12 METRO Wednesday, December 16, 2009 D Watership down: The Turkish MAG-1 bulk carrier is pounded by waves as it lies on the seabed during a storm in the Black Sea near Sukhumi in Abkhazia Picture: AFP/Getty The Big Picture What will be No.1? Christmas charm: Bob the Builder To those trying to hijack the X Factors Christmas No.1 by buying the Rage Against The Machine single, please take a second to read the fine print. Simon Cowell runs Syco, which is a subsidiary of Sony, which owns publishing rights for RATM so youll be lining Sonys pockets regardless. Also, is it really that important? Last years campaign for the original versions of Hallelujah was justified, but give over already. Christmas No.1s used to be reserved for Bob the Builder and The Wombles! Specs on, Dublin Rachel M, the horrors of parents that you describe in your letter are an unfortunate fact of life but they are all straight. A gay or a straight couple who went through the lengthy, emotional, and sometimes heartbreaking process of adoption have at least one thing in common they actually want a child to love, cherish and nurture. Surely this is the most important factor we need to consider. The reproductive rights belonging to heterosexuals are there because of their ability to conceive and carry a child, not their ability to love it. Louise, Dublin Rory and Rachel, I disagree with you both. I believe that children should come first, but you forget that at a certain point children learn more from the society around them and each has the potential to contribute to their community despite the circumstances of their birth. Welfare children can be more worthy than spoiled rich kids, but more importantly children from unusual parentage in our experience 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 Child un-friendly: Im not sure where people are coming from with this children are a privilege nonsense. I would not feel in the slightest bit privileged were I to have the misfortune to become the owner of one of the screaming, self-serving, obnoxious little brats. Fortunately my wife agrees. The over-sentimentalising of these parasites is one of the worst indulgences of our times. Outraged, Dublin 9 Hurling help: I am wondering if one of your readers could help a distressed woman. My Dad is a hurling fanatic, but he didnt get to see the Hurling League Final 2009 between Tipperary and Kilkenny. I have searched high and low for a copy of it and I cannot get it anywhere. He asks me nearly every day if I have found it yet. Maybe one of your readers would have a copy. I really hope you can help. Happy Christmas. Colette Purcell Viva la revolution: Message to EB: Queuing up at Ticketmaster outlets is something people did in the nineties! Join the interweb revolution man! Noel In Brief will become the adults of tomorrow, and our generations hang-up about heterosexual families will either be a noose around their necks or an embarrassing history, much like racism and sexism. Anna-Lena James, I know its a disgrace but most of us have more important things to worry us than greedy publicans and the price of a pint. Going out to the pub is a luxury for many of us who have a limited income and children or other people to support. Maybe you could just drink in the pub which has reduced its prices and give the money you save to Vincent de Paul? And Oliver, I agree there are plenty of ignorant bus drivers and smartass garda out there, but there are also many garda, bus drivers and other public servants who work very hard (I used to be one of them but left to join the private sector) under very difficult conditions, providing vital services such as hospitals and schools, who deserve some support in these times. Anne, Dublin Sendusyour txt Happy queue jumper, perhaps you should focus on studying some more yourself? Ye is a word. Edumacated JB Happy queue jumper, ye is a word it is the plural of you. KC Angry student, when happy queue jumpers attempt to skip you elbow them in the ribs and snarl. It works for me. Sheena Oliver, inform yourself. Bus drivers are not public sector workers, so they lost no wages in the recent Budget. If you want to have a little rant about getting stuck in a bus door once or getting a smart answer from a garda once, go ahead, but what it has to do with Ireland being a land of wonder for foreigners is beyond me. Wages intact bus driver Oliver, you think garda dont have any reason to complain about pay cuts? One garda was killed this week, one had his face slashed and another narrowly missed being shot! Youre an idiot! MH 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