St Landrew

And besides, it is the very fact that the BBC has no direct sponsors pulling the strings that gives it the very power to be the great public broadcaster that it is. Incidentally, in my opinion, only very recently has the BBC come out of the doldrums and started to be public broadcaster it should be again. For years it chased ITV with ratings, but that is over for the present, as ITV have competely lost ground, in terms of quality of output and appeal, which granted was never that high anyway. The proliferation of digital channels has certainly not helped quality of output overall, but the Beeb certainly seem to be coping better with it than most other broadcasters. As long as they keep Radio 4, I'll probably be happy enough anyway.

I keep watching the first 20 minutes of films and getting interrupted. The latest one is The Lives OF Others which, I understand is f****** brilliant, but until I get in the mood to watch it again, I won't know. Pan's Labyrinth is suffering the same deal with me. Managed to watch the old italian film, The Bicycle Thieves right through, the other night, after having had the DVD for ages. Almost wished I hadn't as it's so melancholy and tragic, and in such a pathetic way. And there's no Hollywood style pay off at the end. Instead, it's grimly realistic in the European tradition. Yes, I grizzled. :smt022

I think if people want to see an overnight vast improvement, then that requires a complete overhaul of the squad and perhaps the coaching staff, at all levels, saving only the very best of what was there before Liebherr took over. That doesn't leave many people from last season's bunch. However, if fans are patient, then I expect AP will eventually gel this lot into a team of worth and achievement. I suppose it wouldn't hurt quite so much if the points tally hadn't started in deficit.

The fact is, is that F1 is all about branding, and as such has completely lost the plot. Take away the big names and it has very little appeal indeed. It is processional in the extreme, and if there wasn't any British interest. personally I'd stop even keeping tabs on it. For example, I went to the Beeb motorsport website and found that JB and LH had crashed out. End of interest. Not a jot left..! Half my family hails from Italy - so you could say I have mediterranean DNA running through me - I don't give a toss about Ferrari. Interesting, competitive racing is all I want in a motorsport. Not a procession of the same branded vehicles going round, lap after boring lap, at high speed with, an average of 25 yards between each car. I think the people who are involved with F1 and some devoted fans have forgotten what exciting racing really requires, or are too close to the sport to be objective. Don't get me wrong, upto around 15 years ago I used to be an avid viewer myself until I came to my senses.

Never been terribly taken by Oasis; they just weren't saying the things that related to me. But it's impossible not to have noticed them in the media. From what I have gleaned over the years, neither brother is an angel, but one of them is definitely talented and thoughtful [Noel] and the other is nothing but a complete thug. I can't say I'll miss them, but I'll look forward to the odd interesting track from Noel.

Jeff, I was right with you upto the point of the US boxsets. Almost without exception, I find US popular culture programmes to grate against my culture. I'm not interested in the UK being an offshore US island, as is presently happening, and the more locally produced programme material that reflects UK culture, the better. Of course, exceptions can be made in certain genre like Sci-Fi, etc... although incidentally, there is a definite distinction between UK and US Sci-Fi too. My old Dad used to have a phrase for it... Yankie bullsh!t. I didn't know what he meant, as a kid, but I learned. EDIT: Back in the early 90s, I also went for a few years without a TV. It didn't hurt me either, and when my old Phillips widescreen finally gives up the ghost, I'll probably not replace it. We'll see.

Ah yes, but then you get accused of writing more than one line, and that's too taxing a read for a lot of jokester posters. Even though they find themselves in the Lounge.

On my ride out along the south-west Hampshire and Dorset roads tonight, I would have been restricted to 50mph for much of the way. 60mph may only be 10mph faster, but it feels as if one is still eating up the miles. 50mph on a bike, on an open road, is absolutely dawdling. In fact, I'd probably end up being more dangerous because I know I find it hard to be bothered to concentrate 100% of the time at too slow a speed.

