My Free Spirit by Sandra Hammel

My Free Spirit
If you want listen to my song.
Written and performed by Sandra Hammel
Written July 7, 2010 on Roland FP-4 keyboard, Strings 4
I can't decide what title to give this. Originally, I named it My Free Spirit. Other titles, I have considered are
Sacred Space
Come Inside
Inner Sanctuary
Where I'm Free
Safe Place

APPLE HAS A PROBLEM IF YOU ARE HUMANE

The world operates on the desire to keep poor people poor, so that slave conditions will be tolerated. Why pay USA workers good wages, health care, into pension plans, when corporations can go to places like China, where we can claim ignorance on the working conditions?

I don't believe "we" really want poor people to have better lives. How would we get the cheap labor to make our clothes, pick our fruit and vegetables, make our technology?

The New York Times: Apple’s iPad and the Human Costs for Workers in China

By CHARLES DUHIGG and DAVID BARBOZA

Published: January 25, 2012

A portion from the above link's article:

In the last decade, Apple has become one of the mightiest, richest and most successful companies in the world, in part by mastering global manufacturing. Apple and its high-technology peers — as well as dozens of other American industries — have achieved a pace of innovation nearly unmatched in modern history.

However, the workers assembling iPhones, iPads and other devices often labor in harsh conditions, according to employees inside those plants, worker advocates and documents published by companies themselves. Problems are as varied as onerous work environments and serious — sometimes deadly — safety problems.

Employees work excessive overtime, in some cases seven days a week, and live in crowded dorms. Some say they stand so long that their legs swell until they can hardly walk. Under-age workers have helped build Apple’s products, and the company’s suppliers have improperly disposed of hazardous waste and falsified records, according to company reports and advocacy groups that, within China, are often considered reliable, independent monitors.

More troubling, the groups say, is some suppliers’ disregard for workers’ health. Two years ago, 137 workers at an Apple supplier in eastern China were injured after they were ordered to use a poisonous chemical to clean iPhone screens. Within seven months last year, two explosions at iPad factories, including in Chengdu, killed four people and injured 77. Before those blasts, Apple had been alerted to hazardous conditions inside the Chengdu plant, according to a Chinese group that published that warning.

“If Apple was warned, and didn’t act, that’s reprehensible,” said Nicholas Ashford, a former chairman of the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health, a group that advises the United States Labor Department. “But what’s morally repugnant in one country is accepted business practices in another, and companies take advantage of that.”

Apple is not the only electronics company doing business within a troubling supply system. Bleak working conditions have been documented at factories manufacturing products for Dell, Hewlett-Packard, I.B.M., Lenovo, Motorola, Nokia, Sony, Toshiba and others.

Current and former Apple executives, moreover, say the company has made significant strides in improving factories in recent years. Apple has a supplier code of conduct that details standards on labor issues, safety protections and other topics. The company has mounted a vigorous auditing campaign, and when abuses are discovered, Apple says, corrections are demanded.

And Apple’s annual supplier responsibility reports, in many cases, are the first to report abuses. This month, for the first time, the company released a list identifying many of its suppliers.

But significant problems remain. More than half of the suppliers audited by Apple have violated at least one aspect of the code of conduct every year since 2007, according to Apple’s reports, and in some instances have violated the law. While many violations involve working conditions, rather than safety hazards, troubling patterns persist.

“Apple never cared about anything other than increasing product quality and decreasing production cost,” said Li Mingqi, who until April worked in management at Foxconn Technology, one of Apple’s most important manufacturing partners. Mr. Li, who is suing Foxconn over his dismissal, helped manage the Chengdu factory where the explosion occurred.

“Workers’ welfare has nothing to do with their interests,” he said.

Some former Apple executives say there is an unresolved tension within the company: executives want to improve conditions within factories, but that dedication falters when it conflicts with crucial supplier relationships or the fast delivery of new products. Tuesday, Apple reported one of the most lucrative quarters of any corporation in history, with $13.06 billion in profits on $46.3 billion in sales. Its sales would have been even higher, executives said, if overseas factories had been able to produce more.

Executives at other corporations report similar internal pressures. This system may not be pretty, they argue, but a radical overhaul would slow innovation. Customers want amazing new electronics delivered every year.

“We’ve known about labor abuses in some factories for four years, and they’re still going on,” said one former Apple executive who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity because of confidentiality agreements. “Why? Because the system works for us. Suppliers would change everything tomorrow if Apple told them they didn’t have another choice.”

