The Manager

Thank you America

2008-11-06T16:27:00.000+11:00

Thank you America! Thank you for not only electing the right person as President for your country, but also the right President that the world has asked for.

Let’s face it, the past 8 years have not been the best for a lot of people. When Bill Clinton left office in 2000 the world was a good place to be. America had won the ideological and philosophical cold war to come out as the lone superpower. The world was generally prosperous and did not witness any major conflicts.

When George W. Bush came into the presidency in 2001 he had most likely hoped that during his term, he would be able to ride this wave of affluence and be seen as a good president. However, things never played out that way as the September 11 attack changed everything – not only for America for the world.

Bush had the chance to be seen as a great president but he failed miserably with his responses - first the war on Afghanistan and then the war in Iraq whose reasons were questionable. These events conspired to smear America’s standing in the world as a just and honourable power (as they like to show in the movies). Adding the recent events such as the economic crisis which stemmed from America’s financial dealings and the environmental issues that have pervaded the world, there has been a sense of pessimism that enveloped the world.

This election gave America a chance to right those wrongs, to not only bring about change for its people, but also change for the world. In a word, this election could bring back HOPE!

With Barack Obama becoming president, I awoke with a sense of optimism, with hope, that the world’s ills could be righted.

Although I am an Australia, I knew this election would define the course of the world for a generation. I was passionate about this election, because from America, the world takes it leads.

In Obama, I saw a true leader, one who could inspire, one who is thinks about his responses. A person who seeks advice on topics he requires knowledge on. I believe we have found someone who is a thinker, who is eloquent and able to converse with whomever, no matter what their ideologies are.

Afterall, has any election garnered this much attention from the world? Has any Presidential result produced this much positiveness?

This was the result the world wanted! Nearly 75% of Australians wanted Barack Obama as president, and apparently his appeal to most of Europe and parts of Asia and Africa were just as high.

Now the world has got they wanted. Now the pressure is on.

Can he deliver what he promised?

More importantly, can he be the leader that we have hoped for?

JW

2008-10-14T16:26:00.002+11:00

Most other days my thoughts centre on who will win the US presedential election, when Dubai will buy Liverpool and who Liverpool is playing are in my thoughts. I also sometimes wander about my lot in life, have I done my housework and if I am too much trouble for my wife.

Then you get a day like today. A day that shows you how fragile this existence we are in really is.

See today as I received a note from one of my soccer boys. (Actually I should not call him a "boy" as he is only a few years younger than me but really, anyone that plays for me is considered a friend or "boy" or one of my "lads".) He informed the team that one of our team mates has been diagnosed with a brain tumour and has been in hospital for a while.

This player, (who shall be called JW here) had a operation last week and although they got most of it out there is still something in there. Worse still it is still malignant so this means that he will have to go through some chemotherapy.

When I read the note, I could not believe it. I had to read it a few times to let it sink in. For one of my boys was seriously sick!

This is not a broken bone or a knee injury. This was life-death stuff.

Even now after a day of regurgitating this news I am still emotional about the whole situation. The fact that someone I know and see most weekends is in this situation really gets to me.

You may not know JW but he has an abundance of determination and heart. So if anyone will give his all in this situation it will be him.

He will need help to remain focussed and staying positive, and I know his girlfriend and family will be there at his side.

As his team mates all we can really do is keep his spirits up and letting him know we care and he will be in our thoughts and prayers.

But this just iillustrates how fragile life can be and how we really should not get so caught up in things like work, money, economic crisis because we could one day have something serious happen to us or a family member or a friend. A situation that shows us how fleeting life can be.

i pray that JW gets through this and will be back doing his step overs soon.

Good Reds 2 - Sith Reds 1

2008-09-15T16:20:00.000+10:00

I have not written anything about Liverpool for a while because frankly, I was disturbed and bemused about what has happened to this great club. Last season we started off with hope but then after reaching the peak of the summit, we proved we had problems maintaining the push and slowly succumbed to challenging for one of the four champions league spots.

Added to this is the debacle that is our ownership. I have said before that the Americans have not delivered on their promises and should leave. I am just hoping that the finance side of things fall though so that they are forced to sell up to a buyer who not only will respect the Liverpool way, but also have the finances to deliver a new stadium and players to return us back to the summit.

But with a new season starting, I was hesitant to write anything until I could see how we performed. After the first three matches of the season, I was not happy with the team. We played pretty average, with no real width and opposition teams just played down our centre. However we nutted out two wins through moments of brilliance through our two best players. Torres and Gerrard both scoring sensational efforts at the death of matches for us to snatch victory.

However, after the tie at Aston Villa, I felt we need to see an upturn in our playing style – more urgency and more desperation, for us to even consider making the Premiership race interesting.

After the come from behind win against Manchester United I felt more relief that anything. I am definitely not one to proclaim we are going to win the title because we have only played 4 matches. But the fact we managed to beat what was essentially our bogey team with our two best players not taking a major part in the game, indicates that we have the potential to challenge.

At the very least this has provided some belief to the players that we can beat the Chelsea’s, Arsenal’s and yes the Manchester United’s even if we are a goal behind. I shudder to think that if we had lost it would have affected our mental state in such a way we would not have recovered for the remainder of the season. Articles would have been written about how Rafa did not select the right players, his tactics were wrong and that Liverpool does not have the players to challenge.

However, Liverpool fans should not get ahead of ourselves too much. We were lucky with the first goal but sometimes you need that to win!

There are still 34 matches to go and we have to continually improve and WIN every match at Anfield. More importantly we need to start winning away at the Portsmouth, Newcastles, Bolton’s etc.

But we can do that with a little more belief than two weeks ago.

The win was satisfying but it is early days. Walk On!

Australian Citizenship Test

2008-09-10T16:22:00.002+10:00

Ok, i was very nervous to put this latest post up, but I believe that sharing is caring! As such, I attach a copy of the Australian Citizenship Test that will be given to all wannabe Aussie's! So if you are game, try out the following test:

The Australian citizenship test has been designed to assist people who want to become
Australian citizens gain an understanding of Australia’s values, traditions, history and national
symbols.

The test is an important part of ensuring that migrants have the capacity to fully participate in the Australian community as citizens and maximise the opportunities available to them in
Australia. It will promote social cohesion and successful integration into the community.

Test Rules

There are some basic rules which you must follow during the test:

- Test is timed - You will be allowed 45 minutes to complete the test (or 90 minutes in
the case of an assisted test). No additional time will be made available.

- This is a closed book test - You must not bring any test resource material into the testing
centre (this includes note paper, the Becoming an Australian Citizen resource book,
study notes, etc).

- Personal belongings may be taken into the test site however these must be stored under
the desk for the duration of the test. Mobile phones and all other electronic
communication/gaming equipment should be switched off while you are within the test
centre.

If you do not follow these rules, you may be asked to leave the test centre and may have to sit
the test again.

Test Questions

You may begin writing only once you are advised to do so by the test supervisor.
(1) Do you understand the meaning, but are unable to explain the origin, of the term
“died in the arse”? Explain the meaning:

(2) What is a “bloody little beauty”?

(3) Are these terms related: chuck a sickie; chuck a spaz; chuck a U-ey?
Yes / No

(4) Explain the following passage:
In the arvo last Chrissy the relos rocked up for a Barbie, some bevvies and a few
snags. After a bit of a Bex and a lie down we opened the pressies, scoffed all the
chockies, bickies and lollies. Then we drained a few tinnies and Mum did her block
after Dad and Steve had a Barney and a bit of biffo.

(5) Macca, Chooka and Wanger are driving to Surfers in their Torana. If they are
travelling at 100 km/h while listening to Barnsey, Farnsey and Acca Dacca, how
many slabs will each person on average consume between flashing a brown eye
and taking a slash?

(6) Complete the following sentences:
(a) If the van's rockin' don't bother ________________________________

(b) You're going home in the back of a _____________________________

(c) Fair crack of the ________________________________________

(7) I've had a gutful and I can't be farked. Discuss

(8) Have you ever been on the giving or receiving end of a wedgie?
Yes / No

(9) Do you have a friend or relative who has a car in their front yard "up on blocks"?
Is his name Bruce and does he have a wife called Cheryl?
Yes / No

(10) Do you or your family regularly eat a dish involving mincemeat, cabbage, curry
powder and a packet of chicken noodle soup called either chow mein, chop suey
or Kai see Ming?
Yes / No

(11) What are the ingredients in a rissole?

(12) Describe the correct procedure for eating a Tim Tam.

(13) Do you have an Aunty Irene who smokes 30 cigarettes a day and sounds like a
bloke?
Yes / No

(14) In any two-hour period have you ever eaten three-bean salad, a chop and two
serves of pav washed down with someone else's beer that has been flogged from a
bath full of ice?
Yes / No

(15) When you go to a bring-your-own-meat Barbie can you eat other people's meat or
are you only allowed to eat your own?

(16) What purple root vegetable beginning with the letter "b" is required by law to be
included in a hamburger with the lot?

(17) Do you own or have you ever owned a lawn mower, a pair of thongs, an Esky or
Ugg boots?
Yes / No

(18) Is it possible to prang a car while doing circle work?
Yes / No

(19) Who would you like to crack on to?

(20) Who is the most Australian (pick one answer):
(a) Kevin "Bloody" Wilson
(b) John "True Blue" Williamson
(c) Kylie Minogue
(d) Warnie

(21) Is there someone you are only mates with because they own a trailer or have a
pool?
Yes / No

(22) What do the phrases “sinkin piss at a mates joint” and “gettin paraletic” mean?
Please submit this paper back to the test supervisor when you have had a fair crack.

Australia versus Team USA - Olympic basketball preview

2008-08-20T16:31:00.000+10:00

It is pretty obvious that my disappointment with how Australia played in their opening two group matches at the Beijing Olympics basketball tournament got read by the coaching staff over there, because they picked things up and won the next three matches.

Not only did they win, but they won with intensity and averaging 100 points each match. While beating Iran can be laughed at, beating (and therefore eliminating) the reigning European Champions in Russia and the demolishing Lithuania by 30 points are great results.

For all this hard work, the Aussie Boomers now get to face….TEAM USA! Sure basketball fans have hard of them! You may know a few players – LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh etc etc.

GREEEEEEEEAT!!!!!

Looks like it will be the playoff for 5^th to 8^th for Australia!

Forget about the pre tournament game where we just lost to the US by 10 points. It was the final game before the Olympics started! I am sure the US was looking ahead a bit to much and were trying out a few last minute things.

If Australia loses by less than 10 points I would consider that a moral victory. Actually given how they destroyed Spain and Greece, I think a loss of under 20 points is a victory.

If we win….well we can call it the “Miracle on Pine”, who know but I have to echo Australian coach Brian Goorjigan that this should be made into a Disney Movie.

But how can Australia win? Well we definitely won’t beat them athletically so a running game is not the idea. We can beat the Americans by pure hustle, good ball movement, good off the ball movement and shooting the lights out in the gym. We have to shoot like how we did against Lithuania with our big guys making their 3-pointers so it forces their big guys to come out, therefore opening up the lanes for our other players.

Australia also has more big guys that Team USA and we have to hope David Anderson, Andrew Bogut, Chris Anstey and Matt Nielsen get up and active on the boards to limit the fast break of the opponents and get a few offensive possessions for us.

Overall, for Australia to come close and even contemplate beating the USA there are a number of things that need to go our way. But the players in Team USA will not let this happen because they are too focussed on winning and will come into the game with all guns blazing.

I am just looking forward to watching the game.

Australian Mens Basketball at the 2008 Beijing olympics - so far, not good!

2008-08-15T15:48:00.002+10:00

For many athletes, the Olympics present the pinnacle of their sport. Winning a medal in swimming, athletics, archery, equestrian, hockey etc signifies that you have reached the pinnacle of the sport. Personally I enjoy the hockey and basketball the most (I have also been intrigued by handball but that is something to discuss later).

Australia is a dominant force in world hockey and both the men’s and women’s team are expected to do well. In basketball, I expect the women to face the USA for gold in what will be a tough and tight match (and I am not talking about the Oplas bodysuits).

Even with the sporadic coverage for team sports on Channel 7, I have been lucky enough to catch a few matches involving the Australia teams and the Amerian men’s team.

However the play of the Boomers has left me disappointed. Looking at the team sheet and seeing names such as Andrew Bogut, David Anderson, Matthew Nielsen, Brad Newley – players who are in the NBA, been drafted by NBA teams or playing for top teams in Europe, I felt the team would do well.

Sadly, in their first two matches against Croatia and Argentina, the team has found itself in double digit deficits too quickly. This makes winning a game tough for anyone. You have to expand a lot of energy trying to get back in the game, energy that would be needed at the end of a close game.

What seems to be ailing the Boomers are the lack of scoring, and their inability to stop opponents scoring. In both matches, Croatia and Argentina got early outside shots to fall which put added pressure on the Aussie shooters to make their shots. When this did not happened, the oppositions lead grew and the Australian players confidence dwindled.

However, I get this feeling that there is no intensity by the Aussies. They do not seem to be pressuring the ball carrier intensively, and making the other four players work hard to get into open space. The Australian defence looks stagnant and a step slower which has lead to easy shots for their opponents.

Also when an opponent gets into the key, they seem to get to the basket area for a shot or assist, too easily. Remember, most coaches say – Defence wins!!

What is most disappointing is that Brian Goorjigan has always been a defensive minded coach and this team is disappointing. I am not blaming him directly because I think he is an excellent coach. I am just starting to question the “fire” within the Australian players. I know they all love to play for the Green and Gold, but they do not seem to be playing for each other and as a team.

On offence, it seems we are looking a bit confused and unsure. Maybe it was due to the various injuries before the games that robbed the likes of Andrew Bogut time to gel with his team mates.

But yesterday we seem to get on track my thumping Iran by 50 odd points. This is a good result as it indicates our offence has stepped up. But the tests are coming. To make the final 8, we need to beat Russia (who were the European champions) and/or an undefeated Lithuania. Talk about tough asks.

Before the games started, I thought we probably had our best team since the 1996/2000 Olympics. We had a great coach, an NBA centre, European All-Star players and a few up and coming guards.

Given the standard of play, the dominance and style of the USA team, and the number of NBA players playing for other countries, the Olympic Basketball tournament is an event to watch. I just hope Australia remains a part of it!

Coldplay - Viva La Vida and all His Friends

2008-07-22T11:38:00.000+10:00

Coldplay first came to my attention with their massive hit "Clocks" back in 2002. After figuring out they were not a one hit single music artist, I determined that this was band I had to hear more often.

Personally, they album X&Y did not do a lot for me. It was their experimentation album and the songs were a tad too long.

However like Michael Jordan in 1996, Coldplay latest offering Viva La Vida and All His Friends, is going to be a hit and a special album at that. Definetly an album worth listening to in this day when the kids are just buying the singles.

When their first single "Violet Hill" came out, I at first thought they had not overcome their experimental urges shown on X&Y. But their latest single "Viva La Vida" screams HIT and is an instant classic.

Amongst other highlights are "Lost" which infuses hip hop beats with an church organ with some amazing lyrics. "42" starts quite melancholic with a tender piano but the lyrics just make it an engaging experience to listen to.

Overall, I would have to rate this album as a fine effort. It engages the listener and reinforces Coldplay as not only one of the biggest and best bands of the 21st century, but also interesting.

Jordan - The Music Video

2008-07-17T17:45:00.002+10:00

Is art is in the eye of the beholder?

2008-07-11T13:19:00.008+10:00

An interesting debate opened up in Australia over the past week.

Photos of the girl pictured above were published in an Australian art magazine. The furore that erupted was they were pictures of her naked when she was 6 years old by her mother.

Some people argue that the printing of these pictures is appropriate because they are considered "art". Others argue that this has collapsed over the line of morality because it has exposed an innocent child to the world and the pedophiles and perverts out there.

Even the PM has delved into the debate arguing that this was not the right thing to do and that he may strip funding for the magazine.

Personally, I think that this was bad call by the parents. Taking naked pictures of your kids when they are babies is seen as a sweet and cute thing, if they are being done for the right reason (which are pretty obvious to most sane people).

But to take pictures of a naked six year old and then publish them in an art magazine is questionable. As terrible as this will sound, my first thoughts was how could parents do this consider we live int he age where we constantly hear about pedophilia and child abuse?

How could you expose an innocent child to the perverts out there by claiming this is art?

Some may say that I am being a bit too prudish but am I?

I believe that art is in the eye of the beholder. I really get riled up by the people who claim they know everything about art because they are qualified on it. I think art is in the eye of the beholder because everyone is different and we all have different tastes. Some people like bright colours, some like weird shapes and patterns. Each person is different so not everyone will like the same type of art - no matter what a critic says.

I am sure you could say I am contradicting myself with the above, but this is outside the realm of "art" and raises a moral and ethical question. Should naked images of a small child be published in a magazine? I think not.

This blog neds some CPR

2008-05-05T21:15:00.001+10:00

I never talked about Liverpool in the vain hope that this would lead to them winning a trophy. Since we lost the CL semi final to Chelsea....well......I shall reflect on the season that was.

Blog soon.

Yo Mama, Vote for Barack Obama

2008-04-08T18:06:00.001+10:00

I really hope Barack Obama wins the American Democrats nomination and goes on to be elected president of the USA. He is the right person for the job.

America needs him and the world wants him as President.

Let me start by saying I am not anti-America. I like what America has brought us (except the overflow of reality TV C grade stars). I just have a sense of right and wrong and what I have seen over the past few years has not appeased me.

America’ reputation as the “good guy” of the world was, in my eyes, damaged by the actions of the current incompetent, I mean incumbent President. He redefined what “intelligence” was when he invaded Iraq based on them having Weapons of Mass Destruction only to find no such thing existed. I think we all saw that as a grab at oil which America and the world realise heavily upon.

But let us not look at the past but into the future.

Of the 3 candidates out there – the others being Hillary Clinton and John McCain, why do I believe that Obama is the right person?

Simply because he represents the future, not just of a country, but a world. These days, we are not just countries, we are a world wide social community. The world has become one giant FaceBook.

Hillary Clinton has history – she was the first lady not so long ago and that time is remembered with fondness. She was around at the death of major communist powers and when the iron Curtain was dismantled. She was around when the threat of a world war was begun. When freedom and expression was reigning through the world. When the world was at peace.

But I don’t trust her. She has changed her mind on a few issues so you wonder what type of leader she will be. I believe that she is one that bends to gain approval rather than one that will generally do the right thing.

(Take note that I am honest enough to know that no one will always do the right thing. There is no one like that in the world. But I hope for someone that who will have some form of moral compass).

Senator McCain is a good man but he is just too old. He will be too conservative at a time when conservatism will not be beneficial. He does not appease those young voters who want to see some sense of vibrancy with someone who will not look 4 years into the future but 10 or 20 years.

Obama is young so he can reach out the upcoming generation.

More importantly, the fact that he is not seen as a fat, rich white old man means he has immense appeal to the rest of the world, particularly Africa and Asia – up and coming areas that need guidance to ensure they function rightly.

Lastly, he may also appeal to the Muslim world. He does not seem as threatening as the other candidates and he is certainly an improvement on “Dubya”.

He is Christian yet as the middle name “Hussein”, he grew up outside of American and spent a few years living in Indonesia, a predominantly Islamic State. He has been witness to other cultures and this has shaped him. His mind is not closed and pro one country.

I believe Barack Obama is the right person to lead America and help shape the world at a time when qualities of strong leadership and an understanding of how the world works are truly needed.

So America, when you vote, vote 1 Obama.

The world begs you.

Welcome to South Australia...the new Tasmania

2008-04-07T17:26:00.002+10:00

Australians have this joke about Tasmania. Because it is isolated and remote from the rest of the country, its population is small. So what happens a lot is the kids grow up and then move to the mainland. Some would g for work and some would go in search of a mate.

Back in the day this travel may have not been so avaliable given the level of technology ie) no planes and irregular boat rides.

So when a young person was searching for a mate, they had limited options. There are apparently countless stories of brothers marrying sisters or cousins etc etc. Basically incestuous things which are pretty disgusting when you thing about it. Yet this is not something you hear abouta lot these days.

However a story came about yesterday which made my stomach churned. Twas a story about a father and a daughter, getting jiggy with it (oh I can feel my stomach churning now) and wait for it....

HAVING A BABY

Bad!! Read all about it at this link

But this did not happen in Tasmania, it happened in South Australia.

I can just imagine the new tourism advertisement campaign.

South Australia...the new Tasmania

South Australia.....the place where families really come together

This is the state that has the highest rate of serial killers per capita, where people are so bored that they decide to join Al-Qaeda so they can can have a nice 5 year holiday in Guantanamo Bay.

But back to the couple at hand.

It appears they may not have known each other for a few years but only met each other after the mum passed away. That she said that she thought he was "he's not too bad" if she had met him at a bar and that he initially thought it was wrong but then decided to have go at his own daughter is well.....

CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I mean I know they were lonely and they were feeling alittle randy but my gosh.....this is to much to the extreme.

Added to this is she was married when they first got together but left her husband (whom she had 2 kids with).

Last but not least....they had a child some years ago but she/he passed away due to a heart condition.

So imagine the daughters' daughter, her dad is also her grandfather.

Only in Tasma...whoops I mean South Australia.

Michael Jackson - THRILLER 25th Anniversary Edition

2008-03-06T15:48:00.005+11:00

25 years ago I tuned into the sounds of the remarkable Michael Jackson when his album Thriller came out. Now they have released a 25^th anniversary specialof the album which includes a few remakes with Akon, Will I Am, Fergie and Kanye West.

After listening to the old songs, I just concluded that this has to be my favourite album of all time. Number 1 on my album chart! This album spawned so many hits –we know the big ones “Thirller”, “Billie Jean” and “Beat It” but what about P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) where his sister Janet sang backing vocals, Human Nature, Wanna’ be Starting Something, The Girl is Mine. I would say that every song on the album was a hit with me.

As for the remixes, the Akon version of “Wanna be Startin’ Somethin’” is awesome. “Beat I” which features Fergie is average as all she does is sing a few of the lines. Kanye’s work on “Billie Jean” is poor as all he does is a few “ehhs, yo’s, ahah’s”. Nothing special about that.

Overall, it was a great listen. But let us look at the phenomenon that this album had on the world.

This album was the highest selling album EVER. It took over the world. Everyone loved MJ, wanted to meet him and wanted to dance like him.

He changed the way the world listened to music as people would not see and hear rather than just hear. In a way he kind of killed the radio star.

This choreography that was on display in the film clips to “Beat It” and “Thriller” took things to another plain of entertainment and musical enjoyment. I remember being young but people would just go on and on about what a star and entertainer MJ was.

So regardless of what people thing of him and what has happened the last decade or so, to me Michael Jackson is an amazing performer. That we celebrate the 25^th anniversary of the best selling album of all time is testament to his skill.

I believe the genesis of my love for music and dancing came after seeing MJ perform Billie Jean at the 25^th Anniversary Motown Awards where he unleashed the moonwalk on an unsuspecting world. It was one of those magical events that just resonates with you throughout life.

Battle of the Generations

2008-02-25T18:26:00.001+11:00

I had some friends over from interstate and during the various meals, drinks and socialising our discussions turned to the generational differences we are experiencing.

And by contributing to this discussion, I finally believe I have gotten older, because I agreed with a lot of what was said.

Most of this group are older than me (hence my enjoyment at hanging out with them because I am one of the youngest) and they are now in positions of management and responsibility. Be it as a senior in their profession or in middle management. So they are responsible for teaching new graduates and junior staff.

The biggest gripe I heard was about Generation Y, those that are born between 1980 and 1995. Sadly I do not fall into that Gen Y category as I am an X, those born between 1960 and 1979, we are the post baby boomer society.

These days there is talk of Generation Z i.e.) the kids that are currently up and coming.

