Eusebio one of the great footballers has died at the age of 71 from heart problems. A sad end to a great player and a great man. Mozambique born he qualified to play for Portugal where he spent his time playing for Benfica, making them one of the 60's most powerful sides. He played in cup finals, European Championships and was regarded as second only Pele! During the 1966 World Cup Portugal found themselves three nothing down to a then popular North Korea. I was one of many who saw Eusebio take the game by the scruff of the neck, score four of Portugal's five goals and rob Pak Do Ik and all of their moment. It was an astonishing feat at the time. Only rarely were football matches televised in the 60's but a friendly between Manchester United and Benfica was shown one night. Nothing much about this friendly game sticks in the mind bar one free kick. The ball was placed about fifteen yards inside the Benfica half and Eusebio lined up to take it. I recall commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme exclaiming, "I think he is going to shoot, he is!." The Manchester United goal was in the other half off the field! Eusebio did indeed have a seventy five yard effort on goal and this shot went straight and true slipping a few inches past the post! He would never have scored but it was a fabulous effort! This man played 745 matches scoring 733 goals, a feat few will ever equal if any! One of the world's great players.
George is laughing again! He has told of his intention to cut £12 .5 Billion mostly from the Welfare budget. How interesting that the 'Daily Mail' readership, who vote for this, will be impressed but not as much as the corporate tax dodgers who will be left untouched with their millions. Robbing the poorest is easier than taxing the rich, who are Georges friends. There is around about £100 Billion available if George stooped tax dodging, but this is easier and a sure vote winner! Rob the poor and pay the rich, it's the Conservative way!
Is climate change causing problems? Around 1966 I noted a small story in the 'Edinburgh Evening News, in the days when that was a newspaper, mentioning that the Polar Ice Caps were melting. How come it has taken so long before action results? Many time politicians have gathered to discuss the climate, notes were made, agreements reached and almost nothing has occurred, except climate change! The US is suffering a great ice age this week, the weather stream comes all the way across the Atlantic and reaches far into the Mediterranean. Snow, rain, storms, mixed with high tides, all bring trouble and yet we still think climate change is a lie. We have had our share of rain, but no floods, and I feel for those who have seen large areas of normally dry land disappear under four or five feet or river water. The ongoing effects will never leave them. Oh and it's raining as I speak!
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