R.I.P. Paul the Octopus

Sorry to hear that the mystic mollusk has died.

World Cup in Photos

Kirk found this link. Nice.

Holland vs. Spain

Ennnnnnnnnnnn VVVVVVIIIIIIVVVVVVVVVOOOOOO!!!! con Univision.

The naranje are all orange today.

Great save by the dutch keeper off of a header 4' in. Spain looking aggressive. Rough game since then. Holland just had a nice cornerkick play, but the guy with great position swung and missed. Bizarre.

Halftime. Hope we aren't looking at PKs. The whole Zidane getting tossed and then PKs thing in 2006 was terrible.

2nd half a little cleaner. Both teams missed pretty good opportunities in the first 13 minutes. Better game in the 2nd half for sure. Good chances everywhere. I can't believe it's still nil-nil at 90'. Man, plenty of chances in the 1st extra time, too. Spain is diving all over the place now. Sure Holland is dirty-ish, but Spain is out of control. I think Holland is playing for PKs after the red card. I dunno about that goal, I think there was an offsides just before. Spain might have deserved to win, but I don't like how they played that 2nd overtime. C'est la vie.

I put together a slideshow of our Africa time when I was at SDSU and did a 'Geo-jaunt' talk. These 2 slides were my best joke: top is an African Wildcat at Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, December 1988, bottom is my brother's American Housecat, Nike, at our house in Monterey, California, circa spring 1991. Love her facial expression.

Uruguay vs. Germany

Watching at school on a terrible feed via channelsurfing.net. I don't understand why ABC isn't webcasting the games they do. With broadcast tv going away a year ago or whatever it's totally lame. Good game thus far. Meh, video is getting too many hits, lagging, switched to ESPN radio. Oy vey, the radio guys are Americans. This is horrible. Germany just scored and the announcers didn't seem to realize it happened for about 5 seconds. Univision.com. Heaven. I love spanish speaking announcers! GOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL 1-1. The announcers are going batsh!t crazy.

Such a fun game. It's clearly raining like crazy, I loved playing in the rain, slide tackles become so fun. Lots of chances everywhere. Forlan just went for the goal on a corner kick, just missed. Both teams are attacking. Swing and a miss right before halftime for Germany.

OHHHHHHHHHHHH. Uruguay should have just scored. FORLAN is amazing. Gorgeous cross by the defender, gorgeous goal. Germany scored on a pretty cross + header. 2-2. Good game. Schweinsteiger in spanish is 'el Capitan Schwiney.' Epic.

How did Germany not just score?? They got one, definitely deserved. Sloppy play in the box by Uruguay. Oh man, #9 for Germany has missed 2 gimmes now. Suarez dive. Forlan to tie it in stoppage time?? He hit the crossbar!!!!!! Really fun game.

Yikes, only 1 game left. Gonna have to drop a bunch of Africa pics.

Kruger, December 1988

Moremi National Park, Botswana, July 1988

Chobe National Park, Botswana, July 1988. Elephants came through the campsite (no fences for the campgrounds in Botswana!), and a baboon stole a loaf of bread while the car was open when we set up camp!

Cry for Zimbabwe, eh?

Vic falls, Zimbabwe, July 1988

Kommetjie, '88 or '89

Going Scorpacciata on Apricots

Not a whole lot of food posts this World Cup season, lots of energy is going towards soccer, and working on the dissertation. Been eating lots of bread, yogurt, and going all scorpacciata on fresh apricots; sometimes all 3 meals in the day have been that. I've canned 17Q of preserves, and have a 3 gallon batch of peach/apricot preserves ready to go on top of that. It's a bit nuts. I've been giving away lots, too. The pic is the pile of apricot pits from the fresh ones I've eaten at the office, there's a couple of plum pits in there, too. In the background are loquat pits -- they are beautiful.

