St Landrew

Kraftwerk - Autobahn was brilliant. I was tempted to turn the record over and play side 2 [yes it's vinyl], but I haven't played side 2 since the late 1980's and I wasn't going to do it now. Anyway, now my rather bad condition LP of Solid Air by John Martyn has hit the platter. And rather glorious it is too. I have two copies. This one's the ex-wife's who gave me hers.

From another forum. Thought some of you may be interested. XH558's Birthday Appeal "Hi guys As you may or may not know, XH558 is the last airworthy Vulcan B mk2, restored over 10 years at a cost of £7million, and has wowed audiences at airshows and other public events for 2 years now. She's currently at RAF Lyneham where she requires some "minor" servicing, including the replacement of parts at the end of their calendar life. In order to complete the necessary work, and fly 558 in her 60th birthday year, we need to raise funds of £400,000 by Christmas and a further £400,00 by March. It was hoped that a major sponsor would be found, but the economic climate has made that seem unlikely, and we have now turned our focus to the general public who have seen her fly this year and want to keep her in the air. If you can spare even £1, it would be gratefully received. You can e-donate, set up a standing order, or become a club member at Vulcan 50th Birthday Appeal | Homepage Thanks for reading!"

You make a good point about Saga and Trotman, although I think the latter wasn't judged as deliberate. My disgust would have been there, and is there, but there is a time and place when disgust will be heard, and it only gets heard when scenarios are on a knife edge. I'm glad that you want to hear what Platini has to say. Hopefully it won't be platitudes [sorry, couldn't resist], and that things will change. Fairness must prevail, whether it is bad goals against Saints, for Saints, or for or against anyone else. As to the Irish, I couldn't give a toss either. But it's not about them. They just happened to be in a game where a major misjustice took place. It could have been any team. And BTW, I've been banging on about Video Technology in football for as long as the subject has been discussed about its introduction [about 20 years].

Ere..! I was listening to Autobahn only the other week. In fact, I'm going to put it on now. So there..!

Indeed the game won't be replayed, and it shouldn't be either. But justice must be done, or the game takes a further slide into favouritism and gamesmanship. It's not the Irish who need fair play done either. It's the sport itself which to see that fair play is being done. Video technology for the future, please. To do justice, I would go with Micky's suggestion, but they could do it behind closed doors, with just a TV audience, so there would be the minimum of inconvenience. Or free tickets allotted to the same people who attended before.

Excellent, if too short a read. Well done, Duncan for making that into a separate thread. And if you're reading this, Old Codger, let's have some more of your Saints recollections. Hopefully, you're a member so that you can pass a PM to me, and I can pass it along to the Admin. Cheers.

I really don't get some of you and your opinions. Oh, I don't feel sorry for the Irish, because they didn't feel sorry for us..! That's utter bollix and nothing to do with the point. IT was NOT right and fair. The wrong team has gone to the World Cup Finals. The positions could have been reversed, and say the Irish had been in the position of the French, and scored with a handball. And it would equally be wrong. Don't you see that..? I hear Alan Pardew has added his voice to the opinion and he wants video technology to give the final say to dodgy decisions. This pathetic atttitude that football authorities and some suppporters have who resist the change, have got to see the light. Football clubs can be unfairly relegated on these decisions, just as other clubs can be unfairly awarded a championship, or fail to get into a playoff scenario. There's too much at stake. And the passion will remain because we'll concentrate on the game and not the dodgy decisions.

Don't think that's the point though is it. The fact is, the old cliche of luck evening out over a season can't be applied here, and is the dodgiest of dodgy football cliches in any case. It's not that the Irish have been robbed, but football has been robbed. Robbed of fainess and the right decision. Under this sort of circumstance, the football authorities might as well write in the League winners at the beginning of the season, and we can all bugger off and do something else, instead of watching a pantomime. Because if they don't bring in technology to stop bad decisions, or favouritism, it'll eventually ruin football.

Tbf, Henry went up to the Ref and told him he'd handballed, and the Ref said, you're not the Referee. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8367588.stm Of course, it needn't be part of the game. Video technology would have spotted the handball, on examination, and would have brought the game back to the point where Henry handled it, and awarded a free-kick to Ireland. And rightly so. So fairness goes out of the window, does it..? You just want to see the same teams in place. Let's not rock the boat eh..? In fact, let's just select the teams that we would expect to get through to the Finals, and save on all that tedious playing, eh..? Second rate or not, Ireland have been denied their place in fooballing history. It makes not a jot of difference whether they are gutted or not; whether we support them or not [personally, I couldn't give a toss]; whether France have been going through a troubled time of it, for a few years, and so need a bit of a leg-up; or whether FIFA would prefer France to be in the Finals. One too many acts of favouritism, and the Beautiful Game wil be seen as a sham.

