The red plague rid you for learning me my language

Spot the Dumb Beast...

2006-03-03T12:48:00.000Z

Baseball Comes to the Rescue...

2006-01-21T19:53:00.000Z

The US Government has been forced to "allow" Cuba to field a team in the inaugural World Baseball Classic. Washington was using laws enforcing economic sanctions against Communist Cuba to bar its team. US laws aimed at punishing Fidel Castro's government continue to prohibit certain commercial transactions with Cuba.

Then the Castro regime announced its intention to donate all profits from the tournament to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Washington had to give in, issuing a licence on Friday allowing the Cubans to participate in the 16-team event. A US treasury spokesperson said: "The agreement upholds the legal scope and the spirit of the agreement. It ensures no funding will make its way into the hands of the Castro regime."

That at the fact that Fidel Castro will probably end up doing more to help the poor people of New Orleans than George W. Bush.

Arundhati Roy

2006-01-19T16:51:00.001Z

Arundhati Roy, writer and political activist, most famous for The God of Small Things has been awarded the Sahitya Akademi award (sort of a Booker for Indian writers) for the year 2005. This is an organisation set up by the Indian Government to "to foster and coordinate literary activities in all the Indian languages and to promote through them the cultural unity of India." Though both the organisation and the award are funded by the Government, their members insist that "the Akademi is intellectually and culturally purely autonomous".

Ms. Roy has refused the prestigious award because of her very public disagreements with policies (both domestic and international) espoused by the current government. This is her letter of refusal to the Chairman of the Akademi:

I thank the jury of the Sahitya Akademi for giving me this year's Sahitya Akademi Award for my book `The Algebra of Infinite Justice.' I am proud that the jury felt that a collection of political essays deserved to be given India's most prestigious literary prize.

These essays, written between 1998 and 2001, are deeply critical of some of the major policies of the Indian State — on big dams, nuclear weapons, increasing militarisation and on economic neo-liberalism. However, even today this incumbent government shows a continuing commitment to these policies and is clearly prepared to implement them ruthlessly and violently, whatever the cost.

In the last few months, apart from the growing numbers of farmers' suicides [now running into tens of thousands] and the forcible eviction of people from their lands and livelihoods [in the hundreds of thousands], we have witnessed the police brutalisation of industrial workers in Gurgaon, the killing of a dozen people protesting against a dam in Manipur, and the killing of another dozen people protesting their displacement by a steel plant in Orissa. Even as we call ourselves a democracy, Indian security forces control and administer Kashmir, Manipur and Nagaland — and the numbers of the dead and disappeared continue to mount.

The `Algebra of Infinite Justice' is also critical of U. S. foreign policy, particularly in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York and Washington. This present Indian government too has seen it fit to declare itself an ally of the U. S. Government, thereby condoning the American invasion of Afghanistan and its illegal occupation of Iraq, which, under the Nuremburg principles, constitutes the supreme crime of a war of aggression.
I have a great deal of respect for the Sahitya Akademi, for the members of this year's Jury and for many of the writers who have received these awards in the past. But to register my protest and re-affirm my disagreement — indeed my absolute disgust — with these policies of the Indian Government, I must refuse to accept the 2005 Sahitya Akademi Award.

I have long been an admirer of both Ms. Roy's writing and her political stance. I enjoyed The God of Small Things, but think her non-fiction is a lot better. And her brave decision to refuse such an honour has to be respected.

I was recently talking to a graduate student in English literature who referred to Algebra of Infinite Justice as 'reductive' in its politics. I happen to think it is incredibly important, courageous and exceptionally well-written. I think it asks some very important questions about the relationship between people and their governments - and, as such, raises issues that everyone should be concerned with it. They are polemical, certainly - but if to espose a certain political position is necessarily reductive then there can be very little that can escape that charge.

You don't have to agree with me or Ms. Roy. Go on and read the book, and then make your own minds up. But let us applaud someone who is prepared to stand up for what she believes in. In the world we live in, such examples are all too rare.

Caliban is Back...

2006-01-17T18:59:00.000Z

I am so sorry for being so quiet for so long. Life just takes over sometimes, you know what I mean?

Let me see, what has happened since I was last here. Not much - finished PhD applications (finally) and sent them off. Decided on Oxford, Cambridge and Cardiff. Now I have a few months during which I can dream about my future until the rejections come through and burst my bubble.

Have a film recommendation, though. Saw a film called Dare mo shiranai or 'Nobody Knows'. It's directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, and is probably the most painful film I have seen. Ever.

It shows four children being abandoned by their mother, and left to themselves in a small Tokyo apartment. It has a documentary feel to it, highlighted by the knowledge that it is, unbelievably, based on a true story. Performances are fantastic all-round and the director is admirably restrained - there are hardly any instances of overt sentimentalism - the film is so much the better for it.

I don't want to say anything else about it, for fear of ruining it for anyone who is going to go on and watch it. Just keep a box of tissues on hand, and don't plan an enjoyable evening afterwards - it just won't happen. When C. and I finished watching it, we just silently went about the chores and headed off to bed. It was almost too painful to talk about.

Seriously, go watch it.

Oh, merry Christmas, have a happy 2006 and all that. You know what I mean.

Stupid Stupid Article (that really pissed me off...)

