- Beta-tester: I am testing the Beta versions of Hotmail as well as Yahoo mail. I am partial to Yahoo’s as it uses tabs as well as drag and drop!! Both are using AJAX technology which in layman’s terms means the page won’t have to reload now every time you click on something. Also using MSN Live Messenger but I haven’t tried out all the new features yet.
On Monday, I was at work when Italy played Australia in the World Cup. Like last Thursday’s game, the largest conference room in my office was designated as Game Central and they projected it onto the big screen. Someone even provided snacks.
Unfortunately, between getting ready to move and starting the work week, I was pretty chained to my desk and was only able to be there for a few minutes. As the clock wound down on a 0-0 score, and an extra 30′ play in sight if it remained a tie, I went back upstairs to close up some things so I could get the train home.
Since we don’t have a television and S was at home recovering from a bout of kidney stones (that’s a bicycle ride story for another time), he was despairing how he would be able to follow the game. First, he found the radio broadcast and then supplemented the information with several online websites including La Repubblica which kept a play-by-play updated quite often.
Then I received a phone call.
“I found the only streaming of the game online!!”
He was so excited. I told him to keep tabs and I returned to my MatchCast online which was updating the play-by-play but without video.
Towards the end of the game, in came Francesco Totti, who I mentioned previously is coming off an injury. The fact he didn’t start this game doesn’t say much for him. The game was a nail-biter and went into “extra minutes” due to injuries, etc. but still part of regulation play.
And then I saw that Totti was set to take a penalty shot. I sat with my fingers crossed.
I heard, rather than saw, the results of that kick. The cheers reverberated through our office’s courtyard and made it up to our closed windows on the 3rd floor.
I waited for the confirmation to come through on the internet and I immediately thought to call Sante. His favorite player just took Italy into the quarter-finals.
“Hey! Did you see that penalty kick?? I can’t believe it!”
“What? What are you talking about?” I didn’t receive the excited response I thought I would.
“Totti! He made that penalty kick! Italy won! Woo-hoo!”
“WHAT? What are you saying? I’m watching it right now online!”
“Ya, so was I-”
“Wait, a foul happened. A penalty!! YEAH!” His attention was occupied by the game online.
He was obviously not listening anymore and would discover the truth soon. I felt it was my chance to escape. I replaced the receiver slowly but knew I would not be forgiven – I had robbed him of a great moment.
How was I supposed to know there would be a time lag on his version? What’s that saying about killing the messenger?
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