Friday, January 28, 2011
Skype Me
Hey. I am finally on Skype again and with a microphone that works. If you want to chat look me up. I think I am jim.wilson356 or email me on jimjim19681968@gmail.com
Also this week I have just acquired, or am acquiring Dead Space 2 and have been replaying the original. Anyone who liked Sysytem Shock 2, should play Dead Space. It is awesome and then some. Work has been okay. Phit was sick so I had to teach alone. I have been going to the gym most days and doing upper body workouts and swimming. I feel great and have started to slim down from my usual obese self.
Tom came over last last and we chewed the fat into the small hours.
Hang loose....
Also this week I have just acquired, or am acquiring Dead Space 2 and have been replaying the original. Anyone who liked Sysytem Shock 2, should play Dead Space. It is awesome and then some. Work has been okay. Phit was sick so I had to teach alone. I have been going to the gym most days and doing upper body workouts and swimming. I feel great and have started to slim down from my usual obese self.
Tom came over last last and we chewed the fat into the small hours.
Hang loose....
Saturday, January 22, 2011
The DUKE is Back
A fun night last night with Patrick, Tom and a new chap, Tony. Tony is about 26, and an American ex-soldier who fought in Iraq. He's a nice guy, chilled and friendly. Hopefully, he won't turn into a crazy like so many around here.
Patrick stormed out after we heard the neighbour beating a dog. I tried to explain that if he caused a problem over it, it would be Oi who would suffer as a result. But he was gone, off on his bike.
Tom, Tony and I partied into the small hours to the sounds of Neil Young, Morcheeba and the like.
I have a new docu on Neil Young which I will air for Tom's pleasure later in the week.
On the gameside, I am very pleased to see DUKE NUKEM is making a return after a 12 year absence. The most fun game ever. Check out the trailers if you want to know more. The game world has been very quiet of late. The dreadful Call of Duty Black Ops which, as one reader pointed out, will play itself. Requiring the gamer to just follow his buddies and not shoot anything. This game was very ugly; totally hectic and mad and giver of thumping headaches. I stayed with it for about 30 minutes before canning it.
I think we are on the tide of a bunch of new releases however, with Dead Space 2 about to arrive. Dead Space 1, one of the few games I actually bought with real money, is an excellent and very scary shooter, perhaps in the vain of the benchmark, System Shock 2, which brought so much joy clubbing deranged monkeys to death with a wrench. Mafia 2 was excellent, and I spy another 1920's free world gangster game about to come out. Hopefully my rig can take the new games without an upgrade. I just installed and hopefully will find time to play the prelude game to Drakensang The River of Time, called One Eye or something. This was an excellent RPG adventure and can recommend to any budding gamer.
Winding down at school now and things have been going well. I aim to leave my school this term and start at a new one, possibly teaching 9-11 year olds. Nothing wrong, I am just bored and want a change. Things with Phit going well as my assistant and we share quite a deep understanding of kids and how they can learn. We have 80-90% of our students reading to a high standard at age 6. The downside is that there is no reward for all this achievement, just the offer of another year of teaching. Fuck that, Sister. The fascist nuns have really failed to impress me and seem determined to continue treading in the dark ages, issuing students 4 hours of colouring homework every night. This mindset of making people do pointless and labourious work for 23 hours a day is horribly entrenched in Thai, and probably Asian culture. Stuff like this which will see the ruin of Man.
Still clocking into In Our Time with Melvin and listened to a great show on Modern Utopias which was very searching. Others were on the Fisher King. Listening to these shows, I can sense that Melvin is looking for a higher truth or reason for existance. He became quite lost when the scholars could not answer his pleas for truth about the Holy Grail. They concluded it was just a story, and could not give him the answers he was desperately seeking. Still, interesting stuff.
I have been exercising with Patrick every day at the gym this past week. He has an excellent weight training system from his boxing days which we have been doing together. It is very tough, comprising of lifting heavier and heavier weight for less reps. We alternate this with vigorous swimming sessions. I do my 40 lengths. Patrick doesn't have the techique yet, though he is considerably stronger than I am. Still, I am shaping up and getting up to check up on Grace as she goes tearing out of the room, isn't quite as painful as it once was.
