I've come round to filling out the blog again.
Also I've been working nights and been listening to a lot of night radio. If you ever find yourself driving around London at night and want something different to listen to try Radio 3 on a Thursday Night from 00:00am. Not the most linear playlist, but you won't be bored.
Also, have re-confirmed to myself that my Dad's car's (two words, two apostrophe's but I think you'll find that it's grammatically correct) stereo is absolutely rubbish and has more treble than Alan Johnson's voice and is therefore difficult to listen to.
Have also been agitated by Nick Robinson's election coverage. Character assassination at every opportunity on Gordon Brown. Not what I was expecting from the BBC.
Have learnt to enjoy one's own company. Will be useful in the next few years of work-forced solitude.
Friday, 9 July 2010
Tuesday, 6 April 2010
Misunderstanding Existance
Industry has, for a long time, denied climate change for obvious reasons.
First of all, the science "just didn't add up". Then, the science was "shaky". Unfortunately, now that the scientific community has told the "spokespeople" (lobbyists) of these industries that they don't have a leg to stand on, they've had to silently acknowledge man-made climate change and come up with another way to prevent people from reducing their consumption.
I was lucky enough to hear one of these "spokespeople" and their statements today on the radio.
"Climate change is a very complex subject and can only be understood by very few scientists".
I assume the underlying message of that would be "you don't understand, so there is nothing to worry about, it might as well not exist".
Do they think that just because the public doesn't fully understand something will mean that they won't see how it could effect them?
I'm writing this on a computer and although I can make a mean PowerPoint, I can't begin to understand how my laptop works. That doesn't mean that computers don't effect me, or I can't understand what Asimov was trying to get at about artificial intelligence.
The reason why our economy is so tangled in legislation is due to a corporate-level moral irresponsibility, of which the denial of climate change is a prime example.
It seems our corporations have grasped the art of lobbying while ignoring the reasons they need to lobby in the first place.
First of all, the science "just didn't add up". Then, the science was "shaky". Unfortunately, now that the scientific community has told the "spokespeople" (lobbyists) of these industries that they don't have a leg to stand on, they've had to silently acknowledge man-made climate change and come up with another way to prevent people from reducing their consumption.
I was lucky enough to hear one of these "spokespeople" and their statements today on the radio.
"Climate change is a very complex subject and can only be understood by very few scientists".
I assume the underlying message of that would be "you don't understand, so there is nothing to worry about, it might as well not exist".
Do they think that just because the public doesn't fully understand something will mean that they won't see how it could effect them?
I'm writing this on a computer and although I can make a mean PowerPoint, I can't begin to understand how my laptop works. That doesn't mean that computers don't effect me, or I can't understand what Asimov was trying to get at about artificial intelligence.
The reason why our economy is so tangled in legislation is due to a corporate-level moral irresponsibility, of which the denial of climate change is a prime example.
It seems our corporations have grasped the art of lobbying while ignoring the reasons they need to lobby in the first place.
Friday, 2 April 2010
"That's a good drawing." "Why? Who drew it?" "...ah."
It's well known that, in art, the artist is considered before the quality of the drawing. Usually this means that the well known artists get an instant leg-up.
I don't doubt how distinguished this emeritus Dean of Art (I assume he's dutch) is, but I can be confident that Dean has never seen GCSE Art coursework.
"Drawings believed to be those that Adolf Hitler submitted in a failed attempt to gain entry into the Vienna Academy of Art are to be auctioned. A distinguished emeritus dean of art has studied them and said that today they would be considered only up to "moderate GCSE standard"
I don't doubt how distinguished this emeritus Dean of Art (I assume he's dutch) is, but I can be confident that Dean has never seen GCSE Art coursework.
Friday, 26 March 2010
The World's Most High-Profile Elected Invalid
I've never understood the entertainment value catholics seems to wring from standing in St. Peters Square on Easter Sunday. I'm also puzzled by catholics eagerness to see the Pope in the flesh.
I started this thought train after reading the pretty unanimous reviews of the first Formula One race of the season. Formula One has for a long time had the problem of keeping people interested. The nature of Formula One for the competitors is to be as dominant as possible whereas the entertainment for fans is to be extracted from tight competition. That's not exclusive to Formula One of course, that's pretty much a standard for any televised sport, the only difference is that the amount of money tied into certain teams being dominant is too great to end up doing anything about it.
