Football reviews

Too few people follow Rochdale FC. Considering that they are over 100 years old and have a very cool stadium name: Spotland, they deserve more fans. But really who is going to take the plunge and support a football team if they don’t know exactly what it’s like watching one of their matches away from home?

No-one wants that sort of uncertainty.

Step forward rochdaleawaydayreview.wordpress.com, your number one portal to all things rochdaleawayday and the brainchild of tazzydjr (Marky D):

Bio: I’m aiming to be an up and coming Football Photographer, I own my own Digital Camera which i will be using in most of my blog’s, I’m learning new things everyday look forward to all feedback

Within just a few lines of Marky D’s Chesterfield review, I was hooked:

I got picked up at 12PM the journey were relaxing felt strange going by car to an away match, but it were nice about talking about Rochdale on the Journey with fellow Rochdale Fan’s, We arrived at 1.40PM, went to the Ground to get ticket’s so we wasn’t queuing for them. Then walked for an good five minutes to the nearest pub which were Derby Tup, This pub wasn’t cheap i got an Guinness which came to £3.50 then beore we went got an Half an Guinness which came to £1.70,

Superb. Although drinks be expensive, yo.

What follows is a detailed breakdown of Marky D’s day in Chesterfield, a game which the ‘Dale lost 1-2. It’s difficult reading, but not because of the heartbreaking result.

We go again though, and his pièce de résistance is surely the trip to Newport at the end of last season. Yes, there’s footy to be watched – quality footy at that, but first…

I had breakfast and coffee then left Rochdale Train Station at 8.17AM arrived at Manchester Victoria for 8.37AM then walked up to Manchester Piccadilly on the way then found out which platform my train would be on then popped into Sports Direct at 8.45AM to get some Pink Pants there were one problem they were too big then i got 9.30AM train Direct into Newport. I had lunch at 11.10AM. I arrived at 12.35PM, we were counting down the hours and had a laugh. Then got a Taxi went to find Spytty Park a.k.a Newport Stadium which is Newport County’s last stadium and the new home of Llanwern Association Football Club at 1PM.

It’s detailed, I’ll give him that. I wonder if he makes notes to help with remembering all those times?

And the photography, presumably taken with his own Digital Camera gives a pictorial description to the whole thing, in case (for some reason) you are struggling with the word bits.

dscf0715

I have absolutely no idea what’s going on here, but suddenly the pink pants are in there. They do look a bit big though. Also confused about the Southampton scarves, given that this was Newport v Rochdale. And finally, maybe pointing the camera slightly more to the right might have helped. But what do I know?

IT LOOKS LIKE A GREAT DAY OUT.

In fact, they all do. So go and have a look at his website cos it were an good read  thenmaybe you want  donate toward his next Half an Guinness,

Thanks Stu

Lumineers, described

This is a great cartoon from Wrong Hands, the Indie example being my favourite in that it basically sums up the Lumineers and Mumford & Sons, in one handy timeline.

anatomy-of-songs

I don’t listen to Country, Blues, Pop or Classic Rock enough to comment on those particular examples, but given the unerring accuracy of the Indie one, I can only assume that they are absolutely spot on.

I await the Tall Accountant’s comment on the bottom one with eager anticipation.

This is the best photograph I’ve ever seen

Obviously, it’s not one of mine. First off, that would surely be the best photograph I’ve ever taken (although I suppose that technically it could fall into both categories if I was feeling particularly boastful) and secondly, it’s laughable anyway because mine aren’t anywhere near this standard. I am merely a microbiologist with a camera.

And I didn’t come up with this title on a whim, either. Sure, I was wowed when I first saw the photo, but it’s taken me a while to realise that I don’t think I’ve actually ever seen anything better.

So, step forward Steve Ward, nature photographer, and his mind-blowing photo of a diving gannet (Morus bassanus) just microseconds before it hits the water:

p33984167-5

Just. Wow.

What you might not realise is that this guy (the gannet, not Steve) is moving at anywhere up to 100kph. That’s 27.78 metres per second. And so I really wasn’t joking when I said that it was literally microseconds away from entering that glassy ocean. That’s what makes the photo all the more incredible for me: it’s not like the bird saw the camera and was like:

A photo? No, sure, that’s fine. Happy to help. I’ll just defy the forces of gravity for a while until you get your setup absolutely right. Must I smile? No? OK. Any time you’re ready then.

Because gannets are known to be particularly uncooperative in that regard.

That link above will take you to much more of Steve’s amazing work, lots of birds (some amazing owl pics) hares, voles and some lovely landscapes too. But this gannet still stands out as something rather special.

Many thanks to Steve for his permission to share this photo.

Invisible Light

I know – it seems almost implausibly oxymoronic, doesn’t it? It’s the falling tree in a deserted forest conundrum kind of thing. What is light if you can’t see it?

Australian artist/photographer Brendan Fitzpatrick has the answer: X-rays.

Invisible Light showcases unique X-ray art by Australian photographer Brendan Fitzpatrick.
Using both chest X-ray and mammogram machines Brendan explores the extraordinary visual potential of radiography.

Brendan has kindly given me permission to share a couple of his images here at 6000 miles…

il1

You can see many more X-ray images of flowers, creatures and toys at the Invisible Light gallery.

The flowers are fascinating, the toys are wonderful, but it’s the creatures gallery which I think is the most spectacular: the internal geology of the shells is particularly amazing.

il2
For all that these things may be visually appealing from the outside (even the toys, at a stretch), it’s something very different to this otherwise hidden side to them.

And different is good.

Prison

John Oliver – what a genius.

I’m not posting much at the moment, but I am posting this:

If you can watch the whole thing, do. It’s damning stuff. Yes, it’s one side of the story, but it’s compelling and it’s (of course) brilliantly presented. If 18 minutes is a bit long for you, then at least do yourself the favour of scooting through to 14:10 for the excellent Sesame Street finale.