OMG - Wedding Bells!

Congratulations Adam and Kirsti!
Wowowow crazy stuff!

Omigosh wow!

Engagement party on the 26th wooot!

Moses

moses50
Originally uploaded by lordstok.

The first from a year 11 sketch book

Desire

Is desire wild,
instinct,
base?

Does it scare,
linger a moment,
and bolt?

Only a memory,
only an instant.

Is it carnal,
passion,
raw?

No cage can hold it,
master tame,
or teacher train.

And where you do not find it,
it is not there.

I'm not posting the other poems on account that they suck.

Came home from soccer early today, cause the instructor had a personal emergency and had to vamoose. So no assessment till later date.

What Is

There lie the stones,
o'er there the mortar.
What men build together,
He builds alone.

The Earth can be shaped,
with shovel and hoe.
No fashion lasts,
save nature's own.

He who was first,
and he who is last,
will breathe the same air,
and share the same bask'.

No nation stands,
no faith lingers.
All men will die,
children outlive them.

The moments will pass,
let them, be free.
And love one another,
as He did to me.

Poetry Week - T Shirt Design - Coaching Update

Since I probably won't keep up writing poetry I may as well go all out while I've got the bug. When I get home tomorrow I'll throw up the 2 or 3 others I churned out in the last few weeks... hang on... they're in the car. But that's still too far away.

Meantime Coaching is tiring, I've got blisters everywhere. It was so humid today my energy got sapped. Bed at 2 and wake at 7 didn't help. Nor did the fact that yesterday I ate Goodberry's for dinner... I completely forgot to eat! I guess I had butterflies in my tummy ;)

Where is Tim? Tim is at Stonefest. So where am I? Not on a comfy couch sleeping with a tv on.
Tomorrow is practical assessment, I was a bit off today and our instructor realised I think and was trying to get be up to my normal 'uber coach' level. Oh well, I'm still pretty confident of getting the advanced pass I need to progress.

Gabe wants to make some T-shirts. Maybe if we get further than the 'idea' phase I can finally make myself a 'Howard is my Homeboy' shirt! I'll draw the design tonight maybe... If Tim turns up and lets me in!

Edit: Gave up on Tim, came home. My wrist gots bwuised :'( And mah foots is bwistered :'(

Terribly insensitive non-pc comic

I haven't drawn it yet! I was inspired when I misread the side of a truck this morning hehe. The one day I don't bring any drawing materials... and now I have time and an idea!

Wait till you see it Luke, will be so uber and classic. I think I'll make it into a wallpaper and distribute it to one of those far right websites you're always reading :P

HAha, or maybe they'll let me sell it in the War Memorial shop HA!

The Squad

So Guus Hiddink sent me email. Only me. I don't care whatevery one else reckons. They must have hacked my email and forwarded it to themselves.

The playoff squad is included:

Strikers (4)
Mark Viduka, Luke Wilkshire, John Aloisi, Archie Thompson

Midfield (9)
Marco Bresciano, Tim Cahill, Scott Chipperfield, Jason Culina, Ahmad Elrich, Brett Emerton, Vince Grella, Josip Skoko, Harry Kewell

Defense (7)
Stan Lazaridis, Ljubo Milicevic, Lucas Neill, Tony Popovic, Michael Thwaite, Tony Vidmar (NAC Breda, Holland), Joel Griffiths (Neuchatel Xamax, Switzerland),

Goalkeepers (3)
Ante Covic, Zeljko Kalac, Mark Schwarzer

---------------------------

Squad Comments

I doubt this will be the final squad as Lazaridis was injured in last weeks game I believe. However Moore is ommitted which is a damn shame but unavoidable. Covic is merely cover in goals, Schwarzer is a certainty to start unless injured. Notice Vidmar is playing in Holland. This explains why Guus is confident in his ability, however he might be alone in that confidence. You won't find Vidmar speeding in a parking lot :\ Harry Kewell is starting for Liverpool hooray! Lucky for him and Australia Liverpool suck so much atm ;) So he may be in contention for a starting spot, and my earlier prediction that he will be the one saved for the home leg is now doubtful.

Game Tactics

Guus has fashioned a flexible team in very little time. I think next season I will have to make sure I have a few theory and tactical sessions early in the season. Key to the Dutch system is that players understand their particular roles fully, and all the comments out of the camp indicate that this is the case. Australian commentators on PSV's 0-0 draw away to Milan suggested this will be Australia's focus in Uruguay. That is plain wrong. PSV is not Australia, and Guus will use neither team to experiment for the others - thats just dum.

