Month: June 2002

Rain, rain, go away…

Reading time: < 1 min

I’m sitting in the midst of a VERY tidy office.

Some shopping this morning, and then home to be inside whilst the heavens opened. Yeuch.

Bonus: Didn’t have to cut the grass. Mind you as it now resembles more of a field of buttercups maybe that’s not such a good thing…< But we did get the office tidied. And we are off out tonight to a wedding reception. Ohh and we watched Spiderman last night. Wasn't too bad a way to spend a couple of hours. Thought Tobey Maguire was good, and I think the sequel will be better as they can let 'Spidey' emerge more as I thought it was lacking slightly in the witty one-liners department. Kirsten Dunst was good, I thought her portrayal of.. aww sod it, she's gorgeous. And if feels so much better to be able to say that now, unlike the first time I saw her and thought 'what a beautiful girl' (Interview with a Vampire).

June 29, 2002

Sleep?

Reading time: < 1 min

Before I head off to count sheep (I’m not in the slightest bit tired but I’ll try) I just want to mention Tom Cruise. I live with a fan of his (OK scarily obsessed weirdo), and we found ourselves watching Liquid News to catch him at the UK premiere of his new film Minority Report (Ohh go find a link yourself…).

I was amazed that he spent almost two hours shaking hands, signing autographs and chatting with his fans. Yes I am aware that these things are ‘good press’ but he would’ve gotten good press for an hour’s work. He was definitely in control of proceedings, to the point where, having finally gotten him into the cinema (15 minutes late already), he stopped to chat to the Liquid News reporter. Cue frantic ‘cut’ signals in the background by his entourage, which he duly ignored until the poor reporter (the rather lovely Libby Porter) cut her questions short.

Nice to see what appeared to be a genuine gesture from such a well renowned ‘ego’.

OK you cynics, I’m off to bed, have at it!

June 26, 2002

Misc. Wanderings

Reading time: < 1 min

Leanne is looking very nice these days, Chapter 2 of the naked novel is now online (via blogatelle), the stranger is quoting U2, Pinky has redecorated, and is enjoying the story from Murphy and the Bricks, based on a poem by Pat Cooksey ‘The Sick Note‘, Jennie has found her dream job (and works ‘ubergeek’ into her blog – show off!), Gert doesn’t come from Exeter, the ButtonMonkey gets ruthlessly efficient (and yes I am jealous, why can’t I be like that), I can sympathise with Caroline having had my ‘position made redundant’ twice in the past, and finally Amy mad me laugh – I hate that fart song game though…

Right, is that me all caught up? Ohh it isn’t.. well you can meander on down to my BlogRoll (right a bit then down), might see you there!

June 26, 2002

The Divine Comedy

Reading time: < 1 min

No, not Dante’s.

There are only a few bands of which I own all their material (album wise). Queen, Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, Radiohead, Sheryl Crow, are the only ones I can remember off to the top of my head.. (possibly Alanis Morrisette and Mary J.Blige). I’m one short for the Divine Comedy (currently listening to a borrowed copy of their last album).

One thing these bands all share is consistency. Admittedly Radiohead went a bit askew, but not as far as most people seem to think and they had been leading up to it, so I’m still not sure why it (Kid A) was such a great suprise.

I digress, Neil Hannon (the man behind the band) is a genius. If you haven’t heard of them, or listened to their music (chart hits aside) I strongly suggest you check them out. Beautifully crafted, irreverent, silly, moving and wonderous all at the same time, his musical range covers 3 minute pop songs, achingly painful love songs, grandiose film score-esque pieces, all written with intelligence and thought.

Can you tell that I’m quite enjoy this album?

Read what the man himself has to say about the recent ‘split’ of the band at The Divine Comedy.

Right I’m off to book some tickets to see him at this years Edinburgh Festival (at T on the fringe)

June 26, 2002

The Way to Happiness

Reading time: < 1 min

If you can get through the slightly cloying reasoning, and somewhat overstated and over-simplified reasoning, The Way to Happiness International seems to be on the right track… I think..

“Cultural decay is rampant, and no city or town in the world is immune to the myriad of social problems that arise in the wake of widespread violence, crime, abuse, illiteracy and immorality.

At the root of violence, crime and an unsafe environment is the lack of basic moral and ethical values. When the youth are not taught what is right and what is wrong (in a way that makes sense and that they can understand), then society becomes a dangerous place to live, work or play for all. Youngsters generally are so lacking in moral values that stealing and cheating has become the norm – the accepted behavior of the majority.

The Way to Happiness book was written in 1981 in an effort to revert the decline in basic moral values, social decay and further disintegration of integrity and human decency…

Non-religious and based entirely on common sense, the 21 values contained in the book have appeared among races and cultures throughout history. Philosophers from ancient to modern times have spoken about them.”

How often do you watch the news and wonder: where things started to go wrong? Do we have to live in this kind of society?

Right or wrong, this kind of thing makes me think one thing – at least they are doing something.

June 26, 2002

Lego

Reading time: < 1 min

I had Lego, a big box of it inherited from my Uncle. It started out innocently enough, building a house, or car, the occasional plane, but it was always under control. I graduated to Lego Technic and things started to spiral out of control. Yeah I started with the basic kits, and built what they said, but I soon rebelled. I was a Lego freak, building weird and wonderful creations, mixing the plane kit with the car kit with the crane kit. I was on the edge.

Luckily I had the support of a loving family and they hauled me back. After a few years I was cured, but to this day I still get a shiver when I see Lego in the flesh, and the memories come flooding back. I’m stronger now, and even managed to handle a trip to LegoLand although that was hard.

There are many like me around the world, they suffer the way I did, limited by the number or shape of the pieces, constantly wanting more “90 degree curved green glass corner finish”, or the ever elusive “whip antenna 3” (it was very prone to snapping in our eager little hands). Many of them continue to build, unable to rid themselves of their demon.

But there is help available. They don’t have to face it alone. They gave us so much, and can people who give us such wonders as the Cathedral of Ice, be so bad? Maybe they’ve got it right, and we’ve got it wrong? Maybe the path forward is built on inch long plastic blocks… who knows…

(And maybe I’ve had too much caffeine today)

June 24, 2002