Posts (page 2)
Just finished reading another book, that may interest anyone who's ever been infuriated, bamboozled or just plain stunned by the weird way English people behave.
I must confess I don't agree with everything mentioned, particularly some "Class identifiers". However, it does a good job of explaining many strange aspects of English behaviour including, but not limited to, topics such as:
- What the hell makes us so interested in the weather anyway?
- Why are we so stand-off-ish?
- Why do we moan all the time (yes whinging poms)?
- Why are we seemingly reserved, yet prone to wanton acts of violence and bad behaviour?
- Why do we apologise for things that aren't our fault, or a fault?
- The importance of the pub.
- Our general lack of patriotism.
- Our seemingly inexhaustible capacity for hypocrisy.
- Humour, its importance and our supposed mastery of ironic wit.
- Queueing.
- Religion, or more accurately our lack of it.
Gift.
So as expected, my best man and ushers rose to the task of being fitted for suits with ease. Just as well too because sorting out the bridesmaids was a right pain. Anyway, I settled for tails rather than frock coats etc. and I should be dressed something like the bloke in this picture:
I'll have a gold waistcoat and cravat but the pattern will be slightly different, rather like this:
Which, incidentally, is roughly the colour (well not as powerfully purple) my best man and ushers will wear; they have to match the bridesmaids. We decided against top hats, chiefly because I look like an arse in them. Looking silly aside my friends really mobilised themselves when I needed them to, despite one of them having a small boy and pregnant other half to worry about, I'm glad I've got such reliable mates.
In other news, we finalised plans with the florist, the publican running our bar and chased down late repliers. The last item was not without issue, my family are terribly matriarchal and partisan so I've had to negotiate over my guest list to keep people happy. A bit bloody annoying but not unexpected, fortunately I've not had to invite any more people than I was planning due to various drop outs and well... it keeps the peace.
That said, although I've had a thoroughly exasperating time with my family at least I can tell what they want. Astraad's on the other hand frequently speak in code and requests arrive by a system of Chinese whispers. The latest incident involving speeches, where our policy was/is: the fewer the better. Wedding speeches can drag on if there are too many, and worse can be complete train wrecks, so to preserve tempers and face we settled on just two speakers. Obviously the best man has to make one, and the second I was going to be me combing the speech with the groom's thank yous and gift giving. We did ask Astraad's father if he wanted to give a speech, to which the reply was "I will if you want me to". That being the case, and knowing that Astraad's family don't care for big weddings (or that's the impression I got when her mother propelled at me for 20/30 minutes on the subject), we said "it's ok don't worry about it". Unfortunately though we hear down the grapevine, some months later mind, that his real answer should have been "Yes I'll be offended if you don't ask me". Sooo... we're back to the two speech plan but now it'll be Astraad's father then my best man, I'll just do thank yous. Not that I mind the new plan, but it's infuriating that I can't get a blessed direct answer unless one of them looses their rag (and sometimes not even then). Yes, I think it's fair to say between Astraad's family's mercurial desires and their very plain lack of enthusiasm for our wedding plans I'm quite fed up with the wedding logistics. >:(
Ending on a positive note, I am looking forward to the event itself and I'm getting pretty excited about it. Once we've tied up the loose ends, I'll be a happy man.
Gift.
Well I've been between MMOs for sometime now but my first love was Star Wars Galaxies (SWG). It ticked all the Star Wars geek boxes and, originally, was wonderfully free form and fun to play. Well as many people can tell you SWG was rather brutally dumbed down probably in a wasted effort to attract WoW players and it hasn't been the same since.
However, I don't want to go on an extended moan about the game's current short comings. No, this entry is here only to present a few choice screen shots that made me long for the old days, when most of my friends still played and I was happy being a force sensitive Master Doctor/Pistoleer.
Gift.
Well we finally got a hold of Astraad's youngest sister for a dress modelling session and settled on a design and colour for our three bridesmaids. I spend a fair proportion of Saturday nodding and smiling as different dresses were tried. Incidentally the bridesmaid's boyfriend buggered off and left me with the girls when this was going on, I don't blame him I guess but a bit of solidarity would have been nice; I felt bloody conspicuous as the only male in the shop. :D
In case anyone is interested the dress can be found here. We settled on the colour called "smashing" (third row down third column in), it's a bit pinker in real life compared to the web page. A sort of dusky red wine colour I guess. Anyway, we couldn't have cut it any finer think. The dresses will take 3-4 months to be made, which is damn close to our wedding date. No clue why they should take so long, maybe specially trained dress fairies have to be clapped to life or something bloody stupid. Whatever the case, I wish we hadn't held on so long for Astraad's sister when deciding on a dress; we've got little to no room for error now :(
Now, I'd like to say that's one source of stress out of the way, but I'd be lying. The logistics of getting dresses made and sent to different ends of the country (the bridesmaids don't live in the same place) for fitting is a disaster waiting to happen IMO. Still I've paid for them so at least that's covered, just don't ask me how much and I won't cry ;)
Anyhoo, that delight covered I've now got to set about hiring suits for myself, my best man and ushers... Again this could be an adventure at least one of them isn't in the country right now. However, the silver lining in this case is that I can rely on my friends and family to turn up and get the job done with the minimum of fuss, so as soon as my errant usher is back in the UK I'm sure I can get everything sorted easily.
