Rodders

Just proves its all about power and influence sadly.

Re: the social community thing, I think that is clearly the biggest factor in its success - people seek unity and, generally, are social creatures. People in communities live longer than those alone, is something I heard cited somewhere, can't link to it, but it rings true to me. All the more pity then, that there is such an emphasis on narrow dogma and interpretation. In all seriousness, churches would be great if they removed all focus on the sanctity of god and the need for specificity to a creed. Some might say that's the point of them, but nah, communities would do better to remove the alienating factors such as "believe in Jesus / mohammed" and instead go, "yo, people of X, we all generally prefer being nice to being hostile, lets group together and have an intelligent chinwag on all things related to life, free from any constraints!"

good thread. A repository for everything from amusing pics/quotes/depressing facebook status' to a place to have philosophical discussion about life the universe and everything. Plenty of scope then 8) I will say though I have far more leniency towards a belief in a god, a higher power in an abstract sense. Whilst I may disagree there will always be room for speculation on that behalf, but it can never really go beyond a deistic standpoint. I do often consider the spiritual possibilities in spite of my preference for science. I can't tolerate religion though, its a malevolent power-structure that thrives and encourages division and violence. There can be no peace in a world of dogmatic philosophy, where the construction and deification of texts provides platforms for the most repugnant power crazy lunatics to take other people hostage. Institutions that demand conformity and condemn alternatives - how on earth can that ever serve humanity successfully? It's ludicrous. Where the sanctity of some poetic scribes from a bygone age is given credence over the developed and developing minds of the present? Lunacy. That insults, scientific inquiry and skepticism by beginning investigation with flawed absolute presuppositions?! No. It cannot work to value a " chosen" path, especially in our ever increasing pluralistic world and open exchange of ideas. The goodness of say a jesus, is fine, but its basic decency found in many other philosophies and histories and stories - embrace the multiplicity, the diverse forms of myth-making and accept them for what they are, reflections of morals and values for particular points in space and time in various civilisations - and they evolve, they progress, one learns to discard the bullshit and keep the healthy. But religion proscribes this - and by a rigid fixity on the archaic, facilitates the maintenance of some very outdated offensive viewpoints to the exclusion and persecution of large groups of peoples. "only a minority" is often the rebuttal to claims of hostility, but given the extent of its influence on our history and lives I would suggest that is poppycock and those of a moderate nature who don't condemn the vile elements within them are an ethically complicit party to the abuse inflicted on others. Religion capitalises on the insecurities and fears of those seeking safe and easy refuge. That one may have, through cultural allegiances have found an answer in christianity, islam, judaism, hinduism etc is pure chance and surely that in itself should seek some to question the "uniqueness" of their group? study one religion, and you become a believer, study two, and you'll be a cynic - to quote from some bugger.

right idea though, scouting young foreign talents, that's where we need to do our shopping. Whether this guy is good enough, smeg knows, never heard of him until now mind.

Followed up reading Primo Levi's If This is Man (holocaust testimony) by watching Come and See. Happy days. Excellent portrayal of the horrors of war though.

yeah but they're **** critical. Just seen it again on MOTD. What a pointless pointless tackle. rahs wild and spurs guy moving away from goal. He's guaranteed to cost us points like this in several games. Sure he is a lionheart and will have excellent performances but that liability with added age is just going to be a burden on us.

i think the regularity of errors cancel out his positives as a leader, and as we can never outscore opponents that is too much of a risk. New leader who's errors aren't in high cost areas ( ie own goals and penalties ). He's been largely a good buy for us, but time's up for me - well either he or collins goes anyway.

you would think so but i fear it may need to drop into the mid 20s before theyd respond.

gabby finally dropped for being useless, deserved then. Heskey has been better than Gabby very recently so personally I think that improves our chances. Would have started with Wiemann alongside him as well but there we go.

