Links

[redfiona99]

Why Icelanders are wary of elves living beneath the rocks - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-27907358

Bard garb: dramatic Shakespeare costumes - http://www.theguardian.com/stage/gallery/2014/jun/17/bard-garb-shakespeare-costumes-from-around-the-world-in-pictures

Football Section:

How Belgium Built Their Golden Generation - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27827569
Or yet another way of doing it that the FA will ignore.

On why Iran are one Liverpool fanzine's second team - http://www.theanfieldwrap.com/2014/06/iran-id-like-introduce-someone/
Really worth reading.

The Birthday Paradox at Brazil 2014 - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-27835311
Or using the World Cup to explain a mathematical axiom.

Meet the World Cup ref who’s richer than the players he bosses about - https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/the-rio-report/meet-world-cup-ref-richer-players-orders-around-130800130.html#more-id
Given that you couldn't pay me to be a referee, I have no idea why he does it.

World Cup 2014: Golden goals, golf carts and other innovations - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27870956
Various innovations, that worked and didn't, from this and previous World Cups.

An exhibition of the work of Paul Trevillion, sports artist - http://www.theguardian.com/football/gallery/2014/jun/18/paul-trevillion-strand-gallery-master-of-movement-in-pictures
The stories that go with the pictures are wonderful.

Comments

[lilacsigil.livejournal.com]

My dad is a semi-professional hockey umpire in his retirement. He does get paid (and umpires about 20 matches a week) but it's pretty much "cover your expenses" money, so he does it for love. He played hockey from the age of 10 to the age of 61, and also coached and umpired most of the last 30 years. But now his arthritis in his hands (which I inherited, bah humbug) means that he can't hold a hockey stick properly, so now he umpires all the time. It's his social world, keeps him extremely fit, and makes him a valuable asset! He just came back from umpiring at the Masters World Cup in the Netherlands - free airfare, free accommodation and got to hang out with all his friends and drink beer! Also, he's got the mindset of always thinking he's right (not just while umpiring!) which gives him a very thick skin for the abuse!

[redfiona99.livejournal.com]

Umpires are worth their weight in gold. I <3 our refs in the fencing, I just loathe doing it. I think that thinking you're right, I'm just not that confident in my presiding.

[lilacsigil.livejournal.com]

I was an umpire myself for a while as a teenager (after breaking my thumb while playing), and having a really loud whistle built confidence in itself! Actually, the players were all fine, it was the parents on the sidelines who were awful.