Friday, August 24, 2007
Having us on!
That darn Stevie Wonder!! I saw this today and realised that he's been having us all on. He simply must be sighted else how could he do this?!! link
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Haven't they got anything better to do ....
I wish I was 70 years old right now.
According to the BBC (link) not only are the aged community having tonnes of red hot, steamy sex, but they are on the Internet more than anyone else too! ("more than any other age group" according to the BBC again (link))
What I really mean is that I wish I had their free time and access to top totty and gigabits of bandwidth.
On the face of it I would assume that all this surfing is for crazy porn, but I suspect it's more likely to be gardening (naked of course) and pensions.
Just check out the interweb's search engine for the over 50s, however, (www.cranky.com) and you will see that the number 1 search was for... yep that's right: SEX!! The number 2 search was for Ed Sullivan so I'm a little sceptical that a) there isn't just one user of Cranky who looks up sex and Ed Sullivan all day and b) it's not complete rubbish!
BTW, whatever you do, don't look at www.granny.com
According to the BBC (link) not only are the aged community having tonnes of red hot, steamy sex, but they are on the Internet more than anyone else too! ("more than any other age group" according to the BBC again (link))
What I really mean is that I wish I had their free time and access to top totty and gigabits of bandwidth.
On the face of it I would assume that all this surfing is for crazy porn, but I suspect it's more likely to be gardening (naked of course) and pensions.
Just check out the interweb's search engine for the over 50s, however, (www.cranky.com) and you will see that the number 1 search was for... yep that's right: SEX!! The number 2 search was for Ed Sullivan so I'm a little sceptical that a) there isn't just one user of Cranky who looks up sex and Ed Sullivan all day and b) it's not complete rubbish!
BTW, whatever you do, don't look at www.granny.com
Future, schmuture
In the future humans will look back on this period as we look back on the Victorians. I feel that we are on the cusp (within my lifetime I hope) or a major scientific discovery akin to Einstein's Relativity theories which will provide some more answers in tying up the nature of the universe. Our theories don't quite cut it at the moment, but I feel like there's something big lurking under the surface of our current knowledge (a monster!!: link).
To think of one's descendants looking back on our current age with a sort of wistful patronage is slightly disturbing, but no less problematic than our forefathers' image of the future. Their beliefs in their own success and (especially late 19th Century) arrogance in their own knowledge are not too far removed from our current arrogance and beliefs. Science continually thinks it's the best thing since sliced bread, but time and time again (by very nature of the scientific method) is proved wrong when new theories come to light. This is the normal way to conduct science, but I wish that sometimes we would have more creativity and humility in the science I see.
On a slightly different future tip it is my belief that in the future all of humanity will be vegetarian. Exactly when in the future is difficult to predict, but I think that within 200 years or so. If this is the case why not make the effort now and be a bit proactive. My descendants would be proud that I was vegetarian at a relatively early period. When looking for moral guidance I often extrapolate humanity into the future and ask the question how would we do it in 500 years? If I can mimic that behaviour now then that is a truly advanced way to be. Obviously this is based on pure conjecture, but it's fun and, anyway, how else are we supposed to find a moral pathway?! Certainly not based on our history. In spite of the growing ills in society I still think that as we move forward in time we become more enlightened, educated and civilised.
How do I judge what our society will be like in the future? It's tricky, but there are some fundamental things that I think I can count on:
1. Technology will be far more advanced than can be imagined at the moment
2. There will be too many people on the planet
3. We will have harnessed practically endless supplies of energy
4. We will have colonised other worlds
5. Organised religion will have all but disappeared
6. We will have discovered methods to prolong human life well beyond the current limits
I believe that these changes will bring about grand changes in morality, including vegetarianism (if only for practical and health reasons or necessity(link)), but also things like violence and harm to others.
There is a long way to go and probably several wars and terrible events and, of course, this is all a little bit tenuous, but quite plausible. It's also a little bit "Star Trek", but I believe that this will happen within a few hundred years. Else as a species we are doomed!
... and it's not just me: link
To think of one's descendants looking back on our current age with a sort of wistful patronage is slightly disturbing, but no less problematic than our forefathers' image of the future. Their beliefs in their own success and (especially late 19th Century) arrogance in their own knowledge are not too far removed from our current arrogance and beliefs. Science continually thinks it's the best thing since sliced bread, but time and time again (by very nature of the scientific method) is proved wrong when new theories come to light. This is the normal way to conduct science, but I wish that sometimes we would have more creativity and humility in the science I see.
