June 30: Independence Day in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1960)

• 1864 - U.S. National Parks: Abraham Lincoln granted Yosemite Valley to California for "public ... recreation".
• 1905 - Albert Einstein (pictured) published the article "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies" and introduced the theory of special relativity.
• 1908 - The Tunguska impact event occurred in Siberia.
• 1934 - Adolf Hitler violently purged his political rivals on the Night of the Long Knives.
• 1971 - The Soyuz 11 spacecraft depressurised during reentry, killing cosmonauts Vladislav Volkov, Georgi Dobrovolski and Viktor Patsayev.

7:31:47 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Geek

We have our friendly bet with Molly, regarding the upcoming Saints v Hawks game.

The loser records themselves signing the winning teams theme song. The Song can be put on both our sites and on Molly's AFL podcast

Molly, here's the lyrics to the Saint's theme song.

Oh when the Saints, go marching in,
Oh when the Saints go marching in,
Oh how I want to be with St Kilda.
When the Saints go marching in.

Oh when the Saints, go marching in,
Oh when the Saints go marching in,
Oh how I want to be with St Kilda.
When the Saints go marching in.

4:13:52 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

Moira allowed me to go shopping on Amazon.

So, what did I get??

• Six Feet Under - The Complete Fifth Season
• Six Feet Under - The Complete Fourth Season
• The 4400 - The Complete Second Season
• Hoodwinked (Widescreen Edition)
• Transamerica (Widescreen Edition)

Weee.

10:57:30 AM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Family • TV

June 29:

• 1880 - Tahiti became a French territory.
• 1922 - France granted 100 hectares at Vimy Ridge "freely, and for all time, to the Government of Canada, the free use of the land exempt from all taxes".
• 1956 - President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, officially creating the U.S. Interstate Highway System.
• 1995 - During the STS-71 mission, the Space Shuttle Atlantis became the first space shuttle to dock with the Russian space station Mir (pictured).
• 1995 - The Sampoong Department Store collapsed in the Seocho-gu district of Seoul, South Korea, killing 501 and injuring 937.

10:49:54 AM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Geek

 I went shopping on Thinkgeek again, and got some more tshirts - I Love ThinkGeek!

404 Not Found	hacker	No, I will not fix your computer

Moira wants to know if these will be the last ones I get, following this and that. I don't know. There's so many cool things there

8:17:01 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Geek

Another gem from Saintsational, a mid season review of all the teams

Adel: Clearly the best team in the comp atm. Fast, great backline, lots of depth, no obvious weakness. Look to me like they are just starting to turn it on a bit after playing a long period of no-frills get the job done footy.

Bris: Look out of their depth. They're injury rattled, and turning on their own. Don't appear to have much young talent coming through... will make up numbers in the final 8 at best.

Carl: Performed better than most of us expected but still a rabble. Pagan is the worst coach in the AFL atm... no plan, just last year they wanted to trade off Whitnal and Fevola and this year those guys are carrying the team.

Coll: Flash in the frying pan. They're a good team, coached well and have had a bit of luck. Not the real deal IMO, will be found wanting when the pressure is applied.

Ess: Didn't think they were this bad. Boy did Matty Llyod carry this team or what?

Freo: Marginally better than they were last year but can't compete with the big boys. Too much flash not enough substance. Will tail off towards the end of the year and pbly miss the finals.

Geel: A shadow of themselves but are in a position to turn it around. There's something about them to me that just urges caution... can still grind out the wins from time to time. I predict that they'll make a play 4 the 8 but just miss out.

Haw: Good nucleus and on the up and up. That being said not this year they ain't. Will finish bottom 4.

Melb: Is my prediction for surprise fall away. It just seems to me that they have to play spectacular football to win... to date they have but I can't see it lasting. Do have a good run home though.

Kan: not worth my time... wish we played them twice.

Port: Not enough depth but good to c some youngins coming through. Battle hardened enough to make the finals but will go home early.

Rich: Promising. Could possibly make the 8 but they're simply not tough enough to trouble any1 that counts.

St.K: Look very much like the sleeping giants of the comp but doubts are growing as to whether or not they will ever wake up. Capable of winning every game for the rest of the season but at the same time look vulnerable enough to drop 5 or 6 of them. Will be interesting to see the team perform when they get a few more regulars back.