But back to my friends and our discourse over lunches. The main complaint that people have about the Gen Y’s is that they want the big salaries, they want the status and the position BUT they simply won’t do the work.

Basically they want to be superstars but get there easily.

They are too preoccupied with getting what they think they deserved but have failed to realise they need to work for it. They will only do the work they want and won’t do anything meaningless because it was not in their job description.
We all hate doing meaningless things that are not part of our job, but in the workforce it is a requirement. This is how you learn how to become multi skilled. Added to this is that a number of my friends complained about the poor written skills.

Another major gripe is that they lack written and satisfactory communication skills. While they are confident, they do not know how to talk to the baby boomer generation or how to conduct themselves properly. Sadly, a lot of them appear to now want to learn how to write better. Heck, I was a terrible writer especially with report and my grammar was poor, but I learnt and hope it has improved a little (I know this blog has evidence which contradicts that statement).

The Gen Y’ers have a lot of self belief and confidence and that most likely stemmed from society. Over the last decades we have seen a shift towards a classless society, where children are told there are no barriers and anyone can get anywhere.

That is a great message and good that it happened. But the bit about the hardwork seems to have been lost in the message.

Also the X’ers had a recession to go through, so mum and dad did not have a lot of money so we learnt to save and make do with what we have. No Ipods, Internet, X-Box or Cable TV. We learnt to play sport and make our own fun.

Further, we have seen the rise of the instant celebrity and this is mainly due to the media. People like Paris Hilton have become insanely well know because they are rich or made some questionable videos.

So the kids seem the glam and want to get it, they see these people get the star treatment by not doing much, so they aspire for it.

All the Y’ers. Just do a little hard work and you will be right.

Let us hope that the Z’s learn and work a little harder and smarter. While saving the world at the same time.

Dexter - The TV Series review

2008-02-22T12:47:00.004+11:00

The MOssiah introduced me to the amazing TV series.

I guess you could say this is what would happen if the SITH took over TV, then again you could call it CSI with a heck of a twist.

Dexter is the main man, protagonist and anti-hero of this remarkable piece of television. He works as a blood splatter specialist with the Miami Police. That is where the CSI link comes into it.

However, what turns this series on its head (and got me hooked) is that he is a SERIAL KILLER himself. But he is a serial killer who targets the guilty - child molestors, murderes who have not been caught - the bad and the ugly of society who have fallen through the legal cracks and are stil at large and able to do bad.

So far, the series has gone for two seasons and it is excellenty written and exceptionally acted out. It explores the dark side of humanity and questions the thesis about what truly is a hero.

We would generally consider someone who kills others in such a graphic nature (and let me tell you some of the scenes are squemish) as a villian, as a bad man. But we are placed in a quandary when we see the type of people that Dexter goes after.

After the initial shock of the premise of the show, this character grows on you. Eventually he comes a likelable serial killer.

This series is enjoyable as it mixes a morbid sense of fun when the dark issues of humanity are discussed. Added to this are the varying characters and people that infiltrate Dexter's lives. His step-sister who he has known all his life, but does know not his secret double life, his fellow officers who are his friends and in the case of one, very suspectful of what he does and his girlfriend who is also oblivious to his extracurricular activities.

Then there are the flashbacks where we gain an insight into why Dexter does what he does, and how he can go on doing such disagreeable things, yet not get caught.

So if you are looking for something different, witha strong composition and will not delve to heavily into the morality of such a show. Give Dexter a go.

13 February 2008 - A day Australia did the right thing and said SORRY

2008-02-13T09:59:00.001+11:00

Imagine being taken away from your mum or dad, from people who had cared for you and loved you. From people who never did anything harmful to you.

Imagine when someone came to your home to take you away, your parents had to be held back, screaming your name, begging and pleading for these strangers to let you stay with them.

Imagine that your last memory of your mum was of her anguished face covered in tears.

Then you may understand what happened and why today was important.

Over a decade ago, a report came forth that determined that 1 out of 3 Aboriginal children were forcibly removed from their communities and families between 1910 and 1970.

These children were known as the Stolen Generation.

However, there are some who feel that the intentions of this action were not bad, but good and just - take the children away from the poor families to give them a good education and therefore a good life.

But how could this be justified if these children never, ever saw their families again?

How could it be seen as positive if there is also evidence that some administrators had intentions that could be construed as genocide?

All that people wanted was a five letter word to be said by the government of Australia.

A word that would stop the nation to mark this historic moment.

It was a word that made me proud to be an Australian.

Proud that the Government that I had voted for has finally just done the right thing, but the morally correct thing.

I hope that they take some solace in this gesture. Just a word but symbolic and may not mean a whole lot to some, but to those that it did matter too I hope it meant a lot.

Until today, no one ever said "sorry" for this dark chapter in our history.

Australia prides itself on being a developed nation, a first class country where everyone is accepted. We may have our idealistic Jedi ways but there are aspects that could be considered Sith-like.

Yet, there are numbers of the indigenous community who still live in third world like conditions.
Now that the words have been said it is time to progress forwards and take the next steps to reconcile with the indigenous people.

It is time that we take steps to ensure that the indigenous community can consider themselves to be Australian first and foremost, because I get the feeling they do not see it this way.

We should never forget what was done but now we have to make sure that everyone gets a fair go. EVERYONE! Afterall, it is the Australia way isn’t it?

The Diesel stops in Phoenix, The Matrix could revolutionise Miami and LA gets a serve of Paella

2008-02-11T12:17:00.000+11:00

Two major trades happened in the NBA last week – Pau Gasol was traded by the Memphis Grizzlies and Shaq went to Phoenix in a trade for Shawn Marion.

Gasol to LA Lakers:

The Lakers received an All-Star calibre player for hardly anything and this now makes them a formidable opponent for most teams. Will this mean they are a favourite for the title? I personally do not think it will happen this year but next season could be very interesting.

This is a massive boost for the Lakers as they will now comprise 1 perennial All-Star (in Kobe Bryant), 1 All-Star who played for a team that sucked (Gasol), 1 guy who used to be an All-Star and could return to that level (Lamar Odom) and a youngster who could be an All Star (Andrew Bynum). Plus you cannot discount the successful man limping on the sidelines and the triangle offence.

Regarding Andrew Bynum, this trade helps him a lot. With the ability of Gasol to play close to the basket, teams will not be able to double up on him - making it easier to score. He also has the length and atheleticm of Gasol to assist him on defence.

Overall, a good move by the Lakers and one that will benefit them in the coming years.

Phoenix land the Big Aristotle

This deal caused greater shockwaves throughout the basketball community as it saw one of the most dominant players to play in the NBA being traded to a team that just was not right.

The Phoenix Suns are a team that loves to run and score. Shaq is a player on the wrong side of his game, he is nearing 36 and has been slowed by injuries the last two seasons. Shaq won a title in 2006 but his game is based on banging and posting, rather than run and gun these days. so people think that this will destroy the chemistry and style of the team.

But I like this move, it will change things around for the better.

First, Steve Nash is the soul of this club, he literally makes them run. Yet he is nearing his mid 30's and has a few more seasons of playing at this level. They have tried winning with Marion, Amare Stoudamire, Boris Diaw et al. but they have come up short.

Secondly, people forget that at Miami, opponents could double team Shaq because apart from Dwayne Wade, there was no one else they had to guard. At Phoenix, there is another behemoth in the block so team can not double team Shaq all the time. Plus people forget how good Shaq is at passing to the open man, so the Suns 3-pont shooters will find extra time and more looks becuse of the big fella.

On defence, Amare will handle the teams best big man, allowing Shaq to patrol the outside of the laneway.

Lastly, with all the negative talk about Shaq being past his best and the trade being lopsided favopuring the Miami Heat, I am sure the big guy will be fired to prove the doubters wrong. He will run and he will get up and down. He will rebound and ignite the Suns running game.

Shaq could deliver the title to Phoenix this season or over the next year or two, and make Steve Kerr look like a genuius, make Mike D'Antonio a champion coach and elevate Steve Nash to the pantheon of great players.

Lets not forgetMiami - with Shawn Marion playing for them, they have suddenly gotten quicker on the wings. Add a draft pick (as they seem likely to get this year), and a few moves and the Heat could be contenders for years to come.

Happy Year of the Rat

2008-02-07T14:16:00.000+11:00

For all my Chinese friends

Gong Xi Fai Cai.

Happy Year of the Rat!

Now where is the char siew?

Superbowl XXLII - Free Falling to 1988

2008-02-05T22:00:00.000+11:00

These days I am not as enamoured with the US of A as I once was, mainly due to the current heirachy that is in place. After the past 8 years, I am looking for a change. But I shall save that for a later entry.

But when it comes to sporting events, I do enjoy the NBA, Baseball's World Series and the Superbowl.

This years Superbowl was special because the favourties were the New England Patriots who had traversed through the season undefeated to get to the big game. Playing the villainous role of Darth Vader to their Luke Skywalker were the New York Giants - a team that was given no chance of winning at all. I am telling you, NO ONE gave the Giants a chance - Osama Bin Laden being America's Next Top Model Winner would have gotten better odds than the Giants winning the game.

So it came as a surprise when the Giants pulled out probably one of the greatest upsets in the history of the game. I am glad they did becasue at the start of the final quarter I thought the event was more SuperBORE than Bowl!

So how did this happen? Well NOT being a seasoned watcher of American Football (by the way, why is it called football when most of the time they use their hands???) here are my thoughts:

1. The Patriots offence: During the season, the Patriots were celebrated for their attacking flair, but surprisingly during the game they seemed lacklustre, like they had lost their mojo and took some time to find it. It seems that the pressure of going undefeated during a season was taking its toll and their grasp at history left them empty handed.

2. The Giants defence: NY played a heck of a game and made their opponents very uncomfortable. Whenever Brady got the ball he seemed to have guys running at him all the time putting him under pressure and making him think too much about screwing up the pass if he got tackled. But credit to them, their defence won them the title.

3. The PLAY: The most memorable sporting contests always comes down to an event that everyone remembers. They call it THE PLAY. For example, Michael Jordan's winning shot in the 1998 NBA Finals, Leo Barry's mark to win the Sydney Swans the 2005 AFL Premiership, Dudek's saves in the final minutes of the 2005 Champions league Final. All events that have stayed in my mind when those games are discussed.

Usually they are memorable because they happened at the end. But in this match, it was the play when Eli Manning had the ball and was being set upon by the Patriots defence and one of the defenders actually got a hand on his jersey and held him. He actually ducked out free, got his jersey free and then threw a pass, that was not the amazing part. That the person who caught it, did so with someone on his back, but after juggling it, he held it to his helmet and kept it there, wile landing on the body of his opponents.

Ever landed awkwardly on some protruding element on your side or back? Then you may know how much that hurts. Imagine landing on someone's knee or elbow while trying to catch and hold a ball.

Amazing play. I am sure someone, somewherein America is thinking of a name to link that moment to.

4. The half time entertainment: 99.99999999999999999999% of superbowls have an awesome half time show. This years did not.

First of all this is 2008 not 1988. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers!! Sure Britney is in Rehab, Michael Jackson is..is....., Madonna is past it and U2 did it a few year ago and it is probably too early. But what about The Killers, Muse, Kanye West, Missy Higgins even!

There are so many world class acts out there who would have given a good half time show. Plus being relevant. Heck even the Police would have been better.

But Tom Petty!!!!

I know there was the Wardrobe Malfunction back in Superbowl Nipplegate, but the NFL did a poor choice.

Maybe given that no one in the Patriots was really listening to music when Tom Petty last had a hit single was the reason they played so poorly. How can you get amped for that when you got to listen to a band at half time whose last hit was nearly 20 years ago.

Oh well.....let me just hum...."Now I'm freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, freee faaaalling"

Racism and Diversity

2008-02-01T16:15:00.000+11:00

I abhor racism. It is terrible that humans make assumptions about a group or individual based on the colour of their skin or shape of their eyes.

My earliest recollection of racism was when I was about 10 years old and growing up in Perth, Western Australia. I was sitting in the back seat of the family car as we headed home from a friends place.

It was an uneventful drive until some people (who happened to be white, blonde and young) drove past us, but then decided to slow down so they could drive next to us.

They had slowed down to look at my dad because he was wearing his turban. Their windows were down and I can not recall what was said but they were making comments to each other and laughing - about my dad. Back in the 1980's in Perth, a man wearing a turban was about as common as a fat person at a salad bar.

Upon recollection of this event years later, I felt proud that my old man did not react. He knew what was going on, but he kept on driving. I am sure it hurt him but he thought me a valuable lesson that day

The ignorance of someone should not affect you in any great deal.

I strongly believe that most of the time, when people stare at you because you look different, it is because they do not know you or more importantly, your culture. I found that just because someone makes a silly comment that sounds derogatory does not mean they are racist. They just do not know and when you explain it to them, they shall learn and their eyes would have opened to something new. Therefore, they will become appreciative of this new information and may want to learn more.

But then there are some who will not want to learn. That is because they will never know what life is all about. They think their way is always right. But it is wrong.

No religion or culture should exclude another just because they do not fit into their norm. All religions and cultures actually encourage the spread of their ideals in a way that is not confrontational. If you embrace it then good for you, if not, such is life.

But people are a different manner as there is always a small minority that will never want to listen to others. They poison others with their ideals who then close their minds and souls to the wonderful diversity of the world.

In the long run, we should accept that everyone is different. Even those that worship the same deity can have differences of opinions. As a Sikh, I never understood why there was a difference between Christians and Roman Catholics. Yet after some discussions with some people, I understood the difference.

Everything is different, everyone has some peculiarities about them. But overall, everyone should aim to be good and respect one another and help another human being no matter what they look like or who their worship.

Afterall, we are all the same and we all want to live life well.

Liverpool needs DIC, not some small Yankee Doodles.

2008-01-23T15:50:00.000+11:00

The whole situation that Liverpool Football Club is experiencing is depressing to me. When the club was sold, they told us they would respect the traditions of the club, they would not put the club into debt and would give us money to buy quality players.

So we looked forward to a new horizon, one with a brand spanking new stadium where nearly 60,000 people would be belting out “You will never walk alone”. Where we would buy a few more players like Fernando Torres and therefore we would finally have the quality of players to match the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal for Premiership honours. We looked forward to having players that would find ways to beat teams we struggle against.

All Liverpool supporters had dreams. Of a title drought extending 18 years ending!

Sadly, the semi trailer of reality struck us and it was as welcome as an arrow through the neck with the water bill attached to it.

It appears that the American owners will not invest into the team and are only looking to fill their coffers. They see it as a business rather than a huge aspect of peoples lives.

Sure they own other sporting teams, but none of those teams compare to the brand that is Liverpool. The world is larger than the 300 million people in the good ole’ US of A and I would surmise that a significant more know about LFC than the Texas Rangers or Dallas Cowboys.

They have failed t understand the passion the fans have and why this whole situation is very unsettling for all us Reds!

I truly believe that if we give Rafa real money, money like the Roman’s or Glazer’s give their gaffa, that Liverpool could actually contend.

That MUFC can spend nearly 35m pounds on a couple of unproven teenagers in Nani and Anderson and still bring in Owen Hargreaves for nearly 18m pounds shows that you need to buy quality. Look at who else they got in the squad – Rooney for 26m, Ferdinand for 27m, Carrick for 18m, Ronaldo for 14m.

You look at that quality and you can see why they are suiting atop the league.

If our yankee doodles were serious of making us a winner, then they need to put money into the team. Back Rafa to buy the players he wants to the club successful and reclaim its position amongst the elite. Othwerwise, sell it off to someone who will do so.

Another weekend and another disappointment

2008-01-07T16:35:00.000+11:00

About the only thing that went well for me was my football team getting a 5-0 victory.

But this is MY football team, not my football team - LFC!

Egads, before Xmas there was hope we would come out of the festiove season closing in to the top 3 teams. sadly, I have come to the realisation that we are at the most, the bes tof the rest, outside of Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal.

More distressing is the grumblings from Anfield that the owners are not happy with Rafa and want to let him go. Personally, if they fire Rafa it will be a dumb decision. He is one of the worlds best managers and anyone that can take a teram to 2 champions league finals in 3 years shows he is capable.

The problem with us is that we need greater investment in the team. The likes of Chelsea have spent nearly 200m pounds on players the past few seasons. Manchester have been buying big for a number of years with the likes of Ruud Van Nistelrooy (27m), Rio Ferdinand (20m), Michael Carrick (18m), Wayne Rooney (23m), Owen Hargraves (18m) costing a pretty penny but this has resulted in the team consistently finishing in the top 2 of the English Premier League.

Added to this are players like Nenad Cristic and yes, Cristiano Ronaldo. Both players could have been Liverpool players, but we just could not afford them. Many years ago we had a chance to snap up Ronaldo but we could not afford the fee. Same with Cristic. Imagine them in Liverpool now.

The only club inthe top 4 that has done things on the cheap has been the Gooners. Fair play to Arsene, he has achieved succes by being very astute.

While Rafa has uncovered some well priced gems - Alvaro Arebola and Daniel Agger come to mind. But to maintain consistent sucess, we need the Yanks to open up the cheque book and buy some quality.

If you need evidence look at Fernando Torres.

Anyway, another season. Another EPL title slips from Liverpool's grasp.

* * * * * * * *

Yesterday I witness India hug defeat from the volumptious bossom of aDRAW. How did this happen? Well, the Indian stuffed it up for one and they were aptly aided by the poor performance of the umpires.

As for the sportsmanship that was displayed during the match. Well as a stounch and true blueAussie, I have to admit I cringe at the Australians team attitude and demeanour during matches.

While I believe they should go for the win, the behaviour of the Australian players borders on the boorish. Too many times, the players say they play in the spirit of the game, but the reality is different. Too many times, we hear the Australian captain say they will play properly and as gentlemen, but when Australia get wound up,wehn they are threated by an opponent, they become bullies.

Look at last nights post game press conference. A certain Aussie captan got very sensitive when his integrity was questioned. He took offence and in the moment he came across as a bully to the journalist.

Sadly, Australians love the cricket because they dominate it. How can you love a game where there really only seven other opponents. World games such as soccer and basketball, never get this volume of coverage because, well Australia are mediocre at best.

I always tell people, that you have to measure your sporting achievements outside the sports of cricket or AFL. The way the cricket team carries on sometimes, just puts Australin sportsmen in a bad light.

It is embarrasing to see this display.

As for Harbhajan Singh. Well he said what he says and is a num-nut for saying so. He deserves his suspension. There is no need for racism in cricket.

As we close out 2007........

2007-12-30T16:57:00.000+11:00

With 2008 approaching, I finally feel inspired to get out and blog a little.

So let me start with a recap of 2007, and what better way to recap then to do some lists. Given it is 2007, I thought we go for the top 7......

So here goes:

Top 7 movies of 2k7:
7. Stardust - This is a movie I saw last night and throughly enjoyed. In the same vein of a far away world with magic and adventure. I think Robert De Niro playing a campy Captain is the reason why it is on the list.

6. Simpsons Movie - This may explain why the last few seasons on TV have been average. They were saving it for this..and we were introduced to Spiderpig!

5. Babel - An amazingly well written movie that intertwines various stories into one. It makes you think how one action can have repercussions on the other side of the world. Great cast!

4. Sunshine - Not your standard sci-fi but moreso a murder-thriller mystery set in out space. It reminded me of 2001 and Alien.

3. I am Legend - Probably contains my worst nightmare, being isolated in a large place, where there are no more people, save for some mutants that lust for blood and can only come out at night. While this may seem lame, the way Will Smith carries himself in this movie is stupefying and he should be considered for some award here.

2. Transformers - Loved the cartoon as a child and I was apprehensive about this given previous bad experiences with remakesfrom TV shows such as "Starsky and Hutch", "Scooby Doo" or "Dukes of Hazard". Not only was the CGI amazing but there was a reasonable storyline. This format should be noted by Hollywood, do not try to change the storyline of the show too much, keep it to what people remember and it will be a hit.

Can't wait for number 2!

1. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - I love the HP books and the movies are a great. Some may moan that the movies miss parts of the book, but generally they include the parts which we want to see.

Honorable mentions: Rocky Balboa, Children of Men, Spiderman 3

Can't wait in 2008: Indiana Jones 4, Harry Potter 6, Rambo 4, The Dark Knight, Juno

Pics of our trip down south

2007-11-09T21:53:00.000+11:00

Here are some pictures of our trip to Perth.

The Indian Ocean from the south west of Australia.

Looking out from our house in Denmark

One of the local roads along our travels

This is near the south west tip of Australia, where the Indian ocean meets the Southern ocean

PERTH

2007-10-26T12:15:00.000+10:00

I am back in the place that I love and grew up in - Perth, Western Australia for a few days of holidays.

Perth was the first and only port of call my family made when we arrived from Malaysia in late 1981. I have spent nearly 20 years here, I went to school, university and made my life long friends here. Although I have called Melbourne my home for the over 6 years, this place will always be dear to me.

People (especially those not from Pertrh) may ask why Perth is so special and it is hard to describe as non-Perthites find it boring and little too slow. To be truthful it can be, but this place has marvelouslly friendly people, wonderful scenery, and sensational year round weather (living in Melbourne you miss the sunny and warm evenings).

To be honest, I do not think I could come back to live here. Although I weould miss the family and some of my closest friends.

Melbourne has my new friends, my new interests and exciting opportunities. It offers me a new lease on life where I can do new and interesting things.

In Perth, you tend to sit around waiting for things to happen, whereas in Melbourne there are so many things happening you really do not know where and what to do.

It may be the most isolated capital city nthe world but in my heart it will always remain "home".

Tis good to be back.

Monday's pointers

2007-10-22T23:46:00.000+10:00

Most of my mates have been telling me about how lucky we were to win the Merseyside derby (fot the uninitiated or non-Soccer fans out there, this is the Liverpool and Everton match).

I differ, simply because we deserved to win. Everyone is on about how the referee got the last second penalty wrong. Well the linesman was too hasty in calling Dirk Kuyt offside when he scored in the 12th minute. That goal may have changed the result and he match. Still no one is taking about that.

But we got the 3 vital points, a loss or draw and I see our season disappearing once again. This weekend we take on the league leaders Arsenal and a win will close things to within 3 points.

Lastly, I think it is time for Momo to go. His passing is pathetic. Yes he is a hard worker and wins a lot of the ball, but at this level and for this team, you have to be able to retain possession as well. I tell my boys in my team that their passing must improve, otherwise they are on the bench.

Other notes:

2 more sleeps and then I shall hit Perth. I have not been back for nearly 2 years and last time it was not for very long. I did not get the chance to catch up with people. If I think about it, it is nearly 5 years since I really went back and caught up with people from back in the day. So looking forward to it and checking our the south-west and Little Creatures bar.
Ben Cousins - interesting to see what happens with him. WA Police erred here and the club sacked him. Be interesting to see what happens.
Kobe Bryant - word out of LA is the superstarwants out. Where, how and when...I look forward to updates.

Time to hit the hay. We lost our a side match 6-4 after leading 4-2 at half time. I feel like crap coz 2 of the goals were preventable by me!! CRAP!!

Burma

2007-10-03T16:29:00.000+10:00

Sometimes we forgot how lucky we are. How we can enjoy the ability to express our displeasure at our leaders, how we can blog about things that affect us or how we can just speak freely. All these things we do without fear of retribution.

These days, there are not too many countries in the world where democracy is a dream rather than a way of live. Sadly, Burma is one of these countries, and the people live under one of the most corrupt military dictatorships in the world. The world has generally turned a blind eye to their plight. Burma is not blessed with an abundance of resources, nor are they considered a major power with weapons such as nuclear bombs that may threaten the freedom and lifestyles of the Western world.

The last time the world really focussed onto Burma was in the lates 1980’s, when Aung San Suu Kyi was elected as the Prime Minister of Burma, however she was not placed in power as the corrupt military nullified the election (they delusionally must have thought they would win).

