Chaky

Silversun Pickups - Checkered Floor

Justice - B.E.A.T.

Well I finished this. A very fast-paced sci-fi thriller. I was a bit disappointed to discover at the end that this is the first part of a trilogy so it was a cliffhanger ending rather than a payoff. It's not badly written for what it is but I'm not sure whether I will invest in the sequel. Too much of this book was like a setup for the main show and all the way through I thought that the author really just wants to make a movie out of it. It's probably good to take on a flight or a train journey though. I think people who like the pace of Da Vinci Code and the ideas and style of The Matrix will enjoy it. I need something to work my brain a bit more now so I've started on Crime & Punishment by Dostoevsky.

Thank you. You have almost as many photos of Jeisa as I've got of Adriana Lima. I've got some catching up to do.

People have already paid their money to go to Day 3 so if the tie has already been won the organisers will normally put on at least one match for the spectators. Also, the losing country often want to try to get a point to salvage some pride. There are four players on each squad so the captain will normally select the worst of the four to play a dead rubber or just to give them some match play in a Davis Cup atmosphere (which is a lot rowdier than most other tournaments). The Swedes will host the USA so they get to choose the surface. It's not until September so I don't know what surface it will be. As long as the States have Roddick and Blake they will be the heavy favorites in that tie. The Russians host Germany and are probably favorites there. Here are the other nations which made it into the World Group playoffs: Brazil Peru Japan Korea Great Britain Israel Slovak Republic Serbia They will be drawn against the eight losing teams from February's World Group first round ties.

The Little Flames - Goodbye Little Rose

Stunning. That's one party I wish I was at. Looks like they had a good time too.

Carol finally made the cover!

The Sounds - Painted By Numbers

Okay my tennis obsession will have to go on hold for a short while. Davis Cup can sometimes bring the closet tennis supporters out of the woodwork to support their country, and... well I was supporting Team GB... on my own. Anyway today was the last day so it's a final round-up. There were no whitewashes in the World Group with all losing countries at least salvaging a point in the dead singles rubbers. USA 4 - Spain 1 T.ROBREDO (ESP) def. B.BRYAN (USA) 6-4 6-4 J.BLAKE (USA) def. F.LOPEZ (ESP) 6-3 7-6(3) Sweden 4 - Argentina 1 J.BJORKMAN (SWE) def. S.PRIETO (ARG) 6-1 6-2 J.DEL POTRO (ARG) def. R.LINDSTEDT (SWE) 7-6(7) 6-4 Germany 3 - Belgium 2 C.ROCHUS (BEL) def. M.KOHLMANN (GER) 3-6 6-4 6-4 D.NORMAN (BEL) def. P.KOHLSCHREIBER (GER) 6-2 6-3 And in the only tie still with live matches on the final day it went down to a live fifth rubber. Sebastian Grosjean salvaged some French pride following his disappointing showing in the doubles yesterday with a hard-fought win over Igor Andreev. Russia needed a savior for the crucial fifth rubber and once again stepping up to the plate was Marat Safin (blisters and all). Russia 3 - France 2 S.GROSJEAN (FRA) def. I.ANDREEV (RUS) 7-5 4-6 2-6 6-3 6-4 M.SAFIN (RUS) def. P.MATHIEU (FRA) 7-6(3) 6-3 6-2 So the semifinals in September are set: Germany vs Russia USA vs Sweden Okay I give up now. But wait, it is the ladies' turn in a couple of weeks: Fed Cup!

Thanks for bumping this. I guess she's a trailblazer... There was a video on youtube of an interview with Jeisa where she said that when she was starting out as a model she wanted to be like Shirley.

The Cinematic Orchestra - To Build A Home

Hey, you're good. That's right, it's Amanda de Cadenet. The editorial was called Femminilita.

Always kinda liked her.

This photoshoot is a reprint. I think it's from 2004 but not sure on that. The full shoot is still there if you jump to page 3 of this thread. I don't know who the photographer is I'm afraid. I do like this shoot though, very naturalistic and un-airbrushed.

