Weekly Quote - W/E 20/3/10

"Be with me always - take any form - drive me mad! Only do not leave me in the abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh God! It is unutterable! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!" - Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte

We're into the top 21 books now!!

And so it goes on...

OK so my hopeful prediction of Zombie-Love didn't come true...yet, but they're cranking out another twilight film and apparently there's a fourth book out too.

The trailer for Eclipse has been released and here's the promo poster.



















What will the saga hold in store next? To be fair you can probably make a decent guess.

Word of the post: Penchant –noun

a strong inclination, taste, or liking for something: a penchant for outdoor sports.

Weekly Quote - W/E 6/3/10

"Dear Mr Potter, we are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress." - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, J.K. Rowling

Virtual Insanity

More random reflection on life in the digital age. It's interesting how different my generation is to that of, say, my parents. Now of course all young folk follow different trend to that of their forebears, and maybe my perception is no different to previous generation's but I do feel that technology is widening the gap in how people of different ages approach the world.

One thing that has brought about significant change is automated checkouts. As Bill Bailey said 'you know, the one with two extra members of staff!' And this highlights the problem. Our local ASDA is well equipped with this stuff, sporting automated purchasing points for both goods and petrol.

















Some older folks will avoid these and fear them - it is not part of their understanding and they would rather deal with a person. I tend to regard this as irrational and I'm easily irritated by the cautious pace people take with these devices and how they have to keep asking questions. 'It's obvious' I think, ;just read what it says on the screen'.

I think this is another generational element. People of my age, and tech savvy nerds who grew up on 'super calculators' in the seventies, are used to developing, changing technology and to adapting to it on the fly. We will readily fiddle, change, turn off and on again and keep going until it works while others are left browsing the instruction manual. That's not to say I can do everything, nor am I acquainted with even half the tech that's out there, and yeah it was confusing the first time I used the auto pump - but heck, it's a chip and pin device with a touch screen - I can use both of those, why not do it together!

Conversely though I guess I am afraid of something in the same scenario - I prefer to avoid the checkout now there's the option. If I mess something up I won't get embarrassed in front of a computer, a computer won't say something weird and expect a conversational reply, a computer won't judge me for my food purchases. Again, I have to admit I do sometimes enjoy conversations with people at the tills, but buying petrol from a person is something I will always avoid when I have the opportunity.

I might be better equipped for the modern world, but I do wonder which disposition is ultimately better or worse?

Word of the post: Pedagogy–noun,plural-gies.

1. the function or work of a teacher; teaching.

2. the art or science of teaching; education; instructional methods.

Weekly Quote - W/E 27/2/10

"At least a hundred Dementors, their hidden faces pointing up at him, were standing below. It was as though freezing water was rising in his chest, cutting at his insides. And then he heard it again...someone was screaming, screaming inside his head." - Harry Potter and the Pris0ner of Azkaban, J.K. Rowling

The evolution of the hammock

Digging through my old pictures again and I found this gem of teenage prankery, again taken on the youth camp in 2005.

I don't think anyone actually sat on it mind.
















As we said at the time: 'It was the Badgers'

Word of the post: Gallimaufry –noun,plural-fries. Chiefly Literary.

1.

a hodgepodge; jumble; confused medley.

2.

a ragout or hash.

Origin:
1545–55; < class="ital-inline">galimafree kind of sauce or stew, prob. a conflation of galer to amuse oneself (see gallant) and Picard dial. mafrer to gorge oneself

Stuff I've read recently - 8

OK not too bad a length of time since my last post, I actually bombed through one of my books because it was on loan from the library but got a bit slowed down on the others due to additional work commitments. But I got there and a long train journey helped me finish them off so here's a look at the books I've been reading since I last talked about reading books.

The Bible - God

I finished off Revelation. I've always loved that book. I still haven't got my head around half of it, but I don't think it's as big a stumbling block as we sometimes see it to be, it is after all a revelation - not a mystery! Revelation also gives you a grand scale of what's going on and of God's plans. You see that there is a war between good and evil, but also that the war has been won and that God will and does reign supreme - something important to remember. I've also done a two week overview on the life of Jesus, seeing how God achieved ultimate victory.

The Sovereignty of God - A.W. Pink

A very helpful book dealing with a central issue and it's impact on our lives. God is supreme ruler of all the universe, not one centimetre of it can escape him or is out of his control. All events are forseen and controlled by God and nothing is outside of His power. Do we accept that, and what does that mean for us? While slightkly dated the book has lost none of it's relevance or clarity on this and it has been helpful to think through the scope of God's sovereign power and what it changes for me.

Wolverine: Origin - Paul Jenkins

One of the most loved comic book characters gets his beginnings explored in this great graphic novel. The film differs significantly from this story, only the opening few scenes are similar. It travels far back in time, showing the real age of the character and how long he has lived due to his restorative mutation. There are a number of twists and turns as 'Logan' finds who he is and accepts his mutation. If you're a Marvel fan well worth a read.

