There are days I’m scared to death of life. Today is one such day. The nervousness is cropping up in my throat. I feel like I’m being choked, not quite to death, but swallowing sure is a bit harder than usual. My appetite is absent, though the nausea suggests my stomach is in need of food. I think I’m also dehydrating.
I’m not sure where this fear came from. It might be the tasks that have been set at work. It might have been Charlie Brooker’s column, which I read this morning. Or David Mitchell’s answers to some questions from Guardian readers(?). Either way, it didn’t help my state of being.
Also the cold is so through and through it’s pressuring on my temples and residing in my bones. It causes muscle failure in the arms and a thumping headache....and the loss of knowledge of several words. I feel quite inapt to write anything today, or read for that matter. And in my state of falling apart, it doesn’t help my confidence. Ironically, this morning I woke up with the song Confidence out of the Sound of Music in my head.
What was this about the British education fee again? Going from ‘Litter society’ to ‘Farmyard society’? Or did I dream it? I can however inform with some confidence that I forgot entirely what David Mitchell wrote in his column. Oh wait, something about nuclear weapons being paraded through the city in a golden carriage.
Anything of it all seems so far from my life. My life lately has been white, cold and sort of busy; white with a glowing centre of blackness. I refuse to believe there’s more ‘Bah’ to come, no matter how persistent the papers keep stating the opposite. Some day something should be fine again, shouldn’t it?
With my personal dictionary draining, new words and phrases should be invented. So far I came up with ‘litter society’ as used above, and with ‘fuckery’ which I have not used yet except in some internal conversation as a reaction on some situation.
I feel this blog should have a rating?
Sources: Charlie Brooker's How To Cut Tuition Fees
David Mitchell under the spotlight and David Mitchell's Catchy Titles and Nuclear Security Rant
Monday, December 20, 2010
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
To Mr. Charlton Brooker
It’s not that I wanted to, I just had to. It’s really just a salute to you, Mr. Charlton Brooker, also known as Charlie Brooker. I suppose this outcry is really the echo of my fears of you not creating quite enough new stuff to keep me entertained. Mr. Charlie Brooker, you are my ghetto blaster of observation and opinion. We just agree on most things and you never cease to make me laugh. But what especially strikes me about you is you seem to try to be fair....sort of.
What’s up with the whole 10 O’Clock Live thing? Have preparations begun? What’s your part going to be? I was thinking, you could do news items like you do on Newswipe, though I’m not sure what that would mean for Newswipe as a separate series; wouldn’t want to lose it.
Also I feel you should get a bigger part than you had in the Election night special. You are a good host, sir. And I think we could do with less Jimmy Carr reading off, obviously, auto-cue. And then maybe we could let go of the ‘panic room’ organization. That would safe time and money and would provide a bit more variation (20 minutes of Jimmy Carr prescripted quips and head movements without breaks was a bit much for me).
I did read Screenwipe and Newswipe are going out on BB2 this Christmas and the coming year. Especially to me, that’s good news, since I don’t receive C4 nor BBC4.
What about You Have Been Watching? Is a new series commissioned? Even though I love to watch you, Mr. Charlton, a bit of variation of faces could be refreshing. And the proof you can actually smile is a sweet one. Beside that, I just love the idea of the TV-club.
I hope to see much more of you the coming year (and on).
My fave forum quote of the week (a quote with a reaction added, really):
“’I had a Bounty on my head.... I was showing off in the newsagents.’ Wahey!!”
Source: UKFF Forum
What’s up with the whole 10 O’Clock Live thing? Have preparations begun? What’s your part going to be? I was thinking, you could do news items like you do on Newswipe, though I’m not sure what that would mean for Newswipe as a separate series; wouldn’t want to lose it.
Also I feel you should get a bigger part than you had in the Election night special. You are a good host, sir. And I think we could do with less Jimmy Carr reading off, obviously, auto-cue. And then maybe we could let go of the ‘panic room’ organization. That would safe time and money and would provide a bit more variation (20 minutes of Jimmy Carr prescripted quips and head movements without breaks was a bit much for me).
I did read Screenwipe and Newswipe are going out on BB2 this Christmas and the coming year. Especially to me, that’s good news, since I don’t receive C4 nor BBC4.
What about You Have Been Watching? Is a new series commissioned? Even though I love to watch you, Mr. Charlton, a bit of variation of faces could be refreshing. And the proof you can actually smile is a sweet one. Beside that, I just love the idea of the TV-club.
I hope to see much more of you the coming year (and on).
My fave forum quote of the week (a quote with a reaction added, really):
“’I had a Bounty on my head.... I was showing off in the newsagents.’ Wahey!!”
Source: UKFF Forum
Friday, December 3, 2010
Take That
Not so long ago I wrote a blog about the return of Robbie to the returned boyband Take That. I was complaining about how I couldn’t and didn’t want to go back. It turns out I was partly wrong. I still don’t want to return to 15-20 years ago, but I find myself feeling the same sentiments being on the edge of... whatever. Take That turns out to be a cornerstone in my life. Whenever I find myself on a crossing of life and I have to make new choices to move further to a new phase of my life, Take That simply appears. I’m being pulled toward it and into it. I have no choice but to follow. I am following again.
A few weeks ago Take That released a new album and single and with that the return of Robbie. About two weeks ago they announced a great tour through Britain and a few cities throughout Europe. My mom told me to get a ticket really.
Then the whole promotion for the single, the album and the tour started with them doing interviews throughout Britain and Europe. Suddenly they were everywhere again, like 15-20 years ago. Since I was curious I caught all the things they did in and for Dutch tv and then I was back in. Ever since I’ve been searching the Internet, googling and youtubing. Yesterday I even retrieved my scrapbooks from back then.
What really did it for me was the new documentary ‘Look Back, Don’t Stare’. It embarked on Robbie’s return and recording the new album, Progress, right up to the preparations of the announcement of the tour. I love that documentary, because for the first time the other side of the story was told. All that happened, but only a little bit made it out to the world. It turned out the 5 years in the 90’s were a bit of a commercial lie. I never knew how things really were. I never knew about the tensions within the band. I never heard about how they experienced their time in Take That. It was heart breaking. I never wanted them to hurt and hate each other, or being indifferent to the others feelings.
I love that documentary, because it’s such a sincere, brave and honest retelling. It was refreshing to see how frank and open they tried to be about then and now. It was all kind of emotions and feelings in one to see how much they struggled to make it work a second time, especially concerning Robbie. So much had happened. So much is still going on. They’re fighting really hard to make things right. It’s heart warming to see how much they enjoyed working on Progress, with each other, including Robbie.
I hope this is true. I hope things won’t fall apart like they did before. I have faith, yet I am scared. There’s no escaping for me. Let’s see what’s happening next.
Source: Wiwipedia: Robbie rejoined Take That
A few weeks ago Take That released a new album and single and with that the return of Robbie. About two weeks ago they announced a great tour through Britain and a few cities throughout Europe. My mom told me to get a ticket really.
Then the whole promotion for the single, the album and the tour started with them doing interviews throughout Britain and Europe. Suddenly they were everywhere again, like 15-20 years ago. Since I was curious I caught all the things they did in and for Dutch tv and then I was back in. Ever since I’ve been searching the Internet, googling and youtubing. Yesterday I even retrieved my scrapbooks from back then.
What really did it for me was the new documentary ‘Look Back, Don’t Stare’. It embarked on Robbie’s return and recording the new album, Progress, right up to the preparations of the announcement of the tour. I love that documentary, because for the first time the other side of the story was told. All that happened, but only a little bit made it out to the world. It turned out the 5 years in the 90’s were a bit of a commercial lie. I never knew how things really were. I never knew about the tensions within the band. I never heard about how they experienced their time in Take That. It was heart breaking. I never wanted them to hurt and hate each other, or being indifferent to the others feelings.
I love that documentary, because it’s such a sincere, brave and honest retelling. It was refreshing to see how frank and open they tried to be about then and now. It was all kind of emotions and feelings in one to see how much they struggled to make it work a second time, especially concerning Robbie. So much had happened. So much is still going on. They’re fighting really hard to make things right. It’s heart warming to see how much they enjoyed working on Progress, with each other, including Robbie.
I hope this is true. I hope things won’t fall apart like they did before. I have faith, yet I am scared. There’s no escaping for me. Let’s see what’s happening next.
Source: Wiwipedia: Robbie rejoined Take That
Friday, November 12, 2010
Age of Technology
This was an old piece I wrote in September. I left it in my 'Work in Progress' document, because I thought it wasn't quite ready to go out. After having read it I decided it was actually good enough to see the light of day. So there ya go. Obviously, that piece in the paper you're not going to find; sorry for that.
* * *
More and more I see articles about what the new technology, we’re speaking Information technology here, is doing to our brains. Everything goes faster; we’re offered the possibility to do more things at the same time while they keep flashing suggestions of other ways to turn into our faces. Even though our brains are processing faster than mankind’s grey mass ever has, we’re on the brink of overload. Our long term memory is deteriorating, our attention span is decreasing and privacy is something historical. (I made up the last one, but it is generally true.) Also we’re not as good at multi tasking as we thought, and the youth is performing worse than their seniors. Yet, the progressing technology is not bad; it’s the way we cope with it.
I remember being taught our ancestors wouldn’t be able to cope with our fast paced world. I still believe that’s true. However, now I’m wondering if the same doesn’t apply to us too. There’s so much possible and yet we don’t know how to deal with all these possibilities. We’re like little children in a candy shop with a pushy salesman. All the colours and promises to our palates make our eyes grow bigger and our fingers itching to grab. And we grab till our head starts to spin with a sugar rush and our stomachs are trying to rid itself of the overload of sugar and preservatives. In the end we go back home too sick to join for dinner and going straight to bed to nurse nausea and a pounding headache.
I work in IT. I know what’s possible (about everything) and I know how unproductive you can get with all these toys in your hands. These days you can do research in your bed with your laptop hooked up to the Internet. You don’t need to leave the house to find out your ancestor bought one of the first motor bikes. And if you don’t need to leave your bed it automatically means you don’t need to leave your office to do research. You can research, for instance, the perils of progression in your boss’ time. Or you can do that and work at the same time as well. It’s all possible.
I’m involved, side ways, in a large project called “het Nieuwe Werken” (the New Working; what a crap translation). The project mainly tries to implement even more electronic ways to work and offer employees possibilities. It might sound wonderful, but in the greater scheme you can see where this is going. Now we do know about these “perils” and I believe we should act upon it. We have to go from reactive working to proactive working. We have to learn to work again. We have to learn to cope with technology.
I read in the paper that only the notification of receiving an e-mail already costs us 3 seconds. That might not sound like much, but in the end it adds up. Firstly, I think I’m now mixing Charlie’s column up with that paper article. Never mind. Secondly, so what? Does the writer even consider the time lost when getting and drinking coffee and when chatting to colleagues? Even if we exclude all the external disturbances, the fact we do need taking breaks doesn’t seem very important. Of course it is. I think I lose more minutes drinking and chatting to people then I do noticing emails coming in. In the end when I look back, I often do think I had a productive day even though I received many mails and read them. It’s a point of variation that we need. Let’s not forget that.
Sources:
Dutch paper: de Pers, page 12 from Monday September 13th.
Charlie’s column
* * *
More and more I see articles about what the new technology, we’re speaking Information technology here, is doing to our brains. Everything goes faster; we’re offered the possibility to do more things at the same time while they keep flashing suggestions of other ways to turn into our faces. Even though our brains are processing faster than mankind’s grey mass ever has, we’re on the brink of overload. Our long term memory is deteriorating, our attention span is decreasing and privacy is something historical. (I made up the last one, but it is generally true.) Also we’re not as good at multi tasking as we thought, and the youth is performing worse than their seniors. Yet, the progressing technology is not bad; it’s the way we cope with it.
I remember being taught our ancestors wouldn’t be able to cope with our fast paced world. I still believe that’s true. However, now I’m wondering if the same doesn’t apply to us too. There’s so much possible and yet we don’t know how to deal with all these possibilities. We’re like little children in a candy shop with a pushy salesman. All the colours and promises to our palates make our eyes grow bigger and our fingers itching to grab. And we grab till our head starts to spin with a sugar rush and our stomachs are trying to rid itself of the overload of sugar and preservatives. In the end we go back home too sick to join for dinner and going straight to bed to nurse nausea and a pounding headache.
I work in IT. I know what’s possible (about everything) and I know how unproductive you can get with all these toys in your hands. These days you can do research in your bed with your laptop hooked up to the Internet. You don’t need to leave the house to find out your ancestor bought one of the first motor bikes. And if you don’t need to leave your bed it automatically means you don’t need to leave your office to do research. You can research, for instance, the perils of progression in your boss’ time. Or you can do that and work at the same time as well. It’s all possible.
I’m involved, side ways, in a large project called “het Nieuwe Werken” (the New Working; what a crap translation). The project mainly tries to implement even more electronic ways to work and offer employees possibilities. It might sound wonderful, but in the greater scheme you can see where this is going. Now we do know about these “perils” and I believe we should act upon it. We have to go from reactive working to proactive working. We have to learn to work again. We have to learn to cope with technology.
I read in the paper that only the notification of receiving an e-mail already costs us 3 seconds. That might not sound like much, but in the end it adds up. Firstly, I think I’m now mixing Charlie’s column up with that paper article. Never mind. Secondly, so what? Does the writer even consider the time lost when getting and drinking coffee and when chatting to colleagues? Even if we exclude all the external disturbances, the fact we do need taking breaks doesn’t seem very important. Of course it is. I think I lose more minutes drinking and chatting to people then I do noticing emails coming in. In the end when I look back, I often do think I had a productive day even though I received many mails and read them. It’s a point of variation that we need. Let’s not forget that.
Sources:
Dutch paper: de Pers, page 12 from Monday September 13th.
Charlie’s column
Monday, November 8, 2010
Leap Into Same Ol' Same Ol'
Here's a mishmesh of feelings and insights... (Sorry for all the spelling and grammar mistakes; I just couln't be bothered to spell check)
My mind seems to be poisoned with anger. It's just between these walls I want to scream and abuse several objects. I'm not a violent person, usually, just rude, but back in the world of common misconception and misguided optimism I want to bang my head repeatedly against something hard. I can't for my life figure out why everything keeps going wrong here. It seems so simple to do the right thing, yet they manage to lead is into new potentional failures of reorganization and inactivity. I don't think I have seen any plan come into fruition in this organization. Whenever we dig the spade into the ground to build the foundation they change plans and we have to cover up the concrete floor with soft sand. That's how we keep sinking in the floor knee deep till we hit something hard which can't be broken away easily so we build foundation on foundation without actually building anything. Our basement is now 2 stories high and we're in danger of falling off.
Anything today brought me back to the state where I could burst out into tears any moment. Within the course of less than 8 hours my body had forgotten it suffered a lazy holiday with too much food and too less exersize. I should be happy to get back to work, but I'm not. I feel less productive than when I spent the whole day watching QI on my computer in my bedroom. I feel deprived of fresh air more than I would after having spend all morning in bed with the window tightly shut. Even the fresh shot of columns by my favourite people ticked me off. Not that I understood what they were whining about, but after reading I felt I should be mad and I can't stop thinking that's an unjustified feeling.
When did everything stop making sense? How come everyone and everything seems to be spinning in an endless circle? It's like we're orbiting around our own faiths and beliefs and we're never really getting to the core. Moving out seems to be an option, but I lost faith it's any better anywhere else. Isn't that what we do; fool ourselves? For the richer count themselves richer at all times and the poorer keep losing time and therefore money. Hasn't it always been like that? That security is just an illusion, because in the end, we'll all go? That we all end up with more delusions than dreams fullfilled?
I think I was lucky. I'm not saying I have less delusions or that my planning wasn't altered somewhere along the way. I'm saying looking back it all could have been worse. I could have gotten into serious trouble with my big mouth. I might have won the lottery if I ever bought a ticket. That's not the point. The point is that I am able to bang my head against something hard for something maybe very futile. Or I can choose to indulge it all and see my next turn out. That's my luck; I've still got places to go.
My mind seems to be poisoned with anger. It's just between these walls I want to scream and abuse several objects. I'm not a violent person, usually, just rude, but back in the world of common misconception and misguided optimism I want to bang my head repeatedly against something hard. I can't for my life figure out why everything keeps going wrong here. It seems so simple to do the right thing, yet they manage to lead is into new potentional failures of reorganization and inactivity. I don't think I have seen any plan come into fruition in this organization. Whenever we dig the spade into the ground to build the foundation they change plans and we have to cover up the concrete floor with soft sand. That's how we keep sinking in the floor knee deep till we hit something hard which can't be broken away easily so we build foundation on foundation without actually building anything. Our basement is now 2 stories high and we're in danger of falling off.
