Magahy and I...

Magahy and IanLucindaMagahyIan and IGroupLucinda and IPS: All kindly donated (ie stolen) from Tiaw

Damien Rice: Eskimo

Damien Rice: EskimoTierdness fuels empty thoughtsI find myself disposedBrightness fills empty spaceIn search of inspirationHarder now with higher speedWashing in on top of meSo I look to my eskimo friendI look to my eskimo friendI look to my eskimo friendWhen I'm down, down, down.Rain it wets muddy roadsI find myself.....exposedTapping doors, but irritateIn search of destinationHarder now with higher speedWashing in on top of meSo I look to my eskimo friendI look to my eskimo friendI look to my eskimo friendWhen I'm down, down, down.When I'm down, down, down.When I'm down, down, down.I remember downloading this a few weeks but it only came up on my computer a couple of days a go. It just seems so apt at the moment. Damien Rice is just brilliant.

How appropiate in today's world?

"An eye for eye only ends up making the whole world blind" Mahatma Gandhi

merry xmas

This is a little early but doubt i'll be online for a while.Merry Xmas

After Awhile!!

After Awhile by Veronica A. ShoffstallAfter a while you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul, and you learnthat love doesn`t mean leaning and company doesn`t always mean security. And you begin to learn that kisses aren`t contracts, presents aren`t promises, and you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes ahead with the grace of a man, not the grief of a childAnd you learn to build all your roads on today because tomorrow`s ground is too uncertain for plans, and futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight. After a while you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much, so you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers. And you learn that you really can endure, you really are strong, you really do have worthAnd you learnAnd you learn with every goodbye, You learn...

Interesting theory!!

Someone sent this to me as via e-mail, it is certainly interesting:The following is supposedly an actual question given on a University of Washington chemistry mid-term. The answer by one student was so "profound" that the professor shared it with colleagues, via the Internet, which is, of course, why we now have the pleasure of enjoying it as well.Bonus Question: Is Hell exothermic (gives off heat) or endothermic (absorbs heat)?Most of the students wrote proofs of their beliefs using Boyle's Law (gas cools when it expands and heats when it is compressed) or some variant.One student, however, wrote the following:First, we need to know how the mass of Hell is changing in time. So we need to know the rate at which souls are moving into Hell and the rate at which they are leaving. I think that we can safely assume that once a soul gets to Hell, it will not leave. Therefore, no souls are leaving.As for how many souls are entering Hell, let's look at the different Religions that exist in the world today. Most of these religions state that if you are not a member of their religion, you will go to Hell. Since there is more than one of these religions and since people do not belong to more than one religion, we can project that all souls go to Hell.With birth and death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in Hell to increase exponentially. Now, we look at the rate of change of the volume in Hell because Boyle's Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in Hell to stay the same, the volume of Hell has to expand proportionately as souls are added.This gives two possibilities:1. If Hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls enter Hell, then the temperature and pressure in Hell will increase until all Hell breaks loose.2. If Hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in Hell, then the temperature and pressure will drop until Hell freezes over.So which is it?If we accept the postulate given to me by Teresa during my Freshman year that, "it will be a cold day in Hell before I sleep with you, and take into account the fact that I slept with her last night, then number 2 must be true, and thus I am sure that Hell is exothermic and has already frozen over. The corollary of this theory is that since Hell has frozen over, it follows that it is not accepting any moresouls and is therefore, extinct...leaving only Heaven thereby proving the existence of a divine being which explains why, last night, Teresa kept shouting "Oh my God."THIS STUDENT RECEIVED THE ONLY "A"

Farenheit 9/11

I downloaded Farenheit 9/11 a few days a go as I had seen the start of it which I really liked so wanted to see what the rest was like. I have to say that I was seriously disappointed and ended up not watching it all as I really don't see how we are meant to take it seriously. Even if every little bit of what was mentioned in the film is true I think the way that it is has been presented means that people are going to take it with a pinch of salt as there is not one bit of objectivity in the whole thing which does beg the question: how much has the truth been bent in order to get the point wanted across?

Physically drained!!

