this is the number of seconds in 2005
so?
well
normally there are only 31536000
but this year
there is a leap second
you see time is measured in two ways
officially
UTC (coordinated universal time) is measured by atomic clocks, and is based on the vibrations of cesium 133 (i think)
but it is also supposed to be analagous with astronimical time UT which is based on the roatation of the earth
now they are both pretty much the same except for one problem
the earth is slowing
which puts UTC ahead of UT
so in 1972 there was a 32 second difference
they had a 10 seconde delay and then a further 22 one second delays until 1998 when they decided that
the two times could never be allowed to deviate by more than 0.9 seconds
so this year is the first correction of time since 1998
i'm not going to bore people with any more of this
although personally this is the coolest story i've read about in ages
time isn't time !!!
einstein would have loved it
but if anybody wants more techinical time data please ask
or check out
leap second on wikipedia
or on bbc news
or the domninion post
it's all over the place
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
i confess
yesterday
i sat down
i sat down and watched
i sat down and watched the
the babysitters club
i know
i'm not proud
but i watched it from start to finish
please forgive me
i sat down
i sat down and watched
i sat down and watched the
the babysitters club
i know
i'm not proud
but i watched it from start to finish
please forgive me
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Christmas Wish
that everyone will stay safe
have a peaceful holiday
and a new year full
hopes and dreams
xxx
---
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"
have a peaceful holiday
and a new year full
hopes and dreams
xxx
---
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"
Thursday, December 22, 2005
quote
i think it was Voltaire
i'm not sure
but i like the sentiment anyway
'as high as you are seated, you are always sitting on your ass'
something to keep in mind i think
i'm not sure
but i like the sentiment anyway
'as high as you are seated, you are always sitting on your ass'
something to keep in mind i think
a timely reminder
there is a christmas story that always makes me feel a little bit teary and
proud at the same time
Francis Church
thank you for keeping the christmas spirit alive so long .....
---------
Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York's Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history's most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps.
"DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.
"Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
"Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.'
"Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?
"VIRGINIA O'HANLON.
"115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET."
VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measure by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.
Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest man that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding. No Santa Claus! Thank GOD! He lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
----------
Francis P. Church’s editorial, “Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus” was an immediate sensation, and went on to became one of the most famous editorials ever written. It first appeared in the The New York Sun in 1897, almost a hundred years ago, and was reprinted annually until 1949 when the paper went out of business.
Thirty-six years after her letter was printed, Virginia O’Hanlon recalled the events that prompted her letter:
“Quite naturally I believed in Santa Claus, for he had never disappointed me. But when less fortunate little boys and girls said there wasn’t any Santa Claus, I was filled with doubts. I asked my father, and he was a little evasive on the subject.
“It was a habit in our family that whenever any doubts came up as to how to pronounce a word or some question of historical fact was in doubt, we wrote to the Question and Answer column in The Sun. Father would always say, ‘If you see it in the The Sun, it’s so,’ and that settled the matter.
“ ‘Well, I’m just going to write The Sun and find out the real truth,’ I said to father.
“He said, ‘Go ahead, Virginia. I’m sure The Sun will give you the right answer, as it always does.’ ”
And so Virginia sat down and wrote her parents’ favorite newspaper.
Her letter found its way into the hands of a veteran editor, Francis P. Church. Son of a Baptist minister, Church had covered the Civil War for The New York Times and had worked on the The New York Sun for 20 years, more recently as an anonymous editorial writer. Church, a sardonic man, had for his personal motto, “Endeavour to clear your mind of cant.” When controversal subjects had to be tackled on the editorial page, especially those dealing with theology, the assignments were usually given to Church.
Now, he had in his hands a little girl’s letter on a most controversial matter, and he was burdened with the responsibility of answering it.
“Is there a Santa Claus?” the childish scrawl in the letter asked. At once, Church knew that there was no avoiding the question. He must answer, and he must answer truthfully. And so he turned to his desk, and he began his reply which was to become one of the most memorable editorials in newspaper history.
Church married shortly after the editorial appeared. He died in April, 1906, leaving no children.
Virginia O’Hanlon went on to graduate from Hunter College with a Bachelor of Arts degree at age 21. The following year she received her Master’s from Columbia, and in 1912 she began teaching in the New York City school system, later becoming a principal. After 47 years, she retired as an educator. Throughout her life she received a steady stream of mail about her Santa Claus letter, and to each reply she attached an attractive printed copy of the Church editorial. Virginia O’Hanlon Douglas died on May 13, 1971, at the age of 81, in a nursing home in Valatie, N.Y.
proud at the same time
Francis Church
thank you for keeping the christmas spirit alive so long .....
---------
Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York's Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history's most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps.
"DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.
"Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
"Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.'
"Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?
"VIRGINIA O'HANLON.
"115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET."
VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measure by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.
Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest man that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding. No Santa Claus! Thank GOD! He lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
----------
Francis P. Church’s editorial, “Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus” was an immediate sensation, and went on to became one of the most famous editorials ever written. It first appeared in the The New York Sun in 1897, almost a hundred years ago, and was reprinted annually until 1949 when the paper went out of business.
Thirty-six years after her letter was printed, Virginia O’Hanlon recalled the events that prompted her letter:
“Quite naturally I believed in Santa Claus, for he had never disappointed me. But when less fortunate little boys and girls said there wasn’t any Santa Claus, I was filled with doubts. I asked my father, and he was a little evasive on the subject.
“It was a habit in our family that whenever any doubts came up as to how to pronounce a word or some question of historical fact was in doubt, we wrote to the Question and Answer column in The Sun. Father would always say, ‘If you see it in the The Sun, it’s so,’ and that settled the matter.
“ ‘Well, I’m just going to write The Sun and find out the real truth,’ I said to father.
“He said, ‘Go ahead, Virginia. I’m sure The Sun will give you the right answer, as it always does.’ ”
And so Virginia sat down and wrote her parents’ favorite newspaper.
Her letter found its way into the hands of a veteran editor, Francis P. Church. Son of a Baptist minister, Church had covered the Civil War for The New York Times and had worked on the The New York Sun for 20 years, more recently as an anonymous editorial writer. Church, a sardonic man, had for his personal motto, “Endeavour to clear your mind of cant.” When controversal subjects had to be tackled on the editorial page, especially those dealing with theology, the assignments were usually given to Church.
Now, he had in his hands a little girl’s letter on a most controversial matter, and he was burdened with the responsibility of answering it.
“Is there a Santa Claus?” the childish scrawl in the letter asked. At once, Church knew that there was no avoiding the question. He must answer, and he must answer truthfully. And so he turned to his desk, and he began his reply which was to become one of the most memorable editorials in newspaper history.
Church married shortly after the editorial appeared. He died in April, 1906, leaving no children.
Virginia O’Hanlon went on to graduate from Hunter College with a Bachelor of Arts degree at age 21. The following year she received her Master’s from Columbia, and in 1912 she began teaching in the New York City school system, later becoming a principal. After 47 years, she retired as an educator. Throughout her life she received a steady stream of mail about her Santa Claus letter, and to each reply she attached an attractive printed copy of the Church editorial. Virginia O’Hanlon Douglas died on May 13, 1971, at the age of 81, in a nursing home in Valatie, N.Y.
Monday, December 19, 2005
headline of the decade
"Bush hails Iraqi anti-terror role"
"US President George W Bush has told Americans that Iraq is now a strong ally against terror and a force for democracy in the Middle East."
BBC News
surely he may it may as well say
"Bush hails New York anti-terror role"
or
"Bush hails US Army anti-terror role"
i mean lets face it
there would be fuck all point in invading a country
inserting a puppet government that will do whatever you say
and for them still to be a terrorist threat
would there
god bless the 51st state
god bless the united states of america
"US President George W Bush has told Americans that Iraq is now a strong ally against terror and a force for democracy in the Middle East."
BBC News
surely he may it may as well say
"Bush hails New York anti-terror role"
or
"Bush hails US Army anti-terror role"
i mean lets face it
there would be fuck all point in invading a country
inserting a puppet government that will do whatever you say
and for them still to be a terrorist threat
would there
god bless the 51st state
god bless the united states of america
Friday, December 16, 2005
king kong
hmmm
how can i say this?
ehhh
it sucks!!
crap script
hopeless cast
great effects but since we see them all the first time kong comes on screen
the wow facter wears off pretty damn quickly
poor human graphics though
everytime a person shared the screen with a cgi character they looked like a something out of a pixar movie
granted there were 4 or 5 great action scenes
but there were another 5 or 6 that should have been cut because they did nothing for the film except
show more effects
and for gods sake jackson
spend some time telling the story!!
ps don't tell anybody here i said this or i could possible get lynched
how can i say this?
ehhh
it sucks!!
crap script
hopeless cast
great effects but since we see them all the first time kong comes on screen
the wow facter wears off pretty damn quickly
poor human graphics though
everytime a person shared the screen with a cgi character they looked like a something out of a pixar movie
granted there were 4 or 5 great action scenes
but there were another 5 or 6 that should have been cut because they did nothing for the film except
show more effects
and for gods sake jackson
spend some time telling the story!!
ps don't tell anybody here i said this or i could possible get lynched
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
richter scale
and in case anybody is worried that a 5 sounds reasonably high on the richter scale
especially if a 7 or 8 is really really destructive
remember a 6 is 10 times bigger than a 5
for all you maths nerds, with thanks to wikipedia:~
The Richter magnitude test scale (or more correctly local magnitude ML scale) assigns a single number to quantify the size of an earthquake. It is a base-10 logarithmic scale obtained by calculating the logarithm of the combined horizontal amplitude of the largest displacement from zero on a seismogram. For example, an earthquake of magnitude 5 is ten times greater than one of magnitude 4 and an earthquake of magnitude 8 is 10(8 − 4) or 10000 times greater than one of magnitude 4.
