Sunday, October 30, 2005
Ho hum. Another wet Sunday. Just as well I have plenty of books to read, cats to play with, and the internet to keep me occupied. I forgot that the clocks went back last night, so managed to miss the Archers omnibus on Radio 4 this morning. But thats ok because I can listen to it online! Hooray for modern technology.
Contrary to what it has said on the 'currently reading' link for the past couple of weeks, I haven't been reading A Wild Sheep Chase. I got about a quarter of the way through, then got fed up. Found it very dry and dull, and really couldn't be bothered. So I read Michael Palin's Hemingway Adventure instead. In this book Michael Palin writes a witty travelogue, full of interesting titbits about Ernest Hemingway. He follows in Hemingways footsteps from the USA, across Europe, to Africa, then to Cuba and back to the US. As well as providing an entertaining view of the places he visits he also gives a potted biography of Hemingway, who I didn't know much about.
I'll be releasing this at the Leeds BC meetup on 8th November.
Went to see Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit the other day. Genius! I laughed so much - highly recommended. There's loads of visual humour - make sure you read the packets/newspaper headlines/signposts etc. And a lot of parodies of other films. There's plenty there for all ages, so you don't need to take children with you unless you have some handy.
Contrary to what it has said on the 'currently reading' link for the past couple of weeks, I haven't been reading A Wild Sheep Chase. I got about a quarter of the way through, then got fed up. Found it very dry and dull, and really couldn't be bothered. So I read Michael Palin's Hemingway Adventure instead. In this book Michael Palin writes a witty travelogue, full of interesting titbits about Ernest Hemingway. He follows in Hemingways footsteps from the USA, across Europe, to Africa, then to Cuba and back to the US. As well as providing an entertaining view of the places he visits he also gives a potted biography of Hemingway, who I didn't know much about.
I'll be releasing this at the Leeds BC meetup on 8th November.
Went to see Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit the other day. Genius! I laughed so much - highly recommended. There's loads of visual humour - make sure you read the packets/newspaper headlines/signposts etc. And a lot of parodies of other films. There's plenty there for all ages, so you don't need to take children with you unless you have some handy.
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
We are frying folks, meltdown is not a figment of sci-fi imagination. We ALL have a duty to monitor our own carbon-generating behaviour, and to keep it within realistic limits otherwise the future for our children and grandchildren is too horrible to contemplate. Flood & famine, war over water supply, mass extinction of many species….I could go on. So what has wound me up today? Air travel. I know I flew to Venice this year, but that was my first flight in 2 years, and as I walk 3 miles to work each day, catch the bus to get home and rarely travel by any other means, buy sustainably-generated electricity, buy locally produced food whenever possible (ok, sorry for sounding so sanctinomious but sometimes it has to be done) I think my personal carbon account is pretty well under control.
I read this article in New Scientist:
AIR travel is fast emerging as the biggest single obstacle to halting climate change. It is in danger of swamping all efforts to cut greenhouse emissions elsewhere, according to a study which shows that predicted growth in air travel is incompatible with government promises to cut emissions.
The UK, for instance, has set a target of cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 60 per cent by 2050. But it also predicts a quadrupling of air travel by the same date. If that happens, says Kevin Anderson, who led the research for the Tyndall Centre at the University of Manchester, UK, aviation would use up every last tonne of British emissions entitlements. "Households, motorists and business would have to reduce their CO2 pollution to zero," he says.
More detailed & scary stuff on climate change here, although the pop up advertising Vauxhall Vectra and Signum cars which assailed me on the New Scientist website was a bit of a worry. I don’t know much about cars, apart from the fact that most of them are mucky, but these two didn’t look particularly environmentally friendly.
I read this article in New Scientist:
AIR travel is fast emerging as the biggest single obstacle to halting climate change. It is in danger of swamping all efforts to cut greenhouse emissions elsewhere, according to a study which shows that predicted growth in air travel is incompatible with government promises to cut emissions.
