The video that defines the Japanese Earthquake/Tsunami tragedy

There are hundreds of videos out there that show the tragic capability that nature has and has had over Japan in recent days but if I had to choose just one it would be the following.

It has so much going on, from the initial pictures of the boats being tossed about as if they were granules of sugar in a teacup. Sure we have all seen films and images of boats riding 'the perfect storm' but this footage is nothing like that, the boats are mere victims to whatever the water has in store for them.

Then there is the scene of the water approaching more land and down the bottom of the screen we see a car trying to turn around and get away from impending disaster. The footage moves on to a huge building just been demolished in seconds by the pure force of the water and then the most tragic scene in the clip for me of the car slowly reversing and the man on the bike walking away (possibly not knowing) from the vast amounts of water waiting just around the corner!

The wall of water near the clips conclusion just proves how deadly and strong the waves were... 

Enjoy, although 'enjoy' is undoubtedly the wrong word to use in this situation:

Serie A report, Week 29

Fascinating weekend in Italy in Girone 29 of the league which saw the top two teams face the bottom two teams as well as the always interesting Roman derby. Here is what happened...

Friday:

Brescia 1-1 Inter - A game that on paper seemed like no contest, Inter were rewarded for their efforts going into the break 1-0 up thanks to the ever present Samuel Eto'o. The second half however was very different and eventually Caracciolo managed to latch onto a corner that had been headed in his deflection by none other than Inter sub Ivan Cordoba. Cordoba's cameo appearance was to get much worst as he was red carded for a penalty foul which Caracciolo dramatically missed thanks to a great Julio Cesar save!

Saturday:

Cesena 2-2 Juventus - Juventus just do not know how to win anymore. 2-0 up at half time thanks to a brace from Matri the team from Turin found themselves against a spirited Cesena who managed to come back and even had the chance to win had Giaccherini not missed such a sitter. How much longer wil Del Neri last judging by Juve's current form?

Sunday:

Milan 1-1 Bari - Milan's key oppurtunity to increase the gap to seven points ended in a spectacular failure as they were 1-0 down until the 82nd minute when Bari's local hero Antonio Cassano scored. Before that it is fair to say that they had most of the chances and a goal disallowed but they can't be happy. Furthermore, Zlatan Ibrahimovic got himself sent off for hitting an opponent and may even miss out on the Derby..

Cagliari 0-4 Udinese - Udinese's brilliant form continues thanks mainly to their deadly attack getting on the scoresheet, Sanchez with a mazy 60 yard run and Di Natale with a double to take his professional goal tally up to 201. The Friulani haven't lost since the 19th of December and are real contenders for the 3rd Champions League spot now!

Catania 1-0 Sampdoria - A bore draw until fifteen minutes from the end when Llama scored for the Sicilians. In fairness to Sampdoria, they had been down to ten men since the 23rd minute due to Tissone's red card but this wont let them escape the fact that they are just three points above of the relegation zone. Selling Pazzini and Cassano may have been a decision to regret...

Chievo 0-1 Fiorentina - Mihajlovic's team get a useful result in the typically hard ground of the Bentegodi thanks to a solitary goal from one of their star players, Vargas who scored through a free kick. This means that the Viola have scored points in their last seven games propelling them up to 8th in the league table. The Veronese however hover dangerously close to relegation. 

Genoa 1-0 Palermo - Serse Cosmi finds a Palermo hard to pick up since that defeat against Udinese. Genoa's winter signing from Udinese, Antonio Floro Flores, scored the solitary goal fifteen minutes from time to compound their misery. Pinilla may have missed a top chance near the end, but the Rosaneri have lost 5 games in a row, 4 of which they have failed to even score a goal in!

Lecce 0-1 Bologna - Bologna continue their impressive season with an away win down south. Young star Ramirez scored for the rossoblu and that was all that was needed as the visitors proved to be organised and disciplined in defence. It really looks like curtains to me for Lecce staying in Serie A.

Roma 2-0 Lazio - Roma have now won five derbies in a row and can claim Roman superiority despite the league table thanks to their symbol player, Francesco Totti. The captain scored a free kick and a penalty to decide the match and quell Lazio's pride. A talking point of the match will be the use of lasers on Lazio's keeper Muslera, some of which were pointed at him specifically during Totti's scoring free kick. 

Parma 1-3 Napoli - A proud performance that saw them 1-0 up at half time was not enough to stop a Napoli that had seemed to be faltering lately. But, spurred by the re-entrance of Ezequiel Lavezzi to the team, the Partonopei came back through goals by Maggio, Hamsik (offside) and Lavezzi himself.

