Saturday, March 14, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
The Day
Did you remember? Did you not?
Were you afraid of giving the wrong idea? Were you not?
Did you know? Did you not?
Did you care? Did you not?
I am nothing but an ant, scrambling for crumbs of comfort...
Were you afraid of giving the wrong idea? Were you not?
Did you know? Did you not?
Did you care? Did you not?
I am nothing but an ant, scrambling for crumbs of comfort...
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Fans of Football...
From Soccernet:
In England, more than in any other country, there is a tradition of supporters travelling en masse to away games.
Those football fans who regularly follow their team away from home will be familiar with the concept of a "face"; a person you regularly see but rarely know, someone you nod at without saying hello to who reminds you that you're in the right place.
Occasionally you may even give them a name, so in my group of Manchester United matchgoers, we silently greet Dowie, The Ghost, Napalm Death and Mr Milky Milky. There'll be those within United's support who recognise the people I mean, others who won't and some who'll know them by another name entirely - maybe even the one their parents gave them. But one person who everyone could identify - usually by his surname only - was Mike Dobbin.
Dobbin died on January 29 at the age of 61, but in those years he crammed in more United games than seems humanly possible. Born in Prestwich, Manchester in 1947, he began going to Old Trafford as a child and over the course of his life his remarkable devotion to the red cause has cemented him into United folklore.
There are numerous anecdotes and statistics that illustrate Dobbin's loyalty, so here are a few. Despite moving to London to pursue a career in accountancy, he attended every single first-team game - competitive and friendly - from October 1991 until Boxing Day 2008. In all, he watched United on close to 2000 occasions and in 44 different countries, not missing a Euro away from 1965 onwards. On last summer's tour, to get to Nigeria from South Africa he flew via London, claiming it was cheaper that way, but few who knew him were surprised when he showed up at a reserve game at Oxford in between.
Most impressive of all, though, and certainly my favourite piece of Dobbin-related trivia, is that in the Fergie era he has attended more United games than the man himself, Sir Alex having missed a few occasions for family reasons, part-timer that he is.
Dobbin's loyalty wasn't just to the boys on the pitch. As travel secretary of United's London Fan Club, he spent a ridiculous number of hours arranging transport and tickets for those based in the area. He was particularly active during the "Red Army" years of the 70s and 80s when United would take thousands from the capital to every game, even though he didn't agree with the slightly mischievous philosophy of many of its members.
Some may think that this is of no relevance to anyone who isnt a match-going United fan, but they'd be wrong. Every club has its Dobbin, people who encapsulate everything that football was once about, and still is for those with eyes to see.
When Manchester United began life in 1878 as Newton Heath, it wasn't as a business or a brand, but a group of mates kicking a ball around for fun, just the same as nearly every other institution in both the professional and amateur game. That's why the league comprises football clubs and not football teams; the point was that they should be groups of like-minded individuals gathered together for a unified purpose, of which the men selected to take the field were but a constituent part.
Those on the pitch are merely transient, just passing through; incidental to the whole shebang when compared to those who were there before they arrived and will be there long after they've left. United supporters refer affectionately to the team as "the shirts" because ultimately it doesn't matter a stuff who's wearing them as long as they do so with honour and pride; what's important is the people and place it represents. Which is why Mike Dobbin is a mark one, bona fide red legend, woven into the fabric of the club every bit as much, if not more, than Edwards, Best, Law and Cantona.
GettyImages
Until his death, Mike Dobbin had actually attended more United games than Sir Alex Ferguson (and Fred the Red).
The shame is that those playing and running the game continually fail to realise this. Players become ever more remote, content to milk the adulation of the crowd for the duration of the 90 minutes, before insulating themselves from its members the rest of the time behind minders, gates and VIP areas.
Meanwhile clubs have effectively taken on the mantle of the local drug dealer, treating pathetically-addicted supporters like the worst kind of crackhead, while hopelessly in hock to wholesaling television companies whom the FA are entirely unable or unwilling to police.
All this means that any notion of accountability is exactly that - a notion - with the blame for exhorbitant pricing and inconvenient kick-off times passed around the little circle like a Chinese whisper. Nonetheless its members would do well to remember that ultimately there will be a price; not all supporters have the limitless loyalty of Mike Dobbin.
In England, more than in any other country, there is a tradition of supporters travelling en masse to away games.
Those football fans who regularly follow their team away from home will be familiar with the concept of a "face"; a person you regularly see but rarely know, someone you nod at without saying hello to who reminds you that you're in the right place.