Germany vs. Spain

Ok, I've been convinced that it isn't fair to blame the German futbol team for WW2, especially since half of their team are Turks or black dudes, so I'm happily rooting for them. Plus I hate Spain cause of the Chile game. That said, thus far Spain has had the chances. The Ozil dive in stoppage time was a little embarrassing. Spain is playing really well I must say; should have scored. Germany just missed a gimme, too. Spain's goal was gorgeous. Now we see if all of those 4 goal, piling on games meant anything for Germany. #18 for Spain is an idiot -- should be 2-nil. Well, Spain deserved to win. I'll be pulling for Holland in the final, but I respect Spain more, now. They played good soccer.

In acknowledgment of Spain's passing ability, God Help Me Pass, Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho, January 1988

Holland vs. Uruguay

Here comes Forlan who's control is velvet and instant. Seconds later, bad pass by him, turnover, 1-0 Holland; an amazing goal. Forlan got the equalizer with a pretty goal, too. Good game. 2nd Dutch goal was a bit hectic with rebounds and players in the way. The dude who screened the keeper was even. 3rd goal gorgeous. Oh my 3-2 in stoppage time. Uruguay had a shot there at the end, dangerous cross. Good Game.

UCT campus (the game was played in Capetown)

Games Today

Frankly I'm not too interested in today's games. Don't like Argentina or Germany, though Germany piling on 4 goals seemed unnecessary and not classy. Watching the Spain/Paraguay game right now and I'd love if Spain lost. OH MY GOD. 2 PK saves in a row ~62nd minute. Oh this game got good! Spain hits the post twice, the 2nd time it goes in. I wish I worked blue on the blog.... I hope and pray Uruguay or Holland wins the tournament.

Hyena, Kruger, Desember 1988

Uruguay vs. Ghana

I don't know who to root for. Uruguay has played great soccer. Ghana is the only African team left. I think Uruguay is the better team; we shall see. Ghana got lucky at 17th minute. Oooh Ghana, tough luck. Again! Ghana playing well. Lugano comes off, he's hurt. Fucile down hard. Hmmm, he recovered awfully fast. Bicycle kick! -- that would have been the goal of the tournament. Muntari - what a goal! Forlan is a stud; 1-1. Both goals have come as if the ball was directed by a remote control. Forlan is amazing, Suarez should have scored off of that cross. Ghana is dominating overtime, but still 1-1. I think we're going to penalty kicks. Oh My. Missed PK at the end of overtime. Shootout. The guy who missed it at the end nailed the first one in the shootout. Que terrible! 4-2 Uruguay advances.

My dad chimed in that the full name of the Ghanaian guy who helped at our soccer practices when I was a kid is Eric Boampong. Ghana played so well. Pity the 2 teams I liked the most had to play against eachother in the quarters.

Kudu silhouette, near Punda Maria, Kruger National Park, December 1988. I think I've put this pic on the blog before, it's one of the few from our time in Africa that I took, very proud of this image....

Brasil vs. Holland

WTF? Listened on the radio while puttering in the patio garden and putting up 10Q of apricot preserves. Sounded like Brasil should have pounded in multiple goals in the first half. How the heck did Holland score twice? It didn't sound like they were playing that well, and the video highlights weren't that impressive. S Bee stopped by and had a spoon of yogurt and fresh preserves, that looked good to me so I had a bowl for breakfast.

Bill Simmons on the World Cup

He is a writer for ESPN, usually about basketball. Good writer, good/funny article.

Portugal vs. Spain

A very interesting match geographically. I think Spain are punks, but the main guy for Portugal is not entirely an angel. Spain would seem to be the best divers in the tournament: that red card was pathetic.

Campground in Tsumeb, Namibia. Bleak.

Chile vs. Brasil

Should be some goals in this one! Chile with the classic all white jerseys. Jeez, Brasil is good; Chile is playing scared. That was a beautiful goal. x2.

I don't see how Brasil doesn't win it all. Not really going out on a limb much, obviously. I like their team this year, no annoying players like in the recent past....

