Nothing particularly brilliant but this little site is just the beginning of Pooraka Sand’s online presence. These little upstarts will be all other the cyberspace before you know. Their trucks will be just part of the scenery on the information super highway.

OK, I think I’ve gone mad. Oh well, if you ever need some mulch, gravel, firewood and the like then check these guys out.

Here’s a couple of screenies:

Let me know what you think of my latest effort.

Part of the reason for making this blog was so that when I google myself (don’t sneer ~ you do it too) there would be some relevant results. You hear it all the time, people can google you and find out all about you.

Well, imagine my disappointment when the only google results for sean bennett weren’t related to me. Believe it or not but there are actually other people out there with the same name as me.

I don’t really want my innermost thoughts, secrets and embarrassing photos online but something would be nice.

And so I have set out to get the top google position for the search “sean bennett”. I know, it’s a pretty specific search term and not the same as the top result for iPhone but it’s a start.

Having said that, I am up against some pretty stiff competition.

Apparently, there is an American Sean Bennett who is a bit of a star in the classical piano world. I’m not going to link to any sites because don’t want to improve his google index but this guy is quite something. From his wikipedia page (yeah, he’s on wikipedia):

Sean Bennett (the piano guy, not me)

• born February 14, 1979 ha! got him beat on that point… if younger equals better
• He is a former child prodigy, he performed Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto at age 14 ah… that’s one to him
• He holds the distinction of being the only classical musician to have had a top ten selection on Download.com alright, he can play the piano. him: 2, me: 1
• He holds academic degrees from Harvard University and Cambridge University and by age 24 he had taught musicology, psychology, and neuroscience at both universities and researched linguistic sciences for Noam Chomsky at MIT. Are you serious!? I guess I still have two years to beat him on that one so I’ll call it a draw for now

Anyway, getting that number one spot on google shouldn’t be too hard. His site is pretty static and hasn’t got that much content (neither do I) but at least if I can keep posting regularly then I’ll bolt past him.

And then there is Sean Bennett, the technical author. He specializes in Heavy Duty Trucks, Medium and Large bore Diesel Engines, and Computerized Vehicle Management Systems. He has published some 20 textbooks…

What have I got? A humble little blog where I talk to myself.

They don’t stand a chance.

You know political candidates, you know not to stick a knife into the toaster.

You can read and write but are you Globally Literate? If you know anything about Lindsay Lohan’s career or the price of fuel in Venezuela then you just might be.

Well, head on over to Newsweek and take their Annual Global Literacy Quiz.

I’m wasn’t even sure what on Earth they really mean by Global Literacy but I did find out that I only have a so-so grasp of it.

The quiz involves 10 questions on Arts, Environment, Health/Science, Tech/Business, International and Politics.

I went well in some sections - I won’t give away any answers here but there is a question about Lindsay Lohan’s movie career [which I got right]. I also correctly selected guessed the record-breaking prices of Francis Bacon’s artworks and based on my results in some sections, I am smart enough for a job in the US Senate. However, I was also told that perhaps it was time for me to not “believe everything on the internet”. Cheeky.

Try it out and let me know how you go.

I’m getting excited. I bought my tickets the other day for Adelaide United’s AFC Champions League Semi Final first leg match against Bunyodkor of Uzbekistan. [that was a bit of a mouthfull, wasn't it?]

This match is the biggest game in Australian club football and it’s this Wednesday. Adelaide have gone further than any other A-League club and Hindmarsh Stadium will be buzzing. The game sold out days ago.

Being part of a full Hindmarsh Stadium is great and witnessing an historic game like this will really be something special. Adding to the match is the chance to see Bunyodkor’s newest star signing - Brazilian legend Rivaldo.

He is a star. For people who don’t know Rivaldo, he is the guy who infamously caused a Turkish opponent to get a red card during the 2002 World Cup with this appalling display.

His excuse?

“I was thinking in advance, I thought that the ball was going to roll up my body and hit me in the head, therefore I tried to protect myself”

Anyway, this got me thinking about diving (or simulation as FIFA call it) and there is a lot that has been written about it. It really is a blemish on the game and there are far too many controversial incidents that have decided big games. The most painful incident (for Australians) was in the 2006 World Cup game against Italy when an injury time dive earned Italy a match-winning penalty. Heartbreaking.

If Rivaldo thinks about trying any of that stuff on Wednesday he will cop it. But on a lighter note, there is the story of Jürgen Klinsmann. His reputation as a diver attracted abuse and ill-feeling from English supporters when he joined Tottenham Hotspur in 1990. However, he managed to endear himself to supporters with this cheeky celebration after scoring on debut against Sheffield Wednesday.

Oh, I can’t wait for Wednesday.

Bad stuff

TransAdelaide

Come on, TransAdelaide. Surely they would be able to work out that the regularly scheduled Sunday morning train services aren’t adequate for this day. Firstly, if they run on time you still won’t make it without rushing straight to the start line from the train station. Secondly, the increase in people means the trains don’t run on time. Another carriage or two would’ve be good too although I think they did put an extra carriage on - it still wasn’t enough. I don’t particularly mind but not having to rush through the masses to get to the baggage trucks before they left would be nice.

The Fruit

I think it is great that they are promoting healthy eating and providing participants with free fruit at the finish line BUT is it too much to ask for it to be ripe? I picked up a pear and it was very hard and almost green inside. Well, I didn’t eat it. Same story with the bananas - I took a few pears and bananas home and didn’t eat them for a couple of days.

Good stuff

The participants

The number of people who take part just gets bigger every year. Over 28 000 people entered this year, a record - till next year. It really is something special when you come to where Anzac Highway crosses the train tracks. From this slightly elevated position you can see a sea of people in front of you for km’s - 4 lanes wide of runners. That is my favourite part of the whole run.

If you haven’t entered before, have a read of Steve’s first City-Bay fun run for some inspiration. This event really is for everyone so get involved.

The Entertainment

I absolutely love the various bands and musicians set up along the route. I always take my earphones out and give them a clap as I pass. They really add to the day.

The Finish Line

Need I say more? 12kms of running is complete - the pain is over.

Other Stuff
Before I put it to rest, I just want to state a goal for my time next year. Disappointingly, this year I was slower than last year. Next year, I am going to actually do some regular running in preparation [at least two months] and am going to run a sub-55 minute time.

You can hold me to that.