It's gone midnight which means Sunday is now upon us! The traditional day of rest and this week I feel I've earned it.
My Saturday began with the alarm waking me from my slumber at the sickeningly early time of 6am after a scant 4 hours sleep. My shift was not until 4.30 that afternoon so why was I inflicting such torture upon myself? Unfortunately for me I had to attend a fire drill and staff meeting at 9am, the lengthy journey meaning it would not be feasible to return home between the two.
I didn't waste these hours in which I was stuck at work. I packed another bag with my laptop and text books and squeezed in some studying whilst trying to stay awake. So while I am now utterly exhausted I feel like I've achieved something from the day and can now enjoy a guilt free lazy Sunday.
Sunday, 21 February 2010
Friday, 19 February 2010
Woes of Working
I know I'm lucky to have a job in the current economic climate, so please don't take the following rant as my being ungrateful, but...
I've now started my fourth week at work but as yet have yet to receive any money. This is not particularly unusual, we're paid fortnightly and a week in arrears so these first few weeks are bound to be hard. This doesn't make living through the situation any easier. Having been without work for the previous six months my funds were already low, and travelling into Zone 1 on the Tube for my shifts isn't cheap! The result is that I'm rapidly approaching the point at which I cannot afford to go to work!
In the meantime, I'm just returning from my shift tonight and will be working again tomorrow night until midnight. Unfortunately in between the two is a fire drill at 9am for which attendance is mandatory. This means my entire Saturday (from 9am to midnight) will be spent at work with a big chunk of hours for which I won't be paid.
I'm just having a bit of a moan. I can't do anything about there things so all I'm left with is a good old rant. I do like my job and I'm grateful I've got it, I just wish I had a bit more money and a bit more sleep.
I've now started my fourth week at work but as yet have yet to receive any money. This is not particularly unusual, we're paid fortnightly and a week in arrears so these first few weeks are bound to be hard. This doesn't make living through the situation any easier. Having been without work for the previous six months my funds were already low, and travelling into Zone 1 on the Tube for my shifts isn't cheap! The result is that I'm rapidly approaching the point at which I cannot afford to go to work!
In the meantime, I'm just returning from my shift tonight and will be working again tomorrow night until midnight. Unfortunately in between the two is a fire drill at 9am for which attendance is mandatory. This means my entire Saturday (from 9am to midnight) will be spent at work with a big chunk of hours for which I won't be paid.
I'm just having a bit of a moan. I can't do anything about there things so all I'm left with is a good old rant. I do like my job and I'm grateful I've got it, I just wish I had a bit more money and a bit more sleep.
Thursday, 18 February 2010
Musical Marvels
A few videos with a musical theme for you today. Want to see a rap battle between two of the world's greatest economic theorists?
"Fear the Boom and Bust" a Hayek vs. Keynes Rap Anthem
Next a mashup of the Top 25 Hits of 2009, according to Billboard from DJ Earworm (@djearworm on Twitter).
United State of Pop 2009 (Blame It on the Pop)
Check out his website for more info on tracks used, how it was created and downloadable goodies.
A mashup of a different sort next as Metallica's 'Enter Sandman' meets tune of the moment, 'Don't Stop Believing' by Journey
ROCK SUGAR - Don't Stop The Sandman
I leave you with a video that has been doing the rounds recently and seems to provoke differing reactions in those who view it. I think it's unsettling but a great creation nonetheless, let me know what you think.
Die Antwoord - Enter The Ninja
"Fear the Boom and Bust" a Hayek vs. Keynes Rap Anthem
Next a mashup of the Top 25 Hits of 2009, according to Billboard from DJ Earworm (@djearworm on Twitter).
United State of Pop 2009 (Blame It on the Pop)
Check out his website for more info on tracks used, how it was created and downloadable goodies.
A mashup of a different sort next as Metallica's 'Enter Sandman' meets tune of the moment, 'Don't Stop Believing' by Journey
ROCK SUGAR - Don't Stop The Sandman
I leave you with a video that has been doing the rounds recently and seems to provoke differing reactions in those who view it. I think it's unsettling but a great creation nonetheless, let me know what you think.
Die Antwoord - Enter The Ninja
The Fantastic Mr Fox
Just got done watching 'The Fantastic Mr Fox' and I'd have to say it lives up to it's name. A stop motion animation based on the book by Roald Dahl (the great children's writer), directed by Wes Anderson (Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou) and with the voice talent of George Clooney (two-time People Magazine 'Sexiest Man Alive' winner) it's a fantastic piece of work. Check out the trailer:
Visually it's superb. The quality of the animation and the colour pallette used throughout the film are so beautiful. The character voicing, especially by Clooney, are also excellent. All of this is tied together by the masterful Wes Anderson at the helm and you could pick any scene from the film and within moments you would recognise his hand at work upon it.
It's not the 'Perfect Mr Fox' however. I think that children wouldn't find this film as enjoyable as I did and they must surely be the ones for whom this was being made. The style and dialogue just doesn't seem tailored for a younger audience. Another, more minor, quibble is the film's mix of US actors for the animal character's and UK actor's for the humans.
Ideally the whole thing should have been a British production but that's not how these things work. The rules are that UK actors can be stars on US TV shows but when it comes to films they want a Yank up front. I've no problem with that, just a little confused about where the film is actually being set and such. British farmers and an Opossum in the same film doesn't seem right.
