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December 31 The Christmas ChroniclesUnknown periods of time passing are denoted by ' ----------------------------'. I would have dated each section or used a 'Day 3 of the Christmas Nightmare' kinda style but within a few hours, time stopped and everything merged into one black hole of death. I therefore didn't bother to check the clock when writing. ---------------------------- So I got on a train to Manchester. It was hard but I did it. For a while there, I thought I might be saved the pain, as planes were grounded due to fog and the train system was pretty crammed, but I got on and did manage to get a seat. I arrived at my parents house by 11:30, and hiding little contempt for the imminent journey to skegness butlins, I tried to avoid everyone. Desperately searching for reasons we couldn't go, I spent the next day in silent contemplation. Dad set off with Auntie Ethel, Grandma, and Kai, while I waited for mum to finish work so we could drive there later in the evening. Emma, Tony, and his mum had also made the trip earlier in the day. As evening came, Emma told me it's an Abba tribute band on tonight, which I learnt was 'dead good'. Setting off, the GPS struggled to get a route, and I had to guess on an initial direction. On making a route plan it soon directed me off into Oldham where we drove along small roads and back streets. About half an hour into this insane route mum remembered she'd set her GPS to avoid highways because she doesn't like driving fast. Seriously. Deactivating this blockade, it hastily directed us to the motorway, which happened to go back past Rochdale, our initial starting point. Driving down the slip road we brushed an impressive 50mph as we soared downwards with the wind behind our back. Once the road became uphill, our speed rapidly dropped off. I pulled onto the hard shoulder and soon a police officer was behind us. Turns out the clutch had gone, and with another hour vanished into nothingness, we arrived home in a tow truck, £105 and one car worse off. So at least we can't get to... Oh no no no, Tony and Emma drive back to get us. They didn't empty the car first, and Tony drives with his seat touching the back one, my legs remained completely trapped for the next two hours, getting into Butlins tired, very hungry, and very thirsty, at 5am. It'll be worth it though - there's a postman pat parade later. Merry Christmas one and all. ---------------------------- It didn't get any better. There's nothing to do here and they're family chalets so I don't get much space. We had the Christmas dinner which was mass catered food, in a hall with a bunch of other families. To order we had to put our hands up when they read out the choices (2 per course) so the red coat could count us. I made the mistake of putting my hand up to head height, much like the level you would use to swear an oath. This seemed sufficient for me, but oh no, you have to put it *all* the way up. ever noticed how 'Red Coat' and 'Red Shirt' are so similar? I spent the meal thinking about whether that might be significant. ---------------------------- I didn't sleep very well over that Christmas trip from hell. I'm absolutely shattered and while I want to just leave now and go home, not to return for some time, I also can't be bothered to make the journey. Simon Kelly's in town for Christmas and it'd be good to see him. I'd also like to see Caleb. I'm just going to go on any given day when I'm ready and leave it at that. ---------------------------- Seeing Simon was good. We spent the entire day in some pub or other talking about old times and catching up. Simon, Dan, Amanda and family are my friends in the south east midlands. I've had the pleasure of knowing them for quite some years now and time spent with them is always a breath of fresh air. Simon left about 2 and I was up till past 4. Might go home tomorrow. ---------------------------- Sometimes we do crazy things. We pretend we're still young and don't know any better, like we're still at college and OC rules are the way to play the game. But we're not kids, and we do know what's right and wrong. Never disregard those people truly important to you, don't leave behind a real friend, or offend and disrespect the ones who are always there when all else has gone. Sure, sometimes we need a bit of craziness, a bit of fun. But we don't have to abandon our integrity or hurt what we love while we let off some steam. Though it's hard, I don't begrudge, because I know you'll need me, and I still care, but you do make it really hard. I hope too that others won't begrudge me, because I know I need them as I always have, and I care for them as well. I'm going to take some space, and allow me that rite - don't think I've left you, I'll be back in time, but test my strength and patience just now and I'll knock you on your ass. Basically. ---------------------------- I'm back in London. It's... it's not quite in the shape I needed... but it'll be ok. I feel a bit better. I think. Bleh - prolly not, I'm as much on my own here I guess, only... when I'm on my own here, I'm actually on my own - not on my own while with a bunch of people - and I think the latter is worse. To be fair - anything is better than being in Butlins. Have a Happy New Year. __ Phil December 18 Wings of the Angels"If ever we need proof that God is a rebel, we need only look to creation. December 15 Fly me to the MoonSo NASA announced plans to build a manned moon base by 2024. I read the news… it popped up all over the place for a while, but a fair share of the articles were casting doubts on NASA’s ability and determination to see it through, and wondered if this was more a publicity stunt announcement.