It has been quite tough with Grace lately and Oi has shown the strain. There is no relief and it is a 24 hour job. I will be glad when Grace is a little more inderpendant and will allow us some free time. On is definitely enough.
Patrick stormed out after we heard the neighbour beating a dog. I tried to explain that if he caused a problem over it, it would be Oi who would suffer as a result. But he was gone, off on his bike.
Tom, Tony and I partied into the small hours to the sounds of Neil Young, Morcheeba and the like.
I have a new docu on Neil Young which I will air for Tom's pleasure later in the week.
On the gameside, I am very pleased to see DUKE NUKEM is making a return after a 12 year absence. The most fun game ever. Check out the trailers if you want to know more. The game world has been very quiet of late. The dreadful Call of Duty Black Ops which, as one reader pointed out, will play itself. Requiring the gamer to just follow his buddies and not shoot anything. This game was very ugly; totally hectic and mad and giver of thumping headaches. I stayed with it for about 30 minutes before canning it.
I think we are on the tide of a bunch of new releases however, with Dead Space 2 about to arrive. Dead Space 1, one of the few games I actually bought with real money, is an excellent and very scary shooter, perhaps in the vain of the benchmark, System Shock 2, which brought so much joy clubbing deranged monkeys to death with a wrench. Mafia 2 was excellent, and I spy another 1920's free world gangster game about to come out. Hopefully my rig can take the new games without an upgrade. I just installed and hopefully will find time to play the prelude game to Drakensang The River of Time, called One Eye or something. This was an excellent RPG adventure and can recommend to any budding gamer.
Winding down at school now and things have been going well. I aim to leave my school this term and start at a new one, possibly teaching 9-11 year olds. Nothing wrong, I am just bored and want a change. Things with Phit going well as my assistant and we share quite a deep understanding of kids and how they can learn. We have 80-90% of our students reading to a high standard at age 6. The downside is that there is no reward for all this achievement, just the offer of another year of teaching. Fuck that, Sister. The fascist nuns have really failed to impress me and seem determined to continue treading in the dark ages, issuing students 4 hours of colouring homework every night. This mindset of making people do pointless and labourious work for 23 hours a day is horribly entrenched in Thai, and probably Asian culture. Stuff like this which will see the ruin of Man.
Still clocking into In Our Time with Melvin and listened to a great show on Modern Utopias which was very searching. Others were on the Fisher King. Listening to these shows, I can sense that Melvin is looking for a higher truth or reason for existance. He became quite lost when the scholars could not answer his pleas for truth about the Holy Grail. They concluded it was just a story, and could not give him the answers he was desperately seeking. Still, interesting stuff.
I have been exercising with Patrick every day at the gym this past week. He has an excellent weight training system from his boxing days which we have been doing together. It is very tough, comprising of lifting heavier and heavier weight for less reps. We alternate this with vigorous swimming sessions. I do my 40 lengths. Patrick doesn't have the techique yet, though he is considerably stronger than I am. Still, I am shaping up and getting up to check up on Grace as she goes tearing out of the room, isn't quite as painful as it once was.
It has been quite tough with Grace lately and Oi has shown the strain. There is no relief and it is a 24 hour job. I will be glad when Grace is a little more inderpendant and will allow us some free time. On is definitely enough.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Ron Sexsmith - From Now On
We live in times
Where choice is frowned upon
Afraid to even raise
Our voice in song
Or speak our minds
For fear of falling on
The wrong side of opinion
Where has freedom gone
Milton - Paradise Lost
Good Grief. Where is Braggers taking me?
I am becoming terribly, terribly engrossed in Melvin Bragg and his radio show. My download of the entire works stands at 89% complete. That is dozens of in-depth discussions with boffs on a wide range of subjects. I have taken my own advice and have given certain ones I am particularly interest in multiple listens. There is just too much to glean in a single hearing. And as for the references!!!! Holy Cow!!! Milton, Ruskin, Homer (ok, I have actually read The Odyssey years ago). Tons and tons of references. Sometimes I just crack up at the absurdity of it all. Funnily, enough on a show I heard today on Nature, even the boffs got so confused and at their very limits of comprehension, that Melvin was accusing them on passing the ball. Their were audible gulps and phews at the depth Braggers insisted on following.
