|
|
Sunday, July 5th, 2009
| |
8:32 pm
|
Have had nice weekend. The board games thing was sparsely attended[1], but the three people who attended were sufficiently high quality that that didn't seem to matter. Admittedly, the fact that they were some of my alpha testers meant that the American theme devolved into prototyping on more than one occasion, but was none the worse for that.
(Sophie was an additional guest for parts of the day, and helped prepare by baking a cake and arranging the vegetables. She was another reason why the American theme was dropped on occasion - while I have American games, and games that are suitable for three and a half years olds, the selection doesn't overlap hugely. She already seems to have picked up on the concept of picking on 'dillo when playing - I'm not sure whether to blame her daddy (who uses it as a strategy, though denies having taught her) or be impressed at her astuteness. It usually takes people much longer to catch on to this.)
Am currently feeling rather apathetic and tired. And procrastinating about tidying up properly. Not least because the recent acquisition of a couple of games means that, once again, my games collection exceeds my shelf space. I need more shelves and a bigger flat. Evidently.
[1] People surprisingly being busy doing other stuff during the balmy summer months. Or possibly just being too hot to move.
|
|
(11 comments | comment on this)
|
| Tuesday, June 16th, 2009
| |
9:55 pm - Board Games Day - Sat 4th July - America!
|
The 4th July approaches, and with it I'm holding a board games day[1] for games themed around America. The event is from midday to late, in my house in Windsor[2]. You're welcome to arrive earlier or stay later if you give me some advanced warning[3] (particularly as staying later involves provision of crash-space). Indeed, RSVPs in general are encouraged so I know whom to expect for catering purposes.
For those of you who plan further in advance, and so are unable to make this because of clashes, the next games event will be on the 5th of September, and the one thereafter will be on the 31st October (probably with a suitably spooky theme). Put them in your diaries now ;).
[1] Such as Settlers, Carcassonne, Age of Steam, etc. If you don't possess many or indeed any such games, don't worry as I have a sizeable collection. Enough that I make up silly themes to guide choices, although people wishing to ignore the theme entirely are welcome to do so.
[2] Directions to my house available on request. Or, if you're feeling shy, in previous posts. Directions to Windsor available on any good UK map.
[3] You'll still be welcome without advanced notice, but you may find me a mite less prepared.
|
|
(1 comment | comment on this)
|
| Tuesday, June 9th, 2009
| |
5:05 pm
|
I would like to leave my rucksack in Central London (Kings Cross / Tottenham Court Road / Holborn sort of area) on Friday between twoish and about 5:30ish, so I don't have to lug it around. Is there any sensible way in which I can do this?
(In Germany, they have lockers in railway stations where one can leave things. Why isn't this the case in the UK?)
EDIT: Thank you for all your responses and offers. The bit of my brain that does cost/benefit analysis suggests that the King's Cross luggage store is the way to go because I'm heading up to Cambridge afterwards in a time-constrained fashion. So I think I'll do that.
|
|
(6 comments | comment on this)
|
| Monday, June 8th, 2009
| |
11:21 am
|
|
Cold, non-alchoholic drinks which are not sweet: I can think of milk and water. I'm sure there must be more.
|
|
(17 comments | comment on this)
|
| Friday, June 5th, 2009
| |
2:28 pm
|
|
I really shouldn't be spending as much time as I am thinking about how Zombies should really work.
|
|
(3 comments | comment on this)
|
| Sunday, May 31st, 2009
| |
11:16 pm - Thinking Aloud[1] - Innocence of children
|
I encountered an interesting thread of thought at Eastercon[2], last year. One which I resolved to think about more fully and which I nonetheless haven't. If you haven't found time to think about something in a year, you probably never will, so I'll take the opportunity of sleeplessness to preserve at least the beginnings of the idea.
The thought is around the problems society currently has with children, particularly with the expectations they have of them. Adults living materially rich but spiritually unfulfilling lives seek to better themselves through their children. They place them on a pedestal of innocence and punish them with their expectations of remaining upon them. This attempt to cocoon children away from the mundanity of the everyday world inevitably fails when the child finds the world a greyer version of the reality that was promised, but adults nonetheless persist out of guilt that they are unable to make the world reflect the reality they would like.
Because Eastercon was about fiction, the specific examples discussed surrounded the rewriting of childrens stories. Fairy stories, for example, being neutered to appease the cult of innocence, whilst adult entertainment remaining relentlessly bloody. The bit which I thought interesting was wondering where the 'shamefulness' of page 3 girls stood. Wasn't the notion that they were shameful equally to do with an attempt to preserve innocence of some sort. A year on, I'm still not sure what I should think about that.
[1] Musings which are not fully formed and thus probably not correct - but which I'm inflicting on the world incomplete anyway. Feel free to attempt to realign my thoughts.
[2] The page that prompted me to remember this had the phrase "Critics - panthers of the book herd" noted upon it.[3] Not relevant, but kind of cute.