While most of you prolly saw that news too, you may have missed the closely following announcements by China, India, Europe, and (at least) one Russian corporation of their plans to have… guess what, manned moon bases by the post 2020 years. This isn’t a publicity stunt ladies and gents – we just entered another space race. Why the hurry all of a sudden? Helium-3. As fossil fuels are running out (and they really really are running out – like seriously… out out), and renewable energy sources are, for all their PR and advancements, still a way short of being a full solution, everyone’s wondering what will power our world in 20 years time. Some significant lobbies pin their hopes to Helium-3, which is rare on earth, but plentiful on our little moon.
There are doubts about the economy of mining energy on the moon and transporting it back to earth, but many see moon expansion as an inevitable step anyway, so… may as well do it now while you’d also gain control over what may be the worlds primary energy source for quite some time. Whatever the scales involved, the larger nations are all very keen to get their first, suddenly investing billions into their space programs. So what are our chances?
Well the UK’s in a pretty good spot I suppose, as good as can be at least. We’re on friendly terms with NASA, a bunch of joint projects and agreements under our belts, as well as alliances in other areas that have dubbed us their best… admittedly their only mates. This ‘special relationship’ doesn’t appear to have been harmed by the fact that we’ve recently agreed to partner the Chinese Space Agency, helping them rapidly develop their now heavily supported space endeavors – they have the resources, we have the expertise. And of course, we are a major play in the ESA, so if on an outside chance Europe ends up getting their first, we’ll be ok (hey, we did make the Typhoon together and it’s a very good plane – you never know). Britain and Russia aren’t stranger to co-operation on space projects either, though Russian ambitions aren’t government led so I don’t know where we stand on that.
Yeah – it’s a little sly, covering all the bases like this. What? India? Oh, well… I’m no rocket scientists but I saw a glimpse of the Indian Space Program and I seriously doubt those things are going to get people to the moon. It kind of reminded me of a Blue Peter creation. Anyway, we’re in bed with most of the programs. How exciting eh? Another Space Race, and potentially, control of earth economy will go to the victor. Woohoo. I have to upset the people who think you own a bit of the moon… I wouldn’t rely on a buyout sum in the post – the Moon Treaty of 1979 is an international agreement that nullifies any nations’ or individuals’ ownership of moon real-estate, and it was signed by… well, just about every nation you’re likely to have bought one in/to get to the moon. They are considering scrapping the treaty and devising a new system to allow for cooperate organistaions to function on that territory, but wither way, they’re not going to be honoring those certificates.
Sucks to be you. Anywho.. what an age we live in eh?
