blah

The suicide life

2004-09-14T13:12:00.000+01:00

You think you get under,
old monsieur's lib.
And try to imagine,
all the things that he did.

You don't know where,
I'm gonna go.
You don't know where,
I'll go.

I'm gonna go bravely,
into the night.
I'm so tired of living,
this suicide life.
That ain't no reason,
to live.

Wake up in the night,
and think of all the years.
Falling from the ceiling,
covering your ears.

You don't know how,
you're gonna get out.
You don`t know how,
you'll get out.

I'm going to brave me,
into the night.
I'm so tired of living,
this suicide life.
That ain't no reason,
to live.

Call up your best friends,
and tell them a lie.
You've got to be kidding,
I'm not really high.

I don't know where,
I'm gonna go.
I don't know where,
I'll go.

I'm going to brave me,
into the night.
I'm so tired of living,
this suicide life.

But that ain't no reason, to live...

-Mr E,
The Eels.

The eels (rocktoons.com)

The liver is evil and must be punished

2004-09-12T11:56:00.000+01:00

...and we all know what that means

It seems that this is the idiom that I have been living my life to over the last couple of days (by couple of days I mean, of course, two-and-a-half weeks).
One unfortunate side-effect however is that your wallet seems to take the brunt of any punishment that's being handed out.

But, as Fleetwood Mac once sang, oh well.

Before I go, a quick challenge to anyone who reads this post:
look at the time-stamp and tell me what the hell I'm doing outta bed.

Rumours of my demise have been greatly exagerated

2004-09-08T13:38:00.000+01:00

I know that my posts are now intermitent at best, but that doesn't mean that I'm dead.

I am merely without my computer, which is a pity 'cos the house I'm in has an unlimited 2 megabit broadband connection.
Poo!

I do occasionally use a computer in one of the university's computer rooms, but they just don't allow for any fancy stuff like posting pics, so I'm sorry that my blog is so bland just now.

Anyway, I just thought I should address these rumours before the press got a hold of them.

Peace out.

Some funny shit

2004-08-31T17:15:00.000+01:00

thespark.com is no longer, but do not fret for the hilariously funny tests that they used to haost have been relocated to their new site.

Enjoy.

Gus's Blog

2004-08-31T16:42:00.000+01:00

As you may remember, from such posts as:

"Oh woe is me"
and
"Gus's site"

I have a friend (wow, shock, horror) called Gus, and he has a site.
Well, it turns out he has a blog as well.

Obviously, it goes without saying or viewing that it ain't a patch on mine, but it's nice to be able to view another blog and know who the hell the person who writes it is.

Anyway, that's all for now.

Location, location, location...

2004-08-30T16:50:00.000+01:00

It turns out that I'm gonna stay in York for most of the rest of the holidays.

This is a decision reached by my lack of employment back home (although, so far, I haven't had much more luck down here).

So, for all you die-hard groupies out there (yeah, that's you Gus) I won't be back home any time soon.
Anyway, to all my friends; feel free to visit, just text me in advance.

Proper Fuct

2004-08-29T19:55:00.000+01:00

Here are just a few of the ad campaigns used by Fuct, a self-confessed cult and makers of top-class garments for people who don't mind if they insult their fellow human beings.

Peace in the Middle East, Middle West, and Middle North.

But not the Middle South.
Fuck them.

Forever Changes

2004-08-27T22:04:00.000+01:00

The Evil Eye Lounge.
The single greatest cocktail bar in the world.

A must-visit if you're ever in York.

A quick piece of political satire

2004-08-26T13:53:00.000+01:00

The Swift Boat Veterans for Truth have been attacking John Kerry's war record. They say he doesn't deserve his medals. Kerry has responded by saying; "They can take away my medals, but they'll never take away my necklace of human ears, or the baby's skull my wife uses as an ashtray."

Still, he's gotta be a better choice than George Dubya, hasn't he?

But seriously, with all the back-handed tactics and bullshit that's been used in the campaigning already, Americans must be at a stage now where they're wondering if they really have to have a president at all.

And, to be fair, at the end of the day the entire team played well and it was a team effort and the better side won.
Sorry, got a bit side-tracked.
What was I gonna say? Oh yes, at the end of the day it's not an unreasonable question to be asking given how crap politics is generally.

