Wellwellwell...those little French froggies have voted against the E.U. Constituition.
I can hardly say i'm surprised since the French are notoriously fickle when dealing with such matters. Histiry does suggest that they have a love/hate relationship with the rest of Europe dating back many centuries. This puts Chirac in a difficult situation since he was looking for a 'Yes' vote.
However, he is not the only one in a difficult situation. Perhaps this vote cripples the Constitution or even renders it dead. I believe that other Nations are due to vite on it in the near future also. It will be interesting to see the outcome of their votes. Irrespective of these results, having the French voting against it is a serious blow for the E.U. Furthermore, Britain proposed Referendum on it may now, not take play with our 'dear leader' Tony stating that there needs to be some degree of reflection before the next step. It will be interesting to see how he manages the revolving E.U. Presidency with begans on the 1st of July.
The whole question of Europe is a tricky one. I do enjoy the fact that I can travel and work anywhere in the E.U. However, it do remain sceptical. I'm not convinced that it has the best interests of Scotland at heart. It just seems like something 'distant' and layered with countless numbers of unelected bureacrats trying to legislate for X amount of people who do not particularly share the same history or culture. I mean, can you legislate for the Fins and the Turks?!?!
And the Euro...well, come off it. I never liked the term 'Cents' anyway.
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Monday, May 30, 2005
Course
It comes as a major surprise to me that I have yet to actually witness any form of car crash in this country which, given the way people drive, is remarkable.
I've seen the aftermath...their have been some spectacularly damaged cars. Hopefully, the occupants were o.k...but never the moment of impact. Not that i'm craving to witness something like that. In fact, it's something I would quite happy never witness.
I do remember seeing one back home in Edinburgh. You you know Edinburgh at all, you'll know that I live at the top of this massive hill...it's not exactly massive but it's pretty steep. Anyway, I was on the 17 bus heading down this hill. The bus had just left the bus stop at the Dentists and was making to turn right to head towards St. Marks Church. hOWEVER, a car just overtook and continued heading down the hill. Now, just after the turn off that my bus was to take is a crossing area with an island in the middle. On this island was some old dear. She clearly wasn't looking were she was going and proceeded to cross. Clearly this was a bad move since 1. She's an old dear and isn't as spritely as she was and 2. There was a car speeding towards her.
Thankfully, the car managed to move out of her way in time although the 'whooosh' of the car actually made the old dear fall over. By this time, my bus had turned right and my front row seat of this near miss had been taken from me. I think she was o.k.
Anyway, the point I was going to make was that today, I nearly witnessed a car crash in d.town Cheonan. And it was a big one. I heard the 'crash'. If I had been 10 seconds quicker, I might have seen it...some taxi had whacked another car. The taxi driver was ok given that he was out of the car and walking around but the driver of the other car was still in her car. She was conscious but just sitting there. Perhaps she was in shock. Thankfully, no blood or anything. The thing that surprised me though was the mass of people there with their Camera Phones snapping away. I can understand the fact that people go and look but i'm not sure about taking photos of a car crash.hmm.
I've seen the aftermath...their have been some spectacularly damaged cars. Hopefully, the occupants were o.k...but never the moment of impact. Not that i'm craving to witness something like that. In fact, it's something I would quite happy never witness.
I do remember seeing one back home in Edinburgh. You you know Edinburgh at all, you'll know that I live at the top of this massive hill...it's not exactly massive but it's pretty steep. Anyway, I was on the 17 bus heading down this hill. The bus had just left the bus stop at the Dentists and was making to turn right to head towards St. Marks Church. hOWEVER, a car just overtook and continued heading down the hill. Now, just after the turn off that my bus was to take is a crossing area with an island in the middle. On this island was some old dear. She clearly wasn't looking were she was going and proceeded to cross. Clearly this was a bad move since 1. She's an old dear and isn't as spritely as she was and 2. There was a car speeding towards her.
Thankfully, the car managed to move out of her way in time although the 'whooosh' of the car actually made the old dear fall over. By this time, my bus had turned right and my front row seat of this near miss had been taken from me. I think she was o.k.