On a slightly different future tip it is my belief that in the future all of humanity will be vegetarian. Exactly when in the future is difficult to predict, but I think that within 200 years or so. If this is the case why not make the effort now and be a bit proactive. My descendants would be proud that I was vegetarian at a relatively early period. When looking for moral guidance I often extrapolate humanity into the future and ask the question how would we do it in 500 years? If I can mimic that behaviour now then that is a truly advanced way to be. Obviously this is based on pure conjecture, but it's fun and, anyway, how else are we supposed to find a moral pathway?! Certainly not based on our history. In spite of the growing ills in society I still think that as we move forward in time we become more enlightened, educated and civilised.
How do I judge what our society will be like in the future? It's tricky, but there are some fundamental things that I think I can count on:
1. Technology will be far more advanced than can be imagined at the moment
2. There will be too many people on the planet
3. We will have harnessed practically endless supplies of energy
4. We will have colonised other worlds
5. Organised religion will have all but disappeared
6. We will have discovered methods to prolong human life well beyond the current limits
I believe that these changes will bring about grand changes in morality, including vegetarianism (if only for practical and health reasons or necessity(link)), but also things like violence and harm to others.
There is a long way to go and probably several wars and terrible events and, of course, this is all a little bit tenuous, but quite plausible. It's also a little bit "Star Trek", but I believe that this will happen within a few hundred years. Else as a species we are doomed!
... and it's not just me: link
I love slavery
Not so long ago approximately ten million Africans were captured and sold (sometimes by fellow Africans) to European traders (link). These people were re-sold and brutally oppressed in a foreign land for money and privelege. The terrible life these people lived was beyond comprehension and can only be viewed as a stain on humanity. Without this shocking period in history, however, we would almost certainly not have Jazz, Blues and therefore Rock and Roll and therefore no Beatles, no Genesis etc etc etc.
Of course I am being flippant. In no way do I condone the slave trade, however by the benefit of hindsight we can say that some good did come out of this event.
It's impossible to say what would have happened to music had slavery never happened. It may well have picked up African influences anyway, but in any event I doubt whether we would have the richness and diversity in music that we have now.
Of course we wouldn't have had James Blunt. Hmmmm ....
Of course I am being flippant. In no way do I condone the slave trade, however by the benefit of hindsight we can say that some good did come out of this event.
It's impossible to say what would have happened to music had slavery never happened. It may well have picked up African influences anyway, but in any event I doubt whether we would have the richness and diversity in music that we have now.
Of course we wouldn't have had James Blunt. Hmmmm ....
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Vinegar and garlic
I like to cook. I hope I am fairly adept at most styles of cooking and can create dishes that I think are authentic and tasty from most cultures. One that I have always had trouble with is Indian cuisine. I have been cooking curries for years, but have never been able to make something that truly resembles my idea of ideal Indian food (e.g. from an Indian restaurant since I have never been to India).
Last weekend I think I cracked it! Gary Rhodes has a very good TV programme being aired at the moment based entirely on Indian cuisine and this inspired me to look up some of his recipes and try them out.
The programme seems to consist of Gary's incredulity when faced with a respected Indian chef telling him for the third time to add more garlic, chillies, onions etc. Gary seems to be stuck in a European mode and looks aghast when it's suggested that 12 chillies need to be added! Obviously this is a little bit calculated and in the end the food turns out fine and not too hot for Gary's delicate palette.
The basic problems I was having were not using enough onions, not adding spices in a paste, not using enough chillies, and not cooking for long enough and not using enough butter.
I still have some way to go to get the spices right, but the consistency and colour was spot on.
I also made some barbecued paneer which was stunningly good!
If anyone reads this blog and thinks they might feel generous enough to give me a gift then I would love a cooking tour of India as a present.
Another interesting fact to arise from Gary's programme was that the word Vindaloo does not mean crazy hot spicy curry to be eaten after having too much lager and testosterone. In fact it comes from Portuguese (via Goa) and means wine/vinegar and garlic. Therefore a proper vindaloo has hints of vinegar and garlic rather than copious amounts of hot chillies!
Last weekend I think I cracked it! Gary Rhodes has a very good TV programme being aired at the moment based entirely on Indian cuisine and this inspired me to look up some of his recipes and try them out.
The programme seems to consist of Gary's incredulity when faced with a respected Indian chef telling him for the third time to add more garlic, chillies, onions etc. Gary seems to be stuck in a European mode and looks aghast when it's suggested that 12 chillies need to be added! Obviously this is a little bit calculated and in the end the food turns out fine and not too hot for Gary's delicate palette.