The UK, for instance, has set a target of cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 60 per cent by 2050. But it also predicts a quadrupling of air travel by the same date. If that happens, says Kevin Anderson, who led the research for the Tyndall Centre at the University of Manchester, UK, aviation would use up every last tonne of British emissions entitlements. "Households, motorists and business would have to reduce their CO2 pollution to zero," he says.
More detailed & scary stuff on climate change here, although the pop up advertising Vauxhall Vectra and Signum cars which assailed me on the New Scientist website was a bit of a worry. I don’t know much about cars, apart from the fact that most of them are mucky, but these two didn’t look particularly environmentally friendly.
Thursday, October 13, 2005
This came in an email from the people at the Common Place in Leeds:
Peat extraction is set to continue on one of the country's top wildlife sites, despite assurances that peat-cutting would cease in 2004 following a £17 million Government deal, Friends of the Earth has learnt. The news comes as Environment Minister Elliot Morley visits the site, Hatfield Moor Site of Special Scientific interest (SSSI), Special Protection Area (SPA) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC), near Doncaster, to celebrate the success of the deal.
On the 27 February 2002, English Nature announced that "the Scotts Company has agreed the early handover of the largest ever area of UK peatland to English Nature for regeneration". Following the deal, English Nature agreed to pay Scotts £17 million of tax-payers money for the company's interests at three sites: Thorne Moors, South Yorkshire and Wedholme Flow, Cumbria where work ceased immediately; and Hatfield Moors, where "extraction will cease on half of the moor with the remainder being handed over to English Nature by 2004".
But Friends of the Earth has learnt that under the deal Scotts retained ownership and pea"t extraction rights for around 30 hectares of the SSSI/SPA/SAC and has recently signaled its intention to commence peat cutting again. Friends of the Earth habitat campaigner Craig Bennett said:
"Three years ago the Government and Scotts proudly told us that they had reached a £17 million agreement to end peat cutting on Hatfield Moor by the end of 2004. Now we discover that there is a big hole in that deal and that Scotts are about to drive a bulldozer right through it. This isn't the environmental victory we celebrated three years ago.
"It's outrageous that this American corporation, which has already taken £17.3m from the UK taxpayer, is set to continue digging up one of Britain's most precious wildlife sites. It is time this company walked away from Hatfield Moor for once and for all. And it is time that the UK Government stood up to businesses that benefit from destroying the environment."
Peat extraction is set to continue on one of the country's top wildlife sites, despite assurances that peat-cutting would cease in 2004 following a £17 million Government deal, Friends of the Earth has learnt. The news comes as Environment Minister Elliot Morley visits the site, Hatfield Moor Site of Special Scientific interest (SSSI), Special Protection Area (SPA) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC), near Doncaster, to celebrate the success of the deal.
On the 27 February 2002, English Nature announced that "the Scotts Company has agreed the early handover of the largest ever area of UK peatland to English Nature for regeneration". Following the deal, English Nature agreed to pay Scotts £17 million of tax-payers money for the company's interests at three sites: Thorne Moors, South Yorkshire and Wedholme Flow, Cumbria where work ceased immediately; and Hatfield Moors, where "extraction will cease on half of the moor with the remainder being handed over to English Nature by 2004".
But Friends of the Earth has learnt that under the deal Scotts retained ownership and pea"t extraction rights for around 30 hectares of the SSSI/SPA/SAC and has recently signaled its intention to commence peat cutting again. Friends of the Earth habitat campaigner Craig Bennett said:
"Three years ago the Government and Scotts proudly told us that they had reached a £17 million agreement to end peat cutting on Hatfield Moor by the end of 2004. Now we discover that there is a big hole in that deal and that Scotts are about to drive a bulldozer right through it. This isn't the environmental victory we celebrated three years ago.
"It's outrageous that this American corporation, which has already taken £17.3m from the UK taxpayer, is set to continue digging up one of Britain's most precious wildlife sites. It is time this company walked away from Hatfield Moor for once and for all. And it is time that the UK Government stood up to businesses that benefit from destroying the environment."
