It started out OK, but I got a sensitive tooth that then went to full-blown pain and swelling and etc (let's not go there, huh) - suffice to say I am off work (phone support isn't much good from someone talking like The Elephant Man).
Haven't slept well, grumpy and depressed - hard to read or watch tv (headache) and so on - so not even fun time off.
You see - you didn't need to know this, did you? Shall I throw in that my friend Mick died ten years ago today, and we miss him as much today as then (Time may heal the wound, but the scar remains).
All this and the UK have now adopted the USA's Trick or Treat, as well as our own Firework Night, so now we have a whole week of hysteria and fireworks, etc.
Just be grateful you don't have to share a house with me right now.....
"Paradise
Is exactly like
Where you are right now
Only much much
Better"
Language is a virus
Laurie Anderson
Saturday, October 30, 2004
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
A grumpy old man after my own heart - H.L. Mencken
Mencken's Creed
I believe that religion, generally speaking, has been a curse to mankind - that its modest and greatly overestimated services on the ethical side have been more than overcome by the damage it has done to clear and honest thinking.
I believe that no discovery of fact, however trivial, can be wholly useless to the race, and that no trumpeting of falsehood, however virtuous in intent, can be anything but vicious.
I believe that all government is evil, in that all government must necessarily make war upon liberty...
I believe that the evidence for immortality is no better than the evidence of witches, and deserves no more respect.
I believe in the complete freedom of thought and speech...
I believe in the capacity of man to conquer his world, and to find out what it is made of, and how it is run.
I believe in the reality of progress.
I - But the whole thing, after all, may be put very simply. I believe that it is better to tell the truth than to lie. I believe that it is better to be free than to be a slave. And I believe that it is better to know than be ignorant.
I believe that religion, generally speaking, has been a curse to mankind - that its modest and greatly overestimated services on the ethical side have been more than overcome by the damage it has done to clear and honest thinking.
I believe that no discovery of fact, however trivial, can be wholly useless to the race, and that no trumpeting of falsehood, however virtuous in intent, can be anything but vicious.
I believe that all government is evil, in that all government must necessarily make war upon liberty...
I believe that the evidence for immortality is no better than the evidence of witches, and deserves no more respect.
I believe in the complete freedom of thought and speech...
I believe in the capacity of man to conquer his world, and to find out what it is made of, and how it is run.
I believe in the reality of progress.
I - But the whole thing, after all, may be put very simply. I believe that it is better to tell the truth than to lie. I believe that it is better to be free than to be a slave. And I believe that it is better to know than be ignorant.
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
A short break
It was delightful to meet up with Yo again, and talk into the night. In the daytime I got to hang out with Tilda, taking long walks around the town, exploring the parks and the beach, or playing at home. I even did a bit of successful charity shop foraging.
I was pretty lucky with the weather, too, catching some rays among the showers.
There is a flurry of Academy work to catch up on, of course, so I am still neglecting regular postings here, or updates to the website.
It will all start again, soon enough.
I was pretty lucky with the weather, too, catching some rays among the showers.
There is a flurry of Academy work to catch up on, of course, so I am still neglecting regular postings here, or updates to the website.
It will all start again, soon enough.
Friday, October 08, 2004
Curb Your Enthusiasm
It's great working in a library - today I noticed we had bought the first series of Curb Your Enthusiasm. We didn't have the UK tv channel that was showing this series, so I have only seen one episode until now.
I knew that Larry David was the mind behind Seinfeld (most specifically portrayed by George) but I didn't know much more. I knew the director was Bob Weide cos I am on his mailing list, and bought his special on W.C.Fields (on video, as I got tired of waiting for his DVD deal to come through), but haven't got the Marx Brothers in a Nutshell yet (still hoping for DVD).
I have just watched the HBO special and the interview, and it is a joy. The Great Man himself, incarnate.
I recommend any and all of this stuff.
