Month: November 2002

Reading time: < 1 min

Randomness
Northern Hemisphere news: Tomorrow morning (or more accurately the middle of the night) you can witness what experts think will be the most spectacular meteor shower for the next three decades. Advice on where to look is included: “Look up towards an unobstructed part of the sky”. Anyone who looks down, or stands under a tree whilst looking up will see nothing.

In home news I’ve started wearing my glasses to watch the TV. I’m officially on a downhill slope (this is coupled with my still ailing ankle which is taking forever to heal..).

Not sure if I’ve mentioned this site before, you can view the ‘Playmate of the Month’ for your birthday. The reason I mention it now is because it came up in conversation on Saturday night (we were discussing this shirt which friend of my owns).

Speaking of shirts “The Shirt Off My Back Project” is now on Day 42. How many shirts can one man own? Quite a few it seems.

And finally, Meg is worried about the temperature in Scotland over Christmas, but managed to find some time to do a redesign for her Anna (via, it seems, IM, phone and sisterly telepathy from Glasgow, clever girls those…). David passed his bike test, and Pinky joined me in supporting Link and Think.

Reading time: < 1 min

I know why I’m in a bad mood
At least I have an idea, could it be because I’m reading American Psycho?

I go through phases when I’m reading. I’m aware that I should try and read more of the classics, and generally expand on my staple of crime novels, thrillers and Stephen King.. however I can’t seem to make the break and read, for example, Dickens. I’m stuck with modern classics – Catcher in the Rye, Animal Farm etc. You know, the ones you were supposed to pay full attention to at school but got lost under a deluge of cross examination and interpreted senses.

I’ve got a few books from the previous Booker prize winners list, and continually hunt for a definitive ‘suggested reading list’. There are plenty of sites that point the way, and I guess I can cull a list from those, but, well I’m lazy, can’t someone else do it for me? So what books should I read? Yes dear reader, I leave my continuing education in your hands.

Reading time: 2 mins

Tired
Finally got to sleep at 2:30 a.m. So today I am ‘Grumpy Gordon’. Normally Grumpy Gordon only appears for half an hour or so first thing in the morning, but he seems to be hanging about today.

So I’m tired, de-motivated, but hey, we get cakes on a Friday so that fudge doughnut is sure to lighten my mood. (Yes that was sarcasm people, pay attention)

On top of all that the weekend looms. No plans as yet, which usual means we end up rushing about like eejits. Ohh one plan (and I don’t mean to sound uncharitable) is to avoid Children in Need. An excellent cause, awful TV. We have a simple formula. We watch the start of it, jot down the phone number, then chuck a film on or got out. Anything to stop watching a night of Terry Wogan. (Entertaining on the radio, strangely false on telly these days, in my opinion anyway, and as this is my little site that’s the one that counts!)

Actually I think I will just donate online and not even venture near BBC 1 tonight.

Ankle update: I can walk OK now, but have developed a slightly worrying, slightly sharp pain just below the ankle on the inside of my foot. There was a very small, intense bruise there for a couple of weeks (with the right hand side of my foot developing an almost full length purple tinge) so I’m slightly worried by it, but will give it the weekend to clear up.

Christ, I am one grumpy bastard. Might be a good day to capture some rants, anyway UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup draws soon. Which reminds me, I must take the oppor-chancity to say well done to Celtic for, now let me get the right phrase, stuffing Blackburn. 3-0 over two legs is pretty comprehensive I would say (and don’t anyone give me any crap about how Blackburn outplayed them in the first leg. They may well have, but they didn’t score, did they…)

Reading time: < 1 min

Anti-Americanism
OK, having posted the link yesterday, I’ve re-read the article and have to conclude that I’m disturbed, not just by this article, but the fact that this kind of thinking is pervading further and further into society. Separating political values (if that’s the correct term) from this and you are left with the worrying thought that George Orwell was, as he has oft been declared, a visionary and that by 2084 we will be deeply ensconsed in his nightmarish vision. America as Big Brother anyone?

For the record, I am not Anti-American. I am not pro-Terrorist, but I do support the right of other people to voice their opinions against the US of A. It is a fine line that America treads, they have the ability, power, money and will to do a lot of harm against those who stand against ‘what America stands for’, but equally they have the same ability, power and money to improve the world as a whole.

It is a fine line, but one that needs to be negiotated, and in the hues of grey that govern world politics these days, it is a necessary action.

Reading time: < 1 min

Firefighters Strike
Reluctant history makers
Some random thoughts whilst I make up my mind about this:
+ Yes I agree firefighters (and those in public service) should be paid more, they risk their lives, and how do you put a value on what they do?
– But, they choose the job knowing the salary, and those in the public services are the few who, these days, have a job for life.
+ I agree that more funds should be given to all public services, looking at figures that detail how the UK compares with the rest of Europe, we fall well short.
– I don’t think that public service workers should be allowed to strike. Add to that, the current worries about terrorism that are playing out in the press alongside the fire strike and you get a rather horrible feeling deep in your gut.

I realise the strike is aimed at raising the profile of this issue, but at what cost? In the end, who wins? And more importantly, when lives may be at stake, who loses?