Richard Whiteley, the presenter of Channel 4's Countdown, has died aged 61, co-host Carol Vorderman's agent, John Miles, says.
More details
Monday, June 27, 2005
Word Of The Day
Word of the Day for Monday June 27, 2005
callow \KAL-oh\, adjective:
Immature; lacking adult perception, experience, or judgment.
Those who in later years did me harm I describe as I knew them then, and I beg any reader to remember that, although I was hardly callow, I was not yet wise in the ways of the world.
--Iain Pears, An Instance of the Fingerpost
George Black Jr was grateful that during his protracted courtship of Betty, his future father-in-law 'bore my callow unsophistication with benign indulgence'.
--Richard Siklos, Shades of Black
They watched in awe as Revere, at first a callow and unambitious youth, began to develop into a serious young man dedicated to books and devoted to his father.
--Sherwin B. Nuland, "The Saint," New Republic, December 13, 1999
Callow is from Old English calu, "featherless, bald."
callow \KAL-oh\, adjective:
Immature; lacking adult perception, experience, or judgment.
Those who in later years did me harm I describe as I knew them then, and I beg any reader to remember that, although I was hardly callow, I was not yet wise in the ways of the world.
--Iain Pears, An Instance of the Fingerpost
George Black Jr was grateful that during his protracted courtship of Betty, his future father-in-law 'bore my callow unsophistication with benign indulgence'.
--Richard Siklos, Shades of Black
They watched in awe as Revere, at first a callow and unambitious youth, began to develop into a serious young man dedicated to books and devoted to his father.
--Sherwin B. Nuland, "The Saint," New Republic, December 13, 1999
Callow is from Old English calu, "featherless, bald."
Word Of The Day
Word of the Day for Sunday June 26, 2005
amative \AM-uh-tiv\, adjective:
Pertaining to or disposed to love, especially sexual love; full of love; amorous.
Theoretically, any given left-kisser should meet more right-kissers and, over an amative lifetime, or even good year in junior high, be subtly pressured to shift to the right in order to land a wet one -- or just avoid a broken nose. No?
--Donald G. McNeil, Jr., "Pucker Up, Sweetie, and Tilt Right," New York Times, February 13, 2003
In the spring a young man's fancy turns to thoughts of another nap even more often than it does to amative imaginings, Tennyson to the contrary notwithstanding.
--"Touch of Spring Fever Makes Whole World Kin," Science News, May 23, 1931
Well, poetry has been erotic, or amative, or something of that sort -- at least a vast deal of it has -- ever since it stopped being epic.
--Helen Deutsch, "Death, desire and translation: on the poetry of Propertius," TriQuarterly, March 22, 1993
Amative comes from Medieval Latin amativus, "capable of love," from the past participle of Latin amare, "to love."
amative \AM-uh-tiv\, adjective:
Pertaining to or disposed to love, especially sexual love; full of love; amorous.
Theoretically, any given left-kisser should meet more right-kissers and, over an amative lifetime, or even good year in junior high, be subtly pressured to shift to the right in order to land a wet one -- or just avoid a broken nose. No?
--Donald G. McNeil, Jr., "Pucker Up, Sweetie, and Tilt Right," New York Times, February 13, 2003
In the spring a young man's fancy turns to thoughts of another nap even more often than it does to amative imaginings, Tennyson to the contrary notwithstanding.
--"Touch of Spring Fever Makes Whole World Kin," Science News, May 23, 1931
Well, poetry has been erotic, or amative, or something of that sort -- at least a vast deal of it has -- ever since it stopped being epic.
--Helen Deutsch, "Death, desire and translation: on the poetry of Propertius," TriQuarterly, March 22, 1993
Amative comes from Medieval Latin amativus, "capable of love," from the past participle of Latin amare, "to love."
Red Sox Postgame Alert
June 26, 2005
Boston 12, Philadelphia 8 at Citizens Bank Park
Winning pitcher - Mike Timlin (2-1)
Losing pitcher - Rheal Cormier (2-2)
HR: BOS: M. Bellhorn (5) M. Ramirez (19) J. Varitek (13) PHI: B. Abreu (17) P. Burrell (16)
Boston Record: (44-30)
Next Game: Jun 27, 2005 07:05 PM ET vs. Indians
Upcoming Home Games:
vs. Indians, Jun 27, 2005 07:05 PM ET
vs. Indians, Jun 28, 2005 07:05 PM ET
vs. Indians, Jun 29, 2005 01:05 PM ET
Boston 12, Philadelphia 8 at Citizens Bank Park
Winning pitcher - Mike Timlin (2-1)
Losing pitcher - Rheal Cormier (2-2)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | ||
| Boston | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 15 | 1 | |
| Philadelphia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 13 | 0 |
HR: BOS: M. Bellhorn (5) M. Ramirez (19) J. Varitek (13) PHI: B. Abreu (17) P. Burrell (16)
Boston Record: (44-30)
Next Game: Jun 27, 2005 07:05 PM ET vs. Indians
Upcoming Home Games:
vs. Indians, Jun 27, 2005 07:05 PM ET
vs. Indians, Jun 28, 2005 07:05 PM ET
vs. Indians, Jun 29, 2005 01:05 PM ET
Red Sox Postgame Alert
June 25, 2005
Boston 7, Philadelphia 1 at Citizens Bank Park
Winning pitcher - Matt Clement (9-1)
Losing pitcher - Vicente Padilla (3-7)
HR: BOS: M. Ramirez (18) PHI:
Boston Record: (43-30)
Next Game: Jun 26, 2005 01:35 PM ET vs. Phillies
Upcoming Home Games:
vs. Indians, Jun 27, 2005 07:05 PM ET
vs. Indians, Jun 28, 2005 07:05 PM ET
vs. Indians, Jun 29, 2005 01:05 PM ET
Boston 7, Philadelphia 1 at Citizens Bank Park
Winning pitcher - Matt Clement (9-1)
Losing pitcher - Vicente Padilla (3-7)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | ||
| Boston | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 12 | 0 | |
| Philadelphia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 1 |
HR: BOS: M. Ramirez (18) PHI:
Boston Record: (43-30)
Next Game: Jun 26, 2005 01:35 PM ET vs. Phillies
Upcoming Home Games:
vs. Indians, Jun 27, 2005 07:05 PM ET
vs. Indians, Jun 28, 2005 07:05 PM ET
vs. Indians, Jun 29, 2005 01:05 PM ET
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Dell's Keystroke Loggers
Looking at getting a new computer anytime soon? Don't get a Dell, they're coming factory loaded with keystroke loggers for the Dept of Homeland Security. Spooky.
