Crab Lungs

been maintaing for a long time we'll get to the final - but we'll lose. Something bugs me about the Italians... i think it might be them who we face and lose 2-1 to. Spain will go out in the QF's. Mystic Lungs has now finished his reading.

:-o

Can we have a 'keywords/phrases' watch? Let's face it 'gate' 'group of death' 'nelson mandela' 'apartheid' and 'colourful' are all going to be maxed out in Summer 2010.

I think we'll get a decent return from the next 8, but I would expect some surprise results! Probably lose at Colchester and win at Leeds - which will keep us all guessing!

Wow, some really, really interesting stuff on here - I concur with many who have said so before me! OK, for today's poser: What if ze germans had developed and succesfully piloted a jet fighter by the end of 1940? Would that have made a significant difference post battle-of britain? would that have enabled them to turn the tide back in their favour?

Cueta and/or Melilla?

Had a weird side-conversation to this thread yesterday regarding another wayward, but nonetheless interesting subject. What if Spain seized Gibraltar and GB declared war on Spain after exhausting all possible diplomatic avenues? Reason this came up was that I work in Spain and I wondered what would actually happen to me and all the other expats out here? I'm hoping we wouldn't all be rounded up and moved to Benidorm to be imprisoned :-(

I have to say, apart from Corp Ho's incessant bull****ting - his retort was actually quite funny... er, well I found it funny, anyway "tractor driving pony fiddlers"

Kingsland Codger - thank you so much for all the information, it's going to prove very useful! I'm back for Xmas so if you're in the platform tavern for the Exeter game I'd love to hear a bit more first hand, if thats OK? :-) and Stevo, ha.... I've flitted back to 'emos' now...

Oh jesus, that's awful - I never knew that! Putin, to me, has always came across quite well though I've spent very little time paying any attention to Russian politics, so that's perhaps why I am a bit out of touch So, what is today's 'point of divergence' !!!!???

For those of you who fancy a stab at changing WWII history... http://www.direct2drive.com/8323/product/Buy-Hearts-Of-Iron-III-Download Hmmmmmmmmmm, as for the Falklands, I'm not sure what would have happened SS - can anyone else elaborate on that conflict?

Cheers, I've actually got the book at home in the UK but haven't read it yet! Read quite a bit of alternate WWII fiction, A Thousand Suns by Alex Scarrow was quite chilling, and it definitely ties in quite well with the 'what if' genre

OK, it is a 'what if' then... As for Sealion... the window of opportunity for the germans was very, very short. They simply had to win the Battle of Britain to stand any chance. I'd imagine that they would seriously have to reconsider helping the Italians in North Africa/balkans (might be wrong here) and pooling their resources from their other operational theatres (Barborossa etc.) It's still bizarre as to why Hitler stopped prematurely when they could have blitzed BEF/allies at Dunkirk... some believe that had we been routed, we might have never recovered and would have paved the way for an invasion soon after by paratroopers on the UK mainland. That said, the germans would have also have had to established quite a naval presence/invasion force in the channel too to follow up any invasion by air. In fact, they'd proably have to dominate the channel to counter the RN.... no mean feat if achieved. Would that have been possible? (I'm assuming if they had taken control of some of the french naval vessels it may have been possible?) How far would the germans have got, assuming they had total control over the airspace of the UK? Would they have only been able to establish a beach head and nothing more?

Was engrossed reading an alternate history forum the other day - all the possibilities, theories and opinions from a broad spectrum of knowledgable and some not-so knowledgable people. Regardless, it was an entertaining read which really left me wondering "what if" - so I wondered if anyone else had contributed or was at least interested in 'alternate history' theories? http://www.alternatehistory.com/ http://www.atomicarchive.com/Example/Example1.shtml So, without further adieu, the first 'what if' - and serious answers only please - what if, say, terrorists deemed Southampton an easy and viable target and detonated a stolen russian nuclear bomb (50kt) in the city, say outside Fawley PP? What would our government response be? How would the local emergency services counter-act this? What would be the response be from the international community, in particular the United States and our 'allies?' What would be the damage and casualty count be? What about the fallout? Where would citizens be evacuated to? Of course, thankfully this is only for hypothetical reasons but I'd have to wonder exactly what would happen if it were our city? If that is a little too 'close to the bone' then I apologise, but after reading a myriad of interesting and varied responses from that forum, I know there is plenty of intelligent and 'clued-up' posters on here who could give an equally measured and realistic explanation of events as they unfold :-o Don't know if I've broken any rules here with this topic, though I have skimmed the forum guidelines and couldn't find anything which indicated that this topic is a breach of forum rules, though delete this if so. Morbid topic, but genuinely curious...

