Yeah fuck him Chew. He secretly loves Oz still. They've been forced to swallow some Brit spunk this time...

This "medals-to-population-ratio" argument is a bit of a straw man methinks. It's a factor sure but investment in the teams is much more telling. Team GB has been underwritten by 17 million national lottery playing chavs this time round, hence the success...Well....they would only have spent it on shell suits and oven chips...

Here cum the Russians! Aussies are now choking on Russian spunk and have dropped to 5th!

There'll be some serious face punching on the streets of Sydney this weekend (as there is every weekend).

Well Great Britain should beat Australia as it is four countries against one as you have Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

So when your up against four countries we are doing pretty well.

My apologies to the Welsh, Scottish and Irish for associating you guys with the POMS.

Now who is all for us aussies becoming a republic?

Sever those apron strings to the motherland Dec. No point hanging around like a bad fart is there? I'd take the Scots and the Welsh over those Oztastic culture vultures any day.

After you've eaten these:



You may wish to chow down on this:



and then take a gander at this:


Last update: 20 July 2008, 15:10 (GMT).
R - Country - G - S - B - T
1 - China - 45 - 14 - 20 - 79
2 - United States - 26 - 27 - 28 - 81
3 - Great Britain - 16 - 10 - 11 - 37
4 - Russia - 13 - 14 - 18 - 45
5 - Australia - 11 - 12 - 13 - 36

...which is now out of date. Well done Tim Brabbants and his canoe. Up to 18 golds now...

his canoe was brilliant

Brabbants celebrates his gold by revving his canoe's outboard motor:

Astro breaks tie with Lippo over unpaid $245m bill
Fri, 09/05/2008 11:11 PM | Business

Astro All Asia Networks Plc, Malaysia's largest cable television operator, ended support and services to Lippo Group's unit PT Direct Vision (DV) after allegations the latter failed to pay a $245 million bill.

DV, Astro's local operator, seems to have few ideas about what to do with its 100,000 subscribers once the permanent termination takes place Oct. 1.

In a statement to the Malaysian stock exchange late Thursday, Astro announced it had given notice of the termination after refusing to renew the trademark license agreement with DV, set to expire Aug. 31.

Astro has provided a thirty-day grace period -- which ends Sept. 30 -- to allow DV to make alternative arrangements and mitigate the impact on its customers.

"These actions were undertaken after invoices for support and services amounting to approximately 805 million ringgit (some $245 million) -- including interest on all outstanding payments due since March 2005 -- that were sent to DV had not been settled to date," the company said in the statement.

The termination notice requires DV to pay its bill in full within fourteen days, starting Sept. 1, failing which Astro will exercise its right to terminate all support and services immediately.

"There are almost no (financial) contributions from Lippo. I can say that Astro supported 70 percent of the financing lifeline while 30 percent came from subscribers," said Alexander Lay, a local spokesman for Astro, adding the company had no stake in DV.

Both parties were in discussions to find the best solution to compensating subscribers, he said.

"Astro has pledged it will minimize the losses to subscribers if DV is unable to compensate them," he added.

DV senior vice president for corporate affairs Halim Mahfudz had little to say about how his company would deal with its subscribers after the termination takes effect, explaining the company was still awaiting directives from shareholders.

"In the meantime, we continue providing quality services to our customers and running our programs," he said.

Halim refused to comment on the $245 million bill, saying it would be discussed during the shareholder meeting.

According to recent Malaysian media reports, the break up of Astro's joint venture is the latest in a series of business rows between Lippo Group -- now under the helm of James Riady -- and the Malaysian business group controlled by high-profile tycoon Ananda Krishnan.

Halim refused to comment on this issue.

In 2004, Astro was invited by Lippo to become a strategic partner in DV. The two companies entered into an agreement on March 11, 2005 for the establishment of a joint venture to operate a cable TV business in Indonesia through DV.

Under the agreement, Astro owns a 51 percent stake in DV, with 49 percent belonging to Lippo.

In 2005, the government limited foreign ownership shares in media businesses by up to 20 percent, while the application for new broadcasting licenses was being processed. As a result, the two parties were forced to revise their joint-venture agreement.

In 2006, Lippo indefinitely postponed finalization of the revised agreement and the commercial services agreement, citing a matter completely unrelated to the venture, according to Astro.

Lippo Group is a major Indonesian conglomerate founded by Mochtar Riady. The Group's one-time flagship, Bank Lippo, became a pillar of the group's regional property expansion.

The bank is now controlled by Malaysian CIMB Group, which will merge the bank with rival CIMB Niaga, dissolving Lippo's name entirely from the Indonesian banking sector.(ewd)

My mate after winning bronze.

Hai .. I Faisal of Saudi Arabia .. coming to Jakarta soon .. I want to identify a friend .. To go to the cinema of the most beautiful places shopping and more

Greetings Faisal of Saudi Arabia. There are many elegant places to enjoy in Jakarta, some of which you will no doubt find some of your fellow countrymen at. Papa Cafe on Jl Jaksa is always a pleasant experience where one can meet some of Jakarta's most potent intellectuals. When you arrive there, simply ask for a Mr. Rex, Esq. and the friendly, attentive staff will point you in the right direction. I would also add that there are many quite sophisticated ladies there always keen to discuss current events, political and economic worldwide developments and the like.

Tiga Kuda, Hotel Menteng II, Jl Cikini Raya, plays host to some of the most elegant and beautiful ladies around, Jakartan socialites every one. It is also quite popular with many dignitaries, princes and millionaires from your country and it is likely you would feel a sense of brotherhood among the other patrons.

Please let us know if we can assist you further in your visit to enchanting Jakarta.