2005-12-06T22:06:00.000Z

Before you read my rant, read this imbecilic article by Simon Jenkins in The Guardian - and marvel at how people can overcome their innate stupidity and still be famous for being 'clever'.
In case you don't know, the picture on the left is Senate House, the building that Jenkins seems to have such issues about.
I happen not to agree with his analysis of Bloomsbury architecture; I think there are parts of London that are far uglier, and in any case aesthetics (architectural or otherwise) are not as absolute as Mr. Jenkins seems to think. But even that is beside the point.
What Mr. Jenkins fails to see is that the primary purpose of a building, any building, is not to be beautiful. It is to serve the purpose it was designed for. In this case, that purpose is to provide a pleasant and useful place for the students to carry out their academic work. And this is something Jenkins fails to consider. At all.
Jenkins' arrogance is breathtaking as he sees fit to condemn an entire institution purely on the so-called 'soot-blackened facades' of its buildings. In his own words, all the university spends its money on is 'running student residences, handling overseas degrees, being a landlord and servicing 29 committees'. Now this is not exactly factually accurate anyway, but even taking Jenkins on his own terms, he does not deign to explain how he would house the students who live in University of London housing. But then, these trifles don't concern Mr. Jenkins. With a fantastic lack of self-consciousness, Jenkins admits that 'most of the interiors of these buildings are wildly overcrowded.' At the same time, he advocates to plan some sort of idealised campus university slap-bang in the middle of central London: 'Down would come the Senate House and the Institute of Education. Montague Place, Malet Street and Woburn Square would be redesigned as quadrangles, streets and piazzas. Hidden churches, museums, gardens and townhouses would be brought to light.' Where the students would actually go is, as usual, another trifle that Jenkins isn't bothered about.
That Jenkins doesn't care about student welfare is clear from his proposal about business and law courses: 'I would hive off some academic departments, such as business and law, into privately financed subsidiaries, independent and thus free to charge uncapped fees to students.' I guess as a Tory, Jenkins doesn't particularly care about wishy-washy liberal ideas about widening participation. But even for a Tory, advocating 'uncapped fees' is especially extreme. Not to mention the rather arbitrary manner in which Jenkins chooses business and law students as the victims of this 'financial arrangement'. [Interestingly, Jenkins studied at St. John's, Oxford - benefiting from both free university education, and grants paid out of taxpayers' money.]
Finally, though, what really, really annoys me about this article is the absolute ignorance Jenkins displays about student life in London. For example, he writes that all Senate House is 'used only for book storage'. That's a nice way to describe a central library accessible to all University of London students that, among other things, boasts one of the finest periodicals collections in the world. Apart from this, Senate House holds countless seminars and conferences from various disciplines. Senate House hosts the School of Advanced Study - with the following member institutes: Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Institute of Classical Studies, Institute of Commonwealth Studies, Institute of English Studies, Institute of Germanic & Romance Studies, Institute of Historical Research, Institute of Musical Studies Institute of Philosophy, Institute for the Study of the Americas, Warburg Institute. But clearly none of these matter, because it all takes place in an ugly building.
Jenkins mentions that University College London Union and University of London Union are barely 100 yards apart. He neglects to mention that while these bodies perform similar functions, they target two separate student bodies. UCLU, as the name suggests, is merely there for UCL students; ULU caters for the whole wider, federal University. And, in any case, as any UCL student would attest - the facilities at UCLU are inadequate for the 17000 student population, and as such, ULU does not so much duplicate services as provide adequate student facilities.
The University of London, as any institution on such a scale, is not perfect. It can be inefficient and wasteful and bureaucratic. It is not, nor can ever be, a campus university like Harvard, and comparing the two only serves to highlight the author's ignorance. I welcome constructive criticism that will help the University of London provide the 'unified academic leadership' that even Jenkins admits is necessary. But constructive criticism demands awareness of the issues involved, sympathy towards the goals that are being attempted, and (I just have to say this) a certain level of intelligence. In this article, at least, Simon Jenkins has displayed none of the above.

Clearly Libellous.

2005-12-06T21:42:00.000Z

Robbie Williams has won an undisclosed amount of damages in a libel suit against The People newspaper, Star and Hot Stars magazines which published accounts of his sex life that turned out not to be true.
Now normally this sort of story does not interest me in the least, but this one leapt to my attention because of the nature of these 'allegations'. Basically, the tabloid newspapers claimed Williams is gay, he took them to court, and won.
What does it say about equality of sexual orientation in our society that calling someone gay amounts to libel? The BBC coverage illustrates my point through its headline: Williams wins 'gay' libel damages. Can anyone imagine Elton John, for example, suing a newspaper for calling him straight?
The number of openly gay public-figures (especially in politics and religion) is shamefully low. The Anglican Church is tearing itself apart on whether all people can be seen to be equal in the eyes of a benevolent, merciful God. (The Catholic Church is a lot more decisive. Openly gay priests are not welcome, but closeted gay priests who indulge themselves with the odd altar-boy or two are perfectly acceptable) Homophobic attacks are all too common, both on individuals and on groups, even on gay pride marches.
Is it too much to ask that the time has come, in the Twenty First Century, for people to feel that they can love whoever they want to - without fear of reprisal?

Why my bank manager really does love me.

2005-12-01T18:11:00.000Z

I went to my bank today to deposit a cheque in US Dollars. When the cashier processed my cheque, I asked him how long it would take to clear. 'Upto six weeks', I was helpfully told.

Now, let us say that the amount of international cheques my bank processes constitutes 0.1% of my bank's annual turnover. Let us further assume that the average interest paid out on all the accounts that my bank offers is 1%. Given these assumptions (which, though I am no economist, seem to me to be fairly generous) the delay of 6 weeks means my bank saves £12692.30 from the amount of interest paid out per year. On the other hand, if my bank cleared the cheque the day after it was deposited, my bank would only save £301.36. The difference in profits would be £12390.94.

Admittedly, twelve thousand pounds is not a huge figure when you consider that my bank's annual turnover is £11.3 billion pounds - but would it be too cynical of me to suggest that this 6 week figure is not an entirely accurate description of the amount of time it takes to transfer a certain amount of money from a bank in America to a bank in the UK?

I think it's not fair to name any names in cases like these, so I won't tell you that I bank with Barclays.

Leave our schoolbooks alone

2005-11-27T02:07:00.000Z

One of the many ways in which right-wing politicians attempt to hang on to power with their grubby little hands is by starting young on the next generation of supporters. And perhaps the best ways of doing this is by altering the schoolbooks the children are supposed to study. There are numerous examples of this happening around the world.

For example, the BJP-led Hindu fundamentalist governments in various Indian states have been busy re-writing history books for the schools in their states. All reference to the eating of beef and slaughtering of cows have been removed (cows are considered to be sacred in Hinduism), all mention of the historical fact that the present day Hindu population of Northern India were invading Aryans who displaced and enslaved Dravidians and tribals, the country's original inhabitants. And in an interesting reflection of how fascists are the same all over, regardless of religion - they are removing chapters on Lincoln and Gandhi by chapters glorifying BJP and RSS (the military wing) leaders, and other Fascist leaders like Hitler.

A similar thing is happening in Southern USA, where creationism is being given equal, if not greater credibility than evolution. Matters came to a head recently in a move that would be ridiculous if it weren't so serious. In the town of Dover, Pennsylvania, the local school board managed this year to get warmed up, creationism infiltrated into biology classes, and here is what happened. A couple of weeks ago all eight members of the board who were up for re-election lost their seats. "If there is a disaster in your area," the tele-evangelist Pat Robertson told the people of Dover, "don't turn to God - you just rejected Him from your city." Mr Robertson is an important man: the former Attorney General John Ashcroft teaches at his university, and his views are sought on Supreme Court candidates and foreign affairs.

So there we are. The foreign affairs of the most powerful nation on earth are at least partly being decided by a man who believes that a town deserves to be hit by a disaster because they took a firm stance on what their children should be taught in their schools.

