Friday 26 October 2012

7 Reasons to Support Rather Than Hate Andy Murray




1
Shot Variety and Return of Serve

In a time when players often try to just overpower their opponents Andy Murray's style is fascinating to watch. His mixing up of pace, spin and slice gives us some exciting tennis as he constructs his points. The 2012 year has also shown him becoming more aggressive which has given us some beautiful shots to watch.
Andy Murray also has one of the best return of serves in the game. It is astonishing to see some of the serves he returns and even more astonishing to watch some of the winners he can strikes from a fast serve. A great and recent example of this was the match point against Tsonga in the Wimbledon semi finals.

2
Success under huge pressure

Andy Murray has faced the greatest pressure of any Tennis player in the open era. It is the price he’s paid for representing Great Britain. A nation that hadn’t seen a singles champion since the often over looked Virginia Wade in 1977. But as we are constantly reminded no British man had won a singles title since 1936.
Andy Murray has been alone in the men’s singles draw for most of his career. With the next best British man being ranked over 200. Untill this year Britiain has also lacked any notable success in the women’s singles.
Which has left all of the focus resting on Murray. If we compare this to some of the other big names in tennis:

Roger Federer has had
Stanislas Wawrinka whose reached a career high ranking of number 9.
Martina Hingis who reached a career high ranking of number 1 and won 5 single Grand Slam titles.

Rafael Nadal has had
David Ferrer who’s reached a career high ranking of number 4 and is still in the top 10.
Carlos Moya who reached a career high ranking of number 9.

Novak Djokervic has had
Janko Tipsarevic whose reached a career high ranking of number 8 and is still in the top 10.
Ana Ivanovic whose reached a career high ranking of number 1.

Jo Wilfred Tsonga has had
Michael Llordra whose reached a career high ranking of number 21 and has won 3 Grand slam doubles titles.

Andy Roddick has had
Serena Williams who had 13Grand Slam titles before he retired
Venus Williams with her 7 Grand Slam titles
John Isner whose reached a career high ranking of number 9.
Mardy Fish whose reached a career high ranking of number 7.

Whilst Andy Murray has had
Tim Henman who reached a career high ranking of number 4, but retired in 2007. Since then it’s just been him for the men and until 2012 no British woman had passed the 3rd round of a Grand Slam or won a WTA title.

Also along with Australia, France and America, Britain has even greater expectations on its players as the host countries of the Grand Slams. But none of these countries have had such a long drought in Tennis success. At least Britain has had some success with the 2007 mixed doubles from Andy’s brother Jamie Murray. Also Jonathan Marry won a Wimbledon title in the 2012 men’s doubles.

3
On Court Demeanour

He is often criticised for his yelling, but he always shows respect to officials and other players. He says he directs frustration at his support box because its better than directing it at people on the court. It is not because he blames them.


4
Personality

Humility is a rarity amongst the big sports stars but Murray has always shown it. He gives praise to his opponents and isn’t quick to make excuses if he fails. He may not be as loud or outgoing as some other players but it’s refreshing to see a quieter and humbler personality at the top of a sport. Also considering the over reaction to his England joke it’s not surprising that he now acts very serious with the press. All we have to do is re watch the emotional Wimbledon final defeat and  the Olympic Gold triumph to see how passionate he is.

5
Work ethic

No matter how many disappointments Murray has faced he has always worked hard to be the best he can be. As testified by his coaches, his friends and his peers who respect him. His dedication to training and tournaments has been shown by his recently missing the Olympic closing ceremony. He will also miss the BBC’s sports personality of the year award to concentrate on his training.

6
He is not anti English

It’s good to address this, as amazingly it is still a major criticism. He made one joke about the England football team on the radio after being teased about the Scottish team performance. This turned into an anti English story. Unfortunately people leapt onto this rumour rather than look at the discussion itself. A small amount of research will show his real attitude and that it’s best not to read the trashy newspapers and magazines.
He says he is proud to be both Scottish and British which is fortunate to all of the English, Welsh and Irish tennis fans who want a home hero to support. It was also clear how proud he was to represent Team GB at the Olympics.

