PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can anyone help? The following message was posted in 'Known Issues' in May. It states that the problem has been resolved. This problem has not been resolved on my account/blog. Can anyone reading this suggest how I can get this issue sorted out. Thankyou!

Monday, May 09, 2011

We're aware of the issue preventing the post editor from loading for some users. Our team is investigating this right now and we hope to have this sorted out as soon as possible.

Thanks for your patience in the meantime.

Update: 5/10 This is fixed and the post editor should load without issue now.

Stop that arrogant thief!!

What unbelievable arrogance! It appears that one of Boris Johnson's senior aides is a compulsive thief. And he is so arrogant he has been boasting about his criminality in a two page spread in the London Evening Standard newspaper.
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23960855-the-city-hall-high-flyer-the-book-he-wrote-at-work-and-his-curious-claims-about-needing-to-shoplift.do

This individual claims that because of his moralistic stance against corporate run chain stores, he isn't prepared to allow them to make a profit from him. This he achieves by visiting the stores with the rule that he mustn't leave without stealing something. Even when he gets caught he uses his age and standing in life to plead ignorance of his actions, knowing it is unlikely he will even be prosecuted.

Now I fully support freedom of speech and the right to protest, however this blatant law breaking is unacceptable. If he has such high morals why doesn't he stand outside the shop with a placard protesting against the so-called invasion of the high street by the corporate chains he so detests? Better still boycott the stores and don't put any money in their tills by not using them at all.

As an employee of Boris Johnson, he is effectively a public servant. At the moment David Cameron and his government are continually berating and bullying government employees, most of whom are hard-working and law-abiding. It's about time Cameron and Johnson got their priorities right and penalised arrogant thieves such as this individual, not those who are continually threatened with job losses ,but who still manage to get by without breaking the law.

This so-called advisor and arrogant thief should not be on the public payroll and should be prosecuted for theft!!
https://sites.google.com/site/sportzzdailytips/

URGENT!!! GOOGLE PLEASE HELP!!!

Can anyone help?  The following message was posted in 'Known Issues' in May.  It states that the problem has been resolved.  This problem has not been resolved on my account/blog.  Can anyone reading this suggest how I can get this issue sorted out.  Thankyou!

Monday, May 09, 2011

We're aware of the issue preventing the post editor from loading for some users. Our team is investigating this right now and we hope to have this sorted out as soon as possible.

Thanks for your patience in the meantime.

Update: 5/10 This is fixed and the post editor should load without issue now.

A Recession that Beggars Belief!!

Day in day out we listen to the doom and gloom merchants in the media telling us we are experiencing financial Armageddon around the globe. In the US the property market has crashed, and jobless numbers continue to increase. In Europe, Greece and Ireland appear to be on the verge of bankruptcy with other countries teetering on the edge. In the UK, we are about to experience one of the biggest budgetary cuts in public spending since World War II, with no government department immune from the carnage. Such substantial cuts will in turn lead to mass job losses across every part of the public sector.

Globally, many cities have been experiencing large, and at times, violent protests by groups opposed to government actions to address the financial problems. In sum the financial crisis is deep and significant. However, I thought I had heard just about every indicator and statistic, from numerous economists, describing in some detail the dire state of the global economy. Until now that is!

In Finland, even the street beggars have been protesting. They have recently staged a two-week protest outside the Romanian embassy in the capital Helsinki. The protestors, were not complaining about the fiscal actions or the spending cuts by the Finnish government, they were protesting against rival beggars from eastern European countries who they claim are 'stealing their business'. Some of the Finnish beggar organisers had even displayed placards and posters saying, 'Begging - Choose Finnish.'

It appears begging in Finland is also experiencing a significant downturn, and has become another victim of the global economic crisis.

https://sites.google.com/site/sportzzdailytips/

English Lions or Pussy-cat Dolls??

So our poor English lions are too tired! This was the excuse put to us by Fabio Capello, the England manager, as the sorry reason for such a pitiful performance by the England football team on Saturday. During interviews prior to the game against Switzerland, Capello stated the squad looked fresh in training, this despite a long season. However, straight after what can only be described as a dismal performance and even worse result, Capello informed the baying media that the players looked tired.

