Hamilton Saint

Lawrenson's "competition" this week with the predictions is comedian Vic Reeves. So we get predictions from him of 400-1, 11-12, etc. This was amusing the first few times, but it's getting to be a regular feature now, so not funny at all. Is Lawrenson really that desperate to win?

Here's my "sanctimonious, moralising, politically correct tart" view of this: there is a small minority of knee-jerk, over-emotional, rather irrational drama queens, who - in addition - also suffer from a case of male chauvinism. They also seem to believe that all football fans share some sort of old-fashioned, adolescent, class-conscious, tribal, mob-mentailty (and misogynist) attitude to the life of a football fan. And they seek to impose this "lad" attitude as the only approach to life as a football fan. Quite sad, really. All in my humble (adjective-laden) opinion.

This is based on what exactly?

Why are you laughing at his post? It's a legitimate point. And his criticism of the insulting behaviour is valid.

Agreed. And even if she were not the owner of the club - just an ordinary person, going about her day - what on earth gives these ignorant, immature and amoral goofs the notion that it is OK to insult people they have never met (and know nothing about) because of their physical appearance? It's at times like these that you wish Facebook, Twitter, and these sorts of internet fora would simply drop off the face of the Earth. Simply disgraceful.

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Nicotine is addictive; THC is not. If you took up smoking joints again, that would not prompt you to also take up cigarettes - unless the "oral fixation" was an important component in the reason for your smoking.

Correct - and, in the reverse process, this pagan festival (called Boxing Day Sales) has been moved one day away from December 25th. to indicate its irreligious nature!

It's an example of taking a pagan celebration (Samhain) and institutionalizing it into the dominant (Christian) cultural tradition. Part of that process requires shifting it by several days, in order to hide its pagan origins (November 1st to November 5th, in this situation; and Christmas is on December 25th, instead of December 21st - the winter solstice).

You've fearlessly covered all the bases - we'll lose; we'll draw; or we'll win.

No, you're certainly not alone. It's great to be in an era now where I don't approach most games with an underlying sense of dread. Now, I seem to be full of optimism about our short-term and long-term outlook. And that's exciting. Long may it continue!

Your key point (which I highlighted) was that we were "stuck in a rut". My key point was that we are not in a rut (which implies no change ahead), but things were about to change as our injured players come back into regular service.

No, I reckon we're about to emerge from a significant dip in form caused primarily by a few key injuries. And the return of those players (Boruc, Wanyama, and Clyne) coincides with a much better run of games in the next two months. I expect a consolidation of our position, at minimum, but possibly a push for seventh or sixth place - if a team or two above us have their own slide.

Yeah, if we turn up, we could get three points; but if Man City take to the pitch, instead of Saints, we're sure to get nothing from this game. Likewise, if some other team emerges from the tunnel, instead of Sunderland, it probably means we're at the wrong stadium - which also means zero points.

Or a revelatory form of weltanschauung?

Nice! Have you read Che's The Motorcycle Diaries?

Yeah, I was in the Lord Nelson last August. I usually come over to Hythe on the ferry from Southampton and drop into the Lord Nelson for lunch and a pint (or two). Then walk up into Hollybank Estate to visit the bungalow I lived in from 1960-68.

DM says WBA is playing 4-4-1-1 Anelka playing behind Long.

Let's get three points, today!

To be honest, I am sick and tired of these "instant" legends and "instant" icons. Being a celebrity is not the same as being a legend, or being an icon. Hugh Grant is a celebrity; Laurence Olivier is a legend. Saul Bellow was a famous American author; Ernest Hemingway is a legend. Duncan Edwards was one of the most talented palyers of his generation, cut down before his prime; Stanley Matthews is a legend.

Yeah, that's embarrassing!

I went to teachers college right out of high school (in the 1970s). Got my certificate, but couldn't find a full-time job. Got a position in the laboratory of an oil refinery - testing samples off the production line. Could have made a career there. But after a couple of years I quit in order to attend university. Never regretted it at the time, but in the current economic situation, I would have to think long and hard about doing that sort of thing again. When you're young and single, without your own family, these sorts of decisions are much easier to make. And there were a lot more opportunities back then.

I have a pair of B&W DM4 speakers that I bought in 1973. They are still going strong - but one of them was disfigured at the front, bottom, right corner by my dog, who nimbled on it when she was a puppy!

"... the streets will separate ..."? The stars will fall. The sky will collapse. All life as we know it will end.