New Articles on The Daily Dust today

Posted: 25 Nov 2008 06:24 AM CST

The Stoke man may currently account for 835% of all of Stoke’s positive play, but he doesn’t hold a candle to the throw-in technique of the lad below. We’re quite sure this is illegal in the professional game and, oh, you probably shouldn’t stand right in front of him as the chap in the video did.

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Murray Walker is Back Covering F1 on the BBC

Posted: 25 Nov 2008 04:22 AM CST

“I’ll Stop My Startwatch” National Treasure back on the Formula One trail.

As Formula 1 returns to the BBC next year, fans can delight in the words of a certain Murray Walker. The BBC have brought back the 85 year old to write about the ‘greatest sport on earth for expensive cars’ on their website. While he won’t be in the commentary booth, his pearls of wisdom will be there for all to see, and expect him to pop up in the occasional video montage as well.

As reported on The Daily Dust previously, Martin Brundle will now officially be remaining in the commentary box. Joining him is the current BBC Radio Five Live voice Jonathan Legard. Also remaining from the ITV-F1 commentary team is respected pit lane reporter Ted Kravitz, who’ll have ex Children’s BBC host Lee McKenzie alongside him.

And fronting the show? Anchorman Jake Humphrey will be joined by ex team Boss Eddie Jordan, and ex F1 driver David Coulthard.

But still, no news if Fleetwood mac’s The Chain is going to be the theme… Come on BBC, don’t spoil it now when you’ve made good calls one very other decision!

A punter’s reflective diary

Posted: 25 Nov 2008 02:53 AM CST

There are no tips for Tuesday, instead a time for reflection.

Sometimes, in order to move forwards, we need to first look back – draw breath before the next step.

It's approaching a month now since my inaugural bets on here, so how have things gone, and more importantly, could a profit have been made?

The answer to those questions is yes, things have gone well and a profit has been achieved following each bet recommended. It's certainly been a good betting spell for me with the betting bank nicely topped up as Christmas looms large, but the point of this confession isn't to advertise what a smartass I am, but to highlight that a profit can be made via betting for those armed with the skill, patience and discipline.

The results shown below are a full account of every bet given here in recent weeks using a £10 stake as a guide:

Date	Bet	Result & price	Profit or loss	Rolling bank
October 25	Tarablaze	2nd 3-1	-£10	-£10
October 25	Clowance House	3rd 3-1	-£10	-£20
October 28	Zegna	3rd 2-5	-£10	-£30
October 28	Surprise Pension (each-way)	2nd 9-2	-£1	-£31
October 28	Desert Creek	Won 8-13	+£6.10	-£24.90
October 29	Levera	Won 4-7	+£5.70	-£19.20
October 29	Arganil	Won 10-3	+£33.33	+£14.13
October 31	Rainbow Seeker	Won 11-8	+£13.75	+£27.88
October 31	Silk Drum	2nd 11-10	-£10.00	+£17.88
October 31	King's Majesty	2nd 2-1	-£10.00	+£7.88
November 1	Virtual	Won 5-1 (each way)	+£60.00	+£67.88
November 1	Ouster	2nd 6-5	-£10.00	+£57.88
November 1	Leo's Lucky Star	Won 10-11	+£9.00	+£66.88
November 1	Ollie Magern	2nd 6-1	-£10.00	+£56.88
November 5	Pennellis	2nd 11-4	-£10.00	+£46.88
November 5	Dream Of Olwyn	6th 4-1	-£10.00	+£36.88
November 7	According To Pete	Won 8-11	+£7.20	+£44.08
November 7	Siren Sound	6th 3-1	-£10.00	+£34.08
November 7	Lucozade	PU 9-4	-£10.00	+£24.08
November 8	Breedsbreeze	Won 4-6	+£6.60	+£30.68
November 8	Takeroc	2nd 13-8	-£10.00	+£20.68
November 10	Faasel	Won 5-2	+£25.00	+£45.68
November 10	Smalljohn	2nd 7-4	-£10.00	+£35.68
November 10	Mozayada	Won 9-4	+£22.50	+£58.18
November 15	Cape Tribulation	Won 7-4	+£17.50	+£75.68
November 15	Joe Lively	Won 4-1	+£40.00	+£115.68
November 15	Rainbow Seeker	3rd 9-4	-£10.00	+£105.68
November 15	Saucy	11th 5-1	-£10.00	+£95.68
November 19	Silvergino	Fell 2-1	-£10.00	+£85.68
November 19	Long Distance	9th 11-1	-£10.00	+£75.68
November 19	Scots Dragoon	Pulled up 5-2	-£10.00	+£65.68
November 20	Definity	Won 8-11	+£7.20	+£72.88
November 20	Pangbourne	4th 8-1	-£10.00	+£62.88
November 20	Buailteoir	2nd 7-1	-£10.00	+£52.88
November 20	Ring Bo Ree	Won 8-11	+£7.20	+£60.08
November 22	Chomba Womba	Won 2-1	+£20.00	+£80.08
November 22	Mahogany Blaze	3rd 9-4	-£10.00	+£70.08
November 22	Muktasb	2nd 4-1	-£10.00	+£60.08
November 22	River Kirov	Won 2-1	+£20.00	+£80.08
November 22	Bonikos	Won 5-2	+£25.00	+£105.08

A total of 17 winners from 40 bets (40%) for a profit of +£105.08 to +£10 stakes.

