tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186740432024-03-07T08:10:38.572+00:00Random Thoughts of a Whitley Bay ExileBeing the life and rants of a 30 something former Whitley Bay resident in Cambridge. Also a lot about cricket.damohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663383330826934805noreply@blogger.comBlogger195125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18674043.post-31541479737115658432009-09-14T12:17:00.000+00:002009-09-14T12:18:25.335+00:00goneDamien has relocated to twitter and facebook.<br />http://twitter.com/whitcamDdamohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663383330826934805noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18674043.post-81718910389209881212009-06-17T12:59:00.001+00:002009-06-17T12:59:25.232+00:00Rum. I like Rum.<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinzYnyKfnkaHH3XSVGlBEnTHhTSSN3r4_vS0M711sgocECv468jikuDRM9URAbmZKxcJIiQwsA_h-Fgy6hQncV9EcvFfKS9l8MwaNn65MY1twD9C8na4FZB5fm7kXEYeQMTOX6Fg/s1600-h/image-upload-23-764094.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinzYnyKfnkaHH3XSVGlBEnTHhTSSN3r4_vS0M711sgocECv468jikuDRM9URAbmZKxcJIiQwsA_h-Fgy6hQncV9EcvFfKS9l8MwaNn65MY1twD9C8na4FZB5fm7kXEYeQMTOX6Fg/s320/image-upload-23-764094.jpg"/></a><br /><span>Lunchtime tipple anyone?</span><br /></div>damohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663383330826934805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18674043.post-60404551574454315162009-06-11T11:50:00.004+00:002009-06-11T12:10:56.177+00:00The most expensive footballers...................in the world!!!!!!!!!!Having read of the impending transfer of one Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid for €80million and the recent massive transfer of Mr. Ricky Kaka for €60 million, i had an idea for a post.<br /><br />If you accept that some players today are very good, but are they as good as players of yore (Maradona vs Ronaldo, Zico vs Kaka, etc) then you could come up with a list of players, how much they'd be worth now and where they'd end up.<br />I am assuming for the purposes of this list that all players are 25 years old (prime of career), injury free and willing to move.<br /><br />Pele. No doubt one of the top 5 footballers of all time, the economics in Brazilian/South AMerican football would mean he would have been either sold to a third party (a la Tevez) or sold to Europe in fairly short order. playing Spain for either Barca/Madrid or Valencia - Transfer value €60 million - you can't top his goalscoring record.<br /><br />Diego Maradona -Currently playing for Inter Milan - Transfer Value €60 million.<br /><br />Alfredo Di Stefano - (IMO the best player in the history of the game) - Real Madrid (where else) €75 million.<br /><br />Ferenc Puskas - Up there with the best - AC Milan - €45 Million<br /><br />Gerd Muller - Best Goalscorer bar none - Man Utd/Chelsea - €50 million<br /><br />Johan Cruijff - Barca - €50 million<br /><br />Kenny Daglish - Liverpool - €35 million<br /><br />Chris Waddle - Juventus - €28 million<br /><br />Zico - Inter Milan - €60 million<br /><br />Dr. Socrates - Real Madrid - €50 million<br />you get the idea.damohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663383330826934805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18674043.post-86923203398000541192009-05-27T12:20:00.000+00:002009-05-27T12:21:55.671+00:00Down, Down - We've gone down.The Daily Hate has come up with a list of players at the Toon who should be staying and going.<br />Here's my take.<br /><br /><br />NICKY BUTT £60,000 a week — Can't play for 90 mins - Bye Bye<br />STEVEN TAYLOR £40,000 — Time to say goodbye - Not as good as he or his father thinks he is.<br />DANNY GUTHRIE £40,000 — will do well in Championship - still not creative enough.<br />SHOLA AMEOBI £40,000 — Should have been sold 3 seasons ago (how the fuck is he on £40,000 a week????????<br />STEVE HARPER £30,000 — deserves a run as No 1. very good underrated keeper.<br />RYAN TAYLOR £30,000 — should pick up in lower level. Decent player if nothing else could help the promotion push.<br />MICHAEL OWEN £105,000 — Good riddance to bad rubbish<br />DAMIEN DUFF £70,000 — says he wants to stay (yeah, right). - "Keep paying me the £70K so I can continue to do sod all every week.<br />OBAFEMI MARTINS £70,000 — Bye Oba, We'll miss you.<br />ALAN SMITH £60,000 — Should never have signed him in the first place.<br />MARK VIDUKA £60,000 — Bye bye pasty boy<br />GEREMI £60,000 — never should have signed him.<br />JONAS GUTIERREZ £50,000 — Has good heart, we should keep him.<br />HABIB BEYE £50,000 — Bye Habib, we'll miss you.<br />IGNACIO GONZALEZ £50,000 — on loan as far as I know - byeeeeeeee<br />CACAPA £40,000 — worse than Brian Pinas - why did we sign him?<br />SEBASTIEN BASSONG £30,000 — one of Newcastle’s few assets. He should be kept - looked excellent<br />PETER LOVENKRANDS £20,000 — brief loan spell to end. Bye peter - not convincing enough<br />KEVIN NOLAN £50,000 — You can't turn tripe into steak.<br />JOEY BARTON £60,000 — Sack the nasty bastard now<br />JOSE ENRIQUE £60,000 — A good left back who will do a good shift.<br />FABRICIO COLOCCINI £60,000 — was good, but having only one good centre back in the club until Bassong came along meant he had to do two peoples jobs - yes, I am looking at Steven Taylor.<br />XISCO £50,000 — why did we buy him (looks good in the reserves, but then again so would I)<br /><br /><br />ps - that Nasty Bastard Matthew Syed has stuck the knives into Newcastle again on his Times column - Once a bitter table-tennis failure, always a failure - IMO.damohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663383330826934805noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18674043.post-9535457725067443702009-05-26T11:56:00.003+00:002009-05-26T11:57:52.356+00:00footballWe're down. I am not happy. But I can live with it.<br />I've had a season full of Man Utd fans insulting Newcastle United fans on the Guardian blogs.<br /><br /><br />To the people of Rome - I ask a simple favour.<br />Sharpen the knives and aim for the people in Red, White and Black.