Plenty of Nothing

The Garden of Motive Power

Toyota has converted an old textile mill in Nagoya into the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology. There are trucks and machines to see. In the middle of the site is an unremarkable courtyard named The Garden of Motive Power because the power plant used to stand there. It's not much to look at. But who wouldn't want to spend at least part of each day in The Garden of Motive Power?

Yoshida Tōshi, Peggy's Cove

Source. Yoshida Tōshi.

Perdonanza Celestiniana

When he became Pope in 1295, Celestine V issued a plenary indulgence to any penitent who entered at the Holy Door of the Basilica di Santa Maria di Collemaggio in L'Aquila, Abruzzo, the site of his coronation. To this day the event attracts pilgrims and is celebrated as a local festival. Source. Also.

The Glauberg Prince

Archaeologists examine the sandstone effigy of a Celtic warrior discovered during the examination of a mound in Glauberg, Hesse in 1996. Source.

European Macaques of the Mist

Source. Dr Caitin Green writes about the Wroxeter macaque burial.

The Helgo Buddha

This bronze figure from perhaps 6th-Century Kashmir was discovered at a Viking trading site west of Stockholm in the company of an Irish crozier and a Coptic ladle. Source.

Lord Greenock

Charles Murray Cathcart was a member of Wellington's staff during the Peninsular War and at the Battle of Waterloo. From 1814 to 1843 he carried the courtesy title Lord Greenock, after which he was styled 2nd Earl Cathcart. He served as Commander in Chief of Scotland from 1837 to 1842, and as Governor-General of the Province of Canada in 1846 and 1847. He discovered the mineral greenockite, a form of cadmium sulfide, during the construction of the Bishopton train tunnel.

This is Ross County's first visit to Cappielow since April 21st, 2012. In the interval they spent six years in the Premiership, whereas Morton have had five in the Championship (known as the First Division in 2012-13) and one in League One. The last time Morton beat Ross County was Jan 29th, 2011, at Cappielow.

Ross County won League Cup Group A with 9 points, before Hibs knocked them out in the second round last weekend. In Round One of the Challenge Cup they met and defeated Hearts colts. In league play so far they have won two of two for 6 points and first place. The oddsmakers have Ross County at 2/1 to win the Championship. A win for Morton today would be a highlight.

Former Morton players now with Ross County: Jamie Lindsay, Declan McManus, Brian Graham.

Former Ross County players now with Morton: Michael Tidser, Reghan Tumilty.

The situation: Morton hold second place by virtue of having scored a couple more goals than 3rd-place Ayr United. If Morton win today, and Ayr and Inverness CT lose or draw or win with fewer goals than Morton, then Morton will take over first place. If Morton lose by 4 goals, and Ayr, ICT, Dunfermine, Dundee United and Partick all play to draw scores, and Queen of the South win, then Morton will fall to eighth place. That is the wonder of Week Three, when the standings are based on so few points.

[A busload of Ross County supporters was in a collusion on the way to Cappielow and had to turn back.]

Other games: Ayr (3rd) [4 - 1] Dunfermline (6th)

Dundee United (5th) [3 - 1] Partick Thistle (7th)

Falkirk (9th) [0 - 3] QoS (8th)

ICT (4th) [2 - 2] Alloa (10th)

[Morton win 2 - 1. Goals by Tidser and McHugh. Morton hang on to second place.]

1928-29. Morton hosted Arbroath and beat them 3 - 0.

1951-52. On August 22nd, 1951 Morton beat St Mirren 1 - 0 at Cappielow in the final of the 1950-51 Renfrewshire Cup. On August 25th in League Cup Group 1 action, Morton visited Airdrieonians at Broomfield Park and won 3 - 1.

Which SPFL sides have not yet allowed a goal in league play?

Kilmarnock, Ayr United, Inverness CT.

Which ones have not scored?

Motherwell, Alloa, Albion Rovers.

