I have found some pretty cool websites in recent days.
New Zealand fast bowler Iain O'Brien has his own website where he talks about the cricket he is playing.
See it at www.iainobrien.blogspot.com
www.iainobrien.blogspot.com
It is funny hearing his take on the day's play, especially a week ago!
Simon Savage has set up another cool website. I am on a video somewhere on it. He looks at being inspired and getting out there and making the most of life.
I have a theory that there is a continuum for performance of sports teams. A team doesn't sit on one point on the continuum, but within a range of values. For example, with the Rugby League World Cup Final, the Kangaroos are in a range which only at the bottom end of their performance would they be beaten by the top end of the Kiwis' performances. This means that only rarely (around 2/10 games) will New Zealand win. I also think this was similar to the Rugby World Cup quarter final in Cardiff last year. I also think that things like weather conditions, refereeing and home ground advantage has the ability to add addtional positive or negative length to the range line, so that the teams may overlap some more. I think that while the referee didn't have too bad a game in the League final, he slightly favoured the Kiwis more so than other matches that these two teams have played, where the referees often favour Australia. There is also the thought that the All Blacks, Kangaroos and Australian cricketers get a positive addition to their range of potential performance by some referee decisions because the officials assume that the All Blacks scrum doesn't collapse, or that the Kangaroos don't strip the ball in the tackle or that the Australian cricketers walk if they hit a catch to the keeper.
Here are some examples for my theory. For this week's game sees the All Blacks look for a Grand Slam against an England team who were thrashed by South Africa last week. The All Blacks have a smaller range, because I believe they are very consistent these days. Countries like France for example, have a massive range of potential performance. For this week's game, England could repeat their result from against South Afica and be somewhere around average, or they could play to their maximum and get some other factors like crowd support, wet conditions and refereeing decisions go their way so that if the All Blacks play somewhere at the bottom of their range of performance, they could win.
Team AWESOME AVERAGE UNBELIEVEABLY ATROCIOUS All Blacks ------------ England ----------------------
Referee - Favourable conditions - Crowd support - These things could be added to England to improve their chances of playing towards the "AWESOME" end of the range.
Rugby League World Cup Final
Team AWESOME AVERAGE UNBELIEVEABLY ATROCIOUS Kangaroos -----------+- Kiwis -+-----------------------------
The actual performance is shown with a "+" sign. I believe that Australia played towards the bottom of their ability, while the Kiwis thrived with plenty of crowd support from the England fans (Kiwi skipper Nathan Cayless paid tribute to them in his speech) and got an extra dash towards awesome from the referees. The Kiwis have the ability to also play somewhere down somewhere between "AVERAGE" and "UNBELIEVEABLY ATROCIOUS".
2007 Rugby World Cup Quarter Final
AWESOME AVERAGE UNBELIEVEABLY ATROCIOUS All Blacks -----------+- France -+-----------------------------
I believe that the All Blacks loss to France was similar. The referee played an even more important role and gave France the ability to stretch their playable range towards "AWESOME". France, like the Kiwis also have the ability to play close to "UNBELIEVEABLY ATROCIOUS", so they have a massive range of performances.
This time of the year is back. I have been to several birthday and Christmas parties (usually meals), BBQs and the end of year functions are upon us. It is also amazing how many people have hooked up in recent times or are on the verge, or have got engaged. This has gradually happened over the past year, but all of a sudden I have had to widen my array of friends, so I can have great social times. I guess, the weather is getting warmer and some people aren't getting any younger. This is a lethal combination for people and obviously is a massive factor in the sudden uptake of relationships. It makes for exciting times and gets rid of my competition allowing for stallions like myself to clean up! Here's hoping anyway!
In other news,
I am off to Cape Palliser this week with a group of The Street. We go on Saturday for a night, but it will be great times. It is a different crew to what I have hung out with in the past, so I am on the cusp of this new group. At least they do fun things, and it will be fun with a mixed group, getting out of the city.
I can't wait for Friday night. The Phoenix and the Blackcaps are playing. I am keen to watch on television, with the ability to watch both at the same time! We should meet up on Friday night, if anyone is keen.
