Didn't know that. But basing the idea on a Kiss song was never going to end well

I'll listen to them both to  again in the next few days but I believe the songs on FBN (bar Rivendell) are stronger than those on COS.

I think the arrival of Neil invigorated Alex and Ged's creativity thanks to his ability on the drum kit and the major improvement in lyrics.

This was lost a little in COS thanks to the laudable desire to experiment and push their boundaries. They pushed a little too hard imo. But perhaps they needed to stretch their limits to be able to come up with 2112 a few months later

Great response from Middlesbrough...

Given the reasons for these sanctions, for Chelsea to seek to invoke sporting "integrity" as reason for the game being played behind closed doors is ironic in the extreme.

https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/a-statement-from-middlesbrough-fc

Sporting integrity?  Deep irony there me thinks!

https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2022/03/15/middlesbrough-ticket-update?utm_source=tw&utm_medium=orgsoc&utm_campaign=none

It is important for the competition that the match against Middlesbrough goes ahead, however it is with extreme reluctance that we are asking the FA board to direct that the game be played behind closed doors for matters of sporting integrity.

Reading some analysis on Putin's request for help from the Chinese.

Its seen as desperate and unlikely to provide a positive response. Xi being so fixated on economic growth that he wouldn't want to risk any sanctions that would impact that. Also a weaker Russia (that would result from defeat or a messy outcome) would be an opportunity for China.

It is desperate as Putin realises this and yet still asked. Desperate as the war is not yet 3 weeks old and he is already seeking help. Desperate as seeking help is surely seen as a sign of weakness.

Uncomfortable for Putin too in that conversations with an ally have been made public so quickly.

Went out on Saturday for a spin with the small group I've been cycling with for the last 6 or 7 years. A mix of men and women most of the spins are very gentle. But for a 5k segment on Saturday we decided to ride at our max between Ballivor and Kildalkey. I had to slow down a couple of times so was happy enough to have averaged 27km/h and manage my fastest time for that segment. Its still early in the season so may try that again a few times and see how I improve (or not) with more miles in the legs.

Forever Autumn came up on one of my Spotify playlists and it made me listen to War of The Worlds in its entirety. Very enjoyable. Much better than the Tom Cruise version!

From there to Porcupine Dream. On the Sunday of Life and then Stupid Dream.

(That was all yesterday btw while cutting the grass and walking the dog)

Agreed! Maybe its time for football authorities and even the government to look at the running of football clubs and how they are owned and managed.

Multi billionaires shouldn't be allowed to take sole ownrrship of clubs as a pr/money laundering exercise.

A few years ago Usamov seemed pretty close to taking over Arsenal. Huge bullet avoided there. And to think, at the time, I would have been delighted with that happening.

Does anyone have any sympathy for Chelsea?

I really don't. I think they've had a trophy laden 20 years solely because they were taken over by an oligarch.

I don't want them to go bust or anything but I'll be happy for them to head back into the doldrums for a while.  When I developed an interest in football they were a bit of a yoyo club.  Not good enough for the first division but too good for the second.

Looks like Newcastle will replace them at the top table

I like them both but prefer Porcupine Tree

Interesting article. Feels like this will be it for them

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/mar/10/reunited-prog-rockers-porcupine-tree-on-surviving-their-rift-you-cant-help-but-feel-bitter?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

I see Chelsea's assets have been frozen.

Tory party next? 😂

Agreed about Foot - a bit like with Corbyn the Labour party really shot themselves in the shoe encased organ

Quote from: Slim on March 08, 2022, 04:16:20 PMI can accept your second paragraph there but definitely not the speculation in the last paragraph. Obviously the decision to attack the islands was not taken by Mrs Thatcher.

Apologies, the decision to send a task force to defend the Falklands

Quote from: Slim on March 08, 2022, 02:59:37 PMI hadn't heard that one before - in all honesty I don't think even Neil Oliver would buy that one.

I remember reading an analysis in the '80s that suggested she would have won the '83 election either way. I wouldn't quite say the 'Falklands Factor' was a myth, but I do think it's overstated.

It was slightly tongue in cheek until I read this...

It states that the Conservative Government were looking to hand South Atlantic Islands over to Argentina. When this plan stalled in Parliament Argentina thought if they attacked the UK would hand them over as they were looking to anyway!

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/apr/09/margaret-thatcher-falklands-gamble#_=_

The decision to attack in this light could be seen as a political gambit, realising how poorly she was perceived at the time and knowing that the general population reacts well to the stirring up a bit of national sovereignty and pride.  Islands that were otherwise a burden, suddenly became more attractive

You have to wonder whether Thatcher put the Argentinians up to this.  Certainly saved her bacon domestically.  If no prompting was carried out it was serendipitous; I bet she thanked them to herself