Bring Out Your Books!

Today I managed to acquire some books that I've wanted for a while. I would have had them yesterday had the parcel fitted through the letter-box, but it didn't and so it winded up back at the delivery office. There was a good reason why it didn't fit in the letter-box, and that was because it was a box-set. The "Alexander" trilogy by Valerio Massimo Manfredi. Translated from the original Italian into English of course. Supposedly second-hand, but clearly they've never been read. You can tell that sort of thing!

I hadn't intended to buy them yet, but having purchased a CD from Amazon recently, I realised that by adding a couple more cheap items, that I could save paying postage (they have some sort of deal on). I read "The Tower" by Manfredi, last Summer when we were in Italy, and it was a decent read. I have decided, from the reviews that I've read, that these "Alexander" books will be even better. I also notice that Matthew Reilly has a new book out too, "The Six Sacred Stones", the first part of a double header, continuing the adventures of Jack West. Now, that's a man who knows how to write action adventure stories.

You might be wondering what the photo above is of? Well, this is where all good books go to die, an abandoned book depositry. Perhaps not, they go to live in cardboard boxes in attics, cellars and garages. There must be billions of books rotting away unwanted and unloved. Why don't you go and look through your old books... do you still recognise them? Perhaps some of them are worth reading again. Otherwise take them to a second-hand bookshop, so that someone else might get the benefit of them.

Ships of the Desert!

This is how I feel quite often! I can't say that I have tremendous patience, because that would be a lie. When things are happening, life is grand, but the times in between can be so infuriating, especially when you're waiting for something to happen. Right now I'm waiting for to hear news concerning some assessment results, and it's frustrating because I'd expected to hear long before now. Not only that, but I feel like I can't really get on with other things until I know how I've done with this. I know I'm not the only one, but that doesn't make me feel any better about it.

I had a conversation with someone last week, which ran along similar lines. The individual in question told me that he wasn't getting any job satisfaction from work, and so was driven to seek achievement elsewhere. Not achievement as in recognition, but achievement in the sense of, having to do things in leisure time which would deliver self-satisfaction. In this instance, out-door pursuits were the order of the day, but I guess you could just as easily go hang-gliding or parachuting. It strikes me that I may have to find myself some rewarding pastime to help me fill the gaps in my existence.

It wouldn't be true to say that I never received any job satisfaction this week, all the same. I had my moments, but I'm constrained to a fair degree by the position I'm in. I'm not my own boss yet. I don't have the autonomy which would allow me to really try out the things I'd like to do. But my time will come, and when it does, I'll be making the best of it, you can be sure of that!

The Mighty Robot Army On the March!

Not much happening as of right now, but hey, since I'm having to knock out some stuff about Robots, for the benefit of adolescents, I thought I'd let you see this clip, which raises many of the issues posed by Asimov, and which are as unresolved now as they were back then. I might even use this clip in my class, it says it all really! "That's why we have to crush mankind!"

Money To Burn!

I stumbled across some priviliged information today, or at least I should say, some priviliged information was revealed to me. In the course of my everday duties, it was revealed, that by simply taking upon myself the marking of exam papers, there was good money to be had. Of course, I need to qualify as a teacher first, but I'm already well down that road. Clearly, marking exam papers is no fun, but, if desperate for cash (that's me alright), the return is pretty decent. And here was me thinking that the teacher had to do it anyway. Not so!

It's not like the teaching profession is all that well paid anyhow. It is if you can acquire a senior post, but there's also the vastly increased risk of a nervous breakdown. There is also the omnipresent necessity of paying back all those student loans, which probably adds up to a several year wait before there's enough coming in to live reasonably comfortably off of.

I don't really care about the money too much anyhow. I've never had any, so it's never been a problem. Anyway, money creates it's own problems. Only when you have enough income to take out a mortgage, can you get a mortgage, then become weighed down by that very same mortgage. I haven't had that. Then the kids will probably want to go to Uni. Don't look at me for payment of fees, I'll still be paying back my own bloody fees! Yes, money is the root of all evil, and the more you have the more of a curse it becomes (I've been told!)!