7
He inspires
After overcoming some of the greatest tennis players of all time this year he has inspired a new generation to sports. Tennis clubs are reporing increased numbers. Also the Murray family has an interesting new sporting initiative called Set4Sport to encourage people from a young age.
Here is a link to the initiative Set4Sport

Wednesday 10 October 2012

Doctor Who: Asylum Of The Daleks: First Draft Parody Script





Opens with an atmospheric but far too short voiceover

Voiceover
First there were the Daleks then there was the Doctor.

Audience
Really? The Daleks are older than the Doctor?

Voiceover
It’s all relative.

Undercover Dalek
Help my daughter is in a Dalek prison camp.

Doctor
She couldn’t have escaped, nothing that impossible has ever happened in my life.

Undecover Dalek
Fine I’ll just shoot you.

The Doctor, Rory and Amy are taken to the Dalek ship.

Doctor
Fine you have me and it was ridiculously easy for you. Just shoot now and end all of your troubles.

Dalek Prime minister
We do not need you’re perfectly good advice on how to finally exterminate you. We are Daleks! No one matches our perfection!
We brought the time lords to the knees! We are the nightmare of millions of races! 
Help us!

Doctor
Wow and I thought absence would make me fear you more.

Cut to Oswin being annoyed by noisy Dalek neighbours.

Audience
Noo! It’s too soon Amy and Rory can’t be going already!

Cut back to the Doctor

Dalek Prime minister
We are not really weak we just want you to do the dirty work. Lower the planets shields so that we can destroy it and we’ll let you live... We Promise!

Amy
Are you crossing your tentacles when you promise?

Doctor
How many Daleks are down there?

Rory
What colour are they?… sorry I couldn’t think of another good question.

Doctor Who fans
Hey! That’s a really important question to us!

The Doctor and his companions get shot at the Asylum Planet and land in some beautiful snowy mountains.

Doctor
Ooh scenic.

Mysterious man
Yet unnecessary. Come. Let’s get back onto the cheaper sets. I’ll show you my crew.

Doctor
They’re dead.

Mysterious man
But I’ve only been gone 5 minutes.

A Dalek eye stalk starts to grow out of his forehead.

Doctor
Right push him into the cupboard Amy. These Daleks are becoming more and more Borg like.

Amy
And zombie like.

Doctor
What? Ahh! Zombie Daleks. I can’t handle the walking dead as well. I like more chatty enemies. We’ll just run. Zombies are really slow.

Amy
This nano field is very effective. I hope they never set one up on earth.

Doctor
If they do I hope I’m the one who fixes it and not torchwood.

Oswin Oswald
Hello again. I’m tracking you’re progress and need to get in on your light banter. Doctor I don’t like your chin.

Doctor
Hey I’m trying to save you here!
Rory enters a Dalek scrap yard

Rory
Hmmm quite Daleks. I’m sure there’s no danger here.

Scrap Dalek
Assimiliate… I mean eggs.

Rory
Eh?

Scrap Dalek
Give me a break I haven’t been serviced for a while. Let me try again. Exterminate! Exterminate!

Oswin Oswald
Run!

Rory
I know, I know. It’s what we always do.

*****

Doctor
There are trillions of nanos in the air and they’re changing you.

Amy
Yet another slow working change.

Doctor
Yeah got to keep the drama up and it could do wonders for your marriage.

Rory
Hello again.

Doctor
Good. Have a chat you two. You have been through far too much to separate now.

Oswin
Hey Doctor there are more important things to think about.

Doctor
Like where you get your milk?

Oswin
I’ve been fending off millions of Daleks and you’re asking about milk?

Doctor
If I’m going to have a new companion I fancy one that bakes.  Jammie dodgers aren’t as nice as something freshly made.

Oswin
Just come and get me.

The Doctor finds an unprotected long range transporter in this Dalek prison…ok… well he needed some way to get out.

Doctor
You’re a Dalek! Sorry there’s absolutely NOTHING that I can do. Well I’ll probably think of something but for the moment I still have two companions.

Oswin
Don’t forget me, you owe me a big favour for erasing the Dalek’s memory of you.

Doctor
Yeah that was amazing. I wish we had you around during the time war. Actually since it’s so easy can you erase there memories of everything else. Like how to build eachother, or how to wage war. Make them forget how to live.

Oswin
Too late the planet is exploding.

