hardtack

On 24/05/2025 at 17:24, beelzebub said:

That's good news. Acknowledging my wife's battle as well as her sister's a lot seems to this observer to be battles within battles. That's some good news for you.

Battles within battles is right on the money! Everything can turn on a dime, but while it’s heading in the right direction, I’m riding that wave all the way to the beach.

I have a friend, another musician (his brother was half of the avant garde band from the 1980’s, Severed Heads), and he was given four months back in 2017, but he defied the odds and is still with us. Just recently he had a relapse and again, was told he should probable get his affairs in order, but again he seems to be defying the odds… he’s a true inspiration to me.

Anyway, I have booked the Marrickville Bowlo (bowling club) for Aug 31st with both his band (The Chickenstones) and my band (Los Romeos Oxidados) playing… this is the carrot on a string to get us moving in the right direction with our states of health… I’m hoping to use it to raise money for cancer research and am hoping to get the bowling club to match all contributions.

Here’s his band The Chickenstones (his name is Andy Ellard)… Andy is the blond guy on lead vocals (interestingly, the guitarist in the hat has the family name of Van Rooyen, but no relation):

Would love to go, but getting anywhere beyond my local shopping centre is a bridge too far. They should be putting these things on at my local pub in Dulwich Hill 😁

Enjoy the event and Go Dees!

On 26/05/2025 at 18:24, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

Bit of time on my hands!...

Let's assume we can't bridge the percentage gaps (though more on that later). And let's assume we can't catch Suns, Lions (currently 3 wins ahead) or Magpies (4).

Next round, for us and the teams ahead of us on the ladder, if teams higher on the ladder than their opposition win, the 4th-11th 'wins ladder' will be: Crows 8, Cats 8, Hawks 7, Giants 7, Dogs 6, Dockers 6, Bombers 6, Demons 6.

Then, if, in the remaining rounds, those 7 teams above us lose to those currently above them and defeat those currently below them, the final 'wins ladder' for them would be: Cats 17, Crows 15 + Demons game, Dogs 14 + Demons game, Hawks 13 + Demons game, Giants 13, Dockers 13, Bombers 11.

Most likely minimum requirement, then, is 14 wins, to sneak into 8th, at the expense of Giants. Wins against Hawks, Hawks and Dogs, and Hawks, Dogs and Crows would be necessary for 7th, 6th, and 5th, respectively, to come into play in this scenario.

So, at least 9 wins (including next week) from 12 remaining games, 3 of which are against current 1st, twice, and 3rd.

If we could bridge the percentage gap to the Giants in this scenario (currently 17%) we could sneak into 8th with 13 wins.

My head is spinning!

13 hours ago, Redbeard said:

Few songs I've been spinning of late.

Kyle used to make my favourite beer years ago (big coincidence with that surname), now he makes some of my favourite songs.

Watty I've posted before, this one is pretty powerful and the message rings true. If you're struggling reach out and talk to your mates.

And Marlon, they've been playing this new record heaps on Double J. All sung in Māori, it's beautiful

Wow!! I think I need to crawl out from under this rock (of illness) I’ve been living under, and experience more music, rather than being comfortable with my tired old playlists!!

I hadn’t previously heard any of these people before, but each of them is stunningly good and I’ll be listening a whole lot more from now on! Thanks so much for posting them!!

That Kyle Brew song (God’s Plan) for some reason reminds me of a song I’ve heard before, but that’s not a put down… it’s a lyrically and musically brilliant piece of work! And his guitar playing is so good… maybe the fact that just last night I’d watched ‘A Complete Unknown’, had triggered something in me, that made me watch and listen more closely?

Watty Thompson…who is he and where did he come from?? That was seriously one of the best live performances I have heard in a long time (how the hell did he manage all of those people on stage… a coordinator’s nightmare)… the introduction to the song got me REALLY listening, and then the lyrics he was singing and the music that accompanied them, simply had me in tears! Seriously! Really in tears.

I did love the Marlon Williams song, but coming after the first two songs seemed to lessen its affect on me. Perhaps it was spoiled somewhat by the perfect production, following on from the rough and readiness of those other two songs that seemed to ooze authenticity,?… I don’t know. But I did love it regardless.. those harmonies were breathtakingly beautiful.

Again, thanks so much for sharing!!

Lever - is he injured?

16 hours ago, picket fence said:

Wrong, I didn't like playing him on no form and yes the result was minimal possesions, and knew he would be dropped and was! I MAINTAIN Goodwin does this a lot, plays out of form players for an eternity or players who have come back from a long layoff, thus setting players up for failure. I have put up suggestions for a better functioning forward line without Jefferson, and until he kicks multiple bags should stay at Casey. JOHNSON should not be in the team based on his meagre possesions in the last two games and I dont care if he is the incredible Hulk!

Sigh!

34 minutes ago, DeeBlood said:

I'm calling him the "Wrecking Bald"!!

The best named player, and one that doesn’t need a nick name, is Baldi at Casey. And he’s not a bad player, either.

6 hours ago, picket fence said:

6 possesions in the modern game, seriously??????? You and others hang ur hat on a so called tough guy, coz as supporters we yearn for the Rod Grinter/ Byron Pickett type.... but this bloke aint it PERIOD! GO rubbish urself!

PF, what’s this sudden obsession you have with possessions? AJ’s pressure acts yesterday netted four goals (I believe it was); he may not be taking speccies or busting packs, ball in hand, turning on a dime and kicking a goal from deep in the pocket, but he’s ending up with the same result (a goal) by simply pressuring his opponent and putting in second and third efforts.