I played golf for the first time in a year and a half at Berhampore on Saturday. I am an average casual golfer who lacks the consistency to get great scores. I ended up with 85 off 11 holes, but it was good comradery with the guys I am going to Melbourne with. I am the worse golfer of the lot, but I got a par on one whole for the first time, so that was something!
Jason Gunn made an absolutely poor call on The Rich List tonight. He made a disclaimer that answers to the Rich List of Super 14 teams in 2008, must be 100% correct based on what the NZRFU states. The funny thing is that they get incredibly anal regarding any slight mistake like plurals or mis-pronounced answers, yet it was fine for Jason to call the NZRU the NZRFU even though it hasn't been that for years! Someone should give him a citizens arrest!
Boy George proved that he is a man with contradictions in London recently. It is funny how so many homosexual 1980s singers get in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Still, Boy George sang some catchy iconic songs!
From http://www.stuff.co.nz/4772194a4500.html
Boy George handcuffed a male escort to the wall of his London home after accusing him of hacking into his computer, a court heard at the start of the pop star's trial on false imprisonment charges.
The former Culture Club frontman, being tried under his real name George O'Dowd, made contact with 29-year-old Audun Carlsen over the internet and the pair arranged to meet for a pornographic photo shoot, the Press Association reported.
Snaresbrook Crown Court in east London heard how the meeting appeared to be going well until O'Dowd started to suspect Carlsen of hacking into his computer.
But they parted on good terms and the singer paid the younger man £300 of the £400 pounds they had agreed.
Over the next few weeks, they exchanged emails in which the singer accused Carlsen of breaking into his computer system and the pair also disagreed over the naked pictures.
But in later emails, O'Dowd said he would like to see Carlsen naked and they agreed to meet for a second time.
It was during this encounter that O'Dowd appeared to "take matters into his own hands," prosecuting lawyer Heather Norton said, and chained up the younger man.
Carlsen told the court that a second man helped hold him down while O'Dowd beat him.
"George was slapping me and beating me and punching me and screaming things," he said.
Carlsen said he managed to escape after unscrewing a hook from the wall, and the court was shown photographs of red welts on his head and injuries to his arm which he said had been inflicted during the attack.
O'Dowd denies the charges against him. The case continues.
New Zealand Football confirmed this week that we have reached an all time low. We lost 2-0 to Fiji. Admittedly it was the second time we played them away after our home match against them was postponed because of Visa regulations. We went down 2-0 to minnows Fiji, with goalie Glen Moss sent off. How are we going to qualify for the World Cup, including defeating the fifth best Asian team? We couldn't afford to have 18 elligible players there. More juniors play the game in this country than any other sport, yet we struggle to get our best team on the paddock.
Two of New Zealand's best players Glen Moss and Shane Smeltz will leave the Wellington Phoenix and play for Melbourne and Gold Coast next season. This sucks as they have been two of the only decent players this season and the future of the All Whites depends on them. We have also lost Leilei Gao, who has so much talent, but was a few sandwiches short of a picnic upstairs.
We better get in some pretty good players next season using the money we get for these quality guys. In the only good move, we are getting Fred, but only for six games.
Waitakere United got wasted 7-0 by an understrength Wellington Phoenix. The Phoenix struggle to win in the A - League which is a second rate competition. Now Waitakere will go and play the top club teams from other confederations. Surely the Phoenix should represent us at this competition. Otherwise they will be cannonfodder! The problem is that the Phoenix play in the Australia competition and they are in Asia. Asia is different to Oceania!
The stoic Munster bunch almost caused a boilover for the second time in 30 years when they were narrowly beaten by a late Joe Rokocoko try in the 18-16 All Blacks win. This match was a revelation and showed the world how much mid week tour games are missed. Despite missing several Irish stars, Munster still fielded a handy team and there were heaps of things to take out of this match.
Four New Zealanders (one a no name) did a haka against their country men. It must be strange facing the Haka as a kiwi.
