... plenty to think about.
I may have mentioned elsewhere, but my head hurts.
Friday, 19 September 2008
Wednesday, 30 July 2008
Monday, 28 July 2008
My blog is moving for a short time...
I'm working on a new blog at the moment.
There may be some very infrequent posts here but my current blog - A slice of sobriety - can be found at www.asliceofsobriety.blogspot.com
Why not visit and find out what I'm hoping to achieve by not drinking alcohol for thirty days?
There may be some very infrequent posts here but my current blog - A slice of sobriety - can be found at www.asliceofsobriety.blogspot.com
Why not visit and find out what I'm hoping to achieve by not drinking alcohol for thirty days?
Sunday, 15 June 2008
I've been growing a beard
For the last six weeks or so, it's been getting longer.
Even if I say so myself, it was not a little luxuriant. It made me look something of a viking, especially when coupled with a "comedy" viking helmet at our office bowling outing a couple of weeks ago. It was also a little ginger.
It's been strange really, being bearded. There's no doubt that people look at you in a slightly different, and probably not altogether positive, way. You also view yourself slightly differently, I think. Mrs K, for example, hated it.
In a strange way, it made me feel more manly and masculine, although even if pressed I don't think I could quite explain how.
I've shaved it off now and my thoughts on seeing myself clean-shaven after all that time only served to remind me why I grew it in the first place...
Even if I say so myself, it was not a little luxuriant. It made me look something of a viking, especially when coupled with a "comedy" viking helmet at our office bowling outing a couple of weeks ago. It was also a little ginger.
It's been strange really, being bearded. There's no doubt that people look at you in a slightly different, and probably not altogether positive, way. You also view yourself slightly differently, I think. Mrs K, for example, hated it.
In a strange way, it made me feel more manly and masculine, although even if pressed I don't think I could quite explain how.
I've shaved it off now and my thoughts on seeing myself clean-shaven after all that time only served to remind me why I grew it in the first place...
Saturday, 14 June 2008
Sunday, 8 June 2008
For those who love new ideas...
I've been reading an interesting book this week that I picked up recently in a charity shop for 50p.
It's called The Black Cloud and is a science fiction novel written by famous astronomer Fred Hoyle, perhaps most well-known for his ironic coining of the term Big Bang - ironic, of course, because he was a well known critic of the theory.
First published in 1957 it provides a fascinating insight into what astronomy and computing were like at the time, as well as serving to highlight the politics and international situation of the time.
The story itself is based around a giant cloud of gas arriving from outside of our solar system to position itself between the earth and the sun, creating an unprecedented global disaster. Further investigation of the cloud determines that it has intelligence and communication follows.
What I really wanted to share from this book is a narrative passage at the beginning of one of the chapters.
"It is curious in how great a degree human progress depends on the individual. Humans, numbered in thousands of millions, seem organised into an ant-like society. Yet this is not so.
"New ideas, the impetus of all development, come from individual people, not from corporations or states. New ideas, fragile as spring flowers, easily bruised by the tread of the multitude, may yet be cherished by the solitary wanderer."
It's called The Black Cloud and is a science fiction novel written by famous astronomer Fred Hoyle, perhaps most well-known for his ironic coining of the term Big Bang - ironic, of course, because he was a well known critic of the theory.
First published in 1957 it provides a fascinating insight into what astronomy and computing were like at the time, as well as serving to highlight the politics and international situation of the time.
The story itself is based around a giant cloud of gas arriving from outside of our solar system to position itself between the earth and the sun, creating an unprecedented global disaster. Further investigation of the cloud determines that it has intelligence and communication follows.
What I really wanted to share from this book is a narrative passage at the beginning of one of the chapters.
"It is curious in how great a degree human progress depends on the individual. Humans, numbered in thousands of millions, seem organised into an ant-like society. Yet this is not so.
"New ideas, the impetus of all development, come from individual people, not from corporations or states. New ideas, fragile as spring flowers, easily bruised by the tread of the multitude, may yet be cherished by the solitary wanderer."
Saturday, 7 June 2008
Perhaps the best day of sport for some time...
