Ok, final lap, we can do this.
Shit what the hell was that?
Son of a bitch could have killed me, ok let's over... shit shit brake brake!
Ok that was too close, hang back a bit.
"What the hell're you doing? overtake the bastard!"
Dammit John I'm trying, he's driving like a fucking lunatic.
The tunnel, pressure pressure pressure! Stay on his arse...
Opening! Go go go go go! Yes!
"4th, keep it up."
Thanks John.
Ok there's 3rd, this bastard's going down.
Long straight, time to slipstream. Right on his tail now.
Dammit he's good, can't get passed. Move! Move! Goddammit the straight's over.
Sharp corner. He's gone wide! Yes yes yes! Gotcha!
"Half a lap to go, push harder!"
Piss off.
Ok complex bit here, there's 2nd.
Geez he's taking that corner a bit fas.... and there he goes... Ouch that's nasty.
Shit lost grip. Oversteer! Hold it! Hold it!
Phew that was damn close.
"Careful, keep your head here."
What happened to push harder? Dick.
There he is! 1st.
About 2 minutes to get this guy.
"You've got about 2 minutes to get this guy."
Thanks for that.
He's good. C'mon.
Weaving, left - right - left - right...
Shit watch the traction. Can't slide now.
Over that crest, two corners to go!
First hairpin. slow slow slow....
And go!
Right on him now, no opening. Come ON!
So narrow here, can't pass, final bend.
He's slipped a bit, holds it.... nice save. Bastard.
He's lost speed now, power through!
100
150
170
Pulling up beside him, looks at me, then the line, so close now.
Just a little more....
YES!
FINISH!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Rambling Restlessly
I think I spelt restlessly wrong. Well spellchecker isn't picking it up so I assume it's correct.
Anyway I'm really really tired. It's been a pretty shit week, started off well with a close friend's birthday bash that went down very well, then it took a nose dive into the crapper the very next morning when I had to work at eight.
Anyway that's irrelevant, this whole post (blog?) is really kind of irrelevant really.
Hmm, let's see, what can we discuss? Maybe a review of the things around me.
Ok, my yellow pencil case. Bought it two years ago and it's still holding together. There's a few holes in it now and the plastic bit that holds the letters was ripped off during a particularly boring class last year, so maybe it'll need a trade in by the end of the year. It's covered in graffiti of course, so it's managed to hold up to various bashings by bored people. The main thing is that the zip's held together, it's probably a record for one of my pencil cases, so it's a reasonably decent brand. Too bad I have no idea what that brand is, but I recommend you purchase any yellow, mid-sized pencil case that appears to be made of vinyl, they last.
My camera, a Fuji Finepix Z1. This is a brilliant little machine. It's tiny so it'll fit in my pocket and with a metal casing it's a tough unit. The screen's nice and large, particularly for a camera of its vintage, and it takes decent photos to boot. It could be a little quicker on boot up and between shots, but the auto-focus is fast and grainy or blurry shots are pretty rare. As is usual for most compact cameras, the flash isn't fantastic, but it gets the job done.
On a side rant, people who complain that their camera "doesn't have enough megapixels" are talking out of their collective arses. If you're not blowing up your pictures to sizes larger than say an A3 sheet (and I'd assume that's the majority of people), you could easily get by with a 4 megapixel camera. My camera is 5.1 megapixels, and it wipes the floor in terms of picture quality when compared to some of today' s cheapy ultra-compacts that boast 8-10 megapixels. Megapixels aren't everything, folks.
Ok, that's the camera.
My speakers. They're a Logitech R-20 2.1 set. The woofer's tiny but surprisngly powerful and the satellites deliver a decent sound at medium volumes. Like all cheap sets (these set me back about 30 bucks), they tend to distort sound at higher volumes, but if you're after a cheap set of speakers you can't go passed these. Hopefully I'll be replacing these soon with some Logitech Z-2300s or the equivalent Altech Lansings, but maybe not for a while since I'm supposed to be saving for a car.
