New Orleans...

I set off for New Orleans early on Friday morning, and I have to say I am slightly apprehensive about it. On one hand, I cant wait to get there an talk to the people who are making a huge difference, the people who are fighting for the right of ALL New Orleans residents to return to the city, despite the efforts of some to keep some people out.

On the other hand, I may be reminded of how heartbroken, and how angry I was last year when the Government abandoned the citizens. I almost got that angry the day after watching Spike Lee's documentary, when the very well meaning New Orleans Citizen Rockey Vaccarella met with George Bush. Call me cynical, but that was exactly the kind of PR that George Bush was begging for. But it wont help him deal with the heat he will no doubt get this week, as people are reminded about what Brownie, Bush et al didnt do.

The Heavies and NOLA Levees.

No, I have nothing clever to say, just two things:

The first being - This summer, The Brand New Heavies are back with a new album, called Get Used to It. Go and check it out - it's worth it. It's been a long time, and N'Dea Davenport is back in the mix after several years away - which is just a wonderful thing. Now, while we love Carleen Anderson (come on, sing along, 'Apparently Nothing, nothing apparently...' hmmm, is the GB officially Old Skool now?? Guess so...), and yes - their stint with Siedah Garrett on 1997's Shelter was pretty darned good too, things just seem a little better with The Heavies and N'Dea.

In other news, Spike Lee's latest documentary, When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts premiered on HBO in the US tonight. It was powerful and sobering. If you can watch it, do. And you should check out the documentary film by Royce Osborn (he is also a New Orleans Native and Katrina survivor) called All on a Mardi Gras Day. The GB will be heading to New Orleans on Friday, August 25 for a few days. Look out for some reports from the area - as well and an interview with Royce Osborn on the September edition of My Lens.

Watch this: 'Terrorism isnt the issue, the Issue is Power': A short PSA from Electronic Lebanon

'In the weeks after Israel launched its attack on Lebanon, a team of New York-based artists, designers, and multimedia producers converged on a warehouse location in Brooklyn to create a Public Service Announcement for Electronic Lebanon'. The PSA features Suheir Hammad, Danny Hoch and others. It was apparently projected onto buildings on Saturday night in Brooklyn and Detroit. It's short, to the point and poignant: http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article5473.shtml

Want to know what is happening on the ground in Lebanon? Read on...

It was reported this afternoon that Lebanon and Hezbollah agreed on the UN resolution. Just minutes before, I received this report from Judith LeBlanc, the National Co chair for progressive coalition, United For Peace and Justice. She is in Beirut right now, with a small US peace delegation. I wonder what the people on the ground think about the decisions made 'upon high'.

--------------

Eyewitness Report
Beirut on Day 29 of the War

By Judith Le Blanc
United For Peace and Justice National Co chair

On day 29 of the war, Beirut is a blend of many realities. The facts are that 1,000 have died, over 3,000 have been injured in Lebanon. Most are children. Whole villages and sections of cities have been evacuated, and life continues.

Every night there are new bombings of apartment buildings in Beirut and homes in southern Lebanon. Tyre has been blockaded and every major highway has been bombed. The United Nations says their humanitarian aid programs are paralyzed now.

Some Lebanese feel that the world has abandoned them. Many believe that Lebanon will survive as it has in the wars of the past. Time is not standing still. With every day the situation becomes more dire.

The spiral of continued war and failed diplomatic initiatives leaves the Lebanese government unable to make a full accounting of the extend of the damage to the infrastructure or the impact on the economy.

Families are trying to survive together and when possible they have sent their relatives to Syria or other countries even further away. One man who waited in line behind me to use the pay phone told me he sent his wife and children to another country. He stayed behind because his 90 year old mother refused to leave her apartment. He said

There are the families crowed into apartments waiting for the war to end. The families from the south of Lebanon sit under tarps for another day in Beirut's parks while others sit in public schools.

Cars form long lines at the few gas stations open while their drivers periodically erupt. into arguments.

Not too far off shore oil tankers are wait behind the Israeli Naval blockade while the hospitals report that they only have two days of fuel left. The tankers won’t move with out written permission from the Israelis.

While the banks are the only business running on regular business hours, they fear that many loans will not repaid.

Small clothing stores are having sales for no shoppers. A French owned store laid off 200 workers. At the protest outside the store, the workers said why do you lay us off in a time of need? Most workers are on half days if at all. Others are being forced to take their vacation time.

