Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Like a bus...
I had just posted the below, when I popped on over to Jo's site, to see yet another political test! Not having much to do, I did it. It didn't have as many questions as PC, but does have pretty graphics.
| You are a Social Liberal (68% permissive) and an... Economic Liberal (6% permissive) You are best described as a:
Link: The Politics Test on Ok Cupid Also: The OkCupid Dating Persona Test |
It's that time again...
Political Compass!!!!!!!!!
I can't seem to get the graph to come out, but needless to say, I'm in the bottom left hand segment.
Economic Left/Right: -6.25
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -5.44
I went home over the weekend for a bit of TLC (although, my parents being as they are, I didn't getting any). I hadn't been home for almost a month, and so a good bit of local gossip had built up.
- The Large house across a few of our fields has been sold to a Russian Ogilarch (not sure if he's an oil one though). The only picture I can find of the house is this one.
- My little sister had her exam for HMSG, which went well. Her interview with the Headmistress also went well, so I'm quite sure she'll get a place.
- I went to St Mary's for Eucharist on Sunday, and met a good few people that I knew. My Latin master from my first (and only) year doing the subject was there, so we had small chat, he mentioned that he was delighted that I was at Lampeter, and asked if I was going into the ministery. The Editer of The Lion served, and David McGladdery gave a good sermon. The new Chaplain of the school was in attendance also - seems like a good person, and a small bit of research shows he went to Wallsingham - no Evo then thank Goodness!
- As mentioned below, It seems that I have quite a few 'Persons of the Cloth' in the family history, and at least one Bishop. The highlighting of this could just have been a bit of a ploy on the 'rents part.
And with that, I'm off to get a bagel
NCA...
...is perhaps the Chinese version of the YBAs of the 90's. Although there have been a few articles et al on the new art movement in China, I came across one of the most striking images over the weekend. The painting is a fusion of Duchamp's 'Fountain' and a picture of Chairman Mao. The result is fantastic, particularly due to my secret love of Warhol's paintings and prints. It reminds the viewer of Warhol at once, but this is no 'icon' of Mao, it is a painting of something that never happened. Mao seemes to be lit by the work, and the stooges behind him seem to be gazing in wonder. Although they are well out of my price range ($20,000 at least) I would love some of Shi Xinning's work.
Monday, January 30, 2006
Having had a chat with family, it seems that I've had at least one bishop in the family. The bishop of Stockport during the 60's. Slightly interesting, but perhaps not as much as Dr William.
Sunday, January 29, 2006
中国
Nǐ hǎo!
Zěnme yàng?
Guò nián hǎo!
Friday, January 27, 2006
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
I've been watching Ming on Question Time, and he's been doing very well. It's coming to Aberystwyth on the 2nd of Feb, and it would be rather good to pop along, 15 minutes of fame and all that.
Monday, January 23, 2006
1000 visitors...
...in less than three months! Hurrah!
Just in time!
I had a good long chat with mum on the phone last night, she was quite pleased that I had changed form Confucianism and Taoism to Early Church History, and she made a dreadful pun about how 'Confucianism' seemed very 'confusing' (d'ya get it? hmm?). My little sister has her interview for HMSG today, just about the time that I'm typing this in fact, so I'll call later on to see how she did.
It seems that Monmouth has attracted the unwanted attentions of the ghastly Alpha Course, but before my poor mother could sign up (they tempted her with offers of a free meal - we're stingy like that), she (thank goodness!) asked me what it was. If the idea of the grotty 'Pine and pain' bunch breaking out the tambourines wasn't bad enough, the thought of some greasy charismatic trying to get my poor mummy to speak in tongues is beyond! The quite High Church area of Monmouthshire should not be invaded by some group spreading dodgy theology and trying to market Christianity as a commodity! I put pay to mothers ideas about getting into the cult, as a preventitive is better than a cure.
