Sonic Youth's newest album is being released by Starbucks. Pretty shit, eh?
p.s. My spell checker has the word Starbucks in it, but not Facefucks? Useless.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
Friday, November 30, 2007
Puppy rescued from watering can
This mornings most e-mailed article on the bbc news website, is a story about a puppy getting its head stuck in a watering can. Don't worry folks, he was freed in the end.
The thing I found most interesting was the fact that Hampshire fire service have a specialist animal rescue team. Slur.
The thing I found most interesting was the fact that Hampshire fire service have a specialist animal rescue team. Slur.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Cheese please
Two years ago, just after I finished college for the first time, I was staying in my folks place, scanning through the appointments section of the Clare Champion.
There wasn't much in the way of suitable employment for someone with my esoteric skill set. (I had a degree in computers, but I'd been so interested in theoretical stuff, I'd never bothered to learn anything practical.) There's only one specific job I can remember reading: a cheese-maker's assistant somewhere out in the wilds of West Clare.
Initially it gave me a chuckle; The Sorcerer's Apprentice playing in my head as I imagined myself taking up Mickey Mouse's role in Fantasia. The more I think about it though, the more I realize that, actually, it might have been a pretty cool job.
Instead of living in a flat across the road from a pub, and sitting in an office all day, I could be living in a house, with a garden, and spending my days in a shed creating the greatest Stilton the world has ever known.
There wasn't much in the way of suitable employment for someone with my esoteric skill set. (I had a degree in computers, but I'd been so interested in theoretical stuff, I'd never bothered to learn anything practical.) There's only one specific job I can remember reading: a cheese-maker's assistant somewhere out in the wilds of West Clare.
Initially it gave me a chuckle; The Sorcerer's Apprentice playing in my head as I imagined myself taking up Mickey Mouse's role in Fantasia. The more I think about it though, the more I realize that, actually, it might have been a pretty cool job.
Instead of living in a flat across the road from a pub, and sitting in an office all day, I could be living in a house, with a garden, and spending my days in a shed creating the greatest Stilton the world has ever known.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Free Burma!
Ok, usually I hate it when people suddenly pick a trendy cause to support, and I really hate it when the whole blogging is gonna change the world crowd get going, but this is about the closest I can get to doing something useful, so here goes.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Slurkid says, get the fuck up!
Ok so, It's Saturday night, and usually at this time I'd be out hanging with my rock-star friends and having sex with super models - but alas, I've got work in the morning, so I'm here in front of the computer blogging. Booo.
Recently I heard about a hotel in Sri Lanka which offers the world's most expensive dessert, at just over a grand Stirling a pop. Now, the funny thing about this story, is that the only other bit of news coming out of the whole Bay of Bengal coastal area at the moment, is the little matter of a country with two names, one of which is Burma.
Actually, I'm going to stop trying to be funny, because this isn't a laughing matter. What started out as a protest against a five fold hike in fuel prices has quickly escalated into something much bigger. Initially, when I first heard about this, I felt something I haven't felt in a long time: that feeling that maybe, just maybe, by standing united, ordinary people could make a difference, and change the world for the better.
Then cynicism kicked in - this isn't the first time the Burmese have tried to over throw the junta, and none of the previous attempts have been pretty: in 1988 it's believed that at least 3000 people were killed by government troops. How was this allowed to happen? Well basically no one called the junta on their shit, they had enough control on the media at the time to prevent most of the world from finding out straight away, and they're buddies with China, who have sufficient funds/influence to take most of the sting out of any international sanctions.
Things are slightly different today; for one they have less control of communications, and more importantly, they have a lot less to offer China. They still have the oil and other natural resources, but their borders have become unstable, ans if there's one thing China can do without, it's a bunch of refugees.
China are keen to be seen as a nation on the up, and a key part of promoting this image is the Beijing Olympics. There's talk that they're willing to cut Burma loose to ensure the games go smoothly.
So there's only a slim chance that these protests can work, but they haven't got a hope unless the international community start applying pressure. If anyone is reading this I encourage you to get on to your local MP/TD and let them know you're not happy about the situation. Get on to Amnesty International, they have addresses for officials in the Junta you can write to; they won't listen, but do it anyway. Let China know that if they interfere with international sanctions, you're going to boycott the Olympics.
So far 9 people are confirmed dead, though the real figure is probably higher. This comparative show of restraint isn't due to any sense of compassion on the part of the junta - they're just worried about international opinion. Don't let them think for a second that no one's looking.
Recently I heard about a hotel in Sri Lanka which offers the world's most expensive dessert, at just over a grand Stirling a pop. Now, the funny thing about this story, is that the only other bit of news coming out of the whole Bay of Bengal coastal area at the moment, is the little matter of a country with two names, one of which is Burma.
Actually, I'm going to stop trying to be funny, because this isn't a laughing matter. What started out as a protest against a five fold hike in fuel prices has quickly escalated into something much bigger. Initially, when I first heard about this, I felt something I haven't felt in a long time: that feeling that maybe, just maybe, by standing united, ordinary people could make a difference, and change the world for the better.
Then cynicism kicked in - this isn't the first time the Burmese have tried to over throw the junta, and none of the previous attempts have been pretty: in 1988 it's believed that at least 3000 people were killed by government troops. How was this allowed to happen? Well basically no one called the junta on their shit, they had enough control on the media at the time to prevent most of the world from finding out straight away, and they're buddies with China, who have sufficient funds/influence to take most of the sting out of any international sanctions.
Things are slightly different today; for one they have less control of communications, and more importantly, they have a lot less to offer China. They still have the oil and other natural resources, but their borders have become unstable, ans if there's one thing China can do without, it's a bunch of refugees.
China are keen to be seen as a nation on the up, and a key part of promoting this image is the Beijing Olympics. There's talk that they're willing to cut Burma loose to ensure the games go smoothly.
So there's only a slim chance that these protests can work, but they haven't got a hope unless the international community start applying pressure. If anyone is reading this I encourage you to get on to your local MP/TD and let them know you're not happy about the situation. Get on to Amnesty International, they have addresses for officials in the Junta you can write to; they won't listen, but do it anyway. Let China know that if they interfere with international sanctions, you're going to boycott the Olympics.
So far 9 people are confirmed dead, though the real figure is probably higher. This comparative show of restraint isn't due to any sense of compassion on the part of the junta - they're just worried about international opinion. Don't let them think for a second that no one's looking.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
And now, the science.
Ok, I just want to quickly bring 2 things to your attention before I bunk off work:
Welcome to the world of tomorrow.
Welcome to the world of tomorrow.
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