Elsewhere in the SPFL: Livingston's Kenny Miller becomes the first manager to be sacked in 2018-19. He has been quickly replaced by Gary Holt who once managed Falkirk. David Hopkin, who took Livi to promotion and then left in search of greener pastures, is still looking.

[Elgin City vs Cowdenbeath is off because the referee found the Borough Briggs pitch too stony.]

Matches at Cappielow in August 2018:

August 4      Morton 2 - 2 Queen of the South

August 20    Celtic reserves 3 - 0 Dunfermline reserves

August 25    Morton [2 - 1] Ross County

August 27    Morton reserves [1 - 3] Hibs reserves

Arthurlie vs Motherwell. These two clubs were members of the short-lived Scottish Federation, which operated in 1891-92 and 1892-93. The scores:

1891/12/26    Arthurlie 10 - 2 Motherwell

1892/5/7        Motherwell 1 - 5 Arthurlie

1893/3/4        Arthurlie 2 - 1 Motherwell

1893/5/31      Motherwell 8 - 1 Arthurlie

Source.

They played four league matches in the Scottish League Division Two during the 1901-02 and 1902-03 seasons. Each took a win and there were two draws. Scoring was 7 to 6 in favour of Motherwell.

They met in the 1904-05 Scottish Cup Round One, where they played to a scoreless draw at Dunterlie Park before Motherwell got a 1 - 0 win at Fir Park. Two decades later they met again in Round Two of the 1924-25 Scottish Cup and Motherwell won 2 - 0 at home.

Barrhead and Motherwell are 16 miles apart. In those days both places lay under an inch of coal dust.

Sort the 2018-19 Championship clubs by most recent 5 - 0 victory:

2018/8/14        Stranraer 0 - 5 Partick Thistle

2018/7/28        Morton 5 - 0 Albion Rovers

2018/7/24        Ayr United 5 - 0 Stenhousemuir

2018/4/17        Brechin 0 - 5 Dundee United

2017/9/2          Berwick 0 - 5 Queen of the South

2016/3/5          Dunfermline 5 - 0 Stenhousemuir

2015/11/14      Falkirk 5 - 0 Alloa

2009/8/1          Ross County 5 - 0 Montrose

2003/11/29      Inverness CT 5 - 0 Brechin

1995/4/29        Alloa 5 - 0 Albion Rovers

The Lowland League has punished Selkirk FC who have been missing games because they don't have enough players because they don't have enough money -- by fining them £250. Meanwhile the Highland League has docked Fort William FC 9 points for fielding an ineligible player in three matches.

East of Scotland League. This season's format of three parallel 13-team conferences is a one-year deal. The 39 clubs are competing for membership in next year's 16-team EoS Premier Division. Whether the other 20 teams will appear in one division or two next year, and if two, whether the teams will be sorted by 2018-19 performance or geographically, I don't know. Also this year only, the three conference winners will play in a round robin to see which of them will face the South of Scotland League winner for a shot at Lowland League membership.

UEFA Europa League Playoff Round, first leg (midweek):

Sūduva Marijampolė (Lithuania) 1 - 1 Celtic

Malmö FF 2 - 2 Midtjylland

Rangers 1 - 0 Ufa

Rangers versus Russian teams:

1972/5/24      Rangers 3 - 2 Dynamo Moscow       CWC F

1992/12/9      CSKA Moscow 0 - 1 Rangers           CL GS

1993/4/21      Rangers 0 - 0 CSKA Moscow            CL GS

1996/8/7        Rangers 3 - 1 Alania Vladikavkaz     CL QR

1996/8/21      Alania Vladikavkaz 2 - 7 Rangers     CL QR

2001/9/27      Anzhi Makhachkala 0 - 1 Rangers    UC R1

2001/10/18    Rangers 3 - 1 Dynamo Moscow        UC R2

2001/11/1      Dynamo Moscow 1 - 4 Rangers        UC R2

2004/8/10      CSKA Moscow 2 - 1 Rangers            CL 3QR

2004/8/25      Rangers 1 - 1 CSKA Moscow            CL 3QR

2008/5/14      Zenit Saint Petersburg 2 - 0 Rangers    UC F

When was the last time Rangers progressed further than Celtic in Europe? 2010-11.

