So, what would come off worse in a typical collision? A double-decker bus ... or a VW Golf?
Erm, the Golf. A slight dent on the side at the front. The bus? Grille smashed in and the radiator leaking all over the road.
So much for getting the bus home ... walking from there it was!
Friday, August 15, 2008
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Foreign Spotlight
I got an interesting insight into what it's like viewing the coverage abroad of a sport that isn't big in your country. It's a nice counterbalancer to the 'Beckham ties his shoes exclusive' that I'm sure they get in the US.
This was because last week, in The Guardian, there was a short snippet about baseball. Amazing, I thought. Something happened worthy to be mentioned from the baseball season?
So what was the big story? Well, Mussina had pitched his 15th win of the season in a 3-0 Yankees victory over the Rangers.
That was the big story?
The Yankees, perennial big club but third in the AL East behind the Devil Rays and the Red Sox, and looking iffy for a post-season berth. The Rangers, twelve games behind the Angels in the AL West and seemingly long gone.
It's hysterical that this is the one mention we get. The Angels are running away with the AL West, and have just completed a tough East-coast trip with a 7-3 record, including sweeping Boston at Fenway. The Rays are the surprise leaders of the AL East. So what do we get? A spotlight on none of these big stories of the season.
The story that went on from there was that the Yankees then went to get swept at the Angels, then lost the fourth in a row against the Twins. The Rangers then lost consecutive series and are now fifteen games back of the Angels - with a lower elimination number than the bottom team in every other AL series.
In short, it's a story on nothing much. But it'll be the only baseball coverage I'll see in the paper all month.
This was because last week, in The Guardian, there was a short snippet about baseball. Amazing, I thought. Something happened worthy to be mentioned from the baseball season?
So what was the big story? Well, Mussina had pitched his 15th win of the season in a 3-0 Yankees victory over the Rangers.
That was the big story?
The Yankees, perennial big club but third in the AL East behind the Devil Rays and the Red Sox, and looking iffy for a post-season berth. The Rangers, twelve games behind the Angels in the AL West and seemingly long gone.
It's hysterical that this is the one mention we get. The Angels are running away with the AL West, and have just completed a tough East-coast trip with a 7-3 record, including sweeping Boston at Fenway. The Rays are the surprise leaders of the AL East. So what do we get? A spotlight on none of these big stories of the season.
The story that went on from there was that the Yankees then went to get swept at the Angels, then lost the fourth in a row against the Twins. The Rangers then lost consecutive series and are now fifteen games back of the Angels - with a lower elimination number than the bottom team in every other AL series.
In short, it's a story on nothing much. But it'll be the only baseball coverage I'll see in the paper all month.
Friday, August 08, 2008
Alanis Would Be Proud ...
So after my comment yesterday about the most congested trains, and how I've been avoiding mine, I had a hellish journey home today.
There had been a fatality at Surbiton. Now, I don't know the details or I'd call them selfish. But it messed up my journey, my 20 minutes commute back to Woking took closer to quadruple that time. This included getting on a crowded train from Clapham Junction - so crowded that I could only actually get ON the train at the third set of doors I got to. It was slightly packed to put it mildly.
The ease with which our transport system can be put into total chaos is a little depressing. Not to take away from the tragic loss of life, but you do wonder how we can be paranoid about terrorists striking at the transport infrastructure and causing chaos, when we'd probably have more disorder and impact having synchronised 'fatalities' at key feeder stations around the capital.
Just to note, the title 'Alanis would be proud' refers only to the title of the song. It should be remembered, as per the classic Ed Byrne skit, that nothing in the song is ironic. It's just slightly unfortunate. If you haven't seen this, do look it up on YouTube.
There had been a fatality at Surbiton. Now, I don't know the details or I'd call them selfish. But it messed up my journey, my 20 minutes commute back to Woking took closer to quadruple that time. This included getting on a crowded train from Clapham Junction - so crowded that I could only actually get ON the train at the third set of doors I got to. It was slightly packed to put it mildly.
The ease with which our transport system can be put into total chaos is a little depressing. Not to take away from the tragic loss of life, but you do wonder how we can be paranoid about terrorists striking at the transport infrastructure and causing chaos, when we'd probably have more disorder and impact having synchronised 'fatalities' at key feeder stations around the capital.