I say we should go back to the days of dictatorships and what not, I'd make a very good sociopathic leader personally. I hold all other people in cotempt and I look good in a hat.
Especially a novelty Guiness one...

This is going nowhere, so I'm gonna sign out now but do think about what I've said - are we really better off with politicians running our country?

Peace of crap

Resits - the bane of my life

2004-08-25T13:14:00.000+01:00

Yeah, so I'm sorta in the position I was in when I started this blog - I'm part-way through a set of exams that'll determine whether or not I'm allowed to stay on at York uni.

This time, however, I think I might have a way out (in a manner of speaking).
It has, finally, come to my attention that I hate (or at least loath completely) Electronics. One slight problem being that it's the course that I'm on at uni, however, I have decided to take a step into the unknown and speak to my supervisor about the possibility of changing course.
This should, hopefully, be able to solve the two major issues surrounding my time in higher education.

I'm having the time of my life here in York, and therefore don't want to go anywhere else
I hate the course I'm on and can't stand the thought of continuing on it for th up-coming year, let alone staying on it to the end of a 4-year Masters' degree

I hope it works out ok though, 'cos if it doesn't I have no idea what I'm gonna do...

Here's hoping.

Peace over and under.

On this day...

2004-08-20T15:23:00.000+01:00

777 years ago today (or at least some time this week) Gengis Khan, warlord, dictator, misunderstood poet, general and all-round nice guy died.
On hi death-bed, rather than leaving money to any of his favourite charities he decided that he'd rather the kingdom he was attacking be 'wiped from the face of the earth'.

On a lighter note (though only just), 750 years after Khan shuffled off this mortal coil, a far greater person also made a career change to worm food.
This was, of course, Julius 'Groucho' Marx.

A caricature capturing the very essence of Groucho, including his odd, low-slung walk.

Groucho, one of six brothers - 4 of whom appeared in films together - is famous (or should that be infamous) for his devilish good looks. Not quite the face that launched a thousand ships so much as the face that launched a thousand joke shops, it being the stereotypical all-in-one plastic copy of that famous combination of greasepaint 'tache and glasses (with a cigar for added effect) that even now is still popular amongst small children, pissed people and other idiots.

He came to fame as one cinema's 'the Marx brothers'.
Along with Chico, Harpo and Zeppo, he appeared in a large number of black and white films. Arguably the most famous (or at least the funniest) being 'A Night at the Opera' - a film that's definitely worth a look.
Yet, despite starring alongside 3 siblings, it was Groucho whose star shone the brightest, a large part of that being down to the superior dialogue that he tended to be afforded in their films.

The three most famous of all the Marx Bros.
(from the left) Harpo, Chico and inimitable Groucho.

Here follows 10 of the more memorable quotes that Groucho's characters (all your favourites, including Captain Spaulding, Dr. Hackenbush, President Firefly and others...) have been heard to utter:

"Those are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others."
"Time wounds all heels."
"He may look like an idiot and talk like an idiot, but don't let that fool you. He really is an idiot."
"I have had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn't it."
"Remember men, we're fighting for this woman's honour - which is probably more than she ever did."
"There is no sweeter sound than the crumbling of your fellow man."
"I must say that I find television very educational. The minute somebody turns it on, I go to the library and read a book."
"Room service? Send up a larger room."
"Who are you going to believe: me or your own eyes?"
"Quote me as saying I was misquoted."

A great man who, even now - 27 years after his death, is sorely missed.
Groucho Marx, we salute you.

Self Pity

2004-08-17T21:41:00.000+01:00

I never saw a wild thing
sorry for itself.
A small bird will drop frozen dead from a bough
without ever having felt sorry for itself.

'Self Pity'
by DH.Lawrence.

Go peace yourself...

Oh woe is me

2004-08-15T15:16:00.000+01:00

I have no money, I have no job.

Unless I win the lottery, I reckon I'm gonna have to become a beggar.
This sucks.

And I've got resits in just over a week.
I hate my course.

Oh, but here's a bit of fun: this is why Gus has taken forever to give me a link from his site.
I hope you'll all be able to spot the reason why, and I pity those of you who can't...

