Plenty of Nothing

Will Kevans

Falklands War veteran Will Kevans has drawn a graphic novel from his war experiences.

Ovid in Tomis and Sulmo

Ovid Square in the city of Constanta, Romania, features a statue of Ovid, the author of Metamorphoses, who was exiled to the Black Sea coast by the Emperor Augustus in AD 8. Constanta was named Tomis in those days. Source.

A copy of the same statue stands in Sulmona, Abruzzo, Ovid's home town. Source.

We tend to think of Ovid's place of exile as an Arctic waste, but this picture is from Italy. Source.

Horizontal

For someone who works in a language that is usually written vertically, Kio Shimoku makes some lovely horizontal panels. This one from Genshiken chapter 116 puts me in mind of some of the compositions in Dürer's Netherlands Sketchbook, which was in a landscape format, combining a portrait with a townscape. In Rika's case, it's the Nikkō shrine, where her Japanese history nerd side shines brightly.

A Coup on Yonder Hill

A Portion of Old Greenock (James Weir's Property, 20-22 West Blackhall Street, 1845) by Norman Macbeth, at the McLean Museum. Source.

Rangers* make their first visit to Cappielow since February 19th of the year 2000. That was Round Four of the Scottish Cup, which Rangers won 0 - 1. There were 8,600 witnesses.

*Dave King has floated the idea of bringing the Oldco out of administration to merge it with the Newco and so put an end to question of whether Rangers are the original club or a new one. No one has ever contemplated this sort of financial manoevre before, but that's Rangers.

The last time Morton and Rangers played in the same division was 1987-88. Rangers took three of four, but Morton won the final meeting 3 - 2 at Cappielow. On Tuesday Rangers were knocked out of the League Cup by St Johnstone, while Morton upset Motherwell. Morton have not lost a game since August 15th.

But Rangers have yet to surrender a point in league play, so even a draw would be a coup for the Ton.

Today's match is on television, in English.

Will today's attendance exceed 8,600 or the 6,024 who saw Morton win League One on May 2nd?

Yesterday saw the First Round of the Scottish Cup. Misc results:

Banks O' Dee 2 - 3 Cove Rangers

BSC Glasgow 2 - 2 Auchinleck Talbot

Lothian Thistle HV 3 - 0 Kelty Hearts

Lossiemouth 1 - 4 Forres Mechanics

Keith 1 - 5 Inverurie Loco Works

Spartans 5 - 1 Coldstream

Deveronvale 0 - 5 Clachnacuddin

Gala Fairydean Rovers 0 - 2 Linlithgow Rose

Who can win the Scottish treble after this week's League Cup results? Celtic, Hearts, Hibs, St Johnstone, Dundee United, Inverness CT, Ross County.

Swiss prosecutors questioned Sepp Blatter at FIFA headquarters this week.

On Friday it was Finn Harps 3 - 0 UCD.

Yesterday: Montedio Yamagata 1 - 1 Vegalta Sendai.

[Morton 0 - 4 Rangers. Attendance 7,392.]

Today Gazientep BB host Karşıyaka. Gazientep dress like Kilmarnock FC. The city of Gazientep is very close to Syria. [Gazientep win 1 - 0.]

James Weir's place today.

Les Canadiennes

The CWHL's Montreal Stars have moved further under the Habs umbrella by renaming themselves Les Canadiennes de Montréal. Source. Also read about it here.

Kawabata on Set

Kawabata on location with Sayori Yoshinaga and the crew of The Izu Dancer (1963). From Mostly Portraits of Yasunari Kawabata (1899-1972). His short story "Izu no Odoriko" has been filmed six times, according to IMDB, three times by Katsumi Nishikawa who directed this version.

Guðbjörg Gunnarsdóttir Interview

Icelandic national women's soccer team goaltender Guðbjörg Gunnarsdóttir runs through about two hundred facial expressions in this interview with RÚV, probably because she has been positioned by the interviewer to face almost directly into the sun. But her discomfort gives her delivery a weight and interest that would do credit to an actor in the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Encased in Bark

2015-16 Scottish League Cup, Round Three

Morton host Motherwell in the third round of the League Cup. These two clubs last met in Round Five of the 2011-12 Scottish Cup when Morton famously parked the bus and lost 0 - 6. They last appeared together in the League Cup in 2004 when Morton lost 0 - 3. Indeed the last time Morton scored a goal at Motherwell's expense was March 19th, 1991, which was also the last time Motherwell visited Cappielow, if you don't include friendlies. They last played in the same division in 1987-88, when Motherwell won three of four and Morton scored once.

Which is to say Morton are up against it.

Motherwell got to this round by beating East Fife, Morton by beating Elgin City and Queen of the South.

Motherwell produce the best match day posters.

[Morton win 3 - 2! Goals by Samuel (2) and Tidser.]

Tomorrow it's Montedio Yamagata at Matsumoto Yamaga, The Ptarmigans. [2 - 2]

Je t'aime by Robert Motherwell incorporates Motherwell and Morton colours.

No Name Maria Biscuits

. . . but . . .