Progress = one step forward, two steps back...

I need an external drive full of energy for these next two weeks ...

Certain developments mean I have to have a completed rough draft of the whole thesis in by the 18th of this month, so the next two weeks are going to be devoid of fun of any kind. But it looks like I am getting my thesis defense on Thursday or Friday of Finals week, which is cool. Would love to have my folks there...

I also found a cool grant that I might be able to use for a project in the Balkans. So when I have some down time, or need a break from the thesis, then I can cook up a good project for myself. It needs to have civic engagement in it, and has to be something that will put me in the community, and working with individuals from that community. I would love it to build off of this thesis, so it should involve soccer.

In other news, the German DFB thinks its time for the 'peaceful' fans in the stadiums to be doing the work of the police. I guess there was an incident of fans throwing fireworks around in Frankfurt, so the DFB wants fans to regulate each other in such events... This feels like a rather indirect admission of an awareness to not having the control they appear to have. I also think there is no way this will work; not only do fans generally side with one another against law enforcement inside a stadium, but the group mentality means no individual is likely to speak up when they see others doing something the wider group may approve of.

A public health announcement...

I have come across this article in both the Portland Press Herald, and in the German Suddeutsche Zeitung:

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=166196&ac=PHnws
http://www.sueddeutsche.de/wissen/artikel/734/155329/

According to a new study, heart "problems" reported significantly increased during the 2006 world cup. This was particularly so during the big games. While I am thankful to not have any heart related problems myself (touch wood), I do understand why this might be occurring. From my experience, a tense game has my heart rate elevated significantly, particularly during a penalty shoot out, or in the dying moments of a close game.

Hmm, reflecting on the language of the last paragraph... dying, shoot-out, no wonder this game leads to heart attacks...

Anyway, here is what is recommended by the Press Herald for those big games:

CARDIAC-HEALTH ADVICEFOR THE RABID FOOTBALL FAN

TAKE medications as prescribed.

AVOID tobacco smoke and fatty meals.

GET plenty of sleep the night before the game.

DON’T over-exert yourself physically.

LIMIT yourself to one alcoholic drink for a woman and two for a man.

TRY “not to get too angry with the refs.”

FANS with heart conditions should keep their nitroglycerin and aspirin handy.

Source: Dr. Lori Mosca, director of preventive cardiology at New York-Presbyterian Hospital.

Dr. Lori is clearly an understanding soul, as s/he realizes that we passionate ones can only "try" and not get mad at the ref.