Not Posting much

Some one asked me why I wasn't posting as much, well I've posted more this month than any other month ever. So Nerrr :P

The shack revisted

Well it seems like the people who were slow off the mark are now reading The Shack. Tim Keller Included. Here is what he had to say

Invictus

Well I finally went and saw Invictus. Well worth it. Its the story about the 1995 Sprinkboks run to the Rugby World cup. Or rather the Political side of it all. I blogged about it back in Nov here. Nelson Mandela (played by Morgan Freeman) is released from Prison and sweeps to become the South African President Traditionally in South Africa the Blacks played Soccer and the whites played rugby. Indeed even the Sprinboks name and colours were associated with the Apartheid party and thus the blacks would cheer for the opposition.

Mandela together with the Sprinkbok Captain (played by Matt Damon) worked on uniting the country with rugby.

I really enjoyed this movie. I felt it was pretty balanced and had some great lines in it. You saw the changing of the attitudes of the people reflected in the presidents bodyguards (half black half white). It was funny, inspirational and very historically accurate- which I like) well worth seeing.

Some great quotes :

Jason Tshabalala: According to the experts, we'll reach the quarter-finals, and no further.
Nelson Mandela: According to the experts, you and I should still be in jail.

Francois Pienaar: I was thinking how a man could spend thirty years in prison, and come out and forgive the men who did it to him...

Nelson Mandela: Forgiveness liberates the soul. It removes fear. That is why it is such a powerful weapon.

Omid Djalili Kebab Song!!

Clash of generations in musical form

All Fowlered up

This has been a pretty tough week for me. I've been pushing people all year to take the Fury seriously- coping heaps for every loss but mocked when we win and then this happens. But it is all reported wrong in the media. I've still too annoyed about the whole thing to post about it myself. But finally someone started to post something putting some of the responsibility on the coach. I thought I quote this from the 442 website (ironically 4-4-2 is the formation we should have been playing,)

P-Plates vs Experience

Posted On 26/01/2010

By Kevin Airs

The other Fergie this week said: "Cross me and you're dead." Our Fergie was clearly listening and apparently decided to try out that tactic on Robbie Fowler.

The difference of course is that Fergie-with-a-knighthood has a lifetime of achievement and success at every level of club competition that he's been eligible for.

Our Fergie-with-the-P-Plates, erm, hasn't.

Fergie-with-a-knighthood might be brash and abrasive, aggressive and arrogant, even petty and vindictive. But he's entitled to be. He's won everything. He knows what he's talking about, probably better than anyone.

Fergie-with-the-P-Plates, on the other hand, has been assistant coach of a side which won the A-League Premiership.

I'm trying not to take sides here. Frankly, the Fowler- Fergie row is a mess and neither party emerges smelling of roses.

But the row highlights the problem with hiring genuine world-class marquees like Robbie Fowler and then putting them in the care of inexperienced coaches like Our Fergie.

His player credentials are as good as anyone's at domestic level - winning the Scottish Cup with minnows St Mirren before becoming part of Rangers' squad that won nine titles in a row.

Unfortunately his playing days coincided with a bleak period of Scottish international football under Andy Roxburgh and Craig Brown and he barely even got a look in, with just nine caps in his career. He deserved more.

As coach at North Queensland Fury, he's done remarkably well with a ramshackle squad, even given that Adelaide United have gone out their way to make Fury look good.

His first choice signings though were quite simply awful. (Jacob Timpano? Nice guy with talent - but he's made of glass and is just never fit. Ever. Bargains aren't bargains if they don't play - it's just a waste of salary cap.)

He's overcome a run of injuries and early exits from the club that have allowed him to replace mediocre players with genuine talent like Dave Williams and Shane Stefanutto.

And he looks like he is destined not to finish last (thanks, Aurelio!).

Last weekend, he actually had the chance to punish his intrastate rivals Brisbane Roar and could have seen Fury remarkably push for a finals spot.

Instead he decided to get involved in a silly power struggle in a feud that's been simmering all summer.

To begin with, a good man manager should never have let it get to that point.

