Archives for June 2014
Ole Ola Football!
By K. Ilangkumanan
Hooray, the FIFA World Cup season is back! Time has raced around the clock for four years, bringing this football (soccer to those in the US) tournament to the forefront once again. Every match creates a buzz of excitement, anxiety and unbridled enthusiasm across the globe. It is exactly this mix of emotions that needs to be experienced to be able to comprehend the adrenaline rush that draws together football fans and non-fans alike during the World Cup.
World Cup fans sacrifice their time just to keep their eyes on the ball, literally. Many spend sleepless nights to gain insight on the strategies of the different teams – their formations, how they pass, tackle and control the ball. The ball is the essence of the game and the core object of the attention of the players, referee, coaches and fans. [Read more…]
Is there a GI for your joe?
By Vincent Teh
My colleague (for the purpose of this article let’s call her Angelina J.) and I argue about anything, be it the pronunciation of certain Latin words or the level of my charm and general likeability. Most times, the arguments would be settled amiably by Google, and each time I am vindicated I will chalk it down on my secret scoreboard as one of life’s many small triumphs. Sometimes, the arguments can get a bit heated and she would then resort to violence, like brutally bludgeoning my face with a Minnie Mouse soft toy. Recently, I met a man from Springfield, which I thought is a city in Alabama, Angelina J. on the other hand insisted that Springfield is in Illinois. As it turned out, we were both right. In fact, there are at least 40 Springfields dotted across the land of the free (and the home of the not-so-creative). In Wisconsin alone, there are a total of five Springfields.
If you think all these places having the same name can be a tad confusing, you should meet Lamenda Kingdon of Plymouth (the original Plymouth, not the one in the US). Ms. Kingdon had always wanted to visit the Alhambra Palace in Granada. So, she booked a flight through a travel rewards company and soon was on the plane to Spain. Or so she thought. In fact, the flight she was on was heading to Grenada, a tropical island in the Caribbean, half a world away from her intended destination. [Read more…]