this means?
That is right, I can still make Neuromancer! It is gonna be perfect.
Choice.
21 May 2007
25 April 2007
CIpP
Following on from my last CIpP related post, Morgue comments:
I also believed that the legal framework would not affect change on these giant corporations. This is exactly what I was referring to when I mentioned (a little off hand) that "these businesses have been around since forever in terms of the current legal and social frameworks we now move in."
With that I was trying to skirt was having to fully explain that these corporations have fully melded their business with the bodies governing them. Together, hand-in-hand almost, Pharma companies buddy up with the regulatory institutes to get their drugs to market, jumping through the necessary hoops and happily wearing the esculating costs.
Then, of course, they sidle up to the governments to get their, now hideously expensive, drugs into the hands of the patients. The cost model of the industry is not that of patient affordability, government subsidies are the only way that patients can be treated with all too many of the available drugs. And that changes the marketability of drugs, not only do you have to sell them to patients, you first have to ptich them to governments for susidies… It is a crazy cycle.
But I was wrong in thinking that there wouldn't be a legal trick avalable to take on Pharma CipP because, my good Wilberforce, it has already happened! This gives me heart that it can happen again under a different and hopefully even more widespread context. And what I'm referring isn't restriction—it's the opposite! I'm talking about Thailand's decision to break the patent protections afforded to some drug companies by invoking a WTO rule. I won't bother you with the details, because the point is simply: Yes, Governments and laws can help us out of this situation. I still feel a reservation about this as there is a a great deal of collusion between the governments and the big pharmas that will be very resistant to change, but the signs are good that things can change.
And the best thing about all this is that I'm not feeling as desperately hopless about it anymore. We as a drug taking society can change the industry. We can influence our governments. We have a precident that governments can influence big pharmas. It can be done, and I for one am still thinking about doing it.
--
For a good overview of Thailand's take-on approach to the Pharma insutry, click through to here.
--
In other sciency type news, they have found Kryptonite!
The only direction I can see this moving in is the same one that balances out all the anti-social outputs of capitalism, and that is public accountability. There are three influences of note on corporations - financial incentive, legislative restriction, and public accountability. The first is far more of a problem than it is a potential solution. There are major, major limits to what can be achieved by the second. The third is the only credible way of restraining the behaviour that you oppose.I agree with most of this – clearly it is in both the company's and investor's best interests to keep maintaining the huge profit cycles that arise from the current Pharma development modes.
I also believed that the legal framework would not affect change on these giant corporations. This is exactly what I was referring to when I mentioned (a little off hand) that "these businesses have been around since forever in terms of the current legal and social frameworks we now move in."
With that I was trying to skirt was having to fully explain that these corporations have fully melded their business with the bodies governing them. Together, hand-in-hand almost, Pharma companies buddy up with the regulatory institutes to get their drugs to market, jumping through the necessary hoops and happily wearing the esculating costs.
Then, of course, they sidle up to the governments to get their, now hideously expensive, drugs into the hands of the patients. The cost model of the industry is not that of patient affordability, government subsidies are the only way that patients can be treated with all too many of the available drugs. And that changes the marketability of drugs, not only do you have to sell them to patients, you first have to ptich them to governments for susidies… It is a crazy cycle.
But I was wrong in thinking that there wouldn't be a legal trick avalable to take on Pharma CipP because, my good Wilberforce, it has already happened! This gives me heart that it can happen again under a different and hopefully even more widespread context. And what I'm referring isn't restriction—it's the opposite! I'm talking about Thailand's decision to break the patent protections afforded to some drug companies by invoking a WTO rule. I won't bother you with the details, because the point is simply: Yes, Governments and laws can help us out of this situation. I still feel a reservation about this as there is a a great deal of collusion between the governments and the big pharmas that will be very resistant to change, but the signs are good that things can change.
And the best thing about all this is that I'm not feeling as desperately hopless about it anymore. We as a drug taking society can change the industry. We can influence our governments. We have a precident that governments can influence big pharmas. It can be done, and I for one am still thinking about doing it.
--
For a good overview of Thailand's take-on approach to the Pharma insutry, click through to here.
--
In other sciency type news, they have found Kryptonite!
20 April 2007
Things I've seen today
Having a day off to sort UK essentials like NI numbers etc. (these things take time in the UK!) and have seen a couple of things that I feel obliged to share with you.
It started with Fahrenheit 911, I'm watching this in dribs and drabs at the moment, and whenever I load it up I always like to hear George W. say "If I hit every shot good, people would say I wasn't working!" which doesn't mean shit, but amuses the heck out of me for some reason.
Surfing the Internet a bit later, I'm directed to The Last Great Snail Chase, which I'm totally hanging out to experience more of. It is great to see folk you know go and and achieve things they are dedicated to and I can't wait to see the final product. Bring it out on DVD asap Ed! (thanks to ~m for the linky)
The next thing was a follow up note on the communal main door to the building our flat is in. The first followed a burglary in another flat, where a drifter had gained entry to the building and had posed as a resident and subsequently been let into a flat. He then bolted with a bunch of stuff from the flat. Kind of a ballsy robbery really and goes to show that you shouldn't open your door round here to just anybody - a debate which I'd only recently. I'm all for thinking that this is a pretty safe area - delusional really. But fuck it, I'm not gonna get scared and paranoid about it just yet.
Anyway post the robbery there was a note taped to the door bemoaning the fact that the drifter had been let in to the building and had the tone of "I know what you look like..." and I'm gonna get you! Well sort of.
And - then today, off on my way to work I saw another note along the lines of:
I've no idea if it was written by the same 'victim' but I immediately assumed it was and, quite out of character, I found myself laughing my arse off at the whole situation. I don't normally go for laughing at other people's misfortune, but man that note made my day as I headed off to enjoy the UK bureaucratic process.
