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[Potatoes make up 42% of the Pringles' ingredients.]

Well I always thought it was a crisp!

Procter & Gamble will be forced to pay tens of millions of pounds in VAT after losing a legal battle with the taxman over its Pringles snack.

The Court of Appeal ruled in favour of the Revenue, which has long maintained that Pringles constitute a potato snack and are, therefore, liable for VAT.

A High Court judge ruled last summer that the snack was exempt from the tax.

Foods are usually exempt from VAT, but one of the few exceptions is the humble potato crisp.

'Reasonable view'

A High Court judge ruled last July that Pringles' packaging, "unnatural shape" and the fact that the potato content is less than 50% meant the snack was exempt form VAT.

The Appeal Court judges disagreed.

"There is more than enough potato content for it to be a reasonable view that it is made from potato," said Lord Justice Jacob.

Potatoes make up 42% of the Pringles' ingredients.

He added that the lawyer acting for the Revenue advised him the VAT due on the sale of Pringles was "as much as £100m of tax for the past and about £20m a year for the future."

But a spokesperson for Procter & Gamble said the company had been paying VAT on the snack pending the appeal process, and so was not liable for any back taxes.

Unnatural

While praising the "simplicity and common sense" of the judges, Toby O'Reilly, director in indirect tax at Ernst & Young, said an opportunity had been missed to provide "coherent guidance" on which snacks are, and which are not, subject to VAT.

At last year's High Court hearing, Procter & Gamble insisted that their best-selling product was not similar to potato crisps, because of their "mouth melt" taste, "uniform colour" and "regular shape" which "is not found in nature".

It also argued that potato crisps - unlike Pringles - did not contain non-potato flours, and were not packaged in tubes.

Pringles are more like a cake or a biscuit, it claimed, because they are manufactured from dough.

what is it and what does it do? anyone using it?

I googled it and read it on Wiki but its a load of techno speek

Water alert 'could last all day'

A water safety alert affecting about 220,000 households across Northern Ireland could last all day, officials have warned.

People in Greater Belfast and parts of counties Antrim and Down have been asked to boil cooking and drinking water in case it is contaminated.

NI Water issued a warning on Monday after a potential problem was spotted at Dunore Point treatment plant.

David Dangerfield from the company said it was a precautionary measure.

"We take thousands of water quality samples and one of the samples that was reported to us yesterday suggested there may be a problem with the treatment process," he said.

The specific affected by the problem areas include Antrim, Ballyclare, Ballymena, Belfast, Broughshane, Carnlough, Carryduff, Castlereagh, Crumlin, Dundonald, Dunmurry, Glenarm, Glenavy, Holywood, Kells, Newtownabbey, Randalstown, Templepatrick, and Toomebridge.

NI Water said tests would continue until samples returned to normal.

It said customers would be notified as soon as their water could be used without boiling.

Helpline

Customers can get further information and advice by calling the Waterline on 08457 440088.

In a statement, the Northern Ireland Public Health Agency advised people affected by the alert to boil water and allow it to cool before drinking it, using it to prepare salads, fruit or vegetables that will not be cooked, brush teeth or use it in any other direct way.

Dr Richard Smithson, consultant in Communicable Disease Control, said: "It should be emphasised that the risk to public health is very low, but until the situation is resolved, the boil water advice should be followed."

NI Water is conducting further tests of the water supply and with the Public Health Agency, will advise the public when it is no longer necessary to boil water.

Think this is a classic example of that addage.

watched this last night on Britains got talent, she stated she wanted to be like Elaine Paige, I thought oh my god he we go another twat going to make a fool of themselves.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2r4ggY-fto&NR=1

Right

just noticed this this morning and I have no idea how long its been there. Someone has painted a giant Dalek on the side of the black mountain, anyone know what its all about?

Any one watching this?

3000 children under 5 die a day from malaria in Africa!!!!!!!

and fair play to those 9 that climed Kilimanjaro,

England are getting hammered in the cricket

England capitulated to 23-6, still 51 runs from making West Indies bat again, on day four of the first Test.

hope they score less than 49

its going to be in Wembly in 2011 according to the BBC, plus Dublin's Lansdowne Road has been picked to host the 2011 final of the Europa League, previously the Uefa Cup, as Arsenal's Emirates Stadium missed out.

