I write again… The Confusion is proving a slow read but I am in the last section of the book now and I believe I can see a way to the conclusion of the trilogy. Cold Granite by MacBride is shaping up as a good police procedural and although nothing special is certainly an easy bed-time read.
Heroes… Well I predicted how it would end – a tad twee I thought but nonetheless suitably tied up and rounded off. It has been an excellent series, very well put together and I would look forward to buying that on Blu-ray in the New Year as it will be fantastic in HD.
The computers have been SNAFU all day – the computer engineer came this morning – a mere 20 hours after the call was logged (this on a 4hr service package). He messed around for 4 hours and then when his part finally turned up it was for a MAC and not a UNIX machine. We now have no computer system at all and they are supposedly coming back tomorrow to fit the correct part (if it arrives).
Fortunately the work has been quiet today and we have not had too much to cause a major challenge to the system. I am still here til 8PM though.
Friday 7th Dec – computers fixed now and the guy also sorted a minor driver issue on another machine so we cant complain too much!
The Confusion still continues and I am now on page 725 so concluding soon and I can get onto the 3rd book – perhaps if I spent less time on the internet and more on reading it would get finished sooner – thinks…
On call all weekend – hope its not too bad – should be able to get out to the gym though – also might start thinking of the dreaded C word (Christmas). Cake was made last weekend so decoration at some point in the next 2 weeks.
They say that it takes 21days for a habit to be ingrained - this blogging thing has yet to get to that stage and I dont know if I can keep it up - I really only wanted it to be a way of keeping track of the books that I had read and the films I have watched. In the meantime I discovered Facebook and I think I may be developing a slight addiction..
Friday 7 December 2007
Tuesday 4 December 2007
Tuesday in the twilight zone
Tuesday seems to be a bit of a long day - mostly because I have to work til 8PM this evening. Finished the "Animal theology" book by Andrew Linzey the other night - he makes a good case for being vegetarian / vegan but I havent yet signed to the cause. The final chapter on genetic engineering as animal slavery makes for an uncomfortable read and a considered approach to the arguments - food for thought indeed. Why do good people fail to act? Because they simply do not fully believe what they say they profess otherwise they WOULD act.. Now reading Stuart MacBride "Cold Granite" - police procedural set in Aberdeen - seems to be routine fare so far - I'll let you know.
Saturday 1 December 2007
Facebook Facebook Badger Badger
Well - I now have friends on Facebook - I am beginning to get the hang of it now and it seems to be quite addictive. It may replace some of my random internet trawling and it may not..
Books - no new ones at the moment but I have got a little closer to the end of The Confusion - in parts the book is very SLOW and in parts is excellent - I suspect I may have it finished in time for Christmas. However I will not have finished the trilogy in a year as I thought I could. The "System of the World" will be read in the fist 4 months of 2008 I think..
Now another thing of mine is.... WORMS - my worms are very happy and have created me a pile of very useable compost which I shall use next year to help create a herb garden. They eat virtually all our organic waste and coupled with rabid recycling mean very little ends up in the general waste stream.
Books - no new ones at the moment but I have got a little closer to the end of The Confusion - in parts the book is very SLOW and in parts is excellent - I suspect I may have it finished in time for Christmas. However I will not have finished the trilogy in a year as I thought I could. The "System of the World" will be read in the fist 4 months of 2008 I think..
Now another thing of mine is.... WORMS - my worms are very happy and have created me a pile of very useable compost which I shall use next year to help create a herb garden. They eat virtually all our organic waste and coupled with rabid recycling mean very little ends up in the general waste stream.
Friday 30 November 2007
6 DAYS What are you like..
I would be no better if I had a standard written diary or any other recording tool. I still have not got into the habit of this blogging. I guess I might eventually.
The last week has not been particularly busy. I started reading and finished (its been that long), Simon Beckett's Written in Bone - a relatively good read but the body count and incredulity ratio was severely strained by the end of the book. A police procedural with a twist. Touch of snow cloning - As good as Patricia Cornwell or your money back. Its set in the UK and written by a Briton so is automatically better than Cornwell, who went downhill some years ago.
Did not play golf this week - too wet. Have been to the gym and last saturday the Heston Blumethal dessert gane was almost a step too far for my culinary skills..
Had the mens group from church in on Weds eve - a slow start but encouraging enough for me to contemplate continuing - If I keep at it IT will get better!
