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« May 2006 | Main | July 2006 »

June 29, 2006

The Beautiful Game : 30th June

Click image to view full cover
The Economics of Football
by Stephen Dobson John Goddard

This book presents the first detailed economic analysis of professional football at club level, using a combination of economic reasoning and statistical and econometric analysis. Most of the original empirical research reported in the book is based on English club football. A wide range of international comparisons help emphasise both the broader relevance as well as the unique characteristics of the English experience. Specific topics include: the links between football clubs' financial strength and competitive balance and uncertainty of outcome; the determinants of professional footballers' compensation; measuring the football manager's contribution to team performance, the determinants of managerial change, and its effects on team performance; patterns of spectator demand for attendance; predicting match results, betting on football, and the market in football clubs' company shares. The book concludes with an extended discussion of the major economic policy issues currently facing football's legislators and administrators worldwide.


To access this title! Click on OVERDRIVE

Posted by digitalk team at 12:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Beautiful Game : Quote 12


"The essential absurdity of football - that it has become so important - is nine-tenths of the poetry."
Phil Ball

Posted by digitalk team at 11:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 25, 2006

The Beautiful Game : The Strip

Once upon a time they were only worn by the players and only had the number 2-11 embelished on the backs, nowadays they are worn by every self-respecting supporter and are often strikingly extolling the virtues of this sport shoe or that insurance company. The trade in a new season version is the real start to any of the world leagues or tournaments and one of the big merchandising sucesses of this years World Cup Finals is the number of home or away versions sold to the millions of supporters worldwide.


Yes, it is the humble football strip. And there’s nothing that the big brands like better than a new season or lucrative tournament so that the latest variation can be sold to the . But once upon a time they looked like the image above from 1921 - more like something your grandmother might wear to a formal party.

The football jersey in the 19th century was long-sleeved and of heavier material than jerseys of today. It was common for players to wear caps, long "nickerbockers" instead of shorts, which covered the knees, and long socks.

The 1950s you could have seen such "greats" as Tom Finney and Stanley Matthews cutting a dash in ensembles such as this





Of course in the skimpy 1960s we were treated to the "high thigh" beloved of George Best





Over the years, the football strip has become lighter and more colourful. The most rapid changes took place after World War II when synthetic materials, such as nylon, became widely available. By the 1970s mesh fabric had come into the game
In the 90s, as Gazza demonstrates in this historic photo, the range of uses for the shirt grew - the overall look was a baggier version of the shorts and an altogether looser shirt with special absorbent qualities.

As in the case of football boots, science, practicality and commercial gain go closely together. In its latest shirt design, Nike, outfitter of World Cup favorites such as Brazil and Portugal, has incorporated nodes on the underside of the jersey that are designed to reduce shirt clinging.

All in all it is long way from the knickerbockers of yesteryear, as the appeal of the "Beautiful Game" grows for the players and the spectators so the interest and the involvement of sponsors will increase - merging marketability with fashion with a dash of science.

DIRECT LINKS
All photos courtesy of EBSCOHost databases
Nike Sphere Dry Technology - http://search.epnet.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,url,uid&db=s3h&an=20547607

2006 WorldCup Shirts - http://www.squidoo.com/worldcupshirts/

Posted by digitalk team at 05:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 24, 2006

The Beautiful Game : Morning Coffee Review 4


Review and Preview
Wow!!! The pace of developments in the World Cup comes so hard and fast that I can't really catch up with all the action so forgive me for consolidating 4 groups worth of reflection into one article. As a bonus, I shall also let you in on what I think will happen to the teams in the Round of 16.

Lets start with Group E - This was a group that many termed the real Group of Death rather than Group C and I have to say that I agree with them. I have been very very impressed by the quality of play displayed by all the teams including group losers USA who impressed me in all three games even though they only collected 1 point. Their speed and movement plus their spirit in the face of dubious refereeing decisions was a real credit to them.

The shocker of course was Ghana's qualification to the second round and they deserved it - power and atlethicism overcoming the craft and guile of the Czech Republic. The Italians fulfilled all expectations, and their counter-attacking style will claim more big named victims before the tournament is over.