As you can see, a healthy profit was made, but it's only been a month and a truer reflection will develop during the winter months.

Tune in again on Wednesday where I'll be looking to add to the past month's profits, in the meantime there is a competition running on the guardian website all this week to win a copy of my latest book.

See http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/horseracing (talking horses) for further details.

Have a free £100 bet on Totesport

Read more from David on his blog http://www.racingtrendsrevealed.blogspot.com/

If anyone is interested in a historic guide to this season’s major jumps races, then his latest book “Racing Trends Revealed Jumps 2009″ is available at High Stakes website.

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Spiderpig - You’re Nicked!

Posted: 25 Nov 2008 02:19 AM CST

22 year old jailed for singing Simpsons Spiderpig Theme.

David Mullen, 22, might be regretting his catchy ringtone this morning as he starts an eleven month jail sentence. Arrested for assaulting a police offer and breaching his bail conditions, this offence gained him eight months. The further three months was for a breach of the peace after he had been arrested.

He sat in the back of the police van and called the arresting officer ‘Ginger’ before proceeding to sing the theme tune of the ill-fated Spider Pig from The Simpsons Movie.

Paul Ralph, who was defending Mullen, said: “He started the song and that was the origin of the joke, but things went further. He felt he had not done anything to be apprehended for.”

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Hairdryers help women take up sport

Posted: 25 Nov 2008 01:00 AM CST

A poll has found that more women are likely to take up sport if the facilities include hairdryers and full-length mirrors.

More than 50% of women surveyed said they would take part in sport if they could style their hair afterwards. The publication of the latest female attitudes to sport signals a national campaign to break down traditional gender-bias in competitive sport.

Ministers have pledged to increase people active in sporty to 1 million by 2012. To reach this figure would require a shift in attitude for women.

The statistics:

40% of girls feel self-conscious of their bodies in PE lessons

25% of women hate the way they look when they are physically active

25% of girls think it is cool to play sports

61% of women would exercise more if they could do it with their families

80% women believe that sport should be more like shopping

20% of women think that M&S would design the most female-friendly sports facility, followed by John Lewis and Boots

Source: Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation

Tesco first to sell ugly vegetables

Posted: 25 Nov 2008 01:00 AM CST

Tesco are the first supermarket to embrace a new ruling by the European Union that allows the sale of oversized and strange shaped produce.

For 20 years, the EU has demanded uniformity in produce that kept ugly veg out of supermarkets.

Tesco plan to sell a “Monster Bunch” box which includes oversized carrots, onions and squash.

Tesco vegetable buyer Jonathan Corbett: “They are so big that they look like they’ve come from the land of the giants or at the very least the prize stall at the annual horticulture show.

“People literally do a double take when they see them, the sweet potatoes, butternut squash and swedes are nearly the size of footballs.

“We have been anticipating the lifting of this ridiculous ban by the European Commission (EC) for some time now which is why we are ready to launch our Monster Bunch box so quickly.”

This is good news for farmers as they will get a better return for their ugly veg. Usually, the non-lookers get turned into pulp for baby food and ready made meals.

Mr Corbett added: “This marks the beginning of a new era for not only farmers but also for shoppers who will be able have a wider choice over the vegetables they buy.

“We have already spoken to our suppliers who will be saving their choice oversized vegetables for us.

“As the seasons change shoppers can also look forward to giant cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, aubergines, courgettes, turnips and whatever else is offered us.”

Royal Navy given more power to tackle pirates

Chancellor Cuts VAT, Raises Tax on Cigarettes and Alcohol

Posted: 24 Nov 2008 11:27 AM CST

VAT Down, National Insurance Going Up, in Pre Budget Report

Chancellor Alistair Darling has just made his statement to the House of Commons on the UK Economy and the two major announcements for the general public are an increase in National Insurance Contributions by 0.5% from April 4th 2011; and the lowering of VAT from 17.5% to 15% from next Monday, December 1st, for 13 months (ie until 31st December 2009).

The interesting debate is whether the cut in the tax take from the country being reduced (via VAT) for a short period, and then that money recovered by a raised tax (National Insurance, which is charged by percentage on someone’s income) is either ‘giving the economy a boost while it recovers from the current downturn’ [the Labour view] or ‘a tax bombshell of cuts before an election, and painful tax rises after the election’ [the Conservative view].

That debate will carry on in the political blogosphere (Political Betting would be a good place to start) but I was noting down how much all these things cost.. The VAT drop will cost £12.5 billion, while the rist in National Insurance gathers an extra £4 billion. Another £1.7 billion will be gained from changes to income tax for those earning £150,000 or more - they get to pay 45p on everything above that level.

So there’s a difference of £7 billion pounds. And the UK will carry that debt until 2015/2016 at the earliest.

But don’t think the cut in VAT will help you wish your troubles away. Duty on cigarettes, fuel and alcohol will rise by the same amount as VAT is cut on them. So no cheap cider from the Pound Store for you.

Or should that be the 97.88p Store?

Update: Dizzy Thinks has pulled out the actual numbers… Remember that VAT cuts around 2.12% off the top line price, so to compensate Tobacco Duty is going up 4%, and Alcohol Duty is going up a whopping 8%!