Red Sox Postgame Alert
June 22, 2005
Boston 5, Cleveland 4 at Jacobs Field
Winning pitcher - Keith Foulke (5-3)
Losing pitcher - Bob Wickman (0-2)
HR: BOS: J. Olerud (1) E. Renteria (6) CLE:
Boston Record: (41-30)
Next Game: Jun 24, 2005 07:05 PM ET vs. Phillies
Upcoming Home Games:
vs. Indians, Jun 27, 2005 07:05 PM ET
vs. Indians, Jun 28, 2005 07:05 PM ET
vs. Indians, Jun 29, 2005 01:05 PM ET
Boston 5, Cleveland 4 at Jacobs Field
Winning pitcher - Keith Foulke (5-3)
Losing pitcher - Bob Wickman (0-2)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | ||
| Boston | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 2 | |
| Cleveland | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 1 |
HR: BOS: J. Olerud (1) E. Renteria (6) CLE:
Boston Record: (41-30)
Next Game: Jun 24, 2005 07:05 PM ET vs. Phillies
Upcoming Home Games:
vs. Indians, Jun 27, 2005 07:05 PM ET
vs. Indians, Jun 28, 2005 07:05 PM ET
vs. Indians, Jun 29, 2005 01:05 PM ET
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Family Guy Movie set for September DVD Release
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050620/tv_nm/familyguy_dc
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane is preparing his long-awaited direct-to-DVD movie based on the exploits of his cartoon clan for a Sept. 27 release.
"It's been an enormous undertaking to juggle this with doing 35 new episodes of the show, but we think it turned out great," MacFarlane said of the film, his first full-length feature, and the first direct-to-video ever made off a television franchise.
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane is preparing his long-awaited direct-to-DVD movie based on the exploits of his cartoon clan for a Sept. 27 release.
"It's been an enormous undertaking to juggle this with doing 35 new episodes of the show, but we think it turned out great," MacFarlane said of the film, his first full-length feature, and the first direct-to-video ever made off a television franchise.
Red Sox Postgame Alert
June 21, 2005
Boston 9, Cleveland 2 at Jacobs Field
Winning pitcher - Bronson Arroyo (6-3)
Losing pitcher - Kevin Millwood (2-5)
HR: BOS: D. Ortiz (18) M. Ramirez (16) CLE:
Boston Record: (40-30)
Next Game: Jun 22, 2005 07:05 PM ET vs. Indians
Upcoming Home Games:
vs. Indians, Jun 27, 2005 07:05 PM ET
vs. Indians, Jun 28, 2005 07:05 PM ET
vs. Indians, Jun 29, 2005 01:05 PM ET
Boston 9, Cleveland 2 at Jacobs Field
Winning pitcher - Bronson Arroyo (6-3)
Losing pitcher - Kevin Millwood (2-5)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | ||
| Boston | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 1 | |
| Cleveland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 1 |
HR: BOS: D. Ortiz (18) M. Ramirez (16) CLE:
Boston Record: (40-30)
Next Game: Jun 22, 2005 07:05 PM ET vs. Indians
Upcoming Home Games:
vs. Indians, Jun 27, 2005 07:05 PM ET
vs. Indians, Jun 28, 2005 07:05 PM ET
vs. Indians, Jun 29, 2005 01:05 PM ET
KKK verdict sees 'justice arrive'
The families of three civil rights workers beaten and shot to death 41 years ago in Mississippi have welcomed the conviction of Edgar Ray Killen.
The 80-year-old former Ku Klux Klan man was convicted by a jury in the town of Philadelphia of recruiting the killers.
Bennie Thompson, the state's only black congressman, said justice had "finally arrived in Philadelphia".
Rita Schwerner Bender, widow of victim Michael Schwerner, said the conviction was a "very important first step".
But she asked why the jury "could not bring themselves to acknowledge that these were murders, that they were committed with malice".
Michael Schwerner's widow added that the state of Mississippi was "complicit in these crimes and all the crimes that occurred" and called for a further inquiry.
Ben Chaney, brother of James Chaney, the only black man among the three victims, thanked prosecutors and said he sensed "hope".
District Attorney Mark Duncan said he still believed the prosecution had "proved murder".
Clearly referring to the Alan Parker 1988 film Mississippi Burning about the struggle to bring the killers to justice, he added: "We won't be painted or described or known throughout the world by a Hollywood movie any more."
The jury in Mississippi rejected the murder charges against Killen but did find him guilty of recruiting a mob to kill the three.
His wife, Betty Jo, went to her husband with tears in her eyes and hugged him.
As he was wheeled away, he struck out at two television microphones and a TV camera.
Killen now faces up to 20 years in jail for the role he played 41 years ago.
The defendant had denied taking any part in the killings of Mr Schwerner, 24, Mr Chaney, 21, and Andy Goodman, 20.
A Baptist preacher, he showed no emotion as the verdict was read in the courtroom.
He used a wheelchair in court and was connected to breathing apparatus during the trial.
The activists were two white men from New York and a local black colleague, who were killed while campaigning for the registration of black voters.
They were arrested for a dubious traffic violation, and attacked by a gang of Klansmen and police after being released in the middle of the night.
They were abducted as they drove out of the Mississippi town and shot dead.
Their bodies, riddled with bullets and badly beaten, were buried at a dam and only found 44 days later after an extensive search.
Killen, who was a suspect in the original investigation but never convicted, was re-arrested after new evidence emerged.
The 80-year-old former Ku Klux Klan man was convicted by a jury in the town of Philadelphia of recruiting the killers.
Bennie Thompson, the state's only black congressman, said justice had "finally arrived in Philadelphia".
Rita Schwerner Bender, widow of victim Michael Schwerner, said the conviction was a "very important first step".
But she asked why the jury "could not bring themselves to acknowledge that these were murders, that they were committed with malice".
Michael Schwerner's widow added that the state of Mississippi was "complicit in these crimes and all the crimes that occurred" and called for a further inquiry.
Ben Chaney, brother of James Chaney, the only black man among the three victims, thanked prosecutors and said he sensed "hope".
District Attorney Mark Duncan said he still believed the prosecution had "proved murder".
Clearly referring to the Alan Parker 1988 film Mississippi Burning about the struggle to bring the killers to justice, he added: "We won't be painted or described or known throughout the world by a Hollywood movie any more."
The jury in Mississippi rejected the murder charges against Killen but did find him guilty of recruiting a mob to kill the three.
His wife, Betty Jo, went to her husband with tears in her eyes and hugged him.
As he was wheeled away, he struck out at two television microphones and a TV camera.
Killen now faces up to 20 years in jail for the role he played 41 years ago.
The defendant had denied taking any part in the killings of Mr Schwerner, 24, Mr Chaney, 21, and Andy Goodman, 20.
A Baptist preacher, he showed no emotion as the verdict was read in the courtroom.
He used a wheelchair in court and was connected to breathing apparatus during the trial.
The activists were two white men from New York and a local black colleague, who were killed while campaigning for the registration of black voters.
They were arrested for a dubious traffic violation, and attacked by a gang of Klansmen and police after being released in the middle of the night.
They were abducted as they drove out of the Mississippi town and shot dead.
Their bodies, riddled with bullets and badly beaten, were buried at a dam and only found 44 days later after an extensive search.
Killen, who was a suspect in the original investigation but never convicted, was re-arrested after new evidence emerged.