__ Phil December 14 The Calls not MadeThe Road not Taken Robert Frost
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood
and sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
and looked down one as far as I could
to where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
and having perhaps the better claim
because it was grassy and wanted wear;
though as for that, the passing there
had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
in leaves no feet had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I --
I took the one less travelled by,
and that has made all the difference December 13 CelebrationsToday is a landmark for MercyOnMySoul.co.uk, for today, we breached 15000 page views. Since I never used to look at the stats pages and completely missed 10000, I'm making the deal of 15000 instead. December 12 Console War UpdateThese figures have been more illusive than Bin Laden, but finally a few numbers for us to look at:
Market researchers at NPD said November sales are as follows:
This of course means... nothing. Though MSN's claim that the XBox had won the console war, while in the wrong tense and by no means certain, is not as entirely without base as I thought it would be. PS3 Fanboys have said it's not fair cos the 360 was out all month so it had more days. This is of course crap, because the PS3 had that whole 'launch' thing, while the 360 had no hype at all. If anything, sales for the 360 should be long over by now - it had it's high sales at the launch last year and following Christmas. Since then, everyone's had a birthday too. It's been available all year and all their fanboys and even those who just kinda wanted one will have bought one, and have been playing games on it for months. These figures are therefore just Novembers 'second Christmas round' shoppers for the 360, which should have pailed in comparison to the PS3 debut sales. But they are right - it's not a fair measure, because you can easily buy a 360, while PS3's aren't actually available without extreme devotion. This is supported by comparing these sales with the previous gen and seeing that X-Box sales aren't high - they're not far off par with the original X-Box Sales. What we see here is that PS3 sales are low. The reason for this is probably only because Sony forgot to make any consoles. I'm sure when there are PS3's actually on sale, the sales will rise. Probably. I'd comment more on the Wii but from what I read... no-one talks about it in terms of console wars. If you want one, you get one, if you don't, you don't. It's not really seen as competing as much as 'an optional extra' to the gamers and 'a console for you' for none gamers. A very shrewd move for Nintendo. Kudos to them. It's not all plain sailing though... http://www.wiihaveaproblem.com/Anyway - I just wanted ot share those pointless figures with you... which now I think about it... was pointless. Ah well. From the Dept. of OTT Reactions... maybe...Wow - this place is practically getting a political theme!
Germany are considering laws that would make violent computer games illegal (but not films, TV, books, or anything else.. not yet anyway). In any case, Germany is a horribly interesting place to start passing laws like this - that kind of law has a name. At the risk of sounding like my Father, something all sons dread (no offence Dad :-P), this is getting silly. Last week I declared my car SORN (Off the road). My car is untaxed and uninsured, so it's illegal to drive or park it on a public highway. That, I can deal with - it would be a crime to have my car on public ground. But I've not committed a crime, and yet, they can fine and imprison me if I don't declare SORN - not declaring that I am not committing a crime is now a crime. What's even better is that each year, I have to re-declare that I'm still not committing a crime as long as I own the car. If I forget to do this - I will be fined and/or imprisoned. There's not even any good reason for SORN - the fact that I don't renew my tax is indication enough that I don't intend to drive my car thank you very much.
Governments are passing more and more stupid laws, and making the legal framework more and more oppressing to the publics liberties. You can commit half a dozen crime walking down a street without harnessing a single thought of harm or difficulty, completely unaware. You can commit crimes for making a snap decision in a crisis situation, even if that decision is a morally correct/defensible one. And it's not even about that - it's about the fact this will get worse - and history's been down this road already.
This would not have been acceptable to a post war Britain. People died fighting against the Nazi regime, the fight against this kind of threat to privacy and freedom. Can you imagine the British government welcoming all the soldiers home and then announcing, 'By the way, while you were gone, those of us who stayed behind changed a few things - now if you don't declare you haven't stolen anything each week, you will automatically arrested. Oh, and there's no reading any novels that involve warfare or violence - we don't like them and suspect they're probably what caused that war you just fought for us. Anyone caught reading a novel containing violence or any unfriendly words like 'flipping', will be arrested immediately and regarded as dangerous.'
And anyone who thinks they can blame crime and violence on computer games, it's not even a discussion - holding that view is akin to holding a large sign over your head that says, 'I'm a moron'.
As for the political situation... violent protests are both ineffective and something I'd rather see resigned to the past, and peaceful protests are a joke. No ballot option will make us safer from this. What can ya do?
Oppressive Governments, new super weapons - we just need a good theme tune, someone with a bad cold, a black body suit, and a red lightsaber - we're just about there. Oh wait... am I allowed to refer to that franchise? Uh oh - I hear the troopers approaching - better run and hide!
