A slow start

Well the new Air New Zealand Cup kicked off over the weekend. The Air NZ Cup is essentially the old NPC Division One, with four teams promoted from the old second division - Hawkes Bay, Tasman (a combination of Nelson Bays and Marlborough), Counties Manakau, and Manawatu.

All teams actually performed pretty well. I went and watched Manawatu (arguably the weakest, and worst prepared - their coach walked out 4 weeks ago) play defending champions Auckland. To be honest, after the Lions (British) put 100 points on Manawatu last year - I wasnt expecting much with a team like Auckland coming to town - star studded backline and all. But Manawatu dominated the break-down, turning over a lot of posession, and won the lineouts - their scrum was weak, but thats to be expected.

Manawatu lock Hayden Triggs could well make the Hurricanes if he can keep performing like that, and the Manawatu loosies were outstanding, outperforming the Aucklanders - who were made up of Daniel Braid, Brad Mika, and Jerome Kaino - all of whom have played for the All Blacks.

My team, the Wellington Lions were too good for Taranaki, and while the other results were predictable, Counites should have beaten Otago - going down by four points, and Tasman pushed Harbour losing 33-27. Good stuff.

What wasn't so good was my performance in the Virtual Air NZ Cup - picking up only 18 points, nevermind its early days yet - and the Heartland Championship should be a leveller once that kicks off.

PS. Its a little odd that the Manawatu team are called the Turbo's - they are suppsoedly named after the Wind Turbines, which dominate the hills surrounding Palmerston North - so why not the Manawatu Turbines?

206 - first class

This is from the 206 online fan club - says it all really

There's nothing like 206. Innovative and seductive, appealing as much to the eye as to the heart, the shape of the 206 symbolizes a new generation of
Peugeot.

With its lean looks and muscular stance, the 206 conveys a sensation of movement even when standing still. The spacious cabin, the high-quality finish and the discerning choice of materials give it a feeling of luxury usually associated with a much larger car.

Thats first class. I'll take photo's this weekend and blog them early next week.

Stop the Clocks

Oasis have today announced via their very handy email newsletter that they are releasing a best-of titled Stop the Clocks. Apparently it will be the bands "ultimate set list" and will feature songs from all albums including "the best b-side ever" (if they say so themselves) Acquiese and also Half the World Away (which I would argue is better!) plus all their major singles.

This is apparently a stop-gap between the end of their Don't Believe the Truth tour and beginning the next studio album. Often best-of's are a sign that the end is nigh, but I hope not - Don't Believe the Truth is easily their best album since What's the Story and while its good to go out on a high, I think the lads still have another couple of great albums in them. Fingers crossed!

PS, in the handy email there wasn't a release date so I assume this is out now?

Tate Modern

Art isnt one of my usual topics I know, but while dreaming of being on holiday this morning, I read an article about how the Tate Modern is going to expand. Tate Modern is the sister of Tate Britain or The Tate as it was known, and was opened in 2000, and because of the UK Labour govts most excellent policy of free entry to museums and galleries; instead of having 1.8m visitors per year - they get 4m! Hence the expansion. Tate was an absolute highlight of my time in London with level 5's Idea + Object and States of Flux galleries holding most of my attention - pictured is one of my favourites Jasper Johns' 0 through 9, from the State of Flux space - which also houses Warhol's Double Elvis and one of the iconic Marilyn Diptych's. Not only the art though, the Tate itself is stunning - it used to be a power station, you enter through what was the turbine hall - which is just massive. Looking at the "Pyramid" extension im not entirely sure about the design, but we'll see, and god knows London needs more stand out contempary architecture. If youre ever in London check that puppy out.

Holy shit

This is apparently legit - David Hasselhoff is producing a musical about his life titled David Hasselhoff: The Musical. Not a lot else needs to be said really.