What about Group F? In total contrast, the matches were a great disappointment. Brazil were everything that I thought they would be - old, plodding and relying totally on the duo of Ronaldinho and Kaka. If there was a parallel that I can draw, they would be like Pamela Anderson - totally attention-grabbing, top-heavy and certainly promising a lot more than they can deliver.

Australia made it all because of Gus Hiddink - it was his tactical decisions and leadership that helped the Socceroos through. Does the English still think he's not worthy of the England job? Japan and Croatia were gamers, trying their best but in the end, just not good enough.

Group G will be remembered as the point from which the French empire crumbled into ruins. From petty squabbles, to walkouts to lack of leadership and players' mutiny - they had it all and more. Anyone who thinks they are still a threat to win the World Cup have flying pigs as pets. Togo - the less said the better while the Swiss were like clockwork in grinding out the results. Korea can hold their heads up high - they were the only Asian team that performed with any credit.

Finally we have Group F which is all about Spain - their emergence and attacking maturity really impressed everyone with their displays. Those who thought that they would collapse at the first sign of pressure have been forced to eat their words. Fernando Torres look a real world beater - one of the new stars of world football.

Nothing else is really worth mentioning about the rest of the teams - the Ukrainians qualified only because he tripped over his own leg - that says it all.

So the Round of 16 is going to look like this:

Germany vs Sweden
Argentina vs Mexico
England vs Ecuador
Portugal vs Holland
Brazil vs Ghana
Spain vs France
Italy vs Australia
Switzerland vs Ukraine

So who will go through? Of all the teams currently still in, there is one team that I am 100% sure will go through and that is Germany. Nothing against Sweden but the home team is really riding the momentum to great success. The other one that will go through is the Swiss; Ukraine really is a mediocre team.

The most attractive matches would be Portugal vs Holland and Spain vs France and it is my belief that Scolari's men and the Spanish Amada will sail through. Portugal just seems to pack a little too much for the Dutch who blows hot and cold while the French are on the wane. If they had to struggle to beat Togo, there is no hope for them.

I am going to stick my neck out and pick Ghana to pip Brazil - the World Champions have flattered to deceive and the Black Stars look the perfect candidate to produce another stunning upset. Japan made Brazil look good in their last match; otherwise they were pretty ordinary in the other two matches.

I picked either Argentina or Italy to win the whole tournament so I am going to stick to my guns. That leaves only the England game. Regular readers will know my feelings towards the English so I won't elaborate - I am really torn about this because the heart says England but the head says Ecuador. We all have our loves but I think it is time to move on - we can't forever be living in the past so here's my final pick: Ecuador.

So the final line-up is as follows:

Germany, Argentina, Spain, Ecuador, Portugal, Ghana, Italy and Switzerland.

Right or Wrong? We will see in a few days time.

Posted by digitalk team at 10:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Beautiful Game : 24th June

Click image to view full cover
Science and Soccer
Edition: 2 by Tom Reilly Mark Williams

Science and Soccer 2nd edition offers a comprehensive and accessible analysis of the science behind the world's most popular sport, and important guidance on how science translates into practice. Fully revised and updated to include new scientific research and data, it examines every key facet of the sport, including:
* players' anatomy, physiology, psychology and biomechanics
* coaching and training
* nutrition
* injury prevention and rehabilitation
* soccer surfaces and equipment
* match analysis
* growth and development in youth players
* talent identification.
Science and Soccer represents a unique resource for students and academics in sports science and physical education. It should also be essential reading for all professional support staff working in the game, including coaches at all levels, physiotherapists, club doctors and sport psychologists.

To access this title! Click on OVERDRIVE

Posted by digitalk team at 03:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Beautiful Game : SPORTDiscus Training Session 2


This is the second session for the "Beautiful Game" programmes where we are offering everyone a chance to test drive our new database Sport Discus. The session will cover access and searching as well as giving you an appreciation of the variety of content which sports enthusiasts - as well as professionals from all aspects of sport - can be accessed through this valuable database.