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Red Sox Postgame Alert
Boston 10 Cleveland 9
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | ||
| Boston | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 13 | 1 | |
| Cleveland | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 15 | 1 |
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Word Of The Day
antiquarian \an-tuh-KWAIR-ee-uhn\, noun:
One who collects, studies, or deals in objects or relics from the past.
adjective:
1. Of or pertaining to antiquarians or objects or relics from the past.
2. Dealing in or concerned with old or rare books.
From the depositions filed with the Loyalist Claims Commission after the Revolution, from a handful of letters gathered by an antiquarian at the beginning of the twentieth century, and from scattered court papers in scattered archives, it is possible to piece together some of the family's history.
--Linda K. Kerber, No Constitutional Right to Be Ladies
Except to antiquarians and preservationists, silent cinema has little presence on the cultural radar screen, its landmark films unrented on video, its iconic images spotted only as fodder for video collage on MTV.
--Thomas Doherty, [2]Pre-Code Hollywood
Indeed, the evident attention to detail and studied historicism bore the impress of Truefitt's years with the antiquarian Cottingham.
--Francis R. Kowsky, Country, Park & City
A friend of mine, the manager of an antiquarian bookshop in Leningrad in the 1960s, told me that he remembered well the twice-monthly visits of a matronly lady from the censorship bureau, who spent hours rifling through the thousands of books on his shelves, checking them against her latest copy of the Summary List (which was always being updated).
--David King, The Commissar Vanishes
Antiquarian is from Latin antiquarius, "pertaining to antiquity," from antiquus, "ancient."
One who collects, studies, or deals in objects or relics from the past.
adjective:
1. Of or pertaining to antiquarians or objects or relics from the past.
2. Dealing in or concerned with old or rare books.
From the depositions filed with the Loyalist Claims Commission after the Revolution, from a handful of letters gathered by an antiquarian at the beginning of the twentieth century, and from scattered court papers in scattered archives, it is possible to piece together some of the family's history.
--Linda K. Kerber, No Constitutional Right to Be Ladies
Except to antiquarians and preservationists, silent cinema has little presence on the cultural radar screen, its landmark films unrented on video, its iconic images spotted only as fodder for video collage on MTV.
--Thomas Doherty, [2]Pre-Code Hollywood
Indeed, the evident attention to detail and studied historicism bore the impress of Truefitt's years with the antiquarian Cottingham.
--Francis R. Kowsky, Country, Park & City
A friend of mine, the manager of an antiquarian bookshop in Leningrad in the 1960s, told me that he remembered well the twice-monthly visits of a matronly lady from the censorship bureau, who spent hours rifling through the thousands of books on his shelves, checking them against her latest copy of the Summary List (which was always being updated).
--David King, The Commissar Vanishes
Antiquarian is from Latin antiquarius, "pertaining to antiquity," from antiquus, "ancient."
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Missing Dr Who Dalek found on Tor
A Dalek stolen from a Somerset tourist site has been found on Glastonbury Tor after thieves said it was "too hot".
The prop, which was at Wookey Hole Caves, near Wells, for a Doctor Who exhibition, was taken more than a week ago. A "ransom note" was then issued.
Cave owner Gerry Cottle made appeals for information. In the early hours of Tuesday, staff recieved a phone call telling them where the Dalek was.
Mr Cottle has denied that the theft of the Dalek was a publicity stunt.
Last Thursday, staff found a Dalek plunger arm and a ransom note on a doorstep.
The note read: "We are holding the Dalek captive. We demand further instructions from the Doctor."
But in Tuesday's phone call, the thieves said it had become "too hot to handle" and had been placed on Glastonbury Tor.
The Dalek had been on display at the Bath and West Show and was in temporary storage at the Wookey Hole site when it was taken.
The prop, which was at Wookey Hole Caves, near Wells, for a Doctor Who exhibition, was taken more than a week ago. A "ransom note" was then issued.
Cave owner Gerry Cottle made appeals for information. In the early hours of Tuesday, staff recieved a phone call telling them where the Dalek was.
Mr Cottle has denied that the theft of the Dalek was a publicity stunt.
Last Thursday, staff found a Dalek plunger arm and a ransom note on a doorstep.
The note read: "We are holding the Dalek captive. We demand further instructions from the Doctor."
But in Tuesday's phone call, the thieves said it had become "too hot to handle" and had been placed on Glastonbury Tor.
The Dalek had been on display at the Bath and West Show and was in temporary storage at the Wookey Hole site when it was taken.
Dr Stiff
Please, no, stop. A gynacologist called Dr Richard Stiff?
It's twue, it's twue!
http://www.drstiff.homestead.com/
It's twue, it's twue!
http://www.drstiff.homestead.com/
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
John Gibson is a Twunt
I'm back on the warpath again and I haven't even got a good excuse - yet.
But I will do soon.
But I will do soon.
My Company's Parking Policy
This is an email conversation between myself and out office manager type thingy person, who spends most of his day being a parking nazi, walking around the car park at work, noting down registration numbers of car "illegally" parked in our staff car-park.
Now our staff car-park is quite small. There are about 65 spaces for 280 employees. It must be noted, however, that a large number of people do not drive into work, they either walk, bus or catch the train, and a great deal of those who do drive in park outside the car park, on the residential sideroads.
On this particular day, there was at least 12 empty parking spaces in our car park. I hope you'll agree, hardly a parking crisis.
Now I understand I broke the "rules", but isn't this a little harsh?
The bits in brackets are my comments.
Your car is in the car park again, and again without authorization.
Please move it now.
If it is in here again without prior and prior authorization I will insist that your manager undertakes a disciplinary hearing in line with policy. (a direct threat)
DB
--
I will move it in ten minutes.
--
And please make sure it stays out.
DB
--
Moved.
Golly, whatever will you do when the new building has 280 parking spaces? :)
Oh come on, it’s a joke!
--
It may be a joke to you but to me it’s a complete waste of my time when you and countless others take it on themselves to ignore policy, and repeated requests and notices. (amplifying my offence by lumping it in with the offences of everbody else)
If the new building only has 280 spaces then that is still 60+ short of our current staff compliment and therefore people who abuse the parking policy will find themselves first to be refused parking rights. (a vieled threat)
In that event I hope you’ll continue to see the funny side.
DB
--
It really was just a joke.
--
And from the Cambridge Dictionary……
Definition
beyond a joke
If something is beyond a joke, it has stopped being amusing and is now a serious matter:
I used to think he was funny, but his behaviour has now gone way beyond a joke.
So forgive me if I fail to see any humour in this whatsoever.
Painful isn’t it ? (not really sure what he means by this, what is painful? receiving all the emails from him? listening to his drivel? seeing him putting forward a fatally flawed argument?)
DB
--
Ok, ok point taken. I was just trying to point out that I understand I had crossed the line, in a more friendly manner.
--
The way to do that is say ‘sorry, it won’t happen again’ and then ensure that it doesn’t.
Given that we’d previously been through the same rigmarole can you not understand my frustration and annoyance?
Good, now add to that the 20 or more people who also consider it a ‘joke’ and you can further appreciate why it just isn’t funny.
What would be funny is if I let down the car tyres of everybody who parked in here without authorization/according to policy, or clamped them, or stuck pasted notices on their windscreens or any combination of these.
(maybe you should - let out some of that latent aggression? it might save you the jail time when you finally do explode and march down Isleworth high street with a hunting rifle)
I more than anybody would very much like to have a car park that catered for every member of staff regardless of how big or small that number maybe- however, what I have to manage is 340+ into 65……..and that just simply doesn’t go and therefore something has to give and people have to accept that.
