Happy Face

US makes $4 billion from bailout banks Nearly a year after the federal rescue of the nation’s biggest banks, taxpayers have begun seeing profits from the hundreds of billions of dollars in aid that many critics thought might never be seen again. Taxpayers turn early profit on bailouts: report All the major news outlets using the headlines to paint a picture of government getting a good return on their investment. The truth is far bleaker.... http://trueslant.com/matttaibbi/

The bit you quoted seems weird to me too, because if they're looking into the origins of the crisis, they may have missed the point of what disaster capitalism is about, which is exploiting disasters rather than necessarily creating them. It would be lunacy to suggest that there was any conspiracy to bring the western monetary system to the brink of collapse, but it's quite clear that after the event, people in the highest levels of power did their utmost to secure the wealth of the richest at the cost of the poorest. In her book Klein predicts that sort of behaviour and in the week the economic crisis hit hardest she blogged extensively about the government response... Free Market Ideology is Far from Finished Now is the Time to Resist Wall Street's Shock Doctrine The Bailout: Bush’s Final Pillage The Bailout Profiteers Real Change Depends on Stopping the Bailout Profiteers

I think the fact that the main couple of people on the council are makems could change that view. Mind, Id be worried if I was in the boxes below, over 40% of the crowd in that level? each on average having drunk three pints? could be bother there like considering a good chunk of them are kids. Less than 40% you mean (20000/52000)*100 = 38.46% I was just ballparking from 36,000 pre expansion to 52,000 and attributing it all to the extra level, which (you're right) would still be an exagerration. The 12 pints piss-heads like me have on a matchday would cover 3 kids though. I reckon a 3 pint average would be about right. I can't even remember the last time I had 12 pints before a game, I'm usually a feeble 6 on a Saturday now, or 3 or 4 midweek games. I couldn't be doing with that many before either....but after....

I think the fact that the main couple of people on the council are makems could change that view. Mind, Id be worried if I was in the boxes below, over 40% of the crowd in that level? each on average having drunk three pints? could be bother there like considering a good chunk of them are kids. Less than 40% you mean (20000/52000)*100 = 38.46% I was just ballparking from 36,000 pre expansion to 52,000 and attributing it all to the extra level, which (you're right) would still be an exagerration. The 12 pints piss-heads like me have on a matchday would cover 3 kids though. I reckon a 3 pint average would be about right.

Is that someone who spends the day dreaming of seasoning?

Lads, I definitely not a proper fan... when I lived in the North East my post code was NE39... Fucking hell Stevie, you talk some shit. What the fuck does it matter which postal code boundary you're within? Dwight Yorke lived in those flats behind the Baltic - pretty certain they're within NE8. Does that mean his opinion on NUFC is more valid than those outside of your threashold? Ease up, Cwaigy, he's not serious. Chill oot, man. Craig I see your over emotion has got the better of you and you've created a group called "bairns" of which I am the only member. Why I've been put in the Falkirk group is anyone guess. Surely then it would be proper to start a new group as well entitled "fannies" and stick yourself in there? Actually there's a few more you could stick in too.

You're totally missing the point. People who go to the games realise you can't fall out of Level 7. Jobsworth who work for the council don't give two hoots. The point is, the council has the power to close down stands/the stadium. Stewards/police have the power to force us to sit down. No amount of protest or aggressive posturing is going to change that (see the last 18 years of English football for examples). So let's be thankful we've actually got a standing section - unlike 99% of other clubs, and not look a gift horse in the mouth. ...er, that's the point. We won. We have a standing section with effectively zero interference from stewards. It's good to gloat about that. The council know which side their bread is buttered on. Shut level 7? 20,000 less people go to the game, 60,000 less pints sold, 10,000 less meals bought, 15,000 less bets placed. They know what's best for the local economy.

Rightio. Anyone who claims to have the slightest idea of what caused this "crisis" despite failing to note any of the glaringly obvious symptoms in the five years beforehand is as much of a charlatan as the next man. "Took place after the book was published" my arse. To be fair, she would have been taking a leap to predict the economic collapse five years back, and that's not what she's all about in this book. The theory is that government & corporations collude in exploiting disasters around the world when they happen to come along (the economic collapse in this case) to increase profits and widen the wealth gap (the bailout). The build up to the disaster isn't what the the theory is about, it's the capitalism that grows from it.

Pretty much in agreement with what The Independents reviewer thought. He said it's an "idiots version of a masterpiece", which doesn't bode well... The Scotsman's a bit kinder... I hope it's still on 4OD so I can make my own mind up.

Sad that that's what that fat bastard has reduced us too. Our only positive is the fact he hasn't (not for the want of trying I'm sure) sold any more players. Indecently just watching Sky bigging up this transfer window. Turd polishing springs to mind. For Newcastle or across the board? Don't see how it's turd polishing when the world record has been broken, Kaka's gone for over £50m and there's been fifteen £15m+ transfers.

I'm not going to complain about the one contract Ashley has signed....having complained bitterly that he MUST sign someone. I don't know where you lot get the front

Has any other club that's been bought out been 'on the market'? Ridiculous. It's not like The Sultan of Brunei would be sat there thinking, "I'd love to buy Newcastle, but alas they are no longer for sale, I shall have to take my billions elsewhere".

If you've read the book you'll want to watch. If you haven't, watch...then you'll want to read the book... http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/aug/1...ine-naomi-klein Hope Channel 4 can afford to keep doing this sort of thing without the Big Brother millions you all insisted they should throw away.

Aye, someone else recommended that. Was hoping to get one online, but I went on ebay and they're all £90+ I'll pop into the Scope on Saturday.

Broadway Danny Rose?

Fish, I'm going to a halloween party next month as Lord Summerisle from the Wicker Man and need a plaid jacket with leather elbow patches. Can I borrow yours or can you tell me where to get one?

No-one actually thought we were going to sign someone did they? If Ashley IS at the training ground it's to discuss the departure of Taylor/Colo/Jonas/Carroll.

Contracts up in 2010... Simpson Geremi Butt Baheng Godsmark Thank fuck we can finally rid ourselves of Geremi (and Butt for that matter) soon enough...who thought it was a good idea offering these guys such long contracts in the first place I worry about the moment our squad is so weak we miss the likes of Geremi and Butt.

Contracts up in 2010... Simpson Geremi Butt Baheng Godsmark

But your just as blinded by optimism as others are by pessimism. At least the pessimistic ones have 40 years of hard luck to warrant it.

Was there a picture of a flying pig alongside it? Apparently that makes it legitimate to post it on a supposed news website.

Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu - Gurrumul

I think this will happen a lot to us at home this season. Teams are well up for it and run around like blue arsed flys for an hour before being completely wankered. I thought we were the anxious ones when 4 minutes went up on the board. I'm happy with the result, but a relegated Premier league club keeping 10 men behind the ball for long spells against a promoted league 1 team was not what I'd hope for. I wasn't as happy as others seem to be with Ranger overall either. Not his fault like, but i thought he was supposed to be a fast, fit teenager that would run for days and had a great finish on him. I thought he'd be terrorising their defence with his pace, getting into the box himself rather than holding the ball up and supplying others their long range efforts.

What news? I'm leaving today etc. Are you going to be a part of it? I wanna wake up.... in a city that doesn't sleep. Helsinki?