I have felt really bad all day. I somehow managed to drag myself out of bed so that I could get onto campus early so that I could sort a few little things that I needed to do before attempting to finish off the assignments. Rather annoyingly I couldn't get it them all done so will have to try again tomorrow.For the next few hours I half heartedly attempted to finish off my Analysis III assignment but ended up giving up on the Algebra I assignment as I we can drop our lowest mark and all of mine have been pretty good so far meaning I could afford not to do it. It was after the assignments that tiredness really hit me. I was seriously struggling to keep my eyes open and in general I felt really rough. If it wasn't for Emma being on the bus on the way home I am sure that I would have fallen asleep on it.I slept for about 30 minutes before I had to go to darts but once I got there I started to feel rubbish again so played my match and left so that I could settle in my room and do a little bit of uni work that I needed to catch up on. I think this term is finally beginning to take its toll on me which isn't surprising as I don't think I have had one day where I have not had to anything at all so I am looking forward to getting off for the Xmas break in a couple of weeks time.

reply to previous post!

Had a comment from technicolour_me regarding my last post (which I also included in the philosophy community). I think (s)he may has a point so thought I'd let everyone else see it."hmm.. i would think that the limitation of free speech presents more problems than it solves. Not giving fascists, rascist and the assorted mass of other bigots across society a voice allows them to play a victim role, and perhaps allow them a greater voice than they would otherwise have had. It's like- banning a book is the surest way to make people want to read it. Isn't it better to let the fascists present their views, so their positions can be shown as the weak and unstable positions that they are, rather than preventing them? Banning them strengthens their position, it gives it some substance- one can envision those denied the right to present their views at the union feeling that their views are persuasive- that there was something to fear, of substance to their position, which is why the union sought to alleviate any power they might've gotten. It's not a logical reason to find something persuasive, but its one often used by extreme groups to some effect. I don't support fascism or racism, but I do support free speech. I rely on the community to be an open place of expression, and individuals within it to be logical and intelligent enough to shoot down positions which are unfounded and harmful. I realise it's pretty idealistic, but i figure- for every extreme view there's virtually an equal and opposite viewpoint- Pro-communist/free market enterprise Zionists/Holocaust deniers- and relatively free expression is the best way to arrive at a mutually beneficial synthesis."

Freedom of Speech!!