From the Waldgeist Restaurant








The beer is served in quantities of ½, 1 or 2 litres ! 

You'll be able to devour a Schnitzel XXL
(You can order ½ or ¼ portions – Yeah! Right!)

Or a lumberjack steak
(Approx. 600 grams – just over 1¼ lb)

As a specialty, they offer you the "Bembel of Grauens" a mixture of
Bacardi rum & cola drink in a 4 litres glass
(The "Bembel des Todes" version is 8 litres)

 

The XXL sautéed escalope
with some accompanying chips

125 to 100

from www.tribune.ie

thought Jack Chartons inclusion was a bit strange, a good piece but. No doubt what so ever that everyone here will have their own ideas,

To celebrate a century and a quarter of our national games, the Sunday Tribune compiles the ultimate list of key figures, from players to administrators and beyond, who have helped to mould the association into what it is today

125 MICHEÁL MURPHY, Trend Setter

Although the honour has generally been accorded to his UCC clubmate Donal Clifford, Murphy, a Blackrock clubman, was the first hurler to use a helmet. In need of cranial protection following a fractured skull he rejected an American football helmet (too big), took to an ice hockey helmet but eventually decided on the Cooper model, which he wore during the 1969 Fitzgibbon Cup. (1942-)

124 SEAMUS ALDRIDGE, All Kinds Of Everything

The good, for Kildare, was his influence in the supporters club that helped attract Micko and unprecedented success. The bad was the loss of Larry Tompkins to Cork over a plane ticket. The ugly? The 1978 All Ireland final when he awarded that mysterious free against Paddy Cullen which immortalised Mikey Sheehy and shifted the balance in the greatest rivalry of them all. Twenty years after, Aldridge was still getting abusive calls. "Im fed up with Dublin whinging. Seventeen points and theyre still blaming Aldridge." (1935-)

123 Joe Sherwood, Groundbreaking Editor

The serendipitous combination of the three-part All Ireland hurling final of 1931 and the simultaneous founding of the Irish Press brought interest in and coverage of Gaelic games to a new level. Sherwood, a native of Workington, Cumbria, was sports editor of the Press; he knew nothing about Gaelic games but he knew a gift horse when he saw one. For the first replay in 1931 the Press ran four days of updates from the two camps, complete with detailed pen pictures. It quickly became the paper for GAA. (Sports editor, Irish Press, 1930s)

122 Joe Rafferty, The First Lilywhite

If one series of games popularised Gaelic football, it was the three-game saga between Kerry and Kildare for the 1903 All Ireland; as the legendary Dick Fitzgerald would say, "Both counties gave football a fillip that marked the starting point of the game as we know it." Up to then the biggest attendance for a football game had been 10,000. The second Kerry-Kildare game drew 18,000. The Kildare captain was a big reason why. It was he who pushed for Kildare to wear an all-white strip and even white boots 80 years before Gerry McInerney tried it out. Forty years before Christy Ring would bring a hurley everywhere he drove oil, Rafferty would carry a football with him on the lands where he worked as a cowherd while 90 years before Mick ODwyer he had Kildare playing a possession game. Kildare would eventually finish second in the Kerry saga but Central Council at its next meeting agreed to present each Kildare player with a gold medal. (1900s footballer)

121 Con Murphy, The Freeman Of Cork

He won four All Ireland hurling finals and refereed another two before serving 17 years as Cork secretary, playing a huge role in the construction of Páirc Uí Chaoimh. As GAA president from 1976 to 1978, Murphy distinguished himself by taking up the cudgels on behalf of beleagured Crossmaglen Rangers, personally taking the case of their occupied pitch to the British government. (1922-2007)

120 Dessie Ryan
Back in 2002, the late, great Eamonn Coleman was asked who he rated as footballs greatest coach. Micko? No. Kevin Heffernan? No. Billy Morgan? No. "Dessie Ryan," he replied. "He was years ahead of his time."

A fireman in New York for 25 years, Ryan returned home briefly to take Ballinderry to an Ulster club title in 1982 with a level of analysis and preparation that was unheard of at the time. But the best was yet to come. Between 1998 and 2000 he turned Queens into the closest thing to a football academy this island has seen, picking up the 2000 Sigerson along the way.

