The Grand Old Duke of York...
...He had ten thousand men
...He marched them up to the top of the hill
...And he marched them down again.

Indeed he did and indeed have I.

Or, in plain English, I climbed a big hill today. Or, as an equally crap title could have been "She'll be coming round the mountain" but that's doesn't quite have the same resonance for some reason!

Man do I feel exhausted. My toes hurt, my muscles are sluggish and my concentration is faint. I climbed 300 metres above my house, which really took its toll on me, before I went on to complete the 6 mile (ish) round trip.

The views were amazing though. I could see right over to Queensferry and straight over to Holyhead. If visibility had been better I bet I could've seen Liverpool.

Anyway, it's Saturday evening, so you know what that means - it's another half baked Doctor Who review! 'Yay' I hear you all chant!

Well, as I said last week, there were a few loose ends that needed tying up and they got tidied up quite nicely. So I have been comforted by the daleks behaving like daleks. None of this namby-pamby genetic hybrid mallarky.

The way Martha appears to fancy the doctor is, whilst understandable to a degree, getting a bit too much air time for my liking. But I guess it appeals to the more casual viewer and it does tie the story back to reality. After all - how many women do you know that find the Mr Tennant more than a little scrummy? Personally, I know loads.

That's all I wanted to / had the energy to say. I liked the episode, my worries from last week's episode were cured and my addiction to sci-fi has been alleviated successfully. So I'm a happy bunny.

Okay, so a smelly happy bunny. I'm looking forward to having a shower later. There's another show on tonight that I'll be watching. Who remember's Allo Allo? Not who as in doctor - I'm not punning. I'll let the BBC explain. It's on tonight at 9. That's 20 minutes from now.

Have fun all :-)

For Those of a Curious Disposition...
Here is a hastily propped up version of what the completed model should resemble. Obviously it's missing one or two things. Like people, extra platforms and, erm, a head. But I hope that clears things up.

I'll be starting the paint work on the body this weekend. I also intend to work on my own body by walking to the top of the hill at the back of my house. I'll show you all a picture from the top - then you can tell me if it still classes as a hill!

So do you know what's bothering me this week? Well putting to one side this nonsense about prosecuting parents for what theyallow their children to drink in their own homes; and putting aside my continual (and ever increasing) irritation for inaccurate journalism; I have only a couple things to say.

The first is a general complaint about myself to myself. That's regarding my apparent inability to be able to save money just lately. £300 I spent altogether on birthday presents for my sister's 21st and my Mom's birthday. Just before my wages went in today I had £23. My rent needed to leave my account two days ago so I am having to pay that in cash.

So I have a complaint about banks. Not only do they charge me £38 for their own incompetence but they also decide that it will take 4 days to process a standing order. What nonsense! I know exactly what's happening with that money and it's nothing but greed.

Anyway, I have a serious point to make and it is regarding the Welsh Assembly elections taking place soon. I have had a Lib-Dem candidate visit my house and I have had leaflets from the Lib-Dems, Plaid Cymru, Labour and the BNP.

Firstly, the lib-dem candidate who visited me just dropped off a leaflet. I was hoping for a sales pitch. Instead I was just told to vote no matter who I vote for just vote after which he walked off. I wasn't very impressed to say the least.

Then I had a Plaid leaflet who give the reasons for voting for them as follows (and I quote)...

• To stand up for Aberconwy and North Wales in Cardiff.
• To help unseat Labour's incompetent government in Cardiff; and in doing so,
• Deliver a GUILTY verdict on Blair's record as Prime Minister.

Erm, right. So nothing to do with your listed priorities then? In all fairness their "key priorities" are better - even if they are just the bog standard catch-all stuff like 'save our hospital' and 'look after our small businesses'.

I had a field day with the BNP leaflet - mainly becasue it contradicts itself. Here we have a party that believes in Britain; that doesn't believe in regional assemblies / governments yet at the same time makes the distinction that this is the Welsh branch of the BNP. Surely a group comitted to a united Britain shouldn't be making such distinctions. Surely this can't be a non-too-subtle ploy to appeal to the Welsh electorate? Surely they can't be joining the bandwagon of having "everything England has but suffix it with Wales to pretend it's 100% Welsh".

I mean - how can BBC Wales be all so welsh when the BBC proper is, first of all, British. Second of all it's based in London and funded by the whole UK. Thirdly it's roots are from the very first regular radio station in London set up by Marconi. Now I don't think a name like Marconi is Welsh, though I could be wrong.

