Women who rock

One day in June, I came across one of the most exciting blogs I have ever seen -  Jukebox Heroines.

Blogger and musician Emily writes about women in the music industry. She writes reviews of new releases, analyses issues relating to female musicians such as sexism, reviews albums and new artists, and writes other interesting and relevant articles. Two articles I've really enjoyed so far are Female Guitarists and Why Lady Gaga is a Feminist. As a beginning guitar player, I look to guitar greats such as Santana and Clapton for inspiration to keep on playng. I was very excited to find more female musical role models (my previous mental list was a bit short) like Jennifer Batten and arena rock band Jaggedy Ann. Jukebox Heroines has exposed me to a huge number of female artists whom I never knew about until recently, and made me more aware of the difficulties that face female musicians and the history of women in the music industry.

Jukebox Heroines deserves a 21-guitar salute for all the excellent work that has been published on the blog.

The 'Pelican Angels'

 Reading articles on the oil spill have made this topic consistently wash up on the shores of my mind, so here goes a rickety reporting effort!

Dedicated volunteers have been working hard to save pelicans who were oiled by the Gulf of Mexico oil slick.

Some background: the Louisiana Wildlife Rehabilitators Association recruited Nancy Torcson, of Clearwater Wildlife Sanctuary, Covington, to direct the response to the disaster. Clearwater is caring for two pelicans at a school, and teaching the school's children about wildlife at the same time. That's two excellent projects in one: Saving oil-affected wildlife and making children more environmentally aware.

More recently, 62 (other sources give the number as 72) pelicans were released at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas (as reported by the Associated Press on usatoday.com). So far, it is the largest release of rehabilitated pelicans. The Refuge has ideal living conditions for the pelicans.

Volunteers have been rescuing pelicans from the coasts of the Gulf Coast states. Large areas and large numbers of pelicans have been affected. Numbers of pelicans have already died, and no doubt many more will die, but it's heartening to see that the 'Pelican Angels' have swooped down and rescued as many pelicans as possible from death by oil.

Here's a much better-written article on some more 'Pelican Angels'.

Photo source: The Huffington Post

Sources: http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2010/06/oiled_pelicans_get_plenty_of_a.html
             http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2010/06/pelicans-texas-oil-spill/1
             http://www.kristv.com/news/more-pelicans-released-here/

Italian hearts are broken

The Italians are going home. Today was a sad day for Italian football, and Italian football fans. Kudos to Italy for answering back with two goals! But I can't help  feeling that their overall performance in this World Cup was mediocre. There were definitely some good moments in their games, which helps to ease the disappointment a bit. I believe that the Adzzurri will definitely be back on form come the next World Cup. Forza Adzzurri!

Is it time to introduce the Television Match Official to soccer?

This is probably a much-talked-about topic. But since it's one I feel strongly about, I'll add my thoughts to the debate.

Sometimes during soccer matches, yellow or red cards which seemed undeserved have been given. A yellow or a red can have a profound effect on a game. Seeing Brazilian Luis Fabiano's two unnoticed handballs during the Brazil vs Ivory Coast Group G match made me decide that I am definitely for TMOs in soccer. I can understand the referee's missing the ball that touched Fabiano's shoulder, but the forearm ball was a clear handball (I know Fabiano's back was facing the ref, but it was still unfair). A penalty against Brazil was in order there.

While I am for TMOs in soccer, there are some reasonable points against them. One of the opposing reasons for soccer TMOs I've come across is that it might slow the game down. As a compromise, TMOs could be used in matches that determine whether a soccer team reaches the next round in a competition, for example, the 'Round of 16' stages of the World Cup.

I think it's safe to say that introducing TMOs will be expensive. Perhaps they could create a divide between which leagues can afford them and which leagues can't. However, I would very much like to see TMOs introduced at the World Cup if they are introduced at all. Another (mostly personal) doubt I've had about TMOs is that their introduction would be a confirmation that soccer is, at times, a dishonest game that needs extra policing (by dishonest I mean play-acting, diving etc.). No TMOs in soccer provide a fragile bubble in which my romantic idealist side can hide, safe in the knowledge that soccer is 'the Beautiful Game' in every way.

Whatever washes up on the shores of my mind

 My writing speed can't keep up with all the ideas and thoughts in my head, but my typing speed can. Thus, another blog joins the blogosphere!

Anything goes here. Politics, fashion, the environment, design, sports...variety is the word.

Constructive crticism is always welcome! :)