There are many reasons why this blog (amongst a few other things) didn’t get updated at all for the last six months. So, in the spirit of many a “self improvement” makeover show, here is a list of things that I must overcome to help me update this blog more. SO…
Laziness
Boredom
My iPad
Easy access to Internet pornography
Laziness
Roy Hodgson
Tom Hicks
George Gillett
Laziness
Boredom due to my iPad
Laziness
Wordpress iOS App not working
Ill health
Boredom because of my iPad
Roy Hodgson, Tom Hicks & George Gillett (as a group, not just on their own)
Mass Effect 2
Taking my job too seriously
Twitter
Addictiveness of Twitter
Easy access to pornography on my iPad
Laziness
Ok, I’m bored now.
Oh, one last one. Boredom. That’s about it I think.
Some people, like myself, are often annoyed at the spell checker on Apple’s touchscreen products and the way that it often corrects itself to a word that is far removed from the one you wanted.
However, in this instance, it’s nice to get some clarification on whether or not there is a space between the words.
A lot has been written about Barack Obama’s election as US president, particularly about bringing Hope and Change to America. In fact, he himself had said it so many times that by the time he stood in that park in Chicago nearly 9 weeks ago, I was glad that he had finally beaten McCain just so he could get some new material. That’s not to take anything away from what he’s achieved (as if I could), and I’m certainly not going to go all Sean Hannity on you and start claiming that now Obama is in office, he’s going to start letting all of his crazy long bearded, white head-dress wearing friends in. Or for that matter do a Robin Williams and claim that he’s going to go all Hardcore Gangsta Rap on us come Jan. 20th. (As a side note, could anyone explain why Youtube has been running so slowly recently. Has Pakistan been up to it’s old tricks again?)
As well as his two helpings of Hope and Change, what’s also been written about in press of the more Right Wing persuasion is can Obama actually do anything to sort out the mess that Dubya will/has left behind. Never mind the Charlie Foxtrot’s that are Afghanistan and Iraq, the US economy is in deep, deep trouble and while we in the UK and losing Woolworths and potentially others too, the US has lost slightly more important High Street institutions such as Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearns, Fannie May and Freddie Mac who instead of helping to rot the teeth of 8 year old kids with cheap and nasty Pick and Mix, were helping to keep large portions of the American banking system afloat. In fact, that is one thing (and probably the ONLY thing) that I appreciate about this country at the moment is that we, at the very least, take a rather dim view on economic fraud. Although perhaps not quite on the same level as somewhere like Switzerland where you can serve longer in jail for economic fraud than you can for murder. Which says alot about the mentality of the Swiss but I digress.
Obama faces a big gamble when he gets into office. Once he’s cleared the Pretzels, cans of Miller Light and the razor blades with that odd white powder on them off the Oval Office desk, he faces a not insignificant challenge in restimulating the American economy. Can he manage to do what very few presidents, with the possible exception of Bill Clinton, have done and manage to convince Americans to do something other than make money out of making money. As I said, It’s a gamble and I hope for him it stays out the red and in the black.
What does all this talk about Number 44 have to do with me? Well, I’m hoping that some of that hope and change that he is so clearly fond of can rub off onto me. The last twelve months have been fairly emotional for me in one way or another. Some of it out of my control, Some of it completely under my control but most of it unremittingly dreadful from start to finish. From screwing up friendships to the death of my Grandmother to ending the year in pain thanks to a bladder infection, it was one thing after another in 2008 and for the first time in many years, I’m glad we are starting a New Year.
I guess the point is that 2009 represents a fresh start, a chance to put all the heavy shit (well, as heavy as my shit ever gets) from last year behind me and start sorting things out properly. Of which this humble blog is, hopefully, going to be a part of. Never mind talk of design, I think some content would be a start and I hope to get into a swing of things fairly soon. As for New Years Resolutions, well I was going to end by saying that my only resolution was to not make any more resolutions but it would seem Stephen Colbert beat me to it…
I’ll say one thing in Colbert’s favour. He’s good.
It seems that 30 years ago Torbay Council (the local borough council the next one over from mine) decided that for “the safety of the people of Torbay”, it decided to put a banning order on The Life Of Brian. Presumably, this order was to protect Torbay from people such as myself going round shouting “he’s not the messiah…” every two minutes. Because quoting a brilliant line from a film instantly makes it as funny as the original LOL!!!1111!!!!!!111
Hmmm, well anyway. Life of Brian is by no means my favourite Python film (The Holy Grail takes the honours there) but I do think, in the words of Torbay mayor Nick Bye “The world has moved on” and it’s about time the people of Torbay can enjoy the wonder of Terry Jones in drag. And while we’re here, let’s take a moment to remind ourselves of the genius of Not The Nine O’clock News, shall we? If for no other reason than to pad out this post a bit reminisce about when British comedy used to rule the world.
If ever there was a time we needed a brilliant, British satirical programme it’s now instead of the late night rubbish currently served up by Channel 4. Yes, Jason Manford, I am looking at you and your sub-Peter Kay, sub-11 o’clock show dross. I could go off on one here but I think I’ve made enough of a point with that last sentence.