Syd: Look 50/50. Could go either way. Considering they're not really banged up you would imagine that they lift in time for the end of the business season but they just look like falling away.

WCE: Don't rate them. They're beatable. A very solid team but you would just rather play them instead of Adel or the other top teams. Heaven help them if they have a few injuries.

WB: Remind me of that movie "Cool Runnigs" where the Jamaican team are on world record pace to complete the course but the sled begins to fall apart and you know it's only matter of time before they crash.

6:26:41 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

June 27:

• 678 - Saint Agatho began his reign as Pope.
• 1846 - Irish potato famine: An Irish newspaper ran a story about a new potato blight.
• 1954 - The world's first large-scale nuclear power plant opened in Obninsk, in the Soviet Union.
• 1967 - The world's first automatic teller machine was installed in Enfield Town, London.
• 1969 - The Stonewall riots began in New York City, starting the modern gay rights movement.
• 1979 - Muhammad Ali (pictured) announced his retirement from boxing.
• 1986 - The International Court of Justice ruled against the United States in Nicaragua v. United States.
• 1991 - Ten-Day War starts in Slovenia, two days after that country's declaring independence from Yugoslavia.
• 2006 - Australia's World Cup Dream Ends

8:57:28 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Random

The split round is over, and Round 13 beckons. The Saints meet the up and coming Hawks at the Telstra Dome on Saturday. Channel 10 will be showing it live, and I may head out to join the other Sydney Harbour Saints.

Since the Hawks are involved, I wonder if I should have a bet with Molly again? We all know how it ended last time.

Thursday 29/06/2006

• 10.30a  Last Time They Met 2005 Rnd 12 Hawthorn v St Kilda

Sunday 02/07/2006

• 1.00a  Round 13 St Kilda v Hawthorn
• 11.30a  Round 13 St Kilda v Hawthorn

Monday 03/07/2006

• 1.30p  Round 13 St Kilda v Hawthorn

6:12:19 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies • TV

 Phew - that was lucky!!

You Passed 8th Grade Geography

Congratulations, you got 9/10 correct!

5:22:01 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Random

Custer's last stand!!

June 25: Statehood Day in Slovenia

• 1865 - Stand Watie was the last Confederate general to surrender in the United States Civil War.
• 1876 - Colonel George Armstrong Custer (pictured) is killed at the Battle of the Little Big Horn.
• 1950 - The Korean War, between North and South Korea, began.
• 1991 - Croatia and Slovenia declared their independence from Yugoslavia.
• 1996 - The Khobar Towers bombing in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia, left 19 U.S. servicemen dead.

5:12:51 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Geek

This split round has brought my tipping streak to a dramatic halt.

I only picked 2 winners. What was I thinking??

Week 12
Home		Draw		Away
Saints (8.12 60)				Crows (18.15 123)
Dockers (6.16 52)				Cats (18.10 118)
Lions (14.19 103)				Bulldogs (22.13 145)
Power (13.19 97)				Eagles (8.12 60)
Hawks (16.9 105)				Tigers (8.16 64)
Bombers (10.15 75)				Demons (16.15 111)
Kangaroos (18.13 121)				Blues (15.12 102)
Swans (11.16 82)				Magpies (14.11 95)

I've now have 61 correct tips for the season. I have tumbled in my tipping comps. I was challenging for the lead, and now I am back to the middle of the pack

10:24:03 AM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies • My Interests

Hilarous post on Saintsational

If Teams were Girls

Sydney would be J-Lo - Quality all over, but especially good down back.

West Coast would be Kylie Minogue - very decent despite not having much up front.

Fremantle would be Danii Minogue - Always trying hard to be as good as her big sister, but will never measure up. The butt of everyone's jokes.

St Kilda would be Krystal from Big Brother - has the biggest and best assets going around, but we all know they're not the real deal.

Brisbane would be Elle MacPherson - past her glorious best but still easy on the eye and an old favourite with most.

Port Power would be Madonna - also past her glorious best, but refuses to accept it gracefully.

Carlton would be Whitney Houston - has not looked after herself in recent years and has gone completely off the rails.

Adelaide would be Delta Goodrem - tidy, attractive, professional and uncontroversial. Nice to look at, but for some reason just makes you want to yawn.