League Table:

Top 5 - 

1) Milan, 62  2) Inter, 57  3) Napoli, 56  4) Udinese, 53  5) Lazio, 51

Bottom 5 -

16) Parma, 29  17) Cesena, 29  18) Lecce, 28  19) Brescia, 26  20) Bari, 17

Top Scorers:

1) Di Natale, 24  2) Cavani, 20  3) Eto'o, 19  4) Di Vaio, 17  5) Matri, 16

Until next week!

Serie A report, Week 28

Another interesting week in Italy...

Ok here is the lowdown on how 'Girone 28' of the 2010/2011 Serie A season developed...

Friday:

• Lecce 1-2 Roma - I predicted a tough game for Roma considering Lecce's recent slight improvement in form and that is exactly what they got. Although Mirko Vucinic put the capital side ahead in the first half, Giacomazzi, one of Lecce's key players responded in the 75th minute. Vincenzo Montella's average start was set to continue until David Pizarro converted a 90th minute penalty to save any Giallorossi blushes.

Saturday: 

• Juventus 0-1 Milan - A game in which although AC Milan were still the favourites I honestly expected Juventus to put up a fight like they did against Inter. Instead, they showed what a truly inadequate team they are this season and succumbed in the most unusual of ways, with a second half Rino Gattuso goal which was scuffed by Buffon. What were the odds of that!? A key win for the Rossoneri.

Sunday:

• Sampdoria 2-3 Cesena - The blucerchiati's poor run continues although things threatened to be much worse when the away team were 3-0 up by the 48th minute, thanks in part to a brace from Cesena's promising Giaccherini. A spirited comeback could only result in the home side getting two goals through Volta and Maccarone and so their grim spell continues. 
• Bologna 2-2 Cagliari - Marco di Vaio continued his excellent season by scoring his 130th Serie A goal but the Sardinians then remounted to lead 2-1 through Cossu and Ragatzu (in the 83rd minute). The game seemed set and won but in no later than the 94th minute Ramirez scored a goal to quell the islanders hopes of three points. 
• Chievo 0-0 Parma - A very dull game which saw neither side break the deadlock in Verona. Amauri, despite his 2 goal salvo against Roma last week was unable to replicate his performance and the biggest talking point was probably Gabriel Paletta's sending off for Parma in the 74th minute.
• Fiorentina 3-0 Catania - The battle of the ex Laziali and Interisti (Mihajlovic and Simeone) saw the Tuscans relatively easily beat the Sicilians thanks to a double from a returned to form Mutu and then a goal from other star striker Gilardino. This result places the Viola into the top half of the table and leaves Catania hovering around the relegation zone.
• Inter 5-2 Genoa - Inter had to respond after the previous nights result but found themselves 1-0 down due to Palacio's goal. Whatever Leonardo said to his players at half time, it worked as the Nerazzurri stormed away scoring 5 goals in the second 45 minutes thanks to Pazzini, Eto'o (x2), Pandev and Nagatomo. Boselli's goal at the death was a consolation in a thoroughly entertaining and goal packed game.
• Napoli 0-0 Brescia - Another team that had to respond to Milan's result, Napoli ultimately failed against the team penultimate in the league table. Despite the absence of Lavezzi, the Partonopei should have no excuses for this result which has left them 8 points behind the leaders and now even 3 behind Inter.
• Udinese 1-0 Bari - Not quite as entertaining as their 7-0 victory last week, the team from up north nevertheless did what they had to do against a Bari side almost accepting their fate for next year (Serie B). A penalty won by Sanchez was duly converted by Di Natale, bringing the captain up to 22 goals for the season and leading his side into an impressive 5th in the table.
• Lazio 2-0 Palermo - Serse Cosmi was unable to inspire his new team to any sort of result against Lazio after their morale crushing result last week. Instead it was January signing Giuseppe Sculli that took the plaudits for the Biancocelesti with a brace that keeps them in fourth position. 

Top 5:

Milan - 61, Inter - 56, Napoli - 53, Lazio - 51, Udinese - 50

Bottom 5: 

Catania - 29, Cesena - 28, Lecce - 28, Brescia - 25, Bari - 16

Top Scorers:

Di Natale - 22, Cavani - 20, Eto'o - 18, Di Vaio - 17, Ibrahimovic - 14, Matri - 14

Most listened to music: last 7 days..

Week ending 6th March!

Ok so once again according to Last.fm these are my stats from my last week of listening to music (on the computer)...