“If half of iPhones were malfunctioning, do you think Apple would let it go on for four years?” the executive asked.

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Video link from the New York Times - Made in China

Read the full article at:
The New York Times: Apple’s iPad and the Human Costs for Workers in China

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nytime ~ Made in China
(Video shows working conditions in China)
Where our Union jobs go....to places like this,
Important Video ~ factory conditions in China

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iSlaves Working on the iPad: Signing 'No Suicide' Pledges
Monday, 02 May 2011
Source: macedonia online

Factories making sought-after Apple iPads and iPhones in China are forcing staff to sign pledges not to commit suicide, an investigation has revealed.

At least 14 workers at Foxconn factories in China have killed themselves in the last 16 months as a result of horrendous working conditions.
Many more are believed to have either survived attempts or been stopped before trying at the Apple supplier's plants in Chengdu or Shenzen.

After a spate of suicides last year, managers at the factories ordered new staff to sign pledges that they would not attempt to kill themselves, according to researchers.

And they were made to promise that if they did, their families would only seek the legal minimum in damages.

An investigation of the 500,000 workers by the Centre for Research on Multinational Companies and Students & Scholars Against Corporate Misbehaviour (Sacom) found appalling conditions in the factories.

They claimed that:

* Excessive overtime was rife, despite a legal limit of 36 hours a month. One payslip showed a worker did 98 hours of overtime in one month, the Observer reported.
* During peak periods of demand for the iPad, workers were made to take only one day off in 13.
* Badly performing workers were humiliated in front of colleagues.
* Workers are banned from talking and are made to stand up for their 12-hour shifts.

The 'anti-suicide pledge' was brought in after sociologists wrote an open letter to the media calling for an end to restrictive working practices.

But the investigation revealed many of the workers still lived in dismal conditions, with some only going home to see family once a year.

One worker told the newspaper: 'Sometimes my roommates cry when they arrive in the dormitory after a long day.'

She said they were made to work illegally long hours for a basic daily wage, as little as Ł5.20, and that workers were housed in dormitories of up to 24 people a room.

In Chengdu, working between 60 and 80 hours overtime a month was normal, with many breaching Apple's own code of conduct with the length of their shifts.

And the investigation found that employees claimed they were not allowed to speak to each other.

Apple's China Supply Chain Exposed

Interview by Kai Ryssdal
Kai Ryssdal is the host and senior editor of Marketplace, public radio’s program on business and the economy. Follow Kai on Twitter @kairyssdal.

Read More »

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This is why we learned that we need workers to have unions

TV - ON SEARCH OF GOOD WRITING

Maybe, I have missed all the good writing on TV shows today. Or maybe, there isn't much good writing and I don't know what shows the good writing is on. I have seen some awful writing. Good writing has existed. Murphy Brown, Due South, I'll Fly Away, The Fugitive - all shows from the past.
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I loved the show Murphy Brown. Only season 1 is available on DVD. Such a shame. I particulary liked Eldin.

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But I also like the love interest Peter, played by Scott Bakula.

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Peter and murphy by laurence01110
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Murphy Brown cast

RAFA and ROGER

I was looking for an interview with Roger Federer who was speaking when Rafa once wore the sleeveless shirts on court and how intimidating he looked then. But I found the video below and not that interview.
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The video is Rafa and Roger doing a promo shoot together apparently in 2010. At the end Rafa is teaching Roger how to speak a line in Spanish. I find this video very enjoyable to see.

LIKE US at Facebook

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I found this Rafa-dedicated website, while searching about Roger and Rafa: nadalwin

These two fan sites are a great source of up-to-date information

Vamos Brigade

Rafa's Babolat-sponsored forum

This is the Nike Rafael Nadal website:

www.rafaelnadal.com

AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2012 ~ RAFA NADAL ~ Semifinal Pictures

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning his semifinal match against Roger Federer of Switzerland during day eleven of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 26, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Pool/Getty Images AsiaPac

This post is for pictures of Rafa in the semifinal match of the AO 2012.
I will continue to post the match information at the original post.

More semifinal Rafa pictures here at zimbio

I have another post: Rafa Nadal ~ Australian Open 2012 ~ Quarterfinal Pictures.

