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Jan 102013
Facts you never knew about inaugurating a ship!
Today the honor of breaking the bottle across the ship's hull goes not to the presidential official, but instead to the ship's sponsor (or ship's godmother). In modern times, ship's sponsors are almost always female, and they tend to be prominent civilians (especially in case of Navy vessels).
The ship's sponsor is usually invited to all special events involving the ship, and may keep in contact with the crew of the ship.
For the pass several years in order to raise awareness of and support a cure for breast cancer, Celebrity Cruises has named several breast cancer survivors to be godmothers of their ships. For their most recent ship, Reflection, the four godmothers of this ship have not only been personally affected by breast cancer, but for the first time are also, Celebrity Cruises employees.
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First of all, we have to define what small really means and what statistics apart from any personal impressions and taste actually say:
The flaccid size is irrelevant, some men have a rather small penis growing to enormous size when erect, on the other hand there are men with a rather impressive flaccid penis that just erects itself when aroused and doesn't grow much in girth or length. Flaccid and erect size don't correlate.
The question most men probably care for most. While many woman claim that penis size isn't important for them and it's all about the right technique and a loving partner treating them well, that's only half the truth.
In totally anonymous surveys, the number of women claiming that penis size is important for them, at least from a aesthetic viewpoint, is significantly higher than in face to face surveys.
This fact doesn't mean a smaller penis can't satisfy a women, it doesn't mean you can't have a perfect sex life with a small penis, but the the harsh truth is:
Size matters, at least for some women. No need to panic if you have a small penis, according to a combined study of several reasearch institutes since 1942, 85% of all women are happy with the penis size of their partner, while only 55% of all men are happy with their own penis. So, the percieved problem is bigger than the real one.

subset: commoncrawl


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Saturday, 31 January 2009
Cold Turkey!
My only previous experience of cold turkey is in the post Christmas week, when for days every dish appears with the remnants of the roast - this was hardly sufficient preparation for the antarctic conditions I have encountered during the past month. Two weeks ago the nippy night time temperature in Erzurum, eastern Turkey was minus 38 degrees centigrade but thawed out considerably to an almost tropical day time temperature of minus 25 degrees - Brrrr! If you add the inhospitable hills, howling wolves and the wind which acts like a frozen cloth, wiping your face with each gust, then the reception from nature has been quite cool! Fortunately this has been more than balanced out by the Turkish temperament which is as warm as their wood burning stoves!
From the minute I biked over the border from Greece I was greeted with great big smiles, friendly honks of the horn, was offered copious cups of tea and frequent fags. The tea arrives in a tiny tulip shaped cup accompanied by half a field of sugar cane! If I drank all the sugary tea offered my teeth would be rotten by Tehran. Equally, I do not mınd the occasional fag (although I took exception to the Italian brand) but if I smoked each one my lungs would be lacerated by Lahore! Mind you, everything smokes in Turkey! Turkish trucks smoke as they growl and groan their way up the grave gradients. The trash at the side of the road smokes as people light formidable fires for warmth. The fully stoked wood burning stoves in restaurants smoke as you are walloped by a wall of heat and haze each time you enter them. Even the valleys appear to smoke as the mid morning sun evaporates the mist, forming floating fragments of fog. The only smoke free zone is the television, where actors, caught in the act, have the offending fag fuzzed out! Other butts are blurred out too - with any nudity being deemed unnecessary!
My first night in Turkey was spent a few miles over the border under some trees with a young German couple heading for Georgia. They had a wonderful spirit but not much else. Their budget was brutal - the ten euros per day for the two of them did not allow for any luxuries. They had a wonderful eclectic mix of equipment - most of it purchased on ebay but many things were already broken or did not work properly in the first place. I thought I was slumming it going six days without a shower but they had managed only two in about forty days. Despite this, they were fresh faced, full of fun and having the time of their lives. Before parting the next day they eventually let me treat them to a Turkish coffee. I am not exactly loaded down with lire but compared to them I felt minted!
A few days and one hundred and fifty miles took me to within touching distance of Istanbul. It was eleven pm but I still had twenty six miles to the centre of the city. Paraphrasing the petrol pump attendant, 'The traffic was tragic,' so I parked up under the petrol price column, unrolled my bag and went to sleep. What only seemed lıke minutes later my alarm informed me it was five - time to get a head start on the traffic. I had half an hour of happy cycling before the metal boxes resumed their bumper to bumper battle. At one point, marooned amidst all the motors, I stopped and ate a fume filled apple, relieved to have a few moments of respite! I spent the rest of the day cycling around Istanbul continually managing to miss the the tiny enclave of tourist hostels situated in Sultanahmet. Eventually, I was accosted by an Aussıe couple whose gregarious greeting made me wonder where I had met them before - however, they were sımply happy to see a fellow cyclist. Due to fly back to Oz they were busy cleaning and stripping their bikes so they would pass the stringent Australian custom controls. They then spent two hours squeezing their bikes into cardboard boxes which were too small. I registered in their rooftop penthouse suıte - a twenty seven bed deserted dormitory with a plastic cover to exclude the elements. Fortunately, we numbered only five as I think the solitary sink, shower and toilet would have been well troubled coping with the hıgh tide tourist trade!
I had a week to fill in before my friends, Denise and Al, arrived from Scotland. I rested, repaired my bike (new chain set and front wheel cone and bearings) and argued with the bıke shop owner who wanted to file off a little of my forks due to the ıncompetence of his workmanship. I also spent a couple of days with a great group of fellow guests at the Mavi hostel. Whilst out walking, anytime we asked for directions we were always told, 'straight ahead and right'. As we were usually too busy talking and laughing we did not know where we were, so were left with no option but to follow the directions - even though they were invariably 'Not Rıght!'
After almost seven months on the saddle I was looking forward to seeing my friends. Prior to leaving Scotland we made provisional plans to meet at the end of September but with one thing and another this was nudged back to November - but it was worth the wait! In between a boat ride up the Bosphorous, a trek around trendy Taksim, a saunter around the Spice Market and a gander at the Grand Bazaar we managed to over indulge in alcohol, under indulge in sleep but got the laughter level just about right. Throw in a couple of interesting conversations and the four days flew by and ıt was time for me to get back on the bike carrying a few more pounds - although not the kind that boosted my budget!
Before I moved on I visited the British Consulate to request an official letter that stated who I was and the purpose of my trip. I met a round the world motorcyclist from Serbia who said that the assurances from his Government had helped to speed up the usual snail paced process of visa procurement. I was very surprised to be introduced to the Consular General, Jessica Hand, in person. After a wee chat she said the support letter would be no problem. What was a problem was the price, ıt cost forty five pounds - the standard charge for an official letter. I could probably bribe border guards for less! Besides, when I proudly presented it to the Iranian Consulate in Erzurum, they looked at it with such contempt, it could just as easily have been toilet paper. Once the letter regains some confidence then I am sure it will play its part and prove to be a profitable investment.
During the following week the night time temperature dropped dramatically with the result that each morning my tent was damp and had to be dried out when I stopped for breakfast or a late lunch. Most places thought that I wanted to pitch my tent right in front of their restaurants. It took some time to explain that I was only airing it whilst I ate. Once this was established then a host of waiters wanted to help - pushing, pulling and flapping at my fragile tent until it was as taut as a trampoline, causing the droplets of dew to career off the canvas - I had already returned to my seat to eat my soup!
The roadside restaurants cuisine is constantly bovine based with little variation for the vegetarian. On some occasions I have had to eat meat or not eat at all! The lentil soup is invariably laced with a lamb stock and a simple bean casserole causes concern when minuscule bits of meat mix happily the haricots. I have been a vegetarian for fifteen years and I knew before embarking on my wee bike rıde that there was every chance that I would have to temporarily veer away from the veggies - I was prepared to be pragmatic. However, I was slightly surprised by how much my saliva, stomach and soul refused to muddle in with my logical mind and locked my jaw when the texture touched my mouth, preventing me from swallowing.
It took me almost one month and eight hundred and fifty miles to huff, puff and pedal from Istanbul to Erzurum (the coldest place in Turkey!). The time was both beautiful and brutal. I did not realise how harsh it had been until I reached Georgia and saw the Black Sea, flew along the flat roads and allowed my eyes to gorge at the green fields. Even although I slowed down and respected the rutted icy roads I still arrived on my arse many times. In order to keep warm my clothing had as many layers as a tunnocks wafer but this caused me to sweat more than a boxer training for a bout. Which in turn did not help to counter the cough I had caught in Istanbul. Despite all the challenges it was a wonderful experience with the fatigue, frost and infection only adding to the adventure!
Spending three weeks being messed about trying to arranged the Iranian visa was not so satisfying. I was tired and grumpy and had allowed myself to get too attached to the outcome, believing that it was the only way ahead. Erzurum, no pun intended is not a place to 'chill out' in. It has a ski resort, a large university and a military base. These people choose to settle in such a severe site for specific reasons - God knows why the rest live here! It is severely polluted, colder than an ex partners cuddle, whilst the streets, for weeks on end, are simply strips of ice which large lorries and dumper trucks trundle over whilst carrying away their cargo of snow. Occasionally you slide upon a fellow surly tourist waiting to hear about their Iranian visa application.
I managed to escape Erzurum when a member of staff in my regular soup shop called his English speaking friend Egemen who is the Tourist Project Manager for the area north of Erzurum. So for eleven delightful days I followed Egemen about like a wee puppy dog fortunately enough being invited to many of his business meetings and trips to visit the locals who live deep in the Choruh Valley. Egemen was advising and assisting them with grants so as to convert part of their houses to accommodate the increasing tourist trade.
The package is very appealing. Trekking, walking, rafting and cycling routes take you through areas of stunning unspoilt natural beauty. After a hard days exertion you then allow yourself to be spoilt rotten with homemade food, a fabulous view and a welcome so warm you do not even feel the early evening chill. Have a peep at the web page before the area becomes too popular. www.datur.com and/or www.choruh.com For more information or a personalised programme then you can contact Egeman directly via the datur web page.
Arriving back in Erzurum I entered the Iranian Consulate to hear the decision regarding my second application for a visa. Despite giving them everything they had asked for - including an invitation letter from someone living in Tehran they still refused my visa stating that there was something wrong with my contacts address. By now I was beyond caring and jumped on the bike and headed north to Georgia, happy to be heading to a visa free zone. In Tbilisi it took ten minutes to acquire my Azerbaijan visa but I am now barracked in Baku about to re endure more visa vexations for the the route ahead. Wish me luck!
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Before the world had a term for it, Nulli has been protecting and managing identities for companies of all sizes. Founded in 1986, Nulli began as an HR Systems consulting practice, helping companies manage all aspects of their employee information. In the late '90s, we naturally moved into the world of managing those identities, right as Identity Management got its start.
The inevitable progression toward identities being customers and things has been fueled by the ubiquitous presence of devices used to access information. Securing these identities is mission critical.
Our work is complex, but our mission is simple: we aim to give you the most astute advice in the IAM industry. In order to do that, we listen to what you need, get our entire team engaged in finding the answer and maintain a strong connection with you through rapid industry changes.
Safety and success start with your trust in us to lead you forward. See why so many have trusted us to assist in keeping their identities and organizations secure.
We live our core values every day with every single project. We take great pride in being recognized for "doing the right thing" on behalf of our clients. As a trusted advisor, Nulli provides the same advice we would give ourselves when deciding on a common-sense course of action.
Our integrity means always doing the right thing. The intricacies of Identity and Access Management demand we take a nuanced approach to your problem. After we get an understanding of what you need, we will always recommend the most calculated course of action. This will always be what's right for you, even if it means leaving us behind.
Knowledge drives every decision we make; through our collective years of experience, our close relationships with industry thought leaders and our pursuit of continuous improvement and innovative solutions. We are leaders and innovators in our industry and bring the knowledge of our entire team to every project in our ever-changing industry.
Partnership is our philosophy. No matter where you are in the world, and regardless of how many identities you need protected, we're here to work in your best interest. Serving our clients well has served us, and we have them and our preferred industry partners to thank for the many innovative projects we've led over the years. Just like you, we look to partner with the very best, and our industry-leading vendors are a huge part of our reputation for success.
Our leadership team is a blend of talent, knowledge and evangelism of Identity Management, who empower people with the right information to get the job done.
Derek Small
Innovation Sponsor & CEO
Richard Deyholos
VP Professional Services
Barb Gosling
Managing Partner
As our founder, Derek defines success by his team's ability to deliver beyond the expectations of our clients and partners. He is the company sponsor for bringing leading technology to the table. He loves to foster a culture of problem-solving and innovation.
At his core, Richard understands and cares about people. He knows where our consultants excel, how they work and how to support them in achieving our clients' goals. His attentive service exceeds expectations in our tech-driven industry, and his brand of leadership fosters long-term loyalty and a strong, supportive internal team.
Barb always brings her depth of knowledge and experience to the executive table. She seeks to better Nulli for each passionate employee, boundary-pushing client and loyal partner: championing the core values that have led to our success and who we are today.
We bring the same contagious energy we bring to our clients and partners to our community and causes that matter. Since 2013, Nulli has been honoured to provide financial and volunteer support to Aspen Family & Community Network Society (Aspen). We chose to support Aspen after a focused employee engagement process to ensure Nulli directed its support to an organization consistent with all of our values. We're proud to continue to support Aspen in their mission to help people move from vulnerability to stability, from poverty to economic and social resilience, and from isolation to active participation in their community.
Nulli actively chooses to support Aspen's Advancing Practice portfolio. Aspen's Advancing Practice team improves the agency's ability to provide streamlined, innovative and client-centered services in Calgary and the surrounding area. By working across all 20 agency programs, this team is positioned to guide services differently through the identification of trends, gaps and opportunities for increased collaboration.
Winner of the HOPE Award
Nulli is honoured and humbled to be the recipient of a 2018 Aspen HOPE Award.
In addition to our support of Aspen, Nulli recognizes and encourages employee volunteering through both individual and team volunteer days to help build stronger communities. Nulli also has a donation matching program in support of charities of interest to our individual employees.
About Aspen
Aspen has been supporting children, youth, families and communities in Calgary since 1984. Aspen empowers people and their communities to overcome barriers and establish the conditions needed for long-term success. Their many programs range from getting and keeping families out of homelessness, to supporting children and youth in foster care and group care, to mobilizing residents to build healthy and strong communities. Aspen helps people move from vulnerability to stability, from poverty to economic and social resilience, and from isolation to active participation in their community.
Each year, Aspen provides one-on-one support to over 4,000 children, youth and adults, and connects an additional 60,000 people to supports in the community.
The HOPE Awards recognize individuals, teams and organizations who, in partnership with Aspen, have made substantial contributions in the lives of Calgarians experiencing significant life changes.


