Anthropax's Old Blog

Hurray! Went to the Orthodontist today looking to have a couple of teeth straightened, it's quite minor, but would be nice. Purchased a nice hat from M&S, as well as the following items from HMV:

I had my final exam today. And.... exhale.... Wow, nothing left to do until Uni. Goodness. The paper was on Religious Authority, first asking for three examples (I went for Sacred writings/the Bible, the Holy Spirit and the Pope), then asking for an evaluation of each. It's pretty much an opportunity to show how much you know in general about the topics. I think it went quite well, and may even dripfeed my answer for analysis by those theists present. I'm going to see a play tonight, "We're not in Brixton any more", and then will be out and about socialising and celebrating the end of an era.

Due to the lovely amount of comments, I've decided there should be a few rules. 1. Try not to go off topic too much, or the comments will be removed 2. Try to be constructive - no more "NOBODY CARES!" style comments, as they too (unless suitably witty) will be removed. 3. No long rambling comments, if you have your own blog/blogger account, then use it. 4. Anything that I feel unbalances the atmosphere of the blog will be removed.

Ordered a couple of shirts for Honkers, and here they are: Inspired by Humph (I imagine there will be lots of photographs in his infamous shirts after the trip)

Not long now until Honkers! I booked a coach to Birmingham today (only £15.79, including insurance), and from the bus station will get a taxi/bus to the airport. I watched the Richard Curtis film last night "The Girl in the Café", about the G8 and the whole make poverty history campain. It was a polemic, but a morally just one, and the ending was rather good. The romance was a bit unrealistic, but there were funny parts. All in all, one to watch for it's good message, rather than one to take a lover to see. *Edit* Photographs taken on Sunday include:

Middle Eastern Union votes to invade US

US economy boosted after a good Ramadan

Other news here

A pet peeve of mine is the fine British Newspaper, The Daily Mail. The paper is aimed at (and read by) asperational lower-middle and middle-middle class people in Britain, who, although conservative, are too hard of understanding to read the more intelligent right-wing newspaper, The Telegraph. The newspaper was first published in 1896, and was popular for its use of simplified news stories and large number of pictures. During the 1930's, the paper supported Oswald Mosely and the British Union of Facists, including the infamous article Hurrah for the Blackshirts. In 1939, Lord Rothermere wrote to Hitler, saying "My Dear Fuhrer, I have watched with understanding and interest the progress of your great and superhuman work in regenerating your country". The Daily Mail (also known as 'The Daily Hate') is fervently anti-asylum seekers, althought this is following historical dislike of refugees, notably Jewish people fleeing Russia during the pogroms, and also fleeing Nazi Germany. Today, The Daily Mail tends to rely upon a mixture of various articles,almostt all with large colour photographs. These range from discussions of a celebrity's dress, praising that celebrity,criticizingg that celebrity, psuedoscience (such as astrology, and discussions on Atlantis and Alien abduction), full-pagespreadss lamenting the loss of the family eating together, discussions on last nights TV and pages of adverts for cruises and property on the Costa del Sol. Although the newspaper prints a 'femail' section for female readers (note clever play on words), it is against women working. It's vilification of Asylum seekers promotes hatred of people that we should feel pity for. All in all, it seems to be read by the sort of person, who, despite living in a mock-Tudor house, and being very new money, pretends to his friends at boarding school that he is a member of the landed gentry, just because he has a small field at the back of his/her house. This hypothetical reader would perhaps have taken up shooting in order to present themselves as upper-middle class, but still uses the term 'toilet', and says 'serviette' for napkin, and 'pardon' instead of 'sorry', or 'excuse me', in order to sound more gentlemenly, or ladylike.

Due to the amount of abuse that I've recived in comments, it is with great saddness that I'm stopping the ability for non-blogger users to make comments. This is unfortunate, and I'm sorry to all those who wish to make sensible comments. But there it is.