In the Hamra neighborhood where Muslim, Christian and Druze live together small shops stay open while periodic power outages compel the use of small generators. It is less than 2 miles away from the southern neighborhoods bombed in the last few days.

Haret Hraik, a neighborhood in southern Beirut, has been bombed for three nights in a row. Almost all the small shops are closed except for an occasional tire repair shop. We went to photograph the damage. When we got out of the car there were many press photographers who asked where we were from. We went on to another block where a group of men were watching the bulldozing of buildings bombed two nights ago. They asked where we were from, of course, and then they offered us chocolates!

We talked of the war and its impact. At one point, a man came up and asked what media we represented. He was from Hezbollah. They have set up guards and street patrols. He told us where to go to register to get an inside tour. The second time we were stopped, a man on a scooter pulled the car over.he told us not to photograph at all and gave us the address to register for permission.

Amongst the rubble of a bombed out building, I spoke with a man named Idriss. We were watching the bull dozing of a building that had been bombed two night s before. He had lived in New York City before Sept 11. When he was deported from the US, the immigration officials told him they were sorry, but because he is Arab and Muslim he would have to leave.

We chatted about New York City and he asked where I lived. When I told him that I can see Yankee Stadium from my bathroom window, he wanted me to go see his good friend Sami at his corner store at 161 Street in the Bronx.

He spoke of the senselessness of the bombing, but also reminded me that the bombs were sold to Israel by the US. I took his picture and promised to go to see his friend.

Over the past three days, many have said that Hezbollah is not the issue now. It’s the war. Some have said that Bush and the Israelis began this war to split the people along religious lines. More than one person said they believed this war was planned long ago. Some also believed the bombing was to force the people to decide to be for or against Hezbollah.

At noon time, as we photographed the clean up of one bombed out neighborhood, we were told by the press that another Israeli air raid had happened.

We thought we saw leaflets falling outside our window. Now they are reporting on CNN that yes, leaflets are being dropped in central Beirut. That has been the practice before a bombing. CNN is reporting that the Israeli government has decided to bomb closer to the center of the city.

There are many realities that are going on here. There is hope and there is fear. There is also a struggle to bring people together and lay the basis for a better future even while the end of this war is not in sight.

Filed UK Bomb plots - Who is a real terrorist, part three

This is what the CNN ticker said during its coverage on Friday, August 11:

'ITV: One suspect may have worked at Heathrow Airport'.

Many, many South Asians who were born, went to school and live in and around West London have jobs at Heathrow (five terminals yo, that's a lot of jobs). One can only imagine how they are feeling right now, afterall, in this climate of fear, people are increasingly becoming less trusting of each other. So, not only are South Asian men (who may not even be Muslim to start of with, but hey, who is asking? Certainy not the people attacking them) increasingly feeling under suspicion from the rest of the community because of the actions of a few; those who work in Heathrow Airport are now probably in fear of their job security. I am sure they certainly don't feel comfortable right now.

Meanwhile the politicians are trying to get as much political capital out of it. And its not like people around the world aren't skeptical about what happened this week. Read this, for example http://www.tehrantimes.com/Description.asp?Da=8/12/2006&Cat=2&Num=017

It feels like we're in a 'Superman' film or something. It's bad enough when you can't trust your politicians to tell us the truth, but when so many people actually suspect that their politicians are cooking up something serious up for political gain - you know we're in deep doo doo.

Its official, Africans are in fashion.

OK, OK, OK. So, you have probably heard about the Keep A Child Alive Campaign featuring Gwyneth Paltrow, Liv Tyler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Iman et al. If not, let The GB break it down for you. It's a campaign featuring pictures of these stars, with some African....er... accessories and stuff...with the caption, 'I Am African'. And its caused a stir in many quarters. First off, let's point positive. The Keep A Child Alive Campaign is one that people really should probably check out. The goal is a good one, as explained in it's title...And the people involved in the campaign to eradicate AIDS in the continent of Africa have had much success and obviously figured that, as we are living in the era of celebrity culture, the only way to get people's attention is to get some celebs to endorse the cause, right? Right! No one would disagree that celebrity endorsements can help - and if the celebs want to help out a cause they care about, great!...So, what's wrong with this picture??:





















Now, here is the thing. When The GB was sent the message, (by someone who knew that this would provoke a reaction...!), it caused some confusion - and amusement. Here is an (edited) snippet of The GB's response back:


'Isht. I don’t even know where to start... on the face of it, I thought it was a move to say that human kind started in Africa, and that we all come from the same place - which I thought was bold, even though Gwyneth doesnt look like any African I know. Then I read the words on the ad and my head nearly blew off... What are they trying to say? Really?! Are they saying that if AIDS affects one of us, it affects all of us? I think that is what they THINK they are saying, but that isnt the message anyone is getting. I DO think that they are saying, Gwyneth likes Africans, and you should too... And what is with the stripes on her face??...Oh, they are 'African' tribal paint marks, I seeeeeeeee...and is that necklace supposed to be from Africa?...Whoo, I need to go, I need to laugh some more.

