15 June 2009

Daily Chat 15/06/09

Today's Daily Chat guest-written by Andysays:


Interesting day in English political history; in 1215, King John put his seal to the Magna Carta. Exactly 166 years late, in 1381, Wat Tyler leader or at least figurehead of the Peasants’ Revolt was killed at Smithfield while parlaying with King Richard II. He now has a country park, a pub and at least two roads named after him; that dude endures too.

More recently, in 1785, two Frenchmen became the first ever casualties of an air crash after their hot air balloon exploded during an attempt to cross the English Channel. One of them, Jean Francois Pilatre de Rozier, had been the co-pilot of the first ever manned flight two years previously. Should have been content with just one entry in that big Guinness book.

In 1909, Representatives from England, Australia and South Africa met at Lord’s to form the Imperial Cricket Conference.

Celebrating birthdays today, Edward the Black Prince, Prince of Wales (1330), Nicolas Poussin, French painter (1594), and Mary Carey, American pornographic actress (1980).

Mourning deaths, the families and friends of Theophanu, Empress of the Holy Roman Empire (991), Marguerite De Launay, Baronne Stall, French writer (1750), and Ella Fitzgerald (1996).

If you’re either an actor or an epileptic, today’s the day of your patron saint, St Vitus.

For all those in Denmark, today’s the day for you to get out your flags and wave them.

And finally, on a more personal note, today is the final day for all students in their second and final year of the Countryside Management National Diploma at Capel Manor College to hand in their assignments. See you in the library, and maybe in the Pied Bull afterwards for a quick drink.


67 comments:

  1. Hey Jay, have you seen this one?

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/jun/13/ireland-lions-south-africa

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  2. Enjoy the drink 'afterwards' andysays.

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  3. Yes indeed, congratulations Andy!

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  4. I think Geech cocked up by making POC capt though. Jones is playing better than him plus whenever BOD has captained the side, it's not made a blind bit of difference to his form.

    Mendoza

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  5. Funny article, Thaum. Spies really is a beast, a monster. But as for Ireland filling all the positions, well, sheer madness...

    Just think for a moment what would happen if Spies charged at O Gara. It would be ugly, he would leave the field on a stretcher. Last time i saw Ogara, cant remember if it was 6 nations on some club comp, he got literally thrown around and beaten up like a little boy, it was almost embarrassing. He's just too whimpy. You need to move on, Thaum, give up on him.

    Who are your "favourite" players then Thaum, who's tickling your fancy?

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  6. "I think Geech cocked up by making POC capt though. Jones is playing better than him plus whenever BOD has captained the side, it's not made a blind bit of difference to his form."

    Agreed - Hines and AWJ played brilliantly together, that was the best Lions performance by a mile, that was proper rugby. O Connell has been very disappointing indeed. Im liking the centre pairing of BOD and Roberts though, that is about as good as a centre pair gets. Front row we been doing well too, Jenkins, Mears and Vicks i suspect. Bowe and Byrne are looking very tidy. 1st test should be good. We will have a major debriefing here on the UT.

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  7. Well... the extra mods have been drafted in, all leave has been cancelled, heavy duty keyboards have been supplied to all front-line operatives, eye-bath medics are on standby, a separate broadband pipe has been switched on at Graun Towers, and advertisers have been advised of a surge in traffic...

    It can only mean one thing - the "Immigrant Amnesty" thread has just been published over in CiF land.

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  8. Yes, agree on the captaincy.

    Jones (Stephen) didn't exactly cover himself in glory on Sat. Hook did well though.

    The rugby player who tickles my fancy the most isn't on the squad - Shane Horgan. Mmmm.

    Oh, but if we're talking form on the squad, then Bowe, Roberts yes, Kearney (giving Byrne a run for his money); Heaslip & Powell both impressive.... BOD goes without saying.

    The subtleties of the fat bastards in front are beyond me.

    Must have a look at this immigrant thread!

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  9. @thauma:

    "Must have a look at this immigrant thread!"

    Better get your hard hat on, the shit's flying thick 'n' fast over there already.

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  10. S'all right, we'll send O'Gara in to sort them out....

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  11. O'Callaghan to captain Lions on Tues - suppose that means he won't be on the Test side! He's done well too; forgot to mention him.

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  12. Final deadline? Oh shit, is that today?

    Just as well I asked Montana to remind me.

    Back later...

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  13. Before anyone heads over to that thread please just let someone know you're going and go in pairs! We dont want anyone "disappearing" into the gulag. It is going to be dangerous over there, so please just be careful guys. And hold hands. Always holds hands.

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  14. Looks like it's Heaslip over Powell on the Test side....

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  15. Was always gonna be Heaslip i think.

    Croft, Heaslip, Wallace i reckon.

