Well, its happened. A huge amazing milestone in the history of the human race. An event happened last night that has shaken the foundations of humanity to its core.
Yes.
Tony Hand bagged his 4,000th point!
An amazing feat!
After losing 3 to Sheffield twice, and the Giants, the Phoenix re-gathered, re-focused, and got back to business. Last weekend with a big win over Hull, and then going into Tony's home stomping ground and easing out the result against the Capitals. However, Tony was not able to scrape the points together to get through the magic 4,000 barrier. Leaving Edinburgh glued on 3,999.
The week ground by, and we go into a big weekend for the Phoenix. Playing teams under them in the league are must-wins. Getting points keeps them behind, and helps the Phoenix take steps up the table.
So. First up. An away trip to Hull.
Watching the updates, Hull bagged the first, with the Phoenix equalising. Left me thinking that Hull has learnt its lesson and decided to put up a fight this time! However, on the Phoneix' first goal, Hand had been awarded the second assist! Yay! 4,000! Personally, would have preferred it to have come on the back of Hand bagging an amazing goal, but somehow, getting it as an assist is kind of apt for Tony! Given the type of player he is.
Second period was quiet on the scoring front, but then in the third, all hell breaks loose! Phoenix run out 7-1 winners! With Beauregard getting the man of the match award after a 3+3 game. Guy is fast turning into a legend! We HAVE to keep him!
Good on Hull for a presentation of a bottle of bubbly to Tony after his point. And for keeping it low-key. Did not need any showy stuff. We all knew it was coming!
Well, a 7-1 win is pretty impressive. I know the Big 4 will sneer at it a little given it "was only Hull" However, as the Steelers found out collapsing to the Bison, those lower down the league should not be underestimated!
So, we roll on to the second game of the weekend against Cardiff, and a much sterner test!
Here's hoping Tony is able to add to his haul, and lead the Phoenix to another 2 points!
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Saturday, November 22, 2008
The Land of the Rising Cellphone! Mk2
Found interesting reading on the BBC website recently, declaring that the UK leads the world in digital takeup. Even higher penetration than Japan! I must admit, I laughed. A lot. It is hard to see how. In Japan, there are literally NO analogue TV's for sale. Whenever people come to my apartment and see my thing, they laugh and inform me it should be in a museum. There are a lot of people still with analogue sets, but there is no rush to switch. Japan is not following Britain and rolling digital only broadcasts out piecemeal, they have opted for a "Big Bang" approach, when they will switch off the analogue network. Note. Switch off. The country allready recieves digital broadcasts, with analogue sets carrying a warning saying that the broadcast is analogue, and carrying a countdown clock! Come 2012, the whole country will lose analogue in one go! People will take up digital. No hurry. The country does not worry about figures about penetration, since it will be 100% by 2012. There is no choice.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
The Land of the Rising Cellphone!
Well, its about time to talk about technology! I got reminded about this when the BBC ran an article about cellphones in Japan! This is a country that loves modern technology. As soon as the latest thing hits the shelves, the Japanese goes nuts! My girlfriend bought her large, widescreen digital flatscreen tv about 3 years ago, and considers it old and dated! And, I can see why when Japanese tech stores are flooded with MASSIVE hi def digital tv's that are blu-ray capable.
With regards the cell phones here. Are they more advanced? Heck yes! The rest of the world is playing catch-up! Japan has had 3G phones for the better part of a decade, and Docomo is in the process of rolling out the next, next generation network. The Japanese dont go for the same branding as the rest of the planet. For example, 3G is not 3G, but FOMA. However, Japan has the highest takeup of any country in the world. Japan has a population of 127,000,000 and the number of people with FOMA phones is 104,000,000. NTT Docomo have been testing 4G capabilities, and have got speeds of 2.5gbps out of it, and have begun rolling the network out slowly across Japan. And they have begun promoting a couple of phones capable of using the 4G networks capabilities.
Are Japans phones lightyears ahead? Not any more. They are still many steps ahead, but not that far any more. Other companies and countries are catching up, building the technology into their phones. However, the technology is not as widespread, nor is it as 'complete' as it is in Japanese phones.
Just to show what I mean.
UK phones
With regards the cell phones here. Are they more advanced? Heck yes! The rest of the world is playing catch-up! Japan has had 3G phones for the better part of a decade, and Docomo is in the process of rolling out the next, next generation network. The Japanese dont go for the same branding as the rest of the planet. For example, 3G is not 3G, but FOMA. However, Japan has the highest takeup of any country in the world. Japan has a population of 127,000,000 and the number of people with FOMA phones is 104,000,000. NTT Docomo have been testing 4G capabilities, and have got speeds of 2.5gbps out of it, and have begun rolling the network out slowly across Japan. And they have begun promoting a couple of phones capable of using the 4G networks capabilities.