The recent demonstrations by monks and nuns on the streets of Burma have brought the troubles of the country to the world’s attention. There are also significant differences in the politics of world these days. Gone is Cold War and even Communism is opening up as can be witnessed by the Chinese are accepting moderate, yet conservative Western values and trying to enter a somewhat free market trade with the world.

Sadly, if Burma had an abundance of oil under their soil, I am sure that something would have been done a lot sooner.

But now all of US, as human beings, need to keep our eyes focussed on this country and strongly encourage our respective governments that it is time for the dictators of Burma are thrown off their seats.

Nearly 20 years ago, the world awoke to the plight an imprisoned man in a South African prison. I remember the world uniting to help free this man from his unjust fate. Eventually, he was set free and went on to become South Africa’s first freely elected President. His name was Nelson Mandela.

So if the world could do it to South Africa then, then the world can unite to free Burma from the its current ills.

Chris Mainwearing (1965-2007)

2007-10-02T14:20:00.000+10:00

Chris Mainwearing was a very popular Aussie rules football player for the West Coast Eagles and sadly he passed away yesterday. The circumstances of his death were tragic and there is conjecture that drugs were involved.

He won 2 premierships with the Eaglesin 1992 and 1994, and was a regular top player for the club. He was popular amongst the club, team mates and adored by the public. He was one of those blond surfey boys who enjoyed the sun and would give his time to people.

It is sad that he has passed away, apparently him and his wife were separating and he went on a alcohol and drug fuelled bender over the weekend. This year has not been good for the Eagles and Mainy's death will be the low-light. I hope and pray the lads fromt he west coast pay attention to what happened here and get back to playing football and living a good life.

He was only 41 and this is a sad day for footy fans.

Official Iron Man Theatrical Trailer 2008

2007-09-27T14:13:00.003+10:00

This is the first Irom Man movie trailer and it looks awesome. can't wait for it to come out. Apparently 1 May 2008.

Effects look awesome and let us pray it has a decent storyline. Robert Downey Jnr gets my tick as Tony Stark.

Sneaky Sound System

2007-09-25T20:25:00.000+10:00

Sneaky Sound System's are an Australian dance band that has been around for a few years, but this year they have broken into the mainstream music scene with their latest album. The band consists of lead singer Connie Mitchell, Producers Angus McDonal and Daimon Downey (who along with Connie, predominantly appear on the video clips), and band members Peter Dolso, Jono Sloan and Felix Blosom (this trio do not appear so much).

They have not been an overnight success as they started life as an independent act. However their catchy tunes caught the attention of a number of the public and they have supported superstars such Jamiroquai and Robbie Williams when they have toured Australia.

The first single of their latest album was "Pictures" a very catchy dance and funky number which climbed to 19 on the ARIA charts (Aussie Record Industry Association). This was followed by the songs "I love it" and "UFO" (my personal favorite song) which has provided the group with their biggest chart topper to date (number 11). Their album also peaked at number 9 on the chart.

However, their biggest accomplishment has been then garnering 6 ARIA nominations (the most of any artist this year) in the categories of Best Album, Best Group, Best Dance Release, Breakthrough Album, Single of the Year for "UFO" and Best Video - "Pictures"

Connie Mitchell has received world wide acclaim for her vocal skills and features on Kanye West's "Can't tell me nothing" of his latest album "Graduation".

(L to R): Angus McDonal, Connie Mitchell and Damien Downey

Mo the Ho, has left the building

2007-09-20T14:55:00.000+10:00

The self proclaimed “delusional one” (me being the “proclaimist” – is this even a word??) had decided that he has had enough and has quit Chelsea.

This is HUGE news in the footballing world. The man who has bought and brought 2 league titles, one FA Cup and 2 worthless cups is gone. It can be easily argued that he has been the greatest coach Chelsea has ever had.

He arrived at Chelsea with a lot of hoopla in 2004, proclaiming himself as the “special one” after winning the Champions League with Porto. The owner gave him the money and resources (that is money to buy players) he needed to bring glory to the club.

For most footballing nuts, it is evident why he has left. For those not in the know, the relationship between Jose and the billionaire owner of Chelsea, Roman Abramovich has deteriorated over the past 12 months through a series of public spats between the two.

Roman has a stated aim of winning the Champions League title but this has not been fulfilled (thanks to real teams like Liverpool). Further, the tem has not had a good run during the premiership season with a loss to Aston Villa and a draw against Blackburn.

Things culminated with a draw against that powerhouse of Norwegian football – Rosenburg yesterday. Further, the match was enjoyed by a half full Stamford Bridge (clearly all those Chelsea supporters have jumped of the bandwagon and are probably on their way to Emirates Stadium).

The style of play seems to have also turned off quite a few with Chelsea succumbing to the long ball style of game instead of the quick passing, exciting styles other teams play on.

Something had to give and it was Mo the Ho!

So what now for Chelsea – speculation about a new coach will become rampant and my money is on Guus Hiddink. He is currently coach of Russia, where a large proportion of his salary is paid by Roman. Guus has coached a national team and a club side in the past (Australia and PSV Eindhoven) so could do the same here, given that Russia may not qualify for Euro 2008)

There are others who may be keen – Jurgen Klinsman was purported as a replacement for Jose’ over the past summer. Names such as Phil Scolari and Didier Deschamps are also being mentioned.

As for Jose, I am sure he will get offers and will take some time to see what he will do. I am sure the position of coaching Portugal will be of interest to him. If the England FA is half as smart as they make out to be, they should consider him for the England job.

Chelsea – well those guys have a big match against Manchester United this weekend. They will also play MU without Frank Lampard, Drogba and Carvalho and now no coach. Who knows what could happen. MU could have the easiest match against Chelsea in some time or could face a fired up team wanting to make a statement.

Britney Spears making a statement

2007-09-18T14:34:00.000+10:00

Britney Spears, the once famous pop princess (a long, long time ago) has been lampooned from her performance at some American awards show. But we should maybe step back and think about what she has really done while trying to get a hit, one more time.

While Justin Timberlake brought sexy back, Brit is showing the world that you can strut around in your underwear with a bit of a belly, looking 'dazed' and still feel good about yourself.

Her performance at this award show was really about her making a statement to the world about the obsession some (ahem...fashion industry) have about people looking like mutated stick insects.

Afterall, what is wrong with a women with a bit of a stomach? So what if she has a chest and something in the back. Heck, I like women with some junk in the truck. They look more natural that way, as god intended. i do not want to look at someone and worry that they may fall through a grate on the side of the road, or get blwon away during the next gust of wind.

So the hecklers should sit back and take note - Britney was all about brining the "belly back"

However, not all is well with me regarding this matter. One thing that did tick me off was her fan who posted a teary retort to the world telling them to leave Britney alone. Come off it mate, grow up a little. It is just Britney Spears and people do not really care so much (apart from clowns like me with blogs like this)

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

2007-09-10T07:25:00.000+10:00

It finally happened, after years and years of trying and receiving passes from my boys when standing in-front of goals, I finally put the ball in the back of the goal.

And it was not an own goal!!

I finally scored a goal.

Dev Vagel - GOAL SCORER

Let me paint you a picture of how it happened.

We won the ball on the right side and quickly moved it up the flank. I was in the middle and started running with the play. The ball was passed between two guys and then to the overlapping central midfielder. I was running to the left of him and as he got into the box, he picked me out with a pass. I controlled it with my left foot, took another touch and then shot with my left past the keeper, with two defenders coming at me and it went into the back of the net.

WHAT A FEELING!!!

No need to get over excited yet

2007-09-03T17:29:00.001+10:00

Portsmouth, Reading, Aston Villa, Wst Ham United, Wolverhampton.

Search through the first few weeks of most EPL seasons and the above teams have sat in first place after the first 3 or 4 matches of the season. Liverpool currently sit freshly atop the pile after their fourth game and the faithful are getting excited about it.

While it is very nice to be top (especially since it was 5 years since were here) it is not time for fans to get excited and proclaim we are going to take the title. If anything, most 'pool fans should be cautiously optimistic - for int he past, when we have got to excited and arrogant, karma has bitten us in a big way.

So my advice to all LFC supporters - enjoy the start but let us not get too cocky.

Enjoy the fact we put 6 past Derby and saw our new signings feature in the goals. Enjoy the fact that the only goals we have conceeded have been two penalties - although the second one was about as plausible as Madonna adopting a child because it was a good thing and not because it was the in thing to do at the time.

Apart from the dodgy penalty and the draw with Chelsea, the season has gone well. We are winning the matches we should be and are playing well.

Let us hope the winning and goal scoring continues.

Early losses by MU and Chelsea show how tight the season will be. More teams are competitive and so the boys in red need to be get maximum points.

Still, I am not all pessimistic. I want to enjoy this position for it has been a while.

Random stuff

2007-08-30T17:57:00.000+10:00

I just wanted to note a number of random things that have been going through me head the past few days.

LA Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant has not had the best of reputations. However, he recently joined Team USA basketball, which is trying to qualify for the 2008 Olympics, and is showing not only how good a player he is but what a great team mate he can be. He has been asking for the "tough" defensive assignments and basically trying to be a good team player. Very Un-KB like. I have never been the greatest Kobe supporter but I have to applaud this effort he is putting in. However a part of me is cynical in thinking that this is also a stunt to gain him broader appeal and acceptance. Nothing to get American's on your side that being patriotic.

Liverpool - so far we have been going good. Apart from the Rob Styles debacle against Chelsea (and you have to agree that the penalty was about as real as the Smurfs) things have gone well. We are in Europe and are in the top half of the EPL. However, it is all early days and I am not counting chickens, eggs or that MU will NOT win it again. Things look promising but that is about that.

Argentina coming to Australia - The Argies team visiting Australia has been released and Messi, Mascehrano, Tevez and Crespo are in the team. I am so glad I got the tickets because this is going to be a great match to see. Once in a lifetime experience and all that. Can't wait.

Rudd and the stripe joint - The mudslinging for the next Federal electionhas begun and the Liberals with old man Johnny Howard decided to dig some dirt on Kevin Rudd. What they brought out was that he visited a New York strip club after getting very drunk in 2003. Is this how so out of touch the Libs are that they did not realise that this would not hurt him and actually make him relate more the Aussie blokes - who would love nothing more that a PM who likes a few ales, wines and some boobies. I so hope JH and his mob get booted soon!!

Bob Sinclair's latest song "Sound of Freedom" is awesome. Love the sample. Check out the film clip HERE

What becomes of the broken hearted

2007-08-29T23:07:00.000+10:00

I recently found this and was something I wrote many years ago. A few more of these things may pop up here once in a while. Hope you enjoy reading it

The emptiness of inside
like everlasting space
a perpetual hole
ceaseless with no end
unable to be determined
ever since
eliminated by an action of the soul
isolated from the world
thoughts that raise the downpour of emotions
a plethora of questions
asking the "y"
deep down
sadness persists
never leaving like a hunger unable to be appeased
rare are moments of content
always solemn
infrequently at peace
like a boat in the storm
unable, unwilling to steer
he sun in the soul has vanished
the spirit has become inhabitable
idealisms and dreams forever shattered
so what becomes of the broken hearted?

Types of Indians in Malaysia

2007-08-16T17:06:00.000+10:00

Statistics have been compiled, research has been conducted, relatives have been consulted, the gossip aunties (their big hips clad in colourful and bright golden sarees) have actually, for ONCE agreed. We present to you the characteristics that classify the THREE major Indian groups (or perhaps, castes?) that exist in Malaysia.

The REGULARs, HIP-HOPPERs & MACHAs

A) REGULAR

Definition: Comprises a mere 7-10 % of the total population of Indians in Malaysia. Found in well-developed parts of the cities spread throughout the peninsular. (None have been found in Sabah & Sarawak as yet). Characteristics include:

1. Speaks English as their 1st language.

2. Do not know how to (or just dont) speak their mother tongue.

3. Prefer to identify themselves by sub-group rather than the plain Indian (ie-Malayalee, Ceylonese, Telugu, Sikh, North Indian etc)

4. Uses the internet more than the other 2 groups combined.

5. Swears off, criticises and ridicule those who watch Tamil/Hindi Movies and/or dramas. Instead, watches the OC, MTV and other American sitcoms.

6. Thinks that the REGULAR group is way larger than it actually is and constantly makes fun of the other groups, in particular the MACHA group. Why? Because it's fun!!

7. Aspires to be a doctor. Those who do medicine will eventually do so at UK/Australia, but will normally end up taking more than the required six years to complete the degree due to excessive failure.

8. Recent studies have shown that there is a growing splinter group within the REGULARs known as the IPWTTANI (Indian People Who Think They Are Not Indians). This growing sub-group is considered the elitist by some and is found to make the occasional statements like "I wish I were in the UK" and/or "This never happened when I was studying in Australia".

9. They often speak in unidentifiable accents. The women/men of this group also prefer to date white men/women from foreign countries with the excuse that local men/women "just don't understand me". Some of them will only go out and fornicate with their so-called 'cousin' who's studying in Australia/UK, who's visiting on their semester breaks. Many secretly desire to be taken away to live in a Bollywood film with a happily-ever-after ending.

10. Despise Samy Vellu

B) THE HIP-HOPPERS

Definition: The 2nd major group of Indians, the HIP-HOPPERS comprises about 20-30% of the population of Indians. Normally living in urban areas of cities, the HIP-HOPPERS, as their name suggests, can never be found where they actually come from, but rather in clubs, bars, pubs etc. Many secretly desire to be like the REGULARS but just don't make the cut. The characteristics of the HIP-HOPPERS are:

1. TRY to speak English as their 1st language.

2. Their actual 1st language is Tamil.

3. Openly desire to be blacks (waddap dawg?)

4. Hair not in original colour

5. Have unknown hand movements and slangs that are supposedly cool that supposedly go well together with their normal attire of FUBU jerseys and baggy jeans (that are more often than not bought in Petaling Street/Chow Kit)

6. Are famously known to shorten their names to suit their lifestyles (ie. Sam, for Muthusamy and Amber for Ambikadevy)

7. Large quantities (almost all) found in Jalan Telawi of Bangsar (though, to be fair, many REGULAR groups are found here too)

8. Parents want them to be doctors. Many end up studying medicine in Russia/Ukraine (CSMU) because they refuse to go to India and cannot afford UK/Australia. Those who go to India may eventually switch camps to the MACHA group.

9. Despises Samy Vellu. The HIP-HOPPERS major claim to fame is driving out all the REGULARs (Malay, Chinese & Indian) and the white expatriates from Bangsar by large quantities, so much so that they can now call Bangsar "home".

C) THE MACHAS

The last and largest group of Indians in the country comes from the MACHA group. Probably the most famous group, it is so well known that most Malaysians think ALL Indians are from the MACHA group. Comprising nearly 70% of the Indian population in Malaysia, the MACHAS can be found in urban parts of the cities, and also in estates. Their characteristics include:

1. Speak Tamil as their 1st language

2. Sees Tamil Nadu/Madras (India) as the place to be.

3. Astro at home is hardwired to Astro Vaanavil.

4. Worship Bollywood films. The men openly desire to be like Rajnikanth or their favourite Indian star.

5. A night-out will have to include a stop at any Indian shop in Brickfields. The shopping haven will have to be Jalan Masjid India.

6. Know all the Tamil songs by heart and has never heard of Hitz.FM .

7. For men, outfit is never complete without a gold chain. Women prefer to spend their life-savings on gold jewellery and gaudy sarees.

8. Half of them aspire to be doctors, the other half; their parents want them to be doctors. The bright ones become the pride of all Indians in the country when they enter UM for medicine, the less fortunate go to AIMST. Many more attain paradise and have their dreams come true when allowed to go off to India (most of the time Manipal) to do medicine. Most just drop-out of school and contribute to social-problem areas in the country.

9. Despises Samy Vellu.

Some of these truths could hold true for Aussie Indians. As a matterof fact I think i belonged to the Hip-Hop group about 8 years ago. Now I may have gone Regular.

Will this season end the 17 year drought?

2007-08-07T19:02:00.000+10:00

The forthcoming English Premier League season kicks off in a few days and I am as excited as a weight enhanced kid falling into a vat of chocolate.

The season looks very promising for Liverpool football club who welcomes a number of new players who have arrived through high fees ad therefore bring with them hig expectations.

Will this be the season that liverpool breaks their 17 year drought to be the best team in England? To be honest I do not think it will pour year due to the neighbours up the road recently gaining the services of Carlos Tevez.

The thought of Tevez, Wayne Rooney and Cristine Ronaldo tearing down at defences will send more than shivers down the backs and shorts of EPl defences and it is hard to fanthom how teams can contain all 3 attacking aplyers at the same time. some people may suggest that their defence is suspect but will it matter is you can just outscore a team. the only negative aspecty is we will see teams playign with a lone striker up front leading to some uninspiring matches to witness.

Chelsea have had a quiet off season with only Florent Malouda as a big name signing but the club stil has big names available. The only downside the billionaire's boys club will experience are the rash of injuries they have experienced at the start of the season which may leave them witha bit of catching up to do.

With Thierry Henry leaving Arsenal many have thought that Gooner fans are in for a lean season, but they hardly had the man playing last season and still finished fourth. Arsene Wenger wil be as cagey as ever and will sure get his young team up. They may not be up there for the title but you never know what could happen with a team coached by AW and the maturation of players such as Van Persie, Fabregas and Walcott.

However, it wont be an easy season for the ususual top four. The off seson has seen team such as West Ham United, Newcastle United and Manchester City spend big on players and will be tough propositions.

Overall the gap between teams will be diomished after a lot of off season activity. There will be a greater number of teams that could potentially trip the premiership aspirations of Liverpool, Man United, Chelsea and Arsenal but this means that the competition should be a lot more competitive and not result in a two horse race by October.

As for Liverpool, my prediction (actually it is more hope) is that they will finish second and close the gap to MU. Chelsea will finish a close third with Arsenal, Newcastle and Man City fighting for the positions below.

If Fernando Torres can play to his potential and not mirror the expereince with our other Fernando (Morientes that is) and Dirk Kuyt adding more goals, it could be a fruitful season for the Anfield club and there will be more songs being sung at the Kop.

But this season will be a lot more closer that before, I can only hope.

Time to kick off.

Confessions of a bald headed man

2007-07-31T14:43:00.000+10:00

I have to make this confession, I find it hard but it is time the truth to came out. It is time to come out....

Some people may find it amusing, some may just roll their eyes and some may just be on the floor laughing. But here goes.......

I am a fan of Grey's Anatomy.

There, I said it.

Can't believe I said it. But there it is. Thyis will haunt me, IO know it will.

Look I am NOT a hard core fan and I wont list it as up there with other stuff i watch. But I like to watch it.

I got into the show because Mrs D was watching it a lot so I started to watch as well. Like a bad habit it drew me in, and now it is hard to stop.

In my defence, the show is really well written and most of the characters are good. A show that has good moments of humour mixed in with drama and passion.

This show is basically the OC or 90210 for adults involving doctors.

Unlike shows like ER, the medicine is not the forefront of the show. It is about who is sleeping with who more that anything. It is sad to follow the show because it is a bit like a soapie, albeit with more brain.

The only down side to this show is the lead character - Meredith Grey. She is just boring, annoying, too anoxeric and lame. Not as good as the others. She just p's me off when I watch her. She got lots of issues, is never happy and not that good to look at. I do not understand why she is the star of the show...coz the others the star.

The others are much better and so i like them. Maybe it is the writer, they do a good job and maybe the whole idea of the show is to make the others stronger.

So there....I said it. The fellas out there may start questioning which team I play for or just laugh at me.

But I got it off my chest.

I am a Grey's Anatomy watcher.

Facebook

2007-07-31T14:37:00.000+10:00

I have recently joined Facebook. I had a few invites to join and it was similar to all those other network websites out there. After a while, I decided to join in and it has been positive.

Facebook could be described as myspace for the more discerning webhead or person. Yeah most of the people I have as friends can vote and drink legally.

I got people from work who are on the facebook with me and some family and friends.

However the part I enjoy about this has been reconnecting with people I lost contact with. Amongst it are some old high school chums (gosh that sounds nerdy) who I have not heard from since the very, very early 90's. It has been that long.

It can be quite addictive and allows one to see how people are doing.

I even asked the friends on facebook to visit this site - yes I am in dier need of traffic to this place.

Guess the articles should be more interesting.

If I were a Simpson character

2007-07-28T21:35:00.000+10:00

My wonderful Metria made a Simpson character out of me.

So what do you think?? Resemblance or not??

Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows (Spoiler Alert)

2007-07-23T16:04:00.000+10:00

I finally finished reading the final installement of the Harry Potter series at 3am Monday morning. I had to finish, for I would be at work in a few hours (only had 4 hours sleep) and would need to discuss the matter with a few of the lads.

It answered questions, it was confusing in parts and while it was sad that the series has ended, there is a high sense of satisfaction about how the journey with JK Rowling has ended.

The structure of the seventh installement differed from the other books as we did not have the chronology of a year at Hogwarts and there was no mention of him playing quidditch. The dark nature of the book that was set from the beginning with the death of characters in the first few chapters.

My only complaint of the book was the second quarter of the book was going on slowly, particularly at the stage where the three amigo's were travelling from place to place trying to determine how to destroy the horcruxes.

But it is when we enter the second half of the book that things really heat up and the books gets moving. With the knowledge about how to destroy Voldermort, they set off and finally make their way to Hogwarts where the final showdown will occur.

At this part of the novel, the students of Hogwarts rally together along with the order of the Phoenix to take on the might of Voldermort and his forces. This was the more exciting part of the book, as it should have been.

The ending was what we had hoped for. We find out that Snape was working for Dumbledore all along and that he killed Dumbledore under the headmasters instructions (he was going to die anyway). We also find out that Snape was in love with Harry's mum from an early age which explains one of the reasons of his hatred for Harry's dad (jealosy anyone).

Although it took a loong long time, Ronand Hermoine finally get it on. There was a time in the mdidle of the book where I expected it to occur but thankfully it did not as we probably had to put up with some lovey dovey business between them for a while. Although frustrating it happened at the end of the book, it was a good time.

Finally at the end, Harry and Voldermort throw it down and after pages of explanation Harry kills Voldermort. But not before Harry himself is killed by Voldermort, does to some sort of after life where he meets Dumbledore who tells him why he had to die. This is where the authors threat that she was killing two of the MAJOR characters came to fruition.

There were some deaths to note. We lost Hedwig and Mad-Eye Moody at the start then Dobby who comes to Harry's rescue and during ther final battle we lose Fred, Tonks and Lupin.

We learn about Dumbledore's history and how events of the past can effect ones future in his case. We learn that not all the Dursely's hated Harry, his cousin dudley had some love/respect for him.

Rowling also gives us an epilogue set 19 years later where we find that they do have a happy ever after. Harry and Ginny have gotten married and have 3 children James, Albus Severus and Lily. Ron and Hermoine have two children Rose and Hugo and they meet at platform 9 and three-quarters to send their kids to Hogwarts. Neville remains a close friend and is now a professor at the school. We also find out that Draco and Harry have some form of a cordial relationship as they nod at the platform and that Harry is still famous.

The last words of the book read "The scar had not pained Harry for nineteen years. All was well."

JK Rowling has ended the story on a positive note showing that good and love triumps over sacrifice and death. It is pretty exvident that there won't be any future Harry Potter books, but who knows.

Who would have thought 10 years ago that boy wizard would rule the world???

Harry Potter: The day before

2007-07-20T11:13:00.000+10:00

Tomorow at 9.01am, Melbourne time, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows, go on sale to the world. I can niot wait for it. Some may say it is funny/weird/cute/strange how a 33 year old bugger like me is getting into this book.

