Fodbol

Who cares anymore? That's my response to those that ask me who I think will win the World Cup. I was gutted after that Italy game. All that's left now are the same boring sides. Where are the Cameroon's, South Korea's, Turkey's, North Korea's, etc? These underdog teams making it through to the last few matches are what makes the Cup exciting. Now it's the same crap. If I was a cynical bastard, I'd think that the ref's protect the bigger teams. Hang on, that's in fact what I am and what I think.
I love the game of Fodbol, just as I love footy. But there are some aspects of the game that need to be fixed, and fixed fast. The following rules have to be brought in to make the game better.

Touch the ref, red card.
I hate players having a sookie-sookie-la-la and going to the ref complaining about a free kick given. You need to respect the ref and he should be off-limits. Touch him and your off. That would screw the South Americans and the Europeans.

Video review of games. If a player has dived, suspend for two matches.
That would fix up the diving issue. Players would think twice before doing a Greg Louganis/Matty Lloyd.

Time off for Injury
If a player goes down and is "injured" the following should apply. If medical staff have to come on to the ground, the player is to be taken off the pitch and not allowed to come on for 5 mins. That's how long it should take to diagnose little injuries. If a stretcher is brought onto the ground, the player is to be taken off the pitch and stay off for 15 mins. If the injury is that bad then surely 15 min is the minimum time required for the player to feel better.

I won't forget the last two games Australia played just due to the fact of where I watched them. I witnessed the game against the handballers Croatia in a pay laundry in Yurala, which is near Uluru. For the last game, we were in tents at a camping ground in Alice Springs and in order to watch the game we decided to hire one of the rooms in the motel there. Jammed in that single room were 4 guys and 37 girls.

Journey

Heading down the road....


across...



past ...



around ...



time to reflect ...



back on the track ...



in the distance ...



through ...



to ...

Vivid

Books are great. I am a huge fan. For many hours have I trawled second hand book shops, op-shops and the like, looking for something to read. But there is one type of book that does not and never will be able to capture reality. Those books that contain photos of famous buildings/art/landscapes/etc. You know, the ones that try to give you the feeling of actually being there and witnessing that building/art/landscape/etc. I'm sorry, but reality wins hands down. I'm not denigrating the photo as a form of art. In fact, I love that form. But taking a picture of a photo and putting it in a book can never reproduce the experience of actually seeing that photo.

Case 1: Art
I am just a humble scientist. I'm not that fantastic expressing how or why a piece of art affects me. But I know it when it does. Looking through a book of art does not evoke any emotions. But as I walk through a gallery, I can experience them all. Here are few examples of works that captured my gaze, made me think and stirred me. But only by being there and seeing them in the 'flesh'.




Case 2: The Great Wall of China
This is definitely an experience. Pictures cannot describe this structure. It's not the size, it's not the length, it's, how can I put it, the "vibe". No picture will ever capture that.

I'm thinking about this at the moment because in about a week I'll be at Uluru. I've seen the pictures but .....

Reporting for duty

I'm back. It's been a month and it's gone so quickly. My footy team has won zero games so I'll get the footy rant out first.
I'm getting fed up with footballers who get paid $100,000+ and still can't kick or make a decent decision. And some of them are so dumb. Lets punch the ball away from my fellow team mate who is just about to mark it. Or I'll ask for a handball on my wrong side, realise too late that it's on my wrong side, then have to turn a full circle, by which time the opposition have cornered me, then give off a handball in panic to a team mate who gets brutally assaulted by said opposition because I was too scared to take responsibility. How about chipping the ball around when you are 20 points behind? It's not like you are trying to win a game of football. I don't want to name players, but I wouldn't play Tattslotto with the following numbers: 3, 9, 16, 20, 29, 39. These numbers are definitely not lucky.
Stallion, your football team is not much better. Being 9 goals up in the 3rd quarter and losing? It's gotta be breaking your heart. How's Japan? Are you taking time off to sit back and watch the World Cup?
Rachel, I've gotta organise a trip to the territory. It sounds like it's going to be a cold winter. It must be trying following the Blues when the Pies are doing so well. Matt must be interested in football again.
During school holidays I'm going on a 10 day bus trip to Central Australia. I've never been so I'm looking forward to it. However, there will be about 40 screaming kids coming along. I hope I survive.
Reports. Reports. Reports. I've just finished writing what seemed like 1,000 school reports. It destroys your social life and sleep. Thank (insert deity of choice here) that it is over. And to think I have to do it again at the end of the year! Ahhhhhhhh..............................
Touring news.... Metal heads will no doubt be as excited as I am with news that one of my favourite bands from the eighties is touring. Queensryche is doing the Operation Mindcrime show. It's an album that I never get tired of listening to. And they have just released Operation Mindcrime Part II. They will be playing both parts. I'm there. Who will join me? I know you want to be there...