Geelong would be Britney Spears - at times can look stunning, at others it can get ugly.

Essendon would be Katie Holmes - has a certifiable psycho in charge of her every move. Has lost credibility in recent times.

The Kangaroos would be Paris Hilton - lays down way too easily.

Richmond would be Annabel Chong - can cop a pounding and keep coming back for more, all in the name of self-improvement.

Western Bulldogs would be Shakira - proof that being short is no barrier to getting you excited. Will only get better too.

Hawthorn would be Christina Aguilera - looks like she enjoys it rough and dirty.

Melbourne would be Camilla Parker Bowles- may be a blue blood, ordinary to say the least but has come up with the goods.

Collingwood would be Amelie Mauresmo - last woman on Earth scenario: you still wouldn't.

[listening to: Demon Days - Gorillaz ]
5:19:14 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

June 23: Victory Day in Estonia, Jani held in ancient Latvia, Saint Jonas' Festival in Lithuania.

• 1713 - After Queen Anne's War, French residents of Acadia were given one year to declare allegiance to Britain or leave Nova Scotia.
• 1887 - Banff National Park (pictured) was created, becoming Canada's first national park.
• 1894 - The International Olympic Committee was founded at the Sorbonne in Paris.
• 1941 - Lithuanian 1941 independence: Members of Lithuanian Activist Front declared independence from the Soviet Union.
• 1985 - A bomb destroyed Air India Flight 182 above the Atlantic Ocean, killing all 329 on board.

9:24:05 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Geek

Wonderful result!

2 all draw against Croatia sees the Socceroos advance to the next round of the World Cup.

Finally Harry Kewell shows what he can do

Croatia			Australia
	(2 Pts)	2	2	(4 Pts)
	Simunic 93 min		Emerton 86 min
	Simic 84 min		Emerton 80 min
	Pletikosa 69 min		Kewell 77 min (Cahill)
	Simunic 61 min		Moore 37 min
	Kovac N 56 min
	Tudor 37 min
	Simic 31 min
	Srna 01 min
Babic, Kovac N, Kranjcar (Leko J 64 min), Olic (Modric 72 min), Pletikosa, Prso, Simic, Simunic, Srna, Tomas (Klasnic 82 min), Tudor			Cahill, Chipperfield (Kennedy 73 min), Culina, Emerton, Grella (Aloisi 62 min), Kalac, Kewell, Moore, Neill, Sterjovski (Bresciano 70 min), Viduka

8:34:45 AM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Interests

Your Emoticon is Cool

You're not feeling particularly up or down, just relaxed and calm. You're ready for whatever is going to happen next!

7:25:23 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Random

I love the Winter solstice - I don't know why, I just do

June 21: Summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and Winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere (12:26 UTC), Midsummer in northern Europe

• 1734 - A black slave known as Marie-Joseph Angélique, after having been convicted of setting the fire that destroyed much of the city of Montreal, was tortured and then hanged in New France.
• 1788 - New Hampshire ratified the U.S. Constitution and was admitted as the 9th U.S. state.
• 1813 - Laura Secord set out to warn British forces of an impending American attack at Queenston, Ontario.
• 1864 - Maori Wars: The Tauranga Campaign ended.
• 1985 - Greenland officially adopted its own flag (pictured), adding support to its independence movement.
• 2000 - The controversial amendment known as Section 28 was repealed in Scotland with a 99 to 17 vote.

3:28:21 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Random

Quiet week on the footy front. The Saints have a week off. I think I will avoid the footy for the weekend.

Tuesday 20/06/2006

• 1.30p  Round 12 St Kilda v Adelaide

Wednesday 21/06/2006

• 11.30  Round 12 St Kilda v Adelaide

Thursday 22/06/2006

• 10.30  2006 Mid-season Review Rnd 1 WC Eagles v St Kilda

[listening to: About Me - They Might Be Giants ]
3:56:54 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies • My Interests

I got this today in email

Holes-in-one
Newark Star Ledger - NJ, USA
... James played with Mike James, Frank Arrigo and Hugh Reynolds. BOB MASSA On the 165-yard 11th hole at Twin Brooks, Watchung; using a 6-iron. ...

