dubai_phil

Yep although American Idol is usually nasty US hyped tat, the past few weeks have been spectacular and a good help in turning the whole planning around Oh & give it a year or so & providing he doesn't blow up, Scotty McReery could end up on West Holts, actually a real talent & I usually hate C&W. Compared to the Jedward X Factor nonsense they actually find proper singing talent! Got the Pendulum invite but it will clash with Kaiser Chiefs who have never made it down here so not seen... In my heart I know what I want to do but any suggestions? But the Chem Bros were what got me interested at such a stupid old age in finally going to Glasto - it was the review of their gig that made me finally want to put up with switching from fantasy land to Medieval land 3 years ago. 52 years old & being voted as 24th best clubbing couples in Dubai in our arabic Hello mag I wanna get my hands in the air.. But when even the Coldplay official site said Abu Dhabi was their best ever gig... jeez. May have to go see White Lies (2nd time) and hope the GF & mate can't be arsed with the walk to Pyramid

I didn't actually pick sides mate. I was accusing ANYONE who tries to ram ANY belief down my throat because THEIR opinion is the right one. Those first two lines I've used in so many countries. In fact my best result on that was when I found myself late at night in a Provo IRA pub in Manhatten and a bloke at the bar took offence to my accent and started off on one. All I did was turn that argument around and use the Axis of Evil concept from that time. Didn't try and defend being a Brit just asked them a simple question. I ended up leaving about 4 horus later having not paid for a beer & having been the wisest Brit they'd ever met (I was just trying to get out alive TBH) Don't underestimate the Crusades though. That is something while not being anything more than a GCSE pass historian I have spent some time learning about and visiting many of the sites in Istanbul, Lebanon, Jordan & Syria getting to understand. That probably remains one of the most horrific and babaric times in history where a religous doctrine tried to impose itself on another (To Protect the Holy Land v To defend the Holy Land) with both sides so utterly convinced of the Moral Rightness of their cause. Islam has a different clock to us and it doesn't forget (see nutter Gaddafi & his speeches trying to rally the Arab world to his defence) Intense Belief being Imposed by Preachers who are right, really hacks me off - whether Atheists, Jehova's Witnesses at your front door or "that annoying bloke in the Pub or on the forum who never accepts your right to also have an opinion" - Now none of us can think of any of the latter examples surely Me - I have opinions. I come on here and express them. But in 12,670 posts I have on only a very very few occassions ever accued another poster of having an Invalid Opinion. IF I have disagreed I have tried to give some reasons and then stepped away. But the Belligerent my Opinion is right brigade? One of the reasons I left the UK. I respect your opinion now feck off and respect the fact that I am also allowed to have one. is what I meant

Go to You Tube google Chem Bors at Glasto, watch. No contest. I am way too old to even remotely like Prodigy, had my deckchair on my back and ended up at the centre of a bouncing mass of humanity and it was STUNNING, if CB's are even half as good as that... I have a similar problem, the GF hates anything House or heavier dance music wise (Rock Chick ex lead singer in a Heavy Rock band) and although they aren't my greatest favourite band, Coldplay played in Abu Dhabi 2 years ago in the most ridiculous tropical thunderstorm you could imagine with things blowing up everywhere and the band played on to produce probably THE greatest gig I have or will ever see. Just to have those memories back would be something. IF only the Chem Bros clashed with Beyonce - who was GF's other MUST SEE act - until we saw her new Video on American Idol Wed night - it is awful a Hip Hop attempt to rip off Shakira, It was Horrid (Thank YOU God!) so may get to see Queens of Stone Age after all (phew), Down side to that is I want to see Kaiser CHiefs but have a mate here best buddies with Pendulum & he's set us up with mixer desk passes & afters.... arrgh Can't I just sit in a field & drink Cider all day instead why the decisions!

Happy for AFC W. Obviously tinged with a bit of sadness for Luton who were so screwed over, but think in the "Justice Being Done" stakes their story is the better one. Hope they can keep it going now and good luck Luton next season

As it says. The Franchise should never have been allowed to happen, hope they take their rightful place back in the League today. Shame they play Luton who were also treated poorly when compared to that lot down the road.

Mate flew in from Dehli arrived at 1am. We sat up and talked sh1t while guzzling until 4:40am I can confirm that I am totally dead today. Other than that the sun is still shining, no Zombies around which is really disappointing as I had hoped for some practice with my new garden spade I read that the are unconfiremd reports in the press that Tonga has falied to slide into the sea in a fiery mass. Same time next week then?