Back to my main point then. If I remember correctly, the BNP leaflet also had a few criticisms of Blair. As did the Lib-Dem leaflets.

Then we have the Labour candidate. Last leaflet to arrive. I was almost suprised to see no criticism of Blair but then I remembered who the leaflet was from. As usual, there was nothing of substance just a 'we'll keep making things better' and 'look what we've already done' speech.

So, I ask in all seriousness - what is the choice I have to make? There are three parties whose sales-pitch centres around the perceived hate everybody has for Blair. Then there's Labour itself; inextricably linked to Blair becuase that is the way he wanted it - he wanted to make his party about personality rather than policy. He wanted to create a media frenzy around a couple of charismatic people. So is it any wonder people feel mislead when they finally wake up to what is really going on?

Personally speaking I do not believe in "party politics". I believe that the person who is elected should express the views of those he/she represents. Not 'towing the party line' and certainly not out for personal gain (unlike some local councillors I could mention). So when confronted with a load of people who seem uninterested in what I have to say then what am I to do? What do I do when faced with the dilemma of liking a candidate but disliking the party they are allied to?

I think government and the people have become seperated. The fact I felt I could make that distinction is proof. The government works for us - "representation for the people, by the people". I think we have forgotten this.

I think we've stopped taking responsibility for our own actions and our first answer to any problem is "let's create a law".

So how does that fit in to choosing a local representative? Well I think it goes a little something like this...

If folk were more community minded (taking part in parish meetings for example) then they would be aware of the local issues. With a more locally aware and less media-driven populace we would know what we needed that we didn't already have. We would then know to take this to, for example, the county council. If we knew the work the council did and bothered to read the notices they are legally obliged to make publically available then we would know what the issues are on a wider scale and be able to decide, in our own minds, what the priorities should be. Continue this up the scale and you have an lectorate who knows what is needed and can therefore vote acurately.

It's all very well a candidate suggesting "I'll save your hospital" without for one second mentioning what it will cost (whether monetarily or otherwise). If the populace bothered to know about such things they might think "ah, but if this hospital is closed then 20 mini-hospitals can be built that will provide even more local care".

I'm not for one minute suggesting that every person get bogged down in the minutae of detail of every parish/county/regional/national governmernt meeting. But we should all have an appreciation of what is going on.

Take The Times newspaper as an example. Within this paper they have a dedicated section that will cover a few court cases. They also carry announcements stating what the royal family are busy with. Why aren't the local proceedings made as readily available? Why can't a dedicated local newsletter give a summary of local happenings? At least then the electorate would have the opportunity to be educated.

But what do I know - I'm only 23.

Grrrrrr - have just noticed that my last post has formatted wrong. Can't be arsed changing it yet, I'll do so later and then post an update to this post saying that theis post about the last post is now recalled and we can all rest safe in the knowledge that only I have the foggiest idea what I'm prattling on about.

No I'm not drunk - how dare you suggest that! Lol!

Seriously though, I'm not, I'm just tired and should really be going to sleep istead of sharing my insanity with the couple billion computer users worldwide. Cos any one of you could be reading this.

Poor things

Monday Eveningtide!

For some reason I've been thinking it's Tuesday today when all along it's Monday. Oh how we laughed.

I've also been rather naughty. I've been watching the first ever episodes of Doctor Who and I have to say that I was impressed. Usually I find that when I've joined a series part-way through and then go back to the beginning then I can be disappointed. However it is not the case this time. From the very first episode I was hooked. The episodes just flew by leaving me wanting to know more.

Were there plans in action for decimilisation in 1963?

I also saw the first episode made using The Sims 2. This was rather impressive, and like many others I liked how Susan was listening to an ipod. Very classy - and somewhat clever despite the inevetibility.

I'm tired so please excuse the poor grammar and spelling.

I've been model making today and I wanted to show you what I've done so far. You ready?

It's a bit over-exposed but you get the idea. It's taken 4 months to do this. Though I have been doing it on and off. Cumulatively I have no idea how long this has taken.

I didn't make the remote control by the way. I just thought I'd tell you that in case you got confuddled ;-)

So then, it's currently 16 minutes past bedtime by my computer clock. Which means I'm a very tired bunny cos I stopped up last night looking at old continuity clips and closedown sequences from the BBC. I was also reading an account of the media response to Princess Diana's death in 1997. It made very interesting reading.

Well tonight I was supposed to get a list of meals compiled for the next few weeks and to do an online shop at Tesco's to get the stuff delivered (since the boot of my car no longer opens :-\)

You may have guessed that I have not done this. I have the book sat next to me on the sofa though.

