❧❧❧ Whatever you can do or dream, you can BEGIN IT. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Goethe ❧❧❧
❧❧❧ You were born whole, not broken. Sandra Hammel ❧❧❧
The best acting is done, not with words but organically, from the integrity of the actors spirit. Heath was a master at this. He acted with his heart. I am amazed anew each time I watch him in The Four Feathers and Candy. And Brokeback too, but read on and you will see why this video had to omit any video from BBM. Movies included: Mostly Candy The Four Feathers But also: A Knight's Tale Brokeback Mountain
I'm Not There was removed from the original because it didn't flow well. It was hard to cut it, but if you edit, you will understand.
Music Credits: Composers: Jud Friedman, Allen Rich, James Newton-Howard For the First Time ProSound Karaoke Band
The Most Beautiful Thing You Ever Said Was When Your Eyes Rested in Mine ~ Sandra Hammel
Concentration on eyes, body language, movement, artistic lines and face expressions were used to make this video.
Suggestion: Watch in your screen's full size -- just click on the four cornered arrows at the bottom right of the youtube video screen for this video. Or watch in 480 p. If you double click on the video, it will take you to youtube, so you can see it on a bigger screen.
No Brokeback Mountain This has been redone from the original which was banned in the USA, but viewable everywhere else on planet Earth. The problem was due to Brokeback Mountain clips that I used (NBC Universal). This time I removed all BBM movie clips and replaced the clips with stills. Not as good, but allowed everywhere.
It is obvious that this work was in my early days of learning how to do videos. It made it difficult to make a better video out of the finished video. And I am sorry about the different sizes of video within the video. So, this is a compromise -- some improvements, but still a little rough in concept. I simply chose some exceptional scenes that I love, especially from Candy and The Four Feathers.
The original version of October 11, 2009, that the USA couldn't and still can't see.
HEATH LEDGER ~ THE FOUR FEATHERS ~ TRIBUTE TO FRIENDSHIP, COURAGE AND INTEGRITY ~ BROKEN ARROW One of my favorite videos of my own:
I especially connected with Heath's statement: 'Cause for me, like, what a success is is, I mean the only time that I'm alive, and living and expressing and feeling, and, and relating is, is, is when I'm on set and that time between action and cut and so that's the only thing that's really important is how that experience is, and, and how that experience will affect my life and what I have to give from my life to that experience. (Transcribed from the interview of December 3, 2007 - links just below. Heath was talking about "Brothers Grimm" and working with director Terry Gilliam in this excerpt.)
Links to the "Beyond the Subtitles" - December 3, 2007 - Heath's interview with Stephen Schaefer:
I am thrilled to have two musicians that have given me permission to use their music. This makes life much better. I could make videos every day. I just love doing it. Unfortunately, I do it for free.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Genocide will not end until enough people pressure our elected officials to take a stand
Rafael Nadal of Spain serves during the men's singles quarter final match between Rafael Nadal of Spain and Nicolas Almagro of Spain at the French Open on day eleven of the French Open at Roland Garros on June 2, 2010 in Paris, France. Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe This is my second post regarding Rafa at Roland Garros.
UPDATE Final Rafa Nadal defested Robin Soderling 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 Sunday, June 6, 2010 9:00 a.m. USA EDT NBC Court Philippe Chatrier
SEE MY OTHER POST ABOUT THE FINAL JUNE 6, 2010 WHICH IS COMING UP SOON Regarding Semi Final with Rafa: NBC didn't show any of Rafa's on-court interview, signing the camera lens, signing after match autographs and great after-match commentary, however these online sites had their own after-match extras including some of these things:
In the Roland Garras 2010 locker room UPDATE Semifinal Rafa Nadal defeated Jurgen Melzer 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 (8-6) Friday, June 4, 2010 Court Philippe Chatrier Rafa's match is the second match The first match begins 7:00 a.m. USA EDT NBC unfortunately is showing match at 11:00 a.m. USA EDT Showing oline for free
UPDATE Quarterfinal Rafa Nadal defeated Nicolas Almagro 7-6 (2), 7-6 (3), 6-4 Wednesday, June 2, 2010 - the day before Rafa's birthday Court Philippe Chatrier 39 Pictures Check out Rafa's blog posts at timesonline
Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates during the men's singles quarter final match between Rafael Nadal of Spain and Nicolas Almagro of Spain at the French Open on day eleven of the French Open at Roland Garros on June 2, 2010 in Paris, France. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe
Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning match point during the men's singles quarter final match between Rafael Nadal of Spain and Nicolas Almagro of Spain at the French Open on day eleven of the French Open at Roland Garros on June 2, 2010 in Paris, France. Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe
UPDATE Round 4 Rafa Nadal Thomaz Bellucci Monday, May 31, 2010 Court Philippe Chatrier 6-2, 7-5, 6-4
Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates a point during the men's singles fourth round match between Rafael Nadal of Spain and Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil at the French Open on day nine of the French Open at Roland Garros on May 31, 2010 in Paris, France.
