RIP Steve Irwin

I was saddened to wake this morning to the news that Steve Irwin had died.

Steve, better known as The Crocodile Hunter, was only four days older than me. He was known worldwide for his enthusiasm and exuberance when presenting his wildlife programmes.

Whilst he often drew critisism for his antics, not least for feeding a crocodile while holding his baby son, he introduced a whole generation to the diversity of wildlife that inhabits the planet.

One of the things about his death that upsets me most, was the fact that it was apparently a Stingray that killed him. The Stingray is normally a very docile creature that would rather swim away that lash out with its poisened-barbed tail. I have seen serveral Stingrays on my diving holiday, including this one last February in the Maldives, and have never considered them dangerous. Having seen Steve's antics on the TV, I can't help wondering if he was provoking it just a bit too much...

Posted at 20:26 | Comments (0)

What difference a year makes?

On the 6th it was a year since London was awarded the 2012 Olympics, on the 7th it was a year since the London Bombings and the 8th was a year since I went on holiday to Budapest.

On my birthday in February I reflected on what had happened in my life in the past year, now I am reflecting on what changes in my attitudes have occurred in the last year.

The more I think about it, the more I'm at a loss at how to describe how things have changed for me. I use the tube as much as before. At first I took notice of everyone carrying a rucksack, now I now longer take any notice. Am I too complacent? Or just realistic/fatalistic? Maybe its just that having grown up with the IRA bombing London in the 70's and 80s, this is not a new situation.

I'm desperately trying to think of something more to say, I feel there is a lot more I ought to say, but I don't know if this is the right place...

Posted at 15:40 | Comments (0)

Sharm-el-Sheikh

I know its been a week since the bombs in Egypt, but i've found it hard to work out how I feel about it.

It's hit me harder than the bombs in London..... Odd I know, but I think it's because I've grown up with London being bombed (IRA etc), but Sharm has always been a happy holiday place for me.

Why they bombed the Old Market I'll never understand.... only the locals go there in the evening, but the woman who does the videos of our dives has her office there. They are all ok.

The Mövenpick Hotel is the complex that houses Seagull's Restaurant where we go to see the floor show every year... that was closer to home.

Will it stop me going to Sharm? No... I'll be back!

Posted at 17:15 | Comments (0)

London Bombs

Living and working in London I feel I ought to comment on todays events.

However, no matter how hard I think about it I can't come up with the words to describe how I feel.....

A mixture of numbness, anger, sadness ....

As Londoners we have lived through years of terrorist threats, first from the IRA and now Al Qaeda (or however we are spelling it this week). We just carry on. tomorrow most of the transport infrastructure will be working and everyone will be at work. It is the same as it was after each terrorist bomb. When will they learn that they have no effect in the long term?

Posted at 21:40 | Comments (1)

Good News!!

I have got a new job!!!

It all happened very quickly, two interviews in quick succession, one of them at 18:30 after work, then I was offered the job.

I am going to be the IT Manager at The World Entertainment News Network.

The best bit is that I will have my hands on everything technical, no more "you can't do that, that's the NT/Unix/Network Teams job!". It's a small company, so I won't have hundreds (or even tens) of staff under me, but it's exactly the sort of job I want. In charge of the IT with the ability to define and direct the IT strategy of the company.

They want me to start on the 1st of September, and I have told my current boss that I will work until the 29th of August.

Posted at 20:02 | Comments (3)

Terrorists

Scott Adams (The guy who does the Dilbert cartoons) recently wrote an article called "Dumb Rich people", here is an excerpt of that article.

Note: Scott uses the word "Induhviduals" to indicate stupid people.

I recently read an article by an economist who said that poverty causes people to become terrorists. He used big words and was very convincing.

I'm not an economist, but my theory is that you can convince a certain percentage of Induhviduals to do any dangerous thing, whether they happen to be poor or not. So let's stop picking on poor people. If peer pressure can convince 20% of rich kids to start smoking cigarettes -- and it does -- it isn't much of a leap to convince them to grow scraggly beards and drive exploding cars. It's mostly a difference in timing.

Osama inherited half a billion dollars. So I rule out poverty as a cause of terror. I blame rich Induhviduals, and peer pressure.

Peer pressure is the most powerful force on the planet, and we need to use it to our advantage. For example, I recommend that the Western media and politicians stop using the menacing-yet-cool phrase "Al-Qaeda" and start referring to the group as the "frickin' Induhviduals".

Like the proverbial dog chasing a car, the Induhviduals haven't considered what would happen if they caught one. For example, let's say they (the Induhviduals, not the dogs) accomplish their stated goal of destroying the economies of the Western world. Is that really a good plan for people who live in a desert and import most of their food?

And let's stop calling the terrorist supporters "fundamentalists", because that sounds like it could be a good thing. I recommend a more descriptive label, such as "slow learners", to keep things in perspective. Then let's airdrop science and economics textbooks on their terrorist training camps with condescending notes, such as, "Maybe this will help. Call us if you have questions".

Posted at 12:38 | Comments (1)

More on War

Congratulations to Robin Cook on resigning over the Iraq crisis. At last a politician who puts his principles before his career!

An interesting note..... Reports on his resignation speech varied from "He received an unprecidented standing ovation" to "He received mild applause".

Posted at 16:53

War

This war with Iraq business really depresses me. I mean, in this day and age we shouldn't have to be reduced to this.

What frustrates me most is the blatant disregard for the United Nations. Ok, some of the objections (France and Russia) have economic rather than political backgrounds, but the purpose of the United Nations is to discuss and debate issues and come to an agreed position, NOT to ride roughshod over those who oppose your position and go and do what you want regardless!

This thing with Iraq has been goning on now for over twelve years, why does it suddenly have to be sorted in the next few days? The UN weapons inspector says they need a few more weeks or month to finish the job! Ok, I know its because the weather gets too hot if they leave it any later..... So why can't they wait until autumn? Six months extra on twelve years is a drop in the ocean!

As for Tony Blair likening doing nothing to Neville Chamberlain appeasing Hitler at Munich, please don't insult my itelligence!!!!! The current situation is NOTHING like 1939, why do you think we have weapons inspectors Mr Blair??

Tony Blair also says he doen't have any moral issues with going to war without an explicit Security Council resolution.... So we have a country with weapons of mass destruction, ignoring the United Nations Security Council going to attack Iraq...... And he doesn't have any moral issues? I say he doesn't have any morals!!

Another point the politicians make is that Iraq is not a democracy, well if our leaders consistently ignore the will of the people, we are no longer a democracy!

Ok, I know I may have over simplified the situation, but I feel I need to have my say!

Posted at 09:49