Summer is here bringing with it the cricket and soon, tennis, to our TV sets and the sports pages. Although I can tolerate cricket a lot more than I can tennis, I happen to be no expert on either. Nevertheless, the debacle of the Australians' performance in the cricket this summer has promted me out of my post-Christmas slumber.
Australian Cricket captain Ricky Ponting has had a foul season, "horrible" he called it, culminating in an ignoble performance in the third Ashes test in Melbourne this week, and becoming the first Aussie captain to lose three Ashes series. This summer will surely be Ponting's last as captain on Australian soil.
Ponting should be replaced as captain by Brad Haddin. However, I fear Michael Clarke will get the nod ahead of him, although I hope I am wrong.
Ponting's eventual retirement from the captaincy and test cricket will make way for NSW left-hand top-orderer Usman Khawaja - who should be in the side already at the expense of Phillip Hughes, who lacks the skills for this level of the game. Hughes needs a couple more Sheffield Shield seasons under his belt before I will be convinced of his entitlement to be in the Australian test side.
Other postmortems will be done, but not by me. I've said (and had) enough.
Still sort of on the cricket - Shane Warne is a total oaf as a commentator. I read a Facebook comment that 'Warne would be a better commentator if he stopped talking'. Quite.
UPDATE
Aussie selectors have got it completely wrong with their side for the final test in Sydney. However, I do applaud the selection of Usman Khawaja.
Phil Hughes, should not be in the side, as I have said above. Nathan Haurtz should be in the team, as should Trent Copeland. My team is: Marsh, Watson (vc), Khawaja, M Hussey, B Haddin (c), T Paine, N Hauritz, S Smith, M Johnson, P Siddle, T Copeland, D Bollinger (12th).
I also think Tim Paine should be brought in and given the gloves so that Brad Haddin can captain the side. I would sooner barrack for New Zealand, than an Australian side captained by Michael Clarke - and I'm not Robinson Crusoe there.
***
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Done and dusted for 2010
A somewhat poignant but very beautiful Christmas song.
Thank you all ye patient and faithful readers for stopping this way on your blog-surfing travels. Next year I have plans to post more frequently but with a subtle change of tack, maybe even with less emphasis on politics – although our philosophy and credo will never change.
Christmas peace and joy,
New birth in Him for us all -
Including bloggers.
Pax.
:)
***
Thank you all ye patient and faithful readers for stopping this way on your blog-surfing travels. Next year I have plans to post more frequently but with a subtle change of tack, maybe even with less emphasis on politics – although our philosophy and credo will never change.
Christmas peace and joy,
New birth in Him for us all -
Including bloggers.
Pax.
:)
***
Monday, December 6, 2010
My thoughts on 2UE's new line-up for 2011
Some good decisions, and some howlers. And you won't be in two minds as to which I think are which.
Here we go:
(Updated).
WEEKDAY
5.30am - 9am – to be confirmed (but we all know it’s going to be Jason Morrison.) I think this is a good choice. I like Jason. My only criticism of him is that he sounds like he is reading from a script – which he undoubtedly is – I just wish he didn’t sound like he was reading from a script.
9am - Noon - David Oldfield. I liked him on overnights on 2GB, but mornings is very different - and very cut-throat. I don't know how he'll go, but, as he will be up against Hadley, for that reason alone, I hope he does really well.
12pm - 3pm – Michael Smith. Excellent and underrated interviewer from UE’s sister station 4BC. It's a big move from Brissie to Sydney, and it deserves to pay off.
3pm - 6pm – Paul Murray. Paul is making the switch to UE from TripleM – which is like switching from a double espresso to decaf. I don't listen to FM, and I know nothing about Murray (there are going to be lotsa Murrays at this joint next year), so I will reserve judgement.
6pm - 9pm – The Two Murrays. As I was saying … aka Olds and Wilton. I’m not really a fan of double-acts on talk radio - I think they work better on FM because the more casual format allows for more free-flowing dialogue. So I’m afraid I’m in the ‘meh’ camp when it comes to these two. “Generational change” fail number 1 for the new line-up.
