from both traditions) you can’t leave history where it belongs (in the past) are the real problem.

There are a good 10-15% of the populace in this state that are still very sore that this part of the country is independent. It drives a lot of the anger towards the Republican movement. There is never outrage in the papers when the head of the UVF is in the Aras or at a state function. Just imagine the reaction of the Sindo or RTE if the last Chief of Staff of the IRA was a regular attendee at such functions. No doubt there was awful work on all sides but If the righteous brigade would have had equal disdain for the UVF as they had the IRA, then we would have moved towards peace.

and no I do not mean Protestants.

Ross surely Gerry is in the dail weekly? Has he been prevented from entering the aras like you say?

Brian you really should red up on your history before you make stupid statements like that, it only makes you look foolish.

Ha, yeh. Still trying to get my head around the reference to the road network around London. Dartford tunnel is on M25. And there’s a bridge you know. Blackwall Tunnel runs between Bow (gor blimey) and Greenwich (Gren-itch). Was Adams stuck in a jam? And it’s Briain, Brian…

Not me for one

Don’t you believe it. Our tax rates are considerably lower than the UK’s. Whilst our current fiscal deficit is higher than theirs, the national debt is similar (on a pro rata basis).

Brian, Do you suffer from lutiple personality disorders??? You said in a comment above that you are from Monaghan, which is in the South … and now you make a comment that you dont want to take on the republics debt ??? Seriously man, if yuo are going to make an argument, rule 1…. be committed and consistent… and you are neither !!!!!!!!!!!!!

@cal what comment did I make about our debt? I’ve checked again and I can’t see what you’re talking about

@ Connor

Hear Hear!

I think it would benefit the people of the north. At present they are around 2.5% of the population of the UK and they are on a separate island. They’re treated as an afterthought a lot of the time. Even at an unofficial level watch out for ads that say “UK only” and exclude northern Ireland. I don’t think an Englishman looks at a northerner and sees a compatriot

In Ireland northerners are more like 35% of the population. The Unionist community would be a huge voting bloc and the north as a whole would be central to every every plan, economic, social and otherwise that any government tried to implement. In fact, the government could very well be a northern based party.

Did you intend to say under the Clown Gay Mitchell?

Seamus, Sean is making reference to Gay Mitchell’s idea during the presidential election that he would support a United Ireland within the Commonwealth to keep the unionists happy. In saying that though he’s still a clown!

Can you explain how you know the survey is incorrect? Have you recently asked a cross section in the north what they think?

Didn’t think so…

Well Brian that is the point of this article and what Gerry is saying!

“whole” my friend – trust me you do not want to see its hole

Seamus, I mean this totally non-sarcastically, you are fucking hilarious. I stopped at two comments to laugh and they were both yours.

Gerry lives a parallel universe where people give a shit!

A united ireland great craic? Imagine an Monaghan style bomb in every small town in every county in the republic, then imagine the hse dealing with the aftermath, then imagine the guards investigating it, then imagine the cost of paying for it and the list investment etc.

So Brian your saying we should let the loyalist mobs dictate to the people of Ireland?

No fiachra I’m saying I want nothing to do with northern loyalists that’s the point, and that nothing includes letting that madness join our country.

Who is we ?

Irish people. Who are you?

Take a wild guess mcbab. He’s on an Irish website. Spot on Paul. :D

I vote Sinn Fein but after nearly 100 years apart its time to realise the north has more in common with Britain than us. I refuse to dilute my country for the sake of 1 million who don’t want to be Irish only and not Irish and British.

Briain.

You must not have troubled much of the North then!

isn’t that ” we only have to be lucky once” a terrorist quote

“We” exclude unionists Housty? Ironic…

Sheila,
I think both sides of the border should vote. The outcome would only be ratified if both sides of the border are agreed on the issue of a united Ireland. I personally would love to see a united Ireland. I live in hope that I will see it in my lifetime. I have travelled through all the counties of Norther Ireland and I would welcome everyone living on this island to be part of a united Ireland.

Agree Gerard. One problem. In the case of N Ireland, self-determination, an internationally accepted principle, precludes an all-Ireland referendum. Until “catholic” – “nationalists” stop referring to “protestant” – “unionists” as “them”, there is very little chance of unity. We are us, me thinks…

@Gerard (Ferris)

Yes, I do agree. But I feel that the people in the 6 counties should be asked first maybe. I just feel that they all need to talk and vote on it themselves, before the people in the 26 counties get involved. They have had to live through years of hatred, murders, kidnappings, fear. They would know better than us, in the South whether it would work or not. They have all more or less lived with each other for years and know what each other would or could accept. I never thought there would actually be any kind of peace time in the North in my life time, and there is, which is just great. But I feel, I hope it doesn’t sound like I’m being negative, that there are a few rotten apples still there and it may be impossible for our generation to pick them out. Maybe … my children’s generation will see an all Ireland, but I cannot see it coming that quickly in my time. There is too much hurt and hatred in the older generation to let go at the moment. Hopefully it may happen before I’m gone, wherever that may be.

