Hey all - maybe now I will get back to doing more regular entries, not watching TV and Olympics almost every minute I'm not at work or sleeping. But damn they were good - even though New Zealand didn't do extraordinarily well, we got three golds and two silvers - and they were all good - the first, in the rowing, just the relief of winning something (even though there wasn't the coverage on TV, Jana Pittman's dodgy knee more important), waking up at quarter to one in the morning to watch Sarah Ulmer take gold, and the coverage at that time of the morning, with the women's marathon the only other thing of real interest, and seeing the anthem and all YAYYYYY - and then our one two in the triathlon, basically in Australian prime time. And our canoeist getting silver - all good on the home front, quality not quantity, and there's only been one Olympics we have won more than three golds.
Casting the eye further afield, seeing El Guerrouj win the Big Ones FINALLY, and the Brits in the 4 x 100m rally, and Kelly Holmes, and Grant Hackett in the 1500m swimming, and the US sprint team especially their 1-2-3 in the 200m, and well the gymnastics, for both good and bad, the table tennis, how can people get so intense about such a little board and table LOL, and the volleyball, and the Argentinians after not winning a gold for 52 years winning two in a day... the opening ceremony was brill, only really got half an eye on the closing ceremony replay at the moment.
But yeah, everything about the Olympics is usually better than it could be, and now that it's over, bleah, back to topics like Iraq, Chechnya, politics, both in the US and Australia (6 week election campaign announced yesterday), and hmm AFL and NRL finals, which I don't really follow. Tell you how exhausted I am in watching the Olympics I missed the Formula One last night, and that has to be the first race this season I haven't at least STARTED watching, and of course, the one with the most incidents - didn't even really get to see it on the news here, damned Aussie news LOL.
Work, hmm has been good, have been put on REAL phones with REAL customers now, and even though sometimes, like today, it's been draining, it's still really worthwhile I think.
Later taters, too many people on chats to talk to :)
Paul
Monday, August 30, 2004
Monday, August 23, 2004
Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
OK, for all I have said last week about the internationality of the Olympics and all, it is always good to see your own country do well - or at least shade a couple medals. New Zealand winning in the rowing, female double sculls, AND the cycling, Sarah Ulmer getting gold. Aussie TV was off away watching Jana Pittman's dodgy knee while the rowing was on, but the cycling was shown live, since it was New Zealand v Australia in the gold medal ride off. So glad I saw it live, even though I had to reset the alarm for quarter to one this morning. Not so much the race, although that was awesome and world record setting, but dodgy because of the nerves that Sarah could lose it. After the race her smile was the widest it could possibly be, and it was as if she couldn't believe she had won, when she was hugging her partner/coach she was hyperventilating. Then hugged the Aussie silver medallist, got a Kiwi flag and went around the track hand in hand with the Aussie.
And then thank god there wasn't much competition for coverage at that time of the morning (women's marathon seemed the only other main thing) because they showed the medal ceremony in full, including the full anthem - sometimes these Olympic anthems sound too tinny, not this year, thanks Athens. All the emotion that she has been keeping in basically I think for ten years going for an Olympic medal came out, tears before bedtime, just lovely - and yes, I was emotional as well for some reason - to Kiwis, medals MEAN something LOL, not just something you wake up to in the morning and it's like the tooth fairy LOL.
Canada got their first gold as well, in the men's floor at the gymnastics. Was hoping that they would get it in the men's eight rowing, they are apparently world champions, but the US went out too well - wanted it in that because I was actually watching that, think the gym was on sometime in the middle of the night.
Bleah, off to work, but got a new shirt and tie on the weekend, so let's see how that goes LOL.
Laters
Paul
And then thank god there wasn't much competition for coverage at that time of the morning (women's marathon seemed the only other main thing) because they showed the medal ceremony in full, including the full anthem - sometimes these Olympic anthems sound too tinny, not this year, thanks Athens. All the emotion that she has been keeping in basically I think for ten years going for an Olympic medal came out, tears before bedtime, just lovely - and yes, I was emotional as well for some reason - to Kiwis, medals MEAN something LOL, not just something you wake up to in the morning and it's like the tooth fairy LOL.
Canada got their first gold as well, in the men's floor at the gymnastics. Was hoping that they would get it in the men's eight rowing, they are apparently world champions, but the US went out too well - wanted it in that because I was actually watching that, think the gym was on sometime in the middle of the night.
Bleah, off to work, but got a new shirt and tie on the weekend, so let's see how that goes LOL.
Laters
Paul
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
Hmm, A Cheesy Song Too Far?
Hey all - wasn't going to write this morning, but OMG, I know it is the tunes between points in beach volleyball, so we aren't going to get Chopin or Bach, but Right Said Fred? And NOT the I'm Too Sexy song? Pleaseeeeeee LOL. Michael Phelps has five medals - so what if they aren't all gold? - the American gymnasts got their first male team medal since Los Angeles (silver), but apparently the women lost it, going down to Romania. Oh, and Roger Federer LOST OMG, he is human LOL. Medal table top five is China, United States, Australia, Japan and Ukraine.
Oh, and just thought I would mention that my local council is having a search for feral cats. Really, feral cats in the big city. Grr, some old whingers saying we don't like cats and they scare us and suddenly the council instigates this LOL - I am both a dog and cat person, and that means the family has to protect our cat LOL.
Later taters
Paul
Oh, and just thought I would mention that my local council is having a search for feral cats. Really, feral cats in the big city. Grr, some old whingers saying we don't like cats and they scare us and suddenly the council instigates this LOL - I am both a dog and cat person, and that means the family has to protect our cat LOL.
Later taters
Paul
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
Hellas Hellas
Greece just won their first gold medal, in synchro diving, as ALL the favourites screwed up their last dives - China, USA and Russia. Hmm, cynical side of me has made a reappearance, which comes up when Iraq keep winning in the soccer LOL - who paid whom off? Nah, but was great to see the Greeks go nuts when the medal was in the bag :)
The Race of The Century? Even cutting it down to swimming, that is a BIG call. Even taking into consideration the fact that the medal winners are probably among the three best internationally ever, big call. It IS the first big moment of these Games though, and I got up at 2.30 in the morning Aussie time to watch it.