I've a feeling 'Ron the Body' is a little to blame, that particular four letter word is bandied about almost as often as 'the' and I need very little encouragement to turn my talk to the gutter! But it is mostly my fault, in fact I've been caught out twice recently absently saying the c word in the company of people who appeared quite shocked to have to listen to it... It's only a word right? Hmmmn. Anyway, that note's sign off did make me laugh!
And the walk to the NI office had two other notable sights. The first was one of those yellow boards outlining some unsolved crime and appealing for information. This time the robbery of a moped at 4.30pm on the 6th of April. I hate to imagine the circumstances of the robbery, those yellow boards are NEVER used when 'no one got hurt' type robberies go unsolved round here... Cue bad feelings for earlier laughing at people's misfortune, and more work to make me delusional that this area is 'safe'!
To top it off, just past the Geffrey Museum, I see an ambulance parked up and a fairly worried looking paramedic deciding which type of stretcher to use. I walk past with DJ Shadow playing in my ears and see into a steep staircase in the doorway leading to an upstairs flat, and at the bottom, another worried looking paramedic tending and to a sprawled very plainly broken male figure. I notice a worried looking man in suit talking on his cell phone with bloodied hands. A flatmate? I'm not sure, but like the most of London passing by this scene, it is none of my problem and it's apparently under control and I walk past.
And NI number, and not too much bureaucracy. Though I'm tested to sign my name like the one on my passport a signature I produced 7 years ago. Unsurprisingly, given my lack-o-handwriting, I fail and now I hope that I won't be DENIED on the NI number front.
And I walk back home with the sun shining and I go past the stairwell again. The ambulance and broken man are gone, it is now cordoned off with police tape, and there is a cop taking notes from some folk. The music is till in my ears and I'm not compelled to stop or enquire. But I can't help noticing the white blood stained sheets at the foot of the stairs and I wonder what the yellow board will say.
It started with Fahrenheit 911, I'm watching this in dribs and drabs at the moment, and whenever I load it up I always like to hear George W. say "If I hit every shot good, people would say I wasn't working!" which doesn't mean shit, but amuses the heck out of me for some reason.
Surfing the Internet a bit later, I'm directed to The Last Great Snail Chase, which I'm totally hanging out to experience more of. It is great to see folk you know go and and achieve things they are dedicated to and I can't wait to see the final product. Bring it out on DVD asap Ed! (thanks to ~m for the linky)
The next thing was a follow up note on the communal main door to the building our flat is in. The first followed a burglary in another flat, where a drifter had gained entry to the building and had posed as a resident and subsequently been let into a flat. He then bolted with a bunch of stuff from the flat. Kind of a ballsy robbery really and goes to show that you shouldn't open your door round here to just anybody - a debate which I'd only recently. I'm all for thinking that this is a pretty safe area - delusional really. But fuck it, I'm not gonna get scared and paranoid about it just yet.
Anyway post the robbery there was a note taped to the door bemoaning the fact that the drifter had been let in to the building and had the tone of "I know what you look like..." and I'm gonna get you! Well sort of.
And - then today, off on my way to work I saw another note along the lines of:
"To the bastard who signed for the courier parcel as me, I hope the cellphone is defective and when you use it it blows off your head you treacherous cunt!"
I've no idea if it was written by the same 'victim' but I immediately assumed it was and, quite out of character, I found myself laughing my arse off at the whole situation. I don't normally go for laughing at other people's misfortune, but man that note made my day as I headed off to enjoy the UK bureaucratic process.
I've a feeling 'Ron the Body' is a little to blame, that particular four letter word is bandied about almost as often as 'the' and I need very little encouragement to turn my talk to the gutter! But it is mostly my fault, in fact I've been caught out twice recently absently saying the c word in the company of people who appeared quite shocked to have to listen to it... It's only a word right? Hmmmn. Anyway, that note's sign off did make me laugh!
And the walk to the NI office had two other notable sights. The first was one of those yellow boards outlining some unsolved crime and appealing for information. This time the robbery of a moped at 4.30pm on the 6th of April. I hate to imagine the circumstances of the robbery, those yellow boards are NEVER used when 'no one got hurt' type robberies go unsolved round here... Cue bad feelings for earlier laughing at people's misfortune, and more work to make me delusional that this area is 'safe'!
To top it off, just past the Geffrey Museum, I see an ambulance parked up and a fairly worried looking paramedic deciding which type of stretcher to use. I walk past with DJ Shadow playing in my ears and see into a steep staircase in the doorway leading to an upstairs flat, and at the bottom, another worried looking paramedic tending and to a sprawled very plainly broken male figure. I notice a worried looking man in suit talking on his cell phone with bloodied hands. A flatmate? I'm not sure, but like the most of London passing by this scene, it is none of my problem and it's apparently under control and I walk past.
And NI number, and not too much bureaucracy. Though I'm tested to sign my name like the one on my passport a signature I produced 7 years ago. Unsurprisingly, given my lack-o-handwriting, I fail and now I hope that I won't be DENIED on the NI number front.
And I walk back home with the sun shining and I go past the stairwell again. The ambulance and broken man are gone, it is now cordoned off with police tape, and there is a cop taking notes from some folk. The music is till in my ears and I'm not compelled to stop or enquire. But I can't help noticing the white blood stained sheets at the foot of the stairs and I wonder what the yellow board will say.
12 April 2007
Now I see!
A ways back, last month in fact, I was having a quiet night at home and posted three things which I instantly dismissed as a succession of home-alone-blog-fillers, you know the kind that you say stuff in a sort of mock stream of consciousness just to get something on your blog. For some reason I didn't delete them. I guess I need much blog filling!
I've been feeling nothing for sidonia for a long while and this has been compounded by my instantaneous negativity towards the last three posts. In fact till about a week ago I'd not checked back... And when I did there was a comment. And that made me feel better about it. And I read the comment, and then (because I couldn't remember what I'd written) I had to read the post it referred to! And (yes this is a large succession of ands...) I've got a point. I've got a fucking point!