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Second-Annual Plymouth Congress Benefit Concert
On Feb. 13, 2019, many talented singers and musicians from the Park came together and performed in the Plymouth High Congress Second Annual Coffeehouse Concert. This was a charity event held from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the Canton Cafeteria. All proceeds went to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
The performers seemed to enjoy the experience. Canton senior, Saanya Advani, who sang at the event, said, "My experience was really great. P-CEP has so many talented students and it was really nice to see their talents get recognized," she explained.
"I'm not a performer, and I actually am terrified of performing in front of people! I've been singing since sixth grade when I joined choir, and I decided to step out of my comfort zone just a little because I wanted to support the cause."
Izzy Tiplady, Plymouth junior and Congress treasurer, put on the event. She said, "We chose to donate to NAMI because mental health is an issue that affects everyone, especially teenagers, and we wanted to support something that would actually help people at P-CEP."
Raamiz Qureshi, Plymouth senior and MC of the event, added, "It's always been a smaller event but we're always able to raise a lot of money for NAMI. We raised more than last year and the event seems to be continuing to grow. I'm really proud of what we've been able to accomplish."
Overall, the event raised approximately $500 for NAMI, and the event is planned to continue in the coming years.
Cora Wallen is a senior and first year journalist who is eager to work for The Perspective. She enjoys writing of course, but outside of that, she loves...


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The November 26, 1999 Edition of ECW Hardcore TV was held in Chicago, Illinois.
- Numbers in parentheses indicate the length of the match.
- (c) refers to the champion(s) heading into the match.
- Danny Doring & Roadkill defeated The Dupps (Bo Dupp & Jack Dupp) (6:42)
- Chris Candido defeated Simon Diamond (4:09)
- Da Baldies (Spanish Angel & Tony DeVito) defeated Axl Rotten & Balls Mahoney (3:00)
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Practical Tips For Newbie
3 years ago
"There is only one side of the market and it is not the bull side or the bear side, but the right side." - Jesse Livermore
shooting star??
category: Candlestick and Chart Patterns, Daily analysis
h4 chart 5 am (Malaysia time)
shooting star reversal candle??
macd 5,13,1 already in overbought zone??
at 4 pm, price went down to 205.15 (potential of 70 pips gain)
already locked +1 pip profit....
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Courtesy of Youthstream Media Service Team
It is with immense sadness MXGP heard about the passing away of Portuguese rider Paulo Gonçalves during the 7th stage of the Dakar yesterday morning.
Paulo Gonçalves was a great sportsman, taking part of his 13th Dakar at the age of 40, always a big fan of Motocross and friends to many in the MXGP Paddock.
The MXGP World extends sincere condolences to his family and his close people.
Copyright: Photo: Dakar Rally


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A team of volcanologists from Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) Catania and the GFZ has installed a 1.5 km long glass fibre cable at the Italian volcano Etna. The deployment area is at 2.800 m elevation, ca. 550 m under the summit of the largest European volcano.
"The objective of our experiment is to test fibre optic technologies as a complementary and alternative tool for monitoring Etna volcanic activity" says Philippe Jousset from GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences. The fibre cable is interrogated by a DAS Silixa Ltd instrument (Distributed Acoustic Sensors), installed at the Pizzi Deneri Observatory close to the summit of Etna. The experiment started 1st of July 2019 and will last until Mid-September 2019, thus enabling a continuous recording of Etna's volcanic activity. "This is to our knowledge the first project using cutting edge fibre optic technology on an active volcano with an unprecedented spatial resolution" says Jousset.
The technique allows to detect, locate and quantify strain generated by geophysical processes along the cable, allowing the discovery of unknown subsurface structural features and their dynamic processes and to monitor seismic and volcanic activity at high spatial (2 m) and temporal resolution (1000 Hz). To validate DAS measurements, 30 broadband seismometers and 3 infrasound arrays from the Geophysical Instrument Pool Potsdam (GIPP) were deployed.
Original study: Jousset, P., Reinsch, T., Ryberg, T., Blanck, H., Clarke, A., Aghayev, R., Hersir, G. P., Henninges, J., Weber, M., Krawczyk, C. (2018): Dynamic strain determination using fibre-optic cables allows imaging of seismological and structural features. Nature Communications, 9, 2509. DOI: doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-04860-y.
Authors: P. Jousset (GFZ, Potsdam, Germany), G. Currenti (INGV, Catania, Italy), V. Parra (U. Jean Monnet, St. Etienne, France), M. Weber, C. Krawczyk T. Reinsch, Ch. Cunow (GFZ, Potsdam, Germany).
Scientific contact:
Dr. Philippe Jousset
Helmholtz-Zentrum Potsdam
Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum GFZ
14473 Potsdam
Tel.: +49 331/288-1299
E-Mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Funding of the project:
Project INFRADAS (expedition money GFZ) and project FAME, awarded through the EC EUROVOLC project (Funded under: H2020-EU.22.214.171.124, Project ID: 731070).
More information:
When a laser pulse is launched into an optical fibre, a fraction of the light is elastically scattered (Rayleigh scattering) due to random inhomogeneity distribution in the glass fibre material. The position of the scattering inhomogeneity within the fibre can be calculated based on the speed of light within the fibre (optical time domain reflectometry, OTDR). If a coherent laser pulse is launched into the fibre, with appropriate optical processing, not only the amplitude but also the phase of the backscattered photons can be analysed (phase-OTDR). For any section of the fibre, the phase-difference of photons scattered at both ends of that section is linearly related to the length of this section. State of the art DAS systems are capable of quantifying the frequency, amplitude, phase and location of dynamic perturbations anywhere along the sensing fibre. In other words: Tiny changes in length or curvature of the cable allow scientists to detect movements of the ground or shaking.