Canada is on the board with a synchro diving bronze, but New Zealand is still not in the medals, not surprising, weren't in any finals yesterday. A couple of our swimmers got into semis, don't think they made the finals though, our women's basketball team won against South Korea (who got fourth in Sydney), and our lone archer made a real game of it against someone ranked a helluva lot better than him, was tied until the last two arrows, and went down by three. Participation, personal bests, quality LOL.
China, Australia, Japan, United States and France top five of the medal table.
Later taters
Paul
The Race of The Century? Even cutting it down to swimming, that is a BIG call. Even taking into consideration the fact that the medal winners are probably among the three best internationally ever, big call. It IS the first big moment of these Games though, and I got up at 2.30 in the morning Aussie time to watch it.
Canada is on the board with a synchro diving bronze, but New Zealand is still not in the medals, not surprising, weren't in any finals yesterday. A couple of our swimmers got into semis, don't think they made the finals though, our women's basketball team won against South Korea (who got fourth in Sydney), and our lone archer made a real game of it against someone ranked a helluva lot better than him, was tied until the last two arrows, and went down by three. Participation, personal bests, quality LOL.
China, Australia, Japan, United States and France top five of the medal table.
Later taters
Paul
Monday, August 16, 2004
Amazing, But Not Inevitable
Just a quick paragraph - Olympics coverage of course, the United States basketball team lost to Puerto Rico, 92 to 73. Only their third loss at the Olympics ever and the first time since they stacked the team with NBA pros.
The U.S team handled the loss with grace, congratulating their opponents and joining them in a huddle at center court before both teams exited to a standing ovation. Anybody watching that game who enjoys basketball should get a thrill out of it," Brown said. "From our perspective, all we can do is figure out what we're made of. I'm anxious to see if we'll be able to do that."
It's good to see a US team with a bit of grace about it - I remember how arrogant the Dream Team seemed in Barcelona and Atlanta. And I have read a couple of interviews with Allan Iverson about his taking part in it, he seems to have a good head on him, bleah the other guys that thought NBA tops international competition.
Aussie got another couple of gold, most of the way through day two it is China, Australia, Japan, Italy, and Turkey tied with Ukraine for fifth on the table. South Africa won the men's relay in the pool to mess up Phelps beating Spitz's record... New Zealand is fourth after day one of the equestrian, and we got a 17th in the women's road cycling - oh, and the Tall Blacks losing by only two to Italy. Reasonable day, no medals though.
Off to workies bleah
Paul
The U.S team handled the loss with grace, congratulating their opponents and joining them in a huddle at center court before both teams exited to a standing ovation. Anybody watching that game who enjoys basketball should get a thrill out of it," Brown said. "From our perspective, all we can do is figure out what we're made of. I'm anxious to see if we'll be able to do that."
It's good to see a US team with a bit of grace about it - I remember how arrogant the Dream Team seemed in Barcelona and Atlanta. And I have read a couple of interviews with Allan Iverson about his taking part in it, he seems to have a good head on him, bleah the other guys that thought NBA tops international competition.
Aussie got another couple of gold, most of the way through day two it is China, Australia, Japan, Italy, and Turkey tied with Ukraine for fifth on the table. South Africa won the men's relay in the pool to mess up Phelps beating Spitz's record... New Zealand is fourth after day one of the equestrian, and we got a 17th in the women's road cycling - oh, and the Tall Blacks losing by only two to Italy. Reasonable day, no medals though.
Off to workies bleah
Paul
An Indoor Weekend Take Two
Oh, the previous thing went through - ah well, add this as a compare and contrast thingy LOL, historical document and all...
FUCK. I had done a good entry, the phone disconnected me and I couldn't get it back, JUST as I was trying to save it. And it was fucking good copy as well LOL.
Something about how the Olympics being one of the few times I have no guilt whatsoever of being glued to the TV twenty four seven or as much as I possibly can, and the only other thing I can think of that is similar is the football World Cup, and that is at maximum eight hours a day, whereas the Olympics goes for twenty five a day at the very least LOL.
And that it isn't important how well the Kiwis or Aussies do, although especially for the former it is nice to see, but just the whole world coming together, celebrate humanity, and the Olympic ideals that get to me. Seeing New Zealand do OK at the rowing, and Australia doing better than OK at the swimming, and then REALLY getting excited about the volleyball, the real sort, not the beach, Cuba versus Germany. Cuba the raging favourite getting pegged back after being two sets and lots of points up, to lose so closely in the fifth set that they had to go to the two points up rule, Deutschland Deutschland LOL.
Seeing Michael Phelps start his odyssey of trying to win lots of golds, and I know the big ones probably don't do it, but why are swimmers thought of as just having prodigious talent and athletes are all drug fiends LOL. Watching amateur boxing, and just a couple of young guys looking like they are having fun or as much as possible being punched LOL, as opposed to the circus of pro boxing. Or knowing that there are Kiwi riders in the cycling road race, and being far more interested in the Olympics than any stage of the Tour de France - love it, but it is background noise at most - and whether the Swedes or Germans or French would come up and get something. Whereas it was the usual suspect Italian, an out of the blue performance from an unknown Portugese, and Belgium as a son of a five time Tour de France winner, OMG, the romance, and the bringing in of professionals has been a success at the Games, with the possible exception of basketball.
With all this furore over the Greek sprinters not taking their drug tests and all the suspicion about that, did anyone hear about the Greek judo girl who had an argument with her boyfriend and then jumped off a balcony? And the boyfriend a couple of days later doing the same, police harrassment I think I read that reason was. Both in critical condition, both not expected to live - like Ratzenburger dying in practise the same weekend as Senna, overshadowed.