SWFL Division 1 South: Renfrew [1 - 0] Morton

J2: Fagiano Okayama [0 - 1] Mito HollyHock

JFL: Cobaltore Onagawa [0 - 2] Vanraure Hachinohe

Kanto Soccer League: Tokyo 23 FC [3 - 2] Briobecca Urayasu

Allsvenskan: Malmö FF [5 - 0] IK Sirius FK

USL: Bethlehem Steel FC 2 - 0 Ottawa Fury (Aug 22nd)

Ottawa Fury [0 - 2] Penn FC (Aug 25th)

Danish 1st Division:

Fredericia 1 - 2 Thisted (Aug 22nd)

Thisted is in the North Jutland region -- Babette's Feast country.

Viborg [2 - 2] Fredericia (Aug 26th)

Viborg is a medieval cathedral town in central Jutland.

Swiss Challenge League: Servette [2 - 0] Winterthur

Regionalliga Südwest: TSV Steinbach Haiger (1 - 1) 1. FC Saarbrücken (Aug 22)

Steinbach have been around since 1921, but it's only in the 21st Century that anyone ever heard of them. They recently pulled off five promotions in six years to rise from the depths of the amateur leagues to the Regionalliga.

1. FC Saarbrücken [0 - 2] Waldhof Mannheim (Aug 26)

SJFA West of Scotland Premiership:

Largs Thistle [rescheduled?] Glenafton Athletic (Aug 22)

Hurlford United [2 - 1] Largs Thistle (Aug 25)

The Nova Scotia Soccer League men's and women's championships were held at the Mainland Common in Clayton Park West (right about where the sun sets if you're looking out my window) from August 18 to 21. The finals:

Men: Halifax City 1 - 3 Western Halifax Durty Nellys

Women: Highland FC 1 - 3 Halifax Dunbrack

It's the semi-finals of the 2018 Chatham Cup. I know nothing about soccer in New Zealand, but the Chatham Cup has been in play for 91 years, so it seems like a good hook to hang your beginner's hat on. The games are:

Cashmere Technical [2 - 3] Western Suburbs

Nelson Suburbs [0 - 2] Birkenhead United (tomorrow)

Soccer is a winter sport in NZ, which puts it in the northern hemisphere's summertime.

Not the Napoleon Cup

The Napoleon Cup is in abeyance, but another very similar tournament has cropped up in Paris. Hockey Club de Cergy-Pontoise (Les Jokers), who play in the French Division 1, are hosting the Summer Cup. The guest clubs are former Napoleon Cup hosts les Gothiques d'Amiens, who play in Ligue Magnus; les Ducs d'Angers, also of Ligue Magnus; and les Patriots de l'Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières. The games are:

August 24:

Amiens [3 - 2] UQTR

Cergy-Pontoise [1 - 6] Angers

August 25:

Angers [3 - 2] UQTR Amiens

Cergy-Pontoise [0 - 1] Amiens UQTR

August 26:

Angers [2 - 0] Amiens UQTR

Cergy-Pontoise [3 - 3] UQTR Amiens [Jokers win on penalty shots.]

[Les Ducs d'Angers win the Summer Cup.]

UQTR have been forging ties with French hockey, and now their graduates are beginning to sign in France.

Hydro Corridors as Rail Lines

Hydroelectric transmission corridors provide potential routes for high-speed passenger rail between cities and for small local commuter train routes. Advantages: they already exist, they reach into cities, they're laid out in straight lines, and they bring their own electrical supply. Source.

98th Emperor's Cup, Round Four

Dragonfly and Lotus, by Takahashi Biho. Source. The team name and colours of Cerezo Osaka recall the sakura or cherry blossoms, but the original inspiration for the team's corporate sponsor Yanmar Diesel was the oniyanma or demon dragonfly. The company's logo can be read as a dragonfly's wings.

It's Round Four of the 98th Emperor's Cup, mostly. Today also sees one holdover match from Round Three. And two Round Four matches are delayed until September 26th).