Well said..

Being from Monaghan I’ve been north plenty of times, partition was the best thing that ever happened to us, the healthy ( and sane) part survived because the deseased part was amputated. How many people on this board have actually talked to northerners? They’re just not like us.

People from Dublin are just not like us, but that is no excuse to cut them adrift.

Briain true, I, a Derryman, am very different to a Dubliner but im quite like a Donegal person and I dont have much in common with Belfast people (they talk funny) but i really like Clare people and have a particular distaste for Tyrone people (in regards to GAA). But as you say were all very different and that is why i support an Independent Peoples Republic of Cork!

Housty then speaks on behalf of all citizens of the republic?? Dont think so — I doubt Germany will be keen to throw additional billions at us to pay for policing in the North.

Fiachra, sounds good I would vote for you!

Brian,

From a little bit of experience by me, dealing with and speaking with Northern Irish people, they are exactly the same as people South of the border! Good people and bad people. The same in every country of the world. The experience I’ve had are shopowners, people on the street that I have asked directions from when I was lost. They have all been very polite and lovely friendly people.

We have bigots, and arseholes in the South just like the North. That’s what the world is about. I personally don’t believe that if a referendum was going to happen, it should only be held in the North in the 6 counties. It is them that need to decide, not us. Maybe, maybe some day, but today and too soon would be wrong.

Briain, no you wouldnt, Im one of the “diseased part” that apparently is insane and needs to be amputated!

Yes emphasising the difference between Irish and British is just the formula to persuade unionists to abandon generations of belief maybe that’s why they’ve been murdering their neighbours they weren’t different enough

Even the British don’t think the unionists are British. Eventually their choice will be to go it alone, or join up with the rest of us on this small Island.

Well I never knew that Michael. We’re all sooooo ignorant about the colonial history of Ireland. I’ll go read up and get back to you…

I would assume North and south with each counted seperatley

Good point. My understanding is two referendums are held concurrently. It’s only right that the whole people of Ireland have their say.

In my opinion, the people of the north would vote on unification and then the south on whether to accept or vice versa. One thing to consider is Germany’s unification and try to learn from that the costs and issues that could arise from unification. Personally if I was in the North, I would be apprehensive of uniting with the south purely based on the economic side of things and inheriting the souths debt problem.

We could have a mirror referendum, but as the uk would drive it we would have to go along with the wording and timing etc.

The DUP would be more suited to the late FF party in coalition.

FF and FG would finally bury their differences and merge to survive. They’d happily coalesce with any northern conservative party to retain power…

Why not? SF talked Ian Paisley into a united administration, didn’t they?

They most certainly didn’t.

Where’s your evidence that a large proportion of either section of the north could be persuaded to go against the tribal politics going back generations?
I’ve never met one that didn’t share the politics of their grandparents

@Ryan,

They most certainly did not! Nobody talks Ian Paisley into anything! especially politics! That was Ian Paisley’s decision absolutely nothing got to do with Sin Fein. Ian Paisley did it for the people he represents. You obviously don’t know Ian Paisley. He went into those talks because he wanted to nothing got to do with Sin Fein!

I suppose the same logic that FF used when denying the people of Donegal, their By-Election – a contempt for Irish people.

Whos Brian? Is mise Briain.
So we has Monaghan, where by the way one of my cousins died, but the English didn’t have equivalents? Guildford, warrington, etc etc ever heard of those or was your tv on mute during the 70s and 80s?

Briain

Yes there were atrocities in England as well, there is no evidence linking members of the Irish state army or the Guards to the attacks, unlike the Dublin/Monaghan bombings. I am not aware of any bombing in England that was not investigated by the authorities. Could you imagine of after 7/7 the Met in London announced that they were suspending the investigation and destroying the evidence.

I remember the 70′s but I still reside in the present. Do call in for a visit.

Briain

Yes there were atrocities in England as well, there is no evidence linking members of the Irish state army or the Guards to the attacks, unlike the Dublin/Monaghan bombings and British security forces. A claim backed by the head of the Met. who investigated the claims.
I am not aware of any bombing in England that was not investigated by the authorities. Could you imagine of after 7/7 the Met in London announced that they were suspending the investigation and destroying the evidence.