What an incredible day of sport it has been today.I'm really hard-pressed to think of a day previously that has had so many high profile events with such a broad appeal.
Needless to say, I've been glued to the TV and internet all day. Luckily for me Mrs K is understanding.
First of all I've been following the test match between England and New Zealand at Trent Bridge. I've particularly enjoyed England's bowling performances from James Anderson and Stuart Broad. An excellent display of swing bowling from these two players has put England in a position where they are likely to win the match tomorrow, needing just five more wickets.
Next up I enjoyed the women's singles final of the French Open tennis between Ana Ivanovic, the new world number one, and Dinara Safina of Russia. Ivanovic won an enthralling game in straight sets and although she was never really in trouble, she was made to work hard for her first Grand Slam title by the plucky and not unskilled Safina.
There was barely time to pause for breath as no sooner had Ivanovic won her title than it was time for one of the world's premier horse races, The Derby at Epsom. 16 of the world's finest racehorses lined up at the start of the mile-and-a-half (2400m) race which ended with the well-fancied New Approach winning in an exciting finish from Tartan Bearer. My tip, Rio de la Plata, finished a fairly respectable 7th. Thankfully I kept my money in my wallet.
A quick cup of tea and before you know it Euro 2008 kicks off in Switzerland where the Swiss face a competent team from the Czech Republic. Despite not being at their best, the Czechs win 1-0 in a game that, while not the most exciting, was absorbing and a good start to the tournament.
Finally, about an hour later, we have Portugal vs Turkey in Euro 2008. A good attacking performance from Portugal added further credibility to their status as genuine contenders for the trophy. They struck the frame of the goal several times on their way to winning 2-0 against a Turkish team that included a certain Colin Kazim-Richards in their midfield. Anyone who saw Kazim-Richards in the Premiership a couple of seasons ago wouldn't recognise him as the same player, he is very much improved and could yet have an impact in this tournament.
And to think that tomorrow we have the rest of the Test Match, more football, the men's singles final of the French Open between Nadal and Federer, followed by the Canadian Grand Prix...
Anyway, must end this here. I've got the highlights of game one of the NBA Finals to watch from yesterday...
Needless to say, I've been glued to the TV and internet all day. Luckily for me Mrs K is understanding.
First of all I've been following the test match between England and New Zealand at Trent Bridge. I've particularly enjoyed England's bowling performances from James Anderson and Stuart Broad. An excellent display of swing bowling from these two players has put England in a position where they are likely to win the match tomorrow, needing just five more wickets.
Next up I enjoyed the women's singles final of the French Open tennis between Ana Ivanovic, the new world number one, and Dinara Safina of Russia. Ivanovic won an enthralling game in straight sets and although she was never really in trouble, she was made to work hard for her first Grand Slam title by the plucky and not unskilled Safina.
There was barely time to pause for breath as no sooner had Ivanovic won her title than it was time for one of the world's premier horse races, The Derby at Epsom. 16 of the world's finest racehorses lined up at the start of the mile-and-a-half (2400m) race which ended with the well-fancied New Approach winning in an exciting finish from Tartan Bearer. My tip, Rio de la Plata, finished a fairly respectable 7th. Thankfully I kept my money in my wallet.
A quick cup of tea and before you know it Euro 2008 kicks off in Switzerland where the Swiss face a competent team from the Czech Republic. Despite not being at their best, the Czechs win 1-0 in a game that, while not the most exciting, was absorbing and a good start to the tournament.
Finally, about an hour later, we have Portugal vs Turkey in Euro 2008. A good attacking performance from Portugal added further credibility to their status as genuine contenders for the trophy. They struck the frame of the goal several times on their way to winning 2-0 against a Turkish team that included a certain Colin Kazim-Richards in their midfield. Anyone who saw Kazim-Richards in the Premiership a couple of seasons ago wouldn't recognise him as the same player, he is very much improved and could yet have an impact in this tournament.
And to think that tomorrow we have the rest of the Test Match, more football, the men's singles final of the French Open between Nadal and Federer, followed by the Canadian Grand Prix...
Anyway, must end this here. I've got the highlights of game one of the NBA Finals to watch from yesterday...
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