All posts by Keith

I’m a controversialist and catalyst, quietly enabling others to develop by providing different ideas and views of the world. Born in London in the early 1950s and initially trained as a research chemist I retired as a senior project manager after 35 years in the IT industry. Retirement is about community give-back and finding some equilibrium. Founder and Honorary Secretary of the Anthony Powell Society. Chairman of my GP's patient group.
ramblings

New Series: Awareness Days

Just to add a little something more here I’m going to try running a series of posts highlighting some of those less than usual “awareness days” which seem to be all too common. You know things like “Take Your Pet Gerbil to Work Day” and “Crocodile Wrestling Week”. (I bet somewhere both those exist!)

There’s an awareness day for pretty much every day, week and month of the year, so there is no chance I’m going to try to cover them all — even if there were somewhere where you could find them all easily. So what I’m going to do is, in the spirit of this blog, try to bring you some of the less usual and wackier days as well as a few more mainstream ones. Not just charitable ones, but anything which is going to provide a bit of fun.


For instance I’m sure we’ll feature British Sausage Week
when it comes round later in the year
What I am not, in general, going to cover is anything which is not UK-specific or worldwide; nor anything medical (there are just too many) or religious; nor anything too overtly big corporate or hugely well known. Hence you’ll not find Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Autism Awareness Day or Christian Aid Week — worthy those these may be. I will also mostly not be covering (children’s) book and literacy days as these are already being covered by my friend Katy over at Making Them Readers.

Many of the days I feature, plus lots of others, can be found at www.national-awareness-days.com. But I hope to include others as I learn of them — so if you know of any please leave a note in the comments or drop me an email.

I will also try, though I won’t promise, to mention the day/week/month a few days before it occurs, so you have a little time in which to find out more and see if there are events etc. near you. Wherever possible I will include a link to the awareness day’s website.

Well that’s what I’m going to do. It is an experiment, so it may or may not work; but if we don’t try, we won’t know.

The first of the posts for April coming up soon.

quotes

Quotes

Another in our irregular series of quotes encountered which have amused or interested me. In no special order …

I don’t expect much from the Irish — a lot that I know so well that I despise them, everything about them, their posturing, the silly soft accents, their literature, especially Joyce, Synge but not including Yeats who writes like a great anglo — original spare strange — yes Hopkins — and I hate their genius for self-advertisement, their mock-belligerence, their obvious charm.
[Richard Burton, actor; The Richard Burton Diaries]

Every worthwhile accomplishment, big or little, has its stages of drudgery and triumph; a beginning, a struggle and a victory.
[Mahatma Gandhi]

If everything seems under control, you’re not going fast enough.
[Mario Andretti]

In a mad world only the mad are sane.
[Akira Kurosawa]

Nothing travels faster than the speed of light with the possible exception of bad news, which obeys its own special laws.
[Douglas Adams]

Absolute faith corrupts as absolutely as absolute power.
[Eric Hoffer]

There he goes, one of God’s own prototypes — a high-powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, too rare to die.
[Hunter S Thompson]

Whether we consider the individual, family, local, national or international level, peace must arise from inner peace. For example, making prayers for peace while continuing to harbor anger is futile. Training the mind and overcoming your anger is much more effective than mere prayer. Anger, hatred and jealousy never solve problems, only affection, concern and respect can do that.
[Dalai Lama]

The cat could very well be man’s best friend but would never stoop to admitting it.
[Doug Larson]

words

Word: Baksheesh

Baksheesh

An Oriental (mostly Arabic?) term for a gratuity, present of money, tip or bribe. Or as a verb, to give the same.

According to the OED, first recorded in English as far back as 1625 although not commonly until mid-19th century.

It appears to derive from the Persian bakhshīsh, a gift; which is from bakhshīdan, to give.

photography

Weekly Photograph

Let’s have something cheering to combat this ghastly Spring weather.

This rose was spotted growing over a garden wall in Pinner, a couple of summers ago.

[28/52] Roadside Rosebud
Roadside Rosebud
Pinner, July 2011

links

Things You May have Missed

Another round-up of links to items you may have missed.

Apparently there is now evidence for what we’ve always been told: meditating (or anything like it) for at least 8 weeks is good for you — both the brain and the body.

Just as I always suspected: the horrible Myers-Briggs personality test is at best totally without foundation and at worst a complete con.


More confirmation of our suspicions. Bikini line waxing and shaving increases the risk of infection. One piece from the BBC and another from the Telegraph — same piece of news, slightly different slants.

So just what is my cat thinking? And how might we ever be able to find out?

Scientists have confirmed that there really is only one species of Kraken — that giant squid which is found all around the globe. Yes, this was unexpected and they don’t know why it is so.

Records have been analysed (don’t you love these navel-gazing scientists!) which show that the sound of the March 2011 Fukushima earthquake was detected out in space. Actually that’s quite awesome when you think about it.

Our civilisation is built on a network of networks, so a failure almost anywhere can bring the whole lot tumbling down. Luckily mathematicians are now starting to work out how to design the networks so this doesn’t happen. Sounds like it ain’t too easy though.

Think you’ve got a tough job? Pity the poor bugger who has to project manage building Hinkley Point C nuclear power station. Even as a project manager it makes my brain hurt just reading about it!

Well yes, if you go digging holes anywhere in central London you’re almost bound to dig up bones! Archaeologists working with the Crossrail contract have found what they believe to be a Black Death Plague burial site at Charterhouse Square. Only one?!


Divers have been back to the wreck which produced the Antikythera machine. It looks interesting if there’s the money to excavate it properly.

OK so Catholic priests being arraigned for alleged sexual assault isn’t new. But it is when the said priest admits he’s married. I wonder how many more there are?

Just for all the history geeks out there, here’s a list of some of the (Latin) names the Romans gave their horses.

Finally, I leave you with a WARNING … Wash that salad well, boys and girls, because it seems it is more likely to make you ill than the much-reviled beefburger. Especially beware of the pre-washed, bagged and ready-to-eat stuff the supermarkets peddle.

current affairs

Art or Not?

This …

Graham Ovenden trial: I have a moral obligation to paint children

… has some quite frightening implications.

One can only hope to god that the guy is acquitted.

ramblings

Thoughts on my Cat

Harry the CatThoughts on my Cat

He shares my space, though he imagines it his
He sleeps with me – a warm plush purring pillow
He sleeps on my desk, to stop me working
He shares my meals, but not I his
He consoles me when I’m ill,
And helps me in the garden
He gets high on his catnip toys
He is self-cleaning and autonomous
He forgives me when I rebuke him
Returning only unconditional love
He invites me out hunting with him
And brings me back presents
Could one desire more?