Caught on video: the dying moments of the match between Australia and Italy…
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Archive for June, 2006
So the Socceroos lost this morning in a match that was decided by an “iffy” call by the referee.
I think the fundamental problem with soccer is allowing a single man try and cover the entire pitch, while staying close enough to the play to call it fairly and correctly. The ball can move so fast from one end to the other, it is impossible for a (usually middle-aged) man to keep up. Why do you think there are 3 field umpires in the AFL? Even in basketball, where the playing area is 95% smaller than a soccer pitch, there are 3 referees to keep control of the game.
For an interesting analysis of the refereeing throughout the World Cup, read Referees rule the pitch by Mark Bechtel.
Anyway, I don’t want to sound like a sore loser, but it’s frustrating to come so far and have it all end in this way. All credit to the Italian defense though, it was standing firm even when they were a man down.
And finally: Well done Socceroos!
Some of you may have heard already that Google has launched a Beta version of a new online spreadsheet application. Apparently they want to knock Microsoft of their perch as “world leaders” in all things computers. Access to the spreadsheets is at their invitation. You have to register your interest and they will send you an invite when they’re good and ready, first come first served.
The product is nowhere near as powerful as MS Excel but it might be one day. I’m still not 100% sure why you need your spreadsheets online or why you need to share them with other people.
The other Google app that I rate pretty highly is Google Calendar. This online version of your diary is easy to use and sharing your calendar with family and firends makes more sense than sharing your spreadsheets. You can invite other users to events and all sorts of other fun stuff. I haven’t used an online calendar before, but while doing some reading on the topic, it seems that Google’s offering lacks some features that other, longer running products provide. I just like how it integrates with my gmail so well (as you would expect, really). It might be time to retire the old Palm pilot, considering I stopped carrying it around with me years ago.
I’m looking forward to the real MS killer: Google OS. Only a matter of time maybe?
What an extraordinary game of soccer. An early Croatian goal, a missed penalty for Viduka, a penalty goal followed, a monumental stuff-up by the Aussie keeper to let through a 2nd goal, then our mate Harry comes through with the equaliser.
Lets not forget the missed handball by Croatia in the square and the 2nd red card for Simic who then stayed on the pitch.
All that aside, it was a great draw (read win) for the Aussies who are in the 2nd round for the first time ever. Cool.
While on holiday in Kenya and walking through the bush a man comes across an elephant standing with one leg raised in the air.
The elephant seems distressed so the man approaches very carefully. He gets down on one knee and inspects the bottom of the elephant’s foot only to find a large thorn deeply embedded.
As carefully and as gently as he can he removes the thorn and the elephant gingerly puts its foot down. The elephant turns to face the man and with a rather stern look on its face, stares at him. For a good ten minutes the man stands frozen – thinking of nothing else but being trampled.
Eventually the elephant turns and walks away.
For years after, the man often remembers and ponders the events of that day.
Years later the man is walking through the zoo with his son. As they approach the elephant enclosure, one of the elephants turns and walks over to where they are standing at the rail. It stares at him and the man can’t help wondering if this is the same elephant.
The man climbs tentatively over the railing and makes his way into the enclosure. He walks right up to the elephant and stares back in wonder.
Suddenly the elephant wraps its trunk around one of the man’s legs and swings him wildly back and forth along the railing, instantly killing him.
Probably not the same elephant then.
I don’t know how this can be called a real World Cup when there isn’t a Ricky Martin song blaring over the top of any footage even remotely connected to soccer.
On second thoughts, I’m very glad that there is no Ricky music this time around. Cup of Life was about as much any normal human could endure.
Some of you may have seen the emails going around that list little-known facts about Chuck Norris. They can be quite funny. Anyway, I just stumbled accross a whole website dedicated to the bearded power-house. Hilarious!
Some clever Photoshop work or a very freaky man? You decide…
Below average flim, great perv.
A few of the boys went for a ride at Lysterfield today. I broke my chain while riding from the car to the park entry gate – a distance of about 15m. This was after I had repaired a link that had half broken. Obviously I need more practice with the tools. I didn’t attempt to take the broken link out again because the chain is already 3 links shorter than it should be, and the shorter it gets the more it plays havoc with your gears.
The bike needed a good servce even before this happened, so I will take it to the shop and get it back all ship-shape and good as new.
As it happened, Rob forgot his shoes and so I rode his bike and he took mine home.