Whereas, although I thought Spaced was one of the best new UK comedy tv shows (alongside Black Books) I just didn't 'get' Shaun of the Dead - never been a zombie man myself (or computer games) and it just didn't make the cut, for me. Ran out of jokes, couldn't be a real horror film, didn't even make it as a Hammer Horror send-up of the fears.
Sorry guys.
I knew that Larry David was the mind behind Seinfeld (most specifically portrayed by George) but I didn't know much more. I knew the director was Bob Weide cos I am on his mailing list, and bought his special on W.C.Fields (on video, as I got tired of waiting for his DVD deal to come through), but haven't got the Marx Brothers in a Nutshell yet (still hoping for DVD).
I have just watched the HBO special and the interview, and it is a joy. The Great Man himself, incarnate.
I recommend any and all of this stuff.
Whereas, although I thought Spaced was one of the best new UK comedy tv shows (alongside Black Books) I just didn't 'get' Shaun of the Dead - never been a zombie man myself (or computer games) and it just didn't make the cut, for me. Ran out of jokes, couldn't be a real horror film, didn't even make it as a Hammer Horror send-up of the fears.
Sorry guys.
If voting could change anything they'd make it illegal
Crissie T just sent me this excellent US election voting gag
(before the Brits get too smug, never forget that what they do, we do a few years after...)
(before the Brits get too smug, never forget that what they do, we do a few years after...)
Thursday, October 07, 2004
Tuesday, October 05, 2004
Creative Writing
I am still writing several hundred words a day (just exercise, like walking 2-3 miles every day)- but I am doing it in the Academy precincts. It's fun though - as I tend to self-censor in this blog, knowing that anyone and all sorts of people might come across it (I don't kid myself that many would seek it out!)
The fun in a restricted area is to let loose a little, with my more crazy or irresponsible thoughts. There is a tolerant gang around, and even if they disagree they do so politely - we haven't had any flame wars yet.
It seems to me a benign group because most of us lack rigid beliefs or taboos. Of course, to people who only feel secure with 'certainty' that means we are shape-shifters, or 'indecisive' or fickle. Most true believers seem to want you to believe the same as them, but if you can't bring yourself to do that you should at least adopt another firm belief. "Stand and fight!" The idea of living without such structures seems to spook the herd - they appear to think of amorality as much worse than immorality (if they can even make that distinction).
The fun in a restricted area is to let loose a little, with my more crazy or irresponsible thoughts. There is a tolerant gang around, and even if they disagree they do so politely - we haven't had any flame wars yet.
It seems to me a benign group because most of us lack rigid beliefs or taboos. Of course, to people who only feel secure with 'certainty' that means we are shape-shifters, or 'indecisive' or fickle. Most true believers seem to want you to believe the same as them, but if you can't bring yourself to do that you should at least adopt another firm belief. "Stand and fight!" The idea of living without such structures seems to spook the herd - they appear to think of amorality as much worse than immorality (if they can even make that distinction).
Monday, October 04, 2004
For those of you who wonder where I am...
Here's one of Bob's postings in the Academy:
THE PROGRESS REPORT http://www.progressreport.org
by David Sirota, Christy Harvey, Judd Legum and Jonathan Baskin
September 13, 2004
Correction: In Friday's Progress Report, we mistakenly said $145 million has been spent by the U.S. government in Iraq. The figure is actually $145 billion. We regret the error.
----------------------------------------------------------
Well, just be more careful in the future. As the late Sen. Dirksen said, "A billion here, a billion there -- pretty soon you're talkin' about REAL money."
RAW
THE PROGRESS REPORT http://www.progressreport.org
by David Sirota, Christy Harvey, Judd Legum and Jonathan Baskin
September 13, 2004
Correction: In Friday's Progress Report, we mistakenly said $145 million has been spent by the U.S. government in Iraq. The figure is actually $145 billion. We regret the error.
----------------------------------------------------------
Well, just be more careful in the future. As the late Sen. Dirksen said, "A billion here, a billion there -- pretty soon you're talkin' about REAL money."
RAW
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