But I have become a huge fan. And I am curious as hell to see how this all ends up. Will Harry die? Who else will die? What secrets will it reveal.

Over the last few days the internet and news services have been buzzing about leaks, early sales and spoilers. Apparently a few bookstores in New York started selling books earlier and a few people picked it up.

The New York Times has reviewed the book (they got their hands on one of the accidently released early copies) but apparently do not give away who lives and dies. They do provide a glimpse of the happenings inthe book.

I won't read it, I will wait to read it in less than a day.

What thing that does piss me off are these clowns who want to spolit it for us. I know heaps of people are curious, but so be it.

Part of the magic of this event (and it is an event which is unlikely to occur in our lifetime again) is the vibes and feelins people will have as the line up to buy the book and the excitement theywill feel as they open the book to read this final chapter f Harry's life.

I hope people do not get it spoiled by the anti-Harry Potter people out there. Let the children and adults who have grown into the books enjoy their weekends.

I personally hope to have the book read by Sunday but it is unlikely. But I shall savour the experience.

My hump day

2007-07-18T09:50:00.000+10:00

I feel sorry for Thailand, they deserved to go through to the quarter finals, unfortunately they were dumped out by Australia.

The 4-0 scoreline flattered them as they scored 3 goals in the last 15 minutes. But Thailand kept us on our toes in that second half and we were lucky not to concede.

But that is football.

Lets hope Malaysia do not get pumped 5 whatever against the Iranians tonight. Hope they lift, but of they could have a crowd to come and support them it would be good. I have my ideas about what they could do but it will take at least 5 to 10 years to bear fruit and you would have to kick a few of the old buggers out.

* * * * * *

Read a very interesting article that a new X-files movie may be coming out. Apparently the scripts are with David Duchovny and Gillian Andreson now and should they agree to things production could begin later this year with a release later next year.

This could either be great or terrible. But I am sure Chris Carter (who developed the show) will be writing the script and he does a good job.

Not sure about script details but it could either be set directly after the last episode or a few years later, closer to the invasion day.

Can't wait!

* * * * * *

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows come out this weekend, only 3 more sleeps to go.

Nt sure if I will be able to read it over the weekend with things to do - my football, housework and gardening but hopefully I gwet a chance.

So can not wait. Being a huge fan, I am sure it will be sad when it ends.

Guess I will have to get on with life.....

Socceroos find Iraq's weapons of mass destruction

2007-07-15T22:31:00.000+10:00

Friday night was a depressing night for me. I went to the pub with a few mates to catch the Australia vs Iran game expecting the lads to bounce back from a disappointing opener against Oman.

Instead I came hope p'ed off at what I saw at a poor performance which I blame on the coach Graham Arnold.

The Aussie team have used excuses like the heat, humidity and the opposition's defensive approach as being restrictive to their game. I believe that is a cop out.

Some of the players have come out saying they are at fault, but really it is Arnie's. He has proven he has no game plan and no idea.

First let us talk WC 2006. Back then we were the underdogs so we came out defensive with a lone striker playing up front supported by a 5 man midfield. However, in the Asian Cup, we are a favourite and as a fav, we have to be more attacking.

What I am trying to say is that Arnie has not changed the game plan to when Hiddink was the coach and that is poor. Even before the tournament, I knew we had to play 2 strikers because of the weather and conditions. One man up front will see 2/3 players marking him when the ball goes near him. The conditions are so hot and humid that he wont have support up there quick enough to pass the ball too.

It is pathetic!

The other aspect to complain about is the tournament preparation. They should have been in the area at least 5-7 days earlier and more importantly took part in at least 2 more practice matches to build their match fitness up.

Again the coach did not do his job in this aspect.

Who knows, they may beat the Thais tomorrow, make it through and to lift the cup. But tactically and preparation wise, we have been poor so far.

All credit to Iraq and Oman, but they were given a hand by the Australian team's coaching staff.

* * * * * *

So Liverpool broke their records to sign Fernando Torres for a reported 20m pounds. A good buy and I hope he does a lot better than the last Fernando that came along. But he is young, quick and a future star in the making.

He has not scored loads of goals in the past but he did not have a supply line as he does now. I am sure the defense at Atletico Madrid is not as strong as Liverpool's. So I am hoping he can grab a few goals and at least get us to challenge for the title this coming season.

Nonetheless, I am sure the ladies will be happy.

WE have also signed Yossi Benayoun and Babel from Ajax. I like Benyaoun and I think he is a great pick up. Everytime we played West Ham he stood out as such a creative force. I look forward to him doing soem damage down our flanks.

I do not know much of Babel but he is a young player with a bright future. I also hope he provides us with some good work down the flanks.

But as most Liverpool supporters know, new players take a while to adapt to the premiership so I do not think these guys will impact positively for us instantly. It shall take time, but the key for the club is to come out firing and not to open such a large gap to the Manure-ians and Chelscum's!!

I can dream can't I.

* * * * * *

Two final notes, I saw Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Great movie and cover the important parts of the book. An intriguing line near the end where Luna Lovegood mentions to Harry that things we think we have lost will come back to us, but not in the way we expect.

Something says to me that this may impact the cses os Sirius Black and Dumbledore? Only a few more sleeps until the last book is upon us!

And lastly, good win by my boys yesterday. A 6-0 win but it was not as easy as that. We played against a good team and had a bit of luck run our way. Well done!! Big game next week and we need the win to consolidate top spot and apply pressure on the top team.

For results visit mcsaweb.com.au

July is Harry Potter Month

2007-07-12T22:25:00.000+10:00

I am so bad at blogging right now that I even forgot my password to this!!

But with the Asian Cup on and Liverpool getting as active as a 16 year old boy in a Gentlemen's bar I thought it be a good time to blog on.

But first thing, if you happen to be a 25 plus male who remembers the Transformers cartoon then do yourself a hug favour and watch the movie. Simply awesome. The effects are so lifelike, the movie is surprisingly funny and the storyline is good. The Autobots and Decepticons have been updated and are way too cool!!

More than meets the eye here!!

Also it seems that Harry Potter is the flavour of the month now. The movie just came out and I hope to see it this weekend. looks exciting and I love to see the book come to life. Obviously it wont be an accurante copy of the book, otherwise the movie would be 6 hours long!

But the big event will be next Saturday when book seven comes out (HP and the Deathly Hollows). The big question is about who lives at the end and will Harry die.

I can understand JK Rowling thinking about killing HP, like Agatha Christie killing off Poirot, because then no one else can write stories when she dies.

But will JK face the wrath of millions of children for killing what is essentially their hero. people like my cousin Sherryn are bound to go mental.

So many questions to answer:

Is Dumbledore relaly dead?
Is Snape a bad guy?
Will Ron and Hermione get it on!!!
Will Harry shag Ginny before he carks it....whoops....wrong blog to discuss that!!

In all seriousness, we won't really know until next week.

Personally, I think Snape has not killed Dumbledore. See Proff D once mentioned that he could dissapear without people knowing. So maybe he is alive and well, setting the trap for Voldermort??? And Snape goes into the devil's lair to flush out the bad guys.

Proff D also mentions he trusts Snape implicitly, that is a pretty bold statement to make about someone who is considered dodgy by about 99.99999999% of the world. So is this his ace up his relaitvely wizard like sleeves???

Overall, I believe that Harry will have his mates om his adventure and they will assist him to get to his destiny - the final battle with Voldermort! What a chapter that will be.

The child within me wishes for Harry to beat Voldermort, grab the girl and live happily ever after next to the red haired nerdy kids of Ron and Hermoine.

Yet the artistic side in me thinks that it will a fight to the death and Harry will kill Voldermort and have to sacrifice himself to save his friends!

I have spent a lot of time thinking about what happens in the final book.

Saddle them Spurs and let us giddy-up to the Asian cup on the back of a Liverpudlian

2007-06-28T11:44:00.000+10:00

Lots of things ot talk about today so lets start:

1. The NBA Champs

My team won the NBA title again - The San Antonio Spurs. Actually, I do not really have a team. I like certain players and support their team. To date I ave only really supported two NBA teams -Chicago Bulls and the SAS. the former because of Michael Jordan and the latter because of Mr Tim Duncan.

Since TD joined the Spurs 10 years ago, they have won 4 titles. He has been the opne consistent and the team now contains a certain Mr Eva Longoria (Tony Parker) a point guard of French decent who is super quick and the Aregentina's Basketball Maradona - Manu Ginobili.

People say they are boring and have no charisma. but they win without the fanfare and overhyped players that are a stable of nearly all that is America. They just play good defence and play as a team. I love t watch them.

I am sure when TD leaves, I will still have a soft spot for the Spurs but will focus on the next great player. I am looking at Greg oden, a college student who should get drafted shortly by either the Portland Trailblazers or Seatle Supersonics.

2. Asian Cup

In a few days times, Australia will make its debut in the Asia Cup - just think Euro Championships but a little more East. This years tourney is being jointly held by Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.

I was hoping that Australia would get grouped with Malaysia so I could come over to watch their matches. Who wouldn't with the likes of Mark Viduka, Harry Kewell, lucash Neill, Breet Emerton, Mark Breciano, Vince Grella and Tim Cahill avaliable.

Alas, we are grouped with Thailand and i can not witness the demolition job on Malaysia. Still, we play singapore this Saturday night so that can do!

I expect Australia shoudl make the semi's at least - i am not wanting to sound arrogant but given the team we have we should be best in Asia.

3. Transfers of the Liverpool nature

Been quiet on the Liverpool front and it is downright depressing. Where once the names of Florent Malouda, Simao, David Villa, Carlos Tevez, Samuel Eto' were being bandied around as possible LFC players,things went quiet.

Now there is talk that Fernando Torres wants to join us from Atletico Mardid for something like 25m plus. Included in the deal could be either/or/and Luis Garcia or Djibril Cisse. Now that is a fairly hefty sum to pay and I hope and pray he is not a huge mistake like the other Fernando - Morientes.

I prefer we get Carlos Tevez, he has already adapted to the EPL and has shown how good he is. Torres will take half a season to acclimitise and we can't wait for that. Carlos has shown how good he is. I can dream can't I

I await an announcement on the Torres saga possible inthe next few days.

Still this only solves one issue for the club as we still need a couple of wingers. Some years ago we were hot for Simao and David Villa. I reckon Villa would be an awesome buy as he would destroy the Premiership. but his fee has gone up which inhindsight shows what a stuff up we made by not signing him a few eyars ago for 12m his club wanted.

However, in Rafa I trust and I hope the American owners will live up to the hype and open the bank to get us some quality swo we can challenge for the title.

MIKA: Life in Cartoon Motion

2007-06-03T18:12:00.000+10:00

When I first tuned into the song "Grace Kelly" on the radio, I hooked on to the melodic tune and as I heard the chorus I was amazed at the vocal range of this musician. I tried to sing the song and it is very hard to do what this man does.

Another example of in studio magic or a musician to take note off?

Well a few days ago, he popped up on a Australian TV show and performed live and it was then that I decided to acquire his album and was very extremely happy with this compilation

Mika, is a British lad of Lebanese decent has released a debut album with captures carious genres of music - jazz, soul and pop. The pace of the songs range from the love ballad (Any other world) to the toe taping.

This fella is quite a talented lad

Amongst the songs I enjoyed were "Lollipop", "Happy Ending", "Love Today" which reminds me of the why I love the Disco age, "My Interpretation" and "Billy Brown" which had an interesting twist at the end and provides a window into Mika.

This album is undeniable a pop album and worth a listen if you enjoy music which is not entirely mainstream and a vocalist who likes to show off his amazing range. He could be this generations Freddy Mercury!

On my scale where 10 equates to Michael Jackson's "Thriller" and 1 is pure crap:

I give it 9.5/10

When being a man is not really being a man?

2007-05-29T11:31:00.002+10:00

It seems that the lines between man and women, between gay and straight are intertwining more often these days. A news term entered the fray some few eyars ago, the word “Metrosexual”. To most this phenomenon was made famous by one Mr David Beckham - he of the famous right foot who could bend it.

Seems he also bent a few other things.

Now Dev Vagel, here, is not anti-metrosexual or anti-gay or homophobic. Matter of fact, I would find it very cool to have a gay friend. I am not worried if someone is gay and all I care about is that person is a good human being.

I am also realistic enough to know that anyone gay would not an inkling of wanting to seduce or sleep with me. But really I just take people as who they are and if they a bastard then it does not matter if you straight or not – I probably dowan fren you!

This morning on the way to work we were listening to the radio and they were discussing the habits of some metrosexuals. I think its fine for a man to look after himself. To go for a facial (I do it), to go for waxing (I don’t do it), massages (too expensive here to do), pedicure, manicure, haircuts (I definitely do not do that anymore) etc.

Anyway, this girl was discussing her boyfriend and mentioned him visiting the hair salon every Friday, getting waxed every 2 weeks (back, legs and even that area down there), going for facials, spending time on the weekend looking for curtains and furniture.

Now that is all fine because we all should live in a nice place with some colour coordination but my concern with him was he is becoming less of a man. Less of a protector and more vain.

Maybe it is because I grew in Australia where we celebrate manliness, where we like to act as a bloke that I find this kind of behaviour head shakling.

But before we all overreact and call me anti-something let me say that I do undergo a facial once in a while and have been doing so for over 10 years. I also like to coordinate furniture and clothes (although I do a bad job of this) and I tried to make myself look good.

So I understand this metrosexual thing is all about.

But I still try to retain my manhood, I try not show that I am a man and if my woman is in trouble she knows that I can take care of her. Plus I am not trying to be as pretty as or prettier than her.

When I play a sport I am not worried about my hair or how shinny my head is. I am not worried about how I look afte3r the game (I have seen a few people change out of their sports gear into jeans and nice clothes and then drown themselves with cologne).

Maybe it is a generational thing and I missed out on a few things?

Ultimately it comes down to vanity of the man. When is looking after yourself too much???

I am not talking about a man needing to go out there and start a fight or down the pub and swig a bottle of scotch or arm wrestle to prove his manliness. I just thing as men there are certain things we need to maintain.

Having a nice haircut and the softest of hands are not essential.

Akopolis Now

2007-05-24T16:41:00.001+10:00

I was sad, I was angry (particularly at the ref) and I was depressed but the boys did extremely well in making their second Champions league final in 3 years. After receiving all those sms’s and emails from well wishing and mannered Manchester United fans, I decided to take this attitude:

You win some and you lose some.

Luck plays a part in any sporting match, for any team. Look at what happened in the final of 2005 and then again in FA Cup final of 2006. Unfortunately, the luck was with Milan yesterday, they got that deflection for the goal. I can not be upset or hate the Rossonerri for beating us, they are a quality side and deserved to win. They scored and we did not.

It came as a surprise that Liverpool came out as the more attacking team. My only question for the lineup was why pick Bolo Zenden and Pennant if there is no Peter Crouch? I mean the game plan was to attack from the flanks but we needed a target man there and while I love Dirk Kuyt he is not 6 foot 7inches now!

I though Javier Mascherano was awesome and he kept Kaka in check, this guy could definitely be my new hero. This was backed by the fact that Kaka did not influence any major attack until he passed the ball for Inzaghi (when Mascherano was warming the sidelines).

As for the referring, what I hate most in a game is an inconsistent referee. If a ref is bad, then please be bad for both sides. I hate the ref who makes a call on a foul but when something similar happens just waves play on. Players, fans and coaches hate that as the players do not know how to adapt to the game. This fellow was an embarrassment for UEFA and let us hope they do not appoint such a waste for their showcase event. I mention the fact that there should have been another 45 seconds of play and that Liverpool should of scored. But that is a dream.

But now I look to the future. I think the loss will light a fire in the belly of guys like Stevvie, Carra, Risse, Javier, Rafa etc. Hopefully they put in a hard pre season so they start the next EPL season on the front foot by grabbing some wins.

Face facts, is Liverpool supporters want the EPL title – this is our holy grail now!

2007 Australian Sikh Games

2007-04-20T14:31:00.000+10:00

It has been a while innit????

So what has been happening with you?

For me there been a few things goings and comings, here and there.

A few weeks Melbourne played host to the Sikh Games. Bascially it is a weekend of sports, drinking, rousing, womanising and all sorts of stuff. But basically the games are that, games played by the Sikhs from all over Australia and internationally like Singapore, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Malaysia.

Personally, I was involved with coaching the Victoria Sikh Association football teams - the senior mens and under 17's. In a nut shell, the seniors, won 1 and lost 2 matches, although the match against Singapore was tinged with controversy for me as they scored an offisde goal and should have had a player sent off for hitting another player.

Melbourne's most wanted!! (by the authorities)

The under 17's ran around and did ok but sadly could not win either of their two matches, but they played well and were unlucky.

Anyway here are some more "action" shots from the games. (Can you see that Melbourne has a drought and was a bit dusty)

I also had my cousin and good friends down from Perth partaking in the hockey tournament. They did well but got knocked out in the semi final against Sydney. Unfortunately the organisers teally kocked up things here. the draw for the finals was amazingly confusing and pretty poorly thought too.

I could see they had thoughts of giving teams a few matches so they found the tournament worth partaking in, but it was ridiculous.

Basically, if a team was eliminated they would get not one but sometimes 3 chances to play again to make the seni finals. RIDICULOUS!!! It was so bad that Perth beat a team 3-0 then played them later that day and beat them 4-0 to make the semi finals.

So when they came to the semi finals, they had played 3 matches that day (and had an hours rest before this match) against a teamthat played once that day and had nearly 7 hours between matches.

CRAZY!!!

But enough of that. It was great fun to see the guys and share quite a few beers and chats. Also caught up with a lot of people from Perth I had not seen in a few years and the most crazy thing was seeing some of the people I knew as little kids then all grown up - man i feel old now!!

Metria was also kind enough to let me run amuck with the friends and that is why I love this girl!!

Next up: Our trip to the Sunshine Coast.

Where was the wall?

2007-03-04T13:05:00.000+11:00

T'was a game where one team looked like the far superior team. Yet when it came to the part that mattered, we failed.

It is downright depressing to be killed at the death of the match..again. This time , by all people - John O'Shea. Yes there is only one O'Shea as Keropok says, and I am thankful because let us face it, he is pretty average and he only looks good because of the quality around him.

But therein, lies the major issue here. MU are a fairly decent team on their way to their next title.

Championship teams win these type of matches. They did it against Fulham the week before and they did it again.

We, the Liverpool, did not convert our chances. We did not the ball in the back of the net, where it counts. We did sweet F.A. where it mattered in the end. Sadly, MU did so. Kudos to the and this is why they have one hand on the trophy. Basically the championship is theirs to lose.

I just hope the fans can handle the win with some sort of "class" but I fear they will end up moreso like the last 3 letters of that word.

There was a suspect offside call on Bellamy when he scored but it may have been right (it hit Sissoko's head on the way to him so it depends on where he was at that time).

Lets hope we fair better against Barcelona on Wednesday morning.

YNWA

2007-02-15T17:50:00.000+11:00

Part 1: On the Outside
Name : Def Daddy Dev
Date of Birth : 29 January
Current Status : Alive
Eye Colour : Hazel
Hair Colour : HAHAHAHA
Righty or Lefty : right now it is hanging to the left
Zodiac Sign : Aquarius

Part 2: On the Inside
Your Heritage : Indian
Your Fear : Spiders and heights
Your Weakness: Sangeeta, Jordan and kryptonite
Your Perfect Pizza : Mexican with jalepeno peppers and anchovies

Part 3: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow
Your thoughts first waking up : Should I call work and tell them I am sick today?
Your bedtime : after 11pm, though I also feel sleepy at 3pm monday to Friday.
Your most missed memory : Beaches of Perth and the AWESOMES!

Part 4: Your Pick
Pepsi or Coke : Pepsi Max
cDees or Burger King : HJ"s baby!
Single or Group Dates : Single
Adidas or Nike : Adidas
Lipton Tea or Nestea : Green tea..HAH!
Chocolate or Vanilla : Chocolate
Cappucino or Coffee : Gloria Jeans Mocha Caramalatte

Part 5: Do You...
Smoke : No
Curse : F@#$ yes!

Part 6: In the Past Month
Drank alcohol : Yes
Gone to the mall : Of course!
Been on stage : No
Eaten sushi : Yes
Dyed your hair : hahahahahaha

Part 7: Have You Ever?
Played a stripping game : I plead the fifth
Changed who you were to fit in : Yes

Part 8 : Marrriage
Age you're hoping to be married : already inthat blissful world right now..now i have to make tea for my wife

Part 9: In A Guy ....i am a guy so i make this for girls
Best Eye colour : who cares as long as she has large breats
Hair colour : as long as there is no hair on the breast
Short or long hair : Brazilian!!

Part 10: What Were You Doing?
1 minute ago : Joining everyone else to answer..this quiz...(stupid questionreally!)
1 hour ago : Must have been working
41/2 hours ago : Sleeping
1 month ago : Planning football training and the upcoming season
1 year ago : Planning my first anniversary

Part 11: Finish The Sentence
I love : doing nothing and watching sport and my wife (I laike very much)
I feel : Excited about the upcoming weekend
I hate : Fake people and cruel people
I hide : my excitement and dissapointments amongst most people. It is all about remaing calm in a storm
I miss : My family and the awesomes back in Perth.
I need : To really lose a few kilograms and get fit.

Ok I hereby tag anyone of the 4 people who read this blog to fill out this questionnaire and let me know their responses.

No juggernauts or scarry stories here

2007-02-15T17:44:00.000+11:00

I just have not had the mojo to blog a lot latelty due to a variety of reasons such as busy and work and CBF-itis.

(what is CBF-itis you ask.....well it means can't be, well you guess the last word)

Anyway.....

We await the arrival of my parents from Perth and you know what that means! We gonna eat well for a week. come home from work and there gonna be some of mum's delicious curry or dad's mutton curry.

Man, it is gonna be a gastronomical delight next week.

No EPL so that is a bummer but Melbourne is abuzz with the impeding A-League grand final against Adelaide. Some history between the teams so it will be a great contest. I look forward to it.

Saturday night we shall eb attending my little darling Bhavandeep's engagement so I look forward to that, although they expect a warm night.

oh well.....walk on my friends!

No more DIC

2007-02-01T14:52:00.000+11:00

I certainly hope that Liverpool have not shot themselves in thefoot or anywehre else by not agreeing for DIC to buy the team, pay off debts and build a new stadium. Because DIC pulled out and left us dry.

The other bidder - Gillette is now in a prime position and could invariably do things their own way. From what I have read, Gillette initially wanted to share a stadium with the blue side of Liverpool - no way!

I just hope this is not a Kock Up!

And Nikky makes three

2007-01-30T15:13:00.000+11:00

Now I came across this site (click on this link) a few days ago and it is quite a laugh.

The premise is an Indian wife in the USA suspects her husband of cheating, she calls a radio station to see if it is true. This site plays the whole conversation and does go for 10 to 15 minutes.

Now this is not usually something I would find funny but the commentary in this was quite funny.

Time for a "boodah" call!

RIP Amanda Vanstone - Aussie Immigration Minister

2007-01-24T11:08:00.000+11:00

I have gone and done a Keropok and taken a long time to update. But been lazy, had my cousin and wife visiting and was distracted by being lazy.

But finally have some time to do so. There are a few things to discuss and I will start off with the football.

FOOTBALL

How can I not gloat about out 2 goal win over Chelsea. What made the weekend evenbetterwas for the Mancs to lose to a last miute Henry header but more on that later.

Liverpool dominated the match and outplayed their opponents all over the pitch and is that last comment I want to focus on. Because too many clowns (that is the media and no brained football fans) have been focussing on the missing Chelsea centrebacks. What about the offensive and creative talent they have at their disposal in Messers Ballack, Lampard, Shevchenko, Robben, Wringt-Phillips, Cole and Drogba which representys over 100m pounds in talent.