Computer. It's a decent setup, I'm not going to bore you with specs. It's been a project for a while, initially it started as a pretty rubbishy workstation, and slowly it's been built into something a little more beastly. It's bloody loud sometimes though, likely due to poor airflow. My favourite aspect of it are the dual screens. I have a 22 inch widescreen LCD as my primary monitor, and a 19 inch 4:3 LCD as my secondary. It's handy to have MSN, Winamp and other programs I might look at from time to time set up on that screen while I have the browser on the primary.
Alarm clock. I received that for my Confirmation back in 2002. It sat beside my bed for several years until it was eventually replaced by a clock radio. Now it sits on my desk. It used to tell the time but the batteries died and I can't be bothered replacing them. I would rate it as decent, it has a little sticker that lets you work out what time it is in London, New York and things. Useful if you like to know those things before going to bed.
That's about it, I could talk about my lamp, but it's rather unremarkable (even more so than the alarm clock), so I won't bore you with it.
Over and out.
Anyway I'm really really tired. It's been a pretty shit week, started off well with a close friend's birthday bash that went down very well, then it took a nose dive into the crapper the very next morning when I had to work at eight.
Anyway that's irrelevant, this whole post (blog?) is really kind of irrelevant really.
Hmm, let's see, what can we discuss? Maybe a review of the things around me.
Ok, my yellow pencil case. Bought it two years ago and it's still holding together. There's a few holes in it now and the plastic bit that holds the letters was ripped off during a particularly boring class last year, so maybe it'll need a trade in by the end of the year. It's covered in graffiti of course, so it's managed to hold up to various bashings by bored people. The main thing is that the zip's held together, it's probably a record for one of my pencil cases, so it's a reasonably decent brand. Too bad I have no idea what that brand is, but I recommend you purchase any yellow, mid-sized pencil case that appears to be made of vinyl, they last.
My camera, a Fuji Finepix Z1. This is a brilliant little machine. It's tiny so it'll fit in my pocket and with a metal casing it's a tough unit. The screen's nice and large, particularly for a camera of its vintage, and it takes decent photos to boot. It could be a little quicker on boot up and between shots, but the auto-focus is fast and grainy or blurry shots are pretty rare. As is usual for most compact cameras, the flash isn't fantastic, but it gets the job done.
On a side rant, people who complain that their camera "doesn't have enough megapixels" are talking out of their collective arses. If you're not blowing up your pictures to sizes larger than say an A3 sheet (and I'd assume that's the majority of people), you could easily get by with a 4 megapixel camera. My camera is 5.1 megapixels, and it wipes the floor in terms of picture quality when compared to some of today' s cheapy ultra-compacts that boast 8-10 megapixels. Megapixels aren't everything, folks.
Ok, that's the camera.
My speakers. They're a Logitech R-20 2.1 set. The woofer's tiny but surprisngly powerful and the satellites deliver a decent sound at medium volumes. Like all cheap sets (these set me back about 30 bucks), they tend to distort sound at higher volumes, but if you're after a cheap set of speakers you can't go passed these. Hopefully I'll be replacing these soon with some Logitech Z-2300s or the equivalent Altech Lansings, but maybe not for a while since I'm supposed to be saving for a car.
Computer. It's a decent setup, I'm not going to bore you with specs. It's been a project for a while, initially it started as a pretty rubbishy workstation, and slowly it's been built into something a little more beastly. It's bloody loud sometimes though, likely due to poor airflow. My favourite aspect of it are the dual screens. I have a 22 inch widescreen LCD as my primary monitor, and a 19 inch 4:3 LCD as my secondary. It's handy to have MSN, Winamp and other programs I might look at from time to time set up on that screen while I have the browser on the primary.
Alarm clock. I received that for my Confirmation back in 2002. It sat beside my bed for several years until it was eventually replaced by a clock radio. Now it sits on my desk. It used to tell the time but the batteries died and I can't be bothered replacing them. I would rate it as decent, it has a little sticker that lets you work out what time it is in London, New York and things. Useful if you like to know those things before going to bed.
That's about it, I could talk about my lamp, but it's rather unremarkable (even more so than the alarm clock), so I won't bore you with it.