Sunday, January 22, 2006
I'm preparing my project proposal for Anthropology. I have to do propper fieldwork and all! Mine is to be on social class identity, the working title is "Fear and loathing in Pardonia; social class identity in the rural middle class". I think it's rather snappy.
Mark Oaten...
Well, I feel that it's my duty to comment on the allegations from the News of the World.
1. It was foolish of him to stand for leadership if he knew that this could come out at any time, and it's just as well that he stood down from the race before these allegations came about.
2. In the long run, this seems to be a bit more damaging. If he had just come out and said that he is bisexual (I presume that is how he identifies, as he does have two children, although this sort of thing is complicated), then most people would have been fine with it. I certainly don't think who he sticks his cock into has any effect on how well he does his job. Lots of people have affairs, and it's just unfortunate that someone kissed and told. I'm sure he'll bounce back up. He was on the right of the party, and now the leadership just seems to be about which candidate is more left wing.
3. erm... I may have overdone myself
Happy Birthday to fellow Lampeter student John.
Friday, January 20, 2006
Enjoy!
We havn't heard from Kilroy for quite a while, or Veritas (warning, contains kazoo!) for that matter.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
She was into S&M and Bible studies, not everyone's cup of tea, she would admit to me...
I'm creating a new folder on my destop. The brand new 'Fucking cool music' folder will house, in a slightly cliched way the music that it 'fucking cool'. I'm limiting the tracks in it to two or three from each album, thus creating the pinicle in music taste. So far we have:
Belle & Sebastian - If You're feeling sinister, a track I could listen to for, oooo, a rather long time
Architecture in Helsinki - Do The Whirlwind
The New Pornographers - The Laws Have Changed
It's still early days, but this term's goal (apart from the whole 'making the worlds best sauce for pasta' thing) is to try to get my music taste to it's peak. Uni is the time to do this. I'm young enough to be able to engage myself in such a task, so why not?
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
I guess the recent theme of the blog, that of anglo-catholicism was in part due to my anticipation of one of a series of lectures that the Uni is holding on Anglicanism. The one on anglo-catholicism was on today, and so along I toddled. I wasn't disappointed. The good old Rev Dr Simon Oliver gave a witty lecture (Anglo-catholic priests wear black. Mainly because it's slimming), with a good juicy history of Anglicanism up to the 19th centaury, as well as a brief touch upon gothic revival architecture. There were a few questions afterwards, but I had to slip out to get to a Taoism evening class. Which I almost fell asleep in. I seem to be fine with listening about Abrahamic religions, and I suspect Zoroastrianism would keep me awake. Alas, it seems that however interesting I may find, say, Daoism, I end up tired. It could just be a combination of a warm room and a long day though.
Seperated at birth?
 | You scored as Roman Catholic. You are Roman Catholic. Church tradition and ecclesial authority are hugely important, and the most important part of worship for you is mass. As the Mother of God, Mary is important in your theology, and as the communion of saints includes the living and the dead, you can also ask the saints to intercede for you.
|
Father Jolly!
Monday, January 16, 2006
Hurrah!
Verónica Michelle Bachelet Jeria has been elected in Chile! Yay! Things are looking up in South America. Not least because she is the daughter of an anthropologist.
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Serenity Day!
I get to watch Serenity at last!
The film as a continuation of the FANTASTIC (Ladies and Gentlemen, you know that I don't overdo the capital letters, but this deserves them) Firefly. I have looked forward to this for quite some time, and will report back after I've watched it.
Hitchcock rules!
... Or to be more accurate, The Hitchcock Rules, are a band that we went to see at the Student Union. They get talked about here, and the same photo is reproduced here for your viewing delectation.
Saturday, January 14, 2006
"Happy Birthday!"...
...was what we were shouting at St Bridget (our one isn't a real saint, but the other St Bridget turned water into beer, so it is slightly apt) on Wednesday. Which was, if you weren't able to guess, her birthday.
Angel...
...above the archway. It had been raining last night, so it hadn't dried out fully, but it still looks lovely.
It was such...