Occasionally you may even give them a name, so in my group of Manchester United matchgoers, we silently greet Dowie, The Ghost, Napalm Death and Mr Milky Milky. There'll be those within United's support who recognise the people I mean, others who won't and some who'll know them by another name entirely - maybe even the one their parents gave them. But one person who everyone could identify - usually by his surname only - was Mike Dobbin.
Dobbin died on January 29 at the age of 61, but in those years he crammed in more United games than seems humanly possible. Born in Prestwich, Manchester in 1947, he began going to Old Trafford as a child and over the course of his life his remarkable devotion to the red cause has cemented him into United folklore.
There are numerous anecdotes and statistics that illustrate Dobbin's loyalty, so here are a few. Despite moving to London to pursue a career in accountancy, he attended every single first-team game - competitive and friendly - from October 1991 until Boxing Day 2008. In all, he watched United on close to 2000 occasions and in 44 different countries, not missing a Euro away from 1965 onwards. On last summer's tour, to get to Nigeria from South Africa he flew via London, claiming it was cheaper that way, but few who knew him were surprised when he showed up at a reserve game at Oxford in between.
Most impressive of all, though, and certainly my favourite piece of Dobbin-related trivia, is that in the Fergie era he has attended more United games than the man himself, Sir Alex having missed a few occasions for family reasons, part-timer that he is.
Dobbin's loyalty wasn't just to the boys on the pitch. As travel secretary of United's London Fan Club, he spent a ridiculous number of hours arranging transport and tickets for those based in the area. He was particularly active during the "Red Army" years of the 70s and 80s when United would take thousands from the capital to every game, even though he didn't agree with the slightly mischievous philosophy of many of its members.
Some may think that this is of no relevance to anyone who isnt a match-going United fan, but they'd be wrong. Every club has its Dobbin, people who encapsulate everything that football was once about, and still is for those with eyes to see.
When Manchester United began life in 1878 as Newton Heath, it wasn't as a business or a brand, but a group of mates kicking a ball around for fun, just the same as nearly every other institution in both the professional and amateur game. That's why the league comprises football clubs and not football teams; the point was that they should be groups of like-minded individuals gathered together for a unified purpose, of which the men selected to take the field were but a constituent part.
Those on the pitch are merely transient, just passing through; incidental to the whole shebang when compared to those who were there before they arrived and will be there long after they've left. United supporters refer affectionately to the team as "the shirts" because ultimately it doesn't matter a stuff who's wearing them as long as they do so with honour and pride; what's important is the people and place it represents. Which is why Mike Dobbin is a mark one, bona fide red legend, woven into the fabric of the club every bit as much, if not more, than Edwards, Best, Law and Cantona.
GettyImages
Until his death, Mike Dobbin had actually attended more United games than Sir Alex Ferguson (and Fred the Red).
The shame is that those playing and running the game continually fail to realise this. Players become ever more remote, content to milk the adulation of the crowd for the duration of the 90 minutes, before insulating themselves from its members the rest of the time behind minders, gates and VIP areas.
Meanwhile clubs have effectively taken on the mantle of the local drug dealer, treating pathetically-addicted supporters like the worst kind of crackhead, while hopelessly in hock to wholesaling television companies whom the FA are entirely unable or unwilling to police.
All this means that any notion of accountability is exactly that - a notion - with the blame for exhorbitant pricing and inconvenient kick-off times passed around the little circle like a Chinese whisper. Nonetheless its members would do well to remember that ultimately there will be a price; not all supporters have the limitless loyalty of Mike Dobbin.
Friday, January 23, 2009
有多少爱可以重来
Dear W,
Will there be a day when I can restart all over again?
Shihua
歌曲：有多少爱可以重来
歌手：卓依婷 专辑：蜕变4
------------☆☆☆☆------------
常常责怪自己当初不应该
常常后悔没有把你留下来
为什么明明相爱
到最后还是要分开
是否我们总是俳徊在心门之外
谁知道又和你相遇在人海
命运如此安排总叫人无奈
这些年过得不好不坏
只是好像少了一个人存在
而我渐渐明白
你仍然是我不变的关怀
有多少爱可以重来
有多少人愿意等待
当懂得珍惜以后回来
却不知那份爱会不会还在
有多少爱可以重来
有多少人值得等待
当爱情已经桑田沧海
是否还有勇气去爱
---music---
谁知道又和你相遇在人海
命运如此安排总叫人无奈
这些年过得不好不坏
只是好像少了一个人存在
而我渐渐明白
你仍然是我不变的关怀
有多少爱可以重来
有多少人愿意等待
当懂得珍惜以后回来
却不知那份爱会不会还在
有多少爱可以重来
有多少人值得等待
当爱情已经桑田沧海
是否还有勇气去爱
有多少爱可以重来
有多少人愿意等待
当懂得珍惜以后回来
却不知那份爱会不会还在
有多少爱可以重来
有多少人值得等待
当爱情已经桑田沧海
是否还有勇气去爱
----end----
Will there be a day when I can restart all over again?
