dubai_phil

Flights booked. Accomodation in Essex on the Central Line arranged. I'll be the lonely frozen jetlagged/sleepy bloke sitting alone, but I'm back for 5 days & I'm going!

OK so what are all the scores?

Wahibism is a violent & extreme branch of Islam. The most violent and extreme practioners of which were even rejected by the Saudi Government ( who support it), those extreme preachers were harrased, arrested and tortured. But they didn't need to worry, your taxes are now paying their social security benefits in the UK after they became Asylum seekers and they spread their evil version of Islam to the disaffected youth of the UK. Notice any similarity? Disaffected Sects and mainly youth in the UK, Saudi, Bahrain? The SIMPLE point being missed here but which IS critical is that these people in ALL these countries MUST have their rights and aspirations recognised and they MUST be given hope and route to "success and fullfillment" in their lives. Because if they do NOT get that, then they turn to the first person that offers a false version to them, and they can trade education and a career in Capitalism for their 70 or whatever Virgins...

Lol absolutely. You guys will be living in the dark but it was more democratic than Dubya & Dave so everything is ok

Totally agree, ANY sign of getting involved becomes a problem, In Libya the best solution is to get the Security council to ask the Arab League to enforce a no fly zone. Bahrain IS a problem because the UK has a binding defence treaty, that could be an unholy nightmare of having to send troops under International Law to quell an uprising, hence my point at the beginning

Nobody. The issue is IF they decide to sell it all at a discount to their new best friends in say China because they cancel their Nuke plants. Let's see how it could go. Stop giving money to support the Israelis or we turn off the oil taps, OK no prob for Blightey, but the Yanks & their Politics... It is a point worth having in the back of the mind, that's all

An old Brit VW Split Screen Camper Van has been turned into a mobile bar in Sukhumvit So1 7 in Bangkok It parks up outside a hotel every evening and drives home around 3am

A great deal of Asia drive on the left Thailand, Malaysia certainly

Yes. But what happens when a "Democracy" is utterly Alien and wants to destroy YOUR Democracy? When a Religous Autocracy can gain ascendency on the back of Democracy as in Iran? They have elections in Iran and (FWIW Zimbabwe) but that old mantra of be careful what you wish for. The issue is NOT about my defending ANY of the regimes and my OP did not do that. What IS critical for YOUR future is managing the changes so that TRUE Democracy and Freedoms occur. Saudi run by a freely elected Abu Mousa or Rafsanjani? Think that may be a problem for the planet

What some morons fail to understand is that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is split on religious sect lines. It is also split because of what is perceived by them to be their "Duty to Protect the Holy Sites of Islam". So in Simplistic terms you have the Western Side centred around Jeddah with the main industrial concerns Trade & Commerce from the Ports. You have the centre Riyadh which is the home of Big Government. The Eastern Province centred on Dharran/Damman is the home of Big Oil & the Nationalised Aramco. The Western Province is of course also home to Mecca & Medina the main holy sites of Islam so they are restrained but ensure that only "The Faithful" for example may enter Mecca (ie Kouni et al ain't going there on tours). The centre is the home of the "Royal Family" & Government Ministers. Anyone who understands this region knows that nothing gets done in that country without patronage from one of the Royal family members. I don't think I need say how crook that system is - just read up on BAe. Then the East- the big Big Oil jobs go to Saudi's best friends The Yanks, and the "handpicked" Saudis are all there in their big offices (although SOME of them are very very good) The PROBLEM in Sauid is that the majority of the population in this area are - yep Shia's, who look for Spiritual Leadership to the Ayatollahs. Again, as in Bahrain they are detached from the "true" current Saudi society and do not get the opportunities in Education or Employment. So you have a fermenting discontent, especially amongst the Younger population who have little or no hope of a job (Sectarian society can make Racism look Saintly in terms of discrimination) So you have a disenfrachised Youth lectured by loonies at their Mosques and the world got 9/11 & the Iraq insurrection. Hell Osama was part of one of the chosen families and his gripe insn't ONLY with the West. Bahrain was claimed by Iran since it was formed (By The Brits) and alongside it rests MOST of the world's best chance of secure supply of oil for the next 10/20 years, but on top of THERE sits a bunch of very badly treated people who want equality and want freedom, but want the Ayatollahs to lead them. Iran cannot invade Saudi, their armed forces are far superior to the beaten up ex Soviet technology - Tornado's & Typhoons vs Mig 23 rip off's, but they don't need to, they can win by promoting Democracy - Iran Style. Shame some posters don't read before looking like idiots

