The Deadly Eyes Of the Cat!

Stalingrad, the Winter of 1942-43, and the conflict had taken on a deadly new form. Small feline creatures had been trained to form part of an elite sniper unit, which had German infantry pinned down in several key parts of the city. With supplies running low, and the cold biting with savage intensity, things looked bleak for the Germans, but wait, the cats had forgotten their Winter weather clothing, they were uncamouflaged. Black cats on white snow, soon to be black cats on red snow.

Yes, I might seem mad, but then I have been teaching for 4 weeks, so what else would you expect. Tomorrow is my last day, until the New Year. Now I simply have to produce a detailed 5000 word assignment covering every possible aspect of education imaginable, to be submitted in 10 days time. When will it ever end, that's almosty 4 years of essays, assignments, assessments, projects and exams I've had to endure to get to this point. I just want to earn some money now!!!

Coincidentally, I might have said this before, but these last 4 weeks I've been so busy, and yet in a bizarre twist, I've had huge success with my family tree for the first time in ages. I guess these things just happen and it's other people who have the time on their hands, not me. Still, perhaps I am too obliging with my precious time!

The Indoor War Association!

Every boy and man seems to have some unhealthy obsession with warfare, whether it's wanting to join the forces, or playing video games. Myself, I have no interest in warfare as such, in fact I think it's pointless and brutal. But that's not to say that there wasn't a time when war was actually necessary and the strategy of war was an art form. Of course, modern warfare is fought against invisible enemies, with no clearly defined outcome or objectives, fought in lands far removed from our own. It used to be the case, that you would go and fight becasue the enemy was at the gates, it was clear cut.

I would be lying if I said I wasn't a fan of "Medal Of Honour" and "Call Of Duty" and the "Total War" series. It's easy to villify the Germans in video games, because they were clearly the bad guys, same with Napoleon and his armies. All the great generals are remembered because of their famous victories, and yet they all died rather ignominiously; Hitler, Napoleon, Alexander, Genghis Khan. Apart from Genghis, they weren't very good breeders either, now I come to think of it.

Anyhow, to the point. As, I'm shortly due to become wireless and will effectively have a LAN in the household for the first time, I'm going to have a great time playing all of the aforementioned games against my son. He's way too good for most games as it is, so it will be a pleasure indeed for me to play Wellington to his Napoleon, Monty to his Rommel etc. So tell me again, how do you set up a wireless network?

The Power Of the Spoken Word!

Did I ever tell you my theory on the powers of humanity before written language was formed? No, I don't think I did. Well, I'll tell you now, and you can shoot it down if you like, everyone has their own opinion and most are wrong. I use the power of reason to fashion my arguments, but it's increasingly difficult to find rational people capable of reasoned thinking anymore. Why is it that folk are willing to accept any scientific theory thrown at them if it comes from a "reputable" source? It's the guys who can think outside the box, the so called crackpots, who make the major breakthrough's, and it's only generations later that they're accepted as geniuses.

Anyway, I'm no genius, but here goes. Clearly before written language appeared, oral traditions and histories were the key to civilization. I suspect that in places such as Egypt and South America, priesthood's held sway over the people, and to concentrate and magnify their powers, the spoken word when used correctly, particularly in secret rites, took on magical properties.

The dilemna we're dealing with here, is a positive shift from right-brain to left-brain thought patterns with the development of writing. I believe that before writing, socities influenced by the spoken word alone, thought in an entirely different way. Being able to think in a very different way also means being able to do things that you wouldn't otherwise. I believe that such people would have been deeply empathetic, intuitive and instinctive and far more able to develop powers of animal kinship, psychic powers, and possibly tele-kinetic powers.

You think I'm talking absolute nonsense, but I'm not entirely making this up. There is much evidence to suggest that such things are true. For instance, we know little about the power of sound in ancient times, but clearly the Egptians knew secrets long since lost. Ancient texts allude to large scale construction projects, where they placed a sacred hieroglyph on a papyrus leaf, under a block, and upon a certain note being intoned by a group of individuals, the rock would fly through the air to it's desired location. I'm not going to tell you any more, find out for yourself!