Sensational reporting

Keith Ng in his On Point blog on Public Address has done a fantastic take on the DomPost's ridiculous sensationalistic article on crime in New Zealand. Keith's article is definitely worth a read.

Shocking figures in the DomPost yesterday showed, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that there are places in New Zealand with more cases of MURDER per capita than any other place in New Zealand.

What's more, the statistics irrefutably show that this is not only true of MURDER, but also of robbery, assault, rape and cannabisism. Remarkably, in a country that we once thought of as safe, there now exists CRIME CAPITALS where instances of such crimes per capita is higher than anywhere else in New Zealand.

Dragons Den idea 1

Ive called this idea 1 as Im sure ill come up with others.

For those in foreign lands - Dragons Den is a show where people pitch their business ideas to "the Dragons" - 5 highly successful business people, who either invest - or slag them off telling them theyre rubbish. This is surprisingly addictive TV. The UK verison screened here earlier this year, and the Aussie verison has just finished - they are now calling for auditions for the New Zealand version!

My idea - online hookers.

Now almost every other part of the sex industry has moved online - porn, buying toys, picking up people through dating sites etc- so instead of cruising along Vivian St or Marion Sq, or K rd in Auckland - why not order your hooker/rentboy etc online?

Concept - set up a website where people sign up, load their Credit Card details, and then each time they visit, they simply pick what they want - M/F/MTF/WTM/?, Age, Race etc, select the service they want and for how long - their credit card is then debitted and the hooker meets them at the agreed location. Simple.

Prostitution was legalised in 2003, and this seems like the obvious next step - way more discreet. This works to much the same model that D'Vice use for taking toys to the mainstream - websites are non-judgemental and annonymous. Seems ideal to me.

Thoughts?

Bizarre night at the movies

This post should have been my review of Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story, which is Steve Coogan's new film, part of this year's Film Festival. But....... the Embassy's fire alarm went off, and the building was evacuated with about 10 minutes to go. At first the festival people said, sorry we havent enough time to play the last few minutes before the next film, but then attempted to, only for the projector to malfunction.

What was most annoying about this was the 14 minute short film played at the start. Now normally I like a short film as an entree, but this film was silent and acted through interpretive dance....... Break - the breakdown of a modern day family through interpretive dance.......... enough said on that really. Utter bollocks.

So anyway the film is about the making of "the unmakeable" 18th century novel - The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy. Coogan of course is outstanding, playing the lead role, and himself. Welsh commedian Rob Brydon plays the co-lead (or supporting actor role according to Coogan) is also great - insisting that while Coogan may deny that he talks like Alan Partridge, he in fact is Alan. Great cameos from Dylan Moran (Black Books), Ronni Ancona (Big Impression), Gillian Anderson (X Files), Stephen Fry (Blackadder), Tony Wilson (the actual guy Coogan played in 24 hour party people), Mark Walliams (Little Britain) and Kelly Macdonald (Trainspotting) amongst others.

The film is hilarious, there are scenes where you litterally convulse with laughter - I had tears in my eyes I was laughing so hard in parts - but ive no idea what the ending is like! So ill give it a provisional four stars.

http://www.tristramshandymovie.com/

****

Peugeot 206

Well, I took a car I had been perving at for a week online for a spin today - then bought it!

Its a smaller engine than what im used to - only 1400cc as opposed to 2000cc. Still it had quite a bit of pep, and was still able to cruise past everyone else on Ngaraunga gorge. Should be quite a bit cheaper petrol wise too!

Also as you can see its red, so quite a bit faster!

Fuck Fuckity Fuck

After posting the previous article and subsequent comments, Ive looked into the Top 20 with the highest number of fucks!

