Yes, it really struck me 10 years ago and it's gotten worse since. However, I quite like the idea of no makeup - OK, it would have annoyed me back in my makeup selling days, but I would love to not have the hassle.

Did anyone else think that this is the way the British govt. have been trying to go for the last 8 years or so? It's just so freaky, they want to control where people live and they really do take all your money in taxes and you have to apply for it back, so they give you back what they think you deserve... it's just soooooo Orwellian and people only use the phrase "Big Brother" about speed cameras or the stupid TV show (no comment on Aussie BB, the UK one is dumb though) when they should look at govt. policy.

OK, here's a quick question: would you rather live with all your "needs" provided for inside Big Brother's protection, quixotic as that may be (with very little chocolate), or would you rather live outside with all the risks? And why?

It's scary, when you think like that, of the lure of Big Brother and knowing that you will have a house and food, even though they control your thinking, rather than chancing it all outside. Though I'd still pick outside and freedom over thought control, our lives are slowly being moulded into letting someone else take responsibility for us and liking that.