Anyway, the point I was going to make was that today, I nearly witnessed a car crash in d.town Cheonan. And it was a big one. I heard the 'crash'. If I had been 10 seconds quicker, I might have seen it...some taxi had whacked another car. The taxi driver was ok given that he was out of the car and walking around but the driver of the other car was still in her car. She was conscious but just sitting there. Perhaps she was in shock. Thankfully, no blood or anything. The thing that surprised me though was the mass of people there with their Camera Phones snapping away. I can understand the fact that people go and look but i'm not sure about taking photos of a car crash.hmm.
Sunday, May 29, 2005
Word of the week: 'F_______________g hell.'
Clearly, more than 1 word but Liverpool winning the Champions League after being 3 goals down at half time to the soul destroying last gasp losing of the league followed by the resignation of Martin O'Neill. Does it get anymore unbelievable?
Phrase of the week: ''Why are you so childish?'
A phrase which even today still does my nut particularly since it was uttered to me by someone who is no spring chicken just still persists in acting like she was still in University which was some time ago. Drinking, smoking, cursing, throwing food and generally being a knobhead. I wonder who that could be.GROWUPANDLEAVEMEALONE.
Sight of the week: 'Boys'
For those who are aquainted with Cheonan, Z-rock is the place to go. Not brillant but not bad. This weeks adventure in z-rock has to go down as one of the funniest. The chat was splendid. Thanks boys. You know who you are!
Song of the week: 'bLACK hISTORY mOnth' by Death from Above 1979
I'm liking this Alot.
Clearly, more than 1 word but Liverpool winning the Champions League after being 3 goals down at half time to the soul destroying last gasp losing of the league followed by the resignation of Martin O'Neill. Does it get anymore unbelievable?
Phrase of the week: ''Why are you so childish?'
A phrase which even today still does my nut particularly since it was uttered to me by someone who is no spring chicken just still persists in acting like she was still in University which was some time ago. Drinking, smoking, cursing, throwing food and generally being a knobhead. I wonder who that could be.GROWUPANDLEAVEMEALONE.
Sight of the week: 'Boys'
For those who are aquainted with Cheonan, Z-rock is the place to go. Not brillant but not bad. This weeks adventure in z-rock has to go down as one of the funniest. The chat was splendid. Thanks boys. You know who you are!
Song of the week: 'bLACK hISTORY mOnth' by Death from Above 1979
I'm liking this Alot.
Saturday, May 28, 2005
!
_________________It's often a bad idea to make sweeping generalisations. It is more likely than not that such generalisations can come back to haunt you at some point in the future. Most of all though, generalisations are, by their very nature, difficult to completely defend as their will be excecptions to every rule.
As one of my friends pointed out, Statsiticians are invariably dull. I could say that they are all dull. Clearly, that might not actually be true especially since she is one herself and likes a drink or two thus blowing the idea that they are 'all' dull.
However, I had an interesting conversation regarding Korean women and their antics. And to be honest, I am going to completly generalise them because I know and 'we' know that they are all similiar irrespective of their upbringing, social status, educational background etc. In 'similiar', i'm not referring to the fact that they are all women but their mindset.
Sweeping but true.
I can't explain why it comes about but many people have experienced it's workings. Their are many instances of this. I wonder though if it is merely a cultural thing of if these same women exhibit similiar traits with Korean men. If they do, do our Korean counterparts put up with it and if they do, how do they deal with it because, honestly, it's infruiating /sorry, i don't know how to spell/ at times.
It's almost best described as 'double standards' or could perhaps be classed as extreme irony.
I had such an episode literally minutes after having this conversation. Some Korean women - who we won't mention by name, though is the same person who smokes and drinks, is not married and has the biggest mouth in Cheonan - came storming upto me and demanded that I stop acting like a child. At which point she starting throwing the crisps sitting on the table at me. Now, to me this stinks of double standards. Here she is telling me to stop acting like a child when shes the one having the wobbly and throwing crisps around like a child!
Or, the time when the 'sexy' man himself had an arguement with his missus over a mushroom. He ordered take-away chicken. It arrived, he paid for it, opened it to find the chicken covered with mushroom, much to his disapprovable. He then choose not to eat it as is his right since he ordered it and paid for it. But, the missus was unimpressed. Cue arguement.OR the numerous examples of the Korean women who feels it is perfectly acceptable to go and meet another man or men in a completely plutonic manner yet feels compelled to 'hit the roof' if you do something similiar, like meet a woman or women in a completely plutonic manner.
