Archive for March, 2009

F1 – The changing tide

Sunday, March 29th, 2009

F1 2009, race no. 1 at Melbourne, Australia.

1st: Brawn GP

2nd: Brawn GP

Is this the sign of things to come this season?

Brawn GP getting a debut 1-2 finish is something not seen in F1 for a long long time. With Ferrari struggling, and so does McClaren (with the exception of Lewis who drived a superb race), the new face of F1 (or old, depending on how you look at it) has changed how the world sees F1 today.

No longer a 2 horse race for the driver and constructor championship. This season promise to be more open, unless Brawn starts to dominate the rest of the races. But you will not bad against MaClaren or Ferrari to get it right, sooner rather than later. So this season is one you should not miss. If you have never been a F1 fan , this is the year to be, as it has never look so exciting.

I do quietly hope the appeal will go though, but I got a feeling it will not, so Ferrari better have a backup plan or they can kiss this season good bye, after 2 races.

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Earth Hour

Saturday, March 28th, 2009

28 Mar 2009 – 2030hrs to 2130hrs…time to switch off those lights…and we did.

My elder son Denver was very excited about the Earth Hour event and keep reminding us about it. I guess he must have heard it in school and is very eager to participant. On the day itself, he keep counting down to the time and when 8.30pm finally came, he went round the house switching off all the lights and appliances.

Critics might say that this is all a commercial gimmicks but I do feel the Earth Hour does bring a level of awareness to a lot of people on the importance to protect our planet. Many might not even entertain the thoughts of protecting our planet, as they feel they may not live that long, and many might still feel that way, but it is important to focus on the additional number of people who will become aware as a result of this event rather that on those who don’t care.

But some do becomes a little too enthusiastic about it. For example, a family near my neighbour who obviously is a supporter of the environment, switched off their lights and went downstairs for a walk, it was all good, except when they allow their kids to scream at the top of their voice for others to switch off their lights. I feel this might give a negative effect to it as some might be irritated by the action.

Back to my son, we found ourselves talking about the planet and how we can do to help, and I think it’s a very good time of education to our future generations, who hopefully, will not be as wasteful and harmful to the environment as our generation.

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The race is on!

Monday, March 23rd, 2009

1 month ago, there is only going to be 1 winner in the Barclays Premier League. Man Utd has not been beaten since Nov 08, Van der Sar just broken the clean sheet records, Man Utd has most of their injured back, and they have a very healthy lead at the top of the BPL which we all know at this stage, they rarely gave away.

Liverpool can only hope, and I believe even the most faithful of Liverpool fans wasn’t thinking too much of the title this season. The only way to have any real chance, abet a very very slim one, is the meeting with Man Utd, a chance to gain 3 vital points. And on a back of a superb win over Real Madrid, they repeated the feat against Man Utd. Hopes were raise, just a little, as Man Utd still have a 4 points lead, and a game in hand.

Next up for Man Utd is Fulham, a chance to restore lost pride, a chance for back slash, especially when they just murdered Fulham 4-0 at the same ground 2 weeks ago. A chance to silence any doubts anyone have against them retaining the crowd. Liverpool’s match is just a blip, now for the real masterclass. Well, it didn’t go quite as plan.

Having lost Vidjic due to suspension (for stupidly hurling down Gerrard when he has absolutely no chance), the young and promising Evans came in. But no one expected Fulham to start the way they started. They controlled the 1st half, played probably their best football, scored from the penalty spot (for a ex-Liverpoolian Murphy), and have Man Utd’s Scholes sent off in the process for deliberate handball.

Even with 10 man, Man Utd is expected to steamroll over Fulham. They unlease Rooney in the 2nd half, and control the game for a good 20 mins or so, but found the Fulham keeper in top form with saves, double saves, and more. Then on came Tevez, more terror fo Fulham, but they started to take back some control of the game and score a 2nd late on to kill off the match. They was still time for Rooney to be sent off (a bit harsh I thought, but who cares!).

So now it is back to back lost for Man Utd, a first in 147 games! With Chelsea losing to Spurs half hour later, Merseyside is sensing something. A chance to close the gap to 1 point, or will they choke?

Against Villa who is fighting for a Champions League spot, it is not going to be easy, and it will take the bravest to predict the margin of victory they will to have. Right from the start, Liverpool was at their throat, and reward early with a Kuyt goal. Villa tried to come back, and need Reina to be at his best. But a brilliant kick by Reina found Reira free and a first time volley almost broke the crossbar on the way in. 2 -0, and Liverpool is still not done. Any great ball releases Reira and Reo-cooker, played out of position, tripped in and it’s Gerrard time. 3-0 and it’s over, with lots of time still left to play.

An Istanbul fightback of their own from Villa? Not quite as just 5 mins into the 2nd half, a well placed Gerrard free kick puts them 4-0 up. Another 4 goals scored, another victory in the bag. When Torres runs free into the box, Villa feel the worst, but it was worst then worst. The Villa keeper came out, got nothing of the ball, and was sent off for bring Torres down. Gerrard dispatch the penalty in typically cool fashion for his 1st Premier League hat-trick and Liverpool fans will be celebrating well into the night for another excellent victory.

Man Utd, keep looking over your shoulder, you might not see us soon.

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Dragonball Evolution

Monday, March 16th, 2009

Dragonball, one of the most exciting comic series to come out of Japan. It has a large following and it has also been made into cartoons. The comic series runs long, from the birth and childhood of Gouku, the main character in the comic, to he growing up and saving planet earth with his special abilities, as he himself is not from earth.

The comic brings a lot of laughter, especially when Gouku is young, and has heartwarming scence as well as great fighting scence. But nobody has attempted to bring the comic to real life, until now.

Granted, Dragonball Evolution, as the movie is called, is just an adaptation of the comic series. That means don’t expect it to be what you read from the comic. It will be a tough act to follow. Gouku looses his tail in the movie, Master Roshi did not wear his famous turtle shell on his back, Yumchai is not as shy about woman as he is in the comic book, but all this doesn’t matter, as they made it clear that it will not be a copy version of the comic. But they did take quite a few of the important characters from the book, gave them the same ability/skills, and repackage them to current context, and choose certain scence from the comic book, plus adding their own intepretation for this movie.

So if you are looking to see the comic book come alive, well, it is not going to happen, but with the understanding you have from the movie, watch it with an open heart, and you will still be able to enjoy the movie. I don’t think they movie is very clear in defining some of the characters, but for someone who did not read the comic at all, I believe they are still able to enjoy the movie, which is the whole point. It might even spur them to want to read a little more about Dragonball.

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What a week for Liverpool!

Sunday, March 15th, 2009

Wow…what a week it has been for Liverpool. Even the most fervent fan would not think that they will ship 8 goals pass Real Madrid and Man Utd in one week. And boy did they did it so convincingly.

If anyone thought Liverpool will be doing another ‘Boro’ on a back of a Champions League win over one of the best team in the world, they were totally wrong. Liverpool put up another excellent display, and even allow Man Utd to score first, before trashing them 4-1. A trashing, if you look at Man Utd’s record, and you would agree this is consider a trashing.

Now the game is on, even though Man Utd is still the favourite to retain the Premier League title, it will make for a more interesting run-in. And how many teams can claim they do a double over the champions? Kudos to Liverpool, especially Torres and Gerrard! And not forgetting good old Rafa who did it again!

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