Shihua
歌曲：有多少爱可以重来
歌手：卓依婷 专辑：蜕变4
------------☆☆☆☆------------
常常责怪自己当初不应该
常常后悔没有把你留下来
为什么明明相爱
到最后还是要分开
是否我们总是俳徊在心门之外
谁知道又和你相遇在人海
命运如此安排总叫人无奈
这些年过得不好不坏
只是好像少了一个人存在
而我渐渐明白
你仍然是我不变的关怀
有多少爱可以重来
有多少人愿意等待
当懂得珍惜以后回来
却不知那份爱会不会还在
有多少爱可以重来
有多少人值得等待
当爱情已经桑田沧海
是否还有勇气去爱
---music---
谁知道又和你相遇在人海
命运如此安排总叫人无奈
这些年过得不好不坏
只是好像少了一个人存在
而我渐渐明白
你仍然是我不变的关怀
有多少爱可以重来
有多少人愿意等待
当懂得珍惜以后回来
却不知那份爱会不会还在
有多少爱可以重来
有多少人值得等待
当爱情已经桑田沧海
是否还有勇气去爱
有多少爱可以重来
有多少人愿意等待
当懂得珍惜以后回来
却不知那份爱会不会还在
有多少爱可以重来
有多少人值得等待
当爱情已经桑田沧海
是否还有勇气去爱
----end----
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Thursday, November 27, 2008
On the brink...
Finally, after a year or so, I had finished reading Joseph Stiglitz's 2 books on globalisation. The first one "Globalisation and its Discontents" talks about why globalisation had so far failed to live up to its promise of delivering growth and improvements in standard of living around the world. In fact, quite the opposite has happened in many parts of the world. The second book " Making Globalisation Work" then talks about some of the main areas of reforms that needs to be made in order to move globalisation on the right track, including a global reserve system, policies to tackle global warming, trade policies and intellectual property frameworks.
I seldom read, that's a fact and it is not something that I am proud of. But I must say that these 2 books had really opened my naive and ignorant brain somewhat. I do not claim to have the intellectual capacity to be able to critique the policies or ideas that the author had, but I think there are some pretty sound and logical principles that were surfaced (according to my understanding).
1. Humans respond to incentives - to get them to do the right thing, the right incentives must be present.
This sounds perfectly logical, but it is not so easy to implement in real life. Till this day, there had been far too many policies that looked good on paper, but actually failed to provide the right incentives for people to respond in the appropriate manner. The worst policies are actually those which provide the incentives to do the OPPOSITE. The usual reason for this would be too myopic a view on a certain issue, or a certain indicator, for example only inflation, or debt repayment, as compared to the health of overall economy.
2. Globalisation can work - the devil's in the details (management).
In theory, globalisation can and should work. However, what had failed so far is not globalisation itself but its management per se. What is happening right now is that political globalisation lacks way behind economic globalisation, resulting in perverted incentives or opportunities for quick individuals/corporations to make a quick profit at the expense of others. Combining point 1 and 2, this means there is an urgent need to relook at various areas from trade to finance to environment and work out details in policies and contracts that would provide the right incentives.
3. A global phenomenon requires global response, global coordination.
This idea is perhaps the most evident throughout the whole of the second book. It is perhaps the most important idea of all and there are signs of such things happening. It is simple enough to understand, if each and everyone (country) think only about themselves, each would pursue policies that would benefit himself and overall, at best it might not benefit everyone. At worst, it may lead to detrimental effects for everyone. This is blatantly not the way to go when the actions of someone sitting in a comfy office in Wall Street can ultimately lead to my bonus being cut :( It's time to stop being myopic and/or xenophobic. It's time to think global, and to take an interest in global affairs, including the way international affairs are being conducted. And the first step towards achieving that is really to learn more about global affairs.
I really do feel that the world has reached a crossroads of sorts in a lot of areas, areas like global warming, terrorism, international trade, etc etc. The decisions that we will make in the next 5 to 10 years would determine the direction the whole world would take for the long term future. Would our future generations look back on this period and lament our inability to learn from our mistakes, or praise our generation for the bold moves that we took?
