ILLNESS
So, after getting over the flu, that was all good and well, a few days ago I fell ill with food poisoning. When I say fell ill, I mean cramping over in pain through most of the night. It's really not much fun, mostly because you're in pain all the time, but also because you just can't (and don't want to) eat anything. Being unable to move much without immense pain, I couldn't change the DVD, so I ended up watching Back to the Future three times. Not that that's a bad thing, mind, but I'm in no danger of forgetting the whole storyline any time soon. Anyway, what helped a little through the illness was...
CUP A SOUP
Something I had completely forgotten about but is a rather awesome creation. Soup in a cup. It's create, you stick the kettle on, put the powder in, pour the boiled water in, give it a stir and it's done. Magic. I know it's hardly a new invention, but being reminded of it I intend to make it a frequent part of my diet. I have a problem with not being able to eat a lot - not for want of trying - and I tend to want to drink a lot to, so Cup A Soup helps in that respect. Maybe I'm incredibely lazy and that's why Cup A Soup appeals to me, but I'm going to for now with the chicken noodley goodness that has me hooked.
TECHNOLOGY
Onto the serious bit. Something that bothers me a fair bit is everyones utter reliance on technology. We've lost touch with ourselves and each other a lot because of relying way too much on easier means to do things. I've seen both sides of it, in a sense. The rest of my family grew up in a time before the internet, before consoles, in the day when if you wanted to speak to someone, you'd phone them up, or go and see them at their house. Nowadays, you just need to send them a text message, an email, a Facebook message, a MySpace message, or just read their Twitter updates or their Facebook statuses. If you want to find out something about people, why go to the trouble of talking to them to find out when you can just look at their "profile"?
I've always been slightly behind in technology, something which sometimes frustrates me, and sometimtes I can sit back and smile about it. While everybody else was carrying around a phone that not only had ringtones, but text sounds, WAP, Blutooth, all that junk, I was carrying around a plastic brick that didn't even have a decent digital display. This was never a bad thing, my phone could create and send texts and make and recieve phone calls. It's what they're for, aren't they? Still, usually behind in technology with games even, sometimes while everybody else is playing Dead Space, I'm happily sitting back running through Doom once more, or going back further, trailing through dungeons in Dungeon Master or alien bases in Captive on the Atari ST. Perhaps its nostalgia, perhaps its reluctance to indulge in the ever lazier modern technology. I am in no way saying it's bad technology, games, music (well maybe music), but simply that it's all applied in ways to make us a lazier generation.
So before computers you had toys, and even if you didn't, you had imagination. I think I can safely say that my imagination for my writing came from the dying days of those times. I'd happily sit for hours playing out a new story with my brothers Star Wars figures, recreating characters from the old, even carrying the story on for more than one day.
So I grew up with Ghostbusters and my brothers Star Wars figures, and computer wise I played the Atari 8-Bit or Atari ST. I was mostly left to my own devices to play when younger as the age gap between my brothers and sister were just too big. When I wanted to play with toys, they were too old for that. It all helped toward my imagination though. Now, yes, I did spent a fair amount of time too in front of the Atari, but then games back then were difficult, and especially on the Atari 8-Bit, still required a fair amount of imagination to go with it. There was one particular game called Star Raiders II on the Atari 8-Bit. To accompany playing this game, I used to build a makeshift spaceship cockpit out of cassette tapes, and grab a couple of Star Wars figures and pretend that they were piloting the ship I was playing in the game. I can't quite see a kid these days grabbing some CD cases, sitting a David Tennant figure on them and pretending he's driving a Nissan Skyline GT-R while playing Gran Turismo.
Games and toys these days don't inspire imagination, they've replaced it. And the many means of getting information about people and contacting them have crippled socialising. I wouldn't say so much I'm blaming technology. Who wouldn't want to make their lives easier? But surely we need to have some kind of balance? Don't rely on technology. We're all guilty of it, I'm guilty of it. I see it's somebodys birthday on Facebook and I leave them a wall message wishing them happy birthday. It's a bit impersonal, but I like to at least be able to make some kind of effort, as a good few of my friends are across the country.
I haven't mentioned the good that comes out of these things. Yes, such new technology allows us to be able to talk to these people who are across the country and keep in better touch, but what I'm getting at is it should be an accompaniment to keeping in contact face to face, by phone or by letter... it shouldn't replace it outright.
I've rambled enough. Ja ne~
Friday 31 July 2009
Sunday 19 July 2009
Post-Dartford Festival and More Projects
Dartford Festival
So as it turned out it didn't really go to plan. I was hoping to have a look around at the various stalls and things they had, however, I mostly went to meet up with a few friends I hadn't seen in a while. I had some good fun while I was with them, and had a bit of a think about the whole thing. From what I did get to see of the festival, and I did get a good walk around, it was a bit... well the best way to describe it is that it had "character". But after a bit more thinking I realised I was looking at it a bit wrong. It didn't matter how crap the rides were, how misplaced some of the stalls were (they had a scuba diving stall - the deepst water you'd find was a dodgy stream next to the park, and you probably don't want to go in there), and how some of the acts they'd booked for the event were something you'd see on the bottom end of the scale of a reality TV show.
