THE BRITISH THREAD II

The Scoop Six on Ch 3 racing was interesting Mac.

One might have thought that the owner of the winning ticket would be prostrate on the carpet on watching the winner of the last leg scrape home in a desperate finish fought out over the last two furlongs by half the field.

But no. He was stood right there beside Nick Luck in the paddock beaming and ready to be interviewed. He explained the national syndicate he had organised and it was exactly the same procedure that was used to invest in ships in the 18th Century seeking spices and stuff in exotic locations.

The very stuff of capitalism in its modern form.

I read that syndicates exist to vote for contestants in dross such as Britain's Got Talent. And others to vote for World Cup matches being played in impossible conditions.

Emperor's wives are notorious George in such matters.

Did you see her demanding that the Nigerian schoolgirls be freed?

Laura Bush handled the task with dignity I thought.

Bump

bump

Seen on TV this morning: a suggestion that obesity can be caused by a virus!
Right.
So "I've got big bones" will no longer be the only excuse needed.

The most amazing news of the week: apparently money changed hands in an illegal and immoral way to allow Qatar to be chosen as the 2022 host of the (soccer) World Cup.

That's absolutely astounding. Whoever would have thought that? FIFA officials have apparently not conducted the business properly.

(Paid in US dollars, with the USA a rival bidder, this one might run and run.)

MOST Scots believe money raised from North Sea oil and gas in Scottish waters should support public services across the UK, according to a poll.

http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/independence-scots-want-to-share-oil-money-poll-1-3429680

So Romeo can hang his jingoistic head in shame.

Is there a legal definition of "Scottish waters" Mac?

It's clear from reading his posts that Romeo is incapable of feeling shame. The only people who treat him with anything other that contempt are idiots like Gungasnake and Coldjoint.

Don't let him get to you.

Well not Julie, I think she's a Scouser.

I have not the slightest doubt that the SNP definition will be in variance with the Westminster one, nor that the question will keep m'learned friends in claret for some considerable time to come.

A commentator on Raceday Live yesterday (Ch 415) was reading out the runners and riders and when he came to a nag called Love On Top interjected "what other way is there?" in a somewhat lordly tone of voice.

Does the team think he should be sacked? Such a remark is unthinkable when Claire Balding is around.

I also noticed that one sadistic owner had named his horse Red Leather Yellow Leather.

Oh, so there is another way?

That's nothing, on HIGNFY they showed footage of a Sky News reporter saying 'Oh ******* hell,' when interrupted by Big Ben's chimes.

What about James Naughtie on BBC R4 introducing us to Jeremy ****.

But neither of those would bother Ms Balding I shouldn't have thought. They are merely cliches.

I'm quite surprised that they are being compared to Matt Chapman's little gem. They are just shockworditis. Matt's had a deft wit fit to stir the indignation of ladies of advanced opinions one of whom might have replied "Don't sneeze though".

Regrets, I can't get a link for here.
This is all I can get: http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/magazine/article4094242.ece
My wife has offered to scan it on her dad's machine, so I can email it to you if you would like that.
Anyone else who is interested, send me a PM with the email address to use and I'll send it to you.

Not to be thought to be patronising this thread I ought to have said that Mr Chapman's wit was Strindbergian.

I would be surprised, George, if any British critics had even given the subject the slightest thought.

It is distasteful enough to mention one's own food habits, as Philippa Pullar explained in her interesting book Consuming Passions, without searching the world for examples of other people's. That goes beyond mere vulgarity.

Thanks McTag - I read the header in the link and get the drift. At least he got as far as Charleston - a delightful place. Savannah, even farther South, is better.

Carbohydrates, not fat are the current enemy for the food faddists. They, environmentalists, and the Inquisition have a lot in common.