Music tastes shift

15-25 years old  – My faves

1. REM – By far and away my favourite band as a teenager. Bought album after album. Had so many great songs over the years and i even enjoyed some of their later work like New Adventures in HI_FI and Accelerate. Automatic for the People is a near flawless album.
2. Sheryl Crow – She used to be my favourite female artist with albums like Sheryl Crow and Tuesday Night Music club. To be honest though she does not make the same impression on me nowdays nor do i remember why i used to enjoy listening to her so much.
3. U2 – U2 have so many wonderful tracks but not a single great album for me. I think my favourite album is POP closely followed by Achtung Baby. But if i had to think in terms of favourite songs i would go for some of their earlier ones.
4. Nirvana – Nevermind for me is one of the greatest albums i own. I lent it to someone who never returned it and had to buy it again. No regrets. A flawless album.
5. Xaris Alexiou – I fell in love with Charis during my first year at the university. Di’Euxwn was the first album i listened to. I was reading O Bios k Politeia tou Alexi Zorba while listening to her. I love that album, which like Nevermind, i consider to be a flawless album.

25-35 years old – My faves

1. Johnny Cash – Oh he is great. I love his entire The American album series. He is one of the few artists i can listen to regardless of what i am doing and how i am feeling. Whether i am feeling down or excited. Whether i am driving or reading a book. Fucking love him!
2. AC/DC – These guys are simply an awesome feel good hard rock band. I loved listening to them when i was cycling or playing games like Burnout! But a friendly warning, avoid them when you are doing some real driving. It’s easy to get carried away…
3. Eminem – In my book Eminem is a genius when it comes to lyrics. Maybe it’s the racist in me that of all the excellent rappers/hip-hop singers out there my favourite is the white guy.
4. Xaris Alexiou – I don’t listen to her so much in the past 4-5years but i consider the Di’Euxwn album one of the best albums in my collection. In fact she is the only artist who is in both lists.
5. Dire Straits – This is a strange one. Although i adore their Best Of i don’t particularly like any of their individual albums. Very strange.

Current Listening Trends 

I listen to most of my music through tunein, either on the iphone/ipod or the media player. The choice of songs and artists is usually far superior to what i would choose on my own. I find it’s the best way to be introduced to new music and artists without requiring significant time investment.

 

Message To Bears – Mountains

Message To Bears – Mountains from Message To Bears on Vimeo.

 

Audiobooks – my experience

As i mentioned in January, i wanted to explore the world of audiobooks.

The first attempt was with How We Decide and it proved to be a disaster. I did most of the listening during my walks as i wanted to minimise the distractions i.e. no multitasking. In spite of this, my mind kept drifting away. It could be that the subject matter was not suitable for audiobooks as it does have some technical information and tests/experiments and so t i often found myself thinking of other things. But i never rewound the audiobook to listen to those parts again. I found it inconvenient to do so. So it was pretty much a fail.

However, that was not the end of the audiobooks experience. A friend of mine, let’s call him Loud O, recommended that i listened to the audiobook while actually reading the book. So i did.

I did it with The Sense of an Ending, by Julian Barnes. It was much, much better but not perfect as i did have some problems with the experience..

The first is that i had to consciously try to synchronise my reading with the narration. Sometimes i was ahead while less often behind. And if i wanted to highlight a passage or re-read it i had to pause the audiobook. Too fiddly and distracting, making me over think of how i was reading instead of what i was reading. I imagine it is something that might improve over time but i believe this will always be an issue to some extent.

Another drawback was the narrator. Although i thought he was very good, at a certain point in the book his tone changed. I don’t know if he did that part of the narration at a different time than the previous passages but it was noticeable. My mind kept thinking about the change constantly for the next 20-25 pages once again ruining the immersion.

The third drawback is of course, the cost. The audiobook cost me US$13.45 and the ebook US$12.40 i.e.US$27.75. This is simply too high a cost for reading and listening to books. Certainly not worth doing for more than a few times a year.

I am not done with audiobooks yet. I will do a few more audiobooks the regular way and also a couple more the Loud O way in the future.

 

Laws of the Game – Fouls & Misconduct

A controversial sending off in last Friday’s APOEL Vs Omonoia football game is the focus of today’s Laws of the Game.

Was Aloneftis’ 2nd yellow card warranted?

Under the Interpretation of the Laws of the Game and Guidelines to Referees this is what the referee had to take in mind with regards to the tackle:

Careless, reckless, using excessive force
“Careless” means that the player has shown a lack of attention or
consideration when making a challenge or that he acted without precaution.
• No further disciplinary sanction is needed if a foul is judged to be careless

“Reckless” means that the player has acted with complete disregard to the
danger to, or consequences for, his opponent.
• A player who plays in a reckless manner must be cautioned

“Using excessive force” means that the player has far exceeded the necessary
use of force and is in danger of injuring his opponent.
• A player who uses excessive force must be sent off

Here is Aloneftis’ tackle

In my eyes the ref’s decision for a 2nd yellow card was correct as i think it ticks the first 2 criteria above, because even if he does get the ball as he “jumps” with both feet, studs showing. It was “careless and reckless”.