__
Phil December 11 Neo-Philism: 'Impractical Policies... idealised'This is very much from the chool of 'thinking out loud'. Kel and I were chatting it over and I thought it intersting enough to share for wider comments. Here goes...
It stems from two social issues. The first is the pro’s and con’s of national service. There was debate some time ago about the value of national service, in the wake of the TV program ‘Bad Lads Army’. There was even political attention given because the program had showed some ASBO-culture young guys turned into… well… better trained ASBO-culture young guys. And indeed, some ‘turned their lives around’ in a pretty cool way, so I’m not going to slag it off, but anyway – it brought national service to the attention of the public as a possible cure for our declining society values, etc, etc. From time to time, I’m privy to information about the governments’ responses and initiatives that don’t make it into the press, just because I work with organisations that are consulted in think tanks and research stages of policy. Around this time, I heard the opinion was National service would be too unpopular as a policy, and that it was perhaps a step backwards in our social evolution, not to mention a risk to the very good reputation our military has for being consistently one of the most professional armed forces in the world (because… it’s not conscript – it’s… well, professional). But plans were not scrapped altogether. Talks moved on to a national service system, where military would be one of many options, including large programmes for community work. When you leave school/college, you spend X years minimum doing some kind of low paid service to your nation akin to voluntary work. It gives a sense of equal ownership and community to everyone right at the start of adult life, and would hold many of the benefits of the old style national service regarding discipline and community pride, as well as getting people into a working attitude that could go a long way to reducing long term unemployment. I’ve heard little about this since, and my guess is somewhere along the talks the impracticalities started working their way into the spotlight, and perhaps the suggestion that ASBO culture is something that needs to be tackled long before the end of school/collage and by this point, the system wouldn’t be strong enough to actually work for anyone but those who would have been keen to seek career paths/further education anyway, effectively just slowing them down. I dunno. But I do hope it’s not a dead debate – cos I think there’s definitely something of value in some kind of ‘national service’, and it’s prolly time to try something out for the sake of avoiding more panicked policies in a few years time. The second thing was derived quite separately, but links in rather neatly I think.
I was thinking, maybe we should just end unemployment. I hear people talking about unemployment as an issue. Unemployment figures being high is a negative thing. Very few people… if any, speak of unemployment as a good thing. People who are unemployed also view it with negativity, and it’s a leading cause of depression. So… why have it? We spend a lot of money on sustaining unemployment and if no-one wants it, it seems ludicrous to do that. Why do we have unemployment? Before I get into that – I need to separate two very different parts of unemployment. The benefit system is a massively good and important thing – making provision for those who are unable to provide for themselves due to any given long or short term situation. It is however, a hideous system that has been strung together in an adhoc piggledy mash of red tape and loop holes, resulting in a) it’s severe abuse by those people who know the system well enough when they don’t require it as fully as they take from it, and b) it utterly fails the people who really need it, because they don’t know how to work it. The benefit system may have once worked, but the addition and modifications over the years have left it disorganised and unfair. It needs to be rethought out from ground and made to actually work for the people it should work for. It should also have a strong focus on making every provision possible to bringing people who struggle into a contributing job in whatever way they can offer, because there’s a massive issue of dignity to these people who really want to make their difference in the world too. That leaves the rest of unemployment, which is not benefit related. I suppose then this is caused by there not being enough jobs. This may or may not be true – I’d go with… it’s true. There certainly aren’t enough appropriate jobs for the number of qualified people in a lot of fields, and so people wait for one to come up, becoming frustrated while they do. In any case, this isn’t a good reason to have ‘unemployment’. In a country where there is a lot of tings socially lacking, seems to me ‘dole’ could be replaced with some default government employment system. If you sign on for money, you must select a job form the bank of very generic and helpful roles of jobs, quite similar if not the same thing as the before mentioned new national service system. For these jobs, you’d get the same money you get now for being unemployed. There’ll be a wide variety of rewarding and unquantifiable beneficial jobs to choose from, ranging from the classic military, to things as simple as riding busses in two’s or three’s just to monitor and prevent anti-social behaviour on them and stop making bus drivers have to deal with everything on their own all the time. It could mean cleaning up an area, running community centres and activities, talking to people in hospitals and delivering meals on wheels. The list goes on – there’s no end to the positions that could be created under the occupation of ‘national citizen’ or whatever. And these roles making life better for everyone, as well as giving job seekers a sense of contribution and worth, will very quickly drop the stigma associated with ‘unemployment’ as well.