The two episodes that have really got me however, are the one on Nature and the other mysteriously entitled, The Fall. No, not the punk group, but the Fall of Man, of course. Adam's adventures in the garden. I have always been very intrigued with the story of Adam and Eve and it was an incredible discussion refering to things like; Man as the Thinking Beast which is a monster, having been given the ability to think and reason will then lay waste the Earth, the mothers pain at birth due to the enormous brain endowed to humans, the existence of Adam and Eve prior to eating the apple, and the various interpretations down through the ages, such as Milton's Paradise Lost, which I am about to delve into.
Of course, what I really like about these discussions is the argument about the Nature of Mankind, which they do talk about. In the Nature episode they talk about the rise of cities and the general consensus towards Nature at points in time and how it changes. For example, one boff states that at one time a mountain was viewed as something a person would have no interest in as it was a barrier and serving no purpose, in fact a place to be avoided. Now, when most folk live in urban areas, mountains are seen as places to escape to.
Another great person to listen to is Joseph Campbell, an American expert on Myths and Legends. Long dead, but his books and videos remain. He talks of all the hero stories that exist in folklore around the world. The hero seeking vengeance, or led by a deer into an unexplored forest which then changes into a fairy queen or the like. Great stories that transcend time.
Other subject from Melvin include; Dark Energy, Spanish Armada, Opium Wars, Quantum Mechanics, the Holy Grail, Aztecs (that was great), Uncle Tom's Cabin. But there are tons of them.
I also found a TV docu with him about the English Language but I have some problems with the sound that remain unresolved as of yet.
So, as Summer has arrived, overnight as it does here, I am back in the hammock gazing up at the sky through the leaves and listening to Melvin roasting some poor boff who has been brought into the studio to discuss Milton and Ruskin.
I am becoming terribly, terribly engrossed in Melvin Bragg and his radio show. My download of the entire works stands at 89% complete. That is dozens of in-depth discussions with boffs on a wide range of subjects. I have taken my own advice and have given certain ones I am particularly interest in multiple listens. There is just too much to glean in a single hearing. And as for the references!!!! Holy Cow!!! Milton, Ruskin, Homer (ok, I have actually read The Odyssey years ago). Tons and tons of references. Sometimes I just crack up at the absurdity of it all. Funnily, enough on a show I heard today on Nature, even the boffs got so confused and at their very limits of comprehension, that Melvin was accusing them on passing the ball. Their were audible gulps and phews at the depth Braggers insisted on following.
The two episodes that have really got me however, are the one on Nature and the other mysteriously entitled, The Fall. No, not the punk group, but the Fall of Man, of course. Adam's adventures in the garden. I have always been very intrigued with the story of Adam and Eve and it was an incredible discussion refering to things like; Man as the Thinking Beast which is a monster, having been given the ability to think and reason will then lay waste the Earth, the mothers pain at birth due to the enormous brain endowed to humans, the existence of Adam and Eve prior to eating the apple, and the various interpretations down through the ages, such as Milton's Paradise Lost, which I am about to delve into.
Of course, what I really like about these discussions is the argument about the Nature of Mankind, which they do talk about. In the Nature episode they talk about the rise of cities and the general consensus towards Nature at points in time and how it changes. For example, one boff states that at one time a mountain was viewed as something a person would have no interest in as it was a barrier and serving no purpose, in fact a place to be avoided. Now, when most folk live in urban areas, mountains are seen as places to escape to.
Another great person to listen to is Joseph Campbell, an American expert on Myths and Legends. Long dead, but his books and videos remain. He talks of all the hero stories that exist in folklore around the world. The hero seeking vengeance, or led by a deer into an unexplored forest which then changes into a fairy queen or the like. Great stories that transcend time.
Other subject from Melvin include; Dark Energy, Spanish Armada, Opium Wars, Quantum Mechanics, the Holy Grail, Aztecs (that was great), Uncle Tom's Cabin. But there are tons of them.
I also found a TV docu with him about the English Language but I have some problems with the sound that remain unresolved as of yet.
So, as Summer has arrived, overnight as it does here, I am back in the hammock gazing up at the sky through the leaves and listening to Melvin roasting some poor boff who has been brought into the studio to discuss Milton and Ruskin.
