George Galloway

No angel himself, but there seem to be far worse people around... he quite the labour party here when it went to war, and has been accused of giving money to Saddam by the US. He has recently gone to respond to a US Senate inquiry and said the following very nice words

meaty bit - well worth a read http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1616578,00.html
whole thing http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0505/17/se.01.html

WIKI for Galloway http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Galloway#Corruption_allegations

They Might Be Giants

I think they are.
Anyway, just got back from their gig - checkout my review.
Last night I went to Capoeira and kicked arse! For some reason I really flowed and while 'kicked arse' is probably a poor description of being successfully defensive, a lot of Capoeira is looking good, and I know I did that! Also, someone kicked someone in the head and broke their tooth - not the nancy sport it seems!
Haven't really got a lot planned for the next few days. Long weekend coming up, but I think I'll relax a bit, see some movies, swat up for the programming competition I am going in next weekend, that sort of thing :)
BTW I've been invited to Sweden in July/August so I have to work that out (Hi Karin!). I am definitely going to go along to Bloodfest - will book on Tuesday. I am almost definitely not going to OSCON :( because it costs so freeking much - $US1500 for the conference, then I have to pay for plane fare and accommodation and so on! Really annoying cos it looks great.
Finally, I've been telling everyone about Alabama 3, if you haven't heard their techno/gospel songs about heroine give them a try!

Cornwall

On the weekend I went down to Cornwall with Tam and his mates for 4 days of holiday fun (I took 2 days off). I'll admit I was a little apprehensive for two reasons; I didn't know Tam's friends at all - would I get on?, We were going to climb some scary sea cliffs (you know, ones that you can only climb at low tide...)
Well I needn't have worried, Tam's friends seemed to accept me readily enough (OK, so they thought I was a little weird, but what's new!), and it pretty much rained the whole time so we couldn't go climbing anyway. We did go and ahve a look at the amazing the 6ft wide slabs that stuck out into the ocean, and I felt a little less apprehensive (though not a lot). Tam also got sick, so the few times it was sunny enough to go neither of us really had the enthusiasm to risk it.
So we hung with his mates and did holiday stuff such as:
EDEN PROJECT : This is a hippy garden thing which I never really worked out what it was for. Very commercial, in a hippy-new age way. Basically 2 huge domes that simulate rainforest and arid regions. Not being much of a gardener, I'll admit I wasn't that interested, except in the 'educational' bits where they talked about the various uses and facts surrounding various plants.
TINTAGLE CASTLE : This is reputed to be a hang out of King Arthur, and almost definitely the castle of Tristam and Isolda. It is on a little Peninsula that is accessible by only one small strip of land - easy to defend. Over the last 1000 years or so it has seriously started to fall into the ocean, but there is still a bit left to see. I was the only person who brought themselves to pay to go in, and quite enjoyed it.
BUDE : This is a Cornwall beach WITH SAND. That's about it. We kicked a football around a lot. I was surprised that I wasn't total shit (better than Colin at least - and he's an Englishman!)
Oh. Trying to find the cabin on the first night we chased a deer and a badger along the windy roads of Cornwall! Lots of fun

it's 1984 all over again

Just got back from 1984, which I ended up enjoying greatly.
Monday night I went to Capoeira at a different place (same people) which ends up being a little closer than the one I usually go to. It also had a much better person to floor ratio, but did grind up my feet a little. Felt good though.
Tuesday I went and caught up with Anotony and Aynur up in High Barnet. It was so easy to get there (on the northern line), and is a decidedly pleasant area to walk through. We had a good night, chatting away, eating Aynur's yummy dinner. Andrew is walking and very inquisitive and Eleanor was a little more open to chatting to me (and was trying to learn to juggle).
Wednesday I felt like I was coming down with the 'flu, but went along to Pilates and Capoeira anyway, with no observed negative effect. I also gave in and had a MacDonald's burger! There was nothing on the way home to eat and I was hungry :(
And then tonight, as mentioned, I went to 1984. Only just though, because I thought it started at 7:30, but fortunately checked my ticket to find that it started at 7... So I ran from Goodge Street (6:53) to the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden (7:03). Very hard work, and I didn't smell too nice when I got there either...
As for more meta-stuff, had a bit of a tiff today. As I think I've mentioned, I'm in a group of people who entertain themselves with their witty insults; it's first year uni all over again... Well the other thing that has been pissing me off is that, as my mother taught me, bored people are boring. I really like this statement, because it isn't quite as plain as it seems. As far as I'm concerned there is no reason to EVER be bored with a conversation that people are having; start your own that you are interested in.
Part of the tactical starting of your own conversation is a polite listening to the current persons spiel.
Neither of these actions are being taken by my friends, and it pisses me off! So I told em so.