Counting down the Top 20 Fuck Films
NB fpm = fucks per minute

20. American History X, 214 @ 1.8fpm
19. Suicide Kings, 222 @ 2.1fpm
18. Eddie Murphy Raw, 223 @ 2.48fpm
17. The Devil's Rejects, 224 @ 2.06fpm
16. State of Grace, 230 @ 1.72fpm
15. True Romance, 234 @ 1.95fpm
14. Empire, 236 @ 2.62fpm
13. The Boondock Saints, 246 @ 2.17fpm
12. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, 248 @ 2.38fpm
11. The Big Lebowski, 260 @ 2.22fpm

10. Pulp Fiction, 265 @ 1.72fpm
9. Reservoir Dogs, 269 @ 2.69fpm
8. Bully, 274 @ 2.42fpm
7. Running Scared, 275 @ 2.28fpm
6. Dirty, 280 @ 2.89fpm
5. Made, 291 @ 3.10fpm
4. Narc, 297 @ 2.83fpm
3. Goodfellas, 300 @ 2.07fpm
2. Jarhead, 335 @ 2.72fpm
1. Casino, 398 @ 2.24fpm

There you have it!

Fucking short version of the Big Lebowski

WARNING link includes a lot of Fucking Fuck F words, probably not best to listen to this at your place of work or around kids...

This is a 2 minute version of the Big Lebowski (one of my favourite films ever). They have basically edited all the F words together. Trust me its a crack up.

Funniest ad ever?

I only ever saw this ad once at the movies, but its for the car im probably going to buy this weekend!

Click here to watch the original Peugeot 206 ad

Review: Who the fuck's Arctic Monkeys ****

The most exciting band since Oasis took the interesting step of releasing a follow up to their record setting debut album - Whatever You Say I am, Thats What Im Not, with an EP only three months later.

Who the Fuck are the Arctic Monkey's? features five tracks, the single - The View from the Afternoon, which is arguably one of their strongest track, and four other new tracks.

Cigarete Smoker Fiona, and the title track - Who the Fuck are the Arctic Monkey's? are easily the standout tracks of the EP, while the others you almost get the feeling are just there to make up the numbers - on first impression dont seem to be much more than glorified B-sides.

Once again though, its Alex Turner's lyrics that are the standout feature, continuing his examinations of everyday life, capturing what it is to be young, and mucking about with your mates. Turner says way more in his lyrics than any of his peers, and has the potential to be the greatest songwriter of the last 10 years.

Arctic Monkey's are exactly what Noel Gallagher was talking about in 1994's Rock n Roll Star. While this EP isnt as strong as their debut album, it still kicks arse.

****

Things Ive learnt

In the latest issue of Empire, they have included a double sided movie trivia poster, linking movies together etc.

So here's what I learnt

- Kevin Smith and his team paid for Clerks on their Credit Cards. The total film cost was $25 000.
- Smith also originally shot an alternate ending to Clerks, based on the ending of Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing.
- Francis Ford Coppolla hired his friend George Lucas to be the Second Unit Director on The Godfather.
- Steven Soderbergh's (Ocean's Eleven) Sex, Lies, and Videotape was the first film Empire gave five stars.
- While playing a screenwriter in the Coen brother's Barton Fink, John Turturro was actually writing (in the scenes where he was shown typing) his own screenplay which later became 2005's Romance and Cigaretes.

Fascinating huh.

Catching up, putting your foot in it

Had an incredibly relaxing weekend, although was a little disapointed - I attempted to get out Do the Right Thing - Spike Lee's masterpiece, which the video store has "lost" so instead, I filled my "great black film" quota by watching Malcolm X instead (Spike Lee's other great film) which in my opinion is a stunning epic.

I spent Friday night catching up with Chris, Nath, Dan and Bridget, and then Saturday morning with Misty and the kids. I hadnt seen Nath in a year, and Dan in probably close to three years - if not longer! So it was fantastic to just talk shit like old times. Nobody has particularly changed - Dan trys to say he has, but just below the facade are the stories of getting in a fight at the railway station etc (whats new?). He also has a new tattoo - a star with bird wings with water spraying out making the word - "Savannah" his baby girl's name - who it must be said he adores.