...a nice day that I went out and took a few photos of the Uni. Here is the small tower over the entrance to the quadrangle and Old Building
Friday, January 13, 2006
I've been reading...
...the Mailwatch for a little while now, and have already voted on the 'choose your fav. Mail/Express front page' thing. I went for the one that had the blessed trinity of Saint Diana, Asylum Seekers and Gypsies, with the 'War on Christmas' Icon, finished off with a sprig of 'political correctness gone mad'.
Coolist.
Thing.
Ever.
Oh, and I've been updating my Amazon Wishlist to include all the DVD boxed sets I'll never get around to buying.
Oh, and I've been updating my Amazon Wishlist to include all the DVD boxed sets I'll never get around to buying.Ming's growing on me...
... partly due to this.
"[Menzies] told the Guardian he would put an anti-poverty campaign and environmentalism at the heart of the party agenda"
I'm starting to think that Ming is what the party needs. Hughes was going to get my vote, but there is the feeling that an older, more experianced statesman is needed.
The other major thing is that I'm a little unsure about Hughes' in regards to the 1983 Bermondsey by-election.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
David Aaronovitch...
...is getting in on the blogging act, and talks about why it is good for journalists to blog. As he puts it, blogging;
1. Makes the columnist/blogger feel young and trendy.
2. Collects all his or her writings in one place so that people who have missed musings on, say, circumcision for the Jewish Chronicle can come to the blog to find them.
3. Gives the printed stuff added shelf life; it stays around longer before ending up lining the budgie's cage.
4. Allows the col/blog to get things into print that no publication would ever commission, such as... well if you come back here periodically, you'll see.
5. Permits the col/blog to show you pictures of his cat. Why it's usually a cat, I have no idea, but it's nice to have a glimpse of the person behind the argument.
I'm not one for...
... jokes about minority groups, but this blonde joke had me literally rolling on the floor.
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Picture Round-Up #1
This is the start of an irregular feature, made up of what I feel to be striking images that I've seen/found over the past few days.
Eid Mubarak...
...to all my lovely Muslim readers.
This, is another variation on the ideas of how technology and modernity are integrating with religious life and ritual. I did an exam essay on this, and it is a great area of potential study. If you spin an online prayer wheel, is it the same as spinning a real world one? Or is it a new form or religiosity in itself?
Name that place.
Name that place.First lecture on Taoism and Confucianiam...
...was today. It seems rather tricky to grasp, but with the help of Wikipedia (a godsend for Religious Studies students), I should manage.
I had an anthropology essay back. It was marked by the fantastic Elisabeth Kirtsoglou , and I was only three marks off a first. More importantly perhaps, I had three ticks and a 'Good!' for my description of Lemarckian evolution. Which made my cheeks go red with pride. Or something. For the delight of Humphrey, here is a picture of her, as he's into that sort of thing.
Just don't send her flowers Humph!
Just don't send her flowers Humph!'Puter problems; part the second
Well, my computer finally died on Sunday. Something about a 'drive' which is 'hard' (note to Commonplace Book, this ignorance is in jest) not working. Or something. My weekly budget had been spent, so I could not add to the megre amount (£3 or so) that I had on my mobile, although this seemed enough to call up PC World, for they surely wouldn't charge customers to talk to someone would they?
They would.
To cut a long story short (the long story had dragons and a small aubergine), I spent ten long minutes (four of them on hold) before it was decided that the hardrive was at fault, and just as we were working out how someone should come to collect it, my phone beeped, and my credit ran out.
Much swearing was heard at that point.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
AMP...
...is a fantastic minizine for thinking Grrrrrls and thinking people in general. have a look at the 'zine itself here and bloggy bloggy
And welcome to my 800th visitor since records began.
Saturday, January 07, 2006
Opik not to stand
It looks like Lembit is not going to stand for leadership. Therefore, Simon Hughes will get my vote, as he seems to be (relativly) young, someone who knows his stuff, and is on the wing of the party that is more concerned with social liberalism, rather than economic liberalism, which I'm a bit iffy on.