Ong Bak and I'm back

I did see Ong Bak last night - check out my review. I just got back from Capoeira which was great - a different place, but not so busy.
This looks like an interesting book on physics
http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/05/09/2145236&from=rss

'Nother big climbing weekend

And another one next!
Anyhoo, what a week last week was. I had about 8 things I wanted to do, in 3 days - suffice to say I didn't get all of them done!
I've filled you in up to Wednesday day. Wednesday night I went out for Alastairs going away thing. I got mysefl drunk too quickly; have decided to cut back on that as I'm only doing it as a peer pressure thing, so why bother? In the end we had pretty good thai curry, but Tam got bored and I had to work pretty hard to entertain myself. Would nmuch have preffered to go to Capoeira...
Thursday night I was originally going to Antony's. Then I was going to Mika Bomb. Then I was going to Electric Eel Shock. Finally I went to a great production of Julius Ceaser at the Barbican with Jo, her boss Dunc and his mate S someone or other (from power at macquarie)
Friday I was in a foul mood - I wouldn't be seeing Electric Eel shock at all, I had too little sleep becauses I had to get up early to do a document for my new 'boss' Brendan, and that document really sucked by the time I'd finished it - I don't know how much work Brendan will have to do to get it in order, but it will be a bit.
The weather was great, so Tam and I headed up to his mum's, just near Leeds. 3.5 hours of driving and we get there, only to find there was no key to get in... so we borrowed one from the neighbour and settled in for the night. Saturday we were up and out the door by 10, climbing at 11 and din't stop until 6/6:30. Tam lead 5 'wire' routes (which I of course seconded).
The second of these routes, Regent Street, was the best climb I've done in England. Really fun. And not scary for me since I was seconding :)
We got home exhausted and had bacon pasta for dinner, then I finished the fabulous book 'Saturday'. Today we didn't get up to much. Tidied up, then went to a sculpture park (this was ok, but nothing amazing) and then headed home.
So I guess I owe you are review of Saturday and A Dirty Shame and Julius Ceaser - I'll do that tonight after I see Ong Bak.

bit of climbing, but no Samba

Had quite a good weekend, even if my Samba and Capoeira desires went unfulfilled.
Friday night we all went out for a drink after work - which ended up being a drunken stumble home at 10 that night! Tam was so drunk that he called me from his house to tell me he'd left his jacket, with its keys, in the pub that we'd been drinking in. Well, at that time of night both pub and tube were closed, so he dropped in on some people he knew near where he lives.
I was supposed to go to a Jazz thing with Leo, but rang him to say that I couldn't make it :-) He said the next day that I didn't really miss out on anything, so there you have it.
On Saturday I had scheduled to drop in on Janice and Grandma. I had spent a while surfing the 'net to find the best way of getting to stratford upon avon, and worked out that the easiest was simply to bus up to Brum, then train down to Stratford. So I got up at 5, left at 6, on 7 o'clock bus, then on 10:30 train and finally at Grandma's by 11:40. Well, having travelled for some 5 hours, I felt that I should spend more than an hour with Grandma, so I stayed for lunch and a little bit more. I showed her photos and we had lots of chats about stuff.
I left there at 1:45 and ran to the train station to catch the 2:00 train - a train that doesn't exist :-( so I had to hang around until 2:30 before heading back to Brum. Oh, I also discovered a train service from Marylebone station straight to Startford, and only 2 hours, not 5!!!
Heading back to Brum, I called Jan to find out how to organise my being late and her attending a wedding (I was going to accompany her). We organised to pick me up from the place she was dropping Adam at 4. So I ran (again - lots of running!) from the train station to the rendezvous and managed to get there at 3:35, hopefully early enough to catch Janice.
By the time she'd managed to get there (3:55) all the running, the very early morning, and the sitting in uncomfortable buses had got to me; I gave her Adam's DVDs and asked if it was alright if I went back to London.
So I did, and when I got home largely collapsed :)
Sunday I went climbing with Tam to Port-something, a mere 3 hours drive south (a little past weymouth). We had a great climb, aided by the incredibly late setting sun. The very first climb we did a 6A, or about 20 in Oz, the hardest lead I've done (all bolted of course - yet to wire anything). It was so cold, the sun hadn't come over yet, that I could feel almost nothing through my hands. By the time I got to the second last bolt, the combination of frozen hands, blazing forearms and a wrong turn meant that I took my first real fall on lead - with my feet starting a good foot above the last bolt at the start, and my waist at the height of the next bolt down at the end I figure I must have fallen a good 6 meters - not that I registered what had happened until it was over.
Later that day I did successfully lead a 6A, and seconded Tams' 6B leads. Good tiring day. (though no Capoeira)
Monday I was going to Capoeira (and if I'd remembered that I couldn't go today because it is Alastair's leaving party) but couldn't be bothered so I saw John Water's "A Dirty Shame". An amusing ditty, in the same vein as "Serial Mom".
Then last night I went indoor climbing with Tam and suddenly found that, while I didn't feel that tired, actually I was. We only last 1:15 hours before giving up on our broken bodies :)
Tonight is, yet agina, no Capoeira night. Instead we are going to dinner and then some club to farewell Alastari, my boss.
Tomorrow I am off to Electric Eel Shock.
This weekend I am either headin gnorth for climbing with Tam, or I will go to Mika Bomb again. Depends on the weather.