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trZtVeTyDl0&feature=player_embedded Did someone mention Owl & football?

http://blogs.news.sky.com/foreignmatters/Post:becc502f-d220-4088-a51e-aeb781d296f8 It is a very small and pretty uninteresting place. It had a Grand Prix and a pretty lousy if cheap airline for flights to Aus & Asia. They had an uprising and RIGHTLY - the majority of the population are Shia and have been "subjugated" by a non-democratic Sunni minority "Dictatorship" for a very long time. The population have many legitimate grievances However, this week the Bahraini's requested help from Saudi, UAE & Kuwait who have all sent in troops & Police. This conflict may not hold the horrors of what will soon happen to PEOPLE in Libya, but for the Western world and your lifestyles, THIS is the "revolution" to worry about. This is about a foothold for the Iranians into the oilfields of Saudi. The bulk of Saudi oil is the world's shortest (20 minute) international flight away. The GCC states have been drawn in, the Americans have massive military bases in country and the UK has a Defence Treaty with the Bahraini Government, so in theory IF the Iranians decide to help their poor oppressed bretheren, UK PLC could be fighting another war. The disaster in Japan will help to kill off the chance of Nuclear power, leaving the world reliant on oil & gas. This seemingly insignificant event is not JUST about democracy. FWIW not being reported is that Shia militia had set up roadblocks and were dragging "non-Bahraini's" (ie Asians) from their cars and beating them while they went to work. Bahrain has many troubles and their Government have been intransigent. But as Tim Marshall points out, this revolution could be about the future control of YOUR oil, your lighting and your lifestyles. We should all be very concerned. Maybe the Mayans were right

That's all well and good, but this thread is about Drew Surman, not Rickie Lambert.

While that is true, those clubs also have global academies now and hoover up talent from most of the planet, so the actual number of spaces for English kids to get in are reduced. It would be interesting to see what the actual quantity numbers are for anyone academy. Sure the very very best may get sucked into the big names, but as we've seen, they miss out on many and many of their kids don't actually make it. Anything that keeps our system running and keeps us in tier 1 is great news

Also http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/8381437/Japan-nuclear-threat-families-flee-again-as-meltdown-risk-increases.html Things seem to have got much worse overnight on the Nuclear Plant front Several million people in the area with nowhere else to go as the winds change, unease now as to whether the Plant authorities tried to save face rather than ask for help in many articles & blogs Radiation levels up in Tokyo, Could cause many other problems, not least with global energy production plans and costs EU reviewing 150 Nuclear Reactors in Europe. This gets worse and worse

No, we lost to Ireland in the World Cup. Didn't see Wales though, are they in the boring group wit hAus & NZ & Sri Lanka? HTH

Saw that - it looked at the end as if they were trying to pull somebody out of a building that had washed up there but the "Breaking news explosion in reactor" banner hid the image, But yes we also asked the WTF question (and others kept coming forward as if they were taking photos or something)