Are Japans phones lightyears ahead? Not any more. They are still many steps ahead, but not that far any more. Other companies and countries are catching up, building the technology into their phones. However, the technology is not as widespread, nor is it as 'complete' as it is in Japanese phones.
Just to show what I mean.
UK phones
- 5GB camera - 8GB
- video conferencing
- TV (new with Nokia)
- Internet at 3.6mbps
- GPS
- Radio
- voice recognition
- Face auto-focus
- Business card reader
- mp3
- Bluetooth/USB/wifi
Japanese phones
- 5GB is average. 8GB is trickling down. a few phones allready have 10!
- Duh!
- What phone does NOT have it!
- Internet at 5+mbps
- GPS
- Radio
- voice recognition for e-mailing and phonebook.
- Considering face recognition tech was invented in Japan...
- Business card/barcode reader
- mp3
- Bluetooth, wifi, and USB
Well, this is my phone. Fabulous in matt black. And a perfectly adequate gaming console too!
And the P906i also acts as a perfectly useable tv. Most popularly used on trains by commuters.
Also, common tech in Japanese phones.
- FeliCa. A secure cashless, cardless payment system.
- i-mode. An internet based data management system. Can use it to buy tickets ranging from the movies to airplanes!
- broad-band pc internet capabilities. Just twist the screen, and away you go!
- disaster alert. Part of every network is that there is a geographic alert system. If you are in a disaster zone, your company axes many of your phones functions leaving it with the bare essentials, freeing up network space for system wide alerts, emergency calls and e-mails.
Well, dont worry, the rest of you will get to enjoy all these things. In the future! If you are lucky! You may all go gooey over the iPhone, and Japan did too. For all of 2 months. Since then, the sales have slumped, and it is seen as just another fashion accessory. Also, Apple waited until they had the upgraded iPhone 3G before getting in to the Japanese market!
Steve Jobs took great delight in detailing what flash technology was included in the iPhone, and how it was revolutionary. The Japanese asked "Huh?"
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Solving the Credit Crunch, Japanese style!
And my second blog for today.
Kashiwazaki is not immune to current credit problems, however, in order to keep people spending money, the Japanese have a brilliantly simple answer! Take an established festival, and expand it! Today in Kashiwazaki we have a music festival, including the Sunset Riders
The Sunset Riders are, yes, a line dancing troupe! Across Japan there are various groups singing and dancing. And, because of the credit problems, Kashiwazaki decided to expand the festival to encourage shops to put stalls out and encourage a fun atmosphere. The music helps encourage people out, and then they get to go and spend money at the stalls selling food, clothes, alchohol, fish, and other stuff!
The Sunset Riders are, yes, a line dancing troupe! Across Japan there are various groups singing and dancing. And, because of the credit problems, Kashiwazaki decided to expand the festival to encourage shops to put stalls out and encourage a fun atmosphere. The music helps encourage people out, and then they get to go and spend money at the stalls selling food, clothes, alchohol, fish, and other stuff!
Including a bunch of people from the local department store busily beating heck out of a large barrel of rice! This becomes "Mochi" A sticky rice paste which the Japanese use either as a thickener, or in savoury snacks, or more popularly, as a non-flavoured base for an awesome array of sweets!
So, there you have it, if you want to encourage people to spend, lay on a festival!
Manchester Phoenix v Nottingham
Right. Couple of blogs for today!
Well, last night, the Phoenix rolled into Nottingham looking to pick up another 2 points, unfortunately, Nottingham where a lot more on the ball this time, and ran a much more physical game, with players being thrown out, and plexi-glass being shattered! Sounds like a fun game!
Nottingham, to their credit, fought hard, and pulled out a 5-4 victory. Heck, we ran them close! However, disappointingly, the Phoenix had managed to pull out a 2 goal lead in this game, only to let Nottingham bag 3 unanswered goals! This is something that has happened before, and as such, needs sorting out Tony! So, a little disappointing.
However, on the flipside, the very fact that we are able to feel disappointed with this outcome does mark a massive step forward in this team when compared with teams of yore. Last year, we would be reflecting on "what might have been" whereas this year, its more a case of "What should have been!" When you realise that, you do suddenly perk up a bit!
Well, last night, the Phoenix rolled into Nottingham looking to pick up another 2 points, unfortunately, Nottingham where a lot more on the ball this time, and ran a much more physical game, with players being thrown out, and plexi-glass being shattered! Sounds like a fun game!
Nottingham, to their credit, fought hard, and pulled out a 5-4 victory. Heck, we ran them close! However, disappointingly, the Phoenix had managed to pull out a 2 goal lead in this game, only to let Nottingham bag 3 unanswered goals! This is something that has happened before, and as such, needs sorting out Tony! So, a little disappointing.
However, on the flipside, the very fact that we are able to feel disappointed with this outcome does mark a massive step forward in this team when compared with teams of yore. Last year, we would be reflecting on "what might have been" whereas this year, its more a case of "What should have been!" When you realise that, you do suddenly perk up a bit!
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