<br /><br />Cheers.damohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663383330826934805noreply@blogger.com355tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18674043.post-56763182376683081542009-05-22T11:58:00.001+00:002009-05-22T11:58:43.866+00:00new-ish meme<p>Where is your mobile phone? Bag</p> <p>Your significant other? Mrs.Palm</p> <p>Your hair? Gone</p> <p>Your mother? Gael</p> <p>Your Step-father? Tony</p> <p>Your favourite thing? Cricket</p> <p>Your dream last night? Work</p> <p>Your favourite drink? Gin &Tonic</p> <p>Your dream/goal? Millionaire</p> <p>What room are you in? Office</p> <p>Your hobby? Cricket</p> <p>Your fear? Unemployment</p> <p>Where do you want to be in 6 years? Beach</p> <p>Where were you last night? Bed</p> <p>Something that you aren’t? Rich</p> <p>Muffins? ummmmmmm</p> <p>Wish list item? House</p> <p>Last thing you did? Work</p> <p>What are you wearing? Clothes</p> <p>TV? Toshiba</p> <p>Your pets? none</p> <p>Friends? Some</p> <p>Your life? Meh</p> <p>Your mood? stressed</p> <p>Missing someone? Yes</p> <p>Your car? no</p> <p>Something you’re not wearing? Tie</p> <p>Your favourite store? Game</p> <p>Your favourite colour? Blue</p> <p>When is the last time you cried? yesterday</p> <p>Where do you go to over and over? Home</p> <p>My favourite place to eat? Newcastle</p> <p>Favourite place I’d like to be at right now? New Zealand</p>damohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663383330826934805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18674043.post-83418396858346595652009-05-12T12:17:00.002+00:002009-05-12T12:19:32.125+00:00MP's expensesHere's an easy one for you.<br /><br />Barr all current MP's from being an MP for the next ten years.<br />Hold new elections.<br />New MP's = less scandal.<br /><br />(also, whoever is the new PM - pass a law that requires Mandelson, Straw and Bliar to be imprisoned for life)damohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663383330826934805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18674043.post-58914769538907596202009-05-03T20:18:00.001+00:002009-05-03T20:18:58.306+00:00Me and lily<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKkzXLxTR_fLXcp2YmG8I8awQ1w3iVDDBy_kufiu1Bn-rEXWt6woi36jhZh87woA9eHp_VNlAvY9HQYqzGcv4mUI74u2iviV8wNPOlTbL66Mhq64lWAOC3ye1hqZ7-dee21D2mg/s1600-h/image-upload-110-736904.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKkzXLxTR_fLXcp2YmG8I8awQ1w3iVDDBy_kufiu1Bn-rEXWt6woi36jhZh87woA9eHp_VNlAvY9HQYqzGcv4mUI74u2iviV8wNPOlTbL66Mhq64lWAOC3ye1hqZ7-dee21D2mg/s320/image-upload-110-736904.jpg"/></a><br /><span>My niece. She is pretty.</span><br /></div>damohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663383330826934805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18674043.post-75349330720391349772009-04-14T16:40:00.002+00:002009-04-14T16:42:27.841+00:00updates and stuffIt's been a busy few weeks with not many posts appearing so:-<br />I am an uncle - My niece was born on the 8th April at 02.37am. I haven't met Lily yet, but that will be remedied in a couple of weeks.<br /><br />I've discovered the joys of Achievement whoring - goddam xbox - it's like crack.<br /><br />Newcastle United are going down.damohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663383330826934805noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18674043.post-26106669208399289462009-03-30T16:36:00.001+00:002009-03-30T16:37:41.193+00:00Craig Murray is a genius.This is brilliant.<br /><a href="http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/index.html">http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/index.html</a><br /><br />Craig Murray - I salute youdamohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663383330826934805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18674043.post-20298073278708468452009-03-25T13:46:00.002+00:002009-03-25T13:50:09.094+00:00more fantasy<p class="MsoNormal">A new day dawns</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Good day to you all.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">As a lifelong Newcastle United fan I have decided that enough is enough.<span style=""> </span>Having inherited the funds to buy the club I have made a tender offer to buy Newcastle United Football Club plc of £400million.<span style=""> </span>This bid has been accepted by Mr Ashley this morning and as of midnight tonight Newcastle United will be owned wholly by myself and my family.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">There will be changes at the club you know and love:-</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Dennis Wise has been removed as Director of Football with immediate effect – He was summoned to St.James’ Park for the ownership meeting to make his case for staying in the job and refused to travel up from London – This is unacceptable to me, and as such I have dismissed him from the payroll – he will not be getting his contract paid up. In fact - he will be fired out of a cannon into the sun.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Derek Liambas has been removed as Managing Director with immediate effect.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Richard Money will stay on as Academy head until at least the end of his contract.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I would like to thank Joe Kinnear for giving us a chance at staying up in the EPL, but with his heart problems we have paid him to the end of the mooted contract extension and are in the market for a new manager – Offers have been made to a few choices.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">My plans for the club are to put Newcastle back near to the top 4 where we belong –As a club with history and tradition we should be up near the top rather than where we are at present.<span style=""> </span>In order to get there painful decisions lie ahead.<span style=""> </span>If we get relegated this season then a lot of our established players will wish to leave – the economics of relegation and the realities of international football dictate that players will wish to leave.<span style=""> </span>However the plans are to get Newcastle back to the top 10 and work our way back up from there, rather than spending millions on marquee players whilst ignoring the areas of the team that need strengthening<span style=""> </span>– this is the way that Fat Freddie Shepherd and D.Hall started the rot in the first place.