The confidence he gave the likes of Tom Brewster propelled the rise of Fermanagh. Four of the Armagh back six from the 2002 All Ireland final win played under him too. In fact, 13 of the Armagh and Tyrone squads from the 2003 decider had attended Queen s and learned from him the style of defensive and set-play football that has revolutionised the sport. (1940-)

119 Dr George Sigerson, The Generous Professor

There was no intervarsity GAA competition until this poet from Strabane instigated one by offering up a trophy in 1911 for football. A year after the UCD professors gesture, Dr Edwin Fitzgibbon, a Capuchin priest and Professor of Philosophy in UCC, offered one for hurling. They remain the longest-serving trophies in the GAA. (1836-1925)

118 Henry Shefflin, The Latest Cool Cat

His provincial debut, against Laois in 1999, coincided with Brian Codys championship bow as manager; the rest you know. With six All Irelands and counting, Ring and Doyles record of eight is in sight. (1979-)

117 Gerry Arthurs, Hand That Steadied The Till

When Eoin ODuffy was booted out in 1934 as treasurer of the Ulster Council at Convention, the provinces finances were in both a mess and the red. Arthurs though would bring such stability to the post, hed still be its treasurer 42 years later. Thats why Clones has a stand named after him. (1904- 1991)

116PJ DEVLIN, The GAAs First Propagandist

A clubmate of Cusacks, this Armagh man wielded considerable influence both on Central Council and in print; his pioneering Celt columns and Gaelic Athletic Annual were considered the most reflective voice of the GAAs outlook in the first quarter of the 20th century, particularly on contentious issues like the bans on foreign sports and the security forces. (1880-1942)

115 Mick Higgins, Eleven Summers, 11 Finals

In a career beginning in 1943 and stretching for 11 summers, he played in 11 consecutive Ulster finals for Cavan, winning eight. On three occasions, including the Polo Grounds in 1947, the team hallmarked by Higginss cerebral and prolific contributions from centre-forward, went on to take Sam Maguire. A subsequent seven-year stint as manager yielded another four provincial titles and, during that run, he somehow managed to simultaneously steer Longford to the 1966 National Football League and their first Leinster title two years later. Brian McEniff would enlist his services to help Donegal to their first Ulster in 1972. (1922-)

114 John OMahony,  The Western Leader

The only Connacht manager in the last 40 years to deliver Sam Maguire, though his greatest coaching job was with Leitrim in 1994. Even that would be trumped if he could bring Sam back to Mayo. (1953-)

113 Danny Murphy, The Progressive Conservative

Not so long ago the Ulster Council secretary would have had a reputation for being a surly conservative but the reality is the Down man governs the most efficient and professional provincial council in the history of the association. He has eased Ulster GAA into the realities of the post-ceasefire era and dealing with the security forces and its GAA teams, the Maze project and Stormont itself. And where do you think the GAAs new strategic plan got the idea of a Club Maith certificate scheme from? Yep, Ulster and Danny. (1950-)

112 Liam MacCarthy, He Gave A Little...

The son of a couple from Ballygarvan in Cork, MacCarthy was born in London where hed immerse himself in all things Irish – the Gaelic League, St Vincent de Paul, the Legion of Mary, the IRB, and naturally, the GAA. For more than 10 years he served as either president or secretary of the London board. In 1921 he donated a trophy modelled on the ancient Irish-loving cup, Gaelic Meither, for the All Ireland hurling championship. It would be another six years before friends of his successor as secretary, the deceased Sam Maguire, offered a cup for football. (1853-1928)

111 John Dowling, A Different Kind Of Dual Star

In 1960 he became the first man to referee both the senior hurling and football All Ireland finals. In the mid-60s he took over as Offaly secretary and by the time hed left he had overseen the arrival of Sam Maguire, Diarmuid Healy and consequently, Liam MacCarthy. As president of the GAA in the late 80s his great achievement was getting agreement from Belvedere and the church authorities to sell the strip of land alongside the old Croke Park on which the new stadium is situated. (1930- 2002)

110 Peter Canavan, The Best Small Man Ever

The best small man ever, the best exponent of the free out of the hand and a founding member of the GPA, Canavan helped redefine the possibilities for a footballer on and off the field. (1971-)