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe
Round 3 Rafa Nadal defeated Lleyton Hewitt 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 Saturday, May 29, 2010) Time of Spain (same as Paris) on my sidebar Pictures More pictures
NBC - like CBS other tournaments - did us wrong today. They didn't even show Rafa's match until the second set at 2-2. Then, they cut away to other matches most of the time. The Tennis Channel website wasn't allowed to show a live stream, obviously because of NBC's exclusive contract. And I just checked - of all the Saturday matches that are archived at The Tennis Channel website - Rafa and Lleyton's isn't there.
I watched Rafa and Lleyton's match at www.fromsport.com FromSport also showed Rafa's on court interview. The networks almost NEVER show them. Network tv is the pits for tennis viewing.
Click image to enlarge
Rafael Nadal of Spain serves during the men's singles third round match between Rafael Nadal of Spain and Lleyton Hewitt of Australia at the French Open on day seven of the French Open at Roland Garros on May 29, 2010 in Paris, France. (May 28, 2010 - Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe
Round 2 Rafa Nadal defeated Horacio Zeballos 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 Friday, May 28, 2010
Rafael Nadal of Spain serves during the men's singles second round match between Rafael Nadal of Spain and Horacio Zeballos of Argentina at the French Open on day six of the French Open at Roland Garros on May 28, 2010 in Paris, France.
Rafael Nadal, 23, on winning, losing and the family that means everything to him
Interview by Mel Bradman
The time I get up depends on what time Im playing. Today I had practice at 1, so I got up around 10. I shower, get dressed. For breakfast I have hot chocolate, a croissant or toast with olive oil, and some fruit. Never coffee or tea I dont like them.
After breakfast I go to the sports arena and warm up with my coach, my uncle Toni. I practise from 1 to 3, then have another shower and lunch. What I eat depends on the country Im in, but often it will be pasta, fish and salad. I dont cook much, maybe some pasta. When Im away on tour I might make my grandmothers cake its a typical Majorcan cake, her own special recipe. I love chocolate, especially milk chocolate. I eat it every day. I love Nutella, too, and crisps and biscuits. There are some salty Majorcan biscuits called Quely, and I always take a supply with me.
I was four when I started playing tennis, very young. Thats when my uncle Toni gave me my first racket. I won my first tournament when I was eight. Ive always loved sport and Ive always been competitive Ill compete at anything.
On a match day I start to prepare at least an hour before I play. I get my fingers and feet taped to protect them from blisters, then change into my kit and warm up, listening to my iPod Spanish pop music or classical music. If Im playing someone I know, well chat maybe half an hour before we go on court. But not 10 minutes before by then all Im thinking about is the game.
My personality is relaxed. During a tournament Im really calm, because Im focused. I have a routine: practise and play its easy. But when I go home to Majorca, I cant relax. I want to do so much because I dont spend enough time there. I want to see my friends, my family, go to the gym, play tennis. And I love golf Ill play for hours. I go fishing, watch football, see movies. And I swim in the sea, which is next to my house. I want to do everything, but its impossible; the days are too short.
Ive won a lot of money, but Im lucky, I live with my family in Majorca and Im happy how I am. I dont need anything else. I never like to be alone, so I like friends and family to visit me during tournaments and I never travel alone.
Late afternoon, back at the hotel, I have physiotherapy for two hours. Each day I do stretches and have a massage. Some part of the body always needs attention. Last year I had tendonitis in both knees. Im getting better, but it was hard, after practising so much, that I had to miss tournaments, especially Wimbledon. But you accept it and try to recover as fast as possible.
I feel pressure, for sure. The biggest stress for most players is that the seasons too long. It starts in January and finishes in November no time to rest. Second worst is the ranking thats a lot of pressure every week. But Ive got more experienced at coping.
Sometimes Im angry or unhappy on court, but I have to control myself. Im not a very negative person. Mental strength is part of my personality and it comes from my parents dedication to me and from my uncle, my coach. Living in a small town in Majorca, families are closer than they are in big cities. My friends are still the ones I was at school with, from when I was six years old. These are the people I go out to dinner with, to parties with.
On tour I always leave the hotel and go out to dinner. If I go to a restaurant with friends, Ill wear jeans and T-shirt, or a jacket if its a less casual place. I like Japanese, Italian and Spanish food, and I love seafood. I only drink alcohol when I have a few weeks off and Im out with friends. But I dont drink much.
I call my family every night. Win or lose, my mother tells me to take care and sends me a kiss. Then I watch TV or a movie. One of the last films I saw was Avatar. Ive been watching the DVDs of Prison Break and Lost. Theres also a Spanish series I watch, called Los Serrano. Its a drama about two families.
