Every Sperm Is Sacred in Madrid tonight

Let us not forget what this march in Madrid is really all about…

October 17, 2009 | Filed Under General | Leave a Comment

Royal Trux: When Terry Christian was right

Oh yeah, and here's why

October 11, 2009 | Filed Under General | 3 Comments

Is it the end of the world?

I heard a story yesterday that made me chuckle, but also left me feeling a little unsettled. A friend's colleague quit work without warning a couple of weeks ago, effectively vanishing before he'd even explained why he was leaving. This sort of event can be pretty worrying for co-workers, particularly during a recession (was he laid off? does he know something we don't know?). So it must have been something of a relief for his colleagues when they saw an email from him appear in their work inboxes. It turns out that he does know something that the rest of us don't.

In his communication, he announced that he was in Brazil and that the reason he'd gone there was simple: next year there will be an apocalyptic event and he wanted to find some high ground (literally) from which to sit it out. He seems to be referring to the impending impact of the comet Sedna which a handful of Bible-code 'scholars' and other eschatologists believe will take place some time between 2010 and 2012. Claiming correlation with the '3rd prophecy of Fatima', the gibberish of Nostradamus and Mayan astrology (among other, even less reliable sources), the doom-sayers foresee a great cataclysm after the comet strikes the Atlantic ocean.

I've always been fascinated by theories that claim to know not only the cause but the date of a forthcoming apocalypse. These people are even more self-assured by holding 'secret' knowledge than traditional conspiracy theorists – indeed, many modern eschatologists are conspiracy theorists who have encountered apocalyptic prophecy presumably because it tells of an even bigger conspiracy, a cosmic one.

The trouble is, it's hard to know who to trust. There are reports of comet strike in 2010, geomagnetic storms in 2011, and the famous Mayan doomsday 'predicted' for December 22nd 2012, to name but a few. And what happens when these events fail to occur (as I'm certain will happen)? Then the eschatologists will 'reinterpret' their texts and come up with another date.

I suppose that in the end, I'd rather not be in the same office as someone who seriously believes that they have secret knowledge relating to the end of the world. They're probably best off sitting on a mountain in Brazil, waiting for the rapture that will never come.

Here's a representative apocalyptic website, picked at random. Note the numerous factual discrepancies when trying to link cosmic events with Earth events (something you'll also see on conspiracy theory websites).

July 1, 2009 | Filed Under General | 19 Comments

thebadPoll: Champions League

This year's Champions League is down to the last four and I'm happy to say that Barça are still in with a chance. They meet Chelsea next (as per usual), while Arsenal play Manchester Utd. This poll is as simple as simple could be: who do you think will win the 2009 Champions League?

Oh and don't forget to sing the greatest football song in the world as you vote…

April 18, 2009 | Filed Under General, Polls | Leave a Comment

Things I love: A Confederacy Of Dunces

The perverted (and I suspect quite dangerous) mind of Clyde has devised still another means of belittling my rather invincible being. At first I thought that I might have found a surrogate father in the czar of sausage, the mogul of meat. But his resentment and jealousy of me are increasing daily; no doubt they will ultimately overwhelm him and destroy his mind. The grandeur of my physique, the complexity of my worldview, the decency and taste implicit in my carriage, the grace with which I function in the mire of today's world – all of these at once confuse and astound Clyde.

So writes Ignatius Reilly, hero of A Confederacy Of Dunces, in his trusty Journal, one of the main devices employed by the novel's author, John Kennedy Toole. I've recently rediscovered this incredible book as Gemma's currently reading my copy and I've purloined an audiobook version to listen to on my journey to and from work.

'Dunces', for those who haven't yet read it, is one of the finest comic novels ever written. Telling the story of Reilly and his one man struggle against modernity (and his valve), the book's set in New Orleans in the 1960s and features a range of outlandish and hilarious characters, though none more outlandish or hilarious than Ignatius himself. If you've never read it, go and buy a copy tomorrow, stop reading whatever you were reading before, and devour this masterpiece. If you've already read it, read it again.

February 3, 2009 | Filed Under General | 2 Comments

Israel invades Gaza… again

Sadly, it seems that the Guardian's predictions were accurate: the invasion was obviously going to happen. As usual, the leading liberal democracies are backing an illegal invasion (quietly in public, slavishly, no doubt, in private).

I wish I could attend one of the demonstrations going on around the world but it doesn't look likely. If anyone has any reports from the demos, I'd love to hear them.