[3] And "Time changes books - filters of perspective". Which I suspect meant more to me when I wrote it there than it does now.
|
|
(9 comments | comment on this)
|
| Friday, May 29th, 2009
| |
4:16 pm - Call of the wild
|
|
This is a quick note to all to let you know I've lost my mobile phone. Calling it will now be even less useful (given it was semipermanantly switched off) than before. Just so you know.
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Tuesday, May 12th, 2009
| |
8:49 pm - Veg box update
|
I've come to a conclusion about Veg-boxes[1]; namely, that at this time and place they're not for me. I'm happy with the variety, I'm happy with the quality (albeit slightly muddy),I'm happy with the challenge of working out how to cook with what is provided. What kills the matter for me is the sheer quantity - a box takes over the fridge, and then lurks there menacingly. I'm forced to cook huge quantities to get items when they're some semblance of fresh, and then consume the same meal over the course of days. This is particularly problematic when my experimental style of cooking fails to work ;).
Ultimately, the way veg-boxes are set up is for more than one person. So for the time being, I'll stick to the supermarkets which seem to be happier selling me the quantity of stuff that I do want.
[1] Getting boxes of vegetables delivered to you directly.
|
|
(1 comment | comment on this)
|
| Sunday, May 10th, 2009
| |
11:48 am - Board Games Day - Sat 16th May - Science! Mad and otherwise...
|
|
Just a reminder to those of you with short memories that I'm holding a board games day on Saturday next week, which you're all welcome to attend. Hope to see some of you there.
|
|
(3 comments | comment on this)
|
| Monday, May 4th, 2009
| |
10:25 pm
|
Poll #1394856
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: AllMy lighthearted board game about racing two cars round a circuit should be called... If the latter, what?
|
|
(4 comments | comment on this)
|
| Saturday, May 2nd, 2009
| |
3:14 pm
|
The Hero of Ages is a-fucking-mazing. I really should have relished it over a week instead of drowning myself in it all of today. But then I wouldn't have known what happened next.
[He said, coming up for air at last and slightly surprised that so much of the day has gone]
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Friday, May 1st, 2009
| |
10:06 pm - Windsor Theatre Guild musings
|
|
Having auditioned for Pied Piper, I seem to have failed to get a part. This irks me; yes, I can audition for the altogether more serious King Lear, but I don't feel like acting in a tragedy. I feel like acting in a silly romp. *sulks somewhat*
|
|
(2 comments | comment on this)
|
| Thursday, April 30th, 2009
| |
11:31 am - Board Games Day - Sat 16th May - Science! Mad and otherwise...
|
The 16th May is apparently Middlesex day. And so, to celebrate it, I'll be holding a board games thing[1] themed around Science, of the sane or the mad variety, depending on taste. Please all come.
The event is from midday to late, in my house in Windsor[2]. You're welcome to arrive earlier or stay later if you give me some advanced warning[3] (particularly as staying later involves provision of crash-space). Indeed, RSVPs in general are encouraged so I know whom to expect for catering purposes.
For those of you who plan further in advance, and so are unable to make this because of clashes, the next games event will be on Saturday 4th July (potentially with an appropriately American theme), and thereafter will be on the 5th September. Put it in your diaries now ;).
[1] Such as Settlers, Carcassonne, Age of Steam, etc. If you don't possess many or indeed any such games, don't worry as I have a sizeable collection. Enough that I make up silly themes to guide choices, although people wishing to ignore the theme entirely are welcome to do so.
[2] Directions to my house available on request. Or, if you're feeling shy, in previous posts. Directions to Windsor available on any good UK map.
[3] You'll still be welcome without advanced notice, but you may find me a mite less prepared.
|
|
(2 comments | comment on this)
|
| Tuesday, April 28th, 2009
| |
8:42 am - Long Tubed Platypus
|
Having exhausted numerous google searches in an attempt to find an answer, I don't hold out a huge amount of hope that one of you knows the answer to this question. Nonetheless, hope springs eternal, so here goes:
I have a Platypus water bottle with a tube which allows me to drink while walking. I would like to be able to attach this to my bike so that I can drink while cycling, but doing so requires a longer tube. Does anyone know where I can get a longer tube or tube extension from?
Alternatively, I suppose I could try to make one myself - however I have visions of saddlebags filled with water disuading me.
|
|
(2 comments | comment on this)
|
| Sunday, April 19th, 2009
| |
12:12 am
|
I have existed without a car up to this point, but various practical issues suggest that it might be the right time to give in and buy one. My requirements are occasional use, carrying primarily myself and limited passengers, not for recreational driving, trips for short or middle distance, and high reliability.