Oh dear, they're at it again

US government has found a way to pass laws such that they can't be disputed by the Judiciary. Have a look at http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20050509-4886.html
It's right up there with granting the guy co-ordinating the Ozzie (Vogon?) GST the ability to change 'past, current and future acts'. The bill is part of the national id card scheme they're about to bring in (why not just barcode people's necks?) and is all piggy backed on a military bill to 'pay the soldiers'.

Need to Sleep!

So, I got back from Croatia on Monday. Watched the beginning of Spartacus, until I realised it was late, so went to bed at 12, only to wake up at 6.
Tuesday I went climbing. Organised dinner, which I ended up having at 11. Wrote blogs until 12:30. Up at 7.
Wednesday I ran to work, went to Capoeira and Pilates, got home after 11, dinner by 12, washed the dishes until 12:30 or so then finished my blogs. Up at 7
Thursday I went to see Mika Bomb, Oki Dog and the Copters. It was a pretty good concert and I managed to get home and to bed by 12:03 (listened to the 12 o'clock news) and then finally slept in until after 8!
I think I have to cut down on my websurfing...

As for this weekend, plans currently consist of
Friday - go see some metal bands, then meet up with Leo for some Jazz
Saturday - bus to birmingham, train to stratford to see gran, back to birmingham to see Adam and Janice, to a wedding reception with Jan before heading home at some godawful hour.
Sunday - up early to be at Tam's by 8:30 so we can drive 2.75 hours to some place down south for some climbing. Back from that and along to another metal gig with all girl headliners.
Monday - maybe sleep? or a comedy thing.
Tuesday - climb
Wednesday - Capoeira and Pilates
Thursday - Electric Eel Shock!
Friday - Mika Bomb!
Saturday & Sunday - lotsa climbing

Good on you england

While this has been reported to be a particularly boring election I am quite happy with the outcome. I guess I'd have liked the Lib Dems to win some more but the results seemed to be almost obvious in their ulitmate form.
Why does this make me happy?
a) The labour party support dropped by a reasonable amount. If it had risen then I would have been annoyed because that would have meant that more people felt it was OK t vote for someone who lies to you. Note that Australians thought it more important to feel relaxed and comfortable than to stand up against the lying bastard who sent them to war.
b) The conservatives won a reasonable number of seats back. But not the huge amount that they would have if they'd run the same campaign in Australia. Actually, thinking about it, THEY DID RUN THE SAME CAMPAIGN IN AUSTRALIA. And won. By a lot.
At the last election the party which had lied to the people (or been negligent in their intelligence gathering), sent troops to war, and campaigned on a racist and _base_ set of policies, won. Not only did they win, but they won by a lot, and now control both lower and upper houses of the parliament. They can do anything they want.
You get what you deserve Australia.

Two Graduates in Two Days

Two of the friends that I made in New Zealand graduated recently, and in the following blog entries are some photos to prove it.
Congratulations to you both. I never went through the spectale, but when I see you're photos I wonder if I should have.

Chi-Yan's graduation

IMG_0398
Originally uploaded by kingtoastuk.

This is Chi-yan (on the right), who I met as an english as a second language intensive course student.

Dunya's Graduation

graduation 2 may 05 016
Originally uploaded by kingtoastuk.

Dunya is my friend from New Zealand who suggested I visit her home land - Croatia

Interesting TV series recommended by Orson Scott Card

OSC whinges about the crap called StarTrek and celebrates its demise in this article. He also suggests two series that are actually good (as well as pointing out that @Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and "Being John Malkovich" are sci-fi's)
* FireFly http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0303461
* Lost http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0411008/
OK, I can't do hyperlinks in safari - that's sucks!