I will take your last response to be your assurance that you will now adhere to policy and in so doing will bring this debate to an end.
DB
Now our staff car-park is quite small. There are about 65 spaces for 280 employees. It must be noted, however, that a large number of people do not drive into work, they either walk, bus or catch the train, and a great deal of those who do drive in park outside the car park, on the residential sideroads.
On this particular day, there was at least 12 empty parking spaces in our car park. I hope you'll agree, hardly a parking crisis.
Now I understand I broke the "rules", but isn't this a little harsh?
The bits in brackets are my comments.
Your car is in the car park again, and again without authorization.
Please move it now.
If it is in here again without prior and prior authorization I will insist that your manager undertakes a disciplinary hearing in line with policy. (a direct threat)
DB
--
I will move it in ten minutes.
--
And please make sure it stays out.
DB
--
Moved.
Golly, whatever will you do when the new building has 280 parking spaces? :)
Oh come on, it’s a joke!
--
It may be a joke to you but to me it’s a complete waste of my time when you and countless others take it on themselves to ignore policy, and repeated requests and notices. (amplifying my offence by lumping it in with the offences of everbody else)
If the new building only has 280 spaces then that is still 60+ short of our current staff compliment and therefore people who abuse the parking policy will find themselves first to be refused parking rights. (a vieled threat)
In that event I hope you’ll continue to see the funny side.
DB
--
It really was just a joke.
--
And from the Cambridge Dictionary……
Definition
beyond a joke
If something is beyond a joke, it has stopped being amusing and is now a serious matter:
I used to think he was funny, but his behaviour has now gone way beyond a joke.
So forgive me if I fail to see any humour in this whatsoever.
Painful isn’t it ? (not really sure what he means by this, what is painful? receiving all the emails from him? listening to his drivel? seeing him putting forward a fatally flawed argument?)
DB
--
Ok, ok point taken. I was just trying to point out that I understand I had crossed the line, in a more friendly manner.
--
The way to do that is say ‘sorry, it won’t happen again’ and then ensure that it doesn’t.
Given that we’d previously been through the same rigmarole can you not understand my frustration and annoyance?
Good, now add to that the 20 or more people who also consider it a ‘joke’ and you can further appreciate why it just isn’t funny.
What would be funny is if I let down the car tyres of everybody who parked in here without authorization/according to policy, or clamped them, or stuck pasted notices on their windscreens or any combination of these.
(maybe you should - let out some of that latent aggression? it might save you the jail time when you finally do explode and march down Isleworth high street with a hunting rifle)
I more than anybody would very much like to have a car park that catered for every member of staff regardless of how big or small that number maybe- however, what I have to manage is 340+ into 65……..and that just simply doesn’t go and therefore something has to give and people have to accept that.
I will take your last response to be your assurance that you will now adhere to policy and in so doing will bring this debate to an end.
DB
Red Sox Postgame Alert
June 7th, 2005
Boston 2, St. Louis 9 at Busch Stadium
Winning pitcher - Jeff Suppan (5-5)
Losing pitcher - Matt Clement (6-1)
HR: BOS: J. Varitek (11) STL: J. Edmonds (11) R. Sanders (12)
Boston Record: (31-27)
Next Game: Jun 08, 2005 07:10 PM ET vs. Cardinals
Upcoming Home Games:
vs. Reds, Jun 13, 2005 07:05 PM ET
vs. Reds, Jun 14, 2005 07:05 PM ET
vs. Reds, Jun 15, 2005 07:05 PM ET
Boston 2, St. Louis 9 at Busch Stadium
Winning pitcher - Jeff Suppan (5-5)
Losing pitcher - Matt Clement (6-1)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | ||
| Boston | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 0 | |
| St Louis | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | X | 9 | 9 | 0 |
HR: BOS: J. Varitek (11) STL: J. Edmonds (11) R. Sanders (12)
Boston Record: (31-27)
Next Game: Jun 08, 2005 07:10 PM ET vs. Cardinals
Upcoming Home Games:
vs. Reds, Jun 13, 2005 07:05 PM ET
vs. Reds, Jun 14, 2005 07:05 PM ET
vs. Reds, Jun 15, 2005 07:05 PM ET
Amusing Names
Ivana Mandic
Not, but really, she is a US basketball player.
http://mirrors.meepzorp.com/nineronline.com/mandic/
Not, but really, she is a US basketball player.
http://mirrors.meepzorp.com/nineronline.com/mandic/
Writer Bill Bryson Aids School Science
Author Bill Bryson is to send a free copy of his best-selling science book - A Short History of Nearly Everything - to every secondary school in Britain.
The government is backing the scheme, aimed at reversing the decline in interest in subjects like physics and chemistry among students.
Schools Minister Lord Adonis said it would "motivate and encourage".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4614825.stm
Lord Adonis? How cool is that name?
The government is backing the scheme, aimed at reversing the decline in interest in subjects like physics and chemistry among students.
Schools Minister Lord Adonis said it would "motivate and encourage".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4614825.stm
Lord Adonis? How cool is that name?
Word Of The Day
glutinous \GLOOT-nuhs\, adjective:
Of the nature of glue; resembling glue; sticky.
"What do you mean?" I said, my mouth glutinous with melted marshmallow and caramel.
--T. Coraghessan Boyle, T. C. Boyle Stories
At this point Leonardo wakes, decides the sensation is extraordinary but not death, and gazing up through the glutinous film of boiled carrot drippings, says: No, Salai
will be riding a horse.
--R. M. Berry, Leonardo's Horse
Besides, the sensation of glutinous raw egg-yolk sliding down my throat like a plump mollusc would not necessarily be helpful in my current state.
--Victoria Moore, "Dog daze - young alcoholics' way of life," New Statesman, January 1, 1999
Glutinous derives from Latin glutinosus, from gluten, glutin-, "glue."
Synonyms: adhesive, gluey, gummy, mucilaginous, viscous.
Of the nature of glue; resembling glue; sticky.
"What do you mean?" I said, my mouth glutinous with melted marshmallow and caramel.
--T. Coraghessan Boyle, T. C. Boyle Stories
At this point Leonardo wakes, decides the sensation is extraordinary but not death, and gazing up through the glutinous film of boiled carrot drippings, says: No, Salai
will be riding a horse.
--R. M. Berry, Leonardo's Horse
Besides, the sensation of glutinous raw egg-yolk sliding down my throat like a plump mollusc would not necessarily be helpful in my current state.
--Victoria Moore, "Dog daze - young alcoholics' way of life," New Statesman, January 1, 1999
Glutinous derives from Latin glutinosus, from gluten, glutin-, "glue."
Synonyms: adhesive, gluey, gummy, mucilaginous, viscous.