It is this...
* breathes in long and hard *
Capitalism - works by exploiting an advantage.
Intellectual Property - is all about protecting an advantage.
Protectionism - is any method by which IP remains protected.
Profiteering - works best when you combine the above (lets call it CIpP) and then milk it for all it's worth.
For the record I believe this equation:
CIpP = Very Bad!
I work in the drug business - the legal drug business. And I can say that despite the publicity they would have you believe, large pharma companies are profiteers plain as day. Everything they do - and remember that most of these businesses have been around since forever in terms of the current legal and social frameworks we now move in - is profiteering. (I know I should back this up but I'm just going to continue).
Don't get me wrong, drug companies are probably the only places where we will actively see commercialised advances in treatments for important diseases like HIV/AIDS. Yay, warm fuzzies for retrovirals etc.; shame about the fact that these and other tools are not freely available for a highly mobile and task oriented health force to go out armed with them and eradicate the bloody disease.
But that is not how the pharma companies work. They are good, nay great, at a) creating HUGE cash flow b) spending that HUGE amount of money c) protecting what and how they do EVERYTHING to do with that money, so that the end result d) continues a)... (and so on).
What they are not good at is looking at a problem and solving it once and for all. They find remedies not solutions. Remedy, like purity, can be a BAD word.
And that is why I'm upset with what I do. I really like the technical challenges of contributing to projects that outwardly appear to do a great amount of good. I'll probably look back and think that some of my work has actively helped some people,
BUT,
and it is a big but, it will have also helped to contributed to a big pharma's continuation.
Ultimately what I do supports this company's CIpP (and you know how I feel about that!).
So my question to you, and the one I'm currently challenged with day in and day out while working here, is how do I resolve this conflict without leaving?
I mean I know there are still opportunities for drug development outside of the big pharma framework to get a drug candidate into circulation and help people - but even 'independent' candidates will face a hurdle where they MUST sell that idea to get it out into the world. And you know why? Because all the investment, the regulations and technology required to develop, make and market drugs is the pharma's best ally in remaining successful. No one else has the footing necessary to do all that except big pharmas, so you either join them, or you turn yourself into one—the ultimate sell-out! And lo and behold pharma profiteering is maintained.
There is little I feel I can do to prevent any of the big pharmas continuation - in fact I'm so disheartened about it I can't even see a theoretical approach that would even get close.
I saw 'Amazing Grace' the other day and despite the fact that I've little to say about this overly Hollywood (and outright dumb in parts) movie is that it was relevant illustrating for me how good ideas stumble against profiteering. Unfortunately I can't ever see a clever trick that could be used to peg pharma CIpP back and I also don't envision turning myself into a crusading Wilberforce type character. I could do with some laudanum though…
So what to do? Any suggestions?
I've been feeling nothing for sidonia for a long while and this has been compounded by my instantaneous negativity towards the last three posts. In fact till about a week ago I'd not checked back... And when I did there was a comment. And that made me feel better about it. And I read the comment, and then (because I couldn't remember what I'd written) I had to read the post it referred to! And (yes this is a large succession of ands...) I've got a point. I've got a fucking point!
It is this...
* breathes in long and hard *
Capitalism - works by exploiting an advantage.
Intellectual Property - is all about protecting an advantage.
Protectionism - is any method by which IP remains protected.
Profiteering - works best when you combine the above (lets call it CIpP) and then milk it for all it's worth.
For the record I believe this equation:
CIpP = Very Bad!
I work in the drug business - the legal drug business. And I can say that despite the publicity they would have you believe, large pharma companies are profiteers plain as day. Everything they do - and remember that most of these businesses have been around since forever in terms of the current legal and social frameworks we now move in - is profiteering. (I know I should back this up but I'm just going to continue).
Don't get me wrong, drug companies are probably the only places where we will actively see commercialised advances in treatments for important diseases like HIV/AIDS. Yay, warm fuzzies for retrovirals etc.; shame about the fact that these and other tools are not freely available for a highly mobile and task oriented health force to go out armed with them and eradicate the bloody disease.
But that is not how the pharma companies work. They are good, nay great, at a) creating HUGE cash flow b) spending that HUGE amount of money c) protecting what and how they do EVERYTHING to do with that money, so that the end result d) continues a)... (and so on).
What they are not good at is looking at a problem and solving it once and for all. They find remedies not solutions. Remedy, like purity, can be a BAD word.
And that is why I'm upset with what I do. I really like the technical challenges of contributing to projects that outwardly appear to do a great amount of good. I'll probably look back and think that some of my work has actively helped some people,
BUT,
and it is a big but, it will have also helped to contributed to a big pharma's continuation.
Ultimately what I do supports this company's CIpP (and you know how I feel about that!).
So my question to you, and the one I'm currently challenged with day in and day out while working here, is how do I resolve this conflict without leaving?
I mean I know there are still opportunities for drug development outside of the big pharma framework to get a drug candidate into circulation and help people - but even 'independent' candidates will face a hurdle where they MUST sell that idea to get it out into the world. And you know why? Because all the investment, the regulations and technology required to develop, make and market drugs is the pharma's best ally in remaining successful. No one else has the footing necessary to do all that except big pharmas, so you either join them, or you turn yourself into one—the ultimate sell-out! And lo and behold pharma profiteering is maintained.
There is little I feel I can do to prevent any of the big pharmas continuation - in fact I'm so disheartened about it I can't even see a theoretical approach that would even get close.
I saw 'Amazing Grace' the other day and despite the fact that I've little to say about this overly Hollywood (and outright dumb in parts) movie is that it was relevant illustrating for me how good ideas stumble against profiteering. Unfortunately I can't ever see a clever trick that could be used to peg pharma CIpP back and I also don't envision turning myself into a crusading Wilberforce type character. I could do with some laudanum though…
So what to do? Any suggestions?