I remember the 70′s but I still reside in the present. Do call in for a visit.

Well they didn’t send in 2 para when they had protests in Scotland ..

1 Para…..if you’re talking about Bloody Sunday.

Alan, I think you’re forgetting that the Provos were set up as a defence force first, in reaction to some fairly vicious violence by the Northern state, loyalist mobs and UVF who had killed several people before the Provos even existed.

hit a Button and posted in mid flight. the point I was about to make was there is an expectation that there will be a theoretical nationalist majority in about 20 years. whether they would all vote for unification with the south is the 64000 dollar question!

But the current split is what? 55%to 45% yet 82% don’t want a united Ireland, so surely more catholic middle class equals more catholic middle class that dont want a united Ireland

My point exactly Brian, it is far from a foregone conclusion that a future theoretical nationalist majority would vote for a united Ireland. That is why Sinn Fein are playing a long game here and the condemnation this week is only one tiny step in that process to influence a change in attitudes to their POV. They are ideally suited to that type of campaign,

@Darren,

Sadly, I don’t know any Irish, what does your message read?

Our day will come. Ireland Forever.

Just wondering, why are there so many ‘thumbs down’ on my request of what the Irish meant? Surely, by asking, I have an interest in the Irish words. Sadly, I have dyslexia, did not and could do Irish, managed eventually to read and write, English.

I’d hope that people did not give me a thumbs down without thinking and/or judging me!

Martina. That is by choice of the electorate. FF/FG give them mass unemployment, poverty and forced mass emigration every 20 years and a failed health system. They are defined by cronyism and corruption and for having policies that are catering to a very select few. They are consistently out of sync with small, successful countries that grow strongly and yet look after their people as well.

People still gave them over 50% in last years election.

If a battered wife consistently refuses to leave her husband, refuses to ask him to change his ways, refuses intervention or help, then she can hardly complain when he acts the maggot to her once again.

Stockholm syndrome !

Tom maybe but what other politicians are talking about it? The establishment in the south dont care and the SDLP are useless!

@Tom: define “normal folk”. Are you their representative?

Skeolawn,
I define normal folk as those who don’t support violence. I’m not their representative, just part of the 99%.

The UK had the IMF in back in the 70′s – and it was a hell of a lot nastier an experience than we are having now.

Who could blame them?
It’s a vote for stability.Who in their right mind would willingly join this economic rollercoaster?
Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail for different reasons are the two biggest obstacles to a united Ireland.

You are wrong Simon the last time the people of Ireland were given the opportunity to vote on a united Ireland was the election to the first Dail in 1918 when the majority voted in favor.

Simon that poll was ridiculously skewed. Let’s have a real one, at least to calibrate where we are and what is required.

1918! Dear lord. Wikipedia has so much to answer for…

Lads.. Easier access to gorgeous Northern lassies with their lovely wee accent. Bring on the reunion with our beloved lost sisters.

United in foreig oppression, yes

Foreign oppression????

Ah yes the catholic church who raped the nations children…

What a ridiculous comment.

Gavin, I agree from the British to the Catholic Church- thats why I want to see a secular united Ireland

Home rule is Rome rule….the unionists were right and nothing has changed.

Gavin. If you came out with the nonsense you have here in a UUP meeting they would tell you shove that old guff where the sun doesn’t shine. It’s 2012, not 1912. Come up to the 1950’s at least.

A lapsed member of the Spawn of Satan Papish Church (R.C. for short)

I am a Presbyterian. Does that mean tha living in the South makes me a Catholic? Never was, and hopefully (no disrespect to Catholics, but I think it is better for both the State AND the RC Church to stay apart) never will be. Just because the RC was powerful, does not mean it ruled Ireland

@Gavin the man from Delmonte, he say YES and he was an Orangeman.

Well said.

Don’t care what religion you are? Unionist / Republicism are not religions last time I checked. Adams, while I am not a fan, is as Irish as you or me. Thankfully you don’t speak for everyone in the 26 counties.

Whats wrong with saying down here? Ive said it myself, and I have lived in Galway all my life.

works both ways. Some in the 26 counties tend to say ‘up there’ as well, especially those in the media

o’Reilly.

“we are less concerned one way or the other and certainly don’t care what religion you are…”

The 2 ex-IRA volunteers in my SF cumann who are Protestants, probably have picked up on that already. Isn’t is gas, your the first luadair to bring up religion. Time to get with the programme and shove you bigotry where the sun doesn’t shine, time to get out of your little bubble. Open your mind, it’s like your bedroom, it’ll only stink after a while if you do not.