Lots of recommendations for DVDShrink, because it's good. V3.21, I think is the latest version. As it's completely free, with no catches at all, use it, until it doesn't work, which is almost never. Then try what Saint_sfc advises.

I would have thought this BBC iPlayer link more helpful: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00p1dn4/James_Mays_Toy_Stories_Scalextric/

DON'T DO IT..! What are they nuts..? I've followed MotoGP long enough to know that some of the riders have taken on activities and had accidents in the past, that they should have known better to have done, and I know they live for thrills. But they take risks that could either put them out of action for several months, and therefore put an end to a contract and expectations. Or they might get away with it. Surely someone says enough..! EDIT: Actually in truth, having watched MotoGP for many seasons, the riders ARE nuts. F1 drivers are sensible people in comparison. EDIT: Got to admire them though. The video obviously concentrated on Valentino and he, and the others, pushed those motocross bikes around at some extremely respectable speeds.

Good choice. I assume that is TEAM Captain, and Kelvin Davis remains CLUB Captain..?

Been watching the one with some measurable grey matter, i.e James May, from Top Gear, entertain me with his Toy Stories series. This episode: Scalextric. To be honest, I was going to be hooked immediately. My eldest brother had the earlier version, and I had the mark II version of it. We even bought the rare bit of track that connects the two versions, so that they could be used together. I eventually sold my huge layout of track and cars, in NZ, and my brother's old track has since turned to mist and myth. In truth, he can't find it, so he says. Anyway, I soberly watched the building of the route, and my enthusiasm rose. I wanted those involved to succeed very much, and when the cars did their little power race over the track to complete the old Brooklands course, I was the little lad again. And it's good that we adults can all be children again, once in a while. Great toys come and go, but Scalextric seems to stick around forever.

Since hearing about it, I've been rather interested in how a Monotracer would go. Apparently, they are a bit quick. Quite a lot quicker than your average car, and many sport cars; and economical too. 65mpg is pretty easy for it, and it has proper bike performance. It might even appeal to the committed 4-wheel enthusiast, who would never go near a bike for the obvious reason, as it has a little trick which stops it falling over: See those slots in the mid-section..? Watch this: And it keeps the rain off. There are other videos, including old fart Clarkson in one, as it resembles a car, so he was interested.

Sadly, .comsaint, the video has been pulled due to copyright infringement.

I sort of share your concern, mate. What, no doubt you are primarily worried about is that GB will adopt a Holland-like system of taxation, but keep all the VAT and Road Tax, and at current levels. That would be typical of this country.

Cute car, though I believe you've found my limit. I could drive that car, no problem, but I'd have real difficulty with it in that colour.

We're all just a mass of chemical balances or imbalances. Rather humbling if you think about it.

Now for a big cruiser. This is the only one I'd really like to have a go on. A standard production motrcycle this, not a special, with a heavily modded engine. The 2.3ltr [yes, bigger than your car engine] Triumph Rocket 3: I mean... balls to Harley's. If you're going to have effortless cruising, you might as well do it on the torquiest motorbike engine there is. Apparently it is well able to keep up with the fastest superbikes in a straight line. Hanging on might be a challenge. Fancy any of these, so far, hamster..?

Part 1: Time for that exhausted, sweaty mass of superbikes and childhood dreams of big bikes..! In no particular order: A 1962 Manx Norton If I'm including a Manx, I've got to include a Norvin. Here's one from the wrong side

He should stick to driving a desk, and leave the car driving to others.

I don't know the answers to those questions, Ponty. I was just transfixed by the car going off into the gravel. I mean, even with balloon tyres and relatively light weight, F1 cars can get stuck. Did they have an idiot for a chauffeur, I wonder..?

Honestly NC, I really don't give a toss anymore. Cars are just A to B vehicles, as far as I'm concerned. They used to give me a thrill, as I did own a SAAB 900 Turbo back in 1990. But with so many cars on the road, one can barely go about without coming across a traffic jam, or a speed camera. It's all a bit sanitised and safe for my liking. my Fiat Tipo gets me about, and my bike gives me the thrills. If that VW Beetle with Sunflower motif, was an old one, I'd quite fancy a drive of it. I still do like the rustle of the old air-cooled flat-4.

Remember Peeps this is the Lounge. If you want to joke, do it in TMS. RIP Sergeant Howie.