He will set his stall out to get a slender victory but the focus will be maintaining posession and playing with a spare defender. This means starting with a 3-5-2 probably, with a focus on ball winning midfielders and strikers who can hold possession. That means Mark Viduka and Aloisi up front, engine men Emmerton, Chipperfield and Cahill in the center, and hard men Grella, Skoko or Thwaite breaking up play and shielding the back line. In defence I have heard that Lazaridis or Chipperfield may be included in the back line, I doubt both of these options. Whether Neill will play in center defence ahead of Ljubo is unknown too, however Popovic is probably first choice on the left of these back 3.

At home, will depend on our away result. An away win could potentially work against us. Imagine a 2-1 away win. That would give Aus a commanding lead, and we might take our foot off the pedal like against Iran and try and hold what we've got. Otherwise, and more likely, the tie will need to be won at home, and we won't have been *sexually assaulted without consent* in Montevideo. Direct play and goals will be the order of the day. Thompson upfront in a 3 prong attack, Kewell...somewhere on the grass! And playmaker Bresciano in the center. Culina I still think is Guus' go-to man and is liable to play anywhere and everywhere over the course of the two legs!

Supporters Website
check it out - here - didn't work for me, but I think thats cause uni computers suck

Wasting time...

So I get up early/ish.
Realise I've left food in the microwave overnight.
Eat it anyway.
Feel oddly ill afterwards (can't imagine why).
Drive to uni.
OMG found a park in one.
Hey what's this?
...
NO CLASS?! DAMNABBIT

I'm glad I was late :<

Listening to... (Oct)

Bernard Fanning - Wish You Well
The Hot Lies - Promise Me
The Click 5 - Just the Girl
Kisschasy - The Way They Walk
Kisschasy - Black Dress
The Veronicas - When It All Falls Apart
The Veronicas - Everything I'm Not
Switchfoot - On Fire

Reading...
Don Quixote - Cervantes (slowly)
The Picture of Dorian Gray - Wilde (next book... if I get through this one ever)

Playing...
Warcraft 3 (again :S)

The Sailor

No compass to steer by,
no landmarks to aim for.
His skin a pale crust of salt,
shimmering in the distance if anyone would see him.

Dry and withered,
empty and drained.
He looses his hand upon the wheel,
and lets it spin.

Which wind blows,
and current flows,
to take him cross to shore.
The sailor is a tired soul,
not knowing where to land.

But when the gulls take wing,
and keep his company close,
he knows that fate has changed.
The sun is born,
and bears him hope,
this will be his last upon the boat.

MOVIE: Howl's Moving Castle

Prettey Groovey. Personally Princess Mononoke is still my fave for it's themes of nature and progress as well as what I find the most realistic and coherent environments being set in historical Japan. Howl's is set in Japanese interpreteted early 20th century Europe with plenty of influence in costume and architecture of earlier Victorian and continental European influence.

The story revolves around Witches and Wizards, who are in a Japanese mold - prayer papers, and no wand's or incantations. The opening premise of the main charachter, Sophie's curse I felt was left under explained and under-resolved. Part of the reason for this is because that storyline soon became supplemental to the story of Howl's curse and Sophie's part in lifting it. I was irked by Sophie's early and repeated confession to Howl, and by making the storylines sequential both simplified the concepts but dampened the ultimate climaxing resolution.

The animation of course was superb and included several intricate hand animated crowd scenes, especially early in the film. Use of 3d was sparing but effective. Most impressive was the distinctive colour palette utilised for the film, resplendent with bright primary pastels, which lent to the film's warm and charming atmosphere. Spirited Away also made great use of colour within the bath-house, but contrasted to the intense shadows of that film. I was glad to see that although there are many similarities to previous Miyazaki films in terms of design, they were for the most part changed significantly so as not to rehash previous imagination completely.

The English translation was as professional as I have come to expect in the previous Studio Ghibli works and featured Christian Bale as Howl, Lauren Bacall as the Witch of the Wastes, and Billy Crystal as Calcifer.

Inspiration, practice, product

nicoscanbw50
Originally uploaded by lordstok.

Was cruisin VG Cats waiting for this weeks comic and found some great high quality capcom style anime pics and started imitating and on my 3rd attempt started to produce some decent original line art of my own.