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Red Sox Postgame Alert
June 6th, 2005
Boston 1, St. Louis 7 at Busch Stadium
Winning pitcher - Matt Morris (7-0)
Losing pitcher - Tim Wakefield (4-6)
Boston Record: (31-26)
Next Game: Jun 07, 2005 08:10 PM ET vs. Cardinals
Upcoming Home Games:
vs. Reds, Jun 13, 2005 07:05 PM ET
vs. Reds, Jun 14, 2005 07:05 PM ET
vs. Reds, Jun 15, 2005 07:05 PM ET
Boston 1, St. Louis 7 at Busch Stadium
Winning pitcher - Matt Morris (7-0)
Losing pitcher - Tim Wakefield (4-6)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | ||
| Boston | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | |
| St Louis | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | X | 7 | 9 | 0 |
Boston Record: (31-26)
Next Game: Jun 07, 2005 08:10 PM ET vs. Cardinals
Upcoming Home Games:
vs. Reds, Jun 13, 2005 07:05 PM ET
vs. Reds, Jun 14, 2005 07:05 PM ET
vs. Reds, Jun 15, 2005 07:05 PM ET
Word Of The Day
Word of the Day for Tuesday June 7, 2005
betimes \bih-TYMZ\, adverb:
1. Early; in good time; before it is late.
2. At times; on occasion.
3. [Archaic] Soon; in a short time.
But it takes a piece of political theatre, like yesterday's release of the Iraq dossier, to get us out of bed betimes.
--Andrew Marr, "I couldn't have a lie-in because of the Iraq dossier," Daily Telegraph, September 25, 2002
It looks like it's trying to clear this morning, though waves of drizzle betimes pass through.
--Will Cook, "Macklin's Cross," Irish America, February 1, 2004
Some of them were poets or novelists first and critics only betimes.
--Denis Donoghue, The Practice of Reading
Betimes is from Middle English bitimes, from bi, "by" + time, "time."
betimes \bih-TYMZ\, adverb:
1. Early; in good time; before it is late.
2. At times; on occasion.
3. [Archaic] Soon; in a short time.
But it takes a piece of political theatre, like yesterday's release of the Iraq dossier, to get us out of bed betimes.
--Andrew Marr, "I couldn't have a lie-in because of the Iraq dossier," Daily Telegraph, September 25, 2002
It looks like it's trying to clear this morning, though waves of drizzle betimes pass through.
--Will Cook, "Macklin's Cross," Irish America, February 1, 2004
Some of them were poets or novelists first and critics only betimes.
--Denis Donoghue, The Practice of Reading
Betimes is from Middle English bitimes, from bi, "by" + time, "time."
Monday, June 06, 2005
This is a friend of a friend of mine, Euguene Mirman, a stand-up comedian and a stand-up guy.
Check out the singing.
Check out the singing.
Issues man, issues
I am just really tired at the moment and whenever I see some light at the end of the tunnel, my worst fears are realized when, as the light gets closer, I see its some other fucker with a flashlight bringing more work and problems to me.
Monday, March 14, 2005
Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy
ZZ Plural Z Alpha
The new, real trailer (not just the one with the Earth exploding and the HHGTTG logo) is now available HERE.
It looks really sweet, although they seem to have taken a few liberties with the story. Just from what I can see in the trailer there appears to be a love interest with Arthur. There also appears to be dolphins. Now I am not sure about both of those things. Indeed there was a love interest for Arthur, but not until "So Long and Thanks for all the Fish", which also had dolphins.
So they may have merged certain aspects of each of the books. Which shouldn't be too bad as long as they don't use ANYTHING from "Mostly Harmless", which, aside from the start, is a big pile of poo-pants.
Talking about dolphins, has anyone seen The Life Aquatic? I love the fact that they made the dolphins as thick as pigshit. Love it.
The new, real trailer (not just the one with the Earth exploding and the HHGTTG logo) is now available HERE.
It looks really sweet, although they seem to have taken a few liberties with the story. Just from what I can see in the trailer there appears to be a love interest with Arthur. There also appears to be dolphins. Now I am not sure about both of those things. Indeed there was a love interest for Arthur, but not until "So Long and Thanks for all the Fish", which also had dolphins.
So they may have merged certain aspects of each of the books. Which shouldn't be too bad as long as they don't use ANYTHING from "Mostly Harmless", which, aside from the start, is a big pile of poo-pants.
Talking about dolphins, has anyone seen The Life Aquatic? I love the fact that they made the dolphins as thick as pigshit. Love it.
Word of the Day
Word of the Day for Monday March 14, 2005
nimiety \nih-MY-uh-tee\, noun:
The state of being too much; excess.
What a nimiety of ... riches have we here! I am quite undone.
--James J. Kilpatrick, "Buckley: The Right Word," National Review, December 23, 1996
Just as daily life contains all the comforts of what one owns, there is also a natural shedding or forgetting and a natural dulling, otherwise one becomes burdened with a sense of nimiety, a sense (as Kenneth Clark put it in his autobiography) of the "too-muchness" of life.
--Nicholas Poburko, "Poetry, Past And Present: F. T. Prince's Walks in Rome," Renascence: Essays on Values in Literature, January 1, 1999
Nimiety is from Late Latin nimietas, from Latin nimius, "very
much, too much," from nimis, "excessively."
nimiety \nih-MY-uh-tee\, noun:
The state of being too much; excess.
What a nimiety of ... riches have we here! I am quite undone.
--James J. Kilpatrick, "Buckley: The Right Word," National Review, December 23, 1996
Just as daily life contains all the comforts of what one owns, there is also a natural shedding or forgetting and a natural dulling, otherwise one becomes burdened with a sense of nimiety, a sense (as Kenneth Clark put it in his autobiography) of the "too-muchness" of life.
--Nicholas Poburko, "Poetry, Past And Present: F. T. Prince's Walks in Rome," Renascence: Essays on Values in Literature, January 1, 1999
Nimiety is from Late Latin nimietas, from Latin nimius, "very
much, too much," from nimis, "excessively."
Saturday, March 05, 2005
Calvin and Hobbes
Just one of the strips that make Calvin and Hobbes, in my humble opinion, one the of the funniest and most well-observed comics strips.
All of the strips are available here
All of the strips are available here
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
Bed Of Roses
Regular readers of this series of bottled messages may have concluded that, although I do not know much about poetry, I know what I like. And what I like are the poetic stylings of John Bon Jovi. There is of course an ongoing argument in critical circles as to whether the lyrics of Bon Jovi are poetry set to music, or whether the lyrics and music combine to form a "tone poem", but I tend to side with the analysts - although without doubt things of beauty, the songs of Bon Jovi are best experienced as homage to the original words.
With this in mind, I would like to welcome you to my first "Bon Jovi Surgery". Here, I hope to untangle some of the skeins of complex meaning built into the poetry of John Bon Jovi, and maybe help others to understand why they inspire the feelings they do. Essentally, I seek to let a little comprehension in to illuminate the strange, primal feelings of religious awe that your minds currently register at the sound of "Living on a Prayer", say.
To begin, I'd like to look at the opening verses of "Bed of Roses". You may think you understand the meaning behind this poem - that John Bon Jovi likes a lady, and is upset about it. This is just a sign of the brilliant, interweaving complexity of Bon Jovi. You can love the poem at that level, and many have, but let's go... inside.