Wow, thanks for the help everyone, amazing stuff! There's a few places I want to go to (Shinjuku, Roppongi) plus I'd like to somehow make my way to Hiroshima for obvious reasons. Has anyone ever been there before? Plus, are the rumours true about "Love hotels", sleeping capsules at train stations and of course, train groping? I'm not a gal but does this seriously, honestly happen!? :-o Japan has always romanticised me by it's wayward, somewhat unique culture - don't know what I'm going to do for food though - can't imagine me living on fish for a couple of weeks! :-o As for karoake - I hope you're wrong about expecting me to perform - unless they want a really bad rendition 'Matt Le Tiss - gets the ball and takes the ****'...

Thinking of going out there for a holiday/cultural experience in March-April... firstly, is there any suggestions on where to go to for the cheapest flights - and, of course a few pointers (where to stay, visit, eat, drink, what to do etc) I've got a few things in mind but would obviously like some advice from peoples previous experiences etc - especially on getting a decently priced flight! Thanks

LOL, so true

Ahum, er, I never witnessed it at the ahum, cinema :-o I have to Google the alternate ending now!

http://www.hbo.com/events/pacific/

Wow, finally a genuinely palatable paranormal film that leaves an impression. Now, I don't know if any of you are like me when it comes to paranormal films. For immediate review purposes, I can only assume that at least some of you must be. In fact, I mostly enjoy films of a realistic and gritty nature – real thinking films that are well-researched and do not follow the stereotypical plot of goodie defeats baddie or goodie defeats baddie but at a cost. I like my films raw and clever but ultimately believable. I like my films to leave a scar or at best a temporary impression on me. Paranormal Activity delivers that in abundance. Of course, there is nothing wrong with a film with an overkill on special effects, explosions and a ridiculous plot – as long as that is something you expect and the film is based upon that. White Noise got 20% of the way to explaining and detailing paranormal phenomena. Paranormal Activity managed at least 90% - not bad for a film with an estimated budget of just £7,000. Personally, I like my paranormal films to be believable, well-researched and etched with a chilling and identifiable realism. Until now, I'd yet to find something of this genre which creeped me out like 'PA' did. OK, I'm not often spooked but I suspect plenty of people who go to watch this film will be - and a major part of that has to go down to just how 'real' the whole film is. The acting is first class (although the characters can be a little annoying - Katie, within her rights but too naggy and Micah too testosterone-fuelled at times) but on the whole, a thoroughly enjoyable watch. Despite this being a POV movie (which are notorious for being a bit slow-paced), the fact that the film's first half hour or so is slow not only adds tension and authenticity, but allows you to build up a bit of relationship and develop an understanding of the two main characters. In a way, it allows the whole experience to become a bit personal - underlining the feel of 'realism' to the film. Having had many paranormal, supernatural and unexplainable experiences in my life, this has been the closest movie I have seen to the real thing. I could write more, but I don’t want to spoil it for anyone. Enjoy! SPOILER: http://www.mania.com/paranormal-activity-review_article_118161.html (this is best review I found, IMO)

Funny that, they find money to spunk on ridiculous schemes and initiatives, as well as overpaying their councillors to the point where it could almost be classed as robbery. Regardless, there would actually be plenty more for visiting fans to do in Portsmouth than there would in Southampton - but we'd have til 2018 to change that...

God, I wish everyone would stop wishing GB as their next manager - they could do alot worse. Did anyone actually watch some of the football we played under GB? Most of it wasn't that bad... I saw alot worse under Pearson, Wotte, Redknapp etc... (for example)

Remember all the Lallana "I'd be happy with £800,000" comments :-o Anyway, well done Saints

They could do alot, lot worse than George Burley. My ideal appointment would be someone like Zajec. And Chalkias would be an excellent temporary loan replacement for James. Where is Corp??? He's missing all the fun!

direct from the BBC news report Sir Mike The Saint? Lol, they're is so few of them now our fans are having to chip in on the 606 commentary!