Posts by Jonty
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Regardless of racial stereotypes I think soccer, apart from being a wonderful spectacle, is a great leveller -- I couldn't help a nice warm feeling when little Ghana put the mighty US out of contention. But some stereotypes persist ...
A Greek and an Italian were sitting in a Starbuck's one day discussing who had the superior culture.
Over triple lattes the Greek guy says, "Well, we have the Parthenon", arching his eyebrows.
The Italian replies, "We have the Coliseum."
The Greek retorts, "We Greeks gave birth to advanced mathematics."
The Italian, nodding agreement, and says, "But we built the Roman Empire."
And so on and so on until the Greek comes up with what he thinks will end the discussion.
With a flourish of finality he says, "We invented sex!"
The Italian replies, "That is true, but it was the Italians who introduced it to women." -
<Yet another glorious English victory cruelly stolen away by the fickle hands of fate!>
But it wasn't supposed to happen like that! The UK gutter press said so .. you know, how they whip up the populace into a frenzy of wartime memories -- how we beat the Bosch and all that.
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<So full of dread and self-doubt when in the game..>
But arrogance before the game. Remember Rooney's cocky remark that England's B team could beat Algeria even on a bad day? And then they struggled to hold them to a 1-1 draw. My support was with the Germans -- cool, sharp, attacking play -- a delight to watch every time they had the ball. They deserved the win. Even had Lampard's goal been allowed they would still have gone down.
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@gio
Two bits of technology suggest it wouldn't be too difficult to give the ref a quick shoofty, regardless of the protests from those countries who seem to be the worst culprits.
That's the speed of replay and the hyper-clear close-up of the colliding (or not) feet.
Knowing it can be seen so clearly by millions around the world is demonstrating a special type of arrogance and contempt. The consequences can have such a profound bearing on the game and also the final outcome of the tournament.
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<Suarez, in my mind, embodies everything I hate about football. Diving, self-important arseholes and playing to screw over the other team.>
Been getting lessons from Ronaldo.
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Poor Ribery? And he works so hard?
I'm still a bit suspect about the Jubalani. Never seen so many balls skied over the bar.
I think Brazil, for all the hype, knew they'd had a game after the DPR Korea match. What a surprise, not knowing what to expect?
I loved watching Mexico this morning, not just spanking the frogs, but seeing some pure latino magic.
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@Emma -- gosh, you're a hussey, Emma.
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Germaine Greer was interviewed by Stephen Sackur on Hard Talk (BBC World) the other night. Great stuff, and Germaine held her own in the face of relentless interruption by Sackur.
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Be interesting to see (and hear) Marilyn Waring again. She who stood up in Parliament and delivered the immortal words: "all men are potential rapists". Wound old piggy and his mates up but was no more logical than saying "all women are potential child murderers".
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Thank you, Russell, for that fascinating Media 7 programme. Like many other people I've had a brush with Asberger's upon discovering that one of my grandchildren (a boy) was diagnosed as such when he was about 13, as too was the son of a close friend who was of a similar age.
My grandson exhibited many of the symptoms, particularly at school -- inability to concentrate, disruptive, frequently being ejected from the classroom, misunderstood by teachers, etc. My daughter, in desperation (they were living up north at the time), finally took him to a specialist in Auckland who prescribed a short course (2 years) of Ritalin. She and I discussed the implications of this treatment (there was a great deal of controversy surrounding it at the time). But I have to say, the result was remarkable, the transformation astounding and greeted with astonishment by his teachers. His marks immediately began to improve (though reading, grammar, etc, was a difficulty) and he very quickly topped the class in maths. At the same time he could find his way around a computer with great skill and became part of a national online gaming team. Ending the course of Ritalin didn't seem to affect his new-found ability to concentrate and as he matured he began to understand himself and his shortcomings. The family moved to Australia about 18 months ago and he has recently been accepted at Melbourne University. One could weep when one thinks that all this potential could have been lost.
My friend's son was similar, but different. An awkward, clumsy child, very tall for his age, who would unintentionally come out with something inappropriate at just the wrong moment. Ostracized at school and a bit of a loner. Doted on by his mother but treated coldly by his father, it was a difficult situation for him, but he showed surprising abilities on his computer. When he was 11 or 12, a mutual friend of ours took around an old guitar and showed him how to play a few chords. All his focus now went into the guitar and his computer. A few months later, when paying a visit, his mother insisted I listen to him play the guitar. I was utterly gobsmacked to hear this gawky boy sit down a give a very presentable rendition of the beautiful guitar piece, Romanza. He moved on to play bass in a school band and thereby finally gathered a group of friends who appreciated his skills. He's now doing music and philosophy at Victoria Uni.
You mentioned in the programme that not all Asbees will become maths geniuses. But I'm heartened to be able to report that these two lads, though still having other social difficulties to contend with, are beginning to find their way in life and ultimately happiness.