So the F1 big wigs at the FIA decided to change the rules, and then change them again, and then again... The rules have been changed so many times to so many levels of success that most of the anticipation felt before a new F1 season doesn't regard which driver or team are going to win, but whether the season will be worth watching at all. The rights holder, Bernie Ecclestone, points to "the spectacle" of the event as the thing that keeps it in business.
Formula One is struggling to keep its fans interested, but maybe it should have taken the advice from the Vatican. The Vatican schedule for Easter Sunday has never changed, indeed "the spectacle" of His Eminence's presence is enough to draw tens, maybe hundreds of thousands of Christians from around the world. Far from running around at 200mph producing 150dB, all the Pope needs to do is to sit in a very expensive chair and look old and frail, and people will flock back next year (and spend more money). Some will wave banners and sing like football hooligans. It's a very strange sight, and quite disturbing to see so many very obviously mad people collected in one area. I'm reading "Cell" by Stephen King at the moment and the parallels are frightening.
Personally, I've never seen the Pope move independently. I've always imagined that he was moved around on a sack truck to photo-opportunistic places around the Vatican, or for longer journeys he's moved around in the Popemobile (proof that money can't buy style). When he needs to sit down there are three lockable pivots replacing his hip and knees which allow him to bend. His arms and direction his head faces in are controlled by Barry, his personal bodyguard of fifteen years who has a remote control around his neck. Set-up for particularly important photo shoots can take anything up to four hours. This one took an hour and a half because it was difficult to get him to balance with his hands together in from of him while leaning forward. I suppose this is a "spectacle" as well, but in the same way as the pyramids rather than F1. Although the pyramids were actually built and physically exist and can be proved, as opposed to the Pope's standing which is a fabrication.
Formula One and catholicism have something else in common. Both have huge numbers of fans flocking to see someone dieing...
I started this thought train after reading the pretty unanimous reviews of the first Formula One race of the season. Formula One has for a long time had the problem of keeping people interested. The nature of Formula One for the competitors is to be as dominant as possible whereas the entertainment for fans is to be extracted from tight competition. That's not exclusive to Formula One of course, that's pretty much a standard for any televised sport, the only difference is that the amount of money tied into certain teams being dominant is too great to end up doing anything about it.
So the F1 big wigs at the FIA decided to change the rules, and then change them again, and then again... The rules have been changed so many times to so many levels of success that most of the anticipation felt before a new F1 season doesn't regard which driver or team are going to win, but whether the season will be worth watching at all. The rights holder, Bernie Ecclestone, points to "the spectacle" of the event as the thing that keeps it in business.
Formula One is struggling to keep its fans interested, but maybe it should have taken the advice from the Vatican. The Vatican schedule for Easter Sunday has never changed, indeed "the spectacle" of His Eminence's presence is enough to draw tens, maybe hundreds of thousands of Christians from around the world. Far from running around at 200mph producing 150dB, all the Pope needs to do is to sit in a very expensive chair and look old and frail, and people will flock back next year (and spend more money). Some will wave banners and sing like football hooligans. It's a very strange sight, and quite disturbing to see so many very obviously mad people collected in one area. I'm reading "Cell" by Stephen King at the moment and the parallels are frightening.
Personally, I've never seen the Pope move independently. I've always imagined that he was moved around on a sack truck to photo-opportunistic places around the Vatican, or for longer journeys he's moved around in the Popemobile (proof that money can't buy style). When he needs to sit down there are three lockable pivots replacing his hip and knees which allow him to bend. His arms and direction his head faces in are controlled by Barry, his personal bodyguard of fifteen years who has a remote control around his neck. Set-up for particularly important photo shoots can take anything up to four hours. This one took an hour and a half because it was difficult to get him to balance with his hands together in from of him while leaning forward. I suppose this is a "spectacle" as well, but in the same way as the pyramids rather than F1. Although the pyramids were actually built and physically exist and can be proved, as opposed to the Pope's standing which is a fabrication.
Formula One and catholicism have something else in common. Both have huge numbers of fans flocking to see someone dieing...
Wednesday, 24 March 2010
Unemployed or Economically Inactive?
Quote from The Times' website:
Youth unemployment was expected to be high up on the agenda in today’s Budget. Lower-than-forecast numbers of people claiming benefits — 1.6 million — means that the Government has more money to play with. However, behind the headline figures, the situation is dire. The “economically inactive”, people neither employed nor unemployed, stands at a record high of 8.16 million, suggesting that more young people are staying in education rather than face the dole. Unless the economy strengthens, a fresh wave of young unemployed could hit the market and destabilise recovery.
