At some time in 1981, my Dad took me into his office/lab thing in Sheffield to show me the new Apple Computer they had just had "installed" in the computer room (as in the room that housed THE computer...) anyhow...my Dad being a bit of a card, had discovered the spell checker function on the word processing software and had spent a blissful afternoon typing in his mates names and seeing how the spell checker coped...accordingly his recommended alternative name was suggested as "Deviant Mauler" and one of his buddies..."Richer Pomposity"...how we laughed.....
Ever since, I've been marginally intrigued with spell checkers...not least because I'm a hopeless speller. But just who is it who decides what alternative words are suggested - which words go in the dictionary....are there some social truths hidden in the computer programme...? For example...I always thought it a bit weird that Microsoft Word didn't have "internet" in its spell checker for years....you had to write "the Internet"...(ok like wot eva)...Noika handsets with predictive txt (spell checkers for the new generation..) are great so long as you never want to swear or use rude words..."fucker" is predicted as "ducker"...."penis" is translated to "remis"...I was texting the guy who is doing some decorating in my place the otherday....tapped in "paint" - Noika turned it into "saint"....is there really a part of the world where "saint" is used more than "paint"?
May be - who knows/cares
OK - I'll go out and get a life now
Wednesday, 31 October 2007
Monday, 1 October 2007
Saying goodbye to the summer
This weekend, we went to the seaside to say goodbye to the summer.
Aldeburgh - what a magical place as you crunch across the shingle to Thorpeness. Haunting almost. J&D had consumed a pocket full of cute pills enroute and were pretty marvelous...
We caused a scene by not driving up the high street in a SAAB or VOLVO...AND we didn't que for fish and chips. Nope we had cheese and ham sarnies....with crisps stuffed in.
On leaving the A12 on approach...we played English Folk Music very loudly to get in the mood...
Saturday was a day when life was lived
Brian ENO
How have I never found you before? Where have you been all my life? You utter, utter, utter, mind blowing legend. Life will never be the same again. Thank you for being alive and for synthesising....
Monday, 17 September 2007
The South Circular
I've been hanging out with some folk from South London recently and they love it - South London that is. Never quite seen it myself...probably on account of the fact that I've not really seen it. Students of geography note: the impact of big rivers on human discourse...I've lived in London 13 years and probably visited south of the river....about 13 times. Which is quite shameful. Almost as bad as my 20 years of childhood in South Yorkshire, in which time I only ever visited Barnsley - err once.
Come to think of it, I did date someone who lived in Stoneleigh, for about a year. But her flat was about two miles inside the Surrey border, so I'm figuring that doesn't really count.
But there is something deeper
I had a fabulous evening in Crystal Palace in August. But with this notable exception, generally speaking bad things happen to me when I head South. My two previous trips across the water involved: a) me driving into the back of a 4x4 causing £3750 worth of damage to my motor (and not a scratch on the 4x4...tax the fuckers); b) me returning North to find my flat burgled (vigilante death squads anyone?) So it was with trepidation that J, D and I set off on the South Circ for my sister's surprise house warming in Beckenham (who'd have thought it?). True to form, the South Circular was utterly ghastly....a 14 mile journey took 2 hours....but the party was great. Sisters new boyfriend is a legend. A prime example of how the nice guy can win through. He loves her, so is nice to her. A simple concept - lost on many.
So one way or another, CJD will find excuses to learn more about our southern brothers and sisters. But we will do so avoiding the South Circular. It has to be the shitest, doom ridden, randomly signed excuse for a road in the history of shite, doom ridden, randomly signed excuses for roads eva. Love and kisses CJD
Come to think of it, I did date someone who lived in Stoneleigh, for about a year. But her flat was about two miles inside the Surrey border, so I'm figuring that doesn't really count.
But there is something deeper
I had a fabulous evening in Crystal Palace in August. But with this notable exception, generally speaking bad things happen to me when I head South. My two previous trips across the water involved: a) me driving into the back of a 4x4 causing £3750 worth of damage to my motor (and not a scratch on the 4x4...tax the fuckers); b) me returning North to find my flat burgled (vigilante death squads anyone?) So it was with trepidation that J, D and I set off on the South Circ for my sister's surprise house warming in Beckenham (who'd have thought it?). True to form, the South Circular was utterly ghastly....a 14 mile journey took 2 hours....but the party was great. Sisters new boyfriend is a legend. A prime example of how the nice guy can win through. He loves her, so is nice to her. A simple concept - lost on many.
So one way or another, CJD will find excuses to learn more about our southern brothers and sisters. But we will do so avoiding the South Circular. It has to be the shitest, doom ridden, randomly signed excuse for a road in the history of shite, doom ridden, randomly signed excuses for roads eva. Love and kisses CJD
Sunday, 16 September 2007
Saturday, 15 September 2007
Cafe De Paris
I've had a bit of a funny week. So last night - to cheer myself up - I went on a solo mission to Cafe De Paris. Cool. Every Friday they host Cafe Rocks a showcase for new bands and talent.
Headlining were a band called The Nites......but oh dear, oh dear, oh dear... they were shocking. So bad, in fact, I thought they were taking the piss. The lead singer clearly thought he was the son of Jim Morrison....when he so wasn't. In short, an uninspiring noise of heard it all before tosh.
In stark contrast were Tale of Two Halves...bascially a guy on a piano singing, and a dude bashing along on a drum kit. They were fantastic, loads of energy - they completely brought the house down. Quite geeky too. CJD WILL be seeing them again.
Headlining were a band called The Nites......but oh dear, oh dear, oh dear... they were shocking. So bad, in fact, I thought they were taking the piss. The lead singer clearly thought he was the son of Jim Morrison....when he so wasn't. In short, an uninspiring noise of heard it all before tosh.
In stark contrast were Tale of Two Halves...bascially a guy on a piano singing, and a dude bashing along on a drum kit. They were fantastic, loads of energy - they completely brought the house down. Quite geeky too. CJD WILL be seeing them again.
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