Beach volleyball, hmm lots of athleticism, but please, please, wear more clothes LOL. Is it the actual rules that the girls have to wear bikinis? Real volleyball and basketball wear form fitting stuff so why do we have to see the cellulite of the girl volleyballers LOL, non-bikinis don't have to mean ultra baggy. And with beach volleyball in the games, surely skateboarding will make an appearance soon - they DO have snowboarding in the winter games already LOL. And hmm beach volleyball, should I admit that I don't mind a bit of Eurotrash Venga Boys music, and the Euro wanne be American accents - almost but not quite and thus sound cheesy LOL. Mmm, Czech Republic v Nederland and Spain v Austria woohoo LOL.
Back in the real world, Iraq is still a mess - despite the Americans and Brits seeming to want an Olympic truce, the Iraqi PM just wants to blow the opposition up, preferably before elections take place, note I didn't say until democracy kicks in. The All Blacks got pasted by the South Africans in the rugby, glad I didn't go out to see that match.
Hmm, I had a good final paragraph in take one of this entry, but can't for the life of me now remember what the topic was - more Olympic ohhhhhhhhhhh lol, something about the Olympics making me all mushy and my cynicism runs away as far away as it can within my brain, and believe in songs like what the world needs now is love sweet love - Burt Bacharach CD review in the paper yesterday, to cheesy Venga Boys via Burty boy being on Austin Powers (the theme of which was one of the break pieces at the volleyball - hence to Venga Boys again). Great song though, love sweet love one. Damned drug cheats, feel sorry for that judo girl, s[eaking from old experience...
Still, it wasn't as good as my original piece, damned computers - save to the hard drive this time around Pauly LOL. Onya Pauly - and back to work thoughts - Mel's fave phrase around me it seems, being adopted by the rest of the girls as well :) not that I mind of course.
China, Australia, Italy, Japan, USA is the top five medal tally after day one. No medals for the Kiwis, but we got a respectable fifteenth in the men's road cycling, up with most of the main professionals out of the Tour de France. Kiwis got caned four one by the Aussies in the men's hockey, and we came back from seventeen points down at the half to only lose by two against Italy in the basketball. Oh, and did I make a comment about the gymnastics, and it almost is better to watch the men's than the women's, since the female gymnasts always, well ninety percent of the time, look under fifteen LOL? And those guys are well bulked up :) and no, not thinking THAT way LOL.
Mmm, Formula One, Hungarian Grand Prix - well, either that or Roy and HG or the women's cycling, anyways, gonna sign off now and SAVEEEEEEEEE lol.
Pauly
FUCK. I had done a good entry, the phone disconnected me and I couldn't get it back, JUST as I was trying to save it. And it was fucking good copy as well LOL.
Something about how the Olympics being one of the few times I have no guilt whatsoever of being glued to the TV twenty four seven or as much as I possibly can, and the only other thing I can think of that is similar is the football World Cup, and that is at maximum eight hours a day, whereas the Olympics goes for twenty five a day at the very least LOL.
And that it isn't important how well the Kiwis or Aussies do, although especially for the former it is nice to see, but just the whole world coming together, celebrate humanity, and the Olympic ideals that get to me. Seeing New Zealand do OK at the rowing, and Australia doing better than OK at the swimming, and then REALLY getting excited about the volleyball, the real sort, not the beach, Cuba versus Germany. Cuba the raging favourite getting pegged back after being two sets and lots of points up, to lose so closely in the fifth set that they had to go to the two points up rule, Deutschland Deutschland LOL.
Seeing Michael Phelps start his odyssey of trying to win lots of golds, and I know the big ones probably don't do it, but why are swimmers thought of as just having prodigious talent and athletes are all drug fiends LOL. Watching amateur boxing, and just a couple of young guys looking like they are having fun or as much as possible being punched LOL, as opposed to the circus of pro boxing. Or knowing that there are Kiwi riders in the cycling road race, and being far more interested in the Olympics than any stage of the Tour de France - love it, but it is background noise at most - and whether the Swedes or Germans or French would come up and get something. Whereas it was the usual suspect Italian, an out of the blue performance from an unknown Portugese, and Belgium as a son of a five time Tour de France winner, OMG, the romance, and the bringing in of professionals has been a success at the Games, with the possible exception of basketball.
With all this furore over the Greek sprinters not taking their drug tests and all the suspicion about that, did anyone hear about the Greek judo girl who had an argument with her boyfriend and then jumped off a balcony? And the boyfriend a couple of days later doing the same, police harrassment I think I read that reason was. Both in critical condition, both not expected to live - like Ratzenburger dying in practise the same weekend as Senna, overshadowed.
Beach volleyball, hmm lots of athleticism, but please, please, wear more clothes LOL. Is it the actual rules that the girls have to wear bikinis? Real volleyball and basketball wear form fitting stuff so why do we have to see the cellulite of the girl volleyballers LOL, non-bikinis don't have to mean ultra baggy. And with beach volleyball in the games, surely skateboarding will make an appearance soon - they DO have snowboarding in the winter games already LOL. And hmm beach volleyball, should I admit that I don't mind a bit of Eurotrash Venga Boys music, and the Euro wanne be American accents - almost but not quite and thus sound cheesy LOL. Mmm, Czech Republic v Nederland and Spain v Austria woohoo LOL.
Back in the real world, Iraq is still a mess - despite the Americans and Brits seeming to want an Olympic truce, the Iraqi PM just wants to blow the opposition up, preferably before elections take place, note I didn't say until democracy kicks in. The All Blacks got pasted by the South Africans in the rugby, glad I didn't go out to see that match.
Hmm, I had a good final paragraph in take one of this entry, but can't for the life of me now remember what the topic was - more Olympic ohhhhhhhhhhh lol, something about the Olympics making me all mushy and my cynicism runs away as far away as it can within my brain, and believe in songs like what the world needs now is love sweet love - Burt Bacharach CD review in the paper yesterday, to cheesy Venga Boys via Burty boy being on Austin Powers (the theme of which was one of the break pieces at the volleyball - hence to Venga Boys again). Great song though, love sweet love one. Damned drug cheats, feel sorry for that judo girl, s[eaking from old experience...
Still, it wasn't as good as my original piece, damned computers - save to the hard drive this time around Pauly LOL. Onya Pauly - and back to work thoughts - Mel's fave phrase around me it seems, being adopted by the rest of the girls as well :) not that I mind of course.
