The Media and Andrew Symonds

Andrew Symonds does his own thing to whatever he does, whether he is bowling or batting, his batting is in the mould of David Hooks. Legend has it that Symonds, a dreadlocked Queensland larrikin, once turned up barefoot and wearing a cowboy hat for a contract meeting with Cricket Australia's then-chief executive Malcolm Speed. He also graciously ruled himself ineligible for any award at the 2006 Allan Border Medal - he would have been the One-Day Player of the Year - after being suspended for turning up drunk before Australia's embarrassing loss to Bangladesh on the 2005 Ashes tour. Sadly that was true But One day changed everything. Striding out with his team in strife against Pakistan in the 2003 World Cup, a game and tournament he never expected to play in, Symonds sculpted a masterly 143 not out in 125 balls. Until that day, he had mustered just 762 one-day runs at only 23; ever since he has averaged more than 45 and become a hero to the masses. "In the past," he admits, "I was a man without a map when I went out to bat." Now he understands his one-day role perfectly - he could have claimed to be the side's most valuable player after pounding three hundreds and taking 21 wickets in 2005-06. His impact on limited-overs cricket was shown the following season after he ripped a tendon from his arm. Without him the team struggled to its worst losing streak in a decade. Symonds proved he was an incredibly quick healer by entering the World Cup mid-tournament and was part of his second consecutive triumph. Symonds could have played for England but dreamed only of wearing the baggy green. In 2004 his fantasy was fulfilled in Sri Lanka . He batted gamely and was dumped after two Tests. Almost two years later Facing the axe, he cracked a huge six at the MCG to open his scoring with 72 from 54 balls, but was dropped on the Bangladesh tour after the previous series against South Africa. Given another opportunity when Shane Watson was injured and Damien Martyn retired, he appeared in his first Ashes series and reached a career high in his second game with 156 at the MCG. Batting with his fishing mate Matt Hayden. Last year with 777 runs in nine Tests against Sri Lanka, India and West Indies. The high was an unbeaten 162 in the first innings at the SCG, which was quickly followed by a lengthy race row involving Harbhajan Singh. These problems did not prevent him becoming the most popular overseas player at the Indian Premier League auction, where he sold for US$1.35m, After the tournament he switched back into five-day mode and a pair of half-centuries in the tight opening contest with West Indies showed his growing batting maturity and sense of security at Test level. By the end of the campaign his average was a respectable 44.65. His off-field attitude has been odd it’s true when he went fishing in Darwin when he should have been at a team meeting. Symonds was sent home from the series he was picked for this series against NZ. As I see it he played well within himself what bugs me is the way the Media, the ACB and even ex cricketers are out to get him just because he has a few beers after the game, to me it was a trumped up job other sportsmen were in that pub and drinking with Symmo according to them it was all B/S it is my opinion as well. Somebody on the ACB is out to get him with the media’s help they will damn journos. More on Cricket

Medvedev a meddler or mischievous

I see there are Russian warships in the Caribbean to begin so called exercises with the Venezuelan Navy. This just happens to come at a time when Meddler Medvedev visits this South American Country (I smell oil) he's Definitely not the Khrushchev type or is he it looks to me as though he is throwing down the gauntlet to President Elect Obama. Typical of a man like him he knows full well that the USA is in the process of changing Presidents. I read about exercises and coincidences; I don't believe in coincidence, there is a method in this bloke's madness. Lookee here "Of course these are not times of Cuba and missiles in Cuba" says Teodoro Petkoff, a journalist. For what it is worth I reckon Medvedev is trying it on knowing full well the strain this will place on President Elect Obama. If this is not a provocation why does the Venezuelan president keep stating that it is not of course it's a provocation the American President Elect has enough worries as it is without this meddler. It's obvious to me at least that he is after a warm water port at the same time it seems he is putting the pressure on President Elect Obama. Can you just hear the whinges of him and Putin were the position reversed? I can. I took this blog from my blog on StumbleUpon partly to permit a wider audience to read it, I'm talking the likes of Technorati now But you can read it on this site