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Our All-Purpose Surface Cleaner is a
natural, plant-based cleanser that is suitable for windows, countertops,
woodwork, bathroom and kitchen surfaces. We've provided plenty of spray
to last a long time—the bottle holds more than 26 oz., so you can get
your clean on time and time again! This surface cleanser is the perfect
green, natural home cleaning product alternative to ammonia and
chemical-based cleansers. The effective formula quickly neutralizes
grease, fingerprints, and grime, while leaving a wonderful, fresh
fragrance behind.


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Dr. Michele Green on NY Magazine Best Doctors 2017 List
New York Magazine's "Best Doctors" list is out in newsstands now for June 2017 and Dr. Michele Green has made the list for the fifth consecutive year as the best dermatologist in NYC.
The 2017 list has been peer-nominated and selected by Castle Connolly. To make the list, doctors have to be on the list of Castle Connolly's top 10 percent of the region's physicians. From that list, around 1,300 make the annual list, and only a portion of those are listed in the magazine due to space. These few hundred doctors, across a wide range of specialties – represent the top 1%, the best doctors in New York.
Contact us at our NYC office today either online or call 212-535-3088


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Are you ready to take your GED® exam in Alachua FL? The GED® test is only given in pencil and paper format. Usually in order to take the GED® examination the student must be over 17 years old. The GED® testing cost in the state of Florida varies from $40-$90.
The GED® examination covers five topics: reading, writing, math, science and social studies. Each section gives a score between 200-800. Most states require test takers to receive a score of 410 on each of the five sections and an overall average of 450 for the GED® test to pass.
Usually GED® testing in Alachua FL is offered at:
- Alachua Independent School District
- Alachua Community Colleges
- Alachua High Schools
- Alachua Adult Learning Centers


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A swim spa is a great way to entertain loved ones, but it can also improve health and well-being. With customizable lap swimming, year round access and more, here are the top reasons to consider a swim spa at home.
Swim In Comfort All Year Long – Lap swimming helps to tone muscles, maintain a healthy body weight and improve cardiovascular health. A traditional swimming pool can only be used a few months out of the year, but a swim spa is compact and can be used year round.
Relax and Soothe with Hydro-massage – Modern swim spas have both a lap pool and a hot tub spa. Swim at one end, and enjoy a hot tub spa at the other; on-demand hydrotherapy is easier than ever. Enjoy a revitalizing workout and then slip over to the other side for soothing relief.
Family Fun For all Ages – With a swim spa at home it's easy to get the kids off the gadgets and into the pool. Turn the current up and splash in the waves for safe enjoyment. Aquatic exercise of any kind is a smart way to enjoy family friendly fun from the comfort of your own home.
So Go Ahead, Take a Swim, You Deserve It!
It's, fast, fun and relaxing. Not only that, it's good for the body, soothes the mind and can improve your overall health and well-being.
To encourage local residents to check out the benefits of using a swim spa to help improve their overall health and well-being, The Spa and Sauna Company is providing free swim spa test soaks at all their showrooms. We do recommend, however, that people wanting to schedule their free 30-minute test call us ahead of time to reserve their spot.
To learn more about the benefits of owning a swim spa, just give us a call at ☎ 775-852-3838 or visit our website at: https://www.spaandsauna.com/endless-pools-fitness-systems.
The Spa and Sauna Co.
9748 So. Virginia St. Ste. C-D
Reno, NV 89511
☎ 775-852-3838
The Spa and Sauna Shop
250 E Glendale Ave
Sparks, NV 89431
☎ 775-852-3838
Reno Hot Spring Spas and Billiards
6815 Sierra Center Parkway #100
Reno, NV 89511
☎ 775-851-7727


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Russia Offers Navy Escort to Ships Removing Syria Chemical Arms
- December, 17, 2013 - 13:26
- Other Media news
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Russia is ready to provide a naval escort for ships carrying chemical weapons being removed from Syria, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday.
Lavrov said after meeting with his EU counterparts in Brussels that the toxic agents are due to be loaded onto carriers made available by EU nations.
"For our part, we will be ready to provide Russian naval vessels to escort these ships carrying toxic agents in order to ensure the safety of the operation," he said, RIA Novosti reported.
The material is set to be transferred from those ships onto a US vessel and destroyed at sea.
Cypriot ambassador to Russia, George Kasoulides, said earlier Monday that ships from Denmark and Sweden that are being used to ferry away the chemical weapons arsenal have docked in Cyprus on their way to Syria.
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in November finalized a roadmap for destroying Syria's arsenal more than 1,000 metric tons of weapons-grade chemicals.
The most dangerous weapons have to be removed from Syria by the end of December and destroyed at sea by April. The rest is slated for destruction by mid-2014.


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The following piece includes spoilers.
The last scene of 'Good Time' feels like an active sensation of whiplash to the viewer's brain. The film, until now a relentless, borderline psychedelic odyssey through the night of New York; suddenly slows down from 100 to 0 in a single transition. The heart-pounding, at this point almost aggressive synth-wave score by Oneohtrix Point Never, transforms into a more gentle shadow of itself and finally fades away.
This sudden shift in tone is connected to the absence of Connie, a layered, unpredictable character, who is brought to life through a deeply committed performance by Robert Pattinson. He gives his character a layer of staggering complexity and has never been better over the course of his fascinating and hopefully long-lasting career. Connie's absence means a lot, since the film (save the very first and the already mentioned last scene) centers around his POV and the trail of chaos he leaves behind, all to get his mentally challenged brother Nick (played by a fantastic Ben Safdie) out of jail.
The fault of that incident fully lies on Connie's shoulders. The film starts off introducing us to Nick and his therapist, who is trying to get to the bottom of an occurrence, that took place in relation to Nick and Connie's grandmother. It's hard for him to get through to Nick, but the session shows progress as Nick tears up, instead of closing down completely towards the therapists questions. Suddenly Connie bursts into the room and disrupts the constellation, to take Nick for a round of bank robbing. The score starts to set in, the visual language suddenly brims with agitation and energy. Connie takes over. The heist itself goes wrong and leads us to the main conflict of the film: Connie tries everything to get his brother out of jail as fast as possible, whatever it may cost.
To me, Connie is one of the most fascinating characters of contemporary american cinema and everything surrounding him cinematically perfectly encapsulates that, since his presence is weaved into all aspects of the films audiovisual language.
He is a white, lower-class citizen, who tries to escape the city with his brother, whom he has an undeniable affection for. He really loves him in fact, tries to help him and wants him to have a normal life. That's probably the main reason, why he takes him with to execute the bank heist, despite his disability. He could have easily done it by himself, Nick just hinders him if anything. But Connie apparently feels like he needs to guide Nick and perhaps make him 'hard' somehow. He pretends that everything is fine with him and ignores the consequences it could have, suppressing the mere existence of Nick's disability and playing it down. Somewhere in his head, Nick is merely too sensible for the world they live in and he feels like he can change that. And only him.
This is a clear comment on toxic masculinity and the systems that surround it, the ones Connie has grown up in. This trait is inherent to his personality and one of the parts of a contradictory, fear-fueled logic, that is built up inside of him. He wants to help Nick, but he wants to do it himself. He isn't devoid of empathy, but there are mechanism in his thought process, that make him blend out certain factors of reality. It's a very complex, heightened visual representation of something that exists all over the world and is fueled by systematic and societal dynamics that furtherly perpatuate these kinds of mindsets.
There is another interesting comment the film makes, one on white privilege. It's the only reason why Connie even get's as far into the vortex of his own madness as he does. He basically destroys every life that he encounters in some way, not exclusively the ones of POC, but these cases are striking in their disturbing plausibility and the contex they happen in. There is no further questioning by the police, when he confronts them at Wonderland. The security hat, that he stole from the real security guard, a black man, who now lies beaten up and with a mouth full of LSD in one of the rides, is enough. There is no checking if he really is the security employee. Just instant trust towards him and instant mistrust against the two POC, who Connie allows to be taken away, even though they did nothing wrong and even helped him in one of the cases.
With 'Good Time', the Safdie brothers seem to finally have found their balance of layered storytelling and the wild, cinematic energy they always possessed. The sheer nuance in the grasp that it has on racial politics and socio-political dynamics, is stunning. It's a masterpiece about the unability on self-reflection, because that's something which is not able to survive in a setting that is so undeniably depressing to confront for the characters. Connie just wants to get out of there and doesn't have much patience in his impulsive body, but besides the bank heist, there are merely two other immediate links to a different life in sight.
The first one is Corey, excellently played (as usual) by Jennifer Jason Leigh. She is some kind of 'sugar mummy' to him, significantly older, with a wealthy family background. She seems to be a troubled person herself, there is an implication that she suffers from mental illness, majorly supported by the fact, that she still lives with her mother. She wants to escape too, not only from a spacial perspective. Connie obviously exploits Corey, his plan is to run away with Nick, not her. But she doesn't seem to notice (or care), since Connie seems to give her something she sorely misses from other people, something that may be connected to his energetic radiation. She seems to be very needy and probably loves him on some level. She permanently tries to get validation from him, most of the time even considering that she won't get a response. Her character doesn't get much screentime, but she is complex and fascinating.
The second link is becoming involved into the underground world. He is confronted with that perspective when the LSD bottle comes into play and Ray (Budy Duress), a drug dealer, talks about how he is gonna make a lot of money in the future, compared to Connie. The drug world is 'hard' too. There is an immense level of masculine self-affirmation during every action that Ray and his buddy, who eventually drops by, perform. Not to mention that they plan on solving the arised conflict with violence, instead of letting Connie go and avoid trouble. The money, the path to another world is too important. And it's worth the risk to them.
It all comes full circle. The origins of Connie's toxic masculinity are bound to a self-perpetuating system, that tries to erase any alternative form of masculinity within itself.
It seems like every man, who has the ambition to rise up in social stratums, has to be 'hard' in this (also deeply misogynist and homophobic) societal structure, otherwise he will get crushed. The entire system would have to be dismantled for this to stop. The origin of all of this, is missing education. The lack of latter, mostly because it is too time-consuming for an adult, who has to sustain itself on the side, leaves barely anything left, except years of long, hard work, the faster choice above, or to stay a small fish, permanently in the risk of suffocating in open air.
Nonetheless, Connie tries to take the route of the drug dealer, during his last scenes of the film. But it's doomed from the start – he isn't and has never been patient enough for it. And that's why he finally get's caught, because despite all his self-deceptions, there is something very honest inside of him, that simply just doesn't work in his setting. The love for his brother is the source of his impatience, but it's also a beacon of the burning flame of humanity, that is buried deep inside of him. He is endlessly afraid that his brother might die because of him, on some level he understand that he does something wrong. He is, through his terrible actions, definitely not a good person in any imaginable way and he is deeply misled, but all the same, he is human.
The last shot we see of him, implies his loss of humanity. There is a coldness in his eyes, it's how he copes.
When we return to Nick, we return to someone who was always pressured into being something he couldn't be. And now he doesn't have to, for he has been saved from his brother's tragic attempts to express his love to him. A question arises: How does Nick feel about Connie in this moment?
In the final scene, Nick is introduced to a group for disabled people by his therapist. They start playing a game called "cross the room" to get to know him better. It's a simple game. When something applies to you, you can (but don't have to) cross the room. This exposes facets of your personality, as far as you want to.
The first questions Nick reacts to, are not whether he likes candy or if he has been in love, or has ever lied. The first questions that makes him cross the room are if he was ever involved into family drama. And if he was blamed for something he didn't do.
He also crosses the room when asked if he has a friend.


