An Exercise in Irrelevance

This is England is a classic British film; set sometime in the past, funny and full of gritty realism. It’s beautifully shot, evocative and moving; although, it’s about a bunch of violent racist skin heads, there is no real black and white (er, if you know what I mean). The film is warm and engaging.

I guess, though, I was always going to be a sucker for this. How could I not be moved? It was set against the backdrop of the Falklands, unemployment, Thatchers England. It was set against part of my childhood, set against my political awakening.

So, I didn’t enjoy, but I am glad to have been. It’s important to remember that time.

Originally published on my old blog site.

And permalinks added. I wonder if I can get myself named as a DOI or LSID authority, then I can immortalise my thoughts forever into the future.

Originally published on my old blog site.

In a fit of paranoia, I have decided to add a disclaimer to the bottom of all my web pages, including this one. This is probably unnecessary and legally pointless, but no one can blame me for not trying. For my next trick, I was thinking of fiddling with my stylesheets; quite a few dim-witted friends of mine have asked me whether I was colour blind, not aware that this the clash of colours is, in fact, a deeply satirical comment on society, the role of education and the monarchy in the 21st century. Suggestions for other possibilities in the colour palette are accepted.

Originally published on my old blog site.

I notice that the CBI are suggesting that the government should provide £1000 bursaries for students starting science programmes. Don’t get me wrong, I think that this would be a good thing, but I can’t help but wonder: would it not make more sense to just pay them more? After all, a bursary is a course, and salary is for life.

Originally published on my old blog site.

The inspiration for tonights meal was by from my brother, who did me something like this a while back. A bean salad, with bread essentially.

Very simple: tin of mixed beans which I have had for quite a while — I think fresh would have been better; some fresh garlic, lightly chopped; olive oil; pepper; balsamic vinegar and lime juice. Served with an undressed green salad (with addition carrot and and parsnip), eaten with one of those boil-in-the-bag batton loafs.

Very simple, very nice. Back for more.

Originally published on my old blog site.

The CARMEN project came to a grinding halt this afternoon. We decided to try facebook as a social networking site for the project. It turns out that everyone has to register everyone else as a friend; nice though it is to think that you have lots of friends, Facebook actually requires n squared number of clicks. Poor old Frank, being a young whippersnapper with lots of friends on Facebook, saw his laptop turn into the machine that goes ping as all his mates added him and sent him zombie requests; how does anyone get any work done in these days of social networking.

Originally published on my old blog site.