Australian Open 2012
Semifinal
Rafael Nadal defeated Roger Federer
6-7(5), 6-2, 7-6(5), 6-4
Thursday, January 26, 2012

Australian Open 2012
Final
Rafa Nadal ESP (2) vs. Novak Djokovic SRB (1)
Sunday January 29, 2012. 7:30 p.m. Australian day and time
which is
Saturday, January 28, 2012, 3:30 a.m., USA EST day and time
Rod Laver Arena
USA Channel ESPN2 TV is beginning broadcast at 3:00 a.m. USA EST

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Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning his semifinal match against Roger Federer of Switzerland during day eleven of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 26, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images AsiaPac


Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning his semifinal match against Roger Federer of Switzerland during day eleven of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 26, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Pool/Getty Images AsiaPac

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning his semifinal match against Roger Federer of Switzerland during day eleven of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 26, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images AsiaPac

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning his semifinal match against Roger Federer of Switzerland during day eleven of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 26, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images AsiaPac

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning his semifinal match against Roger Federer of Switzerland during day eleven of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 26, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images AsiaPac

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning a point in his semifinal match against Roger Federer of Switzerland during day eleven of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 26, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Robert Prezioso/Getty Images AsiaPac

Rafael Nadal of Spain towels down in his semifinal match against Roger Federer of Switzerland during day eleven of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 26, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images AsiaPac

Rafael Nadal of Spain looks on between games in his semifinal match against Roger Federer of Switzerland during day eleven of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 26, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Lucas Dawson/Getty Images AsiaPac

Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts in his semifinal match against Roger Federer of Switzerland during day eleven of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 26, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images AsiaPac

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates a point in his semifinal match against Roger Federer of Switzerland during day eleven of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 26, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia.Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images AsiaPac

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning the third set in his semifinal match against Roger Federer of Switzerland during day eleven of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 26, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images AsiaPac

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning a point in his semifinal match against Roger Federer of Switzerland during day eleven of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 26, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images AsiaPac

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning a point in his semifinal match against Roger Federer of Switzerland during day eleven of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 26, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images AsiaPac

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning a point in his semifinal match against Roger Federer of Switzerland during day eleven of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 26, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images AsiaPac

Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts in his semifinal match against Roger Federer of Switzerland during day eleven of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 26, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images AsiaPac

Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts in his semifinal match against Roger Federer of Switzerland during day eleven of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 26, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images AsiaPac

Rafael Nadal of Spain towels down in his semifinal match against Roger Federer of Switzerland during day eleven of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 26, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images AsiaPac

Roger Federer of Switzerland and Rafael Nadal of Spain plays pose for a photo before their semifinal match during day eleven of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 26, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images AsiaPac

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning a point in his semifinal match against Roger Federer of Switzerland during day eleven of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 26, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images AsiaPac

Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a backhand in his semifinal match against Roger Federer of Switzerland during day eleven of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 26, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images AsiaPac

Pictures of quarterfinal AO 2012 match

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning match point in his quarter final match against Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic during day nine of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 24, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia.Photo by Pool/Getty Images AsiaPac


Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning match point in his quarter final match against Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic during day nine of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 24, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Pool/Getty Images AsiaPac

More quarterfinal pictures of Rafa

RAFA NADAL ~ AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2012 ~ Quarterfinal Pictures

This post is a continuation of the previous post simply so I can add more pictures. I will continue to post the match information to the original post.

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Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning match point in his quarter final match against Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic during day nine of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 24, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images AsiaPac

My original Australian Open 2012 post with Rafa Nadal's match information will continue to be updated there.

Quarterfinal
Rafa Nadal defeated Tomas Berdych
6-7(5), 7-6(6), 6-4, 6-3
Tuesday, January 24, 2012, First night match, 7:30 p.m., Australian day and time
Monday, January 23, 2012, 3:30 a.m., USA EST day and time
replay of the match at ESPN3

Australian Open 2012
Semifinal
Rafael Nadal defeated Roger Federer
6-7(5), 6-2, 7-6(5), 6-4
Thursday, January 26, 2012

Australian Open 2012
Semifinal
Andy Murray vs. Novak Djokovic
Friday, January 26, 2012, 7:30 p.m., Australian day and time
Thursday, January 23, 2012, 3:30 a.m., USA EST day and time

Quarterfinal Pictures

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning match point in his quarter final match against Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic during day nine of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 24, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images AsiaPac

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates a point in his quarter final match against Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic during day nine of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 24, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images AsiaPac


MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 24: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning match point in his quarter final match against Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic during day nine of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 24, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning match point in his quarter final match against Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic during day nine of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 24, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images AsiaPac

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning match point in his quarter final match against Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic during day nine of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 24, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images AsiaPac