With this in mind, I would like to welcome you to my first "Bon Jovi Surgery". Here, I hope to untangle some of the skeins of complex meaning built into the poetry of John Bon Jovi, and maybe help others to understand why they inspire the feelings they do. Essentally, I seek to let a little comprehension in to illuminate the strange, primal feelings of religious awe that your minds currently register at the sound of "Living on a Prayer", say.
To begin, I'd like to look at the opening verses of "Bed of Roses". You may think you understand the meaning behind this poem - that John Bon Jovi likes a lady, and is upset about it. This is just a sign of the brilliant, interweaving complexity of Bon Jovi. You can love the poem at that level, and many have, but let's go... inside.
Email Tagline
This email tagline came in from a customer.
"Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt,
and dance like you do when nobody's watching."
Now I understand the sentiment, but ON A WORK EMAIL? What a twat!
"Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt,
and dance like you do when nobody's watching."
Now I understand the sentiment, but ON A WORK EMAIL? What a twat!
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Numanuma
This guy singing and dancing made me happy. But this entire classroom doing it makes me very very happy.
Thursday, February 17, 2005
Carl Sagan - A Mini Biography
Dr. Carl Sagan
Founder and First President of The Planetary Society
Carl Sagan played a leading role in the American space program since its inception. He was a consultant and adviser to NASA beginning in the 1950s, he briefed the Apollo astronauts before their flights to the Moon, and was an experimenter on the Mariner, Viking, Voyager, and Galileo expeditions to the planets. He helped solve the mysteries of the high temperature of Venus (a massive greenhouse effect), the seasonal changes on Mars (windblown dust) and the reddish haze of Titan (complex organic molecules).
For his work, Dr. Sagan received the NASA Medals for Exceptional Scientific Achievement and for Distinguished Public Service twice, as well as the NASA Apollo Achievement Award.
Asteroid 2709 Sagan is named after him. He was also given the John F. Kennedy Astronautics Award of the American Astronautical Society, the Explorers Club 75th Anniversary Award, the Konstantin Tsiolokovsky Medal of the Soviet Cosmonautics Federation, and the Masursky Award of the American Astronomical Society:
"...for his extraordinary contributions to the development of planetary science... As a scientist trained in both astronomy and biology, Dr. Sagan made seminal contributions to the study of planetary atmospheres, planetary surfaces, the history of the Earth, and exobiology. Many of the most productive planetary scientists working today are his present and former students and associates." He is also the 1994 recipient of the Public Welfare Medal, the highest award of the National Academy of Sciences for "distinguished contributions in the application of science to the public welfare."
This award reads as follows:
"Carl Sagan has been enormously successful in communicating the wonder and importance of science. His ability to capture the imagination of millions and to explain difficult concepts in understandable terms is a magnificent achievement."
Dr. Sagan served as Chairman of the Division of Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society, as President of the Planetology Section of the American Geophysical Union, and as Chairman of the Astronomy Section of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
For 12 years he was Editor in Chief of Icarus, the leading professional journal devoted to planetary research. He was the co-founder and first President of The Planetary Society and a Distinguished Visiting Scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology.
A Pulitzer Prize winner, Dr. Sagan was the author of many bestsellers, including Cosmos, which became the best-selling science book ever published in the English language. The accompanying Emmy and Peabody award-winning television series has been seen by 500 million people in 60 countries. He received 20 honorary degrees from American colleges and universities for his contributions to science, literature, education, and the preservation of the environment.
At the time of his death on December 20, 1996, he served as the David Duncan Professor of Astronomy and Space Sciences and Director of the Laboratory for Planetary Studies at Cornell University. Dr. Sagan's The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark was released by Random House in March 1996. A collection of writings called Billions and Billions was published posthumously. He was co-producer and co-writer of the acclaimed Warner Brothers movie Contact, based on his novel.
From the Planetary Societies website
Founder and First President of The Planetary Society
Carl Sagan played a leading role in the American space program since its inception. He was a consultant and adviser to NASA beginning in the 1950s, he briefed the Apollo astronauts before their flights to the Moon, and was an experimenter on the Mariner, Viking, Voyager, and Galileo expeditions to the planets. He helped solve the mysteries of the high temperature of Venus (a massive greenhouse effect), the seasonal changes on Mars (windblown dust) and the reddish haze of Titan (complex organic molecules).
For his work, Dr. Sagan received the NASA Medals for Exceptional Scientific Achievement and for Distinguished Public Service twice, as well as the NASA Apollo Achievement Award.
Asteroid 2709 Sagan is named after him. He was also given the John F. Kennedy Astronautics Award of the American Astronautical Society, the Explorers Club 75th Anniversary Award, the Konstantin Tsiolokovsky Medal of the Soviet Cosmonautics Federation, and the Masursky Award of the American Astronomical Society:
"...for his extraordinary contributions to the development of planetary science... As a scientist trained in both astronomy and biology, Dr. Sagan made seminal contributions to the study of planetary atmospheres, planetary surfaces, the history of the Earth, and exobiology. Many of the most productive planetary scientists working today are his present and former students and associates." He is also the 1994 recipient of the Public Welfare Medal, the highest award of the National Academy of Sciences for "distinguished contributions in the application of science to the public welfare."
This award reads as follows:
"Carl Sagan has been enormously successful in communicating the wonder and importance of science. His ability to capture the imagination of millions and to explain difficult concepts in understandable terms is a magnificent achievement."
Dr. Sagan served as Chairman of the Division of Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society, as President of the Planetology Section of the American Geophysical Union, and as Chairman of the Astronomy Section of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
For 12 years he was Editor in Chief of Icarus, the leading professional journal devoted to planetary research. He was the co-founder and first President of The Planetary Society and a Distinguished Visiting Scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology.
A Pulitzer Prize winner, Dr. Sagan was the author of many bestsellers, including Cosmos, which became the best-selling science book ever published in the English language. The accompanying Emmy and Peabody award-winning television series has been seen by 500 million people in 60 countries. He received 20 honorary degrees from American colleges and universities for his contributions to science, literature, education, and the preservation of the environment.
At the time of his death on December 20, 1996, he served as the David Duncan Professor of Astronomy and Space Sciences and Director of the Laboratory for Planetary Studies at Cornell University. Dr. Sagan's The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark was released by Random House in March 1996. A collection of writings called Billions and Billions was published posthumously. He was co-producer and co-writer of the acclaimed Warner Brothers movie Contact, based on his novel.
From the Planetary Societies website
Arthur C Clarke - A Mini Biography
Arthur C Clarke was born in Minehead, Somerset in 1917. He attended Huish's Grammar School in Taunton where, at the age of 11, he bought his first science fiction magazine, Amazing Stories – a purchase that was to change his life. It set him off on a journey that saw him become one of the world's most celebrated science fiction writers.
Before he was to attain literary fame however, he spent time in the real world. While working as a radar instructor and technician with the RAF, he suggested that such technology could be used to enable instant worldwide communications. He published his theory in the magazine Wireless World, under the title Extra-Terrestrial Relays. That was in 1945, and today, over a century later, the communication satellites that Clarke envisioned are central to the global communication network. Clarke is often asked if he's sorry he didn't patent the communications satellite to which he recently replied: 'I'm not sure I could have done, but in any event I am fond of saying 'a patent is a licence to be sued.''