The Swiss manager was extremely disappointed at not leaving Wembley with all three points and was full of praise for his team who he claimed were the better side on the day. In a further indictment of the woeful English, the Swiss number one, put the boot in, by stating the English players lacked a 100% work rate.

Capello's assertion that the English players looked tired after a long season can hardly be supported by statistics. Of the starting eleven, the player with the most games under his belt was Joe Hart with 62 games this season, including league, cup, European, and international games. However, Hart is a goal keeper who hardly has to cover much ground during a game. The next highest number of games played by any of the starting outfield players was Ashley Cole with 54 games. He was followed by Jack Wilshere on 53. The rest of the team, including the three substitutes who played against Switzerland, range from 50 games down to 32.
We recently witnessed the mercurial Lionel Messi mesmerise Manchester United with his magical skills in the Champions League final also at Wembley. Having watched his running demolition of Man Utd, based on Capello'sassessment of the tired England team, you would have expected Messi's game count during the season to be fairly low. Wrong! Lionel Messi equalled the highest English outfield player with a games total of 54.

Why wasn’t he so tired? I'm afraid the answer is quite simply that it has nothing to do with tiredness; England's players are not good enough. Either that or the lot of an English premiership footballer has become far too pampered. I'm afraid that we no longer have a 'pride' of English lions, battling for long overdue success. Instead we have a group who are nothing more than a bunch of Pussy-cat Dolls!

https://sites.google.com/site/sportzzdailytips/

Three lions lack bite or any roar!

I will never learn! Every time I suffer another woeful English footballing performance, and every time I say I will never watch such rubbish again. And yet, glutton for punishment, I always settle down in my armchair, with a beer or two, to watch a bunch of overpaid, second-rate English footballers put two fingers up to a loyal, expectant and hopeful nation.

All we ask for is a performance from eleven players proud to wear the three lions; but all we ever get is two fingers thrown at us with total contempt. If this bunch of so-called professionals are running their hearts out for the cause, then clearly they lack talent and will never be able to compete with the worlds best on the international footballing stage. Not wishing to single out one player for criticism alone, but take Darren Bent. Is he a world-class player? I don't think so! He may be an average premier league player but he will never be world-class. Oh and just remember the best football team in England were recently given a footballing lesson by Barcelona. How many players from England's best team were in the national starting eleven against Switzerland at Wembley on Saturday? I can only think of one.

Having recovered from giving the Swiss a two goal head start, Bent had two excellent opportunities to win the game for England, but he fluffed his lines. The second chance in particular was not far from being an open goal. That said he wasn't alone; the rest of them were just as woeful. Mind you if there is one certainty in life, having sat through another 90 minutes of absolute mediocre rubbish, come the next game, no doubt I'll once again assume the position in the armchair in front of the TV, deaf to the pleas of cutting the grass, oh, and with a couple of beers to once again drown my sorrows. And yet I just know my hopes and expectations will be shattered all over again. C'mon ENGLAND!! Please step up to the plate and give us all something to shout about. Sometimes I wish I was Scottish. At least they've got some sense; they gave up on their national team years ago.

https://sites.google.com/site/sportzzdailytips/

Train Travel Tribulations!

I hate my fellow passengers! Why?

Having just completed my weekly three hour train commute home I've got to get this off my chest. Why do people speak so loudly when using their mobile phones? Why do people have to remove their shoes? Why do people sit with their feet on the seats? Why do people have to eat food that smells?......and don't even get me started on pets and children!

There, that feels a bit better...........

Does Sepp Blatter read this blog?

I can only assume that Sepp Blatter does read this blog! Having compared the Fifa farce with the Titanic tragedy in my previous blog, in his acceptance speech following his re-election as the Fifa president earlier this week, he made similar reference to being in 'troubled waters'.

Blatter stated, “I am the captain weathering the storm, this is a difficult period for Fifa and I admit that readily. Not only is the pyramid shaking but our ship has drawn some water.” He went on to say, “We will put Fifa's ship back on the right course in clear, transparent waters.”