It's an old commonplace that history is always written by the winners, and, as such, is never accurate. Be that as it may, I really feel for the poor children whose syllabus might well be changed following each general election. I feel for the children and I fear the world they will make, having gone through the sorts of schools that are being created in two of the largest countries in the world.

Oscar Wilde was probably right when he said: 'I do not approve of anything that tampers with natural ignorance. Ignorance is like a delicate exotic fruit; touch it and the bloom is gone.'

I, for one, would infinitely prefer our children to remain ignorant than to have their heads filled with such poison.

Tennis Star Unites Religious Loonies

2005-11-26T22:35:00.000Z

This is Sania Mirza, a young and promising tennis star from Hyderabad in India. She is only 19, and has recently made it to No. 31 in the World rankings. Now, you'd think that in a sports-mad country like India, she would be a megastar, and, in a way, she is. However, recently, she has made the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Mirza, who happens to be Muslim, has managed to incur the wrath of muslim clerics by her choice of on-court outfits. She had been accused by a leading cleric of wearing "indecent dress" and being a "corrupting influence on young women".
Mirza said it was "disturbing" that her dress was a subject of controversy but she would take it in her stride. However, that hasn't stemmed the sexist vitriol from the religious leaders. Haseeb-ul-hasan Siddiqui, a leading cleric of the Muslim organisation the Sunni Ulema Board, said: "The dress she wears on the tennis courts not only doesn't cover large parts of her body but leaves nothing to the imagination." Mr Siddiqui said Islam did not allow women to wear skirts, shorts and sleeveless tops in public. "She will undoubtedly be a corrupting influence on these young women, which we want to prevent," he said. Admirably defiant, Mirza's response was that that even if she wore a four-inch skirt, it was her decision and others should not have anything to do with it.

However, she has managed once more to become the target of religious fundamentalists because of her 'immoral' attitudes to sex. Mirza's effigy was burned amid protests in her home state of Andhra Pradesh because she was quoted as saying that whether before or after marriage, the most important matter was that sex was safe. And for this, she has been maligned by both Hindu and Muslim fundamentalists for endorsing pre-marital sex. I don't know which one's more impressive - her success at tennis, or her ability to unite the Sunni Ulema Board and the Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh.

It is easy to mock such attitudes, partly because they deserve to be mocked, but we ignore them at our peril. We would do well to remember that this week also saw an Amnesty poll show that a third of people in Britain believe that 'a woman is partially or completely responsible for being raped if she has behaved flirtatiously, or if she dresses revealingly.' Everytime someone makes a condescending reference to 'political correctness', they need to be reminded of this survey. We should all be slightly ashamed that, decades after the advent of feminism, we still live in a country where a significant proportion of people believe a woman indicates her sexual availability by the clothes she chooses to wear.

Bihar - or how parliamentary democracy failed the voters.

2005-11-23T19:48:00.000Z

BBC News has reported the results of the Assembly elections in the state of Bihar in Eastern India. I thought I would analyse the election results, and what it says in general about parliamentary democracy in the region.

For those of you would not cite Bihar politics as your specialist subject, let me introduce you to the main characters who featured in this election. Laloo Prasad Yadav (pictured left) has long been the most popular and powerful politician in the state. He is the leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and is currently Minister of Railways in the Central Government, while his wife headed the incumbent Bihar state Government (though Laloo has always been the real master-behind-the-scenes). Laloo, an earthy maverick cowherd-turned-politician with a penchant for folksy rhetoric, had been backed by the state's lower castes, Muslims and Dalits (untouchables), groups that had been marginalised by the upper caste landowners. Unfortunately, few politicians have managed to combine populism, corruption and inefficiency in such equal terms. Sometimes, statistics do indeed reveal the truth:

* Bihar's per capita income is $94 a year against India's average of $255
* A total of 42.6% live below the poverty line against India's average of 26.1%
* A total of 47.5% are literate against India's 65.38%
* There were 32,600 kidnappings from 1992 to September 2004
* More than 1,000 political workers have been murdered since 1990

Finally, the voters of Bihar have done the unthinkable and knocked Laloo off his throne. In this election, they have, overwhelmingly rejected Laloo and his proxy Chief Minister wife.

Brilliant, you'd think. You'd be wrong.

The man they have chosen, the only other choice they had, was Nitish Kumar, (pictured top) the leader of the Janata Dal (United), and erstwhile cabinet ministerin the former National Democratic Alliance Government. What else do we know about Mr. Kumar? He is an ex-socialist, who has since joined hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at both centre and state level.

The BJP are a band of far-right, proto-fascist Hindu fundamentalist loonies, who, until recently ran the Government of the largest democracy in the world. Under their rule, India went to war with Pakistan (again), and saw the worst communal riots since Independence that left more than 2000 dead, most of them muslims.

That's the choice for the poorest people of India, then - a populist crook or a dangerous fascist. If ever there was a need for a truly progressive, mass-based political movement, it's here. Unfortunately, the local communist parties are deeply fragmented. The various communist parties range from being liberal bourgeois organisations who limit their activities to parliamentary democracy, to Maoist rebels who aim to stage an armed revolution through guerrilla warfare, and are just as likely to attack the common people as to 'liberate' them.

Thus life continues, and more than half a century after independence, Bihar acts as a shameful reminder that India is not such a fast-growing economy after all.

Blogging Power

2005-11-23T00:25:00.000Z

One of the many recent troubles that Bush and Blair have had is the controversy about the use of White Phosphorus (Willie Pete of Vietnam fame) in its current occupation of Iraq. The Pentagon's initial response was that WP was only used 'to illuminate the battlefield and to provide smoke for camouflage.' Now, I am no military expert, but it seems to me to be exceedinbgly difficult, to say the least, to use a weapon as a source of light and smoke, while ensuring that it doesnt have nay harmful effects on the people and the environment.

In any case, it seems that that is a moot point, because thanks to some very enterprising bloggers, an article published by the US Army's Field Artillery Magazine in its issue of March/April this year has revealed that WP is very much a weapon:

WP proved to be an effective and versatile munition. We used it for screening missions at two breeches and, later in the fight, as a potent psychological weapon against the insurgents in trench lines and spider holes where we could not get effects on them with HE [High Explosive]. We fired "shake and bake" missions at the insurgents, using WP to flush them out and HE to take them out

BBC have said that the 'bloggers' influence must not be under-estimated these days'.

The Pentagon reacted by admitting that while WP was indeed used as a weapon, it was not used as a chemical weapon, and, as such, was not illegal:

So WP itself is not a chemical weapon and therefore not illegal. However, used in a certain way, it might become one. Not that "a certain way" can easily be defined, if at all.