Gift.
PS found a picture, albeit in the wrong colour and a bit small. Still if the flash thingie on the company's web page is too much of a pain at least you can get an idea from the photo.
Ex-python Terry Jones returns to The Life of Brian question, "What have the Romans ever done for us?" and comes to some radically different conclusions to The People's Front of Judea (or whatever the guerilla group was finally called).
It's witty, interesting and not very complimentary to the Roman empire (as was). In fact I have to say I've seldom enjoyed reading a history book quite so much. Jones appears to have corresponded with a large number of academics and synthesised their findings into a, depressing yet, hilarious read. If like me you were under the impression that the Romans were a force for progress and, after a fashion, law and order this book will quickly disabuse you of that notion. It seems the Empire was rather a large leech: uninterested in technology unless it was for war; uninterested in law unless it protected their property and, driven by the need to fund a huge army, rapacious beyond belief.
Indeed, it is truly distressing to hear how advanced engineering such as steam power fell by the wayside, recognised as little more than a toy as it was crushed out under iron shod sandals. And that's just insult to injury when you consider the infamous loss of the library at Alexandria (destroyed as pagan by state sponsored religious fervour). More terrible still is the lingering feeling that this may not be the worst of it, the book describes an Empire vehemently in opposition to any change in the status quo; Rome appears to have discarded or suppressed vast stores of knowledge to maintain its unsteady equilibrium. Consequently, now I really wish I knew what the Greeks did with their steam engines, exactly what the Dacian's rival religion was and the answers to a great many other questions. Sadly much now seems lost to time thanks to the blundering state bully that was Rome and alas, the gaps left in our knowledge are so big I fear we'll never know or even guess how much was lost.
On a lighter note the book also describes lots of war myths (and more seriously actual wars) the Romans dreamed up. I had no idea the Vandals had such bad press! For an impulsive rampaging beast the Vandals come across as quite timid and even the Romans describe them as "un-war-like". So much for received wisdom... a lot of what I "knew" turned out to be apologetics of the worst kind. I guess I should have known the facts were more complex than I imagined but until now I never gave it much thought!
Still always look on the bright side of life...
Gift.
Hmm just a quick post as I noticed others on Vox are posting their "life anthems" and while I'm on the subject of music... well why not? Not too sure what "Life anthem" is supposed to mean, I guess it means the song I like most and says something about me. The track is taken from the Depeche Mode album, Songs of Faith and Devotion:
The specific track is called "One caress", I love the collection of strings and heartfelt vocals. However, before anyone listens to the song and thinks I'm a bit of a morbid and self indulgent teenager I'd like to say I find it up-lifting, not depressing. It's kind of an anthem to a loved one who can pick you up and make you feel good no matter what, I think many non-Depeche Mode fans miss that (but then who can blame them DM-fans do wear a lot of black probably makes us look a bit mopey ;)).
Anyhoo, the video is here:
The film itself is a bit daft/odd but highly enjoyable all the same.
Gift.
And this album is one Astraad got for me. I'm also kicking the hell out of it, it's a good job CDs don't wear out. It's much more electronica/sampling etc. which probably won't come as a surprise to anyone who has heard of Alan Wilder (the producer). Since leaving Depeche mode (another favourite band of mine) Recoil has been his pet project. It makes for fine listening, perhaps a little dark for some tastes but fabulous nevertheless. Subhuman is particularly notable for using many more Deep Husky bluesy/gospel voices than the previous Album, which was mostly performance poetry set to music.
Oh and one last thing to leave you with! I thought this guy was brilliant:
Gift.
PS I hope these embedded videos last, I'll try and make copies and youtube them if they disappear. Also, I'll dig up some Recoil samples for anyone interested at a later date.
I noticed Mike added some books today, and thought WTH I'll just mention the book I'm nearly finished reading.
It's a philosophical work of fiction (think Voltaire without the wit and subtlety), it's very interesting I'll give it that, and I am sympathetic to Ayn Rand's views. I have some technocratic leanings and I think her apparent love of discovery/invention is gratifying (even though it's clear she doesn't truly grasp how I feel about my work as a scientist). Indeed, she's almost child-like in imagining the accomplishments of science (describing a motor that sounds like it violates the first law of thermodynamics :D), rather like a sci-fi writer. However, sadly, she doesn't seem appreciate the study required to do science; many of the heroes in her book work their way up from the shop floor. I suppose this would have seemed more realistic at the time she wrote 'Atlas Shrugged' but science has moved on a little since... In a similar vein she does overplay the importance of philosophy. Without training in philosophy Rand would have you think we're all worthless, gotta love how she overstates the case; arrogance is evidently a lost art, or so she'd have you believe. :P On a related note, I do have to laugh quite a bit when she does things like pour scorn on Plato. Not that I'm saying he's above criticism but she doesn't really criticise, she just snipes; hardly an activity worthy of a philosopher (but then again the whole book spends a good deal of time arguing something of a straw man against social justice of any kind).
