Stefan

Amongst many things Rugby League players where professional for a lot longer than Union, who didn't pay players legally untill 1995. Rugby League has uncontested scrums, no line-outs and 13 men compared to 15 in Union which has contested 8 man scrums and contested line-outs. No Flankers in League...no's 6 and 7 in Union. They also have a turn over rule in League, which means after 5 (or 6 according to Kamo)'tackles' if they don't score they have to turn the ball over to the opposing teams, a bit like US NFL. There is no such rule in Union, they rely on rucks and mauls. Cont

Well I've completely disregarded the above couple of posts from where rach started harassing decent Rugby loving folk. Lets get on with some ideas on how this tournament is going to pan out. England once again showed their ability to "grind out" a result, something which I think'll make them the eventual champions.....and New Zealand ought to be wary of the Springboks and not 'choke' again. Like they've done every year since 1987. If you fail to win this one, the mask of invincibility will drop off the end of your noses! As for Wales, well erm urghhh. A shocking 20-27 win against the

I just don't get Baseball.....it's just not Cricket dear boy. Whats the deal with the Cubs, are they the sh*ttest team in the history of baseball?.....And how about Japan vs the USA, which league is the best? Would the Japanese give the Americans a good run for their money???

Haven't used them myself, but my friends like these: Dragon

I may be asking for it but: Quote: Exploration and research can be pursued far more efficiently and valuably on earth. On what evidence do you base this statement. As far as I know Global Positioning System is only available via space exploration, and China is attempting to acquire its own GPS. Thanks to space exploration we can see billions of light years into the past, which benefits no end of areas of study such as Astronomy, Chemistry, Physics etc etc. If you can't get people into space safely, who maintains satellites etc. I totally agree on the political aspec

To prove a point to the Americans and the rest of the world, that China is a country of capability. The advancement of human technology. To give one lucky guy the ride of his life. To provide a focus for all the egg head mega brains in China. To build a giant phallic symbol! To suggest that any 'pre-emtive' strike on China would be foolish. fan-daby-dosy

great stuff! Live at the Green Leaf....that'S not far from me. Wales got off to a good start, bring on the All Blacks!

Kamo I like the way you've used "joined" as if we had any choice in the matter!!!! (we meaning Scotland,　Wales and Ireland) The English were a bunch of blood thirsty, arrogant imperialists, who cared for little else apart from the acquisition of other peoples land and titles. They killed, imprisoned the Kings and Queens of Ireland, Wales and Scotland and gave titles such as "Prince of Wales" to there sons and daughters to rule over. The Irish used what would now be called terrorism to split from UK at a time when the UK was weakened from World War I. But the Province of Ulster, whe

Wales for the quarters thats about it I'm afraid. As Long as England DONT'T win. Gonna whip some Canadian ass tomorrow!Stick to Ice Hockey!

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American Pie is funny. I don't mind it, but as long as it's "taken for what it is". By that　I mean that it's a pre-pubescent sneerfest. It's a trivial film, ok to watch when you want to disengage the brain for a while. But in general I like films that are challenging, intellectually and emotionally. I saw a film called MEN OF HONOUR the other day. Absolute patriotic-back slapping-pile-of sh't!!! Really made me wanna be ill.

Bonjour Nils. Yeah the boards in France are silly expensive aren't they. But this is Japan and it isn't so much cheaper, if cheaper at all. It depends on what your buying, after only the breifest foray into the snowboard market in J-land, the domestic boards seem to be resonable around 250-300 euros, for top spec. But I was looking at last years stock at a "Summer Sale". Burton is a rip off everywhere! In my opnion most snowboards are way over priced. They do sell a few Chinese boards, there are a few planks for about 120 euros. But I'm gonna be lookin from next month, when I've got

Kamo we've touched on this in another thread, but just because he's super ambitious, it doesn't mean he is the best man for the job. From the info I've read about the whole race, he is a bit light on any kind of policy, and is making promises that he likely can't keep. Is it really true that he declined all invitations to TV debates which didn't have the questions to be asked, provided before he went on-air???? If so, draw your own conclusions. "I'm a man for the people." So was Stalin! He's a bit of a novice at this game, so I reckon he is likely to be heavily 'in consultation

Thats like so urghhh.....cool.

Jesus! This thread is like a bad soap.....it goes round in circles but is annoyinlgy addictive. And Yoshies' apperance is like a long lost character returning. Yoshie I will take you up on the offer of a quick tea, and check your place out! If I see Mitch being lazy sod, I'll kick him up the arse and get him to do some work! Only kidding. I've worked in a hotel in a ski resort, and I lasted 5 months. It was REALLY hard work, plus I didn't have to prepare throughout summer, so I can sympathise with two people running a place which gets 1000 people a season.

He's a master manipulator. I am really undecided on him. I like his first documentry Roger and Me and I've seen some of his series The Awful Truth. But if I'm honest I do tend to find him a little annoying at times, he just seems so self righteous! I refuse to read his book 'Stupid White Men'. The title alone is a bit freaky and after hearing numerous friends ramble on about its contents, the word sensationalist comes to mind! I'm not from the USA.

Yes well Ocean as EVERYONE knows on this forum, it's never been that difficult for you! But you've been here some time, am I jumping to conclusions?

Well Mince, most Japanese people just don't seem to offer their opinion on anything significant. Talk about apathy....no wonder the same political party has been in power for the last 40 years. I don't like to whinge about J-land, as it has so much going for it, but the lack of discussion and openess is the most fundamental difference between here and home. And Kumie-chan, you are right. But nobody should ever feel that their opinion is worthless......

Britneys pants......or Bill Gates' shoes.

Just booked a place in Hakuba from 28/12 to 2/1. So I'm happy. Now I just gotta sort some lift passes out for Hakuba 47 and Goryu...any suggestions, get them on arrival best??? Its some Backpackers place....sounds Ok and is nice and cheap, all the other places jacked up the prices like crazy over new years.

Yeah, kind of glad I thought about it before jumping in. Hakuba looks closer and can be done cheaper. Though after the Snowbeds thread, I shouldn't think I'll paying that place a visit. I need to go 2nd to 6th Jan as those are the ones I have off. Ocean I'm not very good a fist fights can we just play Thumb War or something.

Has anyone been on one? I've just been to the travel agents and the cheapest I could find for five days was 84,300. I am tempted to book it, but thought I'd post this first. It's from the 2nd to 6th January. The days include travel.

Atack mi speling if u will! But I've no doubt that Michael Owen and his friends in the Premier League would be unable to recover from injury at the rate that they do, if it wasn't for the contributions sports science has made. Ocean Quote: The cause of all this nonsense is the age old worry of the PE teacher that his subject is not academic, and therefore he is not the equal of his colleagues in the staff room. I'd call this a vague generalisation, based on your insular views　of how sports was in your school. Did you dislike the guys and girls in school because they wh

DB I have to disagree. I've got a lot of time for sports science as a subject. Again Ocean you've said everything about nothing. Straddling the fence with get outs and vague references to crappy PE teachers. Did you used to write your own 'sick notes' for PE and not want to share the showers with the other boys. For any student who is serious about progressing in their choosen field of sport. Sports science provides highly valuable awarness of diet, muscle growth, rest and recuperation not to mention physio etc.....

I've done loads. Sweeping up dough off the floor of a gigantic bakery...I fell asleep ON the broomstick. Packing ice cream cartons in boxes. That was the worst. A 12 hour shift with 3 half hour breaks. I lasted 1 week and some of the drones had been there for YEARS.