Canary in the Coalmine

1983 - A Visit to the New Champions at Anfield

2011-09-03T11:41:00.002+10:00

The very first match highlights I recorded on my brand new Betamax video was the home match with Liverpool in December 1982 (I haven't converted that tape yet). We were rock bottom of the First Division and they were top. Of course, that meant we won 1-0.

In March, Norwich went on an eight game unbeaten run which lifted them well above the relegation zone and by the time they were due to visit Anfield on 23rd April were safe from the threat of the drop. That week, Liverpool had been crowned Champions and this was the first match at home to celebrate. As it turns out, Norwich were the party-poopers and went on to a well-deserved 2-0 win.

There's a great interview at the end of Part 2 with Norwich's captain, Dave Watson, about his thoughts on clapping Liverpool onto the pitch at the start of the game.

Enjoy!

Part 1

Part 2

1986 - When Away Fans Were Banned

2011-08-28T15:34:00.002+10:00

Norwich City visited Luton Town on 11th October for a First Division Match. However, there were no Norwich fans allowed in the ground following a decision by Luton to ban away supporters from the stadium. This was in response to a riot by Millwall 'fans' at a cup game the season before which was shown on the BBC.

Norwich were riding high in the division after a one year sojourn in the 2nd.

In addition to the supporter ban, Norwich also had to contend with Luton's plastic pitch. Here are the highlights in four parts.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

In the days when we had FA Cup runs...

2011-08-20T18:27:00.000+10:00

In 1984 Norwich were drawn away to Aston Villa in the F.A. Cup, 3rd round. I remember travelling on a football special train to Villa and playing cards all the way there and back. After a 1-1 draw it was back to Carrow Road on the Wednesday night.

Part 1

Part 2

1985 Milk Cup Preview

2011-07-31T18:22:00.000+10:00

On Friday 24th March 1985, Anglia TV previewed the upcoming Milk Cup Final between Norwich City and Sunderland.

It's interesting to watch brief highlights of Norwich's two previous attempts to win the League Cup in 1973 under Ron Saunders and in 1975 under John Bond. Both games ended in disappointing 1-0 defeats. I didn't get a ticket for the first game but in 1975 I was living in London so just had a short trip to Wembley. I remember Mel Machin pulling a hamstring in the pre-match warm-up but he played anyway. The only thing he did in the game was the diving save to concede the penalty that led to Villa's goal. If my memory serves me correctly, it was the first missed penalty at Wembley even though Ray Graydon put in the rebound.

You'll then see Mick Channon showing a young Louie Donowa around Wembley Stadium. Channon was a great mentor to the young players at the club, none more so than Donowa whom he was constantly directing during games.

A Milk Cup Final Rehearsal?

2011-07-30T14:38:00.000+10:00

On 16th March 1985, Norwich were at home to Sunderland, a week before the Milk Cup Final. They were a comfortable 11th in the table while Sunderland 5 places below them in 16th.

I remember this as a pretty ordinary performance by Norwich. With only three sides of the ground open, and the old Main Stand being dismantled, the atmosphere was muted.

Interesting to see Gary Rowell at the end. I remember him as a pretty effective striker for Sunderland and his time at Norwich didn't make much of an impression on me.

On the Road to Wembley - via Grimsby

2011-07-23T15:16:00.001+10:00

On 16th January 1985, Norwich City traveled to Grimsby in the Quarterfinals of the Milk Cup. The weather had been awful along the East coast so travel was difficult. However, the game went ahead after a big snow-clearing exercise and Norwich booked a semi-final place against Ipswich.

First Half

Second Half

March 1983 - Norwich City v West Ham United

2011-07-20T21:48:00.001+10:00

After winning promotion in the previous season, City struggled in the top division. Having spent most of the season in the relegation places, they needed to put some results together to avoid dropping straight back to the second division. A win against Watford at the start of the month had lifted Norwich out of the bottom three, but a defeat at Villa followed by two draws had left them still in trouble.

However, this game formed part of a 10 game unbeaten run which lifted them into mid-table. Norwich City included England 2nd choice goalkeeper Chris Woods, Dave Watson, also on the fringe of the England squad, Martin O'Neill in his second spell at the club and Mick Channon.

West Ham had some very well known players in the team: Phil Parkes in goal, Frank Lampard Senior, Billy Bonds, Alan Devonshire and a young Alan Dickens.

The game was shown on Anglia TV's 'Match of the Week' - a weekly Sunday highlights program of the region's teams. This usually meant Norwich, Ipswich and occasionally Luton as representatives in the top division.

Look out for a young Steve Ryder, now a BBC stalwart, and a tribute to Bob Paisley, the Liverpool manager as his team won the Milk Cup the day before.

First Half

Second Half

The Greatest Night at Carrow Road Ever?

2011-07-16T15:01:00.002+10:00

Well, I think it was for me.

The first leg at Portman Road was a bit of a nightmare. I'd organised a job interview in the city for 1 o'clock on the basis that Norwich were due to play a home game that day. Attend the interview, the plan was, have a pint at the Ferryman on King Street on the way to Carrow Road for the match. For some reason, the powers-that-be switched the Milk Cup Semi-Final first leg to that Saturday so I had the interview and then dashed down the A140 to the game (funnily enough one of my planned interviewers wasn't there - he'd gone to Ipswich!).

We got into the ground with about five minutes of the game played - just in time to see Ipswich score. The rest of the match was backs-to-the-wall football and how the game finished at only 1-0 I'll never understand.

So back to Carrow Road two weeks later for the second leg. I'd heard on the radio that day that we hadn't beaten Ipswich by two clears goals for years. I remember I was sitting in the South Stand for the game and it was a pretty full-blooded affair. John Deehan scored a deflected goal in the first half but the second goal wouldn't come.

In the 87th minute, Mark Barham took a corner from what is now the Snakepit corner. The Norwich players in the box all ran to the near post and Steve Bruce from the edge of the box, ran in and headed the winning goal into the net. The place went mad. I fell over my seat into the row behind onto the laps of some stony-faced Ipswich fans.

I got home about 3 in the morning.....