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">At this stage I would like to extend an invitation to the operators of NUFC.com & True Faith (web and magazine) to visit St. James’ park to discuss the future of the club and go over the way that the club communicates with fans.<span style=""> </span>I would also like to extend an invitation to the NUSC for a face-to-face meeting at St. James’ Park this Sunday after the game.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I want Newcastle to be at the forefront of the global game and would ideally like to start recruiting players from around the world who are world class.<span style=""> </span>I want Geordie kids to aim for playing for Newcastle and will make changes to the academy structure<span style=""> </span>because far too many local kids aren’t being picked up as footballers. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p><br />With the above in mind there are changes afoot.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The board will be composed of:-</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Myself (infrequently due to other commitments)</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Chairman</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Chief Executive Officer</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Managing Director</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Director of Football</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Fans representative x 2</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Scouting Director</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The roles above have been filed on a short-term basis by people I know and trust.<span style=""> </span>While their business acumen isn’t well known they are people who have the club’s interests at heart.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Chairman – This position has been offered to Mr Chris Mort – he did a very good job here first time and I would like him to return, but if my offer is not heeded then I would like to approach xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">CEO – This position has been offered to XXXXXXXXXXXXX.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Managing Director – XXXXXXXXXXXXX</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Director of Football – Offered to Alan Shearer.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Fans Representative – Two fans will be appointed on a one-year tenure – this tenure will include payment for attending meetings and a small stipend to supplement their income if required to attend meetings out of hours – if you wish to put yourself forward for this then please contact the club.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Scouting Director position is to be filled by XXXXXXXXXXX– The job will be to liaise with the academy director to try to unearth promising talent, to liaise with the Director of Football, Manager and Board to identify suitable targets and to work closely with the scouting networks around the globe on viewing targets.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The scouting networks are in dire need of updating.<span style=""> </span>As such we are in the process of hiring scouts to work in Western Europe, Northern and Western Africa, South America and the UK & Ireland – Other scouts will be deployed as the roles are filled.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Club Shares.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">10% of the club’s worth in shares will be awarded to be held in trust to the fans of Newcastle United.<span style=""> </span>This will give the fans a chance to vote on club matters.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Business.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">In order to make sure that United have the ability to climb the league, I have committed the following resources to the club.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Transfer Fees – to the manager’s/DOF’s discretion. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Players Wages – Thanks to the ineptitude of some of the previous regimes’ the spending of massive wages on stars past their prime has to stop.<span style=""> </span>We will pay competitive wages to players but will stop short of paying stupid money on players who haven’t performed in years.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Season Tickets – In these times of financial uncertainty I am announcing that all season ticket prices will be halved for the next two seasons and the projected loss will be paid by me – and an amount equalling this budget will be given to Sir Bobby Robson’s cancer charity to make sure that a legendary son of the North East keeps making lives better.<span style=""> </span>I want St. James’ Park to be full every week, and would like the fans to support the club they love.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The realities of football mean that while we are one of the better supported clubs in the league there may come a time when we will have to think about either relocating to a new stadium or redeveloping the existing one in order to get a possible stadium capacity of around 80-90 thousand.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>New players.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">There are players I would love to see wearing the Black and White. Unfortunately due to our league position we cannot guarantee that these players will want to come to St. James’ Park.<span style=""> </span>I have given a list of players to scout (after discussion with the manager and scouting director) and we will do our best in delivering good football back to Newcastle fans.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I want United to play free-flowing attacking football at all levels of the club. To look into this I have approached Ajax Amsterdam and Boca Juniors so I can take a look at their infrastructures so Newcastle can copy this coaching model.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I ask the fans to help me taking the club forward – Onwards and Upwards.