Storm

The sharp, cutting wit of the mighty Tim Minchin: Storm

Wikigame

Here's a game you can play on Wikipedia. Choose a page, any page: aardvark, Zulu, strawberry, scapula or whatever you like.

Now, ignoring the words in the title and any words in brackets, click on the very first hyper link in that page of text. From the resulting page, click on that first word and so on and so on. You will end up (after a number of 'moves') at Philosophy.

The game is to be beat your score for the highest number of clicks achieved before you reach Philosophy.

UK petrol prices - broken down

Petrol prices in Britain remain at near record levels and it's certainly true that the instabilities of the middle-east have led to higher oil prices recently.  Media outlets are quick to point to the rising price of a barrel of oil but this doesn't tell the whole story.

Shorts from 50's America.

Des Moines Register, 20 September 1957:  East Hampton, Conn.  (AP) - A search of Lake Pocotopaug for a reported drowning victim was called off here Tuesday when it was realized that one of the volunteers helping the search, Robert Hausman, 23, of East Hampton, was the person being sought.

iPod magic from Marco Tempest

Lovely stuff:   http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2011/06/ipod-magic-incredible-video-marco-tempest/

Collisions

The polished cue slides back and forth under the pool player's chin; he holds his breath as he pushes it forward decisively.   The cushioned 'thunk' of the cue hitting a ball rings out, followed shortly afterwards by the 'clack' of two or more balls colliding. 

It's a familiar sight and sound to anyone who has ever played pool except - here's the thing - those items never actually touch.  

Playing Snakes And Ladders In School

Some good friends told me recently of an issue they were having with their child in school.   This young man, 5 years old now, goes to a school which was recently visited by Ofsted who gave it bad report, being told it must improve.

One of the initiatives brought in since that time is to try and improve the behaviour of the children and it's this motivational concept that the child in question is struggling with (along with his parents and, I admit, me).

The Emperors New Clothes in 3D

I don't even begin to understand the current craze for all things 3D.   We are seemingly in the grip of a fairly astonishing, 1984 style embrace of 3D technology from the major media outlets;  to paraphrase Orwell, "War is peace, freedom is slavery, ignorance is strength, 3D is desirable".

I wonder....

What would it cost to get Brian Blessed to preside over a wedding?   http://bbc.in/bydc97

A beautiful, unique photograph

If Neil Armstrong gave us a great leap for mankind, the international space station is mankind regaining our balance and standing up straight. As such, I think it's quite apt that as a chapter ends in this incredible feat of engineering and discovery, the occasion is marked with a thing of beauty.

More trees, less footprint

Very pleased to read about the latest research on the increased density of managed forests leading to larger carbon sinks:  http://bit.ly/j3XSWa

Simon Cowell

Okay, the first rant:  Simon Cowell.

Whatever you think of him, he's damned good at what he does.  Infuriatingly so - you only have to look at the last few weeks of stories in the papers to know that.

In this age of churnalism and flat earth news, a constant

Photos added

So, I've discovered how to add a page of my photos and I've indulgently chucked them up for viewing.  I'm not putting on pictures of people for myriad reasons including that I hope anyone viewing will find pictures of things much more interesting (unless you happen to know the person depicted). 

Breaking the cherry

Let's get this over with.   This time, though, there's no need to be flat on my back and thinking of England.

My first blog. 

Inspired by the truly inspirational Rachel (my beloved fiancée), this is mostly to ensure that I beat her to the first blog post. I don't intend this to be particularly coherent, cohesive or anything more than just stuff really.   If no-one else ever reads, enjoys or comments, then I'm really fine with that.   If you do find something of interest though, I'm pleased.

Anyway, I should say:  welcome.