Sportdiscus.htm_txt_Sportdiscus.gif


This 27th June session is at Woodland Regional Library.
Again the session will be conducted by a person experienced in the use and application of SPORTDiscus so come on down to Woodlands and pick up some serious searching skills!! If you want to go it alond why not go to our e-Resources and look for EBSCOHost SPORTDiscus under Sport, Recreation and Travel

Posted by digitalk team at 03:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Beautiful Game : Events


"SOCCER SHORTS"
No, not those sort of shorts! The Beautiful Game month asks just how serious are Singaporeans about soccer? Short Films By Emerging Local Filmmakers set out to capture Singaporean's passion for soccer in three vignettes. The films featured are Jacen Tan's "Tak Giu", Eric Lim's "Who Say I Can't Play!" and Matt Lim's "Ball Is Round".

Date/Time : 25 June 2006 , 3.00 pm to 4.30 pm
Venue : Woodlands Regional Library - Programme Zone
Subject : All (English)
Presenter : The Substation Moving Images
Admission : Free admission

Posted by digitalk team at 02:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Beautiful Game : Events


Last Weekend of the Football Film Fiesta
Film - One Day in Europe
Date/Time : 25 June 2006 , 3.00 pm – 5.00 pm
Venue : Lee Kong Chian Reference Library - Level 5 - Possibility
Admission : Free admission

Set amongst the backdrop of the Champions League Final between Deportivo la Coruña and Galatasaray in Moscow, this film presents four stories set in four European countries and all of them involve thievery. The film showcases the different cultures and weaves numerous funny events around that without being stereotypical. An entreating show that exploits the comedic potential of language, this movie proves that football is the one thing that can inspire equal intensity and link the whole of Europe together. Director: Hannes Stohr Country: Germany/Spain Duration: 93mins Year: 2005

Posted by digitalk team at 02:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 23, 2006

The Beautiful Game : Morning Coffee Review 3


Group D review

1. Portugal 9 pts +4
2. Mexico 5 pts +1
3. Angola 2 pts -1
4. Iran 1 pt -5

Besides Argentina, I must say that Portugal impressed me the most and the amazing thing is that they played their best in their final 2-1 victory without Deco, Ronaldo, Pauleta and some other first-teamers. Tells you something, does it not? Deco has not been the miracle man everyone claims he is... I mean one long shot goal against Iran and suddenly you are world class?

The strength of the side is Felipe Scolari's obsession with defence; the fact that the backline has conceded only one goal is a great credit to his emphasis and it is this quality that will see them go far. Their second round clash against Holland is going to be GGGGGGRREEAT! (Tony the Tiger style)

Mexico? Looks good when they are good, looks bad when they are bad... They are worse than they think they are but are probably better than I make them out to be... Confused? That's what you get when you try to assess their form and prospects.

Angola is another African side that played above themselves... I loved their fighting spirit and the emotions they bring to the game... They may not be good enough to have made it into the round of 16 but I salute them.

Iran is another team I would salute...they played really well in patches but were always unable to sustain their form long enough... And I just want to use this opportunity to say that Hashimian and Khatabi SUCKS big time in front of goal... If they are international strikers, I play for Man United....

Posted by digitalk team at 12:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Beautiful Game : Morning Coffee Review 2


Group C review

1. Argentina 7 pts +7
2. Holland 7pts +2
3. Ivory Coast 3 pts -1
4. Serbia 0 pts -8

I don't need to talk any more about the group winners. Regular readers of this column know how I feel about the Salsa kings. They are simply sublime and lit up the first round for me. I just want to say: Thank You Argentina

Ivory Coast were a breadth of fresh air with their new attacking fervour and they were a complete opposite to the sterile side we saw at the African Nations Cup. There was only one problem: Didier Drogba. If anyone is wondering why Chelsea signed Andrei Shevchenko, they just need to watch Ivory Coast. Over the three games, he single-handedly condemned his side to two defeats with his misses. Any wonder that their only victory came when he was suspended?

Holland was a side that was hard to make a judgement on - while they looked good going forward, the side seemed a bit disjointed and surprisingly vulnerable in defence. At times, they looked contented to just coast through and that is something that would never happened with the Holland of old. If Total Football was Coke, then this is really Coke Light - sweet without the body.

Serbia? I feel sad for you but when you qualify conceding only one goal in the qualifiers, you know you have riddened your luck and what goes around is going to come around. Consolation? ....Actually none, considering you lost half your country also during the World Cup.