Chris and Bridget have also decided on their suits/gowns etc for the wedding (which I finally remembered to get measured up for today). Fair to say my reaction to the silver waistcoats wasn't appreciated. You see one of my problems is that I have an opinion on most things, and tend to make said opinion known - which can of course rub people the wrong way.

Something to work on I guess!

Also you will remember in an earlier post, my rant about Sounds on Lambton Quay not being aware of EPs, let alone the Arctic Monkey's new release. Well guess what has arrived instore at Sounds today? Who the Fuck are the Artic Monkeys - thats what baby!Ahhh vindication!

What's goin on?

Marvin Gaye sang What's goin on? in the late 60's, capturing the mood perfectly. At that time it was Vietnam/communism (perceived domino effect etc), race riots, Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy being murdered - everything seemed to be spiraling out of control.

This morning listening to Morning Report, and reading the Dom at my desk, I couldnt help but think of that track. Israel and Lebanon are now effectively at war with one another. Two Israeli soldiers were taken hostage by Palestinian militants, based in neighbouring Lebanon. So Israel basically invades Lebanon, and have murdered over 100 civilians to date, along with taking out several strategic targets - key bridges, the airport and rail lines. So Hizbollah (Palestinian militant group) have replied launching rockets into Israel, and have killed about 10 civilians, and another 10 or so military personnel (This could have been much worse if a rocket that struck a railway station had been launched at the correct time to strike at rush hour).

This seems to be escalating by the day, if not hour. The conflict between Israel, and basically the Arab/Islamic world is the cold war equivalent of modern times. Now being neither Jewish or Islamic I dont really have a side in this conflict - but this has potentially far reaching consequences, and no one seems to be either rational, or in control.

Essentially my feeling is that they are both as bad as each other. The United Nations need to grow a backbone and go in and give them both a right ticking off! Make them both stand in the naughty spots/corners as it were. I think long term the UN or another independent body will need to take control of the holy sites, and Jereusalam, and basically divy up the rest of the land creating a new Israeli state, and an independent Palestinian state - with neither having control of the holy sites.

Shalom.

Anniversary weekend celebrations

To mark this weekends 26th anniversary celebrations, I bring you what could well be an annual event.

Counting down the Top 50 all time tracks according to Andrew

50 Belle and Sebastian Sleep the Clock Around
49 Badly Drawn Boy Once Around the Block
48 Ryan Adams Harder Now that its Over
47 Beta Band Dry the Rain
46 Elastica Stutter
45 Ocean Colour Scene Travellers Tune
44 Morcheeba Part of the Process
43 Ben Harper By My Side
42 Flaming Lips Do you Realise
41 Radiohead High and Dry

40 Oasis Do you know what I mean?
39 Arctic Monkeys A Certain Romance
38 Smashing Pumpkins 1979
37 Mazzy Star Fade into You
36 Radiohead Climbing up the Walls
35 Ryan Adams Touch Feel Lose
34 Belle and Sebastian Boy with the Arab Strap
33 Oasis Songbird
32 Beck Lost Cause
31 Ocean Colour Scene The Day we Caught the Train

30 Ben Harper Where Could I Go
29 Aimee Mann Save Me
28 The Beatles Sexy Sadie
27 Morcheeba Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day
26 Johnny Cash Hurt
25 The Beatles Here Comes the Sun
24 Skunk Anansie Hedonism
23 Ben Harper Forgiven
22 Fleetwood Mac Landslide
21 Ocean Colour Scene You've Got it Bad

20 Pulp Common People
19 Blondie Atomic
18 The Beatles Blackbird
17 Radiohead Street Spirit
16 Ben Harper Waiting on an Angel
15 Marvin Gaye Lets Get it On
14 Radiohead Airbag
13 Oasis Live Forever
12 Nirvana All Apologies
11 Radiohead Creep

10 The Byrds Ballad of Easy Rider
9 Badly Drawn Boy A Minor Incident
8 Oasis Cigaretes and Alcohol
7 Marvin Gaye Whats Goin' On
6 The Beatles Two of Us
5 The Byrds Eight Miles High
4 Aimee Mann Wise Up
3 Radiohead Pyramid Song
2 Nirvana Smells Like Teen Spirit
1 Oasis Supersonic

Thats a rock solid top 10 if you ask me - but then I would say that! I imagine some of the calls will raise eyebrows - namely Aimee Mann sneaking into the top 5, but hey thats the standings this year.