If Im watching a movie and its emotional, Ill cry. Its not difficult for me to cry. If I see a sports person win something important, Ill cry. When I win a match I might cry too. But I dont often cry when I lose. When I lose I go straight home to Majorca, every time.
I feel very lucky to be where I am today. To be famous is sometimes not that good, but it changes nothing in my life, though it may make things a little more showy. People ask me what its like having lots of girls after me, but I didnt realise there were so many. Sometimes I like the glamour, but Ive always been down-to-earth, pretty normal. At home nobody treats me any differently.
I go to bed between midnight and 2am. Six years ago, maybe, Id be thinking about the next days match before I went to sleep, and that would keep me awake. Now I focus on watching a DVD in bed and I fall asleep while its playing. I have lots of dreams all very different and I always sleep well
Rafael Nadal competes in the Aegon Championships at the Queens Club, London, June 7-13; www.aegonchampionships.com
One more day goes by and as I mentioned yesterday, already in the second week. The competition started last Sunday but now the competition gets really difficult. I am playing on Monday for a spot in the quarter-finals and that is something important. I have been saying I have not been playing really well, but again, I practiced really well today so I am happy.
After practice I had to go to see some clients of Richard Mille, yes the watch I wear now and that is really great. My manager Carlos Costa asked me to go and since we finished in a good time and they were there I came to their lounge. I was going to stay there only for 10 mins after saying hello to the people there.
But they had a pretty big screen with the Formula One race on it and they also had some good fish for lunch so we decided to stay there and have lunch while watching the end of the race. Pretty good atmosphere.
I am sorry though for all those fans that were waiting outside to get an autograph. It is really difficult. I would love to sign all of them, specially to those little kids that wait and wait to get one. Hopefully their parents will explain to them how difficult is to sign all of them.
Then I came back to the hotel and played some Play Station with Marc Lopez sometimes my doubles partner in tennis and hopefully my partner doing the karaoke tomorrow, Rafa Maymo and my PR Manager Benito Perez-Barbadillo. Me and Benito are playing better and we managed to defeat them... The competition still goes on!
Rafa answers fans' questions
Do you get to watch the junior Spanish players in action? Do you think Spanish tennis will still be strong in the continuing future? Atchariya
Rafa: Not really since they play on the outside courts and it is quite difficult for me to get there. Spanish tennis has been strong in the past 25 years so I am sure that it will continue like this.
Bon día Rafa from El Toro, Mallorca. I have a very ridiculous question for you! I am totally fascinated by your speed...not just during a point, but I cannot believe how quickly you are able to pick yourself up when taking a tumble on the clay. Is that a natural reaction, or is it something that you have to practise? We hope you bring the Coupe de Mousquetaires back to Mallorca this year. Best of luck! Bee.
Rafa: Moltes gracies. THe physical condition has a lot to do with that so you ned to work on that.
Hello! I just read that you watch Lost and since I love that show I wonder: Did you get to watch the final episode or still haven't? Plus, who is your favourite character? Thanks from Puerto Rico and I love the colors you're wearing on Roland Garros. Vamos y éxito! Yaritza from Puerto Rico
Rafa: I haven't seeing it yet. I watch it on DVD so I suppose that I have to wait a bit. You are going to have to guess my favorite character... yeap, that's the one!
Hi Rafa, I'm a big fan and I think you're an amazing player and also a great human being! My question is: Do you have any plans of going to college/university after you retire from tennis? Do you take any classes now? What are your future plans? Good luck! Rukmani (from Munich)
Rafa: Right now I am focusing on my tennis career and I am not really thinking on what comes after tennis. I will decide these thing further on my career.
Hola Rafa, you mentioned in your on court interview that you used to watch Lleyton Hewitt when you were younger. Have you ever found it more difficult to play someone like that, someone you grew up watching. Others players that come to mind are Agassi (before retiring) and Ferrero. Clare
Rafa: It is funny since I got asked that question today having lunch with some friends here in Roland Garros. I used to watch Moya, Ferrero, Agassi, Hewitt and except for Sampras I played against all of them.
Hola Rafa, I wanted to ask you if you were the president of Real Madrid, what would be your first decision? Congratulations on having such an amazing clay season; you've made me a very happy and proud fan! Muchas gracias and good luck for RG Campeon!! Manahil, Pakistan
Rafa: Thankfully I don't have that title or position so I prefer to leave it to Mr. Perez to do his own things...
Hi Rafa, you are my favourite tennis player and I want to wish you the best of luck at RG - you are playing great. When you are playing at the Slams do you prefer to stay in the hotels or in a house like you do at Wimbledon? Many thanks! Arlene McLean, UK
Rafa: Many thanks. This is a very good question. I like staying at a house in Wimbledon since there are not many hotels nearby. But have to say that at the other slams the hotels are very good and I enjoy staying there. KInd of less work also and I can focus more on my tennis, not on my bed, room and kitchen
It is raining! But really raining hard. I am writing this post and the water that comes down is amazing here in Paris. Thank God it is happening now and not before or during the match. If that would have happened, that would have meant that I would have had to play again today!