Is China a Petulant Child

I see the Red Chinese government is acting like a spoiled child once more what can you expect from a communist regime? I was not aware his Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama lived in China. The reds seem to have forgotten that also the fact they just upped and reclaimed Tibet like they did. Of course most of us realise that The Red Chinese Government has considerable power in the world today, a country that uses our system but at the same time denounces it. Yeah I know the 14th Dalai Lama is a sore point with them don’t you just love it I do it makes that high and mighty HU (well he thinks he is the man) look just like a dork I just love that. Make no mistake the Red Chinese Government are murderers think back to Tiananmen Square. He kicked up a stink when the Dalai Lama came here as I recall and our (at the time John Howard) PM had to be nagged and nagged until public pressure made him speak to his holiness. What will happen with Kev at the helm is anyone’s guess I do know prior to taking office he snubbed the gentleman this was in May 2007 and was more or less forced to meet him things hopefully may have changed somewhat now. But now it appears not according to our very own ABC online. The reason oh just the usual jaunt around the world; at the taxpayer’s expense of course so he has delegated this job to the Government leader in the senate, our deputy PM jetting off to New Zealand. According to the ABC Rudd denies avoiding his Holiness; I guess he would have had to say something like that. Comments most welcome

Governor of New Mexico a large consideration

American Democrat officials today said Barack Obama is seriously considering Hillary Clinton or Bill Richardson to be his secretary of State. Richardson the New Mexico Governor has a fair bit of foreign policy under his belt with good qualifications these include a UN ambassadorship in the Clinton Administration plus diplomacy qualifications in the Sudan and North Korea. For what it is worth I reckon Hilary will be asked personally as after she stepped down in favour of B Obama she tirelessly worked her utmost for him; I could be wrong of course. More on that can be read here on the Sydney Morning Herald’s online news. I have been receiving a lot of e-mail from friends lately who seem to wish to return to the Republican way and are back to their usual thing of sending mail to how it was prior to the election. I ignore it in the main but often wonder why they bother to do it, the man (yes he is the man now isn’t he) got voted in fair and square by the American people he never squeaked in on a court decision like GW Bush did either he was actually voted into office. We here in Australia had one hell of a shock when Bush got in like that; to me that is not a fair and just decision. It seems certain that the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is hoping to meet with Barack Obama very soon, reading between the lines I reckon they have reached an understanding; I certainly hope so as thinking about it Russia and America have so much in common with each other as countries. Today in America I read racism is a very current issue in fact at this moment in time there is (I had a bloody shock when I read this) 751 hate groups against in the main racism ethnicity and religion. This does not speak well of the ordinary citizen who is just trying to make a living etc, the KKK come into this make no bones about it there was a time when law enforcement officers were members; there probably still are who knows only the inhabitants I guess. This sort of thing is something to be ashamed of how these people who think this way can sleep at nights has me puzzled. I have just been reading about sport some wag suggests it is the main cause of American racism I think that is a lot of crap. It is just competition I like to win when I play games I don't use that as an excuse if I lose. The Brits have the right idea by being seen as a good sportsman/woman. We here in Australia think much the same way sport is to be played in the spirit of the game; not so in the USA sadly. Another thing that pisses me off is why are coloured Americans called African Americans? Because I guess their forbears were slaves, Is that their fault no it is not to me they are American thankfully they may get a chance here once Barack Obama is sworn in. I really hope he turns America on its back if I was him after all of it dies down after the swearing in I would make the American government apologise to the coloured Americans just like our prime minister had to, he had to apologise to the stolen generations of our indigenous people because the previous Prime Minister would not. The previous one was of the same political beliefs as your Republican president. I can't wait for January the 20th to be honest I might write him a letter suggesting an apology once the dust has settled. Then there is recourse to these people the ACLU read what Mr. Obama said on the 1st of August 2007 I’ll tell you ok “As President, I will close Guantánamo, reject the Military Commissions Act, and adhere to the Geneva Conventions”

I don't like this at all

This is just big brother Rudd one idiotic Prime Minister who has let the job go to his head. Who the hell does he and the rest of our federal government think they are? In the beginning I thought he was an ok bloke but no the man is a devious snake who has allowed his power to go to his head. I shall not vote for the Australian Labor party again. He is going to block 10,000 websites from our right to view them. I think he should get off his backside and apologise look how he treated GW Bush now he thinks all Australians are idiots as well. These websites might be bad sites but it is our right as free individual’s to view what content we please. Conroy is just as bad indeed the whole Caucus is for allowing this sort of thing. I would describe this as the work of an oily heap of crap, Rudd it seems is one smooth talking bastard; not the Mr nice guy he strives to show the world Read all about this on this site

A follow up to yesterday's Remembrance day post

World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.” In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: "To those in America, and the countries of the British empire the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in their country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and also because of the opportunity it gave America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations. These two Videos shows the start of the war and also some of the courtesies displayed to enemy combatants.