Posted by digitalk team at 12:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Beautiful Game: Morning Coffee Review


Group B review:

1. England 7 pts +3
2. Sweden 5 pts +1
3. Paraguay 3 pts 0
4. Trinidad 1 pt -4

Everyone in Singapore is familiar with the Chinese New Year and will know that very often at the Reunion Dinner, your mum or grands will inevitably serve the much treasured Buddha-Jump-Over-the-Wall. I hated this dish; the smell, the rich and cloy taste and the overloading amount of ingredients. In a way, England reminds me of this dish right now. With all the talents at Sven Goran Eriksson's disposal, there should be no way that he can create a side that looks so bad and so prehistoric.

Just like the dish I mentioned, when there are too many good ingredients, each of them will cancel out each other and nothing stands out. The mixture just stinks and the dish as a result becomes totally pedestrian. England have a lot of good players for who amongst the world can boast having Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney? But the fact remains that the 4-4-2 just doesn't work - not when Crouch and Rooney are like chalk and cheese and the same goes for Lampard and Gerrard.

When there is confusion, then this team resorts to the long ball tactics. This may have won them two games and enable them to top the group but truly, I have not seen play this bad for this long. Eriksson needs to be brutal: Bring in a defensive midfielder to allow Lampard and Gerrard to "chiong" forward and plant Crouch the beanpole in front like Liverpool does all the time. It is worse than watching paint dry but it wins you games and that's all that matters.

To be honest, I think that Paraguay is the best side over the course of the group games but wierd lapses of concentration like the own goal against England and last minute goal against Sweden doomed them. However it is my belief that they will be back.

T&T played within themselves, was supremely organised and tactical and produced performances beyond their abilities. Their point does not pay them the respect they have gained from everyone.

Sweden? Boring, plodding, old... they are going home in the second round guaranteed.

Posted by digitalk team at 12:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 22, 2006

The Beautiful Game : Morning Croissant 8


Some Grains from the Tittle-Tattle Mill

Under the Influence
It appears that the Ecuador Team need just a little help from the mystical forces - they have engaged a priest who practicies black magic for healing purposes - so I suppose that that is, technically, white magic? The mystic in question has gone around all of the World Cup venues blessing the pitches and goalposts with special attention given to Stuttgart for Sunday's game with England.

Sick of it all?
News from our media friends is that there has been a viral outbreak in the Munich International Broadcasting Centre
causing convulsions and vomitting. So contagious is it that a notice has been put up instructing journalists to "wash your hands; don't shake hands; if you are sick don't touch the vomit''. Charming

Minogue Sisters "defect"

The Australian team will have to look elsewhere for support - Danii and Kylie have succumbed to the gallic charms of Kylie's squeeze Oliver who is a Parisian - ergo he supports France (poor fool?). The soapy songbird sisters are happily looking forward to being dealt with strictly when they return to their native land.

Cup Cakes
Although India has not been conspicuously represented in any of the World Cups this has not stopped them trying to cash in on the mania/fever/hysteria. A baker from Jaipur has been doing a brisk trade in cakes with football-related themes showcasing them as a side show to a football-themed fashion show - talk about a cakewalk!

Conspicuous Consumption

Just to wash down those cakes and so the beer buffs out there get an idea of the quantities of the amber liquid being consumed - Cologne alone has ordered some 175,000 litres of beer for English fans. This is based on an estimate of five litres per person per day. At press time this had been exceeded by 50%


[courtesy of Factiva]

Posted by digitalk team at 03:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Beautiful Game : Quote 11


Stop and smell the foulers
"The human eye is not as quick as a computer, but the human mind can pick up all the nuances, all the smells, the looks on people's faces, and make a decision."
Chuck Fleischer, Referee

Posted by digitalk team at 11:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 21, 2006

Schools e-Sources:

A Starter Collection for Educators

The world of education is swiftly evolving as work practices and technology put different pressures on educators. Our databases offer easy access to a wide selection of authoritative journals which will support you professionally and keep you in touch with current thinking in all fields of education. Furthermore the depth and breadth of our e-collections means that if you are planning for any projects or lessons there is a wide range of e-resources to choose from :

For your Professional side
· ProQuest Education Complete
Provides access to over 1,000 top educational publications titles in full text. Key titles include Childhood Education, College Teaching, Harvard Educational Review.