China, Australia, Italy, Japan, USA is the top five medal tally after day one. No medals for the Kiwis, but we got a respectable fifteenth in the men's road cycling, up with most of the main professionals out of the Tour de France. Kiwis got caned four one by the Aussies in the men's hockey, and we came back from seventeen points down at the half to only lose by two against Italy in the basketball. Oh, and did I make a comment about the gymnastics, and it almost is better to watch the men's than the women's, since the female gymnasts always, well ninety percent of the time, look under fifteen LOL? And those guys are well bulked up :) and no, not thinking THAT way LOL.
Mmm, Formula One, Hungarian Grand Prix - well, either that or Roy and HG or the women's cycling, anyways, gonna sign off now and SAVEEEEEEEEE lol.
Pauly
Sunday, August 15, 2004
An Indoor Weekend
Mmmm, the Olympics. One of the few times in my life where I don't even start to feel guilty about not getting away from the TV screen - well, the World Cup is similar, soccer football I am talking about, but at least that is usually only eight hours a day at most, whereas the Olympics just keeps going and going and going twenty five hours a day LOL.
New Zealand had a reasonable first day, and the Aussies had a good one, but it isn't about the petty nationalism for me, it is kind of like, yes you keep an eye out for the Kiwis, and cross your fingers for them in the rowing and swimming, but then you get entranced by a Germany v Cuba volleyball game. Cuba, raving favourites and two sets and a heap of points up, versus a Germany coming back from that far down and taking two sets and then splitting the fifth set so it came down to the two points ahead rule, and several match points later Deutschland Deustchland.
And then watching the cycling road race with far more interest than I will ever show the Tour de France - I mean, I love the Tour and all, but in a it can be on TV in the background kind of way. With the Olympic cycling I CARED whether the Swedes would beat the Germans and whether the French would come in LOL, and then after all that it was an Italian that won it, an unknown Portugese rider who came in silver, and the son of a five time Belgian Tour de France winner that got bronze. It was nice to read on the New Zealand team website this morning that one of our guys got fifteenth, but it's not about petty nationalism. Actually, only watched about half the race, as I had been up since three thirty yesterday morning, and the race was only half over at about eleven o'clock.
But, I did go to sleep with the TV on, just in case I woke up in the middle of the night, put on my glasses and see something interesting I could see it LOL. Of course, I slept until eight ayem this morning, after the whole early early morning thing last night. Aussie wins two golds in the pool and that has basically been the story on the TV allllllll day. About five replays and all - swimming is THE Olympic sport as far as Australia is concerned. Then came out with the start of today's schedule, New Zealand v Australia in the men's hockey, bit of a slaughter, and New Zealand v Italy in the basketball, a gallant loss LOL, seventeen points down at half time and then only lost by two dammit! Gymnastics is always good, and hmm may just be me, but it seems less dodgy to appreciate the men's gymnastics nowadays then the female, or should I say teenager girls on the other side, they are still good and all, but yeah, just sometimes get that Lolita itch at the back of my neck - not the good itch either LOL.
Boxing is another good one, at the amateur level it is good to see and try not to think of the circus that pro boxing has become (if it ever wasn't, LOL to my age group Muhammed Ali and his I am the greatest thing is classic and not circusish in any way LOL). Beach volleyball, hmm great athleticism, but OMG I am like put some clothes on LOL, the real volleyball and basketball gear women wear now means it doesn't have to be baggy, but for chrissake show less of the cellulite, lol and is it true that the international body looking after beach volleyball said that you have to wear bikinis? Czech Republic v Holland, another example of not being parochially one eyed in the coverage I like to watch :)
Oh, and away from the sports, what about those Greek sprinters. What a fecking farce, oh where was the accident, where's the motorcycle blah blah. Automatic two year ban unless they can come up with a reason they weren't where they should have been when the drug testers came a knocking - and the whole thing of maybe letting him get away with retirement before he gets expelled GRRR. But one that may not have made the presses whereever my loyal readers are is the fact that there is a Greek judo participant who a few days before the game attempted suicide, or got thrown off a balcony by her boyfriend whatever - a couple of days later he did the same, citing police harrassment or something from the reports I read. Both critical condition and not expected to live last I heard.
Hmm, the Swedish team is saying it will pull out of the Games if the sprinters aren't expelled. Good on them, LOL has been too long since we had a good boycott at the Olympics - where's a rugby tour to South Africa when you need it LOL. Sad that the most significant thing New Zealand has ever done sporting wise probably was to create the African boycott of Montreal LOL. Oh, and just a thought, with Phelps going for lots of medals in the pool, does anyone remember who came second to Spitz in the events in Munich? No, didn't think so LOL.
Okies, outta here - Austria v Spain men's beach volleyball to watch LOL. Ode to Joy and Celebrate Humanity indeed. One of those moments where my cynicism retreats as far as it can and I have a belief in mankind and songs like what the world, needs now, is love, sweet love etc- lol saw a Burt Bacharach CD review yesterday. Although the music in between the points at the beach volleyball mmm - Venga Boys, We Like To Party, and the fact that all the in ground commentary seems to be in Euro English LOL. Euro English where they try to sound American but don't pull it off and just sound cheesy instead, eh surrender monkeys :)
Back to the real world, although it seems that the Yanks and Brits are trying to be quiet and get an Olympic truce going, the new Iraqi PM just wants to blow the opposition up. Bleah, same old same old... oh, and the All Blacks got MONSTERED by the Springboks early this morning, glad I didn't go out and see it...
Paul
New Zealand had a reasonable first day, and the Aussies had a good one, but it isn't about the petty nationalism for me, it is kind of like, yes you keep an eye out for the Kiwis, and cross your fingers for them in the rowing and swimming, but then you get entranced by a Germany v Cuba volleyball game. Cuba, raving favourites and two sets and a heap of points up, versus a Germany coming back from that far down and taking two sets and then splitting the fifth set so it came down to the two points ahead rule, and several match points later Deutschland Deustchland.
