El Pibe

Churchill, just remembered the 2 million dead in Bangladesh, perhaps not then.

ha, not naming names :)

:) JFK my arse. FDR, now that's another matter. Churchill, well yes and no, but I'm inclined to feel that his will to resist nazism outweighs his black marks. A Britain that sued for peace would have made for a much darker world. Steveo, perhaps, noone's sure but it probably was an accident, certainly doesn't count against the hundreds of thousands of lives he surely spared had he been more of an Assad mindset. Perhaps even less famous than Bevan (and I'm inclined to agree with D_C again on that point*) butI'm going to add Bertrand Russell as one of the 20th century's greats. *just cos le tis didn't wow a world cup, don't mean he weren't the best.

"Explain why humans are more entitled to occupy the face of the Earth than other creatures. Humour me." well none obviously, but given that the rest of the animal kingdom doesn't function on any moral compass, then we can do what the fuck we like to them. Same goes for trees, cunts!!!!

King Juan Carlos. Offered total power on a platter, but steered what might have been a revisit to the civil war or yugoslavia style break up, through a peaceful transition, to democracy. A genuine great.

Louisa set the question, 20th century types who made a [implicitly positive] difference.

bevan sprung to mind too. Ghandi definitely. Theresa was apparently a psycho! I still think John Major was underrated.

;) positive keith, positive!

"One of the few great inspirational leaders of the 20th century who genuinely made a difference." plenty who made a difference in that century; made a positive one might be fewer. SO who else is up there in the universal paludits category?

In fact I can't help but think that, like Napoleon's captains, Fergie was lucky. Under him they played badly and nicked games they should have lost. Under Moyes they could be playing better but the other team are nicking those one point or two points, I guess he's unlucky.

to answer it seriosuly, there's no way they'llhave the virtual monopoly on the premiership any more, but they'll still be in with a shout rather than in the cold. They've simply too much power and wealth in a sport geared towards rich clubs, in an environment where short of catastrophe smaller clubs are prevented from entry, whilst bigger clubs are stuck in a positive reinforcing loop. It is fun to watch though. Welcome back to the real world chaps!!

Red Devil illustrates his point about the dangers of anthropomorphism

blah blah free lunch etc...

cor, despite a missed week its beginning to feel all 85/6 here. It'll all go horribly wrong on frozen pitches no doubt.

Whilst we're at it when moving a thread (I imagine) it'll be lovely to be able to put some in "The Bin"

I think you're confusing books and socks again Loz. No wonder you've all those bunions.

nicely sums up the north east identity crisis http://casa.oobrien.com/misc/londonlocal.jpg

Lovely!!

It's how I've felt about it since day one maxxi. West Ham have never given succuor to the soul through victory but through beauty.

I suppose the danger is that the main room suddenly has chirruping and tumbleweed.

I think that was his point!

THe Incident Room :) seconded, especially if we can lump 'a cyclist/car cut me up at the lights...' in there!!!

We are West 'am Super West 'am Noone loses against us We don't care

FUnnily enough I was talkiung about crash blossoms this morning THis was good, "Woman Tied to Gun Used to Kill Colorado Prisons Chief"

"I think this is only in societies/ circumstances where queuing is normal" I lament its passing every time there's a scrum to get on a bus.