As have been MSNBC FWIW, but Euronews out of Germany.... Oh look a big anti Nuclear protest today quelle surprise Like I said we are watching different coverage I have no idea who Alex Thompson is as we don't have access to UK terrestial news. As for the Beeb - well there have been some right idiots on World Service but again I guess that unless they have cut them into the News 24 channel you haven't had to cope with that. I was commenting on the sheer NUMBERS of media trying to get up that road and needing B&B and supplies versus the relatives of some 1million plus people all also trying to make the trip to search for friends and family 50 countries x Z Journos + Support staff Camera crews make up artists (for Anna Botting's Lip Gloss) on a (as Sky told us) single lane road that should be kept clear for the relief workers and emergency rations - oh well forget it I'll chalk it down to a failure of your imagination to see any irony. You win, you are so wise

Unbreakable was on telly again tonight. GF had never seen it. Very well put together film of a normal bloke working out what he actually was. Think at the time it suffered being compared to I see Dead People. Worth watching again just to see Sam L Jackson's bad hair

They ARE being called up. Everyone knows this is the reason. Big row but Fab promised Nige they'd only play the first 45 mins with AOC coming on to replace AL

May not have "enough pace" may not have scored as many goals as last year, but that moment when he chased down the lost cause, got the ball back off the defender and put a precision cross onto LB's head for the equaliser was actually REALLY clever and determined and skilled football. I've only seen a couple of games live this year (so far) but I felt RL was playing a different role, sort of like a L1 Alan Shearer rather than a poacher. But next year? having to choose bewteen RL, CMS, LB & Guly in the NPC next year would be quality IMHO

OK 1) 580,000 people evacuated from just the 20km area around Fukiwhatsit Reactors, No homes cannot go anywhere no fuel relying on evacuation centre rations. 2) Total melt down of the food distribution system compounding the destruction of Supermarkets & possibly distribution centres for food for several million people in the region 3) Water & Electricity systems off line 4) 100,000 troops, Emergency Rescue Teams equipment, supplies & logistics have ONE road into the area 5) You are being UK centric. Every major country has news crews in the country, TV & National Press. If we TRY and guess the UK then you have your TV channel crews, you have Press crews. multiply that by possibly 40 or 50 nations putting press into the area. 6) The disaster zone spreads from around 150km north of Tokyo. Holly from Sky took 24 hours driving to get 120kms. She now has got further into the region. I assume that the driver of her white minibus took a spare can of gas because she's still moving around. But for how long? The residents and families cannot get into the area to search or away from it as there is no gas. Queues are forming across Japan and stores are being hit by panic buying. But the (for example) Sky crews must have used at least half a tank by now. Fine IF they prepared and have reserves, but maybe they could have taken an extra couplf of cans to help someone along the way. Good Samaritans is my point, not rescue workers The press report what they are paid to report, Again in your response you are being UK centric. Apart from the Beeb, most media is paid for from advertising revenues, the more watchers/readers the more income they make. Putting that into a SLANT perspective is easy - hence the "doom and gloom music montage" as mentioned above - Stay Tuned for MORE news" equates to look our viewing figures went up. But of course the Beeb can ONLY use that in defence of their licence fee justifcation (rightly so) but they still pander to ratings. However ONE example is how the BBC is accused of being angled in a certain political position or how it reports (I will take for example the situation in Palestine. IF you showed the BBC coverage and editorial of that to (for example) a Fox News watcher they would want to burn down the BBC because a Fox US viewer sees only a Right Wing Obama is evil agenda). Again, for example the Press here in ME region reports in a very different way because of their mandates, the political influences and also how they can gain MORE readers/viewers so they can sell more adverts. I accept wasn't clear when I said The Press, I meant "The Global News machine", not the dear old Brit stuff which you have leapt up to defend. But Press report what they are told to (seen any statements out of Libya by State TV for example) You defend the Brit media - well yes they DO have a lot of freedom and a lot of balance compared to MANY. But that view is slanted. In this instance we have no clear indication apart from talking heads (AS AN EXAMPLE) about the threat of a Nuclear Meltdown. However the different channels (Fox, MSNBC, CNN, Sky & BBC all have very different focuses on this) A CYNIC would say that some possible news editors have an anti Nuclear agenda and have pushed the coverage higher. The Yanks are more of a well this is our technology we know it will be alright but it is worrying. They DON'T lead with a "We're all doomed a Meltdown is coming" type tag line (exagerated for effect) This evening saw a change from Ian Woods & Holly on Sky their reports were good but they suddenly showed a human side that made their reports more powerful, finally they looked like they understood the scale of the tragedy and it has hit them and they are now doing MORE than a job