And then watching the cycling road race with far more interest than I will ever show the Tour de France - I mean, I love the Tour and all, but in a it can be on TV in the background kind of way. With the Olympic cycling I CARED whether the Swedes would beat the Germans and whether the French would come in LOL, and then after all that it was an Italian that won it, an unknown Portugese rider who came in silver, and the son of a five time Belgian Tour de France winner that got bronze. It was nice to read on the New Zealand team website this morning that one of our guys got fifteenth, but it's not about petty nationalism. Actually, only watched about half the race, as I had been up since three thirty yesterday morning, and the race was only half over at about eleven o'clock.
But, I did go to sleep with the TV on, just in case I woke up in the middle of the night, put on my glasses and see something interesting I could see it LOL. Of course, I slept until eight ayem this morning, after the whole early early morning thing last night. Aussie wins two golds in the pool and that has basically been the story on the TV allllllll day. About five replays and all - swimming is THE Olympic sport as far as Australia is concerned. Then came out with the start of today's schedule, New Zealand v Australia in the men's hockey, bit of a slaughter, and New Zealand v Italy in the basketball, a gallant loss LOL, seventeen points down at half time and then only lost by two dammit! Gymnastics is always good, and hmm may just be me, but it seems less dodgy to appreciate the men's gymnastics nowadays then the female, or should I say teenager girls on the other side, they are still good and all, but yeah, just sometimes get that Lolita itch at the back of my neck - not the good itch either LOL.
Boxing is another good one, at the amateur level it is good to see and try not to think of the circus that pro boxing has become (if it ever wasn't, LOL to my age group Muhammed Ali and his I am the greatest thing is classic and not circusish in any way LOL). Beach volleyball, hmm great athleticism, but OMG I am like put some clothes on LOL, the real volleyball and basketball gear women wear now means it doesn't have to be baggy, but for chrissake show less of the cellulite, lol and is it true that the international body looking after beach volleyball said that you have to wear bikinis? Czech Republic v Holland, another example of not being parochially one eyed in the coverage I like to watch :)
Oh, and away from the sports, what about those Greek sprinters. What a fecking farce, oh where was the accident, where's the motorcycle blah blah. Automatic two year ban unless they can come up with a reason they weren't where they should have been when the drug testers came a knocking - and the whole thing of maybe letting him get away with retirement before he gets expelled GRRR. But one that may not have made the presses whereever my loyal readers are is the fact that there is a Greek judo participant who a few days before the game attempted suicide, or got thrown off a balcony by her boyfriend whatever - a couple of days later he did the same, citing police harrassment or something from the reports I read. Both critical condition and not expected to live last I heard.
Hmm, the Swedish team is saying it will pull out of the Games if the sprinters aren't expelled. Good on them, LOL has been too long since we had a good boycott at the Olympics - where's a rugby tour to South Africa when you need it LOL. Sad that the most significant thing New Zealand has ever done sporting wise probably was to create the African boycott of Montreal LOL. Oh, and just a thought, with Phelps going for lots of medals in the pool, does anyone remember who came second to Spitz in the events in Munich? No, didn't think so LOL.
Okies, outta here - Austria v Spain men's beach volleyball to watch LOL. Ode to Joy and Celebrate Humanity indeed. One of those moments where my cynicism retreats as far as it can and I have a belief in mankind and songs like what the world, needs now, is love, sweet love etc- lol saw a Burt Bacharach CD review yesterday. Although the music in between the points at the beach volleyball mmm - Venga Boys, We Like To Party, and the fact that all the in ground commentary seems to be in Euro English LOL. Euro English where they try to sound American but don't pull it off and just sound cheesy instead, eh surrender monkeys :)
Back to the real world, although it seems that the Yanks and Brits are trying to be quiet and get an Olympic truce going, the new Iraqi PM just wants to blow the opposition up. Bleah, same old same old... oh, and the All Blacks got MONSTERED by the Springboks early this morning, glad I didn't go out and see it...
Paul
Saturday, August 14, 2004
Stories of Interest
Hi again all - this article, from the San Jose Mercury News, is about the best review I have seen of the opening ceremony so far - done with the right amount of humour and stuff. 'He even gave us the singer Bjork, but we will forgive him for that' - lol an America is from Mars, Europe is from Venus moment about the virtues of Icelandic singing?
And I love this article from the LA Times regarding the New Jersey Governor 'coming out' or whatever is going on there - mmm, Arnie and Girlie Men indeed LOL. And the Olympics isn't the only sports game in town - it's the only true Event, but sporting wise there is also the English Premier League starting, and the Tri Nations rugby test in Jo'burg I think, South Africa v New Zealand. Go the Gooners and Eagalssss - Arsenal and Crystal Palace respectively LOL.
Okies, about to time out, time to save this and then get on with more sports news later on.
Paul
And I love this article from the LA Times regarding the New Jersey Governor 'coming out' or whatever is going on there - mmm, Arnie and Girlie Men indeed LOL. And the Olympics isn't the only sports game in town - it's the only true Event, but sporting wise there is also the English Premier League starting, and the Tri Nations rugby test in Jo'burg I think, South Africa v New Zealand. Go the Gooners and Eagalssss - Arsenal and Crystal Palace respectively LOL.
Okies, about to time out, time to save this and then get on with more sports news later on.
Paul
Celebrate Humanity
Well, there's only one show in the world at the moment - The Olympics. I have to say that was a truly stunning opening ceremony - apart from the whole 'what can we say about St Kitts and Nevis' dilemma the commentators have during the Parade of Nations. The best thing to do during that is figure out whether it's a good suit or a bad suit that the countries are wearing. Australia had a bright green jacket, which would have been OK, but there were white lines all over it - 'signifying the Southern Cross' apparently, but it just looked messy to me. The Kiwis came out in black tracksuits, with big silver ferns on one side - not the worst we could do, but hmm not the funkiest by a long shot.
