Wednesday, 14 November 2007
Humble Earth..
I love this..
The latest images beamed back from a JAXA probe showing Earth rising and setting from the lunar perspective.
Look at our little planet.
For me, you can't underestimate the emotive power of a video like this. It makes almost everything seem trivial and everything else seem incredible - with blurring inbetween..
DNA profile
After being intrigued by 'en-cees' DNA profile on his blog, I thought I'd try my own.
Here is the result. Largely accurate, I suppose. Although it seems to have simply regurgatated my graphically-submitted answers into short explanatory sentences.
Here is the result. Largely accurate, I suppose. Although it seems to have simply regurgatated my graphically-submitted answers into short explanatory sentences.
Tuesday, 13 November 2007
Americans...
Another story here to corroborate my opinion on Americans.
Xenophobic or not - they are a ridiculous breed!
Xenophobic or not - they are a ridiculous breed!
Wednesday, 7 November 2007
Astronomy lecture in Cambridge
I've just arrived home from an evening lecture at Cambridge University's Institute of Astronomy on the Crab Nebula. It was incredibly interesting but I won't bore you with it's detail here.. rather..
1. People do lots of complaining (myself included) about public provision, juvenile boredom etc. This was free, very interesting, accompanied by a coffee and thoroughly enlightening. The lecture hall was - like space itself, very sparsely populated - by the odd listener. I find it a great shame that so few people embrace the opportunities on offer.
2. It has served to invigourate my appetite for all things cosmological/astronomical. is it a bad thing that I want to know everything?! I seem to find anything interesting and crave a greater understanding and knowledge of everything I encounter - be it in life, books, television, conversation - whatever.
How much time is it okay to spend 'learning'? By learning, I mean pro-actively seeking greater knowledge of a subject; not, for instance, simply gleaning information from casual discourse. At the moment, I could gladly embark on a choice of 7 or 8 degree courses - the only link between them being greater acquisition of knowledge. Perhaps I'm addicted?!
Anyway.. three cheers for projects such as the Institutes Astronomy lecture tonight. And long may they continue anmd attract worthy numbers to enjoy..
1. People do lots of complaining (myself included) about public provision, juvenile boredom etc. This was free, very interesting, accompanied by a coffee and thoroughly enlightening. The lecture hall was - like space itself, very sparsely populated - by the odd listener. I find it a great shame that so few people embrace the opportunities on offer.
2. It has served to invigourate my appetite for all things cosmological/astronomical. is it a bad thing that I want to know everything?! I seem to find anything interesting and crave a greater understanding and knowledge of everything I encounter - be it in life, books, television, conversation - whatever.
How much time is it okay to spend 'learning'? By learning, I mean pro-actively seeking greater knowledge of a subject; not, for instance, simply gleaning information from casual discourse. At the moment, I could gladly embark on a choice of 7 or 8 degree courses - the only link between them being greater acquisition of knowledge. Perhaps I'm addicted?!
Anyway.. three cheers for projects such as the Institutes Astronomy lecture tonight. And long may they continue anmd attract worthy numbers to enjoy..
Death at a Funeral
I'm a lover of British films. Not all, of course - but even the poorer offerings often have flashes of typically British charm or quirkiness about them. In particular though, I do enjoy British comedies (and, closetly - "Rom-coms"!). I suppose I place my cinematic taste somewhere between the Business and Bridget Jones - or Football factory and Love Actually..
So, this week I watched Death at a Funeral - which I've been looking forward to for a while. In general, I really enjoyed it. The witty dialogue and acting performances made the film very laugh-out-loud funny. My only criticisms (and both, I suspect were implemented for 'wider appeal' rather than the writers actually believing in them) are the use of a midget/dwarf/little person (I'm ignorant of contemporary acceptable language here) as the butt of very easy gags and the repeated 'easy' jibes at this or that person being "a gay". Both elements sat quite uncomfortably with me and the film. An otherwise well-written comedy was cheapened, it felt, by craving mass appeal.
Perhaps I underestimate the British film-watching intellect and sense of humour. Or, perhaps, I envisage this film to be regaled for it's supposedly humourous mistreatment of a midget and the invitation of people to leave cinemas humourlessly quipping to one another that they are "a gay"*.
I've probably been a little too negative in my review. The film was, largely, very funny and IMDB's 7.5/10 is about right.
* Don't get me started on the drivel that is Little Britain.
So, this week I watched Death at a Funeral - which I've been looking forward to for a while. In general, I really enjoyed it. The witty dialogue and acting performances made the film very laugh-out-loud funny. My only criticisms (and both, I suspect were implemented for 'wider appeal' rather than the writers actually believing in them) are the use of a midget/dwarf/little person (I'm ignorant of contemporary acceptable language here) as the butt of very easy gags and the repeated 'easy' jibes at this or that person being "a gay". Both elements sat quite uncomfortably with me and the film. An otherwise well-written comedy was cheapened, it felt, by craving mass appeal.
Perhaps I underestimate the British film-watching intellect and sense of humour. Or, perhaps, I envisage this film to be regaled for it's supposedly humourous mistreatment of a midget and the invitation of people to leave cinemas humourlessly quipping to one another that they are "a gay"*.
I've probably been a little too negative in my review. The film was, largely, very funny and IMDB's 7.5/10 is about right.
* Don't get me started on the drivel that is Little Britain.
Tuesday, 6 November 2007
High-speed header
I saw this today and couldn't quite believe it.
The local news story quoted an official (I'm not sure who they were as I was half listening in he room next-door) saying that the lady had suffered serious injuries but was stable as thankfully it was a 'glancing blow'. Glancing?! It was a 65mph commuter train!
The local news story quoted an official (I'm not sure who they were as I was half listening in he room next-door) saying that the lady had suffered serious injuries but was stable as thankfully it was a 'glancing blow'. Glancing?! It was a 65mph commuter train!
Wednesday, 31 October 2007
I'll give you 'Trick or treat'
Ahh.. and so again it comes round to the joyous festivities of Halloween..
I hate Halloween. Everything about it is loathsome. I hate the occasion itself and the nature of association with October 31st. Moreover, I hate the Americanisation of the whole affair and the imposed expectation of parents to 'celebrate' for their children. Ultimately though, I abhor the congregations of children trapsing the streets to intrude on good, honest people in their homes to beg (or rather blackmail) them for sweets.