Anglia TV Report

BBC Look East Report

After The Fire

2011-07-12T21:27:00.000+10:00

Two days after the fire at Carrow Road on 25th October 1984, Norwich were due to play QPR at home. The club were able to get the game played by removing the centre section of the stand roof which had been damaged by the fire and closing the stand. It would remain closed for the rest of the season.

Norwich changed at Trowse Training Ground and QPR in 'The Nest', the pub built into the new River End Stand.

After the match highlights, Stewart White of BBC's Look East interviews the Bishop of Norwich, a keen Canaries fan.

30 Minutes of Highlights - Norwich/Spurs 1984

2011-07-09T11:19:00.000+10:00

In January 1984, Norwich beat Aston Villa in the 3rd round of the FA Cup after a replay and were drawn away to Spurs in the 4th Round. After a 0-0 draw at White Hart Lane on the Saturday, the replay at Carrow Road took place on the following Wednesday. It's not like today where the replay has to wait for over a week. Tickets were pre-printed and ready for sale on the Sunday morning. Plus, of course, with standing behind both goals, you could just pay on the night.

There were some famous faces in the Spurs lineup - Ossie Ardiles, Steve Perryman, Chris Hughton, Steve Archibald. Norwich had the evergreen Mick Channon up front but not many other household names in the team.

Here's Part 1:

Part 2:

And finally, Part 3, with an interview with Mick Channon at the end.

The 1984 Carrow Road Fire. Ctd.

2011-07-06T20:32:00.003+10:00

I have a bit more information on the Carrow Road Fire of 1984 which burned the Main Stand at Carrow Road. The Main Stand was one of the original 1930s structures of the Carrow Road Ground and the only one originally with seats. The Barclay, the South Stand and the unroofed River End were all standing terracing. The River End Stand was replaced in 1979-80 by the current Norwich and Peterborough Stand.

Geoffrey Watling (0:40 sec) is widely regarded as the man who saved Norwich City after the disastrous end to the Robert Chase era when the club almost went out of business before Delia stepped in.

The man handing some pictures to Geoff Watling is Mike Harper, who used to run the catering at Carrow Road. When Tony Jones of Anglia TV interviews Nigel Pleasants, the Club Secretary (1:16), Ronnie Brooks, the Youth Team Manager is standing in the background.

The chairman, Sir Arthur South, was a local businessman in the days when they weren't expected to put millions of pounds into a club to keep it afloat.

Nigel Pleasants, the Club Secretary, had been Assistant Club Secretary under the long-serving Bert Westwood. Nigel moved to Leeds in 1990 to take on the Club Secretary role there. He sadly passed away in 2008 at the tragically young age of 59.

The last few seconds on the clip show groundsman Russell Allison mowing the pitch. Russell served as Groundsman for many years and a Lounge at the club was named after him. Is it still there?

On the Foggy Road to Wembley

2011-07-06T19:57:00.001+10:00

On 31st October, 1984, Aldershot of the Fourth Division, visited First Division Norwich City in the 3rd Round of the Milk Cup. It looked a relatively easy draw after a 9-4 aggregate win over Preston in the second round.

I remember it as one of the most boring games I ever saw. It sticks in my mind because, at the end of a turgid first half in which nothing at all happened, the song that Howard Platt, the DJ at Carrow Road selected for the start of the half-time music was.... "I'm So Excited" by the Pointer Sisters.

A week later, City went to Aldershot for the replay and won 4-0, a game I'm guessing that not many peoplse saw bacause of the fog. It's amazing that the game wasn't abandoned.

Twilight Landing at LAX

2011-07-04T22:07:00.002+10:00

This video is great. The music is pretty good too.

I never touched it, Ref!

2011-07-04T21:07:00.000+10:00

I'm not sure how the referee missed this.

"We wore Town like a flesh tuxedo"

2011-07-03T20:25:00.000+10:00

Always worth rereading. I had to make do with the Radio Norfolk commentary but Chris Goreham and Neil Adams certainly enjoyed themselves.

Norwich City v Luton Town, 10th November 1984

2011-07-03T17:25:00.002+10:00

Another game from the 1984-85 season at Carrow Road against Luton Town. Luton had some good players in the 80s, Ricky Hill especially.

The game was played in front of the ruins of the recently burnt out main stand and includes a first ever senior goal for 'Disco' Dale Gordon. Mick Channon was fantastic for Norwich for two or three seasons. You won't find it happening now, a senior international player seeing out his career at a smaller club. They all now still want to earn the megabucks and are more likely to end up in the States or Qatar.

Oh, and I've just discovered, I don't have to convert the DVD format file. Youtube will accept it and I'm sure they've got much better conversion software than I have.

1984-1985 First Game of the Season

2011-07-03T16:38:00.002+10:00

Norwich City opened up the 84-85 season at home to champions Liverpool.

It was an eventful debut for Steve Bruce who scored an own goal and almost knocked out Keith Bertchin after he scored Norwich's second goal.

It was Norwich's first year in the Hummel strip which replaced one of my favourites, the Adidas pinstripe. This was the first season that shirt sponsors were allowed and Norwich signed up with Poll & Withey Windows, a local manufacturer of double glazing. It was a good decision for them as Norwich would go on to wear their name at Wembley in the 1985 Milk Cup Final.

Norwich City's Main Stand burns down

2011-07-03T15:56:00.003+10:00

On 25th October 1984, a fire broke out in the Main Stand at Carrow Road and destroyed about 40% of the stand. The stand had to be closed, eventually for the rest of the season, though the game 2 days later against QPR went ahead.

It was a topsy-turvy season for Norwich. They won the Milk Cup by beating Sunderland 1-0 at Wembley but an awful run of form (and some dubious match scheduling by the Football League) saw them relegated to the second division.

Here are the About Anglia and Look East reports of the fire.

Betamax Restored

2011-07-03T15:40:00.002+10:00

I bought a Betamax video recorder in 1982 - there's nothing like being on the wrong side of history.

I used to record Norwich City matches and, since I eventually replaced the Betamx with a VHS machine, the tapes have just sat in the cupboard, untouched. I've always wanted to convert them, first of all to VHS, then to DVD and now, why not share them on Youtube.