1) The full extent of the story only really unfolded once Google gave new Sat pics. Up to that point there were few if any attempts to show the distance that the actual disaster had covered. granted now that people are there we can see better. No issue with media improving our understanding 2) My main gripe is simply that (as an example0 the BBC World anchorman (who's name I don't know) in Sendai started EVERY link Saturday & Sunday explaining that there had been the biggest quake in history and then a Tsunami casuing a wall of water in an explanation that on average lasted 30 seconds out of a 90 second lead in to a new story. Sorry, after 3 days to assume that viewers did not KNOW what had happened is poor journalism. Each and every other reporter in some way used the same lead in. My point was simply yes we know. 3) The stories of despair and tragedy as well as the remarkable survival tales (like the old people in the car) hit home and carry a powerful message. A woman in tears trying to find her parents house let alone them is pretty graphic. Is it really necessary to ask someone in tears "How do you feel?" 4) Anna Botting did a much better job today from the car showroom by walking around, not using cliches and actually showing the tide mark on the building, she expressed the horror of not knowing whether some(body) may still be in an upturned car very well. Then they showed film of them rushing to higher ground in a general stampede to a limited space on the first floor of a building - without enough room for everyone else around and yet the rescue workers all drive out of the area. There are good reporters and there are bad ones. Young Holly from Sky seems moved and affected and yet the younger BBC World ones (who you may not have in UK) all seem to have a wow this is going to make me into Kate Aide. I have a slight issue with that and with some idiot retelling me that there had been an earthquake when (as Viking says) it drowns out the ACTUAL news coming from one of the Japanese Ministers. The scale of destruction is horrific and makes you wonder what the world really needs to send. Should we send rescue teams or teams & equipment to build temporary accomodation and repair roads water & food supplies. As in where the hell do the poor sods START. Oh, and Journalists report what their publisher wants them to. Don't confuse media based revolutions with Natural Disasters.

1,300 kms of coastline affected in one report. It is more like losing the South Coast of Cornwall and then some, not maybe human numbers wise but in terms of Geography. Again, something that only started yesterday with the Google Images that we could see the scale and range of the destruction

I understand what Viking Saint is trying to get at. A couple of points on the coverage have "mildly annoyed me" Firstly, just how many reporters have UK media sent over there? Now considering flights were cancelled and worried relatives haven't been able to get home, a large number of TV crews have obviously managed to get there. Then we hear about relief efforts being hampered by the lack of infrastructure and only one road being open and yet the TV crews (no doubt from every country in the world) have got through. I have this vision of all the aid trucks stuck behind TV vans in massive jams while they jump out to take another picture. A little facetious I admit but the worry on the Sky team's faces as they climbed a building after a Tsunami warning - what about the rescue teams? Are they in the way or taking resources to manage them all? The other really annoying thing is that every reporter starts with repeating what the ENTIRE planet must now be fully aware of - that there has been an earthquake & Tsunami in Japan. They have a 90 second slot and spend the first 20 or so seconds saying the same thing over and over and over. There are so many horror and heartbreaking stories out there, so many hours of amateur footage and yet we get so much repitition. People up there right now need HELP, they need lifts and food and water and consolation, they do NOT need somebody demanding gasoline for their TV crew or scarce food and water. Yes they are helping make us aware of it but I really think many Japanese would benefit from something OVER than having a camera stuck in their face. Forget the Pullitzer prize people, join in and HELP Rant over, still shocked and horrified by the whole thing