And remember, I am the eggman, wooh!
I am the eggman, wooh!
I am the walrus, coo coo ca-choo...

No God, no peace.
Know God and there's still no fucking peace.

Oh shit!

2004-08-13T03:45:00.000+01:00

Happy Friday the 13th y'all.

I'm gonna do what I did during the last one (stay in bed all day).
Hey, it worked last time - I was fine whereas countless idiots around the world got outta bed and ended up dead or injured or something.
One-nil to me!

You can't win, my logic's impeccable - and if you do then it's the game that's flawed...

Peace on the floor, not on your shoes.

I just couldn't resist...

2004-08-08T18:59:00.000+01:00

Ant City - a game that's played from the perspective of the original GTA.

It's superb, you play a person, described as "...very, very tall" by witnesses, who steals a perfect scale model of a magnifying glass which you can pick off people, dogs and cars with.
Or even the odd tanker should you feel like it - but let me warn you, going for the oil tanker tends to have slightly disasterous consequences.

The 'slightly disasterous' consequences of picking off a tanker...

Brilliant!

While My Guitar Gently Weeps...

2004-08-06T21:42:00.000+01:00

'Ey up!

I look, at you all,
see the love there that's sleeping.
While my guitar gently weeps.
I look, at the floor,
and I see it needs sweeping.
Still my guitar gently weeps.

I don't know why...
nobody told you.
How to unfold your love.
I don't know how...
someone controlled you.
They bought and sold you.

I look at, the world,
and I notice it's turning.
While my guitar gently weeps.
With every mistake,
we must surely be learning.
Still my guitar gently weeps.

Well…

I don't know how...
you were diverted.
You were perverted too.
I don't know how...
you were inverted.
No one alerted you.

I look, at you all,
see the love there that's sleeping.
While my guitar gently weeps.
Look at you all.
Still my guitar gently weeps.

Oh, oh, oh, oh,
Oh, oh, oh, oh,
Oh, oh, oh, oh,
Oh, oh, oh...

Still my guitar gently weeps...

My life, it seems, has ground to a halt.

2004-08-04T13:33:00.000+01:00

I'm bored.

I've got nothing to do.

I have no money, so I won't even be able to go to anything at the fringe.

This is crap!

The only reason I'm posting here is a sense of guilt, I don't have anything worth saying (though I suppose that was always true...).

Oh well...

So long.
Peace be with me, and also with me.

I think I'm developing a sleep-pattern problem (again)

2004-07-04T03:48:00.000+01:00

[Rant]

Why the hell am I up at 3.52 am on a Sunday?
The question is doubly confusing when the fact that I'm still sober is entered into the equation...

[Self pity]

I'm beginning to hate my life again.
I also hate my depression.

I wish I was back in York, with all my friends. But I'll never see some of them again, and that's not 'cos I'm a bastard - some of them are finished their courses and won't be coming back.

Because of this terrible situation, I feel it's pertinent to read out a few obituaries:

Virginie.
Clemence.
Richard.
Ashton.
Mr O. Fisher (TD and head cockmunch).
Miss Linda Westwood (owner of the finest backside on God's green earth).
And many others...

[/Self pity]
[/Rant]

Who needs friends when you've got cats??

2004-07-03T05:24:00.000+01:00

Chico - a cat(!)

It's a simple question really.

I've been home for a week (well I will have in about 12 hours) and I've seen almost nothing of any of my so-called friends.
It's my fault really, I haven't gone and sought them out.

First things first though - I need a job 'cos I need the cash.

I suppose that'd make it a bit easier to go out and meet up with folks.

Oh, and I need to unpack all my shit as well...

A few more sites

2004-07-02T13:14:00.000+01:00

Aren't you lot lucky?
Here I am providing you all with all these great sites to look at, and free of charge as well!

(Though, if you would like to send a donation, please write to PO Box 13... nah, only kidding)

Anyway, here goes:

Caz's site A bloke I knew from school.
Alan Searle's site Another guy from school and the most talented person in the field of computer graphics that I have ever had the honour to meet.
Jayne's site Someone else from the shit-hole that is IHS. And another love of Gus's life...

