Baby on Board

We are now proud parents of a healthy white baby. Uta brought the little bundle of joy home last weekend. I'm still a bit confused, given that I don't recall Uta being pregnant, our daughter looks pretty big for a new-born, and she doesn't really resemble me very much. But Uta says I'm just being paranoid and/or I'm confused due to the shock of being a new dad. Could be, I mean is one ever fully prepared for parenthood? Still, can't help thinking something seems a bit weird. . .

Break on Through

Call me lazy, but I couldn't drag myself out of bed at 5:00am to watch the make-or-break match between Australia and Croatia. Fortunately, I was able to keep track of the score, simply by listening to the echoes of cheers and groans of our more committed neighbors. With a tie secured in the final minutes of the game, Australia advances to the round of 16. Australians are pumped!

Meanwhile, the poor American team (a nation with, let us a recall, a population 15 times that of Australia) is headed home...defeated...again.

Open for Business

The first Krispy Kreme franchise opened in Melbourne yesterday - moving the city another step closer to offering all the comforts of home, with the added benefit of being in a country still in contention for the World Cup.

4-2

Friday night we assembled a crew to watch the opening game of the World Cup, Germany vs. Costa Rica. We met up at the turf bar in the CBD for a few hours of pre-game socializing and to watch the opening ceremony. During those festivities (complete with heaps of lederhosen and, for some strange reason, a hip-hop act dressed in pink) technical difficulties arose at the Turf Bar, forcing us to retreat to our own apartment, with all our companions in tow. Much to the delight, I'm sure, of our neighbors, we ended up with about 12 people all together, and a bit giddy, for the 2:00 am kick-off. Costa Rica proved a bit precocious and managed to give the Germans a run for the money, but, let's face it, Germany's a football powerhouse. Ultimately, Costa Rica fell behind 4-2, after a couple of brilliant and authoritative goals by Germany. Then, we slept.

New Bloke

I forgot to mention one of the more amusing discoveries during our recent trip to the United States. The Coca Cola company is currently testing its latest creation: Coke Blak (aka "Black Coke", or as I like to call it, "Bloke"). It's still in the pilot stage, so is a bit hard to come by, although the Georgia Aquarium and buckets of the stuff.

Over Here, Over There. . .

. . .it's the same everywhere.

W continued to "spread freedom" on Monday reiterating his support for a constitutional amendment preventing gay marriage. Perhaps he's envious of the Howard Government, which already has such constitutional power, wielding it earlier this week to shoot down the Australian Capital Territory's Civil Unions Act , intended to grant same-sex couples equal rights under the law. It seems Canberra felt the ACT was usurping the federal government's constitutional power to discriminate.

Black Market Bananas

Ever since cyclone Larry destroyed Australia's banana crop, the price of the innocuous fruit has skyrocketed - apparently driving the market underground. . .

CSIRO Conspiracy

An inquest into the 2001 death of CSIRO microbiologist Van Nguyen began Monday - the unfortunate researcher perished in a faulty airlock at CSIRO's animal research facility in Geelong. What appears to have not surface at the inquest is any mention of the international conspiracy which some feel Van Nguyen's death is a part. It seems he was just one of a plethora of microbiologists to have died mysteriously during 2001. Although the alleged plot is a bit difficult to make out, it has something to do with, of course, the military, international corporations, and biological weapons (in some versions, it's a plot by terrorists to erode the capacity of the west to defend itself against biological warfare).

You're Not the One That I Want

Seems like Olivia Newton John's long-time hubby is alive and well in Mexico, despite disappearing after a fishing trip months ago.

World Cup, American Style

Although I generally try to steer clear of all things affiliated with the Fox empire (except perhaps The Simpsons), I've found the series of World Cup articles at Fox Sports.Com to be highly entertaining. In essence, (as is done every four years)they attempt to explain the phenomenon of the World Cup to Americans that are otherwise oblivious. The series includes articles entitled "The World Cup: Why it's a Big Deal" and "World Cup vs. U.S. Sporting Events."

Footy: Collingwood vs. Brisbane

It was back to the MCG Saturday night, where we joined Tony in watching the Magpies cruise to a second straight win. We got to see Brisbane's Jason Akermanis' cute neon yellow shoes, which were far more amusing than Collingwood's Blake Caracella's collision which left him a broken neck, from which it fortunately looks like he'll eventually recover. If you're under the delusion that footy is a sport for the weak at heart, check out the league's injury roster as of last week.