Weekly Quote W/E 31/05/08

Some hollow philosophy for ya this week

"As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light of meaning in the darkness of mere being." - C.G.Jung - Memories, Dreams, Reflections.

The Future (未来)

I took another trip to Liverpool today thanks to having half term off. It was nice to once again be in the town and still feeling strangely at home in it.

Anyway, on the train there there were two girls of around GCSE age sitting next to me bemoaning the fact that they had to learn basic Chinese in school, which I found very intriguing. Learning Chinese was unthinkable in my day, my school couldn't (and probably still can't) offer Chinese even if you wanted to do it. In fact since we had compulsory Welsh doing another language such as French say was entirely optional unlike a lot of schools which have a choice of French or Spanish say. I'm glad to see that Welsh has become a bit of a bigger agenda in schools now, though I'm sad to see the additional pressure it puts on teachers who just don't seem to be getting the resources to do it.

Back to the topic, I found Chinese interesting as it reflects the fact that China is growing as an economic and political power and I guess people are preparing for the time when it may one day rival America. If that is the case my generation will be stumped if Chinese becomes more of a trade language. These factors were lost on the benefactors as they couldn't see any particular reason for them to go on holiday to China! I also find it amusing as I am a fan of the TV series Firefly in which the characters frequently switch to Chinese while talking, also in anticipation of China becoming a potential superpower.

Liverpool was nice and this time I got to see more of the shopping area and not just the bar scene as last time. We checked out the new shopping centre in Paradise street and it is, I have to say, awesome! It is a two level area stretching out with walkways crossing across the first floor and connecting to other buildings. The great thing about it was that the shops are all in close proximity like a shopping centre ought to be, but there's also sky above your head and a breeze blowing through so there's none of that nauseating feeling you get after being in a shopping centre too long. The design of the place is fantastic - one of the bridges has a twisting design, but is entirely smooth inside and the two layer concourse is a delight to see. Even the parking is awesome, with a gray floor and black rectangles denoting parking space instead of the boring old white lines. There's plenty more being built with multiple architectural designs around and it looks set to rival even the Trafford Centre. The in-city location is also very convenient. It unfortunately lacks many guy shops, but will hopefully get more accesible stores in sometime soon. In the meantime it's well worth going just to see it.

Word of the post: Transient –adjective

1.	not lasting, enduring, or permanent; transitory.

Half Term

I am, unlike most working stiffs, enjoying the glorious week's rest that is half term. Those of you in education will be enjoying this week, though most of you I know have it tainted by the proximity of exams, but a week to cram in those final revision sessions is just as valued as a week of rest if not quite as enjoyable. I myself have no such pressures and I guess I could feel a bit guilty about having a week without work or obligation - but heck life's too short for that!

Have I done much? No. I do tend to feel some need to do something great or cool with my holidays, but then again if I was busy doing stuff it wouldn't be much of a holiday would it?! I've met up with a few friends and plan to make another trip to Liverpool tomorrow. I've also managed to get a fair bit of writing done, and completed one of several first chapters of ideas that I've had. I hope I can keep it up and get onto the daunting chapter 2! I've had a nice day today reading and doing character and plot outlines for yet another idea I've head, this one is for a comic book something I've not attempted for a while.

Be aware that I've never had anything published and that most of what I write gets abandoned as I realise it can't live up to the delusions of grandeur I get when I start each piece. But I hope I've got better motivation than glory and can be satisfied with all the great things I've already got by God's good grace. anyway I do seem to have caught the bug again after a while of not doing anything and have continued writing. I tend to have an outlet for writing when I'm not doing anything and that's my Sci-Fi blog, which is slightly in danger of overtaking this one in post quantity and partyl the reason for this meandering unthoughtthrough post.

And also the reason for me ending it!

Word of the post: Snarl –verb (used without object)

1.	to growl threateningly or viciously, esp. with a raised upper lip to bare the teeth, as a dog.