Whilst he made some concessions in an attempt to improve Fifa's corporate governance, and re-establish its global reputation, I fear Blatter and his cronies have decided not to abandon what is clearly a sinking and stricken vessel. The comments of Fifa's Argentinian representative clearly demonstrate the rotten core within Fifa, when he allegedly referred to the English as “pirates,” during an interview with the German press. He also described his comment when discussing the English 2018 world cup bid, during which he allegedly stated, “If you give back the Falkland Islands, which belong to us, you will get my vote.” Corruption? What corruption? Some Fifa members don't want money for votes, they want whole countries.

The farce that is Fifa continues!

https://sites.google.com/site/sportzzdailytips/

FIFA on collision course with it's own titanic iceberg!

The implosion of the worlds football governing body Fifa, continues unabated with the president publicly proclaiming, “Crisis? What is a crisis? Football is not in a crisis. We are not in a crisis. We are only in some difficulties.” This on a day which ironically is also the anniversary of the launch of the hull of RMS Titanic in Belfast, 100 years ago on the 31^st May 1911.

The Titanic was well renowned for being the largest ocean liner in the world and was considered to be an engineering triumph of its time. The owners intended the Titanic to be the largest and most luxurious ship ever to sail, and the promotional literature from the ship's operators stated the Titanic, 'is designed to be unsinkable'. The vessel was pure opulence and was jammed full of ornate and expensive fittings. However, tragically the Titanic was sunk on its maiden voyage when it struck an iceberg, resulting in the deaths of over 1500 people, caused primarily by a lack of lifeboats.

Although the Fifa saga will never compare with the Titanic tragedy, there are some parallels with the luxury ship sinking after striking the iceberg. Fifa is a truly global organisation of great importance. It has more members than the United Nations, and enjoys annual revenues of $1.3Bn. It's well manicured and luxurious $100m headquarters is conveniently situated in the tranquil tax-haven of Switzerland.

However, Fifa like the Titanic, is in danger of losing its way, and ultimately sinking, due to poor navigation, direction and leadership. It is beset with allegations of cash for contracts, vote rigging, bribery and corruption. And yet its president insists in pursuing an opaque re-election voting process with him standing unopposed as the only candidate, in what can only be described as an outdated autocracy lacking transparency and accountability

Similarities between world events and the Fifa farce are there for all to see. Autocratic states around the world are experiencing the 'Arab Spring'; people rising up against unfair regimes who seek to control and persecute. There is however a burgeoning coalition of interested parties prepared to challenge the Fifa way of corporate governance. The suspended Fifa vice-president is threatening to tear Fifa apart from within, challenging suppression through the courts. Politicians and governments are also calling for change, and yet Fifa's president defiantly dismisses any such interference or intervention. Fifa’s very own corporate partners and global sponsors are also calling for the house of Fifa to be put in order. This leaves the rest of us, the true supporters of the beautiful game, who despite being bemused and bewildered of the continual in-fighting and deluge of corruption claims, are becoming increasingly angry.

This is a damaging time for the reputation of Fifa and therefore football as a whole. The delegates of the Fifa congress can't be naïve enough to not believe a sea of change is desperately required by carefully charting a course of correction and reform. Preventing the subversion of the presidential election process is just the beginning in stopping a titanic-like footballing tragedy.
Look out Fifa! You are not unsinkable, your modern day 'corporate iceberg' is fast approaching, and there may not be enough lifeboats to go around!

https://sites.google.com/site/sportzzdailytips/

Slaves to the Government!

If you live in the UK, today is your lucky day! That is because from today we are no longer slaves to the government; well for at least the remainder of 2011. The reason for this is that today, the 30^th of May, is 'Tax Freedom Day'.

According to the Adam Smith Institute, (www.adamsmith.org/blog), today is the first day of the calendar year when the money we earn is ours to keep and does not go directly into government coffers. This means we have been working for five months solid (or 149 days), and we have not benefited from a single penny. However, from today everything we earn is ours to keep; well until the 1^st January 2012 that is.