· EBSCOhost Academic Search Premier
A multi-disciplinary database which provides full text for nearly 4,650 serials. Key titles Education & Teaching International, American Journal of Education and British Educational Research Journal

· Educator’s eCollection
with 250 full-text journals and several eBooks, such as Encyclopedia of Children and Childhood, Encyclopedia of Education and World Education Encyclopedia.

For your Everyday Needs
Particularly for Primary
· EBSCOhost Primary Search Premier has 60 popular magazines in full text for elementary school research with a reading level indicator. Magazines include Appleseeds, Boys' Life, Highlights for Children, Hopscotch, Science World, SuperScience and Time for Kids.

· TumbleBook Library is based on a collection of animated, talking picture books to encourage reading and the joy of reading in fun format.

Rapid Reference e-sources
· Through Xrefer Plus our reference sources include language dictionaries and thesauri as well as subject dictionaries on literature and language.

· Grolier sources include New Book of Knowedge and New Book of Popular Science as wellas the popular Multimedia Encyclopaedia

· The Oxford English Dictionary is the accepted authority on the evolution of the English language over the last millennium. It is an unsurpassed guide to the meaning, history, and pronunciation of over half a million words, both present and past.

· Gale Virtual Reference Library encyclopaedias and reference across a range of subjects, e.g., arts, biography, education, history, information and publishing, law, literature, medicine, multicultural studies, nation and world, religion, science, and social sciences.

Selected e-Sources For Secondary
· Xrefer Plus’ reference sources include Art, Music, History. Geography, Philosophy and Psychology

· ProQuest Social Science Journals offer 480 full text periodicals covering the entire social sciences.

· Pop Culture e-collection is a contemporary take on social science, history and art. Comprises of 100 full-text periodicals and eBooks

· Newsbank offers full-text local and regional newspapers (including Straits Times and Business Times) offering a variety of viewpoints on local and world issues. (available in NLB libraries only)

· Naxos Music Library offers a comprehensive collection of classical music online. Classical and jazz sheet music service SheetMusicNow.com can also be accessed directly through Naxos Music Library.

…. And don’t forget that NLB is active in making available older and contemporary Singapore and Asian materials through our Singapore Heritage Collection, Singapore Pages, InfoPedia and Singapore Story.

This is just a selection of the huge collection of e-resources available for schools and educators – so why not drop by now www.nlb.gov.sg - making a difference to your professional life

Posted by digitalk team at 10:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Beautiful Game : Morning Coffee Review


Group A Review
So the results are in and the final standings of Group A has been established. Let us now take a look back at the developments within this group but first here is the standings:

1. Germany 9 pts +6
2. Ecuador 6 pts 0
3. Poland 3 pts - 2
4. Costa Rica 0 pts - 5

The Germans have proved to be the class of the group and they could care less that their 3-0 win over Ecuador was tempered by the fact that the coach Luis Sanchez decided to rest 5 first team players. Jurgen Klinsmann will take heart from the performances of his team and the fact that they are slowly finding their form and consistency. At times in their last game, they looked quite awesome going forward.

The attacking style adopted by Germany has been one of the highlights of the Group A matches for me and this creates a lot of excitement both for the team as well as the supporters. With the crowd behind them, the German team is a real formidable opponent for whoever they may be meeting.

While the defence is still a concern for many, the fact remains that they have kept two clean sheets after the error-riden opening game and they once again showed their traditional never-say-die attitude with their last minute goal in the match against Poland.

The other surprise has been Ecuador who gained 6 points with two surprising victories. They shut the critics up (including yours truly) who felt that they only won because they played at a high altitude at home. Well they made minced meat of my predictions and in Agustin Delgado and Tenario, they have a twin terror frontline that is powerful and menacing. Their second round opponents had better beware.

If Ecuador was a surprise then Poland has to feel disappointed. They stumbled to a shock 2-0 defeat to Ecuador and never recovered. While their defence more than held their own, they had great difficulty scoring and one wonders if the decision to leave Tomaz Frankowski back home proved decisive. Even their only win against Costa Rica in their final game was secured with two goals from a defender.