Anyway, into our business. Some of you that follow tennis and that watch the match yesterday might ask if I am playing my best tennis. I think I ended really well today and I have good sensations. I have not been playing great, but today I felt towards the end of the match I was in control of my game and especially my forehand. Just to say, bottom line, that I am feeling better and better. I don't know why these things happen. I mean, I have been playing great in Monte Carlo, especially there, in Rome and at some point in Madrid. Then I get to Paris and my practices are good, but once I am playing matches, then I have not been playing well...strange. But I have to say that it has also happened in 2008 where I feel I played at my best here in Paris.
Today I am practising at 1 so that gives me time to sleep well and rest more than during these past three or four days. I will practise for one hour and a half and then I have a quick promotional activity with my new sponsor, the famous Richard Mille. Lot of talking about that lately and to be honest, that thing of the comments of the price of the watch makes me feel uncomfortable. Believe me, I am not pricing the watch, and that it is really an amazing watch.
Thanks, Rafa
Rafa answers fans' questions
How do you usually celebrate your birthday? Mine is also the 3rd of June! Vamos Rafa! Assel from Kazakhstan
Rafa says: I have celebrated my birthday four times in Paris in the last five years. Obviously last year it was the only one that I had the chance to celebrate it at home. And to be honest I would have preferred to have been in Paris...Anyway, that's the past. I normally go out for dinner with my team and the family here in Paris.
My question is about the change in the strings for your racket. Will you be using the new strings in grass too? Vie
Rafa says: Nope, same ones!
Novak did the parody of the "Gypsy" video for the jukebox segment. Have you seen it yet? What are your thoughts on it? I hope we still get to see you duet with Marc! Best of luck for the rest of the tourney! VAMOS! :) Julz, Philippines
Rafa says: I have seen it. No problem. But I have to say that previous things were funnier! Hopefully Marc will do it!
Hi Rafa, my friends and I are big fans of yours, good luck at Roland Garros. We were wondering, in a match, just before service, a player is given three balls. Then they look at them, and then drop one and use the other two. Why is that? What do you choose between? Thanks! Love Jasmine
Rafa says: I try to chose the faster one for the first serve.
I don't know how you remain patient with some of the silly questions asked to you at your post match press conferences! So I have a silly question, but hopefully one you've not heard before...It was the Eurovision Song Contest this weekend, do you ever watch it? Spain's entry is not the best this year, I'm afraid! My friends and I are having a party for it so I'm going to attempt to cook paella to go with the European theme! Good luck with the rest of Roland Garros! Kirsty, UK
Rafa says: I have not watched it to be honest.
You have had epic battles with Roger Federer over the years. Do you now feel that everyone expects a five-set marathon every time you play together? How do you cope with the pressure? Keeping fingers crossed for you for this tournament! Bueno Suerte! Lawrence Head from Leicestershire
Rafa says: I am sure that everyone expects a great match. I would love to be back in the final here and if Roger is the opponent, more than happy. The important thing is to be in the final and for that there is still a long way to go!
Rafa, you truly amaze me in so many ways - you are such an inspiration! My question - Can you remember the longest rally you have ever played? How many shots? Good luck - really looking forward to seeing some entertaining tennis from you as always and great to have you blogging. Kim, Australia
Rafa says: Not really. I have had some long ones over the years...
What trophy do you like the best, aesthetically speaking? Marija
Rafa says: I would say... Wimbledon?!?!???!!?!?!
Hola, Rafa! You are a fantastic guy. I enjoy watching you playing very much. When I watched the tie-break quiz videos on atpworldtour.com, it really amazed me that a lot of players could remember the exact scores of the matches they played long time ago. Can you do that? For example, can you still remember the score when you defeated Coria in Rome in 2005? Thank you. Good luck for the rest of the season. I'd like to see you in Shanghai this October. Marjorie, Shanghai
Rafa says: Many thanks. Sure, I remember almost all of them. Against Coria it was one of the best and the most exciting I ever played. The final score was 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(6)!
Quite a good day today. It started very early for what we normally do since I left for the tournament site at 8am. Had my warm up at 8.45am which is a very early time to hit normally. The problem for me was to go to sleep - to get to sleep rather. I normally go to sleep around 12.30 and 1 am and so yesterday I decided not to go out for dinner, had some room service and go
So had an early match which is also good since we finished pretty early. With press conference and a promotional act I did for IBATUR (Balearic Islands Tourism Board) at the tournament I was practically done by 3.30 pm. That is also very early for my standards. Other players spend less time on-site but I normally spend a lot of hours.