I've forgotten how to scan cleanly though, and how to brush up quickly in photoshop. New motivation to buy a tablet pen. Here is Nico anyway. I'n he coo?

The week that never was

If I removed this week from my life, the difference would be minimal.
A potentially great day crashed and burned. I find the greatest suffering to occur whenever things are taken away - even oppurtunities. Which is probably why I'm usually very happy.

Anyway, Tuesday in particular was the day in question. Early waking, attending uni, beautiful weather, didn't forget to bring the things I needed, and then one by one they all slipped away.

The most painful triumvirate were falling on my knee, losing my phone (steph lent it to me - and the sim with all my numbers) and then discovering I had missed a mid-semester exam and with it 20% from my final mark.

After that I let my self hit the curb, vegetate at home, play games till my eyes bleed and my brain enters coma, and not lift a finger an any other pursuit. Fortunately (or not) scheduling will force me up and out this weekend and next for the youth coaching course. Time to get a few hours of sleep! Next week could potentially be the more of the same or the best of the year - nothing to lose when you're at the bottom right?

World Cup Squad Analysis

Btw even though I'm obviously on Craig Foster's personal email list of great australian coaches, his predictions for what Hiddink was gonna play for the Jamaica game were way off the mark.

I reckon he (hiddink) rates Neill as a defender, hence putting him in the middle. If noone recovers, thats where neill will play for the big one.

Next Archie Thompson will probably start for the home leg. He's our most direct striker by a long way, and couldn't have failed to impress with his 3 goals in 3 games.

Harry will be saved for the home leg. The more I think about it it's such a good idea. When you (Vj) first told me about the plan to save players I was thinnking of several key players, but if it's only a few impact players it makes great sense. Emmerton won't be one of those. Hiddink wants him for his work rate, and that will be most important in the away leg.

You're right (vj) Thwaite did really well, but I'm not sure if he will be preferred over Grella for the big one's. Could be though, since Bresciano and Grella have only had small look ins under the Hiddink tenure. Other maybe's include Cahill who I think will have to recover club form to play a big part.

Culina is obviously Gus' go to man and will play him where ever he wants whenever he wants. Now that Culina is at PSV with him they'll be able to form a perfect understanding in the lead up and Culina will perform. He was great leading Australia's attack from center midfield against the Solomon's and was equally proficient on the wing against Jamaica swinging in crosses and setting up Duke's goal.

The line between Schwarzer and Kalac will be paper thin now. Whoever is fit and in form will play. Now that Kalac is second string at Milan, if he makes the breakthrough he will get the nod. But chances are Schwarzer will be the one playing regularly and hence get the nod.

Vidmar has done well in the games so far. But youre right (vj) when it comes to lack of speed. He's not fast by any stretch of the imagination, but he does his best and probably knows he is there as a squad player.

Aloisi made a fine finish and showed good touch. That will help get him back on Gus' strikers list. Although he was spectacular at Confed Cup that was before Gus' tenure and he failed to make an impact against the lowly Solomons whereas Archie took his chance with both hands. I don't think Griffiths will get a look in, maybe make the squad but thats all. Same with Wilkshire although both acquitted themselves well, but not well enough to get above the established seniors.

Chipperfield has been a stalwart of the last 3 matches and will play high left wing or left mid. His form has been good and his speed, crosses and willingness to have an outrageous ping at a volley outside the box is of consistent high standard. His willingness to get back in defence will make him an important player in Sth America.

Is that everyone? Lets have a look on paper.

Away Leg
--------------

Viduka - Aloisi
Chipperfield - Emmerton - Grella - Skoko - Culina
Popovic - Neill - Milocevic
Schwarzer

*Key Subs*
Kalac
Thwaite
Moore
Thompson

Home Leg
--------------
Culina - Viduka - Thompson
Chipperfield - Bresciano - Cahill - Emmerton
Popovic - Neill - Milocevic
Schwarzer

*Key Subs*
Kalac
Harry
Moore
Skoko
Aloisi

MOVIE: Serenity

Serenity was distinctly average, although slightly better than simply putting TV on Film. Personally I'm so over the 'little girl who beats everyone up' - it's just so stupid. Hence I stopped watching Buffy to watch Angel in the hope of a darker and more violent premise. And then I gave up on the shallow, ditzy charachters altogether and haven't since returned to the 'monster' soap.