Match No. 66: Sanfrecce Hiroshima (J1) [4 - 1] Nagoya Grampus (J1)

Match No. 73: Kawasaki Frontale (J1) [3 - 1] Shonan Bellmare (J1)

Match No. 74: Sagan Tosu (J1) [3 - 0] Vissel Kobe (J1)

Match No. 75: Montedio Yamagata (J2) [1 - 1] FC Tokyo (J1) [Montedio win on PK.]

Match No. 76: Yokohama F. Marinos (J1) [2 - 3] Vegalta Senda (J1)

Match No. 77: Kashima Antlers (J1) [2 - 0] Sanfrecce Hiroshima

This game will be played on September 26th.

Match No. 78: Urawa Red Diamonds (J1) [1 - 0] Tokyo Verdy (J2)

Match No. 79: Cerezo Osaka (J1) [0 - 1] Ventforet Kofu (J2) [Upset!]

Match No. 80: Júbilo Iwata (J1) [4 - 2] Consadole Sapporo (J1)

This game will be played on September 26th.

Cerezo Osaka in the Emperor's Cup:

97回        R2        Cerezo Osaka 2 - 0 Niigata University of Health and Welfare

                R3        Albirex Niigata 2 - 3 Cerezo Osaka

                R4        Cerezo Osaka 1 - 0 Nagoya Grampus

                QF        Cerezo Osaka 2 - 0 Omiya Ardija

                SF        Vissel Kobe 1 - 3 Cerezo Osaka

                 F         Cerezo Osaka 2 - 1 Yokohama F.Marinos

96回        R1        Cerezo Osaka 10 - 0 R.Velho Takamatsu

                R2        Cerezo Osaka 2 - 1 Kyoto Sanga

                R3        Sagan Tosu 2 - 0 Cerezo Osaka

95回        R1        Cerezo Osaka 1 - 2 FC Osaka

94回        R2        Cerezo Osaka 4 - 2 Veertien Kuwana

                R3        Cerezo Osaka 1 - 0 Kataller Toyama

                R4        Cerezo Osaka 2 - 0 Júbilo Iwata

                QF        Cerezo Osaka 0 - 1 JEF United Chiba

93回        R2        Cerezo Osaka 4 - 0 Kansai University

                R3        Cerezo Osaka 4 - 0 Vissel Kobe

                R4        Cerezo Osaka 1 - 2 Sagan Tosu

92回        R2        Cerezo Osaka 4 - 0 Nara Club

                R3        Cerezo Osaka 2 - 1 Montedio Yamagata

                R4        Cerezo Osaka 4 - 0 Shimizu S-Pulse

                QF        Cerezo Osaka 1 - 2 Gamba Osaka

91回        R2        Cerezo Osaka 6 - 0 Hokkaido University of Education Iwamizawa Campus

                R3        Cerezo Osaka 3 - 0 Fagiamo Okayama

                R4        Cerezo Osaka 1 - 1 Vegalta Sendai (Cerezo won on penalty kicks)

                QF        Cerezo Osaka 2 - 2 Shimizu S-Pulse (Cerezo won on penalty kicks)

                SF        FC Tokyo 1 - 0 Cerezo Osaka

90回        R2        Toyama Shinjo Club 0 - 7 Cerezo Osaka

                R3        Sony Sendai 1 - 3 Cerezo Osaka

                R4        Kashima Antlers 2 - 1 Cerezo Osaka

89回        R2        Cerezo Osaka 1 - 2 Fukushima United

88回        R3        Cerezo Osaka 1 - 0 Sony Sendai

                R4        Omiya Ardija 1 - 0 Cerezo Osaka

87回        R3        Cerezo Osaka 4 - 2 Honda Lock

                R4        Kawasaki Frontale 3 - 0 Cerezo Osaka

86回        R4        Sanfrecce Hiroshima 3 - 0 Cerezo Osaka

85回        R4        Cerezo 1 - 1 Honda FC (Cerezo won on penalty kicks)