Dani Pedosa's form carried over from free practice into qualifying today. It's obvious that Honda has pulled their finger out big time, if Dani can be fastest in a wet practice. It's no surprise if he goes fastest in the dry, as he is one quick rider and race winner. But Honda riders, Alex De Angelis and Tony Elias were 4th and 7th respectively, on their privateer Gresini machines, which shows Honda are equpping them with equal new stuff too, so desperate are they to take away the bragging rights from Yamaha. Pedrosa's countryman Lorenzo went second and Rossi only just made third with a late last lap, so the Yamahas are once again ganging up. With Casey Stoner still in Australia trying to sort out his health, or whether he likes or dislikes Ducati, depending on which motorpress you read, it was left to Nicky Hayden to bring the Desmosedici in at 6th. A good result, but perhaps flattered by Nicky being brought up on left handed tracks in the U.S. Even the best riders have a natural right or left corner bias, where they are faster. Temporary teamate Kallio crashed again, and 800cc MotoGP new boy Espargaro ended a creditable 16th, and notably in front of the other fairly new rider, Talmacsi. JT ended up 10th after starting out really well, but he nearly always goes better than he qualifies. Sadly, that doesn't cut the mustard at the pinnacle of motorsport, and I expect JT to be back in WSB next season, along with a couple of other former WSB high rollers from today's lineup. Of course, I hope that isn't true, as I still think JT could be a force with a privateer team. Chris Vermuelen has had a few seasons, so why not JT..?Maybe a Ducati..? Maybe not. One thing in Toseland's favour is that he's British, and MotoGP are desperate to have a top British rider in the lineup - all those extra bike sales. Because of that, it's important Bradley Smith keeps on doing well on his 125cc Aprilia. He may not win the chamionship this year, but 3rd is pretty damn good, and there's no doubt he's consistently fast. It's just that his teammate Simon, has been slightly faster this season, once again getting pole. In the 250s, 125cc World Champion Mike De Meglio got his first pole. next season should see him in Moto2 for 600cc 4-stokes; the screaming 250cc 2-strokes racing for the last few times this year. The 3 behind him all look to be going to MotoGP teams for next season. All are fast and unafraid to bash fairings at 150mph [i don't get that mentality], so next season's MotoGP racing should be even better than this year. Indianapolis MotoGP qualifying result: 1 D Pedrosa (Sp) Repsol Honda 1min 39.730 sec 2 J Lorenzo (Sp) Fiat Yamaha 1min 40.236 sec 3 V Rossi (It) Fiat Yamaha 1min 40.609 sec 4 A de Angelis (RSM) Gresini Honda Gresini 1min 40.620 sec 5 C Edwards (USA) Tech 3 Yamaha 1min 40.961 sec 6 N Hayden (USA) Ducati Marlboro Team 1min 41.067 sec 7 T Elias (Sp) Gresini Honda 1min 41.283 sec 8 A Dovizioso (Ita) Repsol Honda 1min 41.309 sec 9 M Melandri (Ita) Hayate Racing 1min 41.530 sec 10 J Toseland (GB) Tech 3 Yamaha 1min 41.620 sec 11 L Capirossi (Ita) Rizla Suzuki 1min 41.742 sec 12 R de Puniet (Fr) LCR Honda 1min 41.773 sec 13 N Canepa (Ita) Pramac Racing 1min 41.910 sec 14 C Vermeulen (Aus) Rizla Suzuki 1min 42.038 sec 15 M Kallio (Fin) Ducati 1min 42.250 sec 16 A Espargaro (Sp) Pramac Racing 1min 42.577 sec 17 G Talmacsi (Hng) Scot Racing 1min 42.736 sec 125cc qualifying result: 1 J Simon (Spain) Aprilia 1min 49.337secs 2 S Cortese (Germany) Derbi 1:49.387 3 N Terol (Spain) Aprilia 1:49.537 4 P Espargaro (Spain) Derbi 1:49.577 5 B Smith (GB) Aprilia 1:49.585 250cc qualifying result: 1 M Di Meglio (Fra) Aprilia 1min 44.341secs 2 H Aoyama (Jpn) Honda 1:44.461 3 M Simoncelli (Ita) Gilera 1:44.553 4 H Barbera (Spa) Aprilia 1:44.625 5 J Cluzel (Fra) Aprilia 1:44.860 P.S. As you might have noticed, I didn't go for an overnight ride. I did go out, but got as far as Honiton. Had a pint and then came back. I was enjoying that bloody south-west road with the long wall next to it too much.

Sorry that Saints couldn't hold on yet again, Peeps. But I did tell you, didn't I..?

OK.

You people are being absurdly confident. When I last looked it was 1-0 Saints and 45 mins to go. I admire your optimism, but it's hardly a scenario for unbridled celebration just yet.

Hee-hee. The girls making comments in the background are reaching and practically throwing up. And they are NOT over-reacting..!