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For 10 years, the Mars Rover has been moving on the red planet and age has finally started taking a toll on its systems. It has started suffering from memory loss symptoms.
According to a recent statement by NASA, Opportunity, NASA's Mars rovers which has been exploring the Martian planet is suffering memory loss symptoms in which the computer repeatedly resets and 'amnesia events'. Memory loss problems get aggravated when the rover tries to save statistics on its flash memory storage system. The robot bypasses its flash memory and saves data on its RAM. Data saved in flash memory is safe even when the Rover powers down during reboots. However any data which is stored in the RAM is lost once the Rover shut down for reboots.
There are two types of memories on the Rover, the Volatile RAM memory and the flash memory. The volatile RAM memory cannot store data for a very long time and if needed transfers the memory to the Flash memory which then transmits the data to the Mars Odyssey satellite. NASA scientists found the flash memory was not sending the data to the Odyssey satellite once the rover comes out of the sleep-mode.
John Callas, Project manager at the Pasadena, Calif.-based Jet Propulsion Laboratory said, "The mission can continue without storing data to flash memory, and instead store data in volatile RAM. While we're operating Opportunity in that mode, we are also working on an approach to make the flash memory usable again."
The amnesia bug is something which was expected and is believed to be an age related issue. The sister rover Spirit had worked for six years before it went defunct, succumbing to the harsh Martian atmosphere.
NASA said in a news release last month "The team is developing a set of commands to restore usability of the flash memory through an overhaul more extensive than the reformatting that has been used so far."


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Pronouns in High Speech are constructed primarily based on information given to us by Robin Furth in the Concordance. In particular, the creation of pronouns was based on concepts of kinship and the individual which are well-expressed in High Speech through words such as ka or tet. Under the cut, you will find a table containing all … Continue reading Pronouns
Hawks, Gunslingers and The Gun
As briefly discussed here, in High Speech the gunslinger, the gun and the hawk are all called by the same term: childe. This post aims to expand on what this connection entails, and on why I decided to have childe mean those three words. In the canon, David the Hawk plays a prominent role in young Roland … Continue reading Hawks, Gunslingers and The Gun
Weapons, Gunslingers and The Trail
The words listed below pertain to a gunslinger's way of life, and include words concerning weapons, but also the trail itself, hawks or falcons, and more spirituality-related terms. Canonical translations of words whose meaning we are already given in the books are marked with an asterisk (*). However, I may have also expanded upon these … Continue reading Weapons, Gunslingers and The Trail
The Gunslinger Litany
Perhaps single-handedly the most important part of a warrior's arsenal, the Litany represents the core of the Gunslinger Creed. It is a repetitive, formulaic poem that perfectly encapsulates not only the gruelling training gunslingers are subject to to achieve their true potential, but also the importance that is given not only to the physical, but … Continue reading The Gunslinger Litany
As mentioned in Vowels, much of the choices that I have made concerning High Speech phonology are based upon a mix of canon material and Common Brythonic (CB) reconstruction where the canon was either lacking or unclear. Below the cut is the consonant table. Unlike with vowels, the data extrapolated from canon words was much … Continue reading Consonants
Phonetics in High Speech are structured primarily using the words we are given in the canon, with the ruling assumption that Stephen King has written them down in a way that tries to match High Speech pronunciation with English spelling. As a way of supplanting in certain cases where the sounds may be missing or unclear, … Continue reading Vowels


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Licensing in Tufin Orchestration Suite is done centrally in SecureTrack. Even if SecureChange / SecureApp is run on a separate server, licenses are stored in SecureTrack and published to the other machine. If a license is installed, it needs to be activated. This is quite easy using the "Generate" button. When getting the activated license, it should be installed in SecureTrack so it's bound to this system.
When switching from an Eval license to a permanent license (and vice versa) it might happen that the newly installed license isn't recognized correctly. In this case, some CLI commands regarding the database are useful.
Before you continue, create a BACKUP of your installation of SecureTrack!
It includes all configuration and also the license. Be careful when you use the commands below - without license Tufin Orchestration Suite will not work at all!
For getting further information or deleting licenses CLI access to SecureTrack is necessary.
As usual for Tufin commands, this needs to be done as root or using the sudo command.
Next steps could be:
Show the currently installed licenses
[root@TufinOS ~]# psql securetrack -Upostgres -c "select * from st_licenses"
Delete all licenses of type "full", i.e. "real" licenses
[root@TufinOS ~]# psql securetrack -Upostgres -c "delete from st_licenses where license_type='full'"
Delete all licenses of type "evaluation"
[root@TufinOS ~]# psql securetrack -Upostgres -c "delete from st_licenses where license_type='evaluation'"
Delete all licenses of both types, i.e. "full" and "evaluation"
[root@TufinOS ~]# psql securetrack -Upostgres -c "delete from st_licenses"
As written above, be careful with these commands and use them only when a current Backup is done!