The idiot kids from the Bible belt trying to travel to Iran as Missionairies is a good case in point. They couldn;t understand why they were arrested and beaten up by the people they were trying to PREACH to

Oh keep up tried that pages ago

What I find amusing is when I come up with this. I understand your opinion and your beliefs, I respect your right to hold them. Now kindly feck off and stop trying to ram them down my throat. Oh no they get all aggressive. I'm not allowed to understand their opinion or beliefs, I'm supposed to AGREE with them. The REASON so many innocent people get killed today harks back to the Crusades and the forcing of One Opinion onto that of others. It will never end until we all live in mud huts or the planet is turned to dust by Al Qaeda Nukes at 1pm tomorrow US East Coast time

Hidden away, the post of the thread

Well, my case gets closer to being proven by the hour on this. It is not God or his existance, it is not religion and it's believers or disbelievers that have poisoned the world. It is simply Preachers. Of every shape size belief Belief and subject. There is only one true God. Me. My opinion and my view and I am right - I am The Preacher. They are the true cause of so much hatred hurt harm and distress whether the nutter in the Mosque, the bloke in the Pub or...

This one has caused a few ripples across the pond... I also had a moment as well - sat there in shock to see Brains from Thunderbirds is still alive and well and now has a singing career Oh and this is a Scotty McCreery fanzone house.... When Gaga's not playing every night.... (My GF told me to say that) But actually Gaga is gonna be the club/radio/party album of this summer. It sure has me sitting here wanting to get Euro-poppy/techno smashed dance like fat old man stylee with a bit of Scotty country influence in it... Yeah haven't worked that out but it works. Think this album Gaga has out Madonna'd Madonna

Those poor East Coast Yanks, they won't even get to have lunch properly. You lot will have finished watching The one true god - yes the man who will eventually be proven to have caused the big bang (Dr Who of course). Meanwhile down here it will be mid-evening and I'll be tucked into my best bottle of Chataeu Neuf Du-Pape. a far better way to go methinks

Arrgh that's horrific, the mere thought of it arrrgh No not THAT article but the one linked with it.... http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/local/east-hampshire/protesting_cyclists_to_pedal_naked_through_portsmouth_s_streets_1_2691313

Moored just next to That other guy's yacht in The Hamble

So. What is God? Is it an all knowing English Speaking Person with great powers? Is it a Unified Energy Source? Is it a Being of unimaginable mental awareness or prowess? While my mate was learning hypnosis, he had to find volunteers to try his new skills upon. I always refused 'cos it's rubbish. Anyway I read some of the stuff and became interested in the use of Hypnosis in my promary function of "Getting other people to do what I want" - As a manager or salesman. So the point is that the Human Brain is using 15 to 20% of it's processing capapcity and ability and yes hypnosis does work. Now as part of that same "New Age sh1t" there are areas where you can start to understand that the brain produces energy or receives energy in hypnosis - we did an experiment to give a "Recharge" to a team working at a trade show - didn't sleep for 2 days afterwards.. Anyway, linked into Hypnosis comes studies into the Power of Prayer, intense deep concentration. Also the power of Mass Prayer and the inner feelings and uplifting that people experience from it. So in a Theological argument, some (yes SOME) interpretations of Science can show an inner spirit or energy that we don't understand. That energy when channeled can grow. Is a massive Human Energy source a POSSIBLE definition of God? Is God an etheral Energy source in the cosmos that some can believe they can tune into? Is God the God of the Bible? why should only 25% or so of the Earth's population be correct that THEIR version is actually the right one. If you don't define God, damned difficult to believe in one.

May be more than that of course. The club made statements confirming their slovency, to the Authorities as well as to the Law Courts. While it will be officers of the club who may have broken the law, the Football Authorities may take a very grim view and not just points deductions. Remember the PL still hold the reigns on further tranches of Parachute payments............

I argue that Human kind needs belief. I didn't say they needed Belief (with a big B). Example - Everybody needs to believe. I believe I'll have another beer. I have belief that things will get better, I have a belief that life is worth living. Some people live sad and empty and shallow lives, not necessarily from a lack of Belief in any form of Religion but they just don't believe thay can do something with their life or make a difference. Play football - most of us on here have a belief that this season we will do very well. Some on here don't have that and still want to change things. My view is that a person without belief in work, in life, in family, in friends is empty. Some people have that extra one added with the big B Then that big B varies dramatically, some Believe in the New Testament, some in the Old Testament and follow different paths and interpretations. THEN the stifling of debate comes out. Some Believe in Books where murder (in the cause of Jihad IS justified), some Believers in the same faith don't see that same interpretation. So, my argument is that to avoid wallowing in a despair in life, a small b is critical. The big B is the one that often causes the problems. the main difference between the two - I don't try and RAM my beliefs down everyones throat. I try and make a case and then withdraw understanding someone may believe differently.

