Olejniker

Speaking of songs ...

I was surprised to hear the Carew on Fire chant on the telly so loud and clear in the first half ...

Really outsang the Everton crowd for a bit there ...

James Milnet is an odd choice for this kind of thing ...

I would have thought Craig Gardner would have been better choice ...

I've always had a fascination with American footballers who played in England ...

So, I'm just curious AG, what are your thoughts about Joe-Max Moore?

What's the difference between Sharon from Eastenders, and Chelsea?

Nothing - they both **** Grant, and then Phil

Nice ...

Option A everytime ...

Now Arsenal is going through their 'transitional' phase ... so it's the best time to take their place in the top 4 and try to establish ourselves as one of the 'Top 4'.

Time is of the essence. We need to build and consolidate on our good progress so far ... the best chance we have to do so is by finishing 3rd, to ensure that we are COMPETING in the Champions Leageu next season ... not QUALIFYING, COMPETING!

Essentially the dilemma posed in this thread is about priorities - progress in the cups or consolidating league position. For me there is no dilemma ...

Hypothetically, let's say we win BOTH the FA and UEFA Cup this season at the expense of our league position and we wind up outside the Top 4. Then Arsenal gets one more extra season to get things together, and things may get better for them ... it will make our quest to reestablish ourselves as one of the big clubs In England all the more difficult.

I would trade BOTH our potential trophies just to ensure that such a possibility will not come to fruition.

League position HAS to be top priority this season. We are getting to where MON wanted to take us to when he first arrived ... and I would not jeopardize that potential new era of Villa success just for a one-season wonder of cup success.

Of course that's assuming that playing a full-strength team in cups and progressing in them = harm to our league position.

MON may be able to pull off a marvellous balancing act and do well on all 3 fronts ... I don't know.

33 years ...

But when I was a teenager my Dad had an affair ... dunno how the marriage survived that.

I remember my Mother crying a lot after finding out, both in her room and over the phone ... she was just recovering from cancer as well ...

My Dad came clean eventually ... told the family the truth and the whole nasty thing got swept under the carpet.

Nicest novel I've read for a while would be Life Expectancy by Dean Koontz. While it isn't exactly a literary masterpiece, the characters are colorful and it's filled with dry wit and satire. Pleasant read with a good plot.

For a challenge, those who are fluent in Spanish should read La sombra del viento(Shadow of The Wind). It's great spanish literature, although I struggled to understand a large chunk of it. My Spanish is crap. But I read the translated English version and it's a great little story.

As many has said it doesn't matter whether we have done better or worse with or without him. He's one of our better players, and our best striker.

Having him back fit will be a huge bonus.

I thought he was one of our most over-rated player since I have been watching the Villa. Loads of our younger fans loved him, because he had one good season, and he was a bit of a poser.

I just found him lazy, missed LOADS of chances, and not really my type of player.

I think a lot of people have fond memories of Angel because he was a great human being ... forget about all the conflicting opinions on his ability ... he was genuinely passionate about playing for Villa, and celebrated with such joy when he scored.

Fans always love a player who plays with his heart on his sleeve.

Petrov. I gave him a lot of stick in the early stages of his Villa career, but he's really turned it around.

Belle & Sebastian - Another Sunny Day

Gotta love this line ...

"We pick 11 for football, we're playing for our lives, the referee gives us f*** all"

Reminds me of many a game when Styles is officiating ...

Have to be Liverpool.

Hate that **** lucky group of Spanish idiots. And Benitez is an arrogant prick.

Spurs are too much of a joke now for me to hate them that much ....

Man U comes a close second for me because of their haranguing of officials and getting dodgy decisions in their favor, case and point being the Bolton match, they got 3 points when they only should have 1.

But Liverpool pisses me off the most. I just detest them.

A while back I had one, and have been craving it since. I thought of going on the net and finding out the best recipes for it, but I decided I should consult the numerous culinary experts on VT.

