matthew123

Certain abbreviated names in the UK at this moment in time are considered derogatory - regardless of context or tone, whereas in other parts of the world they are considered innocent as they don't have the same association. For instance in the UK we can call an Australian an Aussie but maybe not an Argentine an Argie. As for the word c*nt, what are people trying to reclaim it for? as it's already in wide use up and down the country in same manner as f*ck.

Well having just seen Ronaldo collect his World Ego of Year award from Ferguson, I couldn't help think Liverpool were actually, "30 miles from Fagan and the Artful Dodger"

Well spotted Jeremy, maybe the jury need to reconvene

Maybe they come in litre pots!? I'll be sticking to the BudVar..

Unfortunately, probably to do with the media to an extent, we never hear from these lobby groups in the good times. For instance we never heard from the enviromentalists when the price of oil was $150 a barrel / ?1.20 per ltr, they could have been saying, "this is good news, people cannot afford to drive their cars and pollute the air" - instead we hear business groups piping on about manufacturing costs but they've now fallen silent with oil & interest rates plunging. In effect lobby groups have their own selfish motives so for me they have no credibility. Is that too cynical!? ;-)

BTW Sandperson, I was referring to Steve Bennett ;-) ...and as for Kaka turning down ?500,000 per week from Man City that says everything you need to know about the futile job performed by the Manchester Tourism Board.

Well if Heathrow loses its footing as the central hub in Europe to likes of Amsterdam then according to business leaders there will be a huge impact on the economy and loss of jobs. On the otherhand if the country does go into freefall we might be able to free up vast areas of concrete Britain to agriculture and return to the days of working the land when everyone was - allegedly - happy, healthy and the only pollution was cow sh*t ;-) Personally I'd like to see a bill passed in the commons that ensured that travelling by train is considerably cheaper for everyone. No wonder people fly domestically or tough it out on the motorways when an off peak return ticket from London to the North East can cost about ?90.

That S***y does not find it offensive is irrelevant, however Harry might be such a dope that he does not link it in any way to racism. After all Harry's exposure to the world before bonding with his pal S***y could have been limited to Childrens TV, which based on what we now know about the Royal Family intellect is not that far fetched. Remember this is the idiot who went to a fancy dress party as an SS officer. I was once chatting to an Aussie is an open office and he quite loudly said (as they do ;-), "we're playing the P***'s in cricket", and whilst everyone was shocked an Aussie girl gave him a stunned look and told him, "you can't say that over here [in UK]" ... so it is possible for people detached to make an innocent remark even if other people (us in UK) associate it with 100% racism.

Rafa back in hospital today for a 3rd kidney stone operation ...and guess who is charge of tonight's game at Old Trafford... yup you guessed it Rafa

When Fanny Trollope went to America with her children, that resulted in her famous(UK)/infamous(US) travel journal book, she left behind in London her son Anthony and "mad" husband... but she did also take along a young French artist... which of course raises the question whether there were some scandalous entries missing from her travel log.. Someone has done some quite interesting research on Fanny... http://trollope.org/old/htmlarcs/msg00731.html

I think it was his Mother

How about "The Domestic Manners of the Americans" by Fanny Trollope - although it's a travel log from the 1830s, it is very entertaining.

..and for something that is very entertaining, as well as thought provoking, I must strongly recommend - "Candide" by Voltaire

Well it's a decent write-up but how the media spin stories is not as influential on results as applying the right kind of pressure on refereeing officials. I noted a slight nervousness in Rafa when he made his ground breaking revelations last Friday and I'm sort of glad he has done his warm-up in January rather than shaking like a lamb come the Spring, when it really will be gloves off or usually is for Fergie. This is the take from Patrick Barclay - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/4213791/Managerial-mind-games-do-not-decide-titles-but-FA-must-deal-with-Sir-Alex-Fergusons-careless-remarks.html

Crime and Punishment... well it is thought provoking!

Just picking up on that last point. I was at that Sheffield United game, and if Stevie G had not hurdled that scissors tackle he'd have had his leg broken besides defender being sent off and getting the penalty. That for me is a clear penalty - it's bit like saying you only get sent off if your punch connects with the opponents nose. Yes Gerrard has been given a number of soft penalties most lately against Atletico Madrid, and Michael Owen has certainly done his duty for England. It's probably that hyprocracy that would have seen tabloids demanding the V.C. for Rooney if he'd managed to get Ronaldo sent off in last World Cup in the same manner he was red carded. Keef do you not think United practice certain illegal maneuvers on the training pitch? and just so people don't think I'm picking on United same also applies to Chelsea under Mourinho. Who'll ever forget Carvalho spinning Barcelona goalkeeper around at corner kick and then Terry nods ball into unprotected goal from 18 yards!

One thing I would say, and this might be a bit cynical, I do get the impression that Israel are very much working to a deadline before next Tuesday when the new President Barack takes office with possibly a new set of rules.

Sandperson, is that a nervous chuckle we hear as I hammer home the truth of the matter!? Please tell, what exactly have I said that you disagree with - and I don't want to hear your opinion just FACTS ;-)

Well we can sit on the sidelines and wash our hands of it all - or we can suggest formulas for peace. If the former approach was forever taken - as all countries have been guilty of the same actions or crimes if you like at some time or another - then we would be, or soon be, living in a lawless society without responsibility. There is always a counter argument for pretty much everything in this part of the world. I know you are not proposing we watch Israel chalk up a cricket score but regardless of the fact Israel is not going to listen to our "preaching" - a lack of doing anything sends out the wrong message to the rest of the middle east who will continue to pedal the myth that the West wants to drive them all into the sea and is only interested in their oil.

You said "who are we to tell Israel off for what they are doing? They've still got another 599 thousand people to go to catch up with the 'coalition of the willing's' death toll."

So we should wait for Israel to catch up in the numbers game before they feel obliged to listen to the wicked West?

Until Referees start showing yellow cards to tw@ts like Ferdinand, Neville and Rooney when they charge up to officials spouting their heads off and have the body language that they're going to head butt someone this Respect campaign will continue to be a joke. We have Ronaldo every other week rolling over and screaming like a schoolgirl trying to get opponents booked - and then when boot is on other foot it's always a sheepish apology to player and ref. I know all clubs have their moments but it tends to be spontanious and not something worked out on the training field like it seems to be at United. The case in point being Vidic congratulating himself as much as Berbatov for his illegal "Basketball" block for the 3rd goal versus Chelsea.

What!? We have to bury our head in the sand, or should that be mud, with shame due to behaviour of our ancesters?

Well the list is endless and I've not been keeping a list but so let us get ball rolling with MANCWATCH from yesterday with these Refereeing "mistakes" :- MANCWATCH verus Chelsea ======================= 1) No card for Rooney when swiping at Boswinga in first half 2) No card for Rooney snarling at Ref over free kick (see 1) 3) No card for Rooney intimidating linesman after disallowed corner kick goal. 4) No card for Ronaldo after kicking Lampard in ankle 5) Letting the 3rd goal stand after Vidic block 6) No card for Ronaldo when he put ball into net after whistle already blown for offside 7) No card for Ronaldo after diving in box after tusseling with Carvalho in box.

Rafa wants to put pressure on Referees taking charge of United - mission accomplished. The bit about Rafa being disturbed, cracking under pressure, losing the plot is a sideshow and it's the trivial reaction to be expected from commentators and journalists who are more partizan than credible. If United play football that merits victory then great they'll deserve the honours but Rafa just wants to make sure it's no longer aided by Referees who make cowardly decisions - even if it is at the cost of his personal reputation. Rafa YNWA.