    Or Wallace and Williams, and heaslip.

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  16. Think Wallace was named on tomorrow's side too though.

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  17. Ah, interesting... Croft, Heaslip Williams? That was what i said weeks ago, but then Wallace has played pretty well.

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  18. Ah no, I lie - Wallace and Croft are named to the bench.

    Hook at fly-half with O'Gara on bench. That can't be good. Cos that means 'dead ball' Jones starting against Boks.

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  19. Williams would appear to be out.

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/jun/15/british-irish-lions-southern-kings-shane-williams

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  20. Hi everybody:

    One more fact about today which has recently come to light.

    June 15 is also the wedding anniversary (don’t know which one) of a Mr and Mrs Wildhack, believed to be residents of Iowa.

    I’m afraid I don’t know their first names either, though they might be, er, Washington and Georgia. Let’s call them that for now.

    So I hope you’ll all join me in raising a glass to Washington and Georgia Wildhack.

    Congratulations and may you have many more years together.

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  21. Its Montanas wed anniversary??

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  22. "King John put his seal to the Magna Carta"

    Sorry, got an image of King John walking round with a seal under his arm.

    Sorry...

    Congrats Montana !

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  23. Actually, it's my parents' anniversary. 51st. Never having been married, myself, I don't have a wedding anniversary. I have an annual day of mourning my dried-up spinsterhood.

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  24. There's nothing wrong with spinsterism, Montana - spinsters look after 79% of the worlds cats.

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  25. Did I get their names right, Montana?

    Reilly: are you just throwing out random statistics now, or do you have a source for that bit of info?

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  26. Not referenced, Jay. Tut tut!

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  27. According to chiefwiley on the Shapiro thread (anyone checked that out yet?):

    "42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot." Steven Wright

    Are you a fan, Jay?

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  28. I've just got 101 recommends for a mere jibe on Cohen's piece. Depressing.

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  29. Now that 'Best of The Comments' has been replaced by 'You Said it', does anyone think that a complimentary comment on Mrs. Seaton's article will make it onto the list tomorrow? (If they can find one.)
    Or have these posts here just put up a big red flag? My money's on nepotism, stupidity and mschin.

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  30. colinthestoat
    It was succinct though, like it.

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  31. Oh yeah - how about a book on how long Thatchers got ?

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  32. ""42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot." Steven Wright

    Are you a fan, Jay?"

    Of course ;)

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  33. I wonder if best of the comments has changed to "you said it" because it became embarrassingly plain that the best comments werent selected, instead it was usually one of the rare comments that supported the article.

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  34. Congrats to your Mum and Dad, Montana!

    Mrs. Seaton? Eh? Wot's this all about then?

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  35. Jay - although, to be fair, they did feature the joholland comment disinviting Tanya to the wedding....

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  36. Jay - they did sort of have to change the name, I mean it was made rather clear to them that we proles hardly ever considered the comments they chose to be among the best.

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  37. I wonder if Jo and Tanya have kissed and made up yet?

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  38. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  39. Montana - would you? Unless Tanya had promised to buy something really nice off the list, of course ... that is, if I were Jo....

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  40. scherfig
    My money's on nepotism, stupidity and mschin.

    I hope you're not implying I'm guilty of nepotism! :)

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  41. If I were Jo, I'd have never had the bitter little toad on my guest list in the first place. But yeah, she'd have to buy one damn good gift after that piece.

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  42. Totally off topic, but when did cricketers stop wearing those lovely white jumpers & trousers? They look awful now.

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  43. I agree, Montana - it's just not cricket!

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  44. Oooh, mschin, don't be angry. My point was that trying to find a decent (if not exactly supportive) comment would prove difficult on this thread. Your comment, being somewhat on topic and intelligent, could be utilized. But only so that when people check in tomorrow and see the 'You said it' names, they'll have a look at the article, as many people do. And let's face it, Matt's not going to be happy with 27 hits on Anna's piece. Have you never seen how Cif often promote poorly commented on articles to 'thread of the day' or 'editors choice' or something equally fatuous? I was hoping you might play your part in helping Anna get another gig in the future.

    Of course, this frankness may have 'queered the pitch' as they say, especially if Brian or others are still popping in here. Anyway, let's see.

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  45. @ Montana

    Think the Whites went out when big money started to come into the game from Aus - the crap gear they wear these days looks better on TV under floodlights. Or at least that's what I was told.

    Congrats to mum and dad - you used to be rumoured to get a telegram from the Queen at 50 in the UK but I think that was a bit of at tale.

    I think I read of a UK couple who made 80+ years a few years back.

    You would be wasted on that Brooker chap!

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  46. Duff gen - it's 60 years married for a telegram from HM.

    And Britain's longest married couple celebrated 81 years this year!