Finally the Ticos. Costa Rica came without expectations and leave with no shame even though they lost all their games. Paulo Wanchope leaves with two goals against Germany while the likes of Solis, Bolanos and Ronald Gomez all put up good performances. They had nothing to be ashamed of.

So there you have it, the gist of the happenings in Group A. It went as expected but Ecuador's qualifying for the second round was the real surprise. Now the attention goes to Group B, and what a second round it is going to be if England finishes second and have to face Germany. That would be an earth shattering encounter.

Posted by digitalk team at 12:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Beautiful Game : Morning Coffee 18


Back to the Future

The games yesterday were a clear reflection of the saying, "The more things change, the more they stay the same". For once, the football powers flexed their collective muscles and got the victories they were looking for in emphatic fashion. Let us take a look at the results.

Switzerland 2 - 0 Togo
Ukraine 4 - 0 Saudi Arabia
Spain 3 - 1 Tunisia

It was a clockwork like performance for the Swiss who once again showed their tactical maturity by controlling the whole of the game without really threatening the Togo goal. Of the few chances that they had, the first was snapped up by top scorer Alexander Frei and from then on, they were in total control. The disappointing thing though was that they struggled to breakdown what was a pretty weak Togo defence so they really had to thank Barnetta for his cool finish 2 minutes from time to put the result beyond doubt.

For Ukraine, it was the restoration of the old partnership of Sergei Rebrov and Andrei Shevchenko that inspired them to a total win over the Saudis. The 4 goal victory wiped away the shame of the Spanish defeat and restored their hopes of making it into the second round. It was also quite stupid of the Saudi coach who had criticised the Ukrainians for being slow and lacking cohesion. Wonder how that egg on his face taste now?

Finally it was the return of the King Raul that rescued and ultimately inspired Spain to a 3 - 1 win over the Tunisians. In the space of just six minutes, Raul scored the equaliser and lifted the team but the other bright spot for Luis Aragones will be the tremendous form shown by Fernando Torres. He got his double with class and composure and if the rumours are to be believed, I can't wait to see him alongside Rooney in the red of Manchester United next season.

All in all, it was a good night for the favourites and give credence to the assertion by many that this World Cup has been very harsh on the lesser known nations. Well, as another saying goes, "The cream will always rise to the top".

Posted by digitalk team at 12:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 19, 2006

The Beautiful Game : Quote 10


"Everything in our favour was against us"

DANNY BLANCHFLOWER former Northern Ireland Manager

Posted by digitalk team at 06:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 18, 2006

The Beautiful Game : Morning Coffee : Weekend 1


Weekend Review
I guess this is a good a time as any to do a review of all the games that took place over the weekend... Let us just review the results:

Holland 2 - 1 Ivory Coast
Mexico 0 - 0 Angola
Portugal 2 - 0 Iran
Ghana 2 - 0 Czech Rep
Italy 1 - 1 USA

Congratulations to the Yankees and especially to the Africans. They showed just what desire, passion and commitment can achieve and for upsetting the old football hegemony, I salute them. They certainly brought a lot more colour and life back to this rather predictable World Cup so far.

As for the reasons for my absence, having to watch all the games and to put in all my "reports" was really taking a toil on me and I was a shadow of myself physically. However from time to time, there comes around a game that restores the faith and warms the soul. When a team moves and thinks as one, passing and receiving the ball like a well-tuned orchestra, there is no nothing better. You can really feel the joy and happiness eminating from the game.

The thing that stood out from the game was a goal of the highest quality - a 24-move creation that showcased the simplicity, beauty and sophistication of a round ball. It was so mesmerizing to watch, the final shot into the net seemed to pale in comparison. I have seen many great goals in the past - Cantona's chip against Soton, Rooney's volley against Newcastle and Gascoigne against Scotland in Euro 92 - and this effort has been included in that list.

When one watches a game, one never knows if one is going to see a goal much less a great one and if it even will happen from game to game but when it happens, it is a thing of beauty to be replayed in the mind again and again. The best thing is no two individual have the same lists and that adds to the beauty of it all. When you have a chance to catch such a creation and to see it happening before your eyes, it is like giving birth - it is a really beautiful moment.