I am not sure about the final criterion though i.e. “Using excessive force”, although he does jump to make the tackle.

 

Laws of the Game – Other incidents

PENALTY KICKS – Following the APOEL Vs Lyon CL game

APOEL – Lyon (CL knockout stage 16)

The game was decided on penalties.

One of the penalties hit the post, then the APOEL keeper and went in. Should it have counted?

I Asked the Ref

FOULS AND MISCONDUCT – Following the Man Utd Vs Athl. Bilbao Europa League game

Evra (Utd player) played the ball while he was wearing only one boot. The ref gave a free kick against Utd.

Was that the correct decision?

I Asked The Ref

 

Laws of the Game – Goalkeeper handballs ball outside area

This is a post i wanted to publish a while ago but for some reason i forgot to schedule it.

Basically it was in response to the APOEL Vs Apollon championship game where the APOEL goalkeeper, Pardo, handled the ball outside his area. He was shown a yellow card.

In the meantime there was another incident in the Olympiakos Vs AEL match this month where the AEL goalkeeper also handled the ball outside his area. Again he was only shown a yellow card.

In both instances there were calls that both goalkeepers should have been sent off.

Unfortunately i don’t have the videos of these incidents which would help to clear things up so i only want to state/copy what the Laws of the Game are. In my opinion the first decision (APOEL keeper) was correct but the 2nd decision (AEL keeper) it was incorrect and should have been sent off. Ironically, he saved a penalty in the following game against Anorthosis.

In bold are the important paragraphs to take note.

“A player is sent off, however, if he prevents a goal or an obvious goalscoring
opportunity by deliberately handling the ball. This punishment arises not from
the act of the player deliberately handling the ball but from the unacceptable
and unfair intervention that prevented a goal being scored.”

“Outside his own penalty area, the goalkeeper has the same restrictions
on handling the ball as any other player.”

LAW 12 – FOULS AND MISCONDUCT

Sending off offences

– Denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goalscoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (this does not apply to a goalkeeper within his own penalty area)

Handling the ball

Handling the ball involves a deliberate act of a player making contact with
the ball with his hand or arm. The referee must take the following into
consideration:

• the movement of the hand towards the ball (not the ball towards the hand)
• the distance between the opponent and the ball (unexpected ball)
• the position of the hand does not necessarily mean that there is an
• infringement
• touching the ball with an object held in the hand (clothing, shinguard, etc.)
• counts as an infringement
• hitting the ball with a thrown object (boot, shinguard, etc.) counts as an
• infringement

Disciplinary sanctions

There are circumstances when a caution for unsporting behaviour is required
when a player deliberately handles the ball, e.g. when a player:

• deliberately and blatantly handles the ball to prevent an opponent gaining
  possession
• attempts to score a goal by deliberately handling the ball

A player is sent off, however, if he prevents a goal or an obvious goalscoring
opportunity by deliberately handling the ball. This punishment arises not from
the act of the player deliberately handling the ball but from the unacceptable
and unfair intervention that prevented a goal being scored.

Restart of play

• Direct free kick from the position where the offence occurred (see Law 13 –
  Position of free kick) or penalty kick

Outside his own penalty area, the goalkeeper has the same restrictions
on handling the ball as any other player.

 

Why me?

Ok, this is something i’d rather not be blogging about but unfortunately it’s the only thing i can think about at the moment and i just want to vent.

As i’ve mentioned in my 2012 – New Year’s Resolutions post i suffer from PA and i am being treated for it by a rheumatologist and a dermatologist. “Treated” is too strong of a word. PA is chronic degenerative condition and it’s here to stay. I think the word “contained” is more appropriate for what’s going on at the moment. I’ve had 2 serious flares ups this year. The first was around mid January until mid February. My methotrexate dosage had increased significantly last to combat this type of flares ups. But as it so often happens, a solution to one problem is the source of a different problem. Although from mid-February onwards i started to feel better, the increased dosage led to stomach problems.

After a gastroscopy and finding that some “wounds” in my stomach had increased (compared to last year’s gastroscopy), i’ve had to cut back on some my PA medicine dosage. I don’t know if it’s just coincidence but i’ve had another serious flare up for 8 days now so i’ve started taking strong anti-inflammatory drugs which are not doing my stomach any good.  It’s proving to be a vicious circle. Treat one thing while suffer (and cause) another.

The one glimmer of hope in this is that i finally got approval for my PA to be “contained” with the ridiculously expensive biologic drug called Enbrel. This is thought to be less damaging than chemical based drugs, such as methotrexate. However, it weakens the immune system, so if there is any indication of an infection (even a cough or the flu) i need to stop taking it immediately.  I’ve only taken one shot, last week, and i already have a sneaky suspicion of a (not going away) cough. Like i said, a vicious circle.

This condition is the only thing on my mind and it’s leading me into dark thoughts and seeing health problems everywhere (Some real and some from anxiety). Last year i feared for my intestine and now i’m concerned about my heart.

It’s just that i haven’t yet learned how to live with this condition. I am finding it difficult to accept it and move on. I’m still stuck in the “why me” phase.

 

10 lessons i learned while ripping my CD collection

A few weeks ago i started a mini project.