So, what's the best recipe for Steak and Ale pie?

And of course, the more important question is: What's the best brew for this dish?

Randy looks like a Jedi whilst MON looks like Harry Potter.

But they're still awesome!

The sad thing is that Capello is opting to play a mind-numbingly dull system of football, where we pass it around the back for a few minutes then hoof it forward.

O'Neil would have built an awesome England side IMO. England's loss!

I'd say Lost is the best out of that list. Band of Brothers is in a different class. I was also a big fan of Oz. And special mention to Brimstone even though it was only on for one season.

What about MacGyver?

It was quite a cool show ...

I gave MON a 6.

It was an above average performance in the market. I mean he was expected to bring in some depth to our extremely small squad, and that he did.

Yeah, he did a good job, but I would have been disappointed had he not brought in any of the players he did. It was an almost perfect summer in terms of squad depth, but we still lack a new striker, something I hope MON will address in the January window.

All in all, did his job better than expected. 6.

What about Sidwell then?

We have far too many central midfielders in the club ...

Jake Gyllenhaal was immense in Donnie Darko!

Agreed. Loved that film, his potrayal of his character was top notch.

Erik Per Sullivan

Isn't that the guy who played Dewey in Malcom In The Middle?

And although I would agree about Kevin Spacey being a great actor, he's not really part of the NEW generation of actors. He's been around quite long.

A man received a letter from a goverment agency ...

SUBJECT: DEQ File No.97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Montcalm County

Dear Mr. DeVries:

It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental Quality that there has been recent unauthorized activity on the above referenced parcel of property. You have been certified as the legal landowner and/or contractor who did the following unauthorized activity:

Construction and maintenance of two wood debris dams across the outlet stream of Spring Pond.

A permit must be issued prior to the start of this type of activity. A review of the department's files shows that no permits have been issued. Therefore, the Department has determined that this activity is in violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, annotated.

The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams partially failed during a recent rain event, causing debris and flooding at downstream locations. We find that dams of this nature are inherently hazardous and cannot be permitted. The Department therefore orders you to cease and desist all activities at this location, and to restore the stream to a free-flow condition by removing all wood and brush forming the dams from the stream channel. All restoration work shall be completed no later than January 31, 2005.

Please notify this office when the restoration has been completed so that a follow-up site inspection may be scheduled by our staff. Failure to comply with this request or any further unauthorized activit on the site may result in this case being referred for elevated enforcement action. We anticipate and would appreciate your full cooperation in this matter.

Please feel free to contact me at this office if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

David L. Price, District Representative

Land and Water Management Division

This was his response ...

Re: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Montcalm County.

Dear Mr. Price,

Your certified letter dated 12/17/02 has been handed to me to respond to. I am the legal landowner but not the Contractor at 2088 Dagget, Pierson, Michigan. A couple of beavers are in the process of constructing and maintaining two wood "debris" dams across the outlet stream of my Spring Pond.

While I did not pay for, authorize, nor supervise their dam project, I think they would be highly offended that you call their skillful use of natures building materials "debris." I would like to challenge your department to attempt to emulate their dam project any time and/or any plce you choose.

I believe I can safely state there is no way you could ever match their dam skills, their dam resourcefulness, their dam ingenuity, their dam persistence, their dam determination and/or their dam work ethic.

As to your request, I do not think the beavers are aware that they must first fill out a dam permit prior to the start of this type of dam activity.

My first dam question to you is: (1) Are you trying to discriminate against my Spring Pond Beavers, or (2) do you require all beavers throughout this state to conform to said dam request? If you are not discriminating against these particular beavers, through the Freedom of Information Act, I request completed copies of all those other applicable beaver dam permits that have been issued. Perhaps we will see if there really is a dam violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101to 324.30113 of the Michign Compiled Laws, annotated.

