Snow

Snow is wonderful stuff. God's (or any other deity's) shaking of the Etch-a-sketch of life, is seems.The pure serenity of calm that is inevitably experienced just following the onset of a snowfall is quite a magical experience. Getting out there before anyone else has braved their walking boots is quite a wonderful thing. Tramping those first footsteps into pristine snow, being the first agent of chaos amongst a now-perfect scene of white and purity, whilst all ills of the former earth are temporarily disguised beneath this virgin veil.

However, I cannot wait for the snow that has engulfed, certainly my part of the UK, to go away. This is not because of the fact that I dislike cold, although it is true that I do not. It is not because I don't like slippery driving conditions - on the contrary, I find them a refreshing challenge. It is simply because that, although I have learnt how to drive safely on snow, shovel the snow off the top of my car, make sure I top up my antifreeze before winter starts, etc., many people have not. The sheer idiocy that takes place on the roads in the UK after a snowfall is quite amazing. Cases in point: [Begin Rant]

KM09 NZD - you are officially a menace. Not only did you undertake in the left-hand lane, you did so in very icy conditions and nearly took out three pedestrians. Go away, you silly, silly boy. 

DA08 EYB - there's a reason that you remove snow off the roof of your car. First, it cools your car, second it can fly off as a sheet and nearly WIPE OUT OTHER DRIVERS... are NOT God's gift to driving, you're a VERY NAUGHTY BOY!!'

[End rant]

This is all quite rediculous. Self-critical question: Do I feel bad that I have just invaded the privacy of two drivers? No. That is because I haven't. The only way to get these persons details is to access the DVLA and Police (and/or insurers) databases. Which I can't, and neither can most people. However, when someone wants to buy either of these cars, then if they do a Google search, they will probably find this, and my work is done.

I hope that the snow does leave soon - as much as I find fascinating the photographs from space that show the UK covered in near total ice, I would like the roads to regain some sense of normality...

...it's not a lot to ask.

Sapere Aude,

M.

Why do both of these irritate me?

Ok, first up - the Liverpool BNP, who shall represent the whole BNP and other fascist parties in this post:

http://merseysidebnp.blogspot.com/

Second the 'Unite Against Fascism', who shall represent all Socialist parties in this post:

http://www.uaf.org.uk/

Is it because they both say that the press is against them? Is it because they both use words like 'OPRESSION', and 'GENOCIDE' in very large letters? Is it because of the emotive spin that is put onto every fact to make it a travesty, a true indication of the sorry state of affairs, and other idiocy? Or is it because both fascism and socialism have had their chances, and the result was a World War (2) and an international crisis (Cold War)?

It's probably all of the above, and more. These violent aberrations of what were originally languid romantic ideals is quite evil and haunting - and that applies to both the BNP and the UAF. Both say 'what is the world coming to?', and both vie for the other's destruction. Yet because of the balance that exists and is inherent to the nature of chaotic systems, they will never achieve this goal, yet still they try.

Or do I not like either of them as they have such a well formed and definite ideas of their identity? Do I find myself jealous that they have the courage and conviction to stand up for what they believe in? Is it the case that the fact that they have beliefs is something quite alien to me? I can't say, but I do not think that any of these is the case.

The reason I do not like these kinds of organisations is because they exclude the idea that there is any other mind set. The people who think this way are convicted on their beliefs, and automatically put down any opposing point if view from anyone. They are impossible to criticise, always take an aggressive stance, and have stagnated views and conversation. Also, the more clever they think you are, the more they assume you agree with them.

This is true of any fundamental points of view - in politics, religion, science, philosophy and boyond. Ergo, I don't like it. Not many people do. And i'm not alone.


M.

NSPCC - Perpetrators of moral violence?

Charities worked out some time ago what religion has known for aeons - when you need money to do good with, play to the guilt that accompanies success over our peers. It is uniquely human that we share our spoils with those we don't know, and Charities form a convenience model for philantropy, akin to cars for transport and shops for produce.

But what does it say of us now, when charities have to resort to extreme moral blackmail to get the money to perform good acts? How is extreme passive aggression justified morally? Case in point is the current NSPCC advert campaign.