I have to say it was good to be back early. I got some rest in the afternoon and went for dinner with my team also early. Tomorrow I am playing again, something not common either at Grand Slams, so wanted to take things in an easy way.
Goodnight and thanks,
Rafa
Rafa answers fans' questions
I heard Toni voted for Bjorn Borg as the best clay court player ever on a survey by L'Equipe. I think he's wrong and you are the best. What do you think? Vanessa, London
Rafa: I don't know, really. I am sure he feels bad voting for me, it looks strange to vote for your nephew, I suppose. You should ask Toni actually.
What did you think of Novak and Troicki impersonating you and Shakira? Kim, London
Rafa: I haven't seen it yet. I suppose it is funny...
I am a very happy tennis and basketball fan, with you playing so well and the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA play-offs. Have you been in touch with Pau Gasol and are you hoping he wins another championship? Aly
Rafa: I am many times in touch with him and I hope they win!
Sometimes you have to play against players you do not know, like Gianni Mina and Horacio Zeballos. Do you face these kind of matches in a different way then against players you have played for so many years now? Ana, Madrid
Rafa: Not really. I always try to play my game on these occasions.
You always come across as such a modest person and enjoy your privacy. How do you manage to cope with all the attention you get? Denzy
Rafa: It is part of the life I have and I try to be nice to everyone. Why change?
What you are thinking as you prepare to serve each time? Beth, USA
Rafa: On where to put it, how to do it, speed, angle...
Why do you always bite the trophy? Why don't you kiss it like the other players? Rose Dakin
Rafa: I always did it since I won my first tournament.
Do you have any plans to come and see any games at the World Cup? Carmen Campbell, South Africa
Rafa: I am afraid I won't be able to come but I'll watch it on TV.
Apart from Spain who else will you support at the World Cup? Lola Myme
Rafa: We'll see.
I really enjoyed watching you and Federer play doubles at the charity matches for Haiti earlier this year. Will we ever see you and Roger play a doubles event together in a tournament? I think you two would be unbeatable together. Olivia, New Zealand
Rafa: I don't know; I am sure at some point we will play.
Rafa's blog post #4
Friday, May 28, 2010
Hello everyone
I suppose most of you are saying the same thing as I am. I did mention yesterday the risk of not playing today, well, in the end it was worst than expected. I couldn't play as I thought I wouldn't be able to do but the weather was worse than they told us and most of the matches couldn't be even started. This means that tomorrow I am playing early and if I win I would play again on Saturday. Not ideal but always better than playing tomorrow and going back home after ...
I have to say that these days in tennis are kind of the worst. Not much to do, just wait, wait, more wait, play some cards in the locker room and continue waiting. Terrible. Clearly there are worst things in life but for a professional event and for the spectators who paid money to be here and watch tennis is not the best.
Tomorrow I am going pretty early to the tournament at 8am and get ready for an early match. Something that I am not used to but something equal to both players. No complaints.
Hola Rafa, I am thinking of learning to play tennis after years of watching. What advice/tips can you give me to get me started?Clare
RN: The first thing is to enjoy, to have fun and be patient with your improvement.
Dude, you have the coolest gear on tour. How is your wardrobe picked for each tournament?Jorge, Miami FL
RN: It is picked way in advance. We decide it with Nike months before.
Hola Rafa, congratulations on your victory over Gianni Mina. Did it feel a little strange to wear a watch for the first time during a match, or did you not notice any difference than usual? Thanks a million and good luck.Niamh in Ireland
RN: Not really since I had been practicing for a long time now. It has been almost two years since we started working on it and I have been practicing for some months now. It is not that I started on Tuesday with it.
Hi Rafa, you are ALWAYS being photographed on the receiving end of a camera - do you enjoy taking photos yourself and do you take photos of the tournaments you visit so that you can look back on them in future years? Thank you for bringing excitement back into the land of tennis!Sandra
RN: Not really but it is a good idea. Will start I suppose. Thanks for the tip.
You're playing with new strings this year and, to my untrained eye, it seems you might be hitting the ball harder and longer. What was the aim of the new strings and do you think they're working for you? Vamos for Roland Garros!Rachel from Berkhamsted
RN: Yes, absolutely.
Hi Rafa, it's so good to have you blogging and answering questions again, I really look forward to it, muchas gracias! Do you have any dreams or ambitions, not related to tennis, something you'd love to do but haven't done yet?Juliette Westbrook-Finch
RN: Many thanks for your comments. I don't really have these kind of dreams. I think more every day on my goals instead and work hard to achieve them.
Hi Rafa, I would like to know if sometimes you ever have to sit back and pinch yourself to try and comprehend what you have achieved so far in your career?Taryn, Australia
RN: I suppose I will do that in the future but definitely not now.
Greetings from Serbia! If you had a chance to choose any court in any tournament to be named after you which one would that be? The one from Monte Carlo? Thanks and good luck at RG!Marija Hvala
RN: Not sure I deserve that honor. I am too young.