Hot again today. My camera arrived, and the result is below! The view from my window. A small social gathering. Lou, the girl going to Italy instead of me is sitting on the right. Both taken with the new camera. Tomorrow, I'll treat you to a photo-journal. Oh Yes. Until then - Bye

My tickets came today (I ordered them off the internet - this truly is the 21st century!). It's given physical proof to the fact that I'm going to Hong Kong - I could have been dreaming before! Father went off to New Zealand today, and I purchased a pair of flip-flops. It's quite tricky finding shoes that fit, as I'm a size 11 and a half. I may put a phot up when my new camera arrives! Yay!

I've just purchased my own digital camera. (from amazon naturally). And here it is! This should mean far more photographs on the blog. A good thing, I'm sure. As I wouldn't get any money, I'm going to donate it to the classics department, so anyone who they think worthy can have it. Better someone can get some use out of it, than the money goes to waste.

How can this happen in the Land of The Free?

Shocking intolerance and what is really child abuse.

Dreadful

It is far too hot. One of the reasons I went for St Andrews is that the weather up there is rarely short of 'overcast', and mainly wet and cold. I prefer the cold British weather, as it allows me to wear my nice black felt coat, and my collection of scarves. These say 'scholarly' yet also 'cool n groovy'. It will be even hotter in Honkers. Arctic air conditioning though. Hmmm... I spot potential. I went out last night, and found a few people I vaguely know, and here is a photo: Adios!

I have taken a radical step down the path on the Hong Kong story (available now from all good bookshops). Flights have been booked. Ladies and Gentlemen, there is no going back. Birmingham -> Zurich -> Hong Kong with Swiss International Airlines. Zurich is the nearist I'll be going to Italy in the near future. If a hotel room can't be found for my friend who is planning to take my place, then I loose all the money spent on Italy, but still go to Hong Kong (trip of a lifetime!). If a hotel room can be found, then all well and good. It's a risk (a crazy one at that), but it should be worth it. It's a wild thing, and I love it. I can therefore say that I will be going to Hong Kong whatever happens.

First exam down today - no more finance ever again! Yay! However, Greek Tragedy is at 1.45 today - send out happy thoughts. Hasta La Vista! *Edit* 3/7 exams over now!

First exam down, and 6 to go. I'm not sure I did very well on it, as I woffled far too much on the essay. I'll post the questions and highlights of my answers later tonight - this is just a quick thing. ... As the actress said to the bishop!

I am unusually empathetic - I took a test on the BBC, and came up as almost the direct opposite of autistic. It does make me get tied upa bout letting people down though.

Your Seduction Style: The Dandy

You're a non-traditionalist, not limited by gender roles or expectations. Your sexuality is more fluid than that - and you defy labels or categories. It's hard to pin you down, and that's what's fascinating about you. You have the psychology of both a male and a female, and you can relate to anyone.

I have my first 'A' level exam in the morning, and, instead of revising for it like a good, sensible person, I'm posting about it. hmmm, something's not quite right about that... Anyway, the blasted thing is 'Greek and Roman Epic', the Epics in question (they warrent capital letters) are 'The Odyssey' and 'The Aeneid'. I know the stories of the relevent context books, and themes are fine (you can write quite a lot of bumf if the key ideas are sound), but the characters in the Roman Epic are dull, and seem far too similar, as most of the time they just seem to fight each other. In other news, it seems far more likely that I'll be off to Hong Kong (or Hongers as I shall now refer to it as). As well as all that (hold onto your hats!) I will be purchasing a digital camera (from Amazon naturally) in the near future, with an eye towards providing even more photographs for your, dear readers, entertainment and delectation.

Lots of people have rather interesting people in their family's past. One of my ancestors is talked about here. Another on (Henry Jones) doesn't have a Wikipedia entry. He should, after all, he created self-raising flour. However, these people sharing his name do. I may have to do something about that.