Over and out.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Bass, beats, bus?
I bought new headphones the other day off Ebay. They're a pair those fancy Sennheiser CX500 in-ear headphones. You know the sort that drill all the way down into your earhole, essentially doubling as earplugs. It was interesting catching the train that first morning after a year of using the old ear-buds that came with my Creative Zen.
First there was the weird sensation of having tiny pieces of silicon squelching into your ears and forming a seal - well, in at least one ear. It seems my right ear hole is a teensy bit bigger than my left, probably from numerous operations that went on there a couple of years ago to stop it from going deaf. Of course that means that it's slightly uncomfortable sitting in my right ear, and no matter how far I jam it in (painfully, I might add) the bloody thing won't make that satisfying seal that it does in my left. Ah well, at least the majority of sound from the outside world is blocked out, and that's a good thing, isn't it?
It is a strange sensation, walking down the street without hearing a sound from the outside world. It's a feeling I can compare to being drunk, or extremely tired, there seems to be some sort of disconnection between I can see and what I can hear. Simple things that ground you in the real world, like cars roaring passed or the rumbling of a train, are absent, replaced with the blaring soundtrack of whatever is pumping through my headphones at the time. Obviously this disconnection can be good, since you can then lose yourself in the music (well, most people would, the spasmatic audiophile in me can't help to fiddle with equaliser settings everytime a new song comes on).
On the flip side, it does make my morning treck across several busy roads a little more treacherous, not only can I not hear cars coming, but I'm also off with the fairies and not realising that the fast moving metal thing can cause hurt. It's almost as if I'm associating the sound of an approaching car with danger rather than the actual image of that same car approaching at 50 clicks.
Ah well, at least my life now has a basstastic soundtrack.
First there was the weird sensation of having tiny pieces of silicon squelching into your ears and forming a seal - well, in at least one ear. It seems my right ear hole is a teensy bit bigger than my left, probably from numerous operations that went on there a couple of years ago to stop it from going deaf. Of course that means that it's slightly uncomfortable sitting in my right ear, and no matter how far I jam it in (painfully, I might add) the bloody thing won't make that satisfying seal that it does in my left. Ah well, at least the majority of sound from the outside world is blocked out, and that's a good thing, isn't it?
It is a strange sensation, walking down the street without hearing a sound from the outside world. It's a feeling I can compare to being drunk, or extremely tired, there seems to be some sort of disconnection between I can see and what I can hear. Simple things that ground you in the real world, like cars roaring passed or the rumbling of a train, are absent, replaced with the blaring soundtrack of whatever is pumping through my headphones at the time. Obviously this disconnection can be good, since you can then lose yourself in the music (well, most people would, the spasmatic audiophile in me can't help to fiddle with equaliser settings everytime a new song comes on).
On the flip side, it does make my morning treck across several busy roads a little more treacherous, not only can I not hear cars coming, but I'm also off with the fairies and not realising that the fast moving metal thing can cause hurt. It's almost as if I'm associating the sound of an approaching car with danger rather than the actual image of that same car approaching at 50 clicks.
Ah well, at least my life now has a basstastic soundtrack.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Indiana Jones and the Sequel of Doom
You guessed it. I saw Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull today. It was actually not too bad. It did suffer from somewhat overplaying it's cards though. The original trilogy from the eighties was well known for it's balance of goofy humour and over-the-top action that bordered on the preposterous. It was silly, but fun anyway, and it was never too outlandish. Indy's latest adventure largely manages to capture that goofy sense of humour, but unfortunately the action can occasionally become too over the top even for a movie of this pedigree. Make no mistake, it'll draw some laughs, but in the back of your mind you'll be thinking that it went just a little too far in one or two scenes.
The plot was another sticking point. It just didn't seem to gel with the whole Indy universe. It was also a bit more complicated when compared to the previous movies, so there were parts that left me confused as to what was actually supposed to be happening. In the end it was actually much weaker (and more predictable) than what it could have been. Ah well, at least the villains were cool (note to film-makers, more movies with crazed vodka-swilling Soviets!).
