words XXIV

And now tonight it has been confirmed that Radiohead headline Glastonbury on the Saturday night. Man this is turning into a damn good year for music.
An important update R.E.M. are already confirmed for the festival. I can see this being the greatest weekend of my life.

Ran the Iron Maiden gig past one of the guys in work this morning and the response was overwhelmingly positive. To the point of where he said yes and told me to book the tickets before even knowing when it was. So that is that one sorted, the three of us will be off to our luxury camping ground.

Oni Press rock. A new monthly written and drawn by Andi Watson. That will so be on the pull list.

Chinese whispers is really starting to annoy the fuck out of me.

Bible verses regarded as hate literature | Court rules Scripture exposed homosexuals to ridicule
Certain passages of the Bible can be construed as hate literature if placed in a particular context, according to a Canadian provincial court.
I love Canada.

Ended up heading up to Sloane Square to meet a friend for a couple of drinks (non-alcoholic in my case) and a chat. I hadn’t planned on going out but seen as I had been abandoned in my hours of need (and naming no names here) because a basement was flooded. Tch, some people will come up with any excuses! So anyway went out for chat and did talk about some stuff and it was good. Didn’t cover all that much, but *shrug*.

I really need a new computer. Unfortunately there isn’t one anytime soon on the horizon. There are also lots of things I want to do with this site…like making it into a site rather than just one page ramblings. One thing I do want to do soon is create a page for the origins and credits of the quotes which come up for the page title. Also the long mooted section for photography and a random section for stuff. Someday I guess.

Oh thinking about the album I’m listening to at the moment has reminded me of something. It is Adore by The Smashing Pumpkins and it is one of my most listened to and favourite albums of all time. It reminded me of a story I meant to share, along the lines of ‘Tales From a Past Life’

Sometime in the mid to late nineties Red Bull was taking off in Dublin. Add some vodka and it was the ‘in-drink’. I went out one night with a group of friends to a 21st birthday party in a pub in town. We go there and found the party and got in some vodka and Red Bull pitchers. It didn’t taste anything special and there was no noticeable effect from it. So we had some more….and then we had some more. So fast forward a few hours and its time to leave the pub and go home. I’m perfectly sober and we walk out the doors no problem. A few seconds later as I walk straight into the light post by the side of the road I suddenly realise that perhaps I’m not as sober as I thought. Anyway we walked back down town to get a night bus home after being dragged from the middle of a very busy road by one of the less drunk members of our group.
Since that night, I have avoided vodka and Red Bull and indeed have developed quite a dislike for the taste of Red Bull. Lessons have been learnt.

The Guardian | Hello world
Interesting reading. I find these days reading about blogs to be more interesting than reading blogs. I know I’m not one to talk but nothing is really grabbing my attention at the moment.

Although that did remind me that Iain is off in Oz at the moment and is right now I suspect recovering from Mardi Gras’ Harbour Party. Lucky bastard. Leaving the country sounds so very good, but it does have it’s disadvantages. Well, there isn’t even really one of them I guess.

Oh yes, I note with some fear that one of my ex-girlfriends did not know the origin of Daredevil. I note with some confusion that she considers The Stereophonics to be ‘arty’. I was kinda lost for words a couple of times reading her email.

I need more comics to read. I’ve not got much around. Saying that one of the guys in work lent me Uncle Sam which I really enjoyed. A lovely little story which easily slots into today’s world and a couple of really great Alex Ross pieces. The image of a giant Uncle Sam striding forward with the bombers is truly excellent. I shall more than likely end up picking this up for myself.

On the subject of reading, I was sorting through some of my books today and discovered I have well over 40 unread novels. Very few of that is stuff I picked up for a rainy day, it is mostly books I want to read. So that is good news. I just have to get back into the novel reading habit. I’ve not been very good at reading Fear and Loathing ’72 and I shall have to work on finishing it soon and getting my teeth into a proper novel. Should get some read to and from work tomorrow. No pubbing tomorrow night for sure, no reason to go there at all so I intend to make a point of going straight home and perhaps even continue that during the week. Of course with Tuesday being pay-day I suspect there shall be some drinks. We were talking about this earlier tonight in the pub and expecting there to be quite a good turn out then. There was also talk of a pool night later on this week. That could be good.

Watched a couple of episodes of Stargate yesterday. I use to watch it all the time but I’ve missed most of the last couple of years. I use to collect the DVDs but stopped a while back for some reason. I’ve seen the odd episode here and there, but missed most of the storylines. I’ve got some late season five episodes which I picked up cheaply a while ago. When I get paid this week I might pick up the few volumes I’m missing and catch up. Ohh and there is a Criterion edition of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas out which I might just have to go and order. Nevermind the third season of The Sopranos is going cheap in Virgin.

