A.J.Rimmer

I get endlessly pissed off by seeing Peter Snow and his son Dan doing programmes on military history... especially when they cover World War One. Peter and his equally unintelligent cousin from C4 news, Jon Snow, are both grandchildren of the famous WW1 butcher Sir Thomas D'Oyly Snow, who was the chief architect of the disastrous diversionary attack at Gommecourt in 1916... a failure which he quite revoltingly tried to blame on the soldiers who were slaughtered as a result of his incompetence. Whilst I can already hear people moaning that the sins of the fathers should not be visited on the sons, allowing these two gentlemen to do programmes on the Battle of the Somme, is like getting Hitler's relatives to do a programme on the holocaust.

There is not a single sentiment expressed above with which I cannot to some degree identify. I worry less about AVFC than in yesteryear... for me the recent teams will never be like watching Cowans Little & Gray, Mortimer Shaw & Morley or even McGrath Saunders & Sicknote... I really loved every one of them. But going down should be avoided at all costs... who knows if we will ever come back?

After last night he may not be worth so much any more.

To save space I won't copy the long piece in Blandy's above post, BUT: I read every word of the above and whilst there are a number of minor and not so minor points with which one may disagree in this article, most significantly it dramatically underlines the salient point, and the reason we should never ever contemplate handing the islands over to a nation full of ignorant cnuts like Argentina. THE ISLANDS DO NOT BELONG TO US. THEY DO NOT BELONG TO ARGENTINA. THEY BELONG TO THE FALKLAND ISLANDERS.... WHO NEVER GET A SINGLE FECKING MENTION IN THIS MORON'S PATHETIC ATTEMPT AT SELF JUSTIFICATION.

... and there was me thinking the whole idea was to get them pissed first... I would sue her to get my money back. There but for the grace of God...

Just to broaden this topic a little, it has often occured to me that Birmingham has a marked lack of legendary heroes. Has anyone one ever wondered if the rise of Liverpool FC had anything to do with the rise of Mersey Beat and the Beatles? Or that the Munich air crash and George Best produced the phenonemon that's become Manchester United, wth 100 million fans in China? I'm quite sure that down the years any number of prospective Villa players were put off the moment they saw the Bull Ring. Fact remains that, together with the northeast, we are the best of a very poor group of west midland clubs.... and we can hardly attribute this to just the water.

I'm not in the mood for politics today, but as I've stated more than once on this site, I spent my working life travelling behind the iron curtain dealing with the communist system. I did not get my opinions out of a book. They formed by bearing daily witness to the horrors. Economically, I would describe myself as vaguely Thatcherite... it's amusing that back then she was endlessly criticised for being a 'monetarist'... but nobody dares remind us that a little more monetarism is exactly what has been missing for the past 15 years. Trouble is we now live in a society in which everyone wishes to be lied to, as the truth is too difficult to face.

Whilst not belonging to the playstation generation, I am clearly no F1 expert and bow to your superior knowledge. I feel much the same about 20/20 in cricket. However what is the problem with KERS and why have this 6.67 secs per lap rule?

Why? Did you take me for a leftie? PS You'd be surprised on how many issues I disagree with the Tories.

Obviously not... but was that the only place?

Good answer. I told you I hadn't thought about it.

Other than trips to Villa Park, the last time I spent any real time in Brum was 1987, when my grandmother still lived there. Being something of a real ale snob, I found it appalling that nowhere, and I really mean nowhere, had any pump bitter... it was all Ansells fizzy stuff... drove me fecking crazy... and when I asked for pump ale they looked at me like I was nuts. Perhaps it's different now, but as a Londoner I thought all Brummies must be very primitive.

Thanks to both of you... all clearly understood. Though I have not thought deeply about this subject, one would think that anything that helps to achieve more overtaking must be a good thing, as F1 races had become rather too much of a procession. However, why they complicate this technology with extra rules such as 6.67 seconds, or being within 1 second of the car in front, is a mystery to me. That said, Sunday was truly a tremendous race and I found myself sitting alone but still shouting encouragement for the McLarens.

I always try to watch the Grand Prix... but can someone please explain what KERS is and there is some other thing, some 3 letter combination, which the drivers switch on and off to overtake. I've been too long living abroad and missed a lot of this stuff.

As many will know, in economics I lean to the right, and broadly speaking I believe this government is less bad than the last lot. However, this Christian stuff they are starting to come out with really makes me want to vomit. One expects this crap from US Presidents, in part because they are generally less bright than our PMs, but also because they must appeal to their moronic bible belt. Most of the current front bench went to good schools, so I can't help wondering if Cameron and his ilk really believe any of this crap. My guess is that in conversation they would espouse the values of Christianity, rather than subscribe to any of the rubbishy acts of God as recorded in the Book of Big Lies. I thought I'd grown up in a post religious society where these fools were hanging on by their finger tips. Yet nowadays I'm genuinely concerned religion is making a comeback... aided I might add by immigration.

Wat? Have you not noticed the incredibly rough ride that everyday Muslims have had over the past 11 years or something? No.