Also you don’t have to pay €60 to see a doctor up in Norn Iron cos it’s free

And Adams is a fool?? I bet he can string a sentence together!!

The UK “mainland” props up the Northern Ireland economy. They might not want to do that forever. You’re right that we can’t afford it, but right now we can’t afford to run the Republic either so where’s the harm? Anyway, with a larger population and a bigger trading zone (with the same rules) we might actually be able to get our act together. It would certainly add a different perspective to political discussions – something that is badly needed.

Nominally united. And if you think Britain is Utopia you should go visit it sometime. They have their problems, just like us.

Would you believe Skeolawn, I have visited the UK many times, actually as recent as last weekend having even lived in it for a few years….

Is it all about materialism, money and wealth? All these Celtic Tiger cubs wishing back the fake boom and running down the notion of a free prosperous and thriving Irish Nation. Why not imagine the potential this country has, unionist and republican united in the common goal of making Ireland a fantastic place to grow up, raise a family and grow old in dignity, supported by our own people, not bailed out by The Crown or the IMF. Why not?

@toorkeel: did you notice anything on your visit?

Just drove on said roads today, the roads are better in the republic these days, and infrastructure was built by the uk, so it wouldn’t make sense to say by uniting it would be better in the south

What on earth are you talking about? You’ve clearly never been to the North because the road infrastructure is MUCH better, and much more well lit in the south.

Sean, Belfast maybe but go anywhere west of the Bann and you will see how much infrastructure we get. Derry, the 2nd biggest city in NI and the 4th in Ireland has shocking roads to Belfast, Dublin and Galway, 1 rail line that takes longer than driving and FDI has really suffered due to the lack of transport links!

If we were part of the UK Ireland would be an afterthought like north Wales or huge swathes of northern England. Have you been to those places? The quality of life lags a long way behind here or London. For all it’s faults I’d rather Dublin didn’t turn into Middlesborough

Obvious troll is obvious.

Lol!

I concur… With the twitter account opened thursday, fake pics and following the top 10… He is indeed obvious as he is stupid

Thanks but no thanks the last time they were in charge a million people starved

Spot on you can’t argue against that

And an Italian in charge of the football team. Anyway must get back to watching my beloved Liverpool

Surely everything is grand as it is. The nationalists get the best of both worlds, the unionists get to call themselves British. Why rock the boat? What benefit would it have for us, I know people this far south who have never been over the border never mind near it.
All this would do is trigger hatred in the minority. Move on Gerry and start representing your home county and not people in another jurisdiction!

Well said Alan. I’ve never crossed it as an adult and I never intend to whether it’s part of a United Ireland or not.

There won’t be a border there when it’s a united Ireland Luca, so you won’t have to cross anything.

There folks is the above reason that we have a shite economy, a shite state here and 90 years of violence and discrimination in the North.

“It’s not my Problem, don’t care what goes on 90 miles up the border, i’m not being crapped on so I don’t care what happens, me, me, me”

Luca I would put that down to ignorance, why wouldnt you go somewhere close to where you live? You say it like its a badge of honour, I wouldnt be proud to say i havent been somewhere, on the contrary I want to visit just about everywhere!
Surely its better to experience places and people and then form your opinion rather than not to?

Er…Gerry is a Northern Irishman. Even so he is perfectly entitled to sit in the Dail, he was elected to it.

So fiachra, haven’t you just applied the same principal to me by judging me without knowing me. Bang of hypocrisy of you.

Exactly Ross, that’s exactly what I wanted to say.

@Luca: I think you are being “judged” on your comments. You need to think bigger, travel a bit, see some of the world.

Who’s crapping on you Ross? Fine Gael? Labour? The banks? The Troika?

Imagine the benefits, a single currency, an equitable unified tax system, fully integrated infrastructure and all-Ireland enterprise agencies and better economic planning.

And dead guards and bombs driving away investment?

Mr Lee, Im not sure if you’re aware of this but we already have laws, tax and education

Chuck – not the same ones though…

Mcbab we’re “fine down here” are we? What parallel universe are you inhabiting.? If the “Republic” of Ireland is currently “fine” I wonder what state it woulld have to be in to be described as a corrupt bankrupt little statelet run by a self serving elite of gombeens?

John, why did you put “Republic” in quotation marks? That’s not the name of the country. It’s right there at the start of the constitution – the name of the country is Ireland, so who are you quoting? It’s not a statelet either, it’s a state. As for being corrupt, Ireland has been in the top 20 least corrupt countries (according to transparency international) for the whole 10 years they’ve been keeping records.