Anyways, enough of the uniforms - can make cracks about that if I watch the replay later this morning LOL. There is just something about the Europeans, and how they do designs and costumes and concepts - Athens has been a very European opening, thinking along similar lines to Albertville and Barcelona. From what I remember of Nagano, that was OK as well, but Atlanta was all Gone With The Wind, Mark Twain, rah rah USA from memory. There were centaurs and stylistic cyclops I read now - just thought it was a head when I was watching it, that split up, it was apparently ten tonnes of marble and turned into looking inside the body and the brain and stuff - I will find some links lol, or if you are reading this and haven't been turned off by the Olympic theme you will probably already have seen it. And then, yes, the Greeks did the whole history thing, but did it in such a stylistic fashion - the colours of the costumes were just GORGEOUS. Oh, here's the piccies on the official website at least.
And although there were some fashion crimes in the athlete's outfits, thinking the Dutch ze plane ze plane white Panama suits and orange ties, the costume design came out again with the placard carriers - the girls that hold the nation's name in three languages thing, apparently inspired by Greek vases. Only about two thirds of the Aussie team actually marched, cos the others want to rest blah blah - yes, I know doing well at your event is a good thing, but for Chrissake this is the OLYMPICS. Even if I was swimming two hours after the ceremony and I couldn't rest in between hmm, but then again, I'm not an elite athlete, I would be one of these make up the numbers, try not to finish last kind of people LOL.
Three teams I was looking out for in the parade - the Aussies, the Kiwis and the Canadians. Actually, can't remember what the Canucks were wearing, oh, it was a Canada 04 kind of tourist Tshirt thing, ick LOL. A lot of the African teams have nice designs for their uniforms, and very colourful. LOL and one of the nicest funniest things about the Olympics is all the politicians and dignitaries making fools out of themselves on international TV when their team gets on - thinking Prince Albert of Monaco here LOL - onya Al!
But yes, the Greeks put on a very European show. And I mean that in the good style sense rather than the cheese eating surrender monkeys sense LOL, not that there is anything wrong with France. It could only be European, they even had Bjork singing LOL. Albertville, Barcelona, Athens, good progression if you will.
And then I know that there's nothing that can be shown cos the competition hasn't really gotten underway yet, but SURELY there was something better they could follow up an impressive opening ceremony with instead of repeats of MASH?
And with the rest of the week just gone - since we had Wednesday off (city show day) went out on Tuesday, for what Jo seemingly ironically called 'swifties' - met her girlfriend Janet - yes, another one that plays for the other team - and had a good night, Lisa left at about six thirty or so and Mel stayed on til umm 11 - Janet and Jo went home and then Mel and I discovered our trains weren't for another half hour, so yeah, at 12.30 or so got home eek. But it was a day off the next day so not all bad. Wednesday I didn't feel bad at all actually, but just had a quiet one at home rather than going to Ekka, playing computer games and the like.
The work we have been doing this week has been quite frustrating - not only because we are getting two versions of what to do from two different experts lol, but the whole thing of we investigate the thing for about half an hour or three quarters of an hour and then only then find the trace that our section doesn't actually do it and forward to someone else. Grr, but that week is over LOL, thank goodness.
We got told where we will be going at the end of training and what our split may actually be - the specific placement still has to be signed off on, but we are all going to Corporate, Large Business, that's the customers with spend between 500K and a mill. New things to learn LOL, MORE of them, and the likely split will be Lexie and Sharon in one group, Jo, Lisa, Mel, Wayne and Rachel in the second, and myself, Kimberley and Anne in the third. Wonder if that was randomised or whether it was a method sort of thing.
And then last thing to mention was going out quickly last night. Not a big night, but first time we had gotten to see Wayne at the pub LOL, and Lisa had to go quickly had an evening with a friend planned, so fairly early on it was down to Mel and I, and I wasn't going to stick around long - mm, Red Rooster LOL. Got called over by Ceri (pronounced with a K), a long termer on our floor, so had to have just one more LOL - had a good convo, I have actually met someone from Mount Isa LOL, and she was going to watch all the softball at the Olympics.
Will get on later in the weekend, do a news and Olympic wrap up no doubt - mmm Olympics, I have been following it soooooo much already - Jo came over to ask a work question yesterday morning, vaguely mentioned the Olympics and I was off with all the results already LOL.
Later taters
Paul
Anyways, enough of the uniforms - can make cracks about that if I watch the replay later this morning LOL. There is just something about the Europeans, and how they do designs and costumes and concepts - Athens has been a very European opening, thinking along similar lines to Albertville and Barcelona. From what I remember of Nagano, that was OK as well, but Atlanta was all Gone With The Wind, Mark Twain, rah rah USA from memory. There were centaurs and stylistic cyclops I read now - just thought it was a head when I was watching it, that split up, it was apparently ten tonnes of marble and turned into looking inside the body and the brain and stuff - I will find some links lol, or if you are reading this and haven't been turned off by the Olympic theme you will probably already have seen it. And then, yes, the Greeks did the whole history thing, but did it in such a stylistic fashion - the colours of the costumes were just GORGEOUS. Oh, here's the piccies on the official website at least.
And although there were some fashion crimes in the athlete's outfits, thinking the Dutch ze plane ze plane white Panama suits and orange ties, the costume design came out again with the placard carriers - the girls that hold the nation's name in three languages thing, apparently inspired by Greek vases. Only about two thirds of the Aussie team actually marched, cos the others want to rest blah blah - yes, I know doing well at your event is a good thing, but for Chrissake this is the OLYMPICS. Even if I was swimming two hours after the ceremony and I couldn't rest in between hmm, but then again, I'm not an elite athlete, I would be one of these make up the numbers, try not to finish last kind of people LOL.
Three teams I was looking out for in the parade - the Aussies, the Kiwis and the Canadians. Actually, can't remember what the Canucks were wearing, oh, it was a Canada 04 kind of tourist Tshirt thing, ick LOL. A lot of the African teams have nice designs for their uniforms, and very colourful. LOL and one of the nicest funniest things about the Olympics is all the politicians and dignitaries making fools out of themselves on international TV when their team gets on - thinking Prince Albert of Monaco here LOL - onya Al!