I aim to upload various Norwich City, and other, video files from the 1980's to Youtube as fast as my elderly PC can convert them.

Giant Worm found in Cornwall

2009-12-12T11:10:00.002+11:00

When I read the headline I didn't expect to see a four foot worm.

Iraq Problem Disappeared!

2009-08-02T22:43:00.002+10:00

I know that Fox News' grasp of reality is fairly tenuous at best, but losing Iraq?

Melbourne's Water

2009-08-02T16:23:00.003+10:00

After yet another below average month of rainfall, Melbourne's water reserves are hovering around the 27% mark, several points below this time last year. Last summer, of course, a lack of rain and high temperatures led to the horrifying bushfires around the state. In the past, the winter rains have always replenished the reserves but the last decade has seen year after year of below average rainfall so something has to be done long-term.

Climate change, I believe, makes the longer term outlook even worse. That is why I support the building of a desalination plant while will enable Melbourne to become self-sufficient in water. (In the news today is a story that the company awarded the contract to built the plant hasn't been exactly environmentally sound in the past) However, I would add a couple of caveats. Melbourne needs to get a lot smarter with water recycling. However, I'm not sure if I'd want to drink recycled water as the long term risks of hormones and chemicals which can't be filtered out have never been fully cleared.

The other major point that needs to be considered is the power that is used by the desalination plant. Most of the power in Victoria is generated by the burning of brown coal, about the worst polluter and generator of CO2 emissions there is. The sooner an alternative source, preferably by wave or tide (desalination plants after all are built right on the coast) is developed, the better.

Night Sky - Time Lapse

2009-05-22T21:05:00.001+10:00

Galactic Center of Milky Way Rises over Texas Star Party from William Castleman on Vimeo.

On of the best time lapse sequences I've seen.

McCain's Vanishing Chances

2008-10-13T14:28:00.003+11:00

According to fivethirtyeight.com, McCain's chances of winning are now a mere 5.9%.

Some Useful Pieces Of Business Advice

2008-10-12T13:48:00.002+11:00

These are all worth a read. Here's No. 3

Lesson 3:
A sales rep, an administration clerk, and the manager are walking to lunch when they find an antique oil
lamp.

They rub it and a Genie comes out.
The Genie says, 'I'll give each of you just one wish.'
'Me first! Me first!' says the admin clerk. 'I want to be in the Bahamas , driving a speedboat, without a care
in the world.'
Puff! She's gone.

'Me next! Me next!' says the sales rep. 'I want to be in Hawaii , relaxing on the beach with my personal
masseuse, an endless supply of Pina Coladas and the love of my life.'

Puff! He's gone.

'OK, you're up,' the Genie says to the manager.
The manager says, 'I want those two back in the office after lunch.'

Moral of the story:
Always let your boss have the first say.

I Approve This Message

2008-10-12T09:50:00.001+11:00

Don Wright nails it.

North Carolina Update

2008-10-12T09:34:00.004+11:00

There's a long and detailed look at North Carolina by Al Giordano on The Field. It aagain back up the organisation that Obama has set up throughout the country which is going to change the way that elections are run.

The Field has listened to all the talk of Obama possibly winning North Carolina and its 15 Electoral Votes with a healthy dose of skepticism, but also with great curiosity (which is why we added it to our swing state reporting tour when it was only number 15 among 538's "tipping point" states - it's now number seven). Remember that, in 2004, Republican George W. Bush won 1,961,166 votes here (56 percent) to just 1,525,849 for Democrat John Kerry.

He goes on to quote Hugh J. McColl, former CEO of Bank of America who endorses Obama and stock market guru James Cramer who explains the difference between the two candidates as "Obama is a recession. McCain is a depression".

However, it is the extent of Obama's ground organisation that makes a real impression.
At the end of the day on Thursday, The Field conducted an unannounced "inspection" of the regional Obama office in Greenville, to which the local organizers report each day. It was 8:30 p.m., the close of phone banking hours, and the headquarters was a beehive of activity with phone-bankers ending their shift and change crew chiefs bringing in the day's tallies. More than 250 newly filled voter registration forms sat atop an organizer's desk. After phone banking, the organizers then get on a regional conference call with statewide organizers to report the day's numerical progress (new voters, phone contacts, canvass contacts, etcetera). It took the local organizers until after 10 p.m. to finish their daily tasks.

Alright. Okay. I get it. This isn't just a political campaign. It's a steamroller (my italics). This is why North Carolina really is in play. And the excitement in this state - from West to East - is the highest and the hungriest among the five states we visited in the past two weeks.

Summing the article up is Obama representative Dan Blue.

"We're definitely in play. If I had to make the call, I believe we're going to win it."

Read the whole thing.

Lego Bricks.....and too much time on your hands!

2008-10-11T16:51:00.003+11:00

Well, it filled up their day I suppose. It's very clever and woth checking them all out. There are some very famous photos there.

The Ground Game

2008-10-11T16:42:00.004+11:00

Obama's campaign has been run immaculately, with election day always in mind.

Using momentum built during thr primaries, he has built the most impressive ground game that the US has probably ever seen.

Despite tens of thousands of "Neighborhood Team Leaders," and an entire organizing outreach tool actually named "Neighbor to Neighbor," Barone apparently fervently hopes Obama has no peer-to-peer efforts:
The most successful recent turnout drive was that of the Bush-Cheney '04 campaign, which relied on peer-to-peer volunteers, local people who made connections with neighbors with whom they had something in common (fellow members of a particular church, fellow accountants, nearby neighbors). The Obama campaign, in contrast, seems to be depending on youthful volunteers who seem unlikely to have such connections.
Wow. They. Are. So. F#$%ed.

the fivethirtyeight.com team have been travelling round the States checking out both parties' organisations on the ground. From what I've read, on this site and others, there's just no comparison. I think Sean Quinn's quote above sums it up.

PG Porn

2008-10-11T16:34:00.003+11:00

Pornography - if you like porn but don't like the sex.

With pornography all over the internet and the video store, the Gunn brothers rely on viewers' familiarity with all its conventions - the goofy acting, the bad music, the lace-thin plots - to create movies that look like the real thing but skirt nudity. Comedy substitutes for hard-core sex.