9pm - 12am – Stuart Bocking. Reportedly is pissed off he didn’t get the morning gig as part of the new look. If he had, I don’t think the audience would ever have woken up. GB apparently want him (or Ben Fordham) to replace Morrison. Good luck Stuart ... if Fordham beat me for a radio position I think I'd top myself. Bocking was at his best as Lawsie's 'co-driver', but that was a long time ago.
12am - 5.30am – Mike Jeffreys. Substitute “Williams” for “Jeffreys” and UE would be on a winner. I still can’t work out why Jeffreys sounds like he’s an Irishman who’s been living in the US for the last twenty years. "Generational change" fail, number 2.
WEEKENDS
5.30am - 9am - John Stanley. Finally moved off weekdays, where he never belonged anyway. Is so boring you’d fall asleep half-way through his name. I'm tempted to ask whether there's a radio station in Invercargill looking for a jock - except that I like Invercargill. “Generational change” fail number 3.
9am – 2pm – George & Paul. Double-acts again. They should be pensioned off. Sydney’s seniors are at the malls when their show is on, so probably don’t listen anyway. “Generational change” fail number 4.
2pm – 6pm - Tim Webster. Will Tim’s cast of a thousand regular guests join him on weekends, or will he have to stand on his own two feet? Almost a Generational Change fail, but I will give him the benefit of the doubt.
Sat 6pm – 8pm – Healthy Living – Dr Ross Walker. I like listening to this doc far more than the one on the other station. Snaps to UE for keeping him.
Sun 6pm – 8pm – Legal Matters – TBC. Two hours of legal stuff on a Sunday night? Uh, well, I'm sure there's an audience for this, but I think this is a very brave choice of a timeslot.
Sat 8pm- 12 am – Saturday Night Live – Pete Graham. Sure, why not?
Sun 8pm – 12am – Psychic encounters – Sharina. Oh good grief. Get rid of this woman and replace her with Robertson! ‘Revenge is sweet’ the latter would say, I’m sure.
Overnights: John Kerr. The Brian Henderson of the mid-dawn shift. He may not represent 'Generational change', but rules can be broken.
2UE are on the right track, and obviously don't want to be too radical with changes so as to not shock their entire demographic in one fell swoop.
I've just realised UE have composted their gardening segment. Having John Stanley on weekends instead of gardening will have many secateuring their radio aerials in protest. Never mind. At least then they won't be able to tune in to that insipid offering on 2GB.
***
Here we go:
(Updated).
WEEKDAY
5.30am - 9am – to be confirmed (but we all know it’s going to be Jason Morrison.) I think this is a good choice. I like Jason. My only criticism of him is that he sounds like he is reading from a script – which he undoubtedly is – I just wish he didn’t sound like he was reading from a script.
9am - Noon - David Oldfield. I liked him on overnights on 2GB, but mornings is very different - and very cut-throat. I don't know how he'll go, but, as he will be up against Hadley, for that reason alone, I hope he does really well.
12pm - 3pm – Michael Smith. Excellent and underrated interviewer from UE’s sister station 4BC. It's a big move from Brissie to Sydney, and it deserves to pay off.
3pm - 6pm – Paul Murray. Paul is making the switch to UE from TripleM – which is like switching from a double espresso to decaf. I don't listen to FM, and I know nothing about Murray (there are going to be lotsa Murrays at this joint next year), so I will reserve judgement.
6pm - 9pm – The Two Murrays. As I was saying … aka Olds and Wilton. I’m not really a fan of double-acts on talk radio - I think they work better on FM because the more casual format allows for more free-flowing dialogue. So I’m afraid I’m in the ‘meh’ camp when it comes to these two. “Generational change” fail number 1 for the new line-up.
9pm - 12am – Stuart Bocking. Reportedly is pissed off he didn’t get the morning gig as part of the new look. If he had, I don’t think the audience would ever have woken up. GB apparently want him (or Ben Fordham) to replace Morrison. Good luck Stuart ... if Fordham beat me for a radio position I think I'd top myself. Bocking was at his best as Lawsie's 'co-driver', but that was a long time ago.