I was at a meeting for my Students' Union a few days a go; we were required to look through the couple of proposed policies that will be voted for in the next couple of weeks in the forth-coming referendum. One policy was regarding fascism and racism. Whilst, in general I agree that we should do anything to keep these two things to a minimum I feel that this motion may be going to far.Banning Racists and Fascists To extend existing policies to prevent individuals or groups who advocate or express racist or fascist views from having any involvement in the Union, or its events. This Union Notes: 1. Campuses are often targets for fascist and racist groups seeking to recruit new members as well as to spread their beliefs. 2. Students and students’ unions have a long and proud record of achievement in the fight against racism and fascism. This Union Believes: 1. That racism and fascism are still rife within society. 2. That in line with the Union’s Equal Opportunities Appendix, the Union should be at the forefront of the campaign to combat prejudice and bigotry. 3. That racism and fascism are fuelled by tensions along the lines of race, religion, nationality or ethnicity, and that racists and fascists often seek to exploit these tensions. 4. That by complimenting the Equal Opportunities Appendix with a No Platform Policy, we can step up the challenge to racism and reinforce our commitment to fighting fascism. 5. That we must balance freedom of expression with protection from fascist and racist groups. 6. That a No Platform Policy safeguards the Union’s members from being subjected to lies, bigotry and hatred. 7. That a No Platform Policy that cannot be enforced when it is needed is ineffective. This Union Resolves: 1. Not to allow any person who can be shown to have advocated or expressed, or to be likely to advocate or express, racist or fascist conduct, attitudes or views to have any involvement with the Union and to ban any such person from entering Union events and buildings. If the person is a Union member they should be dealt with via the Union disciplinary process. 2. That the President will ensure that this is carried out as far as is legally possible since the presence of such individuals could lead to disorder and endanger the safety of Union members. 3. That no Union Officer shall share a platform with any known racists or fascists at any Union event; or any other event in their capacity as an Officer. 4. That Union Council be strongly urged to discipline any Union Officer found to be in breach of this policy through a motion of censure or a vote of no confidence. 5. That any Union event that is likely to be in breach of this policy may be prevented from taking place or closed down whilst in progress by any two Sabbatical Officers. a. That the Union will withhold funding/demand repayment for the event in question subject to contractual obligations. b. That the organiser(s) of the event be held personally responsible if they are Union members. 6. That the Welfare and Equal Opportunites Officer will maintain a list of recognised racist and/or fascist groups that are banned by this policy. a. That this list shall only be amended by Union Council, General Meeting or Referendum. b. To liaise with the NUS and ‘Searchlight’ for up-to-date information concerning racists and/or fascist groups. 7. To empower and require the President to deal with potential or actual conflicts between Societies that could exacerbate tensions between students along the lines of race, religion, nationality or ethnicity, such as tensions erupting in relation to international conflicts. 8. To mandate the Societies and Student Development Officer to liaise with the relevant Societies to ensure that events organised by them reflect the Union’s commitment to tolerance and understanding (e.g. no offensive or inflammatory speakers or publicity). 9. To require all Societies to notify the Societies and Student Development Officer in the planning stages of any activity that would potentially cause or exacerbate tension between students at the University along the lines of race, religion, nationality or ethnicity. 10. To make breach of the No-Platform Policy a disciplinary offence. 11. To lapse policy 500 ‘No Platform for Racists or Fascists’ and 453 ‘Anti-Racism and Anti-Fascism’. 12. To publicise this policy to all, and to encourage the University to adopt a similar policy. 13. To mandate the Anti-Racism Campaigns Convenor and request any relevant Societies and groups to mount a campaign on the dangers of racism fascism, and to formulate a policy on how best to fight it. 14. To support anti-racism campaigns, and anti-fascism campaigns which are run by the NUS. In this policy it advocates that the Union could ban anyone from the Union or its activities purely because they may cause trouble. Is it really justifiable to punish someone purely cause they may do something before they have even done it?Also, is it ok to supress someone expressing there beliefs, in a manner which is not trying to convert anyone to their way of thinking, in case they may offend someone else? For example, theoretically under this policy I would have to very careful when it comes to me expressing my views on how the political situation in Northern Ireland should be sorted out even though I do not go round telling people what they should believe but just what I think should happen given that I have lived there for such a long period of time and studied ther history of the country in a good bit of detail. Is this fully justified?

Photos from Sat!!

Earthquakes and trucks hitting walls?!?!

We were looking at earthquakes and how they are measured today in global geophysics. Generally, the methods were pretty boring but there was something that made me smile in the modified Mercalli scale.I. People do not feel any Earth movement. II. A few people might notice movement if they are at rest and/or on the upper floors of tall buildings. III. Many people indoors feel movement. Hanging objects swing back and forth. People outdoors might not realize that an earthquake is occurring. IV. Most people indoors feel movement. Hanging objects swing. Dishes, windows, and doors rattle. The earthquake feels like a heavy truck hitting the walls. A few people outdoors may feel movement. Parked cars rock. V. Almost everyone feels movement. Sleeping people are awakened. Doors swing open or close. Dishes are broken. Pictures on the wall move. Small objects move or are turned over. Trees might shake. Liquids might spill out of open containers. VI. Everyone feels movement. People have trouble walking. Objects fall from shelves. Pictures fall off walls. Furniture moves. Plaster in walls might crack. Trees and bushes shake. Damage is slight in poorly built buildings. No structural damage. VII. People have difficulty standing. Drivers feel their cars shaking. Some furniture breaks. Loose bricks fall from buildings. Damage is slight to moderate in well-built buildings; considerable in poorly built buildings. VIII. Drivers have trouble steering. Houses that are not bolted down might shift on their foundations. Tall structures such as towers and chimneys might twist and fall. Well-built buildings suffer slight damage. Poorly built structures suffer severe damage. Tree branches break. Hillsides might crack if the ground is wet. Water levels in wells might change. IX. Well-built buildings suffer considerable damage. Houses that are not bolted down move off their foundations. Some underground pipes are broken. The ground cracks. Reservoirs suffer serious damage. X. Most buildings and their foundations are destroyed. Some bridges are destroyed. Dams are seriously damaged. Large landslides occur. Water is thrown on the banks of canals, rivers, lakes. The ground cracks in large areas. Railroad tracks are bent slightly. XI. Most buildings collapse. Some bridges are destroyed. Large cracks appear in the ground. Underground pipelines are destroyed. Railroad tracks are badly bent. XII. Almost everything is destroyed. Objects are thrown into the air. The ground moves in waves or ripples. Large amounts of rock may move. Earthquake feels like a heavy truck hitting the walls ... well we all have that happening to us regularly!!