Anything today brought me back to the state where I could burst out into tears any moment. Within the course of less than 8 hours my body had forgotten it suffered a lazy holiday with too much food and too less exersize. I should be happy to get back to work, but I'm not. I feel less productive than when I spent the whole day watching QI on my computer in my bedroom. I feel deprived of fresh air more than I would after having spend all morning in bed with the window tightly shut. Even the fresh shot of columns by my favourite people ticked me off. Not that I understood what they were whining about, but after reading I felt I should be mad and I can't stop thinking that's an unjustified feeling.
When did everything stop making sense? How come everyone and everything seems to be spinning in an endless circle? It's like we're orbiting around our own faiths and beliefs and we're never really getting to the core. Moving out seems to be an option, but I lost faith it's any better anywhere else. Isn't that what we do; fool ourselves? For the richer count themselves richer at all times and the poorer keep losing time and therefore money. Hasn't it always been like that? That security is just an illusion, because in the end, we'll all go? That we all end up with more delusions than dreams fullfilled?
I think I was lucky. I'm not saying I have less delusions or that my planning wasn't altered somewhere along the way. I'm saying looking back it all could have been worse. I could have gotten into serious trouble with my big mouth. I might have won the lottery if I ever bought a ticket. That's not the point. The point is that I am able to bang my head against something hard for something maybe very futile. Or I can choose to indulge it all and see my next turn out. That's my luck; I've still got places to go.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Bully <-> Victim
Looking back at my childhood, I realize I never fitted in any group. I wasn't the most popular girl at school, neither did I ever get bullied. If there was anything wrong than it was me being pretty much invisible. I never seemed to get noticed, and the moments I did scream or was stubborn and cheeky or aggressive, the teachers were so shocked, they just moved on not knowing how to react.
For some reason the worst and most violent boys were always protecting me. My mom told me when I was in Kindergarden, one of the boys always wanted to be around me and defended me saying I was not a girl. Amusing. Then when I was in highschool the boy with the most problems was always incredibly nice to me and involved me into the school activities. He was of all the scholars the nicest person to me.
I wasn't into sports, but I am a fanatic which means whenever I'm forced into doing some sports I at least give it my best. That in combination with me being invisible and not quite weak enough resulted in me skipping a bit through those gym lessons. Beside that, I'm someone who's not very willing to let the bullies have their fun, so when they picked on me I acted as if I didn't understand and just ignored them. After a while they gave up. I do remember taunting quite a bit older girl, because I'm just not having bullying, and we had to run cause I angered her quite a bit by bullying her back. Thinking back at it, it probably wasn't the smartest thing to do, but we were close to home so the girl didn't dare to follow us up into the appartment where my friend lived.
That's the thing with me. The bullying always left me unimpressed or I just bullied them back in such way it left them shocked, cause no one expects a tiny wee little girl going into it full force.
I don't have the illusion I can win a fysical fight. I know I've been quite a bit lucky for quite a few of these times I simply taunted them back or beat them in their own games. I only have my mind and the will to always win and the passion to detest being bullied.
No one bullies me and gets away with it.
For some reason the worst and most violent boys were always protecting me. My mom told me when I was in Kindergarden, one of the boys always wanted to be around me and defended me saying I was not a girl. Amusing. Then when I was in highschool the boy with the most problems was always incredibly nice to me and involved me into the school activities. He was of all the scholars the nicest person to me.
I wasn't into sports, but I am a fanatic which means whenever I'm forced into doing some sports I at least give it my best. That in combination with me being invisible and not quite weak enough resulted in me skipping a bit through those gym lessons. Beside that, I'm someone who's not very willing to let the bullies have their fun, so when they picked on me I acted as if I didn't understand and just ignored them. After a while they gave up. I do remember taunting quite a bit older girl, because I'm just not having bullying, and we had to run cause I angered her quite a bit by bullying her back. Thinking back at it, it probably wasn't the smartest thing to do, but we were close to home so the girl didn't dare to follow us up into the appartment where my friend lived.
That's the thing with me. The bullying always left me unimpressed or I just bullied them back in such way it left them shocked, cause no one expects a tiny wee little girl going into it full force.
I don't have the illusion I can win a fysical fight. I know I've been quite a bit lucky for quite a few of these times I simply taunted them back or beat them in their own games. I only have my mind and the will to always win and the passion to detest being bullied.
No one bullies me and gets away with it.
This Thing
This morning I spent a great deal laughing. First at Alan's message to David. When I managed to control my laughter I read David's reply and lost control again.
I'm not even sure why it amused me that much. Is it because Alan suggested a fictional character 'menaced' a real life person into plugging a show the alter ego of the fictional character had written? Probably. And the answer accordingly just as irrational, or the fact that I can't see Mark Corrigan nor David Mitchell ever accepting crack from Super Hans? Probably. I don't know.
I think I really only tricked myself this morning into believing everything is questionable.
Friday, September 10, 2010
I Can’t Say I Care
My world has been revolving around catch phrases. I have a few even though I don’t acknowledge them as such. First was an episode of QI I hadn’t seen before. Stephen Fry told us the show hadn’t had a catch phrase up till that episode, but that was going to change that particular episode. Every panel member chose his own catch phrase:
Alan Davies: “Has your mother sold her mangle?”
Clive Anderson: “Who are you?”
Rich Hall: “You’re dumber than a bag of wet mice.”
Reginald D. Hunter: “Do what you do best.”
Especially Reginald put his catchphrase to good use.
At some point Stephen Fry came to talk about the Duke of Wellington’s trousers, because once the Duke was refused to enter a club because of the trousers he was wearing. This leads to Stephen making up his own catchphrase: “I can come in any trousers I like”.
After a while they get to talking about the word “Saurus”, which is Greek for “Lizard” and was ancient Greek slang for “Penis”. “Thesaurus” means a treasure house – in the case of the book, it is a treasure house of words. Alan claims you could refer to your backside as a treasure house, which leads to Stephen coining a new catchphrase: “My bottom is a treasure house!”
Brilliant, but way more information about the catchphrasy episode of QI than I intended to give. It still makes me laugh though.
Last night I stumbled upon a stand up show of Sean Lock. He was also saying a few things about catchphrases, but I can’t remember what. I should look that up.
The reason I decided to write this little piece has everything to do with how I express my level of care concerning pieces I read; it may be blogs, columns or separate messages. Usually I skim through the comments to conclude: “I can’t say I care” meaning every word of it. It usually also means the end of the reading or even thinking about it. Today I realized that’s actually my catchphrase.
I realized it after reading a few comments on Charlie Brooker’s latest column. I already had some trouble getting through his piece, but it was during reading the comments I lost interest completely.
I realized it today when I realized I was thinking the exact same words the day before when reading through some of the comments made on David’s soapbox. Neither did David’s rant really interest me, even though I was pretty much disagreeing with him; it just didn’t seem worth it to even say anything about it. I just didn’t care.
So there, I have a catchphrase; “I can’t say I care.”
(Side note: I really don’t, I just felt like writing a blog and this seemed a suitable subject.)
Sources:
QI’s Comedy Guide Page Series F, Episode 8 (Fashion)
Charlie Brooker’s Phone Hacking Column
David’s Soapbox about Kid’s tv
Alan Davies: “Has your mother sold her mangle?”
Clive Anderson: “Who are you?”
Rich Hall: “You’re dumber than a bag of wet mice.”
Reginald D. Hunter: “Do what you do best.”
Especially Reginald put his catchphrase to good use.
At some point Stephen Fry came to talk about the Duke of Wellington’s trousers, because once the Duke was refused to enter a club because of the trousers he was wearing. This leads to Stephen making up his own catchphrase: “I can come in any trousers I like”.
After a while they get to talking about the word “Saurus”, which is Greek for “Lizard” and was ancient Greek slang for “Penis”. “Thesaurus” means a treasure house – in the case of the book, it is a treasure house of words. Alan claims you could refer to your backside as a treasure house, which leads to Stephen coining a new catchphrase: “My bottom is a treasure house!”
Brilliant, but way more information about the catchphrasy episode of QI than I intended to give. It still makes me laugh though.
Last night I stumbled upon a stand up show of Sean Lock. He was also saying a few things about catchphrases, but I can’t remember what. I should look that up.
The reason I decided to write this little piece has everything to do with how I express my level of care concerning pieces I read; it may be blogs, columns or separate messages. Usually I skim through the comments to conclude: “I can’t say I care” meaning every word of it. It usually also means the end of the reading or even thinking about it. Today I realized that’s actually my catchphrase.
I realized it after reading a few comments on Charlie Brooker’s latest column. I already had some trouble getting through his piece, but it was during reading the comments I lost interest completely.
I realized it today when I realized I was thinking the exact same words the day before when reading through some of the comments made on David’s soapbox. Neither did David’s rant really interest me, even though I was pretty much disagreeing with him; it just didn’t seem worth it to even say anything about it. I just didn’t care.
So there, I have a catchphrase; “I can’t say I care.”
(Side note: I really don’t, I just felt like writing a blog and this seemed a suitable subject.)
Sources:
QI’s Comedy Guide Page Series F, Episode 8 (Fashion)
Charlie Brooker’s Phone Hacking Column
David’s Soapbox about Kid’s tv
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
My *Peep* Life Continued
This morning I had two dreams, because I kept drifting in and out of sleep. The first was the most curious. I was "celebrating" my birthday and some family were attending. I didn't pay too close attention to who was there; I honestly have no clue. Thinking back in an awake state of mind it rather felt like strangers pretending to be my family. The two most surprising visitors were Robert Webb and David Mitchell. They were both quiet and almost not even present. I did get to talk to Robert on my mother's garage's floor. Why the hell we choose to sit down there is beyond me, as is the fact I'm celebrating my birthday in the summer; it felt like summer in my dream. The conversation was rather pleasant; it took me less effort to talk to Robert than to David. I don't think, once again, I exchanged a proper word with David. I do remember trying to get closer to him and in the end the words we exchanged were only greetings for he and Robert were leaving. I think I thanked him for attending. That was it, then I woke up.
The second dream was about a friend who I planned to go on holiday with telling me she actually didn't like going to the theatre and therefore decided to cancel on me leaving me with a spare ticket. I told her about this dream this morning during our smoke break. She assured me she was looking forward to it and there was no way she was going to cancel on me.
Even the weirdness of my dreams are sort of boring, annoying and incredibly uneventful. I gained two new "friends" and I lost one. What the hell am I supposed to do with that. The real friend laughed in my face this morning when I told her those two from the DVD boxset were on my birthday party. By now she must think I'm a crazy obsessed lunatic, which is accurate.
Tonight I'm going to look into getting Charlie Brooker to my house. We could watch tv and he could add stupid comments to our watching tv agony. Or if I want a steady laugh I could try to get Alan Davies do a standup routine or play with the cat I haven't bought yet. Or I could have Charlie reviewing my *peep* life and Alan poking fun at it. That sounds more like my traditional dreams, though in my dreams they would both go incredibly silent. I might just as well invite Robert and David back for a cold silent night in my mother's garage.
The second dream was about a friend who I planned to go on holiday with telling me she actually didn't like going to the theatre and therefore decided to cancel on me leaving me with a spare ticket. I told her about this dream this morning during our smoke break. She assured me she was looking forward to it and there was no way she was going to cancel on me.
Even the weirdness of my dreams are sort of boring, annoying and incredibly uneventful. I gained two new "friends" and I lost one. What the hell am I supposed to do with that. The real friend laughed in my face this morning when I told her those two from the DVD boxset were on my birthday party. By now she must think I'm a crazy obsessed lunatic, which is accurate.
Tonight I'm going to look into getting Charlie Brooker to my house. We could watch tv and he could add stupid comments to our watching tv agony. Or if I want a steady laugh I could try to get Alan Davies do a standup routine or play with the cat I haven't bought yet. Or I could have Charlie reviewing my *peep* life and Alan poking fun at it. That sounds more like my traditional dreams, though in my dreams they would both go incredibly silent. I might just as well invite Robert and David back for a cold silent night in my mother's garage.
Friday, September 3, 2010
*Peep* Life
Two blogs in one, because I can't be bothered to do 2 posts.
J&M and the Vending Machine
A load of bullcrap is going on in my life. In the meantime I keep up the diligent daydreaming and obsessive fandomming. I had a crap day yesterday. People sick, workload I can’t reduce and a mind that’s confused and tired. Yesterday I could cry. I didn’t. Instead I dumped it all over people I work or don’t work with, but who happen to work on the same floor as I do. I spent the whole afternoon talking. I haven’t done anything constructive since yesterday morning. I feel a bit useless, inactive and not very efficient. I don’t know how these words go together, but they do.
Today I checked my twitter account, which I also started doing quite diligently since I started following Charlie. The happiness came from Robert Webb though. He only retweeted a picture one of the writers of Peep Show tweeted. It was a picture of the new season of Peep Show of Jez and Mark standing in front of a vending machine. I don’t know why, but it made me incredibly happy. I love those sorry bastards and they nearly made me cry. That’s the paradoxal world of Peep Show. That’s the paradoxal world of me. No wonder I feel so at home with them.
DM Fandom Unconscious Acceptance
Tonight, or actually this morning, I remembered my first DM dream. Not that it is such a big deal, but it always seems to be a very significant point for a new fan; it launches you into the deep depths of fandom of the particular person and generates sympathy, or agony, with your fellow fans. I think it’s fairly innocent; it’s workings of the brain you don’t control. Apparently, something about it keeps your brain occupied and you need to work that out. Mine was really just wistful thinking.
I dreamt I had to go to work so I left for the metro station like I do every morning of every weekday. When I arrived at the station I noticed something unusual and weird was going on; the metro station was rebuilt into a swimming paradise for a day. It was some kind of event with big publicity. The weirdest thing about it was it had presenters presenting something; one of the presenters was David Mitchell. I have no clue what the hell he had to say, because I wandered around the station trying to find my way wondering if I should go back to the main area to see his part. In the end I was too late. Neither did I go to work, instead I decided to go back home, because it seemed impossible to get into a metro. Also, the possibility to meet David was too tempting.
When I was leaving the station people were already cleaning up the whole swimming pool and waterfall area which caused me some trouble getting back down and out of the station. I managed in a flurry of dizziness and met up with some people who were involved in the whole organization and I found out David was about to leave and he should join us to leave to wherever. He did, I saw him, even managed to get to walk right beside him. He seemed nice, a bit quiet and timid, distant even for all the right reasons. I understood and only tried to make some funny comments which only made him smile politely. Even I recognized I failed miserably. We really didn’t talk, and I think, if that was real, by the time he would drive away in a bus to the airport, he had already forgotten about me. Then I woke up.
The weird thing about that dream is, it almost could have been true. Not the swimming paradise bit, but mainly his reaction to me. To him I’m just another stranger/fan who tries to connect. I didn’t even try that hard to connect and neither did he, and why should he? What I remember to my shame is me checking out how fat/thin he was. Strangely, he was something in between fat and thin, but not really either. That was too confusing so I decided not to look too much at him anymore. Just talk a little and sense his presence next to mine. I couldn’t believe my luck I managed to leave at the same time as he did. I hate how I couldn’t think of anything funny to say and said something incredibly lame instead; I don’t remember what I said, it were only fleeting comments. I realized quickly he was not really into starting a conversation with me so I let it go. I was just happy to have met him.
J&M and the Vending Machine
A load of bullcrap is going on in my life. In the meantime I keep up the diligent daydreaming and obsessive fandomming. I had a crap day yesterday. People sick, workload I can’t reduce and a mind that’s confused and tired. Yesterday I could cry. I didn’t. Instead I dumped it all over people I work or don’t work with, but who happen to work on the same floor as I do. I spent the whole afternoon talking. I haven’t done anything constructive since yesterday morning. I feel a bit useless, inactive and not very efficient. I don’t know how these words go together, but they do.
Today I checked my twitter account, which I also started doing quite diligently since I started following Charlie. The happiness came from Robert Webb though. He only retweeted a picture one of the writers of Peep Show tweeted. It was a picture of the new season of Peep Show of Jez and Mark standing in front of a vending machine. I don’t know why, but it made me incredibly happy. I love those sorry bastards and they nearly made me cry. That’s the paradoxal world of Peep Show. That’s the paradoxal world of me. No wonder I feel so at home with them.
DM Fandom Unconscious Acceptance
Tonight, or actually this morning, I remembered my first DM dream. Not that it is such a big deal, but it always seems to be a very significant point for a new fan; it launches you into the deep depths of fandom of the particular person and generates sympathy, or agony, with your fellow fans. I think it’s fairly innocent; it’s workings of the brain you don’t control. Apparently, something about it keeps your brain occupied and you need to work that out. Mine was really just wistful thinking.
I dreamt I had to go to work so I left for the metro station like I do every morning of every weekday. When I arrived at the station I noticed something unusual and weird was going on; the metro station was rebuilt into a swimming paradise for a day. It was some kind of event with big publicity. The weirdest thing about it was it had presenters presenting something; one of the presenters was David Mitchell. I have no clue what the hell he had to say, because I wandered around the station trying to find my way wondering if I should go back to the main area to see his part. In the end I was too late. Neither did I go to work, instead I decided to go back home, because it seemed impossible to get into a metro. Also, the possibility to meet David was too tempting.
When I was leaving the station people were already cleaning up the whole swimming pool and waterfall area which caused me some trouble getting back down and out of the station. I managed in a flurry of dizziness and met up with some people who were involved in the whole organization and I found out David was about to leave and he should join us to leave to wherever. He did, I saw him, even managed to get to walk right beside him. He seemed nice, a bit quiet and timid, distant even for all the right reasons. I understood and only tried to make some funny comments which only made him smile politely. Even I recognized I failed miserably. We really didn’t talk, and I think, if that was real, by the time he would drive away in a bus to the airport, he had already forgotten about me. Then I woke up.
The weird thing about that dream is, it almost could have been true. Not the swimming paradise bit, but mainly his reaction to me. To him I’m just another stranger/fan who tries to connect. I didn’t even try that hard to connect and neither did he, and why should he? What I remember to my shame is me checking out how fat/thin he was. Strangely, he was something in between fat and thin, but not really either. That was too confusing so I decided not to look too much at him anymore. Just talk a little and sense his presence next to mine. I couldn’t believe my luck I managed to leave at the same time as he did. I hate how I couldn’t think of anything funny to say and said something incredibly lame instead; I don’t remember what I said, it were only fleeting comments. I realized quickly he was not really into starting a conversation with me so I let it go. I was just happy to have met him.
Monday, August 30, 2010
What To Say Too
Sometimes it seems the Universe revolves around me. Previous week I blogged about words that get molested into carrying negative connotations and how it annoys me. Unbeknownst to me some other words with the same fate were presented in game format. With new interest new programs come in my line of view and with that a whole catalogue of new irritations. This game was part of a radio panel show. I love the radio show and the game within. The game was; find the connection between a list of given words or persons. One list was as follows: manhole, stewardess, ugly, lazy, stupid. The connection was that for all these words other politically correct words existed. Of course that annoyed the crap out of me.
The word “manhole” has a bit of a sexual sound to it, doesn’t it? It makes me laugh, really. No harm intended, surely. In California they were cautious though. They renamed all their “manholes” to “maintenance holes” out of concern for the equality of both genders. Bollocks. As if a manhole is something everybody wants to have permission to go down in. Not that kind of manhole.
According to wikipedia a “flight attendant” is historically known as “steward/stewardess” or “air hosts/hostesses”. Hahaha, "historically". I fail to see how calling a steward/stewardess is offending. Apparently, they felt their job was more stylish or glamorous than the job title suggests. Wikipedia also tells us the word “flight attendant” (replacer of steward/stewardess, because of its gender neutrality) is now slowly being replaced with the word “cabin crew” because of their role as members of the crew. As if we doubted they were members of the crew. For as far as I know, we passengers still call them stewards/stewardesses.
“Ugly“ and “cosmetically challenged” bear the exact same meaning; displeasing to the senses. Sure you can tell someone he’s “cosmetically challenged”. He will probably figure it out thinking: “Wait a minute, she just called me ugly.” Same thing, isn’t it? How is changing the word going to change the use or the meaning? It means what it means and should in all cases used with care. The only advantage the word “cosmetically challenged” has is that it takes people a little longer to figure out what exactly was said; you might be out of the way by the time they have.
The word “lazy” has loads of synonyms, all sounding as tiresome and negative as “lazy”. The only reason to use another word for the meaning “inactive or sluggish” is to have some variation. I’m not quite sure why this word was included in the game.
“Stupid” equals “unintelligent” and means “lacking in intelligence”. Not a very creative description, but the stupid people have to understand it as well I suppose. I don’t know, but I think it doesn’t really matter if you call someone “stupid” or “unintelligent”, the message is clear and will usually result in a negative response. Why bother using a bit fancier word?
This stupid (or unintelligent) way of dealing with words doesn’t help us nor our language. Like I said before it only results in fancy words we can’t write and almost no-one is sticking to the new rules anyway. Why bother with polluting our language like that? Use of these "politcally correct" words won’t make anyone more important or more right; it will only make our communication less clear. In the end we will all sound like politicians and enrage each other, because we’re assuming everybody is saying something bad about us.
I lost the lust for ranting. Charlie's language column is way more fun than mine: Buzzwords for Blowhards
The word “manhole” has a bit of a sexual sound to it, doesn’t it? It makes me laugh, really. No harm intended, surely. In California they were cautious though. They renamed all their “manholes” to “maintenance holes” out of concern for the equality of both genders. Bollocks. As if a manhole is something everybody wants to have permission to go down in. Not that kind of manhole.
According to wikipedia a “flight attendant” is historically known as “steward/stewardess” or “air hosts/hostesses”. Hahaha, "historically". I fail to see how calling a steward/stewardess is offending. Apparently, they felt their job was more stylish or glamorous than the job title suggests. Wikipedia also tells us the word “flight attendant” (replacer of steward/stewardess, because of its gender neutrality) is now slowly being replaced with the word “cabin crew” because of their role as members of the crew. As if we doubted they were members of the crew. For as far as I know, we passengers still call them stewards/stewardesses.
“Ugly“ and “cosmetically challenged” bear the exact same meaning; displeasing to the senses. Sure you can tell someone he’s “cosmetically challenged”. He will probably figure it out thinking: “Wait a minute, she just called me ugly.” Same thing, isn’t it? How is changing the word going to change the use or the meaning? It means what it means and should in all cases used with care. The only advantage the word “cosmetically challenged” has is that it takes people a little longer to figure out what exactly was said; you might be out of the way by the time they have.
The word “lazy” has loads of synonyms, all sounding as tiresome and negative as “lazy”. The only reason to use another word for the meaning “inactive or sluggish” is to have some variation. I’m not quite sure why this word was included in the game.
“Stupid” equals “unintelligent” and means “lacking in intelligence”. Not a very creative description, but the stupid people have to understand it as well I suppose. I don’t know, but I think it doesn’t really matter if you call someone “stupid” or “unintelligent”, the message is clear and will usually result in a negative response. Why bother using a bit fancier word?
This stupid (or unintelligent) way of dealing with words doesn’t help us nor our language. Like I said before it only results in fancy words we can’t write and almost no-one is sticking to the new rules anyway. Why bother with polluting our language like that? Use of these "politcally correct" words won’t make anyone more important or more right; it will only make our communication less clear. In the end we will all sound like politicians and enrage each other, because we’re assuming everybody is saying something bad about us.
I lost the lust for ranting. Charlie's language column is way more fun than mine: Buzzwords for Blowhards
Thursday, August 26, 2010
What To Say
This does belong in my “Things You Shouldn’t Say” series though this will be a bit of a different entry. Just as much things people say annoy me, also the things people don’t say annoy me. The meaning of the word ‘connotation’ is very important.
The term “cleaning lady”. I don’t know about the countries outside the Netherlands, but inside, at some point we were not allowed anymore to call the “cleaning ladies” “cleaning ladies”; they were now to be called “interior carers”. That makes me laugh, still. My mom was a cleaning lady and was told she was not to be called a “cleaning lady” anymore, but a “interior carer”. In return my mom asked: “Does that mean I get paid more or that I have to do other things?” to which the answer was a sounding ‘No’. And my mom said: “Then call me a cleaning lady”. Gotta love her for that.
The word “nigger” is a special one and shows how wrong things can go for words. Initially it meant “black” as derived from the Latin “niger”. Unfortunately, through the consensus of environment and time, the word collected a negative connotation. These days a lot of people will take offence if you call them a nigger, especially when you’re not “black”. So the word “negro” was adopted, meaning the same and even being derived from the same Latin word “niger”. But this word went the same way as its older brother/sister? These days I’m a little confused of what to call them, but then again, I usually don’t use anyone’s ethnic background to refer to them. Most people have names, you know.
I saw a header in paper requesting the word “allochthonous” become forbidden. The equivalent Dutch word “allochtoon” is a word we use a lot in the Netherlands to refer to people who don’t have the Dutch nationality. It’s an old Greek word meaning “from another country”, which is what these people are. Forbidding usage of this word is ridiculous, because all you’re saying is “this person who is not from this country”. The person can be from a Western country like Germany, England, Italy, Spain or America. The person can also be from an Eastern land like Turkey, Greece, Russia or one of the Asian countries. The reason this person wanted to forbid the use of the word “allochtoon”, because it had a bad connotation for the Moroccan or Turkish people. Bollocks! Sure we can keep to saying “Moroccan” or Turkish, but for a lot of people the bad connotation stays. It’s not about the word, it’s about the people. It’s about how people regard each other and treat each other. If both groups, allochthonous and autochthonous, would learn to tell people apart from groups and judge behaviour per case, a lot of the bad connotations would evaporate. There wouldn’t be a need for a change of usage of words all the time.
I do understand those connotations became more important than the actual meaning of words as stated in dictionaries all over the world, but aren’t we going a bit crazy here? We’ve got plenty negative words to refer to people, objects, events and other things. Why do we have to keep raping words? In the end, if we carry on like this, we will end up with more forbidden words then speech needs and with not understandable positive words. Cocking them up won’t make life sweeter. Can you imagine the amount of beeps on our tv sets if we let this happen? Life is what is, deal with it.
The term “cleaning lady”. I don’t know about the countries outside the Netherlands, but inside, at some point we were not allowed anymore to call the “cleaning ladies” “cleaning ladies”; they were now to be called “interior carers”. That makes me laugh, still. My mom was a cleaning lady and was told she was not to be called a “cleaning lady” anymore, but a “interior carer”. In return my mom asked: “Does that mean I get paid more or that I have to do other things?” to which the answer was a sounding ‘No’. And my mom said: “Then call me a cleaning lady”. Gotta love her for that.
The word “nigger” is a special one and shows how wrong things can go for words. Initially it meant “black” as derived from the Latin “niger”. Unfortunately, through the consensus of environment and time, the word collected a negative connotation. These days a lot of people will take offence if you call them a nigger, especially when you’re not “black”. So the word “negro” was adopted, meaning the same and even being derived from the same Latin word “niger”. But this word went the same way as its older brother/sister? These days I’m a little confused of what to call them, but then again, I usually don’t use anyone’s ethnic background to refer to them. Most people have names, you know.
I saw a header in paper requesting the word “allochthonous” become forbidden. The equivalent Dutch word “allochtoon” is a word we use a lot in the Netherlands to refer to people who don’t have the Dutch nationality. It’s an old Greek word meaning “from another country”, which is what these people are. Forbidding usage of this word is ridiculous, because all you’re saying is “this person who is not from this country”. The person can be from a Western country like Germany, England, Italy, Spain or America. The person can also be from an Eastern land like Turkey, Greece, Russia or one of the Asian countries. The reason this person wanted to forbid the use of the word “allochtoon”, because it had a bad connotation for the Moroccan or Turkish people. Bollocks! Sure we can keep to saying “Moroccan” or Turkish, but for a lot of people the bad connotation stays. It’s not about the word, it’s about the people. It’s about how people regard each other and treat each other. If both groups, allochthonous and autochthonous, would learn to tell people apart from groups and judge behaviour per case, a lot of the bad connotations would evaporate. There wouldn’t be a need for a change of usage of words all the time.
I do understand those connotations became more important than the actual meaning of words as stated in dictionaries all over the world, but aren’t we going a bit crazy here? We’ve got plenty negative words to refer to people, objects, events and other things. Why do we have to keep raping words? In the end, if we carry on like this, we will end up with more forbidden words then speech needs and with not understandable positive words. Cocking them up won’t make life sweeter. Can you imagine the amount of beeps on our tv sets if we let this happen? Life is what is, deal with it.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Mob Development
I set myself a bit of a writing challenge. I read Charlie Brooker’s and David Mitchell’s column and decided to write something based on what they wrote ending up talking about something else entirely. I have no idea how that’s going to pan out.
Charlie wrote about the Ground Zero Mosque wondering what, according to the protesters, would be acceptable. David talked about the school/Uni system and how that is valuable for life experiences. I agree on what Charlie said, I have trouble with David’s column, though I can’t really put a finger to what I have a problem with.
How scary can mobs be? I’m seriously freaked out by a lot of them. Brainless violent protesters throwing around irony in their actions and accusations. Who are these people and where did they come from? Where and why did they pick up such contradicting ideas and opinions? Where does it stem from?
I remember in school, everybody was trying to fit in, except for me. It naturally resulted in me being an outsider and sitting alone during the breaks with the backs of others as my view. It gave me the opportunity once more to observe. I just don’t understand. I learnt to think for myself resulting in turning my back on certain ideas and finding new ones and the contacts according. It took me high school and college to get where I am now; still reasonably alone, but with more inspiring people than ever before.
I forgot a lot about my teenage years. I only remember them being uncomfortable. I feel like, when looking back, I could have missed classes more than I have. I do know I couldn’t talk nor write English properly at the time. Or so I thought. I graduated on my good grades for English; without I would have lost another year in high school. As if it mattered, there was not that much substance to pick up. Now I am wondering what would have happened had I left for a year to travel the world. I would probably have myself killed. I’m not a survivor; I’m a twat. I know I wouldn’t have it in my heart to join a radical group, but in the year loose, I might have changed so much, anything could have happened, that made me think foreigners are weird, dangerous and most of all, wrong about their convictions and therefore should die.
To me it seems, youngsters living in some sort of community have the bigger chance to end up in a radical group. Their minds are constantly fed with the foul information, especially outside school. If there’s anything or anyone who could steer them back to a more respectable and less violent life, it would be school and its teachers.
Allowing some A-list kid to go travel with her A-list famous movie star mom might seem innocent, but don’t you think it may wreck the world from its current axes and swirl into another path of destruction? It sure didn’t do Paris Hilton much good. What you have then is another brainless idiot contaminating society with its out of control life and views trying to convince the people that is what life is and their behaviour is the model to live by. That scares me to no end.
I’m sure Emma Thompson, the A-list movie star mom, has sense and will teach her daughter the goods of life in all its diversities outside of school. I just hope to god the young kid won’t meet the angry mob trying to kill everything with a darker tone of skin than theirs. She might see something in it. She might also understand how dangerous that is, but do children of 10 really? Have they lived long enough to make certain sensible choices, or should they rather go through their puberty first and get a bit more acquainted with how life also can be in a more controlled and graduate pace? All I know is, most of those kids are still so impressionable, it’s dangerous to force certain life lessons onto them already. You never know which way they will turn.
I know there will at a certain time in future again be another mob threatening society. I’d just rather not feed them with my offspring. I’ll probably keep my kids in school till they’re 18 and can consciously make their own mistakes.
Sources:
David Mitchell's "It's the only way to train for life"
Charlie Brooker's "The reality is less provocative"
I don't mean to abuse their titles, but they tend to be too long.
Charlie wrote about the Ground Zero Mosque wondering what, according to the protesters, would be acceptable. David talked about the school/Uni system and how that is valuable for life experiences. I agree on what Charlie said, I have trouble with David’s column, though I can’t really put a finger to what I have a problem with.
How scary can mobs be? I’m seriously freaked out by a lot of them. Brainless violent protesters throwing around irony in their actions and accusations. Who are these people and where did they come from? Where and why did they pick up such contradicting ideas and opinions? Where does it stem from?
I remember in school, everybody was trying to fit in, except for me. It naturally resulted in me being an outsider and sitting alone during the breaks with the backs of others as my view. It gave me the opportunity once more to observe. I just don’t understand. I learnt to think for myself resulting in turning my back on certain ideas and finding new ones and the contacts according. It took me high school and college to get where I am now; still reasonably alone, but with more inspiring people than ever before.
I forgot a lot about my teenage years. I only remember them being uncomfortable. I feel like, when looking back, I could have missed classes more than I have. I do know I couldn’t talk nor write English properly at the time. Or so I thought. I graduated on my good grades for English; without I would have lost another year in high school. As if it mattered, there was not that much substance to pick up. Now I am wondering what would have happened had I left for a year to travel the world. I would probably have myself killed. I’m not a survivor; I’m a twat. I know I wouldn’t have it in my heart to join a radical group, but in the year loose, I might have changed so much, anything could have happened, that made me think foreigners are weird, dangerous and most of all, wrong about their convictions and therefore should die.
To me it seems, youngsters living in some sort of community have the bigger chance to end up in a radical group. Their minds are constantly fed with the foul information, especially outside school. If there’s anything or anyone who could steer them back to a more respectable and less violent life, it would be school and its teachers.
Allowing some A-list kid to go travel with her A-list famous movie star mom might seem innocent, but don’t you think it may wreck the world from its current axes and swirl into another path of destruction? It sure didn’t do Paris Hilton much good. What you have then is another brainless idiot contaminating society with its out of control life and views trying to convince the people that is what life is and their behaviour is the model to live by. That scares me to no end.
I’m sure Emma Thompson, the A-list movie star mom, has sense and will teach her daughter the goods of life in all its diversities outside of school. I just hope to god the young kid won’t meet the angry mob trying to kill everything with a darker tone of skin than theirs. She might see something in it. She might also understand how dangerous that is, but do children of 10 really? Have they lived long enough to make certain sensible choices, or should they rather go through their puberty first and get a bit more acquainted with how life also can be in a more controlled and graduate pace? All I know is, most of those kids are still so impressionable, it’s dangerous to force certain life lessons onto them already. You never know which way they will turn.
I know there will at a certain time in future again be another mob threatening society. I’d just rather not feed them with my offspring. I’ll probably keep my kids in school till they’re 18 and can consciously make their own mistakes.
Sources:
David Mitchell's "It's the only way to train for life"
Charlie Brooker's "The reality is less provocative"
I don't mean to abuse their titles, but they tend to be too long.
An Apology Of Sorts
A new source of things sent me into a paradox once again. This morning I was thinking, how weird it may be, Charlie Brooker inspired me to write. This morning, in an empty attempt to write something professional and therefore not interesting and certainly not funny, I decided to check out whatever else constructed and ordered words have left Mr. Brooker’s typing fingers. There was one article about writing. Ironically Mr. Brooker sometimes has problems coming up with the order of words to make up an article and he told us how useless he is in giving advice about writing. Yet he did give an advice in the article. I understood and recognized the problem of fleeting inspiration and effects and consequences it forced.
I was looking for inspiration so a minute or more I would be feeling the racing touch of my fingers on my keyboard pounding out sentences and the pride of thoughts on paper. Instead I felt incredibly drained and never before so uninspired, it made me want to kick myself in the knees, as suggested only in a different variation. My brain transported into the other wise suggested, but yet not recommended state of nowhere and look there, two paragraphs. Admitted, the conversation evolving in between had me staring with glazed-over eyes while my brain went into overdrive to make sense of the words aimed at me. I tried to explain my unresponsive behaviour, but I couldn’t. I was sure I just lost it.
The irony keeps striking, because the two paragraphs was all that was there. Rereading it I felt satisfied, just not yet enough to call it okay to turn into a blog. Problem is, I’m stuck now. There’s not much more I can think of to write, except for the irony dangling in my face as I think of the two unfinished articles I have in my can waiting to receive an end and the send off to blogger. One belongs in my “Things You Shouldn’t Say” series and one inspired, or would be inspired, on something else Mr. Brooker has released not too long ago. I don’t know how to proceed with either one of the pieces of text so instead I’ll blog this dribble.
In the meantime I’ll try writing my business documents and finishing my last set challenges and raising my plastic cup to Mr. Brooker’s inspiration. See you next Monday, Mr. Brooker. Or maybe tonight on YouTube.
Source: If you want to write, get threatened
I was looking for inspiration so a minute or more I would be feeling the racing touch of my fingers on my keyboard pounding out sentences and the pride of thoughts on paper. Instead I felt incredibly drained and never before so uninspired, it made me want to kick myself in the knees, as suggested only in a different variation. My brain transported into the other wise suggested, but yet not recommended state of nowhere and look there, two paragraphs. Admitted, the conversation evolving in between had me staring with glazed-over eyes while my brain went into overdrive to make sense of the words aimed at me. I tried to explain my unresponsive behaviour, but I couldn’t. I was sure I just lost it.
The irony keeps striking, because the two paragraphs was all that was there. Rereading it I felt satisfied, just not yet enough to call it okay to turn into a blog. Problem is, I’m stuck now. There’s not much more I can think of to write, except for the irony dangling in my face as I think of the two unfinished articles I have in my can waiting to receive an end and the send off to blogger. One belongs in my “Things You Shouldn’t Say” series and one inspired, or would be inspired, on something else Mr. Brooker has released not too long ago. I don’t know how to proceed with either one of the pieces of text so instead I’ll blog this dribble.
In the meantime I’ll try writing my business documents and finishing my last set challenges and raising my plastic cup to Mr. Brooker’s inspiration. See you next Monday, Mr. Brooker. Or maybe tonight on YouTube.
Source: If you want to write, get threatened
Friday, August 20, 2010
The New Cycle
Like it always does, it goes around in circles. This phenomenon came to my conscience when I was somewhere in my teens. I realized I arrived in a very important stage of my life. I was supposed to make life depended choices and act accordingly; pick an education and start living like your whole life depends on it. In this age there’s nothing more a lie than that.
My first choice was a very old one on my side. I always thought I wanted to be a nurse, I let that one go, but my mind was still in the social sector of business. It was a trick set by all the grown ups. They ask you at very young age what you want to become and frankly, you don’t know. You think you do, but you don’t. Since you know you do, you model your choices to what you think will lead you to your mistaken idea of what you want. My first post-high school attempt was at the Social Pedagogic Service. I flunked the first year gloriously.
After that I was quite lost and did an interest and skills test which resulted in an advice to try Information Management and Services. Even though the study was interesting and laid a broad basis for my further life, I sometimes wonder how I ended up in ICT.
I can do the job, the area I’ve been roaming around in for the last four years. I worked as a developer and grew on to being a functional designer and maintainer to a project coordinator. Most of it quite fun, apart from the developer role. Thing is, you hardly get to see anything of the end users. It almost feels like you’re only doing it for some outside blob, unseen and unheard of. That is not how it should be, but yet is the way it often is.
Working in office bears the danger of collecting dust in your lap and a fog before your eyes. It also resets your idea of what is fashionable and sexy. No wonder the IT-crowd got its own tv show. I’m just not one of them and yet I sit with them and understand the gibberish they’re talking day in day out. I feel like the dust found its way to my brain and my perception ability. What I do has almost nothing to do with living, not even with surviving. It’s life inside a cave only now we’re drawing 0’s and 1’s.
Just like anyone I need some fresh air from time to time and the feel of a sunray on my face. Rain will do too. Just the feeling I’m alive, that the world around me is alive. That there are still colours, many I may never have seen, instead of all the tones of black and grey and white to yellow.
I am back where I started. I am looking beyond what is inside the known circle. I want to try new circles. There’s so much to choose from. I might still be young, but it does feel like I don’t have as much time anymore as I used to. There’s more on the line; my surviving depends on it. I can choose safe and be sure to earn a decent living and go mad slowly, or I opt out to go chase my dreams and starve to death. Neither one is as appealing as it used to be. Just like so many, I reset my mode from ‘Living’ to ‘Surviving’. Surviving on my own without a safety net is a bit too exciting to my liking, though I’m not quite ready to bring forth the geraniums.
To Be Continued...
My first choice was a very old one on my side. I always thought I wanted to be a nurse, I let that one go, but my mind was still in the social sector of business. It was a trick set by all the grown ups. They ask you at very young age what you want to become and frankly, you don’t know. You think you do, but you don’t. Since you know you do, you model your choices to what you think will lead you to your mistaken idea of what you want. My first post-high school attempt was at the Social Pedagogic Service. I flunked the first year gloriously.
After that I was quite lost and did an interest and skills test which resulted in an advice to try Information Management and Services. Even though the study was interesting and laid a broad basis for my further life, I sometimes wonder how I ended up in ICT.
I can do the job, the area I’ve been roaming around in for the last four years. I worked as a developer and grew on to being a functional designer and maintainer to a project coordinator. Most of it quite fun, apart from the developer role. Thing is, you hardly get to see anything of the end users. It almost feels like you’re only doing it for some outside blob, unseen and unheard of. That is not how it should be, but yet is the way it often is.
Working in office bears the danger of collecting dust in your lap and a fog before your eyes. It also resets your idea of what is fashionable and sexy. No wonder the IT-crowd got its own tv show. I’m just not one of them and yet I sit with them and understand the gibberish they’re talking day in day out. I feel like the dust found its way to my brain and my perception ability. What I do has almost nothing to do with living, not even with surviving. It’s life inside a cave only now we’re drawing 0’s and 1’s.
Just like anyone I need some fresh air from time to time and the feel of a sunray on my face. Rain will do too. Just the feeling I’m alive, that the world around me is alive. That there are still colours, many I may never have seen, instead of all the tones of black and grey and white to yellow.
I am back where I started. I am looking beyond what is inside the known circle. I want to try new circles. There’s so much to choose from. I might still be young, but it does feel like I don’t have as much time anymore as I used to. There’s more on the line; my surviving depends on it. I can choose safe and be sure to earn a decent living and go mad slowly, or I opt out to go chase my dreams and starve to death. Neither one is as appealing as it used to be. Just like so many, I reset my mode from ‘Living’ to ‘Surviving’. Surviving on my own without a safety net is a bit too exciting to my liking, though I’m not quite ready to bring forth the geraniums.
To Be Continued...
More "Old Holmes" Musings
Here are some more musings about that last sketch:
It felt misplaced. While Blackadder was a great situational comedy show that built up to the ending so that it felt appropriate. There was the one sketch in one episode prior to the last one with them talking about the meaning of that last scene of Blackadder. There was no proper built up for that sketch, it stood apart from the other sketches in that episode. It came unexpectedly.
It also seems to suggest it’s an end to the series, like the Blackadder scene. Another sketch in that same last episode had them talking about “branching out”? and moving on, because Peepshow was not going to be forever either. It sounded like they were slowly drifting apart to do things on their own.
It seems a quite logical choice. They’ve been working together for a very long time and they always made it quite clear the comedy part, the job part was the main reason to not blow it apart. Now they’re established, they finally can go their own way. I’m just guessing here.
So that Old Holmes sketch had a bit of a build up. The one sketch in ep 5 or 4, and that one sketch in ep 6. When Holmes was talking to Watson about “...not being able to clear the fog...” was he, David, talking about not being able to work together anymore?
It felt misplaced. While Blackadder was a great situational comedy show that built up to the ending so that it felt appropriate. There was the one sketch in one episode prior to the last one with them talking about the meaning of that last scene of Blackadder. There was no proper built up for that sketch, it stood apart from the other sketches in that episode. It came unexpectedly.
It also seems to suggest it’s an end to the series, like the Blackadder scene. Another sketch in that same last episode had them talking about “branching out”? and moving on, because Peepshow was not going to be forever either. It sounded like they were slowly drifting apart to do things on their own.
It seems a quite logical choice. They’ve been working together for a very long time and they always made it quite clear the comedy part, the job part was the main reason to not blow it apart. Now they’re established, they finally can go their own way. I’m just guessing here.
So that Old Holmes sketch had a bit of a build up. The one sketch in ep 5 or 4, and that one sketch in ep 6. When Holmes was talking to Watson about “...not being able to clear the fog...” was he, David, talking about not being able to work together anymore?
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
TM&WL - Sherlock Holmes sketch
I feel compelled to say something about TM&WL’s last sketch aired yesterday. It was about an aging Holmes suffering from dementia. Watson was visiting him and a string of things happened as they do when you’re visiting someone with dementia. Watch here:
The reason I’m blogging about this is, because I feel the people who feel offended and the people who are not sure what M&W were trying to do don’t quite understand what happened or what M&W’s intentions were. Obviously, I too can only guess, but my take on their reality makes me see the good in that sketch.
First of all, that sketch wasn’t only designed to make people laugh, or as some offended said ‘...to ridicule dementia...’ Especially the ending was merely designed to make people think, or to at least leave an impression. They sure succeeded in the latter. Comedy is not only to laugh. Comedy is also there to provoke to think about things.
Secondly, like some other people said, they were rather ridiculing themselves, like so many times before. I have to rewatch to say something sensible about that though.
Thirdly, it seemed to be designed to end up in the last episode of this series and with some intent. I’m not quite sure what they intended to do, but if I grab back to a sketch in the penultimate episode of this series, their intent seemed to aim at a poignant ending á la Blackadder, last episode of the last season, season 4. This is the only point where I disagree. The ending of Blackadder was this poignant, because not only the viewer understood there was something big and inevitable going on, it was also a very definite goodbye to characters we learned to love over the course of 4 seasons. Oh, wait, I think I’m getting to the root of the Holmes sketch. Now I need to rethink.
Fourthly? When I play back the sketch as it’s cemented in my memory, I only saw a conversation and reaction in such way conversations tend to go with people suffering from dementia. It is funny sometimes. Painful, but still funny. I remember laughing at my grandma because she did or said something weird. What was I suppose to do, cry? Sure I’ll cry, just not the whole day through. I need to get through life just as much, so let me laugh from time to time. The best we can do anyway is our best.
Fifth: That, in my opinion, wasn’t crass, offensive nor tasteless. It was what it was. It was how life can be. Holmes was not ridiculed, he was pitied. No-one came in pulling his pants over his head, nor did Watson try to make a fool of him; he was cared for.
That’s why I refuse to be offended and choose to be very grateful. It might have been an eye opener to some people. It might have been a reminder to others, including me. That sketch teaches us to deal with life as it comes. I’d say kudos to Mitchell & Webb for that one.
Dangerous choice though.
The reason I’m blogging about this is, because I feel the people who feel offended and the people who are not sure what M&W were trying to do don’t quite understand what happened or what M&W’s intentions were. Obviously, I too can only guess, but my take on their reality makes me see the good in that sketch.
First of all, that sketch wasn’t only designed to make people laugh, or as some offended said ‘...to ridicule dementia...’ Especially the ending was merely designed to make people think, or to at least leave an impression. They sure succeeded in the latter. Comedy is not only to laugh. Comedy is also there to provoke to think about things.
Secondly, like some other people said, they were rather ridiculing themselves, like so many times before. I have to rewatch to say something sensible about that though.
Thirdly, it seemed to be designed to end up in the last episode of this series and with some intent. I’m not quite sure what they intended to do, but if I grab back to a sketch in the penultimate episode of this series, their intent seemed to aim at a poignant ending á la Blackadder, last episode of the last season, season 4. This is the only point where I disagree. The ending of Blackadder was this poignant, because not only the viewer understood there was something big and inevitable going on, it was also a very definite goodbye to characters we learned to love over the course of 4 seasons. Oh, wait, I think I’m getting to the root of the Holmes sketch. Now I need to rethink.
Fourthly? When I play back the sketch as it’s cemented in my memory, I only saw a conversation and reaction in such way conversations tend to go with people suffering from dementia. It is funny sometimes. Painful, but still funny. I remember laughing at my grandma because she did or said something weird. What was I suppose to do, cry? Sure I’ll cry, just not the whole day through. I need to get through life just as much, so let me laugh from time to time. The best we can do anyway is our best.
Fifth: That, in my opinion, wasn’t crass, offensive nor tasteless. It was what it was. It was how life can be. Holmes was not ridiculed, he was pitied. No-one came in pulling his pants over his head, nor did Watson try to make a fool of him; he was cared for.
That’s why I refuse to be offended and choose to be very grateful. It might have been an eye opener to some people. It might have been a reminder to others, including me. That sketch teaches us to deal with life as it comes. I’d say kudos to Mitchell & Webb for that one.
Dangerous choice though.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Peepshow
I thought it was only fair to update the latest in my quest that is checking out what and who Mitchell & Webb are.
Yesterday was themed 'Peepshow'. It started with me concluding that I was Jez @ Mark's work. That's Freaking depressing thought. I might have tweeted that, but I'm not sure. Memories of yesterday are a little hazy.
In the evening I had to decide what to do; 1) Turn on telly to conclude nothing interesting was on or 2) Turn on PC (yes, PC not Mac) and watch Peepshow since that's the only thing I haven't seen all episodes of. I finished watching the first season a few weeks ago and wasn't thinking anything of it. Must be said, I watched it drunk. I knew I ventured somewhat into the second season so I picked one episode I was sure I hadn't seen yet and watched from there on.
Low 'n behold, I was laughing my ass off at some point and started to develop a weird kind of liking for both Mark & Jez.
So my advice: If you tried to watch Peepshow, but didn't like it; Try Again. Make sure you have a steady and sensible head on. The show is actually quite funny and Mark & Jez are endearing in their own weird ways.
So now I'm a Peepshow convertee. I think I tweeted that today, I'm not sure though. Today is even hazier than yesterday.
My first M&W related blog
Yesterday was themed 'Peepshow'. It started with me concluding that I was Jez @ Mark's work. That's Freaking depressing thought. I might have tweeted that, but I'm not sure. Memories of yesterday are a little hazy.
In the evening I had to decide what to do; 1) Turn on telly to conclude nothing interesting was on or 2) Turn on PC (yes, PC not Mac) and watch Peepshow since that's the only thing I haven't seen all episodes of. I finished watching the first season a few weeks ago and wasn't thinking anything of it. Must be said, I watched it drunk. I knew I ventured somewhat into the second season so I picked one episode I was sure I hadn't seen yet and watched from there on.
Low 'n behold, I was laughing my ass off at some point and started to develop a weird kind of liking for both Mark & Jez.
So my advice: If you tried to watch Peepshow, but didn't like it; Try Again. Make sure you have a steady and sensible head on. The show is actually quite funny and Mark & Jez are endearing in their own weird ways.
So now I'm a Peepshow convertee. I think I tweeted that today, I'm not sure though. Today is even hazier than yesterday.
My first M&W related blog
Monday, August 16, 2010
Interviewers, what to do with them?
Aren’t they listening? Are their brains turned off? Some people don’t get subtle reactions. Why do these people have to be interviewers?
Why does he keep asking questions he already got an answer to?
One thing can be said, she keeps making the same mistake; she’s consistent.
Why does he keep asking questions he already got an answer to?
One thing can be said, she keeps making the same mistake; she’s consistent.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Comedians, what to do with them?
On a lighter note...
There are a few of them I love, because it’s mandatory: the Pythons, everybody who appeared in Blackadder, a bit (more) of Fry & Laurie (they should be regarded as part of the Blackadder family and as a separate unit).
Then there are the others.
Comedians I indulge: Jimmy Carr and Charlie Brooker. They’re annoying in their own special ways. Jimmy Carr’s face just seemed to be glued to my screen and Charlie Brooker is ridiculously outspoken. What’s not to like....?
Comedians I like as a person: Dara Ó Briain, Rob Brydon, Clive Anderson, Sandy Toksvig, Reginald D. Hunter. They can be funny, but more often I only think of them as nice people, though I suppose I find Reginald D. Hunter more (deadpan) funny than a nice person....Robert Webb.
I warmed up to: Lee Mack. He's, to my irritation, actually quite funny.
I feel for: Alan Davies. I want him as my puppy dog so I can hug him when he’s puppy dog eyeing me and punish him when he’s ripping apart a paper or chewing off ears from unfortunate tramp dolls.
Last, but far from the least, I utterly love and am devoted to David Mitchell. Anything you want, dear. Well, not really anything, but y’know...
There are a few of them I love, because it’s mandatory: the Pythons, everybody who appeared in Blackadder, a bit (more) of Fry & Laurie (they should be regarded as part of the Blackadder family and as a separate unit).
Then there are the others.
Comedians I indulge: Jimmy Carr and Charlie Brooker. They’re annoying in their own special ways. Jimmy Carr’s face just seemed to be glued to my screen and Charlie Brooker is ridiculously outspoken. What’s not to like....?
Comedians I like as a person: Dara Ó Briain, Rob Brydon, Clive Anderson, Sandy Toksvig, Reginald D. Hunter. They can be funny, but more often I only think of them as nice people, though I suppose I find Reginald D. Hunter more (deadpan) funny than a nice person....Robert Webb.
I warmed up to: Lee Mack. He's, to my irritation, actually quite funny.
I feel for: Alan Davies. I want him as my puppy dog so I can hug him when he’s puppy dog eyeing me and punish him when he’s ripping apart a paper or chewing off ears from unfortunate tramp dolls.
Last, but far from the least, I utterly love and am devoted to David Mitchell. Anything you want, dear. Well, not really anything, but y’know...
Thursday, August 12, 2010
My Flat (Less Eloquent Version from a Fan)
This made me ache:
“As my mum excitedly said to me: "You'll be like a normal person!"
David Mitchell Observer Column
It reminded me of my mum saying to me: “Why aren’t you normal!?!?”
She didn’t mean to make it sound so harsh, she was merely wondering why I couldn’t fit in, be like other people. I just don’t, because I’m not ‘other people’; I’m me. Honestly, if I had any choice in that, I would be more like anyone else, because being me even puzzles me. I don’t want to be ungrateful, and I’m not. I only wished my head and heart weren’t filled with so many paradoxes.
I’m afraid of ‘being normal’, because I’m not sure what that is. To me it is a very personal idea of what anyone thinks something is or should be. Everybody has his own ideas, so I don’t think telling me to be normal is justified.
I love that column, because it is like my mum/me relationship. She keeps telling me to clean the kitchen and paint the balcony door. In my opinion the kitchen is clean enough and the colour of my balcony door doesn’t really bother me. I don’t even notice the walls or windows in my house anymore. Just like David, as can be read in his column, I don’t really care much for repairing, replacing, repainting and redecorating. It’s the kind of fuzz I’m not willing to go through if I don’t really need to. Even changing a light bulb is not something I’m likely to do. My bedroom is dark and so is the toilet. I’m not bothered.
So, to my mortgage advisor; “Yes, I did think about what I want in my new house. I want a living room, a kitchen, a bathroom (maybe toilet apart), some storage place, a bedroom and maybe one extra room. That’ll be less than what I have now, but frankly, I’m only using my kitchen, bathroom and dark bedroom and toilet...and some storage room.”
And to mum, I’ll try to make things right when I have to anyway, but that’ll be it for the coming years. Stop whining about the colours and my unmade bed; you know I’m not going to change it.
So, David, you’re not alone at all. It took me my own house and a year to find out that I actually couldn’t be bothered what my house looked like or how messy it was. It’s home to me, and that is what counts.
P.S.: I don’t even use my wardrobe anymore; I hang everything on my bedroom door or on chairs.
“As my mum excitedly said to me: "You'll be like a normal person!"
David Mitchell Observer Column
It reminded me of my mum saying to me: “Why aren’t you normal!?!?”
She didn’t mean to make it sound so harsh, she was merely wondering why I couldn’t fit in, be like other people. I just don’t, because I’m not ‘other people’; I’m me. Honestly, if I had any choice in that, I would be more like anyone else, because being me even puzzles me. I don’t want to be ungrateful, and I’m not. I only wished my head and heart weren’t filled with so many paradoxes.
I’m afraid of ‘being normal’, because I’m not sure what that is. To me it is a very personal idea of what anyone thinks something is or should be. Everybody has his own ideas, so I don’t think telling me to be normal is justified.
I love that column, because it is like my mum/me relationship. She keeps telling me to clean the kitchen and paint the balcony door. In my opinion the kitchen is clean enough and the colour of my balcony door doesn’t really bother me. I don’t even notice the walls or windows in my house anymore. Just like David, as can be read in his column, I don’t really care much for repairing, replacing, repainting and redecorating. It’s the kind of fuzz I’m not willing to go through if I don’t really need to. Even changing a light bulb is not something I’m likely to do. My bedroom is dark and so is the toilet. I’m not bothered.
So, to my mortgage advisor; “Yes, I did think about what I want in my new house. I want a living room, a kitchen, a bathroom (maybe toilet apart), some storage place, a bedroom and maybe one extra room. That’ll be less than what I have now, but frankly, I’m only using my kitchen, bathroom and dark bedroom and toilet...and some storage room.”
And to mum, I’ll try to make things right when I have to anyway, but that’ll be it for the coming years. Stop whining about the colours and my unmade bed; you know I’m not going to change it.
So, David, you’re not alone at all. It took me my own house and a year to find out that I actually couldn’t be bothered what my house looked like or how messy it was. It’s home to me, and that is what counts.
P.S.: I don’t even use my wardrobe anymore; I hang everything on my bedroom door or on chairs.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Freedom of Speech (Things You Shouldn’t Say)
Yesterday I started a bit of series about 'Things You Shouldn't Say'. I'm not sure if after this blog I'm done (don't think so), but this certainly qualifies as an entry to this series.
~Part 2~
It gets more sensitive when the content of our speech reaches over boundaries like in subjects about religion, traditions, and countries; in short all subjects with a subject in humanity. We almost all agree, in the West, that freedom of speech is very valuable and should be maintained. We also agree you shouldn’t offend people. It automatically raises the question ‘What is off boundaries?’ Can we really just say anything we think? Cause if we do, we’re bound to offend people. And does the location, where you say certain things, count? Should we allow a foreign preacher saying things to his flock in our country? Is that off boundaries? Maybe we should not mingle? Or should we, because this is our country, not his, though it is his flock? What about the position a speaker is in? Should we limit what public figures say and does that mean the man on the street can get away with more?
Take for example the Dutch Wilders who plans to go to New York to speech against the build of a Muslim meeting/prayer(?) place on Ground Zero. Should that build be stopped? Maybe it’s good integration and it will bring the Muslims and Americans together? Who’s to say? Certainly not Wilders? Dutch cases might be his concern, if any, not American cases. Yet he uses the ‘Freedom of Speech’ argument to justify his support in New York dismissing possible danger he causes for the Dutch people, because now a lot of Americans and Muslims think that is how the Dutch people think about the Muslim society. He also dismisses the emotions of the Muslims who do want to integrate, but also like to be able to do their things in New York, and the possibilities the build can create. Casually, because he hides behind the ‘Freedom of Speech’ argument.
Yesterday I watched pieces of a British discussion program. They discussed if Jimmy Carr, a British comedian, went too far with a joke about military men who lost limbs and possibly would form a strong Paralympics team. Did he go too far or were people over-sensitive? Dissecting what he said it doesn’t seem that offensive. Those military men are strong, trained individuals and expecting them to excel in their sports if they make the Paralympics team is a compliment. Or isn’t it? The fact is, people were offended, but more people didn’t seem to be that offended. Did he cross the boundary? So how much ‘Freedom of Speech’ is Jimmy Carr allowed?
Those two are public figures, the former in politics and the latter in the entertainment. The man on the street has his opinions as well. Those opinions often translate into public opinions, whether it’s justified or not. In New York there’s obviously a group of Americans who are against the Muslim build on Ground Zero. I know of groups of people who hate an entire ethnicity and use their ‘Freedom of Speech’ to air their opinions. We can’t accept just anything from then, can we?
So what does ‘Freedom of Speech’ really mean? What Shouldn’t We Say? Can we draw a line? Can we brush aside a minority of people who are offended and let the general public have their laugh?
~Part 2~
It gets more sensitive when the content of our speech reaches over boundaries like in subjects about religion, traditions, and countries; in short all subjects with a subject in humanity. We almost all agree, in the West, that freedom of speech is very valuable and should be maintained. We also agree you shouldn’t offend people. It automatically raises the question ‘What is off boundaries?’ Can we really just say anything we think? Cause if we do, we’re bound to offend people. And does the location, where you say certain things, count? Should we allow a foreign preacher saying things to his flock in our country? Is that off boundaries? Maybe we should not mingle? Or should we, because this is our country, not his, though it is his flock? What about the position a speaker is in? Should we limit what public figures say and does that mean the man on the street can get away with more?
Take for example the Dutch Wilders who plans to go to New York to speech against the build of a Muslim meeting/prayer(?) place on Ground Zero. Should that build be stopped? Maybe it’s good integration and it will bring the Muslims and Americans together? Who’s to say? Certainly not Wilders? Dutch cases might be his concern, if any, not American cases. Yet he uses the ‘Freedom of Speech’ argument to justify his support in New York dismissing possible danger he causes for the Dutch people, because now a lot of Americans and Muslims think that is how the Dutch people think about the Muslim society. He also dismisses the emotions of the Muslims who do want to integrate, but also like to be able to do their things in New York, and the possibilities the build can create. Casually, because he hides behind the ‘Freedom of Speech’ argument.
Yesterday I watched pieces of a British discussion program. They discussed if Jimmy Carr, a British comedian, went too far with a joke about military men who lost limbs and possibly would form a strong Paralympics team. Did he go too far or were people over-sensitive? Dissecting what he said it doesn’t seem that offensive. Those military men are strong, trained individuals and expecting them to excel in their sports if they make the Paralympics team is a compliment. Or isn’t it? The fact is, people were offended, but more people didn’t seem to be that offended. Did he cross the boundary? So how much ‘Freedom of Speech’ is Jimmy Carr allowed?
Those two are public figures, the former in politics and the latter in the entertainment. The man on the street has his opinions as well. Those opinions often translate into public opinions, whether it’s justified or not. In New York there’s obviously a group of Americans who are against the Muslim build on Ground Zero. I know of groups of people who hate an entire ethnicity and use their ‘Freedom of Speech’ to air their opinions. We can’t accept just anything from then, can we?
So what does ‘Freedom of Speech’ really mean? What Shouldn’t We Say? Can we draw a line? Can we brush aside a minority of people who are offended and let the general public have their laugh?
Monday, August 9, 2010
To Mitchell - Things You Shouldn't Say
The first thing you shouldn’t say is the title of this very blog. The problem I have with that phrase is that I seem to think I can say what anyone else should or shouldn’t say. Still, there are things that irk me. It’s not even the potentially offensive stuff or swear words. It’s things that seem blatantly wrong to me or presumptuous or based on people’s own opinions.
To give a simple example: “It’s not funny”.
You shouldn’t say that, because what you find not funny someone else might find funny. When you state ‘it’s not funny’ you imply someone has a wrong sense of humour. You can’t have a wrong sense of humour; you might have an offensive sense of humour (if that even exists), but it can’t be faulted, because what is funny is not defined. There’s a good reason for that: ‘Everybody is different and therefore might think of different things as funny’. This is once again partially aimed at David Mitchell, because he said something about a sense of humour that made me think ‘You Shouldn’t Say That’. Of course I forgot what. I don’t seem to be able to remember anything he or Robert Webb said. They really are going to hate me.
It just annoys me that opinions are passed on as facts and people get judged based on those opinions.
I’ll try to come up with a better list; my brains are like a sieve right now; it holds nothing.
ETA: Of course he tweets this one day before I burst:
To give a simple example: “It’s not funny”.
You shouldn’t say that, because what you find not funny someone else might find funny. When you state ‘it’s not funny’ you imply someone has a wrong sense of humour. You can’t have a wrong sense of humour; you might have an offensive sense of humour (if that even exists), but it can’t be faulted, because what is funny is not defined. There’s a good reason for that: ‘Everybody is different and therefore might think of different things as funny’. This is once again partially aimed at David Mitchell, because he said something about a sense of humour that made me think ‘You Shouldn’t Say That’. Of course I forgot what. I don’t seem to be able to remember anything he or Robert Webb said. They really are going to hate me.
It just annoys me that opinions are passed on as facts and people get judged based on those opinions.
I’ll try to come up with a better list; my brains are like a sieve right now; it holds nothing.
ETA: Of course he tweets this one day before I burst:
To Mitchell&Webb - Commercial Thing
This keeps coming up and it annoys me enough to finally put my two cents in (I’d like them back afterwards, btw).
I do agree it was not betrayal or selling out. I even thought those Mac commercials were quite charming and sometimes I even cracked a smile. But M&W (that is Mitchell & Webb) defend it by making assumptions on why people were against it concluding it was not because they thought it was “betrayal” and/or “selling out”, but because of some other reason I conveniently forgot. Maybe I should shut my mouth about it, because I would be the third party pointing and making assumptions and that’s exactly what I’m aiming not to do. Beside that, I really did forget what they (M&W) thought it really was; something about a baby killing machine (edit to wink: ;-), I did get what you were saying M&W).
Here’s my view on the subject. I don’t find celebs very cool for putting their faces on a product. By doing that you pretty much say: “Buy this, because I support it.” It takes your innocence off of the business side of things. It does indeed say you’re going for the big money. Sure, almost no one would decline it, would they? It’s just not charming.
That was hardly a good defence or attack or whatever it even was anyway. It’s just that it’s something I wouldn’t do as quickly and I’m not very likely to approve of such choices. I don’t wear logo’s. I refuse to do advertising for anyone. I only advertise myself and I don’t understand the concept of money enough to say I’d go for the big money.
I suppose we prefer our favourite artists to be clean and innocent. It has something to do with the soft side of art being it is all on principle and not for the money. It’s something we believe is having heart for something doesn’t go along with money making. It’s something like going for the money makes you less believable about your art. It’s like your heart is not really in it, and that we don’t appreciate. Art is about emotions, money is not.
I had to get this off my chest. The things said on both sides seemed wrong to me and especially to M&W I wanted to explain where they went wrong....twice.
They’re going to hate me.
I do agree it was not betrayal or selling out. I even thought those Mac commercials were quite charming and sometimes I even cracked a smile. But M&W (that is Mitchell & Webb) defend it by making assumptions on why people were against it concluding it was not because they thought it was “betrayal” and/or “selling out”, but because of some other reason I conveniently forgot. Maybe I should shut my mouth about it, because I would be the third party pointing and making assumptions and that’s exactly what I’m aiming not to do. Beside that, I really did forget what they (M&W) thought it really was; something about a baby killing machine (edit to wink: ;-), I did get what you were saying M&W).
Here’s my view on the subject. I don’t find celebs very cool for putting their faces on a product. By doing that you pretty much say: “Buy this, because I support it.” It takes your innocence off of the business side of things. It does indeed say you’re going for the big money. Sure, almost no one would decline it, would they? It’s just not charming.
That was hardly a good defence or attack or whatever it even was anyway. It’s just that it’s something I wouldn’t do as quickly and I’m not very likely to approve of such choices. I don’t wear logo’s. I refuse to do advertising for anyone. I only advertise myself and I don’t understand the concept of money enough to say I’d go for the big money.
I suppose we prefer our favourite artists to be clean and innocent. It has something to do with the soft side of art being it is all on principle and not for the money. It’s something we believe is having heart for something doesn’t go along with money making. It’s something like going for the money makes you less believable about your art. It’s like your heart is not really in it, and that we don’t appreciate. Art is about emotions, money is not.
I had to get this off my chest. The things said on both sides seemed wrong to me and especially to M&W I wanted to explain where they went wrong....twice.
They’re going to hate me.
In the Office
Why do those artists keep making these condescending and annoying assumptions in public about what they think an office job is? Even though I agree with them an office is not the most inspiring environment, it still can be quite exhilarating. There’s a lot to be done in an office; exciting things like projects, building and creating things, making things better, things that have actual substantial, more than art often has.
I remember Jason making such a remark about how lucky he felt he wasn’t stuck in an office. Maybe good for him, but there are people who are really happy in an office. He can’t say anything like that, because he doesn’t really know how it is to work in an office. I think lots of people working in an office have way more to be proud of than he has.
I was watching Stephen Fry, no I was watching QI with Stephen Fry hosting. He said something to the effect that working in an office is not inspiring. Admitted, the buildings are usually grey and boring. It’s not the buildings matter, it’s the people inside them. And excel is actually a very interesting piece of software to burry yourself in for a day. I mean, call me boring, but when I’m bored at work and I want to do something fun, I’m very likely to start making some excel tool thing with all kind of fun functionalities. Excel is not just typing in numbers and maybe put some things together. Excel is logic thinking, it’s creating and making things easier to enter and do with what you need it doing. It's brain training in the truest sense.
Then again, I am aware of the fact that when you work in an office and especially in IT your idea of what is sexy and good looking does change a little. I must admit I get quite excited at a working excel with smart functions in it. Just don’t go saying my career can never be exciting. Yes, my heart is with art, but when I’m in a project trying to make things work, or creating and building things, that can be thoroughly satisfying.
I remember Jason making such a remark about how lucky he felt he wasn’t stuck in an office. Maybe good for him, but there are people who are really happy in an office. He can’t say anything like that, because he doesn’t really know how it is to work in an office. I think lots of people working in an office have way more to be proud of than he has.
I was watching Stephen Fry, no I was watching QI with Stephen Fry hosting. He said something to the effect that working in an office is not inspiring. Admitted, the buildings are usually grey and boring. It’s not the buildings matter, it’s the people inside them. And excel is actually a very interesting piece of software to burry yourself in for a day. I mean, call me boring, but when I’m bored at work and I want to do something fun, I’m very likely to start making some excel tool thing with all kind of fun functionalities. Excel is not just typing in numbers and maybe put some things together. Excel is logic thinking, it’s creating and making things easier to enter and do with what you need it doing. It's brain training in the truest sense.
Then again, I am aware of the fact that when you work in an office and especially in IT your idea of what is sexy and good looking does change a little. I must admit I get quite excited at a working excel with smart functions in it. Just don’t go saying my career can never be exciting. Yes, my heart is with art, but when I’m in a project trying to make things work, or creating and building things, that can be thoroughly satisfying.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Let’s Call it Religion and Start a War
Like always I’m reacting on reactions. The reaction I’m reacting on is a comment made on a column in the Guardian by David Mitchell. I promise, for today that will be the only mention of DM. I want to share a few thoughts about our beliefs on our environmental habitat.
Some of the commentators made good points. I especially like this one:
“You say to me "prove it!"
Is my answer of "you prove otherwise!" sufficient?”
Let’s put a few facts together (in no particular order):
- The earth exists for a very long time (how long is beside the point);
- The earth has seen many life forms blossoming and going extinct already due to bad surviving techniques or environmental issues;
- We, the human beings, been on this planet for a relatively short time;
- People tend to break things, but so does Mother Nature (think volcanoes, earth quakes, a bit too strong breeze);
- The earth is in constant movement pulling things apart, putting things together and breaking it again to sprout something else;
- The earth is very powerful;
- We people think we’re very powerful, but are we really?
Now our beliefs:
- We think we’re God. Admit it, you know you do;
- We’re wrecking the earth, but do we really?;
- The end is near. We always believe that; we just set another date if it didn’t happen.
Now I’m going to ask you a few questions:
- How powerful do you think we are to be able to create new stuff, repair and save or for that matter break down, wreck and kill? Of course compared to how powerful you think Mother Nature is to do all above mentioned. (Don’t forget about the volcanoes, earth quakes, etc.)
- What makes you say what you believe is true?
- Couldn’t it be possible the other one is true?
See how vague this is? I agree with the whole theory that this is a scientific astrology idea of what is and what’s not. Some say it is us who are the main offender. Other say we’re not able to match Mother Nature or the Universe or which other creation or event causes the climate to change. To me it’s all beliefs; the word of one man against that of another man. It’s like a religion; we’re having ideas and act accordingly. Believe and fight. And like in religion, we’re all only just a little bit right. The question is; "Now What?"
Thus far, I didn’t take a stand in my blog. I have in real life and I’ll tell you my believes:
I believe all the above mentioned with on top:
- People tend to break things, but so does Mother Nature;
- Whatever is happening to earth is only for a little bit in our control; we’re only a cog in the wheel;
- It’ll take its time (it always has. Think evolution);
- And yet we seem to be running out of time, and go back to the second point;
- Since I believe we’re a cog in the wheel, I also believe that we should play our parts and pay respect where it is due. This means repairing the damage we made and trying not to wreck too much. Though living doesn’t really come without wrecking, hence the repairing. In more handy recommendations: Try to recycle as much as possible. Don’t overuse anything really, only take what you need. Though the repairing thing is really hard.
I also like a lot of Jason Mraz’s ideas about how to do it like the local shopping. Unfortunately, like always, our own cultural existence stands a lot of these low key solutions in the way. And beside that, trying to care really isn’t that fun, because it would mean we have to return to our uncomfortable lives.
Life really is hard and living creatures really are scared, hungry and miserable. Human beings just happen to be the best at making themselves comfortable.
Source: DM Guardian column
Some of the commentators made good points. I especially like this one:
“You say to me "prove it!"
Is my answer of "you prove otherwise!" sufficient?”
Let’s put a few facts together (in no particular order):
- The earth exists for a very long time (how long is beside the point);
- The earth has seen many life forms blossoming and going extinct already due to bad surviving techniques or environmental issues;
- We, the human beings, been on this planet for a relatively short time;
- People tend to break things, but so does Mother Nature (think volcanoes, earth quakes, a bit too strong breeze);
- The earth is in constant movement pulling things apart, putting things together and breaking it again to sprout something else;
- The earth is very powerful;
- We people think we’re very powerful, but are we really?
Now our beliefs:
- We think we’re God. Admit it, you know you do;
- We’re wrecking the earth, but do we really?;
- The end is near. We always believe that; we just set another date if it didn’t happen.
Now I’m going to ask you a few questions:
- How powerful do you think we are to be able to create new stuff, repair and save or for that matter break down, wreck and kill? Of course compared to how powerful you think Mother Nature is to do all above mentioned. (Don’t forget about the volcanoes, earth quakes, etc.)
- What makes you say what you believe is true?
- Couldn’t it be possible the other one is true?
See how vague this is? I agree with the whole theory that this is a scientific astrology idea of what is and what’s not. Some say it is us who are the main offender. Other say we’re not able to match Mother Nature or the Universe or which other creation or event causes the climate to change. To me it’s all beliefs; the word of one man against that of another man. It’s like a religion; we’re having ideas and act accordingly. Believe and fight. And like in religion, we’re all only just a little bit right. The question is; "Now What?"
Thus far, I didn’t take a stand in my blog. I have in real life and I’ll tell you my believes:
I believe all the above mentioned with on top:
- People tend to break things, but so does Mother Nature;
- Whatever is happening to earth is only for a little bit in our control; we’re only a cog in the wheel;
- It’ll take its time (it always has. Think evolution);
- And yet we seem to be running out of time, and go back to the second point;
- Since I believe we’re a cog in the wheel, I also believe that we should play our parts and pay respect where it is due. This means repairing the damage we made and trying not to wreck too much. Though living doesn’t really come without wrecking, hence the repairing. In more handy recommendations: Try to recycle as much as possible. Don’t overuse anything really, only take what you need. Though the repairing thing is really hard.
I also like a lot of Jason Mraz’s ideas about how to do it like the local shopping. Unfortunately, like always, our own cultural existence stands a lot of these low key solutions in the way. And beside that, trying to care really isn’t that fun, because it would mean we have to return to our uncomfortable lives.
Life really is hard and living creatures really are scared, hungry and miserable. Human beings just happen to be the best at making themselves comfortable.
Source: DM Guardian column
Monday, August 2, 2010
Don’t Insult My Canned Laughter
Today has a feeling of dread and the promise there are no laughs left, because we covered it all. Or maybe it’s me, as often is the case I think. Yet, the real truth hearted laughs seem to have dried as well. The complaint of someone saying sketch shows and sitcoms are out of fashion and not funny at all anymore is still echoing in my head. The idea of in the future there are no laughs to be had is frightening. Surely it can’t be true that life has gotten so sour that a sense of humour and a well aimed joke at our suffering can’t provoke at least a smile. Yet, this seems to be the case. I can’t say I find any sitcom or sketch show worth watching. I’m not watching anymore; not that. I am watching panel shows, because these do make me laugh now and then. Though lately, I’ve been disappointed a lot. After every show having missed the feeling of an uncontrollable laugh makes me feel sad, tired and afraid of what is to come.
I’ve been checking out Mitchell & Webb, which you could guess. I can’t say I’m a fan, because I’m obviously not. I don’t recall laughing out loud, because I think I haven’t. I’ve tried liking and getting into Peepshow, but I got bored and gave up. I’m now also giving up on their sketch show. I think I’ll stick to panel shows, even though I only watch QI, because it really is quite interesting. I watch WILTY because I laughed two weeks ago. But I don’t like the feeling of disappointment I had after last Friday’s episode. The main thing I remember about watching that was that I was eating pizza. That’s not a good thing. Also waiting for David Mitchell to go into a rant is getting old. I’m not particularly fond of one-trick-ponies. But if he does go into one, I at least have a laugh. Then there is the feeling with WILTY (which stands for Would I Lie To You, btw) that it somehow resembles Big Brother. I’m not sure I want to know some of those personal anecdotes, not even for the sake of keeping the show funny and afloat. I really don’t feel the need to know the smallest tidbits of DM’s and Lee Mack’s life. Yet replacing them seems like suicide for the show. Or maybe fresh blood could make it fun again? I’m not sure.
I’m increasingly getting tired to see the same people over and over again. Almost every single one of them does his or her trick on every given channel available. How much of the same can we take? Like I said before, I tend to get bored with one-trick-ponies.
I find myself more amused and delighted by the comments from choice internet surfers on articles, reviews and video’s on online papers and youtube. Yes, you come across the dumbest and rudest people there too, but the choice is at least various and not all people commenting are idiots. Their views tend to be even more refreshing and thought provoking than that of the comedian. It’s an observation that worries me a little. What if the best comedians are sitting at home behind their computer or television shaking their heads? It arises the prospect of having to get out of the house again, after all these years. Maybe the fresh air will help us getting some new ideas and we can do it again.
I do believe comedy will always be there in some sketch form or sitcom form. It being there doesn’t mean it’s funny and nice to watch. Not anything human beings ever made up has gone completely extinct, there’s always someone still practising the old craft. It just doesn’t feel new anymore. It doesn’t excite me that much anymore. I care less and less with every minute. I hate caring less with every minute. But the canned laughter are testimony to what’s happening right now. It’s hard to ignore that, especially when you’re really in it for the laughs. I don’t want to write about this, because I want to reserve the hope for more fun. I want to be sure I will laugh in the future. I want to be sure there are still ways of escaping every day drama that is life. I’m not God though. I can’t snap my fingers and have sketch shows and sitcoms exciting and funny again, like it used to be.
This is not even half empty glass, this is a glass from which we’re draining the last bits till there are only drops left for the people who are truthfully passionate about it and don’t get bored so quickly. I know I’m not drinking from that glass anymore; I’m only staring at it hoping someone will refill it for me. It seems I’m going to have to go up to the bar myself and in that case I will try a new drink.
I’ve been checking out Mitchell & Webb, which you could guess. I can’t say I’m a fan, because I’m obviously not. I don’t recall laughing out loud, because I think I haven’t. I’ve tried liking and getting into Peepshow, but I got bored and gave up. I’m now also giving up on their sketch show. I think I’ll stick to panel shows, even though I only watch QI, because it really is quite interesting. I watch WILTY because I laughed two weeks ago. But I don’t like the feeling of disappointment I had after last Friday’s episode. The main thing I remember about watching that was that I was eating pizza. That’s not a good thing. Also waiting for David Mitchell to go into a rant is getting old. I’m not particularly fond of one-trick-ponies. But if he does go into one, I at least have a laugh. Then there is the feeling with WILTY (which stands for Would I Lie To You, btw) that it somehow resembles Big Brother. I’m not sure I want to know some of those personal anecdotes, not even for the sake of keeping the show funny and afloat. I really don’t feel the need to know the smallest tidbits of DM’s and Lee Mack’s life. Yet replacing them seems like suicide for the show. Or maybe fresh blood could make it fun again? I’m not sure.
I’m increasingly getting tired to see the same people over and over again. Almost every single one of them does his or her trick on every given channel available. How much of the same can we take? Like I said before, I tend to get bored with one-trick-ponies.
I find myself more amused and delighted by the comments from choice internet surfers on articles, reviews and video’s on online papers and youtube. Yes, you come across the dumbest and rudest people there too, but the choice is at least various and not all people commenting are idiots. Their views tend to be even more refreshing and thought provoking than that of the comedian. It’s an observation that worries me a little. What if the best comedians are sitting at home behind their computer or television shaking their heads? It arises the prospect of having to get out of the house again, after all these years. Maybe the fresh air will help us getting some new ideas and we can do it again.
I do believe comedy will always be there in some sketch form or sitcom form. It being there doesn’t mean it’s funny and nice to watch. Not anything human beings ever made up has gone completely extinct, there’s always someone still practising the old craft. It just doesn’t feel new anymore. It doesn’t excite me that much anymore. I care less and less with every minute. I hate caring less with every minute. But the canned laughter are testimony to what’s happening right now. It’s hard to ignore that, especially when you’re really in it for the laughs. I don’t want to write about this, because I want to reserve the hope for more fun. I want to be sure I will laugh in the future. I want to be sure there are still ways of escaping every day drama that is life. I’m not God though. I can’t snap my fingers and have sketch shows and sitcoms exciting and funny again, like it used to be.
This is not even half empty glass, this is a glass from which we’re draining the last bits till there are only drops left for the people who are truthfully passionate about it and don’t get bored so quickly. I know I’m not drinking from that glass anymore; I’m only staring at it hoping someone will refill it for me. It seems I’m going to have to go up to the bar myself and in that case I will try a new drink.
Monday, July 26, 2010
It's not Numberwang! It's a Fruit!!!
I had a bit of a weird afternoon.
Okay, I have a confession to make. I do laugh when watching “That Look” (you know which look). Not a loud laugh, rather an endearing laugh. It amuses me in an endearing kind of way. I’m still confused though.
I just googled Numberwang and I’m none the wiser. I did watch and read a piece about Numberwang’s history and the shows it developed in around the world. This particular piece made me laugh, even though the content remained incomprehensible.
“...It is on Austrailian TV, New Zealand TV and even American TV where instead of saying "Thats NumberWang!!" they say "Yes, That is a number..."
Source: Urban Dictionary
Paraphrased sketch:
American contestant: 22.
American host: Yes, that’s a number!
I’m not sure what “Numberwang” is, but I do know what ”a number” is so my example of a piece of the sketch can be counted as correct.
I was also reading this: "Mitchell looks like a penguin..."
and then thinking: "Oooh, that might be why I like him so much..."
That's not numberwang. Yes, I am using that term to define judgement about certain things and it's just as random as the original game.
Then I stumbled on a blog called "Why they're hot.." in which was described why David Mitchell is hot. I don't exactly agree with most of the points and if I ever walk into both Mitchell & Webb together I'll make sure to keep a distance if only to hide my embarrasment. It was particularly the last point that took me 15 minutes to read, cause I was 1) wondering if we were still talking about the same David Mitchell or 2) fiercely frowning or 3) rolling my eyes or 4) looking away in embarrasment and finally 5) coming to terms with the fact that I was trying to overcome a heat explosion. I also scratched my head a few times, humpfed a few times and laughed a bit.
Odd piece.
On my part, not numberwang at all.
Source: Why They're Hot...
And then I came across a very disturbing topic in which was asked if people thought David looks like Hitler. It is a completely useless, pointless and disturbing question in itself, but then the answers were even more disturbing. One someone said: "Nah, David Mitchell always had his doubts about the Nazis." He only had doubts? Just doubts? I'm not sure that was meant funny. I didn't think it was funny. I thought that was definately not numberwang.
I'm very unnumberwang today. I feel like I'm failing.
Now I come to think of it: when something or someone is Numberwang, it's winning. Above mentioned were rather disturbing and therefore not winning thus not numberwang. I hope I can let this go now, cause I hate sorting everything into numberwang or not. I'd rather compare fruits!!!
Okay, I have a confession to make. I do laugh when watching “That Look” (you know which look). Not a loud laugh, rather an endearing laugh. It amuses me in an endearing kind of way. I’m still confused though.
I just googled Numberwang and I’m none the wiser. I did watch and read a piece about Numberwang’s history and the shows it developed in around the world. This particular piece made me laugh, even though the content remained incomprehensible.
“...It is on Austrailian TV, New Zealand TV and even American TV where instead of saying "Thats NumberWang!!" they say "Yes, That is a number..."
Source: Urban Dictionary
Paraphrased sketch:
American contestant: 22.
American host: Yes, that’s a number!
I’m not sure what “Numberwang” is, but I do know what ”a number” is so my example of a piece of the sketch can be counted as correct.
I was also reading this: "Mitchell looks like a penguin..."
and then thinking: "Oooh, that might be why I like him so much..."
That's not numberwang. Yes, I am using that term to define judgement about certain things and it's just as random as the original game.
Then I stumbled on a blog called "Why they're hot.." in which was described why David Mitchell is hot. I don't exactly agree with most of the points and if I ever walk into both Mitchell & Webb together I'll make sure to keep a distance if only to hide my embarrasment. It was particularly the last point that took me 15 minutes to read, cause I was 1) wondering if we were still talking about the same David Mitchell or 2) fiercely frowning or 3) rolling my eyes or 4) looking away in embarrasment and finally 5) coming to terms with the fact that I was trying to overcome a heat explosion. I also scratched my head a few times, humpfed a few times and laughed a bit.
Odd piece.
On my part, not numberwang at all.
Source: Why They're Hot...
And then I came across a very disturbing topic in which was asked if people thought David looks like Hitler. It is a completely useless, pointless and disturbing question in itself, but then the answers were even more disturbing. One someone said: "Nah, David Mitchell always had his doubts about the Nazis." He only had doubts? Just doubts? I'm not sure that was meant funny. I didn't think it was funny. I thought that was definately not numberwang.
I'm very unnumberwang today. I feel like I'm failing.
Now I come to think of it: when something or someone is Numberwang, it's winning. Above mentioned were rather disturbing and therefore not winning thus not numberwang. I hope I can let this go now, cause I hate sorting everything into numberwang or not. I'd rather compare fruits!!!
Thaaaaaaaaaaaat's Numberwang!!!!!!!
This weekend I checked out some more Mitchell & Webb. I watched some episodes of “That Mitchell & Webb Look”. I found myself mainly exclaiming: “Jesus!” and “Fuuuck!”, cause a lot of the sketches I found gross, weird and/or incomprehensible. Especially the Numberwang special left me confused. Though somehow they must have done something right, because when I was taking a bath and trying to pleasure myself it was still bouncing around in my head: “Thaaaaaaat’s Numberwang!!!” I don’t even know what it means and if it’s good or bad.
Yesterday I decided to check out Peepshow. I planned to start at the start. Even though I enjoyed that more, it left me feeling awkwardly foolish loser like. It’s not exactly that I can relate; I’m not as socially awkward as Mark is and I’m not such a slob like Jeremy. What made it uncomfortable to me is that it reminded me of my current situation. It’s not satisfactory, my situation, and in a way I am living both Mark’s and Jeremy’s life. Not quite, but somewhat. I do like the start of every episode in the first series at least; it immediately puts across the awkwardness of the following 30 minutes.
The weirdest thing of it all is that I seem to lose my idea of who David Mitchell is. Not that I have a clue, but I do have an idea. Watching him being Mark or any other character in his sketch show throws me off. Let’s start at the beginning; the beginning of me discovering David Mitchell:
Finally getting round to checking out Mr. Alan Rickman, I surfed YouTube to catch as many clips as I could. (That reminds me, I need to check back in p394) One clip was a QI clip in which Alan was discussed shortly and in which John Sessions did some excellent AR impressions. David was there too making a (funny) comment. I had no clue who he was and I could easily step over his presence in that video. I did to be honest, though I wanted him to be remarkable if only for those few seconds. He didn’t seem to fit in the environment at first sight and I, because partly of that reason, wanted him to succeed. It’s something I always have, when someone seems not quite right in the environment I want them to succeed. And when they do, those are the people I love most. Now I come to think of it, the description of his looks as looking like an accountant is very apt. He seemed a nice guy to me; a little quiet and nice and unremarkable like an accountant.
The format of the show really spoke to me and I decided to watch some more QI’s (I suspect all QI episodes ever broadcast are on YouTube). I noticed how the same people seem to come back all the time. At some point I was even cheering after finding out it was another episode with David in it. He was hilarious and managed to put his point across at the same time. Valid points which were well thought through. I was impressed. At that point I was wondering (out loud): “Who the hell is that guy!?” So I YouTubed him. What I found was mind blowing. What I found out was that Mr. Mitchell is an excellent ranter. Trying to blog about this is impossible, because I can’t even think of what I want to write about it, I’d rather put on one of those collection video’s of his rants.
It wasn’t love at the first sight; it took me a week or so to learn to really appreciate his contributions. Now I’m terribly in love with him. I’m trying to find and catch every little tidbit about him and with him in it. And now I have a clue of who he is. I have an idea of what I can expect from him and there I seem to go wrong. At first I mainly watched quiz shows he took part in. That’s as close as a view of David Mitchell you can get. I realize he probably doesn’t spill all the beans and keeps his private self to himself as much as possible. Yet, in the way he plays his games and the way he presents himself and the vibe it causes gives me at least a good idea of who David Mitchell is. I’m so used to seeing only his top half that watching him walk around already throws me off; he’s got long legs, he’s taller than I expected him to be. Then when he does sketches or acts he throws me off completely. His voice even seems to change somewhat. I don’t know, it just feels uncomfortable to me. I want David and not someone impersonating, though Rob Brydon does an excellent David Mitchell impression.
Those quizzes and the other comedians in them don’t fool me either, no matter how hard they try. They’re often trying to paint David as a ridiculously posh person or as a nerd. They often seem to pick on him or tease him trying to get a rant out of him. What’s so funny about that is that they don’t succeed and David often puts them in their place. So in the end David wins. The audience agrees.
I’m not sure, but I think he sometimes worries about they’re trying to paint him in a way he isn’t in reality. I think the audience already has an idea about who he is, and I don’t think they see him as posh or nerdy. I think they see an intelligent witty person they appreciate a great deal. And yet if not the other comedians succeed, he does himself. The vibe about him when he’s doing especially “Peepshow” and sometimes “That Mitchell & Webb Look” provides more that nerdy posh feel. I suppose that means David does his job, both of them, really well, but it makes me nervous and it doesn’t help in creating the most correct idea of who David Mitchell is. I find myself craving to watch my favourite QI video’s or rant videos after watching “That Look” and “Peepshow”.
I also have the feeling my grammar and spelling and overall writing is terrible in this blog and that I don’t do David any justice for which I apologize.
After all this blog doesn't turn out to be numberwang at all...or does it? Time to google.
Yesterday I decided to check out Peepshow. I planned to start at the start. Even though I enjoyed that more, it left me feeling awkwardly foolish loser like. It’s not exactly that I can relate; I’m not as socially awkward as Mark is and I’m not such a slob like Jeremy. What made it uncomfortable to me is that it reminded me of my current situation. It’s not satisfactory, my situation, and in a way I am living both Mark’s and Jeremy’s life. Not quite, but somewhat. I do like the start of every episode in the first series at least; it immediately puts across the awkwardness of the following 30 minutes.
The weirdest thing of it all is that I seem to lose my idea of who David Mitchell is. Not that I have a clue, but I do have an idea. Watching him being Mark or any other character in his sketch show throws me off. Let’s start at the beginning; the beginning of me discovering David Mitchell:
Finally getting round to checking out Mr. Alan Rickman, I surfed YouTube to catch as many clips as I could. (That reminds me, I need to check back in p394) One clip was a QI clip in which Alan was discussed shortly and in which John Sessions did some excellent AR impressions. David was there too making a (funny) comment. I had no clue who he was and I could easily step over his presence in that video. I did to be honest, though I wanted him to be remarkable if only for those few seconds. He didn’t seem to fit in the environment at first sight and I, because partly of that reason, wanted him to succeed. It’s something I always have, when someone seems not quite right in the environment I want them to succeed. And when they do, those are the people I love most. Now I come to think of it, the description of his looks as looking like an accountant is very apt. He seemed a nice guy to me; a little quiet and nice and unremarkable like an accountant.
The format of the show really spoke to me and I decided to watch some more QI’s (I suspect all QI episodes ever broadcast are on YouTube). I noticed how the same people seem to come back all the time. At some point I was even cheering after finding out it was another episode with David in it. He was hilarious and managed to put his point across at the same time. Valid points which were well thought through. I was impressed. At that point I was wondering (out loud): “Who the hell is that guy!?” So I YouTubed him. What I found was mind blowing. What I found out was that Mr. Mitchell is an excellent ranter. Trying to blog about this is impossible, because I can’t even think of what I want to write about it, I’d rather put on one of those collection video’s of his rants.
It wasn’t love at the first sight; it took me a week or so to learn to really appreciate his contributions. Now I’m terribly in love with him. I’m trying to find and catch every little tidbit about him and with him in it. And now I have a clue of who he is. I have an idea of what I can expect from him and there I seem to go wrong. At first I mainly watched quiz shows he took part in. That’s as close as a view of David Mitchell you can get. I realize he probably doesn’t spill all the beans and keeps his private self to himself as much as possible. Yet, in the way he plays his games and the way he presents himself and the vibe it causes gives me at least a good idea of who David Mitchell is. I’m so used to seeing only his top half that watching him walk around already throws me off; he’s got long legs, he’s taller than I expected him to be. Then when he does sketches or acts he throws me off completely. His voice even seems to change somewhat. I don’t know, it just feels uncomfortable to me. I want David and not someone impersonating, though Rob Brydon does an excellent David Mitchell impression.
Those quizzes and the other comedians in them don’t fool me either, no matter how hard they try. They’re often trying to paint David as a ridiculously posh person or as a nerd. They often seem to pick on him or tease him trying to get a rant out of him. What’s so funny about that is that they don’t succeed and David often puts them in their place. So in the end David wins. The audience agrees.
I’m not sure, but I think he sometimes worries about they’re trying to paint him in a way he isn’t in reality. I think the audience already has an idea about who he is, and I don’t think they see him as posh or nerdy. I think they see an intelligent witty person they appreciate a great deal. And yet if not the other comedians succeed, he does himself. The vibe about him when he’s doing especially “Peepshow” and sometimes “That Mitchell & Webb Look” provides more that nerdy posh feel. I suppose that means David does his job, both of them, really well, but it makes me nervous and it doesn’t help in creating the most correct idea of who David Mitchell is. I find myself craving to watch my favourite QI video’s or rant videos after watching “That Look” and “Peepshow”.
I also have the feeling my grammar and spelling and overall writing is terrible in this blog and that I don’t do David any justice for which I apologize.
After all this blog doesn't turn out to be numberwang at all...or does it? Time to google.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Sexual? Family??
Weirdest thing I've read today: "David Mitchell (the actor. i've been only talking about the actor) is sexual."
I don't even know what that means. It seems a weird fact to state. It would have been more interesting (and even weirder) if it said "David Mitchell is not sexual".
I don't even know what that means. It seems a weird fact to state. It would have been more interesting (and even weirder) if it said "David Mitchell is not sexual".
I Don't Know
It seems like a lie. There’s some truth to it, yet on the other hand I do know.
This weekend I have indulged myself in the typical culture of English comedy. I watched two days worth of QI episodes. The same people seem to come back as guests all the time. Out of curiosity I googled and youtubed David Mitchell, because I thought he was clever and funny at the same time. I found out his professional life exists out of being in quiz show panels for half of the time and that he wasn’t exactly the only one filling half of his working time with playing games. Several of these comedians kept popping up as quiz hosts or panel members. I think it’s quite curious one can make a living out of playing games. However, the contents of loads of these shows justify their existence and some of these comedians are really quite sharp and clever and obviously witty and some are not.
No, I’m not going to be funny right now. Watching youtube the whole weekend (including the nights) makes me feel sort of tired and uninspired to work which makes me cranky. I feel like a fool for trying to make and put out something sensible while I can also go sit in a panel and have fun. The last world cup for football comes to mind as well. While these clowns were focusing on kicking around a ball I was trying to makes sense of the mess that is my job. Once again I felt like a fool for being in office instead of having some fun.
I do believe in the good of entertainment, that includes world cup football and English comedy quizzes. It helps you take your mind off of things. It helps you relax (or tense up) and have some mindless fun in the safety of your own living room or around friends in a bar. It wasn’t my intention to state the obvious, I just wanted to point out that I didn’t mean to shoot down anyone, and I wanted to point out I was feeling silly for being at work.
To my own embarrassment I enjoyed both immensely. I spent quite a few hot days inside hiding from the sun and watching football match analysis or some English quiz. I spent loads of time listening to people having opinions and being passionate about it. It both, football and quizzing, seems to come down to the same thing. Us against us and whining about all the things that is wrong with this world. Interesting.
Now I am here, typing out another blog and I’m still talking about the world cup and English (quiz) comedy. That was not what I intended to write yesterday. Yesterday I was still raving over David Mitchell’s cleverness and wittiness. I still believe he deserves that, me raving about him in public; he says the things I say, only in public while I’m talking to walls or write blogs which are not read. Though honestly, my blog doesn’t come across as clever as he does. I hope he won’t google himself anymore after I posted this, or at least that he won’t come here to see why I written his name down. I don’t think I’m a match to him. And also my writing skills are really not that great especially this morning. That’s what you get for watching his rants till deep in the night.
The one reason I brought up his name was to recommend him to others who might be reading this. I also planned to add a QI video, but since I’m at work there’s no way I’m going on youtube to find something interesting and funny. So this is going to be another colourless blog.
My heart is obviously full of this English entertainment culture thing; I’m blogging about it and in my cigarette break I was talking about it to a colleague. It really is a different culture. In Holland we don’t really have anything like this. There are a few quizzes which are filled up with famous Dutch people being funny, but these formats we actually copied/bought from England. All the rest of the Dutch quizzes are for regular people being very serious in playing and winning, not in being funny. Neither do our comedians, the few we have, spend a lot of their time quizzing; they’re actually on stage. I do miss that.
I have a few English friends of which two I try to visit on a regular basis. My English girlfriend asks me on every visit “Do you want to go there so you can watch filming and maybe meet the cast?” or “Have you ever seen this, cause it’s so funny?”. I never have and I’m never interested in going there. Stupid really, because she’s right, it is fun and I appreciate a lot of these actors and comedians a lot. Another friend introduced me to Jimmy Carr; I always thought he was weird. I don’t know why. He made me sit through some audition kind of program Mister Carr once did to find new comedians. He also introduced me to Little Britain and made me sit through a day of watching that series. I’m wondering how Peepshow slipped through, though my girlfriend did try to make me watch the Bubble, but for some reason we never did. I think I told her I thought the concept was stupid. Turns out, the concept is usually not what it is about in English comedy. I watched one episode of the Bubble and it was hilarious. Though me not knowing who all these people are makes it sometimes incomprehensible to me. I just said that friend tried to make me watch the Bubble; I’m not sure it was that quiz. I’ll ask her.
Tonight I’ll watch some more quizzes and I’ll post a QI vid.
Other things to do:
Check Twitter for various comedians: Stephen Fry is on there I know and David Mitchell. Could be fun, though I hate Twitter.
This weekend I have indulged myself in the typical culture of English comedy. I watched two days worth of QI episodes. The same people seem to come back as guests all the time. Out of curiosity I googled and youtubed David Mitchell, because I thought he was clever and funny at the same time. I found out his professional life exists out of being in quiz show panels for half of the time and that he wasn’t exactly the only one filling half of his working time with playing games. Several of these comedians kept popping up as quiz hosts or panel members. I think it’s quite curious one can make a living out of playing games. However, the contents of loads of these shows justify their existence and some of these comedians are really quite sharp and clever and obviously witty and some are not.
No, I’m not going to be funny right now. Watching youtube the whole weekend (including the nights) makes me feel sort of tired and uninspired to work which makes me cranky. I feel like a fool for trying to make and put out something sensible while I can also go sit in a panel and have fun. The last world cup for football comes to mind as well. While these clowns were focusing on kicking around a ball I was trying to makes sense of the mess that is my job. Once again I felt like a fool for being in office instead of having some fun.
I do believe in the good of entertainment, that includes world cup football and English comedy quizzes. It helps you take your mind off of things. It helps you relax (or tense up) and have some mindless fun in the safety of your own living room or around friends in a bar. It wasn’t my intention to state the obvious, I just wanted to point out that I didn’t mean to shoot down anyone, and I wanted to point out I was feeling silly for being at work.
To my own embarrassment I enjoyed both immensely. I spent quite a few hot days inside hiding from the sun and watching football match analysis or some English quiz. I spent loads of time listening to people having opinions and being passionate about it. It both, football and quizzing, seems to come down to the same thing. Us against us and whining about all the things that is wrong with this world. Interesting.
Now I am here, typing out another blog and I’m still talking about the world cup and English (quiz) comedy. That was not what I intended to write yesterday. Yesterday I was still raving over David Mitchell’s cleverness and wittiness. I still believe he deserves that, me raving about him in public; he says the things I say, only in public while I’m talking to walls or write blogs which are not read. Though honestly, my blog doesn’t come across as clever as he does. I hope he won’t google himself anymore after I posted this, or at least that he won’t come here to see why I written his name down. I don’t think I’m a match to him. And also my writing skills are really not that great especially this morning. That’s what you get for watching his rants till deep in the night.
The one reason I brought up his name was to recommend him to others who might be reading this. I also planned to add a QI video, but since I’m at work there’s no way I’m going on youtube to find something interesting and funny. So this is going to be another colourless blog.
My heart is obviously full of this English entertainment culture thing; I’m blogging about it and in my cigarette break I was talking about it to a colleague. It really is a different culture. In Holland we don’t really have anything like this. There are a few quizzes which are filled up with famous Dutch people being funny, but these formats we actually copied/bought from England. All the rest of the Dutch quizzes are for regular people being very serious in playing and winning, not in being funny. Neither do our comedians, the few we have, spend a lot of their time quizzing; they’re actually on stage. I do miss that.
I have a few English friends of which two I try to visit on a regular basis. My English girlfriend asks me on every visit “Do you want to go there so you can watch filming and maybe meet the cast?” or “Have you ever seen this, cause it’s so funny?”. I never have and I’m never interested in going there. Stupid really, because she’s right, it is fun and I appreciate a lot of these actors and comedians a lot. Another friend introduced me to Jimmy Carr; I always thought he was weird. I don’t know why. He made me sit through some audition kind of program Mister Carr once did to find new comedians. He also introduced me to Little Britain and made me sit through a day of watching that series. I’m wondering how Peepshow slipped through, though my girlfriend did try to make me watch the Bubble, but for some reason we never did. I think I told her I thought the concept was stupid. Turns out, the concept is usually not what it is about in English comedy. I watched one episode of the Bubble and it was hilarious. Though me not knowing who all these people are makes it sometimes incomprehensible to me. I just said that friend tried to make me watch the Bubble; I’m not sure it was that quiz. I’ll ask her.
Tonight I’ll watch some more quizzes and I’ll post a QI vid.
Other things to do:
Check Twitter for various comedians: Stephen Fry is on there I know and David Mitchell. Could be fun, though I hate Twitter.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Robbie rejoined Take That
This is a reply to a facebook comment:
Yeah, 13 years old but 20 years older. You just named the exact problem I have with that. I am NOT 13 anymore, godthank. My taste developed and I found out that what they were doing and what they are doing now, doesn't agree anymore with my interests. Also, I'm not really willing to go back to that era, cause I'm rather proud of the development I made. Knowing Take That is back and doing it again to me feels like the passed 20 years never happened. That makes me think; What Happened!? It feels like having lost the years I gained. I thought, admittedly a few years after their breakup, it was the most brilliant thing that happened. It gave me fond memories and the oppertunity to move on; develop. Why would I want to give up that for sentimental feelings that aren't mine anymore in the first place?
Okay, so I've been breathing through my left nostril (courtesy of QI; I'm not even sure I've got that right) or I have been watching too many David Mitchell youtubes.
Yeah, 13 years old but 20 years older. You just named the exact problem I have with that. I am NOT 13 anymore, godthank. My taste developed and I found out that what they were doing and what they are doing now, doesn't agree anymore with my interests. Also, I'm not really willing to go back to that era, cause I'm rather proud of the development I made. Knowing Take That is back and doing it again to me feels like the passed 20 years never happened. That makes me think; What Happened!? It feels like having lost the years I gained. I thought, admittedly a few years after their breakup, it was the most brilliant thing that happened. It gave me fond memories and the oppertunity to move on; develop. Why would I want to give up that for sentimental feelings that aren't mine anymore in the first place?
Okay, so I've been breathing through my left nostril (courtesy of QI; I'm not even sure I've got that right) or I have been watching too many David Mitchell youtubes.
Friday, July 9, 2010
State of Mind...on and on...
Today I'm a little tired and annoyed with my work and the organization I'm in. Today I used my private situation as an excuse to **ck around and to tell people about it. Sure it sucks, but it's the work that bothers me really. Yesterday afternoon I spent two hours drinking coffee with people, complaining with people and just hanging around...with people; everything to not have to do my work. Today is not much different.
The tendency this organization has is completely ridiculous and shameful. It makes people lazy or fighting. Neither is productive. It makes me tired and annoyed. This morning I wanted to smash my screen to pieces and go home. I didn't. Instead I requested a conversation with a social worker and I talked to my team leader. I have every reason and allowance to go home. As if I want to be home right now. As if that house feels like a home right now. Not that I don't want to go home, I just can't. But I can't stay hanging in the city either. I have no need for fainting in the city.
Just everything about this organization and my lack of energy for work infuriates me. How can we let this go to pieces like that? At least my own life I can pick up, but this work...No wonder the Dutch citizens think of us the way they do. I can't blame them.
The tendency this organization has is completely ridiculous and shameful. It makes people lazy or fighting. Neither is productive. It makes me tired and annoyed. This morning I wanted to smash my screen to pieces and go home. I didn't. Instead I requested a conversation with a social worker and I talked to my team leader. I have every reason and allowance to go home. As if I want to be home right now. As if that house feels like a home right now. Not that I don't want to go home, I just can't. But I can't stay hanging in the city either. I have no need for fainting in the city.
Just everything about this organization and my lack of energy for work infuriates me. How can we let this go to pieces like that? At least my own life I can pick up, but this work...No wonder the Dutch citizens think of us the way they do. I can't blame them.
My State of Mind
I've been rereading old stories I've written. A lot of really heavy stuff. Combined with all the things happening for real it's a little much too take. Though on the other hand, I'm quite proud of that stuff. I must admit, quite a few of these stories I haven't finished. I started looking to put it all together and make one story out of it. How? I really have no clue. It's just, all that stuff; I don't want to let it go to waste.
I'm standing still in the midst of chaos. It's really just a break from running and trying to catch my breath. Looking around like that, I really ain't very happy with where I am right now. Thing is really true, I am always searching for peace and quiet of mind. Some sort peace & quiet of mind to be able to take the steps that bring me closer to the things I love and the things I dream to do. Even though this years somewhat sucks, I'm still happy with all the oppertunities I get to go and attend the arts I want. Never before I realized so clearly how much I love the arts. It doesn't even matter anymore what it is; I can be just as fascinated and touched by a painting as I will be by a play or song. That's a good thing, and I'm clinging desperately to it. Annoying is how I don't seem to get anywhere close enough to actually be able to enjoy it the way I want to.
On the other hand everything in the work area is going smoothly. A few weeks back I started a new assignment at work and I am now slowly rolling into the processes of releases and into the knowledge of the applications I will be responsible for. It feels wonderful to know you're supporting the support to the paying out the social assurances for people who really need it; like I finally have a community duty. Yet, I don't like my work much. I'm stuck in office 5 days a week for at least 8 hours every of those days. I am stuck to try find and analyze problems, to find solutions and to deal with people. I'm not exactly a one trick pony kind of person. I learnt the trick, I'm doing the trick and I'm bored with it. I am searching for the creativity in my job, but I find myself falling back into the known paths of application maintenance and development. Everything seems to boil down to the same thing; Deal with it.
In all this I am trying to get places; a new home, a new assignment with new conditions, a new and revived feel for arts, London and Dublin, a new place and time in my life. I don't want to run away from it, I do want to deal with it. I have some goals I want to reach and I will work hard for it and sacrifice certain things for it. I know in the end it will all pay off.
I'm standing still in the midst of chaos. It's really just a break from running and trying to catch my breath. Looking around like that, I really ain't very happy with where I am right now. Thing is really true, I am always searching for peace and quiet of mind. Some sort peace & quiet of mind to be able to take the steps that bring me closer to the things I love and the things I dream to do. Even though this years somewhat sucks, I'm still happy with all the oppertunities I get to go and attend the arts I want. Never before I realized so clearly how much I love the arts. It doesn't even matter anymore what it is; I can be just as fascinated and touched by a painting as I will be by a play or song. That's a good thing, and I'm clinging desperately to it. Annoying is how I don't seem to get anywhere close enough to actually be able to enjoy it the way I want to.
On the other hand everything in the work area is going smoothly. A few weeks back I started a new assignment at work and I am now slowly rolling into the processes of releases and into the knowledge of the applications I will be responsible for. It feels wonderful to know you're supporting the support to the paying out the social assurances for people who really need it; like I finally have a community duty. Yet, I don't like my work much. I'm stuck in office 5 days a week for at least 8 hours every of those days. I am stuck to try find and analyze problems, to find solutions and to deal with people. I'm not exactly a one trick pony kind of person. I learnt the trick, I'm doing the trick and I'm bored with it. I am searching for the creativity in my job, but I find myself falling back into the known paths of application maintenance and development. Everything seems to boil down to the same thing; Deal with it.
In all this I am trying to get places; a new home, a new assignment with new conditions, a new and revived feel for arts, London and Dublin, a new place and time in my life. I don't want to run away from it, I do want to deal with it. I have some goals I want to reach and I will work hard for it and sacrifice certain things for it. I know in the end it will all pay off.
Friday, July 2, 2010
I'm too hard at work. Have you ever heard of anything so absurd...
- I didn't recycle a by now very old update list which when filled in, really doesn’t say anything about my state of being. I felt so many things were going on in my life and introducing a new phase in my life, I couldn't use the old list anymore.
I'm counting my activities; I don't think I've ever been as busy as I am now:
- Splitting up with my ex results in 1) figuring out and trying to sell the house, 2) figuring out my future financial status, 3) trying to find and buy a new house.
- The new assignment in my job results in 1) having to learn to understand two applications, 2) the processes around those applications.
- Personal professional development results in 1) see point above, 2) taking several courses about a) communication and b) Problem & change analysis (homework: yuck!) and I'm also involved in a project at work and trying to take my forums expertise to a professional level by writing ebooks and have them published by a colleague.
- And of course I want to have some fun which results in 1) trying to figure out travel plans to attend a) concert, b) theatre play and c) friends. Also trying to get the group order done which included more organization than I actually cared for.
- I'm busy, but I'm good. At least I have the feeling my life is going somewhere, unlike the previous passed months.
I'm counting my activities; I don't think I've ever been as busy as I am now:
- Splitting up with my ex results in 1) figuring out and trying to sell the house, 2) figuring out my future financial status, 3) trying to find and buy a new house.
- The new assignment in my job results in 1) having to learn to understand two applications, 2) the processes around those applications.
- Personal professional development results in 1) see point above, 2) taking several courses about a) communication and b) Problem & change analysis (homework: yuck!) and I'm also involved in a project at work and trying to take my forums expertise to a professional level by writing ebooks and have them published by a colleague.
- And of course I want to have some fun which results in 1) trying to figure out travel plans to attend a) concert, b) theatre play and c) friends. Also trying to get the group order done which included more organization than I actually cared for.
- I'm busy, but I'm good. At least I have the feeling my life is going somewhere, unlike the previous passed months.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Forums Are Fun and Confusing
The past couple of weeks I find myself discussing hairy avocados, sexy drainpipes, dental floss herds and buttons up for twins feeding on kitkats and DIET cokes.
And I am trying to make a profession out of it. How am I ever going to sell this?
And I am trying to make a profession out of it. How am I ever going to sell this?
Monday, May 24, 2010
And the Saga Continues
This is sheer entertainment: the Daily Mail chimes in.
I think they were out of good subjects. Which is curious in this period of time. But then again, the economical crisis is so boring and passé.
Like no one so far, I do not have the answer of why. I would like to add a question; Why are the Brits so offended? For as much as I know, all nationalities get typecast all the time, it hurts my eyes (and ears).
And then they wouldn't let Jonathan Pryce play a half-blood (Caucasian)Mongolean guy, because he was totally Caucasian instead of half or completely Mongolean. WTF!?
I think they are all only out to confuse me. No need, for that last sentence confused me enough.
For goof (yes, that was a typo, but I rather liked it) measure and to give my blog some well earned colour:
I think they were out of good subjects. Which is curious in this period of time. But then again, the economical crisis is so boring and passé.
Like no one so far, I do not have the answer of why. I would like to add a question; Why are the Brits so offended? For as much as I know, all nationalities get typecast all the time, it hurts my eyes (and ears).
And then they wouldn't let Jonathan Pryce play a half-blood (Caucasian)Mongolean guy, because he was totally Caucasian instead of half or completely Mongolean. WTF!?
I think they are all only out to confuse me. No need, for that last sentence confused me enough.
For goof (yes, that was a typo, but I rather liked it) measure and to give my blog some well earned colour:
Thursday, May 20, 2010
the Snape Chronicles
Originally, I only wanted to ask Hannah if she was aware of the Snape Chronicles. This is a fanfic that reads as the real thing and Snape's view on all the events. If you're a Snape fan, you should read it. It's actually quite good and very entertaining. I found myself reading the first book completely in one evening.
Go here: the Snape Chronicles
The story was initially posted on a forum and you have to click around a bit, but the writer is very helpful with all the links. However, since I planned to read it while traveling I compiled the whole story and will make a pdf of it for easier spreading.
Important note: I didn't include everything, because the writer also wrote alternative pieces. I choose to stay as close to the story line that follows and is based on the original Harry Potter books. If you want to read the alternative pieces, go to the forum and read there. And even if you're reading my compiled version, please go there if only to comment to the writer.
Go here: the Snape Chronicles
The story was initially posted on a forum and you have to click around a bit, but the writer is very helpful with all the links. However, since I planned to read it while traveling I compiled the whole story and will make a pdf of it for easier spreading.
Important note: I didn't include everything, because the writer also wrote alternative pieces. I choose to stay as close to the story line that follows and is based on the original Harry Potter books. If you want to read the alternative pieces, go to the forum and read there. And even if you're reading my compiled version, please go there if only to comment to the writer.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
P.S.
Yesterday I wrote my apologies to Jason Mraz. I also wrote an entry in my diary. For some reason both keep me thinking it’s not completely how I feel. In the case of the apologies it has something to do with leaving things out about how I feel about him. I still remember why I left it out, or didn’t change anything. What I feel is too long to put in that short apologies blog and I kept it short on purpose. However, now I have the feeling if he reads it, he’s going to miss my point which would be completely my fault. I thought about it and decided to only add this:
“Jason, I trust you understand my shortcomings in communication and therefore understand I mean no harm and support you in whatever you choose to do.”
The entry in my diary I’m keeping to myself. I feel that discussion is done and over with and I don’t want to spend anymore energy in it.
“Jason, I trust you understand my shortcomings in communication and therefore understand I mean no harm and support you in whatever you choose to do.”
The entry in my diary I’m keeping to myself. I feel that discussion is done and over with and I don’t want to spend anymore energy in it.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Jason, I Hear You
If there is one person I should apologize to it is to you. I have been more often than not condescending about your whereabouts, your ideas, you philosophies and your life. Truth is, your life is your own and I trust you do the things you think are best. Whatever it is of communication that goes wrong between us or gets lost in space, I know we are on the same path of trying to do the right thing; our heads and hearts only believe in different things. I don't blame you for anything, I won't call you out and back for anything as much you never did me.
I feel I don't have to restore love between you and me for there never really was any loss of it; I still love you as much as I ever loved you. With that said I think I need to explain my past comments a little more. You with your views are behind on me. And you, who intents nothing but good (and apparently love) hasn't teach me anything new. It's not a complaint, it's only a fact. I have learnt those things when I was younger. I only feel sorry you didn't seem to have. I am happy you are now, I really am, even when it looks I'm only annoyed with you.
Keep on doing the works and then I will do mine. We will meet again I'm sure.
Just one more thing: You might want to think of stopping to tell people how they should live their lives. Don't you think it would be a better idea to do suggestions?
Response to: Jason Mraz's Freshnessfactorfivethousand:Taking RIOsponsibility
I feel I don't have to restore love between you and me for there never really was any loss of it; I still love you as much as I ever loved you. With that said I think I need to explain my past comments a little more. You with your views are behind on me. And you, who intents nothing but good (and apparently love) hasn't teach me anything new. It's not a complaint, it's only a fact. I have learnt those things when I was younger. I only feel sorry you didn't seem to have. I am happy you are now, I really am, even when it looks I'm only annoyed with you.
Keep on doing the works and then I will do mine. We will meet again I'm sure.
Just one more thing: You might want to think of stopping to tell people how they should live their lives. Don't you think it would be a better idea to do suggestions?
Response to: Jason Mraz's Freshnessfactorfivethousand:Taking RIOsponsibility
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)