Power Hungry Vacuum!

Yes, at last I have space! Space to store images from my digital camera. You may recall the problems I've had with Memory cards, particularly the MMC+ variety. The upshot was, that I went and ordered 2 SD cards of the 2 GB capacity type (I was going to put 2 2GB SD cards, but that might have confused the weak-minded). Did it work this time? Yes it did! As soon as I stuck the card in and switched it on, it was working straight away. So, that gives me enough space for about 1500 photos, which will be quite sufficient for the time being, I would say.

The only remaining problem is in terms of batteries. It seems to chew through batteries at a hell of a rate. So, I'll need to get a charger and some long-lasting types of battery, which probably still won't last very long with this camera. I can't say for definite, but I'm guessing that it's the LCD which is consuming all the power. Anyway, I'm close to being fully operational on the photo-taking front, and once I am look out photo opportunities.

Today went much better than I forecasted yesterday. In regard to my health, I do feel slightly better, but my throat is more sore than it was. Nothing however, so as to put me out of action, so on that score I should be grateful I suppose. I have plans to hit another hill this weekend, weather and health permitting of course. Part of my build-up to tackling something slightly bigger. I actually have 2 large hills I want to try first, followed by a Corbett, then we'll consider a Munro, all going well.

Tunnel of Germs!

I'm under the weather again! Don't know what it is, not a cold or the flu. Probably a "virus" like before. That's the new catchall term the Doctors use for any illness which you might succumb to at this time of the year, the identity of which is not immediately apparent to them. What are my symptoms? General aching all over, but particularly around the neck and throat. I have a very sore throat. I thought about taking the day off, but then quickly decided against it. I knew I had a light enough load today, to be able to get through it reasonably intact. Anyway, ill at home, ill at work, not much difference. Only difference is, you get to feel more sorry for yourself at home.

Hopefully I'll be a bit better by tomorrow. I have a few challenges set for me then, to get through which, I may have to be on top form. I can't go into details. Simply put, getting a group of individuals to engage in tasks, the manner of which will be most unappealing to them. Mainly because they don't like doing anything, asked to think a bit and that's stepping over the line. Nevermind, I have some devious ploys ready to persuade them that my way is the best way.

I finally got around to watching "Alexander - The Directors Cut" on Saturday, and I was very disappointed. I know it got bad reviews when it was released, but quite frankly, I expected more. 300 wipes the floor with it, no doubt at all. Still waiting for Cloverfield. It'll be my first trip to the cinema since I took the kids to see the last Harry Potter film, which will be the last Harry Potter film any of us want to see. Is it just me or is Harry Potter a steaming pile of shit? Anyway, I'm sure Cloverfield will restore my faith in the big screen!

Climbing Up A Bloody Great Hill!

Behold an image taken with my digital camera, hugely compressed, although since I'm in it, clearly I wasn't operating the camera at this particular point in time. This is me just this afternoon, at the summit of the Bin of Cullen (320m). It's not a difficult ascent. From the South road, we went up, and back to the car in an hour. The village I'm pointing towards is Cullen, although if my wife had been a more astute photographer, she would have ensured that the old railway viaduct was in the frame. You could see it as clear as day!

It wasn't cold on the walk up, but it was definitely "fresh" at the top, as it always is, even on a glorious Summer day. Bizarrely, everyone we met on the way up, and on the way back down, had Black Labradors. There must be a sale on somewhere. And, while the dogs couldn't care less about us, it seems that they didn't much care for each other, because every 10 minutes we heard ferocious barking from afar, as the mutts encountered each other in the passing.