The last week has not been particularly busy. I started reading and finished (its been that long), Simon Beckett's Written in Bone - a relatively good read but the body count and incredulity ratio was severely strained by the end of the book. A police procedural with a twist. Touch of snow cloning - As good as Patricia Cornwell or your money back. Its set in the UK and written by a Briton so is automatically better than Cornwell, who went downhill some years ago.
Did not play golf this week - too wet. Have been to the gym and last saturday the Heston Blumethal dessert gane was almost a step too far for my culinary skills..
Had the mens group from church in on Weds eve - a slow start but encouraging enough for me to contemplate continuing - If I keep at it IT will get better!
Saturday 24 November 2007
Long time no post
This has been some while in coming but mostly because I have had quite a lot to do. I had a good day out on the Wsadale fells yesterday - a clear sky, very cold but excellent nonetheless. I had set a target of completing all of the Wainwright fells by December 2007 but with 29 to go this is going to take a lot longer. Golf has taken over as the number one outdoor pursuit! It just is not excellent golfing weather.
Books - Confusion going slowly but it is going... Derren Brown - Tricks of the mind - finished on Friday - a useful trip round the how the human mind works and can be manipulated. Stupendous rebuttal of "psychics" and "mediums" - worth the ocver price on this chapter alone. Unfortunately he feels the need to poke at the religious debate and I feel that this cheapens and weakens his work and his desire to massage the ego of that arch idiot Richard Dawkins, just serves to take the edge of what is otherwise a very good book.
On the subject of Dawkins, I am now readng Alistair McGraths book "The Dawkin Delusion" which is a splendid; if short, crack at the lack of logical reasoning in Dawkins book. I fear that Dawkins is merely another celebrity now and would not have sold quite as many copies of his dreadful diatribe had it not been for his "name" and the deliberately contentious nature of the book's title. I suspect that a good number of the purchasers have not actually read the book and even if they did would not have the intellectual capacity to see through the rather weak and poorly rehearsed arguments presented. I think Mr Dawkins book sells well precisely because people are looking for "something else" in their lives and if only they could "put it to bed", then they would feel better about not looking any more. This could work if they read it, but as I said, I wonder just how many "readers" he has.
The kind of God in which I believe is, I think, a good deal different to the commonly portrayed example. I have a strong scientific background and the whole raft of issues currently surrounding "reality" give us a glimpse into the real nature of God. As I read more I'll flesh this out further but I cant help but feel a twinge of excitement with the whole atheism / theology debate, that it is long overdue and has a great potential to advance the whole of human wellbeing.
Anyhow I have done a bit more toward the annual Christmas Card manufacture marathon o they should be out in time! I have also managed to cook a three course meal:
Celeriac soup with saffron and scallops
Crabcakes with lemon mayo and parsnip/sweet potato chips and Thai salad
Black Forest Gateau
The Gateau mentioned does nothing for the actual process of creation, requiring manufacture of a Kirsch cream, flourless sponge, chocolate ganache, madeleine biscuit and aerated milk chocolate. That Heston Blumethal has a lot to answer for...
Now to eat it as I am writing this between courses.
Books - Confusion going slowly but it is going... Derren Brown - Tricks of the mind - finished on Friday - a useful trip round the how the human mind works and can be manipulated. Stupendous rebuttal of "psychics" and "mediums" - worth the ocver price on this chapter alone. Unfortunately he feels the need to poke at the religious debate and I feel that this cheapens and weakens his work and his desire to massage the ego of that arch idiot Richard Dawkins, just serves to take the edge of what is otherwise a very good book.
On the subject of Dawkins, I am now readng Alistair McGraths book "The Dawkin Delusion" which is a splendid; if short, crack at the lack of logical reasoning in Dawkins book. I fear that Dawkins is merely another celebrity now and would not have sold quite as many copies of his dreadful diatribe had it not been for his "name" and the deliberately contentious nature of the book's title. I suspect that a good number of the purchasers have not actually read the book and even if they did would not have the intellectual capacity to see through the rather weak and poorly rehearsed arguments presented. I think Mr Dawkins book sells well precisely because people are looking for "something else" in their lives and if only they could "put it to bed", then they would feel better about not looking any more. This could work if they read it, but as I said, I wonder just how many "readers" he has.
The kind of God in which I believe is, I think, a good deal different to the commonly portrayed example. I have a strong scientific background and the whole raft of issues currently surrounding "reality" give us a glimpse into the real nature of God. As I read more I'll flesh this out further but I cant help but feel a twinge of excitement with the whole atheism / theology debate, that it is long overdue and has a great potential to advance the whole of human wellbeing.