<span style=""> </span></p>Haway the lads. <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Regards</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times new roman;font-size:85%;" >*If only*</span><br /></p>damohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663383330826934805noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18674043.post-14360825041518064022009-03-23T13:15:00.004+00:002009-03-23T13:35:00.103+00:00Oh just FUCK OFF!Right, I am getting more and more pissed by the minute so I'll keep it brief.<br /><br />Jade Goody dies - tragedy, taken before her time, etc, etc.<br /><br />This isn't news.<br />every newspaper has something<br />Radio 5 did a programme dedicated to her (hosted by the contemptible Stephen Nolan).<br />The internet is awash with stories.<br />I've heard that people are laying wreaths at her house. These would probably be the same people who laid flowers for Princess Di. How about a suggestion - We get to euthenise all of the people who read Hello and OK?<br /><br />I don't care - she is dead, she wasn't famous for anything real. Just fucking leave it alone and leave it off the fucking radio/tv.<br /><br />thanks<br /><br />*don't get me started on the following*<br />Gordon Brown/NuLabour<br />Newcastle United<br />The economy<br /><br />thanks<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family: courier new;">ps - I'll qualify all of this - In the last two months I've lost my Grandmother(old age) and my Aunt (cancer). Both of these extraordinary women had done their utmost to raise children in the correct way, to be polite and courteous to others and to work hard, pay tax and keep the country running - What the hell did the Goody woman ever do for this country?</span></span>damohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663383330826934805noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18674043.post-37373003263930072572009-03-03T14:34:00.002+00:002009-03-03T14:38:45.678+00:00a reasoned responseA large shout out to CIF poster NORTH. Good work.<br /><br />There is a blog on the Grauniad's <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree">Comment is free</a> website from Tariq Ali.<br /><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/mar/03/pakistan-srilanka?commentpage=2">This might be one of the best responses I've read on CIF for a long time.</a><br /><br /><br />Pakistan has been a disaster waiting to happen right from the establishment of the state. BTW Freyaloki, the British never were that keen on setting up 'The Land of the Pure" (What a joke that name is) as it greatly complicated our exit from the old Indian empire. The UK would have been far happier to leave a unified Indian state. Pakistan happened because Jinnah and the Muslim League made it happen.<br />The trouble with Pakistan was/is that there were no other unifying factors other than Islam.Culturally and ethnically Pakistan is split in innumerable ways. Scindis v Punjabis. Baluchis v central government, Pashtun speakers and other 'tribal' peoples v the more settled peoples of the Indus valley, Sunni v Shiah etc. etc.. In addition the state has been cursed with an upper class of almost unparalleled greed and irresponsibility. They pay hardly any tax and are amongst the most corrupt people on this planet.<br />As a result of all this the state has been run by military governments for about half its history. The present civilian government probably won't last long. The present upsurge in violent Islamism was encouraged by the late, unlamented Zia Al Huq, in association with various feudal landowners, as a way of opposing the equally corrupt but popular Zufilkar Ali Bhutto ,before Al Huq killed him. The ISI are up to their armpits in Islamic extremism and were almost certainly mixed up in the recent Mumbai bombings.The Taliban were never created by the West (the mujahedeen were). The Taliban were always the Pakistani military's bitch, created to extend Pakistani influence as a part of Pakistan's endless and pointless rivalry with India. Pointless, because India is now so far ahead of Pakistan in terms of military power and development potential.<br />Now the bitch is biting its creator. The cultural and linguistic similarities between Afghanistan and the Tribal Areas of Pakistan means that the jihadist ideology of the Taliban has crossed back into Pakistan. In addition the fact that several generations of young Pakistanis have been educated in Saudi financed madrassahs means there was a large and receptive audience for the Taliban message. Add on the final point, that large sections of the Pakistani military's officer corps was heavily Islamicised from the 70s onward and many officers and senior NCO's actually sympathise with the Islamist ideology and it really isn't surprising that Pakistan is gradually dissolving into chaos. Under such circumstances it is also not surprising that the US is starting to take matters into its own hands to combat Pakistan based groups which are crossing over into Afghanistan to kill US troops.<br />Stop press. The latest Pakistani excuses are 1) Its all the fault of the Americans because of their drones and even more ludicrously a Pakistani minister has accused India of being behind this latest attack.<br />In the long run I expect India will 'take care' of Pakistan. We should be getting much closer to India.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Good post.damohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663383330826934805noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18674043.post-45129262188105926432009-02-25T16:58:00.001+00:002009-02-25T17:00:20.085+00:00Who watches the........................Watchmen?<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.watchmenmovie.co.uk/intl/uk/">film is coming out next month</a> and I urge everybody who reads this to go and watch it and then buy the book.<br /><br />I'll obviously report on the film when I see it, but the reviews are <a href="http://chud.com/articles/articles/18250/1/REVIEW-WATCHMEN/Page1.html">very positive</a>.<br /><br />*and yes - I am a nerd.damohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663383330826934805noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18674043.post-23709123500449615282009-02-25T10:12:00.000+00:002009-02-25T10:13:41.696+00:00waste of timeToday Hazel Bleurgh, sorry that’s Blears has had a story published about the fact she is going to do a speech about the problems of being too PC.