As for the acting, well they basically carried the movie a little bit more than I would have hoped. Yes, it's kind of a back-handed compliment, because basically the entire cast was excellent. I particularly liked the Soviet Colonel, who looked suitably stony-faced, solemn, and massive, a perfect stereotypical Communist Russian then. What's-her-name the Ukranian scientist occasionally buggered up the accent, but she was suitably sinister nonetheless. Of course Ford was brilliant as Indy, and the guy who played his side-kick (look up the names, you can use IMDB, right?) was excellent as both an aspiring adventurer and a typical fifties greaser. It's just a shame that the brilliant acting (and decent writing obviously) had to cover for the lazy plot.
In spite of these downers Indy's latest adventure still managed to leave a smile on my face once the credits rolled. And isn't that what movies are all about? Where it sits amongst its 80's era peers is a matter of opinion. I think it's probably a bit better than Temple of Doom, but it can't touch Raiders of the Lost Ark or the Last Crusade.
By the way, I really didn't like Temple of Doom, but I'll save that rant for another time.
The plot was another sticking point. It just didn't seem to gel with the whole Indy universe. It was also a bit more complicated when compared to the previous movies, so there were parts that left me confused as to what was actually supposed to be happening. In the end it was actually much weaker (and more predictable) than what it could have been. Ah well, at least the villains were cool (note to film-makers, more movies with crazed vodka-swilling Soviets!).
As for the acting, well they basically carried the movie a little bit more than I would have hoped. Yes, it's kind of a back-handed compliment, because basically the entire cast was excellent. I particularly liked the Soviet Colonel, who looked suitably stony-faced, solemn, and massive, a perfect stereotypical Communist Russian then. What's-her-name the Ukranian scientist occasionally buggered up the accent, but she was suitably sinister nonetheless. Of course Ford was brilliant as Indy, and the guy who played his side-kick (look up the names, you can use IMDB, right?) was excellent as both an aspiring adventurer and a typical fifties greaser. It's just a shame that the brilliant acting (and decent writing obviously) had to cover for the lazy plot.
In spite of these downers Indy's latest adventure still managed to leave a smile on my face once the credits rolled. And isn't that what movies are all about? Where it sits amongst its 80's era peers is a matter of opinion. I think it's probably a bit better than Temple of Doom, but it can't touch Raiders of the Lost Ark or the Last Crusade.
By the way, I really didn't like Temple of Doom, but I'll save that rant for another time.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Monday, May 12, 2008
Angry angry man
Everyone's angry. Everyone's stressed. Everyone's rushing, red-faced, dazed. Why? Exams? Formal? Parents? Assessments?
What does it all matter? Will you be better if you snap at everyone who tries to help you? Will you be angry yourself when you try to help someone, but the only response is a hostile one?
Anger is good, when it's controlled. If you let it boil over, prepare for a few bridges to be burnt - or at least singed for a while.
I'm the first to admit my hypocrisy. I'm known to snap when under stress, under the pump. But, I'm working on it!
What am I saying here? God, I don't know.
School isn't everything. Results aren't everything. Believe it or not, a good ENTER won't set you up for life. Especially if you bury yourself in your room studying for a year only to wake up one day with no social skills, no friends, and a little piece of paper in your hand that means nothing because you didn't take the time to work out what to do with it.
Money isn't everything. For God's sake, don't go into a job for the money. It sounds pompous coming from someone such as yours truly, but I know people who's only goal is to make money. And they sit on it. Guess what? They're not happy. They're the most boring individuals with tired, repetitive jokes who never come out because it's too expensive.
LIFE is important. LIVE your life. ENJOY yourself.
God I'm a fucking preacher.
What does it all matter? Will you be better if you snap at everyone who tries to help you? Will you be angry yourself when you try to help someone, but the only response is a hostile one?
Anger is good, when it's controlled. If you let it boil over, prepare for a few bridges to be burnt - or at least singed for a while.
I'm the first to admit my hypocrisy. I'm known to snap when under stress, under the pump. But, I'm working on it!
What am I saying here? God, I don't know.