Well, there he goes...
Charles is out then. I liked him a lot, his laid back style made him popular. He lead the party to the best results since the 1920's. I blame the press in part. He was hugely brave to admit to his highly personnel problems, and the press's crowing over this issue.
I plan to see this as the opportunity to move forward. I think the thing to do now is to move on, and choose a new, dynamic leader. If Lembit Opik stands (as I hope he does), then I'll support him. I feel that he is popular enough, and has shown how good he is with people, shown in particular on Question Time and HIGNFY. If Lembit doesn't stand then I feel Simon Hughes will make a good leader, falling on the left wing of the party.
Naboo Meets Mongolia
How cool is that headgear?!? They know how to make good hats in Mongolia don't they?
GILES You are Rupert 'Ripper' Giles. Trained by the
Watchers' Council after a rebellious youth, you
take the cautious approach. A great friend and
role model, you are always there to give
guidance - or clean up the mess.
Which Character from 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
Friday, January 06, 2006
Peter Black on Charles Kennedy.
When I was standing at the back of the Charles Kennedy press conference yesterday I noted that a journalist in front of me had written down the names of two politicians at the top of his notebook- Winston Churchill and George Brown. Both of these politicians served at the highest levels of government whilst frequently drunk. It is also the case that the current President of the United States is a recovering alcoholic. The key issue is whether those around them and the electorate at large believe that they are capable and competent enough to do the job they have been elected to do.
I agree with him that one of the worst things that could happen would be Charles being chosen again without being elected. If no-one else puts their name forward, Charlie will be still in, but it won't have shown that he has the support of the majority of the party.
itunes
Well, I've gotten around to getting iTunes. After my entire music collection on my PC got wiped, a fresh start was needed, and I went for iTunes, partly due to nagging on Max's part. It seems good so far, but I'm not sure who decided that Sufjan Stevens and The Magic Numbers were 'Roc and Punk'. In other news, my sources in the Lib Dems indicate that Charles may resign before the end of the day, leaving the way open for a new leader. I'm going to have to renew my membership, so I can vote - that'll be fun. I hope that Lembit goes for it.
Speaking today at Liberal Democrat headquarters Mr Kennedy said:
I've called this press briefing to address an issue - directly - one that has been a source of concern to myself and to others for some time.
Over the past eighteen months I have been coming to terms with and seeking to cope with a drink problem. And I've come to learn through that process that any drink problem is a serious problem indeed - for yourself and for those around about you.
I've sought professional help and I believe today that this issue is essentially resolved. People close to me know that this has been a struggle and for extended periods I have consumed no alcohol at all. As a matter of fact I haven't had a drink for the past two months - and I don't intend to in the future.
I've learnt the hard way of the need to face up to this medical problem - one that is dealt with successfully by many others on a daily basis. I have chosen not to acknowledge it publicly in this way before because, if at all possible, I wanted to overcome it privately.
In a sense, this admission today comes as something of a personal relief. I should have been willing to talk about it more openly before. I wish I had.
This issue has - understandably - been of concern to several of my parliamentary colleagues.
They have been both understanding and supportive.
I am extremely grateful to them for that.
It also lies beneath much of the current leadership speculation within the parliamentary party.
Therefore, let me be clear. I consider myself capable and in good health - and I remain politically determined as leader of the party.
This party's members have shown me tremendous support over the years and overwhelmingly in recent weeks and days. It is a privilege to serve as their leader. I want to continue doing so, not least because the prospects in front of us in this parliament are so great.
Given my statement today I believe it is only fair now to give our party members their say over the continuing leadership.
It is open to any colleague who believes that they can better represent the longer-term interests of the party to stand against me in such a leadership election.
I am requesting that the party puts in place the necessary steps to enable this election to take place immediately.
Given the extremely personal nature of this statement I trust that you will understand that I do not propose to make further comments.