I don't remember getting a hole in one

[listening to: Till My Head Falls Off - They Might Be Giants ]
3:32:20 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Random

Those Saints just can't keep out of the news.

Today it's all about Kosi collapsing and player injuries

Melbourne Herald Sun

St Kilda waits on Ball scans RealFooty, Australia - 23 hours ago ST KILDA, already facing three weeks without champion midfielder Robert Harvey, will sweat on results of scans that will determine whether captain Luke Ball's osteitis pubis has recurred. Harvey out three, Hudghton clear Melbourne Herald Sun all 3 related »

Melbourne Herald Sun

St Kilda's Harvey to miss next 3 games The Age, Australia - 16 Jun 2006 Veteran St Kilda star Robert Harvey will miss the next three weeks with a hamstring injury. Harvey suffered the left leg injury during the Saints' demoralising loss to Adelaide at Telstra Dome. Crows catch Saints in vice Advertiser Adelaide Crows throw down gauntlet The Australian Ruthless Crows destroy Saints The Age Advertiser Adelaide - The Age - all 34 related »

The Age

Koschitzke collapses during interview ABC Online, Australia - 12 hours ago Injured St Kilda footballer Justin Koschitzke collapsed this morning while filming a live television spot for Channel Seven program Sportsworld. Koschitzke collapses on-air SportsAustralia.com AFL star collapses in TV studio NEWS.com.au all 18 related »

Saints' 1966 win taught a child a vital lesson RealFooty, Australia - 23 hours ago FRIENDS scoff at my ardour for Aussie football, I'm afraid. They seem to think that, as a psychologist, I should seek out a psychologically sophisticated pastime rather than barracking for the St Kilda Football Club.

11:53:53 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies • My Interests

After 6 and a half years in our house, we finally lite a fire in the fireplace.

Bricey seemed to enjoy the flames a bit too much. The start of pyromania perhaps?

10:07:06 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Family

 Once you have kids, you put up with a lot ;)

You Are 72% Gross

You're pretty dirty, and there's a good change you're living in a total dump. And your body? Not too clean either. Watch out for killer bacteria, Pig Pen!

9:55:49 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Geek • Random

June 18:

• 1812 - The United States declared war against Great Britain, officially beginning the War of 1812.
• 1815 - Napoléon Bonaparte fought and lost his final battle, the Battle of Waterloo.
• 1858 - Charles Darwin received a manuscript by Alfred Russel Wallace (pictured) on evolution, which prompted him to publish his theory.
• 1873 - Woman suffrage activist Susan B. Anthony was fined $100 for attempting to vote in the 1872 U.S. presidential election.
• 1979 - The SALT II treaty was signed by the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

9:51:45 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Geek

I've taken the kids to see Cars last weekend and Over The Hedge this weekend.

We saw trailers for a bunch of kids movies coming out in Australia and they all feature talking animals.

Was there a memo or something that was sent around Hollywood a few years back??

Before Cars

• Over The Hedge
• The Wild
• Hoodwinked (which has been on DVD in the US, since January 2006)
• Ratatouille

Before Over The Hedge

• The Wild
• Open Season
• Garfield's A Tail Of Two Kitties

Curious?

I took Bricey to an advance screening of Over The Hedge. Emma didn't want to come. She wants to see it when it's officially released for some reason.

Cute movie. Kinda like a Looney Toon. Talking animals, my favorite genre ;)

The soundtrack was by Ben Folds, which was a nice touch - featuring "Rocking The Suburbs" in the end credits, with different lyrics!

I find it really curious that all these computer rendered movies make the animals, creatures, objects all look so good, and yet they can't get the people to look anything but cartoony.

Moviehole

Over the Hedge Moviehole, Australia  ... In Dreamworks’ case, “Over the Hedge” is going to make money, regardless of how many man-hours were put in, so they just decided to not to put their ...

Sydney Morning Herald

Over the Hedge Sydney Morning Herald, Australia  ... depelted". In Over the Hedge, the new animated feature from Dreamworks, the hedge appears with the alarming suddenness of a Berlin Wall. ... 'Over The Hedge' over the top Jamaica Gleaner all 2 related »

4:57:09 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Friends • My Interests

We've passed the midway mark of the season. 12 rounds in, the Saints have a 6 win 6 loss reco