Stephen Donald is not up to being the All Blacks first five. He has an unhealthy infatuation with the chip kick and turns over possession too easily. I am hoping Colin Slade, Stephen Brett and Willie Ripia kick on as it were in the Super 14, because Dan Carter won't be in the Tri Nations next year. Our depth was shown up. I think our props are green internationally and this is the area that the Northern Hemisphere like to dominate. I do love Liam Messam, Alby Matthewson and Kieran Read as future stars. I think that Adam Thomson, Donald, Tuitavake and Gear seem to struggle with the step up. The quesion mark is when to concede we made a mistake!
The Irish crowds are amazing. They are sporting and in an ironic twist probably created more pressure by being quiet when the goal kicks were being taken. They rarely booed and it was funny how when kicks were being lined up by the kickers and someone made a noise, the noise SSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! echoed around the stadium. Shesh! We ain't in a library!
Mid week games are awesome and often tougher than test matches because of the passion.
Munster have great team and it is no wonder that they won the Heineken Cup. They still had plenty of household names in their team today.
Bring on Wales this weekend! They play a similar style to us, so hopefully will be a flowing game!
The England Rugby League received criticism for standing in a huddle and not facing the haka when they faced the Kiwi League Team last weekend. It is hard to know what the opposition is supposed to do? I remember England in 1997 facing the All Blacks haka and there was almost a punch up between Richard Cockerill and Norm Hewitt. It is weird because that almost started a fight. Facing the haka is seen as respectful, even if it almost challenges the challenge being laid down by the ritual. The thing is that there is no rule which says what should be done. It seems unfair that we get to challenge and scare the opposition before kick off, when just because of where they are from means they can't respond. I guess that is why Australia started singing "Waltzing Matilda" or why England have "Swing low, sweet chariot" or why Scotland let their Olympic champion cyclist bring the ball onto the field. It was interesting at the Rugby League World Cup when Tonga played Samoa and they faced off against each other and did their dances.
I have also seen teams just warm up while the haka is on. So what should the opposition do? Form a huddle and avoid eye contact? Face it? Face it and give facials as if asking for a fight? Do warm ups and ignore it?
It has taken me over three years to get to this point, but it has been worth every minute.
My mate Cam who works for ZM gets up to some crazy stuff. Here he was at Boobs On Bikes trying to get the stars to ride on his scooter. It is funny how many bimbos there are. I love the lisp of the blonde who mentions the "50cc" like the horse racing commentator from the Wired World of Sports 12th Man Series, I could feel the saliva from here! He gets up to plenty more mischief on You Tube, including interviewing a male adult movie star and wearing his pants!
In other news,
My work place is a modern building on Thorndon Quay. It is open plan and flash, but noisy due to the proximity of colleagues. The main problem is the distance from Newtown (45 mins peak time by bus, 25 mins off peak) I have joined the rat race of workers heading for the northern part of the CBD. The main difference is that I don't wear a suit! I have found a short cut through using the lift in a building across the road, giving me a five minute walk to the massive Thorndon New World, famous for getting sandwiches made on the spot. The use Freyas bread and charge by the number of fillings. It helps to fuel the Yuppies on their breaks. The walk from work is past several flash houses and consulates and is a long way geographically and socially from Newtown and Cuba Street! My main problem will be making tennis at 6pm going through the CBD (it was cancelled last night, but took ages) and if I have any early touch games.
I still played tennis at my club as we have astro turf and I am in my best form in ages. I feel a slight injury returning to my left achilles though, so it could put a stop to my run. No wonder people cut back on sport once they reach their 30s.
I stumbled across some bargains at the weekend. Needing sandals which offer support and aren't flat, I found a liquidation sale and purchased some nice Keen Monterey Brown sandals which are quite covered, but smart and some basic Tevas with leather straps. Both had $100 off and cost me just over $200. I thought, since I like them and can hopefully use them for a few years, with some form of orthotic/heel wedge, then they are worth the investment, and since I hate shopping, getting them both done was ideal.