Most people would talk about the emergence of Liionel Messi but to me, the Messi-Carlos Tevez-Riquelme three-headed monster is the modern day incarnation of Maradona. If the other teams in the tournament haven't found their dragonslayers, they can forget about winning. The standard has been set so for those who can't match up, its better that they head home.

However, the main thing about the match goes beyond winning or even being champions; no...this game was about the beauty and purity of the game - almost like taking a glimpse into football heavens. I was lucky to have been there and hope you were there too....

Oh... in case you were wondering, there was a result that was left out. For those who don't know what I am talking about, it probably won't matter to you. But for those who do, please join me in a simple tribute:


Thank You Argentina

Posted by digitalk team at 11:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Beautiful Game : Morning Coffee 17


Blunt Samurais
I don't know what to make of the Japanese...I kinda like them and they do have a midfield quartet that can hold their own against any in the world but they just seem to me to lack a little something that can take them over the hump. It almost seems to me that they are afraid of success, afraid of embracing what they have always wanted.

You know these people in school... they were the smart slackers as I would like to call them. They have fun, junk school and lessons and coast through. Yet when it comes to exams and stuff, they always do just enough to make it. It almost seem as if they were scared of applying themselves, of making the effort.

Perhaps it was a case where they shy from the responsibility and pressure that comes with success; the constant need to prove and improve, to upgrade and move onwards. If you were treated as a lost-case or a loser, there is no expectations and without expectations, anything you do will be a bonus. That's how I see this Japanese team.

All you need to know for this game is that Kawaguchi saved a penalty, Yaganisawa and Takahara were a waste of oxygen, Alex was hardworking and Nakata was their only purposeful individual and easily their best player.

Croatia? Nico Kranjar showed to all Singaporeans just why the "White Horse" policy works; amidst accusations of biasness (his father is the national coach) he was easily the best player from the two nations in this game and deserves a move to a big club. I would love to see him in the red of Man United....

Oh? I forgot to mention the score... nil - nil. Enough said.

Posted by digitalk team at 10:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 16, 2006

Art for Art's Sake : Art & Design

The Quick Guide to NLB Databases 1. - Art & Design


The diverse range of e-content available through our site includes a fair selection on Art and the Arts. Over the next few months we will be featuring more specific resources but what we would like to do, just to get things started, is highlight each of the art databases and what they offer.

1. Art Full Text and Art Index Retrospective

These are fundamentally bibliographic databases that provide citations to art periodical articles.
The subjects it covers are Advertising Art, Antiques, Archaeology, Architecture and Architectural History, Art History, Crafts, Decorative Arts, Folk Art, Graphic Arts, Industrial Design, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, Motion Pictures, Museology, Non-Western Art, Painting, Photography, Pottery, Sculpture, Television, Textiles

Art Index Retrospective articles are published between 1929-1984 whilst Art Full Text runs from 1984 to the present with the addition of abstracts for the articles. Certain periodicals from 1997 to present are available in full-text

2. CAMIO(Catalog of Art Museum Images Online)

CAMIO features digital versions of fine and decorative art from leading museums around the world. It contains approximately 90,000 works of art. The images, text and multimedia represent a broad range of works of art from the collections of prominent museums, which highlight the creative output of world cultures, from prehistoric to contemporary times, and cover the complete range of expressive forms. It covers B.C.E. to the present .
Its subject coverage is broad from Anthropology and Archaeology; to Architecture, Art andDesign. Geographically it spans Europe, ancient Greece and Rome; North America: inc. Pre-columbian (Meso-American) art; Asia, inc. Asia Minor; Africa; inc. ancient Egypt
The real draw of CAMIO is its high-resolution images of photographs, paintings, sculpture, decorative and utilitarian objects, prints, drawings and watercolors, jewelry and costumes, textiles, books, installations, and architecture—plus of course its audio-video and mixed media.