But yes, the Greeks put on a very European show. And I mean that in the good style sense rather than the cheese eating surrender monkeys sense LOL, not that there is anything wrong with France. It could only be European, they even had Bjork singing LOL. Albertville, Barcelona, Athens, good progression if you will.
And then I know that there's nothing that can be shown cos the competition hasn't really gotten underway yet, but SURELY there was something better they could follow up an impressive opening ceremony with instead of repeats of MASH?
And with the rest of the week just gone - since we had Wednesday off (city show day) went out on Tuesday, for what Jo seemingly ironically called 'swifties' - met her girlfriend Janet - yes, another one that plays for the other team - and had a good night, Lisa left at about six thirty or so and Mel stayed on til umm 11 - Janet and Jo went home and then Mel and I discovered our trains weren't for another half hour, so yeah, at 12.30 or so got home eek. But it was a day off the next day so not all bad. Wednesday I didn't feel bad at all actually, but just had a quiet one at home rather than going to Ekka, playing computer games and the like.
The work we have been doing this week has been quite frustrating - not only because we are getting two versions of what to do from two different experts lol, but the whole thing of we investigate the thing for about half an hour or three quarters of an hour and then only then find the trace that our section doesn't actually do it and forward to someone else. Grr, but that week is over LOL, thank goodness.
We got told where we will be going at the end of training and what our split may actually be - the specific placement still has to be signed off on, but we are all going to Corporate, Large Business, that's the customers with spend between 500K and a mill. New things to learn LOL, MORE of them, and the likely split will be Lexie and Sharon in one group, Jo, Lisa, Mel, Wayne and Rachel in the second, and myself, Kimberley and Anne in the third. Wonder if that was randomised or whether it was a method sort of thing.
And then last thing to mention was going out quickly last night. Not a big night, but first time we had gotten to see Wayne at the pub LOL, and Lisa had to go quickly had an evening with a friend planned, so fairly early on it was down to Mel and I, and I wasn't going to stick around long - mm, Red Rooster LOL. Got called over by Ceri (pronounced with a K), a long termer on our floor, so had to have just one more LOL - had a good convo, I have actually met someone from Mount Isa LOL, and she was going to watch all the softball at the Olympics.
Will get on later in the weekend, do a news and Olympic wrap up no doubt - mmm Olympics, I have been following it soooooo much already - Jo came over to ask a work question yesterday morning, vaguely mentioned the Olympics and I was off with all the results already LOL.
Later taters
Paul
Monday, August 9, 2004
Goodness
Has it been this long since I last updated LOL? Actually, I'm very annoyed at the moment, just came in here and realised the last entry I put in hadn't come through. Was describing a dizzy spell I had at work, and I was sooooo afraid that I would either flake out or have a seizure at work. We were in a stuffy room with funny chairs that lifted your thighs up so it felt like you were falling, and I had a dizzy spell, felt like I was falling. Scared the hell out of me, and went and lay down in the sick room for about half an hour - was feeling OKish, but not to the point of moving my head suddenly. Went back to training, but as soon as I sat back into that funny chair, I felt all naseuous again, so I was out of there. Got home early and had a quiet rest of Friday and Saturday, my head was still feeling funny.
Sunday, went and saw Fahrenheit 9/11 - good movie, for my sort of taste, but don't go unless you are interested in US politics, the war on terror, or the fate of Western civilisation beyond your suburb or town. Will write a review of it sometime or other. Along with I, Robot LOL. Sometime or other. And also bought a computer game - along the lines of brainless computer games are more entertaining than brainless internet chat rooms LOL. One of those let's take forever to play it empire building games. Kept me offline most of last week, which may not be a bad thing, well apart from a fan's - OK, we won't go that far, a reader's - saying I need to update my blog - thanks Frankie yay I have ONE reader LOL.
Last week at work was pretty dead. Was on new stuff to learn, but there was hardly any demand for it from the public last week - or at least the easy stuff that could be done by kindergarten level staff LOL. Thursday was the absolute worst, the requests had basically ground to a halt, well either that or were to be reassigned to another section of the company, not us.
Then went out Friday. Almost everyone made it, apart from Wayne who had his girlfriend and two year anniversary to celebrate. So it was me and eight women LOL. Eight WORKMATE women, so off the agenda, or at least supposed to be. Eight TAKEN women, so yeah, that beats the workmate proviso in the don't touch LOL. But most of them went home pretty quickly - or at least left the bar. Surprisingly, Rachel, who we were basically out to celebrate her bday, was the first to leave - had a dinner to go to with a couple of her friends or something. Then it was Lexie and Sharon to go, still pretty early in. Anne went at six, and Kim, who I was actually having a really good convo with, decided that even though she was enjoying herself, she had to go pick up her sister at the airport, who is off to England for at least a while after this week. Started talking about Fahrenheit 9/11 so yeah, it was probably boring to anyone that listened in (we basically agreed LOL). And then to dinosaurs, and Big Brother, and yes, hope to have further convos at a later date.
And thus it was the Usual Suspects (Good Good movie by the way) - myself, Jo, Lisa and Mel. We got a few more beers in, and then wandered out to Fortitude Valley. Went into a couple of bars along Brunswick Street, but the first Jo and Lisa seemed too intoxicated to get into, the second was too quiet, and then it was off to Mel's local again. Mel went off to play pool, while me and the other two got on the dancefloor - unlike the other week I have no idea what the actual songs were, but the beats were good, and yes, enjoyed myself thoroughly. Mel's partner turned up, and she left about eleven o'clock, and us other three left the bar soon after I think. We went to a pizza hole in the wall shop thing, had a bit of pizza, and then we got to the train station in time for the last trains. Jo was well happy, and wanted to keep going I think, but Lisa and I made sure that she got on her train (northern suburbs) OK, before going to the other platform for ours. Got home at about half one in the morning.
Woke up at quarter to seven in the morning on Saturday - can never sleep long after a big night out, and had a throbbing head. No, not that one unfortunately LOL. Was thinking of going out to watch the rugby (on a TV in a bar, the match was in Sydney), but as the day went on, the head got better but not good enough to beat a live on free to air TV telecast. Was a really really good good game, although the ABs lost, it was a good hard real rugby match, lots of biffo LOL, and could have gone either way right up to the end. And it will be hard for either of the Anzac teams to beat the Boks at home, the Boks are really impressing me this year. So will come down to bonus points away - veryyyyy interesting.
