D Tuesday, September 22, 2009 METRO 17 Bed head: A man wearing a mask of Australias Prime Minister Kevin Rudd sits on a bed at a beach in Melbourne as part of a climate wake-up call by Oxfam Australia Picture: Reuters The Big Picture Third time lucky? Not risk-free: Children I am sick of seeing so much media attention given to the Yes to Lisbon campaign. Your own headline this [yesterday] morning reads Lisbon gets 90% business backing. The No side to this campaign has been left out in the cold which is a pity as they appear to be the ones who are willing to actually discuss the contents of the Lisbon Treaty. I bought the Sunday Independent only to discover I was inadvertently funding the Vote Yes side. Inside was a two-page spread with celebrities whose weak and lame points about why we should say Yes ranging from: saying No the last time has contributed to the recession we are in today, to making attacks on Sinn Fin. Aer Lingus are now riding the coat tails of the hype with an advert offering cheap flights to you guessed it Lisbon, where all sorts of happy and great things await you. If the Lisbon Treaty is so great then why did we reject it the first time? Why did the French and Dutch reject the EU constitution which was 95 per cent of the same content of the Lisbon Treaty. Why is Ireland the only country to have a referendum? The No side is said to be looking desperate, but then again they dont have the luxury of the Yes side who can simply try again... unless of course we are going for a best out of three. Bee, by e-mail To Victoria, do you really want to wait to have children until you can say you will be able to provide for them for the next twenty or so years? Many people with good jobs, thought that they were secure and have found themselves fired in the current recession. Having children is never risk-free and child benefit is an investment of the State, not a way of scrounging money off it. Dublins best-read letters page Metro Mail E-mail letters to mail@metroireland.ie with a name. Or text us. Text MAIL followed by comment and name to 53131. *Texts cost 30cent per message + standard network charges. SP. Oxygen8 Communications, Hospitality House, Cumberland Street South, D2. Customer service number 0818286606 talk to us Fishy: To Siobhan regarding the need for a TV licence if you own a television set. I wonder if the same logic applies to angling, if you own a fishing rod, are you required to have a fishing licence as you could potentially fish for salmon? Kieran Hall Caught: Well done to the Luas security staff at Red Cow who yesterday morning tackled a group of eight non-paying passengers who hop on to the Luas every morning without a ticket. M, by e-mail Got the hump? A word of advice to TG4 for their coverage of horse racing: Please dont air a one minute ad half-way during a live race like you did at Listowel on Saturday, particularly an ad for the Galway races which was on last month! Disgruntled punter Think tank: I love the Shinners poster about More Military Spending! Where did they get the picture of the tank the Cavalry Museum in the Curragh? The last tanks we had were World War II designs. There are tracked recce [Reconnaissance] vehicles in service, but no tanks. Alec aDoo In Brief As a foreigner I love so many things about the Irish people. One of these is their attitude towards the sudden richness of the Celtic Tiger. It didnt lock them in ivory towers of splendid isolation, gathering more and more, scrooge-like. No, they seemed to understand the important thing money is to share with friends and family, to invest in something that matters for example children. So many children around is what makes Ireland special, and they are generally supported and understood. Or is my impression false? Hanna, by e-mail Regarding Paiges letter about adopting from a rescue shelter, I think shelters want the dog to go to the best home possible. A lot of the dogs in these shelters are victims of cruelty and abandonment. It takes weeks and sometimes months for them to adjust to a new home. They need time and patience and I think its only right that in the first few weeks someone is with them most of the day. Animal lover Sendusyour txt Paige, I totally agree. My partner and I would love to adopt a dog but as we work well have to get a puppy from a breeder. Were both mad about dogs and when we get one it will have company for at least four days every week. Its just a shame we wont get to give a neglected animal a home. Heather Im wondering if Pixie Geldof made it in the fashion world because of her looks and talent? Dimitris, Balbriggan The three main political parties in the country are pushing the Yes vote. More than 70 per cent of the electorate vote for one of these parties to lead our country in general elections yet we dont trust them to negotiate the best deal for us in Europe? Confused Ministerial limo caught speeding, officiating Garda bullied into resigning where is the justice in that? The garda should have been commended for doing his job without fear or favour. Ministers are not above the law. Tom txt MAIL to 53131* index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html