12am - 5.30am – Mike Jeffreys. Substitute “Williams” for “Jeffreys” and UE would be on a winner. I still can’t work out why Jeffreys sounds like he’s an Irishman who’s been living in the US for the last twenty years. "Generational change" fail, number 2.
WEEKENDS
5.30am - 9am - John Stanley. Finally moved off weekdays, where he never belonged anyway. Is so boring you’d fall asleep half-way through his name. I'm tempted to ask whether there's a radio station in Invercargill looking for a jock - except that I like Invercargill. “Generational change” fail number 3.
9am – 2pm – George & Paul. Double-acts again. They should be pensioned off. Sydney’s seniors are at the malls when their show is on, so probably don’t listen anyway. “Generational change” fail number 4.
2pm – 6pm - Tim Webster. Will Tim’s cast of a thousand regular guests join him on weekends, or will he have to stand on his own two feet? Almost a Generational Change fail, but I will give him the benefit of the doubt.
Sat 6pm – 8pm – Healthy Living – Dr Ross Walker. I like listening to this doc far more than the one on the other station. Snaps to UE for keeping him.
Sun 6pm – 8pm – Legal Matters – TBC. Two hours of legal stuff on a Sunday night? Uh, well, I'm sure there's an audience for this, but I think this is a very brave choice of a timeslot.
Sat 8pm- 12 am – Saturday Night Live – Pete Graham. Sure, why not?
Sun 8pm – 12am – Psychic encounters – Sharina. Oh good grief. Get rid of this woman and replace her with Robertson! ‘Revenge is sweet’ the latter would say, I’m sure.
Overnights: John Kerr. The Brian Henderson of the mid-dawn shift. He may not represent 'Generational change', but rules can be broken.
2UE are on the right track, and obviously don't want to be too radical with changes so as to not shock their entire demographic in one fell swoop.
I've just realised UE have composted their gardening segment. Having John Stanley on weekends instead of gardening will have many secateuring their radio aerials in protest. Never mind. At least then they won't be able to tune in to that insipid offering on 2GB.
***
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Victorian election? Oh, yeah - sorry
I was reminded that I hadn't written anything about the election down in Mexico. I was going to write a few words - once I, and the rest of the population, knew the actual result.
I congratulate Ted Baillieu on a magnificent victory. A victory, incidentally, I predicted the night of the last Victorian election. Back then, late on election night, I wrote in the comments of an online article that Labor had a great many now marginal seats and that they would face the perils of encumbancy come 2010, and probably lose. And so it goes (or went). The link to my comment - no longer exists, so you're going to have to take my word on that one.
Tony Wright, in The Age:
He makes a good point. So - am I up for another prediction, apropos NSW? In (the once) Premier State, I reckon Labor will be lucky to finish with 9 seats after March 26, 2011. Bear in mind that if the swing against Labor at this year's Penrith by-election was to be replicated state-wide next March, Labor would be left with one seat.
***
I congratulate Ted Baillieu on a magnificent victory. A victory, incidentally, I predicted the night of the last Victorian election. Back then, late on election night, I wrote in the comments of an online article that Labor had a great many now marginal seats and that they would face the perils of encumbancy come 2010, and probably lose. And so it goes (or went). The link to my comment - no longer exists, so you're going to have to take my word on that one.
Tony Wright, in The Age:
With the anti-Labor swing setting in, what, one wondered, might be on the mind of New South Wales Labor Premier Kristina Keneally? If Brumby’s Labor could crash into a wall of unimpressed voters in the relatively benign Victoria, how horrifying might it be when the comrades north of the border face maddened voters next March?
He makes a good point. So - am I up for another prediction, apropos NSW? In (the once) Premier State, I reckon Labor will be lucky to finish with 9 seats after March 26, 2011. Bear in mind that if the swing against Labor at this year's Penrith by-election was to be replicated state-wide next March, Labor would be left with one seat.
***
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