Surely between all of then they could have strung some good passes and maybe a few shots at goal.

Yet sadly they did not create much. Drogba was thoroughly taken out of the game by man of the match Carragher, Lampard provided futher evidence why Stevvie G should be playing central midfield for England, Ballack was missing the “o” in his name (thbk about that one and you may get what I mean), Shevshenko shows us that the EPL is too fast for his 30 year odl body and Cashely was just a little slow in picking up his ex-team mate Pennant when he scored his magnificient goal.

All Chelsea did was kick the ball long and hope something would happened.

Yet Moron the Ho wanted symphaty post match but please, stop whing mate and get on with it. I guess swapping Cole for Makele was a great chouice innit!

Overall, Liverpool showed that they are capable off but no use winning if we lose to West Ham tomorrow morning. We need to carry on and play like this for the rest of the season. And Crouch needs a neck muscle transplant.

Then we see MU clutch defeat from the hands of a draw. But that is what you get with all that time wasting.

I am glad the results panned out as they did. This now makes the top 4 more interesting however, I still believe MU will wint he title but the race for 2nd could get very, very interesting.

Lastly, did anyone see Van Persie’s celebration after he scored? I am talking about his jump and fist “pump”. How girly was that (and I apologise to all females because that is saying something here). I mean it was like a ballerina doing a jump and then this semi-mini fist pump. It looks like he does not know how to celebrate and it was embarrassing to watch. Henceforth, he shall be known as “Van Pussie”. I would be embarrassed about that celebration if I was an Arsenal fan.

DAVID BECKONS

Those crazy Americans, first they elect George Bush as a president with less than 50% of the vote, then they start a war in Iraq, then re-elect George W Bush and finally sign David Beckham to come over and play soccer with them.

But they lucked out as a Spice Girl gets thrown into the deal.

Still those clowns are willing to pay him A$125,000 per week (or 50,000 pounds or something like RM 340,000). That is a fairly big pay packet for a right cross.

I wonder if this also includes his appearance in Mission Impossible 4 - Soccer to be bigger than Baseball, Basketball and American Football (and I have to agree about this so called American football, 95% of the game involves the ball being thrown from one person to be caught by another person so "throwing the ball" would have been a much better name).

But power to the man, he conned the Americano's to make him well paid for the next 5 years. Now he can piss off the last remaining 300 million people who have never really listened to his voice.

LUCA$H "NEEDY" NEILL

As an Austrlaian, I was hoping that Lucas Neill would join Liverpool.

Then West Ham United came in to offer him more cash. Now he has joined them and said he gave up on his move to his "dream Club" becuase he did not feel the love from Rafa. So that means that he chose West Ham because:

He did not want to be in a club playing in the Champions League?

He did not want to be part of a team that would challenge for the Premiership title?

He did not want to play with one of the best managers in the game and with some of the best players in the world!

He does not want to play for a team that will be shown on worldwide television regularly, thereby increasing his exposure exponentially!

So it was nothing to do with the massive pay pack over the next 2 and a bit years. It was all about the opportunity to play with a club that is struggling to stay up inthe Premiership this season and is likely to struggle for the duration of his contract.

It was all about the potential of West Ham to the continuing improvement of Liverpool.

It was simple money over medals.

Just un-Australian.

POLITICS

I read in todays papers that John Howard has reshuffled his cabinet and removed Amanda Vanstone from her post. For those in the unknown, AV is a large women who was immigration minister and a tel it lik it is kind of person.

Comedians here used to joke about her a lot because of her forthright, boganish manner and that she would never let people in because she was scared they would eat her food. How I am going to miss Wil Anderson making fun of her.

"the fish I ate was really this big...and in one gulp too"

RIP Amanda, you were great value while you were here.

I think we should look at an eyebrow hall of fame and i have two inductees already, John Howard and Peter Gallagher - he is Sandy Cohan from "The OC". Amazingly massive!

"Ryan, Seth step away with those clippers"

"My gosh, John, they are some big eyebrows you have"

Lastly, it is Australia Day this Friday. So happy Aussie Day to one and all. Green and Gold all day!

WTF

2007-01-10T13:57:00.000+11:00

6 freaking goals scored..at Anfield by a visiting side. 4 days earlier they scored 3 against us!

They set the table Saturday for the main course today.

Fried Gerrardon a bed of pickled Xabi, Hyppia and a Paletta.

@#$%ing Pathetic display.

Embarassed to say the least.

And they were a bunch of kids....future looks bright for one squad!

My tribute to Rocky

2007-01-05T11:24:00.000+11:00

As "Rocky Balboa" has come out across the world and will enter Aussie cinemas in February, I have rediscovered this classic series of movies and currently, I am in the process of reviewing its previous incarnations. Yes I am watching Rocky I to IV (still deciding about V)

Now to most people, your jaws have dropped as you try to comprehend why I like this movie.

Well the answer is pretty simplistic:

1. I am a guy
2. Guys enjoy a bit of punching and socking it up. It is in our DNA, we like watching mindless violence once in a while.
3. There are some classic moments of drama and comedy in these movies.

The first time I started watching these movies was many summers ago when I was not yet 10. I saw I and II together and as time came on I caught up with the others. I recall seeing them at home on video rather than at the cinemas.

When news came out about another installment, I knew I had to watch them again and get primed for number 6. Sure I was skeptical and thought it would be pretty boring but generally the movies had a good story line - after you get over the part an unknown gets to fight the world champion for for the world title. But this was America the land of opportunity right!

Then again, people watch Bollywood movies and believe that two people singing songs can move between the streets of New York to the Swiss Alps in a blink of an eye, while changing into 3 different outfits. (Yet these days I can actually sit through a Bollywood movie and enjoy them - see what marriage has done to me!)

Off all the Rocky titles, my favourite is Rocky 3 and my least favourite is Rocky 5. So much so that I am having a hard time deciding whether I want to watch the last installment of this franchise.

Rocky 5 just did not go down well. It was crap and the two times I saw it I fell asleep through the viewing. Yes I saw it again because I fell asleep through the first viewing and it put me in dream land again. A movie just does not do that. The franchise ended badly and that is why number 6 had to come out.

I also think Sly Stallone did not want number 5 to stain the franchise and as such titled this one “Rocky Balboa” and not “Rocky 6”.

As I mentioned earlier, in the original Rocky, you were required to believe that the then current world heavyweight champion, Apollo Creed played by Carl Weathers, wanted to fight an unknown fighter which he picked up from a book because he was named “The Italian Stallion”. Of course as Apollo calls him the “Eye-talian” Stallion which was great comedy.

But if you look over this part of the story, the rest of the movie dealt with a down on his luck street thug who is going nowhere in life. He is presented with this opportunity to make some money and when he gets his chance he takes it to the champ and nearly wins it.

I believe the fact that Rocky lost the fight was a reason why this franchise was founded. There were also so many blows to the head in one round alone, that I felt a headache coming along.

Another thing was that this movie won best picture at the Academy Awards so either says the movies coming that year was crap or the movie was great.

Rocky 2 was a bit slow for about the first 70% as Rocky dealt with getting over his injuries and whether to take Apollo in a rematch. The downside of this movie was Talia Shire who played his wife Adrian. Her constant negativity and attitude over all movies was a bit of a pain. In a way, I am glad she is not in number 6.

(Let me digress about Talia Shire - she was great in the Godfather series and I actually believe that Godfather 3 should have been renamed GodMOTHER because she was calling the shots then - but apart from these two movies serials, what else has she acted in??)

Back to II, a great seen here was when he is running through Philadelphia and we see the magnificent city. it ends with him running up some steps and jumping around like a mad man. He did a similar thing in I but in II he has a harem of kids running with him. Just seeing this and hearing the music makes me want to run. I actually want to run those steps to the theme music and record that all on video - would be a good 3 minute clip

At the end Rocky just beats Apollo to become world champion. How is does it was great. After pummelling each other for 15 rounds, they both collapsed and are struggling to get up, eventually our hero does it and he is the champ! What follows is the standard hug between the combatants when Apollo presents Rocky with the belt, to which he lifts up and shouts "Yo Adrian, we did it!!" i had a tear running down my eye, I was pumped up.

This sets it all nicely for the bst of them all – number 3!

The great thing about III was that it introduced the world to Mr T as Clubber Lang (talk about a great series of character names, Apollo Creed, Clubber Land and now Mason Dixon). How good was Mr T, his sneer, his attitude his “I pity the fool” exclamation (which was then carried over to the A Team) as he was about to take on Rocky.

Great stuff.

I liked the montage at the start of the movie to “eye of the tiger” (has to be one of the best, awe inspiring songs for movie along with “You’re the best” from the Karate Kid). That montage saved about 45 minutes of the movie as it gave you the backgorund of the last 3 years of both players lives, in 3 minutes.

Then after Rocky is beaten by Lang he finds his trainer, father figure and friend, Mickey has died and now he is at the lowest point of his life. So what happens next?

Apollo comes and says he will train him. We get into another montage where Apollo builds him up top teach him to groove and fight like him. They go to some dodgy gym, back to the roots to keep it real. At the end both these guys just hug each other when Rocky beats Apollo in a foot race. This signifies how far Rocky has become and all to the tune of “Eye of the tiger”.

What happens next is pretty evident, Rocky knocks out Clubber Lang in the 3rd round and all is well in the world.

Except the threat of communism and this is what Rocky IV goes into. We meet Ivan Drago who is about a foot taller than Rocky and just massive. Apollo firstly decides to take him on and gets killed in the fight. Now who would have thought that would happen – when do movies kill of their favourite people in the 80’s, especially if Russians are involved.

This p’s of Rocky who then decides to fight Drago for revenge, in Russia on Xmas day. How American is that!

There is the montage of Rocky training in the farms and snowfields on outer Russia as be is tracked by KGB spies. Running through the snow, carrying old farm equipment and all the hard stuff. Meanwhile, Drago is in some start of the art facility punching into computer equipment and doing hard work on sophisticated gym equipment.

Stallone really wanted to show that the American’s could do it without all the fancy stuff! But the most memorable part of this movie was at the end.

As the fight starts, the whole Russian crows is booing and hissing him. As things progresses they start to support him and at the end they are cheering for ole Rocky. Russia loves rocky, even the Mikhael Gorbachev lookalike they got is clapping.

Then the funniest line of the franchise comes out. He exclaims: “At the start, I did not like you and you did not like you. But if I cane change and you can changed, then everybody can change”

Comedy and unappreciated.

And think about this, Sly Stallone showed the world that Russians and Americans could like together, a few years later the wall comes down and Perestroika takes over the USSR.

Rocky IV was the first, unacknowledged, step to ending the Cold War.

I won't discuss Rocky V like i believe that there were no matches on Boxing Day this year.

Bring on Rocky Balboa.

Breaking news

2007-01-04T15:27:00.000+11:00

Poor Metria will be devastated but The OC has been axed.

Tis will be its last season!

Funny thing is that a lot of the newspaper sites here down under have carried this story. Guess it must be damm popular amongst the editors.

Now only if someone could do something similar about Paris Hilton.

Another published article

2006-12-29T19:32:00.000+11:00

I finally got to finishing my next article for Sportingo and you click here for the link.

Hope you enjoyed this one.

Before the year ends I shall review the year and talk about the lows and highs on a few things.

Ponderings

2006-12-27T14:03:00.001+11:00

I have always wondered about Adam and Eve.

As I am not Christian I am not very informed about what happens after these two came to the world. I know there was something about them having two sons and one killing the other. That is about it.

After that, I gather that they went forth and multiplied and we are now a planet containing 6 billion people.

Now I can explain why we have people of different colours, physical characteristics and languages because people spread forth over the world and over hundreds of years, they physical features adapted to the surrounding area they lived in and their languages evolved.

But the part between Adam and Eve to people spreading around the world is what I have always questioned.

If they were the first two people on Earth and had two sons, how did they procreate? Where did the women come from? IF Eve also had daughters, then her sons and daughters would have to get together to populate the world. Right??? After all they would be the only people in the world.

Maybe I would have the knowledge if I paid attention during conversion, I mean, Religion classes during my primary school days. But unfortunately I do not so if anyone can clear this up for me I would be most appreciative.

* * * * * * *

Hope everyone's Xmas was fun or fun filled. Melbourne certainly experienced a somewhat strange Xmas day. It actually snowed here!

You may say that Xmas equates to snow but listen up, it is summer here downunder (or that is what the rumours are). So some parts of Melbourne had a white Xmas. Unfortunately we were not so lucky, we were pelted with hail and rain.

Was pretty miserable but it was also cold, like a winters day!

We live in crazy times!

Yesterday was boxing day and that means Cricket tests and sales, the latter of which we partook in. We started out at 7am standing outside a major department store and once the doors opened we began an 8 hour shopping odyssey. I am glad to report we made it through although I was exhausted. but i out bought Metria!

YAY

The 100th Blog

2006-12-25T00:40:00.000+11:00

Christmas this year has coincided with me contemplating what to write for my 100th blog entry. It is quite a milestone when you make 100 runs in a cricket match, when scoring goals in sports and when reaching that age. So I guess writing the 100th blog has to mean something.

However, first things first:

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah and any other holidays that coincide with the 25th December.

As for my 100th entry, I thought I would 10 top ten's. Some are fancy, some are boring but generally these are things I want to share. I have decided not to provide an explanation for all things as I may want to revisit them at a later date and expand some more. Also note that some of these top 10's are not in order or reverse order or something or another. I just see what happens as I type.

So here goes with my 10 top 10's (because it adds up to 100 - get it!!)

Top 10 in paperback

10. Emperor series - historical fiction about Julius Caesar
9. Asterix
8. Robbie Fowler's autobiography
7. The Chronicles of Narnia
6. Any book written about Michael Jordan
5. X-men titles (yeah this old and still reading comics)
4. Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby
3. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
2. Harry Potter - can't wait for number 7!
1. Long Walk to Freedom - The Nelson Mandela Autobiography

Top 10 TV shows:

10. Heroes - its new and I like where it is going!
9. Red Dwarf
8. The Simpsons
7. Blackadder
6. Angel
5. Battlestar Galactica (the new version)
4. Veronica Mars
3. Smallville
2. Star Trek - all series
1. Buffy the Vampire Slayer

10 things I want to do or happen before I die (not in any order)

1. Sky diving
2. Score a goal in a football match with my friends and wife watching
3. See Liverpool play live at Anfield
4. Get up and sing live at my cousins pub in Malaysia (Bojangles)
5. Have another run with the AWESOMES
6. The world to stop paying attention to Paris Hilton and people of her ilk.
7. Watch a world cup in person with Australia playing in it.
8. A cure for cancer because one Uncle and one friend passed away from it and one Aunt managed to beat it - that is 3 people too many to know who have had cancer.
9. Liverpool win the English Premier League
10. People just getting on with people no matter what and people not being nice to people they know because they want something but because it is the right thing to do (hope that last one makes sense)

Top 10 movies

10. Snatch
9. Matrix trilogy
8. X-men Trilogy
7. Quarbani - my favourite hindi movie of all time which I saw when I was 8 or 9
6. Gandhi
5. The lord of the Rings Trilogy
4. Star Trek 2 - The Wrath of Khan
3. Star Wars Episodes 1 to 6
2. Mississippi Burning
1. Do the right thing

Top 10 musical artists who I would listen to

10. Nirvana
9. Public Enemy
8. John Legend
7. The Jackson 5
6. Arrested Development
5. Smashing Pumpkins
4. Stevie Wonder
3. Prince
2. U2
1. Michael Jackson

I was contemplating a top 10 of songs and albums but that was too difficult given the variety and numbers out there - this is better saved for another time. Instead I embarked on making a list of musical artists who I enjoy listening to. Some are dead and some do not perform anymore but their music is all that matters.

Top 10 people who I am most grateful for having in my life

1. My wife
2. Mum, Dad,my sister and brother.
3-10 (not in any order).

DM, Parv and Tharan (also known as the Awesomes;
Clarence J - for helping me settle into Melbourne and for being a top fella to know;
The Tatla's of Taylors Lakes - for they really helped me feel like a part of their family when I moved to Melbourne and will forever be grateful to them even thugh the last couple of years they have not seen to much of me;
Lena John;
Sunil and Sushil - for all the good memories and times we have had;
Jes, Sandog and Raj - good times and good friends here in Melbourne;
Harry and Jen Chemay; and
My football team.

10 things that annoy me

10. Overzealous people who try to force their beliefs on you.
9. People who have no belief system
8. People who take themselves and life way to seriously
7. People who complain and bitch about something but never do anything about it.
6. Football players who do not respect the umpires decision and carry on like twits, especially after I tell them not to talk back to the referee
5. Cruelty to animals - the thought of anyone hurting my Jordan makes me angry!
4. George W Bush
3. Ironic by Alannis Morisette - it so missed the point about what irony is about
2. John Howard
1. People who will not open their mind and will not change for the betterment of society

10 places I love to be at or be doing if I was not at work (all these events involve my wife of course)

10. On the pitch coaching (some would say screaming at) the football team
9. Cottesloe Beach
8. Margaret River
7. Adelaide with the big fella!
6. Yum Cha at Dragonboat Restaurant
5. At the movies watching the latest releases
4. Down the Mornington Penninsula
3. KL - for the shopping and being around my family there.
2. Perth
1. At my parents house in Perth

10 reasons why I heart Liverpool Football Club

10. Being the most decorated club in England
9. What LFC is all about
8. Following them for over 20 years
7. The Rafalution and the possibilities it offers
6. The rivalry with Manchester United
5. The mystic and power of Anfield - as witnessed when we played Chelsea in the 2005 Champions League final
4. The KOP
3. "You'll never walk alone"
2. Robbie Fowler
1. Steven Gerrard

10 things to do in 2007

10. Work more and stop surfing the net/chatting on msn/emailing people
9. Finish redecorating the house
8. Travel somewhere apart from Perth or Malaysia
7. Spell better on my blog
6. Watch less TV
5. Catch up with my cousin Steven and try not to torment him about the Ashes or about the English football team.
4. Stop procrastinating so much
3. Write more and get more articles published with Sportingo
2. Get fit and lose weight
1. Become a father (no one is pregnant yet)

So that is my 100th blog. Hope you enjoyed it. Also let me take this opportunity to wish you a Happy New 2007!

Woopidy Diddly Doo - The Ashes have returned

2006-12-19T11:39:00.002+11:00

Yep, sometime yesterday afternoon (Melbourne time) Australia won back the Ashes after beating England in the third test in my old home town of Perth.

The good thing about the victory is that I can give my cousin and uncle in England a hard time and meke comments like:

"Can I tell you a joke???"....."The English cricket team!"

"Mate, the cricket team makes your football team look like superstars"

and jokes like:

"What do you call an Englishmen with a hundred runs next to his name?"...."A bowler"

Good times!!

Now that is done I read the local Australian papers about how great this Australian team is etc etc. How England stuffed up and how we deserve it.

Goodc god, the papers sometimes are so full of it. Take the victory with some sense of sportsmanship and grace. Please.

they are mentioning how good Shame Warne and what a sportsmen he is. PULEEAZZE, he is such an arrogant twat. Watching his appealing was just plain embarrassing and h showed what a spoilt brat he is.

why he is not reported and fined by the authorities shows how gutless they are sometimes. He is such a baby if he does not get his way and i can not stand that arrogance. I rather be tied to a chair and watch 3 hindi love movies in a row that watch his crap.

oh well...at elast Monty got selected and took a bag of wickets (just shows one major flaw the selectors got wrong there). Good to see a brother do his magic!

* * * * * * *

Liverpool 3 and the Djimi Traore recital 0

We probably should have scored more goals but looks like the team is on goal scoring fire!! Good to see and we even moved into third spot. Liking this outfit now but alas....too late now innit!!

BARGGER!!

Still at least we are winning and the aim is to maximise points over the xmas/new years break where there is an orgasm of football. so many matches over so many days. Lets hope ManUre and Cheqski get a few losses along with the Arses, Bolted and Boredsmouth.

But good to see Djimi Traore repay us for giving him a Champions League and FA cup trophy by kung fu kicking Jermaine Pennant head and thereby, giving away a penalty. Good work, no wonder we sold you!

That is my xmas wish!

Also how di MU get the easiest team in the chamops league draw and we draw Barcelona? How?? The draw was made by MU right?

PS. This is my 99th entry. Guess the next one better be a good one!

Friends

2006-12-18T21:54:00.000+11:00

A old friend of mine from university was in town the past week and the weekend was spent entertaining him and reminiscing about the old days.

I have to really thank Metria for letting me hang out with my friend and not do a lot of things that I should have done. Guess that is my Xmas present - not that we really celebrate.

Amongst the activities we partook in was a BBQ in my back yard where he enjoyed some lamb chops i concocted and some veru spicy sausages I bought, watching the cricket, drinking, watching football, drinking and talking about the old days.

He happens to be an Arsenal loony, i mean fan so there is a bit of verbal sparring going on between us about who is the better team. I believe I should win that argument as we won a trophy last year!

There was also some frequent gossiping and yes, us guys do gossip here and there. In our case we discussed some old "friends" outlining their obscure good points while analysing (bitching) their flaws and negatives. There were a lot of laughs in the latter.

The interesting thing to note is how we have changed over the last 9 years. We are both married and well into our careers. We have a lot more responsibility on our lives now but somehow, when we are together things seems to regress to being 20 something fools again.

Above all that, the bonds of friendship will forever remain and it is good to catch up. This kind of friendship shall remain long lasting between us as we just have that kind of relationship I guess.

Good times

An enjoyable weekend for me but I feel guilty about the lack of time I spent with the missus. Still the long weekend will allow me the opportunity to make it up to her. :-)

One person's freedom fighter is another person's terrorist

2006-12-15T12:46:00.000+11:00

The Australian media has been taking up the case of freeing David Hicks from Guantanamo bay where he is being held as a prisoner of war by the USA of A. Particularly they have made an issue that his human rights have been violated and he should be treated like an Australian.

Mr Hicks is in this predicament after being caught with fighting for the Taliban army which was engaging American forces shortly after the 9/11 attack.

I have to clarify that he was fighting for the Taliban army NOT against them.

The media says that he should be brought back here to face an Australian court. While these sentiments are noble, they have the wrong person.

While I am not a fan of the US/Australian/British war of terror on Iraq, David Hicks does not deserve to be brought back. That is my opinion on this matter.

After all, he went to fight with the bad guys. He is the mercenary who decided to ply his trade for the Taliban and he got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Remember he was out there looking to kill and hurt people. His bad call so he has to live with the decision and not hope for someone to fly in and save him. He lost his right to be an Australian when he decided to fight against his fellow countrymen.

However, one thing I do wholeheartedly oppose is the abuse and inhumane treatment of prisoners. Sure they have done the wrong thing but to treat them worse than animals is uncalled for and indecent.

I think the media’s intentions are in the right place but they have focused on the wrong person. There are other people in the world which deserved to be freed from incarceration and the focus should be put on them. People like the Dalai Lama, children who are used as slaves to facilitate the mega corporations, and women abused by scared, small minded and insecure men deserve this type of focus and attention.

Many years ago, the worldwide media focussed their attention towards Robben Island which held a great man unjustly. After years of ignoring his plight, the international family (finally) focussed its attention towards this backward hole and this occupant. Eventually this worldwide pressure forced the South African government to free this man.

Eventually, it was acknowledged that he was being unjustly imprisoned for being an alleged terrorist when all that he wanted (or was fighting for) was for all South Africans to be afforded the same opportunities, the rights to the basic nees, education and the right to vote . This person was Nelson Mandela, a hero of mine who greatly helped the process of righting the wrongs of South Africa.

But sadly, with David Hicks this story has been picked up for the wrong reasons by the media and politicians, once again they are making a big deal of the wrong thing.

My first time

2006-12-09T11:05:00.001+11:00

I have been published!!