Full article here.
Much is made of those sitting in front of a television screen all day claiming benefits. There around 2 million people currently in higher education in the UK.
Are there really 6 million people who don't work and don't claim benefits and aren't in higher education? I don't see how this could be possible. I'm very confused.
Youth unemployment was expected to be high up on the agenda in today’s Budget. Lower-than-forecast numbers of people claiming benefits — 1.6 million — means that the Government has more money to play with. However, behind the headline figures, the situation is dire. The “economically inactive”, people neither employed nor unemployed, stands at a record high of 8.16 million, suggesting that more young people are staying in education rather than face the dole. Unless the economy strengthens, a fresh wave of young unemployed could hit the market and destabilise recovery.
Full article here.
Much is made of those sitting in front of a television screen all day claiming benefits. There around 2 million people currently in higher education in the UK.
Are there really 6 million people who don't work and don't claim benefits and aren't in higher education? I don't see how this could be possible. I'm very confused.
Thursday, 18 March 2010
"Common Sense" Mathematics and its Discrepancies
If the age of criminal responsibility is ten, why do we need to be eighteen years of ages before we can vote?
"Common sense" tells us that after our tenth birthday we should be held accountable for our actions, yet "common sense" also tells us that we aren't accountable for our vote until we are eighteen. In the eight years between these two dates, we are presumably accountable for actions that we take that affect others and yet not accountable for actions that we take that affect others.
I'm confused.
"Common sense" tells us that after our tenth birthday we should be held accountable for our actions, yet "common sense" also tells us that we aren't accountable for our vote until we are eighteen. In the eight years between these two dates, we are presumably accountable for actions that we take that affect others and yet not accountable for actions that we take that affect others.
I'm confused.
Sunday, 14 March 2010
Disproportionate Uproar and Constitutionalist Interpretation
I quite like Boris Johnson as mayor of London. He's a character and a well-rounded representative for the city and I'm sure sticks in the minds of those who come to visit which, from a tourism officer's point of view, is probably useful. This doesn't mean, however, that I agree with anything that he says.
He wrote a slightly entertaining piece about Scandinavian crime dramas last week, where he told us that the Scandinavian brand of socialism and big government meant you had to drive around during the day with your headlights on and other health and safety nonsense. I see the point that he was making that governments should allow the people some common sense when setting laws.
But personally, I would install headlights on my forehead if I could enjoy the standard of living of the Scandinavians. I'd much rather have to have my headlights on during the day than pay more tax than a multi-billionaire.
If you want to see how utterly pathetic and insignificant the people of the UK can be, you need only have joined me yesterday on a delayed train from Manchester Piccadilly to Sheffield. The train was delayed by 10 minutes and therefore got stuck behind a slower, stopping train using the same route. The journey took, at most, 20 minutes longer than it would have anyway.
Because it was busy, I was standing in the vestibule area by the door, uncomfortably close to a man who drank 15 cans of McEwan's between Piccadilly and Stockport. There was a woman and her son who moved down to the vestibule when we were about 10 miles outside of Sheffield.
The announcer made a cleverly worded announcement saying:
"I apologise for the delay but due to our late departure from Manchester Piccadilly we are stuck behind a slower service and will therefore most likely be arriving at Sheffield between 15 and 25 minutes late."
After that announcement, the woman held her watch up to her left eyeball and counted down the 900 seconds. As that 900th second past she melodramatically looked around at everyone else with a "look how hysterical I currently am!" expression on her face and then said, "So much for 15 minutes!" and in the following minute tutted one hundred times. She then went on to try and organise some sort of passenger revolt against the ticket-man, accusing him of "lieing over the loudspeaker", trying to find someone who agreed with her. Other passengers gave fuel to her fire, baiting her with their own tales of similar misfortune encountered on previous rail trips. One old man said that he'd missed his connection and if they didn't pay him compensation he was going to take the matter to court. Another suggested that we move over to the other line and overtake the train in front of us and then made the (correct) assumption that there were going to be "some bloody health and safety regulation against it".
Eventually the train pulled in to Sheffield station and everyone left the metal enclosure of the carriage, and silently walked through the station.
Black people all over Europe, the US and Africa complained when they were slaves, in the 1910's and 20's women in the UK fought for their right to vote, in Zimbabwe the people are trying to survive while their government rapes their economy for their own individual gain.
In the UK, we tirelessly fight against the burden of a moments inconvenience caused by a Health & Safety law. We get "outraged" when a train is delayed. We find something to get upset about.