Anyhow, this camera will be put to better use I promise. Pictures of me, up a hill looking like a demented Jimmy Tarbuck, aren't everyone's cup of tea. Besides, I did promise to get some exercise, and here's the proof. I have bigger ideas though, I want to get myself up some Munros. The only drawback being my lack of suitable attire and equipment, coupled with my lack of cash, as a result of having spent the last four years at College and University. This year I will start making some money, but unfortunately must also start paying back some of those student loans!

The Major Memory Card Debacle!

I forgot to tell you about my unfortunate Memory Card debacle! What's that you say... a debacle concerning Memory cards, how come? Exactly, it should never have happened, and I'm still a bit pissed off about it! You may recall how I purchased myself a 10.1 Megapixel digital camera, just after Christmas. I took some photos. The onboard memory can store about 20 images. So far, so good. I looked at the manual and it said "This camera takes SD cards or MMC cards!" I thought, "That's great, I'll get something with decent capacity, so I'll only ever need one card. 4 GB should do it!"

I ordered a card online, MMC+, apparently backwards compatible with MMC. I put the card in the camera and it said "Memory Full". I used the "Copy Images to Card" facility, and it said "Memory Full". I took the card out, and of course the memory was still full, so I deleted all the images, then re-inserted the card. The memory was still full, so I deleted all the images from the card and the memory was still full. I took the card out again and I was back where I started.

So, I found a mate with an older camera, 7 Megapixel I believe, and tried his 2 GB SD card in my camera. It worked straight away. Just to see what would happen, I asked him to try my MMC+ card in his camera, and that bloody well worked too. I asked him if he'd like to buy my MMC+ card... and he wasn't interested. So now I'll have to get myself a 2 GB SD card just so I can use my camera, and I'm stuck with a 4 GB MMC+ card that won't operate in a brand new camera, but will in an old one. I have no idea why, but I just want to take some photos. Is that too flaming much to ask?

A Rampaging Monster!

Ah well, there weren't any new Radiohead tracks last night, and so, Ed in fact did lie to me! How could you Ed? Radiohead are also set to make an appearance on the 200th Later with Jools Holland this Friday coming (a week today in fact), but there's very little chance of them playing unheard tracks on that occasion. I make this Radiohead's 5th appearance on the show, including their 2001 special when they played a full set to a very lucky audience.

What other good stuff do we have to look forward too? Well, both myself and my son have got quite excited about this:

Cloverfield will go on general release tonight, although it doesn't come to the UK until February 1st, which is OK with me. I'll have more time then anyhow. I haven't really got in on all the hype. I saw the first trailer and that was enough for me. I don't want to know anything else about the plot until I see it. I do know there's a monster, but that's all I do know!

I quite fancy getting to a concert this year, I'd especially like to go and see Sigur Ros, but I don't think they're touring. I should go and see Radiohead at Glasgow Green, but I'll be working that day. Can't really get out of it either. Ah well, hopefully a chance to see a half-decent band will materialise in due course!

And Now... The Radiohead Takeover!

Well, last night's Radiohead in-store gig didn't come off exactly as it was intended, but at least they did play eventually after having to move to a bigger venue next door (93 Feet East), on the recommendation of the Police, as there was a huge crowd hoping to be admitted. Only 150 very lucky sods actually got in, so the rest had to freeze as I suggested they might, yesterday.

That's not the end of it though. I'm typing this hurriedly, because Radiohead are about to "takeover" the Zane Lowe show on Radio 1, and I want to hear it on the off chance they might play a new song. I had hoped they would play one last night, but they didn't. Anyhow, Ed suggested last week, that there'd be a new song played this week, so I'm thinking that it would have to be tonight. or else Ed has lied to me.

I thought I was going to be ill yesterday. My guts were churning all day, but it never came to anything thank goodness. Being in school with all those kids, you'd think illness was inevitable, but I try to stay welll back from the ones that are obviously ill. Which is OK until they ask for asssistance, in which case I have to put myself right in the line of fire. It wouldn't be so bad if I was getting paid!