Anyhow I have done a bit more toward the annual Christmas Card manufacture marathon o they should be out in time! I have also managed to cook a three course meal:
Celeriac soup with saffron and scallops
Crabcakes with lemon mayo and parsnip/sweet potato chips and Thai salad
Black Forest Gateau
The Gateau mentioned does nothing for the actual process of creation, requiring manufacture of a Kirsch cream, flourless sponge, chocolate ganache, madeleine biscuit and aerated milk chocolate. That Heston Blumethal has a lot to answer for...
Now to eat it as I am writing this between courses.
Monday 12 November 2007
This is Monday
Well the weekend has been and gone and this morning has been and gone and thank goodness for that.
I finished the Stephen Booth book - very formulaic in the end but a reasonable read - If you like his other work then this one will be no surprise. Started in on "Tricks of the mind" Derren Brown. I took my 14yo son to see Derren earlier in the year - it is a show that does not dissapoint. He is an excellent performer both live and on TV. His book is a bit of an insight into how he uses his mind. So far it is much of a recap of things I already thought I knew but the "peg" system for remembering numbers looks to have much promise for me. If I was asked how I remember things - and I do hold a lot in my memory, I would say that it was by association but that I dont really know as it just comes naturally..
Anyhow - watched a really good film - Babel - a real "must see". I did feel however that the story could have been deepened and the production spread over 2 films. Gripping to the end but not an easy watch.
Making the family Christmas card at the moment - appears to be going well but there is much to do. We shall see how the job progresses through this week.
I finished the Stephen Booth book - very formulaic in the end but a reasonable read - If you like his other work then this one will be no surprise. Started in on "Tricks of the mind" Derren Brown. I took my 14yo son to see Derren earlier in the year - it is a show that does not dissapoint. He is an excellent performer both live and on TV. His book is a bit of an insight into how he uses his mind. So far it is much of a recap of things I already thought I knew but the "peg" system for remembering numbers looks to have much promise for me. If I was asked how I remember things - and I do hold a lot in my memory, I would say that it was by association but that I dont really know as it just comes naturally..
Anyhow - watched a really good film - Babel - a real "must see". I did feel however that the story could have been deepened and the production spread over 2 films. Gripping to the end but not an easy watch.
Making the family Christmas card at the moment - appears to be going well but there is much to do. We shall see how the job progresses through this week.
Friday 9 November 2007
Friday - end of firework season
Tis approaching the end of the firework season and soon I will be able to stop prescribing vast amounts of diazepam to calm the nerves of the nations neurotic pets. This will be a great step forward and we can return to normality for the next 11months.
The whole firework thing is great BUT... can we limit it to one weekend? It merely seems to be an excuse for antisocial behaviour and there are vast numbers of pets which are obviously considerably affected by the noise. Year on year we aim to help earlier but most owners seem content to leave it til the last minute. If they took earlier action perhaps we could improve the whole situation further. Come on pet owning public sort it out next month! Get a sound training CD from your vet ASAP and by next season things will be much better.
Anyway .. Books - nearly finished the Stephen Booth - not too bad... plot improved with further reading. A bit of old tradition mixed with newer drugs related issues has made for a reasonable book but I don't find constable Cooper as engaging as perhaps I should.
Bought biscuits for the nurses - they liked them.
Ate a white-chocolate fudge cake with my afternoon cappucino - those kilos will never go!
Off on christmas present hunt tomorrow..
The whole firework thing is great BUT... can we limit it to one weekend? It merely seems to be an excuse for antisocial behaviour and there are vast numbers of pets which are obviously considerably affected by the noise. Year on year we aim to help earlier but most owners seem content to leave it til the last minute. If they took earlier action perhaps we could improve the whole situation further. Come on pet owning public sort it out next month! Get a sound training CD from your vet ASAP and by next season things will be much better.
Anyway .. Books - nearly finished the Stephen Booth - not too bad... plot improved with further reading. A bit of old tradition mixed with newer drugs related issues has made for a reasonable book but I don't find constable Cooper as engaging as perhaps I should.
Bought biscuits for the nurses - they liked them.
Ate a white-chocolate fudge cake with my afternoon cappucino - those kilos will never go!
Off on christmas present hunt tomorrow..
Wednesday 7 November 2007
Wednesday is miles from Sunday
My-oh-my has this week been busy - I have work coming out of my ears - this is a good thing as more work equals more cash. A simple equation. It would, of course, be so much better if it were not for all the idiots with which I have contact. Sometimes it would appear that no-one is capable of using their common sense before lifting the telephone and calling. This constant stream of "things requiring action" is the reason I have not been able to add any more to this for the last 2 days.