Tax Freedom Day has come about three days later than last year, so we could well be into June before we reach Tax Freedom Day next year. No wonder the government is trying to encourage a feel good factor next year by having an extra public holiday to celebrate the Queens Diamond Jubilee. Personally I'd prefer a few extra quid in my pocket!

Magical Messi's Wembley Mementos

Barcelona stole the show and the goals (literally) in the 2011 UEFA Champions League final at Wembley last night. English champions Manchester United were given a lesson in footballing mastery in what has been described as one of the best performances ever seen. Barcelona eased to a 3 - 1 victory confirming them as easily the best football team in Europe, if not the world. The mercurial Messi dictated the pace of the game throughout as he bedevilled the 'Reds' with an unrivalled masterclass.

However, having scored only three goals during the game, Barcelona clearly thought they should have had more. After the final whistle they decided to get the scissors out and promptly hacked the nets from the Wembley goal posts, leaving London not only with the Champions League trophy, but other less conventional mementos. I can only assume their charitable tendencies, including shirt sponsorship of UNICEF, will now mean some needy football team will be the main benefactor of some new netting.

Some years ago I remember watching football hooligans invading the Wembley field of play, digging up the pitch, and ripping down the goal posts. Now it appears top class footballers are doing the same with not so much as a raised eyebrow. Clearly this isn't hooliganism, criminal damage or even theft; it must simply be legitimate 'high spirits' by a magical team.

When will FIFA play fair?

Surprise, Surprise! Yet another allegation of corruption involving key FIFA officials tarnishes the beautiful game. Allegations of corruption and impropriety have been rife in recent years and the decision by the BBC to screen a TV programme about such allegations just days before the decision to award the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups, is widely believed to have compromised the strong bid from England.

FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) is the international governing association of arguably the most popular sport in the world, football (or soccer for any US readers). And yet although it is one of the largest and richest sporting organisations in the world, it appears to be the least accountable and an absolute law unto itself.

To achieve its mission to, 'Develop the game, touch the world, and build a better future', FIFA claims to have a responsibility to reach out and touch the world using football as a symbol of hope and integration.

The irony here is that FIFA continually promotes the mantra of 'Fair Play', which it defines extensively as, 'Winning is without value if victory has been achieved unfairly and dishonestly.....and.....Playing fair earns you respect, while cheaters are detested'. It is about time, those who run FIFA took note of its own words and played 'FAIR'. Unfortunately, it is unlikely this will happen any time soon as they all appear too busy investigating each others corruption and impropriety.

Judgement Day – Armageddon slow burn or wedding anniversary conspiracy?

What a relief! Judgement day came and went without too much obvious bother, apart from more sporting revelations about the sexual exploits of an overpaid premiership footballer and his dodgy super-injunction.

For those of you unaware, Saturday 21^st May 2011 was supposed to be 'Judgement Day' when Jesus returned to take charge of us all, by reaping carnage and saving all true followers; the whole thing culminating with God annihilating the world on 21^st October 2011 (five days before my 25^th wedding anniversary).

Well, I decided to stay in bed all day Saturday, just in case the worst happened. As it turned out, things were generally uneventful, so either Jesus has decided a slow burn transition to Armageddon, or is planning a stealth approach by not revealing his hand too soon. Unlike some followers, I'm glad I didn't empty my bank account and give away all of my possessions in preparation for the big bang.

That said, he may have removed all of his true followers without our knowledge, and has decided to leave the dirty work to God in October. Therefore we are not yet out of the woods. I have checked my diary, and note that the 21^st October is on a Friday (a working day). Therefore if I plan on repeating my 'stay in bed' strategy for part two of the latest prediction that 'the end is nigh', I will have to ask my boss for the day off.

Judgement Day and the end of the world is however the least of my worries – if anyone messes with my wedding anniversary, they will have the missus to deal with. Armageddon will seem like a walk in the park!

Grumpier than the Grumpiest Jubilee Grumpy!!

