azekeil

Fairly pricey all in all but there we go.

It's due to fire up tomorrow, but to be honest I'm not really worried about it. Why? Well, first off, they're not doing collision tests until October 21st, according to Wikipedia. Second, rays with far more energy have been bombarding the Earth since it was formed, and it's still here. Third, even if something DID happen - it's not like we're really going to know or have to deal with the aftermath, is it?

So in actuality things are actually going really well for me. It is of course at this point that self-doubt creeps in and niggles away. Last night I was fairly unsettled by a number of small things (or not so small I suppose, depending on your perspective) to the point that I just wanted reassurance.

Today I have if not resolution then a plan of action for tackling some of the more immediate ones, but the others ( still remain )

Poker tonight; let's have some fun :)

So the answer (mostly verbatim) I gave my minion off the top of my head was that art is something that in my view is one big thing that separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom. Humans are the only species (as far as I am aware) that create art. It's to do with the sheer luxury of creating for creation's sake - something that explores the extravagance we can afford with our lifestyles that are above that of the other animals - it's not all or even mainly about survival for us.

It ties into ancient Greek philosophy. The ancient Greeks mused on the purpose of life, and their answer was that they wanted to leave their mark on the world, through stories of glory, through building monuments, through leaving a legacy in terms of buildings, technology, aesthetics, science, etcetera. Art is human kind's expression that we are unique. Art is one important (in my view possibly the most important) special difference and that through expressing it, we are closer to the core of what it is to be human.

I come home to find the cat has left me a present propped up against the wall and the litter tray.

The other day it was hiding in drawers he couldn't get out of.

Now he's playing in the plastic bags.

B*st*rd cat.


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ION, werk do was a success. Bed now, no more sleepless nights, at least for a while :)

...don't try to catch a falling cheesegrater.

Starting with the most weird:

• Getting mistaken for a fruit and veg seller while waiting for hauntedunix outside Goodge Street station and handing a punter a blue plastic bag and being asked about mangos before I recovered enough to respond that I didn't work there (just as the stall owner appeared and said the same thing at the same time)
• Setting off a smoke alarm briefly in my hotel room with post-dinner gassiness
• Realising that the music being played at breakfast was the theme from the Lord of the Rings movies. Then they started playing the theme from Harry Potter...
• Being in central London but finding myself in a really quiet part of it..
• ..quiet enough to realise that the regular periodic rumbling I could hear in my hotel room was probably the underground, which struck me as bizarre

I feel like I'm struggling against the ocean - a futile task. More often I find myself wishing that I could just let go and wash up on the shore and finally get some release. But because I can see what's happening I keep fighting, rather than let go. I hope the tide turns soon...

After what I feel was quite a successful first LAN at our house (no network, computer, power or seating problems; we stopped playing near midnight on Sunday!) I find myself in a thoughtful mood. Possibly it's to do with lack of sleep ;)

At any rate, I find I have a few things that I've learned over the years which occasionally I find is relevant to mention to someone else. These things may not apply to anyone but me, but perhaps they may give others a different perspective:

• Never say never. It is my belief that if you believe you know how you will feel in the future then you may as well end it now. To me, life is all about learning and new experiences - if you think you know how you'll feel in 5, 10, 20 or 40 years time then you have my deepest sympathy. Perhaps an example of this is 'turning out like your parents' - when you were teenage you really didn't believe you'd turn out like your parents or want to turn out like them, but more and more as you grow up you recognise things in yourself that you saw/see in your parents.
• Having a good perspective is all important. This allows you to centre yourself with your ethics and beliefs and help ensure that you treat others well and recognise when others are not treating you well, amongst other things.
• Moderation in all things, especially moderation itself. Sometimes it's nice (necessary even?) to indulge - after all, we're only human!

So, and the real point to this post, what things have you guys learnt that you wouldn't mind sharing? They may not be relevant to anyone other than yourself, so don't feel silly or shy about posting. I'd like to know, and I'm sure others would enjoy it too!

My answer to the question on my last post is ( under this cut )