Also at the above link can be found Rafa's presser
In another clinical display, King of Clay Rafael Nadal booked his third round berth at Roland Garros early on Friday, sweeping aside Argentina's Horacio Zeballos in straight sets 6-2, 6-2, 6-3.
The four-time champion, who has lost only one match ever here at Roland Garros, won the battles of the lefties on a sun-drenched Philippe Chatrier court, closing out his opponent in one hour, 45 minutes to set up a clash with Aussie No28 seed Lleyton Hewitt.
The match was a study in opposites. Hot favourite Nadal, seeded No2 and with an intimidating track record on clay of 197 wins and 16 losses, (32-1 at Roland Garros) versus the improving yet inexperienced 44-ranked Argentine, playing only his third Grand Slam singles event and first ever French Open.
Voted the ATP Newcomer of the Year in 2009, Zeballos is armed with a similar game style to the Spanish phenom, including a huge forehand that he can whip cross court or down the line at will. But it was his lack of game plan, poor shot selection and failure to execute on the big points that would prove fatal today, together with an unforgivable unforced error tally (23 in total). And let’s not forget the fact he was playing arguably the world’s best clay courter and a man who has not lost a match on red dirt this year – having become the first player to claim all three of the clay ATP Masters 1000 titles at Monte Carlo, Rome and Madrid in a 15-match winning streak.
Nadal drew first blood in the fourth game of the first set, breaking Zeballos with a stunning inside-out forehand winner to steam ahead 3-1. He continually punished Zeballos' high-bouncing drop shots and broke the Argentine again at 5-2, sealing the opener with two consecutive screaming forehand winners – cross court and down-the-line. He closed out the second set in similar style, 6-2 care of another two service breaks, and sealed with a Zeballos unforced backhand error.
The pair traded service breaks in the final set, but the final result never looked in doubt, the Spaniard taking the match at the first opportunity, after the Argentine netted a sitter. Nadal pummeled 23 winners past the Argentine during the encounter, and came to the net 21 times, winning the point on 16 occasions. The Spaniard believes he is improving with each match here, and also thinks he is a different player to what he was in 2005, when he captured his first title here.
“I played a little bit better, but not perfect. I didn't really play badly. I wouldn't say this was an exceptional match. It was a normal type of match. I didn't have enough rhythm," said the Majorcan after the match. "Probably I am running like I did in 2005, 2006. I can win a lot of matches without run crazy all the time, so that's a big improvement… But I think I am serving better, I have a better backhand, a little bit better forehand, too. I have the position on court much better than 2005.”
Nadal now faces the No28 seed and former World No1 Lleyton Hewitt in the next round, after the Aussie survived a five-set slugfest against Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin on Court No7 to win 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2. The last time the two met was here last year (also in the third round), with Rafa posting an easy victory 6-1, 6-3, 6-1. The Spaniard has beaten the Aussie in five of their nine matches (including the last four in a row), but is certainly not taking the clash lightly, saying: “we know Hewitt. He's a very dangerous guy and he plays at a very high level. He's going to do his best to win, of course.”
The Aussie was even more down-to-earth than his rival: "He cleaned me up last few times. He's obviously very dominant, especially on this surface. I'm gonna have to go out there and execute what I want to do, and do it bloody well." Sound advice for anyone playing Nadal on clay.
“If we care, the world will care. If we bear witness, the world will know. If we act the world will follow.” Spoken at the first Darfur national USA rally. Said on the mall in Washington, D.C. April 30, 2006 by Senator Barack Obama
My personal opinion is that our sending anyone to the Bashir inauguration is a slap in the face to any Darfuri, any Sudanese who has at one time put faith and hope in the leadership of President Obama.
As an activist for prevention, intervention and ending genocide and acting against regimes who commit it, I am outraged at this administration's lack of engagement regarding Darfur.
President Clinton's regret after office was his lack of engagement regarding the 1994 Rwandan genocide. And one day, it will be on President Obama's short list of regrets.
How can I believe President Obama's beautiful words anymore, when so many of the words he has said over the years about Darfur he has abandoned?
"The United States has a moral obligation anytime you see humanitarian catastrophes..We can't say 'never again' and then allow it to happen again and as President of the United States I don't intend to abandon people or turn a blind eye to slaughter.” BARACK OBAMA
Sandra Hammel Use Your Voice to Stop Genocide RI GENOCIDE WILL only STOP WITH US - Our leaders have taught us this
Place: Umsauna, South Darfur. Still picture from live video showing government soldiers (Government of Sudan) beating and torturing innocent civilians, asking them where JEM leaders are located.
After two days of a deadly battle, fighters from the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) managed to claim Umsauna back from the GOS, 5 days ago - the town is now in their full control.
