Croquet. A much misunderstood pastime, probably more akin to jousting with poisoned lances than Pimms-tippling. Despite having the inner fire to destroy all those who would seek to out croq me, I lost 8-7.
We've gone solar, in an effort to maintain battery levels in the Versys. We have also made a video using the new Zx-1, the problem being that the films are in .MOV format, which is bugger all use if you plan to make films with movie maker. Which I do. However, the dude abides.
Nice little happy tune called "Your Smile" is on Reverbnation.
It turns out that on Wikipedia Brian Austin Green is currently described as an actor and a tool. As Wikipedia is based on consensus, who am I to disagree? Sadly they have got rid of this...luckily I took a screen shot of it...
Gave a little talk today. Apparently it will be podcasted. I've not been podcasted before, so I expect this will make me feel hugely different.
Only about 6 weeks and 12 lbs to go. The time will definitely move, the lard, less likely.
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Doubtless opinions differ, but the recent Israeli action smells distinctly like piracy to me. Rather than worrying about getting rid of the Gaza blockade, why not blockade Israel and board any ships that try to take food and medicine to them? An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind, so, any other suggestions?
I'm not sure what is more soul destroying, thing A or thing B. But, they both have to be done.
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My mate Dan is doing some kind of extended horse ride, raising money for Action on Elder Abuse. Knowing Dan he will only be fuelled by burgers and Guiness the whole way, and will have a fat, soft pillow under his buttocks. However, it's for a good cause, so you could always sponsor him...what a nice idea.
When you're wrong, you're wrong. When you're really wrong it is best to pretend that it is someone else's fault, or that it is genetic.
The choir are sounding pretty good these days. Next week is a rehearsal with the band in the Phil, then Saturday is the big day. Fingers crossed my voice doesn't break before then.
Street Talk are under-rated, as is Firefest. Firefest VII, 2 days of cool.
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Teachers (Series 1). I think my school might have been like that.
Good morning judge, how are you today?
Thank goodness that the sexual assaults were only moderate - and I am sure that the judge's views were unanimously shared by the victims over their abuse (5 boys total, or 5 boys came forward?).
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Work is getting in the way of life and is eating away at my mind, like some kind of flesh-consuming bacteria. I know this because some new V-Picks that I bought have mysteriously vanished, as has the cord to my shaver. The real proof is I sat through the whole of Teeth. Possibly the worst film ever made, though Life Force is a seriously strong contender.
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Philharmonic gigging. It possibly tops the list of UK gig events, but it wouldn't be hard as it's in competition for the wall outside King's and the lawn of Darwin. The US is a little bit more of a contender. With all the art-deco beauty of the Phil it doesn't easily compare with the powdered sleaze of Hollywood, but in those days I had enough hair that I got it caught in the fridge and got free cocktails at FM being mistaken for someone famous. However, it just goes to show that it is a rock 'n roll world.
This what it looks like from the stage. This is as people were getting a little tired of the standing ovation and were heading for the doors and a beer. It's quite a bit out of focus.
But in comparison to when it's empty...
It's official, Dan does have by far the biggest car in the world. Friend or fool, he let me drive it and then suggested I could be the support driver for his endurance ride in August. It depends a little on coming back in one piece from the bike trip and on return, still giving an arse about anything at all. The latter is more in doubt.
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No idea why, but I am still in awe at the remarkable rudeness of some people. In the small village that I come from it is customary to say thank you if someone does something for you, perhaps even more so if they have gone out of their way, or if there is no reason on God's green earth why you would expect them to help you out (because there are other people who should and you don't know them from the milkman). Sometimes it feels that this particular village was remarkably like the one shown in Stardust - completely separate and odd, with ancient and incomprehensible rules that are not shared by anyone else. Well, anyone who has forgotten to say thank you, don't ask again. I'll be using my same professional and mature email policy as I do with other people who I have no interest in what they prattle on about. I shall be ignoring you.
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A new advertisement for clothes softner Lenor tells us that 1,000 voters can't be wrong. So the people who vote for the BNP or the death penalty are not wrong? They probably meant that 1,000 people voted them best laundry product of the year. If there are about 60 million people in the UK then 1,000 liking your product isn't a great many. I think Lenor makes clothes smell of glue and dog's wee (note that in fairness the Lenor people do say that "it smells like home" so this is my problem).