I'm going to be bold and suggest that their is one set of rules for them and a completely different set of rules for us even when applied to exactly the same situation.Is this unique to Korean women? If it isn't, please leave message as I would like to compile of list of women to avoid.
enough rambling...
Bill - turn away NOW___________________Celtic won the cup then!!!
As one of my friends pointed out, Statsiticians are invariably dull. I could say that they are all dull. Clearly, that might not actually be true especially since she is one herself and likes a drink or two thus blowing the idea that they are 'all' dull.
However, I had an interesting conversation regarding Korean women and their antics. And to be honest, I am going to completly generalise them because I know and 'we' know that they are all similiar irrespective of their upbringing, social status, educational background etc. In 'similiar', i'm not referring to the fact that they are all women but their mindset.
Sweeping but true.
I can't explain why it comes about but many people have experienced it's workings. Their are many instances of this. I wonder though if it is merely a cultural thing of if these same women exhibit similiar traits with Korean men. If they do, do our Korean counterparts put up with it and if they do, how do they deal with it because, honestly, it's infruiating /sorry, i don't know how to spell/ at times.
It's almost best described as 'double standards' or could perhaps be classed as extreme irony.
I had such an episode literally minutes after having this conversation. Some Korean women - who we won't mention by name, though is the same person who smokes and drinks, is not married and has the biggest mouth in Cheonan - came storming upto me and demanded that I stop acting like a child. At which point she starting throwing the crisps sitting on the table at me. Now, to me this stinks of double standards. Here she is telling me to stop acting like a child when shes the one having the wobbly and throwing crisps around like a child!
Or, the time when the 'sexy' man himself had an arguement with his missus over a mushroom. He ordered take-away chicken. It arrived, he paid for it, opened it to find the chicken covered with mushroom, much to his disapprovable. He then choose not to eat it as is his right since he ordered it and paid for it. But, the missus was unimpressed. Cue arguement.OR the numerous examples of the Korean women who feels it is perfectly acceptable to go and meet another man or men in a completely plutonic manner yet feels compelled to 'hit the roof' if you do something similiar, like meet a woman or women in a completely plutonic manner.
I'm going to be bold and suggest that their is one set of rules for them and a completely different set of rules for us even when applied to exactly the same situation.Is this unique to Korean women? If it isn't, please leave message as I would like to compile of list of women to avoid.
enough rambling...
Bill - turn away NOW___________________Celtic won the cup then!!!
Friday, May 27, 2005
Inter
I had to succumb to the excessive marketing and column inches dedicated to the release of the final Star Wars instalment...I went and saw it today, which, in itself is strange given that I completely bypassed both the Phantom Menace and the Attack of the Clones. All the hype surrounding them had put me off coupled with the fact that they were crap and not a patch on the original trilogy. I doubt whether I will sit down and watch either.
The Return of the Sith is a different matter though. Its the 'final' one even though it's actually only half time in the series. Before I went in I was hoping that the final scene of Episode 3 would be the start of Episode 4...where the stormtroopers attack the ship and the pod is released. That would have made it all worthwhile and Luca would have redeemed himself beyond words. Alas, it wasn't to be but Luca certainly has redeemed himself after the poor first 2 Episodes.
Visually, it's stunning. One cannot be critical of that aspect. Lucas has excelled himself in making a visual feast. The story is tense and certainly keeps you on the edge. I found myself 'whooooing when Yoda whacked all the bad guys and saying 'don't do it!' out loud when Anakin finally decided to turn to the Dark Side. Sad. I know but it's engrossing. Even the sight of Chewbacca 'talking' to his 'mate' when Yoda left. No subtitles, just his whine but you knew what he was saying.
That said, the dialogue was crap. I mean crap. Laughably awful. When Obi Won and Anakin are in the lift at the start, the lift suddenly stops. Both are standing next to each other and in full view of each other, yet Obi Won turns to Anakin and asks if he had pressed the 'stop' button. Eh, no...he's standing next to you, you saw he didn't! There are other examples...come on Lucas, get yourself a decent script.