Friday, January 14, 2011
In Our Time - Heart of Darkness
Struggling to sleep as Grace has opted to sleep next to father of late thus preventing father sleep and opting to get up and have a cup of coffee at 4 in the morning instead. I eventually donned headphones and clocked into one of dozens of In Our Time broadcasts that await an audience. This mornings choice was "Heartt of Darkness" and though only half complete, the entire download is still yet to be received, the first 15 minutes were hugely engrossing. Deep discussions of Joseph Conrad's early life which is nothing short of remarkable. Of Polish stock, born in the Ukraine to political writers before being shipped off to Russia where both his parents died before he turned 16. He escaped into the British merchant navy and sailed the world. Captaining his own ship for three months before tossing the whole thing in and becoming a writer. I look forward to the remainder of the podcast. I will be fishing out some Conrad when in English and I spied some finely-crafted Guardian readers have made some choice recommendations and shunning the journo's choice as one of his weaker efforts. See what I mean about lifting more from the comments?
Oi is off for a 4 hour hair dressers megathon this morning leaving me in charge of the little one. The plan is that she will be put to sleep before wife departs allowing me a portion of free time before angel wakes up and demands fun times.
Suffering from lower back pains right now and for a good 3 weeks it didn't occur to me to take Nurofen (anti-inflammatory) which I did and was brought instant relief. God, I can be slow to catch on sometimes. Hopefully it will sort itself out. Too much time sitting, which isn't a great deal these days.
Paperman was good. Jeff Daniels is a fine actor and it focuses on the little things in life which is sweet. It borders on American light, feel good, Hallmark garbage but somehow manages to escape that curse. It's a cool movie. Catch it if you can. I liked the line. If everything was coated in butter what a lovely world it would be.
Life is quite sweet right now and we are taking things slowly. I am looking forward to playing some more badmington. I was pleasantly surprised at how good Oi and I played together and suddenly we were both having a lot of fun which hasn't really happened a lot lately.
Oi is off for a 4 hour hair dressers megathon this morning leaving me in charge of the little one. The plan is that she will be put to sleep before wife departs allowing me a portion of free time before angel wakes up and demands fun times.
Suffering from lower back pains right now and for a good 3 weeks it didn't occur to me to take Nurofen (anti-inflammatory) which I did and was brought instant relief. God, I can be slow to catch on sometimes. Hopefully it will sort itself out. Too much time sitting, which isn't a great deal these days.
Paperman was good. Jeff Daniels is a fine actor and it focuses on the little things in life which is sweet. It borders on American light, feel good, Hallmark garbage but somehow manages to escape that curse. It's a cool movie. Catch it if you can. I liked the line. If everything was coated in butter what a lovely world it would be.
Life is quite sweet right now and we are taking things slowly. I am looking forward to playing some more badmington. I was pleasantly surprised at how good Oi and I played together and suddenly we were both having a lot of fun which hasn't really happened a lot lately.
Friday Night Drunk (not quite the blues)
Yes, it's Friday night and all my calls to my companions have failed to yeild fruit. Tom came over last night and we had a blast. I promised him the third and final part of Robot Chicken, which was hilarous. "My Lord.", "Stormtrooper", "My Lord", "Stormtrooper". Catch it if you want to know.
We have a great but brief time. Tom has given me loads of musical tips, most of which I have acquired. Of latethat being, The Breeders, PJ Harvey, some Hendrix, Traffic, Certain Neil Young albums, Medeski, Martin and Wood (Tom's No.1 band) among others. I think he appreciates the fact that I actually follow up and get these recommendations. In a time where correspondance is so easy and yet so not forth coming from the vast majority of folk, I think he feels comforted by the fact that I listen and respond to what he says.
As stated previously my pals here have diminuished by 50% to 2 individiuals; Tom and Patrick. I have met others, but there seems little in common. I suppose I could hang around the Post to pick up some more friends but I don't really fancy doing that. Instead, I bought a badmington set today, so Oi and I were out the front on the road hitting the shuttlecock back and forth. Good exercise and good fun.
I watched Cousin Bette today with Hugh Laurie and Kelly McDonald which was great. PaperMan tomorrow. I have been even contemplating watching The Squid and the Whale again as it brings such mirth, rather like Withnail and I.