I think that's about it...
If there's any more I'll stick 'em up

At least I won't be last this time

2004-06-26T06:28:00.000+01:00

I hate it when people leave, especially people you're close to, but that's just life isn't it?
Or as the French would say; 'C'est la Vie'.

Speaking of the French, about an hour ago I was honoured to be a part of a very select group of people who bid Virginie Motte and Akkim Aziz farewell - it was a low-key, private affair that was attended by only close friends of those who were departing. It was an emotional experience that touched all involved.
Also, Clemence (I'm afraid I don't know her surname) will be leaving in about 4 1/2 hours, that too promises to be a sad moment.

Anyway, as the title says, at least I won't be the person hanging around after everyone else has left - that's the worst thing that can happen to you in a situation like this.

Oh, Big D was shit.
Definitely not worth the £13 that the ticket cost. Although the result of the England game didn't help matters any, I doubt it would even have been worth the price if I'd had a great night.

That's all for now.
Peace and crackers.

Big D tomorrow.

2004-06-23T09:25:00.000+01:00

This really is the end - it's scary.

Bugalee, Scassa Monakee Synth Quartet, Skatesian and others...

2004-06-20T01:05:00.000+01:00

Just been to Woodstock 2004 - York Uni RAG's annual charity-related concert.

The line-up was quite good, it's just a pity the weather didn't oblige as well.

Martin (bassist for Getawayplan) messing around before their set at Woodstock.

Anyway, off to bed.
Only one more week to go - it's a relief but scary all at once...

Aaah! Christ!

2004-06-18T18:49:00.000+01:00

Why the hell does every comedy show known to man try and go for cringe-based humour.

Good God.

I've just watched 'Malcolm in the Middle' - normally a great show, but they lowered themselves to cringe-worthy stuff. That upset me.
At least the outcome was decent...

£27 and 8 frozen sausages

2004-06-18T17:08:00.000+01:00

My entire worldly possessions (or at least those of any value).

I hate being poor...

"I'm never going to drink again..."

2004-06-17T02:49:00.000+01:00

I lied.
The sad thing is I knew I would...

Although, to only take 13.5 hours to break my word disappoints even me.
I went on a booze cruise (which is possibly a dumb idea if you never want to drink again) and quite un-surprisingly drank.

It was good fun though, and I am glad I went.
It's just a pity I spent so much.

At least I didn't go out tonight as well - although that is merely finance-related...
Oh well.

Alcohol: an evil, evil substance.

2004-06-15T06:36:00.000+01:00

Ok, so we did the show and then we had the after-show party.

I don't remember much of what happened except that I, as a part of quite a large group, went staggering out drunk at half 7 in the morning in a quest to try and find breakfast - a noble quest, but one that basically just brought us back to campus.

I'm never going to drink again...

A small bit of plagiarism...

2004-06-13T17:10:00.000+01:00

My thanks go out to Gus, from whose site I have 'borrowed' the following poem...

(extract from) There's a Hole in my Sidewalk
by Portia Nelson

Chapter One:
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the side walk.
I fall in.
I am lost... I am helpless
It isn't my fault.
It takes me forever to find a way out.

Chapter Two:
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the side walk.
I pretend I do not see it.
I fall in again.
I can't believe I am in this same place.
But it isn't my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

Chapter Three:
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the side walk.
I see it is there.
I fall in... it's a habit.. but my eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.

Chapter Four:
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the side walk.
I walk round it.

Chapter Five:
I walk down a different street.

Live long and Prospero!

2004-06-12T17:31:00.000+01:00

I'm writing this half-way between the two performances of Return to the Forbidden Planet that the York Uni G&S (Gilbert and Sullivan) society are putting on today.
Don't ask me why I'm a part of G&S - I don't really know myself...

Anyway, it's brilliant, I get to play two tentacles and an air-lock.
ie a couple of tube-y things and a smoke machine.

...we've really got that cheesy "50's B-movie" look down to a tee(!)

Anyway, it's a great, great play so see it if you ever have the chance.

Rick (who played Ariel) looking the worse for ware at 'the Crash' after Return to the Forbidden Planet

It's the end of the world as we know it...

2004-06-11T23:13:00.000+01:00

...or the end of my exams at least.