Come to think of it, I'm sat in a very strange position. I have the monitor turned 180 degrees so that it faces the side of the sofa. I have the keyboard placed at the end of the sofa closest to the monitor. I am sat in the middle of the sofa with my left knee against my chest and the other leg tucked underneath me.

My advice to men everywhere is to not attempt this position unless naked. I am not naked. This position hurts because clothes are digging into me, I'm also squashing my foot.

Anyway, I have my monitor this way round so that I could lie on the sofa and watch video online. I like to do this. So what I am thinking of doing is going one step further. If I get a nice big flatscreen monitor and a TV card, then I am not going to need my traditional Tv am i?! Nor will I need a stereo.

So over the course of the next few years I think I may slowly build up the capability of my computer so that it can handle all this multi-tasking. I want to wait until quad-core processors come out first though. I have a feeling I'll need that ulti-tasking capability.

One thing that annoys me about new computers is that Windows likes to use up most of the resources for itself. It's all very well having a super-snazzy OS but if it's gonna take a severely hyped up PC to run it - then what's the point? The OS only needs to run the software - that's all. Maybe some clever management to reduce processor bottlenecks, but that's it - surely?!

Not that I'm a software engineer. Not that I know what I'm on about. Yet recruitment agencies who still insist on sending me emails are still asking if I'd like to go for a software job through them. Gits.

So I am increasingly being pushed in the direction of Linux. I know I've been talking about this for years (well, perhaps mainly just thinking). At least then I would have the freedom to limit what the OS does and to let the software that I actually want to run the things I actually want to do as opposed to making an OS that does a million and one things of which I only use a handful of features.

Ye Gods that was a terrible sentence. Far too long and the structure was terrible. I would score it at 2 out of 10 purely because I used punctuation.

Unlike some.

Well, I have rambled quite a bit tonight. I am off to bed to rest my weary head. Goodnight one and all, and to all a goodnight.

Journalistic Standards; and the lack thereof.
BBC News, 18:00 hours on this, the eleventh day of April, in the year two thousand and seven.

Making the national & international headlines at 18:00 today:
1) Captured Royal Navy personnel selling their stories to the press. Government admits it was wrong (to allow it).
2) Survey proves that families are breaking down and that single parenting is rampant. Thus community spirit is being eroded leading to more arguments amongst neighbours.
3) America says Iran has been arming Iraqi insurgents. Also, mass-wedding ceremony occurs in Baghdad.
4) In sport - Can Liverpool make it 3 clubs into the champions league final?
5) Expensive piano falls off lorry in Exeter.

I despair - I really do. I didn't count, but I would guess that in the first two stories the word "disaster" was used 10 times and I'm sure "crisis" was involved too. I may have heard "shocking" included in there for good measure. Where is the independant, unbiased reporting when such emotive words are used again and again? The BBC seem to be enjoying saying "I told you so". I can't say I recall them saying anything.

Story 3 has the capability of being a serious story. But no. We have some quick accusations and then straight into the wedding. Asking what sort of future will be in store fo all these newlyweds that have braved the violence - will it all be in vain? I believe this is called emotive journalism.

The fourth story was more of a gesture of sports news rather than anything worth reporting. But I did like how the BBC didn't shy away from the British media's role to pile the pressure on to our sportsmen immediately prior to their performances.

Now we come to story 5. The one that inspired this post. Why oh why is a piano falling off a lorry making national news? Why did the BBC feel the need to add a "lighthearted" story? Was the reality of the world a little bleak? Was it a little too dark for the producers? I don't need to know about some piano falling off a lorry.

Is it just me or is the news trying to become appealing? News is news. Report the news as it is - don't sugar coat it. How else is the country going to find out the reality of what's going on in this world?

While I'm here, I wish to complain once more about the Science and Technology pages of the BBC News website. To me, they are crappy stories written by people who seem to not give a damn about the topic they are writing about. Becasue they don't understand it, they miss the important details. Leading to stories that don't actually tell you anything.

Don't even get me started on copying and pasting from other websites.

The BBC is in existence to serve the public. It is founded by royal charter to educate, inform and entertain; a relevant excert of the charter is provided below. How does a documentary about the airport police at Heathrow airport do that? Viewing figures are irrelevant for the BBC. They don't have advertising revenue to make. It is the BBC's job to do what is not commercially viable - to give funding to new talent etc.

You know what - I can't be bothered to go on.