Doctor
Sigh the Daleks used to be destroyed by a few pushes of the button.

Steven Moffat
Not on my watch!

The Doctor beams to his Tardis.

Doctor
Hello again it’s me, the Doctor

Daleks
Doctor Who?

Doctor
Err no one. Don’t ever do any research into my name or into this mysterious blue police box. It’s definitely  not worth your time.

We Will Grow

A poem I wrote at a recent prayer meeting



Knows all
Gives all
Creates all
Calls all

He cares for everyone
As a daughter
As a son
There's no need for it to get complicated
There is o trick
Or illusion
Like any prize we should be in it to win it

Community working together towards one goal
To know God more
And all individually grow
We can grow
We will grow
Going out to sow
We will grow

Tuesday 2 October 2012

Battlestar Galataca: The Miniseries: First Draft Parody Script




Opens with a long shot of a remote and unimportant space station.

Six
Hello, I’m the sex… I MEAN THE SIX!

Officer
Right… Well it’s nice that you finally decided to meet with us again.

Six
Actually we have come back to wipe out the human race in a surprise attack.

Officer
By destroying this insignificant outpost first? How is that going to help you maintain the element of surprise?

Six
You’re worried about that? This is the crucial time for your diplomatic skills to shine through.

Officer
Oh… Gak!

Six
Too Late.

Meanwhile on the Battlestar Galataca.

Reporter
Thank you for joining our exposition tour. Look how old and nostalgic everything looks.

Captain Kelley
Sir I just want to say what an honour it has been to serve you. I am sorry to see you retiring.

Commander Adama
I’m getting a sense of foreboding with everyone telling me this.


Captain Kelley
Don’t worry Sir nothing bad has ever happened to someone just before retirement.

Liutenant Gaeta
It’s been an honour serving with you sir!

Commander Adama
Please change the subject.

Lieutenant Gaeta
Please tell me that Colonel Tigh is retiring too?

Commander Adama
Change the subject back.

*****

Colonel Tigh
Show me the way to go home… Oh *cough* hello Commander. I wish to press charges against Kara Thrace for assaulting a senior officer.

Commander Adama
But I like Thrace, I’m sure she’s learnt her lesson.

Colonel Tigh
You are far too lenient Commander. Imagine what could happen next time. I could have a gun pulled on me… A top secret military craft could be stolen…. Half the crew could mutiny…

Commander Adama
Enough! Get your drunk ass out of here.

*****
TV reporter
Welcome to our timely interview with Dr Balter about the development of computer technology.

Dr Balter
As everyone is aware previous development led to a long war which cost millions of lives and nearly caused our own extinction.

TV reporter
And your counter argument?

Dr Balter
Errr we shouldn’t be afraid of the past… err icloud?

Six
Nice interview.

Gaius Balter
People who don’t trust us computer experts are idiots.

Six
Of course. Now about getting me access to your colonies defense systems?

Gaius Balter
Not a problem.

Lee Adama lands on the Galataca with a professional level of bad attitude.

Chief Tyrol
Wow you you can’t even disguise your hate for your father from complete strangers? I bet you’ve put it aside when it’s helped your career though.

Captain Apollo
Shut up chief.

Chief Tyrol
* Sigh*I could do with a friendly officer tight now. Oh high boomer.

Later in the flight room

CAG
Apollo you have the honour of flying the Viper Mark 2 which your father flew 40 years ago.

Captain Apollo
And that’s an honour? It’s a piece of junk.

CAG
It will raise a huge amount of nostalgia with the fans. It will also inexplicably outfight even the newest CYLON raiders. She might not look like much but she’s got it where it counts kid.

*****

Captain Apollo
You're locked up again, will you ever respect authority?

Starbuck
How much respect do you have for our commanding officer?

Captain Apollo
Well…

Starbuck
Forget it. Lets just start the "will they won’t they" sexual tension.

Captain Apollo
Sorry Starbuck you’re a nice guy but I’m not gay.

Starbuck
I’m a woman!

Captain Apollo
Oh… yes of course you are! It’s just that your haircut was a lot more feminine before.

*****
Commander Adama
Why do you hate me so much Lee.

Captain Apollo
Because of you, my brother Zak died!

Commander Adama
But you hated me before that for some reason?

Captain Apollo
Oh yeah… I’m sure I’ will explain that one day…

*****

Lietenant Gaeta
The Cylons are attacking. Set condition 1. All hands to battle stations!

Crewman 1
But my station was removed last Tuesday.

Crewman 2
I have a battle station without any ammunition.

Commander Adama
Sigh. All I ask for is a tall ship and some big guns to frak up the Cylons with. Put me on the loud speakers.

Lieutenant Gaeta
You’re on Sir.

Commander Adama
The Cylons are attacking our colonies. How? Why? It doesn’t really matter now.

Lieutenant Gaeta
Doesn’t matter? The entire human race is at stake and you don’t want to know how they’re getting through our defences?

Commander Adama
Never question my command abilities!

Dee
Sir I’ve just had news of equipment malfunctions across the fleet. Battlestar’s have been deactivated like someone had just thrown a switch.

Lieutenant Gaeta
Quite! You heard the Commander.

Meanwhile not so very far away in space

CAG
We’re going in. Caprica! Frak yeah! Gak!

Helo
Get us out of here.

Boomer
Thanks for the reminder. I sometimes forget that they’ll want me dead.

*****

Laura Roslin
Time to handle this crisis in a calm and logical manner.

Reporter
I don’t think you can handle this in a calm and logical manner.

Laura Roslin
But I just said I would.

Reporter
Oh yeah you did. Never mind, ignore my poor attempt to start a panic.

*****

Boomer
We will have a lottery to decide the last few seats in the Raptor. It’s the fairest way.

Helo
But some of these people are old enough to be our grand parents. Isn’t it more logical to save the young and fit?
                                       
Boomer
Don’t worry I’m sure an old person wouldn’t take a seat at the expense of one of these kids parents.

Meanwhile the Galataca comes under attack.

Commander Adama
Launch Vipers.

Starbuck’s Viper
Fizz!

Cally
We put our best pilot in the worst Viper?

Chief Tyrol
Just fix it and hope this isn’t a big problem.

A couple of minutes later.

Cylon Nuke
Boom!

Colonel Tigh
Oh great this is really interfering with my drinking time.

*****

Reporter
Captain there’s a problem…

Captain Apollo
Ask me what I’m looking at and why!

Reporter
Ok… what are you looking at and why?

Captain Apollo
Electric pulse generators from the Galataca. To avoide a deux ex machina later.

Reporter
I’m glad I asked.

*****

Laura Roslin
Here transmit this message.

Colonial Pilot
Ok... Hey wait this is a resignation letter!

Newly made President Roslin
Fine send this one instead.

A little later she gets a message back.

President Roslin
This is going to be a tough presidency…

Back on the Battlestar Galataca.

Colonel Tigh
Most of the fleet is destroyed. We have no one in command.

Commander Adama
Yeah we do… Hey where’s my chair?

Colonel Tigh
You’ve never had a chair.

Commander Adama
What are we afraid the Cylons can hack our chairs? I’m getting to old to go without a chair.

Colonel Tigh
But…

Commander Adama
Just take us to Ragnar station. Maybe they’ll have some chairs…and hopefully some ammunition.

A few weird jump shots later…

Commander Adama
I get the feeling we’ll be doing lots of jumps in the future.

Lieutenant Gaeta
Don’t worry Sir we won’t see those weird perspective shots again.

Colonel Tigh
That was the jump drive? I just assumed I was suffering from alcohol withdraw.

Enter Ragnar Station

Commander Adama
What do you think you are you doing here?

Arms dealer Cylon
Getting these weapons so that I can sell them.

Commander Adama
You can’t do that. It’s theft of military property.

Arms dealer Cylon
Then why isn’t the base guarded?

Commander Adama
We have certain security measures such as like faulty equipment carriers… Look out!

Equipment carrier
Boom!

Commander Adama
I really should warn my crew about those.

*****

President Rosilin
Boomer I think you have saved humanity by collecting us altogether like this,

Boomer
Yay… why don’t I feel happier about that?

Billy
Captain Apollo says we should transfer everyone off of the non jump capable ships.

President Roslin
Obviously! Why didn’t we think of that before?

A Cylon scout appears

Billy
Oh boy.

Captain Apollo
Madame President you can either jump the ships or stay here and get blown to pieces. But you have to make a decision and you have to make that decision now!

President Rosilin
Do it! Sigh it’s hard to believe not even 24 hours has passed since the attack started. I really need a nap.

*****

Petty Officer Dualla
We showing incoming colonial ships.

Colonel Tigh
Confirm there ID!

Petty Officer Dualla
The Cylons have penetrated our most advanced computer systems. Surely they can fake our ID’s.

Colonel Tigh
Ok then blow them up!

Petty Officer Dualla
Err, there must be some kind of middle ground here?

*****

President Roslin
We need aid.

Colonel Tigh
I knew we should have blown you up?

President Roslin
What?

Colonel Tigh
Err nothing. Look you may be my new Commander and chief, but since my opportunities of career advancement disappeared with the rest of the fleet I can still be rude to you.

*****

Commander Adama
The Cylons look just like us now.

Colonel Tigh
Oh no they could be anyone… As long as they haven’t restricted themselves to just a few designs.

Commander Adama
Why would they do that?

Dr Baltar
Phew it’s a relief that you’ve figured it out for yourselves… I’ll work on a detector right away.

In the Galataca Hanger Bay

Starbuck
Zach failed basic training. I passed him because we were in love.

Captain Apollo
Whoa, this changes everything.

Starbuck
Will you hate me like you hated your father?

Captain Apollo
No you're too pretty.

*****

Dr Baltar
Done it! I’ve detected my first Cylon.

Colonel Tigh
That was quick. Maybe the human looking Cylons won’t be such a threat after all.

Dr Baltar
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We need to leave room for some tension and last minute surprises. Also there’s some new and suspicious equipment in CIC.

Colonel Tigh
What does it do?

Dr Baltar
Surprisingly nothing as you survived the last Cylon attack.

*****

President Rosiin
The war is over, we have to run.

Commander Adama
I’m a soldier, my duty is to fight.

President Roslin
The only chance the human race has is if we get out of here and start having babies.

Commander Adama
Ooh that does sound exciting.

President Roslin
I didn’t mean me and yo….

Commander Adama
(Walking off) I’ll give it my consideration.

Back in CIC

Lieutenant Gaeta
.They have us surrounded but don’t appear to be approaching us.

Colonel Tigh
Why should they come to us? They can wait us out; we’re the ones who need food, air, fuel...

Captain Apollo
I’m pretty sure the Cylons need fuel too… unless you mean that alcohol is a type of fuel.

Colonel Tigh
Shut up!

Commander Adama
We’ll go where no man has gone before to avoid the Cylons. Mr Gaeta send these jump coordinates to the fleet.

Lieutenant Gaeta
Why are you handing me the coordinates? I’m the one who worked them out.

Commander Adama
Oh yes of course. Carry on.

The battle commences with many dazzling manoeuvres.

Lieutenant Gaeta
We’ve got missiles impacting.

Commander Adama
Colonel Tigh. Take care of the damage control teams again.

Colonel Tigh
But we’re withstanding the blasts this time.

Commander Adama
We are?

Colonel Tigh
Yes it appears that the Cylons have a smaller nuclear arsenal than the USA.

Commander Adama
Well we’ll just have to settle with all our dangerous glass partitions breaking.

Lieutenant Gaeta
The civilian ships have jumped. But Starbuck and Apollo are still out there.

Colonel Tigh
We have to leave.

Commander Adama
We may have abandoned billions of people but we’re not leaving those two. They’ve had too much character development.

On the Comm

Commander Adama
Starbuck, what do you hear?

Starbuck
I’m a little busy here commander.

Commander Adama
*Sigh* Ok just rescue Apollo in some kind of spectacular fashion then.

The Galataca escapes and makes time for a mass funeral service.

Commander Adama
Wow this is a depressing start to the series; I’d better give a rousing speech.
“We are going to earth”

Crowd
Yeah, woohoo, yeah!

Commander Adama
Steady on there with the cheering. This is still a funeral.

Colonel Tigh
Do you think the Cylons can follow us?

Commander Adama
Well it’s been 32 minutes since we last saw them, I’m sure we still have a lot more time before we see them again.


Fin