The actor in Nailing Your Wife is Nathan Fillion, who appeared in the ABC show Desperate Housewives, and his castmate is porn star Aria Giovanni. PG Porn will feature similar pairings in the future.

Nailing Your Wife | Girls | SPIKE.com

Flickr Of The Day

2008-10-11T11:30:00.001+11:00

MC-Cain--Palin
Originally uploaded by jmazur22

I want one of these badges!

A Letter from a Field Hand

2008-10-11T11:12:00.005+11:00

This letter illustrates the failure of McCain's campaign - that it is strengthening his opponent.

And yesterday, I cried my last tears, after I watch the venomous, vile, and vitriolic display at the McCain-Palin rally unfold over the last few days. I was raised in a Southern Baptist church, and I was taught as a young child when things look bleak and you are backed up against a wall you just let go and let God. We as AAs have been subjected to the system and have the philosophy ingrained that we have to accept the things that we can not change.

Well here and now damn it--I have cried my last tears yesterday. I am going to fight!

Now add in this analysis on physorg.com, which speculates that Obama's numbers are being underestimated!

The Bradley effect is named for former Los Angeles mayor Tom Bradley, a black, who lost a close 1982 gubernatorial election in California after holding a solid lead in the polls. As the 2008 primaries played out, Greenwald and Albertson found that the Bradley effect only showed up in three states -- California, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

However, they found a reverse Bradley effect in 12 primary states. In these states they found actual support for Obama exceeded pre-election polls by totals of 7 percent or more, well beyond the polls' margins of error. These errors ranged up to 18 percent in Georgia.

Bye,bye Georgia? (H/T Andrew Sullivan)

Album Covers Map

2008-10-10T16:16:00.002+11:00

What a great idea. I love Google Maps!

This is how it's done, Wolf!

2008-10-10T14:11:00.004+11:00

A message to Wolf Blitzer and the rest of the national media. This is how you question a politician or their spokesman. If they won't answer ask them again. Then again. Then again. Until the story becomes the fact that they won't answer and you can question why.

Can we send these guys to question Sarah Palin? Please?

McCain's Economic Plan

2008-10-09T20:47:00.002+11:00

I don't think I need to add anything to the headline.

John McCain's New Mortgage Plan Is Worse than I Had Imagined Possibly, Even Given What I Know About John McCain

There's a big difference here: Democrats want to prevent depression and support the financial markets by investing taxpayer money in banks with troubled assets. Republicans want to give taxpayers money away to the shareholders and managers of banks with troubled assets.

I would say that this is unbelievable, but I do believe it.

Obama's Ace In The Hole

2008-10-09T17:08:00.002+11:00

With all of the hype surrounding the polls and Obama's rise, there's always the worry that come Polling Day, the turnout remains low and the other guy (no, that one) sneaks in.

Obama's campaign through the primaries and into the presidential election has been planned and carried out immaculately. I am expecting the his 'Get Out The Vote' plan is equally impressive.

With his massive numbers of organisers in every state, he should have a huge advantage over the Republicans whose enthusiasm, I should imagine, is waning as their poll numbers sink.

Chill Out!

2008-10-09T16:56:00.002+11:00

I first saw this (on Oliver Willis) during the Palin poll bounce. I was pretty unchilled at the time but now, it's looking prescient.

Feral camels destroying WA outback

2008-10-09T16:34:00.002+11:00

There's a headline you don't see every day.

Large herds of up to 100 camels were often found in the more habitable areas where rivers lakes and ranges were located, while camel numbers were lower in areas dominated by sand plains and dune fields, Dr Burrows said.

They've obviously been watching the wrong movies. Don't they know they're supposed to live in deserts.

Well, he was a POW, you know.

2008-10-09T08:53:00.001+11:00

Longtime TPM Reader GG says I'm being too kind: "If a Dem had made that statement (my fellow prisoners) and in that context, the repubs would loudly proclaim the man mad as a hatter and unfit for the presidency.

He's as mad as a hatter!

Flickr Of The Day

2008-10-09T08:50:00.001+11:00

Mist in the morning near Montepulciano
Originally uploaded by Giuseppe Toscano

Mist in the morning near Montepulciano.

This one stood out in a flick through of the last seven days interesting photos.

90.5% !!

2008-10-09T08:36:00.003+11:00

I saw Nate Silver of 538.com on the Colbert Report last night which I thought he handled pretty well. Hopefully it will drive a bit more traffic to the news that he is now projecting that Obama has a 90.5% chance of winning the election.

Here's a spreadsheet charting the movements in his figures over the last three months. Apart from the brief (though frightening) Palin bounce, Obama's always been on top and he is strengthening his position daily at the moment.

There's a lot that can go wrong yet, but...

2008-10-09T08:29:00.001+11:00

Obama did well at the debate.

Let's hope that there are no more surprises.

Is Wolf Blitzer a Journalist?

2008-10-09T08:24:00.002+11:00

Absolutely no challenge to the fact that Sarah Palin will not take questions from the press. He sounds as if the spokeswoman is being reasonable.

Challenge it!

Sarah Just Pallin' Around

2008-10-09T08:19:00.003+11:00

Whilst Sarah is out and about stirring up bigotry and hatred, she is still refusing to talk to the press. In fact, the McCain campaign has no intention of letting her talk before the election. Frightening!

How else will questions like this get answered? H/T Andrew Sullivan

Pollster.com's Electoral Map Widget

2008-10-07T16:21:00.001+11:00

Here's Pollster.com's electoral map widget.

This is worth a read...

2008-10-06T11:11:00.003+11:00

H/T to Andrew Sullivan for this link.

The Norwegian newspaper VG has reported a truly amazing story about a newly-wed trying to get to Norway to be with her husband, and the stranger who helped pay an unexpected luggage surcharge. The blog "Leisha's Random Thoughts" has translated the story.

Obama Rising

2008-10-06T08:55:00.003+11:00

538.com's daily stats now show Obama's chances of winning next month are at 87.4%.

I thought the VP debate response was interesting. I wondered if there would be an uptick in McCain's support as wavering voters manaed to convince themselves that Palin wasn't a total disaster. However, it gave most voters a chance to hear Joe Biden who's basically been ignored on the campaign trail and I thought he came off very well.