How convenient. In any case, and again thanks to some very resourceful bloggers, documents have emerged that suggest that the Pentagon themselves view WP as a chemical weapon (or rather they do this when WP is used by enemies, like, Iraq, for example). As Cat's Dream (who initially revealed the documents implicating the Pentagon) quotes from another secret document:

SUMMARY: IRAQ HAS POSSIBLY EMPLOYED PHOSPHOROUS CHEMICAL WEAPONS AGAINST THE KURDISH POPULATION IN AREAS ALONG THE IRAQI-TURKISH-IRANIAN BORDERS. KURDISH RESISTANCE IS LOSING ITS STRUGGLE AGAINST SADDAM HUSSEIN'S FORCES. KURDISH REBELS ANDREFUGEES' PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS AND PERCEPTIONS ARE PROVIDED.(…) DURING THE BRUTAL CRACKDOWN THAT FOLLOWED THE KURDISH UPRISING, IRAQI FORCES LOYAL TO PRESIDENT SADDAM ((HUSSEIN)) MAY HAVE POSSIBLY USED WHITE PHOSPHOROUS (WP) CHEMICAL WEAPONS AGAINST KURDISH REBELS AND THE POPULACE IN ERBIL (GEOCOORD:3412N/04401E) (VICINITY OF IRANIAN BORDER) AND DOHUK (GEOCOORD:3652N/04301E) (VICINITY OF IRAQI BORDER) PROVINCES, IRAQ. THE WP CHEMICAL WAS DELIVERED BY ARTILLERY ROUNDS AND HELICOPTER GUNSHIPS

While the double-standards on the part of Washington that all this reveals is nothing new, it does demonstrate in practical terms how blogging is increasingly developing as a highly effective outlet of 'people power'.

The Press that is very much not free

2005-11-23T00:03:00.000Z

The Daily Mirror has reported that a leaked 'Top Secret' Number Ten document claims that Bush wanted to bomb the headquarters of Al-Jazeera in Qatar (incidentally a major US-ally in the Middle East - US troops are based there). Jeremy Paxman on Newsnight interviewed some Washington hawk who claimed that Al-Jazeera were 'fair game' because this 'so-called news organisation' was just a 'propaganda machine' for the 'enemies of all freedom-loving people'. In other words the 'free press' is free to say whatever it wants to, as long as we agree with it. If not, we reserve the right to bomb it and kill any journalists who happen to be working there. Washington's official response is the classic 'non-denial denial': 'We are not going to dignify something so outlandish with a response.' In the words of Ben Bradlee in All The President's Men, (who edited the Washington Post when it broke the Watergate story) it is only when 'they start calling us goddamn liars, [that] we better start circling the wagons.'

The BBC's response to the Bush/Al-Jazeera story is that 'the possibility has to be considered that Mr Bush was in fact making some kind of joke and that this was not a serious proposition' The political naiveté of such a response is only exceeded in stupidity by seriously attributing George W. with a sense of humour.

I don't know if Dubya really wanted to bomb Al-Jazeera (Interestingly, the attacks on Al-Jazeera offices in Afghanistan and Fallujah have all been claimed to be mistakes), and if so, whether Tony Blair really dissuaded him from doing so. But I think that if the Mirror's story was really nonsense, then both Washington and London would bombard us with proof of the same.

All this story does is prove, if proof were necessary that Operation Enduring Freedom would be more accurately described as Operation World Americanisation (officially known as Project for the New American Century). Washington (and London) is in the business of creating an administration in Iraq that will secure for the long term Middle-Eastern governments that will put the Western interests above those of their own people. And in that the new Government will be no different from the Saddam regime.

And what was Downing Street's response to the Mirror story, by the way? Initially another 'non-denial denial' - 'We have got nothing to say about this story. We don't comment on leaked documents.' And since then, according to BBC's Newsnight, the Government have decided that the Mirror should not be allowed any further comment on this story. The Daily Mirror have been informed by Lord Goldsmith that publishing any further details from the document 'would be a breach of the Official Secrets Act.' The Attorney General also threatened an immediate High Court injunction unless the Mirror confirmed it would not publish further details. I guess the Mirror should be grateful Blair did not order an RAF strike on their headquarters in Canary Wharf.

Monkey see, Monkey do.

Political Déjà Vu?

2005-11-16T08:53:00.000Z

Been re-reading an old favourite of mine, when I came across this line:

On 1 May 1963, the government enacted legislation...[called] the General Law Amendment Act...[which] waived the right of habeas corpus and empowered any police officer to detain any person without a warrant on grounds of suspicion of a political crime. Those arrested could be detained without trial, charge, access to a lawyer, or protection against self-incrimination for upto ninety days.

The author and the government he was fighting against? Nelson Mandela and Verwoerd's apartheid government.

Enough said.

Holiday!

2005-11-16T08:14:00.000Z

I promised I'd tell you all about my fantastic holiday, so here goes.

We stayed in the best Bed and Breakfast I have ever seen, called 'The Old House' on Woodhead Road, Torside, Glossop (Go there if you want a holiday!) with breathtaking views over the Rhodeswood Reservoir. Fantastic breakfasts, great walks nearby, and lots of lovely animals (dogs, horses, chickens) - our B&B was the only building as far as you could see.
The first day we had a look around Glossop town centre, and then went for a walk on the High Peak.

On the second day we wanted to go on the Peak Rail (a local steam train) but it turns out that it only runs on Sundays in November. Grrr! We made up for it, though, by going to Castleton and looking at underground caves - Speedwell Cavern, which you go through on a boat, and Peak Cavern (also known as The Devil's Arse!) which is the largest cave in the British Isles.

The next day we started off by going for a long walk in Longendale Valley around the various reservoirs which was probably the best thing of the whole holiday. We were really lucky with the weather (though even when it wasn't great, it was still beautiful - as Darling Vicarage very correctly predicted) The autumn colours were so beautiful - ranging from greens through yellows and bronzes to bright, fiery reds. After our walk we went to a place called the Chestnut Centre - which is an owl and otter sanctuary. Again, highly recommended!

Our final day we went back to Castleton to see Peveril Castle, which involved a punishing climb (well punishing for people who are as unfit as we are) and some great views. We then went to Chatsworth, which at the risk of being heretical was probably the least impressive part of it. The grounds were nice but the building didn't look very promising so we decided to save the entrance fee for more interesting things. It was luck we did because we went to Bolsover Castle which wins the beautiful-castles-that-I'd-never-heard-of prize. Go there, trust me, you won't regret it.