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| | - | - | - | posted by スポンサードリンク |
Rafael Nadal Wins The 2009 Australian Open
Sunday February 1, 2009. Rafa Wins First Aussie Open title and 6th Slam
Rafael Nadal once again proved why he is the #1 player in the world and why his name should be discussed as one of the best players of all time. The match was a back and forth affair with high drama and shot making that was simply not from this planet. The concern coming in was Nadal's conditioning after his epic semi-final 48 hours ago against Spanish compratiot Fernando Verdasco. The talk was all around the grounds and in the end it seemed that it helped Rafa in several ways. First, it put more pressure on Fed and this showed throughout the match. The fact that Rafa is in his head was evident throughout the match. Secondly, this forced Rafa to go for his shots and boy did he ever do that. If you didn't watch it and didn't record it, then you must get a copy from a friend. You won't regret it.
1st set
Typically in their matches the first set is a bit stiff and used as a feeling out process. Not so tonight. Both players came out blazing with incredible 20-30 shot rallies that would end with remarkable winners. As with all of their matches Nadal directed his rough spinning forehand to Fed's backhand and once again Fed did not seem like he could handle it. What baffles me is that he does not seem like he wants to change tactics and as usual, he paid the ultimate price for it. It was noticeable that Rafa was struggling a bit moving to his forehand but he was still able to hit through it and outsmart Roger. They exchanged multiple breaks but in the end Rafa had what it took in to win the first set 7-5.
2nd set
The second set was much of the same tactically. Nadal got an early break and looked to be in control. Then, something very odd happened. Nadal lost focus. He followed up some poor serves with some uncharacteristic errors. Roger's feet began dancing once again and he took full advantage of the slight opening. Fed went on to win the following 4 games and it looked like Nadal was toast considering his physical condition.
3rd set
Nadal came out of his chair bouncing up and down and running to the baseline. He was telling Federer that he was not down and out yet. You still felt that he was ready to wilt but you knew he would give it the Rafa effort that we have grown to love. Every ball played as if it is match point. Once again the quality was like a perfectly played symphony. Every note of the rackets and the squeeks of their shows had the audience jumping out of their chair. Fed has 6 chances to break Rafa's serve but failed to do so which has been something that has plagued them in this classic match up. Rafa used the momentum of the saved holds and won and incredible point in the tie break which gave him the two sets to one lead.
4th set
Looking at Roger, you didn't know what to expect. Rafa looked to be wilting but then again he looked like that all match. You knew Federer didn't want to go out without a fight but you could see him looking over the other side of the net and questioning why he can't beat this guy. Why is Rafa ruining his legacy? Roger starting to find his serve that was missing the entire match. Fed's usually up in the high 60 to low 70 percentile with his first serve but had barely cracked 50% the entire match. Roger did start to find the range with his groundies and made Rafa pay for the shorter replies. Both players looked like they knew it was going 5. Roger closed out the break and won the set 6-3.
5th set
Now here we were. 5th set for two of the greatest players of all time. Although the match did not match the drama of their Wimbledon final 7 months ago, the shot making and the importance of this match was evident to all in attendance and those watching from home. Yes Federer was going for a record tying 14th slam but more importantly he was trying to prove that he could still beat this guy. Looking into Federer's eyes and body language you could tell that he didn't believe that he could. Nadal got the early break to go up 3-1 due to some lack luster Federer groundstrokes and there was no looking back. The adrenaline was all Nadal needed to put away the former #1. Rafa won the 5th set 6-2.
Although this match was not the same as their Wimbledon final, this was a incredible match from start to finish. It proves more and more that Rafa is here to stay and that perhaps one day he will be conisdered the best player of all time. If you consider that in the past 12 months he won his 4th French, beat Roger in his backyard at Wimbledon, won the Gold Medal at the Olympics and now he wins the Aussie Open. Maybe this win will finally silence his hard court critics especially considering who he deafeated. One must remeber that at 22 Federer only had two slams while Rafa now has 6 and obviously looks good for at least 3-5 more Roland Garros titles alone. In the post match ceremony Federer broke out into tears as obviously the moment got to him. Nadal and the crowd cheered the champion on but you could tell his mind was thinking as to what he can do to beat the Spanish Bull. Perhaps some Nancy Kerrigan thoughts went through his head but in the end the biggest question is whether or not this will now force Federer to hire a full time coach. Also, maybe this will convince Federer that he is the second best player in the world and if he doesn't want to stay with that distinctive title that his game will need some changes. One thing is for sure though, as long as these two guys are around the men's tennis tour is in a great place.
Q. Could we have your thoughts on the match.
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I thought it was a good match. But, no, I mean, I think I had, I guess, many chances. You know, I mean, I was up a break in the first twice. Yeah, I mean, I had many chances. I missed them, you know, and they cost me dearly.
It was a tough match. I don't think I served particularly well, unfortunately. And I think that was the key to the match in the end.
Q. When you're not serving well, what kind of things are going through your mind to try to get back?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, just hang in there. I mean, I won a set against Rafa serving, what, 30% first serves. You know, I mean, it's makable. I got a great second serve. Very reliable normally. I hit some stupid double‑faults, but that's going to happen in a five‑set match usually.
But, no, I mean, I tried to kind of get the grip on my serve, but never really found the rhythm, which was a pity. You know, but it happens.
Q. Can you take us through your emotions.
ROGER FEDERER: I mean, I fought hard, you know. I mean, I think I played well. I'm happy with where my game's at. I wish my serve would have been better, but that's something that sometimes is a bit, you know, day‑form issue, you know.
I have a completely different type of serve than Rafa. You know, he makes sure he gets it in; I try to go and chase the lines. So obviously you're always going to miss a few.
But, look, I mean, I love this game. It means the world to me, so it hurts when you lose.
Q. A lot of us felt at the end of the fourth set that the momentum probably had swung back in your direction. How tough is Nadal in a fifth set?
ROGER FEDERER: Tough like many other guys. You know, in a fifth set, anything can happen. That's the problem. Not usually the better player always wins. Just a matter of momentum sometimes.
You know, maybe I should have never been there, you know, in the first place. But, I mean, I think he played well. You know, I definitely played a terrible fifth set, you know. I kind of handed it over to him.
I mean, no doubt he's one of the tougher guys out there for a fifth set ‑ no doubt.
Q. Is there a feeling inside you that this is one that got away from you?
ROGER FEDERER: Uhm, well, I mean, kind of, you know. I mean, this is, sure, one of the matches in my career where I feel like I could have or should have won, you know.
But you can't go through your whole life as a tennis player taking every victory, you know, that's out there. You've got to live with those, you know. But they hurt even more so like if you're that close, you know, like at Wimbledon or like here at the Australian Open.
So that's what's tough about it. But I have no regrets, you know. So it's all right.
Q. Did you think him playing 5 hours, 14 minutes late on Friday night, did you feel like his condition might go if you could stretch the match out long enough?
ROGER FEDERER: Not really. I knew it was not going to affect him a whole lot, so didn't have any role to play in it. I was ready for that.
Q. Did you feel he was getting stronger at the end?
ROGER FEDERER: Not really. I think I played a bad fifth set. But, no, I mean, he was playing solid. I think he tried to also kind of keep the points short, you know, through the fourth and fifth set, you know.
So, yeah.
Q. Did it hurt more because it could have been the 14th for you and you have to wait for another time?
ROGER FEDERER: Not really. I mean, honestly, no. I mean, it's more like, you know, in the first moment you're disappointed, you're shocked, you're sad, you know, then all of a sudden it overwhelms you. The problem is you can't go in the locker room and just take it easy and take a cold shower. You can't. You know, you're stuck out there. It's the worst feeling, you know.
So, I don't know, it's rough.
Q. You mentioned you had problems with the first serve. You had only 52% of first serves in. You also had 19 breakpoints. That was happening on Nadal's serve. So what was the problem then? Only him serving well or you having some problems returning or what?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I wish I was a lefty, too, playing him breakpoints on the ad side, not on the deuce side. Sure, a great advantage for him. It's not the first time (smiling).
Q. Do you believe you still can beat him?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, for sure. I didn't spend four and a half hours out there believing it [sic].
Roger showed another great display today to reach the Australian Open final! He defeated Andy Roddick in straight sets 6-2, 7-5, 7-5 and is on course for a record-tying 14th Grand Slam title.
"Andy's been playing really playing well so I knew I had a tough match ahead of me," Roger said. "I thought I played really well tonight because Andy played good too, so it was fun."
With Rafael Nadal as the favourite for his semi final, Roger commented: "He's showing why he's the best player in the world. I would love to play him in the final, that's for sure."
The victory also meant that Roger emulated Pete Sampras by reaching 18 grand slam finals. The only person to beat Roger in a major final is Nadal, three at Roland Garros and once at Wimbledon. Ivan Lendl played 19 grand slam finals.
It was demoralising for Andy Roddick today, who came into the match revitalised by a change in coach but got off to an appalling start and argued with the chair umpire as the first set slipped past in 32 minutes. Roger had the seventh seed on a string and he reeled off 12 straight points to take the second, breaking for 6-5 and serving out with grim precision for the two-set lead.
Roddick tangled again with the umpire when he swore loudly and received a code violation, and was left staggered when Roger dug himself out of trouble with a brilliant drop shot, lob and stop-volley to hold for 5-5. The American was then guilty of a howler as he patted the ball to Roger's feet with the court begging, gifting the crucial break point which our champ converted with an unstoppable forehand before calmly serving out the win.
Roger can join Roy Emerson, André Agassi, Jack Crawford and Ken Rosewall as the only men to have won four or more titles in Melbourne. Way to go, Roger!
1st set: 13 / 5
2nd set: 18 / 6
3rd set: 20 / 4
1st set: 57% (Winner on 1st: 82% / Winner on 2nd: 46%)
2nd set: 69% (Winner on 1st: 95% / Winner on 2nd: 56%)
3rd set: 70% (Winner on 1st: 73% / Winner on 2nd: 73%)
Q. How did you right the match, and what was the key to the win?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I had a great start. That helped a lot. I mean, I thought that I played really solid out there tonight. I thought level was high throughout the match.
I had a couple good games where I served really well in the first set, and that gave me a lot of confidence going into the second one. I was moving well and getting a lot of balls back and making it difficult for Andy to get the upper hand from the baseline. That was kind of what I was hoping for.
Q. You had more aces than Andy, so you must have been pleased with the service game.
