Strangely Perfect

Even though the whole thing is going to be a hugely expensive treat, suitable only for those people with big pockets, the successful test flight of Scaled Composites‘ WhiteKnightTwo aircraft is a fantastic thing.  It’s truly one of the most beautiful flying machines I’ve ever seen and is much more impressive in video than in [...]

Pricewert Whinges Over the past week, behind the scenes, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been progressively locking down an ISP, until finally on the 6th of June, it got the plug pulled.  See news item here: US cuts off ‘criminal’ net firm Pricewert, the umbrella for firms such as 3FN.net & APS Telecom [...]

I didn’t think it was possible to cycle along the top of iron railings.  Now I know it’s possible.  I love the perseverance he shows. If he doesn’t do any major damage to himself I see a long career in advertising and films, don’t you? The music is singularily inappropriate. The link comes from someone [...]

“I’m so tired from watching TV I have to have a nap” Thus spake Philip Chawner, 53, in the Daily Mail inspired newspaper and TV witch-hunt which kicked off in ‘Closer’ magazine.  The ensuing rants from outraged people are predictable but it all just looks like a bit of entrepreneurship from the Chawner family to [...]

Books by Clark Ashton Smith It’s important to realise the impact that this funny, eclectic, multi-talented, poor, skinny man has had on the world.  The whole genre of science fiction and fantasy and whole industries that hang off the backs of people like Tolkien, are also standing on the shoulders of people like H.P. Lovecraft. [...]

Ron Asheton Dies at Home Tempis fugit and all that.  Ironically, the day after I saw Iggy Pop doing an advert on telly for car insurance, Ron dies at home with no suspicious circumstances.  Amazing. The first time I heard “Down on the Street” knocked me over.  I was just stunned. I heard “Search and [...]

40th Anniversary of the Earthrise Picture This is the original colour photo taken by Anders (Borman’s b&w was the first).  This is how Anders framed it in the zero gravity environment – north is at the top and the craft is whizzing towards the Earth at this point in it’s lunar orbit. I think NOW [...]

Introduction I’ve nabbed the content of this from Ted Penfold.  My wife, has told me that she heard this lecture of Dick’s and found it and him some of the most inspiring things in her life.  I came across this wonderful piece by chance, looking for some background information on Nikko, the second guy after [...]

Rob a Bank! This is inspired by a recent glut of like-titled spam that I’ve received… Bonnie & Clyde John Dillinger

After the recent evacuative pleasure I had after eating several serious amounts of short-grain brown rice, I was reminded of something I saved to my hard drive a while ago that I got from the web. So I  thought I’d share the anally comic missive below with everyone.  I don’t claim it’s a work of [...]

I’ve just watched Andrew Marr’s History of Modern Britain on the BBC and was thoroughly impressed by his succinct insights and straight proclamations of “truth”.  This was the fifth and final episode in his mini series and I’ll quote the programme blurb here in case the linked page is pulled as it’s only a schedule. [...]

Art and creativity come in many forms but since the internet arrived with the huge explosion in community sites and the easy interchange of prior art, maybe the concept of creativity needs re-defining. Prior art like: a 20 foot oil canvas viewed in a museum a paper book like Harry Potter, read in bed, a [...]

Had a fantastic 2-3 days in Taplow Court at the UK SGI headquarters so thanks to all who organised it, turned up or gave daimoku. We had much to inspire us. Somehow we seemed to get loads of heavyweight dudes to give us lectures of the highest calibre. I now have got a (loan) Gohonzon [...]