Rip my CD collection to a hard drive and make a back up

This is what i’ve learned.

1. Too many CDs – Yeap, a few hundred cds and most of them i rarely listen to anymore. Impulse buys or change in taste? Probably a little bit of both.
2. Not enough CDs – It’s basically lesson No.1 but turned on its head. I listened to some albums far too many times mostly because i didn’t have that much choice in the first place.
3. What was i thinking?!– Bon Jovi? Ace of Base? Boyz 2 Men? Hanging my head in shame….
   

   I must have been very drunk when i bought you

4. Stuck in time – Around 70% of my CDs were bought between the ages of 15 to 25. I can’t really explain it to be honest. I think music lost some of its importance in my life after the teenage years. I also stopped exploring new music genres and artists. My music frontier was set at bands like REM and U2 for far too long.
5. Empty cases and CDs M.I.A  – I am missing Disc 1 of U2 – The Best of 1980-1990. Savvorama by Dionysis Savvopoulos is missing both cds!
   

   Δεν ξεχνώ

   

   Δεν ξεχνώ

   Also i am missing KT Tunstall cd. But WHO IS KT TUNSTALL???!

6. The Unremarkable Ones– Quite a few of these albums i even forgot i owned. Not only that but i can’t even remember the music. It’s as if i never listened to them.
   

   I am sorry but i don't remember you. At all...

7. Albums i associate with books
   

   Χάρις Αλεξίου Δι' ευχών + Βίος και πολιτεία του Αλέξη Ζορμπά => I read this during my first undergraduate year in London (1998)

   

   Queen Greatest Hits II + Drizzt fantasy trilogy => I read this on Troodos mountain during my summer holidays (1992-4)

8. Movie Soundtracks are shite– They sound a LOT better in the movie with some exceptions.
   

   Crap!

   

   I love you!

   

   I love you too!

1. Expand – I want to expand my music knowledge and tastes.
2. Ripping CDs to a hard drive is boring, obsolete and so 20th century

Johnny Cash Youtube Mix Playlist

 

Who’s your daddy?

“A slang expression that, in one use, takes the form of a rhetorical question. It is commonly used as a boastful claim of dominance over the intended listener.”

I had plans. I had big plans last weekend to write a few articles, which would be scheduled for publication over the next couple of weeks.

However, something got in the way. I ran into an old friend of mine. Giapanta Zolos. My alter ego. GZ is the name I go by in the Football Manager PC videogame series. A game which I had not played since its 2008 iteration. Although I had bought FM2009, my laptop graphics card kept overheating and it shut itself down. So we drifted apart for a few years.

In January though, I purchased an all-in-one Lenovo PC (and very happy with it so far I might add) and gave it a go. It worked. No problems whatsoever. I said to myself that there was no need to buy the latest version in the series. Let’s get my money’s worth out of the 2009 version first and then see how it goes from there.

Of course it was not meant to be.

I was at the Stephanis store two weeks ago to get something for my dad and I saw FM2012 for EUR40-45. “What a bargain…” Honestly, videogames prices in Cyprus can still be ridiculous.

However, three rows down I saw FM2011 standing there for EUR15. “Oh no… Ok, don’t panic. Let’s think about this rationally.” I said to myself. “Is it worth getting FM2011? I mean, let’s at least see how it reviewed.”

Hand in pocket. Iphone out. Unlock the damn thing. Tap the Eurogamer app.

Tap the search space. Write Football Manager 2011 review. Tap GO!

Click on the review link.

Scroll down the review to read the score (that’s what we all do!).

“Oh shit….Oh shit…..9/10…”

“I will read the conclusion also. Maybe it won’t be as convincing.”

“The sum of FM 2011’s parts is the most organic but more importantly, most believable man- and team-management experience the series has provided. Don’t be expecting perfection, because you won’t find it – but even if you own last year’s version you should seriously consider investing in this follow-up, a recommendation I certainly don’t make every year. And if you’ve been holding off purchasing a Football Manager game for the last few years, then this is the year to get back in the game.”

I was already starting the car engine by the time I’d finished that last sentence and a small, yellow, nylon Stephanis bag was sitting pretty on the passenger’s seat. Staring at me. On the way home I could swear it was speaking to me. Same thing, over and over again.

“Who’s your daddy?”

Giapanta Zolos is currently (and randomly) managing Stade Lavallois Mayenne Football Club , aka Les Tangos, somewhere in (French) Ligue 2.

 

Ascribing responsibility and the interpretation of history

“Indeed, isn’t the whole business of ascribing responsibility a kind of cop-out? We want to blame an individual so that everyone else is exculpated. Or we can blame a historical process as a way of exonerating individuals. Or it’s all anarchic chaos, with the same consequence. It seems to me that there is – was – a chain of individual responsibilities all of which were necessary but not so long a chain that everybody can simply blame everyone else. But of course, my desire to ascribe responsibility might be more a reflection of my own cast of mind than a fair analysis of what happened. That’s one of the central problems of history, isn’t it sir? The question of subjective versus objective interpretation, the fact that we need to know the history of the historian in order to understand the version that it being put in front of us.”

Adrian Finn