ROGER FEDERER: It's happened before that I served more aces than him. I thought tonight ‑‑ he still got a lot of service winners. They don't show, but he got a ton of those. That's frustrating as well, like the aces.
No, I mean, I served well when I had to. So many times at 30‑All I came up with big aces, and that saved me from a lot of trouble, which was good, because Andy was returning well and playing aggressive.
Q. Is there any chance of getting one of your towels?
ROGER FEDERER: No. We don't have that many. They're for my friends. I don't know you. But good try.
Q. You're getting to be a master of the challenges as well.
ROGER FEDERER: You need bad linespeople. They got to help you out.
Q. You had two on successive shots.
ROGER FEDERER: There was some really bad calls from the linespeople. The umpire missed them as well. I guess tonight is one of those nights you're happy there is a challenge system in place.
Q. Back in another Grand Slam final. It's a great start to the year for you, and so different, I suppose, than the feeling here last year.
ROGER FEDERER: Like I said on the court, I think I played well throughout the tournament last year as well, you know. Just kind of came up short against Novak. I thought he played a fantastic match against me. He was the aggressive one. He was serving his spots so well that night that he kind of made that difficult.
Even maybe if I would have been in perfect shape, you know, I think he deserved to win last year. I struggled maybe a bit. Maybe the draw was a bit better for me this year playing Andy in the semis who I have such a great record against.
I do feel better mentally. I'm obviously more healthy so I can focus on playing well. I'm really pleased about my performance so far in the tournament. The draw was difficult and dangerous if you look back on who I had to play.
Q. Last year you said you had created a monster of expectations. Has that faded for you given how you played in the year since, or do you still feel that weight?
ROGER FEDERER: A little bit. I'm still surprised how quickly the mood swings with the media, with the fans, with everybody.
If I lose a set or two sets against Berdych, everybody is like, Oh, my God, he's not the same anymore. And then you beat Del Potro and everything is back to normal. It's just not the way it's supposed to be, I don't think.
You don't lose your edge that quickly. It's just not possible. I know I'm playing well. I feel good. I know sometimes you can always run into a player that's hot and you can lose. I've been able to control my opponents, and definitely got close against Berdych.
I still think I fought hard and deserved the victory in the end. Came up with two great victories now against Del Potro and Roddick, and usually that's when I start playing my best: Towards the end of the tournament. I think this is where you should judge a great player.
Q. Rafa is the best player in the world at the moment. It's fair to say you'd pretty much rather play him in the final?
ROGER FEDERER: Depending what you look for. I'd like to play Fernando because he's never played a Grand Slam final before. I have an edge there. Playing Rafa is obviously, you know, more exciting because of the history we have playing in so many Grand Slam finals.
Him being the best player in the world at the moment, it would make it a very intriguing match.
Q. When you said you were able to control your opponents, what was the game plan tonight?
ROGER FEDERER: Tonight, I mean, there was not that much of a game plan. Against maybe other players here it's more about, Let's get the return back and then let's see what you can create. Concentrate on your serving so you always maybe get off to a good start, 15‑Love, or you get the first shot and you can be aggressive.
So that's what it's about with Andy. It's a game that comes down to a few shots here and there, and then you hope you come up with a good passing shot when you have to. That's my game plan, and it's worked well.
Q. When it was 5‑2 in the first set and the chair engaged with Roddick, how did you cope with that?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, I'm used to Andy's attitude on court. He's got a great attitude. He has a lot of energy and he always likes to talk to the crowd, make jokes, talk to the umpire. He's a funny guy. I like Andy. We go way back. I enjoy those moments more than they disturb me, really.
Q. What sort of advantage have you got being the first through? You got the extra time now to maybe see the other game.
ROGER FEDERER: That's an advantage you mean?
Q. Do you think it's an advantage?
ROGER FEDERER: Not if Rafa comes through. He's had pretty simple straightforward matches. He's as tough as they come. Fernando looks fit, too. He had a five‑set against Murray, but four sets against Tsonga at night. He's into the thing. He might be more mentally drained because of the pressure.
I don't think it's going to come down to fitness on the final day.
Q. You obviously heard the criticism after the Berdych match. Do you get motivated by the swings you're talking about?
ROGER FEDERER: I don't think that it's criticism, just opinions. Everybody can have an opinion and everybody can say what they feel like. I know I didn't play the perfect match, otherwise I would have been able to beat him more easily.
But I can take criticism, no problem, any day.
Q. You're obviously very proud of what you achieved. How does it feel to be on the verge of some other new achievements?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I didn't know I reached my 18th finals in a Grand Slam. I'm very happy and proud about that. Like my consecutive semifinals I was also able to achieve. Shows how long I've been able to keep it up and stay in good shape, stay healthy.
That's really key for success really, at the highest of levels. It's nice to be at the same level as Ivan Lendl and the same as Pete in terms of Grand Slam wins. I hope I can win the next one, too.
Q. Do you have any of those sort of things in your mind when you came into the start of year?
ROGER FEDERER: No. More maybe kind of the thing starting the year well at Australian Open, winning maybe potentially your first French, getting Wimbledon back after the epic I had with Rafa there, and then winning my sixth at the US Open.
That's kind of what's in my mind. And then with good play at the ATP events, at the Masters Series, which I didn't play great last year in, I hope to pick up few of those to get my No. 1 ranking back. That's my mindset going into a new season.
Q. What was the key for you to play well early in the season at this Australian Open? What do you think is the key for you to play well here?
ROGER FEDERER: I don't think there's a real secret to playing well in the beginning of the season, to be honest. You go out there and try hard. You know, I mean, I've had ‑‑ I always make sure I have two to three buildups during the year, not just one in the off‑season.
I usually take one in February and one after Wimbledon and then one at the end of the season. So I basically have three buildups of two, three weeks where I can work really, really hard.
For me, in a way, the season never stops. It's just ongoing. I start playing some tournaments, you know, having not played for maybe sometimes five, six weeks. So I go through that occasionally. A new season means, Okay, let's go from zero maybe, but not a whole a lot of change to my mind.
Q. Before you mentioned the fact that sometimes the media puts you too much down.
ROGER FEDERER: I didn't say only you guys. There's many people.
Q. Then sometimes too much up if you win easily. Most of us make a lot of noise about the fact that you could equalize the record of Pete Sampras.
ROGER FEDERER: I'm thankful.
Q. But there was somebody called Rod Laver who couldn't play twenty Slams in five years, and Rosewall didn't play 11 years, so 44 Slams. So, you see, press sometimes emphasizes something. What's your reaction thinking about Laver and Rosewall and your record and Sampras?
ROGER FEDERER: I'm very well aware of the problems the old generation of Laver and Rosewall and all those players faced. That's why I always said I'm one of the players who's most thankful to them of what they've done for us. Look where prize money is today and the great sites we have.
Now there's even more money being pumped into the Australian Open. That's all thanks to them for not playing a lot of money and missing out on twenty Grand Slams. Back then, nobody knew what tennis was going to become, so it was also easier to say no to those kind of things.
Probably never quite know who was the greatest of all‑time in tennis, and I think that's quite intriguing as well. Of course, if somebody goes off and wins 35 Grand Slams then you made your point as a player.
But, still, I think it's fantastic that they named the center court after Rod Laver who did so much for tennis. Yeah, I mean, 14 is more ‑‑ the new generation, the Open era, I could maybe become the greatest of all‑time of that era, but never of all‑time.
I'm very well aware of that. I think it's an incredible opportunity to do well.
Q. Did Andy throw any new look at you today? There's been a lot of talk about his footwork improving. Can you empathize with a player who's trying to get better in mid‑career?
ROGER FEDERER: I thought he played a bit more aggressive with his backhand. I think he already tried to do that against me in Miami. Played a bit more flat, so the ball goes through a little bit more.
I really think he improved the returns. The second serves he takes more easily. I have the feeling he's improved at the net. He's a bit better mover. Before he didn't run a whole lot for dropshots. Today I didn't play 25 dropshots, but I still felt he was running for every ball. He wasn't always doing that. That's also a big key to his game.
Roger survived an early scare today before bouncing Tomas Berdych (ATP 21) out of the Australian Open with a heroic comeback from two sets down: 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4, 6-2!
"I am very proud of my performance today. Tomas puts great power in his forehand, backhand and also his serve. That's what makes playing him that difficult. There was loads of adrenalin in the match today, I had to keep pushing myself forward. I then managed to commit less errors, I served well, that was the key. I am very happy with the result - I was, after all, almost on the plane back home already."
It was only Roger's fourth career recovery from the depths, he also preserved a Grand Slam quarter-final run dating back five years. Our champ had difficulties right from the start, losing serve five times in the first three sets. Only after reducing the amount of errors from the third set on did he take the lead.
Roger will meet Juan Martin Del Potro (ATP 6) in the quarter finals. Roger has won all three encounters with the Argentine so far.
Jim Courier(JC):
Roger Federer(RF):
1stsetを落とした時は5set matchを覚悟したよ。ベルディヒがすごい勢いでハードヒットして攻撃してくるから、耐えてついていくしかないと思ったよ。2ndセットは少しチャンスがあったんだけど、かなり追いつめられたよ。
RF: 君は知ってるだろうねw う〜ん、全仏でかな?違う?
RF: 教えてよw
Q. How tough was that today?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, it was difficult, because the opponent was dangerous and tough and playing well, I thought. He put me under a lot of pressure, but thank God I was able to react, you know. He doesn't give you that many chances, so I was happy. I hung in there.
Q. At the end the second set, did you sit at your chair and think, Surely he can't keep playing as well as he's playing? His standard was so good.
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, it was excellent. I didn't think I played a whole a lot worse later on, I was just able to play better and get a bit more length in my shots. I gave him an easy break in the first game and I never really recovered from that. I was kind of under pressure for a set.
I should have held my break, and then things would have been maybe a bit different. But letting him come back into the match in the second set, that kind of put me under quite a lot of pressure.
Then, obviously, in the breaker he played good tennis. You know, he was really aggressive, especially off the second serve as well. Seemed like every corner he wanted to hit, he got it. He was playing excellent.
To kind of weather the storm against him, it's not easy to do. Once I got serving and moving and playing better, I was able to turn it around. So that was nice.
Q. Did the seventh game of the third set turn it around?
ROGER FEDERER: What happened there?
Q. He had five game points and three shots I could have made, but not at that situation.