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning match point in his quarter final match against Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic during day nine of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 24, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images AsiaPac



Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning match point in his quarter final match against Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic during day nine of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 24, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images AsiaPac

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning match point in his quarter final match against Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic during day nine of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 24, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images AsiaPac

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning match point in his quarter final match against Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic during day nine of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 24, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images AsiaPac

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning match point in his quarter final match against Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic during day nine of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 24, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images AsiaPac

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning a point in his quarter final match against Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic during day nine of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 24, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images AsiaPac

Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts to a point in his quarter final match against Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic during day nine of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 24, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images AsiaPac

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning the second set tiebreak in his quarter final match against Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic during day nine of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 24, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images AsiaPac

Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a backhand in his quarter final match against Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic during day nine of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 24, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images AsiaPac

More quarterfinal Pictures

daylife

zimbio

uk.eurosport.yahoo

AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2012 - RAFA NADAL

UPDATED Sunday, January 29, 2012, 10:35 p.m. USA EST

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning set point in his men's final match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during day fourteen of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 29, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images AsiaPac


Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning set point in his men's final match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during day fourteen of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 29, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images AsiaPac

Australian Open 2012
Final
Novak Djokovic SRB (1) defeated Rafael Nadal ESP (2)
5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-5
Length of sets in minutes respectfully:
80, 66, 45, 88, 74
Match Length 5 hours, 53 minutes
~ a record for longest Grand Slam Final Match in history
Match ended at 1:45 a.m.
Sunday January 29, 2012. 7:30 p.m. Australian day and time
which was
Saturday, January 28, 2012, 3:30 a.m., USA EST day and time
Rod Laver Arena

Rafa's Presser after semifinal match - Unlisted

The * Final match can be seen as a replay 7:05:52

The Tennis Channel will reair the Final Monday - schedule.
The homepage says it begins at 7:00 p.m. USA EST, but the schedule at the link reads different times at 1:00 p.m. and again at 5:00 p.m. Maybe the the 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. times were set before the match length was known.

The Tennis Channel will likely reair the Final another time this week.

Personal feelings:
Rafa will always have my admiration for the person that he is.

He is gracious in victory and defeat on the tennis court.

Last year, I noticed that his sliced backhand didn't help his score. And today in the Final at the AO 2012 versus Novak Djokovic, I thought every time he used it - "Oh, no!!" And much of the time Rafa went on to lose that point. I wish he would stop using it when it isn't reaping good things. And it isn't working when Rafa plays Djokovic. I don't understand why he continues to use it in these cases. It only gives Djokovic time to think what he is going to do as it slowly comes through the air to him. Rafa plays with such heart, works so hard, so I would like to see him win easier whenever possible. I hope his coach, Uncle Tony, or Rafa, himself, will watch this match and notice the sliced backhand and how it is failing to give Rafa a point way too many times.

Furthermore, set 1 and sets 4 and 5, Rafa played with tactics that were working (on the baseline, taking the ball early) and sets 2 and 3, he moved back from the baseline and it didn't work so well.

TV and Commentators that grate
* ESPN commentators, Chris Fowler and Chris McKendry for me personally made me mute the volume most of the match during ESPN's broadcast of the Final.

Years past ESPN's Brad Gilbert annoyed me in a similar way. But Fowler and McKendry were beyond bearable for me.

The Tennis Channel's commentators Martina Navratilova and Bill Macatee were good. Usually I don't care to listen to Justin Gimelstob, but his role of analysis for the AO 2012 matches, was a fine fit for him.

Sandy Roberts, who led the AO 2012 Awards Ceremony, treated Rafa better than he did the year Rafa won in 2009. The 2009 AO full Final Match.

The following article is from chinadaily.com

MELBOURNE - Rafa Nadal soothed his disappointment at yet another loss to Novak Djokovic in the longest ever grand slam final by declaring he was at least free of the mental chokehold the Serb had placed him under throughout last year.

The Spaniard threw everything at world number one Djokovic in the Australian Open final but still came up agonisingly short to lose 5-7 6-4 6-2 6-7 7-5 in the early hours of Monday at Rod Laver Arena.

With a break in hand and two points from taking a 5-2 lead in the fifth set, Nadal missed an easy backhand down the line with the court wide open and an exhausted Djokovic rose from the abyss.

Having appeared on the verge of collapse, the 24-year-old Serb broke back and went on to complete an astonishing victory and condemn Nadal to his third successive grand slam final loss to Djokovic.