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is defending its decision to send a representative to the inauguration of Sudan's president, who won re-election despite facing an international arrest warrant for war crimes.
Omar al-Bashir was sworn in Thursday to another five-year term. Among those in attendance was a U.S. foreign service officer.
The State Department notes that the inauguration also was for a vice president, Salva Kiir, from the largest party representing southern Sudan.
Al-Bashir is sought by the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands for allegedly masterminding atrocities in Darfur.
State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said Friday that al-Bashir should cooperate with the court and "should be held accountable."
Mid-April elections saw Sudan’s strongman Omar al-Bashir retain power as president in what was widely regarded as an electoral travesty.Massive fraud occurred in both the census and the registration process leading up to the election; countless abuses at voting centers and with ballot boxes were reported by a wide range of on-the-ground sources; the brutal security services were widely deployed; and al-Bashir’s Khartoum regime made full use of its virtual monopoly on national wealth and power, including broadcast and most print media.
Since the elections, al-Bashir’s regime has dramatically accelerated military actions in Darfur, not only bombing and displacing civilians as well as rebel groups, but further compromising security for the immense humanitarian operation that serves some 4.7 million people in need.At the same time, there has been a sharp crackdown on political dissent in northern Sudan, especially in Khartoum, prompting strong condemnation by numerous human rights groups.
Most ominously, al-Bashir and his security cabal continue to obstruct meaningful progress in resolving key issues in the north/south Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).The CPA is the basis for a southern self-determination referendum scheduled for January 2011, and most agree that delay or abrogation of this key provision of the CPA guarantees renewed war, which will likely engulf much of Sudan.
Al-Bashir has also been indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for multiple war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.He may yet be indicted for genocide.Yet his regime has spurned all international efforts to secure justice for the victims of massive atrocity crimes committed in Darfur—even a weak African Union proposal for “hybrid” courts in Sudan, comprising Sudanese and Arab or African jurists.The ICC has received precious little support from signatories to the Rome Statute that created the Court, and is about to suffer another blow—this from the United Nations, which supposedly supports the ICC.
For attending al-Bashir’s May 27 inauguration are both Haile Menkerios of South Africa, head of the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), and Ibrahim Gambari of Nigeria, joint head of the African Union/UN Mission in Darfur (UNAMID).It should be clear—both from Khartoum’s conduct of the elections and subsequent military and security actions—that this UN presence is deeply inappropriate, indeed violates the UN’s own guidelines concerning attendance at ceremonial events involving leaders indicted for atrocity crimes.A UN presence at the al-Bashir inauguration can only work to confer the legitimacy that he so desperately craves.Indeed, legitimacy was the whole purpose of the electoral exercise in the eyes of al-Bashir’s National Congress Party (NCP)—the best way to hold off the ICC, and to carry more negotiating leverage into peace negotiations with the Darfur rebels.
Each of these two UN representatives heads an extremely important mission within Sudan—UNMIS is supposedly monitoring implementation of the CPA in southern Sudan, and UNAMID is supposedly providing security in Darfur.Both missions have left many Sudanese in Darfur and the south deeply disaffected, particularly with UNAMID in Darfur.Gambari has already lost the trust of many Darfuri leaders and is perceived as much too close to Khartoum.His attendance at al-Bashir’s inauguration will grate especially harshly upon those Darfuris who resent the disingenuously upbeat accounts he has offered, following a pattern set by his predecessor Rodolphe Adada of Congo.
UNMIS is regarded by many southerners and outside observers as an extravagant and ineffective monitoring mission, which has failed to forestall violence in obvious flashpoints such as Abyei and Malakal.It has too often been timid in its actions and far too limited in conceiving of how to make most effective use of its UN mandate.
It is hardly surprising that the African Union and Arab League will celebrate al-Bashir’s inauguration.Both organizations have long made clear that they stand with Khartoum on issues of international justice and atrocity crimes in Darfur (the same crimes committed in southern Sudan and the Nuba Mountains earlier in the NCP’s tyrannical rule).But that the leaders of both UN missions in Sudan will attend al-Bashir’s inauguration—with full knowledge of the UN leadership in New York—gives the most significant ratification yet to massive electoral fraud by a criminal regime.Their presence will compromise the UN itself in any attempt to bring peace and justice to Sudan.
One UN official has described the presence of Gambari and Menkerios as merely a “diplomatic courtesy.” This seems a perverse virtue to put in the balance with the international justice so desperately needed in Sudan.
[Eric Reeves is author of A Long Day’s Dying: Critical Moments in the Darfur Genocide]
Statement from Darfuris in Diaspora, North America
Regarding the latest events in Darfur
May 26, 2010
We, the undersigned Darfuris in Diaspora in North America, would like to express our gravest concern regarding the suffering of our people back home in Darfur. There are numerous indicators that lead us to believe that the international community is no longer diligently seeking a just political solution to the conflict in Darfur.
