What I have been listening to lately #34

One of my top five favorite versions of this song.

What I have been listening to lately #33

I believe the song is actually called "Robot," not "Robots."

Match report: Milan 1 - Livorno 1

Above: Cristiano Lucarelli scores to tie the game. Despite the many arms raised in the air by the Milan players, Lucarelli was not offside.

• Goals scored: Ambrosini 44', Lucarelli 53'
• What happened: Ambrosini scored; Ambrosini almost scored again; Ronaldinho hit the post; Huntelaar shot high (several times). Favalli failed to clear the ball in the box, and Lucarelli scored.
• The only upside of the match: Livorno are my second-favorite Serie A team. Their goal was scored by a communist, their fans sing revolutionary songs, and their coach is the coolest looking coach in the entire world (see photo below).
• What this match teaches us: Milan better get their act together, because they play Manchester United in the Champions League in February.

Below: Livorno coach Serse Cosmi (right) talks to Livorno president Aldo Spinelli before today's match. Earlier in the week, Cosmi attempted to resign but was lured back by Spinelli.

Highlights are below:

HAPPY DAYS!

Several months ago, they came and took away the soda machine from the staff lounge at work. This week, they came back with a new one, and then later they actually filled it with soda. In response to these events, the school office sent out the following email--

HAPPY DAYS!

POP MACHINE IN NOW FILLED WITH THE FOLLOWING DRINKS:

Reg. Coke ALL POP IS .75 CENTS
Diet Coke
Coke Zero
Fanta Orange
Sprite
Root Beer
20 oz. bottled water is $1.00

Unfortunately, this email is incorrect. It should read--

HAPPY DAYS!

POP MACHINE IN NOW FILLED WITH THE FOLLOWING DRINKS:

Reg. Coke ALL POP IS .75 CENTS
Reg. Coke
Coke Zero
Diet Coke
Diet Coke
Sprite
20 oz. bottled water is $1.00

Many people do not know that Fanta Orange is the favorite drink of the current Pope, Benedict XVI (pictured below). If His Holiness ever makes a surprise visit to our school, we will be unable to provide him with the beverage of his choice.

None of this actually matters very much to me, however, because in the eight-plus years I have worked at my school, I have probably only had two sodas from the vending machine.

What I have been reading lately #44

Go Like Hell: Ford, Ferrari, and Their Battle for Speed and Glory at Le Mans - A.J. Baime

In the early 1960s, the Ford Motor Company decided they wanted to get into racing and spent a lot of money to start winning quickly. Ford especially wanted to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a race which Ferrari had dominated for years. This book is about the 1966 race and the events leading up to it.

This book is one of the saddest books I have read in years. Not only does the wrong team win, but the wrong driver as well. Plus, a lot of people keep dying. I cannot say more than that without spoiling the ending.

Below: Henry Ford II with soon-to-be Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara

Below: Enzo Ferrari

Cars parked in my neighborhood #6

This Land Rover has been parked in the exact same spot in front of my house for at least six weeks.

Cars parked in my neighborhood #5

Nothing says class and sophistication like a BMW 2002 with a ski rack. I especially liked the BMW's wooden steering wheel.

Note: Wooden steering wheel not visible in photographs.