23 March 2007
Engage
To engage people. Good people. How?
I was going to try and do a three x three x three thing and TRY and be all clever with it. But WHY? So instead I'm going to list some things that are really involving my brain at the moment:
IP - Intellectual Property.
Protectionism - As a way of maintaining IP.
Profiteering - as a way of milking protectionism.
I HATE:
that I work for a drug company.
that I don't feel I can make a positive difference in my work.
that IP and Protectionism and Profiteering are hand-in-hand.
I WANT:
to work for a company.
that I feel I can make a positive difference for with my work.
and that IP and Protectionism that the company I work for employs prevents profiteering on any one's part.
I was going to try and do a three x three x three thing and TRY and be all clever with it. But WHY? So instead I'm going to list some things that are really involving my brain at the moment:
IP - Intellectual Property.
Protectionism - As a way of maintaining IP.
Profiteering - as a way of milking protectionism.
I HATE:
that I work for a drug company.
that I don't feel I can make a positive difference in my work.
that IP and Protectionism and Profiteering are hand-in-hand.
I WANT:
to work for a company.
that I feel I can make a positive difference for with my work.
and that IP and Protectionism that the company I work for employs prevents profiteering on any one's part.
The last post?
Shit! Fuck! Crap!
All these (3) things.
I've been totally blocked from saying things on the quince since god knows how long. I feel as if there are a million and one things that I need to tell you all (all 3 of ya!). But what exactly? In which order? How? and then it all stops. The flow is dammed (in the verb sense, as in to dam a river - fuck I wonder sometimes if I'm fluent in English and it is NEVER helped by going to the Turkish barber just down the road from you and asking for a haircut).
So, revert, update. (is that a sentence? - probably not... edit...).
SO. Here is an UPDATE! (acknowledging the indiscriminate use of CAPS!).
I have a new JOB. I started at the end of last month. It is the promise of something more. But it has failed to deliver, as my suspicion led me to believe many moons ago. I do not care. For the moment. But I suffer for want of something TO DO!
This means lots of things, but primarily this: I need a distraction. Morgue has inadvertently put his hand up. Bless him. I'll take ANY distraction he giveth me.
And it also means that I'm squandering what precious little time I have on this earth by wondering and pondering and doing NOTHING about a myriad of things that I need an audience for. But I also need a muse.
And that is where I see this site failing. It isn't my muse. Where do you find a muse these days??? The technology is there - why can't I capitalise? It isn't time, but it may be my priority!
I need virtual help. Will any of you provide it?
All these (3) things.
I've been totally blocked from saying things on the quince since god knows how long. I feel as if there are a million and one things that I need to tell you all (all 3 of ya!). But what exactly? In which order? How? and then it all stops. The flow is dammed (in the verb sense, as in to dam a river - fuck I wonder sometimes if I'm fluent in English and it is NEVER helped by going to the Turkish barber just down the road from you and asking for a haircut).
So, revert, update. (is that a sentence? - probably not... edit...).
SO. Here is an UPDATE! (acknowledging the indiscriminate use of CAPS!).
I have a new JOB. I started at the end of last month. It is the promise of something more. But it has failed to deliver, as my suspicion led me to believe many moons ago. I do not care. For the moment. But I suffer for want of something TO DO!
This means lots of things, but primarily this: I need a distraction. Morgue has inadvertently put his hand up. Bless him. I'll take ANY distraction he giveth me.
And it also means that I'm squandering what precious little time I have on this earth by wondering and pondering and doing NOTHING about a myriad of things that I need an audience for. But I also need a muse.
And that is where I see this site failing. It isn't my muse. Where do you find a muse these days??? The technology is there - why can't I capitalise? It isn't time, but it may be my priority!
I need virtual help. Will any of you provide it?
OK
Three things,
Number One: No blog activity. Apologies. Nothing to write.
Number Two: New Job. Boring. I await training...
Number Three: Happy. Life is interesting. In tune...
Number One: No blog activity. Apologies. Nothing to write.
Number Two: New Job. Boring. I await training...
Number Three: Happy. Life is interesting. In tune...
02 March 2007
Good on you Harry!
I've been listening to my iPod of late and have been caught a number of times by a track which I have no recollection of ever actually collecting. This is due to a widening of my interpretation of digital copyright, and the kind sofa cruisers we sometimes encourage to stay on their way through London that have varied musical possessions I can 'borrow'.
It doesn't help that I have an iPod shuffle that doesn't tell me the track name, and also have an incredibly poor ear for lyrics that makes the looking up of a familiar but unknown song all that more difficult.
So I've just been able to track down a recent addition to iTunes and it comes from Harry, NZ's Flash kind.
So good on you Harry. Nice one. And I don't mean that in the tabloid sense...
It doesn't help that I have an iPod shuffle that doesn't tell me the track name, and also have an incredibly poor ear for lyrics that makes the looking up of a familiar but unknown song all that more difficult.
So I've just been able to track down a recent addition to iTunes and it comes from Harry, NZ's Flash kind.
So good on you Harry. Nice one. And I don't mean that in the tabloid sense...
16 February 2007
Update
In a remarkably romantic turn of events, the UK Home Office has (in its infinite wisdom) given me leave to remain on UK soil on the basis of my longstanding (now five year) relationship with Sal. The visa confirmation came through on Valentines Day!
Of course to celebrate I went climbing, and Sal went to dinner with a friend for we (as a couple) care not for the commercial trappings and enforced romantic attentions of an arbitrary date. Though it was interesting to learn that this particular arbitrary date used to celebrate werewolves, blood and ****ing!
So yeah, I'm in the envious position of being able to a) resign from work (did that yesterday), b) get a start date for my new permanent job (the 26th of Feb) c) extend next weekend by a couple of days (I quit next Wednesday) and d) go to Rome!