Crying children on screen, harrowing tales, and film noir direction point us to the dark heart of human cruelty. Our emotional response is natural, as is the knee jerk reaction to give money.

Some charities show us what good is done, but from what I have seen, this happens less and less. I don't watch television, and have only seen this for the first time, and I was repulsed - not by those who abuse children, but more by the abuse I received from the NSPCC. This post can only be short as time is pressing, but here is my question:

Whose fault is it that the NSPCC now have to use the tactics of those they work against to get money to fund that work? Is it ours or theirs?

Sapere Aude,


M.

Car parking

There is war, disease, pestilence and famine. In some countries it is rife. Even today. 150 years ago, you were lucky to live past the age of 5, and the most dealy diseases we now think of as myth, rather than the evil spirits they were that occupied the forbidden corners of the world.

Given the seemingly miraculous world in which we, certainly in the UK at least, live in, we get angry about the most mundane things. Getting our order wrong in a restaurant has replaced, in some mens minds, the slapping and throwing down of the gauntlet, yet retold of as ancient lore.

Someone else's thrusting of their metal travel capsule infront of our own, rather than representing the evolutionary superiority it would if these machinations were organic and natural to our person, instead incite a challenge within us. Something stirs. Something primal emerges. We feel challenged; challenged to our right to life, to exist, and to colonise resources.

The occupation of that sparse, tarmac-and-paint space requires a hunt, tactics and above all, stamina. The wife needs shoes, the son needs school uniforms, the daughter needs a tinkle and the mother-in-law needs a slap. I can see this in his eyes - the pressure is immense and the only release is success.

His thrust is bold, but not perfect. He reels back and readys another rally. His resolve is strong, but not as strong as the car. The car is mighty - a product of some of the finest minds available. Technologies from around the world are melded together seemlessly to operate towards a singular aim - to transport the modern Neanderthal around, to consume rare fruits from the earth to warm his feet and cool his face, and, provided he has the money, to give him pride and at times prejudice on the roads of the world.

This is his final weapon - the assault of honour. As the triumph that is his car glides effortlessly into glory, I can only concede.

He gets the parking space. I don't.

And I'm sorry for him - but more for his car.

M.

Nigerian banker...really?

Well, that's interesting.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8431470.stm

The father of the Nigerian gentleman that tried to blow up an Airbus 330, had tried to warn of his son's extreme views before the attack. Not much was thought of it, and he wasn't put on the no-fly list. This is of no suprise to me - not because of US incompetence, although I fear that this is as endemic as the article relates Nigerian corruption, but rather because I can so easily conceive of a US Government official reading an email of warning, and then reading 'Banker in Nigeria', and hitting 'SPAM'. I mean, the logic is clear! It must be SPAM! All other spam reads - 'Hello. I am writing to you from the Bank of Nigeria...' - so this guy must be a spammer!!

Well done you,

Sapere Aude,


M.

New Blog - the unimaginative start of a new dawn.

Well, I have decided to start what I hope is my last blog. I have set up other blogs, but they were ancient, I was young, and the content was quite stupid. I was moved to do this as a kind of new years resolution. If I keep it, then wonderful - you, the viewing public, get your voyeuristic fix, and I get a vent for steam. If I don't, then I'll have to find some other way.

Here's why I'm trying again. Recently, I've been stressed. Very much so. So much so, that it's actually made me quite ill. My GP is busy piecing together damage that is reciprocating from each sucessive turn, but I think I know what the problem is; as stated. So, all my ranting, 'comma f*cking' - that is, being a grammar Nazi and picking up every detail - moaning and the like will come out here. You are going to be, essentially, the victims of the sludge of my mind. Isn't that just wonderful.

Well, on that note, I leave you with the knowledge that I'm feeling slightly ill, had a good night last night (no, not a hangover - don't get those, and I was feeling ill before) and won at scrabble.

Well, on that note,

ttfn.


M.

PS - that was the third time that I'd ever played scrabble. Beginner's luck. ;-)