<br /><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/feb/24/hazelblears">http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/feb/24/hazelblears</a><br />Save it pet. This is a vain attempt to appeal to the readers of the Sun and Mirror and hope that they vote to keep her and the Neo-Fascist Nu-Labour party in power.<br /><br />The only way I'll ever vote Labour again is if Blair, Borwn, Mandelson, Straw and Blunkett all get executed for crimes against humanity for their role in the Iraq war.<br /><br />Ddamohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663383330826934805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18674043.post-68846358104660134082009-02-24T17:48:00.002+00:002009-02-24T17:53:43.795+00:00Total CrapWas looking at the Guardian comment is free website this afternoon and stumbled upon this <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/feb/24/civil-libertieshttp://">gem of an article</a> by David Blunkett, MP for Sheffield.<br /><br />As articles go it is breathtaking in it's arrogance.<br /><br />I was going to post a reply but you can guarantee that Blunkett won't have the replies read to him by a flunky.<br /><br />Idiot.damohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663383330826934805noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18674043.post-11057207715677873902009-02-23T11:38:00.000+00:002009-02-23T11:39:00.789+00:00There are a few things making me a bit pissed at the mo.Let's start with an easy one.<br />Jade Goody.<br />Firstly, it's an unfortunate occurance that a young woman is dying before her children are fully grown.<br />However - why is her wedding on the national news? - THIS ISN'T NEWS. The BBC don't devote even a tenth of the coverage to UK soldiers dying in Afghanistan (for example), but because she's famous(for being on a crap reality show no less!) she merits a mention on the 5 live national news bulletin. Utter bollocks (and don't even get me started on Big Brother).<br />I did spend several seconds ranting at the radio over this.<br />I can honestly say that I think this is the start of the new generation of reality TV. "People dying while you watch right here on Channel 4" (the pioneers of reality telly). There is a videogame in which you have to murder people live on camera and you get better points for the more gruesome execution you perform for the cameras. It's called Manhunt. It's not a great game and the interface was particularly shonky. The game got a load of abuse when it came out and was banned in several countries. I can see TV getting like this soon.<br /><br />Another one.<br />Abu Qatada.<br />Came to this country with a forged passport, was described by various intelligence agencies as "Bin Laden's Right-Hand man in Europe". Wanted by lots of countries on lots of charges. Now, he's come from a country with whose government he doesn't agree with and wants to change his orignal government and ours to match his extremist lifestyle. Comes here and starts to preach hatred of non-muslims. I don't agree that he should have been locked up without charge, he should have been put on trial and the evidence heard at a public hearing. But, last week the European Court of Anti-British rulings has given him some cash to spend on explosives (for being locked up without charge) and will be shortly telling the UK Government that they can't deport him. Liberty and Amnesty keep sending mouthpieces to media outlets to try and say "this shouldn't happen" - So just for me, when the bombs are being readied can the terrorists please send the bombs to the families of people who work for Liberty and Amnesty so they can defend the rights of the terrorists and ignore what happended to their families? Tossers.<br />Dear Mr. Qataba - just sod off - go anywhere but don't stay here.<br />Here's a quick one for the people of Britain.<br />Why are we in the EU if they constantly vote against UK interests? No clue.<br />Would the EU change their tune if we sent Qatada to brussels and let him abuse his freedom there? Probably.<br /><br />Another one.<br />The financial state of the country.<br />We're in a mess.<br />No manufacturing base, no real money being generated. Not a good time to be around, unless you work for a bank or the stock market (you guys will always get your money).<br />Dear Prime Minister - You want to raise some funds for the country and government? Try taxing religious institutions. It's not the 14th century anymore and you don't need to bribe a local charlatan/priest to guarantee you entry into Heaven/Kingdom of the dead/Eleysium/Valhalla/Jannah, etc etc*(substitute any fictional afterlife created by religions for gullible idiots here). The government would get loads of cash, and the religions who don't like it can dismantle their temples and sod off abroad - and that then solves the problem of religious extremists coming to Britain. Easy.<br /><br />Transport.<br />In order for me to get the Newcastle this Friday for a funeral I may have to pay £93 to the train companies for the comfort of not having a seat, getting grief from surly staff and having random people come up to me and say "that's my seat".<br />British Rail - Ripoff Rail more like.<br />The cheapest Airfare I can get is £84 - and that's only if I leave at reallyfuckingearly AM and return on the day I am due to get back to work (and consequently be late).<br />Even the coaches are going to cost me £60+ (plus a 60 minute wait in Milton Keynes for my money) for a 8 hour journey.<br />The government can bleat all they want about climate change, but until they start making public transport more affordable everybody will still take their cars.<br /><br />Rant over for the morning (this morning at least).damohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663383330826934805noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18674043.post-72900105968191403102009-02-20T09:37:00.002+00:002009-02-20T09:41:17.922+00:00bereavementTo lose one relative might be considered unfortunate.<br /><br />To lose two within a month might be considered careless.