After this gorgeous holiday, we spent a lovely weekend with my girlfriend's uncle, aunty and two cousins - which, as always, was really nice. On sunday evening, we did a marathon drive from Nottingham to Bournemouth, and arrived home around ten in the evening - exhausted but refreshed from a much-needed holiday.

I am sorry if I sound smug, but that's because I am! This is the first holiday we've had in two years, and I'm so glad we decided to go.

Back from holiday - and A&E adventures

2005-11-16T08:02:00.000Z

Here I am again, after a longer than usual gap, because I was having a totally wonderful time in the peak district (more about that in the next post.)

Got back yesterday, and had a more dramatic welcome to the city than I was hoping for. Had a cream cake bought from Gregs which turned out to have nuts. Gregs will surely burn in hell forever for this.

I am seriously allergic to nuts, by the way.

Started throwing up, stomach cramps, skin rashes, severe asthma - all in all was in a pretty bad way.

Tried tablets, injected myself with my adrenaline but still felt awful so I went to University College Hospital (shown in the picture), where the very helpful staff put me in the resuscitation unit. I was on a blood pressure and pulse monitor, and had an intravenous line and everything. Was given some steroids, and when I felt better was allowed to come back home.

Before I left, I asked the doctor whether I could have a normal dinner or not. He said, 'Anything apart from nuts!'

P.S. Any sympathetic posts will be very welcome.

Missing You

2005-11-03T18:56:00.000Z

Heard from my parents in India that my grandma passed away this morning. It's not totally unexpected because she had been ill for a long time, and had been suffering a lot, especially over the last few days - but that doesn't mean it hurts any less.
I have never lost a grandparent before (or anyone really close to me) so this is especially difficult, as is the fact that all of my family are in India, so I can't do the communal mourning, or help out in any of the practicalities that bereavement always involves.
So, the only thing I can do is miss her, and I do, terribly. Which is strange because I haven't seen her for more than a year - but the fact that she is no more makes me miss her in a way that geographical distance doesn't.
I know that at least she is not suffering any more, but my beliefs regarding life after death (or lack of it) mean that knowledge is of little comfort.
I just miss her, and wish I had the chance to say goodbye.

Blair's Anti-Terror Laws

2005-11-02T20:40:00.000Z

So Blair and Clarke managed to force through their 'anti-terror' laws by 1 measly vote. Probably won't stop them from claiming a significant and decisive victory in the battle against international terrorism. Yeah! Let's go and get those evil people. New Labour aren't much for self-irony, are they?
What's interesting is the way Blair and Co. have decided to play this, and the way most of the mainstream media has co-operated - the BBC article is a good example. The argument seems to be about how long its acceptable for someone to be imprisoned without charge. Clarke bids 90, Labour MP David Winnick bids 28 - its a perverse kind of auction, with the lives of common people in the balance.
By shifting the argument to the number of days, New Labour has cleverly and effectively side-stepped the more important, fundamental question of the moral basis of locking people up without due legal process.
It is probably pointless to argue against some of the crazy right-wing opinions being voiced by people, but I will try anyway. This gem comes from the comments pages on the BBC website:

I hear all the time about the Human Rights of the individual, the terrorist in this case, what about the human rights of the masses? I feel let down by the fact that we worry about 1 person rather than how we can make life better for everyone!! If they are proven terrorist lock them up for life without charge never mind 90 days!

'If they are proven...lock them up...without charge'. Does this person really not see a contradiction in this statement? Can you prove someone guilty or innocent without charge?
When we uphold the human rights of terrorist-suspects, we don't contradict the human rights of victims of terrorism, in fact we re-inforce them. The biggest weapon we have against the terrorists is that they do not value human rights. By allowing the Government to do the same in our name, we lose this key weapon in our own 'war against terrorism'.

The tragic case of Jean Charles de Menezes clearly demonstrates that our authorities are at best fallible, and at worst, deliberately prejudiced (in Galloway's words either a fool or a liar). Do we really want these people to have all the rights they claim to need? Do we really have to go into the culpability that both the British and American Governments share in international terrorism
Does anyone really believe that international terrorism as a phenomenon rose independently of our Governments' foreign policies?

Can we honestly say that we can trust our Prime Minister, Home Secretary, Judges or even the Police? And if we cannot, isn't it in our best interests to ensure that they can cause as little damage as possible, by ensuring a system of 'checks and balances'? Bear in mind that this is hardly a left-wing idea. The American Constituition, such as it is, is based on Baron de Montesquieau's ideals of 'checks and balances' - and he is hardly anyone's idea of a revolutionary. For the sake of Jean Charles de Menezes and to prevent others from ending up with the same fate, let us forget about these insane laws, and ensure human rights for all - victims and suspects alike.

BBC Gets Its Priorities Right, As Usual

2005-11-02T17:41:00.000Z

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall are at the White House in the latest engagement of their US tour.
They are in Washington for a private lunch and formal black-tie dinner hosted by President George W Bush.

Hurricanes, earthquakes, bombings, war, ministerial resignations, race riots, even vampire rats in Brazil and the BBC decides to discuss whether a woman can convince the people of a country 4000 miles away, that she is just as nice as her husband's ex-wife.

Of course.

Holiday Booked

2005-11-02T16:53:00.000Z

C. and I have booked a holiday! I am so excited - we haven't been on a holiday since November 2003, that's two years ago for the numerically-challenged among you.
Anyway, we have booked three nights in a B and B near Glossop in the heart of the Peak District in Derbyshire. I know it will probably be chucking it down all the time, but I am so excited, I just don't care.
Apparently there is a place called Castleton near by, where they have loads of underground caves and caverns. One of them is a disused and flooded lead mine, where they run boating trips!! That is so cool! Romantic walks in the middle of nowhere, rides on steam trains, going for long drives with C. and Marge (Marge is my car, by the way, a blue Peugeot 205, and absolutely amazing) - bliss!
So, if you come here next week, expecting interesting and inspiring messages, tough. I shall be enjoying myself far away from the grimy world of central London.

P.S. I am totally not resisting the temptation to go "Nyah-nyah-nyah-nyah-nyah".

P.P.S. I am not mature and sensible.

Blunkett

2005-11-02T16:33:00.000Z

So DB finally decides to have 'an early bath', as Labour MP Ian Gibson put it yesterday. I thought I'd have a look at the dearly departed minister's record over the last few year

* As Education Secretary, he implements tuition fees for University Students.

* As Home Secretary, he initiates plans for compulsory identity cards, and asks immigrants from Afghanistan and Kosovo to "get back home" to start rebuilding their countries (countries that his Government has bombed), and asks people from ethnic minorities to develop a "sense of belonging" in Britain, telling them to speak English at home.

