Hamilton Saint

1) A Charlie Brown Christmas by Vince Guaraldi - a classic Christmas album for jazz lovers. 2) Phil Spector's Christmas album, which has been re-released many, many times. It features popular Christmas songs done in Spector's familiar wall-of-sound production style with Darlene Love, The Ronettes, The Crystals, and Bob B. Soxx & The Blue Jeans.

One to mention Rupert for no apparent reason. .

Good comments, as usual, from Pardew. He is a very good communicator - always seems to say something that is commonsensical and right for the moment.

Well, yes, that commentary left a lot to be desired, but on the other hand, I am eternally gateful that we have something instead of nothing. We need to remember (some of you, of course, have never even experienced this) that there was a day when the only coverage of a Saints game was a written description of the game published in the Echo's pink edition early Saturday evenings. In those days there was no live televison coverage, no radio coverage, no internet discussion groups. No nothing! What we have now is fantastic. And I for one am grateful for it. Sure, there are problems with the system, but let's keep things in perspective. Things have never been so good for the keen football fan.

I don't disagree with you at all (I wish people would read what is actually written and not jump to conclusions). Yes, it was a nice moment (I said that). Yes, pitch invasions are wrong. So, yes, his parents need to have a word. I said that. I also added that if it's true that this boy has done this several times before (read post #2), then this is an extra concern. In other words, my point was a "yes, but", in response to some who were saying it was nothing but a laugh. And then the heavy hitters arrived ...

If the cap fits ... but, no, it wasn't aimed specifically at you. Can't we debate a point without being characterised and dismissed?

Oh, dear ... whatever you say.

What's surprising is the number of posters who can't manage a subtle and nuanced discussion - a "yes, but" sort of debate. Too "serious" for them, apparently.

I'm just going on what was written in post #2 and #3. And if it's true what's written there, then there is something to be concerned about.

Speaking of over-reaction ...

Yes, and Papa (interesting coincidence!) comes across as being a good-hearted and compassionate fella. But Papa didn't know that the boy has been set up to do this several times before (apparently). Now that we know this, it puts a different complexion on the situation, doesn't it?

My point wasn't designed as a criticism of you.

A matter of perspective. For the spectators, yes, "good fun and a bit of a laugh". But since he has, reportedly, done this a few times, this is a parental issue; he needs to learn that this is not acceptable behaviour and should not happen again. Unfortunately, his antics seemed to have been condoned and reinforced.

Yep, sounds like Will Cope to me.

It's well-known that Bush and his crew had already decided that they wanted to get rid of Hussein (whose regime he included in the so-called "axis of evil"). The attacks on New York and The Pentagon gave them the pretext they needed. The various reasons provided (WMD, "regime change", expansion of democracy in the ME) were justifications for a decision already made.

Well ... it's obviously not a random exercise, or based merely on a subjective view. They must have used some sort of rating method.

And doesn't he keep saying "Bilakowski"?

Thanks for that! Well, that makes me another Nelson Mandela. P.S. Bizarre to see that Gordon Brown sits further to the right than Stephen Harper. Hard to believe!

I am a free man. I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed, or numbered! My life is my own.

I saw a Nikon Coolpix point-and-shoot camera last week that came in a package deal with a 4 GB memory card, rechargable lithium battery, and a soft carrying case. All for about $180 Cdn (about 90 pounds). A very good deal, I think. Presumably, you could find similar deals on your side of the pond.

Is there a graph that I missed showing the position of various well-know political figures?

If you check out the US Presidential election candidates of 2008 on the website offering this political-leaning test, it's interesting to see that Barack Obama (labelled a rabid communist by the ultra right-wing in the US) actually appears in the right-wing/authoritarian quadrant. Tells you a lot about the US. [i'm closest in political attitude there to Ralph Nader - which I'm happy to see!] Furthermore, New Labour of 2008 are firmly ensconced in the right-wing/authoritarian quadrant - worryingly close to the Conservatives. Only the Greens are in the left/libertarian quadrant.

Interesting test. I came out closest to Bungle (-6.25 left and -5.33 libertarian).

He could have been carrying a knife.

There is nothing in the rules of the competition (posted on the FL's website) that mentions away goals. "14.4 In the event of scores being level: - 14.4.1 at the end of ninety minutes’ play in all rounds apart from the Final; and 14.4.2 after the conclusion of the two legs in each Area Final, the winner shall be determined by the taking of kicks from the penalty mark in accordance with the Laws of Association Football." It seems to me, then, that the winner of the two-tie area final is based on aggregate score after the two matches.