If it didn't happen to an Australian, it didn't happen
If you were watching the news coverage of the Golden Globes on TV this morning (and to some extent online), you’d be forgiven for thinking that because Nicole and Cate didn’t win the Golden Globes that the Hollywood Foreign Press had decided not to award them to anyone.
Now, I realise that any country’s press is likely to focus on people from that country, but surely some recognition of the actual winners is warranted? Kind of like the 1992 Olympics coverage on NBC in the USA. I remember a swimming race where an american came in second. All well and good, but during the medal presentation, they didn’t even mention the name of the gold medallist, or in fact show them on TV. The camera just zoomed in on the silver medallist and ignored all of those nasty foreigners.
Of course, the nadir of this type of reporting was seen during the Tsunami crisis. “150,000 dead in tsunami, including 9 Australians.” Ooooh, how tragic for us.
Bring on the Tonk
Last Wednesday (12th Jan), the WACA hosted the first interstate Twenty20 cricket match. And it was truly astounding. 20,000 people showed up, surprising the organisers somewhat, as they had to let people actually sit on the grass and let the public into the members area. What a corker of a match!
Of course, it would have been better if Victoria could have scraped together some more runs, but when WA came into bat all was forgotten, as Ronchi and Campbell went on a major offensive. Magnificent!
With the success of the match the following day between Australia A and Pakistan, there is a lot of talk (maybe, maybe too much talk) about the place of Twenty20 cricket, and where it can fit in with the other series. My thought it that it should just replace one day cricket altogether.
If one day cricket was devised to give people a game with plenty of excitement and almost guarantee that there will be a result, then it has been surpassed. The typical ODI is now a predictable affair: 15 overs attempting to score at 6 an over, 25 overs scoring at 4 - 6 without losing too many wickets, and then raise the tempo at the end. So, cut out the stuff in the middle and you’re left with Twenty20. And it has the advantage of being over in 3.5 hours, which makes everyone happy; players, broadcasters and the public who can come to the match after work and be home by 10.
Of course, the World Cup is the one snag in this scenario, as it would be a shame to see that change or disappear. But on the whole, bring on the tonk!
Less than 2 days!
The pledge of $350 million by the US to Tsunami Relief is magnificent, but deserves to be put into perspective.
WikiPedia takes over
With some of the best coverage of the Tsunami Disaster on the internet, WikiPedia is showing off it’s chops. A community managed encylopedia, it shows the wonders of open source content development. People submit articles, which can be edited by anyone who cares to, which creates a continually checked, living encyclopedia. And with stories such as the unfolding crisis in South-East Asia, it really comes into it’s own. An authoritative resource on just about everything.
Beach, Chips, Friends and Family
We spent a wonderful couple hours down at cottesloe beach with Paul, Dee and Olivia, and Tash (sp?) and Graham. Just sitting in the sun, enjoying the beach views, eating some rather good fish and chips and good conversation.
Of course, while sitting look at the sea thoughts obviously turn to the tsunami, and just how impossible it is to imagine the ocean rising continuously until it consumes everything. Something to be thankful for I suppose. But obviously, we have to do what we can (in other words … donate cash now! )