England 1 - Germany 4

After beating Slovenia (who were unlucky to be sent home, the USA won their final match to top the group), we face the Germans as the runner up of our group.

England did have a goal disallowed that would have got them to 2-2 going in at half time, re-igniting the debate about video technology.

But the truth is we defended terribly, the Germans are not a great side - just do everything in a competent way, England were found wanting at the back, and unable to hold onto the ball when attacking.

I hope Capello stays, he has a track record and it is not like we have any decent candidates waiting on the wings.

Walk: Extended Run Route

Bit of a set back this week, too hot to really run the four segments.

So just did 1 longer segment:

R3 Crescent to Crescent 0.33 km

And that was enough!

Walk: Extended Run Route

I've added an extra route to the walk/run, after measuring each run they are roughly 0.3 km each.

R0 0.3km (First traffic lights to before bus stop)
R1 0.3km (Back to traffic lights)
R2 0.3km (Bus stop to second T junction)
R3 0.3km (Crescent to Crescent)

Grand total 1.2 km Represents 25% of the route of 4.66 km. This is probably an over estimate as it's difficult to judge the start/finish point on Google earth. The addition of the new route R0 means I am completing this in just over half an hour.

England 0 Algeria 0

Another unconvincing performance by England, the draw of USA and Slovenia means that we can still qualify by beating Slovenia next week.

But Slovenia are a better side, and we struggled to break down Algeria.

Historically England always do it this way, and I'm beginning to subscribe to the theory that we think we're better than we really are, get a massive wake up call, and then have to try and regroup and pick up the pieces.

On top of that and there is a feeling that the side isn't quite good enough compared to those of 1998, 2002, and 2006.

Apparently a fan broke into the England dressing room after the game, crossing the line between the ordinary and the over paid stars - I hope they got to at least hear his thoughts, if there were any.

Roll on Wednesday.

Walk: Extended Run Route

The now familiar Sunday routine. I have three stretches that I try to run, and having measured it they are around 250m each.

But this times distances were:

R1 0.3 km (back to traffic lights)
R2 0.23 km (bus stop to second T-junction)
R3 0.22 km (crescent to crescent)

Grand total 0.75 km (0.46 miles). Represents 16% of the route of 4.66 km. Not feeling any after effects, so will try and build up from this (lowly) starting point.

England 1 - USA 1

Well a typical slow start from England. Never really pressing home any advantage, a goalkeeping error got the USA their draw.

Never comfortable, never composed - players substituted early for injury, we looked anything but 4th favourites to win this based on the betting odds!

Compared to Argentina, who got their goal - but then kept possession and controlled the game, something England have never done in recent decades in internationals.

World Cup: Time to Lay England

Another 4 years pass, another world cup this time in South Africa.

Hopeless over optimism as always with England. We are fourth favourites behind Argentina, Holland, Brazil, and Spain.

But we're far too short odds, we cannot claim to be better than Germany or Italy who are in the 15-18 range.

So I've laid England modestly, we'll see who is right.

Walk: Extended Run Route

Back to the extended route today, with 3 quite long stretches of running - up to the traffic lights, bus stop to grass verges on T-junction, and crescent to crescent on the home straight.

Book read: The Man Behind the Micro Chip by Leslie Berlin

A biography and historical account of one of the founders of Intel, Robert Noyce, and his influence on the founding of Silicon Valley.

The account covers his early life, university education, and early work on the transistor. His steps into the corporate world with Fairchild Semiconductor, Intel, and lastly a government backed industry association SEMATECH designed to pool knowledge and know-how for the good of the US semiconductor industry.

A really detailed account, about a fast moving industry that probably is a little careless in charting its history. Berlin really gets through a lot of facts and figures but still keeps a personal account of Noyce the man and how influential he was in setting up and investing in other start ups in the Valley.

I always wonder how industries do not lose their know-how and production techniques. Often the book talks about chance discoveries, or productions lines losing "the process" to making high yield chips. Part of the SEMATECH consortium was to try and protect this hard discovered knowledge.

The book also described the Japanese manufacturers of DRAM flooding the American market and under cutting prices - effectively selling at a loss in the late 1980s. I can remember DRAM prices rising in the early 90s, an effect of this maybe. Intel got out of memory and pioneered the microprocessor although almost dropped the idea a couple of times in their history.

Noyce himself was an engaging personality and a great influence on those around him, a hard working life was rewarded only with death just a couple of weeks into retirement.

Inspirational read, and someone anyone who works in this field should read about.

Working Lunch Ending

The BBC has announced that Working Lunch is to end in July. The business and personal finance show has been running for 12 years, and I had been watching since about 2003.

My interest waned a little after the 2008 remake, but it was still a good show. This is also the show that bought Adrian Chiles into main stream reporting.

Apparently steadily declining viewings (well it is on in the day time) has convinced the BBC to give up on it. Was always a show I had recorded once I got a PVR!