His satellite theory is considered to have been so important that the original paper is housed in the National Air and Space Museum at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC. It has won Clarke many prestigious awards over the years, such as the Marconi International Fellowship Award for scientific achievement and the Lindbergh Award for technological advancement. The International Astronomical Union even call the 42,000 kilometre satellite orbit position 'Clarke Orbit' in his honour – he was the first to recognize the potential usefulness of this position for orbiting satellites.
In 1945 Clarke also published his first sci-fi story, Rescue Party, in the magazine Astounding Science. He continued his education at King's College, London though and went on to receive a first class honours degree in Physics and Mathematics. The same college later made him a Fellow.In 1945 Clarke also published his first sci-fi story, Rescue Party, in the magazine Astounding Science. He continued his education at King's College, London though and went on to receive a first class honours degree in Physics and Mathematics. The same college later made him a Fellow.
In 1948 Clarke became Assistant Editor of Physics Abstracts at the Institution of Electrical Engineers. He said 'All of the world's leading scientific journals passed over my desk, and I had to mark the ones that appeared important.' For a science fiction writer like Clarke, it was a dream job.
In 1952 Clarke published the novel Exploration of Space – it became a best-seller. A year later, he published Childhood's End, a novel involving an alien occupation of Earth. It quickly became a classic and many still believe it to be his finest work.
Space odyssey
In 1964 Clarke met Stanley Kubrick, the director of Dr Strangelove. Kubrick wanted to make a science fiction movie and, with Clarke's agreement, decided to use one of Clarke's earlier short stories, The Sentinel (1948), as a model. They began working on a screenplay together. The result was the film classic 2001: A Space Odyssey, released in 1968. A few months later Clarke also released the novel.
The film is seen by many as a masterpiece. The two men received an Oscar nomination for the screenplay. The opening sequence, involving ape-like humans and a mysterious black monolith, was recently voted the second greatest science fiction moment of all time (closely behind Darth Vader's parental confession to Luke Skywalker in Star Wars). Even Nasa acknowledged the film. When the Apollo 8 crew landed on the Moon, they said they were 'tempted to radio back the discovery of a large black monolith.'
In 2001: A Space Odyssey, Clarke foresaw space stations, laptops and e-mail and a sentient super-computer (called HAL 9000). And while this last creation is not yet a reality, Clarke has been proven correct more than once and with the continuing advances in artificial intelligence his vision may yet come true.
2001: A Space Odyssey is also notable for another of Clarke's great foresights. In the novel, the space travellers use Jupiter as a 'gravitational slingshot' to boost their ship towards the outer solar system. Eleven years later, Voyager II used just this technology as it passed Neptune. He wasn't always right, however. In the 1951 story The Sands of Mars he stated 'there are no mountains on Mars', a claim he later came to regret.
Clarke also wrote three sequels to his 2001 classic – 2010: Odyssey Two (1982), 2061: Odyssey Three (1986) and 3001: The Final Odyssey (1996). He was involved in making the film of 2010, with director Peter Hyams. He even took a cameo role. But the movie failed to reproduce the success of the first film.
More accolades
Clarke became so respected in the field of science that he was asked by CBS to co-broadcast the Apollo 11, 12 and 15 lunar missions, with newsman Walter Cronkite and astronaut Wally Schirra. It was the Apollo 11 mission that carried the first men to the Moon, in 1969.
In addition to his prolific writing he has made many TV and radio appearances. His 1980s TV series on strange phenomena around the world, Mysterious World and World of Strange Powers, were global successes.
The accolades came thick and fast. He was named Grand Master by the Science Fiction Writers of America in 1986. He won the Hugo Award twice and also the Nebula Award, both are received in recognition of achievement in science fiction. Perhaps most impressively he was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 1994 for his 1945 paper Extra-Terrestrial Relays. He was also awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) from Queen Elizabeth II in 1998.
Clarke today
Clarke has lived in Sri Lanka since 1956, where until recently, he spent much of his time indulging his passion for diving. Unfortunately, since the 1980s he has been heavily affected by post-polio syndrome and is now wheelchair-bound.
He is still active in scientific debate, however, and in 2001 he spoke at the Wernher von Braun Memorial Lecture series held at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. He stated his belief that new images of Mars clearly showed the red planet had vegetation on it: 'Something is actually moving and changing with the seasons.' Whether he is correct or not remains to be seen, but it is clear that despite old age and sickness, the great brain behind communications satellites, Childhood's End and 2001: A Space Odyssey is still hard at work.
Find out more at these websites:
Arthur C Clarke
www.lsi.usp.br/~rbianchi/clarke
Fan-based site dedicated to the science fiction author, with views and information on his life and work.
Arthur C Clarke
www.kirjasto.sci.fi/aclarke.htm
A short biography of the writer, including a comprehensive list of his best known works.
The Sir Arthur C Clarke Institute for Telecommunications and Information www.clarkeinstitute.com
Website of institute whose mission is 'to seek to solve 21st century problems through electronic networking of leading researchers and educators around the globe.'
Before he was to attain literary fame however, he spent time in the real world. While working as a radar instructor and technician with the RAF, he suggested that such technology could be used to enable instant worldwide communications. He published his theory in the magazine Wireless World, under the title Extra-Terrestrial Relays. That was in 1945, and today, over a century later, the communication satellites that Clarke envisioned are central to the global communication network. Clarke is often asked if he's sorry he didn't patent the communications satellite to which he recently replied: 'I'm not sure I could have done, but in any event I am fond of saying 'a patent is a licence to be sued.''
His satellite theory is considered to have been so important that the original paper is housed in the National Air and Space Museum at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC. It has won Clarke many prestigious awards over the years, such as the Marconi International Fellowship Award for scientific achievement and the Lindbergh Award for technological advancement. The International Astronomical Union even call the 42,000 kilometre satellite orbit position 'Clarke Orbit' in his honour – he was the first to recognize the potential usefulness of this position for orbiting satellites.
In 1945 Clarke also published his first sci-fi story, Rescue Party, in the magazine Astounding Science. He continued his education at King's College, London though and went on to receive a first class honours degree in Physics and Mathematics. The same college later made him a Fellow.In 1945 Clarke also published his first sci-fi story, Rescue Party, in the magazine Astounding Science. He continued his education at King's College, London though and went on to receive a first class honours degree in Physics and Mathematics. The same college later made him a Fellow.
In 1948 Clarke became Assistant Editor of Physics Abstracts at the Institution of Electrical Engineers. He said 'All of the world's leading scientific journals passed over my desk, and I had to mark the ones that appeared important.' For a science fiction writer like Clarke, it was a dream job.
In 1952 Clarke published the novel Exploration of Space – it became a best-seller. A year later, he published Childhood's End, a novel involving an alien occupation of Earth. It quickly became a classic and many still believe it to be his finest work.
Space odyssey
In 1964 Clarke met Stanley Kubrick, the director of Dr Strangelove. Kubrick wanted to make a science fiction movie and, with Clarke's agreement, decided to use one of Clarke's earlier short stories, The Sentinel (1948), as a model. They began working on a screenplay together. The result was the film classic 2001: A Space Odyssey, released in 1968. A few months later Clarke also released the novel.