Funny, things we love and are so assured are brilliant, yet fall so flat when shown to others. At least Tom loves Withnail too and does a dab hand at quoting from the movie.
I have of late, but wherefore I know not, lost all my mirth and
indeed it goes so heavily with my disposition that this goodly
frame the earth seems to me a sterile promotory; this most
excellent canopy the air, look you, this mighty o'rehanging
firmament, this majestical roof fretted with golden fire; why, it
appeareth nothing to me but a foul and pestilent congregation of
vapours. What a piece of work is a man, how noble in reason, how
infinite in faculties, how like an angel in aprehension, how like
a God! The beauty of the world, paragon of animals; and yet to
me, what is this quintessence of dusk. Man delights not me, no,
nor women neither, nor women neither.
and Tom's great quote;
"We'll be found dead in here next Spring."
and;
Oh you little traitors. I think the carrot infinitely more fascinating
than the geranium. The carrot has mystery. Flowers are essentially
tarts. Prostitutes for the bees. There is you'll agree a certain je ne
ses quoi oh so very special about a firm young carrot. Excuse me. Do
help yourselves to another drink.
and;
It is the most shattering experience of a young man's life when he
awakes and quite reasonable says to himself: [He puts his hand on his
heart] I will never play The Dane. When that moment comes, ones
ambition ceases. Don't you agree?
Evening all!
We have a great but brief time. Tom has given me loads of musical tips, most of which I have acquired. Of latethat being, The Breeders, PJ Harvey, some Hendrix, Traffic, Certain Neil Young albums, Medeski, Martin and Wood (Tom's No.1 band) among others. I think he appreciates the fact that I actually follow up and get these recommendations. In a time where correspondance is so easy and yet so not forth coming from the vast majority of folk, I think he feels comforted by the fact that I listen and respond to what he says.
As stated previously my pals here have diminuished by 50% to 2 individiuals; Tom and Patrick. I have met others, but there seems little in common. I suppose I could hang around the Post to pick up some more friends but I don't really fancy doing that. Instead, I bought a badmington set today, so Oi and I were out the front on the road hitting the shuttlecock back and forth. Good exercise and good fun.
I watched Cousin Bette today with Hugh Laurie and Kelly McDonald which was great. PaperMan tomorrow. I have been even contemplating watching The Squid and the Whale again as it brings such mirth, rather like Withnail and I.
Funny, things we love and are so assured are brilliant, yet fall so flat when shown to others. At least Tom loves Withnail too and does a dab hand at quoting from the movie.
I have of late, but wherefore I know not, lost all my mirth and
indeed it goes so heavily with my disposition that this goodly
frame the earth seems to me a sterile promotory; this most
excellent canopy the air, look you, this mighty o'rehanging
firmament, this majestical roof fretted with golden fire; why, it
appeareth nothing to me but a foul and pestilent congregation of
vapours. What a piece of work is a man, how noble in reason, how
infinite in faculties, how like an angel in aprehension, how like
a God! The beauty of the world, paragon of animals; and yet to
me, what is this quintessence of dusk. Man delights not me, no,
nor women neither, nor women neither.
and Tom's great quote;
"We'll be found dead in here next Spring."
and;
Oh you little traitors. I think the carrot infinitely more fascinating
than the geranium. The carrot has mystery. Flowers are essentially
tarts. Prostitutes for the bees. There is you'll agree a certain je ne
ses quoi oh so very special about a firm young carrot. Excuse me. Do
help yourselves to another drink.
and;
It is the most shattering experience of a young man's life when he
awakes and quite reasonable says to himself: [He puts his hand on his
heart] I will never play The Dane. When that moment comes, ones
ambition ceases. Don't you agree?
Evening all!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Of Little
Thursday night and looking forward to relaxing on the weekend.
This weel I decided that next term I do not want to teach at my present school. It has been good, but I do not want it to become bad and stale, and I feel that a change is needed. So, the word is out to the bosses that I require a new school and a new level of student. My days of teaching kindergarten must, regretably, come to a close. What they dig up for me, if anything, is anyones guess in this one horse town. But when we come back from England, at least there will be a new challenge awaiting me.