These elements - in themself - are bad enough but the aggravation goes much further. It makes me question, for instance, how many of these disgusting children's chaperoning parents bothered to, say, vote at the last election?.. They'll come and disturb me with demands for sweets on a chilly Autumnal eve but - statiscally - a number of these parasites lacked the inclination to drag themselves away from Eastenders to have a say in how the country they moan so much about is run! *and breathe*
Sickening - truly sickening. A friend asked if I didn't like "trick or treating" because I wasn't allowed to go when I was younger. Firstly, I don't know if I was allowed or not (I'd hope 'not') because, secondly, I had sufficient common decency not to bother people in their own homes of an evening because American custom told me I deserved confectionary recognition from them!
I hope it pours with rain tonight and washes the sponging freeloaders back home..
I hate Halloween. Everything about it is loathsome. I hate the occasion itself and the nature of association with October 31st. Moreover, I hate the Americanisation of the whole affair and the imposed expectation of parents to 'celebrate' for their children. Ultimately though, I abhor the congregations of children trapsing the streets to intrude on good, honest people in their homes to beg (or rather blackmail) them for sweets.
These elements - in themself - are bad enough but the aggravation goes much further. It makes me question, for instance, how many of these disgusting children's chaperoning parents bothered to, say, vote at the last election?.. They'll come and disturb me with demands for sweets on a chilly Autumnal eve but - statiscally - a number of these parasites lacked the inclination to drag themselves away from Eastenders to have a say in how the country they moan so much about is run! *and breathe*
Sickening - truly sickening. A friend asked if I didn't like "trick or treating" because I wasn't allowed to go when I was younger. Firstly, I don't know if I was allowed or not (I'd hope 'not') because, secondly, I had sufficient common decency not to bother people in their own homes of an evening because American custom told me I deserved confectionary recognition from them!
I hope it pours with rain tonight and washes the sponging freeloaders back home..
Tuesday, 30 October 2007
Picking buckshot out of your rear..
This story will have animal rights campaigners smiling from ear-to-ear!
Americans are an intensely irritating breed so any self-harm [see Darwin awards - largely awarded to Yanks] or ironic harm [as here] is always enjoyable for the onlooker!
So that's what it feel like for the Pheasant... *tee hee*
Americans are an intensely irritating breed so any self-harm [see Darwin awards - largely awarded to Yanks] or ironic harm [as here] is always enjoyable for the onlooker!
So that's what it feel like for the Pheasant... *tee hee*
Friday, 26 October 2007
News....
I will get back to atoms - this is just an interim posting!
I was pleased to see that the dispicable chap mentioned in a previous entry got his judicial desserts today by being sentenced to 3 years imprisonment. In the circumstances, I think apportioning any tariff to his inhuman and degrading actions is very tricky but I think something close to the correct outcome was achieved.
In other news today, I saw this story. They say there's nowt as queer as folk - where, may I ask, do Americans rank then?! The purchaser of this 6-figure $ 'piece' really does need to have a word with himself - absolute madness!
Finally (to complete my news-based blog entry), it was unfortunately coincidental for russell Watson to be rushed to hospital with a haemorraging brain tumour in the very week the world is encouraged to recognise International Brain Tumour Awareness week. I have to wish him the best - he's had a rocky ride with brain tumours, poor chap.
Oh, and en-cee, my "Cosmos - Carl Sagan" book arrived yesterday. I'll dig in properly next week ;)
I was pleased to see that the dispicable chap mentioned in a previous entry got his judicial desserts today by being sentenced to 3 years imprisonment. In the circumstances, I think apportioning any tariff to his inhuman and degrading actions is very tricky but I think something close to the correct outcome was achieved.
In other news today, I saw this story. They say there's nowt as queer as folk - where, may I ask, do Americans rank then?! The purchaser of this 6-figure $ 'piece' really does need to have a word with himself - absolute madness!
Finally (to complete my news-based blog entry), it was unfortunately coincidental for russell Watson to be rushed to hospital with a haemorraging brain tumour in the very week the world is encouraged to recognise International Brain Tumour Awareness week. I have to wish him the best - he's had a rocky ride with brain tumours, poor chap.
Oh, and en-cee, my "Cosmos - Carl Sagan" book arrived yesterday. I'll dig in properly next week ;)
Thursday, 18 October 2007
Space - back to atoms
Having had far too much time on my hands of late (or so it seems!) I have been reading various space-related (or cosmological) books with vehement enthusiasm. Like en-cee, I find the proverbial "We're all made of stardust" quite awe-inspiring. So, I thought, the best place to feed my unrelenting hunger for cosmological knowledge was to investigate the very start of it all and enlighten myself from the 'atomic up', so to speak!
This is where I need to be careful or I could type for hours espousing my snippets of knowledge, questions, answers (of which there are few!) and competing theories. Perhaps I would be more sensible (and sympathetic to any readers) to offer excerpts of wisdom daily, rather than in a single blog entry.
So, first of all, I recalled my rudimentary and half-heeded teachings at school. Crucially, that "matter" is not infinitely divisible and that the smallest possible building block is an atom. My investigations of atoms produced the following facts:
- An atom is less-than a 10th of a millionth of a mm.
- A human hair is roughly 1 million atoms across
- There are more atoms in a glass of water than there are glasses of water in all the Earth's oceans
An atom is - as I recall from school - comprised of a nucleus (a number of protons and neutrons) and electrons. My reading unveiled that the element type - as seen in the periodic table - is determined by the number of protons/neutrons it possesses (excusing Hydrogen which has only 1 proton and no neutron). The nucleus is approximately 10,000 times smaller than the particle itself and is almost entirely 'empty space'.
This means that if you removed the empty space of the atoms that make you or I, we would actually be smaller than a single grain of salt (although we would, of course, still weigh the same as we do now).
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Now, the fundamental atomic facts I've mentioned above are fairly basic and relatively easy to comprehend but I find the concepts and scales quite incredible. The last paragraph, for instance, that without atomic 'empty space' I could be miniscule in size but still weight 10/11 stone is mindblowing - and this before I've even ventured to mention blackholes!
I'll give the 'lesson' a bit of a rest and pickup where I left off when I next have half an hour.
To those who think this is terribly boring - apologies. To everyone else - food for thought, eh...
