Johnny Bognor

Nor football clubs...he does know how to pick 'em

If I have a business that I want to run into the ground, Lowe will be my main man. His track record of destroying shareholder value is remarkable.

Indeed. There aren't too many decent politicians around these days and so this guy is wasted in the European Parliment.

Can't argue with this.... http://ukhousebubble.blogspot.com/20...-devalued.html

I heard that too, but IMO it was just a load of hot air.

Elizabeth Fritzl attended court this morning, having eaten a full English Breakfast. Pity nobody told her she still had Daddies sauce round her mouth.

I thought this thread was going to be about a new Dutch signing. Didn't Van Hire play in the same team as Van Rental?

I looked into this in the early nineties after seeing a product in the states called "better than eggs". Quick and easy for omelettes, scrambled eggs and for other cooking. Importing was out of the question, due to shelf life so it was a case of having to have it made here. The supermarkets weren't interested, so I canned the idea. Suppose I was ahead of the game.

It's funny how a spuds fans were nicked for abusing Sol Campbell at FP (and how much police effort went into arresting them?), yet these people can quite openly incite. There is nothing wrong with protest, if it is directed at the right people and doesn't incite. Double standards methinks

Well no one in their right mind would give it to Rupes with his track record of destroying wealth

The beginning of the end........ http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/article5864847.ece It would be so much better to have variable speed limits. For example, reduce the 30mph limit in built up areas to 20mph between 7-9am and 3-6pm. In return, lift the limit on motorways to 90 mph after 10pm to 5am.

Back on topic, here's the advert: http://www.visit4info.com/advert/Natwest-help-their-customers-save-money-in-the-recession-Natwest-Personal-Accounts/69746

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BOAC HTH As you've got grandchildren I would have thought you had heard of it. Don't you think BA is so much better, now that it is private hands?

She probably flew BOAC (the govt owned airline)

Rather than a private rental BTF, I would have thought you would have used public transport.....

Before I saw your post, I was going to put that link in, so you beat me too it. Comedy genius - they don't make 'em like that any more.

Simple solution - only allow season ticket renewals for people who pay by credit card, thus the fans are protected and the club gets its' money. If it was possible, they should only accept Barclaycard so that if Barclays pull the rug from under the club, Barclays will have to refund those that have renewed early - thus Barclays would have no interest in withdrawing finance.

Absolutely spot on. I live just outside Chichester and my missus is Cabin Crew for Virgin - she regularly (obviously) goes to Gatwick and the best route is via Storrington. Other alternatives include: 1. M27>A27> (basically keep going until worthing, then join the A24 at the Crematorium roundabout)A24>A264>M23N 2. M27>A27> A24>A272 through cowfold>M23N Similar to Esruu's, just a slight variation on the theme.

Ahh, and this is where the debate moves to Private vs Public. In the public sector these standards are needed, because the NHS doesn't treat patients like customers. You have to use your local health facilities as you have no choice. Therefore there is no incentive for the NHS to improve as the 'customers' get what they are given. In the private sector, they have to get things right or customers will go elsewhere. If they don't get things right, they will lose custom and could go bust. Therefore it is in their commercial interests to provide clean hospitals. So you could argue that it is better to go to a private hospital where the staff jobs depend on it, rather than the public sector dinosaur that does not give two ****s* and has to be forced to meet a certain standard. *Incidentally I am aiming this more at the NHS Management / Administration rather than those at the coal face who generally try to do their best. ** Also, sorry about your father

Ahh, and this is where the debate moves to Private vs Public. In the public sector these standards are needed, because the NHS doesn't treat patients like customers. You have to use your local health facilities as you have no choice. Therefore there is no incentive for the NHS to improve as the 'customers' get what they are given. In the private sector, they have to get things right or customers will go elsewhere. If they don't get things right, they will lose custom and could go bust. Therefore it is in their commercial interests to provide clean hospitals. So you could argue that it is better to go to a private hospital where the staff jobs depend on it, rather than the public sector dinosaur that does not give two ****s* and has to be forced to meet a certain standard. *Incidentally I am aiming this more at the NHS Management / Administration rather than those at the coal face who generally try to do their best. ** Also, sorry about your father

I wouldn't call labour cheap, the cost of this current admistration will leave us hundreds of billions in debt.