<br /><br /><br />bye grandma.damohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663383330826934805noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18674043.post-23920919309024395562009-02-18T17:09:00.001+00:002009-02-18T17:19:25.458+00:00800 years and all that1209 - Groups of scholars congregate at the ancient Roman trading post of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambridge">Cambridge</a> for the purpose of study, the earliest record of the University.<br /><br />1381 - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peasants_Revolt">The Peasant’s Revolt</a>. A mob led by the city's mayor stormed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corpus_Christi_College,_Cambridge">Corpus Christi College</a>, burning records and books, in protest against its rigid exaction of "candle rents", or rent charges assessed upon houses in its ownership, according to the number of wax-tapers found. A wage freeze and a new poll tax ignites the Peasant's Revolt. Led by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Tyler">Wat Tyler</a>, the peasants march on London to protest, but King Richard's forces behead Tyler and the uprising is swiftly crushed.<br /><br />1446 - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_VI_of_England">Henry VI</a>, founder of Eton and of King's College, Cambridge, lays the first stone of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King%27s_College_Chapel,_Cambridge">King's College Chapel</a>. The founding charter of King's was written by John Broke (documented 1443-1450) clerk of the chancery, and illuminated by the London artist William Abell (documented 1450-d.1474).<br /><br />1584 - The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambridge_University_Press">Cambridge University Press</a>, the world's oldest-established press, begins its unbroken record of publishing every year until the present.<br /><br />1687 - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_newton">Isaac Newton</a> publishes '<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophi%C3%A6_Naturalis_Principia_Mathematica">Principia Mathematica</a>', establishing the fundamental principles of modern physics.<br /><br />1787 - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wordsworth">Wordsworth</a> enters <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_John%27s_College,_Cambridge">St John's</a>, and publishes his first poem. He later became Poet Laureate.<br /><br />1859 - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwin">Charles Darwin</a>'s '<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_The_Origin_of_Species">On the Origin of Species</a>' is published. This was followed by The Descent of Man (1871) which argued that humans and apes shared a common ancestor - a theory which revolutionised our understanding of life.<br /><br />1988 - Professor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Hawking">Stephen Hawking</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucasian_Professor_of_Mathematics">Lucasian Professor of Mathematics,</a> publishes his book, 'A Brief History of Time' one of the best selling scientific books of all time. He is already eminent for his work on black holes and the Big Bang theory of the origin of the universe. <br /><br />2009 - The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Cambridge">University of Cambridge</a> celebrates its 800th anniversary.<br /><br /><br />The University is 800 years old this year and the University is celebrating this by doing a load of events and things all year in the city. They've created and erected a load of banners celebrating the various anniversaries going on this year.<br /><a href="http://www.800.cam.ac.uk/page/36/streetlight-banners.htm">http://www.800.cam.ac.uk/page/36/streetlight-banners.htm</a><br /><br />All of this is quite interesting and for a history buff like me it's a brilliant time to be around.damohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663383330826934805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18674043.post-42088762181442725422009-02-14T21:58:00.003+00:002009-02-14T22:07:34.194+00:00Q and Awell, I'm in the north east until tomorrow after attending my aunts funeral - it was a lovely service, no religious crap (it was a humanist service) and I cried through most of it. I really lost it with the song "inch by inch", as I can remember singing that with my family when I was a nipper.<br /><br />I watched the England v Wales game today and do have a couple of questions.<br />1 - why the hell do the BBC allow Eddie Butler to spout such Anti-English crap during his commentaries?<br />2 - Have the IRB decided that England will get pinged for every offence in the book, yet told the referees to allow every other team to infringe all the time because England being successful isn't good for the game? Another case of biased reffing - although at least it wasn't that cheating scumbag Alain Rolland.<br /><br />what todays post is on is the Derek Liambas interview in the local rag.<br /><br />below are the list of the questions.<br /><br /><br />I've just got one question Mike - Do you think that the protests will cease if only 10000 people actually come to watch the team when they play in the championship?<br /><br /><br /><br />COMMUNICATION<br />Can you offer any explanation as to why there has been a lack of communication from the club and owner. But particularly during the time when Kevin Keegan departed the club?<br />Why was there no press conference/ statement from the club when Keegan left the club?<br />Why did you never follow the example set by Chris Mort who communicated with the fans?<br />Why can’t Mike Ashley talk to the fans in a fans forum (such as the NUSC) or speak directly to the local press regarding his plans for the club?<br />Will you be improving the PR with the fans by communicating regularly through the local media?<br />Can you explain why Mr Ashley completely ignored a request from NUSC to meet in a location of his choice to liase with fans?<br />Does this interview signal a change in management style which will keep the fans informed as to which direction the club is heading?<br />MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE<br />What exactly does Dennis Wise do and will he be staying?<br />If Mike Ashley cares about the club and listens to the fans why didn’t he reinstate Keegan and get rid of Wise?