Whilst, Palin failed almost totally, or coherently to answer any questions, Biden was knowledgeable and concide. When Palin stumbled over the Afghanistan commander's name and came out with 'McClellan' (I'm not sure if she was r

eferring to the civil war general or Bush's bumbling press secretary. It seems unlikely she would have heard of the general), Biden, following up, didn't correct her, or use the name McKiernan, but talked of our commander in Afghanistan. This followed on from the tactics Obama used in the preidential debate when he maintained his calm demeanor against McCain.

Here's the graph showing the 538.com stats as they have moved over the last three months.

Pure Genius.

2008-10-06T08:22:00.001+11:00

Pure genius from Tina Fey on SNL. I can't tell them apart any more.

What a Speech

2008-10-03T08:39:00.002+10:00

Magnificent. (H/T Andrew Sullivan)

Most discussions in the election race have tiptoed around the latent racism that has existed so far. Here, Richard Trumka tackles it head on. This is probably one of the speeches of the campaign.

Japanese Binocular Soccer

2008-10-01T17:05:00.002+10:00

As recommended by James Richardson on the Football Weekly Podcast (highly recommended). This is hilarious.

Flickr Of The Day

2008-10-01T09:06:00.002+10:00

Barnsley v Norwich
Originally uploaded by Miles Seecharan

It's a long way from Norwich to Barnsley and it's great to see families making the trip.

Not a great game apparently, but 0-0 and a point means it wasn't a too depressing trip home (unlike tonight's 2-0 defeat at Southampton)

Economic Crisis Answers

2008-10-01T08:45:00.003+10:00

From what I've been reading, there are not many commentators who have an answer to the present crisis. Today's financial markets are so complicated that it's difficult to know how best to respond.

I've just read this article in Time which says that the failing mortgages should be protected but let the financial instruments based on them fail. This makes sense to me at a layman's level - if the mortgages are guaranteed or picked up by the government, then do not the instruments based on them also survive? Unless, of course, that's not the only reason that they are failing.

Do not be fooled. The $700 billion (ultimately $1 trillion or more) bailout is not predominantly for mortgages and homeowners. Instead, the bailout is for mortgage-backed securities. In fact, some versions of these instruments are imaginary derivatives. These claims overlap on the same types of mortgages. Many financial institutions wrote claims over the same mortgages, and these are the majority of claims that have "gone bad."
At this point, such claims have no bearing on the mortgage or housing crisis; they have bearing only on the holders of these securities themselves. These are ridiculously risky claims with little value for society. It is as if many financial institutions sold "earthquake insurance" on the same house: when the quake hits, all these claims become close to worthless — but the claims are simply bets disconnected from reality.

Flickr Of The Day

2008-09-29T14:04:00.001+10:00

Originally uploaded by JMK aka Sky Dreams Flyer

Spectacular shot of paragliding in the French Alps

Obama Rising

2008-09-29T08:10:00.004+10:00

The polls are reflecting a big rise in support for Obama over the last couple of weeks. A combination of the economic meltdown, the Palin interview and the debate are now pushing the numbers up.

On 538.com Obama's chances of winning are now up over 80% for the first time.

How Did McCain Miss This?

2008-09-28T10:13:00.002+10:00

How did John MCain overlook this candidate for VP? She looks much more qualified that Palin.

Why Obama Won't Impress Everybody

2008-09-28T10:09:00.001+10:00

I just saw this on Wonkette. Good Lord!

Debate Reaction

2008-09-27T13:48:00.000+10:00

I don't suppose that many other people here in Melbourne were watching the debate - it's AFL Grand Final Day here today.

I was pretty impressed with Obama's coolness today. The Surge tactics-strategy argument was probably over most people's heads. I hoped that Obama would have pushed the issue that the objective of 'The Surge' was political reconciliation which hasn't happened yet, regardless of the recent vote on elections (which kicked the Kirkuk can down the road). Plus the fact that 'The Surge' wasn't the only reason for the drop in violence.

At the end of the day, it wasn't the game-changer that McCain needed.

Now on to important matters! Geelong or Hawthorn?

Flickr Of The Day

2008-09-26T16:03:00.001+10:00

Bath Balloons
Originally uploaded by tweeny

I love the drama of the light and colour of this picture. With the people in the foreground it almost looks posed.

Running Scared

2008-09-26T15:30:00.002+10:00

The announcement yesterday that John McCain was 'suspending' his campaign to deal with the finance crisis always looked like a stunt.

However, I am beginning to strongly believe that the driving motive for all of this is to cancel the VP debate. The problem isn't that Palin won't answer questions but that they have been unable to get her to shut up. She wants to answer questions but McCain aides usher her away from any contact with the press. She's obviously far more confident in her ability than anyone around her is.

I've heard most of the interview with Katie Couric - what on earth was she talking about? No wonder McCain wants to reschedule his first debate in place of the VP's.

Sarah Palin's Bio

2008-09-20T18:10:00.003+10:00

Here is a must-read biography of Sarah Palin, from Dickipedia.

In 1984, Palin won the Miss Wasilla Pageant, a feat that sounds a lot more impressive than it is unless you’ve ever met a girl from Wasilla, few of whom have either a full set of teeth or a vacant womb. She then finished runner up in the Miss Alaska pageant, a feat that sounds a lot more impressive than it is considering the state is nearly 75% male.

Obama's Rebound

2008-09-18T11:37:00.006+10:00

It's been pretty depressing reading of the polls over the last couple of weeks and the Palin-induced insanity that seems to have taken place.

Now with the economic situation in the forefront and Palin still saying 'Thanks But No Thanks' to the Bridge to Nowhere, it looks like the shine is wearing off.

I was expecting a slow climb back up the polls for Obama, but today there's been a big bounce back into credit on 538.com.

Here's a graph of the last couple of months of the 538.com stats.

A Plague of deer

2008-09-18T11:37:00.003+10:00

Two fatal crashes on Norfolk roads in a few days due to deer?

I drove on these roads for twenty years and never saw a deer. Mind you, a friend of my brother has had two accidents with deer in the past few years on the road between Norwich and Cromer. He was travelling home late at night after shift work so I imagine that the time of day or night is a big factor.

