Jamie

I "recommended" Dream Girls to my Mum during the Christmas holidays. Hadn't seen it myself at that point, but thought it would a fairly clean-cut story (suitable for Mum) with some half decent music given it was based on the Supremes. The music was horrible, bore no relation to the Supremes or early Motown, it was just warbling X Factor / Whitney Houston style vocals with ludicrous, over the top, orchestral arrangements. Thankfully Mum had the good sense to turn it off after an hour. Now my worst film of 2007.

All power to the Ironworks, looks like they are doing great things, but it's not that useful a comparison to make with the Lemon Tree - the scope and and volume of their programme is nothing like that of the LT, it is a commercial venture, it's about double the capacity, and it's been on the go about 2 years, where as one way or another the LT was running for 15.

The maggots lyric is inspired, but wouldn't the other be more in keeping with the ethos here to be... "I went to her dissection, had a foreskin splitting erection"...I mean come on, who could fail to get wood at a dissection? Phwooar!

Aye it was pish, it had none of the inventiveness that made 28 Days Later so good, just that bloody music over and over till it became like a bad joke - extremely disappointing. Plus the characters seemed to walk from Greenwich to Wembley in about half an hour.

Yeah, Children of Men was defo last year. I thought Last King of Scotland and The Prestige were too - all good movies which-ever year they are from. Totally agree about Babel. Walked out even though I knew there was only 5-10 mins left - tedious in the extreme.

Liked the tracks I've heard on 6 music. Must get the album.

Aye, how did the fundraiser go on Saturday?

Good luck tomorrow guys. Hope you get a smashing turn-out.

Yeah, another very tough final game. Macedonia away is a tough start too, 4 points from those first 2 games would be a great foundation to qualify. I know the potential manager issue has been covered elsewhere, but I'm going to drag it up again anyway...of the realistic candidates Mark McGhee instills slightly more confidence fr me than Billy Davies.

Scotland World Cup 2010 Group 9 qualifying fixtures: Saturday 6 September 2008 Macedonia (a) Wednesday 10 September 2008 Iceland (a) Saturday 11 October 2008 Norway (h) Saturday 28 March 2009 Holland (a) Wednesday 1 April 2009 Iceland (h) Wednesday 19 August 2009 Norway (a) Saturday 5 September 2009 Macedonia (h) Wednesday 9 September 2009 Holland (h) BBC SPORT | Football | Internationals | Scots World Cup schedule revealed

I also liked This Is England (but it wasn't a patch on Dead Man's Shoes)

Never considered watching Transformers, but seems like I was under-estimating it. Would you recommend it for someone who never played with the toys?

The problem is by no means confined to the North East.

Possibly my memory is failing me and I'm forgetting something ace, or maybe I just didn't catch the best stuff, but I didn't think there were that many great movies this year. At a push I'd say Rescue Dawn or The Simpsons Movie. I thought Control was pretty disappointing. What were other peoples' favourites?

But particularly when it's ignorant racist pish like this guy was talking.

When I pay for a service I don't expect to be subjected to someone else's political views whatever they are. A bit of small talk, "where you off to tonight?" "crap weather" even asking what you do for a living fair enough, but why the fuck would you start spouting your politics to a stranger / customer - that's Peter Dow behaviour. Would have been well over the top for this guy to have been found guilty, but if it makes Taxi drivers (or anyone dealing with customers) think twice about what they are saying then it has served a purpose I reckon.

Yeah, I'm reckon it probably does. You should drop the organisers a line @ info@savethelemontree.org if you are up for getting involved.

Nice one Chilli, nice one son - looks like a great event. Wish I could be there. Hope it goes very well, raises heaps of dosh, and generates loads of petition signatures.

I know it seems unlikely that Stripey would like Christmas, but I reckon he must have a sneaky affection for it by the time he posted this up.

FFS - some folk just want to find problems where none exist. By the way, do you like Christmas Stripey?

Nice one. You should fire that up in the Gig and Event Announcement forum on here - I'm sure there'll be a load of interest.

eh! Ok the video is awful, and it may have affected how most people perceive the Boss, but surely that song is at least in part redeemed by the line (and delivery of it) - "I check myself out in the mirror, I wanna change my clothes my hair my face"

So how's the campaign going? What news of the Lemon Aid fund-raiser?

I like the name. Good luck, hope you get loads of trade - just in time for Christmas!

Music Gene Lifestyle Neville Staple Frank Black Quantic Soul Orchestra Broadcast @ Unknown Pleasures Roots Manuva @ Radio Skool Shane MacGowan Dogs Die in Hot Cars + AKA the Fox Johnny Cash tribute 2005 Elvisness with (half) The Videos, Bill Ely and the Catnips & more The Little Kicks a few times Mute night @ Triptych 2004 (particularly Pink Grease) Hot Chip & Akufen @ Triptych 2004 LCD Sound System, postponed Triptych show 2004 Th' Legendary Shack Shakers Billy Bragg probably much more that will come to mind too Comedy Reginald D. Hunter John Hegley Lee Mack early 2006 (laughed so much I thought I was either going to puke or have a heart attack) Didn't know Harry Hill had played Marj - wish I'd seen that! Theatre Vanishing Point - Lost Ones (twice) Dogstar Theatre - The Seer When the Dons Were Kings (a Lemon Tree Production) What's Wrong with Jack Frost (a Lemon Tree Production) 50+ Theatre - The Empty Chair Freshmess Dance