Originally I was going to do a top 32 list - Nick Hornby style, but considering my shortlist blew out to 83, I thought culling it to a top 50 wasn't bad going!

Heeyyyy

This is the funniest thing ive seen in a long time. The man himself James Brown doing an interview while off his face..

"I look good, I smell good, I feel good, and I make love good."

How thick can you possibly be?

This thick apparently. I came across this this on a NZ right wing blog, now most people must be aware of satirical "news" website The Onion but it turns out an anti-abortion blogger wasnt.

He blogs about how disgusting the woman in this article is - titled "I'm Totally Pysched About This Abortion!" Read his outraged diatribe here.

Its the Onion dumbass - its made up! I have an Onion article on my office wall titled "Study shows 72 per cent of high-fives unwarranted" surely you would realise from their headlines that its a joke!

10 Top films of the 90s

Ahh the 90s, there was some junk, but also some of the greatest work ever. And what better way to celebrate the 90s than a top 10! Total Film (opponent of EMPIRE) has released their top 10 films of each year during the 90s.

Listed below are Total Film's No. 1 pick (the Oscar best pic winner*) and my pick

1999, Fight Club (American Beauty) American Beauty
1998, Out of Sight (Shakespeare in Love) The Big Lebowski
1997, LA Confidential (Titanic) Donnie Brasco
1996, Trainspotting (The English Patient) Sling Blade
1995, Seven (Braveheart) The Usual Suspects
1994, Pulp Fiction (Forrest Gump) Pulp Fiction**
1993, Groundhog Day (Schindlers List) True Romance
1992, Reservoir Dogs (Unforgiven) Malcolm X
1991, Silence of the Lambs (Silence of the Lambs) Barton Fink
1990, Goodfellas (Dances with Wolves) Miller's Crossing

* - These Oscar winners were released in the year noted, but won their Oscars the following year.
** - How good was 1994? - Speed, Clerks, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Ed Wood, The Lion King, Leon (aka The Professional), Shawshank Redemption and Pulp Fiction - not to mention the film that went on to win the Oscar - Forrest Gump. Possibly films greatest year?

A few notes - What the hell are Total Film on? and where can I get some? Out of Sight!?!?! Groundhog Day!?!?! WTF.
Some of these were a pretty close call - 1991, 1992, 1994 and 1996 for example were all close - in most cases owning the DVD was the deciding factor.

One of those dumb questionaires

Stmbled across this today, and thought why not?