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  47. In addition a telegram will be sent on the 65th wedding anniversary and on the 70th wedding anniversary and every year after that.

    -for those who like their facts hard boiled.

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  48. ps - but not if either is dead.

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  49. Has WLM got a sister?

    LizHi
    It seems to me from my exerience of singing in the choir that god created us so we can spend our whole lives telling him that he's fantastic. There are loads of songs listing who should tell god that he's great and how to do it. Even inanimate objects are told what to do. This god bloke seems a bit odd. If I did have the power to create whole universes I'd want something a bit more interesting from my grateful followers.

    From the science & religion thread, BTW

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  50. But the white kits were so elegant looking! No wonder the BNP are moaning about the loss of English culture. (Damned Ockers, destroying all that was good and pure about Albion!)

    Anonymous, I may deserve better than Brooker, but there are no potential Mr. Wildhacks here, he is funny and he comes with that UK residency that I covet so much.

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  51. Apols to woolly. That should read WML of course

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  52. Whoever LizHi is, she's got a better sense of humour than LucyQ.

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  53. montana, when whites became non-compulsory at Wimbledon, it was the end of British civilzation as we know it. (btw I think the colours in cricket started with Kerry Packer).

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  54. LucyQ is one of the most boring and repetitive posters on Cif, and that's saying something.

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  55. I almost wish LucyQ would 'find God' so that she'd quit harping about atheism. And I'm an atheist.

    It's not just that they're wearing colours, it's that the designs are so frickin' gaudy AND THEY'RE WEARING TRACK PANTS! How does a sport go from nice, crisp wool trousers to frickin' TRACK PANTS???

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  56. Montana, scherfig: yeah it was Packer (back in the 70s?) who started the coloured clothing (pyjamas, I believe some call them).

    There’s also more scope for marketing of kits now, of course.

    Follow the money, just like T20.

    I see England are out of that now. Now maybe they can focus on PROPER cricket!

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  57. Tracky bottoms (aka track pants) - perhaps to do with the size of that box thing they use, y'know, the one that protects their bits.

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  58. MsChin: that’s an interesting idea, but have boxes and their contents got any bigger in recent years, necessitating a move to looser trousers?

    I honestly couldn’t say, but maybe you’ve got some thoughts...

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  59. Oh, and I suppose Ian Botham's bits didn't need protecting?

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  60. @ Montana

    "How does a sport go from nice, crisp wool trousers........"

    I sense you spent your time near Naseby productively. I feel sure that we can do better for you than that pet averse Brooker chap - funny as he sometimes is.

    There really must be a passport holder for a lady of your sensibilities.

    It was of course the late Aus Packer what done it for the noble game.

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  61. I did, indeed, Anonymous. Came away from it making some of the crispest hospital corners ever to grace a bed. Ate a lot of biscuits and drank a lot of tea, too.

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  62. Montana: I was wondering this the other day, but never got around to asking.

    When were you in or near Naseby, and what were you doing there, exactly (or just vaguely, if you prefer)?

    Apart from eating biscuits and drinking tea, which obviously goes without saying.

    Your last comment suggests that you might have been a nurse...

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  63. Heavens above young miss - the crispest hospital corners ever to grace a bed. Say no more. Your future should be assurred.

    I am to write to the Prime Minister on the morrow to petition for your immediated admission from the colonies............

    Best Wishes and kind regards.

    My dear elder sisters funeral tommorrow so I must be away to my bed now.

    Deano (Anon)

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  64. Hi Deano.

    Now I re-read those anon comments, they sound like you (especially if I do a Fred Trueman).

    Condolences and good luck/best wishes/whatever it is you’re supposed to say in this situation, ‘cause I’m never quite sure for tomorrow.

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  65. I worked/lived at a conference centre near Naseby.

    Deano, I'm sorry for your loss.

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  66. @ Montana

    Just before I departed for the night I saw a possible ambiguity in my post above..

    My intention was along the lines of the pleasures and silliness of playing doctors and nurses within the crispest of bed corners...

    I'm not quite sure if that might get confused or even lost in its journey to the mid west. I hope not.

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  67. @Andy+Montana

    Thanks for your kind wishes.

    She was expected to die some time this year but it came a little quicker than expected. But by one of those wonderful oddities of life I choose at random to to call to see her Saturday but one last.

    We both knew that she could sense the end and welcomed it as a release from her well fought struggle.

    I had that wonderful pleasure when I bent to kiss her farewell that she hugged me and thanked me for being her kid brother. We said our farewells with our arms around each other. She died about seven hours later.

    I had two fabulous sisters and a mum now all gone but much of what I am is because of them.

    I have no complaints. My family as a child and as a father and grandfather have been fucking grand. I wouldn't have changed any of them for the world.

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