The film is seen by many as a masterpiece. The two men received an Oscar nomination for the screenplay. The opening sequence, involving ape-like humans and a mysterious black monolith, was recently voted the second greatest science fiction moment of all time (closely behind Darth Vader's parental confession to Luke Skywalker in Star Wars). Even Nasa acknowledged the film. When the Apollo 8 crew landed on the Moon, they said they were 'tempted to radio back the discovery of a large black monolith.'
In 2001: A Space Odyssey, Clarke foresaw space stations, laptops and e-mail and a sentient super-computer (called HAL 9000). And while this last creation is not yet a reality, Clarke has been proven correct more than once and with the continuing advances in artificial intelligence his vision may yet come true.
2001: A Space Odyssey is also notable for another of Clarke's great foresights. In the novel, the space travellers use Jupiter as a 'gravitational slingshot' to boost their ship towards the outer solar system. Eleven years later, Voyager II used just this technology as it passed Neptune. He wasn't always right, however. In the 1951 story The Sands of Mars he stated 'there are no mountains on Mars', a claim he later came to regret.
Clarke also wrote three sequels to his 2001 classic – 2010: Odyssey Two (1982), 2061: Odyssey Three (1986) and 3001: The Final Odyssey (1996). He was involved in making the film of 2010, with director Peter Hyams. He even took a cameo role. But the movie failed to reproduce the success of the first film.
More accolades
Clarke became so respected in the field of science that he was asked by CBS to co-broadcast the Apollo 11, 12 and 15 lunar missions, with newsman Walter Cronkite and astronaut Wally Schirra. It was the Apollo 11 mission that carried the first men to the Moon, in 1969.
In addition to his prolific writing he has made many TV and radio appearances. His 1980s TV series on strange phenomena around the world, Mysterious World and World of Strange Powers, were global successes.
The accolades came thick and fast. He was named Grand Master by the Science Fiction Writers of America in 1986. He won the Hugo Award twice and also the Nebula Award, both are received in recognition of achievement in science fiction. Perhaps most impressively he was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 1994 for his 1945 paper Extra-Terrestrial Relays. He was also awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) from Queen Elizabeth II in 1998.
Clarke today
Clarke has lived in Sri Lanka since 1956, where until recently, he spent much of his time indulging his passion for diving. Unfortunately, since the 1980s he has been heavily affected by post-polio syndrome and is now wheelchair-bound.
He is still active in scientific debate, however, and in 2001 he spoke at the Wernher von Braun Memorial Lecture series held at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. He stated his belief that new images of Mars clearly showed the red planet had vegetation on it: 'Something is actually moving and changing with the seasons.' Whether he is correct or not remains to be seen, but it is clear that despite old age and sickness, the great brain behind communications satellites, Childhood's End and 2001: A Space Odyssey is still hard at work.
Find out more at these websites:
Arthur C Clarke
www.lsi.usp.br/~rbianchi/clarke
Fan-based site dedicated to the science fiction author, with views and information on his life and work.
Arthur C Clarke
www.kirjasto.sci.fi/aclarke.htm
A short biography of the writer, including a comprehensive list of his best known works.
The Sir Arthur C Clarke Institute for Telecommunications and Information www.clarkeinstitute.com
Website of institute whose mission is 'to seek to solve 21st century problems through electronic networking of leading researchers and educators around the globe.'
Monday, February 14, 2005
Friday, February 11, 2005
Image Puzzle
I found this wicked image puzzle, which is about to inspire me to do my own.
I'll post comments with the pages as I manage to work them out.
I'll post comments with the pages as I manage to work them out.
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
BBC Newsnight email - Alistair Campbell
Is just got this email newsletter from the bbc newsnight team, here's the start of it,
============================================================
NEWSNIGHT - TUESDAY 8 FEBRUARY 22:30 GMT - BBC TWO ============================================================
------------------------------------------------------------
FROM KATE McANDREW, PROGRAMME PRODUCER
------------------------------------------------------------
Hello,
"Now f**k off and cover something important you tw*ts!"
Last night's advice in a misdirected e-mail to the Newsnight team from Alastair Campbell, the former Downing Street Communications Director.
Tonight, we're taking his advice and covering something important.
============================================================
NEWSNIGHT - TUESDAY 8 FEBRUARY 22:30 GMT - BBC TWO ============================================================
------------------------------------------------------------
FROM KATE McANDREW, PROGRAMME PRODUCER
------------------------------------------------------------
Hello,
"Now f**k off and cover something important you tw*ts!"
Last night's advice in a misdirected e-mail to the Newsnight team from Alastair Campbell, the former Downing Street Communications Director.
Tonight, we're taking his advice and covering something important.
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
Saturday, January 29, 2005
Cul De Sac
The meaning of the phrase "Cul De Sac".
Cul De Sac is from the french meaning "bottom of the bag".
Cul De Sac is from the french meaning "bottom of the bag".
Bogarting
Etymology of the term "bogarting.":
"bogart 1969, 'to keep a joint in your mouth,' dangling from the lip like Humphrey Bogart's cigarette in the old movies, instead of passing it on. First attested in 'Easy Rider.' The word was also used 1960swith notions of 'get something by intimidation, be a tough guy.'" http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=bogart
"bogart v 1. to steal or hog. ('Don't bogart my cookies!') Origin: possibly during the 1960s as a drug reference. The band Fraternity of Man has a song called 'Don't Bogart Me.' Lyrics include: 'Don't bogartthat joint, my friend, pass it over to me.' It has been theorized that the term is an allusion to Humphry Bogart, an American actor who always had a cigarette hanging from his lips. To 'bogart' a joint, then, would be letting it hang from one's lips without passing it on. Submitted by Emily Marcroft, UC Berkeley, CA, USA, 13-01-98. Additions by Dan Day, MA, USA, 12-03-98. http://members.fortunecity.com/tim9996/onlinesl.htm
"Bogart a joint: Salivate on a marijuana cigarette; refuse to share" http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/streetterms/ByAlpha.asp?strTerm=B
"bogart 1969, 'to keep a joint in your mouth,' dangling from the lip like Humphrey Bogart's cigarette in the old movies, instead of passing it on. First attested in 'Easy Rider.' The word was also used 1960swith notions of 'get something by intimidation, be a tough guy.'" http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=bogart
"bogart v 1. to steal or hog. ('Don't bogart my cookies!') Origin: possibly during the 1960s as a drug reference. The band Fraternity of Man has a song called 'Don't Bogart Me.' Lyrics include: 'Don't bogartthat joint, my friend, pass it over to me.' It has been theorized that the term is an allusion to Humphry Bogart, an American actor who always had a cigarette hanging from his lips. To 'bogart' a joint, then, would be letting it hang from one's lips without passing it on. Submitted by Emily Marcroft, UC Berkeley, CA, USA, 13-01-98. Additions by Dan Day, MA, USA, 12-03-98. http://members.fortunecity.com/tim9996/onlinesl.htm
"Bogart a joint: Salivate on a marijuana cigarette; refuse to share" http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/streetterms/ByAlpha.asp?strTerm=B
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