Archive for May, 2014

S.O.O. 1 Wrap

Posted: May 28, 2014 in Sport
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The better team on the night won. The best player on the field wore a blue jersey – Jarrod Hayne. The second best player on the field wore a blue jersey – the slightly less ugly Morris twin. DCE learnt the hard way that SOO is totally different to any club game whereas the “inexperienced” blues halves handled it well

Its hard to see how it all went so wrong after the quick fire start but you cant totally discount complacency. You still thought with 5 minutes to go they were going to pull off another miraculous win but the defense held and the attack lacked imagination

Billy S was our best which says a lot. You need Thurston or Smith to be the standouts up front for the team to dominate. Smith seemed injured for last half and Thurston didnt have room to move because the forwards failed to get on top. Parker was disappointing and didnt get his usual handoffs working. None of the forwards stood out – in attack at least. Tate was reliable as ever and Boyd is the consumate finisher but Inglis as usual in these big games goes missing. Sam Thaiday was sorely missed and should come back in for next one naturally for Guerra. Qld are big on loyalty but McQueen should be replaced by Josh Maguire .STAT

Still QLD could have and should have won with the number of chances they had in the latter periods. Gillett bombed a certain try. Their only plan to score was to get it out to Boyd but the Blues had a great defensive winger this time around. DCE had no ideas. Cronks loss was big structure wise but most people would have thought how lucky we were to have DCE to fill in. He was found wanting in most areas.

Hayne should not have scored but the guy has an almost Wally like presence about him in these big games. For once the bounce of the ball went NSW way – and it often doesnt. So good luck to them. You cant hate Loz – he isnt Carlos Smierson or Gus after all. It aint over yet and QLD know what they have to do – if Blues can do it at Suncorp then there is no excuse not to win in Sydney

Qld were always good winners and to be fair NSW were good losers. Lets hope they dont become bad winners as previously. Of course we will have to put up with the raving about the dawn of a new era by the heavily biased NRL reporting media but this should work in our favour and get the boys’ minds back on the job.

A Bunch of Fives – Memorable Aussie Sportfests

Posted: May 28, 2014 in Sport
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With the 100 th State of Origin game but hours away it has firmly entrenched itself on the Aussie sporting landscape – in some states :). In QLD at least it has a major impact on the day to day activity of the great unwashed like nothing else really. So it got me thinking – what are the 5 biggest sporting events in Aussie land that have stood the test of time and impact, if somewhat variably, on the day to day lives of folk. That is events held in Australia as opposed to a mesmerising event like the Americas Cup in 83. The five I have chosen are in my order of significance and would suspect the order will change with some of course and a couple of outliers would find their way in from the honourable mentions in the mind of peoples from certain states. But here we go

1. State of Origin – very much a QLD/NSW phenomenon but no one can deny its impact on the daily lives, especially of Queenslanders, and after almost 35 years it holds a special spot on the annual sporting calendar. Especially the first game. The nation may not stop but two states do. In a game with a strong international presence (cf AFL) a game between two states still holds top spot and that tells you something. Winning 8 in a row does not hurt of course 🙂

2. Boxing Day Cricket Test. The first session in must watch TV , simple as that. The MCG is a stunning venue. Pity we have to watch that stupid yacht race at midday

3. Melbourne Cup. Ok it does stop the nation. Never been a gambler but fondly remember school days when was in a sweep and then for many years later it would be the only bet you would have all year. Every year it sneaks up on you and sometimes you leave it to that last morning but you still have to place a bet or at least get in a sweep. It is simply un Australian if you dont

4. Bathurst 1000. Ok this is more a fond memory but you cant deny its place in Aussie sporting folklore. The 1977 race always ensured that I would get a two door Falcon XB which I duly did as soon as I had a job. In 1978 🙂 Legends were made and a fierce rivalry, similar to SOO, developed. Aussies were Ford or Holden for many many years. Simple ast that. Its lost that now largely but the start and first few laps is still a must watch every year

5. AFL Grand Final . This is more a nod and a wink to the AFL faithful but it is the one game of AFL I try to watch every year. Especially now the Lions are so woeful 😦 Its all about tradition and atmosphere and no one does it better than the sporting mad Victorians at the palace that is the MCG. And its still a day game Thank Me!

Honourable mentions> Australian Tennis Open. F1 GP. Bledisloe Cup. Sydney Hobart Yacht Race

Thoughts ?

Monday Musings – including, but not limited to, Moaning

Posted: May 26, 2014 in Midlife Crisis in Maryhole
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Lets rev up first with some CCs