So to answer your question; a much worse state than this one

@ Sheila. just a few points on what you wrote. 1) You’re opinion might hold a little more weight if you learned how to spell Gerry Adam’s political party. 2) There is no parliament in Northern Ireland, only an Assembly. An assembly and a parliament are two almost completely different things. 3) If there was to be a referendum on Irish unity in Northern Ireland then there would also have to be one here, bringing the issue directly under the remit of any politicians down south. 4) The idea that southern politicians should not voice an opinion on issues not related to this state (although Irish unification would have a massive impact) is ludicrous. Using your logic, then Irish politicians should not voice opinions on events such as the wars in Syria, Libya or Palestine, we should not voice opinions or interfere in human rights abuses in China, Bahrain, Turkey, etc. We shouldn’t interfere or voice opinions in disaster stricken countries such as post-tsunami Indonesia, Japan or Ethiopia. 5) Adams, and I’m not a fan of his by the way, was condemning the Secretary for denying the people of Northern Ireland their democratic right. Whether you agree or disagree with Irish unity, surely you recognise the right of the Northern Irish people to decide?

@Brian O Dalaigh,

1)I have his political party spelt right! Thank you! The way I see it! 2) You are being padantic! Obviously, I meant Assembly, pardon me! 3) I would like to see what the people in the 6 counties thought of the idea first, before we put out ‘boot’ in with our opinion/vote! 4)I did not say he could not voice an opinion, I just feel that he probably could voice it better in the Northern Assembly and speak to the people of the 6 counties from there, not from the Republic. They might actually listen to him from there and not feel that he is pontificating from the Republic! 5) Obviously, I believe in the 6 counties residents opinion. Theirs come first before mine!

Sheila, Adams was born in Belfast so he has every right to comment on issues North and South. In fact the people of the Republic have every right to comment on NI matters under Article 2 of our Constitution .

Sorry Sheila, but you spelled the party as Sin Fein. The party is correctly spelled Sinn Féin – two “n”s in Sinn and a fada over the e in Féin. If you agree that the decision should be made by the people of Northern Ireland, why then are you condemning Gerry Adams for condemning the British Secretary of State for denying the people of Northern Ireland from making their own decision? To be honest, your entire opinion seems to be entirely based on the idea that whatever Sinn Féin say, you will oppose.

@Brian Ward,

Did I say he couldn’t? I said maybe, he should speak to the people of the 6 counties from the 6 counties. Go and sit down and discuss what they want with them, not from Dail Eireann. I am sure a number of people living there would find offence with him pontificating on what should be done from a seat in the Dail.

I’d say bet 500 euro’s that a vote to return the North to Ireland would get about 75% in favour in Britain.

You’d have thought..wrong.

If that’s the case then why isn’t there going to be a referendum for the whole of the UK on the issue of Scottish independence?

If Scotland goes, its inevitable anyway! Do you really think the English would want to keep Wales and NI?

Look there are SF votes coming out of election boxes nowadays in the Shankhill Road, there are Irish dancing classes there, Irish languages there. One woman who attends and recommends them is a member of a prominent UVF family.

There will be a United Ireland, that is a forgone conclusion. London is winding down its foreign possessions, it just does the hassle of the 6 counties.

There will always be a parliament in Belfast, the union will be federal. Devolved power to the 6, federal Govt. in Dublin, replacing WestMinister and some kind of convulted comfy blanky relationship for the North with England.

Westminister is laying the tracks for a united Ireland, it doesn’t care about votes or referendums here, it never has. It acts in its own self interest.

One unit of Volunteers from South Armagh caused 2 billion of structural damage in the Financial heart of London and it is believed 2 billion more in lost investment. They sure as hell do not want to keep the 6 counties and have that inevitable back lash, that has always been a part of our history.

When the referendum does take place, the way this Island is organized politically will already have changed massively.

It’s up to Northern Ireland alone.

@ross I stopped reading when you spelled Shankill Road wrong or maybe you’re talking about a different loyalist ghetto which apparently is going to become an urban Gaeltacht?

Well Brian obviously you didnt judging by your reply…

Fiachra okay maybe I read the first paragraph but I promise I stopped there!

briain
do u swear…….on a bible…..loike?

Ross is right, if it were up to the British we’d have had a united Ireland a long, long time ago!

“A unit of volunteers from S Armagh”, Ross? That what they were?

Yeah Frank. You come across as very happy as things are alright. Must be why your posts are always so cheerful and optimistic.