(It irks me that the people in charge of running teams are now called coaches. Coaches teach football skills. Managers choose tactics, teams and motivate. Calling our managers 'coaches' often allows them to ignore that side of the job, it appears.)

Find a compromise. Do a deal if you must. Swallow a bit of pride. No man is bigger than the team - and that includes both players AND the manager.

Did Fury really benefit from the weekend's debacle? Well, they didn't win. And you have to say they stood a better chance of winning if Fowler had played than if he was in the stands eating ice cream with his daughter.

But in truth, Fergie...what were you thinking? Seriously?

You can't pander to an under-performing star just because he's your marquee and on a huge wage - look at Aloisi at Sydney, after all.

But Aloisi has been dogged by injury and poor form and has frequently deserved to be dropped or benched.

Meanwhile Fowler is Fury's top scorer. He's third equal top scorer in the league. He's played more minutes than any outfield player in the A-League. He's your captain.

More importantly though, he came here to play. He could be sitting on the bench at an English Premier League club for the same or even more money...but he's not.

He came here to play.

And if Fergie had read the interview he gave the Daily Mail, Fergie would have seen (if he didn't already know) that his family haven't settled properly in Townsville.

I can just imagine the conversation in the Fowler house on Friday night - "You're on the bench?? WHAT IS THE POINT OF US BEING HERE IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO PLAY?" (I may be projecting here, but, well, you know...!)

Fowler is not the only good thing about Fury - but he has undoubtedly made the difference this season in stopping the side from being easybeats. He's done his job in attack.

And yet Fergie wanted to drop him in favour of Dyron Daal, a journeyman striker that struggled to get a game anywhere else in the world. Yes, he's hit some form for Fury - but can't Fergie see what an unnecessary slap in the face that is for Fowler?

What's more, Fergie wanted to use a 4-5-1 formation, at home, against an out of sorts Roar in a must-win game.

Fergie is lucky Fowler even bothered to hang around to watch the game. Others with Fowler's wealth might just have packed a bag and gone home and thought nothing more about it.

(By the way, do Fury actually think anyone believes the tired old 'oops, it was all just a silly misunderstanding' line? Fergie: Fowler, you're on the bench, Middleby, you're skipper. Fowler: Oh right boss. See you on Monday. [Two hours later] Fergie: Anyone seen Robbie? No? Ah well, I'll just tell the TV he's refused to play. No, don't bother trying to phone him...)

You can play stars off the bench without offending them. In the euphoria of the 2005 Uruguay game in Sydney, one of Guus Hiddink's little masterstrokes was overlooked.

Harry Kewell had returned for a rare game in Australia at the height of his injury-plagued spell at Liverpool...but Hiddink kept him on the bench.

However, he knew Kewell only had an hour or so in him - but instead of starting him and then having to take him off at the crucial last half hour period of the game, he did it in reverse.

Harry came on late in the first-half - and made an immediate impact with his reputation intact, and both player and manager delighted...and soon, so too was the whole country.

That though is the difference between a coach with P plates and a coach with experience. It's not just tactics, it's man management too.

Fury have now conceded Fergie's position will be reviewed at the end of the season.

'Cross me and you're dead' can be effective - but like all conflicts, Fergie would do well to choose his battles carefully before launching into all-out warfare.

Sometimes you can win the battle - but lose the war.

football referee

the ref in the roar fury game should have given himself a red

Chaplaincy

Well I've started to think about planning for the year to come. These are things I'm wanting to get up and going on a chaplaincy side

1) Restarting the Christian lunch time group

2) Finding better ways to encourage staff

3) Launching a prayer ministry- as there are only a couple of us who are christians on staff I'm thinking it will have to be an e-mail co-ordination

4) Getting into the classrooms more.

5) Setting up a bit more of a support (Spiritual and emotional) network for me

Over the last few year i've found it easy to do the supportive thing but haven't really pursured the Spiritual sort o side of things. I want to get that back on the agenda- to make closer relationships, to be able to invite kids to things like camps and above all Glorify Jesus with what I do. Now I know it is a hard balance but I'm there to proclaim God though me and I think I can do that better.