Since the energy of an earthquake is proportional to the square root of the cube of the amplitude, each step of the Richter scale has an energy 103/2 (~ 31.6) times that of the previous step. So while a magnitude 9 has 10,000 times the amplitude of a magnitude 5 earthquake, it has a million times more energy.
The diminution of amplitude due to distance between the earthquake epicenter and the seismometer is corrected for by subtracting the common logarithm of the expected amplitude of a magnitude 0 event at that distance. This correction for distance is intended to make the local magnitude an absolute measure of earthquake size.
The magnitude of the earthquake, M, is given by:
M = log10A + 3log10(8Δt − 2.92)
where A is amplitude in millimeters and t is time in seconds.
especially if a 7 or 8 is really really destructive
remember a 6 is 10 times bigger than a 5
for all you maths nerds, with thanks to wikipedia:~
The Richter magnitude test scale (or more correctly local magnitude ML scale) assigns a single number to quantify the size of an earthquake. It is a base-10 logarithmic scale obtained by calculating the logarithm of the combined horizontal amplitude of the largest displacement from zero on a seismogram. For example, an earthquake of magnitude 5 is ten times greater than one of magnitude 4 and an earthquake of magnitude 8 is 10(8 − 4) or 10000 times greater than one of magnitude 4.
Since the energy of an earthquake is proportional to the square root of the cube of the amplitude, each step of the Richter scale has an energy 103/2 (~ 31.6) times that of the previous step. So while a magnitude 9 has 10,000 times the amplitude of a magnitude 5 earthquake, it has a million times more energy.
The diminution of amplitude due to distance between the earthquake epicenter and the seismometer is corrected for by subtracting the common logarithm of the expected amplitude of a magnitude 0 event at that distance. This correction for distance is intended to make the local magnitude an absolute measure of earthquake size.
The magnitude of the earthquake, M, is given by:
M = log10A + 3log10(8Δt − 2.92)
where A is amplitude in millimeters and t is time in seconds.
earthquake
so i'm in bed last night
and my bed jumps
no really i thought that somebody had kicked it
and then it kinda rocked over and back for about 20 sec
i suppose like a pendulum until it settled back to where it started
and that was it
an earthquake
not scary except for the initial
'what the hell is going on?' moment
5.0 on the richter scale
http://www.geonet.org.nz/latest.html
rock on
and my bed jumps
no really i thought that somebody had kicked it
and then it kinda rocked over and back for about 20 sec
i suppose like a pendulum until it settled back to where it started
and that was it
an earthquake
not scary except for the initial
'what the hell is going on?' moment
5.0 on the richter scale
http://www.geonet.org.nz/latest.html
rock on
racist comments
i know everybody has seen the racist riots in parts of sydney.
i don't know the backgroud or the reasons but nor do i care, you don't beat people up who look different to you, it's a rule
even if they were horrible ignorant people
you don't beat them up
now what concerns me most it i was reading the story on bbc and i read on down through the readers comments. when you read each comment you can recommend it ie. click on it and say you agree.
the comments that focused on the riot's being wrong received in general less than 20 recommendations
the ones in support of the racists received in some cases 3 or 4 times the amount of recommendations.
bare in mind these comments are coming from all over the world
read for your self
http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?
sortBy=1&threadID=581&start=15&tstart=0&edition=2&ttl=20051213004652&#paginator
im worried
should i be
i don't know the backgroud or the reasons but nor do i care, you don't beat people up who look different to you, it's a rule
even if they were horrible ignorant people
you don't beat them up
now what concerns me most it i was reading the story on bbc and i read on down through the readers comments. when you read each comment you can recommend it ie. click on it and say you agree.
the comments that focused on the riot's being wrong received in general less than 20 recommendations
the ones in support of the racists received in some cases 3 or 4 times the amount of recommendations.
bare in mind these comments are coming from all over the world
read for your self
http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?
sortBy=1&threadID=581&start=15&tstart=0&edition=2&ttl=20051213004652&#paginator
im worried
should i be
Friday, December 09, 2005
hmmmm
CSI
24
Special Victims Unit
Boston Legal
these are the tv shows i've been watching a lot lately
why?
is it because they're all about death, destruction and evil?
if i was to murder somebody
would the papers suggest that it was because of an unnatural obsession with murder?
would they?
well maybe
but i think it's because i don't have cable tv
24
Special Victims Unit
Boston Legal
these are the tv shows i've been watching a lot lately
why?
is it because they're all about death, destruction and evil?
if i was to murder somebody
would the papers suggest that it was because of an unnatural obsession with murder?
would they?
well maybe
but i think it's because i don't have cable tv
Friday, December 02, 2005
...
it's windy
the wooden gate next door keep crashing together at strangely regular intervals
the sails over the car port are flapping and really if you close your eyes you can imagine they are real sails and you're out at sea
the pile of leaves in the corner of the garden are getting spread all over the place
the window in the front room is rattling a bit
my feet are cold
i had to go put a jumper on
no sun
it's windy
the wooden gate next door keep crashing together at strangely regular intervals
the sails over the car port are flapping and really if you close your eyes you can imagine they are real sails and you're out at sea
the pile of leaves in the corner of the garden are getting spread all over the place
the window in the front room is rattling a bit
my feet are cold
i had to go put a jumper on
no sun
it's windy
Thursday, December 01, 2005
on exercise
so i've started a get fit regime
i've haven't done any exercise in about 6 years
so i decided to take up running every day to build up a bit of basic fitness
so this is day two
and i've managed another 3 minute run before my lungs exploded
so it seems it's my aerobic fitness that is really awfull
oh well
i guess it take a week or so before your body realises that
your expecting it to do more than it's use to
i'll keep you posted
roll on day three
i've haven't done any exercise in about 6 years
so i decided to take up running every day to build up a bit of basic fitness
so this is day two
and i've managed another 3 minute run before my lungs exploded
so it seems it's my aerobic fitness that is really awfull
oh well
i guess it take a week or so before your body realises that
your expecting it to do more than it's use to
i'll keep you posted
roll on day three
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
department of doing
i've just found it
really i have
i finally found the one company in the world
that i would love to work for
www.departmentofdoing.co.nz
they do anything their clients want done
brilliant
stunning
ingenius
now i have a goal
really i have
i finally found the one company in the world
that i would love to work for
www.departmentofdoing.co.nz
they do anything their clients want done
brilliant
stunning
ingenius
now i have a goal
Sunday, November 27, 2005
library
my new local libarary is state of the art
4 shiny new floors of all sorts of stuff
including a while floor where you can borrow dvd's at $2 a week
so my question is why would i go around the corner and pay $10 for a couple of nights for the same dvd?
4 shiny new floors of all sorts of stuff
including a while floor where you can borrow dvd's at $2 a week
so my question is why would i go around the corner and pay $10 for a couple of nights for the same dvd?
Thursday, November 24, 2005
in the news in nz
a government minister when he was a teacher 20 years ago stuffed a tennis ball i a students mouth
police investigating the case recently said that while he did the crime it's so long ago they couldn't be bothered doing anything about it
the new all black haka that was specifically writtedn for them includes a throat slitting gesture (even though there is nothing even remotely violent in the words of it)
in maori culture at formal gatherings women can only speak after all the men regardless of age or status have had their say (maori culture is really interesting and very very complicated, i think i'm going to buy a book)
another rich guys helicopter crashed 3 weeks ago in nz and it took two weeks to find it, the big discussion is that aftre a couple of days the authorities called off the search and it was his fanily that resourced the rest of the search.
oh and
tonnes and tonnes of nz sport
the all blacks
black caps
silver ferns
black sox
they all have silly names
in local news
the christmas parade is next saturday
police investigating the case recently said that while he did the crime it's so long ago they couldn't be bothered doing anything about it
the new all black haka that was specifically writtedn for them includes a throat slitting gesture (even though there is nothing even remotely violent in the words of it)
in maori culture at formal gatherings women can only speak after all the men regardless of age or status have had their say (maori culture is really interesting and very very complicated, i think i'm going to buy a book)
another rich guys helicopter crashed 3 weeks ago in nz and it took two weeks to find it, the big discussion is that aftre a couple of days the authorities called off the search and it was his fanily that resourced the rest of the search.
oh and
tonnes and tonnes of nz sport
the all blacks
black caps
silver ferns
black sox
they all have silly names
in local news
the christmas parade is next saturday
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
some body sent me this as part of an email
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of
arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but
rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body
thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming
"WOO HOO what a ride!"
i like it
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of
arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but
rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body
thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming
"WOO HOO what a ride!"
i like it
Sunday, November 13, 2005
on weather
well you see it's same everywhere isn't it?
rain is rain
sun is sun
wind is wind
right?
well no it's not
you can have hot sun
and dry heat
wet rain
and not so wet rain
breeze
winds
gales
snow
basically there is as many different types of weather as there
are countries
so what's my point?
it's raining here
and new zealand has
very wet rain
rain is rain
sun is sun
wind is wind
right?
well no it's not
you can have hot sun
and dry heat
wet rain
and not so wet rain
breeze
winds
gales
snow
basically there is as many different types of weather as there
are countries
so what's my point?