Without having watched the series, it appears the script, while decent, failed to utilise the several charachters with any meaning. The 'little girl who beats everyone up', despite adorning all the posters and trailers, is a minor charachter with half a page of dialogue and 2 lame action scenes. Also her googly blackened eyes are wierd.

The other charachters have just as little to do, the pilot and his co-captain wife are symbiotic in the sense that neither stands out {SPOILER} till one dies {end spoiler} and share half a page of dialogue between them. The doctor has no decent lines, the mechanic has 1 punch line, and the tough guy Jane at least shows a bit of attitude with his portrayal. Also the pilot is by far the blandest charachter of any movie or show I have seen in recent years {SPOILER} honestly, you know your charachter sucks when the most entertaining thing he does is die {end spoiler}.

That leaves the only charachters remaining, the Captain and the Badguy, and thankfully their performances are above par for the course (a very high par - that means crap for non-golfers). A good idea for a movie, with a potentially emotional revelation for the charachters' quest - but not enough is done to generate sympathy with the charachters and an understanding of their universe. Compared to being better than Star Wars (the new ones) but I don't agree with that. At least those films had charachters with a modicum of depth.

The whole 'Space Cowboy' theme was interesting for a while, but then the displaced dialogue began to annoy. Space ship action is cool when it happens, but it happens too infrequently. I would have liked to learn more about the Reavers, an especially disappointing absence given their importance to the story.

Side note: The dude who plays Mr. Universe, and also the guy who is the numbers dude in the TV show Num3rs is the Shakespeare geek in 10 Things I Hate About You

The rumours are true

Julian says:
so did i tell u about my blood nose yesterday?
Julian says:
it wasgross
Julian says:
there was blood everywhere
Julian says:
BLoooOOOooDDDDD
steph says:
again? didn't u have a nose bleed the other day i was over too? have u seen a dr yet?
Julian says:
sif dr NO
steph says:
aren't u a little concerned that u've been vomiting and bleeding lately
steph says:
and only eating cheese and ice cream...?
Julian says:
omg
Julian says:
OMG
Julian says:
IM PREGNANT!

preserved for posterity for the future enjoyment of my awesome childrens

Also I've had a cold for a bit following a minor oral infection. That's my own diagnosis so of course it's right. Uni is lame, not that I've been showing up much. Instead I've been playing C&C: Generals. It's been ages since I ventured near the C&C franchise. It's decent graphically (no DoW) but more than a little different from what I'm now accustomed too.

Coast Trip next weekend, followed by Coaching Course the following 2 weeks. Get this business - Christian Torres is taking the course too, that ought to be interesting. He is the Muchacho's coach, of which I was a part in my first year of soccer with ANU. A bit part that is, hence I left the squad next year having been told I wouldn't be considered for selection as a forward due to my size. Since then though, Los Muchacho's have become increasingly hardcore every year, cuting players from the squad mid way through the season, and presumably solidifying the 1'st XI approach despite remaining a long way from Prem League. Muchacho's were Div 2 last season, but lost in the final which was surprising although I didn't watch the match.

Then essays and exams :(

Then World Cup Qualifier! :)

Hopefully not against Uraguay :

$200 blisters - Bargain

Last time they cost $300. That was my Adidas Predator boots whose vice like ankle section took me months to wear in. Harry Kewell idolising aside, I put down Adidas from then in favour of a pair of Nike Total 90 3's. Those boots left my big toes throbbing with blood blisters, which later turned my nails a seductive coagulated blood-black, and then eventually ran off with them like some cheap slut leaving my striking metatarsals naked and alone. In between incidently I also parlayed with an el-cheapo Nike which promptly snapped in half. So now, despite my last pair remaining intact unlike my previous collected footwear, I splashed what little cash I don't have on a sexy pair of Nike Mercurial Vapor's.

Gorgeous and ultra light weight - 196g each - oh yeah! The armoured and heavy (relatively) heel is taking some getting used to, and I've been newly acquainted with that old friend, blisters. Hopefully they will wear in quickly, although given it's a synthetic, not leather boot, this could potentially be a long and painful reaquaittance.

My redesign of the ANUFC website seems to have met with universal approval prior to it going live. Personally I think it could use some photography to 'keep it real'. My site designs too often are based around abstract gorgeousness without much content or material.

Uni is lamo. I've got 2 essays to get done in the next 5 weeks odd, and I'll be busy for 3 of those weekends - something tells me I'm going to be consuming 20 litres of coke a week in Novermber.