Flockin amazing! Thousands of Starlings returning to Gretna, on the border of England and Scotland, put on a magnificent shape-shifting spectacle before roosting Picture: PA The Big Picture Knocking Our Lady? Knock appearance: A mockery? When reading and listening to the recent news about the alleged appearance of the Holy Mother in Knock, I was torn between laughter and anger. Laughter, at how Joe Coleman was complaining that security was not provided for him while he was at the Knock shrine for his appointment with the Virgin Mary. If he really didnt want people to be touching and pulling him, he shouldnt have advertised it, asking people to join him there. And why the donations? Did he think Our Lady was going to ask him to start fundraising for something? Best of all is how her secret message was to be kept secret for one whole day. A bit ironic isnt it, that its really no secret that she loves us all and wants us to pray. What angers me is that he is making a mockery not only of Knock, but of Our Lady herself. If he really has any respect or love for her at all, he will drop this version of the X Factor and pour any money he has collected into the coffers of the keepers of the shrine! Catherine JJ, what a lot of civil servants fail to realise is that all public sector pensions are defined benefit; ie, they provide a guaranteed pension at retirement. Until the introduction of the pension levy, members paid a stable percentage of their salary each year in exchange for a guaranteed pension at retirement. Most employers in the private sector have ceased their defined- benefit schemes owing to the increasing costs of these types of pensions. People are living longer, and the costs of funding defined-benefit 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 Sexism: All the fuss about Portmarnock Golf Club and women being refused membership is just typical. You never hear men complaining about not being allowed to join Curves womens only gyms. Yet if it was the other way round, with women not being allowed to join a male gym, there would be blue murder and sexism claims. Just deal with it and join another golf club! Gman Golden parachutes: With regard to public-sector cuts, it doesnt take a genius to predict how the State is going to be ravaged by money-grabbers in the near future. So-called job-cuts will be made as half the sector leave with golden parachutes, leaving the other half to stay and enjoy continuing undeserved pay. Do they think the rest of us are mugs? Lisa Beaver grr: Id like to apologise for the Virgin Marys no-show at the shrine in Knock owing to a number of other overlapping bookings including one for a tree stump, one on a slice of toast and multiple bookings for appearances in homes for the delusional, insane and bewildered. Disgruntled Halloween Beaver In Brief pensions is rising to levels where it would not be practical to have a defined-benefit scheme in a company unless you expected members to contribute upwards of 20 per cent of their salary. So, the point Im making is that you cannot compare the pensions paid in the private sector with those paid in the public sector because most private-sector pensions are not defined benefit they are not guaranteed and the contributions made by employers (if any) are tiny compared with the contributions from the Government to a civil servants pension. Pension Actuary Jim, its great to know that thousands of years ago, people in distant lands were conveniently speaking modern English while they were creating their religion. Im certainly no scholar of ancient Aramaic or other Middle Eastern languages, but Im pretty sure they would have had differing words for sun and son. Zeitgeist is an interesting movie, but that doesnt mean its factually accurate. The Naysayer Sendusyour txt The Dublin Eye is the most ridiculous thing I ever heard of! Could we please come up with something original and not copy the English? A Formerly Proud Irish Woman MH, I think JT meant the Garda should take public transport to work, not use it in work... doh! Paul D BK, I agree, Cheryl Cole is a piece of art, and Im a proud straight girl! Shannan C, Dublin BK, I sympathise with your plight. Cheryl Cole is far too easy on the eye. But for me, if only she had a lush French accent, she would be irresistible I cant stand that Geordie drawl! JB Aww, boo hoo, Dublin people dont like it when culchies write a joke book about them, despite the abuse they lash out on a daily basis. Typical! Proud Spud-Muncher Which cautious insect was most adept at sniffing out treasonous plots and insurrections in Communist Russia? The Cagey Bee. Ewok txt MAIL to 53131* 12 METRO Thursday, November 5, 2009 D index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html