Opiparous ocular oblectation...

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Indeed, what a sumptuous feast for the eyes and heart this weekend: two games, two codes, one country. After one of the most exciting games of Rugby League I have ever seen (England vs. New Zealand ended in such dramatic fashion: time up, a last minute try, the game tied, the last kick of the ball to tie or win a place in the World Cup final. Wonderful excitement with England 'seconds from victory' in a 'classic, absorbing match'; pipped at the post by the Kiwis [current World Champions]) I was relatively content. However, that was followed yesterday by an even more incredible and exciting game where the English didn't even have a dog in the fight yet what a fantastic, marvelous, brilliant game of Rugby Union: Ireland vs. New Zealand (a team who have never beaten the All Blacks versus a team unbeaten all year). The Irish built up a 19 - 0 lead, and although that lead lead dwindled they kept it right until the end, with the clock in the red, and guess what? Time up, a last minute try, the game tied, the last kick of the ball to tie or win! Such heart-wrenching and at the same time exhilarating stuff and for both games to end in the same amazing way: well worth watching (not the highlights, the whole two games).

Opiparous ocular oblectation...

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Indeed, what a sumptuous feast for the eyes and heart this weekend: two games, two codes, one country. After one of the most exciting games of Rugby League I have ever seen (England vs. New Zealand ended in such dramatic fashion: time up, a last minute try, the game tied, the last kick of the ball to tie or win a place in the World Cup final. Wonderful excitement with England 'seconds from victory' in a 'classic, absorbing match'; pipped at the post by the Kiwis [current World Champions]) I was relatively content. However, that was followed yesterday by an even more incredible and exciting game where the English didn't even have a dog in the fight yet what a fantastic, marvelous, brilliant game of Rugby Union: Ireland vs. New Zealand (a team who have never beaten the All Blacks versus a team unbeaten all year). The Irish built up a 19 - 0 lead, and although that lead lead dwindled they kept it right until the end, with the clock in the red, and guess what? Time up, a last minute try, the game tied, the last kick of the ball to tie or win! Such heart-wrenching and at the same time exhilarating stuff and for both games to end in the same amazing way: well worth watching (not the highlights, the whole two games).

Overly optimistic IV...

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Peter Spence at City A.M. replies to Will Hutton's overly optimistic alternative history Guardian article. Both are good and although we all can laugh at the latter, what he writes, albeit hypothetical, may have changed everything and saved us from the 'Credit Crunch'; I doubt it though because the straws loading the camel's back began in earnest in the late nineties. Anyhoo, what I hadn't seen before - and what is very very interesting - was the image left (click to enlarge, it's worth it) that accompanies the City A.M. piece, which shows a number of hypothetical monetary unions and how well their economies could be joined in a union: some are logically good fits but such random groups as economies of countries beginning with the letter "M" and all countries on earth along the latitude line 5th parallel north had more in common than the first 12 members of the euro! What set out to unite will ultimately divide, QED. 

Overly optimistic IV...

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Peter Spence at City A.M. replies to Will Hutton's overly optimistic alternative history Guardian article. Both are good and although we all can laugh at the latter, what he writes, albeit hypothetical, may have changed everything and saved us from the 'Credit Crunch'; I doubt it though because the straws loading the camel's back began in earnest in the late nineties. Anyhoo, what I hadn't seen before - and what is very very interesting - was the image left (click to enlarge, it's worth it) that accompanies the City A.M. piece, which shows a number of hypothetical monetary unions and how well their economies could be joined in a union: some are logically good fits but such random groups as economies of countries beginning with the letter "M" and all countries on earth along the latitude line 5th parallel north had more in common than the first 12 members of the euro! What set out to unite will ultimately divide, QED. 

Other options...

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The Eve of War...as we know the alien invasion has begun in earnest; what we do not fear enough are the internal forces aiding and abetting. 

Other options...

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The Eve of War...as we know the alien invasion has begun in earnest; what we do not fear enough are the internal forces aiding and abetting.