Star Trek: Countdown - Roberto Orci et al

The prequel to the new Star Trek movie takes place long after the events of the film - of yeah it's typical head-bendy Sci-Fi stuff here. The novel deals with the events that kick start the film, namely the destruction of the Romulan homeworld and the catapulting of Spock and Nero back to before the time of the first Enterprise. The book follows Spock and the crew of a certain famous vessel-E as they attempt to save Romulus and stop the tragic events that follow. I got mine with my copy of the DVD, good read.

Halo: The Fall of Reach - Eric Nylund

I bought this book because of the upcoming game, though the plots will likely have little in common it seems from recent interviews. Nonetheless it is good to have already a sense of what the planet Reach is about and what it cost humanity when it fell. The book largely centres around the Spartans as they are trained and augmented from childhood to be the best hope for humanity. In terms of the eponymous battle the book centres largely on naval engagements, showing how outclassed the UNSC are in space, something you don't see much of in the games.

OK more onto my 'main' books now.

Stardust - Neil Gaiman

This was lent to me by a friend. I will say now that if you liked the film and are thinking of getting the book for your kids - don't! It is a good book and a great fairy tale, but it is for grownups most definitely. Having said that it is a fun, heartwarming tale with equal parts humour and action. The faerie world is superbly described and the narrative flows so well that you soon finish the book, not because you couldn't put it down, but rather because you hadn't realised that you didn't put it down!

God Emperor of Dune - Frank Herbert

The next in the Dune series is a chunky old book, but I still got it read thanks to the impending library deadline. It is a break in style from the previous books, not least of all because Dune has been transformed into a lush garden world with only a hint of the desert and the Fremen tradition remaining. Leto II has reigned for millenia unchallenged, genetically engineering and shaping humanity into a path that it struggles to escape, but one that will keep it from extinction. And in training his allies he also trains his deadliest enemies all to his purposes. A convoluted, but still interesting and exciting read.

The Men Who Stare At Goats - Jon Ronson

A superb book. I got this on offer after seeing the film. The book is the result of the author investigating the psychic spying agencies in America. Not only are they real, but they were authorised (though not publicised) by the highest levels in the military. After the depressing end to Vietnam, different approaches were needed, some of those approaches involved training men to psychically locate targets, walk through walls and kill a goat just by staring at it. It's all true, though how successful they were is up for debate, and what's more this is a driving force behind psychological operations used extensively in the present Iraq War - incredible but (at least partly) true!!

Well that's it for now, I've nearly finished another book so you may hear from me soon, but I've also got some classics to read, which may slow me down!

Word of the post: Hodgepodge –noun

a heterogeneous mixture; jumble.

Weekly Quote W/E 20/02/10

"All alone it rose and looked across the marshes to the forest. The lonely mountain! Bilbo had come far and through many adventures to see it, and now he did not like the look of it in the least." - The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien

Today's post is brought to you by...the letter D!

That's right kids, this post is all about the letter D and also my blind fumbling into the world of music and bands and actually paying for music as opposed to streaming (not illegally downloading!!!) music from the web.

A while back I bough albums based on Red Hot Chilli Pepper's recommendations of 1. Buy bands your favourite bands like 2. by albums your friends like and 3. buy an album just 'cause you like the cover, and I accomplished all those goals. My music buying is still incredibly sporadic, though iTunes free single of the week has gotten me into new music such as Gaslight Anthem, Airborne Toxic Event and the XX, I'm also considering getting Temper Trap.

But now a new way has arisen to get me into more music, both new and old - alphabet CD buying!! My goals is to have one artist for each letter of the alphabet in my CD collection, and yes that does just show how limited my collection is. The first missing letter is, you guessed it...D!! I already have albums will the preceding letters,

A - Arcade Fire
B - Basement Jaxx
C - Coldplay

I considered a number of options, consulting with friends and browsing shelves. Contenders included Deep Purple and also contemporary electro bands Delphic and Does it Offend You Yeah? But in the end there was only one winner...

Dire Straits!










I've nodded along to so many of their songs at friend's houses and parties that I was, I think, always going to end up getting this band. I won't attempt to do their music justice by describing it other than to say it's great with many an iconic guitar riff found within.










The Album I got was a 'best of' - always a safe bet with a classic band. While my listening has largely consisted of playing 'Sultans of Swing' on repeat I have enjoyed the album and getting into less familiar (to me) songs such as 'Tunnel of Love'.

So there we go, where will my musical travels take me next...to HMV I'd imagine! I think the next missing letter is 'I' so chip in with suggestions.

Word of the post: Sentinel –noun

1.	a person or thing that watches or stands as if watching.

2.	a soldier stationed as a guard to challenge all comers and prevent a surprise attack: to stand sentinel.