it's raining here
and new zealand has
very wet rain
brasil
so in a major shift from expectation
i've spent most of my first two weeks in new zealand
learning about brazil
obviously this is a bit surprising but it's a fact
my boss and guide through my time in nz so far is from brazil
and she has very kindly been showing me around
and introduced me to her friends
who are also from brazil
so last night i end up in a late bar/club
dancing with people from the land of samba and salsa (it's funny when the musc starts they do to )
and today
i was invited for lunch with the gang and got to sample
authentic brazilian cousine
bobo i think is what it's called
creamy coconut sauce with shrimp and peppers and i thinkg i heard somebody say tapioca
very nice i have to say
similar to some Thai dishes I've eaten but lighter
and i even got some to take away to eat tomorrow, thanks dani
anyway
so far new zealand equals brazil
bring it on
i say
i've spent most of my first two weeks in new zealand
learning about brazil
obviously this is a bit surprising but it's a fact
my boss and guide through my time in nz so far is from brazil
and she has very kindly been showing me around
and introduced me to her friends
who are also from brazil
so last night i end up in a late bar/club
dancing with people from the land of samba and salsa (it's funny when the musc starts they do to )
and today
i was invited for lunch with the gang and got to sample
authentic brazilian cousine
bobo i think is what it's called
creamy coconut sauce with shrimp and peppers and i thinkg i heard somebody say tapioca
very nice i have to say
similar to some Thai dishes I've eaten but lighter
and i even got some to take away to eat tomorrow, thanks dani
anyway
so far new zealand equals brazil
bring it on
i say
Sunday, November 06, 2005
on love
yeah i'm a sentimental old fool but what the hell
it's knowing you're never alone
that there is somebody who sees your side of the world the same way
it's knowing where home is
it's knowing what to say
and knowing it's ok to say nothing
it's about there not being a road too long
or a time too short
to be worth it
it's about friends
and people
it's giving everything you have
and wanting to give more
it's about effortless
and
being the hardest thing you'll ever do
it's love
it's knowing you're never alone
that there is somebody who sees your side of the world the same way
it's knowing where home is
it's knowing what to say
and knowing it's ok to say nothing
it's about there not being a road too long
or a time too short
to be worth it
it's about friends
and people
it's giving everything you have
and wanting to give more
it's about effortless
and
being the hardest thing you'll ever do
it's love
Saturday, November 05, 2005
eating alone
now before you get worried by the title this is not a sad post
since arriving in nz i've had to eat alone
i've eaten in my room
in mc d's
in a couple of cafes
etc
and
i like it
now eating at home alone isn't very exciting
so forget about that
but sitting in a quiet cafe eating a steak and cheese sambo while
struggling through a sudoku puzzle
and listening to the radio coming from the kitchen
life doesn't get much more peaceful
i like that pace of life
i've always loved that feeling of comfort
belonging
and taking ones time
i got that today
and decided
i like this place
since arriving in nz i've had to eat alone
i've eaten in my room
in mc d's
in a couple of cafes
etc
and
i like it
now eating at home alone isn't very exciting
so forget about that
but sitting in a quiet cafe eating a steak and cheese sambo while
struggling through a sudoku puzzle
and listening to the radio coming from the kitchen
life doesn't get much more peaceful
i like that pace of life
i've always loved that feeling of comfort
belonging
and taking ones time
i got that today
and decided
i like this place
Friday, November 04, 2005
boys will be boys
two stamp collectors did the biggest trade in the history of philatily today
one guy swapped a set of 4 really really rare stamps that he bought for $2.9million for a single even rarer stamp.
you can read the details on any news site
but i like this story because
yeah there is a huge amount of value involved but it wasn't about money
he didn't try and buy the stamp off the guy who had it
he went and bought something to swap with him
cause it wasn't about the money
it was about completing his collection
it's nice when rich men can be just like young boys
one guy swapped a set of 4 really really rare stamps that he bought for $2.9million for a single even rarer stamp.
you can read the details on any news site
but i like this story because
yeah there is a huge amount of value involved but it wasn't about money
he didn't try and buy the stamp off the guy who had it
he went and bought something to swap with him
cause it wasn't about the money
it was about completing his collection
it's nice when rich men can be just like young boys
Thursday, November 03, 2005
waiter rant
of all the websites and newspaper columns that i read on regular basis
one particular person gives me more laughs
gives me more things to think about
and gives me more pleasure than anybody else:
the waiter
www.waiterrant.net
it's not updated everyday but a couple of times a week
read it an enjoy
the guy has something
one particular person gives me more laughs
gives me more things to think about
and gives me more pleasure than anybody else:
the waiter
www.waiterrant.net
it's not updated everyday but a couple of times a week
read it an enjoy
the guy has something
joy
just a quick one
on the importance of joy
now i know people will think i'm being a bit stupid
obviously joy is a good thing
but i just want you to stop and think for a minute
crossing a bridge
hair blowing all over the place
blue sky providing the background for the clouds racing passed
reflection of the sun in the window of an not so pretty bulding
a little brother and sister holding hands while walking down the street with their mammy
a text from a friend
not saying anything just checking in
cause you know friends care
a smile from a stranger
knowing who to tell when you see something particular on tv
these are some of the things that bring me joy
and i just wanted to tell you guys
to stop and savour your own joy when you experience it
on the importance of joy
now i know people will think i'm being a bit stupid
obviously joy is a good thing
but i just want you to stop and think for a minute
crossing a bridge
hair blowing all over the place
blue sky providing the background for the clouds racing passed
reflection of the sun in the window of an not so pretty bulding
a little brother and sister holding hands while walking down the street with their mammy
a text from a friend
not saying anything just checking in
cause you know friends care
a smile from a stranger
knowing who to tell when you see something particular on tv
these are some of the things that bring me joy
and i just wanted to tell you guys
to stop and savour your own joy when you experience it
on nz
well i'm here
or there if you're reading this from home
i'm in new zealand
palmerston north to be exact.
as i said it's a couple of hours north of wellington
so it took like 4 months to fly to nz or well it seemed to take that long anyway
flew dublin london 1hour (plus an extra 1hr 20mins on the tarmac due to stupid ground crew)
london to hong kong 11hours 15 minutes (good food on the plane, nice airport)
hong kong to Auckland 10 hours 45 minutes (food not so good but had 2 seats for myself!!)
Auckland to wellington (and a fire in wellington airport meant we had to sit for ages waiting to get off the plane, silly fire)
and then a 2 hour drive to palmy
only comments on the journey are these
firstly traveling for 87 days isn't that bad at all
i didn't get dvt or cramp, the movies were good and i slept a good bit
take off from hong kong.... wow
flying in over Auckland.... wow (kinda reminded me of postman pat, it's all hilly)
Auckland to wellington... hugging the coast all the way absolutely beautiful
so i'm in palmy anyway
it's bigger that i imagined
and a bit like all those cities and large towns you see in american movies
all the roads are 4 lanes and there are really nice old buildings right next door to warehouses
i have to say it's growing on me
the people in shops and stuff are so nice
even in the golden arches
they ask you how your day is going so far
it's nice
it means you get to talk to people even though the nearest person to me that i know
would be about 5000 miles away in Bankok (hi andy and laura)
thats nice
i have a mobile phone that people from ireland can't text to!!!
how weird is that?
i think if i text an 087 number they can reply to that text within 24hours but other than that
it won't work
crazy kiwi's
anyhow
that's about it for the minute
i'll post again soon
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
T - 5 days
?
i can hear you asking already what i'm talking about.
i'm moving to new zealand
yup
packing up my stuff
moving as far away from my home as one can possible go
including the space station
which isn't as far away
something like 11000 miles
i've got a job
i passed my driving test
and my flight is booked
yes my underwear is a little more pungent than normal
but i guess that's to be expected
my destination is palmerston north
it's just above wellington on the map
but if you look at the sat pick on google maps it's covered in cloud
an omen?
maybe
but it's nearly summer there so bring it on
i'm not doing updates so i'm not going into the hows whens and whatevers
but i'll be doing a bit of a travel blog for a little while
so keep tuned to the same bat channel
i can hear you asking already what i'm talking about.
i'm moving to new zealand
yup
packing up my stuff
moving as far away from my home as one can possible go
including the space station
which isn't as far away
something like 11000 miles
i've got a job
i passed my driving test
and my flight is booked
yes my underwear is a little more pungent than normal
but i guess that's to be expected
my destination is palmerston north
it's just above wellington on the map
but if you look at the sat pick on google maps it's covered in cloud
an omen?
maybe
but it's nearly summer there so bring it on
i'm not doing updates so i'm not going into the hows whens and whatevers
but i'll be doing a bit of a travel blog for a little while
so keep tuned to the same bat channel
on the nature of updates
well everybody does this from time to time
we forget about our blog
or are too busy
or somethign traumatic happens and we don't get around to doing it
and then we havet odo an update post
so that loyal readers don't feel used
well
i'm doing on of those
i'll post about whats going on in my life
but i'm not going to apologise for it
sorry
oh shit
i just apologised
but you get the drift
the last few weeks will not be published in blow by blow format
we forget about our blog
or are too busy
or somethign traumatic happens and we don't get around to doing it
and then we havet odo an update post
so that loyal readers don't feel used
well
i'm doing on of those
i'll post about whats going on in my life
but i'm not going to apologise for it
sorry
oh shit
i just apologised
but you get the drift
the last few weeks will not be published in blow by blow format
Thursday, October 06, 2005
on being a poor blogger
and i don't mean financially
although i'd count in that group too
it's just that sometimes not much happens that is interesting to wrote about
or
even if it is interesting
it can be too scarey to actually put down in words
anyway
i've been having a bit of a slow period of late
but it's going to stop really soon and i'll have loads to write about
just don't want to jinx it yet
i'll explain it all.
although i'd count in that group too
it's just that sometimes not much happens that is interesting to wrote about
or
even if it is interesting
it can be too scarey to actually put down in words
anyway
i've been having a bit of a slow period of late
but it's going to stop really soon and i'll have loads to write about
just don't want to jinx it yet
i'll explain it all.