ROGER FEDERER: I mean, I don't quite remember anymore what happened. I remember I was against the wind and to get the break then was crucial. I think he was maybe up 40‑Love on that game.
Anyway, I came back and I guess that really gave me momentum. I kind of never looked back.
Q. Did you feel flat at all in the beginning or did he just make you look like that?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah. That would be him. No, I mean, I was feeling fine. I just had a bad start. I think if I would have maybe been only broken once in the first set, I think I could have challenged him a bit more.
He served it out well at 5‑4. And being down two breaks against such a good player, that's not going to be enough. That was my problem. Once you start running behind against a player who can take such huge cuts at the ball, he was only getting more and more confident and that made that really, really difficult for me to find rhythm.
Yeah, it was tough for me today. I found a way. I'm very happy about my performance in the end.
Q. Since the Olympics, is there always a bit of a feeling that this guys goes crazy and it's going to be very, very tough?
ROGER FEDERER: This guy?
Q. Berdych goes crazy and has a fantastic match it's going to be very tough for you or anybody.
ROGER FEDERER: The Olympics, yeah, way back. No, I mean, yeah, I mean, I know the danger of playing Tomas. He's top 3, top 5 guy with most powerful shots in the game. You combine serve, forehand and backhand, it's incredible how he ‑‑ the pace he gets with little effort.
That's why he's dangerous. Still in the fifth even though he looks like he's beaten. You have to be so careful. Even the last game you saw it. I make one stupid mistake and then all of a sudden he can hit three screamers.
I know the danger of playing Tomas. I wish he was higher up in the rankings so you don't have to play him that early. I think today he showed why he could be a wonderful player.
Q. Did you see a scouting report, because he seemed to be more in control when he played Stan the other night than he used to be in the past?
ROGER FEDERER: No, I didn't speak to Stan.
Q. You were extremely satisfied to come back from two sets to love down.
ROGER FEDERER: Sure, it's great satisfaction. Doesn't happen every day. I don't play five setters every day so it's a very nice feeling. I guess especially coming back from two sets to love when you feel like everything is going your way in the end and the other guy is all of a sudden under pressure, you know, after you felt this way for one and a half, two hours, then to be able to turn it around and then be leading all of a sudden is a great feeling.
I was feeling still fresh if the fifth. I think you could see it. That's kind of the way I want to feel in a fifth set. That's why I worked hard. I worked hard for this victory today. This is great.
Q. What is your sense of anticipation for the second week here? I think from the neutral looking at it, it's got the makings of probably one of the most exciting second weeks of a Grand Slam for a long time, with the matchups and players and what have you and the levels they're reaching. Do you sense that as well?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, yeah, maybe. You know, you can make something up. But I think you're concentrating on your own section of the draw, and my next opponent is Del Potro now. I've only played him once and he played great at the Open. He almost beat Andy in the end in the quarters. I mean, that was really close and both were looking very tired. Who knows what would have happened in the fifth.
No, think it's going to be a nice match for me playing him. Like you said, I think there's many, many seeded guys around still, which makes it like we have great matchups. I think the only guy not seeded is Marcos now, but he's been in the finals here before.
Q. What do you think about Hawk‑Eye?
ROGER FEDERER: What do I think about it? It's horrible. I don't like it, no.
Q. Why?
ROGER FEDERER: Because Tomas doesn't like it since today. Finally one guy understood. Look, it's there to be used. I don't care. But if I get a good or bad challenge, you know, I'd rather challenge too much and not have them left.
But I don't think you win or lose a match because of them. If it's 9‑All in the fifth set, you know, you got to use it and there's a terrible call because the linesperson was sleeping and the umpire was drinking coffee, of course then it's good you have it.
But, God, you have four eyes looking at every line. You could really mess up. Yeah, the ball Tomas was questioning was out. But still, a system like this is in place it shouldn't happen, right? That could be the crucial moment for Tomas. It wasn't because it was clearly out. Still, it's not so much fun for him, I guess.
Q. What do you think about the last six months of Del Potro?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, he's had a great run after Wimbledon was it? I think he won four tournaments in a row: Two on clay and two on hard court, I think. Yeah, kind of out of the blue. They were not the biggest tournaments in the world, but still, he was able to dominate some good players. I think he beat Roddick and other players like Tommy Haas.
On hard court, that's a great effort. Then he backed it up by playing well at the Open. For a young guy to cope with the pressure and make it to the Masters in the end, I think, was a great effort from his side.
So I think he's done really, really well. It's going to be an interesting match for me. I'm excited playing against him.
Q. You said that after three and a half hours you were still fresh and fit. There's a lot made of Murray and Nadal's fitness. Do you feel you're as fit as these guys?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah. I mean, I've played five hours against Rafa on clay and against other players as well. These kind of tests don't come around very often. I had a time in my career I hardly played five‑setters, like for two or three years, so I didn't know why where I was until all of a sudden that crazy match with Safin here in 2005.
Then I knew where I was. I was in pain because of my feet. That was a different issue. It's good to have five‑setters to see where you're at. I don't know how fit Murray is. I'll take him on any day in a five‑setter. He's younger so he's probably not so experienced, you know.
In the end it becomes very mental, and I know that this is where my biggest strengths always comes into play. That's why I'm always going to favor myself in a fifth set.
Q. Today when you were two sets down, is there a little bit of panic that comes, or do you start to ever to say to yourself, I'm in trouble?
ROGER FEDERER: I don't know what I feel. I wasn't thinking of losing, that's for sure. The finish line was still very far for Tomas. I knew that. You can still concentrate on playing just the points instead of thinking, Oh, my God, what's going to happen?
I didn't feel that way. I kind of felt after a terrible first set from my side that if I probably want to win this it's going to go to five sets. I just felt it. I knew Tomas was dangerous, and if I played even still a great set or three great sets it's probably not going to happen. He would squeeze one great set in there somewhere, second, third, or fourth.
That's why I kind of was prepared for five from the start. I think that's what made me be so determined towards the end. It was nice being in a battle with him. It was fair play. It was tough, good tennis towards the end. I believed in it all the way, and I think that was key in the end.
Q. Do we have a chance to see you back here next year?
MARAT SAFIN: I doubt it. I really doubt it. I really doubt it.
1st Serve % 51%:60%
Aces 14:9
Double Faults 2:1
Unforced Errors 33:28
Winning % on 1st Serve 63%:85%
Winning % on 2nd Serve 59%:64%
Winners (Including Service) 33:26
Receiving Points Won 24%:39%
Break Point Conversions 0/0:3/4
Net Approaches 9/21:6/13
Total Points Won 76:103
Fastest Serve Speed 212KMH:208KMH
Average 1st Serve Speed 201KMH:192KMH
Average 2nd Serve Speed 156KMH:158KMH
Q. Today Marat and Fabrice played probably the last matches here. Can you assess who they are in the tennis, what they represent?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, I hope Marat will not. He told you. He's pretty sure about it.
Q. Yeah.
ROGER FEDERER: That's disappointing. I love playing the guy. It's not like it's the end, right? I'm making it sound like he's not going to ever play tennis again.
Anyway, I love playing against the guy. He brings something different to the tennis world with his character, the way he is on the court and the way he is off the court. He's larger than life.
Yeah, I respect him for what a competitor he is. I hope it's not the last one tonight. If it were to be the last one at the Australian Open, I think we both kind of feel good about having played each other at the highest level. We tried to come with a good match.
On Fabrice, I guess he's one of those magicians that's going to leave the game. It's unfortunate, but I think his time is coming too. His game is not very easy to play at this stage. Players are getting stronger and faster and more powerful. He doesn't have that much of possibilities from the baseline, but still makes it work.
It's incredible effort what he has been able to do over all the years. There again, I was fortunate enough to learn things from him, because he's quite a tricky player to play against. He teaches you how to treat a tennis ball. You know, not to go crazy about it.
Marat can write a song about playing Fabrice. I'm happy I understood how to play Fabrice, because it's a tricky way to play against him. It was great. There again, I hope I'll get a chance to play him again.
Q. When the time comes for you to make a similar decision, do you think you'll announce it at the start of the year? Or do you think when you've played your last match you'll just say, That was that?
ROGER FEDERER: That's a tough call. I guess saying it one year in advance it's kind of tough, too. Everywhere you go they make a big deal about it. Is that what you want? Okay, that's fine. That's is what you choose to do.
If you just say, like Agassi, for instance, he did it at Wimbledon, right? The US Open it was all done. It's a shorter period. Maybe less pressure to play, and then that's it.
But people just do it also last match, this is my last tournament. Bang, that's it. I don't know what type of guy I am. I'm not thinking about it. Obviously I don't know what's going to happen. Yeah, a year seems a long time to me.
Q. To beat him in straight sets you must feel pretty good.
ROGER FEDERER: I thought it was a good match for me. I played well from the start. I didn't give him a whole a lot. I don't think I have to save breakpoint, which I guess is great against such a good returner like Marat can be.
I understand that I didn't play Marat in his prime. Still, there was moments where he did play very well for like, I would say, maybe in the third set I think he played great.
He just couldn't keep it up for the entire three sets. So he kind of missed too much in the first two. I took advantage of that. For me, it was a rock solid match. I came up with some good shots when I had to, and one them was the match point. I'm very happy about it.
Q. How much better are you feeling this year than last year at this tournament?
ROGER FEDERER: Just feel better overall. I'm more secure and I know with where my game is at. Physically and mentally I'm fresh, whereas last year I came in kind of tired. This year around I was just come out of a rough five‑setter. This time it's different.
It doesn't mean anything. I have to take match by match, and next round is, again, tough as hell. I played him last year in the fourth round. It was a really dangerous match. I played him at the Olympics and he's a great ball‑striker.
Q. Could you put a percentage on how much better you're feeling?
ROGER FEDERER: I don't know. You choose. I don't care.
Q. You make it look so easy sometimes on the court. Winning in three sets, do you think it acts as a bit of a warning to the rest of the field left at the Australian Open?
ROGER FEDERER: It's not really my goal, to be honest. I'm trying to win the matches, come through to the semifinals, and then hopefully win the tournament. That's my goal. Sending out massages? What's that good for? Doesn't make you win the tournament.
But, sure, I mean, it's nice winning in straight sets and it's nice beating great players like Marat in straight sets. It just makes you feel better and more confident for the next match. That's the only really benefit I see.