Moving on. I have to say that Ayn Rand's uncompromising disdain for any altruism and occasionally childish flights of fancy make it hard to warm entirely to her central message. I think you have to cut her some slack though; her bitter diatribes likely stem from the fact her family was robbed blind by the Bolsheviks during the Russian revolution. No doubt it's heartbreaking to be forced from your homeland, to watch your parents ruined by an uncaring government machine, little wonder then that her mistrust of government manifests itself in her writing. In that regard Ayn Rand is a dyed in the wool libertarian (even if she does reserve plenty of vitriol for libertarians), small government, if any, is her utopia and again I'm sympathetic.
Not so sure I'm as comfortable with her brain bendingly patriotic leanings though; I loathe patriotism, last refuge of the scoundrel as Samuel Johnson rightly said IMO. I suppose that I expect Miss. Rand to shout about the US from the roof tops with all the fervour of a convert, because she is one. Nevertheless, I'm surprised she should feel comfortable with such naked jingoism given her aggressive support of the individual. In my experience patriotism encompasses behaviour not compatible with Rand's philosophy. For example, I observe that flag waving is usually propounded by little people who want to do ridiculous things like grab onto the coattails of the great and good by virtue of being born in the same country. At the very least patriotism is something of a collectivism, not something that screams individuality... but perhaps Rand really does think that, it just doesn't come across in Atlas Shrugged. Oh and I'd like to add Rand needs a history lesson I think, to quote: "...the United States. This country was the only country in history born, not of chance and blind tribal warfare, but as a rational product of a man's mind." Well That assertion is wrong and over simplistic on so many levels but I'll stick to one point. That point is, if that statement applies to the US it also applies to many other colonies like Canada and Australia, all were born not of accident but of rational imperial desire (therefore tribal).
I suppose we could shift the goal posts slightly and suggest that the declaration of independence is the birth of the US proper. However, that is still a matter of blind tribal warfare, the British Government was after all stupid enough to ignore it's own democratic principles and deny the US representation while taxing it. If that's not a war caused by blind tribalism on the part of the Brit government I dunno what is... The counter argument might be that those who signed the Declaration of Independence were not being blind and tribalist (sic) and that's what counts, well that's fair enough, but in that case you have to accept that Canada and Australia were similarly born of reason. Indeed, those colonies gained independence without all out war (see the Statute of Westminster 1931), so presumably they should be rated more highly on Rand's scale... except of course they aren't. Ultimately what bothers me though is colonialism and the nations it gave rise to are inherently tribal, Rand talks about looters a lot, but it was the avarice of European powers which gave us nations like the US. That's right, our ancestors, those radicals, free thinkers and democrats we exported around the world built nations by cutting land out from underneath the native tribes who rightfully lived there (often exploiting people as slaves in the process). The great and good are just as capable of hypocrisy as anyone else, they may have talked the talk but people should be judged by their actions not their rhetoric; Rand's rose tinted glasses seem to have missed this point though.
Anyhoo I think I've rambled enough, I don't want to spoil the book for anyone who might read it, and I would recommend Atlas Shrugged. If nothing else it is thought provoking.
Oh last thought... I'm nearing the end of this book now and I've got to say Rand's approach to sex seems rather ahead of it's time, so much so I can't help but add a Y to the end of her name now. Sad but true! :D
Gift.
Not up to much right now, replaying a few old games waiting for things to happen at work, the usual.
However, I probably should have added this a while ago, I'm currently reviving my artistic talents (such as they are) to work as an artist on an MMO known as Project Aether. It's enjoyable but hard work getting the feel right, perhaps I'll have some concept art to show people here once I've built a few things up. Mean time I'm taking an overt interest in steam power and Brunel something that I haven't done since I was a boy. :D
Gift.
First you build your X-wing, then you launch it! Sadly take off proved too much for the model, but damn it looked amazing for a few seconds. I love it when I see fans try mad stuff like this, I hope they try again, I want to see if Mk.2 will fly further. Of course they shouldn't have bothered with opening the S-foils, if these guys read round a bit they'd know wings stay closed for atmospheric flight... (Sorry the inner geek demanded I say it.)
In other news, the undergrads are back today, which means I'm going to be lucky if I get any of my own work done for the foreseeable future. Here's hoping none of them set themselves alight this year.
Gift.
PS Higher def vid can be found here.