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
what did you do with all the money?
ok so ireland is like the richest most succesfull country in a universe at the moment allegedly.
the roads are full or brand new mercs and bmws'
everybody has new designer clothes and gardeners to keep the homes looking smart
but i've a question
when the boom time ends which it has to as that is the way things work what will we have to show for it
slightly better roads
public services that we'll never be able to keep funding at the rate we do given their inefficiency (some exception i know but this is a rant not analysis)
old cars with big engines that have to be filled with expensive petrol
an unfit malnourished population who find it difficult to engage with each other since they spent their youth in their bedrooms playing playstations
parents who can't relate to their children since they did little together except spend money when they were growing up
we'll have a nice o'connell street
and a lot of memories about the good old days when we were all rich
but we probably won't remember them because we'll have spent the whole time trying to get richer.
maybe we should build a huge monument to money so at least we'll have an idea
what we did with it all.
or maybe i'm just bitter
probably
i'm just bitter
but the general point is what are we going to have to show for all our success and wealth?
answers on a postcard to
the boy
the roads are full or brand new mercs and bmws'
everybody has new designer clothes and gardeners to keep the homes looking smart
but i've a question
when the boom time ends which it has to as that is the way things work what will we have to show for it
slightly better roads
public services that we'll never be able to keep funding at the rate we do given their inefficiency (some exception i know but this is a rant not analysis)
old cars with big engines that have to be filled with expensive petrol
an unfit malnourished population who find it difficult to engage with each other since they spent their youth in their bedrooms playing playstations
parents who can't relate to their children since they did little together except spend money when they were growing up
we'll have a nice o'connell street
and a lot of memories about the good old days when we were all rich
but we probably won't remember them because we'll have spent the whole time trying to get richer.
maybe we should build a huge monument to money so at least we'll have an idea
what we did with it all.
or maybe i'm just bitter
probably
i'm just bitter
but the general point is what are we going to have to show for all our success and wealth?
answers on a postcard to
the boy
Monday, September 26, 2005
perspective
i've just realised i posted twice in recent times about perspective
and i'm sure if i looked further i''ve don'e it a few more times
not sure why that is
maybe i'm pretentious and think i know everything
and everybody else is wrong in my eyes
or maybe i like to sound smart
maybe i need some perspective
and i'm sure if i looked further i''ve don'e it a few more times
not sure why that is
maybe i'm pretentious and think i know everything
and everybody else is wrong in my eyes
or maybe i like to sound smart
maybe i need some perspective
on winning
it's about perception really
it's what people believe and not what is the real truth
and therefore since people write the history
what the believe to be true becomes true
if you get what i mean...
ok you don't but thats beaciae i didn't explain.
a couple of weeks ago unionists ran amok in the north acting like big eegits
today the IRA announced that they broke all their weapons
(i know that i said they should give them to less fortunate terrorists but thsy didn't listen)
to unrelated acts
but history won't see that
they will write
amid rising unionist antagonism and a resurrection of violence on the streets of violence the IRA laid down their arms and
chose a peacefull future
you see perception
who looks like the bad guys now?
*i'd just like to say i'm no expert on this topic and to my mind anybody that acts like an eegit is an eegit
and if you act like a scumbag you're a scumbag i dont care about your 'cause'
so don't start picking it's just my opinion
it's what people believe and not what is the real truth
and therefore since people write the history
what the believe to be true becomes true
if you get what i mean...
ok you don't but thats beaciae i didn't explain.
a couple of weeks ago unionists ran amok in the north acting like big eegits
today the IRA announced that they broke all their weapons
(i know that i said they should give them to less fortunate terrorists but thsy didn't listen)
to unrelated acts
but history won't see that
they will write
amid rising unionist antagonism and a resurrection of violence on the streets of violence the IRA laid down their arms and
chose a peacefull future
you see perception
who looks like the bad guys now?
*i'd just like to say i'm no expert on this topic and to my mind anybody that acts like an eegit is an eegit
and if you act like a scumbag you're a scumbag i dont care about your 'cause'
so don't start picking it's just my opinion
Saturday, September 24, 2005
happy birthday
to me
yes it is my birthday
a not very exciting one cause i'm getting all old but a birthday nonetheless
it's early in the morning so not a lot has happened yet but i'll let you know.
yes it is my birthday
a not very exciting one cause i'm getting all old but a birthday nonetheless
it's early in the morning so not a lot has happened yet but i'll let you know.
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
makes you want to cry
43 bodies are found in new orleans hospital
more than 30 bodies removed from a nursing home.
i remember a quote from the movie 'a few good men'
"we're supposed to protect people who can't protect themselves"
i dont know who's fault it is that this disaster has been handled so badly
but
i think it's time we look at our priorities
in other news
petrol prices hit €1.37 per litre at some petrol stations in dublin
perspective?
more than 30 bodies removed from a nursing home.
i remember a quote from the movie 'a few good men'
"we're supposed to protect people who can't protect themselves"
i dont know who's fault it is that this disaster has been handled so badly
but
i think it's time we look at our priorities
in other news
petrol prices hit €1.37 per litre at some petrol stations in dublin
perspective?
Monday, September 12, 2005
thoughts
been a bit of a busy few days so haven't had the time or inclination to post.
a close family member passed away on friday morning and over the last few days there's been a lot of reflection and rememberence, tears and laughter and it made me think
* live life to the fullest each and every day
* never be afraid to take a chance, if it's what you want to do, even if everybody else thinks you're mad, do it.
* failures are just lessons to be learned for next time.
* treasure your friends and family because when you go it's through them that you live on.
* with passion is the only way to do anything
* love
maybe in a week or two i'll write about albert, there are a lot of great stories, but i think he needs to rest for a while first.
safe home
a close family member passed away on friday morning and over the last few days there's been a lot of reflection and rememberence, tears and laughter and it made me think
* live life to the fullest each and every day
* never be afraid to take a chance, if it's what you want to do, even if everybody else thinks you're mad, do it.
* failures are just lessons to be learned for next time.
* treasure your friends and family because when you go it's through them that you live on.
* with passion is the only way to do anything
* love
maybe in a week or two i'll write about albert, there are a lot of great stories, but i think he needs to rest for a while first.
safe home
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
bon voyage
a few of my friends took off to see the world today.
they're going all the way round and back home again in a year or so.
take care guys
cya soon
they're going all the way round and back home again in a year or so.
take care guys
cya soon
Monday, September 05, 2005
the world lost a dear friend
awards and titlesdon't say enough.
a couple of days a go Prof. Sir Joseph Rotblat passed away at the age of 96.
Sir Joseph graduated from Warsaw University and worked there until 1939. while on a research trip to the uk his homeland was invaded by germany and he was forced into exile.
while in england he became concerned that germany were building the bomb and convinced the government to do something about it. as a result he was sent to work on the manhatten project in los alamos. however when he learned that the germans had stopped their work he protested that so should the allies. when the officials refused to stop their work he became the only scientist to leave the project on moral grounds. an action for which he was branded a traitor and barred from re-entering the us for a number of years.
in 1955 he signed along with 10 other eminent scientists and intellectuals the Russell-Einstein Manifesto, the document calls for the worlds leaders to seek peacefull resolutions to conflict and highlights the dangers of nuclear conflict.
"There lies before us, if we choose, continual progress in happiness, knowledge, and wisdom. Shall we, instead, choose death, because we cannot forget our quarrels? We appeal as human beings to human beings: Remember your humanity, and forget the rest. If you can do so, the way lies open to a new Paradise; if you cannot, there lies before you the risk of universal death." excerpt from russell-einstein manifesto.
following the publication of the manifesto Prof Rotblatt formed the Pugwash conference on science and world affairs. an organisation dedicated to convincing scientists to use their gifts and knowledge only for peaceful means and to promote the taking of an oath for scientists similar to the hipocratric oath for doctors whereby scientists would vow to do only good.
the conferences were unique in that they called together all the worlds leading scientists on the understanding that they gathered only for science and did not speak on behalf of governments but only as themselves. the conferences enabled scientists to discuss openly and freely their views on nuclear weapons.
for this work Prof. Rotblat and the Pugwash organisation shared the 1995 Nobel Peace Prize.
at a conference i helped to organise in 2001, Sir Joseph was an invited speaker. the conference was a small, international conference for physics students. sir joseph spoke for over an hour about his life and his dedication to ridding the world firstly of nuclear weapons and then of war. he held a room of over 300 young students in awe as he an ageing man in his 90's spoke with passion of how we were the future and how it was our responsibility to take up the struggle for peace.
i recall thinking at the time of the power of mankind and how the power of one man over the course of his life was slowly but surely changing how the scientific community thought. more and more now adays sicentists are heard to say 'should we' instead of 'can we'
im glad to say i met Sir Joseph after his talk and later when he came to party with all the students. he spoke with a few of us about his correspondance with einstein and max born. his love for science and his hatred of war. he convinced me that the conscious is once of our strongest tools and if we live by our own we're probably on the right track.
it has always been one of my treasured moments to meet one of the worlds great thinkers and humanitarians and i'm deeply saddened that he is no longer with us although for the time he was among us the world was truelly blessed.
Professor Sir Joseph Rotblat
Rest in Peace
a couple of days a go Prof. Sir Joseph Rotblat passed away at the age of 96.
Sir Joseph graduated from Warsaw University and worked there until 1939. while on a research trip to the uk his homeland was invaded by germany and he was forced into exile.
while in england he became concerned that germany were building the bomb and convinced the government to do something about it. as a result he was sent to work on the manhatten project in los alamos. however when he learned that the germans had stopped their work he protested that so should the allies. when the officials refused to stop their work he became the only scientist to leave the project on moral grounds. an action for which he was branded a traitor and barred from re-entering the us for a number of years.
in 1955 he signed along with 10 other eminent scientists and intellectuals the Russell-Einstein Manifesto, the document calls for the worlds leaders to seek peacefull resolutions to conflict and highlights the dangers of nuclear conflict.