It was also Nadal's seventh successive loss to the Serb, all in finals.

Nadal apologized at his post-match news conference before ripping open a sachet of energy formula with his teeth and sucking it dry before taking questions. "Fine," he quipped after being asked how he felt following the five-hour 53-minute match.

"No, I'm tired, sure. Physically it was the toughest match I ever played ... I am tired."

While Nadal rued his missed chances, he also chose to look on the bright side. "(I had) very real chances to have the title and to win against a player who I lost six times last year," he said.

"But I didn't. I never put him in this situation during 2011, all of 2011, so that's another positive thing for me.

"I didn't have mental problems today against him. I had in 2011 all these mental problems. Today I didn't have (any).

"So that's another positive thing. (I) probably never say that many positive things after I lose."

Final Pictures
zimbio
daylife

Championship Match Statistics

USA TV Channel ESPN2 is beginning broadcast at 3:00 a.m. USA EST
The schedules are posted on the AO website daily the day before play.
Remember Australia is a day ahead of USA EST.
See my sidebar for Australian time

Schedule

TV

The Tennis Channel
Airs both in High Definition and not High Definition
The Tennis Channel reairs matches of Rafa many times

ESPN2
Airs both in High Definition and not High Definition
ESPN2 sometimes reairs matches of Rafa, or at least parts of them.

Live Stream on Espn 3

and
www.australianopen.com/live
(except Australia, Europe, UK, Japan, New Zealand)

Rod Laver Arena and Hisense Arena both have retractable roofs.

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Australian Open 2012

time and date converter

NOTE: Men's matches are best of 5
Women's matches best of 3
This knowledge can help you judge when Rafa's matches will begin.
For example, women's matches can be over in an hour or hour and a half.

Australian Open 2012
Round 1
Rafa Nadal defeated Alex Kuznetsov
6-4, 6-1, 6-1
Monday, January 16, 2012, Australian Time

Round 2
Rafa Nadal vs. Tommy Haas
6-4, 6-3, 6-4
Wednesday, January 18, 2012, Australian Time

See Most Popular tab to see highlights of Rafa's Rounds 1 and 2

Round 3
Rafa Nadal defeated Lukas Lacko
6-2, 6-4, 6-2
Friday, Jaunary 20, 2012, 11:00 a.m. Australian Time
which was
Thursday, January 19, 2012, 7:00 p.m. USA, EST Time
Match stats

Round 4 - Round of 16
Rafa Nadal defeated Feliciano Lopez
6-4, 6-4, 6-2
Sunday, January 22, 2012
which was
7:00 p.m., Saturday, January 21, 2012, USA EST

Quarterfinal
Rafa Nadal defeated Tomas Berdych
6-7(5), 7-6(6), 6-4, 6-3
Tuesday, January 24, 2012, First night match, 7:30 p.m., Australian day and time
which was
Monday, January 23, 2012, 3:30 a.m., USA EST day and time
replay of the match at ESPN3

Transcribed interview with Rafa after Quarterfinal match at the Australian Open 2012

NOTE:
Rafa Nadal (QF score: 6-7(5), 7-6(6), 6-4, 6-3) vs. Roger Federer (QF score: 6-4, 6-3, 6-2)

I have another post: Rafa Nadal ~ Australian Open 2012 ~ Quarterfinal Pictures.

I have another post: Rafa Nadal ~ AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2012 ~ RAFA NADAL ~ Semifinal Pictures

I did this to post many QF and SF pictures. I have too many pictures on this post.


Semifinal
Rafael Nadal defeated Roger Federer
6-7(5), 6-2, 7-6(5), 6-4
Thursday, January 26, 2012, 7:30 p.m., Australian day and time
which was
Wednesday, January 23, 2012, 3:30 a.m., USA EST day and time

Semifinal
Novak Djokovic defeated Andy Murray
Thursday, January 26, 2012
6-3, 3-6, 6-7(4), 6-1, 7-5

Live Streaming

Espn 3
also available are matches already played

sportlemon

Australianopen.com

TV
TV schedule in different countries around the world

The Tennis Channel
Airs both in High Definition and not High Definition
The Tennis Channel reairs matches of Rafa many times

ESPN2
Airs both in High Definition and not High Definition
ESPN2 sometimes reairs matches of Rafa, or at least parts of them.

ESPN2 always skip around from court to court,
so ESPN3 Live Streaming is better choice,
if you want to watch a particular match all the way through.