Lest we forget

Remembrance Day 2008 Remembrance Day is always observed on 11 of November, in Australia although the day is not a public holiday. Services are held at 11am at war memorials in suburbs and towns across the country, at which "Last Post" is sounded by a bugler and a one-minute silence is observed. They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old Age shall not weary them nor the year’s condemn At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them Lest we forget Recently road works in Gallipoli have uncovered the remains of soldiers killed there in 1915 during World War I. Australians from all walks of life have expressed concern about our diggers’ last resting place being disturbed. This tells me at least that the ANZAC legend has been embraced by most Australians and going strong. But with Remembrance Day (November 11) tomorrow we need to include those from the Vietnam War as part of this legend. It seems there are those who still make a “distinction” between Gallipoli and Vietnam, even though there are similarities. The Gallipoli campaign, fought on the shores of Turkey and starting on April 25, 1915, involved Australian soldiers being sent to invade a foreign state, the Turkish Ottoman Empire, and ease the pressure on our then ally Russia. These soldiers and sailors by the way volunteered to go to bat for a country most had never seen, we were part of the British Empire then. The eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month is also remembered by many military from many countries besides British, Canadian, South African and the USA. The whole stanza which contains the ode can be read on this site Lest we forget

Post-mortems who needs em

I see absolutely no need for all these so called political writers holding posts after the event Mr Obama won fair and square. For what do they do these things if only there was a way of speeding up the inauguration process now yeah that would work for me? Naturally they cannot so that's that. I meant to say that Mr Obama has a MySpace and Facebook account he also has a website called a change of Government just here I like it I like what he says on his site I quote “"Immediately after I become president I will confront this economic crisis head-on by taking all necessary steps to ease the credit crisis, help hard-working families, and restore growth and prosperity," President-Elect Obama said unquote” More on here

Elections Elections Elections

Elections Elections Elections All we seem to read or hear these days is elections last year Kev ran and won in Australia, on Tuesday it was time for a new American President who scored an incredible win over his lacklustre Republican rival. Now the tide has turned yet again against the ruling New Zealand labour party...for the first time in nine years a conservative will run this tiny country. John Key is his name he has been in the NZ opposition party for a mere six years. John a former currency trader who is Jewish and conservative promises change but not where nuclear ships are concerned which annoyed the USA a few years back now...it threatened the ANZUS Treaty I recall that well. We are of the same opinion here in good old OZ and yet a blind eye was turned for us. A lot of problems in NZ most don't know about one of which is the Maori Party. John Key does not need their support but is going to ask them as a matter of courtesy I assume...I applaud that Sadly Helen had no personality like this guy or our esteemed leader. I cannot offer an opinion as to the U S President Elect at this time re personality but he certainly was wanted ...that pleased me More of this can be read here

Meet The new 44th President of the USA

This gentleman will be sworn in in January 2009 as the 44th President of the USA

You made the correct choice America in my opinion most of the world thinks so also...Obama carried Ohio for the first time since 1964 it is now a Democrat state the results for Iowa were astounding seriously America you have to clean up your act and Senator Obama is the man I reckon to do the job not some old bloke of 72 with a budding barbie doll as a vice president.

Ok so he’s a war hero so what a lot of us are we don't tell the world that or use it to get elected most heroes are modest

A new broom sweeps clean we found when we elected a new leader late last year.

In some states there was not a lot in it but over all senator Obama will sworn in as your 44^th President in January2009 succeeding the sitting Incumbent G W Bush pictured below

I thought I had seen it all

Folks do you really believe this rubbish as I certainly don’t and the cost $210,000 Australian.

This is how the British propose to treat unruly school children.

They are getting their feet rubbed what a crock of crap.

Here the world is watching a new man being voted into the white house and unruly London kids will soon be getting foot rubs

"It's incredibly important that we address young people's behavioural problems," a council spokeswoman said.

The conservative MP John Penrose got it right "Experienced teachers have a range of ways of dealing with badly behaved pupils and stroking their feet is not one of them," Mr Penrose said.

I read a publication which is available online but a friend sends it I’m wondering what his comments on this ridiculous scheme are.

Surely the British are not that naive as to fall for this which has been mooted by a south London Lambeth council.

As Mark Wallace, from the Taxpayers' Alliance said nothing for children who work hard and luxuries for naughty children this sounds a very familiar story to me.

Comments welcome