"There lies before us, if we choose, continual progress in happiness, knowledge, and wisdom. Shall we, instead, choose death, because we cannot forget our quarrels? We appeal as human beings to human beings: Remember your humanity, and forget the rest. If you can do so, the way lies open to a new Paradise; if you cannot, there lies before you the risk of universal death." excerpt from russell-einstein manifesto.
following the publication of the manifesto Prof Rotblatt formed the Pugwash conference on science and world affairs. an organisation dedicated to convincing scientists to use their gifts and knowledge only for peaceful means and to promote the taking of an oath for scientists similar to the hipocratric oath for doctors whereby scientists would vow to do only good.
the conferences were unique in that they called together all the worlds leading scientists on the understanding that they gathered only for science and did not speak on behalf of governments but only as themselves. the conferences enabled scientists to discuss openly and freely their views on nuclear weapons.
for this work Prof. Rotblat and the Pugwash organisation shared the 1995 Nobel Peace Prize.
at a conference i helped to organise in 2001, Sir Joseph was an invited speaker. the conference was a small, international conference for physics students. sir joseph spoke for over an hour about his life and his dedication to ridding the world firstly of nuclear weapons and then of war. he held a room of over 300 young students in awe as he an ageing man in his 90's spoke with passion of how we were the future and how it was our responsibility to take up the struggle for peace.
i recall thinking at the time of the power of mankind and how the power of one man over the course of his life was slowly but surely changing how the scientific community thought. more and more now adays sicentists are heard to say 'should we' instead of 'can we'
im glad to say i met Sir Joseph after his talk and later when he came to party with all the students. he spoke with a few of us about his correspondance with einstein and max born. his love for science and his hatred of war. he convinced me that the conscious is once of our strongest tools and if we live by our own we're probably on the right track.
it has always been one of my treasured moments to meet one of the worlds great thinkers and humanitarians and i'm deeply saddened that he is no longer with us although for the time he was among us the world was truelly blessed.
Professor Sir Joseph Rotblat
Rest in Peace
Friday, September 02, 2005
two birds one stone
following from the tragedy in new orleans this week there are a huge amount of problems to solve
examples;
looting
and
loss of tourist industry
solution
organise safaris to shoot looters
examples;
looting
and
loss of tourist industry
solution
organise safaris to shoot looters
Thursday, September 01, 2005
if you think your job sucks
read this
i've copied it from a great site
www.iworkwithfools.com
definitly worth checking out
.....
>> Satan's List of Rules
[ Boss ]Anonymous writes...
"These are a list of rules that I can remember from my previous job - a hellhole (a very nicely decorated one, but a hellhole nonetheless). I worked for an egotistical, sexist, racist, egomaniacal, megalomaniac nutcase Satan(who was also extremely rich and eccentric) and here is the proof: Just a few of his rules:
1. All staples should be made at a 45 degree angle. If anything is turned into his office with a staple in any other form, it will be returned to the person and asked to be restapled.
2. Only large shiny silver paperclips will be used in the office. The use of any colored paper clip is not permitted because it is (in his 'humble' opinion) tacky. (Small shiny silver paperclips are permitted sometimes, but only if there are less than 5 pages in a set of papers.)
3. Binder clips of any size are strictly forbidden. He hates binder clips. No one knows why.
4. Always say please, thank you and I'm sorry. If you have been reprimanded, say "I'm sorry" even if it's not your fault. Even if you are innocent, your name has been involved in some sort of a problem thus, you should feel some regret.
5. When you walk down the hall, please pick up your feet. Do not trudge or slide your feet. Doing so gives you the appearance (and sound) of a herd of buffaloes (we got an email to this effect once- am NOT kidding.)
6. Eating at the desk is strictly forbidden. Also - food papers, food particles, soda cans and drink receptacles are NOT to be disposed of at your desk trash can, but in the designated can in the kitchen (under the sink).
7. Please smile and say hello to your coworkers whenever possible. If you don't, you will be labeled a snob.
8. Loud talking - especially over the cubicles, is NOT permitted. Keep your voice at a low even decibel.
9. The use of blue ink is strictly prohibited, because in his humble opinion it is "queer". Use only black or red ink. Use red ink only for corrections.
10. When you turn in corrections, place the sheet with red marks directly above the corrected sheet for his viewing. Do NOT do this in reverse order or there will be trouble.
11. You must account for every moment of your day in the daily log- which is due at 5:00 pm at the end of the day.
12. Radios and music are STRICTLY prohibited, for listening to music at one's desk is an enjoyment which takes away from actual work (he equated listening to music at one's desk as literal theft from him). However, you may, if you so wish, listen to the hold music, which consists of American Marches by such great composers as John Phillips Sousa and could possible stir you to work harder.
13. If you have three items in a sentence (such as jim, joe and jeff) NEVER place a comma before the article. To do so is treacherous.
14. Misspelled words are an abomination. You must write detailed explanations and apologies each time you make a mistake. (You think I'm kidding, but I'm not.)
15. Periodically, there will be an unannounced test that the entire office staff must take. On this test, you will be asked to name all of the executive staff as well as their titles, and the EXACT titles of several of the periodicals we publish. Failure is NOT a good sign. It says that you don't care about the organization. It says that you are not aware of your environment and thus, are not a team player.
16. Oh - and the use of the word team player is only permitted to his liking. At other times, he uses the quote "everyone's work is nobody's work" - either way - you're screwed.
17. If you don't change the toilet paper when it's getting low (or if you, GOD FORBID, leave the empty cardboard on the roller) an email will be sent to the entire building about the condition of the bathrooms and about the laziness of the staff. Change the toilet paper, FOR GOD'S SAKE! 18. Remember, the boss man is watching how you park from his window in his "lair". (His corner office is high above the lot). He can tell what kind employee performance you're going to put in just by the way you park and how you exit the car. So - do so with an upbeat attitude. (He told us this at a meeting once!)
19. Do NOT slouch at your desk. POSTURE is important. If you are caught slouching, it might be put into your performance review (as it was put into mine) as one of your employee flaws.
20. Also, try not to look tired and worn out at the end of the day. He doesn't like that. It sickens him. This is another thing that could show up in your performance review (again - it showed up in mine).
21. NEVER call in sick on Monday or Friday. He thinks it looks bad. If you call in sick on Monday, it makes you look like you're hungover from a weekend of partying and if you call in sick on Friday, it looks like you're starting your wild and raucous wine-bibbing early. And - if you are genuinely sick - oh well. (He had a hard time believing people were ever really sick. This is the type of person who, if you were bleeding out of your eye sockets would say something like - Well - put on these goggles. You don't need your eyes to type, do ya? Didn't you learn the QWERTY method?)
22. There are 1 million more writing and editing rules that I won't go into."
i've copied it from a great site
www.iworkwithfools.com
definitly worth checking out
.....
>> Satan's List of Rules
[ Boss ]Anonymous writes...
"These are a list of rules that I can remember from my previous job - a hellhole (a very nicely decorated one, but a hellhole nonetheless). I worked for an egotistical, sexist, racist, egomaniacal, megalomaniac nutcase Satan(who was also extremely rich and eccentric) and here is the proof: Just a few of his rules:
1. All staples should be made at a 45 degree angle. If anything is turned into his office with a staple in any other form, it will be returned to the person and asked to be restapled.
2. Only large shiny silver paperclips will be used in the office. The use of any colored paper clip is not permitted because it is (in his 'humble' opinion) tacky. (Small shiny silver paperclips are permitted sometimes, but only if there are less than 5 pages in a set of papers.)
3. Binder clips of any size are strictly forbidden. He hates binder clips. No one knows why.
4. Always say please, thank you and I'm sorry. If you have been reprimanded, say "I'm sorry" even if it's not your fault. Even if you are innocent, your name has been involved in some sort of a problem thus, you should feel some regret.
5. When you walk down the hall, please pick up your feet. Do not trudge or slide your feet. Doing so gives you the appearance (and sound) of a herd of buffaloes (we got an email to this effect once- am NOT kidding.)
6. Eating at the desk is strictly forbidden. Also - food papers, food particles, soda cans and drink receptacles are NOT to be disposed of at your desk trash can, but in the designated can in the kitchen (under the sink).
7. Please smile and say hello to your coworkers whenever possible. If you don't, you will be labeled a snob.
8. Loud talking - especially over the cubicles, is NOT permitted. Keep your voice at a low even decibel.
9. The use of blue ink is strictly prohibited, because in his humble opinion it is "queer". Use only black or red ink. Use red ink only for corrections.
10. When you turn in corrections, place the sheet with red marks directly above the corrected sheet for his viewing. Do NOT do this in reverse order or there will be trouble.
11. You must account for every moment of your day in the daily log- which is due at 5:00 pm at the end of the day.
12. Radios and music are STRICTLY prohibited, for listening to music at one's desk is an enjoyment which takes away from actual work (he equated listening to music at one's desk as literal theft from him). However, you may, if you so wish, listen to the hold music, which consists of American Marches by such great composers as John Phillips Sousa and could possible stir you to work harder.
13. If you have three items in a sentence (such as jim, joe and jeff) NEVER place a comma before the article. To do so is treacherous.
14. Misspelled words are an abomination. You must write detailed explanations and apologies each time you make a mistake. (You think I'm kidding, but I'm not.)
15. Periodically, there will be an unannounced test that the entire office staff must take. On this test, you will be asked to name all of the executive staff as well as their titles, and the EXACT titles of several of the periodicals we publish. Failure is NOT a good sign. It says that you don't care about the organization. It says that you are not aware of your environment and thus, are not a team player.
16. Oh - and the use of the word team player is only permitted to his liking. At other times, he uses the quote "everyone's work is nobody's work" - either way - you're screwed.
17. If you don't change the toilet paper when it's getting low (or if you, GOD FORBID, leave the empty cardboard on the roller) an email will be sent to the entire building about the condition of the bathrooms and about the laziness of the staff. Change the toilet paper, FOR GOD'S SAKE! 18. Remember, the boss man is watching how you park from his window in his "lair". (His corner office is high above the lot). He can tell what kind employee performance you're going to put in just by the way you park and how you exit the car. So - do so with an upbeat attitude. (He told us this at a meeting once!)