In years gone by I called myself a militant atheist, but to paraphrase Dawkins, I don't blow people up, and thus cannot be branded a 'militant'. I now call myself a 'devout' atheist. Breivik's political platform, and I'm not keen to read his manifesto, is based on concern about immigration and the global problem of Islam. I share those concerns. I do not agree that Islam comes in for the criticism it deserves. Without exception all the commentators I see tipeetoe around the subject for fear of giving offence. All religion is all rooted in stupidity and ignorance. Indeed, it is difficult to see how any good can come from these prehistoric superstitions. We need a more modern, more reasoned and more scientific approach to our difficulties and we tolerate this religious rubbish at our peril. Unlike most, I believe we should condemn it for the poisonous nonsense it is at every available opportunity. Incidentally it is children who have imaginary friends... Allah is a wholly different kettle of smelly fish. But back to the original topic... perhaps it was Breivik's "repugnant" (word used by the BBC) christian views that led to the slaughter... for looking back down the ages, christians have been some of the most prolific killers in history... just look at the holocaust.

This may be irrelevant to the sane/insane debate, but I remember being amazed that the judge would not allow an insanity plea from the Yorkshire Ripper. We ended up with an expensive trial which was clearly designed to expose the gory details, thus titilating the public 'curiosity'. Finally after a year or two in prison the Ripper was moved to a mental hospital because he was nuts. What I find anomalous in the Norweigan situation is that, despite his crazy actions, everyone rushes to condemn Breivik's political platform, which, like it or not, is shared by tens of millions of our fellow Europeans. Yet Islam remains critism free, irrespective of its jihadist suicide bomers. Incidentally, I have many cousins in Norway, as my claret & blue bloodied uncle fought there in WW2 and returned afterwards to marry.

Wow! I sometimes like to stir the pot in 'off topic', but this was quite unexpected. I thank all of you for your comments and am delighted we all feel so passionate. As for who is a better supporter, who can say? In some ways I'm pretty good, in others I'm piss poor... a definition which would fit many of us. But whatever my failings as a Villa fan, and however crappy the team may be, believe me... I really love Aston Villa. However, leaving the youngsters aside for a moment, and acknowledging that I do not have to suffer watching them play every week... the very worst thing I can think of is having to start afresh all over again. I never liked Taylor and O'Leary, but I loved BFR, Little Brian, Gregory and, along with the rest of us, I was over the moon when MON arrived... but it all ended up in the same old same old... 2 or 3 years followed by having to start all over again. One can hardly compare us with Man Utd, but am I not right in thinking that Ferguson was seriously under threat when his team finally came good. Yet if Moyses, who everyone acclaims as a great manager, was at Villa Park, we'd have canned him long ago. I just think it's time we did something long term and radical by going off in a wholly different direction... and I'm open to suggestions.

I've supported the Villa all my life, but I'm the first to admit I watch them very rarely nowadays, so must bow to the superior knowledge of those who follow them on a weekly basis. However, I wish to make the following 3 points: 1. Clearly Lerner thought a premier football club would be a cash cow... and perhaps for him it already is... I don't know... but it most certainly is not a labour of love into which he is prepared to pour his private wealth, as the Villa might be for the rest of us. Incidentally I understand his 'beloved' Cleveland Browns are in an even worse state than are we... or perhaps I'm misinformed 2. I left Brum when I was 4 years old, so I never have to suffer the Blue Brigade. Consequently it was a matter of indifference to me that we picked up their manager. I like McLeish. It was not his fault we lost Milner, Barry, Young and Downing. Until we can hold on to such players mid table mediocrity is the very best we can ever hope for. 3. I can not give chapter and verse on the ability or potential the McLeish team, but I am delighted he is playing the youngsters... this is a policy I have long advocated. Whether or not this particular batch are up to it, who knows... I just hope we stick with both them and McLeish for a few more years yet... otherwise it's 'all back to the starting line' once again... and we will truly never get anywhere.

I used to bet on the National every year without ever winning a frigging penny. Then finally I had a fiver each way on the 40-1 winner... but no sooner had the horse crossed the line, they cancelled the race (1993 I think). I swore then I would never try again... and I haven't.

I think God's miracles are absolutely marvellous... and to be blessed by them one has only to pray. I'm currently praying for gay people to be cured. In fact whenever I see people outside my local supermarket I always tell them they should not ask me for money, but pray harder to God... He always provides.

That's conservatism. Conservatism (Latin: conservare, "to preserve")[1] is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society Apologies for the delayed reply. I've not looked in for the past few weeks. Thanks for informing us all of that... though perhaps someday you will learn to look past simple language and dictionary definitions to see the reality that hides behind them. Or do you believe the Peoples Democratic Republic of Korea (that's the northern bit) really is a democratic republic under the control of the people.... no, please don't tell me... 'Yes'. You do.

All business is essentially predatory. I think it was Clausewitz who said 'war is a continuation of diplomacy by other methods'... well, someone also said that business is a continuation of war by other methods. Business is like evolution... it too never stands still. Either you are quick, or you are dead. You are either advancing or you are going backwards relative to others. Change is the enemy of authoritarianism. The whole basis of authoritarianism is to maintain the status quo... but it can never be done.

I'm sure there are plenty of well intentioned socialists, and no doubt you have named a few... there may even be a few well intentioned tories as well. However, saying you love the NHS, want higher pensions, better education and more wages for everyone, never put a single meal on a single plate. As for being overly cynical, perhaps you are right... sadly however, and this is doubtless the result of my experiences... I do believe avaricious tendencies represents the norm for the majority who achieve power. The great trick is to have a system which takes this into account... on all levels.