WOO HOO!!!

click on this to go to the article

Thank god it is FRIDAY

2006-12-01T09:19:00.000+11:00

Upon reflection I must say that this year is moving faster than a contestant on "The Biggest Loser" to a Krispy Kreme store. I can not believe it is already 1 December 2006!

With this date, comes an exciting time. The introduction of the SCI FI channel on the local cable network. WOO HOO for me, Boo Hoo for Metria.

This means I can get my overfill of Star Trek, Stargate, X-Files, Battlestar Galactica, basically anything with a "star" in the title can be viewed. Along with the explosion of sport that will be available I will be really making my mark to enter the couch potato hall of fame!

Of course, I wait until this paragraph to bitch about the pathetic display by the Pool last day. A 0-0 draw against a depleted Portsmouth at Anfield. What makes this worse is that a win would have pushed us up to 3/4 with the other results. DAMM!!! But I shall bit about it later.

Today is Friday and as Austin would say "YEAH BABY"!

The weekend is upon us and all that. 2 days no work except for the work at home!

Have a good one peeps

The Impotence of being Liverpool

2006-11-19T12:00:00.000+11:00

OK, I have to ask a question that is on the minds of many Liverpudlian's and their supporters.

What is the problem with the Reds?

What has happened when they leave Anfield? What' the deal? To quote Marvin Gaye: "What's goin' on?"

It like Spears and Federline, for what has happened to Liverpool between last season and this season.

7 away matches for 2 draws, 5 losses and 1 goal.

That goal came from a lucky (others would say dubious) penalty to the new kids of the block - Sheffield Whonited which resulted in us snatching a draw. The other draw came last night against a Middlesboro team that we outplayed. 16-1 shots at goal, 10-2 corners, 60% possession.

Liverpool we supposed to come to this season and challenge Chelsea for the title ahead of MU and Arsenal. They would defend wholeheartedly and keep the ball limiting opportunities for their opponents to score goals. They were going to play hard and play tough.

A lot of people picked them to challenge for #1 and finish in the top 3 easily. A lot of people.

So what has happened?

Some have said that the away record is a result of having to play some of the biggest teams in the EPL. Against Chelsea we played well and thanks to a superb bit of skill from Didier Drogba they got the 3 points. We were unlucky we kept on hitting the woodwork.

Suffice to say when playing at Old Trafford, Emirates and the Toffees we were outplayed and outclassed. There was the game at the Reebok where a bunch of old guys scored against us one dubiously and the other shamed last years defensive warriors. They are 3 tough venues to go and play against (not so Everton but we should have played better).

Yet when Liverpool play at home they are a different team. 6 matches for 5 wins and a draw. Most wins came from some superb play where the goals came.

This is Jekyll and Hyde-esque.

Is this an aberration or an indication for the season? Is this a serious situation that needs to be addressed.

So what is wrong?

Steven Gerrard is definitely not 100%. Mentally and physically. If you look at what he has done the last 2 years you can see there are signs of mental exhaustion. The previous season he started in august and finished with lifting the Champs League trophy in May. However due to the poor local form Liverpool had to start in July 2005 and he played in the world cup finishing in July 2006. one month later he was back at training. So in the space of 2 years he has had about 6 weeks off.

A few of his team mates are also in the same situation. So physically they are exhausted.

There are a number of new players so time is needed for players to establish their roles. Usually a team with a number of players at each position results in competitiveness for spots, like Chelsea. Yet this does not seem to be transposed on to the pitch. Are the players trying too hard at training to get a game yet when it comes to the match, hey are too tired of god forbid, to lazy to play as hard!

Rotation works but it does not help with the chemistry in some instances. As a football manager I am loathe to change the defensive structure and players a lot because a goalkeeper develops an understanding with his back men and chopping and changing can have bad effects.

Collectively, they are playing without pride and therein, I believe likes the issue. NO PRIDE in the jersey!

See they have allowed a lot of goals this season. A lot more than this time last year. At least this time last year we were either drawing with nil all scores or losing against good teams by a goal. No pride!

Could it be that things are bigger than that. When breaking things down further, it is not really pride. Maybe its fate. I look at teams in other sports where this has happened like Sydney FC in the A-League here are struggling now after being last seasons champs and may miss the final series this year. The Chicago White Sox who won the world series in 2005 yet failed to qualify for the playoffs in 2006. The Miami Heat, won the NBA title last year and are now winning as much as they are losing, their latest defeat coming at the hands on the inept and overpaid New York Knicks.

Is this a case of teams being supreme one season only to fall into a level of mediocrity the following season? Are the players getting ahead of themselves, feeling that the effort they put in last season will cut it this year?

See Liverpool are now in need to be panicked over, they were a team touted to finally make the challenge to finally win the EPL title, what all Red supporters want, the holy grail! Some people are not panicking like Rafa and, in Rafa I trust, but I am worried now. It does not look too promising.

So the question is what can save Liverpool? I trust Rafa as he has delivered and will give him time but he can only do so much. A manager can give his team the tools to succeed but the players have to execute the plan and that is what is missing. The guys just do not seem to execute well.

So who will save them? I think it has to be Jamie Carragher. He knows of Liverpool and their history and he knows how much it means to put on that red jersey and play in front of the Kop, as much as Stevvie or Robbie.

I do not mean give him the ball and all that, I am talking about his soul. He has to become the soul of Liverpool FC.

Stevvie G is the leader, best player and heart of the team. Lord knows he has proven it a lot in the past. But he is going though a slump and time will bring him back.

But right now the team needs someone to inject the passion and desire when playing for Liverpool. That man is Carra. He can give his team mates a sense of what it means to be in Liverpool and keep them in check. Stevvie did a lot and drove them to work well. But now to take the net step they need the soul!

They need someone who will make sure the team this good, this talented will not go on losing and not scoring away from home. A person who will pull the lever when the noose has been placed over the opposition neck.

Someone has to give the players faith in themselves, someone on the pitch not on the sidelines because a manager can only get you so far.

Some have said to give them time and that Liverpool are out of whack. But there is a difference being out of whack and being straight whack.

Not another crappy monday

2006-11-13T11:15:00.000+11:00

3 - 0…..that signifies a lot. It says how many games we have played against the big guns (3), how many times we have lost (3), how many goals we scored (0) and how many points we have gotten(do the math!)

Suffice to say I am not a happy chappy this morning. Luckily I was tired enough to not get up at 3am to watch the game. I got up at 4.30. Saw that in the 67th minute we were down 2-0 and went back to bed.

Getting up this morning was a struggle. I tried to get up but did not want to. I knew we had lost and did not want to see the final score. I had taped the game and the self sadistic-footballist part of me will watch it later.

Just to see how bad we played.

So while we played well against Chelsea we lost because of a fantastic goal – I can take that.

But against Manure and A$$-An@l we played terrible, I mean we made defenders look like woprld class strikers (it is worse when one of them is so dumb he forgets to take a p!ss and pass to a gent in a white coat from the FA)

Now we shall await the stuff about how Rafa got it wrong by playing Zenden in the middle instead of Stevvie (I have to also question this), the players not being up to it, Stevvie wanting to leave etc etc. Someone in fleet street will come up with some rubbish, just like the talk of Rafa wanting to leave.

My team could have put more effort in a match and we played yesterday (a highlight o the weekend for me!).

Disappointed….yet we have Rafa a good man to bring us out.

The Best Modern-Day Hard Man Is...

2006-11-10T11:51:00.000+11:00

I received this article froma friend and found it an interesting read. So I tought I would share it with you all.

Tis Friday and I await beer o'clock so I can get outta here. Big weekend as my Bro and his ladyfriend are visiting us next week so lots of cleaning up and all that, plus I have a football match on sunday to take part in.

Excuse the homo-erotic subtext to this question but, where have all the hard men gone?

It's not long since almost every top club had at least one hard man; one man who could frighten the crap out of opposition players with a mixture of intimidation, aggression and the occasional outburst of undiluted violence all mixed up with rugged tackling and crunching headers.

Football, like the English language is constantly evolving, and in recent years seems to have evolved to exclude the hard man from the game. Here's my question; is it a good thing? Am I the only one to miss him?

The best hard men were not simply psychotic nutters who went around stamping on people, mthough they were that as well, no, the most effective hard men were physically strong, excellent ball winners, and good passers. Their job was to break up play, and protect the flair players from being kicked to death by the opposing centre-half.

In the olden days the best example of a hard man was Ron Harris. If you never saw him, Chopper was extraordinary. He'd shock any young fan of today's game. His job was simply to hurt the opposition's best players - anything football-related after that was a bonus, but not strictly necessary. Early on in the 1970 Cup Final, he stamped on Eddie Gray's calf to reduce Gray's effectiveness. It worked. Job done.

But I was never a fan of the Chopper-style hard man. Too often he ruined the game by maiming the players you most wanted to actually watch.

However, the 70s were full of hard men like Larry Lloyd, Tommy Smith and Norman Hunter, who, along with being ruthless tacklers, were also good distributors of the ball. They didn't usually just deploy violence for its own sake, it usually had purpose and application. The principle of instant karma was always a popular one in 70s football; you hurt my tricky winger, you get a kick in the nads.

These were more visceral days - any player who was weak minded or physically lightweight was shown no mercy. It's surprising no-one died.

Which brings me to Souey. Graeme Souness was probably the most skilful hard man ever to walk a football pitch. He was an extraordinary, attacking midfielder, the like of which we will never be allowed to see again.

At times he mowed into players with a ruthless malevolence which was both utterly exhilarating and totally sickening in its sheer, raw violence. I once saw him in 1974, during his reign of terror at the Boro, taking revenge on a hapless defender for some perceived injustice.

As the player booted the ball away, Souey ran full speed into him, his boot up at thigh height. He stamped right down the bloke's thigh, down past the knee, down the shin and stamped on his foot in one, king-fu inspired movement. Naturally, his victim fell to the ground in pain, but rather than leave the scene of the crime quickly, Souey leaned over him and screamed abuse in his face. Even by the standards of the day, this was extreme behaviour.

I have to say, the fans loved it. It might be morally wrong, and these days it'd bring the full weight of the law on and off the pitch into play. He'd be hauled up in front of the world's media and castigated for his irresponsible behaviour. But these are different days. At the time, we loved it; all of us. Were we all thugs back then? Sometimes I do wonder.

In the 80s Souness continued his assault and battery style of playing at Liverpool and later, Rangers, while Vinnie Jones began his reign of bollock-grabbing insanity. The true inheritor of Chopper Harris' slash and burn approach, his Wimbledon days will never be forgotten as a period of unremitting, ugly, but rather successful, thuggery.

But as hard as Jones undoubtedly was, easily the hardest player in the 80s was South Yorkshire's finest, Billy Whitehurst. Alleged to have beaten the s**t out of Jones while they were both at Sheffield United, Billy is also supposed to have earned money while at Oxford doing bare-knuckle fights with local gypsies! Now that is f**king hard. You'd not catch John Terry doing that now would you, more's the pity.

By the time Billy quit in 1993, the hard man was already in decline but 'Razor' Ruddock was still elbowing people senseless, and Stuart Pearce was still out there, playing with a broken leg and doing full-body tackles on anyone who stood still for long enough. Who didn't love Psycho?

And then there was Roy Keane. In his pomp, Keane was one of the finest exponents of the hard man tradition. Sent off for vicious hacks and knee-breaking stamps, he brilliantly mixed his violence with high-voltage football skill of the highest order.

At his peak he was an irresistible force of nature. Mad, bad and dangerous to know, love or loath him, he was always compelling to watch, and he was crucial to Manchester United's dominance and success.

His confrontation with Paddy Vieira in the tunnel a couple of years ago was possibly the last old school hard man moment. It was, in all senses of the word, great. Am I wrong to feel that? Maybe. But I do feel it.

I know in these more gentle football days of high skill and fast pace, the hard man is seen as an anachronism, and anyone who admits to a joy in seeing a bit of ruthless on-pitch aggression is seen as a retard, especially by younger generations of fans who have grown up with a different tradition of football. Perhaps society and sport is keen to be more sophisticated in the 21st century. Maybe play-acting and feigning injury have replaced the hard man. Times change...maybe it's for the better, maybe it's not.

I don't see the Ben Thatcher-style forearm smash as part of the great hard man tradition. That smacked more of the over-reactions of a weak man. Anyone can just whack the living s**t out of someone, but the top notch hard- an knew how, when and why a player needed 'livening' up.

The hard man role - in the way we understood it in years gone by - has been made impossible by the outlawing of most forms of tackling, and the instant red cards given out by refs for players who sneeze too violently, let alone those who tackle someone around the neck with their muscular thighs.

In the Premiership, the art form barely exists at all, and where it does, it has had to change and adapt to the new football environment.

If I was to ask you for a list of hard men today you'd be hard pushed to make it a long list or draw it up very quickly. Take a player like Didier Drogba. I suspect he's as hard as nails, but because of all the play-acting and wussy behaviour, you can't call him a hard man. No hard man would ever pretend he was hurt when he wasn't, nor would he show it if he was - that would be to show weakness. The Drog fails on all those counts.

A player like Paul Dickov is a tough little b***ard and like a lot of very small men could start a fight in a monastery, but he's not a hard man in the Keane or Souness tradition.

Brian McBride, who shares his name with the boss of Amazon.co.uk - which incidentally is another place you can buy my book Footy Rocks - is a true hard b***ard centre-forward. When viciously elbowed by De Rossi in the USA v Italy game during the World Cup, he didn't flinch, even as the blood streamed down his face. He stood there, dazed but resolute. We need more men in the game who can take a whack and not weep about it. McBride looks like the sort of tough-assed Irishman that gave the NYPD such a fearsome reputation in the 30s. Thick-necked and made of granite, McBride is as hard they come, but he doesn't play the hard man on the pitch. He is just innately tough, he's not an inheritor of the hard man tradition.

Liverpool's John-Arne Riise took a good nutting last week and didn't go down, revealing unexpected hard man qualities in doing so. But he's not a player who uses that in his game as a rule.

So who does that leave? Richard Dunne and Andy Todd are tough sods, as is Scott Parker, but for me, the only true inheritor of the mad, hard b***ard role, the man who you'd least like to get the wrong side of, is Everton's Tim Cahill.

Cahill has an assassin's cold, dark, black eyes. His unusual Samoan/Irish parentage in itself sounds like a genetically tough-assed recipe.

He's nasty, aggressive and though a bit of a short arse, is as physically strong as anyone who plays the game. He's all muscle and he's got the look of a feral dingo. He walks the line in most games and uses his aggression to progress Everton's midfield attacking options incredibly successfully.

Like loads of Aussies, he's competitive to a point where it hurts, and he hates losing. In his first season at Everton he was top scorer and he's got five already this season - his good form is in no small measure responsible for Everton's success.

In an earlier era, Cahill would have played more like Souness, and would have been encouraged to do so by Moyes, who likes the physical game. But maybe because he can't play that way, we actually see the best of him, and because of that, football is the winner.

His game relies on controlled aggression, fierce determination, excellent timing and great positioning for all those late headers in the box he's made his trademark. If he was busy kicking lumps out of everyone, the more skilful side of his game might be lost, and that would be a shame.

The old school hard men days will never return, but while there are players like Cahill around, in some way, the tradition is continued. Fair f***ing dinkum mate.

So it was Timmy Cahill....interesting choice innit! Who would have thought! but I guess with the clamp down on hard tackles, we are missing those no nonsense, take no prisoners and personalities on the pitch. but that is a good thing. This lets the beautiful game flow. but to see Cristine Ronaldo get taken out or Cashley Cole or Fabregas.....ahhh if only i could play....

Hope the Pool get a positive result come Monday morning, lets see how Arsene Whinger reacts this weekend......

Been a long time.....

2006-11-08T11:43:00.000+11:00

Excuse me for being a lazy bum and not blogging for a whiles. I been slack and really have no excuses. Then again, I would have just mentioned football.

But the NBA season is about to begin and I should do something about it, who will win, why, who will be the best player, best coach, best hairstyle and best fight between players.

So like my household projects, I will likely get on to it later rather than sooner.

Still I have to mention that the Pool looks to have turned things a bit. A few wins here and there and soon we take on le Arse at their new stadium where they struggle to win. lets hope that trend continues, but considering the teams involved The gunners shall be firing and I expect them to win.

Yes there is the Carling cup match tomorrow morning but lets face it, the only people that tend to care about it are the teams in the lower leagues of Manchester United. To them it is a premier competition given that they have not anything in a while. But can you say SOUTHEND!!

HEHEHE oh well....bottom of the championship teams beats a team with 10 internationals including missus Ronaldo and messedupRooney.

I don't like this Monday

2006-10-23T08:59:00.000+10:00

Like an impotenet pervert, Liverpool went to the old Trafford and in front on an EPL ground record of 75,000 plus we went down 2-0.

We were poor and deservedly lost. Our passing into the last third was shocking and worst still every time there was adeflection of mis header, the ball would end up at a united players feet. Shocking and amnot having a good morning now.

Soon the MU fans will start. Already Metria has been giving it to me but the worse shall come, I know that!

Gerrard looked unimspired, Alonso looked like he could not be creative, Momo worked his butt off but had to do to much. Kuyt worked hard but he needed support from another striker. Rafa got it wrong in the striking department last night, he should have attacked more by playing 2 strikers.

But it is all a moot point. All done and now the hopes of a title challenge are basically dead and buried!

Bargger this all!!

There be 6 random facts here

2006-10-06T09:00:00.000+10:00

Well it looks like I have been tagged and the story for today is 6 random facts about myself: So here goes.

1. I once dressed up as Austion Powers and Dr Evil and walked around Perth in the middle of the night acting as the characters.

The story here my friend Mina was having a hens night, yes hens night! Her sister , Lena, was a very good friend of mine and said we should do something to make it different and a bit more memorable. At that point in life we were a bit into the whole secret spy thing and we even had our own make belief spy agency called the “Funky Bunch” - a blog for another day maybe. So we went the whole Austin Powers side of things.

Mina did not know what was happening but she knew about the hens night. She was told to meet at this pub with another friend – the decoy. It was then that I would walk in and “kidnap” her to take her to her hens night. So I walked in to a pub which had about 100 other people sitting there when I walked in as Dr Evil. I had grey suit and a fluffy toy dog (could not find a stuffed cat). I then went about informing her that I was about to kidnap her and at that point realised that the pub had gone eerily quiet and everyone was looking at me!

Of course my friend started to laugh and I managed to keep a straight face but man, was it hard, knowing I was the centre of attention! Then I took her to the room where the rest of the girls were and left. She thought that was it for me but not so!

A few hours later, they were at a bar at a karaoke restaurant in Northbridge when Austin Powers rocked up! Yeah BABY!! (this was me this time with a wig and all the frills, glasses and stuff). I managed to camp it up a bit and everyone had a good laugh singing and partaying to Austin powers. I even got groped by other women from other bridal parties!! Good times!!

2. The only malay words I remember are swear words.

Actually, the only words I know in other languages are swear words. I will not provide examples here.

3. I was so sick that I almost did not make my own wedding reception.

True story, I got sick a few days before I left KL for Perth and I was in terrible shape. I got back home and when reception night came I barely got my clothes on and to the reception. I only stayed 45 minutes. It was terrible. Have to make it up at my sisers or brothers reception!!

4. I profess undying love to…..

Liverpool Football Club. You know it readers so I won’t write any further.

5. I met my wife on the net.

Who says you do not meet any wierdos on the net. Happened to my wife. But the weirdest thing is after we got a little serious and informed our parents we found out that her mum and my dad used to live next door to each other in PJ. So the families are happy…us on the other hand :-P

6. When I was 16 I met this wonderful 2 year old who stole my heart called Sherryn.

However we did not hit things off well and I hurt her back then,

One day I was carrying her around (this was when she let me because she was a little brat then) and she wanted to walk on the car. So I put her there and something distracted me and I turned away and next thing she fell into the window and hurt her lip. Tears erupted and she started to bawl away.

I felt terrible and was scared of telling her mum what happened. I do not think there was any or a whole lot of blood but I still fell terrible to this day about it.

But Sherryn does not remember this event so that is good!

Another boring football blog......

2006-10-04T11:18:00.000+10:00

Well the Eagles won a thrilling Grand Final by 1 point. Amazing match and my voice is still a little horse. Celebrations abounded and it was a magical day. Sadly the pool lost to Bolton and to top it off there were some poor decisions – a bad call that led to the first goal and a pretty blatant push by Campo on Kuyt which should have been a penalty and make things 1 all and then interesting.

But because the Eagles won the AFL premiership I kind of got over the loss by Liverpool.

Talking about football I was thinking about the national league here – the A-League. The competition is doing well and crowds in Melbourne are really booming. Last weekend Melbourne Victory attracted 25,000 plus to its match which was on at he same time as another Melbourne team was playing another grand final (that time of the year).

Clearly there is a boom and the A-League should look to expand and grow. Thoughts abound that more teams are needed in Australia in other centres and also more teams in places like Melbourne and Sydney. True but I think we should go outside the borders.

The league needs to head north and tap into the football mad markets in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand. All markets have a lot of followers and that adds to a huge audience both at matches and on TV. This leads to greater marketing opportunities and therefore more $$$.

While overseas recently I noted there was talk about Malaysia improving itself and qualify for the 2018 World cup. OK this is a huge dream and really unrealistic but if the A-League expanded and included a Malaysia team comprised mainly of the Malaysia national team members. This team benefits from playing against good competition more regularly which could lead to them raising the quality of the football in the region.

This same formula could be applied to Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia. If this experiment works then the A-League (which by now would mean ASIAN League) expands in years to include additional teams from the same countries.

In 10 years time we could have a 15-20 team competition which would rival some of the second tier leagues in Europe. The sport would grow in the region and it would boom times everywhere.

Frank Lowy and the FFA – I hope you are reading this.

AFL Grand Final

2006-09-28T16:08:00.000+10:00

Well I have recently got a promotion and now I have become a Senior Traffic Engineer. What this means is that I get paid a little more but have more responsibility and will be held accountable. I guess after 9 years in the engineering field this was bound to happen. What to do??

Guess this is a feather in the cap but now I should spend less time blogging, reading sports articles on the net and emailing friends and more time working!

Anyway, it is AFL grand final week. This year’s GF involves the 2 teams from last year – West Coast Eagles and Sydney Swans. Sadly the swannies won last year by a few points so I am hoping the result is reversed this year.

I will not get to involved in explaining Aussie Rules footy suffice to say it involves a mergement of rugby, football, grid iron with an oval shaped ball. I do not really get into the sport but coz my home town team is in I better represent.

Still I like the AFL GF as it is a big day with lots of hype and atmosphere. In a way it is a smaller scale of the Superbowl. Mainly coz we are not as big and demented as the US of bush.

My pick is for the Eagles to win, just barely and the match will be exciting! I hope I have enough energy to see the Pool match that night.

So that is that:

Talking about football – the ‘Pool did their best to drop points against Galatasaray but managed to hold on. Apparently Peter Crouch scored a super scissor kick which would be a sight to see. Good to see and I reckon my mate Rafa should consider playing him and Kuyt together.

Tomorrow if Friday…weekend nearly here..whew!

Sir Alex did not do his reading about READING

2006-09-26T07:49:00.000+10:00

Ahh what a nice weekend sportswise.

Firstly, the 'Pool get a 3 nil win over the Spurned from Tottenham. I am not counting my chickens but a good win always brings a smile to my face. Still can not get over the fact that Jermaine Penas missed a sitter - 2m out with an open goal, he slides and the balls goes over the line. He must be a Liverpool striker underneath.

Gonzalez did well to grab the first, Kuitis-Scoreforus bagged a great goal and Risse sent a rocket to the Kop. All good!

Then we see Reading grab a point against MU and really, any time MU drop points I can not help but smile. HAPPY DAYS!