And it seems that The GB wasn't alone in feeling like well meaning liberals got it WRONG AGAIN. If people stopped talking ABOUT and started talking TO each other, I bet we wouldnt have this mess. Did anyone from the Keep A Child Alive Campaign talk to people of African descent - other than the superstars involved in the campaign - about their thoughts on the campaign, and its message, given the longstanding problems of negative portrayals of Africans in the Western media (think: flies and swollen bellies, dancing in the streets after a coup/sporting event...hacking some kind of tree... arrid desert, get the picture??!!) Looking at the response to the campaign, it doesn't feel like it. Can anyone say FOCUS GROUP??! The picture below, comes from Gawker.com. Read and laugh until you weep:

Note to all men...

So, tonight: I am returning home (alone) from an excellent night out with my friend. As I am walking home, I stop to adjust something and some young bratty man-boy (he is also on his own), half my size starts to holla at me. I ignored him. I turned around to make sure he was gone, and guess what? He was following me! My instinct told me not to walk home, because, if he worked out where I lived, there could be problems (I have been in this situation before, this move worked last time). So, I stopped, thinking of how I could make him go away. He asked me my name. I asked why. He said he just wanted to know. He asked if he could walk me home, I said no. Then (and take note MEN), he asked me if I want sex.... I told him where to go (in no uncertain terms) and continued my journey home, only this time, I speed walked, and spent my time looking behind my shoulder, to make sure that New Jack Virgin wasnt following me home. This is not the first time I have been in this situation. And I know I am not the only woman who has been subjected to this madness. A few years ago, some dude purposely got on my train (he was originally going in the other direction, he told me) , proceeded to stare at me throughout the 30 minute journey, then (almost) followed me home. I say almost because when I realised that there was no stopping this individual, I decided to stop and ask him what he thought he was doing (it was daylight, I felt that I could get away with it). So, I asked him if he had a sister. He said yes, and I asked him if he would appreciate his sister telling him that she went out on a date with some guy who followed her on the subway. He said no, the conversation ended there, and he thankfully took his ass back on the subway into the city.

Men, talk to your brothers. The ones, who think they are fresh or just need to get some; the ones who feel that they can ask a random woman to give them what they want. Enough already. Tell them there are ways to get a woman's attention, and asking for sex, two minutes after asking a woman her name, just isnt cool. Neither is following them. Tell them they could get in trouble for that - if not with the police, with the woman's family/man, or worse/better yet, the woman herself (when her foot connects with his groin). And tell them that crass talk like that doesn't make the ladies feel nice. I realise things really aren't good on the equality front (dont give me that, 'but women have great jobs' line, we still dont have equal access to power...), but this is taking the piss. The irony is I had just finished reading a great book by Jill Nelson, which made me feel empowered, but this situation left me feeling vulnerable, and on the defensive again.

If I see the brat again I am kicking him in the goolies (nuts to the rest of the world).

LISTEN My Lens: Hip Hop and Politics. Who is the Monkey...?!

Well, you will have to listen right to the end of this show to know what I am talking about! First off, thank you for the positive feedback on My Lens. Hope you enjoy this months show as much as you enjoyed the last one (if not more). On this months show, we look at the ways that Hip Hop has enacted political change, and present a report from the National Hip Hop 'Political Convention, featuring voices from The Pioneers and Powerbrokers of Hip Hop Culture'. Voices featured include: DJ Paradise, formerly of the X Clan (remember the African pendants that everyone wore back in the day? He is one of the people responsible for making us think they were smart and cool - which they were...), King Kamonzi of the Universal Zulu Nation, David Nelson, one of the founding members of The Last Poets - the group that many cite as a bedrock of modern conscious Hip Hop Culture - and the first group to freestyle and Davey D, Hip Hop journalist. In the second part of the show, we touch base with WANLOV, the Romanian-born, Ghanaian-bred rapper about the influence US Hip Hop had on his career, his politics and much more. Check it out, its a good 'un - but please note, that ONE of the songs uses language that might cause offense. Hey - its better that we let you know, right??!