I think some people's responce has been truly aweful. Even is you do not agree with his policies, crowing about another persons addiction goes beyond the pale. I wish Charles good luck in his battle, and it is worth noting that he has been dry for two months now. My inside source had indicated that Ming Campbell was going to take over smoothly, but this looks unlikely to happen. If Charles does go (and it would be a shame) then there are some good people who could take over, ranging from HIGNFY's Lembit to Mark Oaten.
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Other things...
A Commonplace Book talks about the horrors of Coldplay and Melanie 'The Mynx' Phillips, my favourate quotes are;
"What would happen if fashion retailers were able to specify when, where and how often one could wear their attire? JD-Sports could demand that you only wore their pastel-pink and brown tracksuits whilst shoplifting or hanging around bus stops looking sullen. If you were wearing Evans, you’d be physically barred from entering chip shops. Sock manufacturers could forbid you from pairing their garments with sandals. A cropped top would come with a caveat preventing you from teaming it up with a muffin top."
She complains that Political Correctness Gone Mad ™ has sapped the Christian message from Christmas and that some local councils are avoiding the word at all. For Phillips, the True Meaning of Christmas ™ is very important and shouldn’t be lost, which confuses me somewhat since she is Jewish and should not, therefore, be telling everyone else to celebrate the birth of the Messiah.
I've blogged about Camerons attempt to woo Lib Dems, but, as was inevitable the Liberal Democrats have struck back, offering David Cameron the chance to join us. Although another David ("That little shit"), would perhaps not be welcome.
I've blogged about Camerons attempt to woo Lib Dems, but, as was inevitable the Liberal Democrats have struck back, offering David Cameron the chance to join us. Although another David ("That little shit"), would perhaps not be welcome.
Europa Europa
Europe is challenging the US near monopoly on space technology, with the launch of the Galileo satellite. A link to a video of the launch, as well as a couple of nifty graphics, here.Evo Morales...
...the newly elected president of Bolivia is having a tour of various countries, notably not including the US. Mr Morales is the latest in the trend in South America of moving away from Neo-liberal economics, as well as US imperialism. He's following in Hugo Chavez's footsteps, and I (as well as the BBC) feel that this is part of a long-term trend towards social democratic governments in Latin America. Another thing that he shares with Mr Chavez is that he is of indigenous ethnic extraction, a fantastic thing. It's been a while coming, but the future in South America is bright, and the future is red.Back in Lampeter
Well, I am. I haven't blogged for a few days, and so I'll put a few posts up about world (and other) events.
I drove up, managing to get through all three (count 'em!) of my Belle & Sebastian albums, as well as a little bit of The Go! Team. I rustled up a meal using my brand spanking new wok (a Thai-style vegi thing), and drank half a bottle of fairtrade wine.
Monday, January 02, 2006
Top things seen in 2005...
...more an insight into my viewing habits than a review type thing (oh my way with words...). As with the music, it'll be the Media (not just films, as there are some top quality Series' about) owned (as opposed to films released, of which there have been a disappointing lack of quality ones, coupled with my lack of visits to the local cinema). I haven't been able to afford a few things (Six Feet Under in particular), so this is missing some great things. I amy go into a bit of detail about why I like them, or I may not. Anyhow, I would enjoy discussion of these things (and the music), even if it's a quick "Spaced made me wet my pants" or "Sigur Ros give my ears little orgasms". Although those two comments are taken already, and are now unavailable.
Firefly
Hero
Pi
Code 46
Elephant
American Beauty
Peep Show - Series 2
Good bye Lenin!
Crash
Spaced
Y tu mamá también
Angels in America
Sunday, January 01, 2006
I can see a lot of viewers, and just want to know - are you real? Comment if you are.
*edit*
The 'online visiters' box seemed to be playing up, displaying around 900 visiters. This seemed to be the same situation when the site was viewed from other computers (thanks to Max for being my eyes up North). Unless I was swamped with untalkative visiters from over 60 countries (Jo being the honourable exception), there has been a bit of a glitch with the thing.
Normal service will return shortly.