Can't help it, Direct Marketing has many people knocking it but they in turn respond to it. One of the biggest sources of revenue for the club is generated via ST renewals, and the majority of these are off the back of the renewal mailings.

It's called upselling. No different to an airline selling you an upgrade or a fast food joint asking you if you want to go large - often the best source of additional revenue is from your existing customers - especially in times like these. Good marketing practice IMO (apart from the 'stunning' bit) As per people taking up the offer, many do respond to direct marketing (whether it be mail shots, eblasts or telemarketing). An email broadcast to STHs would cost no more than a few hundred quid, so one 'upgrade' would more than pay for the excercise. If STHs are running at 10k and they have 5k email addresses on file, they only need to find 1 from 5000 to make it viable. Email marketing response rates run at a 20% open rates (for arguments sake 1000 people) and a 10% click through rate, so on 5k STHs - 100 would click through to view the offer. The chances are that more than 1 in 100 'interested' people would take up the offer. It has clearly worked for them before as this is not the first time they have done it, so I can't see any problem with it. There is one thing the Lowe regime does understand and that is how to exploit a loyal customer base - I am not having a go at them for this, it is just the way it is when a significant number of 'customers' will buy the product irrespective of the quality being served up / value on offer. Every other football club in the land would and probably is doing the same.

Economic Models Explained..... SOCIALISM You have 2 cows. You give one to your neighbour. COMMUNISM You have 2 cows. The State takes both and gives you some milk. FASCISM You have 2 cows. The State takes both and sells you some milk. BUREAUCRATISM You have 2 cows. The State takes both, shoots one, milks the other, and then throws the milk away. TRADITIONAL CAPITALISM You have two cows. You sell one and buy a bull. Your herd multiplies, and the economy grows. You sell them and retire on the income. SURREALISM You have two giraffes. The government requires you to take harmonica lessons. AN AMERICAN CORPORATION You have two cows. You sell one and force the other to produce the milk of four cows. Later, you hire a consultant to analyze why the cow has dropped dead. ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND VENTURE CAPITALISM You have two cows. You sell three of them to your publicly listed company, using letters of credit opened by your brother-in-law at the bank, then execute a debt/equity swap with an associated general offer so that you get all four cows back, with a tax exemption for five cows. The milk rights of the six cows are transferred via an intermediary to a Cayman Island Company secretly owned by the majority shareholder who sells the rights to all seven cows back to your listed company. The annual report says the company owns eight cows, with an option on one more. You sell one cow to buy a new president of the United States, leaving you with nine cows. No balance sheet provided with the release. The public then buys your bull.

Only just got the email, looks like I have been had. Anyway, on to the more serious stuff....... Blah Blah Blah (typical socialist claptrap) Here is the truth...... Since the early 1970s manufacturing’s share in all OECD economies has fallen and the service sectors’ has risen. 1. It was not just in the UK 2. This was not all on her watch Here are some other interesting facts..... (From a Management Today article in 1994) The UK's export performance has been through a number of marked changes in recent decades. In 1950 Britain's manufacturing sector accounted for 26% of the exports of the main manufacturing countries. By the beginning of the 1970s that share had fallen to 11% (EDIT: again before MT came to power), and the decline continued through the 1970s and early 1980s. In the past 10 years (EDIT 1984-1994), the UK's decline may have been halted. The nation's share of world exports seemed to reach a floor in the middle of the last decade (1985), and has since remained relatively stable. Increased competitiveness in the early 1980s partially accounts for the improvement. Between 1981 and 1987 UK competitiveness improved sharply as the exchange rate fell. However this is only part of the story, says Schroder Economics. Between 1987 and 1992 competitiveness worsened slightly, but UK exporters actually managed to increase their market share. It seems likely that non-price factors also form part of the explanation. Improved industrial relations, a more flexible labour market and a strong investment performance mean that Britain is now better able to compete on the world stage. Was this all her fault too???