<br />Was employing Wise the biggest mistake you made? - a manager should never have players forced upon him.<br />Are there any plans to abolish the two-tier continental style management structure - as Spurs have - as it is not working?<br />Would Mike consider re-appointing Chris Mort as chairman?<br />How can you justify running a company from London when the company’s head office and entire operation is based in Newcastle?<br />Can you please detail the current management structure at NUFC and the job descriptions of Dennis Wise, Mike Ashley and yourself?<br />You are always sat on your own at matches. Do you not have any friends?<br />Given your background in the entertainment industry, Derek, how do you think this makes you qualified to run one of the biggest clubs in the world?<br />TRANSFERS<br />Do you think the lack of money spent in the transfer window will cost you in the long run with relegation a real possibility?<br />Is it true the entire first team squad was available for transfer during the summer window?<br />Why bring in Keegan and then not back him with transfer funds?<br />How can Mike Ashley claim to care about the club when he refuses to invest in players. His net spend is just £2.1million?<br />How do you account for making a profit in the last transfer window of nearly £8m when it was blatantly obvious the squad needed to be strengthened?<br />During the transfer window why didn’t the Shay Given deal proceed on the condition Michael Johnson came the other way? And did you honestly believe Sunderland would sell Kieran Richardson?<br />It was clear to everyone you needed to increase the squad size during the transfer window to avoid relegation, why was everything left until the last minute?<br />With Mark Viduka and Michael Owen looking likely to leave in the summer why have we not purchased a striker during the transfer window?<br />Who signed Xisco and why?<br />What happened to the James Milner cash?<br />Geordies can handle the truth. Is there any money for transfers or not?<br />Who has the final say on transfers, ingoing or outgoing, Wise or Keegan/Kinnear?<br />At this moment in time is the club self-sustainable or is there pressure to sell players to bring money in?<br />Sebastien Bassong and Jonas Gutierrez have been good signings to be fair, but will they still be at Newcastle next season given the current trend of selling our best players?<br />VISION FOR THE FUTURE<br />Many fans believe you are destroying NUFC. Discuss<br />How do you respond to Shay Given’s criticism?<br />What are the long-term plans for NUFC – if there are any?<br />What is your current vision for NUFC and how do you plan to achieve this?<br />Where do you see Newcastle United in five years time and how are we going to get there?<br />Why are Newcastle fans treated with such contempt by you and Mike?<br />How confident are you about escaping relegation and is there a plan in place if that disaster happens?<br />When you were trying to sell the club did anyone get as far as due diligence?<br />Is it true you and Mike were drinking in a bar in Dubai instead of meeting with a potential buyer?<br />Has there been any interest in the club since Mike took it off the market?<br />Do you accept you have made mistakes in how the club has been run?<br />Do you apologise for the upset you have caused with your actions and decisions?<br />SEASON TICKETS<br />I’ve paid for my season ticket for three years after being sold the Keegan dream. Can I get a refund on the remaining two years?<br />What would you say to anybody who is considering giving up their season ticket and what are the incentives to come back in August?<br />Given the fact attendances are down are you still looking at expanding the stadium?<br />Why were senior and disabled season tickets raised by 20%?<br />In recent games, such as the Hull City FA Cup replay, there have been yet more complaints about heavy handed stewarding for incidents as trivial as standing up when the team gets near the goal. Is this something you are looking into because it is bad customer service?<br />JOE KINNEAR<br />Now the club is off the market is it not time to look for a good, young manager?<br />It was made clear to fans at the time of Joe Kinnear’s appointment that he was only here to steady the ship so why have you offered him a two-year contract?<br />Has Joe been offered a two year contract? If so why when the majority of fans do no think he is the man to take us forward?<br /><br /><br />after the interview (not really hard-hitting) I have to say one thing - it was exceptionally bad PR waffle.damohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663383330826934805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18674043.post-29503718535284794722009-02-11T15:30:00.001+00:002009-02-11T15:39:21.277+00:00Monbiot the hero<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/feb/10/hazel-blears-george-monbiot">http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/feb/10/hazel-blears-george-monbiot</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I have to say that it’s a very good idea to read the above link.<span style=""> </span>George Monbiot’s column is an excellent reposte to a power-hungry leech who isn’t interested in serving her country – she’s only interested in making sure she’s got enough money in the bank and slavishly following the whims of the power-mad NuLabour government.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I read a book once (fiction) which had a system of government which I like the idea of.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">It went something like this.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“When you accede to the role of minister, prime minister, etc all of your assets and bank accounts are placed in a central governmental account.<span style=""> </span>If you do well and the country makes money then you get a profit on your deposit – if the country did badly, then you’ve only got your self to blame.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";">Not sure it would work in the real world but the idea of David “just call me Dave” Cameron being homeless because he couldn’t get the country running well strikes me as funny</span>damohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663383330826934805noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18674043.post-45652055841520171592009-01-15T10:21:00.001+00:002009-01-15T10:39:22.503+00:00Real life vs Fantasy life<p class="MsoNormal">Newcastle United 0 – Hull City 1</p> <p class="MsoNormal">FA Cup Third Round 2008-2009 season.