The basic problems I was having were not using enough onions, not adding spices in a paste, not using enough chillies, and not cooking for long enough and not using enough butter.
I still have some way to go to get the spices right, but the consistency and colour was spot on.
I also made some barbecued paneer which was stunningly good!
If anyone reads this blog and thinks they might feel generous enough to give me a gift then I would love a cooking tour of India as a present.
Another interesting fact to arise from Gary's programme was that the word Vindaloo does not mean crazy hot spicy curry to be eaten after having too much lager and testosterone. In fact it comes from Portuguese (via Goa) and means wine/vinegar and garlic. Therefore a proper vindaloo has hints of vinegar and garlic rather than copious amounts of hot chillies!
Monday, August 13, 2007
Two blokes dancing
Many ideas exist as to why we laugh. In my opinion it's much more complicated than most people think. If you try to analyse why things are funny it becomes difficult very quickly. Some things are not funny to some whilst being hilarious to others.
This amused me a lot today. Not only is it funny because of the visual aspect of these two dudes dancing together, but the setting up of the idea that there's a place where two grown men dance together on stage for the visual pleasure of a large crowd is not only ridiculous, but very funny (to me at least).
I have heard comedians describe aspects of their own humour this way too, for example the argument sketch of Monty Python springs to mind, although much more blatant in its premise.
This video is not just two blokes dancing, it's on a whole different level ....
N.B. On Ellipses: when used in an aposiopetic way there should be 4 dots (according to Wikipedia anyway!).
This amused me a lot today. Not only is it funny because of the visual aspect of these two dudes dancing together, but the setting up of the idea that there's a place where two grown men dance together on stage for the visual pleasure of a large crowd is not only ridiculous, but very funny (to me at least).
I have heard comedians describe aspects of their own humour this way too, for example the argument sketch of Monty Python springs to mind, although much more blatant in its premise.
This video is not just two blokes dancing, it's on a whole different level ....
N.B. On Ellipses: when used in an aposiopetic way there should be 4 dots (according to Wikipedia anyway!).
To hell with their rights
Perhaps it's a sense of injustice or vengeance, but stories like this: link, make me think that our society has to get tougher on the perpetrators of violent crime.
Every sane person in this country knows that violent crime is not only against the law, but immoral. How is it, then, that our society condones this behaviour by not sentencing in the most aggressive way possible.
I have sympathy with liberals who argue that giving harsh sentences does not stop the causes of these crimes (lack of opportunities, poor parenting etc), but that's missing the point. If we don't show society that acts of violence will effectively mean the end of the perpetrator's life (in real or effective terms) then we will continue to lose the battle.
Of course we need to offer more opportunities and make better our parenting skills, but these things take time.
For the moment there's yet another family destroyed by yobs who will perhaps be given life sentences. This only means 10 years in prison. THAT IS NOT ENOUGH!
Time and time again it is shown that our society wants tougher sentences, but the powers that be think they know better and rely on changes to society via government. THESE DON'T WORK! The average member of society is not intelligent enough to realise that we need to either increase the efficiency of our society's infrastructure (which means working harder) or pay more taxes. The effect of doing neither results in a degradation in society. This has been happening for decades.
I want to live in a society where there's no violent crime. I think we need to get very tough on offenders and to hell with their rights. I grow to hate politicians more and more each day...
Every sane person in this country knows that violent crime is not only against the law, but immoral. How is it, then, that our society condones this behaviour by not sentencing in the most aggressive way possible.
I have sympathy with liberals who argue that giving harsh sentences does not stop the causes of these crimes (lack of opportunities, poor parenting etc), but that's missing the point. If we don't show society that acts of violence will effectively mean the end of the perpetrator's life (in real or effective terms) then we will continue to lose the battle.
Of course we need to offer more opportunities and make better our parenting skills, but these things take time.
For the moment there's yet another family destroyed by yobs who will perhaps be given life sentences. This only means 10 years in prison. THAT IS NOT ENOUGH!
Time and time again it is shown that our society wants tougher sentences, but the powers that be think they know better and rely on changes to society via government. THESE DON'T WORK! The average member of society is not intelligent enough to realise that we need to either increase the efficiency of our society's infrastructure (which means working harder) or pay more taxes. The effect of doing neither results in a degradation in society. This has been happening for decades.
I want to live in a society where there's no violent crime. I think we need to get very tough on offenders and to hell with their rights. I grow to hate politicians more and more each day...
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