   5) (Marie's the Name) His latest Flame, Elvis Presley - Although I am not the owner of a large Elvis Presley collection, I think this is one of his most underrated songs in terms of how catchy it is. Just a shame that it isn't longer than two minutes and five seconds.
   4) If you tolerate this your children will be next, Manic Street Preachers - On the other end of the scale I think this song drags on a little but I still always find myself listening to it, not least due to its message which interlinks heavily with themes of politics and the Spanish Civil War too. My favourite from their 'This is my truth tell me yours' album.
   3) Almost Famous, Eminem - Having only recently got hold of 'Recovery' I've found that this has become the most recognisable song for me. As well as the artists standardly clever lyrics I think the female voice (as of yet unknown to me) used in the chorus also helps this song stand out. 
   2) I'm new here, Gil Scott-Heron - Personally I am suprised this song wasn't at the top of my weekly playlist but nevertheless it is in a well deserved second. The American's lyrics are on the one hand humorous (on his confusion at his ego being the size of Texas) and on the other equally haunting:"Turn around Turn around Turn around, And you may come full circle, And be new here again..."
   1) On coming from a broken Home (Parts 1 & 2), Gil Scott-Heron - A lockout for Gil, although part 1 featured more prominently on my plays I felt it impossible to omit part 2 as I see it mainly as one long poem spoken by the artist. The music here is virtually non essential, it is Scott-Heron's incredible message of his upbringing that keeps me listening to 'On coming from a broken Home'.

And that wraps it up for this week, until next Sunday! 

A fascination with History

An article born from a quote I read: "Because the past is the present, and the future too."

As you may have gathered from my profile or from reading past articles, I am currently studying for a degree in History. Granted then that I clearly have an avid interest in the subject and so it may seem that what I am writing here is a little worthless. But my point here is not necessarily to 'sell' history to whoever reads this but to express my feeling that I feel: that history today in age is severely underrated. 


Our personalities, families, backgrounds and life stories are shaped by our own personal histories. Often I think that the main obstacle for cynics is the nature of the word 'history' itself - it is very vague and all encompassing. One needs to realise that history is not solely the story of World War II or the Ancient Romans but every experience that every human being has gone through in his or her life that make the present a reality. 


I am fascinated with history on so many different levels. I honestly believe that through studying the past one gets so much more knowledge and opinion of today's reality be it on a personal level (for example a person who finds out his family once had strong links to the trades of the sea might be able to explain his intense interest in the subject) or on a huge, global level (study the First Crusade and one suddenly becomes more at ease with the mountain of information related to tensions between Islam and Christianity). 


As Universities lose funding in the not so distant future and these 'cuts' loom over education, I fear for the humanities, not least History. While it is impossible to negate the importance of subjects such as Mathematics and the Sciences for their role in modern society I think that a losing of, or a reduction in the teaching of History will have consequences which many may not initially seem to grasp. 


To learn History, even at a basic leve, is to acknowledge that everything around us is not so simple as 'a' or 'b' but often the result of a complex set of actions and events that I can only describe in one word, history.

Summer begins peeping its head round the corner..

It may only be March but signs of summer are starting to emerge - finally.

Ok so for the first time this year, I woke up on Saturday morning at 6:30am to get ready for work, I opened the curtains and saw two things. Firstly, it was daylight, and secondly it was sunny without a cloud in the sky!

This may not seem like a huge deal initially but it means that spring, but more importantly in the long term, summer, is not too far away anymore. After a long and cold winter - the sun is the perfect cure for all those dreary months spent inside drinking hot drinks. 

Do not get me wrong the view from my window is still bitterly deceiving. There's not a leaf on a tree yet and as I unfortunately realised as I trudged towards the bus stop an hour later - it is still bitterly cold out there and the scarf came out much quicker than I would have wished. Never the less the nice weather puts a positive spin on everything and on the bus journey to work it became possible (and realistic) to have a quick daydream about the summer and all of the benefits that come in tow with it:

• less layers - lets face it we are all bored of wearing a vest, a t shirt, a jumper and then a coat on top. As the weather gets better you really begin to appreciate the joys of being able to go to the shop in nothing more than shorts and a t-shirt!
• breakfast in the garden - personally, waking up in the morning and then having a huge breakfast sitting in the garden under the parasol is about as good as it gets as far as breakfasts go.
• drinks under the sun - yes, as the days get longer then something else you begin to grow fond of is long evenings where it doesn't get dark until 10pm spent in a nice beer garden sipping on some cider. Lovely. 
• people in generally better moods - to me it is undeniable that when the sun comes out to play humanity as a whole becomes nicer! This positive factor disappears when everyone is in a hurry to get home because it is so damn cold out on the street. 
• a time to travel and go on holiday - I have always associated the summer with going away for weeks at a time to another country and chilling at the beach, while it being the music festival season makes it even more exciting.