I am really appreciating the bus system in Wellington. On Saturday I hopped on the next bus and went for $2.50, out of town to Seatoun. It is like a sea side resort, and a great way to get out and enjoy the coastline. It reminds me of holidays and I love going to the beach for a change of scenery and to escape from town. The buses are also great for getting me to work now!
Here are two lists of the top 10 voted most irritating phrases. I am a staunch user of "Basically". It is funny how people use basically in sentences but then continue to provide complicated explanations. I would love to use all of these in one job interview!
Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/3400722/Literally-tops-a-list-of-the-most-hated-phrases-of-Daily-Telegraph-readers.html Oxford University's top [sic] ten most irritating phrases:
1 - At the end of the day
2 - Fairly unique
3 - I personally
4 - At this moment in time
5 - With all due respect
6 - Absolutely
7 - It's a nightmare
8 - Shouldn't of
9 - 24/7
10 - It's not rocket science
Daily Telegraph top ten list:
1 Literally
2 A safe pair of hands
3 I'm gutted
4 Basically
5 Going forward
6 Upcoming
7 Shouldn't of
8 Up until
9 Neither here not there
10 On a daily basis
Finally, the Christmas draw has been made in the Donaldson household and I am wondering what gifts I want worth around $100.
My list so far reads
A new Blackcaps top size large Bucket sunhat Bomber retro style racket XL Wristband watch Tshirt/polo shirt/shirt - I like something with a retro theme- numbers are cool- L Hunter Hat (the ones with woollen ear flaps and peak)
I have added to the audio on this website. The topic is the week of entertainment, sports I have played and the issue of meeting and getting to know too many elligible women of God making knowing who to pursue difficult. They all have different strengths, but it is hard to know who is the one or are there several?
I am voting for Bill and Ben because I am sick of all of the personal mud slinging going down between the main players. If it isn't sending party members to Australia to dig up dirt on John Key, it is big spend ups from billionnaires and investigations. It is all gutter politics and although I don't usually pay as much attention to politics, I think being in Wellington makes it all seem more real.
I sometimes go for United Future, but they hardly inspire me. Peter Dunne isn't into sport and just because he is a Christian, doesn't mean I have to vote for him. Just look at the Graham Capill saga for evidence. United Future only need about 3% to get 3MPs so there is potential, but they just lack the spark that I want. I love the characters. The Tim Shadbolts and Jamie MacKintoshs of this world.
Anyway, I may change my mind before I get to the voting booth, but I think it would be cool to see the least advertised party who have stayed out of the limelight do well. In fact, I would love to see them win too many seats for their two list MPs. I wonder what happens?
Some points of interest; It seems crazy how passionate people in Wellington are about it. The country seemed more passionate about the American elections. The provincial white middle class seem right winged (National) and the rest seem like Labour. It is often determined by your parents or family and how you were brought up! Eric Roy for Invercargill!
It all happens in Wellington. The times have changed and this crazy parade takes place in Wellington this week. What has happened to society?
A Boobs on Bikes parade is will be held on the streets of Wellington on Friday 7 November to tie in with the Erotica Lifestyles Exp at the TSB Bank Arena.
It seems that Kiwis just can't get enough of a good thing. It was only recently that the Boobs on Bikes parade had some 30 porn stars riding motorbikes around Auckland's city centre to promote the Erotica Lifestyles Expo. Now it is Wellington's turn.
Stars of the Boobs on Bikes Wellington 2008 parade include US Pornstars Brooke Haven, Michelle Maylene and Evan Stone, Australian Pornstar Phoenix Knight, NZX models and promo girls and some beautiful Kiwi women.
The parade will depart from Post Office Square (on the corner of Grey Street, Jervois Quay and Customhouse Quay) at 12:45pm and head south down Willis Street. Then it will turn right from Willis Street into Lambton Quay, proceed all the way along Lambton Quay and turn left in Molesworth Street. From here it will turn left into Parliament Grounds and finish at the base of the steps to Parliament House at around 1:30pm.
The Police will be in attendance at intersections to ensure smooth passage of the parade and minimum possible traffic disruption.