I have several concerns. My first concern is; aren't the beavers entitled to legal representation? The Spring Pond Beavers are financially destitute and are unable to pay for said representation -- so the State will have to provide them with a dam lawyer. The Department's dam concern that either one or both of the dams failed during a recent rain event, causing flooding, is proof that this is a natural occurrence, which the Department is required to protect. In other words, we should leave the Spring Pond Beavers alone rather than harassing them and calling their dam names.

If you want the stream "restored" to a dam free-flow condition please contact the beavers -- but if you are going to arrest them, they obviously did not pay any attention to your dam letter, they being unable to read English.

In my humble opinion, the Spring Pond Beavers have a right to build their unauthorized dams as long as the sky is blue, the grass is green and water flows downstream.They have more dam rights than I do to live and enjoy Spring Pond. If the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection lives up to its name, it should protect the natural resources(Beavers) and the environment (Beavers' Dams).

So, as far as the beavers and I are concerned, this dam case can be referred for more elevated enforcement action right now. Why wait until 1/31/2005? The Spring Pond Beavers may be under the dam ice then and there will be no way for you or your dam staff to contact/harass them then.

In conclusion, I would like to bring to your attention to a real environmental quality (health) problem in the area. It is the bears! Bears are actually defecating in our woods. I definitely believe you should be persecuting the defecating bears and leave the beavers alone. If you are going to investigate the beaver dam, watch your step! (The bears are not careful where they dump!)

Being unable to comply with your dam request, and being unable to contact you on your dam anwering machine, I am sending this response to your dam office.

THANK YOU.

RYAN DEVRIES & THE DAM BEAVERS

Didn't really find it amusing, but what the heck.

In terms of talent, McGrath clearly is the better of the 2.

But I voted for Mellberg, because his sterling performances throughout the years kept us afloat through tough times. I hate to think where we'd be now without him.

lmfao...

portsmouths cynical fouls everytime a cardiff player went past them was disgusting...

i cannot stand that twitching cockerney barra boy who manages them either... disgusts me watching his horrd 'droopy' looking face awash with joy after being the luckiest side to ever win a trophy...

mind you, cardiff are crap, and played the long ball right into portsmouths hands, so the better side won...

but the game was a coma inducing pile of garbage...

Pompey didn't win the FA Cup by playing good football.

In fact, the likes of Cardiff and West Brom probably played the better football against them, which is utterly embarrasing considering Pompey is one league higher.

I honestly would not be happy if Villa were to win the FA Cup playing such dire football and getting lucky decisions in game - like not conceding stonewall penalties, letting our striker control the ball with his hand to set up a goal, scoring winners through horrific goalkeeping blunders etc.

Just my opinion though. I know a lot of people wouldn't care how we win, no matter how ugy it might be, but I won't feel a sense of satisfaction if I see Barry lift the trophy after we played such dire, unentertaining football. I would feel like we didn't deserve it.

Pompey don't deserve to win the FA Cup one bit.

Man U and West Brom outplayed them but were desperately unlucky, and for most of the first half, Cardiff looked the more likely to score.

Starlight - Muse.

Easiest/cost effective/semi-decent dish I do is roasted cajun chicken, roasted mediteranian veg and couscous. Easy as, and always tastes good, plus a few portions of your 5 a day

Those fajita kits are pretty useful too. Not that cheap for what they are though.

Edit- Baked Potatoes, easiest thing ever to cook.

Agreed. Just chuck a potato into the microwave for a few minutes and then dig out the flesh and dump in canned tuna. Sprinkle it with cheese(I use a mixture of mozarella and, parmesan - gooey smelly tasty goodness) and put it in the oven for a while to let the cheese brown. It can be prepared very quickly, normally under 10 minutes. Plus, while the cheese is browning in the oven, you can add some milk, cream and butter to the potato flesh you dug out and make a quick side dish of mashed potatoes.

Easiest meal ever. I find it much faster and easier to make than a fancy sandwich. Minimal washing up as well. Not the healthiest or most well-balanced meal though. :oops: