Didier's wolf crying leads to blatant boos

A football boot to the chest would hurt. A lot. So it beggars belief that Didier Drogba should be booed when awarded a free kick after receiving the aforementioned booting.

I am the first person to concede that Didier's overreactions and dramatics are extremely frustrating to watch, entertaining yes, but frustrating. However I find it just as frustrating when opposing fans boo him when he is genuinely hurt by a reckless tackle. It would appear that just because he is an elite athlete (and he is Didier Drogba) he is expected to remain unfazed by a kick to the chest, a late tackle, an elbow to the face or any other of the defensive tactics that footballers will employ during a match.

Didier does over do his reactions sometimes....sometimes. And it really is annoying. But that doesn't mean that he should be ridiculed when an opposing player launches an attack on him that is clearly a foul. I don't know why I'm complaining really. It goes along with supporting a team that when an opposing player you dislike dives or gets an easy foul you boo- I'd boo if Rooney or Tevez did it. But I wouldn't if one of my players recklessly tackled them. I'd hate them quietly and if they scored from the free kick I'd put my middle finger up at the TV but I'd be more angry at my player than at theirs.

Football is a soul-destroying game and I can see why Bolton fans would have been frustrated when their team was down 3-0, but honestly, he booted him in the chest! There was no dive, no claim for an undeserved free kick. It was a text-book foul and even through my painfully blue-tinted glasses I can see that.

Top 5's of 2010...and yes I'm aware it's painfully late

Films

1. The Social Network

If Aaron Sorkin doesn't get the Screen Writing Oscar it will be a damn shame. Jesse Eisenberg delivered the lead role of a character not necessarily likeable, but intriguing none-the-less. Fincher presents another fast, smart and well put-together film which delves into subject matter that is so relevant for the audience and I just could not fault this film. The bonus of the brilliant soundtrack from Trent Reznor just gives an added edge to a film which could have undelivered, but thankfully does not. The opposite in fact. I'm so glad the right people made this film because it's absolutely kick ass (sorry to be so crass).

2. Inception

The aura of this film has well and truly dulled since the initial viewing but I still can't shake the epic experience that was seeing Inception in the cinema. Christopher Nolan knows how to make big budget, slick films. I didn't know what to expect when seeing Inception for the first time and coming out of the first viewing I was very much in the "the fuck?" school of though- but the satisfaction of the I GET IT moment of the second viewing just solidified the success of this film.

3. Toy Story 3

I was so worried about this film being crap because, as like almost everyone my age I know, I have a fond childhood attachment to the Toy Story franchise. It wasn't crap. In fact it was the complete opposite. This film is by no means a 'kids only' film. Hysterically funny, alarmingly emotional and really and truly a satisfying ending to a story which basically helps the viewer deal with the tragedy of growing up.

4. Red Hill

Now I have to admit a bit of bias with this film. I saw it after a wonderful weekend enjoying the beauty of natural Australia so to watch country Victoria presented in such a visually dramatic way was exceptionally pleasing. Objectively though (hopefully), this film was a huge triumph for Australian cinema. The idea of setting a western in the outback makes so much sense its not funny, and I think the film maker pulled it off with ease. I haven't actually seen Animal Kingdom so I'm aware that it might not be everyone's favourite Australian film of 2010 but this is my list so bugger it.

5. Howl

I can't fault a film which immediately makes me go home and write poetry for hours. James Franco is the most underrated actor in Hollywood at the moment because this performance was utterly brilliant. The film itself was a beautiful love-letter to the beat poets and the stories they told. I loved the cartoon sequences because it helped me to understand the delicacies of the namesake poem. A beautiful film about a beautiful man.

Honourable Mentions:

Exit Through the Gift Shop: Is Banksy the coolest man on the planet?

Machete: Badass

Dishonourable Mentions:

Valentine's Day: Thank you for ruining Love Actually

Sex and the City 2: Jesus

Due Date: How could something that looked so good on paper fail so spectacularly?

Albums

1. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy- Kanye West

Holy shit.

I would defend Mr West to the death. In my book the man can do no wrong. As Dr Dre put it in a recent interview with XXL magazine "I love Kanye's music. I don't necessarily agree with a lot of the moves that he made with his career, but as far as his music goes, I like it". I honestly could tell you very little about Kanye's personal life apart from what he puts in his lyrics. And quite frankly that's all I care to know. He is one of the most honest musicians making music at the moment and that in and of itself is high praise. Polarising to say the least, Kanye West is a prolific contributor to hip hop and music in general. This album is the jewel in his crown as The King. "My presence is a present". You're damn right Ye.

2. Plastic Beach- Gorillaz

Has Damon Albarn put a musical foot wrong ever? On a totally personal level the concept of the Gorillaz as a combination of the king of my favourite music genre Britpop and my newly adored hip hop is as good as it gets. This album hits all the right highs and all the right lows of production, song writing and the classic Gorillaz melodies which stay with you for days. With the usual swag of impressive guest contributors and a few fierce new ones (Snoop and Lou Reed on the same album? Ohhh yep) Albarn has created a work that is so enjoyable to listen to that any doubters of his must surely be hanging their heads.

3. The Archandroid- Janelle Monae

What a breathe of fresh air this album is. It's like listening to the music to a stage show, if the stage show was set in space and about the love affairs between robots. This album is an absolute treat to listen to because it takes you on a journey, guided by a beautifully pure voice but not pure enough that she can't lay down some fantastic pop songs. It's borderline theatrical in the overall theme, but tracks like Tightrope that are impossible to listen to when driving because you just want to get up and dance immediately make this a lively album that keeps me smiling each time I listen. I cannot wait to see what her live shows are like.

4. How I got Over- The Roots

Shamefully this is the first Roots album I ever listened to. But what a good one to start off with. I find the combination of the voices of all the MCs on this album, plus the beautiful vocal contributors works so strongly to bring a collective solace to the problems the tracks raise. Sometimes I get a bit bogged down with the "me me me" attitude of some MCs, but tracks like "The Fire" which is one of the most inspiring songs I've heard in years fill me with hope that as long as people like The Roots are still making music, everything is going to be OK.

5. Brothers- The Black Keys

I've read that some Black Keys fans are disappointed with this album. I don't get that. It's awesome.

Honourable Mentions:

Heglioland- Massive Attack: Woah man

Pink Friday- Nikki Minaj: Going to be huge

Dishourable Mentions:

The Boxer- Kele: Mannnnnn what the hell was that?

Battle of the Sexes: "Feelin high, but I'm hung real low sorta like a tripod". Oh Luda.

Gigs

1. Gorillaz, Burswood Dome

De La Soul as warm-up act, Damon Albarn in full flight, the most amazing Snoop Dogg visuals ever. So much fun.

2.

Mayer Hawthorne, Leederville Hotel

My favourite album of 2009 backed up with the most boogie-filled show I've ever been to.

3.

RZA, Villa Nightclub

Its the RZA....

4.

Massive Attack, Kings Park

This was an almost perfect gig. Warm night, beautiful music, red wine.

5.

The Strokes, On The Bright Side Festival

Those trendy young New Yorkers have grown into proper grown up entertainers

Honourable Mentions:

Big Day Out 2010

Moondog J, Mojos

Youtube Videos (I realised earlier I've spent more time in the past year watching stuff on Youtube than I've watched new TV so go figure)

1. Antoine Dodson: I still can't answer a question without starting off with "welllll obviously"

2. Train Trip Girl: I don't think this was put on Youtube in 2010 but she basically has made me who I am today

3. Apology to Black People: A latecomer but a significant amount of LOLs went along with this guy.

4. Double Rainbow: too funny

5. I'm no Superman: Everything about this is too good

Honourable Mentions:

The people who showed me these. You know who you are.

Dishonourable Mentions:

The people who took down the Hitler videos

Useless...

Excuse the lack of timeliness- this was written a week ago on a plane from New York to London.

In the wake of the shooting tragedy in Tucson I have been reading as much coverage of the event and the fall-out from the arrest of Jared Loughner in the US media as possible. The luxury of being in the US in the days since the incident have been enlightening to say the very least. I have been able to follow a story that I may not have paid much attention to if I were at home in Australia. The way the incident and the political discussions that have arisen from the tragedy have been absolutely eye-opening.

On the day after the shooting I read, absolutely dumbfounded, of the 'murderous shooter', 'viciously gunning down his 'helpless victims'. I have never read such biased journalism. The coverage was thorough yes, but having recently sat through a media-law unit where the main point stressed was DON'T SLANDER ANYONE, EVER it was difficult to read the representation of the (at the time 'alleged') shooter Jared Loughner. He had been arrested at the scene of the shooting so there was little doubt that he was/is guilty of the shootings but I still couldn't help but feel descriptions of him as a 'loner freak' was going a bit far.

That was until the chilling mugshot of Loughner was released. I urge you to see it because there is truly a story in this image. The caricature of the 'deranged killer' that was painted in those early articles was well and truly given a visual back up with this image. The face does not look like your average 22 year old. Hell I'm 2 weeks shy of 22 and I hope I look a little more together than Loughner does.

What saddens me most about this image is the polarising nature of it. The 'deranged killer' is almost certainly going to have a trial by media- that is to say if he has a trial at all. And I don't blame people for thinking 'he's a danger to society, lock him up immediately" from simply looking at this image- it is deliberately disturbing. But I think, more than anything, the image lends itself to the circus that has become to aftermath of the tragedy itself being played out across newspapers and visual broadcasts. Now we have the head 'freak' in a debacle that is spiralling out of control, with a collection of clowns in the media following his every move. What is exceptionally interesting is the reaction Sarah Palin has had to the tragedy and the head-strong defence she has initiated for herself against the 'blood libel' that some critics have created in suggesting she is somewhat to blame for the tragedy. (See her recorded speech on her Facebook page).

Although I find Sarah Palin to be (I'll try and put this in language she'd understand) "reprehensible", I do tend to agree with her notion that placing the blame of her for this tragedy is wrong and misguided. She may be the borderline Anti-Christ but she did not tell Jared Loughner to go down to the mall and gun-down Gabrielle Giffords. What has happened in the media, as so often does in times of great tragedy, is meaning has been sought in a situation where, sadly, no meaning may ever be found. Meaning in this instance has endeavoured to be found through blame.

It is no one's fault that Loughner did what he did other than Loughner himself. I am not playing down the tragedy, the opposite in fact, I am merely addressing the fact that what Arizona and Americans now face is a seemingly meaningless loss of life and meaningless destruction. Loughner has still not suggested any political motivation for the attack so turning on politics or politicians to lay blame upon for the shooting is useless. Perhaps he will one day tell someone what made him make up his mind to act so recklessly, but if he doesn't, what I hope is that angry grief does not turn into angry retaliation.