Part time national employment with job seekers would involve 3 days working a chosen job, and 2 days left free for job seeking, along with help given to improve CV and job hunting skills. This would be assigned a salary similar to that of the current unemployment benefit. Part time national employment with training would be for those who aren’t able to get a job because they aren’t educated enough and need vocational or basic education. This would be 2 days working a selected job and 3 days appropriate training, and again, salary equivalent to current job seekers. Full time national employment would be 5 days employment, and is for those who want to make community work their career path – and would allow for a scaling salary as they climb the ladder of a whole new department of society that would I guess be a sister to the Civil Service, which brings a stable element to what would otherwise be a very unpredictable work force making long term project management difficult. Also, allowing for a full time option (just like the earlier mentioned national service would be in fact) would also further remove any stigma we have towards this kind of system – it’s an honourable and valuable work – society and community is important stuff. It wouldn’t even be really creating a new department on the higher levels – the system could be fed into existing public sector departments. And the cost of this? Well… it’s not much more than what unemployment costs us anyway, but adds huge social and personal benefits to all. Again… why have unemployment? Aggressive Stupidity IIThis weekend was Mark’s funeral. It was really hard, but everyone was there, and the whole day was about celebrating his life and glorifying God together, which helped a lot. I’ve never known a person die so gracefully and fearlessly as Mark, right up to the end he was faithful and never once, not once, asked why him, or uttered a word of complaint. An amazing man. The rest of the weekend involved spending time with friends and family, including my nephews Birthday party, time with Kel, an evening with some uni CU people, and a late night chatting with Caleb. Now this was an extremely varied group of activities to put in one day. Children’s Birthday parties are crazy things, but once you’ve accepted the madness you can get through it with maybe even a little fun along the way. Time with Kel was spent catching up and explaining plans of vast social revolution. Time with CU people was… well, complicated. I had fun – it was a good evening in itself, but I’m very worried about some of them really, I was a little dumbstruck by the lacking of friendliness and common decency that I’d expect in anyone, Christian or otherwise (this wasn't much towards me might I add – I was made most welcome, but that doesn’t make it any better). The evening went onto time with Caleb, which was long overdue and really helpful. We talked till about 3am and covered a few of the things that I’m finding really hard right now – I do miss the old days. The train journey up to Manchester was a disaster due to overhead cables collapsing on the Manchester-London route. The train journey home went just fine. I’m not having great luck with trains at the moment but I’m averaging a 1:1 ratio of good:bad. Till next time, be good, December 05 Oh myThe USA have a new super-weapon. It's 'non-lethal'. Approved for deployment in Iraq.
I have a bad feeling about this.
Overview: http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,72134-0.html?tw=rss.index (CNET News)
Case Studies: http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,72236-0.html?tw=rss.index (CNET News)
I'm so proud of it, I put ma sausages on it...Having seen the 'Smash My PS3' video, where a group bought PS3's on launch day, then in front of all the fanboys still waiting in line - smashed the rare item with a sledge hammer, I've been occasionally amused by the hate mail people have sent to just about anyone who would come into possession of a PS3 and then destroy it. Whether modding it to boot linux, taking it to bits as part of an in-depth hardware review, or just for publicity - people have already found a spread of good reasons to defy the sacred treasures.
A few days ago, I saw what I think may be the winner of the blatant misuse award - the PS3 Grill. It was long a joke that the PS3 looked suspiciously like a George Foreman Grill, but with the super hot machine seen used to cook various things, someone decided they'd actually mod their PS3 in to one. It's funny because it works. __
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