1. How old do you wish you were? 15. Nothing you do at that age matters, but you don’t realise it until youre old.
2. Where were you when 9/11 happened? In bed. Got a phone call from my sister and flicked on the telly.
3. What do you do when vending machines steal your money? Kick it.
4. Do you consider yourself kind? Sure.
5. If you had to get a tattoo, where and what would it be? A line from the Beatles’ Blackbird Singing around my forearm.
6. If you could be fluent in any other language what would it be? French.
7. Do you know your neighbors? Most of them, yes.
8. What do you consider a vacation? Getting out of Wellington for at least three days with no work to be done.
9. Do you follow your horoscope? Never.
10. Would you move for the person you loved? Yes, that’s the point.
11. Are you touchy feely? No.
12. Do you believe that opposites attract? No.
13. Dream job? Lead guitarist of a kick ass band, although realistically a consultant.
14. Favorite channels? C4 and probably UKTV.
15. Favorite place to go on a weekend? Massey memorial/coastal drive on a sunny day, anywhere with red wine on a rainy day.
16. Showers or Bath? Baths have their moments, but showers are way more efficient.
17. Do you paint your nails? Not so much.
18. Do you trust people easily? Until they give me reason not to, so yes.
19. What are your phobias? I’m scared of heights, but not really a phobia.
20. Do you want kids? Not fussed.
21. Do you keep a handwritten journal? Not hadwritten.
22. Where would you rather be right now? Somewhere warm and sunny.
23. What makes you feel warm and safe? My 12 guage.
24. Heavy or light sleep? Heavy.
25. Are you paranoid? I don’t think so, what do you mean? What are you talking about? Why would you ask that?
26. Are you impatient? Only when driving!
27. Who can you relate to? Minister Farrakhan… Joking. Probably Nick Hornby
28. How do you feel about interracial couples? I don’t feel anything about them, doesn’t worry me in the slightest.
29. What’s your life motto? It can always be worse.
30. What's your main ringtone on your mobile? Hellomoto – the Motorolla one
31. What were you doing at midnight last night? Sleeping
32. Who was your last text message from? Tinks
33. Whose bed did you sleep in last night? Mine.
34. What color shirt are you wearing? Navy – Vamos Argentina!
35. Most recent movie you watched? One Day in September – actually a doco (and no it’s not about 9/11).
36. Name five things you have on you at all times? Wallet, Keys, Mobile, Shoes, Clothes!
37. What color are your bed sheets? White with Maroon pin stripes.
38. How much cash do you have on you right now? 50c
39. What is your favorite part of chicken? Thigh.
40. What's your favorite town/city? Wellington within NZ. London and Melbourne are also cool
41. I can’t wait till... I get paid tomorrow.
42. Who got you to join MySpace? I’m not.
43. What did you have for dinner last night? I didn’t actually.
44. How tall are you barefoot? About 1.8m.
45. Have you ever smoked crack? No.
46. Do you own a gun? Nope.
47. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Water, or if its a bad day- V
48. Do you have A.D.D.? No
49. What time did you wake up today? Around 6.20am.
50. Current worry? I don’t worry
51. Current hate? Tories, people finding a problem with everything – we don’t know how lucky we are/
52. Favorite place to be? Home in bed.
53. Where would you like to travel? Europe, Argentina and Central Africa.
54. Where do you think you'll be in 10 yrs? In Wellington or London.
55. Last thing you ate? A Trisha’s pie mmmmmm
56. What songs do you sing in the shower? Freedom isn’t Free
57. Last person that made you laugh? Anika Moa, performing TLC's "Scrubs" on Pop Goes the Weasel - Fuck are you dumb? I am TLC
58. Worst injury you've ever had? Probably when I smacked my head on the flying fox at Forest Lakes.
59. Does someone have a crush on you? Several I hope.
60. What is your favorite candy? Peanut Slab.

Jagshemash!

The trailer for the Borat Movie is available here. If the movie is half as funny as the trailer its gonna be a stunner.

Miller takes gold

Well young Karen Miller played a blinder, dominating the challenge laid down by Hameadom.

I managed to come second, which Im pretty stoked with -although Nath also beat me in the mates list (im used to that though - no surprises there), but he wasnt in the challenge.

Final Challenge rankings as follows
Karen - 275 points
Andrew - 264
Hamish - 259
Angus - 241 (frankly embarassing)
Julian - 234
Caree - 169*

Nath finished on 274, which is also better than Angus.

* - There were rumours that Angus made this player up, so he could finish ahead of at least one person.

Oh and btw Italy won the World Cup after Zidane packed the mother of all spaz's - butting his head into the chest of an Italian defender earning himself a red card. Nice one.

Kapa o Pango

Well the All Blacks performed Kapa o Pango for the third time on the weekend - including the controversial throat slitting ending, and then went on to absolutely crush the Wallabies.