"All it takes for evil to succeed is for a few good men to do nothing."
I seldom read, that's a fact and it is not something that I am proud of. But I must say that these 2 books had really opened my naive and ignorant brain somewhat. I do not claim to have the intellectual capacity to be able to critique the policies or ideas that the author had, but I think there are some pretty sound and logical principles that were surfaced (according to my understanding).
1. Humans respond to incentives - to get them to do the right thing, the right incentives must be present.
This sounds perfectly logical, but it is not so easy to implement in real life. Till this day, there had been far too many policies that looked good on paper, but actually failed to provide the right incentives for people to respond in the appropriate manner. The worst policies are actually those which provide the incentives to do the OPPOSITE. The usual reason for this would be too myopic a view on a certain issue, or a certain indicator, for example only inflation, or debt repayment, as compared to the health of overall economy.
2. Globalisation can work - the devil's in the details (management).
In theory, globalisation can and should work. However, what had failed so far is not globalisation itself but its management per se. What is happening right now is that political globalisation lacks way behind economic globalisation, resulting in perverted incentives or opportunities for quick individuals/corporations to make a quick profit at the expense of others. Combining point 1 and 2, this means there is an urgent need to relook at various areas from trade to finance to environment and work out details in policies and contracts that would provide the right incentives.
3. A global phenomenon requires global response, global coordination.
This idea is perhaps the most evident throughout the whole of the second book. It is perhaps the most important idea of all and there are signs of such things happening. It is simple enough to understand, if each and everyone (country) think only about themselves, each would pursue policies that would benefit himself and overall, at best it might not benefit everyone. At worst, it may lead to detrimental effects for everyone. This is blatantly not the way to go when the actions of someone sitting in a comfy office in Wall Street can ultimately lead to my bonus being cut :( It's time to stop being myopic and/or xenophobic. It's time to think global, and to take an interest in global affairs, including the way international affairs are being conducted. And the first step towards achieving that is really to learn more about global affairs.
I really do feel that the world has reached a crossroads of sorts in a lot of areas, areas like global warming, terrorism, international trade, etc etc. The decisions that we will make in the next 5 to 10 years would determine the direction the whole world would take for the long term future. Would our future generations look back on this period and lament our inability to learn from our mistakes, or praise our generation for the bold moves that we took?
"All it takes for evil to succeed is for a few good men to do nothing."
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Best of luck Cole!
I'll be the first to admit that 'Goal King Cole' didn't really quite catch on with me, given that in the first season that I started following United, Cole was missing chances left right centre, with the last game of the season against West Ham especially galling. But nothing can take away the fact that he was nothing short of sensational from 97/98 onwards. The following season saw the arrival of Yorke and that partnership was still the best strike partnership I had ever seen in all these years at United. Both of them were not the fastest, most skillful or strongest strikers ever but somehow both of them had a bit of everything and something more - the understanding. So as yet another of my childhood United heroes hang up his boots, should I also move on?
Taken from the BBC
The highs and lows of Andrew Cole
By Nabil Hassan
Andrew Cole's retirement from professional football this week may have been relatively low key, but his career was anything but.
You just have to look back at his career stats to realise that 'Goal King' Cole was a little bit special.
Only Alan Shearer has scored more goals than him (260) in the Premier League, with Cole notching 187.
Very few are more decorated than him with the Nottingham-born 37-year-old boasting a medal haul that includes five Premier League titles, two FA Cup trophies, the Champions League and the League Cup.
Cole - to put it in simple terms - won it all.
And he was not a bit part player either. His partnership with Dwight Yorke in the 1998-9 season was perhaps the most important ingredient in a United team that won a historic treble.
That season Cole and Yorke were untouchable, the hottest partnership in English football and were revered across Europe.
In all, Cole scored 93 times for the Red Devils, and went on to record 289 career goals.
But for all the success domestically he failed to take that form on to the international stage with Cole making only 15 appearances for England, scoring just once.
Cole talks to BBC Sport and looks back at the highs and lows of his 19-year career that started at Arsenal and ended at his home-town club Nottingham Forest.
BEST MEMORY
"It is hard to pick out one but I'd have to say that winning the treble at Manchester United...I don't think anything is going to top that. It was a special season."
BEST GOAL
"I've scored so many and a lot have been special so it would be difficult to say one.
"But maybe the goal that won us the championship (against Tottenham in 1999 on the last day of the season) in the treble-winning season would be up there."
BEST MANAGER
"Sir Alex Ferguson. He was the only manager who could always get the best out of me.
"I would like to believe that if I go into coaching I will learn something from him."
