NJS

Never had any problems with NTL in this household for our BB. Never had a problem with Blueyonder after a few teething probs which was fair enough as I was in the area for the first post-test installs for broadband.

Just had my first dealings with these (been with Blueyonder for years) and my opinion based on the bearded twat's trains is confirmed. Phoned them a couple of weeks ago as I'd read that the 10Mb service was going up to 20Mb. I was told Yes definitely as of May 1st, completely automatic. Its been obvious the last couple of days that it hasn't happened so decided to enquire: Customer Services: Had to enter phone number (its their line) and then confirm my ID to Op. Was told that yes I was on the top package so should have 20Mb - will transfer me to Tech support as there must be a problem. Tech support: Re-enter phone number and confirm ID again. Told that after checking my account I'd now been upgraded and it would be done by the 11th - went ballistic so re-transferred to customer services. Customer Services: Had to enter phone number and then confirm my ID to Op. Told it was being done gradually or maybe I would get a letter - she wasn't sure - asked for a manager. Manager: Yes its being done gradually but will refund me a month for whinging (didn't say that). So I finished by telling her Virgin was as shit as I'd expected and Blueyonder were a better company.

Did exactly the same at Charlton and Fulham - problem is no goals when on top. I'd guess Sheff U was the same except we scored in the first half and them somehow got a winner. It all boils down to missed chances - all this crap about having 4 good strikers next season. I'd keep Owen and ditch the rest (aswell as dyer obviously).

I agree to a large extent - I think its a myth that NUFC fans want "pure" football to the detriment of results but I just feel that Bolton are an extreme too far.

If he does come to us I'd find it a bit iffy that he had the chance in the past but sort of turned us down. A stark resignation puts paid to stuff last time around about the chairman not letting Fat Fred speak to him as he could have done the same then. As I've said before I think his "professionalism" is offset by by the odious style of football. I'm not convinced by the view that given "better" players and/or more resources he'd suddenly become a Wenger style football purist.

Random thoughts: I remember in 96 the Sunday Sun printing a letter from a mackem hoping(praying) that Keegan would leave to manage England. I remember thinking that was their best hope and I'd never go that low. I'm starting to think like that wirh Keane. They have no premiersip quality but I don't trust them not to buy any which is what happened last time. I have another pathetic hope that it might force the fat bastard to "care" a bit more. For those who grin "6 easy points" note thats thats not the norm - twice recently and before that in 93 makes 3 times in 50 years.

"You will not be allowed to leave" Bit strong.

Either he's capable and chooses not to which makes him an approver of evil or he's willing but not able which makes him a pathetic God.

Strictly speaking Birds and Reptiles have a common orifice for waste products and sex/eggs which I don't think is the equivalent of the mammalian fanny. I know, monotremes have the same thing. It was a rather light-hearted answer though You could have said Duck's arse and been just as right (or wrong).

Strictly speaking Birds and Reptiles have a common orifice for waste products and sex/eggs which I don't think is the equivalent of the mammalian fanny.

Haven't heard of that many of them but I've liked Jessica Alba since Dark Angel (prefer her dark) so no complaints. Putting aside worrying notions of how young she is I also like Hayden Panetierre. On that show note Ali Larter (as the evil twin) would also be higher for me.

The thing is if you accepted for a moment that we've only been "on the map" since say electricity was discovered/used (or maybe nuclear energy) then thats only a 200 year period out of 14 billion years. Playing the numbers game again a race would have to be extremely advanced to be able to scan the entire cosmos or even to send out a beacon with any chance of success.

The thing is once it has a hold life is pretty pervasive - we know of a few near extinction events on earth and there are probably a few from the early days we don't know about - I don't think its necessarily a case of everything having to be perfect for millions of years for the seeds to flourish. Of course this is a "life as we know it" view as well. As i've said before 100s of millions of galaxies with billions of stars points at a more "optimistic" view than your rarity stance.

