Glendalough: Photographer Giles Norman is inspired by Wicklows stunning scenery for his new collection Big Picture Competition Freedom of speech Protest: Amazing what it achieves Daf, firstly, steady on! If you consider Metro a tawdry, free tabloid then why on Earth have you been reading it for the past number of months? Go and pick up The Times and read the one-sided views of your like- minded peers. Im sure youll read everything you want to hear there. Secondly, I enjoy reading Metro. Does that mean you think I am ignorant and ill-informed? And part of what makes up the lowest common denominator? Shame on you for criticising a forum that allows people to air their views, trivial or otherwise, impartially. Its called freedom of speech. Get over yourself, mate. Kim JM, open your eyes, job-cuts and pay-cuts have been made in the private sector. Where have you been for the last year and a half? Unemployment in June 08 was 126,000 but in June 09 it was 264,000 how many of these additional unemployed are former public servants? And Daf, what exactly is the point to your essay? Unions now threatening riots, and you say Metro and the media are trying to divide public and private sector workers? Wake up! J As an avid reader, I think Dafs attack on Metro and especially Metro Mail is completely ludicrous. Firstly, I suspect he is not a regular reader and, if so, he has clearly missed the point of a newspapers letter page its an opinion page for readers to have their views published. If a newspaper chooses to publish a letter which is reactionary drivel, if 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 Rights fight: I see that the arrogant gays are, as usual, trying to rewrite biology. Do they really think that a gay person should have the same rights over their partners child as that childs biological mother/father? If my wife ran off with a woman, it would sicken me to think that her new partner would have the same rights over our son as me! Timmy We vs thee: JM, employees in many private sector companies have had pay cuts imposed on them by employers and, even then, their jobs will not be secure nor will they have a guaranteed pension when they retire other than the meagre State pension. James Norn Iron: Weve had a lot of attention about people shopping up North but so far no one has said anything about online shopping. Do you pay any tax while shopping online? And as for keeping people in jobs, at least shoppers going North are encouraging those shops to hire more staff. Online shopping is the worst fine if youre looking for something rare, but for normal stuff, go to your normal shops which in turn will keep more people employed! JF Jim In Brief it is a readers comment, why should they NOT publish it? And as for being slow to commit well-constructed and articulated rebuttals to print, anyone who read the weeks and weeks of comment on the second Lisbon referendum will without a doubt declare Dafs statement as completely untrue. Secondly, Metro is no tabloid and I invite Daf to go buy a real tabloid and then write in offering his apologies. I believe the publication of comments from ignorant and ill- informed readers, no matter how cantankerous and belligerent they are, are valid and honest opinions. I firmly maintain both Metro and Metro Mail are balanced, impartial and objective, as well as being clear of any sinister ulterior motives. And as for Dafs last paragraph which I wont even quote, shame on you, sir. Youve directly insulted the professionals who produce an entertaining, informative and worthy newspaper which, to me, is an integral part of Dublin and which actually does maintain a high standard of journalistic integrity. Frank OL Sendusyour txt I totally agree with Auden, we can no longer afford this aid to Africa. It should be stopped for a period of time until we are in a better financial position. Anna Does Auden know each Irish cow receives more overseas aid than any African person? Ger Auden, if half the Irish have to give up their big house, car and PlayStation, then we can say there is no money and stop helping Africa. Dee Funny hairdresser story: Last week, a client came into the salon. As he sat down I asked him how he wanted his hair to be cut. He replied: In silence! Dub Hair JM, its people like you who give the public sector a bad name. Look around, most private sector workers who are still in jobs have had their pay cut. Get a grip! Ronan Ah, the entertainment I get on the train in the morning watching women putting on their war paint and another with a clamp hanging from her eye? DPK txt MAIL to 53131* 10 METRO Tuesday, December 8, 2009 D GILES NORMAN has just launched his new collection, a black and white study of the Wicklow landscape, at the Powerscourt Townhouse Centre in Dublin. To celebrate this, Metro and Giles Norman are giving you a 25 per cent discount off any of his works just in time for Christmas, when you enter our text competition below. Not only that, but one lucky Metro reader each day will win an exclusive 12in x 16in framed print worth 100. To enter, simply answer the question below: Which county is the focus of Giles Normans new collection? A. Dublin B. Wicklow C. Cork Text GILESN followed by your answer A, B or C to 53133 (texts cost 60c + standard network charge). Answer correctly and you will receive a promotional code via a free text message to claim your discount. The competition closes at midnight on Wednesday December 9, and the winners will be chosen at random from the entries received. Entrants must be over 18 years old. Usual Metro rules apply. The Editors decision is final. SP. Oxygen8, Hospitality House, Cumberland Street South, D2. Customer Service number 0818286606 Win this picture worth 100 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.html28.html29.html30.html31.html