Sunday, October 09, 2005
Oh what a sublime evening. Went to hear Michael Berk, Amrit Sond and Jon Gomm at the Mixing Tin in Leeds tonight. I've raved about Jon Gomm before, but hadn't heard Michael Berk or Amrit Sond before tonight. It was an amazing evening. All three are unique, virtuoso guitar players. They all have new CDs out - go to their websites - you can hear them play, and buy the CDs (although I couldn't find Amrit's latest tonight on his site and didn't have enough money with me to buy one at the gig). Michael Berk has flamenco influences, Amrit Sond has Asian roots, Jon Gomm is more rock and blusey, with a touch of John Martyn to his vocal. They played a set each, then came together for a couple of improvised pieces at the end of the night - awesome.
It has certainly been acoustic guitar week here on Planet Impiazzi. I'm a bit lost for words to tell you the truth. Just go and listen to the music.
It has certainly been acoustic guitar week here on Planet Impiazzi. I'm a bit lost for words to tell you the truth. Just go and listen to the music.
The Book of Revelation by Rupert Thomson
Hmmm. Bit of an Ian McEwan wannabe, I think. I didn't really enjoy this book, although I did stick with it. I didn't like the central character - I found him cold and arrogant. I had no sympathy with his plight, which to be honest I felt was a bit thinly written and stark.
Its about a bloke who is abducted by three women, who lock him in a white room for a couple of weeks, and abuse him sexually and emotionally, and about the effect this has on him subsequently. But like I say, it is a bit thin, I was unable to suspend disbelief, and there was not nearly enough psychological detail. Just a chunk of vaguely written male fantasy.
Hmmm. Bit of an Ian McEwan wannabe, I think. I didn't really enjoy this book, although I did stick with it. I didn't like the central character - I found him cold and arrogant. I had no sympathy with his plight, which to be honest I felt was a bit thinly written and stark.
Its about a bloke who is abducted by three women, who lock him in a white room for a couple of weeks, and abuse him sexually and emotionally, and about the effect this has on him subsequently. But like I say, it is a bit thin, I was unable to suspend disbelief, and there was not nearly enough psychological detail. Just a chunk of vaguely written male fantasy.
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Last night I went to the City Varieties in Leeds, with an unusually happy Gav (new girlfriend!!!) to see Bob Brozman and Jon Gomm. What an excellent night. I saw Jon Gomm at the Moor Music Festival in the summer and was really impressed - I blogged it at the time - but I was in an altered state at the time, so I wasn't sure if he would be as good without enhancement. But he is. Gav was impressed too. But Bob Brozman was out of this world. That man certainly knows how to play a guitar - and several other stringy instruments too. He had a selection of guitars, plus a thing that looked like a cross between a sitar and a guitar - it probably has a proper name but I don't know it. He calls himself a 'musical anthropologist' and spends a lot of time travelling the world and collaborating with musicians from other cultures. His roots are very bluesy, and he blends that with what he has learned on his travels. If you get the chance do go and see him.
I haven't done much ranting lately have I? Must be all that good sex (that I've not been telling YOU about) !!!
I haven't done much ranting lately have I? Must be all that good sex (that I've not been telling YOU about) !!!
Sunday, October 02, 2005
I've been away on holiday this week to Venice, with Diane. What an incredibly beautiful city!! And so peaceful, as long as you avoid Piazza San Marco. We went and had a look one morning, but made sure we were there before 9.30am in order to get out of the way before the daytrippers arrived. There are impressive buildings there but the rest of the city is so gorgeous that it was no hardship to spend our time exploring. In fact we made an art out of getting lost. You can't actually get very lost, even though the alleys and little canals are a veritable labyrinth. Before very long, wherever you are and however many wrong turns you take, you will emerge by the Grand Canal, or another big canal, then its easy to get your bearings.
So we walked and walked, and took a few rides on the vaporetti (water buses). Round every corner was another lovely building - ordinary houses mostly - but the earthy pastel colours were all so lovely! The tall buildings and narrow streets really deadened sound so even when you pass through a noisy busy square you only need go round a couple of corners to find total peace and quiet.