Last day of holidays

Here's a cartoon to try and make it better

Ice chewers

Enjoy chowing down on that bit of ice??? You feel that the best thing in a Macca drink is the ice? But feeling very alone and socially ostracized for doing it. Well fear no longer- there is a support group just for you here. Ice Chewers is a place where you can share you stories, speculate on medical reasons and even share your best recipe for ice

I'll eat any ice I can get hold of, basically. But my favorite is to buy it in a bag from the store - the really clear ice that is usually starting to melt by the time you get it to your freezer. I actually keep a hammer on top of the fridge, and I use the handle of the hammer to keep the ice broken up. I like to soften the ice up with spring drinking water. Sometimes I can't even wait to pour the water, though, I start eating the cubes even before I add water to the (big!) glass I use.

Apparently ice addiction is one way the body tries to compensate for low iron levels maybe you need to get checked out. Anyone suffer from this???

The Fantastic Mr Fox

Today I went and saw "The Fantastic Mr Fox". Directed by Wes Anderson it was a great film based off one of my favourite books as a kid. Mum told me today when I was in hospital aged 5 she read it to me as I was recovering from surgery over and over again.

So I thought I'd take mum and I wasn't disappointed.

It was a bit different from the book but not enough that it was distracting. The Stop Action style really did allow the character's personalities to come out and the voices were spectacular. Well worth the watch when it comes out on dvd my only complaint was language. They didn't swear at all but used the word cuss. e.g. What the cuss are you doing, go to cuuss. What are you cussing about (that one was kinda funny). Kids might not have picked it up but it left nothing but to understand what they were saying. However it was a minor thing and a movie well worth enjoying

We Love Our Lamb- Address To The Nation - Australia Day 2010

The latest of the lamb adds --- they are getting even better

Fish slapping dance

An oldy but a goodie

Events that Australia will probably never win ICE HOCKEY

One of my favourite sports...

Commonwealth Bank ad, Florida or New Zealand?

I know we all have seen it but since the fury are playing wellington (NZ) today

Excuse me please I'm a Lions supporter (mostly)

Amy Cassidy and probably a few others just had a heart attack reading this title as everyone know I'm not. but they released a series of complaint letters and I couldn't resist reprinting them. So read and enjoy: (taken from here)

A tough request
Dear Lions,
I am a local Woolloongabba resident who lives quite close to your stadium. As you might know, the annual Riverfire event is on the same time as your match this weekend against Geelong (2007). In order for me and my guests to enjoy the full impact of these fireworks against the night sky, could you please turn off your Gabba lights for the duration of this display? The game could be halted while we all enjoy a better view of Riverfire, then you could quickly switch the lights back on to resume the match straight afterwards. Regards Rita

Our youngest rejection letter
Dear Brisbane Lions,
I am six years old. Thanks for the offer but I barrack for Collingwood so no way. I don’t want to join the club. Signed Lachlan

Not happy
Dear Sir,
Enclosed is my ticket for the one and only time that I have attended a Brisbane Lions match. That the Lions lost is not the issue, that I purchased a ticket to attend a genuine sporting event, and was defrauded of that by one of the most abysmal excuses for AFL that I have ever witnessed is the issue. Frankly, I believe that you have failed under the Trade Practices Act, and Consumer Affairs to fulfill your part of the bargain. Therefore, I am obliged to ask for a full refund as compensation for the Club’s failure to honour their part of the contract. Sincerely DJS

A back-handed compliment
Dear Lions,
I met Browny’s Dad a year or so ago and I must say that Jonathan’s Mum must have some real mongrel in her because Brian was as gentle as a Seeing Eye Dog! Ta. Paul

An email ‘about face’
(2008, Half-Time, Lions v Port Adelaide, Rd 4 - AAMI Stadium - Lions trailing by 35 points)
Dear Lions,
You idiots. I am watching the most insipid and pathetic performance from a football team ever in the history of AFL Football. I’m going to tear up my membership after this game from the sheer shame of it all.