So, it may only be early March but surely it is never too early to start thinking about the summer is it? Considering that I live in England too, where the summer is not even a certain guarantee!

The Maritime Museum and renewed interest in.. the RMS Titanic

Living in a city with such a strong connection to the fateful ship has genuinely opened my eyes again to the tragedy. 

Last week I was required to visit the Maritime Museum of Southampton as a part of my studies. Although the content of the museum was not the priority - the delivery of the museums exhibits and its accessibility to the public were - the ongoing Titanic exhibition there really reignited my interest in the Titanic's voyage.

Maybe it was being 5 years old when the hugely successful Titanic film was released in 1997 with memories of the whole family watching the film or perhaps because I have always associated the year 1912 with a) the birth of my grandfather and b) the sinking of the Titanic - the event has always been engraved in my memory. I always knew that Southampton was the port from which the ship left with the aim of reaching New York but I had never really delved any deeper into this fact.

Coincidentally it was this trip to the museum which was compulsory and not attended to by my own will that opened up my eyes again to what exactly happened nearly 99 years ago. The exhibit (incidentally the best part of the museum) tells the story of the Titanic from its construction, to its passengers, its journey as well as the huge connection the ship had with the city of Southampton where literally hundreds of locals were employed primarily as staff on the RMS Titanic. 

Seeing as this was the first time I was able to see genuine artefacts from the wreckage, mainly small things such as letters sent from on board, retrieved cuff links or locker keys it really added to the human element of the tragedy which the 1997 could only do to a certain extent when starring actors such as Kate Winslet and Leonardi di Caprio in such a romantic film. The stories of lesser characters in the wider picture of the Titanic which really hit home how sad the whole story really was, of the workers near the engines who never saw the light of day and were probably the first to die when disaster struck. 

James Cameron, the director of the blockbuster film put it most succintly when he said "And above all the lesson: that life is uncertain, the futue unknowable... the unthinkable possible." If the huge, 'unsinkable' Titanic was able to sink then just what isn't possible in this world that we live in?

From there on I went on to watch videos and read about the wreckage in its sorry state today and how eventually the story of Titanic may be forgotten as time goes on. But as time went on this opinion of mine changed and several things have assured me that the memory of that great ship will remain long into the future. Firstly it is the many memorials that exists on both sides across the Atlantic. 

Southampton alone in its city centre contains a very nice memorial to the engineers of the ship as well as one to the musicians who allegedly kept playing even as the ship sunk. Furthermore it is the film indeed that will keep the story of the Titanic alive as well as hopefully many celebrations and memorials next year in order to mark the centenary of the event of the 14th April 1912 which claimed 1517 lives at sea.

Things we take to be true but that are not!

Courtesy of Wikipedia with my own thoughts added in...

Throughout world history and society misconceptions have regularly occurred from some relatively trivial ones to huge ones that people worldwide seem to believe in without knowing the truth. Raking through the associated article in Wikipedia, I decided to share with you some of my favourites or some of the more interesting ones and then add some more to them!

• "There is no evidence that Vikings wore horns on their helmets." - A particular striking one when you consider that this is one of the major stereotypes of the Vikings as well as the fact that searching 'Vikings' on Google Images does alot to assert this misconception. Although horn decorated headsets were seen in the era, especially during religious ceremonies the fact is that the majority of excavations have never found the sufficient evidence to back up this theory except for a few exceptions so it is safe to say that Vikings did not all go to battle in horned helmets!

• "Napoleon I(Napoleon Bonaparte) (pictured) was not particularly short, and did not have a Napoleon Complex. After his death in 1821, the French emperor’s height was recorded as 5 feet 2 inches in French feet. This corresponds to 5 feet 6.5 inches in modern international feet, or 1.686 metres.There are competing explanations for why he was nicknamed le Petit Caporal (The Little Corporal), but few modern scholars believe it referred to his physical stature." - Almost the defining character of 'short man syndrome', this misconception really shocked me as I had always associated the man with his small stature! It seems that the misconception (if true) comes due to the difference in the length of an inch according to French and British measurements. Furthermore, it may have seemed that Napoleon was short as he was surrounded by his Imperial Guard who had rules as to how short they could be.