BEST FANS
"I loved the Manchester United supporters, they were great to me and I also played at St James' Park and they were incredible…I couldn't choose between them."
BEST PLAYING PARTNER
"It would be hard to choose between Dwight Yorke and Peter Beardsley. They were different players but brilliant in their own way."
BEST PLAYER
"There were so many I couldn't pick one, but Eric Cantona would be up there.
"I never feared any opponent but played against some great players like Paolo Maldini and Des Walker in his heyday."
BIGGEST REGRET
"I left Manchester United too early. I was only 30 and could have played on there and that is the only one that wrangles with me."
PLAYING FOR ENGLAND
"I played 15 times so I don't see that as a regret. It didn't work out, but lots of people play a lot for their country but never win a thing domestically. I've done just that and I have no axe to grind."
HANGING UP THE BOOTS
"It was an easy decision to make. I had made my mind up in September to retire from football.
"I went to Nottingham Forest to play as many games as possible and that wasn't happening. I knew I couldn't play all of them but I was only a bit-part player and after everything I have achieved in the game I wasn't going to do that for anybody."
THE FUTURE
"I still love the game, I haven't fallen out of love with it and that is why at some stage I want to return to it. I am doing my coaching badges and my intention is to put in what I've taken out.
"I'm enjoying a bit of break at the moment and having some time on my hands, but I can only do nothing for so long."
Taken from the BBC
The highs and lows of Andrew Cole
By Nabil Hassan
Andrew Cole's retirement from professional football this week may have been relatively low key, but his career was anything but.
You just have to look back at his career stats to realise that 'Goal King' Cole was a little bit special.
Only Alan Shearer has scored more goals than him (260) in the Premier League, with Cole notching 187.
Very few are more decorated than him with the Nottingham-born 37-year-old boasting a medal haul that includes five Premier League titles, two FA Cup trophies, the Champions League and the League Cup.
Cole - to put it in simple terms - won it all.
And he was not a bit part player either. His partnership with Dwight Yorke in the 1998-9 season was perhaps the most important ingredient in a United team that won a historic treble.
That season Cole and Yorke were untouchable, the hottest partnership in English football and were revered across Europe.
In all, Cole scored 93 times for the Red Devils, and went on to record 289 career goals.
But for all the success domestically he failed to take that form on to the international stage with Cole making only 15 appearances for England, scoring just once.
Cole talks to BBC Sport and looks back at the highs and lows of his 19-year career that started at Arsenal and ended at his home-town club Nottingham Forest.
BEST MEMORY
"It is hard to pick out one but I'd have to say that winning the treble at Manchester United...I don't think anything is going to top that. It was a special season."
BEST GOAL
"I've scored so many and a lot have been special so it would be difficult to say one.
"But maybe the goal that won us the championship (against Tottenham in 1999 on the last day of the season) in the treble-winning season would be up there."
BEST MANAGER
"Sir Alex Ferguson. He was the only manager who could always get the best out of me.
"I would like to believe that if I go into coaching I will learn something from him."
BEST FANS
"I loved the Manchester United supporters, they were great to me and I also played at St James' Park and they were incredible…I couldn't choose between them."
BEST PLAYING PARTNER
"It would be hard to choose between Dwight Yorke and Peter Beardsley. They were different players but brilliant in their own way."
BEST PLAYER
"There were so many I couldn't pick one, but Eric Cantona would be up there.
"I never feared any opponent but played against some great players like Paolo Maldini and Des Walker in his heyday."
BIGGEST REGRET
"I left Manchester United too early. I was only 30 and could have played on there and that is the only one that wrangles with me."
PLAYING FOR ENGLAND
"I played 15 times so I don't see that as a regret. It didn't work out, but lots of people play a lot for their country but never win a thing domestically. I've done just that and I have no axe to grind."
HANGING UP THE BOOTS
"It was an easy decision to make. I had made my mind up in September to retire from football.
"I went to Nottingham Forest to play as many games as possible and that wasn't happening. I knew I couldn't play all of them but I was only a bit-part player and after everything I have achieved in the game I wasn't going to do that for anybody."
THE FUTURE
"I still love the game, I haven't fallen out of love with it and that is why at some stage I want to return to it. I am doing my coaching badges and my intention is to put in what I've taken out.
"I'm enjoying a bit of break at the moment and having some time on my hands, but I can only do nothing for so long."
Inside North Korea (part 1)
If you watch all the way to Part 7, you will be amazed.
It really reinforces my belief that bullshit, if repeated often enough, and with enough conviction, will become the truth.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)