109 Seamus Ó RíAIN, Man Who Helped Mol An Óige

Hurler, footballer, athlete, handballer, Gaelgeoir and writer who penned an acclaimed biography of Maurice Davin. The club development scheme to provide finance for the wave of new social centres for GAA clubs in the 1970s was initiated largely at his behest, likewise the handball court in Croke Park. His greatest legacy is the establishment of the juvenile hurling extravaganza, Féile na nGael. (1916-2007)

108 Jim McKeever, Angel Who Caught Angels

His fielding exploits inspired generations of both Derry and Ulster footballers – including fellow Ballymaguigan clubman Eamonn Coleman. Even Mick OConnell himself would say he was the best fielder he encountered. Along with Joe Lennon and Jim McDonnell, McKeever ran the first-ever residential GAA coaching course in Gormanston in 1964, while as head of PE at St Josephs and Marys teacher-training college, his cerebral, mannered way influenced coaches like Art McRory, Mickey Harte, Peter Canavan and Peter McGinnity. "That man," McRory would later say, "has done more to promote the GAA than any other person I know." (1931-)

107 Mick Dunne,  Father Of The All Stars

For a generation this Laois man was the voice and face of Saturday afternoons. When fans survived on televised scraps of games, Dunne fronted Gaelic Stadium, the segment of Sports Stadium given over to reviews and previews. Formerly with the Irish Press, he became RTÉs first Gaelic Games correspondent in 1970, a pioneering remit that had him commentating on everything from All Ireland finals to the weekly handball staple Top Ace. From the 1960s, hed been pushing the idea of a formalised annual All Stars for players, and his enthusiasm, assisted by Paddy Downey, John D Hickey and Pádraig Puirseál, gave birth to the awards in 1971. (1929-2002)

106 Liam Griffin, King Of The Pikemen

Hurlings finest unpaid PR man; "the Riverdance of sport" indeed. What a shame he couldnt hang around as a manager for more than two years. As to what he influenced, well, we can think of 30 Wexford men whose lives he influenced profoundly while his use of Niamh Fitzpatrick helped give sports psychology a good name. Subsequently instrumental on the Hurling Development Committee that established the Ring and Rackard Cups and allowed the Armagh and Sligo hurlers their long-overdue day in the sun in Croker. (1945-)

105 Jim Kennedy, The Man Behind The Ladies

In 1971 ladies football was confined to a few clubs in Waterford but that October the Waterford chairman, Fr Percy Ahearn, along with an army sergeant and Congo veteran called Jim Kennedy organised the first inter-county game. Kennedys Tipperary won and in 1974 in Hayes Hotel, 90 years after the GAA itself was formed there, the ladies football association was born with Kennedy its first president. That same year he served as a selector to the Tipp side that won the sports first All Ireland. "Ladies football is a serious business," hed tell reporters. "Its not just a gimmick or flash in the pan." How right he was. (1925-)

104 Jack OShea, Best Of The Best

In a magazine column in the mid-80s, Ger Canning recalled watching kids playing on an estate green. The first youngster declared hed be Maradona. The second shouted "Ill be Jacko!" Thats the kind of mainstream appeal OShea held when there was the last real public debate about who was the greatest footballer ever. Whatever about that, he was the best player on the best team ever. (1957-)

103 John Doyle, Rock Of Cashel Made Flesh

Eight All Ireland medals, 11 National League medals and nobody within an asss roar of him as the choice for left-corner back on the Teams of the Century/Millennium. The Premierview website sums it up perfectly. "John Doyle remains the ultimate hurling icon in a county that likes its heroes uncomplicated, courageous and consistent. He probably best represents how Tipperary hurling sees itself." (1930-)

102 John Kerry ODonnell, The Don Of Gaelic Park

Having sold some of his own properties to prevent Gaelic Park from being lost to the GAA in 1941, this self-made man gave the Irish community a focal point with a social, cultural and economic significance far beyond the matches it hosted. The lifeblood of the games in New York for half a century, Kerry-born ODonnell helped organise the 1947 Polo Grounds All Ireland, introduced beer companies as tournament sponsors decades before Guinness discovered hurling, and promoted the first GAA world tours in the 1960s. Befitting a businessman with a maverick streak, and an administrator who ran his fiefdom as an independent republic, he regularly butted heads with Croke Park. (1899-1994)