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Introducing...British Brother

Ever wondered what a right wing socialist thinks about?! Then read a NEW BLOG, written by a British Born Jamaican Brotha, who, unless he tells me I can give out his name, shall remain anonymous. Guess what it's called?? British Brother. Yes, HE spells 'Brother' properly (unlike the 'Blend). OK, he isn't a right wing socialist... he's more of a libertarian (hahahaha), but whatever you want to call him, the blog will be very entertaining. BB's already cussed inconsiderate people on the subway (his wife is pregnant and those nasty ass people wont give up a seat for her), and the man referred to as the British Prime Minister - the man, the 'Blend will refer to today as Tone B.

In the meantime, stay tuned for the AUGUST edition of MY LENS: Putting our lives back into context. Its gonna be TIGHT. You'll get a report from the National Hip Hop Convention, plus an interview with the international man of Hip Hop, Wanlov. Its a great interview. Check it out on August 1.

More tomorrow...

It's too hot to do anything

Hmmm. While Britain has sent resuce ships to get its citizens out of Lebanon, the US will be sending an ageing ship to the country to collect citizens. And those citizens have to sign a note promising to pay for their rescue. Tell me that isnt messed up. As a listener said on RadioNation with Laura Flanders, yesterday, that there are echoes of Hurricane Katrina all over this... I could go on and on about this ever escalating crisis, but I wont. Cause I wont stop ranting. But that said, I can't say too much today, cause, its too darned hot... HOT. HOT!! 100 degrees people!! And it will be HOTTER tomorrow!!

Reality Check: It's hard out there...

If you have a few moments, please watch this AMAZING, SAD and BEAUTIFUL online slideshow. I got this from the people at Global Information Network. The slideshow highlights the experiences of the many Africans who travel from the continent to Europe - via Spain - to try to find work - and what many believe to be a better life. And before anyone out there jumps off on their tirade about people going over to 'steal' jobs, or work for nothing, think for one little second about WHY people all over the world are trying to find jobs that 'pay better' elsewhere in the first place. Immigrants - on the whole - aren't trying to leave what is familiar to them just for the hell of it; they look elsewhere because they need to survive. So far this year, more than 10,000 Africans have arrived in boats on Spanish beaches.

The song that is played during the slideshow is called ‘Sunugaal’ - or "Our Canoe", and is composed by DJ Awadi, one of Senegal's best known rappers and producers. He says that he has friends who have died, '...some arrived in Spain but said they had survived after their boat sank and others had drowned.' He also says that if Sunugaal does exceptionally well after its online exposure, he may consider doing the same with other songs. Here is the link to the slideshow: http://www.studiosankara.com/sunugaal.html

World Cup Cold Turkey...? NEVER!! (pt 2)

What was THAT final about??! I was not a happy child yesterday. France lost on penalties, and Zidane head-butted a player (and, while I think that was a silly thing to do, I do agree with those who say he was provoked).

Well, for those of you who want more international football action and a) live in the UK and/or b) want to check out new and interesting programs via the internet, you should definitely look out for 'Inner City World Cup'. If you want to see what REALLY happens when people from different nations compete on a 'level playing field' (soreeee), and want to see some real culture clashes (sorreeeee again), then, this is probably the programme for you! 'Inner City World Cup' is about an 'alternative' World Cup tournament held in London at the same time the FIFA 2006 World Cup. It doesn't just document the tournament, though, you'll get an insight into the social and political implications of this meeting of cultures - and a real look into 'multi-cultural London', as 'participants reflect on life as an immigrant... discuss the difficulties of being accepted, as well as the positive opportunities this “mini-world cup” provides for integration with different ethnic communities'.

The programme comes courtesy of the people at The Community Channel (nice one Abigail Dankwa), and is getting some good press. Read about what the British paper 'The Guardian' has to say about it here. For those who don't live in the UK, get more info at www.communitychannel.org

ALREADY!!!!!!

Less than 5 mins and Les Bleus have scored! Blimey! Zidane scored! Wow!

World Cup cold turkey? NEVER!!

Well, as mentioned in previous posts, due to certain cultural affiliations, the fact that France has only won the tournament ONCE before (vs Italy's THREE times already), and (quite frankly) France's performance during the tournament, the GB is going to go with Les Bleus, rather than the Azzurri.