Centrelink V Payroll Forget Godzilla, this is the current battle du jour. To continue to travel, and lose regularly at golf, Mr Money Man and I agreed I should look at Newstart especially as was almost 45 yrs old 🙂 So after my big package has shrunken considerably but perfectly acceptably with approaching dotage I should be able to claim Newstart about now. To make sure though I needed my Separation Form from Payroll which I should have ticked box for at time back in Dec 2102. So quickly emailed Payroll last Monday and got an almost immediate response from the lovely Carmen indicating she would start that process immediately and mail it out. A week later memories of dealing with Payroll come flooding back while the mailbox remains empty. Now initial dealings with Centrelink were similarly promising and in 2014 a lot can be done online. Huzzah. I had my CRN and my CAN which are apparently different and set up my 5 secret questions – listing the biggest assholes in Politics and didnt even have to leave the Federal arena. Then I had my phone interview where we struck the first hurdle although Harold was very helpful. Apparently I had an existing CRN from back in the days when I was a sperm donor or something I guess but he assured me the two numbers would merge seamlessly (of course they did not) and then arranged an interview with Job Employment agency the next day. All was on track – any one who has done a claim knows you have 2 weeks to complete or it is cancelled. Went to Sarino Russo ” What job would you like Sir?” “I replied Sultry Nude model“, we both laughed and then of course informed her of the “Golf Course” option. Quickest interview ever, left with my “15 hr volunteer workers form” and headed to Golf Club. All filled out and then we were left with the last hurdle. The in face interview to prove your identity etc. So I lined up at 08:20 this morning with Shazza and Darlene who not only had the flannos on but a rather fetching pair of cut off trakkies – I kid you not. All was good but by opening time the line had extended to 25 – or 50 if you are Paul Gallen . First comment though was “Sorry computers are down, there may be some delay”. Luckily though mine was pretty straight forward after I handed over my platinum Library card I was sweet to go. Go home that is and re enter all of my data on the old CAN! So a week into the claim and the only hurdle at present is getting the form off Patroll in next 4 days…..

Coasterville Ok Zynga are money hungry grubs this we know. There is something simplistic and appealing about games where you build pretty things in your own little ville. I never spent a dime but I did have some impressive erections in my park let me tell you. Then logged on yesterday to be informed that like Windows XP Coasterville would no longer be available after June but you can play Farmville 7 straight away. Fuck off. One less game to check on which is kinda even steven as just joined new and active alliances in Stormfall and Samurai Siege which fill in day nicely.

Community Forums While talking about online games I have noticed over time that these forums and their members – whether gaming, travel, movie and TV – all fall into 3 categories

1. Members who post and always generate a response regardless of topic or any apparent expertise
2. Members who are ridiculed regardless of content of post
3. Members who are simply generally ignored

While I often fall into category 3 this is not a complaint but simply an observation. The only true way to get genuine discussion , and help, on these forums would be for it to be totally annonymous

And now to end on a good note. Great effort by the Not Quite Dark Shark this morning to be the first player/Aussie player to win the Texas Slam in golf. He went in with pressure of Number One on his back and a nagging new wife to deal with. He just made the cut, continually improved and then won a sudden death play off. Class act.

Tuesday Tune In

Posted: May 6, 2014 in TV
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Ok , I cant afford to take a Monday off anymore. Sunday night (US time) is chock full of quality shows to watch on Monday but now they are starting to load up Monday Night as well with return of Louie et al. So lets run the slide rule over the current crop and see if we can drop any off. And lets not forget our UK friends either

POSSIBLE SPOILERS

US

GOT and MM are the lead players and are always reliable performers and similar in a way with the slow build up as season progresses – although GOT is known to throw in the odd early zinger. I struggle to follow some of the personal interrelationships on GOT but there are plenty of aids on the net these days to help us old farts keep up. Have to say though that the Daenyrus story line is clearly my favourite. GOT 8/10. MM started off slow but ep 4 may have finally seen Don bottom out and start the climb back up. He is not exactly a likeable character but have enjoyed his attitude since return to Sterling et al. 8.

Then we get our second stringers. Have always enjoyed Good Wife but it has struggled since death of Will and even Marty McFly is struggling to boost it . Solid 7 with a return to form likely. Mentalist really is a mixed bag . Post RJ started off pretty good but then they just have some stupid episode occasionally that plays out like Hart to Hart. The current 2 parter has been good though. 5/10 Like Mentalist, Elementary is very uneven but when it nails it is very good 7/10. Throw in Blacklist (5) and Person of Interest (5) for late week viewing – because I started when not much on I have to finish the story!

I am saving up Hannibal, Vikings , Americans and Bates Motel for full season watches

Short can be good. Californication 7 is a guilty pleasure but has actually been much better this season. The son is annoying in a Jonah Hill kinda way but having a Soprano on board cant hurt. 6/10. Nurse Jacki can be very good at times even if on occasion ya just want to slap her in the head – that is addiction though. Uneven so far so lest stick with a solid 6. Silicon Valley has been a pleasant surprise and very likable but only for 30 mins a week – then the nerds get a bit much 7/10. Veep started off slow for me but has started to hit its straps and last weeks episode with Meat Meyer was excellent 8/10. Inside Amy Schumer has at least one great skit per episode but some other stuff like the stand up less so 7/10

Then we have the comedy talk shows. Daily Show is still my fave simply because of the mix and excellent “correspondents”. Colbert is most talented and Bill Maher most out spoken. John Oliver is a bit much for 30 mins for moi

New shows for Monday now include Louie and 24. Louie is an acquired taste but when you have it ya cant shake it. There are just some scenes or lines from a show that stay with you even if some dull stuff around it 9/10. 24 has not changed. No one expected it too. Good location, topical story. 7/10

And just for something different gave the US version of Shameless a go and it is that rare bird – better than the original UK version!

Non US

Happy Valley currently my fave (8/10) but there are so many short miniseries to choose from. In the Flesh Season 2 just started – my preferred zombie story by a long way . Prey looks the goods too . For all of your UK drama check out this site http://www.crimetimepreview.com/
Penny Dreadful could be very good.

And every new 30 for 30 doco is a must watch , including Soccer series. Simply superb story telling

Its a full day let me tell ya. I have even missed my nana nap on occasion

EDIT EDIT EDIT Somehow I forgot Fargo – easily the best new show in TV land at present. 9.5/10