101 Des McMahon, Architect Of The New Croker

By hiring the former Tyrone footballer for the project, the GAA got the ideal man to tell the world where they were coming from and where they were trying to go. His cathedral didnt just do the GAA proud but made all Irish people proud. (1941-)


100 Joe McDonagh, Rule 21 And All That

His father was one of the driving forces behind the Galway underage coaching incentive of the mid-60s that climaxed with Joe singing The Wests Awake on the steps of the Hogan but Joe would be a notable administrator himself. During his presidency, hed set in motion the removal of the ban on security forces, all football games to be played in the one calendar year and a minimum of two championship games for every inter-county team, even if it took until Seán McCagues term for them to be realised. (1953-)

So, who will be the 11th Dr Who when he regererates again?

Will it be the first woman Dr, or the first black one?

1. William Hartnell
2. Patrick Troughton
3. Jon Pertwee
4. Tom Baker (pictured)
5. Peter Davison
6. Colin Baker
7. Sylvester McCoy
8. Paul McGann
9. Christopher Eccleston
10. David Tennant
11.

From the BBC

Motor tax evasion is three and a half times higher in Northern Ireland than in the rest of the UK.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and the police has launched a 'Operation Evader', focusing on vehicles untaxed for more than 28 days.

More than 300 unlicensed vehicles were clamped in a two-week pilot period in Belfast in September.

New legislation introduced in October means that cars can be clamped or removed in any public place.

DVA chief executive Brendan Magee said the authorities were determined to tackle the problem.

"The pilot operation also showed that over half of the vehicles detected with no tax also had no insurance and four out of 10 vehicles of testable age had no current test certificate," he said.

"It's only fair that we do all that we can to catch the small minority who are determined to act irresponsibly."

Owners of clamped vehicles have to pay £260 before they are released or £100 along with production of a valid tax disc.

Recovered vehicles which are not claimed within seven days may be crushed.


Do any of you drive without tax for any period of time?

i was going shopping earlier on and noticed two vans had beem clamped around Dunnes

Well people, how did Christmas day go for you?

i had a great Christmas day, kids were delighted with presies, dinner was delightful, even if I say so myself, then rounded off with a small family gathering for drinks and sh1t talking in someones elses house, so not even any clearing up to do.

Only down side.... doing the dinner dishes

"A PRANKSTER has put up signs on walls across Nottingham telling people they can publicly urinate in the street after 7.30pm.

The signs, which show a male toilet logo, have an accompanying letter headed with the Nottingham City Council logo, claiming the measures have been brought in over the holiday period to "address the growing problem of householders having to clean up after late night revellers."

They have appeared in the city centre, including at the back of the Royal Concert Centre, at the bottom of Exchange Walk, as well as Radford, West Bridgford and Arnold.

Stunned Radford resident Jake Higgs took photos which clearly show the public have taken them as legitimate signs.

"There are quite a lot of them. I thought it could be genuine when I first saw them," said Mr Higgs, 29.

"I took a closer look and there was a laminated letter attached in the same style as when the council notifies the public about planning permission. I read that and it made it out that it was a trial scheme. I think it was someone having a Christmas joke."

I think someone must have put a few of these up around Belfast as well.

So Michael get 16 years for his street theater escapade

Loyalist killer Michael Stone has been jailed for 16 years for trying to murder Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams at Stormont.

Stone had attempted to enter Stormont during a key debate on Northern Ireland devolution in November 2006.

Last month at Belfast Crown Court, he was also convicted of seven other charges, including possession of weapons and explosive devices.

Stone had denied the charges, claiming the incident was performance art.

However, a judge at Belfast Crown Court said this was "wholly unconvincing".

Stone launched his attack on the day Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness were due to be nominated as Northern Ireland's new first and deputy first ministers.

The trial heard he pointed an imitation gun at a female security guard, ignited an improvised explosive device in a flight bag and threw it some yards from him.

The bag contained explosive fireworks, flammable liquids, a butane gas canister and fuses. It failed to explode.

He was found to have seven nail bombs which the court heard were capable of causing death or serious injury to anyone in their proximity.

Stone also had three knives, a hatchet and a garrotte.

Mr Justice Deeny said Stone had been "a wholly unreliable and unconvincing witness whose testimony... is wholly undeserving of belief".

In 2000, Stone was released early from a life sentence under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

He had been jailed for a 1988 gun and grenade attack on the republican funeral at Milltown Cemetery of three IRA members shot dead by the SAS in Gibraltar.

Three men were killed in that attack and Stone also admitted three other murders.

[MICHAEL PHELPS' DIET Breakfast: Three fried egg sandwiches; cheese; tomatoes; lettuce; fried onions; mayonnaise; three chocolate-chip pancakes; five-egg omelette; three sugar-coated slices of French toast; bowl of grits; two cups of coffeeLunch: Half-kilogram (one pound) of enriched pasta; two large ham and cheese sandwiches with mayonnaise on white bread; energy drinksDinner: Half-kilogram of pasta, with carbonara sauce; large pizza; energy drinks For lunch: half a kilogram (one pound) of enriched pasta; two large ham and cheese sandwiches on white bread smothered with mayonnaise, washed down by energy drinks. For dinner: Another half-kilogram of pasta, perhaps with a carbonara sauce, followed by a large pizza and more energy drinks.]

As US swimming sensation Michael Phelps sets his sights on more gold medal wins at the Beijing Olympics this weekend, the BBC's Michael Hirst examines the part an extraordinary diet has played in the sportsman's remarkable success.

If it is true that you are what you eat, then here is the suggested intake if you want to become history's most successful Olympian:

For breakfast: three fried egg sandwiches, with cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, fried onions and mayonnaise, followed by three chocolate-chip pancakes; a five-egg omelette; three sugar-coated slices of French toast and a bowl of grits (a maize-based porridge), washed down with two cups of coffee.

MICHAEL PHELPS' DIET
Breakfast: Three fried egg sandwiches; cheese; tomatoes; lettuce; fried onions; mayonnaise; three chocolate-chip pancakes; five-egg omelette; three sugar-coated slices of French toast; bowl of grits; two cups of coffee
Lunch: Half-kilogram (one pound) of enriched pasta; two large ham and cheese sandwiches with mayonnaise on white bread; energy drinks
Dinner: Half-kilogram of pasta, with carbonara sauce; large pizza; energy drinks 

For lunch: half a kilogram (one pound) of enriched pasta; two large ham and cheese sandwiches on white bread smothered with mayonnaise, washed down by energy drinks.

For dinner: Another half-kilogram of pasta, perhaps with a carbonara sauce, followed by a large pizza and more energy drinks. That combination may not sound very healthy, and at a staggering 10,000 calories, would feed five average men for a day.

But the menu is reportedly all in a training day's eating for champion swimmer Michael Phelps, who won six gold medals in the 2004 Athens Olympics and is aiming for eight this time round.

"Eat, sleep and swim, that's all I can do," said the US swimmer, after winning his 11th Olympic gold.

Judging by the amount he eats and swims, that is not altogether surprising.

Fruit and veg

Even though the 23-year-old spends a solid five hours of each day burning off those calories, the diet still seems excessive. Is he following some sort of dietician guru's programme?

Barbara Lewin, a nutritionist who has advised international athletes on their dietary health for almost two decades, thinks not.


A light snack for a record-breaking Olympian swimmer?

"Health-wise, if he were eating like this long-term, he'd probably be having to see a cardiologist regularly," Mrs Lewin told the BBC.

She recommended cutting out the egg yolks, replacing the white bread with whole-wheat, throwing some fruit and vegetables into the mix, and spreading the food out over the day with regular snacking.

But while the quality of the calories consumed by the six-foot four-inch (1.93m) swimmer may not seem healthy, Ms Lewin suggested there are good reasons behind Mr Phelps' diet.

"I've worked with more than 1,000 endurance athletes - swimmers and runners - and one of the most common problems they have is glycogen depletion - the result of not getting enough carbohydrates," she said.

"Nine out of 10 times the reason an athlete doesn't reach their personal best is because they're not getting enough carbohydrates and that's what your muscles need for food."

Carb counting

Phelps won his sixth gold medal in Beijing in the 200m medley on Friday, and will be aiming to equal fellow American Mark Spitz's record of winning seven gold medals in a single Olympic games when he takes to the pool for Saturday's 100m fly.

  He burns more calories sitting at a desk than a lot of people burn walking

Jeff Kotterman
Director of the US National Association of Sports Nutrition

He will break Spitz's 36-year record if his team qualify, and go on to win, Sunday's 4x100m relay.