Let's hope this final is better than the last World Cup final in which Brazil (who...?!! tee hee) beat Germany. And let's hope that the BOYS - the BLACK STARS return in 2010! In the meantime, check out an interview with Kwabena Ofori, a Ghanaian sports journalist, who reported on this years World Cup, for the radio show Afro-Dicia, on KPFK (Skip the (confusing) intro, and click on the listen link - before Saturday, July 15). He summed up why this World Cup has been so special for a lot of Ghanaian's - and Africans, during the interview. Listen out for the part where Ofori says that hearing the Ghanaian national anthem being played during the tournament made him cry. AND keep listening for the Hi Life CLASSIC BOSOE by Joe Mensah! Shame they didn't play all 200 hours (ok, just kidding - just under 10 minutes, really...) of the song. But those old Hi Life songs do go on FOREVER, or at least that is how it felt when you were dancing to them with your parents (or the funky uncle or auntie) who interrupted your play time and forced you to dance with them, at 'functions'.

And, because all roads lead to Ghana, in this World Cup as far as the GB is concerned (!!), the last word on THIS post goes to UN Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan (yesssss, predictably, a Ghanaian), who, on July 8, reflected on why observing events at the FIFA World Cup in Germany has left the UN green with envy:

'Today is an exciting day for all speakers of the universal languages of football as the emblem of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa has been unveiled. The United Nations fully relies on this language as it promotes fair play, which is the blueprint to build a better world. After all, in 2005 at the World Summit the sport was described as a mean to foster peace and development.

The World Cup makes us in the UN green with envy. As the pinnacle of the only truly global game, played in every country by every race and religion, it is one of the few phenomena as universal as the United Nations. You could even say it's more universal. FIFA has 207 members; we have only 191. But there are far better reasons to be envious.

First, the World Cup is an event in which everybody knows where their team stands, and what it did to get there. They know who scored and how and in what minute of the game; they know who missed the open goal; they know who saved the penalty. I wish we had more of that sort of competition in the family of nations. Countries openly vying for the best standing in the table of respect for human rights, and trying to outdo one another in child survival rates or enrolment in secondary education.

Second, the World Cup is an event which everybody on the planet loves talking about. People sitting in cafés, anywhere from Buenos Aires to Beijing, debating the finer points of games endlessly, and expressing themselves on the subject with as much clarity as passion. Normally tongue-tied teenagers suddenly becoming eloquent, confident, and dazzlingly analytical experts.

I wish we had more of that sort of conversation in the world at large. Citizens consumed by the topic of how their country could do better on the Human Development Index, or in reducing the number of carbon emissions or new HIV infections.

Third, the World Cup is an event which takes place on a level playing field, where every country has a chance to participate on equal terms. Only two commodities matter in this game: talent and team work. I wish we had more levellers like that in the global arena. Free and fair exchanges without the interference of subsidies, barriers or tariffs. Every country getting a real chance to field its strengths on the world stage.

Fourth, the World Cup is an event which illustrates the benefits of cross-pollination between peoples and countries. More and more national teams now welcome coaches from other countries, who bring new ways of thinking and playing. The same goes for the increasing number of players who, between World Cups, represent clubs away from home. They inject new qualities into their new team, grow from the experience, and are able to contribute even more to their home side when they return. I wish it were equally plain for all to see that human migration in general can create triple wins - for migrants, for their countries of origin, and for the societies that receive them.

For any country, playing in the World Cup is a matter of profound national pride. For countries qualifying for the first time, such as my native Ghana, it is a badge of honour. For those who are doing so after years of adversity, such as Angola, it provides a sense of national renewal. And for those who are currently riven by conflict, like Côte d’Ivoire, but whose World Cup team is a unique and powerful symbol of national unity, it inspires nothing less than the hope of national rebirth.

But Germany is the real winner of this World Cup. Even if the team did not reach the Final, they had already won as this was the best World Cup ever and united the German nation behind a glorious effort. Germany can truly talk the language of football.

The Global Blend does AUDIO TOO!

The GB has added a new piece to it's media empire (tee hee). It's a new podcasts called My Lens: Putting Our Lives Back in Context. It's a monthly radio magazine program that works on a similar premise to this blog. It takes a look at the world through a different set of eyes. The difference is, YOU get the chance to listen to some of the people that The GB interviews over the course of a month! This month on My Lens, you will hear thoughts about how the Ghanaian Diaspora community in London responded to Ghana's achievements during this world cup, and then you will hear from Bob Watada, the father of Ehren Watada, the first commissioned soldier (from Hawaii) to refuse to go to Iraq. The other great thing about the show is that I get to showcase some of the great music that I stumble upon - this month: Wanlov, a half Ghanaian, half Romanian rapper, living in California (you know, the kinda person The GB digs) and his music is really really good. Click on the player below to listen.