Weekly Quote - W/E 13/2/10

"Women were expected to have weak opinions; but the great safeguard of society and of domestic life was, that opinions were not acted on. Sane people did what their neighbours did, so that if any lunatics were at large, one might know and avoid them." - Middlemarch, George Eliot

Weekly Quote - W/E 06/02/10

"I am doomed to remember a boy with a wrecked voice - not because of his voice, or because he was the smallest person I ever knew, or even because he was the instrument of my mother's death, but because he is the reason I believe in God, I am a Christian because of Owen Meaney." - A Prayer For Owen Meaney, John Irving

Splinter Cell World Tour, part 4

With the fifth game now near to release I'm continuing my imaginary travels based on Sam Fisher's exploits in the first game of the series, after visiting Georgia the journey now takes him back to American soil.

Langley, Virginia

Country: U.S.A.
Area: 47.9 km2
Population: 38, 929
Language: English






Sam's next mission takes him to very dangerous ground, infiltrating the very headquarters of the Central Intelligence Agency to gain information on the conspiracy going on within the government. The stealth element really ramps up in this mission as you are not supposed to be there at all, meaning you can't leave a trail of bodies behing, no matter how silently you dispatch them.

The name Langley is one I'm very familiar with from all the U.S. spy games and TV I've absorbed over the years, but I've very little other ideas about the place. For all intents and purposes the CIA HQ is the town's claim to fame. However it would still be great to go just to see the place and maybe get a tour of the ground floor or something. To be where secrets are held and important decisions are made would be an exciting thing I'm sure.

Other than that the town seems to be built up but fairly quiet and probably a pleasant place to visit. It is big enough to hold the publishing offices of USA Today, but from the scant information I've seen it's otherwise a leafy part of town which is good for a stroll after my exciting visit to CIA.

More soon.

Weekly Quote - W/E 30/1/10

"You're not buying only junk, you're buying junked lives. And more - you'll see - you're buying bitterness. Buying a plow to plow your own children under, buying the arms and spirits that might have saved you." - The Grapes Of Wrath, John Steinbeck

Weekly Quote - W/E 23/1/10

" ' But I don't want to go among mad people', Alice remarked.
'Oh you can't help that' said the cat: 'we're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad.'
'How do you know I'm mad?' said Alice
'You must be' said the cat 'or you wouldn't have come here' " Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll

Cambridge 2005

More random pics, these were taken on a visit to Cambridge in 2005 on a youth camp - I think it was the first time I'd been.

Weekly Quote - W/E 16/01/10

"I've gone past my sell-by date already. It gets hopeless when you get older than five or six. You've stopped being a cute little toddler and started to be difficult. And I'm not pretty either." - The Story of Tracy Beaker, Jaqueline Wilson

White death from above!

Aaaaaaah! It's still snowing, what are we going to do, how will we live...

oh wait, snow is actually quite fun, apparently you can build snowmen - even go sledging. Plus you get to stay off work (which is slightly less fun if you don't get paid I can say firsthand!) and be at home.

But oh no - it's a disaster according to the news as always, rather than five minutes of snowball fight footage and creating igloos we get the danger statistics, and if you're utterly cruel like ITV news, footage of a woman falling painfully after slipping on ice repeated in between every news item.

What I really hate is the bit where they do show the kiddies enjoying themselves and end with a pessimistic line like 'it might be fun for these youngsters, but many of us will be finding it hard to laugh this winter. Back to the studio." Euugh, leave 'em to their fun don't drag the innocent into your fearmongering!

Well these are unusual circumstances in that it has snowed on more than two consecutive occasions within the same month so that's panic stations for us, and a normal day for many many places in the world. But should the situation continue the BBC have issued some guidance.

The situation does give rise to some cool stuff like this classic image of what is now known as 'Frozen Britain'










































Have fun out there everyone, and above all stay safe.

Word of the post: snow –noun

1.	Meteorology. a precipitation in the form of ice crystals, mainly of intricately branched, hexagonal form and often agglomerated into snowflakes, formed directly from the freezing of the water vapor in the air.

2.	these flakes as forming a layer on the ground or other surface.

3.	the fall of these flakes or a storm during which these flakes fall.

Weekly Quote W/E 09/01/10

"Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buenida was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice." - One Hundred Years Of Solitude, Gabriel Garcia Marquez

A Christmas treat

Another great moment from working with kids - this one during a Christmas concert - the reading is taken (phonetically) from the book of Matthew

'After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Maggie from the east came to Jerusalem'


















Dontcha just love it?!!

Word of the post: Objective –noun

1.	something that one's efforts or actions are intended to attain or accomplish; purpose; goal; target: the objective of a military attack; the objective of a fund-raising drive.

Weekly Quote W/E 02/02/10

The first of 2010!

"I am become death" - Robert J. Oppenheimer

Had this one in my head for a while - fun one to start the year eh?