I liked Red. Good fun - Helen Mirren with guns 8)

I just assume its impossible to improve on 72 goals in a season tbh I have no idea, but I wonder if he's just in the perfect set up geared towards him and that can't last. But who knows, I'd love it if he did match or even better this total, it would be insane, but i think its the fact its such a ridiculous number of goals, I assume goals will be more evenly spread in future seasons.

scoring more than this many goals in a season will not happen again. It's suhc a ridiculous total I doubt he will improve upon it, regardless of who is manager for Barca in the future. I can see him scoring regularly 30-50 goals ( absurd enough ) but this 72 is just not going to be repeated or close to it again surely? Other sides will simply just mark the shit out of him in the future.

chelsea win, thank **** for that. now for them to get all knackered and tiredy ahead of the CL final. Credit scousers and carroll making a game of it but overall considering chelsea deserved it.

2-1 norwich! would make the race for the CL very interesting if that stayed like that - extra incentive for Newcastle.

don't care much. dickish behaviour from 20 somethings happens everywhere every night. not the night before, the night before the night before or even the night before that so not that bothered. Admittedly with the end of the season so close, why not have waited a little longer.

cardiff so rubbish tonight west ham birmingham final I fear.

Chelsea to win 3-0 but suffer a few knocks to key players not already suspended for the CL final would be the preferred scenario.

Would love Cardiff to go up, but will be difficult. Cardiff / Blackpool in a repeat of the final two years ago would be fun. At any rate please neither of the other two unmentionables

I'd still recommend watching it at the cinema. In a packed audience as well it's great in that 'collective experience' lark too, so the 'no mates' thing is irrelevant to an extent! When everyone's laughing at some great set-pieces etc I would still consider it an excellent film. dunno if this is really a spoiler but ill write small: The scene with Loki and the Hulk at one point was just hilarious.

oh yeah, why no black widow film? that would be fun to see.

I really enjoyed Bad Education, I'm a big fan of Gael Garcia Bernal and I thought he was terrific in it. As for Almodovar, Women on the verge of a nervous breakdown ftw! He was good I'll admit that, and prior to this I'd had to watch Live Flesh a few times for a piece on adaptation ( from a ruth rendell novel! ) and after much reading up on Senor Almodovar I understand more about him as an "emblem of Spain" etc, but he does make films you need to watch a few times over to properly understand it seems. Saw Avengers last night. Was good fun, I think Chindie's mass enthusiasm may have led me to expect something blowing my mind away which didn't happen :evil: - though I caveat that with its probably due me not being a comic book fella so I would have missed alot it in there. Was very funny, all the main characters got a fair whack - and I will go and see thor and captain america now too, but I thought the film on a whole was on a par with the first iron man - very very good but maybe not awesome. 4/5. I assume that scene referred to as either you go " wow" or eh? was the post credits one?

It really, really wouldn't be a shame. In fact, that's by far the biggest positive I can see of Chelsea winning Disagree. Even if it hinders us from a selfish point of view, I think longer term it's better for the league in general the more other teams get into the champions league, and the longer clubs like liverpool and chelsea are kept out the better. It's the only way to break up the monopoly by other sides getting in. Sure they'll get stronger as a result but the league becomes more competitive that way, with more sides genuinely able to to challenge to get in, the more points will be taken off of each other. I don't care much for either club for various reasons ( Spurs: Redknapp; Newcastle: the fanbase ) but good luck to them I say.

this x 100 6-0 Bayern. It would be a shame if spurs or newcastle were denied a CL place due to CHelsea spawning their way through a few cup matches. Also, Chelsea still haven't won it and i'd like to keep it that way. Robben hat trick, Chelsea players sent off in first ten minutes please. This all said, I also want CHelsea to smash the shit out of Liverpool on saturday, so im not entirely begrudging them of success.

Bad Education - got lost half way through what was going on. I don't care for Almodovar, he's a bit mental. Looking forward to seeing The Avengers tomorrow.