3. The BBC’s public nature and its objects
(1) The BBC exists to serve the public interest.
(2) The BBC’s main object is the promotion of its Public Purposes.
(3) In addition, the BBC may maintain, establish or acquire subsidiaries through which commercial activities may be undertaken to any extent permitted by a Framework Agreement. (The BBC’s general powers enable it to maintain, establish or acquire subsidiaries for purposes sufficiently connected with its Public Purposes – see article 47(3) and (4)).

4. The Public Purposes
The Public Purposes of the BBC are as follows—
(a) sustaining citizenship and civil society;
(b) promoting education and learning;
(c) stimulating creativity and cultural excellence;
(d) representing the UK, its nations, regions and communities;
(e) bringing the UK to the world and the world to the UK;
(f ) in promoting its other purposes, helping to deliver to the public the benefit of emerging communications technologies and services and, in addition, taking a leading role in the switchover to digital television.

47. The BBC’s corporate nature and powers
(3) The BBC shall have the capacity to sue and be sued and do anything appertaining to a body corporate. In addition, the BBC shall have all the capacity of a natural person.
(4) However, the BBC may use these general powers only for the purposes set out in articles 3 to 5. The use of any of these powers for other purposes would amount to a breach of this Charter, with all the consequences that could follow from that (see in particular article 52). Subject to any overriding rules of law, such a use of powers shall, nevertheless, be valid: for example, contracts entered into by the BBC would be valid and enforceable against the BBC for so long as the BBC continues to exist, to any extent permitted by law.

How Cool Is This...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/magazine/6523155.stm
My English teacher from High School gave a quote for this story! So I thought I'd mention it.

That's all I wanted to say really. In fact, that was the high-point of the day. Oh how I giggled and made my colleagues stare at me. I would have explained, but the moment would be lost on them.

Has anybody else started using the new £20 notes yet? I have just visited a cash machine and received my second such note. I have studied it in great detail, compared it to the Euro banknotes and have come to the conclusion that they are remarkably similar.

Earth shattering news or what?!

In honour of my former English teacher, I am going to spell-check this post for a change.

Bye all

Chilling Wi' Da Still.
Food of yesterday was lovely. I think it managed to upset my tummy a bit, but I would still call it a success. Haven't slow-cooked today, will set it all up tonight for tomorrow. Therefore tonights meal shall consist of Sausages, chips and assorted vegetables. Not very healthy, I know, but I haven't had sausage for ages and I have a bit of a craving.

Not any old sausage mind, oh no! Cumberland sausage no less. In fact, come to think of it, the Cumberland sausage served at the northbound M6 Carlisle service station was and still is a rather pleasurable meal after several hours on the road. I would highly recommend a visit. It's an eco-friendly place and you can sit next to a lake watching birds flutter around the sweeping countryside.

So what am I going to do with this evening? I am in a fair mood. I think I should practice some singing since I've not done any this week. I have to change clothes because these trousers are making me itch :-s So I'll have to put the washing machine on aswell.

You know this BACS problem with paying us our wages? Well my rent payment bounced because of it! I have a back-up plan though, so don't worry, it will get paid. The charge for the standing order failing was £38 though! A little steep in my opinion. Still, it has been refunded so I can't complain this time.

I'm offski now - I'm not going to be spending all night on the computer without eating again - I need deeding at sensible hours!

Take care

Still haven't eaten - it's getting late and dark and cold and everything.

Foooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood!

What Be Your Nerd Type? Your Result: Musician   Doo doo de doo waaaa doo de doo! (<-- That's you playing something.) Everyone appreciates the band/orchestra geeks and the pretty voices. Whether you sing in the choir, participate in a school/local band, or sit at home writing music, you contribute a joy to society that everyone can agree on. Yay! Welcome to actually doing something for poor, pathetic human souls. (Just kidding.)
Social Nerd
Gamer/Computer Nerd
Science/Math Nerd
Drama Nerd
Artistic Nerd
Literature Nerd
Anime Nerd
What Be Your Nerd Type? Quizzes for MySpace

Good News!
I CAN do an MSc on a distance learning course! I SHALL go to the ball. My name ISN't Cinders, but I don't care. You can call me chief fraggle of the dodecahedron of quintuplessy for all I care.

FIVE COMMENTS too! A record!

So apart from a couple of incidents - one being the driver who tried to ram me off the road on my way home from shopping - I am having a lovely day!

I wonder if a new episode of Ideal is available on the BBC3 website yet?