Advertising is a funny thing. Presumably the ad is meant to sell you the product, rather than some imaginery version (although on-line dating sites are not expected to adhere to this basic rule otherwise we'd all have to describe ourselves as slightly short-sighted, likes to read rather than handsome, vital, self-employed adventurer and love god). If you look at the recent ads for eye-lash stuff then they almost always say that the models are using the product and have false lashes on and the pictures have been altered post-production. So how much of the lashtastic effect is because of the lashsludge? If it was so bloody marvellous presumably you wouldn't have to have all the ad-ons.
At the other extreme some car manufacturer is tempting us by giving a free Nokia sat-nav 'phone if you pay many thousands for a new car. Buy a new car and get a free 'phone? I'd want an i-phone at the very least. And probably not a Peugeot.
Just spoke with Harvey and we shared stories of unpreparedness. He's taking so few pairs of pants that I won't be able to borrow them if I neglect to have any of my own. Friendship would seem to have its limits.
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In an unprecendented turn of events, right at this very moment if I sit about and do bugger all the only person I will be hurting is myself. Yes, I have caught up with my work, despite the fact that some people have been dumping their workloads and it seems to float like a turd on a swollen river towards me. In true passive-aggresive style I put all the other stuff I had to do first, but that seems fine to me and if someone feels like complaining that's grand too. It's possible that I have not been doing things to the best of my ability, but that's not true on this occasion. Oh how I shall laugh if someone suggests I should take on a little bit more. My dad once told me that if you want to avoid being given extra work the thing to do is really f*ck up on one occasion and then you'll be left alone. Dad's know stuff. It's not always moral, but they know stuff.
Presumably to be expected to do more I would have been promoted becasue of my ability to do lots well. Didn't happen. Implied message is that I am at the very limit at what I can do well and if any more is heaped upon me I won't be able to cope and everything will be total shit. I could almost agree with that.
Even better, it just so happens that the bike trip coincides with the arrival of more work that needs doing so not only will I be having a great time away, some other sucker will have to read another fascinating paper.
The VG&M is serving cream teas. Not just a scone with a bit of lard thrown on top, oh no, the rumour is that there are little sandwiches with cucumber and salmon.
That'll be me at 2.00, hitting the fatty snacks before slumping infront of the TV with a cold can of Cain's Mild and watching a small ball bounce around the screen.
Everybody wants to be somebody before their life is over. Perhaps the task is to find out who that somebody is rather than wasting time being other people. Supposedly everyone also wants a piece of the action.
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Today is Day 3 of Man Flu. If I have to sit through Sunday morning TV from 3.00am it is very likely that I will kill myself. There are only so many contraptions to give me a pert bottom that any sane person can watch. There's a fascinating product that I need. Anyone wanting to buy me a gift that will change my life need go no further than right here.
I've stayed in today as I have reached new heights of grumpiness. My f*cking neighbours seemed to think it was a good idea to put a piece of carpet on my bike - what the hell is that about?! If they're trying to dry their cat-piss stained furnishings then hang them on something else, preferably something of theirs. It is almost unbelievable that someone is that stupid. However, there is a contestant. For some reason the landlord is "storing" a 2 piece suite in the hallway. He didn't tell anyone, ask anyone - come on, I pay my rent to have somewhere decent to live, not to have the place strewn with the landlord's slime green cast offs.
Hopefully the Sven Larsson solo album will arrive on Monday in time for me to rip it onto my MP3 player and have it with me in Canterbury - that might make me feel better, along with the sore throat being long gone.
To soften my mood I'm doing a 140BPM version of Don't Stop Believing...that little guitar break after verse two is harder than it sounds. Neal Schon, you are a guitar god!!
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Things we have learned recently;
That what we learned in San Diego has turned out to be quite useful for understanding what we learned in Kent. That's almost like saying don't throw away your old exercise books from school (unless they were covered with "I love Jane Emma" and you're not still with Jane Emma, in which case, chuck 'em), but that's the way things go. Extended Mind Theory has thrown up a few challenges and it'll be interesting to see where things go.
Harrassment is complicated.
Sometimes the person who you think is looking at you really is looking at the person next to you.
You probably are not as important as some, but you are more important than you think you are (unless you are a complete git) and if someone implies that you are not important remember, you may not be important to that person and let's hope that they remember that they may no longer be important to you.
There are always new games to learn (Bat and Trap being one).
The coast of southern England is gorgeous and goes well with beer, ice cream, and barbeques.
Even one's respected cousins get kicked out of bars for being too rowdy (and are all the more loved for it).
Bullshit is more sticky than you might expect.
I am not an atomic playboy.
Cowboy hats are cool.
Very exciting that I might have the chance to spend some time working abroad with a really brilliant person.