Fucking Rome! How cool is that? I for one like them apples.
In short, life is good. Hope yours is too.
Of course to celebrate I went climbing, and Sal went to dinner with a friend for we (as a couple) care not for the commercial trappings and enforced romantic attentions of an arbitrary date. Though it was interesting to learn that this particular arbitrary date used to celebrate werewolves, blood and ****ing!
So yeah, I'm in the envious position of being able to a) resign from work (did that yesterday), b) get a start date for my new permanent job (the 26th of Feb) c) extend next weekend by a couple of days (I quit next Wednesday) and d) go to Rome!
Fucking Rome! How cool is that? I for one like them apples.
In short, life is good. Hope yours is too.
24 January 2007
NZ Visit
Very quickly, here is a late January post, all the way from NZ where I'm currently seven days into a whirlwind home visit, the primary reason for which was the marriage of my best friend to his long-term and wonderfully lovely partner. There is NOTHING better in the world to come home and celebrate with the best of people a relationship between the best of people. And that is just what I've done for the last few days. I can't wait to see the photos!
Now it is on to the arduous task of hanging out with everyone I know in Wellington before getting on the flight on Saturday to bring me back to my UK existence. Busy, busy, busy!
Now it is on to the arduous task of hanging out with everyone I know in Wellington before getting on the flight on Saturday to bring me back to my UK existence. Busy, busy, busy!
21 December 2006
Average
According to the statisticians, UK 2006 was the warmest UK in history.
I, on the other hand, am showing a very luke warm average of posts on this website. If I wasn't a closet collector, I'd have binned this site in favor of something else I couldn't stick my teeth into.
So yeah. Average.
I suspect that my mood is somewhat negatively affected by the latest screening at Rio (my local cinema). Went alone to a film called Pan's Labyrinth (something else in the native spanish) and wasn't quite prepared for the visual onslaught. It's a fantastical movie, and I was hoping to find some hope in it along those lines.
And I guess it is a sign of good storytelling, cause the movie could be received by audiences as a fantasy and walk out of it heart warmed that the human spirit can triumph in adverse circumstances. I on the other hand couldn't buy into the fantasy elements, knowing them all too well as the inventions and delusions of the main protagonist. And I near wept at the inevitable conculsion of the movie, because I suspect that a terrible number of humans live by the same inventions and delusions.
But don't let that stop you from watching this movie. It is good, probably very good. It looks great. I really wanted to believe. Just be prepared to walk along the edge of a cliff for the length of the movie and know that I, for one, just couldn't buy into the fantasy keeping me off the rocks.
It is officially Xmas time. In an apparent "Do you thumb your nose at me?" moment (ref. warmest UK year in History), on the way to work I slipped on frozen pavement and had to duck to avoid spiders webs adorned with icicles. Needless to say my nipples were VERY erect. It was also DARK and the path was illuminated with festive decorations. So its Xmas...
Actually I'm looking forward to Xmas this year. Am forcing others to gather in our small abode to enjoy a vege feast on the 25th, and one of those others is my BIG sister. 'Tis always good to have family about over Xmas!
So if you don't hear from me before the 25th, as the current quince average would dictate, then have a good one. Please don't get yourselves lost in a Labyrinth.
FYI: Incredibly strangely Destiny's Child is playing on my stereo. So also remember to leave your men at home...
I, on the other hand, am showing a very luke warm average of posts on this website. If I wasn't a closet collector, I'd have binned this site in favor of something else I couldn't stick my teeth into.
So yeah. Average.
I suspect that my mood is somewhat negatively affected by the latest screening at Rio (my local cinema). Went alone to a film called Pan's Labyrinth (something else in the native spanish) and wasn't quite prepared for the visual onslaught. It's a fantastical movie, and I was hoping to find some hope in it along those lines.
And I guess it is a sign of good storytelling, cause the movie could be received by audiences as a fantasy and walk out of it heart warmed that the human spirit can triumph in adverse circumstances. I on the other hand couldn't buy into the fantasy elements, knowing them all too well as the inventions and delusions of the main protagonist. And I near wept at the inevitable conculsion of the movie, because I suspect that a terrible number of humans live by the same inventions and delusions.
But don't let that stop you from watching this movie. It is good, probably very good. It looks great. I really wanted to believe. Just be prepared to walk along the edge of a cliff for the length of the movie and know that I, for one, just couldn't buy into the fantasy keeping me off the rocks.
It is officially Xmas time. In an apparent "Do you thumb your nose at me?" moment (ref. warmest UK year in History), on the way to work I slipped on frozen pavement and had to duck to avoid spiders webs adorned with icicles. Needless to say my nipples were VERY erect. It was also DARK and the path was illuminated with festive decorations. So its Xmas...
Actually I'm looking forward to Xmas this year. Am forcing others to gather in our small abode to enjoy a vege feast on the 25th, and one of those others is my BIG sister. 'Tis always good to have family about over Xmas!
So if you don't hear from me before the 25th, as the current quince average would dictate, then have a good one. Please don't get yourselves lost in a Labyrinth.
FYI: Incredibly strangely Destiny's Child is playing on my stereo. So also remember to leave your men at home...
05 December 2006
Raven-ous
Tower of London - not so long ago. Quite a cool looking raven. Obviously totally at ease with the tourists and photo taking. Just a shame that the wings are clipped. Spoils an otherwise amazing looking bird - the kind that you just can't help imagining pecking eyeballs out of decapitated heads, not that I saw any on the tour.
Am humoured to think that bad movie titles still abound. The latest is Run, Fat Boy, Run. Ex-Friends Star David Schwimmer is directing and scenes for it have been filmed just round the corner of our flat. So while the name doesn't interest me in the least, at least my daily walk to the train station has been fun.
Life re-cap: New Job. Home in 6 weeks (only for two). Weather Mild. Hungry. Looking forward to Xmas...