                R5        JEF United Chiba 2 - 5 Cerezo Osaka

                QF        Gamba Osaka 1 - 3 Cerezo Osaka

                SF        Shimizu S-Pulse 1 - 0 Cerezo Osaka

84回        R4        Thespa Kusatsu 2 - 1 Cerezo Osaka

83回        R3        Cerezo Osaka 4 - 1 ALO's Hokuriku

                R4        Cerezo Osaka 3 - 2 Gamba Osaka

                QF        Cerezo Osaka 3 - 2 Vissel Kobe

                SF        Cerezo Osaka 2 - 1 Kashima Antlers

                 F         Júbilo Iwata 1 - 0 Cerezo Osaka

82回        R1        Teihens FC 0 - 6 Cerzo Osaka

                R2        Cerezo Osaka 4 - 1 Sagawa Express Osaka

                R3        Kashiwa Reysol 1 - 2 Cerezo Osaka

                R4        Nagoya Grampus Eight 5 - 2 Cerzo Osaka

81回        R3        Cerezo Osaka 3 - 2 Oita Trinita

                R4        Sagawa Express 0 - 2 Cerezo Osaka

                QF        Cerezo Osaka 4 - 2 Kashima Antlers

                SF        Urawa Red Diamonds 0 - 1 Cerezo Osaka

                 F         Shimizu S-Pulse 3 - 2 Cerezo Osaka

80回        R3        Cerezo Osaka 2 - 1 Otsuka Pharmaceuticals

                R4        Urawa Red Diamonds 1 - 4 Cerezo Osaka

                QF        Vissel Kobe 2 - 2 Cerezo Osaka (Vissel won on penalty kicks)

79回        R4        Cerezo Osaka 3 - 4 Montedio Yamagata

78回        R3        Cerezo Osaka 4 - 6 Ventforet Kofu

77回        R3        Cerezo Osaka 5 - 1 Ventforet Kofu

                R4        Cerezo Osaka 2 - 3 Júbilo Iwata

76回        R3        Cerezo Osaka 3 - 1 Tokyo Gas

                R4        Urawa Red Diamonds 4 - 0 Cerezo Osaka

75回        R1        Cerezo Osaka 2 - 0 Hannan University

                R2        Cerezo Osaka 1 - 2 Kashima Antlers

74回        R1        Cerezo Osaka 1 - 0 Komazawa University

                R2        Cerezo Osaka 1 - 0 Verdy Kawasaki

                QF        Urawa Red Diamonds 0 - 1 Cerezo Osaka

                SF        Yokohama Marinos 1 - 2 Cerezo Osaka

                 F         Cerezo Osaka 0 - 2 Bellmare Hiratsuka

Prior to 1993 Cerezo Osaka were known as Yanmar Diesel.

72回        R1        NKK 2 - 3 Yanmar Diesel

                R2        Yanmar Diesel 1 - 2 Kashima Antlers

71回        R1        Yomiuri Club 3 - 2 Yanmar Diesel

70回        R1        Yanmar Diesel 0 - 3 Juntendo University

69回        R1        Sapporo Mazda 1 - 4 Yanmar Diesel

                R2        Honda 1 - 3 Yanmar Diesel

                QF        Nissan Motors 1 - 0 Yanmar Diesel

68回        R1        Yanmar Diesel 8 - 1 Sapporo University

                R2        Yanmar Diesel 0 - 1 Nissan Motors

67回        R1        Osaka University of Commerce 1 - 1 Yanmar Diesel (Yanmar won on penalty kicks.)

                R2        Sumitomo Metals 3 - 1 Yanmar Diesel

66回        R1        Waseda University 0 - 1 Yanmar Diesel

                R2        Mitsubishi Motors 0 - 1 Yanmar Diesel

                QF        Yanmar Diesel 0 - 3 Nippon Kokan

65回        R1        Yanmar Diesel 3 - 0 Cosmo Oil

                R2        Yanmar Diesel 0 - 1 Mitsubishi Motors

64回        R1        Nissei Plastic Industrial 0 - 3 Yanmar Diesel

                R2        Matsushita Electric 0 - 2 Yanmar Diesel

                QF        Yomiuri 2 - 0 Yanmar Diesel

63回        R2        Osaka University of Commerce 0 - 0 Yanmar Diesel (Yanmar won on penalty kicks.)