Tuesday, 9 October 2007
Space facts
After watching the 6-part series from the BBC called "The Cosmos" last week, I went fishing for facts to feed my revigourated hunger. I'll put a few here:
- The distance from the surface of Earth to the centre is about 3,963 miles. Because much of Earth is fluid, the solid skin of the planet is only 41 miles thick - thinner than the skin of an apple, relatively speaking.
- You could fit approximately 1,000,000 Earths inside the Sun.
- The surface area of the Earth is 196,950,711 square miles.
- Our Solar System is moving at 43,000mph through our galaxy - the Milky Way.
- Some of the objects visible in Hubble Space Telescope images are nearly 4,000,000,000 (billion) times fainter than the limits of human vision.
- If you suspend three grains of sand in a large sports arena, such as Madison Square Garden in New York, the arena will be more closely packed with sand than our galaxy is with stars.
- The Earth orbits the Sun at an average velocity of approximately 18 miles per second.
- Due to frequent collisions with subatomic particles, it takes a typical gamma ray photon about one million years to travel from the core of the Sun to its surface, even though gamma rays travel at the speed of light (the gamma ray region of light has shorter wavelengths than X-rays). By the time the photon that started out as a gamma ray photon escapes the solar furnace, it has lost so much energy through collisions that it emerges from the Sun's surface as a photon of ordinary, visible light.
- And, one of my favourites(!) - there are more stars in our universe than there are grains of sand on the whole of Earth..
Doping in sport
As a keen fan and follower of lots of sports it's extremely disheartening to read - week in, week out - about doping allegations, testing, confessions or tribunals. It was especially sad, this week, to read (and watch) the tearful confession of Marion Jones, as she admitted to using tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) during her 2000/2001 athletic supremacy.
It has now become commonplace for accusations or discoveries of drug-taking to be made in sport. I find it so difficult to comprehend the rationale of someone like Jones who was a devotee to the sport, a tireless trainer and exceptionally talented exponent in a number of highly competetive disciplines. All I can think is that external pressures of competition and expectation forced her to resort to 'assistance' in an effort to prevail at any cost. Like the Chambers scandal, I feel very sorry for the relay members (who performed with jones) who will now be stripped of medals they were awarded in good faith and as a result of years of hard work.
It's a worrying sign. Sport is, obviously, a multi-billion dollar 'industry' where performance - and ultimately results - mean money. Just like Abramovich tried (and succeeded to an extent) to "buy" a winning football team at Chelsea; Jones tried to buy herself victory with the use of banned substances. I just pray that American Football doesn't take the lead, where players readily and openly use performance-enhancing 'products'.
The scariest part for me is that drug use in sport is very much like virus development and deployment online. The laboratories (or virus hackers) can develop or invent new drugs (or viruses) before the drug-testers (or security firms) can introduce and implement detection procedures. It's going to be a long road ahead for sport and, like Formula 1, it'll be a prescribed procession of the underhand car at the front with the car representing fairness following - and always remaining - behind...
It has now become commonplace for accusations or discoveries of drug-taking to be made in sport. I find it so difficult to comprehend the rationale of someone like Jones who was a devotee to the sport, a tireless trainer and exceptionally talented exponent in a number of highly competetive disciplines. All I can think is that external pressures of competition and expectation forced her to resort to 'assistance' in an effort to prevail at any cost. Like the Chambers scandal, I feel very sorry for the relay members (who performed with jones) who will now be stripped of medals they were awarded in good faith and as a result of years of hard work.
It's a worrying sign. Sport is, obviously, a multi-billion dollar 'industry' where performance - and ultimately results - mean money. Just like Abramovich tried (and succeeded to an extent) to "buy" a winning football team at Chelsea; Jones tried to buy herself victory with the use of banned substances. I just pray that American Football doesn't take the lead, where players readily and openly use performance-enhancing 'products'.
The scariest part for me is that drug use in sport is very much like virus development and deployment online. The laboratories (or virus hackers) can develop or invent new drugs (or viruses) before the drug-testers (or security firms) can introduce and implement detection procedures. It's going to be a long road ahead for sport and, like Formula 1, it'll be a prescribed procession of the underhand car at the front with the car representing fairness following - and always remaining - behind...
Saturday, 6 October 2007
Be honest! (and good/bad films)
I've just realised, after catching up on the long-awaited "en-cee"* entries, that I haven't contributed anything to this blog for a while.
This story made me chuckle this morning. Why is it that Mr Barrett (or all the other "Mr. Barrett's" out there) can't just say "My apologies, wht an embarrassing incident. My penchant for boobs has bitten me on the arse in a rather uncompromising fashion" instead of a spokesperson being nominated on his behalf [!] to say that the origin of said images is unknown..
I can picture the naive American schoolchildren returning home to their parents and relaying the story of the days events "Yes Mommy, and someone planted rude pictures on the mans personal memory stick. He was probably very cross with the scoundrelous trickster". I suppose I should take small comfort in the fact that Terrorists weren't blamed for the incident. However, I won't be suprised if I see on next weeks news that a multi-million dollar action is filed by aggreived parents in a US court against Mr Barrett for damage done to their delicate children - sit down Janet Jackson....
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To conclude my appraisal of the second series of Saxondale I suppose I should give it a mention here. The sixth - and final - episode was aired last week and was a disappointing climax. It felt a bit disjointed and the humour seemed to be a departure from the style of the earlier episodes. In all, I enjoyed the Series - largely though because of the addictive comedic talents of Darren Boyd.
It was a week for me to feel cheated by British comedy, in fact, after I watched Magicians - a very weak Brit-com masterminded by "Mitchell and Webb". I think I was probably stupid to expect very much from this film when I don't really like the "M & W" styling anyway! Perhaps I foolishly believed the 6.2/10 IMDB rating in giving it a try! Anyway, it was absolute toss. It was worse, even, than the 'so bad they're good' films!
So, if you fancy a decent film to watch, go and see Kenny. I've seen it advertised at cinemas this week and it's an absolute triumph. I had the pleasure of watching it last year and it was easily my favourite film of 2006. The innocence, humour and sincerity stroll happily along hand-in-hand giving the film a truly 'fly-on-the-wall' feel. I love this film.
Right, well, there ends another entry. Manchester United are about to kick off! ;)
* I'm glad you've successfully moved in mate. I look forward to seeing some snaps of your home and surrounding 'suburbia'.
