English Word/Phrase Of The Week:
Wanker whan-kher. Literally someone who masturbates. More usually, someone who is a "dick" in the American vernacular. May be used in a positive sense ("he's a jovial wanker") but usually not, ("Raider fans who lot a paintshop because they are 'upset' at their team not showing up for the Superbowl are huge wankers").
Saturday, February 01, 2003
The Columbia Disaster
I've been trying all day to find words to express my sadness at the Columbia disaster. I was angry but after reading the reports, I realized that my anger has subsided to just plain, organic, sadness. If the early reports are to be believed, the accident looks like it may have been caused by insulation stripping from the solid core boosters (the twin boosters that sit either side of the main tank and the shuttle itself) and hitting the underside of the left wing. This, in turn, probably led to some stripping of the insulation tiles that line the shuttle's body and which protect the aluminium sub-frame from the tremendous stresses of re-entry (typically +3000 degrees at the leading edge of the wing). There's not much else to say except that it seems like we forget just how dangerous spaceflight is and it takes a disaster roughly every 20 years for us to forget and need a reminder (Apollo 1 caught fire on the pad Jan 27 '67, the Challenger disaster was Jan 28, 1986, Columbia was destroyed Feb 1, 2003).
"Sometimes, in reaching for the stars tho we may fall to the ground, we must continue to reach for the heavens, as the souls of those who went before us will hold our hands, lest we stumble again" - Bozz, 2003
I've been trying all day to find words to express my sadness at the Columbia disaster. I was angry but after reading the reports, I realized that my anger has subsided to just plain, organic, sadness. If the early reports are to be believed, the accident looks like it may have been caused by insulation stripping from the solid core boosters (the twin boosters that sit either side of the main tank and the shuttle itself) and hitting the underside of the left wing. This, in turn, probably led to some stripping of the insulation tiles that line the shuttle's body and which protect the aluminium sub-frame from the tremendous stresses of re-entry (typically +3000 degrees at the leading edge of the wing). There's not much else to say except that it seems like we forget just how dangerous spaceflight is and it takes a disaster roughly every 20 years for us to forget and need a reminder (Apollo 1 caught fire on the pad Jan 27 '67, the Challenger disaster was Jan 28, 1986, Columbia was destroyed Feb 1, 2003).
"Sometimes, in reaching for the stars tho we may fall to the ground, we must continue to reach for the heavens, as the souls of those who went before us will hold our hands, lest we stumble again" - Bozz, 2003
Well its been a strange week. Obviously the highlight was the Bucs taking the Raiderettes apart piece by wondeful piece. It's so strange, after all these years of never quite been good enough, never quite having enough offense, never quite getting the defense to synch at the right time, to be in the position of winning it all. It was a great day, and although I wasn't in San Diego, it was great to spend the day with (most) of the people who were there when I started this journey seven years ago. Its taken me a week to write this, and even as I type the words I realize how flat it must sound, how divorced I must sound from it all. I guess I feel a little ... anti-climatic! I remember talking with Phil (my best friend - next to Heather -, my best man and the man who made me a Bucs fan all those years ago). We both felt that we had had our Superbowl the week before when we had beat the Eagles - at the Vet, below 40, against McNabb, in the playoffs, all the things we weren't supposed to be able to do. And yet we did it and going into the big game, both Phil and I knew that we would win. I don't mean know in the usual sense of the word when applied to rabid fans who believe that their beloved team of humans are somehow supernaturally brilliant, but knew in the sense that it felt after beating the Eagles against all odds, it was pre-ordained that we would win. And win we did, in fine style.
It was strange how much it felt like the Eagles game - crappy start to come back with early success, slow loss of momentum, bad (horrible) special teams play, especially on punting, that leads to the other side making gains in the 3rd, defense takes them apart, we win. And we sat and we screamed and we drank champagne and we won and we felt ......... human. Very human.
