yes my learning was accelerated,
we had 3 tutors on a rotating schedule

this is how our family is
they note a query for learning

and request teachers
who visit on a rotating basis

i teach english in Anchorage
funny as that sounds

Thạnh was the primary teacher of english

i learned from her what is common
in every day speach

it is not what you think
it is really varied

when 2 people encounter each other
there are over 17,000 replies

top down we learned the top 972 questions english speaking types ask

In the meantime, have you heard of an author called Donald Goines? He wrote crime novels, brilliant writer and like your favorite author William Burroughs II (At least I think he's your favorite?) was addicted to heroin.

Wm Burroughs is far from my favorite writer these days. All in all, I think he was a vicious bastard who needlessly and drunkenly shot his wife, and treated several other people badly as well. Was he a 'great' writer? Well, maybe, in some ways... but I wouldn't want to follow him.

I saw Korchnoi play at a simultaneous in Dublin in the 1980s. I was present as a spectator - for some stupid reason I chose not to play myself against him. I wish I had.

I missed the excitement. England deserved to win, but the Putinoids nicked a late one. (I remember 1988, when Ireland beat England and drew with the Russians, and still didn't make the next round).

How are the mighty fallen. During the Gorbachev era of the USSR and the early years of an independent Russian state, I had a great admiration for Russia. Even before that -- in 1972, Spassky was such a deep thinker, a cultured figure, compared to Fischer (who liked comic books and rock music and already held dodgy opinions).

The great USSR chess champions - Botvinnik, Smyslov, Tal, Petrosian, Spassky - deserved respect.

As did 'Russians' and representatives of the USSR in other fields: writers from Dostoyevsky and Nabokov to Yevtushenko and Solzhenitsyn, artists like Tatlin, plus mathematicians, physicists, engineers, rocketeers, poets, musicians, etc.

Over all else, there was the fact that Soviet Russia had an idealistic core, a heart. It might have been distorted by Stalin's monstrosities or Brezhnev's inertia, but the USSR still stood for something. Russia today does not. Apart from ugly nationalism.

Yeah I saw it. I think Northern Ireland have done the equivalent of winning the tournament by even qualifying. I think it's their first tournament since Mexico86 when the lovely Billy Bingham was the manager, they actually had a few decent players back then too! I've got you mixed up with another Irishman before (!? Sorry X) so are you from Northern Ireland or the Republic? And don't sleep on Poland just yet Dom. They have 2 brilliant strikers, I wouldn't write them off just yet.

<Maybe they were over-awed by the occasion, or something. I dunno.>

I think they're just not very good. I hate to put it as harshly as that but it's true. In qualifying they played some very good games and looked like a compact little side.

<But it wasn't a good game, and neither side impressed. I hope the Republic do better tomorrow vs Sweden.>

Well it wasn't to be but I wouldn't write the Republic off just yet either. They're better than Northern Ireland. In fact after watching the France Albania game last night I have to say Northern Ireland are the worst team in the tournament. Albania did a job on France for 75 minutes, they just got worn down by a better side. Albania are marginally better than Northern Ireland.

I don't know whether like me you watch <all> the games (well okay, I've missed 2 so far but I won't miss another) but it's not exactly been a brilliant tournament thus far. Nothing like Braznil14, probably the best football tournament in my lifetime although if Sir Alex Ferguson said italia90 was better I won't disagree. Plus ENGLAND should have won that WC. So near but yet so far.

Once the Euro's are over I'll be back to talk to you because I've been meaning to come see you for ages, but everytime I'm on this site I get sidetracked because of the Brazil nut. I wanted to speak to you about something you said earlier this year, something that I'm interested in your experiences in, I'll leave it at that for now but I'll be back mate.

Funny how potential winners are already zeroing in on the usual suspects --- Spain, Italy, Germany, France as favourites, with Belgium and Portugal behind, and England as long shots. Nobody else, I reckon.

BTW, Mark -- about 25 years ago I was on a ferry between Dublin and Holyhead (I think), talking to an English woman who asked me this immortal question: "Er, is Northern Ireland the top bit or the bottom bit?"

One more year lurches by with no proper apology from me to you. I make that now.