This story made me chuckle this morning. Why is it that Mr Barrett (or all the other "Mr. Barrett's" out there) can't just say "My apologies, wht an embarrassing incident. My penchant for boobs has bitten me on the arse in a rather uncompromising fashion" instead of a spokesperson being nominated on his behalf [!] to say that the origin of said images is unknown..
I can picture the naive American schoolchildren returning home to their parents and relaying the story of the days events "Yes Mommy, and someone planted rude pictures on the mans personal memory stick. He was probably very cross with the scoundrelous trickster". I suppose I should take small comfort in the fact that Terrorists weren't blamed for the incident. However, I won't be suprised if I see on next weeks news that a multi-million dollar action is filed by aggreived parents in a US court against Mr Barrett for damage done to their delicate children - sit down Janet Jackson....
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To conclude my appraisal of the second series of Saxondale I suppose I should give it a mention here. The sixth - and final - episode was aired last week and was a disappointing climax. It felt a bit disjointed and the humour seemed to be a departure from the style of the earlier episodes. In all, I enjoyed the Series - largely though because of the addictive comedic talents of Darren Boyd.
It was a week for me to feel cheated by British comedy, in fact, after I watched Magicians - a very weak Brit-com masterminded by "Mitchell and Webb". I think I was probably stupid to expect very much from this film when I don't really like the "M & W" styling anyway! Perhaps I foolishly believed the 6.2/10 IMDB rating in giving it a try! Anyway, it was absolute toss. It was worse, even, than the 'so bad they're good' films!
So, if you fancy a decent film to watch, go and see Kenny. I've seen it advertised at cinemas this week and it's an absolute triumph. I had the pleasure of watching it last year and it was easily my favourite film of 2006. The innocence, humour and sincerity stroll happily along hand-in-hand giving the film a truly 'fly-on-the-wall' feel. I love this film.
Right, well, there ends another entry. Manchester United are about to kick off! ;)
* I'm glad you've successfully moved in mate. I look forward to seeing some snaps of your home and surrounding 'suburbia'.
Thursday, 27 September 2007
Bmw driving and dog-fighting
Friday, 21 September 2007
No news is good news - all news is bad news..
I realise I'm going to get a reputation for being a gloomy, melodramatic social pessimist - but my daily click onto the BBC's local news section was greeted with the top 4 stories being the following:
* Two boys, 14, found guilty of murdering a father in Sheffield
* Nurse steal money from dying patient to pay her mobile phone bill
* Man slashes his own throat in Woolworths, killing himself in front of attendant shoppers
* Newcastle man dies in stabbing
What's it all about?!
* Two boys, 14, found guilty of murdering a father in Sheffield
* Nurse steal money from dying patient to pay her mobile phone bill
* Man slashes his own throat in Woolworths, killing himself in front of attendant shoppers
* Newcastle man dies in stabbing
What's it all about?!
Fame beckons at the expense of my anonymity!
Imagine my suprise this morning - when browsing the BBC's Saxondale site - when I spotted a comment from "MrGeeza's blogspot" about Jonathon's acting! So much for preserving my anonymity! I did find it amazing that I was looking at a website referencing a comment made by me about the show the website is based on! The internet truly is a small place.
Wednesday, 19 September 2007
Love thy neighbour (or urinate on her if it's easier..)
I felt I wanted to post this and draw attention to it's sheer incredulity! I don't even know what I can say about it - I just find it unbelievable that something so disgusting can occur on Britain's streets in the 21st Century. I realise (as I've mentioned before) that I'm probably sheltered but I hope that this sort of incident never becomes readily dismissable by anyone - regardless of their upbringing or social exposure.
My question, I think, is how do people get into a position where they're capable of doing something so dispicable? There's probably no answer.. how depressing though..
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On a happier note, I've had my car for a week now and I love it! It's excessively lavish and parades a plethora of technological tricks - hence why I love it. I get in it and feel like driving.. not energetically.. just driving.. it's warm, comfortable, aesthically-pleasing, ergonomic.. it's wonderful! Now, please let my old car sell with haste to ease the financial burden currently hanging over my head!
My question, I think, is how do people get into a position where they're capable of doing something so dispicable? There's probably no answer.. how depressing though..
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On a happier note, I've had my car for a week now and I love it! It's excessively lavish and parades a plethora of technological tricks - hence why I love it. I get in it and feel like driving.. not energetically.. just driving.. it's warm, comfortable, aesthically-pleasing, ergonomic.. it's wonderful! Now, please let my old car sell with haste to ease the financial burden currently hanging over my head!
Tuesday, 18 September 2007
Women's football in Japan!
I've been quite busy this week but I did have the "fortune" of catching a 45-minute half of women's football at the World Cup in Japan. Now, in my sheltered (and probably sexist world) Men play football - just like girls go to Brownies*. Never mind equality - in my head it's gender exclusive. Bigotry aside, I thought I'd give it a chance.
Quite frankly, it was more of a circus than I could've imagined (or hoped for!). Passes were rarely long enough to be completed, players had to kick for the goalkeepers so they could surpass the confines of the penalty area, shots from > 18 yards invariably bounced 3 times before reaching the goal and throw-ins epitomised the reputation girls have for an inability to throw anything. And, bear in mind, this is the very best the world's countries had to offer! To be fair, however, I should say that Kelly Smith exhibited 'actual' footballing skills and made a very good show for herself. It's just the other 500+ women there who would probably fail to notice if the game was started with a rugby ball rather than a football.
* I could write reams on my sociological/psycholgical take on different individual's acquired/voluntary societal perceptions and opinions. I think that one's upbringing indoctrinates a very strong opinion of particular social settings or identity groups. I was brought up in a traditional nuclear family where my Father was 'breadwinner' and my Mother raised the children. Now that I am older I recognise the right of women to strive in careers (or the right of men to raise children) but sub-consciously I still instinctively percieve a family unit comprising of Dad-Worker, Mum-Mother + Children-scholars and very closely share the Social constructionist approach to making sense of individuals perceptions.
These instinctive perceptions could very easily be construed as sexist, ageist or whatever but it is very difficult to suppress instinct with rationality and calculation in advanced years.. The influences shaping perceptions are not just historical, cultural or familial. Much contemporary discourse considering social contexts (such as the nuclear family mentioned above) is loaded with political terminolgy. I was disgusted to learn recently that, until it was repealed in 2003, the England and Wales Local Government Act 1988 made reference to same-sex partnerships raising children as "pretended families". This is language enacted less than 2 decades ago and drafted by people purporting to represent society's interests!