Sunday, January 19, 2003
UN-FRICKIN'-BE-LE-VA-BULL
We won. I don't believe we won but we won. We didn't just win, we kicked ass! No more "Can't Win At Philly", no more "Can't Beat A Good Team Below 40" (notice how it became a 'good" team after we beat Chicago at the end of the season?), no more "Never Been To The Superbowl". It still hasn't sunk in but as the Bucs website says - only two teams left but only one can be the Lord If the Rings! (Nice circiular reference for those who know me)
Friday, January 17, 2003
Hurrah For Friday
Yes its Friday and what a great thing that is, especially as its a THREE DAY WEEKEND. Its also NFL Conference Weekend, when the Bucs take on the Eagles and try to shake the We-Can't-Beat-Philly monkey off our back and get to the Superbowl for the first time in Franchise history. To say I'm excited and yet anxious is an understatement. Its easy to underestimate the job Gruden has done lifting this team out of the morale low that they had dropped to last year but the real credit has to go to one person - Brad Johnson. Brad has done the one thing that no QB has managed to consistently do since (possibly) Doug Johnson - he's given us hope. And yes, I do include Dilfer and King in that because, despite flashes of brilliance, both suffered from inconsistency - the bane of the franchise QB. Depsite whether we win or lose on Sunday (or indeed the Superbowl if we make it), we know that we now have a franchise QB that we can build our team around for the next few years. There is no doubt that Johnson can't do it on his own and that our defence, led by the self-styled QBKIlla, and the rest of our offense needs to elevate their game to another level, but with Johnson at the helm, at least we feel like we have a fighting chance (and I do mean fight).
Yes its Friday and what a great thing that is, especially as its a THREE DAY WEEKEND. Its also NFL Conference Weekend, when the Bucs take on the Eagles and try to shake the We-Can't-Beat-Philly monkey off our back and get to the Superbowl for the first time in Franchise history. To say I'm excited and yet anxious is an understatement. Its easy to underestimate the job Gruden has done lifting this team out of the morale low that they had dropped to last year but the real credit has to go to one person - Brad Johnson. Brad has done the one thing that no QB has managed to consistently do since (possibly) Doug Johnson - he's given us hope. And yes, I do include Dilfer and King in that because, despite flashes of brilliance, both suffered from inconsistency - the bane of the franchise QB. Depsite whether we win or lose on Sunday (or indeed the Superbowl if we make it), we know that we now have a franchise QB that we can build our team around for the next few years. There is no doubt that Johnson can't do it on his own and that our defence, led by the self-styled QBKIlla, and the rest of our offense needs to elevate their game to another level, but with Johnson at the helm, at least we feel like we have a fighting chance (and I do mean fight).
Thursday, January 16, 2003
As an Englishman in San Francisco, I feel that it is important that I ensure that You "Ham Shanks" understand the lingo that is the joy of English cultural vernuclar. As a result I have decided to institute a word/phrase of the week (or month since I am a lazy bastich).
English Word/Phrase Of The Week:
Ponce. The literal translation for ponce is pimp since that's what ponce means. However, the word ponce has been co-opted to mean a number of things that are not good. Its hard to exactly explain the definition but examples of ponce may be:
Justin Timberlake. He is, in fact, a huge double ponce because not only is he a ponce but he was also poncy for dating Bratney (although if he really did get in her panties then that makes him less ponce but ponce none the less).
Any man who moisturizes his face regulary is definetly a ponce.
English Word/Phrase Of The Week:
Ponce. The literal translation for ponce is pimp since that's what ponce means. However, the word ponce has been co-opted to mean a number of things that are not good. Its hard to exactly explain the definition but examples of ponce may be:
Justin Timberlake. He is, in fact, a huge double ponce because not only is he a ponce but he was also poncy for dating Bratney (although if he really did get in her panties then that makes him less ponce but ponce none the less).
Any man who moisturizes his face regulary is definetly a ponce.
And while we're on the subject....
Can someone explain to me why the fine garbage men of Sc**en**r (yes, you know who you are) insist on removing garbage bags from my bin if the lid does not sit flat? Is it:
1) They wish to marvel at the depth and quality of our garbage
2) Terriosts are suspecting of disposing of the bodies of assainated leaders, used nuke bombs ect in garbage cans just before pickup to avoid detection
3) They are fuck wits
4) Sc**en**r is running out of land fill
5) Its all in my imagination
Can someone explain to me why the fine garbage men of Sc**en**r (yes, you know who you are) insist on removing garbage bags from my bin if the lid does not sit flat? Is it:
1) They wish to marvel at the depth and quality of our garbage
2) Terriosts are suspecting of disposing of the bodies of assainated leaders, used nuke bombs ect in garbage cans just before pickup to avoid detection
3) They are fuck wits
4) Sc**en**r is running out of land fill
5) Its all in my imagination
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