Music For Fire and Snow!

My son is studying Romeo and Juliet in English right now, but with the need for teachers to make things cool, they've actually been watching the Baz Luhrmann film version rather than reading the actual Shakespeare play. To be honest with you, I didn't like the film, despite Radiohead's "Talk Show Host" and "Exit Music (For A Film)" being included. At best, I would be willing to sit through the closing credits and listen to Exit Music (For A Film) playing, an absolutely fantastic song which sums up more about Romeo and Juliet for me, than the film ever could.

Vanilla Sky, now there's a decent film with Radiohead music in it, and Sigur Ros too, superbly selected music for a soundtrack. I like this film, even though many peple think it's strange and I guess Tom Cruise had become a deridable figure having lost much off this popularity since then, But, Vanilla Sky is one of these films which force you to stop and think, and I just love that in a film. For some people it's action, romance or gore, whatever... for me, it's bizarre philosophical Sci-fi type shennanigans. And, with some decent music too, an unstoppable combination.

Dammit, I've just realised that I've mentioned Radiohead and Sigur Ros, two posts in a row. At this rate, the cat will be out of the bag and it will be clear as day to all insundry, exactly where my musical devotions lie. Someplace between this sceptred isle and the land of fire and snow. That would be either Shetland or the Faroe Isles by my insane reckoning. If you think this is mad, don't expect things to become clearer anytime soon.

A Mountain To Climb!

I've been using free beta versions of this program Geno Pro since around 2000. It's probably about time I purchased a copy. It only costs £20, but I've never seen the need until recently. It's a damn nifty piece of software anyhow, but having been trying out a beta version of the newest release over the last week or so, I am absolutely astounded by the number of fantastic features that this program now has. I know I sound as though I'm marketing it or something, but as Family Tree software goes, this one knocks everything else into orbit.

Unfortunately for me, I've already gifted myself this years Christmas prezzies in the form of Radiohead's "In Rainbows" boxset, due to arrive in a week or so, and the new Sigur Ros double dvd; "Heima". Mind you, Geno Pro is a one time only purchase, all future updates are free if you already own it, so I think I better find the cash from somewhere, because life is so much easier when you have the right tools for the job, am I correct?

So, another week of school experience, then it's back to Uni. I'm quite keen to get back to Uni, only I have an assignment to complete and hand in a week after returning, so that's really going to put a damper on things, until I'm clear of that. Did I tell you how my Critical Observation went? No, I don't think so. Actually, it went about as well as I could possibly have hoped for, so I'm on to the next mountain and let's start climbing again!

Look Ma, No Wires!

In the very near future I'm going to take a step into the unknown and set-up a wireless home network, and probably change ISP after 4 years as well. There are a few very good reasons for doing so; firstly the kids are screaming out for the Internet all the time, and my pc is the only one in the house with Internet access, secondly they both want laptops for Christmas, and thirdly, so my son and I can play games against each other on a WLAN.

I can't really afford to buy them laptops, but an opportunity has presented itself, allowing me the possibility of purchasing them without VAT, which knocks off £100 for starters. Besides which, I recently acquired a wireless eTEC Modem/Router for nothing, so I have that ready to set-up, and also, I'm presently paying £25 a month for 4Mbps DSL, and I saw an ISP advertising 8Mbps in my area, for £20, with free local and international calls. A much better offer, I thnk you'll agree, which also means that I won't detect too much slowing down of my Internet speeds, should the kids be using it too.

Well, the fact is, that I have no idea how to set-up a wireless network and it may well require some other bits and pieces to do so, but in terms of Internt use, if as I supect, the kids have to go through my computer to access the Internet, then Netlimiter will allow me some means by which to ensure that they don't slow me down noticeably. Don't tell them though, they don't need to know do they? And if I'm on a priority download, I'm sure they'll quite readily accept that there are quite often problems associated with being on a wirelss network.

