The footy season has started

The footy season has started

Round one of the National Rugby League (NRL) season for 2019 began on Thursday evening. The Brisbane Broncos (the team I support) played the Melbourne Storm (my number three team in the competition). Unfortunately, the Storm defeated the Broncos convincingly.

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Over the summer (off season), the NRL has experienced many scandals including domestic violence and sexual assault, plus the ongoing saga of coaches being terminated and hired.

While not wishing to dismiss the effect of any form of violence, my interest has been in the coaching swap between the Brisbane Broncos and South Sydney Rabbits. I’ve always admired Mr Wayne Bennett as a coach and manager of people.

The saga of watching Brisbane and South Sydney ‘negotiate’ coaching arrangements for 2019 was unedifying. While Brisbane is my team, I found the whole business souring. The effect it had on me was to elevate in my pecking order South Sydney from 16 to equal 11 with five other teams.

On Thursday night, Brisbane with its new coach was defeated by Melbourne. At least Brisbane managed to score some points on the field. The first half was depressing with no points from Brisbane.

On Friday night, South Sydney with Mr Bennett defeated East Sydney (Chooks). I’m happy for Mr Bennett (feel torn being happy for him as he coaches my least favoured team). The other game on Friday night was between Newcastle (Knights) and Cronulla Sutherland (Sharks). I really do not like Cronulla, their captain is a self-confessed drug cheat and it looks like Cronulla won a recent premiership while allegedly breaching the NRL salary cap.

Violence and the presumption of innocence

Violence outside of the rules of the game including illegal violence during a game is abhorrent. I am troubled with the manner in which the media (online, print, and television) and the public (who express themselves through social media) handle some aspects of what happens. When the situation is obvious, that is, there is video evidence of abhorrent behaviour, then go for it, but I think many people, including social commenters, forget we rely on a presumption of innocence as a principle of how we live as a society; at least in Australia. I think a shift to a presumption of guilt is wrong. I don’t want to live in a society based on the presumption of guilt with a need to prove innocence.

The greatest game of all

I just wish we could focus on the games and not the players outside of the games. I don’t care that a player drinks his own urine, or that another player pleasures himself with his dog. If a player assaults his wife, he or she should be charged and put on trial. If convicted, he or she should be banned from the game.

I still think rugby league is the greatest game of all. A game for men and women, a game for all ages, a game of physical contact, a game of tactics and strategy, a game of skill, a game of excitement; and at the end of it all it’s just a game.

The players are essential to the game, but I don’t want to know about them outside of the game. That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be upright citizens and good role models, but the incessant pursuit by scandal-seeking nobs in the media for a story pisses me off. I agree, if a player does anything that any other Australian would get in trouble for, it should be reported to the same degree based on the incident but no more and no less.

My eyes, my eyes

I received a reminder from Specsavers that I was due for another examination of my eyes. I wear multifocal glasses so I can comfortably see a computer screen and read papers without changing glasses.

So today’s examination revealed that my left eye has deteriorated a little. I have clogged tear glands. The left macula and the right macula appear normal. My far sightedness is not what it used to be.

I will be getting new glasses in about a fortnight. I’m going with a different style. The frames and rims will be thicker and darker. I may look more oriental.

Getting older sucks.

What have I watched this week?

LAW & ORDER

My rewatch of LAW & ORDER is progressing well. While watching many episodes in one sitting more strongly reveals the formulaic and repetitive plan of each episode, I still find it compelling TV.

Star Trek: Discovery (Spoilers)

Project Daedalus

I’ve been enjoying the character development in DISCO, albeit, I think it’s happening too slowly for the bridge officers. This week we got to know Lt Cmdr Airiam. Apart from the main characters, she’s been the officer I’ve wanted to know about the most for a long time. This is based purely on her appearance. She’s not an alien, but she is different.

After the sadness of this episode it was good to watch this https://t.co/ClOY54b8kd

— Gaz 🖖 (@garydlum) March 16, 2019

USS Discovery junior officers

I cannot stand Lt (Dr) Culber. Ensign Tilley doesn’t do that much for me (she’s annoying). I want to know more about Lt Detmer. I also want to know more about Lt Rhys and Lt Owosekun. Lt Cmdr Airiam, is intriguing because she is a cyborg. She is human with cybernetic attachments necessary to keep her alive after an accident. We got to know Lt Cmdr Airiam a bit better in this episode and then we lost her.

Resurrection

Part of me is wanting to see Lt Cmdr Airiam return, but part of me doesn’t. I’m pissed off that Lt Culber returned. Out of all the Star Trek medical officers, he’s the least medical. I would not want him as my doctor, even Lt Bashir gave me more confidence in his medical ability.

I don’t want Star Trek to over do the resurrection tool. I know it’s a tool that’s been used a bit in other series within the franchise but if that card is played one more time in DISCO I want it to be for Captain Lorca. I will miss Lt Cmdr Airiam, but she doesn’t have to be resurrected.

If you want to know more, then the YouTube Channel, Ready Room, is a good place to see an interview with Hannah Cheeseman who played the season 2 Lt Cmdr Airiam. If you’re outside of the USA you may need a VPN to point to the USA. I can’t view it in Australia without using a VPN.

Star Trek: Deep Space 9

Doctor Bashir, I Presume

This episode focuses on Julian Bashir and his illegal genetic enhancements. The high point of the episode is that Rom and Leeta get together.

What have I listened to this week?

The Medical Republic podcast

This week Felicity interviewed Francine about her myopia.

What have I eaten and photographed this week?

This is a gallery of photographs. Click on one image and scroll through the rest of them.

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Yummy Lummy this week

This week I shared a recipe for super tender pork belly with some crunchy quinoa rice. I reflect on how I ate at the Hellenic Club on Thursday evening and enjoyed a pork belly meal.

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Final thoughts

• Do you like rugby league?
• Would you bet on the NRL as a regular sports betting thing?
• Do you get your eyes examined regularly?