So my thinking took me back to when I was waiting for a friend outside the park. There were so many attendees I was quite surprised. When I attended quite a few years ago there were nowhere near as many. Perhaps some of them had come to see Lemar? Perhaps a budding scuba diver came along on the offchance they'd find some likeminded people? Regardless their reasons (and I suspect a fair portion of them was to drink cider on the grass with their friends) it still brought a lot of people together. You can forget how crap things have been in the economy, or that you might catch flu, or that your scuba diving club is a little lack of members. Instead, people seem to come together as one random group to just have fun - it doesn't matter if you think it's all a little bit crap, it's fun crap, and it's all about who you're with and not where you are, something which could really apply well to general life.
So I've made a mental bid to attend more things, more random events, in the hopes of finding out new things, meeting new people, and generally having something more interesting to talk about than swine flu or the economy. You never know, I might gain a love for scuba diving.
Projects
I love these. I start too many of them and finish too few of them. However, I'm trying to do some projects that take very little maintenance, or time, for now at least. I've had a good few ideas for projects, and been given a few good (slightly unconventional) ideas for projects. Some will remain secret and will be revealed upon their completion. I'm looking forward to them all.
Ja ne~
So as it turned out it didn't really go to plan. I was hoping to have a look around at the various stalls and things they had, however, I mostly went to meet up with a few friends I hadn't seen in a while. I had some good fun while I was with them, and had a bit of a think about the whole thing. From what I did get to see of the festival, and I did get a good walk around, it was a bit... well the best way to describe it is that it had "character". But after a bit more thinking I realised I was looking at it a bit wrong. It didn't matter how crap the rides were, how misplaced some of the stalls were (they had a scuba diving stall - the deepst water you'd find was a dodgy stream next to the park, and you probably don't want to go in there), and how some of the acts they'd booked for the event were something you'd see on the bottom end of the scale of a reality TV show.
So my thinking took me back to when I was waiting for a friend outside the park. There were so many attendees I was quite surprised. When I attended quite a few years ago there were nowhere near as many. Perhaps some of them had come to see Lemar? Perhaps a budding scuba diver came along on the offchance they'd find some likeminded people? Regardless their reasons (and I suspect a fair portion of them was to drink cider on the grass with their friends) it still brought a lot of people together. You can forget how crap things have been in the economy, or that you might catch flu, or that your scuba diving club is a little lack of members. Instead, people seem to come together as one random group to just have fun - it doesn't matter if you think it's all a little bit crap, it's fun crap, and it's all about who you're with and not where you are, something which could really apply well to general life.
So I've made a mental bid to attend more things, more random events, in the hopes of finding out new things, meeting new people, and generally having something more interesting to talk about than swine flu or the economy. You never know, I might gain a love for scuba diving.
Projects
I love these. I start too many of them and finish too few of them. However, I'm trying to do some projects that take very little maintenance, or time, for now at least. I've had a good few ideas for projects, and been given a few good (slightly unconventional) ideas for projects. Some will remain secret and will be revealed upon their completion. I'm looking forward to them all.
Ja ne~
Saturday 18 July 2009
Swine Flu, Dartford Festival and an Upcoming Project...
SWINE FLU
So I was struck down with some sort of flu the other week. Up until then I'd thought all of this swine flu stuff was a load of over-hyped panic caused by the media. After, I was pretty certain it was just a load of over-hyped panic caused by the media. I will admit, sadly, I fell into it a little bit. When I fell ill, someone else I'd been in contact with two days before had fallen ill with most of the same symptoms, and he had brought up that he had the symptoms of swine flu and was worried about it. At this point I wasn't too bad, just had a dodgy stomach and was feeling generally crappy. After that was said though, it did play on my mind. What if there was a chance I had swine flu? I spoke to NHS Direct and a doctor at my local surgery. Both said the same thing. "Well, you have *a* virus, but I dunno whether it's swine flu or not. Just drink lots." If they had no bloody clue, what chance did I have of knowing?
Let's skip to the end. I was absolutely fine, I am absolutely fine now. Whether or not it was swine flu, I don't think it would have made a difference if it had been. It's just a flu. It's *a* flu. You could get over it the same as you would any flu. However we are led to believe it's some epic disease that's going to wipe out humanity if we don't exhaust all vaccine's now to anyone who's feeling slightly under the weather. Let's address some points:
-- It's Killed People
Yes, it has, but they all had underlying health problems. Think of the regular flu, in which it usually attacks the young and the elderly, ie, those that have not yet fully developed, or those that are, bless 'em, a little worse for wear. Swine flu isn't as discerning, but the point still stands that those who aren't quite as healthy are more susceptible. This is hardly anything new to the human race. Calm down.