I'll stop myself! I'm on runway 1 and I'm clear for take-off! Best for any readers that I abort!
Suffice to say that I don't use [apparently] sexist vernacular to offend but merely to expound my honest, natural opinion of things.
Quite frankly, it was more of a circus than I could've imagined (or hoped for!). Passes were rarely long enough to be completed, players had to kick for the goalkeepers so they could surpass the confines of the penalty area, shots from > 18 yards invariably bounced 3 times before reaching the goal and throw-ins epitomised the reputation girls have for an inability to throw anything. And, bear in mind, this is the very best the world's countries had to offer! To be fair, however, I should say that Kelly Smith exhibited 'actual' footballing skills and made a very good show for herself. It's just the other 500+ women there who would probably fail to notice if the game was started with a rugby ball rather than a football.
* I could write reams on my sociological/psycholgical take on different individual's acquired/voluntary societal perceptions and opinions. I think that one's upbringing indoctrinates a very strong opinion of particular social settings or identity groups. I was brought up in a traditional nuclear family where my Father was 'breadwinner' and my Mother raised the children. Now that I am older I recognise the right of women to strive in careers (or the right of men to raise children) but sub-consciously I still instinctively percieve a family unit comprising of Dad-Worker, Mum-Mother + Children-scholars and very closely share the Social constructionist approach to making sense of individuals perceptions.
These instinctive perceptions could very easily be construed as sexist, ageist or whatever but it is very difficult to suppress instinct with rationality and calculation in advanced years.. The influences shaping perceptions are not just historical, cultural or familial. Much contemporary discourse considering social contexts (such as the nuclear family mentioned above) is loaded with political terminolgy. I was disgusted to learn recently that, until it was repealed in 2003, the England and Wales Local Government Act 1988 made reference to same-sex partnerships raising children as "pretended families". This is language enacted less than 2 decades ago and drafted by people purporting to represent society's interests!
I'll stop myself! I'm on runway 1 and I'm clear for take-off! Best for any readers that I abort!
Suffice to say that I don't use [apparently] sexist vernacular to offend but merely to expound my honest, natural opinion of things.
Tuesday, 11 September 2007
Love just off the fast lane, Saxondale and Vista woes..
Sadly, I haven't posted for a while - a combination of being busy and having very little to say, I suppose! Anyway, I'm back..
First of all, I had to comment on this! I thought it was really perculiar but, strangely, quite nice. The notion that two people - having presumably been married for decades already - can while the hours of each day away together in the stark confines of a travelodge I thought was quite endearing. Surrounded by very few personal effects, their days are filled by the company of one another. Typically British, I thought - both in its quirkiness and unconventional romanticism. I did wonder whether or not friends and family visited them at their "home"?!...
Saxondale (Thursday, BBC2 9.30pm) took another step up, for me, last week with the increased involvement of the 'Jonathon' character, mentioned previously here. His acting is just superb for comedy, mastering the delicate and subtle mannerisms with absolute aplomb. His twitchy, contemplatative character nuances are similar to those perfected by Gervais as David Brent. I look forward to this week's installment with great anticipation and hope for an equally prolific role..
My problems with Windows Vista persisted this week after suffering 3 inexplicable crashes on my new laptop.. It's an incredible thing that a firm with the hapless incompetance of micro$oft can flourish as they have done, and continue to do. We are all* slaves, it seems, to their ingenius monopolistic programming which promises new and improved usability on an unecessarily recurrent basis only to complicate simple tasks and further exclude other market players or contributers with increased incompatability. "Why change?" one may ask, when their profits continue to soar from their sacrosanct position of dominance.. Anyway, I think XP will be getting a call off the subs bench this week..
* All, meaning those who are technically unable (in terms of inability or work software commitments) to choose a different OS or are, like me, too lazy to change..
First of all, I had to comment on this! I thought it was really perculiar but, strangely, quite nice. The notion that two people - having presumably been married for decades already - can while the hours of each day away together in the stark confines of a travelodge I thought was quite endearing. Surrounded by very few personal effects, their days are filled by the company of one another. Typically British, I thought - both in its quirkiness and unconventional romanticism. I did wonder whether or not friends and family visited them at their "home"?!...
Saxondale (Thursday, BBC2 9.30pm) took another step up, for me, last week with the increased involvement of the 'Jonathon' character, mentioned previously here. His acting is just superb for comedy, mastering the delicate and subtle mannerisms with absolute aplomb. His twitchy, contemplatative character nuances are similar to those perfected by Gervais as David Brent. I look forward to this week's installment with great anticipation and hope for an equally prolific role..
My problems with Windows Vista persisted this week after suffering 3 inexplicable crashes on my new laptop.. It's an incredible thing that a firm with the hapless incompetance of micro$oft can flourish as they have done, and continue to do. We are all* slaves, it seems, to their ingenius monopolistic programming which promises new and improved usability on an unecessarily recurrent basis only to complicate simple tasks and further exclude other market players or contributers with increased incompatability. "Why change?" one may ask, when their profits continue to soar from their sacrosanct position of dominance.. Anyway, I think XP will be getting a call off the subs bench this week..
* All, meaning those who are technically unable (in terms of inability or work software commitments) to choose a different OS or are, like me, too lazy to change..
Saturday, 1 September 2007
Girls Aloud - violence and saxondale
Well, Girls Aloud finaléed a fantastic day yesterday. We had an early dinner on the quayside of Wells-next-the-Sea before going to Holkham Hall and queuing for a couple of hours (to ensure a suitably proximate viewing position). We enjoyed some fantastically childish banter with the hoards of 7-year old fans over who was truly the greatest fan of Nadine et al!
There was one moment, during the concert itself, of particular suprise. A man, holding his young daughter in his arms, moved a chair slightly to allow a young lad to stand next to him andf enable him a better view. The owner of the moved chair (a woman in her 30's with 3 young children) took perculiar umbridge to the furniture rearrangements and proceeded to punch the man repeatedly in the face (with screams cascading in from the associated - now hysterically crying - children of both parties). The man made absolutely no defence of himself nor did he exact any kind of retaliation. The woman was eventually dragged away from the scene [that she'd created!] and took her position atop the chair dancing with a provocative and contumelious attitude over her behaviour.