04 November 2006
Under-Waterworld
Skipping all the nonsense that accompanies my usual lack-of-blogging here is an excited, yet relaxed, slightly tanned update from the northern hemisphere. For this King-of-Quince has recently arrived back from a snorkeling and diving holiday in Egypt where I wasn't terrorized at all, except by the resort helpers perpetual calls for 'beach volley, anyone?'
Despite this I managed to relax, forget about life and enjoy good weather and some amazing, freaky, cool, amazing, beautiful, (did I mention amazing already?) aquatic life and landscapes.
And thanks to the wonders of digital photography and the cool tech bods that came up with the CRAZY idea of designing underwater cases for such digital wizardry, I'm able so show you a teaser of the under-waterworld.
Spotted Dick? No just a friendly grouper (I think) that was always in the same spot on the house reef.
This amazing creature is an electric ray, maybe 30cm long. I was surprised to get this photo, as I was focusing on trying to photograph an octopus (Old Eight Arms) at the time. So very cute. By comparison check out this stingray.
Width? Maybe 1-1.5m. Length? Maybe 2-2.5m. Distances can be deceiving underwater, but this was very literally a monster. It had me worried in the way that I felt it would rupture my tank--by stabbing it's barb through me--if I decided to become a little too Steve Irwin. At 20m below the surface, I was very keen not to loose any air unnecessarily!
Here is my favorite critter photographed on holiday. I took about 10 photos of this beastie, and a movie; half showing it's alien grace in avoiding my unwanted attention the other half showing my lack of skill underwater. But this is my favorite pic. It is an illustration of just how cool nature is, and how lucky I am to be able to be here to see a small part of it. Here is Old Eight Arms:
And as a final photo, and to prove to those of you who can actually recognize me under my snazzy new mask (a birthday present), here I am breathing underwater. I am in fact half fish!
Note: this is likely the only photo I'll ever publicly publish of myself. I feel safe and anonymous, cause even I have trouble recognizing my smashing good looks under my mask sucking on a lifesaving, but huge, black lollipop!
Anyway, life is good. I'm now 30, but I'm relaxed about where I'm at. I think I have a semblance of a plan. There is NZ music on the stereo. I have a choice of beer and tea on the table next to me. Who cares that when I left work early at 4.55pm tonight, it was dark and 2 degrees outside? No, not me. Never!
Despite this I managed to relax, forget about life and enjoy good weather and some amazing, freaky, cool, amazing, beautiful, (did I mention amazing already?) aquatic life and landscapes.
And thanks to the wonders of digital photography and the cool tech bods that came up with the CRAZY idea of designing underwater cases for such digital wizardry, I'm able so show you a teaser of the under-waterworld.
Spotted Dick? No just a friendly grouper (I think) that was always in the same spot on the house reef.
This amazing creature is an electric ray, maybe 30cm long. I was surprised to get this photo, as I was focusing on trying to photograph an octopus (Old Eight Arms) at the time. So very cute. By comparison check out this stingray.
Width? Maybe 1-1.5m. Length? Maybe 2-2.5m. Distances can be deceiving underwater, but this was very literally a monster. It had me worried in the way that I felt it would rupture my tank--by stabbing it's barb through me--if I decided to become a little too Steve Irwin. At 20m below the surface, I was very keen not to loose any air unnecessarily!
Here is my favorite critter photographed on holiday. I took about 10 photos of this beastie, and a movie; half showing it's alien grace in avoiding my unwanted attention the other half showing my lack of skill underwater. But this is my favorite pic. It is an illustration of just how cool nature is, and how lucky I am to be able to be here to see a small part of it. Here is Old Eight Arms:
And as a final photo, and to prove to those of you who can actually recognize me under my snazzy new mask (a birthday present), here I am breathing underwater. I am in fact half fish!
Note: this is likely the only photo I'll ever publicly publish of myself. I feel safe and anonymous, cause even I have trouble recognizing my smashing good looks under my mask sucking on a lifesaving, but huge, black lollipop!
Anyway, life is good. I'm now 30, but I'm relaxed about where I'm at. I think I have a semblance of a plan. There is NZ music on the stereo. I have a choice of beer and tea on the table next to me. Who cares that when I left work early at 4.55pm tonight, it was dark and 2 degrees outside? No, not me. Never!
28 September 2006
The strange world of the interweb
Very briefly, for i don't have much to say. But I was amazed at the interweb today. It connected a few disjoint things that I've been mulling over recently. A while back I read Simon Singh 's "Big Bang" and in it it had a quote from Paul Dirac regarding how science was the complete opposite of poetry. I agreed at the time, and then it popped up today as a quote of the day. So I was intrigued. hings like that probably pop up twice in my short term memory too often to follow like this, but I did. And in the process I learned all sorts of things about old Paul.
But the best thing I 'learned' is that he re-discovered purling in knitting! Which made me think of vaginas and Stronger Light, because when she is not a knitting tea cosy she'd prefer to knit vaginas... God bless her little knitted socks!
So Physics and Vaginas is linked.
Thank god for the internet.
But the best thing I 'learned' is that he re-discovered purling in knitting! Which made me think of vaginas and Stronger Light, because when she is not a knitting tea cosy she'd prefer to knit vaginas... God bless her little knitted socks!
So Physics and Vaginas is linked.
Thank god for the internet.
11 September 2006
Catching
Have a wee sniffly, the residue of a cold or my immune system's response to all the socialising I've been making it handle recently. It is inbetween sniffles that I have noticed just how long that it has been since posting last. A long time... *sniffles* A very long time... *blows nose*
So what has been happening i hear you ask? Well, couple of things. I've started climbing, which I think I may have mentioned already. Doing that 1 to 3 nights a week seriously cuts into blogging time, but sure leaves me with the satisfied aches and pains of true physical activity that no amount of typing will ever give.