I must have a screw loose! As a daily commuter using the Jubilee Line on the London Underground I have heard just about every excuse possible for late and delayed trains. My 30 minute commute twice a day on the Jubilee line is what makes me grumpier than the grumpiest grumpy.

However, this week yet more delays on the Jubilee line were attributed to a loose screw which had fallen from a platform edge door. The screw lodged in the mechanism of the door preventing it from closing. This in turn prevented the train from departing, and other trains continuing their journeys along the Jubilee.

The Jubilee line is one of the busiest on the London Underground network and services more than 600,000 passengers a day. Worryingly it is one of the principal routes for next years Olympics at London 2012.

When the trains are moving, my commute consists of eight stops, getting intimate with various people during the journey. It is not for the faint hearted and getting into a carriage is a matter of gently pushing your way on until you know your in; whilst at the same time being pushed from behind from those also attempting to join the hot stuffy cattle truck (sorry the carriage). We then endure the sweet fragrance of hairspray, gel, dandruff, sweat, and just about any other human aroma you can think of. The intertwining of arms and legs and the exposure of sweaty armpits ensure an intimacy that is much more than you would ever enjoy with your closest family or friends. Even when you do find an inch or two of personal space, the sudden jolt and movement of the tube ensures another intimate encounter with a fellow passenger or two; and the best bit, you pay for the experience.

Enduring such experiences twice a day five days a week are a clear sign that just like the Jubilee line I to have a loose screw!

Your Call Mate!

A great video featuring a grumpy Captain.

http://youtu.be/EBwNwoDVT8E

Paddington to Waterloo in 6 hours!!

Working in London I have a regular commute home at weekends and sometimes further for a relaxing weekend away. Recently I travelled the 20 minute journey on the London Underground to London Paddington station and then commenced a three hour journey to Devon, in the south west of England, for such a break. My journey involved a single connection at Exeter station, and I knew I had 7 minutes to change platforms negotiating a walkway via two sets of stairs

As my journey commenced I settled back to unwind from a hectic week in the office, thinking about the relaxing weekend away from the drudgery of working life. I plugged in my ipod and closed my eyes. During what was a pretty uneventful journey (unusually), we lost a bit of time, so as we approached Exeter nearly three hours after leaving London, I knew my connection time was now down to 2 minutes; still possible but no longer a casual stroll.

As the train pulled into the station I knew I had to get from one platform to another in two minutes. I edged my way to the train door ready for my sprint (if only rushing for trains was an Olympics sport, I wouldn't have to worry about getting tickets for London 2012; I'd be competing).

The train stopped and I was out and running, dodging the inconvenience of people exiting from other carriages and hurdling random items of luggage on the platform. I made the first set of stairs, barging people out the way, as politely as I could; across the bridge weaving in amongst other commuters; then down the second set of stairs, muttering my apologies as I shouldered past human obstacles. I saw my train. I'd made it to the platform and my connection was waiting obligingly. In my final act of athleticism I jumped the gap and onto the waiting carriage, just as the doors closed behind me and the train moved off. I took a deep breath and with an overwhelming sense of relief I watched Exeter disappear as I commenced the final 20 minutes of my journey.

I decided to rest from my exertions and walked down the carriage looking for a seat. As I did, I noticed the clean colourful seats of the train. The whole look and feel was modern as the train glided along the track. This was not the shabby, grey unappealing bone-shaker I was expecting. Something was seriously wrong!

All of a sudden, panic, as my senses started to compute my feeling of confusion. Then my worst fear became reality, as the announcer confirmed, “This is the Exeter to London Waterloo service; our journey time will be approximately three hours.” I was on my way back to London and my helplessness was compounded as I pushed the door open button which on a moving train was not working for obvious reasons. Horror of horrors, I was on my way back to work and there was nothing I could do about it.  I was about to start the second part of a 6 hour journey from Paddington to Waterloo, a journey which usually only takes 15 minutes.

Has the magic of the FA Cup disappeared?