I left ten years ago and I don't recall any stories of fatal crashes with deer when I was there. Are there more deer about now? You wouldn't think so with the reduction in habitat over the last 20-30 years.

Flickr Of The Day

2008-09-17T13:27:00.001+10:00

Heavy storm streaks north 8:16pm
Originally uploaded by _L7

The remnants of Hurricane Ike hitting Toronto?

If Only It Were True

2008-09-17T13:21:00.002+10:00

This is really funny.

H/T Andrew Sullivan

Flickr Of The Day

2008-09-16T09:39:00.001+10:00

Misty Pikes
Originally uploaded by Canon-Girl

One of my favourite places - Elterwater and a view of the Langdale Pikes.

The Iraq Situation

2008-09-16T08:43:00.004+10:00

Iraq appears to have disappeared off the radar for the moment with the Sarah Palin story dominating the news cycle. However, the situation there reminds me of that of Yugoslavia in the last days of president Tito.

There was a country basically at peace since the Second World War but in essence a simmering cauldron of ethnic tension held down by the military power of the Tito government. On Tito's death, the nationalistic Slobodan Milosovic rose to power and the lid came off. How similar is Iraq, with the US military providing the 'lid' in this case, but the underlying ethnic, or in this case, religious tensions still existing?

Yes, the 'Surge' was part of the success in reducing the level of violence in Iraq. Just as important though, I believe, were the decision by the Sunni tribes to join the fight against Al Qaeda - The Awakening, and the decision by Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army to observe a ceasefire and the ethnic cleansing and subsequent walling off of various Baghdad districts.

Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, doesn't seem inclined to integrate the Sunni leaders into the country's government. Indeed, the opposite appears to be happening and he is making a grab for power and excluding them. The status of oil-rich Kirkuk is also a potential flashpoint between the Iraqi government and the Kurds, who to all intents and purposes are self-governing.

All in all then, the underlying tensions in Iraq are still there and until there are moves by the Iraqi government to include the Sunnis and Kurds in power, the Yugoslavia scenario is still a possible outcome.

John McCain's Soul

2008-09-16T08:33:00.003+10:00

JohnMcCain's campaign has shown that the image he has been calculating, and perhaps earned, over the last ten years has been thrown away in favour of the desire to win at all costs.

David Ignatius has an excellent column in the Washington Post this week on how McCain has made the Faustian bargain of selling his soul to win the election. Two key themes stand out -his military training and code:

In the military culture that shaped John McCain, there is no more important responsibility than the promotion boards that select the right officers for top positions of command. It's a sacred trust in McCain's world, because people's lives are at stake.

McCain wrote in his memoir of the officer's responsibility for those who serve under him: "He does not risk their lives and welfare for his sake, but only to answer the shared duty they are called to answer."

and the sacrifice of his principles:

In May 2006, after McCain had courted the Rev. Jerry Falwell in an effort to win conservative support, I asked him if he was bending his principles for the sake of winning. "I don't want it that badly," McCain answered. "I will continue to do what is right. . . . If that means I can't get the Republican nomination, fine. I've had a happy life. The worst thing I can do is sell my soul to the devil."

He was right.

This is becoming more and more apparent to everyone as the media finally start to question the lies.

Flickr Of The Day

2008-09-15T10:55:00.001+10:00

Northern Exposure
Originally uploaded by norjam8

I'm currently reading one of Steve Hamilton's books set in Paradise, Michigan.

It's a well-written series of books and describes the solitary beauty of the area. In this picture, I can see what he means.

Don't Look Now

2008-09-15T08:19:00.003+10:00

I've been following the statistics of 538.com since the start of the race and have been keeping a daily note on Obama's electoral chances. This last week or two has been pretty depressing. How can so many people be taken in by a campaign like this.

But there are signs that the tide might be turning. There was the hilarious session of John McCain on 'The View' where he probably faced the toughest questions that he has had put to him yet. The MSM seems to be waking up. Obama's fundraising machine just keeps carrying on.

So while it's looking pretty bleak in the polls, I think we'll be seeing a big upswing soon.

Watch!

2008-09-13T07:12:00.000+10:00

Everybody should see this.

Flickr Of The Day

2008-09-09T19:07:00.001+10:00

Wasilla City Hall
Originally uploaded by djcn0te

Where political careers are forged!

Flickr Of The Day

2008-09-05T13:32:00.001+10:00

Montbenoît
Originally uploaded by 8lits

Montbenoît, Doubs, France. A beautiful part of the world, right by the Swiss border. The local Compte cheese is to die for.

Is Palin Prepared for Office?

2008-09-05T13:21:00.002+10:00

Steve Benen highlights in Washington Monthly that Tom Brokaw of NBC pushed back at the criticism that the GOP are dishing out at the MSM.

Brokaw, to his credit, set the record straight: "With all due respect, and said this earlier, I think that issue has not been raised at the highest levels. I think there have been many more concerns about foreign policy experience, for example, about some of her other views, if she's going to appeal to the Clinton voters. She is after all, anti-abortion, not for choice. There are some questions about her real beliefs -- creationism vs. evolution -- and whether or not being the governor of a state like Alaska, with 600,000 people, and a budget that is underwritten by the oil companies, prepares her for stepping into the Oval Office."

I agree with all of that except.....

I would have thought that having a budget underwritten (or perhaps that should be written) by the oil companies was a perfect preparation for the White House.

It's Official

2008-09-04T14:00:00.002+10:00

Foreign policy experience can be gained by standing in the right place!

MCCAIN: Sure. And one of the key elements of America’s national security requirements are energy. She understands the energy issues better than anybody I know in Washington, D.C., and she understands.

Alaska is right next to Russia. She understands that. Look, Sen. Obama’s never visited south of our border. I mean, please.

From Steve Doocey to John McCain. Who'd have believed it.

The National Enquirer is Hard At Work

2008-09-04T13:43:00.002+10:00

I see that everybody's favourite supermarket magazine is hard at work in Alaska. (H/T TPM)

Things Are Looking Up For Obama

2008-09-04T12:15:00.004+10:00

538's stats are showing that the mood has swung in Obama's direction since the Democratic convention and Sarah Palin's selection. We'll have to see if there's much of a swing back in the other direction after the Republican Convention, though I can't see it myself.