Today we see the representatives of the institutions of the international community respond to the demands of the regime in Khartoum while Darfuris bleed to death in Darfur. Over a year after General Martin Agwai, the ex- head of UNAMID, said that war in Darfur is over, the Government of Khartoum continues more fierce campaigns of aerial bombings targeting civilians and water wells. Today, following elections described by the U.S. State Department as neither free nor fair, we see delegations from the United Nations, African Union, and Arab League turn a blind eye to the killings in Darfur that were inflicted recently by the Khartoum regime while they flock to Khartoum to celebrate the inauguration of the killer as president of Sudan.
We would like to summarize here in three points the danger of such indifference by the leading players of the international community:
1) The United Nations announced that it will send the two highest ranking of its officials in Sudan to represent at AlBashir’s inaugural ceremonies in Khartoum on the 27th of May. The two top U.N. officials, Haile Menkerios, head of the U.N. Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), and Ibrahim Gambari, joint head of the African Union/U.N. Mission in Darfur (UNAMID, will celebrate with the killer in Khartoum while the blood of our relatives is spilled in Jebel Marrah and Jebel Moon. We, the sons and daughters of those whose blood is spilled there in Darfur, believe that the soft policy of the American Administration towards Sudan sent the wrong signal to the United Nation, African Union, Arab League, and other international bodies.
2) We believe that the first criterion of the international mediators in the Darfur conflict is to be honest brokers. The world witnessed and followed last week the unfolding events of the 19 hours standoff at the N’djamena’s airport in Chad. The leader of the Justice and Equality Movement, Dr. Khalil Ibrahim, was denied entry to the country, yet what was learned later was that the international mediators were pulling strings from Doha, capital of Qatar, to force the head of JEM to sit down for negotiation with the Government of Sudan. The government of Sudan has a great interest in signing meaningless agreements with Darfuri factions. We believe that the mediators are serving, knowingly or not, as tools to the Government of Sudan to suppress the Darfuri cause. In the last seven years we have seen the international mediators press the Darfuri factions to compromise and give up in return for nothing except seeing the suffering of their own people prolonged. Instead, the international mediators should be exerting pressure on the government of Sudan, the root cause of the problem in Darfur. The N’djamena standoff was part of a tactic to force all Darfuri leaders into capitulation. We condemn such acts of those mediators who, through such acts will only make matters worse in Darfur.
3) Albashir is an indicted war criminal. In the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearing on May 12th, U.S. Special Envoy Gration testified that the Obama Administration is pursuing "locally owned accountability and reconciliation mechanisms in light of the recommendations made by the African Union's high-level panel on Darfur." In Darfur we have millions of our people who have lost everything, including loved ones, to the genocide. The victims hope for nothing in this life but justice. Darfuris have no trust left in Gration since he uttered the words “remnants of genocide” in his early days on the job. Now we believe that this AU panel on Darfur is nothing more than an effort to let AlBashir off the hook.We will not, as Darfuris, accept any substitute to the ICC as a venue for justice for Darfur crimes.
CC to:
- Honorable Secretary Of State Hillary Clinton.
- Honorable U.S.Special Envoy to Sudan Scott Gration.
- Honorable U.N. General Secretary Ban Ki-moon.
- Honorable The joint AU-UN mediatorDjibril Bassolé.
- Office of the Prosecutor, International Criminal Court.
.............................................. See Obama's quotes near the beginning of this video and ask yourself why Obama would send a US official to the Bashir inauguration May 27, 2010. Uploaded by ilovemylifesblog
I love my life. I love where I live. And I am passionate about my passions. I love to dance. Necessary to live: music, piano, singing, writing, acting, painting.
I have been fighting for and supporting the arts all my adult life. Since 2004, I have been working with other activists to end the Darfur genocide.
I have traveled to Europe many times since my early twenties. Places I have been: many USA states including Hawaii, Montreal, Canada, Barbados, France, Spain, Luxembourg, England, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Greece and Germany - and have wonderful memories.
My last trip was in May - June 2013 to Spain.
I would like to travel to Europe and Kyoto, Japan.
I love the southwest where I have visited Hopi, Navajo, Zia and San Idlefonso potters.
Life is exciting and I intend to live it full-out to the end.
B.S. and M.M., both in music
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Khartoum, Sudan Stop Genocide Time
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Melbourne Time
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RAFA NADAL -BRING BACK LONG PANTS - SLEEVELESS TOPS
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Darfur - The Abandoned Genocide - a video by Sandra Hammel
Want to help? Call 1~800~GENOCIDE
"May I Suggest" by Susan Werner
Satchita - Playing for Change
Stand By Me ~ Playing for Change
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Genocide is not only a word,
it is crying of the whole human race.
There is nothing redeeming about being silent
when speaking up is the humane thing to do.
The honor and integrity of the human race is at stake.