                QF        Mazda 2 - 3 Yanmar Diesel

                SF        Nippon Kokan 0 - 1 Yanmar Diesel

                 F         Nissan Motors 2 - 0 Yanmar Diesel

62回        R2        Matsushita Electric 2 - 4 Yanmar Diesel

                QF        Furukawa Electric 0 - 0 Yanmar Diesel (Yanmar won on penalty kicks.)

                SF        Fujita Industries 1 - 0 Yanmar Diesel

61回        R2        Yanmar Diesel 2 - 1 Toyota Motors

                QF        Yanmar Diesel 1 - 2 Nippon Steel

60回        R1        Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences 0 - 2 Yanmar Diesel

                R2        Tanabe Pharmaceuticals 1 - 0 Yanmar Diesel

59回        R2        Honda 1 - 2 Yanmar Diesel

                QF        Furukawa Electric 0 - 3 Yanmar Diesel

                SF        Fujita Industries 3 - 1 Yanmar Diesel

58回        R1        Yanmar Diesel 6 - 0 Osaka University of Economics

                R2        Yanmar Diesel 7 - 1 Nissei Plastic Industrial

                QF        Yanmar Diesel 2 - 2 Toyo Industries (Toyo won on penalty kicks.)

57回        R2        Fukuoka University 1 - 5 Yanmar Diesel

                QF        Yomiuri 0 - 2 Yanmar Diesel

                SF        Furukawa Electric 0 - 1 Yanmar Diesel

                 F         Yanmar Diesel 1 - 4 Fujita Industries

56回        R2        Yanmar Diesel 5 - 2 Fukuoka University

                QF        Yanmar Diesel 2 - 1 Toyo Industries

                SF        Yanmar Diesel 1 - 0 Nippon Steel

                 F         Yanmar Diesel 1 - 4 Furukawa Electric

55回        R2        Kyushu Sangyo University 0 - 4 Yanmar Diesel

                QF        Nippon Steel 0 - 2 Yanmar Diesel

                SF        Hitachi 1 - 0 Yanmar Diesel

54回        R3        Nagoya Club 2 - 5 Yanmar Diesel

                QF        Nippon Kokan 0 - 3 Yanmar Diesel

                SF        Yanmar Diesel 2 - 0 Mitsubishi Motors

                 F         Yanmar Diesel 2 - 1 Eidai Industries

53回        R3        Yanmar Diesel 4 - 1 Honda

                QF        Yanmar Diesel 1 - 0 Towa Estate Development

                SF        Yanmar Diesel 0 - 1 Mitsubishi Motors

52回        R2        Yanmar Diesel 4 - 0 Keio University

                QF        Furukawa Electric 1 - 4 Yanmar Diesel

                SF        Toyo Industries 0 - 1 Yanmar Diesel

                 F         Hitachi 0 - 1 Yanmar Diesel

51回        QF        Yanmar Diesel 3 - 1 Waseda University

                SF        Yanmar Diesel 7 - 1 Nippon Steel

                 F         Yanmar Diesel 1 - 3 Mitsubishi Motors

50回        QF        Yanmar Diesel 4 - 2 Hosei University

                SF        Mitsubishi Motors 2 - 2 Yanmar Diesel (Yanmar chosen by lottery.)

                 F         Toyo Industries 1 - 2 Yanmar Diesel

48回        QF        Yanmar Diesel 6 - 0 Rikkyo University

                SF        Yanmar Diesel 3 - 1 Yawata Steel

                 F         Mitsubishi Motors 0 - 1 Yanmar Diesel

47回        QF        Chuo University 4 - 5 Yanmar Diesel

                SF        Yanmar Diesel 1 - 2 Toyo Industries