And while we’re on the subject of possessions, where were these comments when Jeffo (who I like by the way), was getting next to no possessions and no scores to at least make his time on the field worthwhile? You NEVER had a bad word for him, yet he WAS failing badly as a key forward. Consistency please.

1 hour ago, BDA said:

great selection. stands out amongst the dross (didn't Joe Daniher have Let it go from Frozen).

my favourite clash tune is london calling. still an absolute banger to this day

would love to see someone selct angel of death from slayer. would be class to hear it pounding out across the gabba

I’d like to hear They’re Coming To Take Me Away ( by Napoleon Bonaparte the 3rd) played every time Zorko gets near the ball.

26 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

Yeah Ryan was there. He’d go to Mars to watch our beloved Dees. Ryan doesn’t look it, but he’Il be 43yo in July. He also doesn’t act it and he’s the first to admit it 😊). As @Katrina Dee Fan said, he’s the most gracious beautiful person you could ever hope to meet. Every week we see little kids watching him and trying to emulate him. It’s heartwarming.

I ran into this guy there as well as Max Walker… I think I have a photo of the three of us together… I’m pretty sure I have a photo of Ryan but it’s probably on one of my hard disk drives somewhere. If I can find it, I’ll post a copy here.

48 minutes ago, Katrina Dee Fan said:

I definitely concur Ryan is absolutely a champion human being, always has a hug for you when you see him. He's seriously the most gracious person you could possibly get to know.

I’m pretty sure that I met him at the Shanghai game vs the Lions way back when (or would he have been too young?).

9 minutes ago, Gorgoroth said:

Agree but he could have chosen a better song from the Clash

True.. Guns On the Roof, Tommy Gun, their version of Pressure Drop or even I Fought the Law, Charlie Don’t Surf, Somebody Got Murdered, their version of Police On My Back or Police and Thieves … I could go on, but I better not.

As much as I dislike Brisbane, I cannot, and I make no apologies for this at all, I just cannot dislike a player who has a Clash song as his goal scoring choice… Darcy Gardiner, you absolutely Rock the Casbah!!

Update as I enter fortnightly cycle #9. I can’t recall whether I previously mentioned what is called the CEA marker in my blood tests (probably did, but the chemo is really affecting my short term memory big time). This marker gives an indication as to the level of activity in the rectal tumour.

When I was put back on the chemo, one of the reasons was that the CEA marker was 26 (when I was put on chemo the first time in 2023, it was 12), but now, roughly four months in, it is down to 9.1, which is very promising considering the normal range is between zero and three. Of course this doesn’t reflect the state of the traces in my lungs and liver, but hopefully if the immunotherapy part of my chemo is beating the hell out of my tumour, there’s a good chance it’s doing the same to the other bits and pieces! I guess I just have to wait until they decide I need a CT scan.

For distraction purposes, I provide my view of the infusion room, otherwise known as the Day Therapy Centre. Done using a photo I took and then distorted somewhat using AI.

6 hours ago, Smokey said:

Take a bow Melk, Bowey, Langdon, XL and Turner. Those 5 were the difference today.

How could you leave Max out of that list (he’d probably be my second picked after Melksham)?

Is it just me, or does that Brisbane jumper make it look like they’re showing crack?

Is there any chance that they have planned for a ‘late out’ (no idea who) and that all five currently on the bench will be in the starting 22 and Laurie becomes the sub?

3 hours ago, Random Task said:

3 hours ago, Dingo said:

Todd Goldstein is playing for Essendon.Not bad for an old fella.

Yes, I think he’s the exception to the rule, besides which, he’s now the second string ruck who’s only been brought into the team to fill the vacancy left by Draper.

I’d much prefer to see Max go out on top, rather than being relegated to being someone who sits at Casey waiting for an opportunity to get a run in the AFL.

I’m not a religious fella, but I’m praying that he’ll somehow manage to get another All Australian guernsey, so he can leave no doubt in anyone’s minds (not that there should be) as to who was the GOAT!!

3 hours ago, jaydenh10 said:

max 2 or 3

viney 3 or 4

may 1

lever 2

tmac 3 or 2

melk 1

I think you’re being a little over optimistic where Max is concerned, Lever 2 years?? That’s crazy talk!! He’s 29… and probably has a good 4 years left in him (injuries permitting), and I’ll be very surprised if TMac goes beyond next year.

But that’s just my opinion… it’d be pretty boring if we all agreed about everything.

21 hours ago, mmwd6 said:

I'm not happy about it cos it means we'll lose Kozzy for nothing and get Jackson back for him who we don't really need considering Max is still the best in the comp.

Just how many years do you think are left in Max??… I give him one or two (tops) as his body is starting to show the strain of pretty much carrying the entire team for so long. We are going to need a new number 1 ruck, and that sure as hell will not come from the next draft.

3 hours ago, Whispering_Jack said:

It appears that Jack Viney might not be the only mystery injury of the week

Is Jack a mystery injury? I’m sure it was mentioned on one of the Foxtel Footy shows the other night (last night maybe?) that he was omitted with a concussion.

1 hour ago, DEE fence said:

I always thought Zak Butters and Ramsay Bolton had a certain affinity... would love Zak at Melbourne fwiw

15 hours ago, hardtack said:

True to form I quoted the wrong post… apologies General!!

On 30/10/2018 at 12:14, La Dee-vina Comedia said: