Bookcase, bookcase on the wall
Wednesday, April 19, 2006 ~ Comments Off
Via pixeldiva. A meme.
What do my bookshelves say about me?
(more…)
Knowing me, Knowing you
Friday, April 7, 2006 ~ Comments Off
(aahhh hhaaaaAAAAAAA)
Snaffled from pixeldiva.
Apparently “What you are supposed to do is copy this entire blog entry and paste it onto a new blog entry that you’ll post. Change all the answers so they apply to you, and then publish! Leave a comment if you do this. The theory is that you will learn a lot of little (random) things about your friends, if you did not know them already.”
Sounds simple enough.
What time did you get up this morning?
7.15 am (that’s a “school day” lie-in for me).
Diamonds or pearls?
As in “necklace”? Silly question…
What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
Narnia – which was OK. Really REALLY need to get back to the cinema but we are caught in the trap of having stuff we both need to finish, and when we do take some time off we can’t be bothered going out.
What is your favourite TV show?
Hmmm. I’d say 24 at the moment, or House, or Grays Anatomy. Lost? Fuck it.. The Simpsons!
What do you usually have for breakfast?
Cereal. Always.
Favourite cuisine?
Chinese.
What food do you dislike?
Peppers. To my palate they dominate whatever dish they are used in and aren’t that nice to begin with.
What is your favourite CD at the moment?
Elbow – Leaders of the Free World.
Morning or night person?
Night. All mornings are evil.
Favourite sandwich?
A pesto chicken and mozzarella pannini from our local coffee shop in Hamilton. Delish. Better yet you can take them away uncooked and chuck them in the George Foreman. Double trouble.
What characteristic do you despise?
Arrogance. Apparently it’s something I display on occasion and anytime this is pointed out to me a little part of me dies. I can’t stand those know-it-all preachy wankers who think that everyone WANTS to listen to them, and who refuse to listen to other people.
Favourite item of clothing?
Either my red woolly jumper, or my jogging bottoms. The former because it was one of those few items of clothing that I just KNEW I should buy, the latter because they signal a day of lounging around on the sofa. In saying that I’m a terrible shopper when it comes to clothes, I always know what I want before I start and rarely, if ever, find it. The red jumper was something of an impulse buy, which is probably why I rate it as a favourite.
If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would it be?
I hate these questions. I’m always torn between a city destination – San Francisco – and somewhere else. Somewhere a little off the beaten track, somewhere that’s clean and quiet and has a beach I can lie on all day.
What colour is your bathroom?
White, grey and purpley-lilac, with an absolutely minging mushroom coloured sweet (which is on the list of “things wot we must replace”).
Favourite brand of clothing?
Threadless if they are considered a brand… other than that I’m not fussed… George? (see previous comment about shopping for clothes)
Where would you retire to?
Somewhere warm and near water, either the coast or a lake.
What was your most memorable birthday?
The last one. I have a terrible memory. Ohh OK, probably my 21st which included my ‘fairy’ godmother turning up dressed as a fairy, tutu and all!!
Favourite sport to watch?
Anything. Honestly, I’ve yet to find a sport I can’t lose hours watching. I prefer football, rugby, and basketball, but will watch pretty much anything that’s competitive.
Who do you least expect to complete this?
Peter from Naked Blog.
Person you expect to complete it first?
Someone that I don’t read regularly.
Person who is least busy?
Me! Must be, to have time to do this!
When is your birthday?
October 17th.
What is your shoe size?
10.
Pets?
Not at the moment.
Any new and exciting news you’d like to share with us?
It’s raining here at the moment. Whilst this isn’t exciting it’s always new (and means yet another weekend where we won’t be able to give the grass it’s first cut of the year!).
What did you want to be when you were little?
Anything as long as it was to do with music… DJ maybe? Studio technician to the stars?
What is your favourite flower?
Strelitzia reginae (that’s birds of paradise or crane flower to you lot), or anything that is… I dunno… more architectural looking than, say, a daisy. OK, not sure that makes sense.
What date on the calendar are you looking forward to?
1st November 2006. That will mark the end of a hugely crap (non-calendar) year.
One word to describe the person who you snaffled this from?
Foxy.
You know…
Friday, March 24, 2006 ~ Comments Off
(stolen from the ever lovely Gunnella)
… you are living in 2006 when:
1. You accidentally enter your password on the microwave.
2. You haven’t played solitaire with real cards in years.
3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of three.
4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.
5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don’t have e-mail addresses.
6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.
7. Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen.
8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn’t have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.
10. You get up in the morning and go on line before getting your coffee.
11. You’re reading this and nodding and laughing.
12. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this message.
13. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list.
14. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn’t a #9 on this list.
AND NOW U R LAUGHING at yourself.
I’m only posting this because I did (14) and I am laughing. For the record, I don’t do 6, but have a wife who does… and 3 should be expand to say that you don’t KNOW the numbers as they are stored under names on your mobile. These are the times.
The Book Title Meme
Saturday, March 18, 2006 ~ Comments Off
Don’t let the title put you off, this is no ordinary meme. Firstly, and for a change, I know who started it, but most of all this meme requires a fair amount of pondering and no small amount of writing – after all, you’ll be trying to match up to a published author! Enough of my waffle then – there are six parts to this meme, instructions included for clarity.
1. The Dying of Delight
“Briefly describe an aspect of your life for which ‘The Dying Of Delight’ would be an apt title.”
The state of delightedness, of enchantment, is hard to attain. So hard that many people stop trying and let themselves be grind down by the machinations of life. They’re too busy, too important, too stressed, too hurried to let delight creep into their lives. Take a look around you, everywhere you look you’ll see it, the mirroring of lost souls reflected softly and completely in the ripples of a puddle, a leaf cartwheeling and spinning along the pavement.
I refuse this state. Not constantly, nor with any great zeal or vigour but steadily and continually. My delight will not be left to dribble away, to become so muted as to be ignored regardless of the events of my life. I refuse.
For without delight what have we? Darkness descending, and everything you care for pushed away, held away at arms length and beyond. I refuse.
My delight may fade, sputter and spin in the wind but I will not let it be extinguished. Life without delight is surely too terrible and morose to contemplate, and leads down a path I’ve trodden before. Once more I refuse.
OK, that wasn’t in keeping with the spirit of things but it’s what came out…
2. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
“Pick another book whose title has some resonance in your life, and write a little about it.”
The book deals, in a roundabout way, with seeing things from a different point of view and I guess it’s something I’ve always thought I did quite well. I occasionally put it down to the fact that I’m a Libra, but as I don’t really believe in that kind of nonsense I guess I should really try and pin it down with something a little more concrete (a large piece of masonry perhaps?).
I can remember, whilst still at school, hearing about someone’s older sister who had become a diplomat. I can remember looking the word up, and the definition of diplomatic stuck in my head. I can remember thinking “I could do that”, and for a long time time I believed I could.
Fast forward twenty years and I know now – ain’t hindsight wonderful – that I’m not as diplomatic as I thought, and that whilst I can usually see both sides of each story and usually find it easy to empathise with the other person, I’m frequently becoming more and more intolerant and rigid in my views. Liberals are too liberal, conservatives too conservative, and nowhere can I find a middle ground that suits me.
For a while I lost my ability to see things from a different point of view and, if I’m honest, it was hugely liberating and scared me shitless. From being a considerate and thoughtful human being I suddenly became a single-minded, blinkered shadow of myself. I didn’t like it one bit.
These days I treasure my ability to view things from a different angle, to see the other side, and ultimately to understand that other people have to do things the way they do them, even if I don’t understand the reason why.
3. What Women Want Men to Know
“Write one more short personal piece – one which matches the book title chosen (in part 2) by the person who tagged you.”
The glib answer would be something witty and comic, a good old fashioned sexist comment like “they want you to know what they WANT without them knowing themselves” or something simpler like “they want you to know that if you leave the toilet seat up one more time they’ll place your knackers under it and slam it shut”…
The real answer is harder to find because I’m not entirely sure I know any of the answers. I’m still learning you see, and maybe that’s the best way. Rather than presume what I THINK women want men to know, by which I mean what Louise wants me to know, it’s better to work from the assumption that you need to listen, learn and constantly re-evaluate everything you think you knew.
That sounds very tiring but trust me, when it’s with someone you love that’s half the fun! (the other half I can’t mention on here… my Mum reads this you know..)
4. The Dying of Delight
“Take your favourite little-known book and plug it to your readers. Authors need incomes, and word of mouth is one of the best ways to sell books.”
Is this cheating? Possibly, but it’s the best “little-known” book I’ve read in a long long time, so why the hell not. Here’s what I had to say about it. Now visit www.TheDyingOfDelight.co.uk and see if you’d like a copy for yourself.
5. Sit back and marvel at the magnificence of this meme.
It was brought to you by an out-of-breath author, reduced (on account of her publisher* having expired) to trundling copies of her book across the internet on a rusty old trolley with one wheel missing, sweating and shouting “Buy me book, Gov?” Now visit www.TheDyingOfDelight.co.uk and see if you’d like a copy for yourself.
6 .Tag five people with this meme
Whether the people I’m tagging have the time, or inclination, will be seen but I’ve chosen carefully.
First up, that book reader extraordinaire, Karen. Then, in no particular order (and without introduction as it’s late and I’m knackered) Clair, Daisy, Lyle and, to try and tempt him back into blogland, Mr. Hg.
20 Tracks Meme
Tuesday, March 7, 2006 ~ Comments Off
Blame Armin, even if he has the cheek to ‘tag’ people despite avoiding most of the questions himself! Put a bit of effort in man!
1. A track from your early childhood
Save All Your Kisses For Me by Brotherhood of Man. They wore dungarees. I wore dungarees, although mine were a homage to Oor Wullie. And yes, I knew the dance. Rumour has it I still knew it years later when it came on at a ‘disco’… lies I tell you!
2. A track that you associate with your first love
Sweet Child O’ Mine by Guns ‘N’ Roses. Because it’s either that or something by Roxette… ick. I’ve mentioned this before.
3. A track that reminds you of a holiday trip
Telegraph Road by Dire Straits. First camping trip to France when I was 15, recently discovered Dire Straits back catalogue (this wasn’t long after Brothers in Arms). Probably the first time I heard (or actually listened to) a song that told a story. Ohh and I’ve mentioned this before too.
4. A track that you like but wouldn’t want to be associated with in public
None. Not even Save All Your Kisses For Me. Honest.
5. A track that accompanied you when you were lovesick
And So It Goes by Billy Joel. Still makes me blub like a baby.
6. A track that you have probably listened to most often
Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. Well, come on!!
7. A track that is your favourite instrumental
Classical is instrumental, right? Probably Gymnopedie No 1 by Satie.
8. A track that represents one of your favourite bands
Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. Well, come on!! (this is easy this!)
9. A track which represents yourself best
Times Like These by the Foo Fighters. “I am a little divided.”
10. A track that reminds you of a special occasion (which one?)
You Are So Beautiful by Joe Cocker. The occasion, my wedding day.
11. A track that you can relax to
Teardrop by Massive Attack.
12. A track that stands for a really good time in your life
Loch Lomond by Runrig. Probably tainted by nostalgia but it was the best of times with friends all gathered on the banks of the very Loch we were all singing about, fireworks blazing over head and tears of happiness streaming down my face. Lorraine Kelly quite enjoyed herself too.
13. A track that is currently your favourite
From the Ritz to the Rubble by the Arctic Monkeys. A wonderful example of storytelling. And yes, I know I’m supposed to be too old to like them but their strength lies in their resonance (he said, not quite sure of what he means but very sure of what he’s trying to convey).
14. A track that you’d dedicate to your best friend
There Comes A Time by Martin Stephenson. For my mate Ian.
15. A track that you think nobody but you likes
Plug It In by Basement Jaxx (featuring one of the blokes from N’Sync). Best track on the album by far.
16. A track that you like especially for its lyrics
Ooberman by Shorley Wall. As previously mentioned.
17. A track that you like that’s neither English nor German
Amor Verdadero by Afro-Cuban All Stars. Languid and very very Latin. If this doesn’t get yer hips moving you need a replacement or two!
18. A track that lets you release tension best
Calm like a bomb by Rage Against the Machine. IGNITE IGNITE IGNITE, shouted over some rasping huge power chords, nicely distorted. Rage indeed.
19. A track that you want to be played on your funeral
Hmm not something I’d really thought about.. dunno for sure, but definitely something upbeat to finish with. Barber’s Adagio for Strings would be nice too… bit sad though.
20. A track that you’d nominate for the “best of all times” category
Hotel California by The Eagles. ‘Cos it’s a great track.
Again, no tagging. Baton, grab, etc etc.
Desert Island Time Limit
Monday, March 6, 2006 ~ Comments Off
Pick eight significant songs to take to your desert island, but you only have two days to come up with them, said Rob.
1. Angel by Massive Attack
The pounding bassline grabs you by throat whilst Horace Andy’s gentle falsetto sings of the unrequited love of a dark menace. My desert island will have a very loud sound system and immersing myself in this growling, heaving, throbbing track will provide both aggressive relief and calming breaths. It’s the paradox that this track offers that makes it a compulsive, repeat, listen for me.
2. The Other Side by David Gray
This one is all about the lyrics. Soft piano chords introduce a sad song, minor keys mirror the hope of a lost man, a man about to start a personal journey through which he remains unsure of his position “sick of hearing my own lies”.
3. A Day in the Life by The Beatles
The best track on one of the best albums (Sgt. Pepper) this track has everything that The Beatles were good at, the opening melancholy, the cheery reciting of a man making his way to work, and that huge building crescendo. The final multi-layered chord providing the tumultous close (barring the repeated nonsense that was recorded beyond the end of the LP, meaning those with auto-return arms on their record players would never hear it… it looped over and over if you let it).