Yesterday, didn't do much, was computer gaming again - yes I know, sad sad, but gotten the initial rush out of it, so could be fifty fifty which is more entertaining, the net or the game LOL. I was hardly on at all last week, and the only thing I really missed was my fix of news five times a day LOL - especially breaking news, you read one Iraq story this year you have read them all. Sad but very true.
Today, was soooooooo quiet at work basically. We are on a new thing, but we couldn't be until the boss had caught up with her emails. Part of the morning was catching up with the weekend - especially so for three of the girls (whereas I was trying to do the work and social life divide thing, got called in for a bit of reviewing, and a pat on the neck - which while didn't quite throw me, it was a friendly touch, has made me think a bit LOL). And yeah, that was about the highlight of the day - finally got around to training in the afternoon, NEVER a good time for training. Hit the two o'clock wall and never really recovered. I am sure we will be fine when we do some REAL hands on training.
And that's me basically caught up for the last week and a bit - mmm four days to go until the Olympics. Yes, I am an Olympics nut lol, bring on the curling, volleyball and wrestling LOL LOL. But the ideals behind the games are somehow even more important than what actually happens - the two weeks every four years where every country has a chance of doing better than they have before - personal or national best's I'm talking about, the golds are already all wrapped up LOL.
Good to be back
Pauly
Sunday, went and saw Fahrenheit 9/11 - good movie, for my sort of taste, but don't go unless you are interested in US politics, the war on terror, or the fate of Western civilisation beyond your suburb or town. Will write a review of it sometime or other. Along with I, Robot LOL. Sometime or other. And also bought a computer game - along the lines of brainless computer games are more entertaining than brainless internet chat rooms LOL. One of those let's take forever to play it empire building games. Kept me offline most of last week, which may not be a bad thing, well apart from a fan's - OK, we won't go that far, a reader's - saying I need to update my blog - thanks Frankie yay I have ONE reader LOL.
Last week at work was pretty dead. Was on new stuff to learn, but there was hardly any demand for it from the public last week - or at least the easy stuff that could be done by kindergarten level staff LOL. Thursday was the absolute worst, the requests had basically ground to a halt, well either that or were to be reassigned to another section of the company, not us.
Then went out Friday. Almost everyone made it, apart from Wayne who had his girlfriend and two year anniversary to celebrate. So it was me and eight women LOL. Eight WORKMATE women, so off the agenda, or at least supposed to be. Eight TAKEN women, so yeah, that beats the workmate proviso in the don't touch LOL. But most of them went home pretty quickly - or at least left the bar. Surprisingly, Rachel, who we were basically out to celebrate her bday, was the first to leave - had a dinner to go to with a couple of her friends or something. Then it was Lexie and Sharon to go, still pretty early in. Anne went at six, and Kim, who I was actually having a really good convo with, decided that even though she was enjoying herself, she had to go pick up her sister at the airport, who is off to England for at least a while after this week. Started talking about Fahrenheit 9/11 so yeah, it was probably boring to anyone that listened in (we basically agreed LOL). And then to dinosaurs, and Big Brother, and yes, hope to have further convos at a later date.
And thus it was the Usual Suspects (Good Good movie by the way) - myself, Jo, Lisa and Mel. We got a few more beers in, and then wandered out to Fortitude Valley. Went into a couple of bars along Brunswick Street, but the first Jo and Lisa seemed too intoxicated to get into, the second was too quiet, and then it was off to Mel's local again. Mel went off to play pool, while me and the other two got on the dancefloor - unlike the other week I have no idea what the actual songs were, but the beats were good, and yes, enjoyed myself thoroughly. Mel's partner turned up, and she left about eleven o'clock, and us other three left the bar soon after I think. We went to a pizza hole in the wall shop thing, had a bit of pizza, and then we got to the train station in time for the last trains. Jo was well happy, and wanted to keep going I think, but Lisa and I made sure that she got on her train (northern suburbs) OK, before going to the other platform for ours. Got home at about half one in the morning.
Woke up at quarter to seven in the morning on Saturday - can never sleep long after a big night out, and had a throbbing head. No, not that one unfortunately LOL. Was thinking of going out to watch the rugby (on a TV in a bar, the match was in Sydney), but as the day went on, the head got better but not good enough to beat a live on free to air TV telecast. Was a really really good good game, although the ABs lost, it was a good hard real rugby match, lots of biffo LOL, and could have gone either way right up to the end. And it will be hard for either of the Anzac teams to beat the Boks at home, the Boks are really impressing me this year. So will come down to bonus points away - veryyyyy interesting.
Yesterday, didn't do much, was computer gaming again - yes I know, sad sad, but gotten the initial rush out of it, so could be fifty fifty which is more entertaining, the net or the game LOL. I was hardly on at all last week, and the only thing I really missed was my fix of news five times a day LOL - especially breaking news, you read one Iraq story this year you have read them all. Sad but very true.
Today, was soooooooo quiet at work basically. We are on a new thing, but we couldn't be until the boss had caught up with her emails. Part of the morning was catching up with the weekend - especially so for three of the girls (whereas I was trying to do the work and social life divide thing, got called in for a bit of reviewing, and a pat on the neck - which while didn't quite throw me, it was a friendly touch, has made me think a bit LOL). And yeah, that was about the highlight of the day - finally got around to training in the afternoon, NEVER a good time for training. Hit the two o'clock wall and never really recovered. I am sure we will be fine when we do some REAL hands on training.
And that's me basically caught up for the last week and a bit - mmm four days to go until the Olympics. Yes, I am an Olympics nut lol, bring on the curling, volleyball and wrestling LOL LOL. But the ideals behind the games are somehow even more important than what actually happens - the two weeks every four years where every country has a chance of doing better than they have before - personal or national best's I'm talking about, the golds are already all wrapped up LOL.
Good to be back
Pauly
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