• "It is frequently rumored that the expression "rule of thumb", which is used to indicate a technique for generating a quick estimate, was originally coined from a law allowing a man to beat his wife with a stick, provided it was not thicker than the width of his thumb. In fact, the origin of this phrase remains uncertain." - A rule said to have been made by Judge Sir Francis Buller  in 1782 which has actually never been proved, the phrase has been in circulation in British literature since around 1600. It is more likely that the phrase originates from a tendency to make rough estimations of measurements using ones thumb. 

• "Mussels that do not open when cooked may still be fully cooked and safe to eat." - a relatively trivial misconception that I have always followed under the advice that yes, if they are shut then they are not cooked! This is a misconception that did not emerge until the 1970's but that now has almost widespread recognition.

• "The notion that goldfish have a memory of only three seconds is false." - another common misconception in fact it has been proved wrong by several simple experiments. These have included conditioning a goldfish by always tapping on a fishbowl just before the fish is fed leading to tapping the fishbowl afterwards becoming a 'signpost' that they are about to be fed as well as studies of goldfish swimming through mazes where their times to complete it got better each time. So much for memory like a goldfish!

• "Alcohol does not make one warmer.The reason that alcoholic drinks create the sensation of warmth is that they cause blood vessels to dilate and stimulate nerve endings near the surface of the skin with an influx of warm blood. This can actually result in making the core body temperature lower, as it allows for easier heat exchange with a cold external environment" - Interesting, because in my culture putting on your 'beer jacket' is a common expression used when going on a night out during the winter!

• "A popular myth regarding human sexuality is that men think about sex every seven seconds. In reality, there is no scientific way of measuring such a thing and, as far as researchers can tell, this statistic greatly exaggerates the frequency of sexual thoughts" - In defence of men!

• Guglielmo Marconi did not invent radio, but only modernized it for public broadcasting and communication. No single person was responsible for the invention of the radio." - Another one that busted me because I had always associated Marconi with inventing the radio. Interesting!

These were my pick out of a very long list of misconceptions. It is amazing to think how sometimes one small rumour or word of mouth can lead to pretty much universal truths being covered with misconceptions that sometimes beggar belief!

Long songs that never fail to impress me..

Note: definition of a 'long' song: over 6 minutes.

Often today thanks in part to the rushed world of mainstream radio among other reasons, many new songs tend to be in the 3-4 minute bracket range. However, music must never be limited to any time scale and so I started to wonder, what songs do I have in my Itunes that never seem to get boring - no matter how many minutes they go on for?

• A New Error, Moderat, 6:07 - the intensity of this music is what does it for me. Perfect to psyche somebody up or when having to really concentrate on something I think. 
• Cardinal Song, The National, 6:18 - a very emotional song with a twisted and confused logic in the lyrics until the finale. Gripping. 
• Paranoid Android, Radiohead, 6:24 - the different moods that the journey of 'Paranoid Android' takes you through means that there is always something to listen out for. 
• Hotel California, The Eagles, 6:32 - a true classic, the amazingly vague and fascinating lyrics are matched by the music which by now is world famous. 
• How Soon is Now, The Smiths, 6:42 - one of The Smiths' classics this song may be a tad repetitive but for some reason 'next' never really seems to get clicked when it comes on. 
• No Woman no Cry, Bob Marley, 7:07 - a wonderfully evocative, emotional song from the king of Reggae that I could listen to again and again and again...
• Flugufrelsarinn, Sigur Ros, 7:47 - probably the most unique song in the list by the Icelandic band, it's music that similarly to Moderat really gets me focused. 
• Only in Dreams, Weezer, 7:59 - another favourite not least for the way it seems to be split between 'song' and then music alone. The lyrics too help you through the 8 minutes of Weezer. 
• Dance with the Devil, Immortal Technique, 9:39 - probably one of the most graphic and disturbing stories I've ever heard in music, the story of 'William' is sure to captivate. 
• The Decline, NOFX, 18:22 - don't be put off by the length of this, the song takes you through so many moods that it's impossible not to like. The finale is a classic for me. 
• Marimba and Shit-Drums, Moonface, 20:16 - again very different from a band that I know very little of, but the unique drums mean that 20 minutes is not a chore at all. 

Any more?

When pictures open you up to a world you didn't know existed.. #2

Two entries today simply because I have such little knowledge about one picture that I still felt needing sharing!
Ok so browsing across the internet I came across this stunning photo that I just felt I had to share on here:

The only caption that accompanied this beauty was: "The Maya believed natural wells, such as the Xkeken cenote in Mexico's Yucatan, led to the underworld." So there we have it, a description (a natural well) and its Mexican location. Upon a little more research I managed to find that this is a freshwater filled limestone sinkhole, a natural wonder that humans can access via a narrow entrance. 