Cheer the fuck up! (Sorry mum)
Boris Johnson might get the support of the knee-jerk morons I met on that train by moaning the popular tune about Health & Safety "madness", but he'll have to do a lot more to convince those with this "common sense" he seems so keen on.
**********************************************************************
Something I read earlier made me a little bit annoyed. In Texas, the curriculum the schools teach is being adjusted by the current state administration. The religious right wants to have more Christian values in textbooks and in teachings.
That didn't really annoy me because, at the end of the day, it's Texas. What annoyed me was that Cynthia Dunbar, a constitutionalist, has had Thomas Jefferson's name cut from the list of figures who inspired revolutions in the 18th and 19th century because he coined the term "separation between church and state". She is, unsurprisingly, a Christian who believes that the constitution was written on "Christian values".
David Bradley supports this by pledging money to charity if anyone can find the "separation of church and state" in the constitution.
Maybe Cynthia Dunbar could do her argument a favor and find the part of the constitution which proves it was written on Christian values...
He wrote a slightly entertaining piece about Scandinavian crime dramas last week, where he told us that the Scandinavian brand of socialism and big government meant you had to drive around during the day with your headlights on and other health and safety nonsense. I see the point that he was making that governments should allow the people some common sense when setting laws.
But personally, I would install headlights on my forehead if I could enjoy the standard of living of the Scandinavians. I'd much rather have to have my headlights on during the day than pay more tax than a multi-billionaire.
If you want to see how utterly pathetic and insignificant the people of the UK can be, you need only have joined me yesterday on a delayed train from Manchester Piccadilly to Sheffield. The train was delayed by 10 minutes and therefore got stuck behind a slower, stopping train using the same route. The journey took, at most, 20 minutes longer than it would have anyway.
Because it was busy, I was standing in the vestibule area by the door, uncomfortably close to a man who drank 15 cans of McEwan's between Piccadilly and Stockport. There was a woman and her son who moved down to the vestibule when we were about 10 miles outside of Sheffield.
The announcer made a cleverly worded announcement saying:
"I apologise for the delay but due to our late departure from Manchester Piccadilly we are stuck behind a slower service and will therefore most likely be arriving at Sheffield between 15 and 25 minutes late."
After that announcement, the woman held her watch up to her left eyeball and counted down the 900 seconds. As that 900th second past she melodramatically looked around at everyone else with a "look how hysterical I currently am!" expression on her face and then said, "So much for 15 minutes!" and in the following minute tutted one hundred times. She then went on to try and organise some sort of passenger revolt against the ticket-man, accusing him of "lieing over the loudspeaker", trying to find someone who agreed with her. Other passengers gave fuel to her fire, baiting her with their own tales of similar misfortune encountered on previous rail trips. One old man said that he'd missed his connection and if they didn't pay him compensation he was going to take the matter to court. Another suggested that we move over to the other line and overtake the train in front of us and then made the (correct) assumption that there were going to be "some bloody health and safety regulation against it".
Eventually the train pulled in to Sheffield station and everyone left the metal enclosure of the carriage, and silently walked through the station.
Black people all over Europe, the US and Africa complained when they were slaves, in the 1910's and 20's women in the UK fought for their right to vote, in Zimbabwe the people are trying to survive while their government rapes their economy for their own individual gain.
In the UK, we tirelessly fight against the burden of a moments inconvenience caused by a Health & Safety law. We get "outraged" when a train is delayed. We find something to get upset about.
Cheer the fuck up! (Sorry mum)
Boris Johnson might get the support of the knee-jerk morons I met on that train by moaning the popular tune about Health & Safety "madness", but he'll have to do a lot more to convince those with this "common sense" he seems so keen on.
**********************************************************************
Something I read earlier made me a little bit annoyed. In Texas, the curriculum the schools teach is being adjusted by the current state administration. The religious right wants to have more Christian values in textbooks and in teachings.
That didn't really annoy me because, at the end of the day, it's Texas. What annoyed me was that Cynthia Dunbar, a constitutionalist, has had Thomas Jefferson's name cut from the list of figures who inspired revolutions in the 18th and 19th century because he coined the term "separation between church and state". She is, unsurprisingly, a Christian who believes that the constitution was written on "Christian values".
David Bradley supports this by pledging money to charity if anyone can find the "separation of church and state" in the constitution.
Maybe Cynthia Dunbar could do her argument a favor and find the part of the constitution which proves it was written on Christian values...
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