I'm currently thinking of a VW Lupo, primarily because my back-brain has a prejudice towords VW on the basis of reliability, and because the Lupo is the smallest one in the VW range. Does this sound reasonable? Is there anything else I should be considering, and if so, what? How much should I be thinking about paying for one, and
what age should I be buying and where from. I don't know anything about cars - help!
|
|
(12 comments | comment on this)
|
| Wednesday, April 8th, 2009
| |
11:30 pm
|
|
| Thursday, April 2nd, 2009
| |
6:19 pm - Thinking Aloud[1] - Blaming Bankers
|
The blame culture we have today[2] seems to have settled on a culprit - all of societies ills are to be found in the personification of the Banker. A greedy, immoral pig who has munched his way through our money lining his trough. An easy figure to hate, a symbol of all that is wrong with the way of life we enjoy.
But in the clamour of voices, a niggling thought refuses to lie quiet, namely - where did all the money go. The billions we've lost in toxic securities haven't got to the bankers - fat cats as may be. They may have skimmed a bit off the top in the form of commissions, but that's a bucket in the ocean.
The money that's now in toxic securities was in the form of mortgages. It went to ordinary people, who used it to buy houses. Ultimately it went to those who sold houses and didn't spend their money on buying more. The ones who got out at the top of the market, who didn't believe the yay-sayers telling them house prices would rise forever.
These are the people who have the missing millions. The grandparents who decided to sell their houses to pay for their retirement. The people who decided they moved too often to make a house worth worrying about and decided to rent. The couple who split up and sold the house which neither of them could afford any more. These are the people who should pay.
Bankers are a much easier target, though.
[1] Musings which are not fully formed and thus probably not correct - but which I'm inflicting on the world incomplete anyway. Feel free to attempt to realign my thoughts.
[2] Or don't have - I'm not convinced this isn't one of those enduring tropes like the young losing their respect for elders
|
|
(12 comments | comment on this)
|
| Wednesday, April 1st, 2009
| |
11:10 pm
|
So I went to see Don Carlos. As I suspected and hoped it would be, it turned out to be a very effective production, and one which doesn't make me regret my previous (unseen) recommendation.
Performed in the Windsor Guildhall, it takes advantage of the sumptuous surroundings and an effective sound stage to do away with the need for scenery, allowing a generally strong cast to shine through. There were some quibbles with the performances - the Princess of Eboli lacked conviction in her uncertainties of desire, and the Inquisitor did not have the sledgehammer forcefulness his role would have loved - but these imperfections were steamrollered by the conviction of the others and a tight script. Worthwhile seeing.
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Sunday, March 22nd, 2009
| |
1:44 pm - Thinking Aloud[1] - Creative Tension
|
Creative tension can be a powerful force for good. An individual holds a perfectly good view of what the outcome should be in a given endeavour. However, when this is combined with the opinions of others, when people's differences in view can be forged into something that addresses the concerns of all those contributing without diminishing the advantages that made the original viewpoint worthwhile, then it becomes possible to form something far greater.
The key to taking advantage of creative tension is threefold. The first, as with a lot of things, is communication. You need to be clear at communicating the advantages of what you want to achieve; if you don't know what your vision is, then consensus-building for it will be hard. You need to be careful to listen to the point that other people are making, especially where their vision betters something that your vision does - or where they think it betters something your vision does.
The second key is dispassion. Neither of your ideas is likely to be the perfect one, so rather than defending yours or attacking theirs, you should be looking to see how the ideas fit together, why they work better or worse, and seek some third or fourth idea which combines the properties of the two. If the collaboration ends with one idea winning and the other losing, then so be it - but how more powerful it would be if both ideas won. So while an idea is notionally yours, you should be able to step back and replace it with something superior.
The final key is the ability to make a decision at the right point. There will be occasions in which, with all the best will in the world, there are binary choices which have to be made, and someone will be unhappy with the outcome either way. Not being able to make a decision results in creative tension degenerating into anarchy. Making it too late results in frustration as arguments spiral in circles. Making it too soon loses the benefits of the tension in the first place.
I think that where I fail in this sort of thing is primarily point one - in areas I know well, I tend to put my opinion in too forcefully, and when people hold a different view have a tendency to assume they don't really understand what I've been saying, and repeat it again. Conversely, in areas that I don't feel I know, I don't say anything and treat people who tell me things about it as an authority. In addition, I'm not sure how good I am at point three - here, I suspect I make decisions too quickly, preferring a workable answer which can be refined to one which is the best answer.
Possibly also not articulating my thinking processes, but that's something I generally have issues with, since they tend to be deep and inarticulate ;). Not sure.
[1] Musings which are not fully formed and thus probably not correct - but which I'm inflicting on the world incomplete anyway. Feel free to attempt to realign my thoughts.
|
|
(3 comments | comment on this)
|
| Saturday, March 7th, 2009
| |
3:49 pm
|
I previously posted about how anything I invested in lost money, and asked for suggestions about what I should be investing in instead. Foolishly, I didn't listen to any of the responses, and instead bought premium bonds based on the fact that the money would at least be there when I next looked at it.
I think that making the government print money is a somewhat excessive way to ensure that my investment loses value. But it's good to see there are some constant things in the world.
|
|
(comment on this)
|
|
|
|
|
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
angoel's journal
4 (28.6%)