For a better sense of this wonder of the natural world check out this Youtube video that I found from inside: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sH3Vah2_Rgc it's less claustrophobic than I though!

On a completely different note the next picture paints a less inspiring picture and is one that highlights a situation that I could have imagined existed but not to such an extreme scale:

This image from late last year shows troops from the Brazilian police, who in conjunction with state troops, armored vehicles and helicopters raided a shantytown in Rio de Janeiro in an anti drug trafficking movement. Don't get me wrong, I knew that the plight of drugs in the favelas was a serious issue there but I could never have imagined that the problem would even encompass the military involved in heavy gun battles with these traffickers. Apparently dozens were killed in this raid which is not even a particularly rare sight there. What a pity that such a potentially great nation is brought down by the plight of the favelas and the social problems associated with them!

Finally going to start learning my guitar!

It's been sitting there goading me in the corner of my room and I think that now is the time...

Ok so in the month leading up to the beginning of Uni I decided to buy myself a guitar in anticipation of the many spare hours I had, in order to gain a skill that had always interested me and just to have plain old fun. The thing is that things have not quite gone to plan in the following 6 months. Instead I have wasted away many hours that I could have spent learning my acoustic guitar which has since seen itself relegated to the corner of my room literally picking up dust and nothing else more. Hopefully that is about to change..

I purchased a book, I read all the websites and I added all the Youtube videos to my favourites yet things never really kicked off and this is one of my biggest regrets of the academic year so far: my lack of motivation in getting this guitar thing started. In truth I know how hard it is for a complete novice to teach himself from scratch but it can be done and I have seen it done so in truth I have no real excuse because these days there are so many resources out there to make use of.

So this article is sort of a written form for me to look back on and read whenever I am in a lazy mood and decide not to pick up the guitar. I truly have not got a single excuse to ignore it any longer and so hopefully I will be able to write soon of my progress on the instrument.

If anybody has any comments or tips for a complete novice then feel free to comment! 

Is 2010/2011 the season Inter finally win nothing?

The dreaded 'zero tituli' comment that Mourinho coined may come back to bite us..

Ok so this evening AC Milan comfortably beat Napoli 3-0 at the San Siro and while on the one hand this means that Inter are now second in the table having surpassed the Neapolitans it is a bittersweet joy. Personally, a draw would have been the perfect result for an Inter fan whereas a Napoli win would also have been welcomed as I really cannot see them lasting all the way until the last matchday for the Scudetto race, as tonight proved.

I think that after today the 5 point gap between the two Milan giants has finally become insurpassable because it means that even if we were to beat Milan in the soon coming derby it would still leave us 2 points behind the Rossoneri; leaving our Scudetto challenge in the hands of other teams who I simply can't see dropping points to such an Ibrahimovic dependent side. 

This is the situation on the three fronts we are still fighting in..

 - Coppa Italia: The least important of the three trophies but a title nevertheless. Although I would not mind winning this again it is undeniable that a season with just a Coppa Italia win would be a disappointment. We are into the semi finals of this tournament having knocked out Napoli on penalties and face Roma over two legs while Milan will play Palermo in the other semi. This means that in no way do we have our hands on this cup yet and so even this is still not ours for the taking. 

 - Scudetto: As I have highlighted, we are 'only' 5 points behind our cousins but for me tonight proved that this season Milan have the efficiency and mental power to stay ahead of us. Although things may have been different had Leonardo been appointed earlier there are no regrets and I just hope that we can keep winning our games in order to be there should Milan drop any serious points, which I doubt. 

 - Champions League: The bleakest picture of all. After our undeserved loss at home to Bayern Munich we have a mountain to climb at the Allianz Arena in March. With players such as Milito and Cambiasso doubtful for the game and Pazzini cuptied we are not at full strength and I fear that the Germans are finally going to get their revenge for May 2010 on us.

Of course I would love to be proved wrong, but this is the current situation and, being a pessimistic fan, I do not think that there is much hope left for us in this eventful season...

When pictures open you up to a world you didn't know existed.. #1

Nyiragongo Crater, Democratic Republic of Congo


It is often the case that I will be browsing the internet or some other form of media when I stumble across an image of a place or something that I literally don't have a clue about. This happened to me tonight when looking on a popular image blogging website when I discovered a set of pictures, of which the most striking was the following:

Welcome to the Nyiragongo Crater on Mount Nyiragongo in the centre of Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo. If I told you that the crater is 1,300 feet deep then you should get some sense of the scale of this natural wonder. Apparently no human being had ever survived a trip to the edge of the lava pool until 2011 a feat that is truly beyond words in terms of bravery and technology (think of the high tech equipment that must have used!).