3rd Brasil goal gorgeous as well. The announcers were talking about a razor blade/firecracker story, googled it, it's pretty awesome. Chile clearly has a long-term fear of Brasil. #1 footbal dive ever:

1: Roberto Rojas
Brazil v Chile, World Cup qualifier, 3 September 1989

Overrun and intimidated, Chile needed a way out. The plan: force an abandonment and a replay in a neutral venue. The execution: on 69 minutes, goalkeeper Rojas threw himself into the smoke of a firecracker, which had landed nearby, pulled a razor blade from his glove and stabbed himself in the head. The result: lots of blood, a mass brawl, a walkout, an abandonment - but, after video evidence, no replay. Instead, Brazil were awarded the game, Chile were out of one World Cup and excluded from the next, Rojas was banned for life and the woman who threw the firecracker was signed up by Playboy Brazil. In May 2001, Fifa lifted the ban. 'At 43, I'm unlikely to play again,' said Rojas, now coach at São Paulo, 'but at least this pardon will cleanse my soul.'

Lions, Kruger, July 1987

Holland vs. Slovakia

Unfortunately ESPN radio played a sportstalk show instead of the game. So only did the highlights thing. Holland looks ok, we shall see. I hope Chile wins today, but Brasil probably will, in which case I'll be rooting for the Dutch...
A few of the '12 Apostles' -- the name given to the peaks running down the Atlantic side of the Cape Peninsula.

Mexico vs. Argentina

1st goal another travesty. 2nd was unfortunate. Think I might just go back to the garden if it's 2-nil at halftime. Didn't. Glad I watched, the goal for Mexico was sweet. Small moral victory.... Maybe Argentina & Germany will beat eachother up so bad the winner will lose the following game. Karma and all.

me, J-Bay, May 1989

England vs. Germany

A travesty.

Oh my. I just watched the highlights during halftime of the 2nd game. Beyond travesty. This comment from Klose doesn't help any: We were aggressive from the first minute and it was a deserved victory.

Dung beetles, Addo Elephant National Park, May 1989

USA vs. Ghana

Listened on the radio. Meh. I don't know if the ESPN video recap was biased (probably) but it looked like we actually played pretty well, had lots of opportunities. Oh well. This was going to be a tough game to win, so I'm not too terribly surprised. Happy Uruguay won; games tomorrow should be amazing.

Dung Beetle, Kruger National park, December 1988

Chile vs. Spain

Awesome game with huge implications. Chile missed a gift around 11'. Oh man, kind of a BS goal for Spain. Chile only needs a tie, they have been attacking a ton, with Spain scoring on a counter attack maybe poor strategy?? Chile miss at 33'. Ouch.

2nd Spain goal was nice. Chile is in trouble. Plus a player got a 2nd yellow, so 10 men. But man o man was that a BS card, blatant dive. I have no respect for Spain.

Chile's goal was off of a deflection. We'll take it. Hmmm, Sanchez was subbed at 65', doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Switzerland/Honduras is still nil-nil. Boring 2nd half (both teams know they will advance) people in the stands are complaining.

This is a funny post, game went from important to a yawner. c'est la vie.

Spotted Hyena with carcass, Kruger National Park, December 1988

Denmark vs. Japan

From the text feed when you are in gamecast mode:

Jakob Poulsen comes on and Jorgensen comes off. We now have three Poulsen's on the pitch. I'm guessing that surname is like Smith in England.

nice

From the announcer, after a (pathetic) swing and a miss by Denmark close to the 6 yard box: He could play all night tonight and still not make contact.

Denmark hits the post, then a blatant dive to 'earn' a penalty kick. Which was saved, but he hit in the rebound. Denmark needs to somehow score 2 more goals to advance. Not likely. Japan scores again, they are pretty good. The striker Honda especially.

We rented the Toyota 4x4 with safari seats in Maun to drive up to Moremi; at the entrance gate to Moremi National Park, Botswana, July 1988

French Team / NPR

A little boring, but decent enough -- it's good to hear soccer coverage on NPR.

Karoo Desert, somewhere, sometime