How was your World Cup experience...? What did you think of the Final...?

At the start of last night's Soccer World Cup final, I really was indifferent in terms of who I wanted to lift the trophy.
As the game progressed, however, it became increasingly apparent how dirty the Dutch were playing.
Sure they play a more "physical" game - I get that, but guys this is soccer, not rugby.

I also felt that all the cards that were handed out were justified - well done Howard Webb.
I had the chance to see Howard Webb in action at the Italy - Slovakia game as well, and I must say that the man has significant presence on the field.
To keep it together under immense pressure from 22 pumped up players on a volatile field (and 90 000 crazed fans!!), is a feat to be admired and a job which I must say, it takes a brave man to do.

Viva Espana and Viva Howard Webb!

Zakumi, the official mascot for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa

Well done South Africa - we hosted a kick-ass World Cup, we silenced all the doomsday prophets and changed perceptions worldwide.
I don't think that we even fully realize the process of transformation that has been put in motion in our country as a result of this massive event...

As one of the ushers at Soccer City was chanting to the queue at the Rea Vaya station: "Forwards ever, backwards never!"

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Watch how the ref "asks" Luis Fabiano if he handled the ball in last night's game...!

Soccer City was abuzz last night in the match between Brazil and Ivory Coast, and I was very lucky to have been there.
Watching Brazil play is always a treat, but I watched a Youtube video this morning which shows the ref smiling and actually asking Luis Fabiano if he handled the ball in order to score his goal...(after the goal had been awarded)!

This kinda makes you wonder what the heck is going on?
The ref must have at least suspected that there was a handball, if he actually took the time to jokingly ask Luis Fabiano if a handball was involved...?

Don't get me wrong - Brazil were the better team by far and the totally deserved to win, but incidents like this cast an interesting light on the referees and linesmen who actually control the game.

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Google Streetview is alive and well in Johannesburg... even on cellphones!

Almost everyone has heard about Google Streetview by now - and if you haven't, it is Google's way of peeping into backyards all over the world :)

Basically Google sent out a whole lot of Google vehicles with special 360-degree roof-mounted cameras, to take photos of roads and highways in various areas of the world. 

As far as I know they started off in the USA of course, and then moved onto Europe.

More recently, and in time for the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup, Google invaded South Africa with the result that most of Johannesburg is now available to view using Google Maps.

I tried out the Google Maps mobile app, and the results were spectacular. 

No matter which road I chose in JHB, whether a major highway or a tiny back road, Streetview popped up in all it's glory, revealing Johannesburgers going about their daily lives while Google stealthily went about their way, imaging every piece of road in the city that they could access.

Interestingly, all vehicle number plates are blurred out, as is all vehicle branding, as far I could see anyway.

In the spirit of the World Cup, I took these cellphone screenshots of Google spying on Soccer City...

...and these near OR Tambo International Airport (that's the new Gautrain track overhead).

Did you notice the shadow in the last pic? It clearly shows the upright camera atop the Google vehicle.

Can you imagine the amount of work / logistics / effort that went into this? 

Google just continues to amaze... what's next I wonder?

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