Rainstorms

Recently, there have been rather huge rainstorms in the area. Huge amounts of water pouring down on us almost daily. I actually like the rain. It gives us much respite from the hot, humid weather of Singapore, though afterwards it will still be rather humid. Aside from that, I do think that the rain looks very beautiful. So many things I have experienced happened in the rain, therefore I always will think of someone or something.

Back to the point, the rain has caused a fair amount of incovenience and damage to people and their property. The draining system in Orchrd Road has failed to work on a number of occasions and thus caused Orchard Road to be flooded to waist level. Many cars were damaged when water seeped into the engine. They are claiming insurance all at once, causing the insurance companies a huge headache. The government has also been questioned about the disaster that the drainage was supposed to prevent. The government obviously launched an investigation into it and came up with some temporary solutions like walls of some sort.

Shops in shopping centers have also damaged, specifically the ones on the ground floor. Poor thing really. After repairing the damage from one flood, another one comes along and throws all their efforts down the drain, literally. Aside from wetting people, the rain has brought down not just a few trees, managing to kill someone and damage another's car. Wow, cars are really having it bad this time. The government is going to hack down a few trees to stop the destruction of cars and loss of lives.

While we think we are having the worst of the situation, we are actually receiving the tiniest bit of it. Look at China. Hills collapsing. Entire villages turned into mini Atlantis. People stranded on the roof of their houses. No food. No water. No electricity. So we really need to put things into perspective and sympathize with others plight.

Now, let me look at the rain and think.

World Cup 2010

Well firstly congratulations to Spain the winner of World Cup 2010. Next to Netherlands for being runner up. Although I would have preferred Germany to have fought with Spain in the Finals, they had a premature confrontation at the semi-finals with Germany fighting tooth and nail against Uruguay to win third place. Although Uruguay lost and acheived fourth place, they were rather sporting and acted as though they had won something.

To a certain extent this is true, as the last time they had reached top 4 was 1970. 40 years later were they able to repeat it. Germany was a little disappointing to have not gone into the finals despite having a very good team. The absence of Thomas Muller due to a scond yellow card in two matches was critical to Germany's defeat against Spain. Germany lacked the attacking strength and used the wrong strategy - a defensive one. The match was a rare yellow cardless, showing that these two superb teams played by skill and not brute force.

So, let us some up the best of the World Cup. Firstly South Africa selected as the host nation despite the country being in poverty. The world can finally see that the country that was not so long ago divided by apartheid and civil war is able to unite under one common goal (pun intended) - football. Then let us move on to the World Cup matches themselves. There are too many examples to list, but I will list the more memorable ones. (At least to me)

First Robert Green fumble of the ball allow USA to draw with England. Then as the group stages came to an end, the supposed best started crashing out. England, France, Italy all went home rather early with England at least lasting to the last 16. Though there was a very controversial gola disallowed for the English side. The ball was clearly two feet into the goal post. However, Germany was in clear control of that game. Then Argentina and Brazil losing surprisingly to Germany and Netherlands respectively. Uruguay squeezed into the semi-finals by cheating. Striker Luis Suarez acted like goalkeeper and used his hand to block the ball. Ghana missed the penalty given.

Spain eventually won against Netherlands because they had the team spirit, working with each other in cohesion to eventually score a goal after 122 minutes of struggle with the other team which was equally united.
Well done Spain.