19. Do NOT slouch at your desk. POSTURE is important. If you are caught slouching, it might be put into your performance review (as it was put into mine) as one of your employee flaws.
20. Also, try not to look tired and worn out at the end of the day. He doesn't like that. It sickens him. This is another thing that could show up in your performance review (again - it showed up in mine).
21. NEVER call in sick on Monday or Friday. He thinks it looks bad. If you call in sick on Monday, it makes you look like you're hungover from a weekend of partying and if you call in sick on Friday, it looks like you're starting your wild and raucous wine-bibbing early. And - if you are genuinely sick - oh well. (He had a hard time believing people were ever really sick. This is the type of person who, if you were bleeding out of your eye sockets would say something like - Well - put on these goggles. You don't need your eyes to type, do ya? Didn't you learn the QWERTY method?)
22. There are 1 million more writing and editing rules that I won't go into."
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
human zoo
so london zoo have had a homo sapien exhibit for the past few days
they got 8 people and dressed them in loin cloths and put them in an enclosure so people could see people in their natural habitat.
a more honest example to my mind would be to let people see what goes on at a teenage disco in the leafy dublin suburbs.
homosapiens drinking, corousing, socialising and fornicating as naturally as one could imagine.
they got 8 people and dressed them in loin cloths and put them in an enclosure so people could see people in their natural habitat.
a more honest example to my mind would be to let people see what goes on at a teenage disco in the leafy dublin suburbs.
homosapiens drinking, corousing, socialising and fornicating as naturally as one could imagine.
a bit peeved
guy beats his wife to death in front of their 3 children while on holidays
chances are if he's convicted he'll be allowed to serve his sentence back home
reason?
to make it easier for his family to visit him!!!
he just destroyed his family
killed the mother of his children in front of them
thus ruining their lives
and we're supposed to believe
we should make it easy fro his family to visit
i think we should make it as hard as possible
so maybe he won't contaminate them any further
maybe i'm being a bit right wing here
but fuck it
some people deserve to have their life made hard
very hard
i'm not talking human right violations
but the bare minimum please
chances are if he's convicted he'll be allowed to serve his sentence back home
reason?
to make it easier for his family to visit him!!!
he just destroyed his family
killed the mother of his children in front of them
thus ruining their lives
and we're supposed to believe
we should make it easy fro his family to visit
i think we should make it as hard as possible
so maybe he won't contaminate them any further
maybe i'm being a bit right wing here
but fuck it
some people deserve to have their life made hard
very hard
i'm not talking human right violations
but the bare minimum please
Thursday, August 25, 2005
raise a glass
a friend of mine got some very good news
she won a prestigous scholarship to africa.
just wanted to say congrats to you girl
she won a prestigous scholarship to africa.
just wanted to say congrats to you girl
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
on anonymous comments
why oh why do people post anonymously?
i mean it's just annoying
you can put in any name you like or you can use your blogger id and nobody would still know who you are so why be so bloody strange and click anonymous?
oh and
people who keep their profile private
again you have as much privacy as you want and can still have a visible profile so why hide?
i know i'm not being very coherent or to the point with this post
but if you understand what i'm saying please clarify.
i mean it's just annoying
you can put in any name you like or you can use your blogger id and nobody would still know who you are so why be so bloody strange and click anonymous?
oh and
people who keep their profile private
again you have as much privacy as you want and can still have a visible profile so why hide?
i know i'm not being very coherent or to the point with this post
but if you understand what i'm saying please clarify.
rose of tralee part deux
well it turns out the mayo rose won
http://www.rte.ie/rose05/mayo.html
her name is Aoibhionn NÃ Shuilleabhain (kinda pronounced aveeen knee sewlivawn)
the most interesting thing i've notived is that two of the contestants have degrees in theoretical physics, including the winner.
now i have some knowledge of this field having studied physics and i know that the numbers of people studying physics in ireland are probably about 2000. of those i'd say about 500 are women. so the odds of 2 of those ladies being the final of the rose of tralee is pretty low.
weird isn't it.
*statistics are rough guesses for illustrative purposes only
http://www.rte.ie/rose05/mayo.html
her name is Aoibhionn NÃ Shuilleabhain (kinda pronounced a
the most interesting thing i've notived is that two of the contestants have degrees in theoretical physics, including the winner.
now i have some knowledge of this field having studied physics and i know that the numbers of people studying physics in ireland are probably about 2000. of those i'd say about 500 are women. so the odds of 2 of those ladies being the final of the rose of tralee is pretty low.
weird isn't it.
*statistics are rough guesses for illustrative purposes only
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
rose of tralee
so once a year we have this half baked nut job of a competition in ireland
we get a group of lovely girls with tenous irish relations to come from all over the world and compete in who is the nicest
it's kinda like miss world but where you don't have to be good looking
and a bit like pop idol except you don't have to have any talent
although there is a talent round where people read poems and shit
anyway
this goes on for a week or so and then they crown the rose of tralee
worst thing ever
http://roseoftralee.ie/catalog/
aside; i have a friend who was an escort a couple of times at the rose of tralee and he told me all sorts of filthy things that the lovely roses get up to at night during the festival. so rock on
we get a group of lovely girls with tenous irish relations to come from all over the world and compete in who is the nicest
it's kinda like miss world but where you don't have to be good looking
and a bit like pop idol except you don't have to have any talent
although there is a talent round where people read poems and shit
anyway
this goes on for a week or so and then they crown the rose of tralee
worst thing ever
http://roseoftralee.ie/catalog/
aside; i have a friend who was an escort a couple of times at the rose of tralee and he told me all sorts of filthy things that the lovely roses get up to at night during the festival. so rock on
on something about nothing
i just had the urge to type
i don't particularly have anything to say but then that never stopped me before.
so
quick update
it's raining
i'm cold
i'm in work
i'm bored
i'm going to have a nice dinner later on
i have to work on something this evening (but i can't say what cause it's a secret)
hmmmm
very tired was out till late last night and up early for work
oh quick question
i just want to do a quick poll to see if anybody is reading this
if you are readign this just post a comment to say so
i don't trust those counter things
will post something more interesting soon
but just havinga quiet week so far
i don't particularly have anything to say but then that never stopped me before.
so
quick update
it's raining
i'm cold
i'm in work
i'm bored
i'm going to have a nice dinner later on
i have to work on something this evening (but i can't say what cause it's a secret)
hmmmm
very tired was out till late last night and up early for work
oh quick question
i just want to do a quick poll to see if anybody is reading this
if you are readign this just post a comment to say so
i don't trust those counter things
will post something more interesting soon
but just havinga quiet week so far
Monday, August 22, 2005
tell me why
i dont like mondays?
just an interesting note on this song;
did you know that the chorus is an answer and question
it's
q: "tell me why?"
a: "i don't like mondays"
and the song is about a shooting in a school were one of the students was shooting people in her school playground from her bedroom window.
a journalist rang her house and asked her why she was doing it and she said "i don't like mondays"
anyhow
it's a great song
and i have no particular feelings for or against mondays
but either way i don't think i'll shoot anybody today
just an interesting note on this song;
did you know that the chorus is an answer and question
it's
q: "tell me why?"
a: "i don't like mondays"
and the song is about a shooting in a school were one of the students was shooting people in her school playground from her bedroom window.
a journalist rang her house and asked her why she was doing it and she said "i don't like mondays"
anyhow
it's a great song
and i have no particular feelings for or against mondays
but either way i don't think i'll shoot anybody today
Friday, August 19, 2005
stick a fork in me
i'm done!
well for this week anyway
i've got that friday feeling (just like a chrunchy)
and i'm going home
well for this week anyway
i've got that friday feeling (just like a chrunchy)
and i'm going home
Thursday, August 18, 2005
follow up to yesterday
just thinking about blogs
how come all the single in (insert city here) bloggers
with their witty remarks
cutting put downs
hilarious tales of what they did to hurt said loser ex
suddenly become all mushy when they hook up with somebody
and all of a sudden the new boyfriend is a contributer to the blog
and it's called not so single in (insert city here)
how come all the single in (insert city here) bloggers
with their witty remarks
cutting put downs
hilarious tales of what they did to hurt said loser ex
suddenly become all mushy when they hook up with somebody
and all of a sudden the new boyfriend is a contributer to the blog
and it's called not so single in (insert city here)
hmmm
so a report was published that found that 1 in 3 of all cases serious domestic violence are perputrated (spelling?) against men.
now i'm in no way informed on this debate but i justed wanted to ask a question
how come 1 in 3 of all helplines / refuges / organisations related to domestic violence etc are not for men.
rough guess maybe 1 in 10
violence is wrong no matter what wouldn't it make more sense for all the help out there to be just asexual
it's not a competition as in "i have more chance of getting a good kicking than you do. na na nana na"
anyway it's early
and this is too serious
now i'm in no way informed on this debate but i justed wanted to ask a question
how come 1 in 3 of all helplines / refuges / organisations related to domestic violence etc are not for men.
rough guess maybe 1 in 10
violence is wrong no matter what wouldn't it make more sense for all the help out there to be just asexual
it's not a competition as in "i have more chance of getting a good kicking than you do. na na nana na"
anyway it's early
and this is too serious
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
3 hours
spent in work reading blogs
literally going from one blog to the next by following comments etc
i meant it fills in the time
but surely i have better things to do
my favourite blogs all seem to be by 20 something girls living in new york
the worst ones are the here's more pictures of my baby and my wife blogs
yeah i mean not that i'm more or less worthy than anybody else
but baby pictures??!!!!!
man it's dull if you know the baby in question but baby sarah in capetown?