It's been a quiet week and I have re-joined the gym at last and have been exercising every day, which is awesome. I can feel my body toning up and it feels great. Life being fairly uneventful these days means I can put time and effort into the gym without thinking that I am missing something going on elsewhere.
Melvin Bragg still entertains me every night into the wee small hours.
I checked out The Social Network movie, about the Facebook chappie, and it is awesome and essential viewing.
Also, checked out this new Sherlock Holmes series kids are raving about which is amusing. I spy a new Jeff Daniels flick, those ardent fans of the brilliant, "The Squid and the Whale". This one is called "Paper Man" and gets glowing reviews. Will be checking it out tomorrow I expect. Incidentally, the eldest son in S&W is the same young chap as in The Social Network. Not the younger who wanked over library books, but the one who followed his rather foolish father, trying to be brilliant without perhaps the entire necessary background. A fine actor, who I keep seeing about.
News is fairly non-descript of late, so shall skip that.
If none have yet viewed Robot Chicken Star Wars, this is a must. Tom cracked up when I stated, "Instant hilarity" to best describe it.
Had some bonfires in the garden this week, as the rainy seasons seems to have stopped abruptly as it always does. One day it is cold, the next it is hot for the following five months. I love the fires. Burning the leaves. But the cranky old bat gets one whiff and starts complaining. She came and said to Oi, "Someone has been burning leaves!" "Yes." said Oi, "We have been burning leaves.". "Oh", she said and went away. Oi told me if she had denied it, we would have become the centre of village gossip. Not that anyone takes any notice of this old bag.
The flights are booked for UK. Something like 12th March to 28th April. Get your diaries out if you wish to meet. I am looking forwad to pork pies, fine ales, mum's cooking and cider. Last trip, at least 50% of beer consumed was cider. I don't know why, I just loved it. Oh the food! I want a roast lamb, pork and beef while I am there. Food is good in Thailand, but sometimes I just don't fancy the palate.
Lots of nice music, and at last I have done my ipod trick of putting all my music into its own playlist, thus avoiding the annoying "audiobook" coming on while using the shuffle facility. I have read that instructions with Apple products are deliberately limited, thus making much of the uses up to the user to discover.
Enough....
This weel I decided that next term I do not want to teach at my present school. It has been good, but I do not want it to become bad and stale, and I feel that a change is needed. So, the word is out to the bosses that I require a new school and a new level of student. My days of teaching kindergarten must, regretably, come to a close. What they dig up for me, if anything, is anyones guess in this one horse town. But when we come back from England, at least there will be a new challenge awaiting me.
It's been a quiet week and I have re-joined the gym at last and have been exercising every day, which is awesome. I can feel my body toning up and it feels great. Life being fairly uneventful these days means I can put time and effort into the gym without thinking that I am missing something going on elsewhere.
Melvin Bragg still entertains me every night into the wee small hours.
I checked out The Social Network movie, about the Facebook chappie, and it is awesome and essential viewing.
Also, checked out this new Sherlock Holmes series kids are raving about which is amusing. I spy a new Jeff Daniels flick, those ardent fans of the brilliant, "The Squid and the Whale". This one is called "Paper Man" and gets glowing reviews. Will be checking it out tomorrow I expect. Incidentally, the eldest son in S&W is the same young chap as in The Social Network. Not the younger who wanked over library books, but the one who followed his rather foolish father, trying to be brilliant without perhaps the entire necessary background. A fine actor, who I keep seeing about.
News is fairly non-descript of late, so shall skip that.
If none have yet viewed Robot Chicken Star Wars, this is a must. Tom cracked up when I stated, "Instant hilarity" to best describe it.
Had some bonfires in the garden this week, as the rainy seasons seems to have stopped abruptly as it always does. One day it is cold, the next it is hot for the following five months. I love the fires. Burning the leaves. But the cranky old bat gets one whiff and starts complaining. She came and said to Oi, "Someone has been burning leaves!" "Yes." said Oi, "We have been burning leaves.". "Oh", she said and went away. Oi told me if she had denied it, we would have become the centre of village gossip. Not that anyone takes any notice of this old bag.