Last season saw the first Grand Prix motorcycle race at the famed Brickyard for 99 years, and it turned out to be memorable for rather odd reasons. In fact, it was Hurricane Ike which had earlier blown over the area, and then turned around and came back for some unfinished business, that decided the whole proceedings. The 125cc and 250cc races were cut short and called off respectively, but the main event went on for 21 laps until the torrential rain and huge buffeting winds called a halt. Of course, by that time The Doctor had mastered the conditions better than anyone else and was in a decent lead by the time the red flag was waved. So to this year's race. Yesterday's [Friday] practice sessions were almost a complete washout, with Dani Pedrosa the fastest on the soaking wet track [yes, I couldn't believe it myself]. Sadly, the videos aren't free to watch, but obviously the text is. Pedrosa Qualifying takes place this evening [GB time] for the 800cc bikes on the BBC Red Button [Freeview 302], after the 125 and 250cc machines. They all start at around 5.50pm. The race itself is on BBC3 tomorrow at 7.45 to 9.00pm [after the Spa F1 highlights]. Already there have been cries in certain quarters that Auntie is buggering around with the channels MotoGP is being broadcast on, after doing such a good consistent job in the last couple of races. I do wish they'd leave it on the terrestrial channels, e.g. BBC1 or 2 [ As always in MotoGP, it should be a great race, full of overtaking and incident. EDIT: Here's the full schedule. Saturday 29 August Qualifying 1750-2100, BBC Red Button/online Sunday 30 August 125 and 250cc race 1650-1805, BBC Red Button/online Race 1945-2100, BBC Three/online Race repeat 0220-0335, BBC Three

While you were typing that out, didn't it occur to you that your statement may be applied to almost all news agencies and deliverers of programme material..? Personally, I would remove 90% of the BBC output because it doesn't appeal to me. But I recognise that other people wish to view those programmes that I would avoid. I can't remember when I last watched a TV programme on a commerical station, the quality is so boiled down to catch the greatest numbers. Murdoch isn't having a go at the BBC because they dominate the media, it's because he's having a bit of a hard time in the media environment, and he can't get any progress at present. He'd shut up in a split-second if Sky were doing better than they are at present. Remember this - when you pay your media licence, you get the BBC and no advertising. With a terrestrial commerical station you get advertsing, and you pay for programme content through slightly higher brand pricing. When you pay for Sky, you pay directly, similarly to how you would pay for the BBC. But you get advertsing too. So you are paying to be advertised to. This means that Sky can fill less of their schedules with programmes - the material you actually want. Did you know that the average 1 hour programme is filled with 15-20 minutes of advertising, on commerical TV..? So what, you may say. Well, if I'm directly paying for something, I want the programme alone and my 20 minutes back. Ta. OK, you say, but you have to have the BBC to get anything. True, and thank goodness for that. At least GB has a broadcaster of quality that the others have to measure up to.

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/News/Search-Results/Motoring-issues/Politics/Growing-opposition-to-UK-50mph-speed-limit-plan/ You can't say you weren't informed.

I understand it has been announced that the Govt is planning to reduce the national speed limit to 50mph. If you want to make your voice heard against this plan then one option is to sign this petition. Sign Apologies if it has been posted before. The deadline is the 9th of September.

Same here.

Murdoch is a great one to talk about media domination. There's another company who'll never get a cent of me or mine if I have say in it.

Oh bloody hell, I suppose it doesn't matter that he wasn't a striker... count me in..! :smt012

I forgot to once again call for video evidence, in my initial post. Then we won't have to worry about whether luck evens itself out over a season.

You don't need to, I've done you a public service. It works.

Under a new European football directive, he has become the first player to be caught and cautioned/punished for diving and actively deceiving the referee, overturning a decision made during the Celtic V Arsenal match, which Aresnal won 3-1. Pity they didn't remove the penalty goal as well. Arsene Wenger, who recently admitted to having selective eyesight, e.g. I didn't see Robert Pires leaving his foot [several seasons ago, against Pompey of all teams] to be contacted by fresh air, said it was a witch hunt. He didn't comment that Eduardo was actually cheating. Being selective again, Arsene..?

Well yes, I suppose they must do, as I had the cleaner and a spoon on hand, and I fetched a coin out of my pocket. Who wouldn't see if the product worked..? Or are you just not curious about things..? And do you know, I still had several hours of one whole winter evening to fill after that. I almost tried another coin..!

He wasn't a striker. Lazy football journalists will take one look at his goal tally and assume that he must have been a striker. He was the only midfielder until recently [Frank Lampard, I believe] to score 100+ goals in the Premiership, although MLT can add many goals from his seasons before the Premier League was formed, so really he's way up the list. The next time someone starts a poll on greatest and most prolific midfielders from the Premiership, then alert us for that one. Shearer is/was probably the outstanding striker.