Sean Bennett

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Rivaldo, Adelaide United and Simulation (read: diving)

October 5th, 2008 · I think..., Mr. Bennett

WOOHOO!

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.

No Diving

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.

Klinsmann Dive

Oh, I can’t wait for Wednesday.

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City-Bay 2008 wrap up

September 29th, 2008 · Mr. Bennett

Ok, so I already posted about my run the other day but there were a couple of things I needed to mention before I can move on. Overall, it was another great experience but there are a few niggling issues which bugged me. So here I go: [Read more →]

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The Best “You Have Mail” Tone. Ever.

September 26th, 2008 · I think...

If you are anything like me [you'd want to be], then you probably get irritated by the default alert tones that come with computer software these days. [This will probably make your head explode.]

Well, you can quite easily disable most of these tones and never know the difference but there is one tone that is an absolute essential in my mind. That tone is the new email alert.

Depending on what email client you use you might have a ding, beep, “You have mail” or something equally annoying. I pity you because, you see, I have the best email tone ever. I’ve used for a couple of years now and it never gets old.

Well come on then, tell me what it is.

It is Carl Carlson, of The Simpsons fame, questioning “Didn’t you get the email?”

Carl Carlson -

I can’t find where I originally got it from so I have uploaded it here. Go on download it, it is good.

Download the Best Email Alert Sound

In my mind, it is the undisputed best ever email tone but if you think otherwise then I’d love to know what you think.

Do you use any customised event sounds on your computer?

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Steve Ellison’s City-Bay Experience 2008

September 26th, 2008 · Guest Contributions

The Adelaide 2008 City to Bay Fun Run, my first Fun Run.

By Steven Ellison, 22nd September 2008.

The hard work

Early in 2008 I started walking to help me lose weight. As a 49 year old podgy overweight man who had sat at a desk for the past 20 years and had given up smoking I had decided it was time to start looking after myself. Through the early part of 2008 I started using a treadmill for between 10 and 15 minutes a day. This progressed rapidly over a few months until I was walking 50 KM a week on a treadmill. Keeping motivation going was difficult and so I was switching between seeing how far I could go in a given time to seeing how quick I could walk a certain distance. In early April I realised that the City to Bay fun Run was 12KM in length and that this would be a good comparison for my exercise progress. I managed 12KM on the treadmill in a little over 118 minutes and was happy with that.

Near the end of April I felt quite achieved when managing to complete the 12KM in just on 100. At this stage I had only flirted with the idea of entering the City to Bay. Then the incident that encouraged me to. [Read more →]

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Guest Author – Steve Ellison

September 26th, 2008 · Mr. Bennett

As part of my blog I really want to interact with people and so far the number of people visiting has been slowly growing.

One visitor, Steve Ellison, was compelled to comment on a recent post about my City-Bay experience. Steve had also taken part in the event and wanted to share his account of the day and his preparation.

I am always open to contributions from people and thank Steve for his contribution.

Steve’s story is one of self improvement and is an inspiration for anyone wanting to improve their fitness or looking to achieve any goal. Steve lost weight, quit smoking and walked like he had never walked before.

When I read it through for the first time, the effect of achieving such a goal was obvious. I know from my first City-Bay that the confidence and motivation you gain from finishing is remarkable. You can see this in Steve’s story. I won’t give anything away, Steve has told it best. You must read it.

Finally, if any one thinks they would like to contribute to my site then please let me know. Contributions on any subject will considered and welcomed.

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