All in all I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend you catching Mr Fox if you can.
Visually it's superb. The quality of the animation and the colour pallette used throughout the film are so beautiful. The character voicing, especially by Clooney, are also excellent. All of this is tied together by the masterful Wes Anderson at the helm and you could pick any scene from the film and within moments you would recognise his hand at work upon it.
It's not the 'Perfect Mr Fox' however. I think that children wouldn't find this film as enjoyable as I did and they must surely be the ones for whom this was being made. The style and dialogue just doesn't seem tailored for a younger audience. Another, more minor, quibble is the film's mix of US actors for the animal character's and UK actor's for the humans.
Ideally the whole thing should have been a British production but that's not how these things work. The rules are that UK actors can be stars on US TV shows but when it comes to films they want a Yank up front. I've no problem with that, just a little confused about where the film is actually being set and such. British farmers and an Opossum in the same film doesn't seem right.
 |
| Opossum - Hand not included |
All in all I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend you catching Mr Fox if you can.
Cyanide & Happiness
The folks at Explsom! are probably best known for their fantastic web comics:
But they also create animated shorts which I really adore and I thought I'd share a few with you. (Warning - Most of these are probably a bit NSFW)
The Sign
Short and to the point, as is...
The Race
Here's two slightly longer ones to finish up, and of course I've saved the best one for last:
Beer Run
Waiting For The Bus
If you like their stuff check out them out at Explosm! or follow them on Twitter (@Explosm)
 |
| That's some funny stuff right there! |
But they also create animated shorts which I really adore and I thought I'd share a few with you. (Warning - Most of these are probably a bit NSFW)
The Sign
Short and to the point, as is...
The Race
Here's two slightly longer ones to finish up, and of course I've saved the best one for last:
Beer Run
Waiting For The Bus
If you like their stuff check out them out at Explosm! or follow them on Twitter (@Explosm)
Wednesday, 17 February 2010
Video's of the day - 16/02/2010
Some YouTube video's for you to check out:
The PUMA HardChorus
The first time I saw this I was equal parts terrified and captivated. It's a viral campaign from Puma linking football and Valentine's day by imagining what it would be like to be serenaded by a bunch of thuggish looking football fans. It's a great concept and I wish they'd follow it up as I'd love to hear more tracks performed in this manner.
Until that happens I'll just have to make do with the video Puma did for the campaign in Italy:
Puma Il Serenata
If anything this is even better than the English one and has been stuck in my head all day (aided perhaps by my repeated viewings of the video)
It's late so just the two video's for you now.
Remember if you ever want to download a YouTube video, KickYouTube comes in pretty handy
The PUMA HardChorus
The first time I saw this I was equal parts terrified and captivated. It's a viral campaign from Puma linking football and Valentine's day by imagining what it would be like to be serenaded by a bunch of thuggish looking football fans. It's a great concept and I wish they'd follow it up as I'd love to hear more tracks performed in this manner.
Until that happens I'll just have to make do with the video Puma did for the campaign in Italy:
Puma Il Serenata
If anything this is even better than the English one and has been stuck in my head all day (aided perhaps by my repeated viewings of the video)
It's late so just the two video's for you now.
Remember if you ever want to download a YouTube video, KickYouTube comes in pretty handy
And now for something completely different
Like many would be bloggers, I've found it difficult to keep up the necessary levels of motivation and dedication required to continually update a blog. For me this is often because I'm distracted by many other things and find it difficult to come up much to say on just a single topic. It's very much a case of my being too widely spread, and at the same time shallow in my thinking. Recognising that I am unlikely to change this any time soon I have decided to embrace rather than repress this side of me and provide blog content which more closely mirrors the magpie like nature of my intellect.
Oh a shiny thing... where was I?
"I like to share things I find on the internet." That's kind of my catchphrase and is evident in the number of links I post on Twitter and Facebook. Believe it or not, I restrain myself from posting everything I would like to share for fear of overwhelming people even more than I currently do. So I have a blog I update rarely and struggle to find things to talk about and Twitter & Facebook accounts clogged with too many links and not enough conversation... Eureka!
I will henceforth be trying to use my blog more frequently, and at the same time reduce the clutter on my other feeds, by gathering these links to internet trinkets and baubles together and putting them on my blog.
Initially this will probably be collections of YouTube videos. Instead of posting several links in a row as I finishing watching each one I'll try to restrain myself and just pop them in a blog post. In fact I think I'll do so right now...
Let me know what you think about my idea and if you have any other suggestions on how to make my life as a blogger easier
Oh a shiny thing... where was I?
"I like to share things I find on the internet." That's kind of my catchphrase and is evident in the number of links I post on Twitter and Facebook. Believe it or not, I restrain myself from posting everything I would like to share for fear of overwhelming people even more than I currently do. So I have a blog I update rarely and struggle to find things to talk about and Twitter & Facebook accounts clogged with too many links and not enough conversation... Eureka!
I will henceforth be trying to use my blog more frequently, and at the same time reduce the clutter on my other feeds, by gathering these links to internet trinkets and baubles together and putting them on my blog.
Initially this will probably be collections of YouTube videos. Instead of posting several links in a row as I finishing watching each one I'll try to restrain myself and just pop them in a blog post. In fact I think I'll do so right now...
Let me know what you think about my idea and if you have any other suggestions on how to make my life as a blogger easier
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