Last night was pretty much a quiet night in front of the TV. Caught CSI: Miami which I’m still not sure about. After that in ‘honour’ of Jackass: The Movie opening this weekend, Channel 4 were showing episodes and specials all night. Very silly and immature but hopelessly funny. I’ll more then likely check out the movie sometime this week. They have a Friends marathon on this afternoon and it’s killing off some boredom nicely. There is a couple of laughs in every episode but nothing major.

Other than that I have to pop out to the shop for some bread and milk and that’s about that for today.

News came out yesterday that Hillary Woods has left JJ72. Not the best news, aside from the fact she was very easy on the eyes, that’s quite a bit of talent gone. I am very glad that I saw the full line up in London late last year, and I’m disappointed I won’t see it again.

There is a scene in Sandman issue 4: A Hope in Hell by Neil Gaiman et al which I would like to share with you. It is a game between Dream and Chronzon, a demon. The stakes are high and the rules are simple and there are “many ways to lose the oldest game. failure of nerve, hesitation… being unable to shift into a defensive shape. Lack of imagination.”

The game goes like this.

Choronzon: I am a dire wolf, prey-stalking, lethal prowler.

Dream: I am a hunter, horse-mounted, wolf-stabbing.

Choronzon: I am a horsefly, horse-stinging, hunter throwing.

Dream: I am a spider, fly-consuming, eight-legged.

Choronzon: I am a snake, spider-devouring, poison-toothed.

Dream: I am an ox, snake-crushing, heavy-footed.

Choronzon: I am an anthrax, butcher bacterium, warm-life destroying.

Dream: I am a world, space-floating, life-nurturing.

Choronzon: I am a nova, all-exploding…

Choronzon: …planet-cremating.

Dream: I am the universe–all things encompassing, all life embracing.

Choronzon: I am anti-life, the beast of judgement. I am the dark at the end of everything. the end of universes, gods, worlds…

Choronzon: …of everything

Choronzon: sss. and what will you be then, dreamlord?

Dream: I am hope.

Choronzon: oh. then i am…sss oh…i….i don’t know.

One of my preferred ways to start the weekend off is with a lot of sleep. So that is this one off to a good start. Woke up a little on the early side but seen as I was in bed early last night it kinda worked out.

A couple of us were talking last night about some upcoming music stuff down the pub and there is a new metal festival starting off this year in Donington Park. It’s headlined by Iron Maiden alongside Limp Bizkit and special guest Marilyn Manson. So for £90 for the weekend we get full tickets and access to the ‘luxury’ camping area and three of us are on for it.

Glastonbury looks like it might be shaping up to be The Rolling Stones, R.E.M. and Radiohead headlining. Now that’s a fucking festival, I suspect I shall have to go along to that one.

Ray Feist is finishing Jimmy The Hand this weekend and I for one cannot wait. It is easily at the top of the list of books I’m waiting for. Other news this week was that he will be completing a Preferred Edition of Prince of The Blood. Apparently he has not been happy with it and has talked with his editors about redoing it for years. And the other good news is that the next Conclave book should be out in September.

I have no plans for the weekend at all. I’ve got a bunch of Stargate eps on DVD which I have not seen that I think I’ll start off with. I watched Buffy 7 15 this morning and quite enjoyed it. I like the origin of the Slayer story quite a bit and the Wood – Spike build-up is being done really well. I am looking forward to seeing that one resolved. I think I would like to see Spike dusted by him. But on the other side of the Buffyverse, next Angel sees the very welcome return of an old friend.

I have no idea if I’m going to be able to explain this but I’m gonna give it a shot anyway. Last couple of nights I’ve been dreaming more than I have been in a while. Last night was different. I wasn’t dreaming I was actually thinking and debating with myself, while I was asleep. It was very strange, I knew I was asleep but at the same time I was actually actively thinking about something and not only thinking but coming to conclusions too. It was a strange feeling.

There is quite a big V Drink Up on today which I had given some serious thought to attending. But even with all other considerations aside, I don’t feel up to going out and sitting in a pub today, nevermind dealing with lots of people who I don’t really know. Saying that, there are a lot of people there who it would be nice to put names to faces and say ‘hello’ to. Still should try and make an effort to make some DUs and maybe some pool again. There is always Bristol to come.

I was just called a “son of a bitch” twice! It made my laugh quite a bit. Admittedly my preceding comment was pretty much looking for a reaction, but that just made it funnier.