Thank fuck for that - now I can start revising for the re-sits in August.

Well, now that I don't have to revise, I can't seem to find anything to do to amuse myself - funny that, ain't it?
So, on that note, I'm off to bed...

Fan-fucking-tastic!

2004-06-10T21:34:00.000+01:00

3 down, 1 to go.

And this one went well...
...surprising really given it's me and it's TX lines - a subject I know nothing about(!)

Anyway, all's that's left now is Maths. That shouldn't be too bad, should it?

Fuct

2004-06-09T17:09:00.000+01:00

What's fuct?
Everything, that's what!

Life, my life, my exams, politics, world peace, the environment - everything.

For those of you blessed with an inability to read between lines, I failed my exam.
Woot!

Ah well, at least there's always re-sits...

First it was the aubergines, now this...

2004-06-09T07:39:00.000+01:00

I just thought that a few kick-ass quotes were required at this time of day...

"Life is like a sewer - what you get out depends on what you put in"

"He who hesitates is, um..."

"Time is a great healer. Unless it's a rash, then you're better off with ointment"

"Love is a device invented by bank managers to make us overdrawn"

"We could go back to Dallas in November 1963, stand on the grassy knoll and shout 'Duck!'"

Any additional quotes that any of the legions of you who regularly read this want to add, please feel free to attach them by way of a comment.

More wonderful sites...

2004-06-09T06:34:00.000+01:00

In the same vein as my last post, I have decided to add some more links...

yusu.org.uk The York student union site
www.yusu.org ...or perhaps it was this one
Steak and Cheese a really funny site, pity about the porn ads...
BangedUp the same goes for this one
miniclip.com free games - the ultimate procrastination site
(I personally recommend Pipsoh! or Snowfight 3d)

Anyway, that should suffice for now.

Oh, one more:
The Darwin Awards site - funny as hell.

Gus's site

2004-06-09T06:15:00.000+01:00

This is my good mate Gus

...and this is Gus's site.

It's crap, but he needs encouragement, so I've decided that he should get a link.

Here's a few other sites that you'll probably care even less about.

Kieran's site

Kieran (at a barbecue we had)
My college's site (run and hosted by Kieran of all people)
Fi's site A random person from school who I've included for no particular reason... (Gus fancies her!)

Oh, in case you haven't noticed, I haven't 'buggered off' to bed after all, I suppose it's a bit too late so I'm gonna stay up and listen to Franz Ferdinand instead.
So there.

1 down 3 to go...

2004-06-09T05:48:00.000+01:00

It's 5.49 am on Wednesday the 9th of June.

God I'm nervous.

In 7 hours and 26 minutes (I think) I have my analogue electronics exam.
I don't think I can pass it.

I have to though, which is a real pity.
I think I might be able to scrape enough marks from the Op. Amps. and Transistors questions to get through but it's gonna be tight.

I can't sleep either, which doesn't help.

Oh, and on top of all that my love-life is non-existent right now and I'm slowly falling into another depressed phase - so fun all round(!)

Bugger it, I'm off to bed.

Exams - the bane of my life.

2004-06-08T03:11:00.000+01:00

I had the first of my first year exams today - Digital, Computing and Comms.
It went better than I thought it had. When I finished I thought I'd probably failed, but I reckon I might have pulled a pass out of it.

Damon appears to have done similarly to me, which has to be a good sign - doesn't it?

Anyway, I have a day off tomorrow (well today now) and then I merely have three more exams on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. I still have the joys of Analogue electronics, TX lines and Maths to look forward to...

I'm screwed.

But, look on the bright side - there's always re-sits (or a job at McDonald's)

Oh.

2004-06-07T04:52:00.000+01:00

I think I've worked out what the hell this is, though to be fair I'm still just doing it to try and get a G-mail account.
I doubt that'll work, but at least I have someplace to rant on the web - which is always a bonus.

Anyway, since it's now 5 in the morning and I have an exam at 2.15 pm, I should probably try and get some sleep.

Peace Out.
Cya.

Poo.

2004-06-07T04:49:00.000+01:00

I've started this Blog thing, not fully knowing what in the name of piss it is.

But here goes...