[Written on highly expensive Internet access from monsoonal Darwin]

January 4, 2009 | Filed Under General | 2 Comments

@George Bush: haha everyone thinks you're a dick!

December 15, 2008 | Filed Under General | Leave a Comment

Ein fucker indepentist of catalonia makes the case for Catalan independence

Catalonia my pute patriot selfdetermination we are a nation with statut!!!!!!
this is the new himne of Catalonia.I am sure that in 2014 will celebrate a new referendum for part of josepo lluis mosso carota rovira.

Mossos Carota=gossos de la Quadra=Gossos de la tura(montse tura)=gossos d'atura

we must exclode of the nation all that is spanish,services burn spanish flag,the constitution book do pis,etc.

We must fight against the transfer selfdetermination country with statute because we are a nation!!!!!!

Our outside minister is apeles carota rovira.We must6 to create delegation in the foreigner and shout as pig or rabbits:selfdetermination we are a nation with statute!!!!autodeterminationen wir sein a nationer mit Statuter!!!!!!!!Catalonia ist ein fucker nationer!!!!!!!

Who said Barcelona Reporter was dead?

November 21, 2008 | Filed Under General | 5 Comments

Geek point: Little Big Planet rocks

The regular reader will know that I rarely touch on anything remotely connected to my professional life (i.e. being a geek) on this blog. There are plenty of good reasons for this 'rule' and I'm not about to break it. I do, however, want to say that Gemma and I have been testing the Little Big Planet beta for Playstation 3 and it's absolutely stunning.

At its heart a platform title, LBP features a cute character fashioned from sackcloth (and called 'Sackboy') who you have to guide by jumping, running and grabbing, through a variety of levels which test both dexterity (well, accurate button-pushing) and nouse. The game's graphics are wonderful: crisp, cute and remiscent of childhood (the cardboard cutout castles used as a background in some levels look like they've been cut out by some kid). Stephen Fry (unfairly referred to by some wag as 'the stupid person's idea of an intelligent person') provides the voiceover and guides you through the first few levels, and even the in-game music is good.

But Little Big Planet is much more than a simple platform game. Its motto is "Play. Create. Share." for a reason: you can create and share your very own levels within the game. Gemma and I haven't got onto making our own yet, but the idea is pretty simple. You can create your own level on the PS3, filling it with obstacles, beasties and er.. stickers, then when you're done, you upload it to the Playstation Network, where anyone can try your level, tag it and 'heart' it if they like. We've tried out several designs created by other beta testers (there are hundreds of them) and some have been really very impressive. Apparently, the best level designed at this stage will be included in the full game when it's released in around three weeks' time.

Little Big Planet is one of the first PS3-only titles to really impress me (Drake's Fortune is also pretty good). It's easy to learn but many of the levels we've tried have been tricky. This is a game I'm sure we'll be playing in two years' time. We might have even created our own level by then.

Little Big Planet – Playstation 3 – 1/1

October 4, 2008 | Filed Under General, Internet computer | 1 Comment

The real Alan Partridge?

Check out this clip of BBC local radio presenter, Les Ross, making a complete ass of himself during an interview. It's all funny but I wish he'd used the classic Alan line, after the guest leaves the interview: "And furthmore do you accept that everything I have said is true?" to which his assistant, Lynn, responds "Yes".

[Nicked from Popbitch!]

September 23, 2008 | Filed Under General | 2 Comments

Força FAF!

Next Saturday sees Andorra play England in a world cup qualifier. Rather than support friend-of-Franco, Capello's pathetic squad, I thought we'd be better off backing Andorra's meatheads. See you at the game?

August 31, 2008 | Filed Under General | 3 Comments

Let's Fighting Love

As it's my birthday, I thought I'd post something funny today. I couldn't think of anything to write, so I'll steal something from South Park instead.

August 5, 2008 | Filed Under General | 3 Comments

What I'm planning to watch at Summercase

I had to contact the festival organisers to get a copy of the set times in plain text (essential for producing your own Excel festival guides… at least I haven't laminated it). Their web designers/webmasters obviously know little about accessibility.

Here's my planned viewing (highlighted in pink). Read more

July 16, 2008 | Filed Under Catalonia, Crap, General, Music | 3 Comments

Public Enemy en el Primavera Sound 2008

This photo was taken by one of my colleagues. Public Enemy were astoundingly good and easily my favourite concert of the festival. I'll write more about the festival this week.