Flickr Of The Day

2008-09-04T10:00:00.001+10:00

Untitled united
Originally uploaded by laura e

Reflections of the 2008 Colorado Balloon Classic

McCain Hires the 2000 South Carolina Smear Merchant

2008-09-04T09:26:00.005+10:00

It's a sign of McCain's desperation that he has hired Tucker Eskew, one of W's operatives in South Carolina during the 2000 campaign.

Eskew’s talent notwithstanding, he was loathed by McCain’s 2000 campaign team. When the media first reported push-poll phone calls from Voter/Consumer Research, a company hired by he Bush campaign, asking South Carolinians if they knew about McCain’s role in the S&L crisis and his scandal as a member of the Keating Five, it was Eskew -- Bush’s South Carolina spokesman – who acknowledged, and defended, the calls.

I read today in White House Watch that Eskew is taking a major role in Palin's team.

Tucker Eskew, another senior Bush White House communications aide, is serving as senior counselor to Palin's operation.

I understand that McCain and his wife both despise those who were responsible for the smears of 2000. It's a sign of how far McCain will go for the presidency and how much integrity he will shed.

Flickr Of The Day

2008-09-01T22:02:00.001+10:00

LEAL 304
Originally uploaded by Carlos Ros

What a great shot, or more accurately, sequence of shots, of a plane landing at Alicante, Spain.

Now We Know What The Domestic Spying Without Warrants Was For

2008-09-01T12:24:00.003+10:00

I've just read the posts here and here from Glenn Greenwald of house searches and arrest by full-blown SWAT teams on potential protesters at the Republican Convention.

I can't believe that this hasn't been picked up anywhere else. As Glenn says himself

After all, if you don't want the FBI spying on you, or the Police surrounding and then invading your home with rifles and seizing your computers, there's a very simple solution: don't protest the Government. Just sit quietly in your house and mind your own business. That way, the Government will have no reason to monitor what you say and feel the need to intimidate you by invading your home. Anyone who decides to protest -- especially with something as unruly and disrespectful as an unauthorized street march -- gets what they deserve.

Isn't it that mentality which very clearly is the cause of virtually everyone turning away as these police raids escalate against citizens -- including lawyers, journalists and activists -- who have broken no laws and whose only crime is that they intend vocally to protest what the Government is doing? Add to that the fact that many good establishment liberals are embarrassed by leftist protesters of this sort and wish that they would remain invisible, and there arises a widespread consensus that these Government attacks are perfectly tolerable if not desirable.

During the Olympics just weeks ago, there was endless hand-wringing over the efforts by the Chinese Government to squelch dissent and incarcerate protesters. On August 21, The Washington Post fretted:
Six Americans detained by police this week could be held for 10 days, according to Chinese authorities, who appear to be intensifying their efforts to shut down any public demonstrations during the final days of the Olympic Games. . . .
Chinese Olympic officials announced last month that Beijing would set up zones where people could protest during the Games, as long as they had received permission. None of the 77 applications submitted was approved, however, and several other would-be protesters were stopped from even applying.

This is particularly troubling.

We are suffering a preemptive video arrest. For those that don't know, I-Witness Video was remarkably successful in exposing police misconduct and outright perjury by police during the 2004 RNC. Out of 1800 arrests, at least 400 were overturned based solely on video evidence which contradicted sworn statements which were fabricated by police officers. It seems that the house arrest we are now under and the possible threat of the seizure of our computers and video cameras is a result of the 2004 success.

The 'Land Of The Free' indeed. This is why the next election is so important.

Quote Of The Day

2008-09-01T09:34:00.002+10:00

Not only is President Bush keeping atop the reports of Tropical Storm Gustav, but the White House press office is keeping atop efforts to report that he is keeping atop the reports.

James Gerstenzang blogs for the LA Times (H/T Dan Froomkin)

Flickr Of The Day

2008-09-01T09:03:00.001+10:00

Hurricane Gustav Prep - French Quarter Deserted
Originally uploaded by Maitri

Saturday Night, New Orleans. A deserted French Quarter ahead of the expected arrival of Hurricane Gustav on Monday.

Troopergate

2008-09-01T08:44:00.002+10:00

TPM has been following the 'Troopergate' story for a long time before the vice-presidential selection. A good summary is here.

Just yesterday, Monegan gave an interview to the Washington Post in which he said that not only Palin's aides, but Palin's husband and Palin herself had repeatedly raised the Wooten issue with him and pressured him to fire him. And now he says he has emails that Palin sent him about the matter. (In an interesting sidelight, that may end up telling us a lot, Monegan says no one from the McCain campaign ever contacted him in the vetting process.)

The vetting, or lack of it, is turning into another major story.

Sarah Palin's First 'Misspeak'

2008-09-01T08:19:00.003+10:00

So, she said 'Thanks, but no thanks' to the 'Bridge To Nowhere' did she?

According to the Alaskan Press that's not quite how it happened.

Check out these entries from the Ketchikan Daily News:

“People across the nation struggle with the idea of building a bridge because they’ve been under these misperceptions about the bridge and the purpose,’ said Palin, who described the link as the Ketchikan area’s potential for expansion and growth.

Palin said Alaska’s congressional delegation worked hard to obtain funding for the bridge and that she ‘would not stand in the way of the progress toward that bridge’.
8-8-06

‘We need to come to the defense of Southeast Alaska when proposals are on the table like the bridge and not allow the spinmeisters to turn this project or any other into something that’s so negative,’ Palin said.”
Ketchikan Daily News 9-28-06

Mudflats is probably going to me the most read Alaskan for the next couple of months.

Palin Panic

2008-08-30T21:41:00.002+10:00

Was Sarah Palin a panic pick?

According to the ABC, McCain wanted Lieberman but was told it would be a disaster, alienating his base. He wasn't happy with Romney (surprise!), Pawlenty (would you buy a used bridge from this man?) or Ridge (amber alert) so wan't something different.