Q. Did you think your opponent feels the fact that you're confident with a straight‑sets win?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, well, I'm playing smart at the moment. I'm making it tough on my opponents. That's what it's about for me. I come up with an occasional great shot that hopefully makes a difference. That's what I got to rely on.
Q. Did it make a difference playing in the evening session and saving your energy instead of playing out in the hot sun?
ROGER FEDERER: That's what we build for is to play in the tough heat. That's what why I go to Dubai and practice at 45 degrees in the summertime. This is not a problem, 40 degrees.
I like playing in the daytime because of the wind, the heat. Makes it all a bit more difficult for the mind. This is where I'm very strong, so I know this actually suits my game.
Yeah, I mean, look, day or night I have to take it. Usually night is going to make the decision here because the finals is played at night.
Q. Speaking to your new role as players' leader, player council, what are your thoughts on the fact that, again, there were horrible crowd scenes outside today?
ROGER FEDERER: No, it's disappointing. Terribly disappointing. Tennis is a game of a lot of fairness. You know, we treat each other well on the court, the players. Fans are always very polite. You don't applaud bad shots, only good shots. That's the way tennis is.
Fans, 99.9% of the time, are always great. Then you have some people who carry it outside of the tennis courts, lose their minds. It's unfortunate.
It's not what's supposed to happen. I think we set an example as players, and the fans should follow. I know it's only a small amount of people doing it, but it kind of disrupts the tournament. This tournament works so hard all year long to make up a good event. I call it the "Happy Slam." Then you come here and you see these scenes. They don't deserve it, this tournament. It's disappointing. I think the tournament will get over it.
Roger cruised into round three of the Australian Open with a 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 victory over Evgeny Korolev. He will next face another Russian in Marat Safin, who beat him in the 2005 semifinals.
"I'm happy to be playing Marat," Roger said. "We've had some battles over the years."
Today's victory saw our champ move above Boris Becker into seventh place for the most open era grand slam match wins with a 165-25 win-loss record. The first set took just 28 minutes as Roger got two early breaks, thanks largely to the 20-year-old's 15 unforced errors, to go 5-1 up and then claim the first set 6-2. His opponent showed plenty of tenacity and at times a little audacity, to extend the rallies but ultimately it was futile. The second set went with serve until the eighth game when Roger got the breakthrough and then served out for the set and he broke the Russian twice early in the third to race to a 4-0 lead. Korolev held to make it 4-1 but with the youngster's unforced error count mounting Roger closed out the game with ease in one hour 27 minutes.
Roger has beaten Safin nine times but lost out in a classic semi-final at Melbourne Park in 2005, when the Russian claimed the title.
Q. Another good win today. You must be feeling good with yourself.
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, it was a nice match. I was happy the way I played. I knew it was going kind of difficult because he takes a lot of risks. Yeah, I'm happy the way I came up with a good game plan.
Q. Nice to see the chipping and charging.
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, occasionally I like to do that. Yeah, I tried to mix it up a bit today, you know. I don't know, just tried to hit with him, and it worked out well today. It was nice.
Q. Is playing Marat still a very exciting prospect?
ROGER FEDERER: Absolutely. It's going to be a nice match for sure. We have a history. We have played a few times. We've played in Majors before and played some good matches before. Played in Davis Cup before.
So yeah, we go way back. Him, of course, being a former No. 1, same for me, former Grand Slam champion, it's an intriguing matchup. Back when he was really at his very best -- we had different personalities growing up. I sort of chilled out and he kept on going.
It was just always, I thought, a good matchup. So I was actually happy.
I think it was last year at Wimbledon I played him. We had a good match there. Yeah, I expect it to be tougher here on the hard courts, which should suit his game more.
Q. Do you have a preference whether it's a day or night match?
ROGER FEDERER: Not really. You know, I don't think the guys are going to have a problem with the heat. I think he has a great five-set record. He's tough and never has any really physical problems. I have no preferences.
Q. Still seems a bit strange when you said "former champion like me."
ROGER FEDERER: Former No. 1 I said.
Q. Former No. 1. Does that seem a little bit strange?
ROGER FEDERER: For both of us. I didn't say former champion. I said former Grand Slam champion and former No. 1.
Q. I misspoke.
ROGER FEDERER: Exactly.
Q. Does that still seem a little bit strange, to use the word "former"?
ROGER FEDERER: That's the way it is. It's a fact, right? I was a very proud man for a long time and still today about the record. Today Rafa deserves it because he's hung in there for a long time. He could have lost his No. 2 position for a long time against Djokovic, so he deserves it. It's fine.
Q. Did you catch any of his match last night?
ROGER FEDERER: No. I was at dinner. But I'm not surprised.
Q. Do you have any thought about the changes the ATP made this year about the schedule and points system?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, what do you want me to say? What do you want to hear? Good or bad. Nobody changes rankings, so that's been okay. Would have been good to change a few spots here and there.
No, it's all right the way it is. We've had better and worse times.
Q. What do you think of Ivan's sudden departure from the ATP board?
ROGER FEDERER: I was involved in the whole process, so I was, of course, disappointed. Ivan is a close friend of mine, and I know how tough the decision was to make. I still hoped he was going to continue. But at the same time, he's still an active player and wants to give it one last shot until the end of his career. Everybody completely respects that. It's not end of the world.
Q. What about his suggestion that you would be an ideal replacement?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, well, maybe not tomorrow. Maybe at some stage. I never thought about it, really. Of course it's nice that he thinks of me, that's for sure.
Q. Have you talked here with Etienne's replacement? And if so, any first impressions?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah. He came to Dubai. I met him in December, and he also saw Rafa and Novak before he got appointed, sort of get the definite okay. Everybody met him, the top 3 guys.
I met him here again, yes, and I have a good impression. He's a smart man, smart and honest. I think a guy who can do an excellent job for the ATP.
Q. Were you concerned that he wasn't European?
ROGER FEDERER: That was Rafa's concern. I figured, let's get a good man. Doesn't matter where he's from. I guess that's why it was important for Rafa to meet him before, because I knew Adam from Nike.
So for me it was important that Rafa got to meet him and got a good feeling about it. If Rafa maybe wouldn't have agreed 100% chances would have been slimmer for him. I'm not sure.
I think Rafa was comfortable with the decision, and he also then realized it was just important to get the right man and not an American or European. At the end of the day that doesn't matter.
Q. Does he need a second in command that knows more about the professional game of tennis?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, the question was at some stage also do we a appoint someone who's already in the game, who know a lot about tennis and has maybe even played himself, or do we take somebody outside.
So there was a few guys left at the end. The best man basically made it in the end. But I think you learn quickly in tennis. I think he wants to learn a lot right now.
I think it's great we have a Grand Slam in the first week of the year. It's not like he's never been to a tennis tournament before. He's been into sports and he's been to tennis tournaments. I remember meeting him like five years ago here already.
He's been in the game a long time, so it's not like we get a complete stranger who's got no idea about the rules of tennis. That's not the guy we appointed here.
Q. Your opponent today, he kind of goes for every shot. So does that remind you of yourself maybe five years ago?
ROGER FEDERER: Maybe ten years ago. Five years ago I was a bit more ‑‑ I think a bit more easy already.
Q. Last year you said you created a monster. Do you feel like that monster is still there?
ROGER FEDERER: To some degree everybody still expects me to win every match. But, well, I mean, it went overboard there for a while already back in 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008. Every match I played, when I lost a set it was incredible. It was kind of just a bit exaggerated from everybody.
People like that quote. You know, I like it too, because I'm happy I created that monster. I was very successful and still am, so I hope I can create it again.
Roger got his bid for a record 14th Grand Slam title underway today with a 6-1, 7-6 (4), 7-5 victory over Andreas Seppi.
"He is a very tough customer, he played really well," Roger said of the 35th-ranked Seppi. "I think I played well, too. I had to."
Our champ was at his best on the big points on the opening day. He certainly raced through the first set but seemed to take his foot off the accelerator in the second. He managed to win the match without dropping a single service game but he had to save ten break points.
He faces Russian qualifier Evgeny Korolev (ATP 118, a cousin of Anna Kurnikowa) in the next round.
Not Swiss perfection, but Federer through
Federer was complimentary about his first round opponent following the match. "He's a very tough customer and he plays really well," said the No.2 seed. "He served well today which made it hard for me. I thought I played well, but he's a quality player."
And the Swiss star didn't appear overly concerned with his first day jitters saying, "I was struggling with the balls and getting used to the lights, but overall I'm happy with my performance."
The Australian Open draw was revealed this morning. Roger may face two former top-ranked Grand Slam champions during the first week of the Australian Open as he bids for a record-tying 14th major championship.
He will play Andreas Seppi (ITA/ATP 34) in his opening match and is in line to meet 1998 French Open champion Carlos Moya (ESP/ ATP 41) in the second round. Marat Safin (RUS/ATP 27), who beat Roger in the 2005 Melbourne semifinals en route to the title, is a possible third-round opponent.
A purely Swiss encounter would be possible in the round of the last 16, as Roger and Stan Wawrinka have landed in the same part of the draw. They will already play each other in the final of the AAMI Classic in Kooyong tomorrow, by the way!
In the quarter finals Roger could meet Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG/ATP 9); Novak Djokovic (SRB/ATP 3) and Andy Roddick (USA/ATP 8) are also in that part of the draw.
R-Fed Wants Aussie Open Later In Year
In an interview yesterday, Roger Federer said to the media that he wants the Australian Open to be pushed back another 14 days in the calendar year. Roger wants players to have the chance to play in more lucrative Gulf and Aussie local events and to allow those players who are injured a longer off season to recover.
Fed's quote:
"Definitely the calendar is always something we do talk about," he said.
"I guess to fix the Australian Open problem, you know, and have more tournaments beforehand, (the solution) is to move it backwards a couple of weeks."
Federer then goes on and says that he wants to increase the amount of prize money on the tour this year even despite the current financial crisis. It seems to me like Fed is planning on buying a few more houses or is late on some bills because last time I checked I think he was making ok money. TO me the greater issue is giving more money to the minor leaguers. These are the guys who need a pay increase so that they can live and still have some money left over to invest into their tennis. The tour in a few years might face the issue of lacking stars due to the fact that so many great players simply can't afford to try and make it unless of course they are from a country with a solid tennis backing.
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