Best bit though, was when Anakin had finally decided. The Sith Lord made him kneel. He said his 'thing' and at that point the Darth Vader music sounded for the 1st time and you knew, that was it. The conversion was complete...
Of course cheese and sentimental nonsense ends the movie MUch to my disappointment. Typical. I would have loved the final scene to be the start of Episode 4 but it wasn't to be. Instead we had the rebirth of Vader, the death of the Princess and the birth of the twins followed by their removable to safer regions. I felt that the movie should have ended at the point when they were 'making' Vader. They had repaired him and dressed him in black. There is a close up only of his head. We see the mask closing in and then, for 5 seconds, the distinctive breathing begins. ___________if I was the boss, thats were i would have ended it.
The Return of the Sith is a different matter though. Its the 'final' one even though it's actually only half time in the series. Before I went in I was hoping that the final scene of Episode 3 would be the start of Episode 4...where the stormtroopers attack the ship and the pod is released. That would have made it all worthwhile and Luca would have redeemed himself beyond words. Alas, it wasn't to be but Luca certainly has redeemed himself after the poor first 2 Episodes.
Visually, it's stunning. One cannot be critical of that aspect. Lucas has excelled himself in making a visual feast. The story is tense and certainly keeps you on the edge. I found myself 'whooooing when Yoda whacked all the bad guys and saying 'don't do it!' out loud when Anakin finally decided to turn to the Dark Side. Sad. I know but it's engrossing. Even the sight of Chewbacca 'talking' to his 'mate' when Yoda left. No subtitles, just his whine but you knew what he was saying.
That said, the dialogue was crap. I mean crap. Laughably awful. When Obi Won and Anakin are in the lift at the start, the lift suddenly stops. Both are standing next to each other and in full view of each other, yet Obi Won turns to Anakin and asks if he had pressed the 'stop' button. Eh, no...he's standing next to you, you saw he didn't! There are other examples...come on Lucas, get yourself a decent script.
Best bit though, was when Anakin had finally decided. The Sith Lord made him kneel. He said his 'thing' and at that point the Darth Vader music sounded for the 1st time and you knew, that was it. The conversion was complete...
Of course cheese and sentimental nonsense ends the movie MUch to my disappointment. Typical. I would have loved the final scene to be the start of Episode 4 but it wasn't to be. Instead we had the rebirth of Vader, the death of the Princess and the birth of the twins followed by their removable to safer regions. I felt that the movie should have ended at the point when they were 'making' Vader. They had repaired him and dressed him in black. There is a close up only of his head. We see the mask closing in and then, for 5 seconds, the distinctive breathing begins. ___________if I was the boss, thats were i would have ended it.
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Tempest
Oh the joy.
-________________________the final week of actual teaching is complete. Next week sees the students getting off their little bony bums and doing the work for once whilst I more or less give them a free reign.
I have given them a group presentation for their final test which will see teams of 4 making and finally presenting there work to me in 2 weeks time. They have a choice of topics from which to choose. I've allocated all of next weeks classtime to them 'doing' in class. If they look busy and organised, then they will get decent 'activity' points. If they don't look busy and organised, then their 'activitity' points will be crap. Simple as that. Then, in 2 weeks, it's presentation day. We'll see what happens. Ultimately, it's upto them. If they put a lot of effort into it, then I'm sure they will do well. Conversely, if they haven't bothered, then, I suspect their points will be low.
Anyway, how on earth did Liverpool manage to win the Champions League. Not only should have have been knocked out in the group stages - 4 minutes away from doing so - but they should never have been allowed to come back from a 3-0 scorline at half-time. To an Italian team. I'm still in shock. Trailing and playing wowoefully, they somehow score 3 goals in 6 minutes or something like that... take it to penalties and win the damn thing. Incredible. Question is, will UEFA allow them to defend it given that they haven't automatically qualified through the league.
Is Bentiez the best coach in the World? You have to say, he might well be...UEFA Cup last season, Champions League this season whithout the budget afford to the likes of a certain Chelsea Boss.