The ABs won 32-12 (4 trys to 2). I have never seen such scrum dominance - at times the Aussie front row were literally on their knees - Woodcock, Mealamu, and Hayman just shoved them around like rag dolls - incredibly impressive.

Former Wallabie halfback and captain Nick Farr Jones conceded after the game that their pack looked like they were on ice - skidding all over the show - "we were smashed".

Next up the Wallabies face South Africa in Brisbane, before the Boks come to Wellington to face us. Can't wait.

Naturally the media is again all over Coach Henry.

PS. Prime News carried footage of Jerry Collins having a slash on the field - during a break in play, Jerry was seen down on one knee - with his cock slightly poking out the leg of his shorts. Classy. Hey if you gotta go - you gotta go! - Watch it here

Oddspot: Trains and Pies

This from today's Herald - a train driver stopped his train (partially covering a level crossing) so he could have a pie at a cafe. Apparently he didnt even get takeway - he dined for 20 minutes, meaning one person had 20 minutes added to their taxi fare!

Needless to say, Toll Rail are investigating. Gotta love this country!

Goalski

I'll let the cat out of the bag now. When Walter Hadlee led the NZ Cricket team to England in the 1940s, they knew they could never expect to win a test let alone the series, so they set more realistic goals for themselves - scoring x many centuries, winning x many county games, and attempting to draw a couple of the tests (They drew all the tests and bettered all their goals btw).

So in much the same way that Hadlee approached that tour I tackled the Football world cup virtual. I knew winning the virtual was nigh on impossible, so I had one main goal. Beat Angus. You see football is effectively his home turf, his castle if you will. This goal of mine was the equivalent of Millwall storming Old Trafford, or Horowhenua winning at Jade Stadium.But as it turns out - the Emperor is Naked!

Now to be brutal, he basically wasn't much chop. Angus will blame the Japanese, but the reality is that mine and Karen's football knowledge is superior to his. Frankly this morning he embarassed himself - picking Portugal - knowing everyone else would pick France in the hope it would come off - so he gets points and no one else does. But no, that call now means Angus cannot catch me - even if I don't make further picks.

Ahh the satisfaction.

You've got to laugh

Italy beat Germany this morning to dash the hopes of the host nation, and who picked this?? No one. Litterally no one in either of the challenges Im in or my general mates list picked Italy to win - let alone the score line.

Hows that for an upset?

This leaves only three games left, so from here Karen will have to have a shocker if anyone is to pass her.

Classic Chinese Commentary

Hat tip here to Tze Ming Mok on Public Address.

Click here to watch this clip of Australia getting knocked out - apparently the commentator quite likes Italy. Hilarious!

Translation as follows -

"Penalty! Penalty! Penalty! Grosso's done it, Grosso's done it! The great Italian left back! He succeeded in the glorious traditions of Italy! Facchetti, Cabrini and Maldini, their souls are infused in him at this moment!......
he continues - ........Goooooal! Game over! Italy win! Beat the Australians! They do not fall in front of Hiddink again! Italy the great!"

Actually quite gutting

Well as a fella once said - its all over baby blue. Argentina are goneburger, but luckily England has too - so I havent lost too much face.

This is the first time I have closely followed a football world cup, I have watched parts of course before (watched Brazil kill Italy in the 94 final, and then France do the lord's work in 98, and "supported" Angus through his darkest hour in 02 etc). Normally football bores the piss out of me, and while yes some games achieved that this time around, for the first time I found myself caring about the outcome of games, supporting Argentina and Cote d'Ivoire (who I think could have made the 16 if they were in a different pool).

But now its basically over, I think Germany will probably be too strong from here, and while id like Portugal to play the final (I saw C Ronaldo while in Manchester - we have a connection) but I also think France will actually be too good - two weeks ago I would have laughed at that suggestion - but hey as I now know - thats football!