Sorry Keropok, I am really terrible to MU fans and only feel sorry for you. I have too many friends who swear allegiance to the residents of the Theatre of Creams and I hear it a lot. We won so many EPL premierships, we finished on top of you BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH! Even the formifable and beautiful Metria is a ManUSA fan.

And lastly my mate Vic, talks a lot of crap about MU being this super team but he never makes sense and his arguments tend to me superflous.

So to Vic and others I say.....DOYLEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lasly, my AFL team the West Coast Eagles won through to the AFL Grand Final which will be played this Saturday here in Melbourne. We had to play away and were losing for most of the match but not the last quarter when it counts!

And that is the moral of the story childrens, it is not who leads at the start but how you finish and where. So we apply that to the EPL.

Anyway, the hype for the AFL final shall be building and I look forward to Saturday!

Muslims react angrily to being told they react angrily

2006-09-21T08:28:00.000+10:00

The above title was installed in jest my friends. There is no need to be screaming "Jihad for Dev" or stuff of that sort. All in good fun!

Talking about fun, I was awoken via an SMS from a friend proclaiming the Dirk Kuyt (pronounced "Koit") had scored his first goal for the 'Pool. I got up and quickly turned on the TV.

We were lucky not to have a penalty given against us. The defense does not look as strong as they did last year but I am glad that Alonso is finally discovering his prowess and passing. But the team is starting to show some good form. Hopefully over the next few matches we start firing on all cylinders and get into contention for the Premiership!

I of course, can not go without mentioning Alonso's super goal from 65 yards out. Yeah the keeper tripped but that is why concentration is a huge element in games. He got caught out.

Nonetheless we kept a clean sheet and gained 3 points. More importantly we scored 2 goals and I was really fretting that we would have to call Alcoholics Anonymous to Anfield given the number of times the lads were hitting the bar.

Good start to the morning. Even with comments from Metria commenting "For football you can get up so early"

All hugs and smiles over at Anfield

Cross Cultures in Australia

2006-09-20T11:57:00.000+10:00

I want to talk politics today. Mainly Aussie politics.

See these days there is a debate brewing that immigrants should adopt Australian values and be able to speaka da English! I am in two minds about this, for and against this notion basically.

On the FOR hand, what John Howard the Australian PM (let's just call him the Lil Toad or LT) is saying is that immigrants should wait 4 years before they can gain citizenship (right now it is 2 years), take a English speaking test and an Australian values test.

Looking at this, I tend to agree because I came here as an immigrants and as most people who have spoken to me could attest, I can speak the English, I can also write, (although my typo's and grammar on this blog present another case) and I also have a sense of Aussie values after living for 25 years here.

Further to this, my parents and family all speak good English and understand other Aussies and what is all about. My brother "Jeet-man" is probably more Aussie than Punjabi/Malaysian and that is due to him being here for all is life apart from the first 2 years. But he has not forgotten his heritage, while his bhangra dancing is funny to watch and he can not speak Punjabi, he still retains core values that were taught to him by family and after my beatings!!

So in a way what is being said is generally fair. I believe that if you live in a country you should learn to adopt the language of the majority and accept the customs of that country. if I ever decided to live in Malaysia I would try to Malay malay so I could communicate with people and learn the customs, such as how to merge when driving.

Further, the 4 year waiting period for Australian citizenship is a good thing. For me it ensures that people appreciate citizenship a whole lot more. I get a notion that a lot of recent young citizens do not seem to value it a whole lot, or not as much I do. These are the ones who are willing to enjoy the lifestyle here yet denigrate Australia when things do not seem to go their way.

This happens everywhere, and people should count their blessing that they can walk down their street without worrying about being mugged, raped or having their purses snatched and dragged away.

On the other hand......

I consider the Lil Toad as a racist bigot and this line of thinking is a way of appeasing the majority rather than trying to enhance relations with minorities. In a way it is a return to days of the White Australia Policy (this was a policy that only allow migrations from a "white country" -mainly the UK).

I generally think that if someone wants to come here, they do so to live a better live and it is only fair that they learn what Australia is about. They should not seclude themselves and only integrate themselves with people from their homeland but get out there and learn about the people in this country.

Yes, this includes learning how to communicate in the main language. If I went back to live in Australia endeavorndeavour to learn how to speak Malay so I could intergrate myself into a country. I hate seeing people bow down to a person just because they are a foreigner and just because they are white.

Similarly, white Australian should also not be myopic and believe that because they comprise the majority here, that they have a god-given right to think they are superior. They should also make the effort to learn about other cultures. After all, every person living here, apart from the Aborigines, emigrated here be in last week, 30 years ago or due to their forefathers 200 years ago.

Australia has an opportunity to show the world how a secular society can form and function by being able to integrate all different types of cultures. This place could show the world how differences between cultures and religion could assimilate to form some harmonyharmoney. A place where each person can be respected for who they are and not what colour their skin who they pray to.

Everyone should be able to enjoy a Sunday afternoon BBQ or a beer (whether it be a Crown Lager or a Root Beer) with others. Sit back and relax while watching a game of AFL, Cricket or Football.

So while there are merits on some of the policies, the reasons for such changes are wrong. They are being touted to appease a Xenaphobic majority (who happen to be white). This is not the 1950's or the days where Pauline Hanson's comments was running riot through Asia where her policies were spoken as being the point of view of the average Aussie. She was ridiculed by people here as being an uneducated loser who did not speak for all Australians. Yet here we are, in the 21st century, and we are heading back to the white only days.

With that I think the policy is wrong as it is ethically incorrect. Do away with it and encourage recent immigrants to learn English and what it means to be an Australian. Both sides, the new and the old, reaching out to one another to help each other.

After all, that is what being a mate is about, and being a mate is what Australia is all about.

Not a happy Monday

2006-09-18T09:20:00.000+10:00

Can you imagine what it would be like if you had not got jiggy wioth it for a long time and then you were stuck in a room with a sex starved/deprived Jessica Alba or John Abraham (depending on your sex and/or sexual preference) and not being able to get it up or motivated?

You would be frustrated and after they leave the room you would feel this sense of dissapointment and frustration on your part. You just let a great opportunity slip past and could not see when something like that could happen again for you.

That was what happened last night when the 'Pool lost to a 10 man Chelsea last night.

We played better and attacked more. We had the better chances but we either hit the post of kicked/headed the ball straight to the keeper!

BUGGER this!!!

The only consolation is that ManUre lost at home to the Arse! At least i do not have to put up with crap from my mate Vic - his team lost at home. We were away.

BUGGER this!!!

The return of the Manager

2006-09-14T18:05:00.000+10:00

After a season away from the football managing scene, I decided I needed to come back. I miss Saturday's getting together with the lads and shouting at them from the sidelines.

The latest season of our league was completed last weekend and my 'old' team finished 6th. To be honest, it was a poor effort and probably the real reason I am returning. I was not too pleased with some of the acts that were occurring within the team.

I am not blaming the guys who took over as no one really put their hand up and it fell to a couple of the lads. These guys did a commendable job but I think their lack of experience, youth and lithe size all conspired against them. I have a theory that because I am a large fella the guys are scared of me as I give the impression that I could really hurt them - but not too many get the fact that they are faster than me!

Now the focus will start shifting to the next year and next season. I do want to restore some order and also instill a different type of playing style and system. The hope here is the guys start coming to training regularly and with this training we really improve as a team.

I look forward to it and have started working on my hand gestures from the sidelines ala Rafael Benitez! I can dream!!!

Impressing Chinese parents 101

2006-09-14T16:52:00.000+10:00

I received the following note through email and thought I would share with you. An Interesting read. I should start working on an Indian version.....

You're in love. You love her. She loves you. You talk on the phone for hours at a time. You drive her everywhere. You find yourself spending fifty bucks on cuddly Korean stuffed toys that cost a buck twenty to make in Shenzen. In short, your world is complete. Now the only things standing in the way of your complete bliss are her parents. Want to learn how to overcome these obstacles? Welcome to impressing Chinese parents 101. Guys, take note. These are ancient secrets that up to now only a handful of noble families knew of. Father to son, to his son and so on. Only recently have these powerful techniques been catalogued and brought to the public's attention. Girls, take note too. If you love him, make him learn these rules. Harmony in the house, between your man and your mom and dad is paramount. And what's more they can be used when you meet his parents! Okay let's get down to the details.

Basically, we'll be covering what to wear, drive, say, bring, and talk about during dinner. We'll also cover what details to reveal about yourself, what your "supposed" ambitions are in life, what your family does for a living, and how much to eat during dinner. Finally, since there is no way to cover every conceivable situation which could arise, we will teach you the secret of secrets, to be used only in times of dire need. Please proceed.

What to Wear

Wear Polo or Tommy Hilfiger, as these labels will make you seem non-threatening. Chinese parents like non-threatening. They like to think that their daughter will be the boss of you and that you will be a hard worker and give her all the money you make. When she has all the money, she can lavish her parents with gifts and give them a nice life. Through you, their daughter will be able to repay her debt to her generous parents who sacrificed to give her a better life.

Under NO circumstances should you wear French Connection UK. Chinese parents know very little English, but they'll recognize the obvious mangling of one of the three words in their working vocabulary of English. The other two English words that Chinese parents also know are "yes" and "no", although "yes" is seldom used.

What to Drive

Borrow your parents' Accord. Your parents don't drive an Accord? Borrow their Camry. Your parents don't drive a Camry? Wait you're Chinese right? You're not Chinese and you're meeting your girlfriend's Chinese parents? Hmm, we have a problem here that we don't have room to cover in this article, so please proceed to purchasing the textbook, now in its 7th edition. Some other acceptable cars to show up at their house with are Corollas and Civics. Contrary to popular belief, Mercedes and BMWs are not good choices. Her parents won't like the idea that you are flashy. You could try to front and say that your parents are rich, but this can go both ways. If her parents smile, this means that they are gold-diggers. If they are gold-diggers, then your girlfriend is one too. If they don't smile, it means they have an inferiority complex and feel that their daughter should be matched up with someone of the same social class. Take my word, go Honda and Toyota.

What to Say

Several years ago, the beautiful and amazing Chinese vocalist Sandy Lam came out with a song called "Talk more, screw up more." It would be wise to listen to Sandy's advice. Say as little as possible. Let your girlfriend's dad brag about his prowess in the stock market. Let him bore you with his outlook on the Hong Kong - China or the China - Taiwan situation. Let him put metaphorical "money in your pocket" by sharing his experiences and the work attitudes that made him the man he is today. He will wave his hands about the room and tell you that if you work hard, one day all of this will also be yours.

If you must speak be modest and apologize for not knowing much. Chinese parents ask a lot of rhetorical questions. Feign ignorance. Let THEM answer the question for you and then say that's what YOUR parents tell you all the time. Your girlfriend's mom will beam from ear to ear, and chide you about new world folly versus old world wisdom. In truth, she is not admonishing you as much as she is strutting her tail feathers. Let her strut, by all
means let her fuss and strut.

The Meeting

It's either at a restaurant or at their house. If it's at a restaurant, pretend to fight half-heartedly for the bill but let the real man at the table pay for it. Pour tea constantly even if no tea has been drank from the cups. I once poured the tea so high that it was actually higher than the rim of the teacup. Thank goodness for grade 12 physics and that lecture about surface tension. If they actually let you pay (not a good sign), leave a 3% tip. Chinese parents love frugality. But you might also want to rethink ever going back to that restaurant for fear that you will be recognized.

Most likely the meeting will be at their house. This is their territory. In this territory, your girlfriend's dad is king. Your girlfriend's mom is queen. You would do well to remember that. First off, bring something. To show up empty handed or what the Chinese refer to as "two bunches of bananas" is disgraceful. Bring tea, bring dried mushrooms, bring dried scallop, bring ginseng, bring dried seafood, bring bird's nest, or even bring shark's fin if you can afford it. Do not bring a case of Molson Canadian. Do not bring tiramisu (Chinese parents won't eat what they cannot say). Do not bring bbq pork or other dishes (this is an insult as it suggests that your host didn't make enough food). Do not bring anything that's name sounds like "4" unless you are wishing death on the Mr. and Mrs.

When you meet them don't call them by their first names or address them by Mister and Mrs. and their last name. Go "uncle" or "aunty". By doing this you've made yourself a part of the family. Be of the belief that all men are brothers with different mothers. Also, never let your guard down, because while you are trying to earn their affection, you have to recognize that the parents are the enemy. There is nothing you can do that will ever make you good enough for their little girl, so know your enemy. Recognize that all girlfriends' parents are old, crabby uncles and aunts that smell of white flower oil or tiger balm. The dad uses too much Brylcreem in his hair, while the mother wears an updo. Of course she doesn't know that updos are actually back in style. For parents, time and coolness stops after 40, so don't even try to relate.

Dinner

Before the meeting, remember to not eat for two days. Then, when you go to your future in-laws house, go to town on her mom's lion's head meat balls or her mom's shrimp paste stuffed tofu or her mom's bitter melon beef. Sing the praises of the dishes as if it were dishes fit for Pu Yi himself. You do know who Pu Yi is right? Have at least four bowls of rice. Conventional wisdom dictates that making a pig of yourself is not wise. On the contrary, lavishing your future mother-in-law with praise is a shrewd investment that will reward you with ample dividends down the road.

Dinner Talk

If they're Christian, say how you've always wanted to be converted and ask for their guidance. Offer to go to a sermon with them that coming Sunday. If they're non-religious talk about saving money to buy a house (they love this). Tell them you've been condo shopping. Talk about a general mistrust of computers, but the necessity of computers in the modern world. Talk about famous singers like Teresa Teng. All Chinese people love Teresa Teng. If there's one thing that China Chinese and Taiwan Chinese people can agree on it is Teresa Teng. You're on your own if you talk about Four Big Sky Kings, Cookies or Twins. Talk about how Rap Talk is stupid. Remember to use the words "rap talk". They'll look at you blankly if you use terms like "hiphop" or "urban". Talk about how everything is so expensive. In short, be as fake as a ten-dollar Rolex.

Yourself

Don't talk about your grand schemes to save the world. Don't talk carpe diem, getting colonics, the protein diet, google, and other new age crap. Don't tell them about your plan for an Internet business. Don't tell them about how you plan to backpack across Europe after you graduate from university, that is if you decide to go at all. Tell them that ever since you were a kid you wanted to be a doctor. Tell them that your parents are strict. Tell them that their daughter is your first girlfriend. Tell them you're a straight A student (what are they going to do, phone the school?). (editor's note: I wouldn't place bets on that)

Your Family

This is a thorny issue, but if your parents are notorious triad gangsters, tell them that your parents own an importing and exporting company. If your parents are working stiffs, tell them that your parents are working stiffs who saved every cent so you can go to medical school. If you're out of school, tell them that your parents are retired, but got part-time jobs because they were bored sitting at home.

The Secret of all Secrets

Even if you do everything as we have instructed, situations may arise where all your hard work is for naught. In that event, use the secret of secrets to get yourself out of trouble every time. Lie. Simply calm your mind and pretend that they are your parents. It's so easy to lie to your own parents, isn't it? Your parents actually think your credit is fine. They don't know about how you are on Prozac. They don't know about how you smoke (thank goodness for breath mints). Once you realize that all parents are the same, you'll find that it's a cinch to lie to other people's parents as well.

The Conclusion

In parting, I expect some of you out there to doubt the effectiveness of these techniques. Why would anyone call someone who is not related to him "uncle" or "aunty"? Who in his right mind doesn't like tiramisu? Who is Sandy Lam? And who the heck is Teresa Teng? (For your information Faye Wong frequently covers her songs. Who is Faye Wong? Awwww...just forget about it.)

Ah, young grasshopper. If I could I would introduce you to the future you, a future you who is sad and depressed because Chu Chu (piggy) or Boh Boh (precious) or whatever other cutesy name you have for your girlfriend won't see you anymore. You feel independent. You feel powerful. You feel you don't have to kiss up to your girlfriend's parents right? It's an illusion.

Children are only as independent as their parents allow them to be. Cut off the credit cards, the cell phone (they pay the bill right?), the Lexus IS300, and all the other perks and your girlfriend is a nerd in Seven jeans. You have to realize that you are fighting the equivalent of The Machines in the Matrix. To be a successful Neo, follow these words.

Off the snow i go

2006-09-12T18:10:00.000+10:00

After the weekend that past i make this qualification - that skiing is very easy, it is just the stopping and turning that i had troubles with!

Luckily, skiing was not the main event of the weekend. We involved ourselves in a lot of eating, drinking and hanging out with friends. Now to recap the weekend, I shall go back and start from the beginning - Friday morning.

Firstly, we departed my house a little late because our driving partners (more importantly my friend) got a little drunk and had a hard time getting up. So I took the sterring wheel and started heading to the mountains. The drive was pleasant as we witnessed some of the Yarra Valley, passing a number of wineries where I was wishing we could stop to sample the varieties of reds, rose` and whites they had to offer.

Eventually, after a few winding roads and our ears popping a few times we arrived at Mt Buller. We had to park our car and take the local Taxi to our place of accommodation. Now because they try to save the environment, personal cars are not allowed into the hill - it is actually a great idea but do they rip you off. I mean we paid $28 for a return trip that takes no more than 15 minutes. Even taxi's in sydney do not charge you that much!

But we arrived in a lovely apartment which had fantastic views of the mountains, quite a site. We did some exploring and found that we were about 50m from the centre of the mountain which house a few hire shops, cafes and bars. Not bad and well done to Harry and Jen for getting us this place.

We did not hit the slopes that day but settled in and we ate that night. We also partook in some Uno and I won one of the games. Should have won something else but I reckon there was some collusion going on to stop me - kind of like a ref in our league!

The next day we hot the slopes after hiring soem ski's, poles and boots that were strapped so tight I had a hard time breathing. Now this is where it gets interesting.

See snow boots are weird as they do not allow yu to bend our foot so walking involves your feet staying at right angles to your leg so you walk weirdly. After a while it starts to get annoying. Because we were beginners, we had to walk up to the training area and it tookeffort and time to lug ourselves, the ski's and poles up there.

Eventually we began our lesson, it lasts about 2 hours and I thought we could progress a bit. But the lesson involved us standing in line, side stepping up the hill and going down the slope individually.

Before I even got to the top of the queue I had fallen down and struggled up. It should be noted that there was not alot of snow and it had compacted to be quite hard! When i did get to the stop I started the downward decent and tried to stop as the instructor asked us.

But I could not! So to stop myself going past the instructor and don the hill and super speeds I did what any person would do, I fell! right on my a$$! This went on a few times during the lesson. i also had to purposely fall down a few times as I was heading to other skiiers - I figured I would do less damage that way.

Eventually I thought myself to stop properly by spreading my legs farther out than the instructor had told me.

So the lesson was a kind of waste of time for us. I was also annoyed because Metria had fallen and was struggling to get up. No one was helping her and i was struggling to gain control but eventually I just went and helped her up.

But I managed to move and manoeuvre a bit. So I got the bascis of the basics sorted out!

The rest of the weekend was spent hanging out with friends and sight seeing. It also snowed a bit Saturday night so we had a light blanket of white copvering the place the next day.

And the hills are steep so walking and sightseeing took some effort.

Overall a fun weekend. The highlight was of course seeing snow and learning to ski. The lowlight was seeing these 4/5 year old, 3 foot kids skiing and moving like professionals. little shits!!

Off to the Snow

2006-09-07T08:32:00.000+10:00

Today is Thursday and will be the last day of work for me for the week. For Metria and I shall be heading off to the snow with some chums. The weekend should be fun with higlights being the both of us tackling skiing for the first time.

This could be me!!

This should be an interesting experiment as it involves a fair bit of coordination and balance. There could be some surprised but I think it will be very comical. The two of us, well ok I talk for me here, are bound to be falling a lot. Getting up, falling and then getting up.

This is probably a more accurate picture of what will be happening....HELP!!!!

We will beheading to Mt Buller which is about 3 hours from Melbourne. Should be an enjopyable drive and hopefully we get there with no issues. There is a matter of the car needing snow chains but as we are travelling with slightly more experienced people (that is they have been ther already) i am sure my mate can handle this while I sit in the car, with the heater on giving him the "thumbs up" sign!

It will be interesting to experience the ski/snow community there and to be in the snow. Things to also do are to make a snowman and do the snow angels thing. Would love tobe in a snowball fight but my friends are probably too mature for that!

The next entry will contain some pics of the trip

Steve Irwin - 1962 to 2006

2006-09-05T16:41:00.000+10:00

Most of you would have heard the sad news that Steve irwon, known as the Crocodile Hunter, died off the coast of north east Australia yesterday. He was stung by a sting-ray and was likely to have been killed instantly.

He was quite a character and definently promoted the phrase "CRIKEY" to the world.

He was known here but only gained a sense of popularity over the lat few yers. Previously he was not really well known. I remember his first appearance on TV. He came on a late night chat show and he was talking like such an Aussie, I thought he came straight from 1980. Even some of the panelists were looking amused at how he talked.

But one thing you never doubted was his passion for conservation and protecting wildlife. He brought to the forefront the need for the world to be wary that what we do can have a huge impact on the ecosystem.

He was the Wildlife Warrior.

The Crocodile Hunter

And he died doing what he loved best.

Something fishy at West Ham

2006-09-01T13:05:00.000+10:00

Hmmmm.....West Ham United sign two 22 year old Argentinian players who were part of their world cup squad - Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano. Both players are very good, both players would have cost a bank and then some to buy from Corinthians. Both players are rated as being worth a total of at least 50m pounds!

The Hammers are now expected to be pretty decent and should challenge for the top part of the league given the midfield and strike force of Reo-Corker, Bobby Zamora, Marlon Harewood, Ben Haim etc etc. I am glad the 'Pool played them last week and won coz they are going to be a handful.

Javier would have been a good buy and I know one fellow blogger was looking forward to his signing with MU. You can read his thoughts here. Bad luck buddy!

Still I have some questions and I think something is up and it involves Chelsea.

Chelsea seem to have a penchant for buying players so the big clubs such as MU, the Arse and the Pool can not buy them. Look at Shaun Wright Phillips who has basically sat on the bench and then look at Michael Essien who is unlikely to play a lot given the midfield players they have.

Both Tevez and Mascherano are signed to a company called Media Sports Inc and a shareholder is one Mr Roman Ambranovich - he who owns Chelsea.

Something is up!

There was no way these two guys would go to Arseanal or ManUSA as they would be strengtened and may challenge Chelsea for the league title or heaven forbid, the Champions League. So they go to a decent club but not a real title challenger.

As part of the Hammers team , the Special Dufus and Roman Billionaire can gauge how they adapt to the style and play of the EPL. If they do not turn out like Juan Sebastian Veron then I think there will be a sale to Chelsea for some huge amounts of cash.

Sounds fishy doesn't it!

* * * * * * * *

On another note, the league is in recess which is a shame as i amgoing to miss my EPL this weekend. Yeah MaU are on top but good that the Cheqski have lost a game (thanks to Mark Viduka). Lets hope that lads can get a decent win in the Derby and we can challenge for the title. Oh well.

Lets just hand them the title

2006-08-24T13:43:00.000+10:00

After 2 matches of the EPL, ManUsa are at the top of the table with 2 emphatic wins, a 5-1 demolition of Foolham and 3-0 away win against Choketon. With Chelsea losing to Middlesboredom let us just give the EPL trophy to ManUsa.

Coz that is what their fans are saying. They have come out of the blocks and lets forget the other 36 matches plus champs league, mickey mouse cup and FArCup matches they have to play. Just give them the trophy.

After all they won today without Roo-Roo and Paul Scold (suspended) so they are showing the world their quality as true EPL champs aren't they??? Players like John O'Shea and Darren Fletcher have grown so much that they are scoring goals now.