Put it down to jealousy. And I always preferred her with dark hair too but she still looks good.

Damn straight!

Ana for sure. Maria is overrated in the looks department. She can look pretty but Ana's prettier.

Results from the World Group after Day 2: Sweden 3 - Argentina 0 J.BJORKMAN / T.JOHANSSON (SWE) def. D.NALBANDIAN / G.CANAS (ARG) 4-6 7-6(4) 6-2 6-3 A superb result for Sweden in wrapping up their tie already on Day 2. USA 3 - Spain 0 B.BRYAN / M.BRYAN (USA) def. F.LOPEZ / F.VERDASCO (ESP) 7-5 6-3 3-6 7-6(5) The Bryans wrapped it up as expected. The Spaniards needed Nadal to make this tie a contest. Belgium 0 - Germany 3 M.KOHLMANN / A.WASKE (GER) def. C.ROCHUS / O.ROCHUS (BEL) 4-6 6-2 6-3 6-1 Good result for the Germans and they make the semis for the first time since 1995. Russia 2 - France 1 I.ANDREEV / N.DAVYDENKO (RUS) def. S.GROSJEAN / M.LLODRA (FRA) 3-6 7-5 6-3 3-6 6-3 The most intriguing tie is the only one still unresolved going into Day 3. Safin and Youzhny were dropped (blisters and fatigue respectively) in favor of Andreev and Davydenko and that selection paid off.

The Smiths - Bigmouth Strikes Again

Dizzee Rascal - Fix Up, Look Sharp

GB won! J.MURRAY / G.RUSEDSKI (GBR) def. R.HAASE / R.WASSEN (NED) 6-1 3-6 6-3 7-6(5) That's an unassailable 3-0 lead. After this tie Greg Rusedski announced his official retirement from tennis. He played Davis Cup for Britain for 13 years, was British no. 1 for a long time and was a former US Open finalist. He won 15 titles, reached a highest ranking of #4 in the world and at one time held the record for fastest ever recorded serve of 149mph.

Tapes 'n Tapes - Insistor

Greg Rusedski and Jamie Murray in doubles for Britain but the line-up is subject to change. Captain John Lloyd has several options and can change his line-up an hour before the match. Perhaps sticking Jamie with his brother? Should see Safin in action for Russia today too.

Update after Day 1: World Group Russia vs France 1-1 R1 - P.MATHIEU (FRA) def. N.DAVYDENKO (RUS) 2-6 6-2 6-1 7-5 R2 - M.YOUZHNY (RUS) def. R.GASQUET (FRA) 6-2 6-3 6-7(8) 5-7 8-6 Belgium vs Germany 0-2 R1 - T.HAAS (GER) def. K.VLIEGEN (BEL) 6-7(4) 7-5 6-4 6-2 R2 - P.KOHLSCHREIBER (GER) def. O.ROCHUS (BEL) 6-3 7-5 7-6(4) USA vs Spain 2-0 R1 - J.BLAKE (USA) def. T.ROBREDO (ESP) 6-4 6-3 6-4 R2 - A.RODDICK (USA) def. F.VERDASCO (ESP) 7-6(5) 6-1 6-4 Sweden vs Argentina 2-0 R1 - T.JOHANSSON (SWE) def. D.NALBANDIAN (ARG) 6-7(3) 7-6(2) 6-2 7-6(0) R2 - R.SODERLING (SWE) def. J.DEL POTRO (ARG) 7-6(4) 7-6(4) 6-4 Bit of a shock to see Davydenko and Nalbandian lose. The Russia-France tie looked like it would be good on paper and it's living up to it. Europe/Africa Zone Group I Great Britain vs Netherlands 2-0 R1 - A.MURRAY (GBR) def. R.SLUITER (NED) 6-3 7-5 6-2 R2 - T.HENMAN (GBR) def. R.HAASE (NED) 7-6(4) 6-3 7-6(4) A winning return for Tim Henman and Andy Murray also showed no problems with his recent injury woes. Doubles tomorrow. USA are almost certain to wrap up victory with the Bryan Brothers in action. All the other results at www.daviscup.com