The whole episode was disgusting - for so many reasons. Firstly, the obvious impact it had on the children that wiotnessed (and suffered it) - especially the offspring of the two parties. Secondly, the fact that the woman thought her unprovoked and unrelenting tirade of jabs was what was necessary and, perhaps worse, that she went on to revel in her post-fight spotlight like she had, in some way, victored when all around scowled in pure disbelief. Thirdly - and what pesters me most - that something like this can even happen. I accept (and appreciate enormously) my sheltered, country-life upbringing which is perhaps why I found the occurence so incredible. But, it saddens me to think that there are people who would not find such and incident unbelievable - whether because of their own acceptable moral boundaries or because of their social structing which has eroded their levels of expectation of their 'fellow man'.
Anyway, I navigated my way out of the "die-hard fans's nucleus" and headed sideways for air and a better view of the stage. Thankfully, I stumbled past a collection of police officers, informed them of the afore-mentioned dispicable events and left them to do what was necessary of them. There was something strangely satisfying about watching the police drag the woman from the crowd as the fireworks crescendoed in the clear, dark Norfolk sky..
======================================================
BBC2 aired Steve Coogan's second installment of saxondale on Thursday evening. This series seems to cling-on to the same sort of 'scoring topics' as the first - Magz's larger-lady size, Tommy's past haunting (and often, dominating) his present, the 'Stang etc.. However, one brilliant improvement is that of Tommy Saxondale's conscientious neighbour, Jonathon - played by the the very talented Darren Boyd. His character is executed with perfection and really has 'made' the first two episodes for me.
While Saxondale is never going to be true comedy gold - it's certainly very much better than the current dross* that infects most of the BBCs comedy schedules.
By dross, I mean 2 pints of lager, Goodness gracious, Ruddy hell, it's Harry and Paul etc. Most of BBCs comedy output is saved by the talent that is; Caroline Aherne, Steve Coogan and Ricky Gervais.
There was one moment, during the concert itself, of particular suprise. A man, holding his young daughter in his arms, moved a chair slightly to allow a young lad to stand next to him andf enable him a better view. The owner of the moved chair (a woman in her 30's with 3 young children) took perculiar umbridge to the furniture rearrangements and proceeded to punch the man repeatedly in the face (with screams cascading in from the associated - now hysterically crying - children of both parties). The man made absolutely no defence of himself nor did he exact any kind of retaliation. The woman was eventually dragged away from the scene [that she'd created!] and took her position atop the chair dancing with a provocative and contumelious attitude over her behaviour.
The whole episode was disgusting - for so many reasons. Firstly, the obvious impact it had on the children that wiotnessed (and suffered it) - especially the offspring of the two parties. Secondly, the fact that the woman thought her unprovoked and unrelenting tirade of jabs was what was necessary and, perhaps worse, that she went on to revel in her post-fight spotlight like she had, in some way, victored when all around scowled in pure disbelief. Thirdly - and what pesters me most - that something like this can even happen. I accept (and appreciate enormously) my sheltered, country-life upbringing which is perhaps why I found the occurence so incredible. But, it saddens me to think that there are people who would not find such and incident unbelievable - whether because of their own acceptable moral boundaries or because of their social structing which has eroded their levels of expectation of their 'fellow man'.
Anyway, I navigated my way out of the "die-hard fans's nucleus" and headed sideways for air and a better view of the stage. Thankfully, I stumbled past a collection of police officers, informed them of the afore-mentioned dispicable events and left them to do what was necessary of them. There was something strangely satisfying about watching the police drag the woman from the crowd as the fireworks crescendoed in the clear, dark Norfolk sky..
======================================================
BBC2 aired Steve Coogan's second installment of saxondale on Thursday evening. This series seems to cling-on to the same sort of 'scoring topics' as the first - Magz's larger-lady size, Tommy's past haunting (and often, dominating) his present, the 'Stang etc.. However, one brilliant improvement is that of Tommy Saxondale's conscientious neighbour, Jonathon - played by the the very talented Darren Boyd. His character is executed with perfection and really has 'made' the first two episodes for me.
While Saxondale is never going to be true comedy gold - it's certainly very much better than the current dross* that infects most of the BBCs comedy schedules.
By dross, I mean 2 pints of lager, Goodness gracious, Ruddy hell, it's Harry and Paul etc. Most of BBCs comedy output is saved by the talent that is; Caroline Aherne, Steve Coogan and Ricky Gervais.
Thursday, 30 August 2007
Girls Aloud 1 day and counting..
Well, my teeth/gums are slowly getting better and the pain is either subsiding or I am simply acclimatising to it. The left side of my face does currently look like some sort of hamster harbouring food but I'm hoping that will soon recede.
I'm filled with unashamed childish excitement about tomorrow's trip to Holkham Hall, Norfolk to see 'the magnificent' Girls Aloud! I've managed to conceal my closet hankering to see the minxy quintet behind the fact that I bought the tickets as a present for a friend..
Inserted is an image of the glorious Nadine Coyle who is revered the world over for her incredible singing talent - Or so I'm told.. ;-) © Whoever took it, 2007.
Monday, 27 August 2007
Dental pain and Rhys Jones
Ok, well.. teeth are all done! After a few hours 'umming and arring' about whether or not the anaesthetist and surgeon were happy to operate, they eventually did it. My mouth is currently quite painful, but for the long term I suspect it's for the best. My stubborn reluctance to take medication for anything means I'll bear the pain until it subsides.
It got me thinking while I was in the hospital - elective surgery is a funny thing. A ward full of bright-eyed folk off the street; sitting around, chatting and joking. They get wandered down to theatre and, 30 minutes later, arrive back looking battered and bruised. Mouthes stuffed with cottonwool wads, blood trickling down their semi-numb chins and a weary and confused look on their barely-awake faces!
======================================
Excuse me for changing the tone, slightly, but I thought I'd mention something that has played on my mind. The tragic story of the shooting Rhys Jones has, obviously, heavily populated the press in the past few days. What sits very uncomfortably with me, however, was the attendance of Rhys' parents - as guests of honour - to Goodison Park for the Everton home game on Saturday. What has happened to them in the past week is incomprehensible and I can't help but feel that visiting a football stadium of 35,000 - who applauded their 11-year old son for a minute less than 1 week after his untimely death - seemed horribly out of place.