The fact of this article is though, that had it not been for the wonderful internet I may never have known, or have a much more delayed knowledge of this amazing geographical feature. Upon further reading I found that there have been huge eruptions here in recent memory: 1977 and 2002 being the notable ones.

I will aim to make this article a regular feature because I really am always finding pictures or snippers of information that I know initially nothing about and I feel that after I have done some basic research I should share the knowledge and see if anyone else is as amazed as I often am!

What is it about Amsterdam?

I've been there twice now and there truly is something magical about the Dutch Capital.

Amsterdam: the city which encapsulates all that is liberal in modern day society with the world famous red light district and the countless number of coffeeshops being at the forefront of this image that is transmitted across the world. I had always heard of these rumours and stories of 'dam, who hasn't, but it is not until you visit Amsterdam that one really gets a feel for the place and realises some welcome truths..

I have now been to the city twice, the first time in November and the second time in February thanks in part to the great experience I had the first time. Both times the weather was cold, pouring with rain during the weekend the first time but this did not seem to quell the spirit of the city. I spent a weekend there and saw many of the tourist landmarks that Amsterdam has to offer: the Van Gogh museum, the Red Light District, the coffeeshops and that massive IAMSTERDAM sign. 

There is something though about Amsterdam that sets it apart from other large European cities that I have visited (London and Rome among others). As well as a fascinating history (Anne Frank for starters anyone?) the atmosphere of the Dutch capital is truly laid back. This will lead to all the predictable comments of those who would say 'of course it is, it's because they are all always high!' but I think that there is something beyond that. I cannot quite put my finger on it but it leads to Amsterdam being a magical city to visit and one that I recommend for all adults with all particular interests - because if their not represented  'dam it's not likely to be anywhere!

The picture as we walked down one of the many busy shopping streets on the Saturday afternoon could have been taken anywhere else so I urge you not to judge Amsterdam on pictures or word of mouth alone but to go to the city itself and truly get a feel for the place.

I love the place so much that I plan to visit again in the summer, perhaps for a bit longer to see the city in all its summer glory and also to maybe get out of the more well known landmarks to see some other places that I am sure the surroundings of Amsterdam have to offer!

On Watching Life Just Pass You By..

Something that I have been feeling recently is that I am not doing enough to make the most of the unique opportunity that life is.

This sounds like a bit of a depressing title but for the record it is not. It is just an emotion that occasionally crosses my mind, wishing that perhaps I could do even more than I currently am. I do not think that I am alone in this and it is a feeling that often arises through too much free time or boredom (just 8 hours contact time at University a week!?).


The closest way I can explain it as if you are sat on a train (’life’) and you know what station you want to get off at (’your goal in life’ for example). THe problem is that at every stop you are not there for just 5 minutes, the train is stopped for a full half hour before you get moving again. Once your on the go again everything is fantastic because you know where you are going and what you are doing. But the main issue reminds that immobile half an hour spent at the train stations every so often.


Take right now, a standard Monday night where I have done the work that is required for my lectures and played a football game this evening meaning that I have chosen to stay in the comfort of my own room. This may seem as if everything is fine, and it is, but occasionally that feeling crops up that is telling me that I should be making more use of my time and doing this or that.

It’s annoying because it is not the best thing to feel in the world, but as with all things I hope that this is just a phase and that sooner rather later down the line I will be writing about how little spare time I have and how many things I have going on at the same time!

Most Listened to Music: Last Seven Days.

Here it is, the 5 songs that I have listened to the most times in the last week..

It looks like a week where I have been listening to similar artists or the same band and then a surprise entry too!

5) Deep Blue, Arcade Fire – I can’t quite put my finger on what this song reminds me of but it seems like a really nostalgic tune and never gets skipped when it comes on on my Itunes. Its reference to ‘Kasparov, Deep Blue, 1996′ helped me find out about that chess game in ‘96 of which I had no previous knowledge at all. Interesting.

4) Crossfire, Brandon Flowers – The most well known song since Brandon Flowers went solo Crossfire to me is a really powerful ‘lift up’ kind of song that by its conclusion leaves me in a good mood. The catchy chorus only adds to it..

