I'm reading Paul Auster's book Oracle Night at the moment
'A good sense of humor, then, a taste for the ironies of life, and an appreciation of the absurd. But also a certain modesty and discretion, kindness towards others, a generous heart. No blowhards or arrogant fools, no liars or thieves.A blue team member had to be curious, a reader of books, and aware of the fact that he couldn't bend the world to the shape of his will. An astute observer, someone capable of making fine moral distinctions, a lover of justice. a Blue team member would give you the shirt off his back if he saw you were in need, but he would much rather slip a ten dollar bill into your pocket when you weren't looking" I'd quite like to be worthy of being a blue team member, it seems quite a good philosophy for life.
Wednesday, 14 February 2007
Monday, 12 February 2007
The name's Bond, James Bond!
Today I took Ben to see Casino Royale, He enjoyed all the action sequences, I quite liked the fact that Daniel Criag is quite "decorative"!
Saturday, 10 February 2007
Day out in York
Today I went to York with Sarah, the weather was terrible. But we had fun wandering around looking for ideas for the Flickr scavenger hunt in April. We also had a nice lunch.
Sunday, 28 January 2007
Catching the Stars from the Morning
As any one who knows me will know I love the colour purple, and although this picture is a photoshop manipulation I like it very much, it's surreal and magical!
Freedom of information!
This is a quote from the The webpage of Index on Censorship
" Freedom of expression groups have condemned a bid to exempt Parliament and its members’ correspondence from the Freedom of Information Act – dubbing it a “serious attack on the public’s right to know”. Index on Censorship reports.
MP David Maclean's bill to exempt Parliament and MPs’ correspondence from the Freedom of Information Act presents a serious attack on the public’s right to know and the scrutiny of the democratic process say Article 19, English PEN and Index on Censorship.
Since the Freedom of Information Act was passed, the UK has at last begun to enjoy a more open democracy. The government’s current attempt to emasculate the Act, by putting a financial limit on requests, already constitutes a threat to a hard-won and essential democratic freedom.
The bill now seeks to put MPs beyond the reach of the Act, when surely they should be the most accountable individuals in the UK. In addition, it proposes that Parliament as a whole, the most important of all our public institutions, be exempted from the Act.
This would put the UK out of step even with the newest and most fragile European democracies, such as Bosnia and Serbia, who have recently legislated to open up their parliaments to public scrutiny.
The claim that the main reason for the bill is to prevent MPs’ letters on behalf of constituents from being released to the press and public does not hold. In fact, it will make all correspondence between MPs and public authorities exempt. Yet, constituents’ personal details (if any were divulged in correspondence) are already protected under the Act. In this matter, then Mr Maclean's bill appears to be totally redundant.
David Maclean's bill to exempt MPs, Parliament and the House of Lords from inquiries made under the Freedom of Information Act had its second reading on Friday 19 January.
If the bill becomes law, a farcical scenario will ensue where all correspondence on a matter of public policy - say, the closure of a hospital - will be available under the Act - except for MPs’ correspondence. The most accountable public figures in the country will enjoy a protection denied to their constituents.
Is this what is intended? To give MPs the privilege of keeping their activities secret? "
Now I know the world is going mad!!
" Freedom of expression groups have condemned a bid to exempt Parliament and its members’ correspondence from the Freedom of Information Act – dubbing it a “serious attack on the public’s right to know”. Index on Censorship reports.
MP David Maclean's bill to exempt Parliament and MPs’ correspondence from the Freedom of Information Act presents a serious attack on the public’s right to know and the scrutiny of the democratic process say Article 19, English PEN and Index on Censorship.
Since the Freedom of Information Act was passed, the UK has at last begun to enjoy a more open democracy. The government’s current attempt to emasculate the Act, by putting a financial limit on requests, already constitutes a threat to a hard-won and essential democratic freedom.
The bill now seeks to put MPs beyond the reach of the Act, when surely they should be the most accountable individuals in the UK. In addition, it proposes that Parliament as a whole, the most important of all our public institutions, be exempted from the Act.
This would put the UK out of step even with the newest and most fragile European democracies, such as Bosnia and Serbia, who have recently legislated to open up their parliaments to public scrutiny.
The claim that the main reason for the bill is to prevent MPs’ letters on behalf of constituents from being released to the press and public does not hold. In fact, it will make all correspondence between MPs and public authorities exempt. Yet, constituents’ personal details (if any were divulged in correspondence) are already protected under the Act. In this matter, then Mr Maclean's bill appears to be totally redundant.
David Maclean's bill to exempt MPs, Parliament and the House of Lords from inquiries made under the Freedom of Information Act had its second reading on Friday 19 January.
If the bill becomes law, a farcical scenario will ensue where all correspondence on a matter of public policy - say, the closure of a hospital - will be available under the Act - except for MPs’ correspondence. The most accountable public figures in the country will enjoy a protection denied to their constituents.
Is this what is intended? To give MPs the privilege of keeping their activities secret? "
Now I know the world is going mad!!
Saturday, 27 January 2007
27th January 2007 - Cat food ??
When shopping in town today I couldn't quite believe my eyes when I noticed this hole in the wall on Cambridge Street. Someone is obviously feeding a cat or two...
Friday, 26 January 2007
Friday 26th January Taking Risks
Taking Risks
To laugh is to risk appearing the fool
To weep is to risk being called sentimental
To reach out to another is to risk involvement
To expose feelings is to risk showing your true self
To place your ideas and your dreams before the crowd is to risk being called naïve
To love is to risk not being loved in return
To live is to risk dying
To hope is to risk despair and,
To try is to risk failure
But risks must be taken
The greatest risk in life is to risk nothing
The person who risks nothing... does nothing, has nothing, and becomes nothing
He may avoid suffering and sorrow
But he simply cannot learn and feel and change and grow and love and live
Chained by his servitude, he is a slave
He has forfeited his freedom
Only the person who risks is truly free.
William Arthur Ward
To laugh is to risk appearing the fool
To weep is to risk being called sentimental
To reach out to another is to risk involvement
To expose feelings is to risk showing your true self
To place your ideas and your dreams before the crowd is to risk being called naïve
To love is to risk not being loved in return
To live is to risk dying
To hope is to risk despair and,
To try is to risk failure
But risks must be taken
The greatest risk in life is to risk nothing
The person who risks nothing... does nothing, has nothing, and becomes nothing
He may avoid suffering and sorrow
But he simply cannot learn and feel and change and grow and love and live
Chained by his servitude, he is a slave
He has forfeited his freedom
Only the person who risks is truly free.
William Arthur Ward
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