-________________________the final week of actual teaching is complete. Next week sees the students getting off their little bony bums and doing the work for once whilst I more or less give them a free reign.
I have given them a group presentation for their final test which will see teams of 4 making and finally presenting there work to me in 2 weeks time. They have a choice of topics from which to choose. I've allocated all of next weeks classtime to them 'doing' in class. If they look busy and organised, then they will get decent 'activity' points. If they don't look busy and organised, then their 'activitity' points will be crap. Simple as that. Then, in 2 weeks, it's presentation day. We'll see what happens. Ultimately, it's upto them. If they put a lot of effort into it, then I'm sure they will do well. Conversely, if they haven't bothered, then, I suspect their points will be low.
Anyway, how on earth did Liverpool manage to win the Champions League. Not only should have have been knocked out in the group stages - 4 minutes away from doing so - but they should never have been allowed to come back from a 3-0 scorline at half-time. To an Italian team. I'm still in shock. Trailing and playing wowoefully, they somehow score 3 goals in 6 minutes or something like that... take it to penalties and win the damn thing. Incredible. Question is, will UEFA allow them to defend it given that they haven't automatically qualified through the league.
Is Bentiez the best coach in the World? You have to say, he might well be...UEFA Cup last season, Champions League this season whithout the budget afford to the likes of a certain Chelsea Boss.
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Tense
A sad day.
Martin O'Neill, as speculated on these very pages last sunday, has resigned as the Celtic Boss.
He is not going being he is being pushed. Nor is he going because he is a poor manager and the results have been bad. He is going because his wife is fighting Cancer.
Clearly, the right decision. Shankly said that football is more important than life or death but in the instance, it's not the case.
I'm loathe to see him go he has became a legend. He transformed a dreadful team into a championship winning team and then a team capable of mixing it with the best in Europe. He has pulled Celtic up by the bootlaces and and we can't thank him enough for it. He could have walked away at any point especially with Old Trafford beckoning but he didn't. Really, there are few words with which to describe the impact he has had.
Those giddy European nights when his team beat likes of Liverpool, Barcelona, Juve, Stuttgart to name a few. Will we witness times like that again? Perhaps not.
I have nothing but the utmost respect for him. There have been mistakes but we all make them. I hope he gets the sent off he deserves on saturday - and that is another trophy.
And the next man in the door is Gordon Strachan. A fiery man who will be passionate. A decent enough manner, however, he has always been at clubs who have been fighting relegation so it will be interesting to see how he copes, especially in Europe. I suspect that this will be the biggest job of his managarial career. Lets hope he's upto it. 1st things 1st, he needs to get a team togther in time for the Champions League qualifiers.
Anyway, my 'other' site has been updated - some more photos and 'funnies plus some 'stuff' in on the board. my site's been updated!
Martin O'Neill, as speculated on these very pages last sunday, has resigned as the Celtic Boss.
He is not going being he is being pushed. Nor is he going because he is a poor manager and the results have been bad. He is going because his wife is fighting Cancer.
Clearly, the right decision. Shankly said that football is more important than life or death but in the instance, it's not the case.
I'm loathe to see him go he has became a legend. He transformed a dreadful team into a championship winning team and then a team capable of mixing it with the best in Europe. He has pulled Celtic up by the bootlaces and and we can't thank him enough for it. He could have walked away at any point especially with Old Trafford beckoning but he didn't. Really, there are few words with which to describe the impact he has had.
Those giddy European nights when his team beat likes of Liverpool, Barcelona, Juve, Stuttgart to name a few. Will we witness times like that again? Perhaps not.
I have nothing but the utmost respect for him. There have been mistakes but we all make them. I hope he gets the sent off he deserves on saturday - and that is another trophy.
And the next man in the door is Gordon Strachan. A fiery man who will be passionate. A decent enough manner, however, he has always been at clubs who have been fighting relegation so it will be interesting to see how he copes, especially in Europe. I suspect that this will be the biggest job of his managarial career. Lets hope he's upto it. 1st things 1st, he needs to get a team togther in time for the Champions League qualifiers.
Anyway, my 'other' site has been updated - some more photos and 'funnies plus some 'stuff' in on the board. my site's been updated!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)