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It’s times like these that make you want to tear your hair out in frustration (if I had any that is).</p> <p class="MsoNormal">So, in real life:</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Newcastle United are in the lower half of the league.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Can’t buy a win for love nor money, have a massively injury hit squad - players who don’t want to play for the club (Charles N’Zogbia, Little Saint Mick and Shay Given) while other players just want to sit on fat contracts doing fuck all (step forward Alan Smith) and fans who are bordering on the rebellious.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Management structure is up in the air – The owner can’t sell the club, the scouting networks are in ruins and we have a director of football who can’t tell his arse from his elbow and a manager who was killed by a sniper on a grassy knoll in 1963 (sorry – wrong JFK).</p> <p class="MsoNormal">And to cap it all off we are the butt of a lot of jokes from the media (step forward Henry “scumbag” Winter and Martin “looks like a sex offender” Samuel as two examples) and fans from other clubs.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">What a fun time to support the team I love.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">However, in the magical happy land of Football Manager 2008 it’s a somewhat different story.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Newcastle United have a new chairman in charge who wants to win things.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Their sophomore manager Damo has taken Newcastle to 3<sup>rd</sup> in the premier League in his second season in charge.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">He is playing a progressive 4-4-2 at home and away, got rid of the dead wood in the squad (Little Saint Mick £9mill to Lazio, Alan Smith contract terminated, Milner to Villa for £9Mill, Geremi £1mill to Getafe, Damien Duff £4.5mill to Celtic).With the dead wood gone the first team currently looks a little different.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">GK – Steve Harper, with John Ruddy from Everton as cover while Given is injured and Krul is on loan.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">RB – Habib Beye – Fit, providing assists </p> <p class="MsoNormal">LB – Jose Enrique – Taken his time to acclimatise, but doing really well</p> <p class="MsoNormal">CB – Fabricio Coloccini – Awesome CB</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Cm – Steve Taylor – Looks decent but keeps getting booked – a new CB is on the cards at the end of the season.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">RM – Aaron Lennon – secured from Spurs for hardly any money – isn’t able to cross the ball though.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">LM – Jeremy Menez – awesome</p> <p class="MsoNormal">CM – Evar Banega – Bought from Valencia for loads (18mill) at the start of this season – best player by a mile</p> <p class="MsoNormal">CM – Stephen Defour (liege) – bought for a song in my first season and is showing world class form on the right central side of midlfield.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">ST – Oba Martins – on a hot scoring streak with 12 goals in 8 games.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">ST – Jimmy Briand – Future France legend – bought on the cheap – can’t stop scoring.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Oh – and Man Utd are 11<sup>th</sup> in the league. Fuck you fergie.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">In the game my managerial skills are helping me trouser £31,000 a week.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Looking at the two – I know which one I’d prefer.</p>damohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663383330826934805noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18674043.post-52104385118160384452009-01-14T08:51:00.002+00:002009-01-14T09:00:51.838+00:00There may be trouble aheadDue to the parsimony of the Newcastle United Board and the ineptitude of our Director of football Newcastle go into the FA cup replay against Hull City tonight with a squad of 15 players.<br />Don't ask me how that's possible, it just is.<br /><br />tonights prediction - Yet another FA Cup loss in the third round.<br />In other news - as I have no life at the minute (and will not have one for at least two months) I am playing computer games and watching dvds a lot. I need to start going out soon.<br /><br />Cricket nets have started but I am not netting for about 3 months as I play better if I don't net before the season.damohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663383330826934805noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18674043.post-74628791344325132842009-01-12T17:29:00.002+00:002009-01-12T17:36:38.152+00:00Monday Mondaywell, a fun weekend was had by all and sundry.<br />Saturday was spent doing good things<br />Morning - Picked up by James to help moving a washing machine.<br />PM - Had my suit fitting for my ushering duties at a wedding clothier place in Willingham. Managed to stand through a chav-wedding fitting (the bride was being fitted for wearing black, and had skin the colour of badly-painted teak - NOT the wedding I am going to) -<br />Sunday - tidied house, rang friend to talk about their new-born baby (v.tiny baby) and talked for a while.<br />watched The Dark Knight last night and had a quiet night in.damohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663383330826934805noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18674043.post-25155080579948319522009-01-09T09:39:00.000+00:002009-01-09T09:40:01.890+00:00This is funny - I am Ronaldo's FerrariKudos to <a href="http://www.amoresplendidlife.com/2009/01/i-am-ronaldos-ferrari.html">A more splendid life</a> -0 v.funnydamohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663383330826934805noreply@blogger.com0