Archive for January, 2007

Bard news

Wednesday, January 31st, 2007

I’m a little dazed and confused, because Leamington lost their first League match in 24 games, and I’d forgotten how to handle it.
The match was away to Stratford. Brakes weren’t gelling as well as normal, Stratford wanted it, and the result was “Two nil or not two nil”.
Actually it’s going to make the rest […]

A History of Modern Russia

Monday, January 29th, 2007

I previously mentioned that I’ve been reading about Russia. Specifically, I got Robert Service’s A History of Modern Russia: From Nicholas II to Putin from the library.
 
Early on, the book apologises for, or at least provides justification for, its concentration on politics. I’d like to find a book that concentrates a little more on […]

Chris and Rae

Monday, January 29th, 2007

To be honest, I didn’t know where Tintern was when Mum told us we’d be there. I had assumed it was near Swansea for some reason. That’s why I proposed to Chris and Rae that we could visit them in Blackwood. It turned out to be an hour or so’s drive — not so […]

Family Party

Monday, January 29th, 2007

A big weekend!
Mum had organised a big party, mostly to celebrate Dad’s 60th birthday, but also as a send-off for Ruth and Dave’s emigration adventure.
On Friday, we joined an advance party in a cottage in Newland, in the Forest of Dean on the Welsh borders. We enjoyed chat, good food and great beer at […]

Ruth and Dave visit

Monday, January 22nd, 2007

Sister Ruth and brother-in-common-law Dave made the Leamington stop of their whirlwind tour of the UK, between their big trip to New Zealand and Japan, and their imminent emigration to Canada.
Fortunately, when they arrived, they were as tired from socialising and jetlag, as I was from Jollyfest, and Debbie was from examiner work all […]

Jollyfest 2007

Monday, January 22nd, 2007

Gary and I filled Gary’s car with consoles and controllers and stuff, and went down to Sony Stratford, Milton Keynes for a day of game playing with like-minded Internet people. Highlights included:

Two player Guitar Hero 2, with big speakers and a projector
Various Wii games on the projector, including 9 player survival mode Wario Ware
“Pacman […]

hartnup.net’s official statement on alleged Celebrity Big Brother racism

Thursday, January 18th, 2007

It’s not clear whether what’s happening in there is racism or merely extraordinary rudeness.
I’m hoping for the eviction vote to demonstrate that the British public doesn’t like either of those things.

Cake activity

Thursday, January 18th, 2007

It looks as if Cake has a new rarities compilation coming out later this year, entitled “Rarities”. Ironically the rarities will be rare no longer!
If you go to their homepage this week, you’ll hear a snippet from their version of Black Sabbath’s marvellous War Pigs, and if you go to their MySpace page, you […]

How not to argue

Wednesday, January 17th, 2007

This page of insiduous argumentative tactics amused me. Note that the intention is that you recognise these and avoid using them. Alas there’s no advice on how to counteract them.
You have my permission to use the “NAME IT” technique when you encounter Stakhanovism.
Also, I take issue with the criticism of “We need to define […]

Philosophy!

Wednesday, January 17th, 2007

You might have noticed a Soviet Russia theme creeping into some blog entries. This is because of my recent reading habits — Robert Service’s A History of Modern Russia — about which I’ll say more once I’ve finished it.
Along the way, I’ve had to refer to other sources. Mostly, the atlas, but also I’ve […]



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