AKMartin

Huge, huge disappointment. He had 17 break points and still lost. A brilliant performance though, and it could easily have swung the other way in that fourth set.

Well done Andy.

The public has been banned from tonight's Celebrity Big Brother eviction due to the "heightened feelings" surrounding the programme, organisers have said. The move follows fears that Jade Goody could be attacked by a hostile crowd following her alleged racist bullying of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty.

Hundreds of people who hold tickets for tonight's show will be invited to attend the next eviction instead.

Media watchdog Ofcom says complaints from viewers about the race row have soared to more than 38,000.

That, friends, is the biggest disappointment of my day. Call me a voyeuristic and primeval boor if you will, but I was SO looking forward to watching Jade's career fall apart in a chorus of boos, banners and flying bottles.

Channel 4: you've let me down.

AM

You took the words right out of my mouth, Mr. Jack. Sadly I can foresee several months worth of "My racist nightmare: Jade's story", "Jade hits back at allegations", "Jade opens her heart and asks for forgiveness", "India, innit": Jade's new TV series", etc etc etc.

Having watched much of the past week's action, it is clear that this woman is not merely racist and ignorant, but a genuinely repugnant and nasty human being. Hopefully a rainforest's worth of Heat and OK! specials won't change that very obvious public perception.

AM

incidentally, what were the chances of Jermaine Jackson turning out to be the most ordinary and pleasant of the celebrities on offer in this year's series?

likewise, if anyone knows of the availability of 2-3 tickets for the Barrowlands gig, get in touch...

AKM

His "nicest man in rock" image annoys me

Aye, because that's really his fault.

AKM

Has anyone mentioned Claudia Winkelman? Neve McIntosh? or Rebecca Atkinson from Shameless?

I will then.

AKM

The Pieter Van der Hoogen Band.

It has yet to be proved that anyone called anyone a "paki".

Every series of big brother since its inception has featured some sort of gang mentality, usually involving women against women, and usually incorporating ignorance, jealousy and having plenty of free time to bitch and moan.

AKM

Any post diluvian or red admiral fans:

here is their latest incarnation:

www.myspace.com/yourloyalsubjects

YouTube - Your Loyal Subjects 'Highly Derivative'

AKM

The first half of Thirteenth Step is incredible. The second half is average. This lyric:

"Clever got me this far, then tricky got me in"

is delivered very well.

AKM

"You've evidently not read the book then."

Here's what I didn't say:

The God Delusion could have been written by any aggrieved teenager with a laptop and a grudge

Here's what I did say:

Most of The God Delusion could have been written by any aggrieved teenager with a laptop and a grudge

I have read the book, and much of it is written in that decidedly sneering, subjective tone that is becoming Dawkins' trademark. So much for the calm, measured voice of science.

AKM

A combination of hole-in-pocket and Ridley Scott 200 minute magnum opus may cause you to seek solace in some 1.79 fruit pastilles.

quod erat etc.

no slur intended on diabetics.

AKM

Smith's most valuable input for Scotland was picking a strong, competent side, and sticking with it. No fannying about with Stockdales and Dobies and Kyles like the last fella.

Rodriguez has gone already: now if Walter can punt Letizi, Svensson, Papac, Hemdani, Novo, Sebo and Buffel, we'll be ready to rise again...

AKM

those blood sugar levels might require topping up with some tasty overpriced snacks after a couple of hours of viewing pleasure.

AKM

Dawkins basically says,

"Here's what I think: if you disagree, you're clearly an idiot and not worth talking to."

Most of The God Delusion could have been written by any aggrieved teenager with a laptop and a grudge.

AKM

you'd have to be a right mug to buy cinema food. or a fatty.

or a diabetic.

It's called Inadequate Mental Function.

There's always one clueless berk who follows big-word arguments blankly then pipes up with something funny he once heard.

to which I say

AKM

He's getting his brutal and sarcastic replies in pre-emptively!

Clever.

AKM

A side issue. It irks me when people respond to "religion" threads with nothing but Bill Hicks This or Ricky Gervais That.

Not that I dislike either comedian. But it grates on a thread like this. Seems that some folk can't get past the comedy level in any debate.

AKM

Nil by Mouth.

I thought it was deeply disappointing. The acting's excellent (especially Kathy Bates) but the script is hugely cliched ("Can't help loving that man" on karaoke? gimme a break!) and I found it surprisingly unengaging for such a "gritty" storyline.

AM

Blonde on Blonde

Blood on the Tracks

Highway 61 Revisited

Bringing it all back home

Oh Mercy

Desire

...are all any non-Dylanophile really needs. His other albums range from non-essential to abominable.

AKM

Kordoba's video for "The Test" is now available in full technicolour and 100% free on YouTube. It's a modern fable about liberty and the spirit.

You are all allowed to watch it.

cheers,

AKM

It never ceases to amaze me the way these "born again" cunts - who preach "peace and love to all mankind" - turn on anything that doesn't "conform" to their parochial set of values...Surely tolerance and forgiveness are pre-requisites of any so-called Christian?

No offence, but this argument is absurd. It suggests that "being a Christian" means "accept and tolerate anything and everything". Christians should demonstrate their Christianity by behaving in a way that is loving and peaceful. Which does not mean they can't be lovingly and peacefully opposed to certain behaviours or practices, including, but not limited to, homosexuality.

I'm afraid it's a bit rich for those calling for "tolerance" and "respect" to show zero tolerance and respect to the views of Christians.

That's all.

AKM

The Horrors are the ultimate "style over substance" band. Teeth-gratingly-dreadful music, nice eyeliner.

It's a better list than the last two years, but it's just so bloody patronising as usual; a fat girl in at number one, the usual nods to unwashed schmindie shite ("Mince", the View, Doherty) and the odd muso choice to pretend the NME's still knows its arse from its elbow.

AKM

(not to mention the fact that if "Faris" is his real name, he deserves ice picks in every one of his orifices)

We Need To Talk About Kevin

Lionel Shriver

Kevin Khatchadourian kills several of his fellow high-school students shortly before his sixteenth birthday. He is visited in prison by his mother, Eva, who narrates in a series of letters to her estranged husband, Franklin, the story of Kevin's upbringing. Convincing, bleak and powerful modern fiction.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/We-Need-Talk-About-Kevin/dp/0752874764/sr=8-3/qid=1163969400/ref=sr_1_3/203-9858537-8751917?ie=UTF8&s=books