*wonders off to look*

Alas, no. But never mind, I wish to share some more proactive positivity with the world before I wash my hands cos they smell funny :-s

I have rejoined the SETI@Home project. Years ago (back when it started) I joined the program but my computer was so pathetically slow it never finished the first packet of data it was sent to process. But now, something like 7 years on, the same computer (sort of - it's more spiritual than physical) is churning them out at the rate of one every 14 hours!

Erm, lets gloss over the fact I want/need a dual core processor shall we?

That's right, the nutter is ignoring reality again. Still, it makes him happy.

I haven't done ANY work on my models of late - 3D or LOTR. The LOTR stuff is sat next to me at the computer and is looking pretty damn fine even if I do say so myself. I am looking forward to fixing it all together. Well, the parts I've painted. It's taken 4 months to paint 8 parts. And just to show I haven't lost my 'Engineers Edge' that's 1 part every two weeks.

Guess what I've got for tea tonight?

Since I am in a good mood, I am going to treat myself to some smoked mackerel in some sauce I found. The combination could be utterly disgusting since the sauce is made for chicken. But you don't know until you try.

Then for the rest of the week I'm going to be using the slow cooker. Could've done with a mushroom sauce really, but I'm sure I can knock something up. Something, not necessarily the right thing.

Well hasn't this been a bizarre post?

Free-Range, Organicly Grown Emotions...
...Not a good thing!

So this morning I woke up and I just lay there. I lay there thinking of all my problems and just how many hills I have to climb. I went through several emotions; melancholy, anger and resignation to name but three.

It took something like 30 minutes for the intelligent part of my brain to kick in - which is very poor by my standards. This part of my brain acts as a watchdog - making sure the rest is behaving as it should. As I have said in previous posts, the mind likes to play dirty so you have to be on your guard unless you want to fall into depression.

I have realised this morning that the mental training I do in order to keep my mood on a high has been rather slack of late. I say slack, more like non-existant. I have been dwelling on things and avoiding issues - the top two things I'm NOT meant to do.

So remembering what I have learnt, I got up out of bed and decided to go downstairs to the computer and share my training with the world. It's not complicated, it's not difficult and it will sound bloody obvious but the trick is to keep an eye on yourself and take action rather than the knowing what action to take.

• If lying in bed dwelling on things, make yourself get up. Make a cup of tea, change the sheets - anything. Your mind is trying to put you in a miserable mood using the snowball effect (i.e. one thought leads to a worse thought that leads to a worse thought, and so on). Getting up and doing something will give your mind a new focus. This is not the same as avoiding the issue (see next point).
  
• If you can feel that you are in a bad mood (lets face it, we all have off days), take any opinion you come up with with a pinch of salt. That opinion will be tainted by your mood and is therefore biased. For instance, if you are in a bad mood and look in the mirror, you might see a worse looking person to the one you see when in a good mood.
  
• ALWAYS keep in mind that you can be a good person if you choose to do so. There is ALWAYS choice. It is not egocentric to have faith in your abilities, noris it egocentric to believe that you can be a force for good in the world. Remember that little things will always make a big difference. Saying hello to people with a smile, for instance, will often make the other person smile, who will then go on to make other people smile and so on. A rather simplistic example I know, but I hope you get my point.
  
• Personally speaking, I do not believe in organised religion (please remember that belief in a god and belief in a religion are two separate entities). However, their more general teachings are the basis for a happy life. For instance, treating others how you wish to be treated will often lead to them returning the favour. However, for me, if they fail this test, then I begin treating them how they treat me. Only fair, but I give them ample opportunity.
  
  I do believe in peace of mind and feeling secure within yourself. So I always remember things like this - if I treat people with respect, and they show me none, then I am the better person and I should feel proud for being the better person (as opposed to feeling sad/anxious because I am treated badly).
  
  To me, if you are secure in yourself then you do not need religion. However, many people find religion equally as beneficial. So whichever route you take it doesn't really matter as long as you have your dignity and belief in your own abilities.
  
  Nobody but nobody can take away your self-respect and have absolutely no right to tell you how to behave. Suggesting or advising is one thing, ordering/forcing is another. You are not wrong for resisting this type of treatment.

There are many further tips I could give, but I would end up writing a book. In fact, much of this advice is already in books. One of the books I gained a hell of a lot from reading was this one. I would recommend it highly.

So now, guess what? I am in a far better mood than when I started this post. Writing this has helped me to remember a few points I had forgotten. So I am going to get a lot done today and stop avoiding things. For instance, I have a lot of washing to do. There is also tidying up, cleaning and - the most important of all some would say - eating!