The flights are booked for UK. Something like 12th March to 28th April. Get your diaries out if you wish to meet. I am looking forwad to pork pies, fine ales, mum's cooking and cider. Last trip, at least 50% of beer consumed was cider. I don't know why, I just loved it. Oh the food! I want a roast lamb, pork and beef while I am there. Food is good in Thailand, but sometimes I just don't fancy the palate.
Lots of nice music, and at last I have done my ipod trick of putting all my music into its own playlist, thus avoiding the annoying "audiobook" coming on while using the shuffle facility. I have read that instructions with Apple products are deliberately limited, thus making much of the uses up to the user to discover.
Enough....
Sunday, January 9, 2011
In Our Time - Anarchy
Among the many programs in this series, just today I listened to Bismark, Madam Bovery, Bohemenism and then Anarchy. Finally, I found some historical verification in the way I see things. None of this violent, chaotic crap that I get attacked with from people who find my view so obscene. The discussion cast light on many of my own beliefs from those that have gone before. The most interesting part was from a Russian anarchist who opposed Marx and found fault in the Communist idealism. Anarchists tending more towards the rule of Nature as opposed to the Law of Man and Society. A belief that a man could be responsible for his own beliefs and morals without the need of a central government, or indeed religion. The participants agreed that anarchism has led to many freedoms not previously tolerated. Indeed, anarchism was very popular from the middle of the 1800's to the present day and appears to have led to some fundemental changes in human rights during the duration.
As with all of these programs, they require multiple listens to gain some understanding and hope of retaining some facts.
I am yet to see one on Paganism, which is surprising.
Sadly, I read that Melvin Bragg is the singlemost sole private donor to the Labour Party and a close friend of Tony Blair.
I find this hard to believe.
As with all of these programs, they require multiple listens to gain some understanding and hope of retaining some facts.
I am yet to see one on Paganism, which is surprising.
Sadly, I read that Melvin Bragg is the singlemost sole private donor to the Labour Party and a close friend of Tony Blair.
I find this hard to believe.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
In Our Time - Complete Series
Well under way is my acquisition of this excellent series. The topics are widespread from Dark Energy to Angels, from Bohemia to Aztecs. It is a fantastic way to learn about something at the hands of some of the most knowledgable minds in the UK.
Yes, my brother is correct, when he states Melvin Bragg is known to be argumentative and I have heard a few examples of this, epecially in the recent program on the Industrial Revolution, which is excellent by the way.
So, before long I will have the entire collection of shows, ranging back to 2002. There was be over sixty of such programs, and I will be keeping them. I should also recommend them to others.
Also, of note, I have gained access to some of Alan Bennett's short films. They look like early 1970's. I watched one this morning enntitles Sunset Over the Bay about an old couple who move from Leeds to Morcoombe after the old boy retires. Fantastic kitchen sink stuff with extended views of the old dears staring out at the sea as they sit on their seaside bench seeing their time out. Cups of tea abound and old men and women staring at each other, saying things like, "Another cup of tea, dear?" or "It's nice out today, isn't it?" Beyond all this is the wondering what life is all about and the slow pain of growing old. And about a changing society and the bewilderment of the older generations at the new, it must be said. These plays are great because you can imagine many people finding them incredibly boring, the ordinariness of everyday life. And yet, there is always an underlying comic sadness about the existance many of us find ourselves in, and the wonders of small details.
Have a cup of tea and enjoy.
Yes, my brother is correct, when he states Melvin Bragg is known to be argumentative and I have heard a few examples of this, epecially in the recent program on the Industrial Revolution, which is excellent by the way.
So, before long I will have the entire collection of shows, ranging back to 2002. There was be over sixty of such programs, and I will be keeping them. I should also recommend them to others.
Also, of note, I have gained access to some of Alan Bennett's short films. They look like early 1970's. I watched one this morning enntitles Sunset Over the Bay about an old couple who move from Leeds to Morcoombe after the old boy retires. Fantastic kitchen sink stuff with extended views of the old dears staring out at the sea as they sit on their seaside bench seeing their time out. Cups of tea abound and old men and women staring at each other, saying things like, "Another cup of tea, dear?" or "It's nice out today, isn't it?" Beyond all this is the wondering what life is all about and the slow pain of growing old. And about a changing society and the bewilderment of the older generations at the new, it must be said. These plays are great because you can imagine many people finding them incredibly boring, the ordinariness of everyday life. And yet, there is always an underlying comic sadness about the existance many of us find ourselves in, and the wonders of small details.