Wembley Stadium was a swathe of red and light blue on Saturday as supporters of Stoke City and Manchester City watched their footballing idols do battle in the oldest and most prestigious domestic cup competition in the world – the English FA Cup. The match was beamed to millions around the globe who witnessed a Man City victory by a single goal sending their supporters into frenzied raptures of their adopted ballad 'Blue Moon'.

However, apart from the teams involved on the day, for me the magic of the FA Cup has disappeared.

Now, I am not old enough to remember the first FA Cup final held during the 1871-72 season, won again by a single goal by 'Wanderers'. Nor can I remember the first FA Cup final held at Wembley Stadium in 1923, attended by 200,000 people, and won by Bolton Wanderers. But I do remember the cup final of the 1970-71 season between Arsenal and Liverpool. In fact I remember most of the finals up until the mid 90's – but then the memory goes a bit blank. Most people say you never remember the losers – well post the mid 90's I'm struggling to even recall any of the winners.

The '71 final is my first memory of this magical cup competition and what a memory it was. A large group of us with eager anticipation crowded into the small room of the house which had the only colour TV in our street. After the game, (which Arsenal won 2-1), we piled into the street and using jumpers as goal posts, re-enacted the final, albeit the score was somewhat different.

My overriding memories of the FA Cup in the 70's and 80's was that it was a full day event, and something to look forward to and get excited about. It was the only day of the year I would get away with sitting in front of the television glued to every programme which had a footballing theme – as a 10 year-old, life didn't get any better than that; wall to wall football. In the morning the usual kids TV programmes all had footballing themes. This was followed by the lunacy of 'It's a Knock-out' featuring supporters from the two finalists, and then the build up began. There were full run downs of how the teams got to the final, profiles of the players and live TV coverage of the team coaches leaving their hotels and travelling to Wembley. And a choice – the game was always shown live on both the BBC and ITV; of course David Coleman on the BBC got my vote every time.

This year, as a grumpy forty-something, although a session of 'It's a Knock-out' hosted by the Man City celebrity supporter, Stuart Hall, would have caused a stir, as well as missiles being thrown at the TV, the pitiful two hour build up using safe commentators that no ones ever heard of, has seriously devalued the magic that was the FA Cup. Even a bit of swearing by the overpaid players during post match interviews and the Man City fans doing 'The Poznan', could not re-kindle even a spark of the old cup magic.

Wembley itself has contributed to the cup finals demise. During the magical years, the teams would be led out together by the managers and walk half the length of the pitch from the old tunnel to the area in front of the Royal Box before being presented to a Royal VIP. The TV coverage would capture the frenzy of both sets of supporters hunting out the best and most humorous home made flags and banners.

No such carnival atmosphere nowadays. The teams arrive on the pitch and are presented to the VIP; the banners being waived all look the same having been purchased from vendors outside the stadium, the empty corporate seats and the official singer cannot coordinate the National Anthem with the 80,000 supporters. Top all this with the commentators drivel and you have an uninspiring non-magical cup final day – well for the neutral anyway.

Gone also are the days of watching the game in a room crammed full of youngsters eager to see their idols playing the beautiful game – this year it was just me and my son. Then the final nail in the coffin of the most prestigious cup final in the world. Just before half time, my son left the room, not to put the kettle on or to prepare a half time bite to eat – no......wait for it.....he decided to go and tidy his bedroom. Tidy his bedroom!! When I was his age (13), tidying my bedroom was a punishment! Surely the FA Cup hasn't become something worse than a punishment. Does he not know the FA Cup itself was recently nominated as an 'icon of England', a project designed to identify what makes England what it is – something to be proud of!

I suppose deciding to tidy his bedroom in favour of watching the best domestic cup competition in the world may have been a blessing in disguise – at least he didn't want to go into our street to re-enact the game – such exertions would undoubtedly have finished me off.

The magic of the FA Cup has not just faded, it has completely disappeared – still I suppose that's what magic does eventually – it makes things disappear!

(PS. If you enjoyed this post, please tell your friends and family, and come back again - Click on 'Followers').

A newbie blogger

This is my first attempt at blogging.  The theme will be the weekly trials and tribulations of a forty something grumpy old man.