The very process of challenging that record entails a hectic schedule of heats, semi-finals and finals.

Between winning his 10th gold medal in the 200m butterfly - which made him history's most successful Olympian - and his 11th in the men's 4x200m relay, Phelps had just an hour between races.

With that kind of turn-around, topping up his carbohydrate count is key, Ms Lewin suggested. The copious amount of refined carbohydrates consumed in the bread and pasta he eats will digest quickly and give the swimmer instant energy.

Phelps, who weighs around 85kg (187lbs), understands this. Asked what was needed to continue his gold-medal winning streak, he said simply: "Get some calories into my system and try to recover the best I can."

Keeping his carbohydrates topped up between races, said Ms Lewin, is important for avoiding what athletes call "hitting the wall" - that stage in an endurance competition when the body has used up all its carbohydrate fuel (sometimes known as muscle glycogen) and instead starts the much less efficient process of burning fat for energy.

Fat pile-on

The Phelps diet is not recommended for everyone. Due to his muscle-intensive physique, the swimmer's metabolism - the process of converting food into energy - far exceeds that of a more average man, said Jeff Kotterman, director of the US National Association of Sports Nutrition.

"It's a combination of peak performance coupled with the fact that he has an enormous metabolism - he burns more calories sitting at a desk than a lot of people burn walking," Mr Kotterman told the BBC.

He suggested Phelps, with an estimated 8% body fat, probably burns 1,000 calories per hour during his swimming training, compared to the equivalent exercise for an average person - vigorous walking - that would burn between 170 and 240 calories.

Consequently, trying to emulate the Phelps diet by consuming up to 12,000 calories a day in order to attain his physique would more than likely come to a wobbly end.

One pound of fat has roughly 3,500 calories, so an ordinary man could put on almost three pounds of fat a day.

But then again, Michael Phelps - who has now won the 400m medley, 200m freestyle, 200m butterfly, 4x100m free relay, 4x200m free relay and the 200m medley in world record times - is clearly no ordinary man.

This is what it looks like.

http://video.google.com/videosearch?hl=en&q=michael+phelps+diet&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&oi=video_result_group&resnum=4&ct=title#


what are grits?

Found this interesting for us Nordies.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/nicrimemap/

there is a lot of crime in a few areas

Terrible attack by a Cliftonville "fan" on a Linfield player

from the BBC

A Linfield player has been struck by a firework at the end of the County Antrim Shield final at Windsor Park in Belfast.

Conor Hagan fell to the ground after being struck by the device seconds after the final whistle.

The firework was thrown by Cliftonville fans whose team had won the match by 2-1

Hagan, a former Portadown and Distillery midfielder, signed for Linfield in May this year.

Right the gist of the story for anyone who doesn't know.

Ross and brand left messages on Andrew Sachs's answer maching stating that Brand had slept with his grand daughter, they done four different messages as a prank.

the question is was it comedy as they said it was, or was it just a pathetic excuse fro comedy?

Personally it was completely over the top, not comedy, not even toilet humour, just an embarrassment. Imagine someone leaving a message stating they has slept with your daughter (if you had one and was over the consensual age) would you be happpy?

Anyone know what is going on here? thats a week I think that this has been going on and the kids are off school

school at the centre of a dispute between teachers and education authorities is to remain closed.

The South Eastern Education and Library Board said it deeply regretted that no resolution had been found to the dispute at the County Down school.

Some teachers at the 540-pupil Movilla High School in Newtownards have been striking since Monday.

The dispute arose over their pay being docked when they refused to teach a pupil they claim assaulted one of them.

Talks at the Labour Relations Agency late last week failed to resolve the situation.

Representatives of the NASUWT, the union representing the 25 striking teachers, said they put a proposal to the SEELB to resolve the dispute but had not been contacted by the board over the weekend.

The union said it had asked the board to make alternative arrangements for the pupil.

In a statement issued on Sunday the board confirmed that the school would remain closed on Monday.

The board said it had "made a number of offers to the trade unions" in a bid to resolve the dispute.

"The trade unions have rejected the offers and are demanding that the pupil be taught in total isolation from other pupils and teachers in the school or that the particular pupil is requested to leave the school.

"The board and board of governors cannot accede to these demands, however, the Board will continue to make itself available for further discussions to find a resolution of this dispute."