3) When you were Young, The Killers – Sticking on the Brandon Flowers theme I seem to have rediscovered this old Killers song. One of their best, I would say
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2) Sing for the Moment, Eminem – A true classic in Eminem’s discography and one that will live on in the rap world without a shadow of a doubt. The emotion Eminem transmits in this, followed by the memorable riff at the end of the song make it one of my all time favourites. 

1) The Well and the Lighthouse, Arcade Fire – ‘The Well and the Lighthouse’ was always a song that I skipped past when shuffling Arcade Fire songs but to be fair I never really gave it a chance. Coincidentally, it has now become one of my favourite songs by the band. The glory of giving a song a second chance…

Until next week!

Places that I would love to visit

These places are definitely on my 'to see before I die' list..

Travel. To travel the world is something so many of us dream of doing at some point in our lives. I think that the idea of travelling and visiting other cultures is one of the most fascinating things a person can possibly to in his/her lifetime. But assuming I can't be greedy and I can't see EVERYTHING, here are a few of the places I would love to visit at some point..

• Buenos Aires, Argentina: Perhaps its the family link that I have with Argentina, the similarity of their culture to mine or maybe even the world renowned Argentine steak: Buenos Aires and its surrounding area has always been near the top of this 'list'. It strikes me as a frenetic and lively city with everything and anything to offer and importantly as a springboard to the rest of the country and undoubted highlights such as the Iguazu falls on the Brazilian border or the amazing Patagonian region with landmarks such as the Perito Moreno glacier!

• California, USA: Although the country as a whole fascinates me, I think that it is Cali and surrounding areas that have the biggest pull for me. Maybe it is its long history or the well known cityscapes of San Francisco and Los Angeles, the Hollywood sign or the huge national parks at Yellowstone and Death Valley that do it, I just don't know. The fact that Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon aren't unrealistic distances away just adds to the excitement of travelling California too. I think I'll wait until I am in a state to join those muscular types at Venice Beach..

• Russia: Perhaps an odd choice, not just because it is not the most popular tourist trap in the world but also because I haven't specified where in the largest country in the world I would like to visit! I once read Jonathan Dimbleby's 'Russia' book where he travels the country and since then have always been inspired to one day travel the Trans-Siberian railway all the way along. A journey so famed and long is sure to kick up amazing stories and surprises, right?

• Sydney, Australia: Judging from amazing pictures and the experience of one friend alone, Sydney is not a place to be missed! Its beautiful weather and welcoming people place the city down under firmly near the top of my list and it would be incredible to see the New Years fireworks there one time, a scene I have so often seen on the television.

• Cairo, Egypt: Primarily for the history of the ancient Egyptians who produced things we can only dream of in the 21st century! The much famed Sphinx and the Great Pyramids may be one of the most visited places on earth but I would not like to miss out on such wonders and so Cairo and a cruise down the legendary Nile is certainly on the cards, one day..

I could go on and on and on but I said I could not be greedy and so limited myself to just five options, much harder than it sounds!
What about you? Where do you most want to visit at some point and do you agree with my choices?

When money is low, why do people turn to gambling?

Perhaps the answer is easy - but it defies the laws of logic!

People all over the world have money problems, it is almost second nature for people in the West to complain about whatever financial issues they may be implicated in these days..

What I have noticed often though is that when people do fall on tough times monetarily many seem to turn to one of the highest risk 'games' you could possibly play at such a stage: gambling! 

Don't get me wrong, I can very easily see the attraction of online betting websites and the betting shops when, say, a 'big win' playing roulette or poker could quite possibly solve your money problems. I would be wrong to say that because sure, it is impossible not to dream of such big wins and create almost a 'fairtytale story' all in the comfort of your own desktop computer. 

But it's a huge accident waiting to happen, like a person on the edge of a cliff in gale force winds. Yes, that risky! 

Why? Although we may read of success stories and such I think it is natural that winners in these circumstances are more than eager to show off their accomplishments while 'losers' who fall deeper into whatever financial black hole they are in tend to keep quiet, naturally. There must be thousands upon thousands of such stories of those who were tempted to put their faith in gambling and come out much, much worse.

Quick, easy money is a temptation that will never disappear or lose its lure yet it is crazy to think that when a person tries this solution (often supposedly 'last resort') to help themselves they are placing risks that they probably never even faced in their previous and ungambled ways.

Once again, this article is not and cannot propose a solution to anybody's money problems (I wish!) but it's just a brief reminder that gambling is NOT the way to go when times are hard and with enough hard graft and the correct attitude  - problems can be solved.

Hard graft and the correct attitude? Now there's something I would put my money on!