I don't suggest, for a minute, that I know the best way for parents to greive and rehabilitate after the tragic death of a child, but I'm certain this wasn't it. I'm sure that as the police and media frenzies that surround the Jones family subside, the parents will be left with the peace and space to deal with things 'more naturally'.
======================================
Back onto a happier note - the sun is out again today and, as a devout worshipper, I shall be enjoying every second of it!
It got me thinking while I was in the hospital - elective surgery is a funny thing. A ward full of bright-eyed folk off the street; sitting around, chatting and joking. They get wandered down to theatre and, 30 minutes later, arrive back looking battered and bruised. Mouthes stuffed with cottonwool wads, blood trickling down their semi-numb chins and a weary and confused look on their barely-awake faces!
======================================
Excuse me for changing the tone, slightly, but I thought I'd mention something that has played on my mind. The tragic story of the shooting Rhys Jones has, obviously, heavily populated the press in the past few days. What sits very uncomfortably with me, however, was the attendance of Rhys' parents - as guests of honour - to Goodison Park for the Everton home game on Saturday. What has happened to them in the past week is incomprehensible and I can't help but feel that visiting a football stadium of 35,000 - who applauded their 11-year old son for a minute less than 1 week after his untimely death - seemed horribly out of place.
I don't suggest, for a minute, that I know the best way for parents to greive and rehabilitate after the tragic death of a child, but I'm certain this wasn't it. I'm sure that as the police and media frenzies that surround the Jones family subside, the parents will be left with the peace and space to deal with things 'more naturally'.
======================================
Back onto a happier note - the sun is out again today and, as a devout worshipper, I shall be enjoying every second of it!
Saturday, 25 August 2007
Teeth and new cars
Just got back from having a lovely dinner with some really great friends - two of whom were the marrying parties on Saturday where I acted as "best man". It was useful for me to 'get out' (not that I'm a recluse, by any stretch of the imagination) because I've been worrying all day about my impending hospital visit tomorrow for wisdom tooth extraction.
It's a perculiar thing, really. I've never previously* been bothered or experienced nervousness about anything in my life. I suppose I'd like to think that I don't get nervous now - certainly not in a cerbral or conscious sense, anyway. The 'nervousness' I experience is probably best described as anxiety - as it manifests itself in the form of an overwhelming feeling of nausea.
To try to add clarity - on Saturday, for my best man duties, I obviously was expected to prepare and perform my speech. Now, I was perfectly happy with what I had drafted and very happy about delivering it to a room full of close family and friends. However, the meal preceding the speeches was impossible for me to eat. My anxious sickness is so acute that the thought of eating food could tip me over the bridge to vomiting! I realise it sounds disgusting (and is!) but why does it happen?! Perhaps I have a deep-rooted insecurity or inbalance that is triggered by a chemical [Note: not mental] nervousness.
Anyway, I'm trying to force the imminent orthodentistry to the back of my mind by thinking about the arrival, next week, of my new car. The new car is - of itself - a miniature quandry in my own consciousness. I'm getting a very expensive, very luxurious, brand new BMW. I'm getting it because I love it [in a pretentious and materialistic sense!]. Surely, though, this isn't right?! Or is it? Is there something better I should spend my money on? Am I a victim of "label-culture"? What image am I portraying? What image do I want to portray? Could I over-question what is, essentially, a very important means for me to mobilise myself?
I know a few answers. I probably prefer not to think about some questions too much because it makes me feel greedy and possessory. I reassure my guilty conscience that I'll enjoy it and that it's ultimately very useful for me. The horrible thing is that there is a detestable part of me that will unquestionably start looking and thinking about my 'next' car after only a few months ownership. I think I should probably start to accept that - in automotive terms - my aspirations will always rest on the horizon and I doubt that, from behind the wheel of my Ferrari in my 30s, I'll be able to reach whatever it is I crave!
I think a large part of me feels very guilty about 'blowing' such a large sum of money on a car when I know my parents worked incredibly hard to achieve modest steps up life's ladder in their earlier years. I suppose one lives in the contemporary - so reaching out for whatever is available, at the time, is natural. For my parents that might have been a week's food shopping and for me that is a car. The balance still seems difficult to strike.
Well, I'm going to quickly amend my Fantasy football team for tomorrows fixtures and crash for the night...
* Previously meaning before my life-changing 'incident' of 10 years ago
It's a perculiar thing, really. I've never previously* been bothered or experienced nervousness about anything in my life. I suppose I'd like to think that I don't get nervous now - certainly not in a cerbral or conscious sense, anyway. The 'nervousness' I experience is probably best described as anxiety - as it manifests itself in the form of an overwhelming feeling of nausea.
To try to add clarity - on Saturday, for my best man duties, I obviously was expected to prepare and perform my speech. Now, I was perfectly happy with what I had drafted and very happy about delivering it to a room full of close family and friends. However, the meal preceding the speeches was impossible for me to eat. My anxious sickness is so acute that the thought of eating food could tip me over the bridge to vomiting! I realise it sounds disgusting (and is!) but why does it happen?! Perhaps I have a deep-rooted insecurity or inbalance that is triggered by a chemical [Note: not mental] nervousness.
Anyway, I'm trying to force the imminent orthodentistry to the back of my mind by thinking about the arrival, next week, of my new car. The new car is - of itself - a miniature quandry in my own consciousness. I'm getting a very expensive, very luxurious, brand new BMW. I'm getting it because I love it [in a pretentious and materialistic sense!]. Surely, though, this isn't right?! Or is it? Is there something better I should spend my money on? Am I a victim of "label-culture"? What image am I portraying? What image do I want to portray? Could I over-question what is, essentially, a very important means for me to mobilise myself?
I know a few answers. I probably prefer not to think about some questions too much because it makes me feel greedy and possessory. I reassure my guilty conscience that I'll enjoy it and that it's ultimately very useful for me. The horrible thing is that there is a detestable part of me that will unquestionably start looking and thinking about my 'next' car after only a few months ownership. I think I should probably start to accept that - in automotive terms - my aspirations will always rest on the horizon and I doubt that, from behind the wheel of my Ferrari in my 30s, I'll be able to reach whatever it is I crave!