Croatia

What a wonderful country! The parts I saw, from Dubrovnik to Split and back again, were a rugged combination of scree based mountains towering grayly into the sky, rock (not pebble) beaches and idyllic islands.
The first day there we stayed in Dubrovnik. We had a good wander around the old town/castle which has been entirely converted into tourism. Quite amazing though, with all walls and floors made from the same polished white rock; sometimes a little painful on the eyes! We missed out on the wall walk because it was only the beginning (that day) of tourist season, so not everything was in full flow.
On Saturday we headed up to Split, 4.5 hours away by bus including 15 minutes of travel through Bosnia/Herzegovena. This trip was amazing, at first I thought I'd get bored with the monotonous landscape, but instead I was inspired.
Split itself is based around an old roman palace which, when the romans left, was turned into a walled town with apartments and shops and so on. Next ot it is 'old town' which has even narrower alleys which twist and turn in quite unpredictable ways.
This is the tourist area and the area we spent most of our time in, but some 250k people live in Split, and so it is a lot larger than Dubrovnik with only 35k or so. Consequently the nightclub (Metropolis) that we went ot on Saturday night was much larger and more populated - we danced until 3 and then somehow found our way home on foot (having caught a taxi there by some circuitous route).
Sunday we were up early again (remember, Jo only needs 4 hours sleep...) and ferried across to the nearest island; Brac. We just hung around in Supetar as the bus trip was 40 minutes one way. The girls sunbaked while I read - they ended up in a lot of pain so thankfully I brought some aloe vera after sun stuff.
We headed back a bit early and couldn't really think of anything to do (except catch a bus to some ruins, but people didn't really hav ethe inspiration to do that). So we just walked around the bay until we found a nice restaurant that we ended up eating dinner at.
(In fact, the number one activity of the trip was eating followed closely by drinking)
Monday we bussed back (turns out that the timetable of ferries could have worked for us if we'd caught the ferry up, and so we could have seen more, but we didn't know so that's that) and met up with Kathy and Scott who we had left in Dubrovnik. We grabbed a bite before heading back to the plane and flying home.
We were all a bit tired so didn't talk much :)
Anyway, thanks Dunya for suggesting her wonderful homeland as our destination (BTW Croatian women are typically quite tall - taller than me with high heels on)

Socially Inept

While in Croatia Jo, Lucy and myself had a big chat about the 'social pecking order' of school groups; the cool ones, the not quite so cool ones, the nerds and so on. It turns out, and I don't really know why I was in denial of this for so long, that rather than 'orthoganol' to this hierarchy I was simply stuck at the bottom. I was so socially inept that I didn't even realise that this was the case!
Now it seems that if one was to extrapolate on this particular finding then one might be able to explain other parts of my life. Don't get me wrong, I've always known that I was a little 'different', strange even, I'd just never seen myself in this light.
It's not necessarily a bad thing; one has to have one's priorities, and obviously mine have never been in the normal social realm (never mind my relationshipism 'philosophy'). So my next step is to recognise my strengths and build on those rather than whinge about how I can't get girls and people look at me funny when I try to make jokes (or get offended when you try to retaliate to their dry wit with your own).
I must embrace my nerddom and divorce myself from a system which is only going to get me depressed. As such I am definitely going to go to the OSCON (Open source convention), the RubyConf (for ruby o'files) and the OOPSLA (Object oriented programming someting or other :). If I can wangle my way into the ruby crowd (which is currently relatively small) I might gain a clique of similarly afflicted monkeys and suddenly find myself above the middle of a pecking order :)
I don't know whether I'll bother with my proposed 'TopDeck' tour of europe as that would be 25 days of trying to fit into other people's hierarchies, and I've demonstrated neatly in this post atht I am no good at that and shouldn't be allowed to try.

I suppose it can also get to you when the two people you are spending your whole time with have a big chat about work. It is impossible not to make comparisons, and considering I have some 4 years more experience and 5 more age years on them both it can be annoying to be reminded that you are in yet another dead end job for a company that seems to prefer magic to accounting when making money.
Again, I have to embrace this and, when next I search for work, ensure I am in the position that _I_interview_them_. While I may not be a 1%er (Id guess top 20%) I think I should be able to convince someone that I'm up there. Especially if I lie on my CV :)
And don't worry Mum and Dad, if by some amazing strock of bad luck my employers read this, I really don't care because they need me more than I need them. And if future employers find my blog, well this entry will be well and truely gone by then (no, my blog and homepage do not appear in Google)