So after 2 matches, the fans are going nuts....and they should be, their team has done well and as sitting on top of the EPL.

yeah........ :-P

The Kuyt lands at Anfield

2006-08-18T11:11:00.000+10:00

It has been reported that Liverpool has signed Dutch striker Dirk Kuyt from Feyenoord for a sum anywhere between 9m and 11m pounds. He adds to the stable of players as LFC carries on with the Rafalution.

Currently he is undergoing a medical and has to agree to personal terms and funnily enough he says he pushed back a number of other offers to play with 'pool - sure that is what they all say!!

While he is not a big name striker like $hev$henko or Ruud Van Nestlinginrealmadrid, we have a player who has scored at least 20 goals in the past 4 Dutch seasons and also helps to create a number of goals for team mates.

This is seriously the type of player Rafa Benitez likes - hard working on the pitch and plays for the team.

After the dissapintment of Fernando Morientes, I am a little reserving to explain he is one of the last pieces we need to claim the premiership. It will take him some time to adapt to the EPL but I hope it is a lot quicker and he starts doing good things sooner.

DK also can play on the right and as a striker so that is good with the rotation policy clubs employ to fit in with the various competitions they play in.

DK also can play on the right and as a striker so that is good with the rotation policy clubs employ to fit in with the various competitions they play in.

Of course now we can look forward to a number of articles considering his name sounds like "KITE" such as my attempt and we have to give him a nick name as well. I cannot help thinking of the movie character "Dirk Diggler" from the movie Boogie Nights. Lets hope DK makes like DD when he meets our opponents in the EPL and well you can guess the rest......

5 Things that I did NOT like about Malaysia

2006-08-17T14:26:00.000+10:00

I thought a good way to cover the holiday was to p the locals there and list the things I did not like. but do not get your sarongs in too many knots. i will have a list of things I did like and I reckon it will longer. Anyway, the thrashing begins.........

1. TRAFFIC - look I am a traffic engineer so my life is spent dealing with traffic, but the way people drive there. GEEZ!!! There is no such thing as courtesy and the aim appears to be cutting in and out but not giving way to any other motorists. I can not drive in KL. I would be stopping and starting and giving way to much. But I may have brought some of those habits back here. I seem to be cutting lanes a lot these days - although i do indicate!

2. ITS GETTING HOT IN HERE - Actually the weather was a lot kinder this time around that last time due to the rains. But when the sun shone and broke through the haze/mist/clouds, MAN did I feel the heat. But thank god there are air conditioners, thank the gods alright!!

3. Did I mention the traffic!

4. The Mexican Restaurant on Heritage Row - we went there for dinner for my mum-in-law's anniversary of her 21st birthday and there were about 4 tables occupied. We ordered food and some tequila's. i had 3 shots and was still sober. After an hour our food did not come. Really bad I say - someone must have been in the kitchen reading the recipe book on how to make Fajita's!

5. PARIS HILTON @ No 2 of your charts - what is wrong with you people. How can this blonde, non-talented BIMBO hoochie have her song at number 2. Be ashamed, be very ashamed, hold your heads for this to occur. Seriously, what is wrong with the listeners in your country. She has no talent in anything except for certain types of activities in certain type of movies. All she does is do nothing!! and you have her at number 2 in your musical charts.

Look that really is the biggest thing that p'ed me off...and the number of times they play it on the radio!!

Shame Malaysia SHAME

Thursday football talk

2006-08-17T09:42:00.000+10:00

I have not had time to write about the trip to Malaysia out I wanted to quickly talk about the overnight internationals and the upcoming EPL season.

First thing is that Australia has qualified for the Asia Cup next year which will be held in Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and MALAYSIA. The game was pretty poor as they were made up of a group of young guys who play in our national competition the A-League. From the standard of passing I see why they play here and not in Europe. It was average but come the Asia cup, we should get the regulars in.

Which bring me to hoping they get grouped with Singapore or Malaysia (more so the latter) as it is likely that their games will be played in the land of my birth. Then I can start a football odyssey and go to their matches. It shall be great fun to partake and catch up with all. Now I have to convince Metria to come along. She can visit her friends and I can happily watch football. Steven – you should come as well!

Steven is my beloved cousin, a fellow Liverpudlian supporter (a great bloke then!!) and an Englishmen. His national team destroyed the Greeks via a 4 goal whooping. But beware of Greeks conceding goals. Actually not much should be read into the game as it was a friendly. See they are grouped with Russia who are managed for my nominee for “Australian” of the Year Guus Hiddink. And they better be careful, they may be in for a rude surprise!

Still the team looked a lot better with the new set up. Defoe as a striker was ordinary. But Stevie on the right worked well and Lampard played good in central midfield with Owen Hargraves as the holding player. There was more cohesiveness on the pitch and the first half was really good. Too bad they show this form 6 weeks too late and not when it counted. Oh well….

Lastly, I am looking forward to the start of the EPL season. Finally footy is back and we can look forward to weekends staying up late and watching matches. Sadly there is no fun as I expect Chelsea to win it all followed by LFC, then a gap to a combination of Arsenal, ManUre, Newcastle and Spurs.

But again Chelsea can not be considered a big club, we know the reason why the have won so much yet they have not managed to win a cup apart from the Mickey Mouse one – same as MU. All that money has ruined the game and of Roman leaves I hope the club falls coz they are not real, they are fakes and deserve all the supporters who have joined them after jumping off the MU bandwagon!

A sad ending to the trip

2006-08-13T12:55:00.000+10:00

A sad event occurred last night as we were returned home. My nani/grandmother (my mum's mother) passed away. She left this world at about 9pm last night (11pm here in Melbourne) and I found out about it this morning.

It only took a few moments for the memories of her to engulf me and this wave of emotion overcame me. My thoughts are primarly of the first 6/7 years of life, when she used to look after me, my cousins and my brother and sister. The memories from ym childhood are centrered around spending times with my cousins but during the working week I remember my nani used to look after us.

Although sad that her long life has come to an end, I feel happy that she passed away last night while my mum and aunts were around. She was due to return to her nursing home today and to pass away there would have been terrible and unfair.

Last night she was blessed, she was with her some of her family, her daughters who came down from Australia (my mum) and England (my aunt of course). If my mum and Aunt were not there she would have been at the nursing home.

The last 2 weeks she has been surrounded by her daugthers and some of her grandchildren, and although she may not have been able to see us or communicate with us, I hope she could FEEL us! Feel her family were around and that she was loved. I think that she sensed/knew that she would be returning to the nursing home today and would be alone. When she left this world, she left knowing her family was with her. That feels right and kind and correct in a way.

I knew when I left my Aunt's house that this would be the last time I would see her alive. But to have this happen after 24 hours is a shock.

So rest in peace Naniji. You leave the world with 5 daughters, 3 sons, 15 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren and growing!

A mini holiday withing the holiday

2006-08-07T12:30:00.000+10:00

Metria and I are off to Batu Pahat in a few minutes. It is just an overnight stay so we can visit my cousin and her recently birthed twin daughters. They are apparerently gorgeous and why not, they come from the same gene pool as me :-)

Batu Pahat is about 2-3 hours from KL so we can see some sceneray on the way.

Should be good few days away from thew hustle and bustle of the KL metropolis!

Its sad sometimes

2006-08-05T20:20:00.000+10:00

My Nani, my mum's mother is well into her 80's. I do not know her exact age because he date of birth was not recorded. So we kind of know what age she is.

My image of her is of a loving grandmother who would always be of her holding my head while kissing my cheeks. It is a wonderful memory that I hope to keep forever. As a child I remember her vividly as she would look after me, my sister and cousin when our parents were at work.

The last time I saw her was about 5 or 6 years ago, until recently. The last few years have not been kind to her as her memory is fading and the happiness I use to see has disappeared. Earlier this week, I saw her at my Aunt's place where she is being looked after by my mum and her sisters for a couple of weeks.

When I looked into her eyes I could tell she did not know where she was or what she was feeling. I felt like she was somewhere and she was not really happy. Her memories must be gone and that is truly sad for her. She raised 3 sone and 5 daughters and in turn their children. She had a tough life and her marriage was not the best. But she knew that love would do wonders.

Yet the greatest thing she did was love her grandchildren.

I remember when she stayed with us in Perth for sometime, everytime we came home from school or with ourt friends she would give us a hug and kiss of on the cheeks a lot. Sometimes 2, 3, 4, 5 times. She was always happy to see us. A person feels wonderful when they are greeted like that.

When I look back on those times, I feel sad that she has now come back to this state where she can not recognise where she is and who she is with.

Life is like that sometimes.

When on Holidays one must relax, even at the cost of putting a few family members off!

2006-08-05T19:56:00.000+10:00

So far, so good. No stomach problems and the heat is not taking its toll. Sure this place is slightly warmer and muggier than Melbourne but it has been nice. My team around me have been diligent in what food I eat, so touch wood all will be well and I get back in one piece. I have been relaxing quite a bit, reading books, watching TV and DVD's so I have come down to a level where I feel quite relaxed.

Yet I feel a bit bad because I have been here a week and have seen only a few relatives. My family is rather large and I have a lot of uncles and aunties here as a result of the large families my parents came from (this begs the question about the contraceptive, or lack thereof, in the old days or were my grandparents just rabbits!)

Still I love coming from a large family because this means family functions are always fun! A lot of my cousins have their own kids and so I am an uncle to a few offspring - the big, bald uncle from Melbourne!! And they are all so adorable and most are scared of me!!

But the conundrum when visiting Malaysia is to make the time to see them all. I would love to do that, but in undertaking such a task, it could result in increased stress levels with all the driving around. Not to mention, it would mean Metria would have to follow and therefore abandon her friends in some instances. There was already a case that just occurred today at lunch.

We went out to meet a friend for lunch and just as we were entering I bumped into a cousin who was going to lunch with her friend. So a group of 3 became 5 and I was trying to chat with my cousin while not appearing too rude to Metria's friend. I trend to balance the conversation between the both parties while not taking the focus for Metria and mate to talk. Tough!

Now we have less that a week before we hit Melbourne and I only have 3/4 days to see my family. Some tentative plans have been made and hopefully we can see as many of the family as possible. It is somewhat important as this is the first time I meet the family after the marriage but I hope they understand that if I do not meet them it is because I do not like them.

I enjoy spending time with my uncles and aunties but I really want to catch up with my cousins. Because we, the younger generation, will carry the family name forward and my family tree has always been very close, and I hope to achieve a similar bond with them. These days with the open lines of communication it is easy to stay in touch even if they are 8000km's away. Sure the day to day, physical communication is not there but as family the bond can be expressed somewhat through msn, blogs and email.

I hope my family feels the same way.

2006-08-01T21:54:00.000+10:00

Sometimes if it good to be away and see what is happening to get a better perspective on things. Being away from the land down under I keep abreast of the news and what is happening.

The biggish story is that the latest winner of Big Brother - Australia - is over and this Zoolander clone Jamie won it. Look he seems like a nice guy but he talks and does dumb things. But being harmless helps, he did not really harm or hurt anyone and is well known for the size of his...ahem...Well his down under. See is BB, they show everything and people have seen the comings and goings there.

The other scary thing is noting that the price of bananas there are something like $16 per kilo!!! So while here I am going to whack as much gorang pisang as I can!

Lastly, my football boys kanaed a 3-0 loss over the weekend! See I leave and the team starts falling apart!!

Apart from all this and that, our holiday has been rambling along at a nice speed. My only worry/issue here is how to spread my love to the family! Too many cousins, aunties and uncles to see but that is why I love coming here. The main problem is that everyone works and the weekend is the best time. But those slots get filled up a lot! I have seen more of Metria's family which is different but I enjoy it as they are now my new extended family - and lord knows my family keeps getting bigger and bigger.

Plus I have to visit the pasa malam and pick up football jerseys. We need new toilet seat covers and hence the new ManU jersey will suffice!! Plus I want to get some DVD's so I can watch and waste time when I am home.

The only downside is I feel the inkling to savour some of the KL nightlife. So maybe this Friday night we head over to my cousin's pub in Hartamas (shameless plug alert - BOJANGLES) and groove the evening away!!

Selemat Datang

2006-07-30T13:42:00.000+10:00

After all that waiting I am finally here in Malaysia sitting nicely at my in laws place. It is a great feeling to be on holiday where I can sleep in, eat, nap and eat some more. It is only the second day here and all is well.

The trip to KL from Melbourne was uneventful but 8 plus hours can be stale. I decided to sit in the window seat and give Metria the aisle seat. Big mistake as the seats are not very big and hence I felt cramped up. Eventually we switched so I could stretch out a bit but the damage may have been done so I had to get up to stretch the legs. The service on MAS was a bit poor and the stewardesses were not really switched on. An order of a drink resulted in them delivering the drink to different passengers on 2 separate occasions. But the on-demand movies and TV shows was excellent. I saw 'Glory Road' and 'King Kong' and a host of other shows.

Eventually we touched down and surprisingly we got through immigration very quickly as the airport was very quiet. I was expecting the luggage to take some time but that arrived quickly and before you knew it we were through the sliding glass doors and were enveloped in the humidity and smell that is KL.

It was great!

We met Metria's sister and off we went. It was past midnight Melbourne time and we were a bit tired yet awake with excitement of arriving here. I waned to head to the in-laws for a shower but Metria wanted to go straight to the mamak stall!

So while I decided to take it easy and have a tetarik. Metria whacked a roti canai.

It was great to be back here.

Yesterday we celebrated my ma-in-laws birthday and we went Mexican at Mezquite in Heritage Row. We had some tequila shots but after an hour the food was not out. There were only 2 other tables and we could not fathom the reason for the delay. Eventually we left and the manager bought us a round of maragaritas. The venue decor was exquisite but the service was poor. Can not comment on the food as we did not taste anything BUT we got free booze.

Eventually we went to a Chinese restaurant. I had my satay. I am happy. I love satay and this place was great coz they marinate the satay in the sauce then cook it. YUMMY. I only ate 15 sticks but trust me I could easily do 50!

All in all things have been good. The weather has not been too hot so I have been able to acclimatize well.

Seen my in-laws and am shortly going to catch up with my mum and my cousins.

All good. Tonight I shall catch up with Mr Dish Bish and later others. It is gonna be an excellent 2 weeks!

A true legend bows out

2006-07-25T20:43:00.000+10:00

I really have to say something about DENNIS BERGKAMP as he bades farewell to top level football and sails into the sunset. You could call him specatacular, awesome even use tremendous but those words do not seem enough.

He was ICE, you know the street word for "DIAMOND"

Because that is what Arsenal did when they bought him. They unearthed a diamond. He epitomised class and talent.

I do not really say much about a player from another team but I would rate DB as the reason I would watch an Arsenal match. As a matter of fact him and Ryan Giggs are the only non-Liverpool players I enjoy watching and have admiration for.

He has a career filled with highlights particularly when he would don the Dutch uniform. How can one forget his goal against Argentina in the 1998 WC. The way he controlled the long ball, beat the defence and slotted it in coolly. And cool he was and he was dubbed the "Iceman".

I believed that in Euro 2000 he showed the football world why he had to be considered one of the best. He led the Dutch to the semi's only to be denied by the goal post. The Italians (their opponents) did not do a lot to stop him, DB just could not get the ball to bounce the right way. But he tore apart the Azzurri defence with his creative flair and passing.

That is what I enjoyed about him. He was a great team player and an amazing creator for goal scorers. How much better or easier did he make life for Ian Wright and Thierry Henry when playing behind them.

And this was a player who Inter Milan president Mossami Morratti said would "be lucky to score 10 goals in a season". He may have been stiffled by the boring and grinding style of Italian football but when he crossed the channel he came to the fore.

This is one player I would have loved to have seen in Liverpool red. Still I enjoyed him when he play everyone bar LFC. Arsenal fans should note that he was the reason why you had that renaissance, why you won titles and why your team succeded.

He PIMPED Arsenal! The Arsenal team colours should have changed to a ice cool blue hue just to recognise what he brought to their club.

Dennis Bergkamp a true legend. 120 goals during 420 plus EPL matches. European player of the year in 1993, Euopean cup winners up winner, a UEFA cup winners cup, 3 EPL titles, 4 FA Cup titles and 1999 PFA player of the year in England.

As Ali G likes to put it...

RESPECT

10 more sleeps until Vacation time

2006-07-18T21:04:00.000+10:00

Metria and I will shortly depart the cold and wet of Melbourne for the heat and humidy of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I am looking forward to the trip and am experiencing a whirlwind of emotions. One is trepidation although my tastebuds differ just thinking of a ice chendol on a hot day.

The reason for my angst and fear is that the last two trips to KL have ended the same way. Me in a PJ hospital with food poisoning, wanting to throw up and very cranky. It is not to pleasant and makes me the centre of attention in a negative way. If I am to be the centre of attention I want it to be in a positive way such as me being a clown or the satnd up comedian I see in my feeble little mind.

Still I hope I can go through this holiday and not eat any bad food. My mum-out-law has given me strict instructions that I am to eat home cooked food. But the charm of KL is the food - the mamak and hawker stalls, the SATAY..I am drooling already!
Nonetheless I hope to catch up with Keropok and Daniel Franklin Gomez and have a "bloggers meet, eat and drink". At the very least we shall argue about football and why Liverpool is better than the Arse and ManUre. Metria will be fine then she can catch up with her friends. The last time I met Keropok, I had married his friend Metria and the previous time we met, I was sick! Hopefully this time I make a good impression (what am i saying, I am a LFC fan!!)

The trip shall afford me the chance to catch up with relatives and touch base with my cousins. I come from a large family with a lot of uncles and aunties. We seriously should consider having our own section in PJ with the family members that have extended as us kids grow and get married. But is wonderful to see all my uncles, aunties and cousins and their kids. I enjoy the family feeling and it is the one thing I missed the most when I left Malaysia back in thd day.

I also hope to make a side trip to Batu Pahat and see my cousin who was recently blessed with the arrival of 2 daughters. Plus I have never been to BP and would like a look. And on the way stop at a few stalls and taste some food. But have to be cautious, must make sure it is freshly cooked and edible, otherwise my mum-out-law shall be most upset

It is time to start counting down but at the back of my mind is the dreaded office and work that needs to be done! Such a pain, you got to work your booty off to enjoy your holiday and then when you come back nothing else has been done.

ALAMAK!

But I am looking foward to sweating and breathing that air that is KL!

The season that could be

2006-07-17T17:34:00.000+10:00

My attention has now focussed onto the happenings of the domestic leagues around the world. Although the past few days there has been a lot of socialising especially the last weekend where a very good friend of mine visited me from Adelaide. Hence it was a weekend of eating and drinking. Thankfully I managed to play a full football game and 90 minutes of running (ok it was more walking and short jogs here and there) has helped. But damm sore now!

I am a big fan of the EPL and Liverpool Football Club is my team. I supported them since the mid 1980’s when as a child I would see my uncles and older cousins congregate over a few whiskies and discuss football. I cannot recall whether they were watching the games on TV as this was my youth in KL and I was too busy pretending to be a Jedi knight!

It seems that the majority of my family were Manchester United supporters. Being the rebel I was, I decided that Liverpool would be my team and that has started my love affair with the most successful football team in England. Actually at that point I was not caught up and did not comprehend the peak that LFC was experiencing.

My earliest memories of LFC have been negative. The earliest one is of Ian Thomas scoring the winning goal in 1989 to clinch the championship. Of course during the 1989/90 season they claimed the title but after that it has not been so glorious.

I suffered through the Manchester United domination of the 1990’s and forget about rivalries with Arsenal and Chelsea. The LFC and MUFC rivalry is the biggest in the EPL. It has been going since the 1960’s and it has grown worldwide now.

I respect MUFC but not the fans. I have had the success of ManU rubbed in my face for nearly 15 years. But……

……now I feel the balance of power in the north east of England and the EPL is changing a little. We are in the midst of the Rafalution.
Since Rafa has become the manager the team is playing more consistently. He has brought out the best from players like Jamie Carragher, rediscovered Sami Hyppia, unearthed the jewels of Xabi Alonso and Momo Sissoko and he brought back GOD! The future looks promising if the recruits of Gabriel Paletta, Daniel Agger, Mark Gonzalez and Craig Bellamy show the promise we hope.

Under his guidance the team has been doing well. European Champions League winners in 2005 and the FA Cup earlier this year. Along the way to the titles we slew the giants of Chelsea, ManU, Juventus and AC Milan!

With these two I see plenty of trophies coming our way

While I do not really see the EPL trophy being lifted but Steven Gerrard this season I feel we will challenge. The future looks golden and we look to get better. We look to improve. There will be more memorable nights in Europe and days in England!

The smile of LFC supports will return and when that happens, won’t the ManUre fans know about it!

You’ll Never Walk Alone!

Now it is over for another 4 years

2006-07-12T17:51:00.000+10:00

The world cup is over.

On reflection, I do not think this world cup was the best of them.

The best team (Argentina) did not win it, actually it did not make it to the last 4. But that is one of the beautifual aspects of the WC. The favourties rarely win. Each team needs a bit of luck in the match and to be able to fire up at the right time.

Germany overcame the lack of expectation to finish 3rd. Good for them. They were brilliantly led by their Coach and deserve the accolades and plaudits. They were overcome by the champions when they switched of for the last 90 seconds of the match. A 2-0 scoreline was harsh. They had to attack with a few ticks of the clock left and when the defence is left bare, a team can capitalised.

Portugal performed as they should have in 2002, by progressing far but some of their players will be remembered shortly for the wrong reasons and their fans were appalling in the semi final (anyone note that whenever a French non white player touched the ball there was a chorus of whistles). Certain players showed me that they are soft and will do anything for their team to win, even if it means sending off a team mate from their club!

It was somewhat anticlimatical when ZZ was sent off for a headbutt. It was the correct call but people are questioning why ZZ did it. He knew what was at stake, he knew his action would be seen and he must have know that he would be OFFiif he followed through! But for that micro second we saw the less acknowledged part of Zizou - his temper. He lost control and did something crazy to spoil the goodwill the world shone on him as he provided us the last glimpse of his greatness.

What happenes now is the the last glimpse we have of Zizou is walking past the trophy I and many others wished he was holding as that would be a fitting lasting image of a great player.

Nonetheless, I see him as this generations Pele or Maradonna. His sublime skills, the spectacular play and his WOW factor. Let us remeber that Maradonna has his faults too but one could never question his skill. We can do the same for Zizou. Maybe we shall remember his better sides in years to come.

France deserved to be in the final - after all they beat the previous world cup finalists and an up and coming, yet underperforming Spanish team.

They showed that the world cup is not a sprint. Teams can not peak at the start and maintain the rage for another month. They should improve and when they reach the knockout stages the should be peaking so they can be firing on all cylinders come the final. They were lucky to get out of their group but they did and then they rode into the final.

We forget that Italy had a tough group and they qualified well by beating the Czech Republic and Ghana while leaving a bloodied America with a point. They managed to get through the second round through controversy and had a good run to the semi final where they beat the hosts. Still I am not a big fan of the Azzurri, their players find it acceptable to cheat and their fans find it acceptable to degrade players of differing ethnic origins (not all Italian fans are like that but there are some)

Argentina looked good at the start. They destroyed Serbia and Montenegro but could not reclaim that form when it mattered.

The first round was exciting with plenty of action and goals. The second round started the down hill roll in terms of the scoring but with more at stake, it is accpeted that teams become more cautious and look to defend hard and grab those chances.

To win the world cup a team has to make their luck and grab the chances their opponents give them. There is no other match. Thereis no tomorrow.

As I said, this world cup was good but not great but that is my opinion. But it is a special tournament, it brings the world together and it brings a sense of joy and well being to the world for a month.

It is hard for those of us on the other side of the world as it means late nights and hard working days, but then we can catch up with friends and talk all about the football.

That is what I shall miss, the talking, the blogging and the commentating as wannabe phooderballl experts!

Euro 2008.....come on down....