Whitnail

5 years to full decriminalisation in US and UK. To paraphrase someone else, what a time to be alive. Still plenty of work to do.

There's not to say there isn't cultural issues in Scotland. You're completely right about Cannavaro, no way him (or Baresi or Passarrella) would have ever been centre halves in this country given the fans uneasy obsession with height at this position. NEED a big guy at the back to win headers and intimidate opponents. Cause strikers are definitely more scared of Kevin James than Roberto Ayala or Daniel Passarella. They'd end up as full backs or midfielders, not reaching their full potential, but it's not as if they wouldn't make it. This is a UK thing as much as Scotland, not as if England have had many terrific small centre halves, Terry Butchers are their preference. Italy have it right, but we'd be laughing if we could ever replicate their culture of professionalism and tactical acumen. Kirk Broadfoot and Kris Boyd discussing tactics? They'd be as well mediating on Middle Eastern Peace Talks. And yes "I was too small!!" is a line trotted out by bitter players, I can't imagine (hope) that clubs are saying it to spare their feelings.

Hah, this is the biggest lie I've ever heard. Every player who has ever been released from anywhere has played this disingenuous card. Plenty of rubbish small players have made it in Scotland - look at Jamie McCluskey. In fact, McCluskey broke the SPL youngest ever player record, and his record was broken by Scott Robinson. Neither have ever been over 5 foot 7. Some of the best players from our golden era were midgets. It has never been a barrier, it's a complete myth. Robertson may not have developed and that's why he was released, hardly unusual, Ashley Young was released as a youngster and went on to Man Utd and semi regular English international. The kind of people implying that Messi might not have made it in Scotland because he is so wee are deluding themselves, and doing a disservice to our coaches and entire game. In fact, if anything our national team has plenty of small players (Anya, Maloney) and very few tall, strong players relative to other nations. Which is fine, but completely dispels the myth that we favour the latter attributes over footballing ability.

I think it's could be quite a good move for him actually. Houghton is a bit of a dinosaur, unfortunately, but managers switch Championship teams quite a bit. It's a fairly nice place to live, lets hope he gets some first team football this season.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/programs/killing-season/ Not a film as such but a three parter of Australian political back stabbing. The Thick of It played out in real, the protagonists not even attempting to hide their complete hatred of each other - and a sense absolutely everyone is lying through their teeth. 10/10 gripping television, even for someone who knows nothing about Australian politics (i.e. me, in fact not knowing the story will help). Also - apologies if this is the wrong place. Wanted to recommend but didn't know where else to put it...

To be fair, this and the dog one are quite funny. Almost inevitably a very convoluted plan for little gain (when robbing a house forget the high end electronic equipment, apparently your average dog is worth far more!) that ends with the person writing the post performing a heroic gesture against all the odds and warning all others of the great threat. Just, you know, in case these guys decide to put on exactly the same clothes and perform more nefarious shopping related activities. I was in Asda once, it could have been me. It may well be if I wear an eye patch and speak Romanian next time I shop there.

Whatsapp? Good for private messaging and free.

Government bailout.

I've had a facebook account for about 5 years and have only ever posted 1 status (four years ago). It was funny and definitely worth it but has since been deleted. Where would I fit in with your reckoning that everyone is as bad as each other? If there was only people like me on facebook there would be no point in it I only occasionally post photos and even then it would be in one big batch rather than a drip feed to attract extra likes. People, usually women, who "change" their profile picture back to what it has been 4, 5 times before to attract extra likes always give me a good laugh. It's vanity, and instantly gives you an idea of which of your acquaintances are deeply insecure. Nevertheless, it's a fairly good entertainment medium and I'm glad I have it, the people mocked on this thread are actually what makes Facebook so worthwhile.

I automatically assumed they had both survived. Stannis is gone, not a shame for the character, but he was one of the finest actors on the show. Why must you take him and Charles Dance! Why not Emilia Clark or Kit Harrington? (okay, fair enough on that second one). I usually stream it on the Tuesday as I don't have Sky Atlantic, the Jon Snow being killed had been totally ruined by that point (arguably was when I saw it without spoilers in this thread weeks ago!). He was a terribly self righteous character and one of the worst actors in the show, I'm glad he's gone. I also fully expect Arya to still be alive, that poisoning being the last phase of the process of her becoming faceless, or whatever. I'd be shocked if she was actually killed. Times are tough, can't be throwing away a full lettuce. Disappointed it was CGG ps. I didn't come on this thread at all since the weekend, the horrific spoilers were people posting Jon Snow and that kid pictures all over facebook Was I suppose to believe they eloped?!?!

The use of the word "messers" You just know they get their literary skills exclusively from the Daily Record.

Lists used to be fairly common so I don't mind them so much - Buzzfeed have all listed items on one page so you know what you're signing up for. Cracked has been doing it for years too, they used to split list articles over two pages - which was annoying but relatively fair. Now if you go through Facebook it's a new page for each number on a list - in this case I open a browser and type it directly, wasting more time but at least protesting such click hungry tactics. The very worst, and I've said it before, is Huffpost UK. Within each article they actually get you to click "read more" to read beyond the first paragraph. Who goes to an article to read one paragraph? Their content is pretty awful too, I have no idea why I still follow them. Maybe because clicks are online currency, I'm getting as tight with them as I am with money. Fairly miserable, but at least I'm not the only one. Click HERE to read more uninteresting content from Whtinail. You would believe who said THIS.

I actually find clickbait quite funny - or at least interesting from a marketing perspective. It's always amusing the kind of publications that start using it - I've unfollowed Match of the Day, the Independent and the Telegraph for their excessive use of Clickbait. HuffpostUK will be next. These are reasonably reputable publications, but clearly they've hired some external organisation for their "Social Media Strategy" and the result is meaningless clickbait. Presumably they're getting results in terms of increased traffic to sites but the downside would be putting off people who might otherwise read good articles. I had adblock plus anyway so the ads wouldn't bother me. I actually think it would be quite easy to create clickbait, it seems to follow a pretty simple formula, maybe there's more to it than I'm giving them credit for. They will be a whole science designing the ads and seeing which works best. As a consumer vote against clickbait, or it will consume everything. "Apple users are going to want to read THIS They can get away with that!"

Scotland has never hosted the world - and never will - despite having played a significant part in the development of football. It means very little to anyone these days. Also, you don't want to visit Russia? seems pretty interesting to me.

Succession planning. Would be delighted with Watkins, plenty of pace and directness in our team with a technically capable midfield to back it up. Really positive direction the club is moving in, now for the ICT players to bring the Scottish Cup winning mentality.....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1335787/Boris-Johnson-kicks-FIFA-chiefs-Dorchester-London-2012-Olympics.html It's not bribery, it's "charm offensive". And when they lost the vote, it was rescinded.

FIFA undoubtedly has some structural issues. but any attempt of the - self appointed - "big nations" coming together to form a rival association would be a disaster. One of the positives FIFA has done, under Blatter, has been to spread football around the world and invest in developing countries. Had it been run by the FA, for example, the World Cup would rotate around Western Europe, the US and Brazil / Argentina without ever heading anywhere else. The institution would overwhelmingly favour the most powerful nations. It would be footballs equivalent of the IMF or World Bank. Does FIFA need to change? Absolutely. Should the self appointed "big nations" carve out an association to overwhelmingly benefit themselves? Of course not. I'm glad Germany ruled themselves out of this pathetic boycott idea. The FA is looking increasingly like an arrogant, aloof, lone voice (with, no doubt, the other home nations foolishly clubbing along).