I've been going out lots, and drinking too much and feeling TERRIBLE the next day, and then using that as a GREAT excuse to catch up on TV programs that I have burnt to my wonderful external hard drive. This too cuts into communication time, but leaves me happy in the knowlege that I have at last caught up on phenomenons such as Firefly/Serenity. Oh so much better than the Prison Break series I was previously watching which degenerated into addictive awefulness. I'm now learning how to survive thanks to Ray Mears' Bushcraft series...
I've been watching movies. Saw a couple at the local cinema and both were very good. They were Volver and Little Fish. Little Fish was amazing. Loved every little scene in it, though Hugo's bearded ex-AFL star character was a might hard to watch at times. Volver was great too. I fell in love with Penelope's eyes the instant they come on screen, The movie that followed then allowed me a good reason to watch after them for the better part of two hours. *contented sigh*
I've even been shocked into internet silence by antipodean goings on. What with Steve Irwin's death at the barb of a stingray (a death all the more keenly felt due to my own run in with the poisonous fish in Thailand) and Peter "perfect" Brock's death, I'm now waiting on internet news of a third high profile Aussie to die 'doing what they love...' These things always come in threes.
And i've been to Brussels. The belgium beer was fantastic. Bruge was picturesque. The food was fatty and rich. Yum.
That is about all I have to say about that at the moment. Hope you are all well.
So what has been happening i hear you ask? Well, couple of things. I've started climbing, which I think I may have mentioned already. Doing that 1 to 3 nights a week seriously cuts into blogging time, but sure leaves me with the satisfied aches and pains of true physical activity that no amount of typing will ever give.
I've been going out lots, and drinking too much and feeling TERRIBLE the next day, and then using that as a GREAT excuse to catch up on TV programs that I have burnt to my wonderful external hard drive. This too cuts into communication time, but leaves me happy in the knowlege that I have at last caught up on phenomenons such as Firefly/Serenity. Oh so much better than the Prison Break series I was previously watching which degenerated into addictive awefulness. I'm now learning how to survive thanks to Ray Mears' Bushcraft series...
I've been watching movies. Saw a couple at the local cinema and both were very good. They were Volver and Little Fish. Little Fish was amazing. Loved every little scene in it, though Hugo's bearded ex-AFL star character was a might hard to watch at times. Volver was great too. I fell in love with Penelope's eyes the instant they come on screen, The movie that followed then allowed me a good reason to watch after them for the better part of two hours. *contented sigh*
I've even been shocked into internet silence by antipodean goings on. What with Steve Irwin's death at the barb of a stingray (a death all the more keenly felt due to my own run in with the poisonous fish in Thailand) and Peter "perfect" Brock's death, I'm now waiting on internet news of a third high profile Aussie to die 'doing what they love...' These things always come in threes.
And i've been to Brussels. The belgium beer was fantastic. Bruge was picturesque. The food was fatty and rich. Yum.
That is about all I have to say about that at the moment. Hope you are all well.
17 August 2006
a shitty biscuit!
Bugger. Went to the bank (online of course) to pay my dues and, well, fucked up proper. I had thought that the measly amount of money I receive in what is termed my 'salary' was sufficient for the purchase of a removable hard drive as well as rent, food for the week, transport and beer (of course). I was mistaken.
The buggers at amazon dot bloody transact three days bloody later dot com didn't help cause they did just that. Charge me three bloody days after I tried to buy the thing. And timing wise they couldn't have chosen better to illustrate to the world that I HAVE NO MONEY. It came JUST after I stupidly assumed i'd enough money to make the rent payment. I'm officially in arrears... To both Amazon and Sal. 'Tis and 'twill be a hard grind clawing my way back into liquidity. Till I do I'll take solace in the beer, a liquidity of sorts...
Hope you are all well and not suffering what I like to term shitty biscuit syndrome. SBS. TLAs. I love 'em!
The buggers at amazon dot bloody transact three days bloody later dot com didn't help cause they did just that. Charge me three bloody days after I tried to buy the thing. And timing wise they couldn't have chosen better to illustrate to the world that I HAVE NO MONEY. It came JUST after I stupidly assumed i'd enough money to make the rent payment. I'm officially in arrears... To both Amazon and Sal. 'Tis and 'twill be a hard grind clawing my way back into liquidity. Till I do I'll take solace in the beer, a liquidity of sorts...
Hope you are all well and not suffering what I like to term shitty biscuit syndrome. SBS. TLAs. I love 'em!
11 August 2006
While I'm here
Visual Factory:
At work we have a glorified notice board. It is called the visual factory. It comprises a bunch of laminated info sheets that are not particularly visual or informative.
I on the other hand perceive my world as a visual factory. A proper one. Interesting and, well, visual. Some visuals of note...
V for Vendetta - Dvd, glad I watched it cause finding a library copy of the graphic novel was proving too difficult to come by. It reminded me of the comics, and made me so pleased that Chris G pushed it upon me (in his unassuming ways) back in the Todman St days. Some things you connect with in unpredictable ways. Others fit. Chris's suggestion fitted and it was good to be reminded of that thanks to the film. I can't knock it because of this even though there was no LSD induced revelation. Bah!
Little Fish - Actually this was more of a COMPLETE experience, visuals, accents, Shortland St actors and, well, just normal people. As a movie it works SO well in terms being it's namesake. Everything about the film is little fish. Ab-so-lutely loved it and was well homesick at the conclusion despite the fact that it was set in Aussie. Good old Joel Tolbeck turned up. I remember him in a weird NZ kid's program about pirates whose name I can't remember. Can anyone help?
Maimi Vice - well it was a film and therefore visual. But it was complete shite, and I don't have anything to say about it except that it was shite.
Firefly - THE PILOT!!! At last. I have the series and Serenity in my possession. Am watching in relish, mostly due to the fact that I ain't seen a lot of TV recently (seeing as I don't have one) but also cause the good ole folk back Welly-ways seems to almost universally recommend it. Anyway loved the first 120 odd mins. At the conclusion of this I'm off to watch MORE!