* When serial killer Harold Shipman was found hanging in his cell, our esteemed Home Secretary was heard to comment that he was 'opening a bottle'.

* He was in the centre of the Beverly Hughes visa abuse, though he managed to hang on to his job. His junior minister was not so lucky.

After all this, it is perhaps not surprising that DB has had to resign twice from the Cabinet - what is perhaps slightly more surprising is why. Once because of what he might or might not have done with a married woman, and once because he was a director of a company or three that he should not have been.

Which of these will prove to be more damaging to the country?

Saying that, what else can we expect from a man who, within three decades went from allowing the red flag to be flown over his council's headquarters in Sheffield, to being Tony Blair and New Labour's most vocal supporters?

Farewell, minister, my heart bleeds at your departure.

Really Good Blog I Have Just Heard Of

2005-11-02T15:35:00.000Z

Minifig has recommended an amazingly cool blog to me. Check it out here. Important facts, figures and opinions that provide a refreshing change from the homogeniety of the mainstream media. I particularly liked the comments on Dennis McShane's opinions about George Galloway. Snowball perfectly encapsulates my own opinions about Galloway:

"no revolutionary Marxist worth their salt in Britain at the moment should simply stand aside and say 'Oh Galloway is not a revolutionary and has a dodgy sun tan - lets not work with him'. So far Respect and GG have unconditionally supported all workers struggles that have taken place - which is the key test for any socialist party."

Any true revolutionary Marxist has to support Stop the War even though, strictly speaking, it's not a 'revolutionary movement' - it is still the single most important annti-capitalist, anti-imperialist movement and not just that, it also has the potential to be the most important international mass movement as well. Similarly, the only socialist presence in Parliament is George Galloway, and however much he can and does disappoint us as revolutionary socialists, it is undeniable that the left-wing, socialist, anti-war victory over New Labour in Bethnall Green was the single most important result in the last elections, and it is vital that we bear that in mind.

Sausages

2005-11-02T15:34:00.000Z

Especially because I have been broke recently (though she would do it anyway), C. very kindly bought me sausages and bacon (and many other lovely things) last weekend, so I wouldn't starve over the week. Have just been eating them, and they are gorgeous. (Sainsbury's Pancetta and Parmesan, if anyone is interested)

Even though C. herself is a vegetarian (not a proper one, though; she will eat fish), out of her enduring love for me, she will buy and often even cook me meat. I know, I know - I should think of all those poor animals, but dammit, it's so TASTY...

Sausages make me a happy Caliban.

P.S. If I have offended the many vegetarians out there, you can probably take heart in the fact that you will all go on to live long, happy and fulfilled lives, I shall die of coronary thrombosis by the time I am thirty five.

P.P.S. A sausage sandwich or two is almost worth a coronary thrombosis.

Broken Monitor

2005-11-02T15:30:00.000Z

I was fiddling around with my computer (always a bad idea, should have learnt by now) and managed to bend the pins on the cable that connects my monitor to the computer. Spent a frustrating hour attempting to fix it before admitting defeat. So I took it to the shops on Tottenham Court Road, thinking that someone could replace the cable, and that would be that.

No one was willing to do this simple thing for me, and, in the end, I was forced to buy another monitor. At least, now I have a working computer so I shouldn't grumble (especially 'cos I got a cheap-ish second-hand one) but it's sad how we are forced, against our will into this disposable culture. Now my very small room is even more crowded because I have to find room for two monitors, all because of a few bent pins.

Nothing we do to reduce climate change and pollution will have any effect unless we start reducing waste. And, it seems that unless we learn how to repair our own possessions, we have no choice but to take part in this wasteful society.

Breaking News...

2005-10-28T12:05:00.000+01:00

George Galloway MP has just claimed on the Frank Skinner Show that he once went skinny-dipping with President Fidel Castro. I cannot believe this piece of news has lain hidden for so long. Did people know this? Apparently, because Castro is so busy, he could only meet Galloway late at night. And after their meeting, he asked Galloway if he wanted to go for a swim. Because he didn't have swimming trunks...
'For a seventy-six year old, he is a fine figure of a man', Galloway said.
What do you reckon they talked about? International politics? Or did they just compare assets?

Doesn't bear thinking about.

P.S. I should stop doing this - am going on a random-world-leader-skinny dipping-together images. Bush and Blair/Reagan and Thatcher/Churchill and Hitler - stop, stop, STOP... Don't want another night of strange dreams.

P.P.S. On the same program, I learnt that Terry Gilliam directed the Nike football advert (the one where they all play on a ship). I should spend more time watching TV.

Single Serving Houses?

2005-10-27T22:50:00.000+01:00

BBC London News just said that about half of everyone who live in Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea live on their own. Is it just me who wonders how anyone can afford to live in Westminster, let alone live on their own?
I need the sorts of jobs/parents these people have.
Or maybe they only live in a room the size of a box because they have to work so much to be able to afford their box, they don't have any time to spend at home. Why have a big house with other people, if you spend every waking hour at work?
I'd much rather live in a comfortable house living with people I love, or at least care about, than have to work ridiculously long hours because there is no one to go back home to.

Chocolate

2005-10-27T20:46:00.000+01:00

I didn't quite manage the tenner behind the tomato soup, but I found two twenty pence pieces in a corner of one of my drawers. I combined them with a few coppers, and went down to the local shop to satisfy my chocolate craving.

Twix has never tasted so good.

Now, if I could find some more money, I could even buy some proper food.

Slightly Shaken.

2005-10-27T18:32:00.000+01:00

I have been in a very strange mood all day today, and it all stemmed from a bizzarre and disturbing dream last night. I dreamt that my girlfriend was moving to Australia. We were having a farewell party, and because she thought saying goodbye would be too difficult, she left without telling me. Although i still had time to go to Heathrow when I discovered this, I obviously couldn't because I've lost my wallet, and therefore had no money. So I am really upset, and tearfully come back home. Then, in what is probably an unconscious survival mechanism, I start hallucinating. In my dream, suddenly she comes back and I am talking to her, though I know that I am imagining it, because she is in Australia. Then somebody says that you only start imagining people when they are dead...and I'm frantically looking through news reports to see if her plane has crashed. I woke up in a cold sweat, and absolutely terrified. It sounds silly, but it left me strangely shaken all day.

The question is, what would old Freud have made of it? Wish-fulfilment? Somehow, I think I'd rather not know.

