Eurovision

[Sam Slater]

What he's saying is that Putin threatened to turn off Europe's gas supply unless (and he wants you to guess):

1) We downsize Nato and close missile bases all over Europe.

2) We negotiate with America in letting Russia be the first nation to put a man on Mars, and letting them claim any mineral wealth they find (the reds claim the 'Red planet').

3) Let Russia host the Eurovision song contest.

It's obvious to me that no.3 is much more likely and important for Putin. !wink!

[Jacques]

Reginald - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Russia

[Jacques]

How did I guess you'd say that? Of course you are correct in every respect Reginald. I bow down to far superior knowledge.


*cough* St Petersburg *cough*

[crofter]

So you aren't going to say anything about Israel or Turkey taking part then (have they got Gas??) ... the simple answer to your questions is because Russia won the competition last year and so get to host the next one.

Yes Graham Norton is erm a pain in the arse who tried too hard for too long and quite frankly did not seem comfortable twittering on endlessly for a couple of hours ... which is a surprise!!

Oh and Mock The Week (MTW!!!) is totally scripted though I think Frankie Boyle puts a few of his classics like the "Lady Diana" one liners in himself ...

[beutelwolf]

Reggie Perrin wrote:

> Why did they hold it in Russia which IS NOT part of Europe?

Because Russia won it the last time.

> Why
> did they allow somebody who doesn't need a break like Andrew
> Lloyd Webber to take part?

Because they are fed up with becoming last.

> Do you think he's shagged Jade?

No, at the moment I am trying to banish that idea from my thoughts.

> Why
> did they not put a lighter to his crap song?

It's all relative.

> Why did they
> recruit Graham Norton?

Because he's gay and Irish.

> Come back James
> Last all is forgiven.

James Last? At Eurovision?

[Sam Slater]

Well, if you're going to talk about culture and national identity then you'd have to say Ireland and the UK aren't exactly European either. And Turkey definitely isn't.

I'd say that culturally the Northern (white) Russians are similar to the Finnish. Genetics backs me up on this.

[img]http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2 ... d_600w.jpg[/img]

I suppose you'd have to determine what it is to be European. My opinion is that it's a multitude of genetics, family history, food, language, music, art, clothes, and religion which all contribute to a general outlook on life. Russians eat and dress similarly to Northern Europeans, speak, grammatically in a Slavic European way (though their alphabet is Cryillic), look to Europe to base their art and music on, as well as their religion and of course, are more closely related, genetically, to Europeans than Asians.

I'd say that the Russians who don't see themselves as Europeans are the same people who would be horrified in being labelled Asians. Their denials of both cultures probably has more to do with nationalistic pride/prejudice than anything based on reality.

[Sam Slater]