(2008, Full-Time, Lions v Port Adelaide, Rd 4 - AAMI Stadium - Lions win by 20 points)
Dear Lions,
Your 67-point turnaround was a great and unforgettable effort Lions. How I jumped and screamed from my lounge room. I’m sorry that I might’ve been a little hasty with my email at half-time but I still don’t like the white guernsey. Go Lions!!!

From a Swans supporter
Dear Lions,
I am a Swans fan since the day I was born in South Melbourne in 1943. After the incident with Barry Hall and Brent Staker I cried because Bazza really is a lovable guy. Do you think you could ask Leigh to put out a plea to all Brisbane supporters not to boo the poor bugger when he makes his return? A sincere thank you to Leigh. Yours Lorraine

‘Don’t leave home without us’
Dear Lions,
Can someone tell me my membership number please? I am in China and do not have my Lions membership with me. Thanks and regards, Rod

Good on you son!
Dear Lions,
My name is Ben and I am 12 years old and have been a Lions supporter since I can remember. No one else in my family follows AFL except for me. I live in Geelong and as you may expect I tend to get a huge amount of grief from my classmates for following a different team but I have a Brisbane Lions jumper that I still wear every time they play. I’m not telling my friends that I even sent this email as they would destroy me but we’ll be sitting in Bay 5 for the game tomorrow. Go Lions! Ben

Some armchair advice
Dear Lions,
You probably get plenty of advice from armchair warriors but I have to ask you to tell Josh Drummond that if he doesn’t have a lead up-field, not to wave his arms around. This does nothing for the confidence of our players and everything for the opposing team. Tell him if he has no leads just to boot the bloody thing as far upfield as possible. Thanks guys, Charlie

Anthony Corrie fan-mail
Dear Anthony Corrie,
My name is Bec and I am a huge fan of yours and the Lions. I even have every player's birthday in my phone's calendar so this means that I knew it was your birthday yesterday so HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Also, I was wondering, I was at the game on Saturday night and I had a sign sitting in the front row. Did you see my sign? It said 'Happy Birthday Corrie! My Number 18’. I saw you kind of glance over at one point but I wasn't sure if you were looking at my sign or hopefully checking me out. It would be really good if you could email me back though. Thanks, Bec

That white clash guernsey
Dear Lions,
Are we running out of money and that’s why we can't afford to pay for any colours on our clash Guernseys? Regards Steven

and for those who do like AFL a short article on my God Parent's Grandson (Matt Lobbe) can be found here

Guy falling on Snow / Ice in Dublin, RTE Six one report

I'm sure you have all seen this but it is just too funny not to post lets have a vote, convenient to have a camera placed just where he slips
Faked (staged), Camera set up hoping/ water poured on sidewalk to tap people or Its probably a security camera or a unrelated story, This Camera guy is the luckiest guy ever

Events Australia will probably never win- BIATHLON

This is a kinda cool event, like Chess Boxing

The true JAMAICAN BOBSLED TEAM

Winter Olympics CURLING

With the Olympics fast approaching I thought I would do some quick little video on some of the my favourite and most obscure, and thus awesome, events that will be held. For instance curling ... Lawn bowls on ice.... WINNNER

What this year is going to bring

I've been asked a few times what is happening for over the next period of time so I thought I'd blog it for the benefit of those who haven't yet asked me.

I'll be back at Weir State School working as their Chaplain again. However I have to add studying to it as well this year. I'll be Doing a Diploma of Youth Ministries through YMIS studying externally through Brisbane. I'm looking forward to the challenge but it will be hard to be back studying again. I also foresee I'll be frustrated with some of the course content but we'll see. This runs for 2 years so assuming I don't get sacked at weir it will also be nice to actually finish something.

Added to that life will continue as normal- hopefully with a much cleaner room

FIFA World Cup bid for Australia

The official world cup bid video presented at the World cup draw recently. I will give a prize to who ever spots Townsville in the video and or whoever picks up the error in the video.
You gotta admit though it does fill you with pride for our country