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Diaspora Ghanaian's want to return to start a revolution

Very interesting indeed. This was originally posted in the Ghanaian Chronicle.

Ofori Ampofo, the leader of the group, called the National Party (and who currently resides in the US, where else?! OK, I am being glib, but still..) looks set to launch the party on Saturday, July 1. The article continues...

'...He told The Chronicle in an interview that the group had decided to descend into the local political scene because of, “The blatant mismanagement of the nation’s affairs and the massive squandering of the little resources of the country...“The people must be made aware that their conditions ought to have been better if they had had good leaders since independence.'

You can read the rest here:
http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=106633

Party up yuh self...

The Black Stars are returning home (to Ghana) today and will be met by a party - the nation is going to let them know how proud it is of their footballing warriors (I haven't had much sleep, OK?!!).

'The Ministry of Information and National Orientation in conjunction with the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports will on Friday June 30 organise a grand welcoming party for the senior national team, the Black Stars, when they arrive from the World Cup in Germany in recognition of their performance.'
http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=106655

Sounds like it will be a tonne o' fun - I wonder if, when they return to their countries of work (England, Italy etc), if their Diasporan communities will let them know how much they are appreciated?!

Whitney, Arnie and David Hasslehoff say 'Stop the Madness'

Oh, hell to tha no (as good ol' Whitney would say). So, I am out of order for doing this, but Whitney Houston in a anti-drugs video, called stop the madness? Dang. But that aside, its a gem, features David Hasslehoff (in that tired old Knight Rider leather jacket...), LaToya Jackson and Arnie. They are all telling us to stop the madness. While I am sure the attempt was very earnest, given what most of the artists involved have been involved in since, it's all a little ironic, really: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5zJvX3pIY4

THANK YOU BLACK STARS! ROLL ON SOUTH AFRICA 2010!!

OK, the boys didn't win their match, they missed ample opportunity to score, but they didn't disgrace themselves - they did us proud. The score didn't represent the quality of Ghana's play (apart from their inability to convert their possession into goals!!). Even Brasil's coach had to pay our boys a tribute. But it was no walk in the park for Brazil, they worked for those goals. However, we saw why Brazilian players get paid the big money. It's simple - they are able to convert their possession into goals easier than Ghana can - right now... But you know what? We should only look at this experience as a success - and build on it.
Some say that Ghana's defeat is a setback for Africa to maintain its quota of five teams in the tournament. I don't think so. I think the continent needs to take this experience and run with it. And Africans KNOW how to make something work for us - its what we do. So, enough already!! That coming from me shouldn't be taken lightly, because I can be quick to write things off if they don't go the way I want them to. So here is my suggestion. Let the Ghana national football squad know that you thought they did us proud, send a letter, an email! No, its not wack, how else are they going to know that people across the world appreciate them?! I am writing mine right now...

Meanwhile Spain lost 3-1 to France (so Ghana is almost in good company - and what I mean by that is that the teams lost by a similar margin...). That was painful for Spain. They were level until the last 10 minutes of the match... wow... So who to support now that the tournaments most ethical team is out of the running?! I have three choices (in no particular order): Brasil? They are always a favourite, but I dunno - its hard given today's result, but that said, if they win, we feel better about our loss, I guess.. or maybe France? A lot of brothers on the team, I am always down for supporting the Diaspora - and given that Luis Aragones, the Spanish coach STILL refuses to apologize to Thierry Henry for the racist comments he made toward the Frenchman, I have a little more sympathy with the French team. Then, of course, there is In-ger-laaaand (England to you...), well, its the country that I was brought up in, after all!! But no matter what, from here on in, the World Cup, wont QUITE be the same for me!! Thank you Black Stars for your kick-ass performance! And long may your rise continue!!

I now know why grown men lose their minds at football matches...

Well, its the morning of the Brazil v Ghana match, and I am reflecting on the past week. I really do get why people just lose all common sense when it comes to football matches now. I thought I did before, because I have always been passionate about 'the beautiful game', but Ghana's inclusion on this tournament has taken it to another level. It's like self inflicted torture. It's self inflicted because I want to watch and I want to know what is going to happen, and its torture - well, maybe trauma - because I find myself emotionally drained at the end of each match. I get nervous just before, wound up during and (so far), completely elated, at the end of every match! It's nuts! They should put a health warning up before each match!

Well, I am off, need to get ready. Whatever happens, the boys kicked ass, serious ass...