4. Loveshack by the B52′s
The sun is setting on my desert island, me and the crabs have had a little too much home-made rum, so what better track to bung on, turn up and “get dowwwnnnn” to. The perfect hybrid of sunny, silly pop and good old fashioned rock. If YOU see a faded sign by the side of the road, keep on going. This loveshack is mine, baby!
5. Scottish Rain by The Silencers
A glorious love song that gently sweeps over you, this remains my favourite track of theirs, never failing to evoke memories and images from years gone. Even now, writing this silly little meme, a lump is forming in my throat. And whatever better way, as I lie baking under the harsh sun, to remember my homeland in all it’s hues and colours.
6. Fat Bottomed Girls by Queen
Determined to choose a track by my favourite ever band, it is somewhat troublesome given the depth of their catalogue. So I decided to plump for what they were best at, gloriously over the top pomp rock. From the opening harmonies to the slow build from guitar through the bass, the subtle handclaps and the rolling intro of the drums, this is a corker. Best still, as I’m all alone on the island I get to pick up a stick, spin, whirl, stomp my feet and “be Freddie” for 4 minutes and 16 seconds.
7. Fake Plastic Trees by Radiohead
Still sends shivers up my spine. Thom Yorke’s soaring vocal, strummed guitar and the way this track builds made me realise that rock’n'roll wasn’t all about noise and pop music wasn’t always cheery. Still a favourite album, always a favourite track.
8. Blackbird by The Beatles
Such a simple song. So beautiful. I could listen to it all day.
Now, I’m supposed to “tag” two people with this… but I can’t be arsed. Sorry. Meme overkill.
Let me know if you pick up the baton.
iTunes Meme
Saturday, January 28, 2006 ~ Comments Off
Meme alert. Yes, always a sure sign that I’m too busy to be bothered actually putting some effort into posting here, it’s meme time. This one was stolen from Neil and has scared me a little, particularly the first set of stats. Who the hell needs that many tracks?*
How many total songs?
11,937 songs, equal to 35.3 days or 59.38 GB. And I’ve still got a few CDs left to rip, need a new hard drive first!
Sort by song title – first and last?
First: ’39 by Queen (album track from A Night at the Opera) – a lovely banjo lead ditty about space travel.
Last: Zuton Fever by The Zutons (album track from Who killed the Zutons?) – slightly narcissistic, no?
Sort by time – shortest and longest?
Shortest: Reprise by Queen at 4 secs. However shortest actually track is probably Passive Manipulation by the White Stripes at 34 secs long (short).
Longest: Beethoven’s 9th performed by BBC Philharmonic, 1 hr, 7 mins and 24 secs. Bizarrely the longest non-classical track (excluding mixes) is Reprise by Queen which runs to 22 mins and 33 secs. I’m thinking that’l
Sort by Album – first and last?
First: ’64-’95 by Lemon Jelly
Last: Zooropa by U2
Sort by Artist – first and last?
First: !!! – or 10,000 Maniacs if yer fussy about your alphabetised lists
Last: ZZ Top – of course!!!
Top five played songs?
1. Future Proof by Massive Attack, from the album 100th Window
2. She Will Have Her Way by Neil Finn, from the album Try Whistling This
3. All I Need by Air, from the album Moon Safari
4. Think Twice by Carl Craig, from the album Detroit Experiment
5. Train by Goldfrapp, from the album Black Cherry
Find the following words. How many songs show up?
Figures in brackets are song titles only
Sex: 66 (32)
Death: 30 (14)
Love: 657 (512)
You: 1344 (997)
Home: 102 (63)
Boy: 319 (88)
Girl: 178 (124)
Interesting. And I can highly recommend all the linked albums, blimey I’ve got great taste! Go on, show me yours.
* Ok, this has actually made me stop and think. I’ve slowly been ripping all my CDs to the PC, entire CDs, whether I like every track or not they are all there. I don’t delete tracks just because I don’t like them. I wonder, am I thinking of this the wrong way? Surely iTunes should only hold music that I will listen to and not be used to store hundreds of tracks that will never get played? And don’t even get me started on the perplexing issue that is duplicated tracks.
An example: The version of Fat Bottomed Girls on the album Queen Rocks! has been remastered from an old recording and sounds much better than either the original version from the album (Jazz) or the version from the Greatest Hits album. What I SHOULD do, is delete the two other versions I don’t listen to, but then I wouldn’t have the complete albums…
Is it just me? Is it an age thing where an ‘album’ is still a definitive piece of work that should be kept in it’s entirety or should I be switching to a new digital model where I can create my OWN albums, featuring versions of songs I like and ditching the rest? Ohh this could keep me up all night. What do YOU do?