Is life ubiquitous in the Universe, comparitively rare, or unique? There's no way of knowing but my money is on the middle one. I reckon this planet is dead. A pretty good match within "only" 20 light years boosts the probabililty numbers I would say. I've just started a book on how crucial water is to the earth in terms of everything including life - planets with water will be the key.

Playing along side someone like Woodgate for a few seasons might have helped (both him directly in is concentration and game and indirectly in the understanding of a settled partnership), but broadly I don't think he'll ever be coached out of his "oh shit" moments. That was the thing about selling Woodgate - imo it cost us two good players counting a "good" Titus - in fact Woody also made O'Brien look half decent so you could argue 2.5 good players at a push.

The problem is free breeding - I've been saying for years that the default should be mass sterilisation with licences for the antidote on a points basis. I know the technology isn't quite there and to be honest it really needs to be worldwide as what people keep forgetting about cliamte change is that theres about 4 or 5bn too many humans. In the west its charvas and in the third world its too many poor/diseased kids. Pandemic Bird flu would just scratch the surface - was talking about this at work - we really need China, India and the USA to be wiped off the map - double whammy of 2.5bn people and the worlds worst polluters. I know I sound callous but if we continue as we are theres no future for anyone. Having said all this we'd need some kind of world order to enforce it - probably alien invasion beckons. (I know - I've gone too far).

They lost a 13 point lead to Arsenal in 98. If we'd won it 97 then everyone would have forgotten 96.

Not saying she's a good mother but I think she deserves credit for keeping Ozzy alive till now.

The Toyota one for me - particularly when they dragged it out of the sea, started it and then hoyed in top of a building being demolished.

Put them in a ring and make them fight until they have to be carried out.

I met the bloke at the airport getting a fight back to Stansted after a game against Liverpool and I can confirm first hand that the bloke is a self-important wanker.

Poll playing the star again - look at me I'm so important - wanker. I remember listening to the game against Brum last season I think where Savage had been booked and committed another bookable offence in the last minute and the commentator said it was pointless sending him off as there was no advantage - there was - the fact that he could play the next game which he should have missed. Refs shouldn't decide on "big picture" issues like this - they should apply the rules.

Absolutely not - I'm an argumentative git by nature - I just meant it should be your own opinions and not those of critic X.

I just meant your suggestion that if you were told or read some kind of "deeper" explanation of what a film was about you could suddenly go "Ah, what I thought was garbage was actually a deep and meaningful insight into the human state". Theres nothing wrong with seeing something deeper yourself, even if you're the only one who sees it, but I think being told why something is good smacks of the emporer's new clothes. Not necessarily related to your comments but I also think its worth stating that even the most "serious" film fan can switch off their mind and enjoy a no brainer of a film (usually Arnie springs to mind) without worrying about depth. I always like to quote the Fast Show sketch where the middle class dinner party guests discuss french art films and the "get me coat" bloke says "Did anyone see that Truffaut film on channel 4 last night? - what a waste of time - it was in black & white, it had subtitles, nobody got killed and nobody got their kit off".

Few comments on this thread. Titanic I'm always in two minds about - 1h 35m is the key - that's when it hits the iceberg and from then on its okay but having said that the first half is saved for me because I adore Kate Winslet. I love Brazil - best ending ever - I also love 12 Monkeys. I think in general you have to make your own mind up without any arty-farty explainations - I think Donnie Darko is a marvellous film but when I read that the director's view had a decidedly religious angle and given my views on that it didn't make me want to chuck the DVD away - my view of it still holds and as I said I think its great. Happy Face's view suggests to me being told why I should like certain music - being told what St Peppers means does not change my opinion that it is drug-addled hippy shite. I'm just old enough to remember The Exorcist on release although I wasn't old enough to see it - that made it more of a taboo and I have to say I did find it scary when I eventually did see it. I agree it looks aged now but thats like everything else - horror films did surpass the thrills in it but then people became so used to the genre that more humour has had to have been added to sell those kinds of films more recently. I still maintain that Escape to Victory is probably the worst ever film in my view.