Advantages of being broke

2005-10-26T20:54:00.000+01:00

As I am feeling slightly better about life today than I did yesterday (not much reason for it, apart from the fact that nothing else happened that was bad!), I thought I'd spend a few minutes trying to extract all the positives I can find about all aspects of my life - including having no money.
Since my wallet was stolen from me yesterday, I have obviously been unable to buy anything on account of having no money left. Difficult as this has been, it has also been strangely liberating. One of the perennially annoying things about being a poor student is that you have to constantly feel guilty about spending money, even when you are buying things you actually need. One good thing about not having any money is that you can also dispense with the constant guilt. You don't have to agonise over whether you should go to the supermarket and get something to eat because you know that you have no money, and, as such, will have to do without. On my way back from uni yesterday evening, I had a bladder-related emergency, and made a detour through John Lewis on Oxford Street. It struck me while I was looking for their loos, that everyone looked so unhappy. I recognised the look as well - the feeling I get when I go into a bookshop knowing that I cannot afford anything they have. If you have £10 on you, you notice how much more expensive everything is, and how you can't afford anything at all. If, on the other hand, you have no money at all, you stop worrying about how expensive things are, and, instead, notice how unhappy everyone else is that they can't afford things. It's a revealingly different perspective, I can tell you.
But, as far as I'm considered, by far and away the best thing about having no money is that your spectrum of pleasures is considerably widened. Things that normally would not cause you a moment's diversion are suddenly the highlights of the day. My darling girlfriend recently lent me a radio alarm clock to enable me to wake up on time. Today, as I was rooting around my bag, I found some new batteries that I didn't know I had - and it was brilliant. I could never imagine that finding a couple of Duracell AAA batteries could evoke a similar response to finding chocolate, but it can. Once you have adjusted to having no money, you re-organise your expectations, and things are not as bad. I am being totally honest when I say that I don't know which one is better - having enough money so you can buy whatever you want to eat, or being ecstatic because you have discovered that you have a can of tomato soup that you didn't know you had.
I am yet to find out whether money brings happiness or not, but this week is quickly teaching me that not having money doesn't necessarily have to make you unhappy.

Saying that, however, I wouldn't complain if there happened to be a tenner behind the can of tomato soup.

Reading recommendation.

2005-10-25T19:32:00.000+01:00

I was considering what my dear friend darling vicarage wrote in her comment to my earlier blog: 'you're a much angrier man than i thought'. True, a significantly a large proportion of my comments so far have been rants. Justified though they were under the circumstances, I feel the need to provide something less angry.
Thought I'd put in a word for a great, great book that I have come back to recently.
As you can probably guess from the picture, this book is Beyond a Boundary by the late great C.L.R. James. It is obviously a 'cricket' book, but it is so so much more than that. As James says himself, he seeks to answer the question: 'What do they know of cricket those who only cricket know?' It has been deservedly called the greatest sports book ever, but in my humble opinion, it achieves this because it is able to be so much more than just a sports book.
James looks back on his childhood cricketing memories in the Caribbean and brings a very sophisticated Marxist-influenced post-colonial political analysis to events that transcended the sporting world and achieved huge political significance. Few writers have combined such an incisive political awareness with such a formidable cricketing brain to such a high degree of effectiveness. His analysis of the causes and the effects of the selection of an inferior white player over a superior black one goes right to the heart of colonial racism, just as his accounts of the importance of black cricketing heroes to the creation of a contemporary black consciousness is a perfect example of the hybridization of culture that is seen in colonial and post-colonial societies.
James looks at eminent white cricketers, some eminent black ones, as well as other not-so-eminent black ones - and provides an interesting and convincing argument as to why and how Constantine, for example became far more famous than George John.
Also, and I cannot stress this enough, this book is a lot of fun to read. Obviously, I am biased because both cricket and post-colonialism are deep-seated passions of mine, but I firmly believe that even if you don't particularly like cricket, you will enjoy this book and the almost nostalgic picture of childhood it manages to evoke. At once shrewdly political, naively coming-of-age, and unashamedly admiring of a great sport - Beyond a Boundary achieves that cliche - something for everyone.
Indigenous appropriation of the white man's game is a method of resistance that has been used in many parts of the erstwhile Empire. In another great post-colonial novel (and one that deserves to be far better known than it is), The Great Indian Novel, Shashi Tharoor calls cricket 'that most Indian of organised pastimes', while cricket historian Ramchandra Guha examines the 'typically' Indian phenomenon of spin bowling as a method of anti-imperialist resistance in Spin And Other Turns. From the sublime to the semi-ridiculous, and we have the Bollywood blockbuster Lagaan - which shows a group of villagers learning the Englishman's game, then taking them on and beating them at it, in an effort to get some very unjust tax laws repealed.
This semi-random name-dropping of books and films does have a point to it. It just goes to show how influential this book has been in subsequent cricket and post-colonial writing. James says in the preface: 'If the ideas originated in the West Indies it was only in England and in English life and history that I was able to track them down and test them. To establish his own identity, Caliban, after three centuries, must himself pioneer into regions Caesar never knew.' Similarly, the questions that Beyond a Boundary raises, is continually being addressed and, sometimes, answered by books and films from right across the world.

Caliban NOT happy.

2005-10-25T18:51:00.000+01:00

Today has NOT been a good day. At all. I was coming back to London from Bournemouth (a journey that should take between 3 and 31/2 hours); I left at 8 and got to the Wagamamas where I was meeting F. and S. at half past one. Let me repeat that - it took me five and a half hours to do a journey of roughly 120 miles. I make that about 20 miles an hour. Which century do we live in again? But if you read the last post (and if you haven't, shame on you: read it now!) you will know that my frustrations with the British public transport system is nothing new.
As it happens, that was only the beginning. We had a very nice lunch at Wagamamas, and then adjourned to the nearest Costa coffee place, where I discovered that I had lost my wallet. Correction - someone had stolen my wallet. With about thirty quid, my bank cards, driving license, student id, library cards, photographs, postcards - half my life, in fact. Now I have no food, no money to buy any food, and no wallet to keep the money that I don't have. Thank you to everyone who offered to lend me money, by the way. F., A., H. and C. - you know who you are, you restore my faith in humanity.
Only a few weeks ago, I lost my mobile phone, and the feeling is surprisingly similar. I know it is silly to put so much importance to mere possessions, but you do feel strangely lost without these things you depend so much on. And it is not just the material things and the money and stuff (though God knows that is difficult enough) but the small things as well - like the fact that the wallet was a present from my girlfriend, and a cherished possession. It was similar when I lost the phone - it wasn't just the phone, but the numbers, the pictures, the messages. When we have our possessions stolen, we lose so much more than the person who stole them gains. Maybe if they thought about that they wouldn't steal them in the first place. Then again, maybe they don't care. Either way, we are left to pick up the pieces. As A. put it to me earlier today, 'I hope they choke on their noodles.'