The LARGE 'Ciremai' poster looks down upon me from its pride of place, hanging on the living room wall. Visuals are EVERYWHERE. Even the ones that exist only in your mind. Open your eyes and take a look.
At work we have a glorified notice board. It is called the visual factory. It comprises a bunch of laminated info sheets that are not particularly visual or informative.
I on the other hand perceive my world as a visual factory. A proper one. Interesting and, well, visual. Some visuals of note...
V for Vendetta - Dvd, glad I watched it cause finding a library copy of the graphic novel was proving too difficult to come by. It reminded me of the comics, and made me so pleased that Chris G pushed it upon me (in his unassuming ways) back in the Todman St days. Some things you connect with in unpredictable ways. Others fit. Chris's suggestion fitted and it was good to be reminded of that thanks to the film. I can't knock it because of this even though there was no LSD induced revelation. Bah!
Little Fish - Actually this was more of a COMPLETE experience, visuals, accents, Shortland St actors and, well, just normal people. As a movie it works SO well in terms being it's namesake. Everything about the film is little fish. Ab-so-lutely loved it and was well homesick at the conclusion despite the fact that it was set in Aussie. Good old Joel Tolbeck turned up. I remember him in a weird NZ kid's program about pirates whose name I can't remember. Can anyone help?
Maimi Vice - well it was a film and therefore visual. But it was complete shite, and I don't have anything to say about it except that it was shite.
Firefly - THE PILOT!!! At last. I have the series and Serenity in my possession. Am watching in relish, mostly due to the fact that I ain't seen a lot of TV recently (seeing as I don't have one) but also cause the good ole folk back Welly-ways seems to almost universally recommend it. Anyway loved the first 120 odd mins. At the conclusion of this I'm off to watch MORE!
The LARGE 'Ciremai' poster looks down upon me from its pride of place, hanging on the living room wall. Visuals are EVERYWHERE. Even the ones that exist only in your mind. Open your eyes and take a look.
A note of Ron The Body
Check out this.
--
Edited cause I am a muppet myself and can't spell. Also I meant note as in Floral. A hint in other words.
--
Edited cause I am a muppet myself and can't spell. Also I meant note as in Floral. A hint in other words.
06 August 2006
Will wonders never cease?
Seems as if the e-mail to blog feature is working again. I guess this means that there are NO excuses for not keeping things up-to-date. Except for the fact that I'm lazy...
Tired from two largish nights in a row topping off a sport-billy week. A slow sunday will ensue as the sore muscles and sleep deprivation combine to make lethargy the number one activity. Will have to eventually leave the flat, as I have to go to chemist to find painkillers for the headache. Damn it all!
So, yeah, the week was a sporting one. Had Badminton on Tuesday, Rock climbing on Wednesday and BASKETBALL on Thursday. My whole body is a wreck of stressed muscles and tendons. But I'm much happier for it. Thinking of repeating the whole exercise next week...
I've never climbed before (except for one form three camp I can hardly remember). Was thinking it would be all about ropes and belays and harnesses, but was surprised with the sole activity I pursued - bouldering. It's ridiculously hard and I'm incredibly poor at it, but when my lack of skill combines with a simple course and I actually climb to the top, the sense of achievement is amazing. I plan to do it again, that is if my arms and hands ever regain a semblance of strength...
The climbing centre is a bit of a local landmark round these parts. It's called the castle and it was once a water pumping station for London water supply. If you're interested you can check out this picture of it (thanks wiki!). And if you follow the links back to the forwarding pages you'll even get a bit of the history of area in which I'm currently living; Stoke Newington/Dalston.
Anyway the return to basketball, oh it was good. Played for damn near three hours, which was fun for allowing me to watch my own skill and stamina ebb as I became more and more tired. It was a thorough workout, and left me feeling as if I remembered enough of the game to want to play it again properly. Just need to work on the fitness. Would also be nice to drop a few years off my age. Nothing quite like waking up sore and thirty and then having to go to work...
Not much else to say. So lets confirm if this post mechanism is returned.
3
2
1
...
Tired from two largish nights in a row topping off a sport-billy week. A slow sunday will ensue as the sore muscles and sleep deprivation combine to make lethargy the number one activity. Will have to eventually leave the flat, as I have to go to chemist to find painkillers for the headache. Damn it all!
So, yeah, the week was a sporting one. Had Badminton on Tuesday, Rock climbing on Wednesday and BASKETBALL on Thursday. My whole body is a wreck of stressed muscles and tendons. But I'm much happier for it. Thinking of repeating the whole exercise next week...
I've never climbed before (except for one form three camp I can hardly remember). Was thinking it would be all about ropes and belays and harnesses, but was surprised with the sole activity I pursued - bouldering. It's ridiculously hard and I'm incredibly poor at it, but when my lack of skill combines with a simple course and I actually climb to the top, the sense of achievement is amazing. I plan to do it again, that is if my arms and hands ever regain a semblance of strength...
The climbing centre is a bit of a local landmark round these parts. It's called the castle and it was once a water pumping station for London water supply. If you're interested you can check out this picture of it (thanks wiki!). And if you follow the links back to the forwarding pages you'll even get a bit of the history of area in which I'm currently living; Stoke Newington/Dalston.
Anyway the return to basketball, oh it was good. Played for damn near three hours, which was fun for allowing me to watch my own skill and stamina ebb as I became more and more tired. It was a thorough workout, and left me feeling as if I remembered enough of the game to want to play it again properly. Just need to work on the fitness. Would also be nice to drop a few years off my age. Nothing quite like waking up sore and thirty and then having to go to work...
Not much else to say. So lets confirm if this post mechanism is returned.
3
2
1
...
01 August 2006
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