So what does this say about McCain? In a time of political crisis, John McCain panicked, shot from the hip, and made what will likely be a terrible error in judgment. And he is supposed to be ready in a crisis to lead the nation?

Vanity Fair are equally unimpressed.

It’s such a transparently political decision, a double-X Dan Quayle.

Essential Information For Visitors To Australia

2008-08-30T21:16:00.003+10:00

Apparently, this is information given to questions on an Australian Tourism website.

Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Australia? (USA)

A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe. Aus-tra-lia is that big island in the middle of the Pacific which does
not.. oh forget it. ..... Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Kings Cross. Come naked.

McCain: Obama Lacks Experience Running 5,000-Person Town in Alaska

2008-08-30T16:15:00.002+10:00

This site has been receiving a lot of attention today - I've seen several links to it.

McCain, You've Done It Again!

2008-08-30T16:09:00.002+10:00

The campaign shows its lack of attention to detail again.

Flickr Of The Day

2008-08-30T14:07:00.001+10:00

Norwich v Blackpool
Originally uploaded by oley moley

Norwich City maintaining their record of conceding a penalty in every match. So far, three games played and three penalties conceded (and scored). Let's hope for better luck today against Birmingham.

It Really Isn't The Republicans' Year

2008-08-30T13:54:00.003+10:00

After the perfect weather than Obama enjoyed for his historic speech on Thursday, a balmy 70 degrees evening, the republicans and their convention are facing the prospect of a major hurricane slamming into the Gulf Coast, and possibly New Orleans again, early next week. It would truly be ironic it the hurricane hit land just as W was about to speak.

From watching the news this morning it looks as if NO is much better prepared this time. Although the population is much smaller now, fleets of buses are already in place, the National Guard has been deployed and trains are ready to move the old and sick. Let's hope there's no repeat of three years ago. To keep up to date, I'd recommend Brendon Loy's Weather Nerd Blog.
Meanwhile, who's going to be watching a convention with a hurricane on the way?

Sarah Palin?

2008-08-30T13:40:00.002+10:00

John McCain surely pulled a big surprise by this pick. But will it succeed?

First of all, he has the throw out his arguement about Obama's lack of experience. With Palin just 'a heartbeat away', it puts the experience theme that McCain has been pushing right on the back burner. How can he consider it an issue when he has picked a complete outsider with virtually no experience for VP. To me it looks like an outright pander to women voters and the initial comments I've read on blog threads don't seem to support that.

For some background information on Palin, this blog (via Andrew Sullivan) gives some excellent background, especially the 'Trooper-gate' affair which TPM has been following for the past few months.

A couple of obvious questions are raised - would she have been picked, with her experience and background, if she were not a woman to which the answer is blatantly 'No'. Will it work? I think this depends on how she handles herself over the next couple of months. If she comes across as knowledgeable and statesmanlike then it may be a brilliant pick. However, from whjat I have read, it doesn't look likely.

Flickr Of The Day

2008-08-25T17:25:00.001+10:00

red arrow over cromer peir
Originally uploaded by catz5555

It was Cromer Carnival Week last week. The highlight of carnival Day is always the Red Arrows display which you can watch from the cliff tops. I understand they performed later than usual, about 5pm, which would have been just before the parade started.

This Is An Aquarium

2008-08-25T17:16:00.002+10:00

I've got an aquarium at home but it's nothing like this.

Fun with microwaves

2008-08-23T14:47:00.002+10:00

With the advancement of scientific knowledge in mind...

Flickr of the Day

2008-08-23T14:09:00.001+10:00

Château Bouillon HDR
Originally uploaded by rbleib

The chateau at Bouillon, in the Ardennes in Belgium.

We had a wonderful holiday many years ago near here staying in a gite in France just over the border. The chateau sits on the neck of a loop in the River Semois with the town down below.

Obama's 538 Stats

2008-08-23T13:51:00.005+10:00

I've been reading the FiveThirtyEight.com website for a while and especially keeping an eye on the predicted electoral votes that Obama would receive in November based on the evidence available. I decided last month that I'd keep a graph of the stats as they would change regularly but I could never remember from what. I wish I'd started this earlier - it may have been done somewhere else already.

The site is my go-to place for an overview of what's happening in the race. Here's a link to the graph...

This Guy's Good

2008-08-22T18:24:00.002+10:00

But it must be expensive in balls.

FOOT 2008 (REMI GAILLARD)
Uploaded by nqtv

Disappointment No 2

2008-08-22T17:59:00.003+10:00

Norwich City's start to the season could hardly have been worse in terms on results - an opening day defeat at Coventry, a defeat to League One's MK Dons in the first round of the League Cup, followed by a draw at home to Blackpool last Saturday.

But reading between the lines, which is about all I can do from 12,000 miles away, the picture doesn't look quite so bad. The new signings seem to have settled in well, the two league games should and could have been wins. We seem to have dominated the possession and had great chances to score in both but not taken them only to concede a penalty in each game.

Yes, we need a new striker, I've still got hopes that we might sign Sheola Ameobi from Newcastle, but while the chances are being created, we're bound to start converting them. So, I'm not too disappointed and think that midtable or better is on the cards for this season. We can start with a win at Cardiff tomorrow though we'll have to make do without a Ched Evans wonder goal this year.

Disappointment No 1

2008-08-22T17:43:00.006+10:00

How is the US election even close? I'm trying not to be too disappointed with the news that John McCain has caught up with Obama in the polls. I have a lot of faith in the Obama organisation who planned the primary competition perfectly.

I've read that a lot of Obama's effort is currently going into the 'ground game', setting up and staffing dozens of offices in key states. The effect of these won't really be seen until nearer to November. I think he's been a bit slow in fighting the effects of the McCain-Rove campaign but I don't believe that that is going to last. The election in November is what counts, not the state of the polls now.

With McCain's lack of policies and his need to please two completely different audiences, his base and independent voters, I can't believe the wheels aren't going to come off soon.

After eight years of one of the worst presidents in US history, I can't believe that four more years is a possibility. So I'll predict that Obama will win in November, I think quite comfortably. So it doesn't matter what the polls are saying now.....does it?

Dividing Iraq

2008-06-27T09:46:00.002+10:00

This needs no further comment...