Weekly Quote W/E 24/05/08

Another quiet week

"At Hallowe'en the old ghosts come about us, and they speak to some; to others they are dumb." - Hallowe'en, Eleanor Farjean

Weekly Quote W/E 17/05/08

"I am a brother to dragons,
and a companion to owls.
My skin is black upon me,
and my bones are burned with heat." - Job 30 v 29-30

Just when I couldn't think of anything to blog about!

Well I was just contemplating a Tim-style post about how I haven't done much posting and what I'd like to write when I stumbled across something quite magnificent which I will share with you now. It's an inovative animation done like none I've seen before - it's very abstract so don't try too hard to understand it just marvel at the artistry and skill which went to this.

And make sure you wait for the man with a briefcase - just when you think it couldn't be any more innovative it just gets better!



MUTO a wall-painted animation by BLU from blu on Vimeo.

Hope you enjoy - thanks to Penny Arcade for the link by the way - the artist's name is Blu.

Weekly Quote W/E 10/05/08

"Battle not with monsters, lest ye become a monster,
and if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Frederich Wilhelm Nietzsche

Here come the bugs!!

Once again the sun has started shining just before we were ready for it, leaving us unsure of what to wear each day as the weather could still turn to rain at any second. We are also determined to get out and enjoy the sun as much as we can in case it's an early 5 day summer. Glorious as it is, and as much as I do genuinely love having sunny days I am, of course, here to complain...I mean, this is a blog after all!

The sunshine has brought insects out of hiding and they are all swarming around like there's no tomorrow. I've already gotten into a habit of sweeping my hand in front of me as I walk around and I've delt with several wasp incursions already. So the sun may be lovely and bright, the grass seems that much more green, but the blue sky looks set to be blocked out by a deadly swarm ready to descend and bite anyone unfortunate enough to be outside at the time.

Be warned!

Word of the post: Dirigible –adjective

2.	designed for or capable of being directed, controlled, or steered.

Capital of Culture

Recently I got a chance to revisit my university town of Liverpool. While I didn't stay there and couldn't uite call it a "second home" I still feel quite atached to the place and it was great to have an opportunity to be back, which I don't often get. And so I visited my old Uni building, trotted about familiar streets and sat back in the sun.

The city has been named European Capital of Culture 2008. I must admit to being a bit skeptical to their getting it at first, one would imagine only renaisance type places would get it, but having been there some time I do feel now that it is merited. While not particularly "classic" the city does, nonetheless, posess a unique culture of it's own, perhaps underappreciated by those of us in close proximity to it. This culture is exported worldwide through Beatle-mania and so is recognizable and viable to the award givers.

The city is also mutlicultural, I walked through the outskirts of China Town each day and it was fascinating to see a sub culture reflected in the architecture and faces on the streets - when I wasn't running to a lecture that is!! There is also a thriving arts and literature culture which I was part of when there to a degree. (Hey that's a joke!!)

But what did the award mean to me. Well it meant that for the three years I was there the city was one large building site and they're only just finishing now that I've left!!! One week all the traffic would be redirected, the next the pavement would be gone, replaced by a widened road. A lot of remodelling went on, and while the place does look more or less the same it has at least smartened up it's attire a little.

One little stop gap measure they've used is to plasture dilapidated buildings with Liverpool 08 posters. Not in the fly poster type way, but large colourful murals which turn eyesores into adverts for a great city. One of the best upgrades I'd seen, though I couldn't experience it fully unfortunately was to open up St Lukes cathedral which was heavily damaged by bombs. I was startled to hear operatic voices coming from withing - the only previous inhabitants being trees!!

So while it hasn't quite turned into Rome (though if you miss out the Colluseum, Rome's pretty overrated if you ask me!) it is still a worthy city and a place I'd love to revisit any time.

Word of the post: Intangible –adjective

1.	not tangible; incapable of being perceived by the sense of touch, as incorporeal or immaterial things; impalpable.

Weekly Quote W/E 03/05/08

"Tyger, Tyger
burning bright,
In the forests
of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?"

- William Blake