Rafael Nadal attends Bacardi Limited 'Champions Drink Responsibly' event at Encore, St Kilda on January 12, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. January 11, 2012 - Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images AsiaPac.

Pictures

From Zimbio ~

Rafael Nadal attends Bacardi Limited 'Champions Drink Responsibly' event at Encore, St Kilda on January 12, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia

Practice session January 10, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia

Practice session January 12, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia

Practice session January 14, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia

More Pictures

Daylife pictures of Rafael Nadal

Rafa Nadal pictures ~ uk.eurosport.yahoo

Australian Open Website

Round 1 Pictures

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates his victory over Alex Kuznetsov of the US in their first round men's singles match on day one of the 2012 Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 16, 2012. Nadal won 6-4, 6-1, 6-1. Photo by Getty Images.

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates defeating Alex Kuznetsov of the U.S. during their men's singles Round 1 match at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 16, 2012. Photo credit: Reuters.

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates a point in his first round match against Alex Kuznetsov of the United States during day one of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 16, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images AsiaPac.

Rafael Nadal of Spain wipes his face in his first round match against Alex Kuznetsov of the United States during day one of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 16, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images AsiaPac.

More Round 1 Pictures
zimbio
daylife
uk.eurosport.yahoo

Round 2 Pictures

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates in his second round match against Tommy Haas of Germany during day three of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 18, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a forehand in his second round match against Tommy Haas of Germany during day three of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 18, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: Rafael Nadal of Spain serves in his second round match against Tommy Haas of Germany during day three of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 18, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a forehand in his second round match against Tommy Haas of Germany during day three of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 18, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia.

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Round 3 Pictures

Round 3 ~ Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts after making a shot against Lukas Lacko of Slovakia in their third round men's singles match on day five of the 2012 Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 20, 2012.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 20: Rafael Nadal of Spain looks on in his third round match against Lukas Lacko of Slovakia during day five of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 20, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images.

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Day 6 Practice Pictures ~ January 21, 2012

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Round 4 Pictures

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning a game against Feliciano Lopez of Spain during their men's singles match at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 22, 2012. Photo credit: Reuters

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Quarterfinal Pictures

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning match point in his quarter final match against Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic during day nine of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 24, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images AsiaPac

I posted many quarterfinal pictures at another post Rafa Nadal

and also pictures may be found at the following links ~

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uk.eurosport.yahoo

Semifinal Pictures

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning his semifinal match against Roger Federer of Switzerland during day eleven of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 26, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images AsiaPac

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 26: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning his semifinal match against Roger Federer of Switzerland during day eleven of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 26, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images


Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning his semifinal match against Roger Federer of Switzerland during day eleven of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 26, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. (January 25, 2012 - Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images AsiaPac

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Articles regarding the semifinal

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Ask Rafa ~ send a question to Rafael Nadal

Rafa answers question at Elmundo in Spanish

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Article links ~
Nadal doubts that he will win the Australian Open

Nadal finds passion to knock over Djokovic

Rafael Nadal fears for battered knees

Australian Open Roger Federer Downplays Rift Rafael Nadal
My opinion: the writer of this excerpt is a Federer fan, and not a Rafa fan, as I am. I think Rafa was being honest. And his only possible desire to take back is that the reporting will spin and blow up what he said and what his words simply meant - his truth).

Excerpt here ~ from the article
Nadal and Federer, despite their healthy respect for one another, have butted heads on several issues for a while.

Nadal thinks there aren't enough breaks in the schedule for players during the season; Federer takes his own mini-breaks during the campaign and thus has never agreed with the Spaniard's observation.

Although Nadal, reportedly, backed former Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek to become the next head of the men's tour, Federer, according to reports, didn't.

Nadal was obviously simmering.

But for Nadal to air his grievances against Federer in public was wrong, as he duly noted. Interestingly, though, he didn't take back what he said, that Federer essentially didn't want to look like the bad guy as the players sought changes to the game.

"You know, what I said," Nadal said in a news conference. "I feel sorry for say[ing] that, especially to you. Because when I say that, I have to say him personally. But that's it."

Later, Federer classily took the high road.

"I have no hard feelings towards him," he said. "It's been a difficult last few months in terms of politics within the ATP, I guess, trying to find a new CEO and chairman. That can get frustrating sometimes.

"He's mentioned many times how he gets a bit tired and frustrated through the whole process, and I shared that with him. It's normal. But for me, obviously, nothing changes in terms of our relationship. I'm completely cool and relaxed about it. He seemed the same way, or at least I hope so."

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