Lots of thoughts quickly compiled as I more than likely won’t get to them otherwise
– got to catch up with a friend in the pub tonight which was good.
– cold is steady but not great.
– moved desk in work today, should take about an hour on Monday to get it all sorted. I really don’t like people using/touching my computers. Not sure on the new desk, it will take a few days to get use to…and perhaps longer.
– some stuff has come to light and been confirmed, I wonder…
– very glad it is the weekend
– very glad it is almost pay-day
– I love the fact that Boing Boing refered to this story as social engineering.
– a good nights sleep tonight would be welcome.
– I had some very very strange dreams last night. I was quite perturbed when I woke up.
– oh I can upgrade my phone to a newer nokia for free…might see about spending money on something or maybe waiting a while.
– gah, it is so very easy to say ‘just do it’ but it is so very much harder to actually do it.
– disjointed, I know. I’ll work on that, the strangeness you just have to live with.
– Public Service Announcement . Awesome!
– Buffy and 24 await weekend watching
– The last Angel was not bad and had an excellent ending, I thought of it about half way through but I had dismissed it as unlikely.
– I am aware that I at times (and perhaps even often) contradict myself.

– how many roads must a man walk down?

There are a lot of arguments going on these days, at times it seems like there is little else. It’s not fun. It’s even less fun when I’m on the right side in a lot of the arguments and even when the others involved know that, I still lose. Not exactly a good way to be working but there doesn’t seem to be a way to change it.

I’m annoyed at some information which I believe is being kept from me deliberately. I have no idea what to do about it other than not like it. Time will tell as to whether I’m being paranoid or not as the case may be.

Iris by The Goo Goo Dolls is one of my favourite songs of all time and gets to me everytime I hear it.

I like this quote from Sterling Hughes;
“Google is not a horrible monster, but it is also not an entity to be worshipped. It is a for-profit company that develops a quality product, and it isn’t yet evil. That’s a big accomplishment”.

I found something else which disturbed me quite a bit. There is a website whose intent is “a list of known blogs authored by known (or suspected) Microsoft employees”. By the simple inclusion of the ‘suspected’ in there, it does not inspire me to believe that everyone being linked to minds being outed on the web as being a Microsoft employee and a blogger. What happens if someone is listed there and something they have said comes back to bite them when MS find out they blog? I know its the internet and nothing is private etc etc. but still.

This kinda leads into a thought I was having about Google/Blogger earlier today and gives me a nice example. Lets say that on one of these MS blogs there is a comment about a deadline or an issue which has arisen , etc. and now add in the fact that this person might be blogging away not thinking that anyone knows who he works for or what he works on. Enter the list of MS blogs. Now we know he works for MS and possibly even where abouts he works. There is a news story there, or at the very least enough to add some more info to and run with a speculation piece. Now bring Google’s search into that and the possibility of real time searchable info and I wonder what the chances are for advance info leaking onto the web. What if something is delayed that could affect stock price or a big launch date. It has already been noted elsewhere that some reporters read MS blogs just in case a story comes up.

The interwebnet seems very fickle tonight, a lot of sites I know are available are timing out. I wonder if there is something going on.

I feel a cold coming on. I’ve been snuffling around all day. I suspect this one is due to being run down after the last few days and not anything else. It’s making that day off look even more appealing but will bring a depression on the next couple of nights.

Oh yes I was tricked into going to pub tonight. A guilty party who shall remain nameless mentioned there was pubbing and led me to certain conclusions which were then denied once we reached the pub. Not only were they denied, there was then an insistence they were never even suggested. *sigh* There shall be some more words over this tomorrow, oh yes.

Link stuff which caught my somewhat fleeting interest:

Bono named for Nobel Peace Prize
I have no words. I think this is kinda cool but its Bono for fuck sake. Nobel Peace Prize Award Winner Bono, it just sounds fucked up…but in a kinda cool way.

BBC News | Fame or misfortune beckons for weblogs?

New Scientist | Word ‘bursts’ may reveal online trends.

Why Nerds are Unpopular.

Microsoft Tests the Blogging-Tool Waters

This review of last weeks Sigur Ros gig is just awesome and says anything and everything that can be said. I really love the last line. A standing ovation was the least the audience could do. They duly oblige. As soon as it was over I was out of my seat, no waiting for anyone, no nothing, just up clapping. Man it was so awesome. I really hope they are available on the ftp soon. I’m listening to the best ranked gigs of the past three years and they are so very awesome.

What if the story about finding your one true love could bring grown men to tears? And what if you found a way to put that all into an Eisner-nominated comic book, touching the lives of thousands of people along the way?

Then you’d be Tom Beland.

CBR has this excellent interview with Tom, the creator of True Story: Swear to God.