We had frequent stops to drink coffee or wine, or for a slice of pizza. It wasn't as expensive as we had been led to believe but we were thrifty, buying picnic stuff for lunch - the most delicious goats cheese, and olives the size of plums. Yum! But the culinary highlight was a meal at La Zucca. We found it by accident, having read about it in a guide book, then stumbling on it just 5 minutes walk from our very comfortable hotel, Il Ponte Mocenigo. Anyway, our first course was 'Tomino caldo con insalata e salsa salad di acciughe' - baked cheese and salad to us Inglese, the a mouthwateringly divine 'Flan di zucca con ricotta stagionata' - pumpkin tart that blew us both away. It was MINE but Diane had to be almost restrained otherwise she would have devoured it all!! Then she had a spagetti with tomato and cheese while I tried 'Polpettine di manzo con cous cous'. That was a bit of an accident - using our phrasebook we translated it as octopus - but it was actually meatballs. I ate it anyway - waste not want not. It was ok but not a patch on the pumpkin tart. We finished off with pancotta for Diane and 'Crema di ricotta agli amaretti' for me. Creamy sweet loveliness.
Although we could hardly have been described as culture vultures, we did take a break from eating to visit a couple of arty places. We had a look at the Tintorettos at the Scuola di San Rocco
. And also very intersting with lots of scary paintings was the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. One afternnon we had a walk to see the Donna Partigiana, a monument to the women killed in the Second World War. Unfoerunately she was quite well hidden - we really had to search for her, then spotted her behind some bushes on the edge of the Grand Canal. So the women killed by war are as hidden as ever.
(I took loads of photos - but I need to speak to Ntl customer services about accessing my webspace there before I can post any pictures - I've changed computers since I installed the ftp software and can't install it again without my inaccessible password which is hidden away in an email account Ntl seem to be keeping from me. Bah!! Not looking forward to doing that as customer servives are such a nightmare!)
Anyway, I had a fantastic few days. Venice was everything I could have hoped for and more.
So we walked and walked, and took a few rides on the vaporetti (water buses). Round every corner was another lovely building - ordinary houses mostly - but the earthy pastel colours were all so lovely! The tall buildings and narrow streets really deadened sound so even when you pass through a noisy busy square you only need go round a couple of corners to find total peace and quiet.
We had frequent stops to drink coffee or wine, or for a slice of pizza. It wasn't as expensive as we had been led to believe but we were thrifty, buying picnic stuff for lunch - the most delicious goats cheese, and olives the size of plums. Yum! But the culinary highlight was a meal at La Zucca. We found it by accident, having read about it in a guide book, then stumbling on it just 5 minutes walk from our very comfortable hotel, Il Ponte Mocenigo. Anyway, our first course was 'Tomino caldo con insalata e salsa salad di acciughe' - baked cheese and salad to us Inglese, the a mouthwateringly divine 'Flan di zucca con ricotta stagionata' - pumpkin tart that blew us both away. It was MINE but Diane had to be almost restrained otherwise she would have devoured it all!! Then she had a spagetti with tomato and cheese while I tried 'Polpettine di manzo con cous cous'. That was a bit of an accident - using our phrasebook we translated it as octopus - but it was actually meatballs. I ate it anyway - waste not want not. It was ok but not a patch on the pumpkin tart. We finished off with pancotta for Diane and 'Crema di ricotta agli amaretti' for me. Creamy sweet loveliness.
Although we could hardly have been described as culture vultures, we did take a break from eating to visit a couple of arty places. We had a look at the Tintorettos at the Scuola di San Rocco
. And also very intersting with lots of scary paintings was the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. One afternnon we had a walk to see the Donna Partigiana, a monument to the women killed in the Second World War. Unfoerunately she was quite well hidden - we really had to search for her, then spotted her behind some bushes on the edge of the Grand Canal. So the women killed by war are as hidden as ever.
(I took loads of photos - but I need to speak to Ntl customer services about accessing my webspace there before I can post any pictures - I've changed computers since I installed the ftp software and can't install it again without my inaccessible password which is hidden away in an email account Ntl seem to be keeping from me. Bah!! Not looking forward to doing that as customer servives are such a nightmare!)
Anyway, I had a fantastic few days. Venice was everything I could have hoped for and more.