A Few Reasons Why I Do Not Like Edgware Road

2005-10-17T22:22:00.000+01:00

Now let me get one thing clear, first of all. I do not like to complain as a rule. At this very moment, I am watching "Grumpy Old Women" and thinking that they should all (especially Germaine Greer, but let's not get started on the whole Big Brother thing...) really, really find something more interesting and less mercenary to do with their lives. Oh have pity on me, I'm a highly-paid TV celeb who has to sit here and bore everybody with my atom-sized personailty and non-existent IQ! It's so difficult! How can I ever cope!
Honestly.
Saying that, one of the few things that really gets on my nerves is Edgware Road Tube Station. I don't care what anyone says, I am of the firm belief that if we looked hard enough at its grimy, nicotine and soot stained walls, we will find a portal into Satan's unholy lair. Serious. If there are any suggestions as to exact location, I'm all ears.
Before the Edgware Road Tube Station Appreciation Society starts sending me angry letters, I feel I better clarify my position. I was on my way to be trained for my new job (see first post) today and promised the poor unfortunate soul who agreed to train me that I would be there at eleven. Accordingly, I got to Edgware Road by quarter past ten, which should, under any normal circumstances, have been more than enough. Unfortunately, I had not counted on the Evil One who lives behind those filthy walls.
So, what happened?
Let me begin by saying for those fortunate enough to have never needed to use this station, London Underground's esteemed District line starts its Westbound journey from Edgware Road. You would think, therefore, that the staff at said station would make a big thing of this fact. I don't know - the odd electronic information board, some signs saying 'For Wimbledon take platform or whatever', maybe even the odd helpful member of staff to assist confused passengers. But no, all it said, and I quote: 'District Line Trains Leave from Platforms 2 and 3. Please Listen For Announcements.' Now platforms 2 and 3 are on the opposite ends of a long and high footbridge. And were there any of these announcements? What do you think? So there was nothing for it but to shuttle around the two platforms like a blue-arsed fly attempting to get on a train before it was too late. I can just about cope with station closures/signal problems/trains breaking down or many of the myriad ways in which our journeys can be affected, but having to be late because someone was too lazy to do their job is not funny.
When I finally gave myself upto fate and came to a very breathless stop, the stupid stupid vending machine STOLE my 60p and did NOT give me the bag of McCoy's Flame Grilled Steak flavour crisps that I so desperately needed.
The upshot of it all was that i got to my destination, hungry, late, and very annoyed - only because London Underground can't be arsed to put up helpful directions. Somebody, somewhere should read this and feel very, very ashamed.

P.S. The very nice guy who trained me was so good about it, it almost made it worse. Thank you for being lovely, and for putting up with me being my obtuse self.

P.P.S. As Neil has kindly pointed out, the picture I have used on this post is actually copyrighted to him: Neil Blake 2005. Profuse apologies for not having mentioned this earlier.

Lovely friends...and why cool is SO not cool.

2005-10-16T16:55:00.000+01:00

Here am I again, absolutely exhausted but having survived the first day of my post-blog life. And I even have a comment! Life really doesnt get any more exciting than this.

I have to thank minifig for my first ever comment. Check out his blog here Also, while I am shamelessly plugging my friends' blogs, have a peek at darling vicarage and her blog. They are both lovely people, and far more articulate, fun, and interesting than I could ever hope to be. So while I obviously would love all of you to go and see their blogs, I do have a quiet suspicion that not too many of you will come back... Ah well...

Thought I'd put in a word about my chosen username and blog name. When I told my girlfriend I named myself after my favourite Shakesperean character she unflinchingly called me a geek. Her friend said (and I quote) 'That's tragic'. So I feel like I have to defend my choice.

To the charge of geekiness, I plead guilty. Geekiness rocks (I believe that's an oxymoron, by the way, but I should probably check my dictionary of literary terms before I forget.) In any case, I don't think there's been nearly as much harm done to kids as the relentless socialising of what's cool and what's not. Many people I know, a few quite well, would be a lot happier, and a lot nicer if they didnt feel that they had to be the coolest thing that moves. So, I am not cool, and I'm proud of it. My friend S. had the most brilliant story today about how they used to have geek parties where people would come bringing their strange literary obsessions and talk about them a lot, very quickly. I think that sounds really really fun, and as soon as I can find a few friends who think the same, I plan to start them in London as well. Until, then, I guess I better go and alphabetically sort my bookshelf. Or something.

My First Effort at Cyber-Greatness

2005-10-16T00:46:00.000+01:00

Ok, right, hmm, here we go...

Isn't it just the way, I spend an hour trying to decide exactly how my new blog should look, all the while thinking of all the cool things I could say, and now just when I've got to the stage where I can finally start writing - they disappear!!

Let's see, what is my life like?

Have just started a Masters course in Modern English Literature - really interesting but very very scary. Being in a room full of people all of whom are certainly far more articulate, probably far more well-read, and possibly far more intelligent than yourself is intimidating, to say the least. Sometimes wish I never bothered, seems like a very expensive way to gain a deep-seated inferiority complex...

The good news is that I have found a job, working for an online company, ripping music and designing webpages. Am going to be trained tomorrow and Monday...and then hopefully I can start earning money again. Money is good. If anyone is into clasical, jazz and blues or world music, they have a very good downloading and streaming service. Try them out here www.classical.com

Have a female friend stay over in my rooms before she flies off to Australia, and last night when she was away, another female friend came round for the evening. The looks on the faces of the other people in the halls of residence were quite funny. They had just got used to my girlfriend staying over the odd weekend, now they are very confused at my harem of random women! A serious point though, it seems sad that in the twenty-first century, reasonably well-educated, supposedly open-minded university students still can't get used to the idea of a man and a woman being just friends. We all do it, I guess, see a man and a woman together and assume that they must be sleeping together.

Pseudo-serious points about male-female relationships in the contemporary society aside, my life seems rather too circular for comfort. I have stayed on in the same department to do my masters when most people i know have got jobs and things. I have moved back into the same floor of the same halls I was in during my first year...talk about deja vu. Have all the memories but none of the people who are in them. My girlfriend did maths (i know, weird or what?) and now has moved away with a new job. Yesterday, I walked past the Maths department for the first time this year and it was strangely sad, felt like the passing of an era in a way that nothing else had done. Bizarre.

That's about it for the first post, I reckon. Still not quite sure how this thing will turn out, but I'm sure we'll see. Taking some books down to my friend S. tomorrow, then training and maybe a film with N. in the evening. Need to get on with my essay as well, but somehow I don't think it will happen.

Hope to be back here soon.

Here goes, commiting all my dark thoughts to the ether...

What will happen, who can tell?