3. Design and Applied Arts Index (DAAI)
This database offers access to a universe of design and craft journals, dating back to 1973, and is updated on a monthly basis. Subject coverage includes furniture design, interior design, jewellery and ceramics.
In addition to the journals database, DAAI includes as a supplementof an international periodicals directory of design and craft journals, based on the titles indexed by DAAI, providing publication details for each title.
Research articles are covered, along with topical news items, conference and seminar reports, and book, video and exhibition reviews. Each reference includes full bibliographic details and a brief abstract.

4. Grove Art Online
Comprehensive and reliable, drawing on the full text of The Dictionary of Art, and The Oxford Companion to Western Art, both of which are recognized as significant visual arts reference resources. Grove offers information on all aspects of world art, continuously updating existing articles and adding new ones. The contributors are all renowned experts in their fields
It includes access to thousands of images from the Art Resource and Bridgeman Art Library collections in thumbnail format as well as line drawings displayed within the text of articles- finally it offers extensive image links to help you explore beyond Grove.

5. National Palace Museum (NPM) Online

No need to visit Taipei to get an idea of the incomparable collections of the National Palace Museum - it is now available on the web through NLB. Collections are classified into seven categories: painting, calligraphy, ceramics, jade, bronze, Buddhist antiques, and rarities. This database is available in simplified English, Chinese, traditional Chinese and Japanese.

Posted by digitalk team at 08:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Beautiful Game : Events

The Film Fiesta ...second week....

"The Beautiful Game" Film Fiesta courtesy of the Goethe Institut continues on Sunday night 18th June with "Fimpen der Knips" This comedy is about the rise to glory of a six year old Fimpen who get to play with the national team of Sweden in their quest to qualify for the World Cup. Underneath this little charming tale lurks the story of the near-tragedy of a childhood that is sacrificed on the altar of competition.
Date/Time : 18 June 2006 , 3.00 pm – 5.00 pm
Venue : Lee Kong Chian Reference Library - Level 5 - Possibility
Subject : Sports
Admission : Free admission

Posted by digitalk team at 05:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Beautiful Game : Events

Ever wonder why boys should have all the soccer fun? Are you a woman with a hidden desire to be a centre forward or even with the tiniest urge to get your hands (or legs) on a football and have never had the courage to do it?

The SMU Women's Soccer Team will show you how girls can be good at soccer too! There will also be a short sharing session by the team members and a demonstration of some nifty footwork and daring football tricks. ... and maybe you'll inspired and able to join in this event next year!

Date/Time : 17 June 2006 , 3.00 pm to 4.00 pm
Venue : Woodlands Regional Library
Subject : Sports (English)
Presenter : SMU Women Soccer Team
Admission : Free admission

Posted by digitalk team at 04:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Beautiful Game : 16 June

Click image to view full coverBoth Feet on the Ground: An Autobiography
Adobe eBook

by:David Beckham & Tom Watt

In the next week you might find yourself in front of a World Cup TV experience that features Mr. Beckham gliding in his customary way across your screen. If at that point you say to yourself "What makes the man tick?" then you could turn to this title from our e-book collection.

It is of course written by the man about the man but in this book the blurb suggests that" the international soccer star speaks candidly about the pressures of celebrity, goes behind the scenes of his most memorable career moments -- and sets the record straight." Intrigued? Well - read on !
To access this title! Click on OVERDRIVE

Posted by digitalk team at 03:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Art for Art's Sake : Music

Brace yourself for a new Music experience - 8,800 CDs, 15,000 Music Scores!

Our music collection has just got 100% better. With Naxos Music Library and Sheet Music joining International Index to Music Periodicals Full-Text (IIMP) and xreferplus Music.

is the most comprehensive collection of classical music available online. Choose from the entire Naxos and Marco Polo catalogues of recordings (over 8,800 CDs or 130,000 tracks) as well as other licensed independent labels, from classical music (ballet, chamber music, choral, concertos, film music, instrumental, musicals, opera/ operetta, orchestral, TV music, vocal) to blues, jazz, new age, nostalgia, world, and Chinese music. The database also contains accompanying notes on the works, artists and composers, opera synopses and libretti, audio books, and other reference resources.Classical and jazz sheet music service. So why don't you go there now?
and as an added Plus our other newbie - SheetMusicNow.com can be accessed directly through Naxos Music Library.