anyway
i like the ones about getting drunk and hating your job
i guess i'm just shallow like that
literally going from one blog to the next by following comments etc
i meant it fills in the time
but surely i have better things to do
my favourite blogs all seem to be by 20 something girls living in new york
the worst ones are the here's more pictures of my baby and my wife blogs
yeah i mean not that i'm more or less worthy than anybody else
but baby pictures??!!!!!
man it's dull if you know the baby in question but baby sarah in capetown?
anyway
i like the ones about getting drunk and hating your job
i guess i'm just shallow like that
the world
i'm pretty small (stop sniggering)
and the world is very big
i think i owe it to the world to introduce myself
and the world is very big
i think i owe it to the world to introduce myself
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
work
you know the way it sucks beign really busy in work
you dont get enough times to email friends
can't take proper lunch
etc
etc
well i've had nothign to do for a couple of weeks now
ever since my boss left
having nothing to do sucks
you dont get enough times to email friends
can't take proper lunch
etc
etc
well i've had nothign to do for a couple of weeks now
ever since my boss left
having nothing to do sucks
Monday, August 15, 2005
this week im thinking of
the people of isreal and palestine
and in particular the people living in gaza
now i suppose we all have our own opinions on whats going on and who's right and who's wrong
but basically
i think we all hope that the withdrawl of isreal from gaza proves to be the begining of the end
and in particular the people living in gaza
now i suppose we all have our own opinions on whats going on and who's right and who's wrong
but basically
i think we all hope that the withdrawl of isreal from gaza proves to be the begining of the end
monday morning
sitting at my desk
drinking coffee
and reflecting on a nice weekend
most exciting part was a hike along some cliffs with two mates including a terrifying descent to a beach at the bottom of said cliffs
followed about 10 minutes later by a climb back up from beach
tired legs
sweat and
thirst
were the main points of note from the trip
also the two mates are aiming to tackle the inca trail in peru in the not to distant future
in the words of a certain cartoon character
ha ha
drinking coffee
and reflecting on a nice weekend
most exciting part was a hike along some cliffs with two mates including a terrifying descent to a beach at the bottom of said cliffs
followed about 10 minutes later by a climb back up from beach
tired legs
sweat and
thirst
were the main points of note from the trip
also the two mates are aiming to tackle the inca trail in peru in the not to distant future
in the words of a certain cartoon character
ha ha
Friday, August 12, 2005
http://shes.aflightrisk.org
found this yesterday but seemingly it's pretty famous i'm always way behind the rest of the hip kids.
anyway it's the blog of an aristocratic heiress who's on the run from her family and her life
or is it?
a lot of discussion boards and articles say it's a hoax
and to be honest it probably is
but it's brilliantly written and looks authentic so i'm going to take it at face value.
have a read
anyway it's the blog of an aristocratic heiress who's on the run from her family and her life
or is it?
a lot of discussion boards and articles say it's a hoax
and to be honest it probably is
but it's brilliantly written and looks authentic so i'm going to take it at face value.
have a read
Thursday, August 11, 2005
i wish i was.....
part of a minority group
reason?
id be more interesting
im a twenty something / employed / white / male / christion (ish) / from a middle class family ( i think , i'm not sure how the class thing works but i wasn't deprived)
i can read
i don't take drugs
i'm heterosexual
i don't do things to excess ( too often)
i'm respectful of women
don't start fights
am quite friendly
etc etc
so the problem is
i don't have a story to tell
or a gripe to complain about
why do i have a blog at all?
reason?
id be more interesting
im a twenty something / employed / white / male / christion (ish) / from a middle class family ( i think , i'm not sure how the class thing works but i wasn't deprived)
i can read
i don't take drugs
i'm heterosexual
i don't do things to excess ( too often)
i'm respectful of women
don't start fights
am quite friendly
etc etc
so the problem is
i don't have a story to tell
or a gripe to complain about
why do i have a blog at all?
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
last night
went for a couple of drinks with friends
midway through the evening i got a bout of hiccups
an hour later still had them and gettign worse
everytime i put the glass to my mouth i hiccuped and spilt it
very embarresing
i tried all the techniques of holdign breather etc
until finally it was suggested i down a pint of water
hey presto it worked
except i spent a long time in the loo afterwards
anyway
hiccups suck
midway through the evening i got a bout of hiccups
an hour later still had them and gettign worse
everytime i put the glass to my mouth i hiccuped and spilt it
very embarresing
i tried all the techniques of holdign breather etc
until finally it was suggested i down a pint of water
hey presto it worked
except i spent a long time in the loo afterwards
anyway
hiccups suck
Monday, August 08, 2005
observed in dublin 07/08/05
boy racer
flash car
low profile tires
suspension really low
cool blue paint job
chrome exhausts
4 foot high fin on the back
and his granny in the passenger seat
flash car
low profile tires
suspension really low
cool blue paint job
chrome exhausts
4 foot high fin on the back
and his granny in the passenger seat
Friday, August 05, 2005
Thursday, August 04, 2005
free money
he he
sony have to give people money for nothing
"Sony Pictures Entertainment has been ordered in court "to pay $1.5 million to settle a class-action lawsuit accusing the studio of citing a fake movie critic in ads for several films."
The lawsuit was originally filed by two California moviegoers, who claimed ads for A KNIGHT'S TALE fooled them into seeing the movie.
Moviegoers who saw the films A KNIGHT'S TALE, VERTICAL LIMIT, THE ANIMAL, HOLLOW MAN or THE PATRIOT during their original theater runs can file a claim to be eligible for a $5 per ticket reimbursement. Ads for the films included praise by a fictious critic, David Manning, who supposedly worked for The Ridgefield Press. "
sony have to give people money for nothing
"Sony Pictures Entertainment has been ordered in court "to pay $1.5 million to settle a class-action lawsuit accusing the studio of citing a fake movie critic in ads for several films."
The lawsuit was originally filed by two California moviegoers, who claimed ads for A KNIGHT'S TALE fooled them into seeing the movie.
Moviegoers who saw the films A KNIGHT'S TALE, VERTICAL LIMIT, THE ANIMAL, HOLLOW MAN or THE PATRIOT during their original theater runs can file a claim to be eligible for a $5 per ticket reimbursement. Ads for the films included praise by a fictious critic, David Manning, who supposedly worked for The Ridgefield Press. "
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
plane crash
last night in canada
watched the live feeds for about ten minutes then flicked back over to watch ewan mcgreggor (spelling) in russia
i guess it's disaster fatigue
for the last few months there has barely been a week without a 24 hour live feed from some place or another
so much so that it's not even exciting anymore unless there are visible bodies.
weird
on the other hand nasa are goign to fix the shuttle in space today
cool
watched the live feeds for about ten minutes then flicked back over to watch ewan mcgreggor (spelling) in russia
i guess it's disaster fatigue
for the last few months there has barely been a week without a 24 hour live feed from some place or another
so much so that it's not even exciting anymore unless there are visible bodies.
weird
on the other hand nasa are goign to fix the shuttle in space today
cool
sleepy
really tired this morning for no particular reason.
watched tv up to about mid night then went to bed not exactly exciting
but still really tired
hmmmm
watched tv up to about mid night then went to bed not exactly exciting
but still really tired
hmmmm
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
€112 million
how cool would that be?
a business empire overnight?
a huge cocaine ediction
a massive camper van and a trip around the world
oh well it's fun to dream
a business empire overnight?
a huge cocaine ediction
a massive camper van and a trip around the world
oh well it's fun to dream
Thursday, July 28, 2005
question
the ira have said they are ceasing military operations and they are going to destroy their weapons.
isn't that a waste
surely there are other less fortunate terrorist organisations that would appreciate those second hand weapons.
anyway just a thought
isn't that a waste
surely there are other less fortunate terrorist organisations that would appreciate those second hand weapons.
anyway just a thought
stupid
weather forecast said it would rain today and tomorrow
i texted the girl to tell her and advise her to wear rain jacket
i went out in light summer jacket
i'm in work
cold and wet
i texted the girl to tell her and advise her to wear rain jacket
i went out in light summer jacket
i'm in work
cold and wet
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
a collision
thats what NASA calls a little bird getting creamed by a billion tonne space shuttle
a bit of perspective is called for
a bit of perspective is called for
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
sas training
it seems its not all it cracked up to be
takes 8 shots from close range at a prostrate target to kill
including 7 to the head
now i'm not expert but i doubt therer are many people who would survive even two shots from close range in the head
there ya go
takes 8 shots from close range at a prostrate target to kill
including 7 to the head
now i'm not expert but i doubt therer are many people who would survive even two shots from close range in the head
there ya go
30 people in a room
at a work meeting that tells everybody that the organisation is going to be restructured and not one of them asks what everybody wants to know..............
.....
.
what about my job?!!!!
.....
.
what about my job?!!!!