I think a large part of me feels very guilty about 'blowing' such a large sum of money on a car when I know my parents worked incredibly hard to achieve modest steps up life's ladder in their earlier years. I suppose one lives in the contemporary - so reaching out for whatever is available, at the time, is natural. For my parents that might have been a week's food shopping and for me that is a car. The balance still seems difficult to strike.
Well, I'm going to quickly amend my Fantasy football team for tomorrows fixtures and crash for the night...
* Previously meaning before my life-changing 'incident' of 10 years ago
Thursday, 23 August 2007
The true beginning..
Well, pursuant to "en-cee's" welcome advice on blog convention - all dutifully heeded - I feel I can embark on my blog adventure in earnest. Thanks Nige - all very useful advice and very much the etiquette I hoped to uphold and preserve for the life of my blog.
I've been thinking in spells this afternoon about this blog and what I'd like it to contain. My problem, I think, is that I have an opinion on almost everything and could rack up the blog-space very quickly with spurious grumbling. I'm hoping, I think, to strike a balance between my take on current affairs and a recount and analysis of everyday occurences in my life. God, that sounds terribly boring. Perhaps I'm thinking about it too much.
I'm going to use this opportunity to breifly address a few queries raised by "en-cee". The legal implication of saying something specific about someone explicitly identified requires consideration of two main things. Firstly, the libellous aspect of defaming the individual (if applicable) and, secondly, the balance between the individual's right to privacy and your right to freedom of expression. A contentious and very technical area of the law - something Mr & Mrs Douglas could regale stories of wedding photographs about!
On a lighter, and less serious, note - Saxondale enjoys a 2nd series tonight on BBC2, at 9.30pm. While not a patch on Coogan's other, far better work (namely Alan Partridge*), the series offers an amusing take on the monotonous life of a pest controller with a catalogue of roadie-related anecdotes to pass on to his naive teenage assistant about the "good old days". If you can look past the Partridgeism congenital with Coogan in whatever he does, you'll definitely enjoy a giggle.
Right, I'm off to finish my evening's duties before I sit down with a bottle of beer and Mr. Saxondale.
* Apologies in advance. I fear my very particular taste - and indeed love - for certain comedy shows, series and performers will inevitably feature heavily herein.
I've been thinking in spells this afternoon about this blog and what I'd like it to contain. My problem, I think, is that I have an opinion on almost everything and could rack up the blog-space very quickly with spurious grumbling. I'm hoping, I think, to strike a balance between my take on current affairs and a recount and analysis of everyday occurences in my life. God, that sounds terribly boring. Perhaps I'm thinking about it too much.
I'm going to use this opportunity to breifly address a few queries raised by "en-cee". The legal implication of saying something specific about someone explicitly identified requires consideration of two main things. Firstly, the libellous aspect of defaming the individual (if applicable) and, secondly, the balance between the individual's right to privacy and your right to freedom of expression. A contentious and very technical area of the law - something Mr & Mrs Douglas could regale stories of wedding photographs about!
On a lighter, and less serious, note - Saxondale enjoys a 2nd series tonight on BBC2, at 9.30pm. While not a patch on Coogan's other, far better work (namely Alan Partridge*), the series offers an amusing take on the monotonous life of a pest controller with a catalogue of roadie-related anecdotes to pass on to his naive teenage assistant about the "good old days". If you can look past the Partridgeism congenital with Coogan in whatever he does, you'll definitely enjoy a giggle.
Right, I'm off to finish my evening's duties before I sit down with a bottle of beer and Mr. Saxondale.
* Apologies in advance. I fear my very particular taste - and indeed love - for certain comedy shows, series and performers will inevitably feature heavily herein.
My first entry..
Hmm.. a blog..
I'm not exactly sure what I'm supposed to write, what might be interesting to an unsuspecting reader or what direction I feel my style should pursue.
Perhaps I'm starting this as a means to vent frustrations and concerns about the world at large or simply to opine on life's trivialities. I've tried to preserve my anonymity by subscribing with enigmatic detail but, I suspect, that the odd person I might direct here (as they already host blogs here) will know exactly who I am - so what, if anything, am I hiding from?! I suppose that at least scribing this with a hint of anonymity saves me attracting - and in turn upsetting - anyone who I might offend! I'm digressing already! God help the longevity of this blog!
So. My inaugural blog entry. I've got nothing specific to say at this juncture. The reason I have found myself here is through my addiction to "en-cee's" mutterings and a closet desire to have a promulgatory rant of my own (and possibly litter en-cee's blog with annexed comments by virtue of my registration!).
I hope, in time, to populate this blog with my views and feelings on current affairs with an undoubted scattering of meaningless drivel. I don't promise it will be intellectually-stimulating, interesting or eventful. I suspect it will be very ordinary and uninspiring. The liklihood is that it will serve purely as an exorcism of my opinions and regular or returning subscription by readers out there will be at an absolute minimum!
I'm about to spend my day analysing the dreary realm of law on privacy.. how apt that it's raining outside my office window!
Out.
I'm not exactly sure what I'm supposed to write, what might be interesting to an unsuspecting reader or what direction I feel my style should pursue.
Perhaps I'm starting this as a means to vent frustrations and concerns about the world at large or simply to opine on life's trivialities. I've tried to preserve my anonymity by subscribing with enigmatic detail but, I suspect, that the odd person I might direct here (as they already host blogs here) will know exactly who I am - so what, if anything, am I hiding from?! I suppose that at least scribing this with a hint of anonymity saves me attracting - and in turn upsetting - anyone who I might offend! I'm digressing already! God help the longevity of this blog!
So. My inaugural blog entry. I've got nothing specific to say at this juncture. The reason I have found myself here is through my addiction to "en-cee's" mutterings and a closet desire to have a promulgatory rant of my own (and possibly litter en-cee's blog with annexed comments by virtue of my registration!).
I hope, in time, to populate this blog with my views and feelings on current affairs with an undoubted scattering of meaningless drivel. I don't promise it will be intellectually-stimulating, interesting or eventful. I suspect it will be very ordinary and uninspiring. The liklihood is that it will serve purely as an exorcism of my opinions and regular or returning subscription by readers out there will be at an absolute minimum!
I'm about to spend my day analysing the dreary realm of law on privacy.. how apt that it's raining outside my office window!
Out.
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