Have a cup of tea and enjoy.
Witchfinder General
It is based on a true character, Matthew Hopkins who during the civil war was appointement by parliament to hunt down witches. During the three years he carried out this task, more witches were put to death than in the previous 160 years. All the stories of trial by water and fire were carried out at this time.
This movie is great. Iniatially, I thought I was in for a hammy Hammer horror flick, but 20 minutes in and the story really got going. The critics are right. The cinematography is excellent and Vincent Price is masterful as the witchfinder.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Angry Birds
It is imperative that all followers acquire and start playing this game immediately. It is the most fun I have ever had. I love the way that the little green pigs sitting proudly in their castles gradually get beaten up as you batter their glass, wooden and stone walls with your suicide bird squad. It's just so much fun and tons of quick, fun-packed levels that leave you dying to beat the next inticing pig palace.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Broadwalk Empire
Hi all,
Over the Christmas hols I checked out some lists of best of 2010, as one invariably does. It's almost unavoidable. Yet, being in the back of beyond, this exercise does indeed prove beneficial. On the music front, I found a band called Best Country who seem rather good. I should add that most finds come mostly from the comments left by angry Guardian readers at the non-inclusion of the artist, rather than those recommended by the news dog journo. In fact, this is something of a failing in me. Any news article I tend to whizz through and somehow am more drawn to the readers comments. They are generally far more firery an ddirect, as well as being quicker to read and discipher.
Anyhow, I found some great new bands, aswell as The Breeders as suggested by Tom. Right now I have a busting hold full of new music that is breathing life into my Ipod dock. It was suffering for a time from crap music that I was all too familar with. There is nothing like hearing something new that can capture the imagination. So, here is to a breath of fresh air.
Where was I? Oh yes. Best of lists. Then by lucky chance on the IMDB site I stumbled upon a list of top 10 TV series of 2010. I did a quick scan through of their choicest recommendations. Annoyingly, one per page, forcing one to flip through 10 site pages to get the full list. Then, once again, like a bloated, tired moth, I scanned down to the user comments, and instantly lighted upon the TV shows that had been omitted, much to the fury of certain users. OK, now this series was mentioned, and I have downloaded a few first episodes of a few series (not knowing anything in Thailand, you understand), but I have been immediately hooked by one such program entitles, "Boardwalk Empire" with Steve Busemi. Set in the 1920s Atlantic city and Chicago, it follows a king pin hustler during the prohibition. Directed by Martin Scorcasce (?) no less, so far (about 4 episodes in) it is proving somewhat awesome, and I have been watching 2 episodes a night so far. I recommend this series to all and sundry for some getaway time out. It's good stuff.
Also worthy of note is the Hendrix 4 CD box set that I have previously mentioned called something like West Coast Kid or something similar. It is awesome at any rate and will occupy your interest I am sure.
Other than this, life has been fairly cosy and we await th everdict on Oi's visa to UK prior to buying some plane tickets.
Over the Christmas hols I checked out some lists of best of 2010, as one invariably does. It's almost unavoidable. Yet, being in the back of beyond, this exercise does indeed prove beneficial. On the music front, I found a band called Best Country who seem rather good. I should add that most finds come mostly from the comments left by angry Guardian readers at the non-inclusion of the artist, rather than those recommended by the news dog journo. In fact, this is something of a failing in me. Any news article I tend to whizz through and somehow am more drawn to the readers comments. They are generally far more firery an ddirect, as well as being quicker to read and discipher.
Anyhow, I found some great new bands, aswell as The Breeders as suggested by Tom. Right now I have a busting hold full of new music that is breathing life into my Ipod dock. It was suffering for a time from crap music that I was all too familar with. There is nothing like hearing something new that can capture the imagination. So, here is to a breath of fresh air.
Also worthy of note is the Hendrix 4 CD box set that I have previously mentioned called something like West Coast Kid or something similar. It is awesome at any rate and will occupy your interest I am sure.
Other than this, life has been fairly cosy and we await th everdict on Oi's visa to UK prior to buying some plane tickets.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Saturday, January 1, 2011
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