Never Ever Count out the Turks

Turkey does it again! After coming from behind to beat the Czech Republic 3-2 within the last 10 minutes, well, they did it again scoring practically in the last second against the Croats. The Croatians had scored about a minute earlier and their fans had erupted in raptourous joy, only for their jubilation to be spoiled by the last kick of the game which put the ball in the Croatian goal.
When Croatia scored in the final minutes everyone was sure it was game over, the players, the coach, the fans, the football commentators- but Turkey don't know when they're beaten, and produced a wonderful equalising goal much to the shock of the Croatian bench and fans..and the ITV commentators.
It was then down to penalties, and the Croatian team were already defeated in spirit and forgot where the goalpost was, missing the target twice out of the three penalties they took. Turkey scored all and booked a place in the Semi-finals.
Hopefully Turkey's luck will follow them into their game against Germany...I'll be behind the Turks.

Also my commiserations to the Dutch who were outclassed by the Russians. Although the Dutch beat the Italians (a.k.a current World Champions) 3-0..beat the French (a.k.a former World Champions) 4-1, they couldn't produce their previous form against the Russians, but not to take anything away from the Russians, they are managed well by the former Dutch National Team Coach Guus Hiddink, and they played better than the Dutch.

Even without England, Euro 2008 can still be a scintillating tournament.

Obama's Father's Day Speech

One of the best speeches you'd ever hear

Getting Ready to Leave

The contents of my room have been emptied into three bags, my coach to London leaves at 7:20, my 1st year at Panns Bank has ended.
A rather eventful year, great flatmates, great food, and a great view from my window (seagulls, sunrises, fishermen)
In September I'll be back again at Panns Bank, I pray I get a room with a river view- and great flatmates as well.
I'm ready for my trip, the bitter lemon is in the fridge (peanuts have been entirely consumed however), Saturday's Guardian still remains unopened, and I'm about to fill up my mp3 player with travel music.
On Tuesday I fly back to the continent, but I'll return to London in mid/late July for a PR internship in Londres.
Goodbye Panns Bank, I'll see ya in September.

Looking for Amphibious Villains

Change We Can Believe In

Consummatum Est- at least for now. The fight against Senator John McCain begins. Barack Obama has clinched the Democratic Party Presidential Nomination after a long and hard fought struggle with Hillary Clinton. I believe a new chapter is opening in American history, in terms of the way it's percieved across the world, and also domestically, in terms of racial bigotry that has plagued the country since the first Africans set foot on American soil in 1619.
By God's grace, Barack Obama will defeat John McCain in the November elections, and usher in a new era in American History.

YES WE CAN

Click Here to read Obama's Victory Speech delivered at St. Paul, Minnesota

Essay Spirit

Essay season brings out peculiar behaviour in me. I become rather superstitious or ritualistic, I have to perform certain activities before I can begin studying, note-taking or writing an essay.
The first ritual that had to take place was the acquisition of a 60 Watt bulb for my tablelamp. My tablelamp had been bulbless for a while and I felt that the central room light was just not enough for my studies, I had to wander around town looking for a bulb (Tesco has an aisle clearly stating 'Bulbs' but there are no bulbs there) I finally found my bulb and studying could commence.
Second ritual is that I need to eat first before I start working. I go down and prepare a large meal, eat, watch something on BBC iPlayer and then begin making an essay plan.
Once the essay plan is done, it's time to begin writing the essay, but first I must take a shower. It doesn't matter what time of day it is, just before I start an essay I take a long cold(ish) shower- I feel it helps me focus better. I get lotioned up, comb my hair and sit at my laptop- play a randomly selected song and then begin the writing process.
My breaks are often 5-10 minutes long, and I can do a various activities ranging from simply staring out my window, to reading about a country on wikipedia, to grabbing Sophie (my camera) and actually going outside to photograph a seagull eating a crab (a photo-op I spotted from my window)

But essays are done, and boredom sets in..a boredom that is relieved by watching programs on iPlayer or reading random facts on wikipedia..yesterday I was reading about- Bermuda, Bora Bora (French Polynesia), The Odyssey, Paul Robeson...Wikipedia is a great source of knowledge, and I urge everyone to go on it everyday and pick up a random bit of knowledge, I know it's easily vandalised, but it's still quite reliable in most cases.

Keith Olbermann blasts Hillary Clinton's assassination remarks

On Top of the World

Celebrating Finishing the 2nd year of university at the Penshaw Monument (Sunderland) we had gone to be beach earlier but the weather was terrible.