Good news is that I have a period of time right now in which to read my book and do "nothing". This will not last as I have a financial advisor who will be with me in 25mins.
I did manage to get some time to buy new books yesterday so I am sure they will make an appearance on here in due course.
I do have a day off tomorrow but this wil be marred by the inclement weather which is set to make an appearance overnight.
Good news is that I have a period of time right now in which to read my book and do "nothing". This will not last as I have a financial advisor who will be with me in 25mins.
I did manage to get some time to buy new books yesterday so I am sure they will make an appearance on here in due course.
I do have a day off tomorrow but this wil be marred by the inclement weather which is set to make an appearance overnight.
Sunday 4 November 2007
Sunday is for fun
Firstly: This is all a bit so you will all have to bear with me.. Secondly: I have only a vague command of English Grammar, so please accept this prior to reading further. Thirdly - I have absolutely 100% certainty that no-one wil read this, so if you do, let me know as then I shall know that it is not just for my benefit. Finally - this blog is about the things that make my little life go along so it could seem a little dull for the casual observer. OK that lot out of the way...
What am I reading?
At work I am slowly working my way through "The confusion", the 2nd book in Neal Stephensons Baroque cycle. Although it is excellent, there are long detailed passages surrounding the political and financial complications of the plot. This slows the narrative substantially but does give a great deal of depth. It would seem that the book is actually a "confusion" of 2 books Juncto and Bonanza, and as the timeframe for both is concurrent, the books are broken down into several sections and presented in a series of parts. However by the time I have finished a chapter, I have forgotten which year we were in so I have to refer back to make sure I can make sense of the interposition. All that said, at 10 pages a day, an 800 page book is taking some time...
At home I am reading "Dying to Sin" by Stephen Booth. I have read all Stephens previous books and this one seems quite lacklustre in comaprison. The plot is quite interesting but the whole progress is quite slow and despite having read nearly a third of the book I couldnt give a stuff about the characters or what happens. I will finish it and will keep this blog updated on progress.
Also I am reading "Animal Theology" by Andrew Linzey. This is a remarakble text in that it focuses on Christianity as it relates to our treatment of animals. Professor Linzey has an holistic approach to creation and this runs counter to a great deal of thinking on the subject. I am not a vegan yet but then again I havent yet read that chapter.
I also have a bookmark in "Shelter medicine for Veterinarians and Support Staff" edited by Lila Miller and Stephen Zawistowski. This is an excellent reference for any vet involved in shelter work. I had a great chat with Lila Miller at a recent conference and her book will prove very useful to the work I do.
Today I attended church and even hosted the visiting minister for lunch afterwards. This afternoon I took a walk out along the beach with said minister to get some fresh air and discuss the matters of the day and various god related issues.
What am I reading?
At work I am slowly working my way through "The confusion", the 2nd book in Neal Stephensons Baroque cycle. Although it is excellent, there are long detailed passages surrounding the political and financial complications of the plot. This slows the narrative substantially but does give a great deal of depth. It would seem that the book is actually a "confusion" of 2 books Juncto and Bonanza, and as the timeframe for both is concurrent, the books are broken down into several sections and presented in a series of parts. However by the time I have finished a chapter, I have forgotten which year we were in so I have to refer back to make sure I can make sense of the interposition. All that said, at 10 pages a day, an 800 page book is taking some time...
At home I am reading "Dying to Sin" by Stephen Booth. I have read all Stephens previous books and this one seems quite lacklustre in comaprison. The plot is quite interesting but the whole progress is quite slow and despite having read nearly a third of the book I couldnt give a stuff about the characters or what happens. I will finish it and will keep this blog updated on progress.
Also I am reading "Animal Theology" by Andrew Linzey. This is a remarakble text in that it focuses on Christianity as it relates to our treatment of animals. Professor Linzey has an holistic approach to creation and this runs counter to a great deal of thinking on the subject. I am not a vegan yet but then again I havent yet read that chapter.
I also have a bookmark in "Shelter medicine for Veterinarians and Support Staff" edited by Lila Miller and Stephen Zawistowski. This is an excellent reference for any vet involved in shelter work. I had a great chat with Lila Miller at a recent conference and her book will prove very useful to the work I do.
Today I attended church and even hosted the visiting minister for lunch afterwards. This afternoon I took a walk out along the beach with said minister to get some fresh air and discuss the matters of the day and various god related issues.
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