Ouch, that's gotta hurt.....

A sad loss for the Foundation Match. BigDaveWatson - St Mary's footballing Legend. Fact

An enjoyable read chaps. Can I ask one suplemental question? Define God. Many dismiss an argument on here because they have an idea in their minds of what it is they are dismissing. Are we discussing God the Merciful, God the Mighty, Thor, Apollo, The White Bearded Guy, the many interpretations of Allah? Heck even the Higgs-Bosun particle? or The Force from Star Wars? I fly a lot, planes go above the clouds. I ain't never seen no old geezer with a beard sitting on one, doesn't mean to say that I don't believe in some form of greater force based on some specific (lack of) fact - which is If the Big Bang created everything, what went bang? I should have finished... Belief and Faith are IMHO critical parts of human existence, and the Human mind can do far more than we ever use it for. Forces outside our scope may well exist. The only issue I have with any of this is not Faith or Blief. It is about OTHER people ramming THEIR ideas down my throat. Believe MY version or you will Burn in Hell. And from that the whole "Corporate Empires" that have been created with adriansfc on how they have used their wealth and power. Oh and that goes for hating preachers from Double Glazing, Insurance as well as Tibetan Monks, Jedi's & the other mainstream "Manipulators of the human mind"

Ouch that's gotta hurt. Just before the summer hols as well. Sort of get the feeling that whole thing is likely to end up as all or nothing for many people

I find that article to be totally unbelievable - a Skate was supposed to have written that? C'mon.... One interesting "co-incidence" that also leapt out at the very beginning of that article And the name Falcondrome crops up with Al Faraj every time

Back to the OP. I guess I first realised the con perpetrated by the "Big Brewers" when I landed over here in '93. Of course the first "disaster" was being taken to an Irish pub for a full Irish Breakfast and Guinness straight off the plane. Duh I thought the entire Middle East was like Saudi - no Pork & Dry. The second "downer" was to find - NO REAL ALE. In those days it was cans of Boddingtons or Lager. No sign of Cider either back then. But then the surprise was to find that the beer all tasted different and I couldn't seem to drink as much - all the lagers were 5%. So met a guy in the trade and he said that this place imported the beers direct from the main factories. So Fosters came direct from Aus, Heineken from Holland, Guinness direct from Ireland etc and of course Carlsberg from Denmark. And yes it DID taste totally different. OK Fosters is still sort of a perfumed lager taste but the others were drinkable. The only UK strength that you could find was Amstel Light and it (as you guys may have noticed) tastes a helluva lot different from regular Amstel. So anyway, I found out that the reason I hated Guinness was I had tried to drink the UK stuff the REAL stuff is heaven. Heineken became drinkable and even Carlsberg on occassion. Attempts were made to import Carling from the UK for the blingy tourists but didn't last long, we got John Smiths, Teltley & Kilkenny added over the years as poor substitutes for Real Ale, and hell today we even have the Belgian Beer Cafe with over 40 different Belgian bottled beers and draft Leffe Blonde & Dark, Hoegaarten & even Cherry beer on tap. We EVEN get a beer festival now (99% bottled though) BUT the point was that it showed that UK Lager was simply some weak cheap local muck stuck with a marketing badge. From where I travelled in and out a couple of times a year, it seemed that the growth of Kronenburg 1664 & Stella meant there became lagers I could actually taste when back, trouble is you feckers had been so used to drinking the weak p1ss water that you all drink it at 3 times the speed we can manage on the stronger stuff we drink slower but longer (We go out about 8:30 and come home about 1:00 you guys go were still programmed by the old gotta guzzle before last orders and tend to go home about 11 except weekends ... Which again seemed to be why IMHO there has been this trend now to reduce the alcohol content in lagers especially over there. It also helps explain why so many tourists come over here, drink at their normal speed and whoosh get wrecked quicker and end up getting into all sorts of crap. So English Lager was rubbish rip off marketing bull**** of the proper stuff. It was weaker so you could drink more and quicker. So lower alcohol content was the cause of the binge boozing culture. Oh wow that was profound, didn't mean to write a blog. Sorry

Amen to that.