Just to note, the title 'Alanis would be proud' refers only to the title of the song. It should be remembered, as per the classic Ed Byrne skit, that nothing in the song is ironic. It's just slightly unfortunate. If you haven't seen this, do look it up on YouTube.
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Two Month Absence
Well, it's been two months of absence, nearly, for me from the blogosphere. I'll try to update a little more regularly, but it's one that I get into a run, then run out of things to say, and stop bothering.
It's all hypothetical, as the last time someone read it was probably a couple of years ago, but it keeps me involved at least.
Earlier this week I discovered that my usual train in the mornings when I'm doing a 'late' start - the 08:02 from Woking to London Waterloo - is the most overcrowded train in the country, running at 176% of seated capacity.
It's nice to be recognised. Even if it is for being just a sardine in a particularly crammed sardine tin, and the only contribution that you're making is just to make it that slightly bit more overcrowded.
Although this week I've been going in earlier. Coincidence? Well, yes actually. I j just prefer it. But it's a nice thought at least.
It's all hypothetical, as the last time someone read it was probably a couple of years ago, but it keeps me involved at least.
Earlier this week I discovered that my usual train in the mornings when I'm doing a 'late' start - the 08:02 from Woking to London Waterloo - is the most overcrowded train in the country, running at 176% of seated capacity.
It's nice to be recognised. Even if it is for being just a sardine in a particularly crammed sardine tin, and the only contribution that you're making is just to make it that slightly bit more overcrowded.
Although this week I've been going in earlier. Coincidence? Well, yes actually. I j just prefer it. But it's a nice thought at least.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Finish That With An Eight
Eight hours sleep last night - hurrah! Undermining this by still being up at 2am, but hey. What's life for if not for living.
On that note, sleep, then heading up to Durham tomorrow! Woohoo, and so forth.
On that note, sleep, then heading up to Durham tomorrow! Woohoo, and so forth.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Not to Drive the Point Home
2,4,5,4,3
No, not some random mathematical numerical sequence with a hidden meaning. Merely the hours of sleep I've gotten the past five nights.
I may have said this before, but GAH!
No, not some random mathematical numerical sequence with a hidden meaning. Merely the hours of sleep I've gotten the past five nights.
I may have said this before, but GAH!
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Jetlag
Let's be quite frank about this. Jetlag really, really sucks.
It's now 12:30 am, give or take. I've been up since six this morning, having slept only five hours last night, and less the night before - the Saturday night, preceding that, was my overnight flight where I dozed fitfully for a couple of hours at best.
So here I am, absolutely shattered, feeling this all day at work, and when I come to bed, I simply can't fall asleep.
Frustrating.
It's now 12:30 am, give or take. I've been up since six this morning, having slept only five hours last night, and less the night before - the Saturday night, preceding that, was my overnight flight where I dozed fitfully for a couple of hours at best.
So here I am, absolutely shattered, feeling this all day at work, and when I come to bed, I simply can't fall asleep.
Frustrating.
Sunday, June 08, 2008
No-one Mourns The Wicked
So, Chrissi kindly arranged for myself and I to go and see the musical Wicked while I was there on Thursday.
Now, consider that I'm not typically a musical person - they're just not typically my cup of tea. However, this was absolutely fantastic and I really, really enjoyed myself. I still, sadly, find myself humming along to the songs - worrying, I know.
In case you aren't aware as to the basic plot - based in Oz, gives an alternative viewpoint on the background of the 'Wicked Witch of the West' and her childhood, upbringing, and how evil can be looked at from another perspective. Really, really fasincating.
For me, it's the sheer originality of the concept and the way it makes us think as to how we look at things that is so impressive. I'm currently reading the book, and this manages to exceeds the musical.
Updates from this in due course as well, I'm sure.
Now, consider that I'm not typically a musical person - they're just not typically my cup of tea. However, this was absolutely fantastic and I really, really enjoyed myself. I still, sadly, find myself humming along to the songs - worrying, I know.
In case you aren't aware as to the basic plot - based in Oz, gives an alternative viewpoint on the background of the 'Wicked Witch of the West' and her childhood, upbringing, and how evil can be looked at from another perspective. Really, really fasincating.
For me, it's the sheer originality of the concept and the way it makes us think as to how we look at things that is so impressive. I'm currently reading the book, and this manages to exceeds the musical.
Updates from this in due course as well, I'm sure.
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