After seeing this on Sams blog, I wish to refer him to this (go down to May 5th). I quote: "Obviously if you’re reading this, you’re not even vaguely considering voting Conservative. Because, you know, if you were you’d realise what a vile, racism-endorsing moron you are, and be far too busy expressing your hatred to those with accents and better tans than you. What’s most amazing is that they’re not even trying to hide it this time. They’ve seen a seam of bubbling racism (see also: nationalism) in the country, and are tapping it enthusiastically. Previously they’ve at least had the good grace to pretend like they weren’t just planning on building giant Keep The Darkies Out fences all around the coast. "

It looks more likely that I will be able to go to Hong Kong! Yipee! I'll lose about £50, but that's not too bad, and I'll be able to use the money that I'll get back from that on plane tickets. This is one, if not the most exciting things I've done in my life, just dropping one thing, to go somewhere really fantastic! Goodness! I'm thinking of creating a bookshelf-thing, using flickr (see to the side) that would show pictures of films and books I have, it would be rather cool, and I couls use the amazon pictures. Just as I will now: This is a lovely film, although Jude Law has been better.

In a months time, I will either be in Italy or Hong Kong. Either? you ask. What is he on about? Well, let me tell you a tale... (fade to blackout) (Loud, deep voice speaks...) A long time ago, in a place far, far away... *music* I signed up for a classics trip to Italy. It would be for a week, in Rome and Pompeii, starting on the 7th of July. Some friends of mine happen to be going to Hong Kong for two weeks, and I had hoped to go along with them. However, the two events clash, so I would be able to go to one, but not the other. I decided to go on the trip to Italy, and that was that. *Fast forward to today* I decided to go into school to revise for upcoming exams, where I met up with H, a friend going to HK. In short, he persuaded me to want to go to Hong Kong, and so I have to try and find another person to go to Italy instead of me. If I can't find someone to take my place, I'll have to go to Italy (I'll love it, but would prefer HK). Goodness, it's a hard life. I think Hong Kong would reflect better when I'm at Uni, as everybody goes to Italy to look at statues, whereas HK has a different, vibrant culture. Also, (as I didn't get a grant) I'm not going to Japan, at least not this year, so HK would be rather enjoyable, and the farthest East I will ever have been! Am reading:

Well, the meal went well, but I forgot to take any pictures of the event itself (whoops!) I did however take two 'after - photograpghs', one of Robyn and Alice and one of Robyn, Emma and Sarah; I had a fun time, and got to have a chat with a few people about a few things (quite a lot of film stuff).

As my pay comes through on Tuesdays, I decided to have a spending spree on Amazon.co.uk. I purchased: and Should be good

In order to get thin and healthy for Uni, I have embarked upon a new eating regime. This 'GI diet' makes you eat things that keep you full, so you don't eat bad things. Or something. I'm not in full understanding (I only took Biology to AS level), but it seems to work. For breakfast on Monday I had porridge with blueberries, lunch was a grilled chicken breast and a chickpea salad (I had chickpea fatigue after that), and pasta for the evening meal. Yogurt is also plentiful, as are snacks between meals. In other news, I went to an orthodontist to see about getting my teeth straightned (a couple are off in a small way). It's been a bit dull all in all. Hmm. I'm off for my half-birthday meal later.

Well, half-birthday. ahm. I'm having a small meal with friends on Tuesday, which should produce photographs. I'll post them, and provide names, for future ego-googleing. Yay team me!

It's Brief Encounter crossed with Oedpus. In the future. With Om Puri. In a world where people speak a mixture of English, French, Spanish and Arabic (the coolist part of the film, aside from the great locations). I enjoyed it, as it's a more realistic sci-fi than most, and it's a bit like Gattica. Nice. Top quote: "I've got a child" "Chico or Chica?" "He's called Jim"

This season, I have mostly been listening to Kasabian, Bloc Party and British Sea Power. I've ordered a DVD of Code 46, which should be good. I'm sure I'll post something meaningful in a while. I have also been working on my synoptic module, and thinking about writing an essay to get free accomodation in Lampeter if I end up there. It's got to be on something to do with religion. Ideas on a postcard to...