School isn't everything. Results aren't everything. Believe it or not, a good ENTER won't set you up for life. Especially if you bury yourself in your room studying for a year only to wake up one day with no social skills, no friends, and a little piece of paper in your hand that means nothing because you didn't take the time to work out what to do with it.
Money isn't everything. For God's sake, don't go into a job for the money. It sounds pompous coming from someone such as yours truly, but I know people who's only goal is to make money. And they sit on it. Guess what? They're not happy. They're the most boring individuals with tired, repetitive jokes who never come out because it's too expensive.
LIFE is important. LIVE your life. ENJOY yourself.
God I'm a fucking preacher.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Conform to my non-conformist ways!
Non-Conformists. We've all met them. And they all look the same. Isn't that ironic? You meet someone who tells you that they're going against the flow, bucking the mainstream. But in reality they're simply conforming to another stereotype or group.
A billboard caught my attention to this the other day. It asked, "If emos are non-conformist, why do they all dress the same?" It's a good point, and though, bafflingly, it was an ad for Sprite, it provides some food for thought. Let's think about the average non-conformist for a moment. What springs to mind? Dreadlocks, earthy-green looking clothes, a rather strong smell of something, thongs, and of course a battered-looking 1980's Datsun that probably spews out more pollution than a Toyota Landcruiser.
Therein lies the problem, by definition we should not be able to pidgeon-hole a non-conformist into a category. Yet, we can. Therefore it's safe to say that the advent of a true non-conformist is extremely rare indeed. A non-conformist wouldn't think in the same way a normal person does. They would, to make use of a tired cliché, think outside the square. The true non-conformist isn't someone who dresses differently, or looks down upon society, they're someone who tries to improve society, improve the human condition. They are Albert Einstein, Leonardo Da Vinci, Isaac Newton. People who change the world, rather than those who try to reject it.
So to those people who look down on others for "following the crowd" by listening to certain types of music or wearing certain types of clothing, take a look at yourself. Do you follow a crowd of your own? Do you ever think of improving the world rather than simply trying to dismiss it by calling them conformist sheep? I'd hazard a guess at saying you probably go for the latter more often than not. I say to you, you're a conformist too, you're simply conforming to another stream in society.
So, I say to you. Wear what you think looks good. Listen to what you think sounds good. Don't worry as to whether or not you're conforming to some sort of crowd. These are the superficial parts of society that, in the grand scheme of things, don't matter. It's your mind that you need to keep open, keep unique. It's your mind that could change the world, not your clothes.
A billboard caught my attention to this the other day. It asked, "If emos are non-conformist, why do they all dress the same?" It's a good point, and though, bafflingly, it was an ad for Sprite, it provides some food for thought. Let's think about the average non-conformist for a moment. What springs to mind? Dreadlocks, earthy-green looking clothes, a rather strong smell of something, thongs, and of course a battered-looking 1980's Datsun that probably spews out more pollution than a Toyota Landcruiser.
Therein lies the problem, by definition we should not be able to pidgeon-hole a non-conformist into a category. Yet, we can. Therefore it's safe to say that the advent of a true non-conformist is extremely rare indeed. A non-conformist wouldn't think in the same way a normal person does. They would, to make use of a tired cliché, think outside the square. The true non-conformist isn't someone who dresses differently, or looks down upon society, they're someone who tries to improve society, improve the human condition. They are Albert Einstein, Leonardo Da Vinci, Isaac Newton. People who change the world, rather than those who try to reject it.
So to those people who look down on others for "following the crowd" by listening to certain types of music or wearing certain types of clothing, take a look at yourself. Do you follow a crowd of your own? Do you ever think of improving the world rather than simply trying to dismiss it by calling them conformist sheep? I'd hazard a guess at saying you probably go for the latter more often than not. I say to you, you're a conformist too, you're simply conforming to another stream in society.
So, I say to you. Wear what you think looks good. Listen to what you think sounds good. Don't worry as to whether or not you're conforming to some sort of crowd. These are the superficial parts of society that, in the grand scheme of things, don't matter. It's your mind that you need to keep open, keep unique. It's your mind that could change the world, not your clothes.
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