-- It's Going To Mutate
So there's the chance it'll mutate into something stronger, yes, because it's all new and that. But think of all those people who are taking the vaccine for when they think they have swine flu (or worse, doctors and surgeries giving it out willy nilly) what's going to happen if it does mutate and we really do need it? It'll be gone or in short supply because of the huge panic. Calm down.
-- Shit, I Caught Swine Flu From...
If you're going to get it, you're going to get it, don't blame whoever you thought you might have got it from, or the person you actually got it from, they didn't ask for it either. And don't shuffle nervously away from anyone suspected of it either. We're all human beings here, not many people like being isolated, and those who do are probably sitting at home anyway. Calm down!
In short, you're not going to die, grow pig ears or start snorting when you laugh. And for those who do snort when they laugh (or happen to have pigs ears), don't worry, maybe this is your natural immunity kicking in.
DARTFORD FESTIVAL
I'm off to the Dartford Festival today, possibly also tomorrow. For those not in the know, it is a festival in Dartford. At least, that's what they call it. It is always on Saturday and Sunday, with a stage and musical acts, and various sort of festival like things. Okay, I'll admit, I haven't been in years so I've completely forgotten, but the point of this is I'm hoping to remember a few things to write about when I get back. What normally happens is that a bunch of friends go to the festival, despair at the music and get drunk on cider. The last time I was there, I went to the festival, despaired at the music, but I only have the odd cup of tea. However, taking a look at the official website, for once, I might have a look around and partake in some of the things they have available. I will investigate, and report back.
UPCOMING PROJECT
Does that sound nice and mysterious? Not mysterious enough probably. After taking part in an unusual bet of sorts, I'm going to try something on a bit of a bigger scale. I will start this project on Monday, and give it a week, to the Sunday, and will report my progress.
Ja ne~
So I was struck down with some sort of flu the other week. Up until then I'd thought all of this swine flu stuff was a load of over-hyped panic caused by the media. After, I was pretty certain it was just a load of over-hyped panic caused by the media. I will admit, sadly, I fell into it a little bit. When I fell ill, someone else I'd been in contact with two days before had fallen ill with most of the same symptoms, and he had brought up that he had the symptoms of swine flu and was worried about it. At this point I wasn't too bad, just had a dodgy stomach and was feeling generally crappy. After that was said though, it did play on my mind. What if there was a chance I had swine flu? I spoke to NHS Direct and a doctor at my local surgery. Both said the same thing. "Well, you have *a* virus, but I dunno whether it's swine flu or not. Just drink lots." If they had no bloody clue, what chance did I have of knowing?
Let's skip to the end. I was absolutely fine, I am absolutely fine now. Whether or not it was swine flu, I don't think it would have made a difference if it had been. It's just a flu. It's *a* flu. You could get over it the same as you would any flu. However we are led to believe it's some epic disease that's going to wipe out humanity if we don't exhaust all vaccine's now to anyone who's feeling slightly under the weather. Let's address some points:
-- It's Killed People
Yes, it has, but they all had underlying health problems. Think of the regular flu, in which it usually attacks the young and the elderly, ie, those that have not yet fully developed, or those that are, bless 'em, a little worse for wear. Swine flu isn't as discerning, but the point still stands that those who aren't quite as healthy are more susceptible. This is hardly anything new to the human race. Calm down.
-- It's Going To Mutate
So there's the chance it'll mutate into something stronger, yes, because it's all new and that. But think of all those people who are taking the vaccine for when they think they have swine flu (or worse, doctors and surgeries giving it out willy nilly) what's going to happen if it does mutate and we really do need it? It'll be gone or in short supply because of the huge panic. Calm down.
-- Shit, I Caught Swine Flu From...
If you're going to get it, you're going to get it, don't blame whoever you thought you might have got it from, or the person you actually got it from, they didn't ask for it either. And don't shuffle nervously away from anyone suspected of it either. We're all human beings here, not many people like being isolated, and those who do are probably sitting at home anyway. Calm down!
In short, you're not going to die, grow pig ears or start snorting when you laugh. And for those who do snort when they laugh (or happen to have pigs ears), don't worry, maybe this is your natural immunity kicking in.
DARTFORD FESTIVAL
I'm off to the Dartford Festival today, possibly also tomorrow. For those not in the know, it is a festival in Dartford. At least, that's what they call it. It is always on Saturday and Sunday, with a stage and musical acts, and various sort of festival like things. Okay, I'll admit, I haven't been in years so I've completely forgotten, but the point of this is I'm hoping to remember a few things to write about when I get back. What normally happens is that a bunch of friends go to the festival, despair at the music and get drunk on cider. The last time I was there, I went to the festival, despaired at the music, but I only have the odd cup of tea. However, taking a look at the official website, for once, I might have a look around and partake in some of the things they have available. I will investigate, and report back.
UPCOMING PROJECT
Does that sound nice and mysterious? Not mysterious enough probably. After taking part in an unusual bet of sorts, I'm going to try something on a bit of a bigger scale. I will start this project on Monday, and give it a week, to the Sunday, and will report my progress.
Ja ne~
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