A Little Light Around the Ice-Caps!

I used to believe that those people who moaned about the town Christmas lights being a waste of money, electric and so on, were just a bunch of sourpusses. But, the cost of switching on the Christmas Lights is getting to the point where many towns are no longer bothering. They simply don't have the coffers to make it happen, especially with the government seeming to make local authorities responsible for paying for everything going, via our Council Tax of course.

Anyway, my wife's away helping with the school stalls or whatever, at the grand switch-on tonight, and my daughter will be singing carols with the school choir. Of course I said "used to believe" above implying that I've changed my position. Well I have and I haven't. Now that the kids don't believe in Santa anymore, the whole spark has gone out of it for me. They'll just become cynical about the whole thing. Beside, the eco-warriors would say that Chrismas Lights are killing the planet. Why is it always the small things we do at home and in public that are to blame as opposed to large scale industrial pollution and de-forestation. I don't feel particularly accountable for ice-shelf's breaking free and such like.

What really annoys me is the fact that every household could be self-sufficient for energy with simple tried and tested devices, cars can run on water (totally green), and as for recycling, why do we recycle everything except the stuff that isn't bio-degradable? As much as to say, recycling is a waste of time, unless it's plastic being recycled! So, yes, those people are sourpusses, but I think I'm heading the same way. Someone save me from unending cynicism?

Faust Arp - Webcast Deliciousness!

Told you I wouldn't have much time today, and that hasn't changed. Said I might give you a video and that hasn't changed either. If you don't like Radiohead then that's too bad (what's wrong with you). Regardless, watch this video of Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood with nothing but Thom's mic and Jonny's acoustic, on top of some Wintery hill someplace, just as it's getting dark. From their recent Webcast this is so cobbled together, yet utterly sublime. Talent oozing from every pore!

Stare Into the Chaos!

Weird picture eh? I can't tell you where I got it, or indeed how in fact it came to look like it does? Suffice to say, I know and you probably don't. Let's keep it that way for now, and I'll just say it wasn't photo-shopped or anything, so that should confuse you sufficiently much to make you want to know more. Yes, I am a tease! I let you have a glimpse into the chaos, tell you that it all makes perfect sense, then leave you at the altar. What a wicked person I must be!

So, Ive been busting a gut to get ready for the big event, which is imminent to say the least. I mean of course, my Critical Observation, when after less than 3 weeks practice, someone from the University is going to come and watch me teaching, take notes and form some sort of opinion of my ability. I'm not frightened, but I am feeling the pressure, because, get through this successfully and I won't have to endure a repeat process in January. That definitely makes it worthwhile doing well.

All that being said, I may not have much for you tomorrow, it's "Parents Night" and I will be there in observation mode. I will definitely do something for you though, no matter how brief and content free it will turn out to be! Probably just a video clip or something. Think I''ll go and find it now actually!

A Light In the Dark!

I found this image someplace and thought I would "borrow" it for your viewing pleasure. Apparently, this event only takes place once a year and for 5 minutes only even then. Click on the image to see it full size, it really is a viewing pleasure.

Ok, I had today off, but I've been working from 9 till 9 basically, trying to get stuff organised for my Critical Observation later this week. Even while planning for this special one-off lesson, I still have to get material ready for other lessons, and it's difficult, believe me. Anyone who says that teachers have it easy is either lying or knows nothing about it. My experience so far tells me that teachers actually live teaching. It's all encompassing, you have very little time left for anything outside of the school.

I have so many other things I'd like to get done right now, films to watch, books to read, music to listen to, and theres is absolutely no chance of me finding the time for those things for at least another 3 weeks. I have this week and next of school experience, and a week later I have an assignment to be submitted. It's going to be intense!