Monday, July 25, 2005
london metropolitan police 1 - brazillian electricians 0
following the bush philosophy of 'if you harm a hair on the chiny chin chin of an american citizen we're going to bomb your medievel culture back to the stone age'
does this mean that brazil is going to launch a military campaign against the uk?
or at least send their soccer team over to teach them a lesson.
does this mean that brazil is going to launch a military campaign against the uk?
or at least send their soccer team over to teach them a lesson.
im a lazy guy
in fact im very lazy
not in the standard sense of sitting around watching a lot of tv. i dont do that really at all (except gordon ramsey i like his show)
but i have an ingrained laziness that makes me plan to do loads of things and not any
i dont speak loads of languages
i didn't study so i failed out of college
im not king of the world
i could have achieved all of these things but i didn't bother
now the point of this winge is that i'm unfit and a little over weight oh and i have a sucky diet
every day i promise to change this startign off with improving my diet but every day i go and buy my blueberry scone and moca for breakfast.
maybe it a fear of failure but it pisses me off
obviously not enough to make me do somethign about it but enoguh to make me pissed off
anyway
i thought i'd share
no now junk food for me at all this week
oh and i'm giving up alcohol until my mates going away party in september
not in the standard sense of sitting around watching a lot of tv. i dont do that really at all (except gordon ramsey i like his show)
but i have an ingrained laziness that makes me plan to do loads of things and not any
i dont speak loads of languages
i didn't study so i failed out of college
im not king of the world
i could have achieved all of these things but i didn't bother
now the point of this winge is that i'm unfit and a little over weight oh and i have a sucky diet
every day i promise to change this startign off with improving my diet but every day i go and buy my blueberry scone and moca for breakfast.
maybe it a fear of failure but it pisses me off
obviously not enough to make me do somethign about it but enoguh to make me pissed off
anyway
i thought i'd share
no now junk food for me at all this week
oh and i'm giving up alcohol until my mates going away party in september
my head hurts
probably through lack of work
maybe it's the weather
could be boredom
stress? (only kidding)
oh well
it hurts anyway
maybe it's the weather
could be boredom
stress? (only kidding)
oh well
it hurts anyway
monday in dublin
some idiot thought it was really funny to leae a hoax bomb outside the four courts this morning.
what was he/she trying to do?
get off his trial?
prove that he's just as cool as the 'lads' in london?
that the irish terrorisits are better than the uk ones? "i'm telling yis lads we dont even need bombs"
of that he's a fuckign moron?
answers on a postcard to 'the easiest quiz in the world, po box 12345'
what was he/she trying to do?
get off his trial?
prove that he's just as cool as the 'lads' in london?
that the irish terrorisits are better than the uk ones? "i'm telling yis lads we dont even need bombs"
of that he's a fuckign moron?
answers on a postcard to 'the easiest quiz in the world, po box 12345'
you have to ask a lot of questions about this world
Killer's fate hanging on his IQ
By Matthew Davis BBC News, Washington
The life of a convicted murderer is hanging in the balance while a US jury considers whether his intelligence has increased enough to allow him to be put to death.
Daryl Atkins was named in a landmark Supreme Court ruling in 2002 that said it was unconstitutional to execute the mentally retarded.
But the intellectual stimulation the killer got by constant contact with lawyers in the case is thought to have raised his IQ above the threshold of 70, which puts him in line for the death penalty in Virginia.
The 27-year-old's case has divided lawyers and psychologists and has become the latest battleground for those arguing for and against state-sanctioned executions in America.
It raises questions over who should decide on a criminal's competency and whether knowing details of their crime can skew that life-or-death decision.
Capital crime
Atkins is a violent killer, with a string of felony convictions.
It would be easy to deliberately do badly on one IQ test. But it would be very difficult to feign low cognition across time, different settings and multiple examiners Dr Bob Stinson Forensic psychologist
In 1996, he and another man abducted Eric Nesbitt, 21, a US airman from Langley Air Force Base.
They forced him to withdraw money from a cash machine, then took him to an isolated field where Atkins shot him eight times, killing him.
Atkins' IQ was tested in 1998, and was found to be 59, well below the level at which a person is deemed retarded in Virginia.
But when he was retested following the Supreme Court ruling defence experts found his IQ had risen to 74, while prosecutors said it was two points higher.
Dr Evan Nelson, who tested Atkins in 1998 and 2004, wrote in a report last year that "his constant contact with the many lawyers that worked on his case" gave him more intellectual stimulation in jail than he got during childhood.
"That included practising his reading and writing skills, learning about abstract legal concepts and communicating with professionals."
But prosecutors say Atkins was never retarded in the first place, indicated by the fact that he was able to load a gun, direct the victim to a cash machine and identify a remote spot for the killing.
Faking a result
For a person to be legally defined as mentally retarded in the US, the retardation must have been present before the age of 18.
It is expected that the jury will be asked to consider a wide range of evidence to determine Atkins's mental capacity.
This will include records from his childhood, various intelligence and memory tests and interviews with people who have known him as an adult.
An independent forensic psychologist, Dr Bob Stinson, told the BBC it would be "unusual and unexpected" for a person's IQ to rise 17 points in seven years.
"It would be easy to deliberately do badly on one IQ test," he said.
"But it would be very difficult to feign low cognition across time, different settings and multiple examiners."
Psychology tests used to evaluate a criminal's cognition typically include sophisticated traps to catch fakers.
Difficult questions that appear to be easy may be inserted to test whether people answer correctly because they feel they can allow themselves to get a simple answer right.
Other questions that look very different, but which are actually very similar, may be used to test consistency.
'Symbolic case'
But some fear Atkins will not get a fair hearing, because the jury will be told the full details of the murder.
Richard Dieter, of the Death Penalty Information Center, said: "This should be an objective determination, but it will be infected by the jury's knowledge of Atkins' crime.
"The Supreme Court ruled that we should not execute the mentally retarded, it did not say it should be a balancing act with the gruesomeness of a crime."
The DPIC says courts across the country have been struggling to put procedures in place that deal with possible mental retardation cases in the wake of the Supreme Court's ruling.
Mr Dieter said that while 19 people with low IQs had been given stays of execution in Texas - the US state that puts the most people to death - they were still on death row.
"This is a symbolic case," he added."There will be a lot of attention around the country to the outcome."
Story from BBC NEWS:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/4657897.stmPublished: 2005/07/25 05:35:57 GMT© BBC MMV
By Matthew Davis BBC News, Washington
The life of a convicted murderer is hanging in the balance while a US jury considers whether his intelligence has increased enough to allow him to be put to death.
Daryl Atkins was named in a landmark Supreme Court ruling in 2002 that said it was unconstitutional to execute the mentally retarded.
But the intellectual stimulation the killer got by constant contact with lawyers in the case is thought to have raised his IQ above the threshold of 70, which puts him in line for the death penalty in Virginia.
The 27-year-old's case has divided lawyers and psychologists and has become the latest battleground for those arguing for and against state-sanctioned executions in America.
It raises questions over who should decide on a criminal's competency and whether knowing details of their crime can skew that life-or-death decision.
Capital crime
Atkins is a violent killer, with a string of felony convictions.
It would be easy to deliberately do badly on one IQ test. But it would be very difficult to feign low cognition across time, different settings and multiple examiners Dr Bob Stinson Forensic psychologist
In 1996, he and another man abducted Eric Nesbitt, 21, a US airman from Langley Air Force Base.
They forced him to withdraw money from a cash machine, then took him to an isolated field where Atkins shot him eight times, killing him.
Atkins' IQ was tested in 1998, and was found to be 59, well below the level at which a person is deemed retarded in Virginia.
But when he was retested following the Supreme Court ruling defence experts found his IQ had risen to 74, while prosecutors said it was two points higher.
Dr Evan Nelson, who tested Atkins in 1998 and 2004, wrote in a report last year that "his constant contact with the many lawyers that worked on his case" gave him more intellectual stimulation in jail than he got during childhood.
"That included practising his reading and writing skills, learning about abstract legal concepts and communicating with professionals."
But prosecutors say Atkins was never retarded in the first place, indicated by the fact that he was able to load a gun, direct the victim to a cash machine and identify a remote spot for the killing.
Faking a result
For a person to be legally defined as mentally retarded in the US, the retardation must have been present before the age of 18.
It is expected that the jury will be asked to consider a wide range of evidence to determine Atkins's mental capacity.
This will include records from his childhood, various intelligence and memory tests and interviews with people who have known him as an adult.
An independent forensic psychologist, Dr Bob Stinson, told the BBC it would be "unusual and unexpected" for a person's IQ to rise 17 points in seven years.
"It would be easy to deliberately do badly on one IQ test," he said.
"But it would be very difficult to feign low cognition across time, different settings and multiple examiners."
Psychology tests used to evaluate a criminal's cognition typically include sophisticated traps to catch fakers.
Difficult questions that appear to be easy may be inserted to test whether people answer correctly because they feel they can allow themselves to get a simple answer right.
Other questions that look very different, but which are actually very similar, may be used to test consistency.
'Symbolic case'
But some fear Atkins will not get a fair hearing, because the jury will be told the full details of the murder.
Richard Dieter, of the Death Penalty Information Center, said: "This should be an objective determination, but it will be infected by the jury's knowledge of Atkins' crime.
"The Supreme Court ruled that we should not execute the mentally retarded, it did not say it should be a balancing act with the gruesomeness of a crime."
The DPIC says courts across the country have been struggling to put procedures in place that deal with possible mental retardation cases in the wake of the Supreme Court's ruling.
Mr Dieter said that while 19 people with low IQs had been given stays of execution in Texas - the US state that puts the most people to death - they were still on death row.
"This is a symbolic case," he added."There will be a lot of attention around the country to the outcome."
Story from BBC NEWS:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/4657897.stmPublished: 2005/07/25 05:35:57 GMT© BBC MMV
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
ten reasons why i like top ten lists
1 - they are the perfect length to read in work without feeling your taking the piss
2 - you get to dissagree with them
3 - you can call the author an idiot just because they didn't include your favorite variety of pasta / computer game etc
4- they're lists
5- you get to wow your friends with info on the busiest shopping street in the country (henry street)
6- its saves me putting together my top ten lists
7- there's not too many words so i don't get bored reading them
8- my friends don't like top ten lists
9- they always lose their edge at around 8 or 9 in the list
10- i can't think of any more
2 - you get to dissagree with them
3 - you can call the author an idiot just because they didn't include your favorite variety of pasta / computer game etc
4- they're lists
5- you get to wow your friends with info on the busiest shopping street in the country (henry street)
6- its saves me putting together my top ten lists
7- there's not too many words so i don't get bored reading them
8- my friends don't like top ten lists
9- they always lose their edge at around 8 or 9 in the list
10- i can't think of any more
Monday, July 04, 2005
miss castaway
i just came across a site for this movie 'miss castaway and the island girls' in which michael jackson has a part. really weird.
check it out
www.misscastaway.com
check it out
www.misscastaway.com
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