Looks like I am in trouble when I die!!

Stolen from neonuts .

The Dante's Inferno Test has banished you to the Sixth Level of Hell - The City of Dis!Here is how you matched up against all the levels:LevelScorePurgatory (Repenting Believers)Very LowLevel 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers)HighLevel 2 (Lustful)ModerateLevel 3 (Gluttonous)ModerateLevel 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious)Very LowLevel 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy)LowLevel 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics)Very HighLevel 7 (Violent)HighLevel 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers)ModerateLevel 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous)ModerateTake the Dante's Inferno Hell Test

Pics at last!!

Finally worked out how to get pics up on journal. Not much to put up tho so think I will start off with a couple from back home.Right ... back to revision for tomorrow's exam!!

We are all little ants serving those in power!!

Ian sent me a dvd earlier on this week called 'Waking Life'. It is a series of lectures/dialogues about consciousness, dreams, life, meaning and so on. I will be watching it again before I make a proper judgment on the film but here is a snippet of one of the discussions in the film.
Wiley (the main character) is walking down the steps of a subway entrance, when he accidently bumps into this girl (Tiana).
Tiana: Excuse meWiley: Excuse me. Wiley continues walking down the stairs, but Tania chases him back down.
Tiana: Hey.......could we do that again? I know we haven't met, but, I don't wanna be an ant, ya know? I mean, it's like we go through life with our antennas bouncing off one another continuously on "ant" autopilot with nothing really human required of us. "Stop," "Go," "Walk here," "Drive there." All action basically for survival. All communication simply to keep this ant colony buzzing along in an efficient, polite manner. "Here's your change," "Paper or plastic?", "Credit or debit?", "Do you want ketchup with that?" I don't want a straw. I want real human moments. I want to see you. I want you to see me. I don't want to give that up. I don't want to be an ant. Ya know?Wiley: Yeah...yeah I know. I don't want to be an ant either. Thanks for kinda, like, josteling me there...I've been kinda on zombie autopilot lately. I don't feel like an ant in my head, but I guess I probably look like one.
It's kinda like D.H. Lawrence had this idea of two people meeting on a road, and instead of just passing and glancing away, they decide to accept what he calls the confrontation between their souls. It's like freeing the brave, reckless gods within us all.Tiana: Then it's like we have met! [Tania shakes Wiley's hand]
How often do we just exchange pleasantries with people in our jobs, or people we have bumped into and so on. We never really communicate with these people. It is like we are on auto-pilot and just move on as if it never had happened. Or think of the times when you go into a cafe and you don't notice all the people that are there but only those who are not (ie the people who you are meant to be meeting). The society we live in has grown immensely over a very short period of time. In order to accommodate everyone and keep things running smoothly, we've had to adopt methods of keeping human interaction to a minimum. Real human interaction became extinct because the emergence of our societies called for it. Yes it would be impossible to interact with everyone on a bus or to make eye contact or say hello to everyone in the street as we would never get anything done. This haste to make sure that everything is done on time, this urbanization has turned us into 'ants'. We run arounddoing our work to satisfy the Queen (those whom are in power). Wouldn't it be nice if we could share are experiences and thoughtswith the world and the people in it. Wouldn't it be nice if we could put aside the lust, greed, hate, envy and so on that exists inside us. Wouldn't it be nice to live in a world where we were not all strangers!!
"We seem to think we're so limited by the world, and the confines....but, we're really just creating them."

Learn to speak Norn Iron!!

Following on from my post about people making fun of my accent I found this site Learn how to speak Norn Iron (northern ireland) , which neonuts suggested.
Here are a few of the little sayings or pronounciations of words that are said back home (just in case you visit someday)
"What about ye big mawn, what are ye at the day?" Translates as: How are you? Are you doing anything interesting this fine day?"Fancy a wee pint down the bar, or do ya wanna go till the Offies for a carry out?" Translates as: Would you like to join me in some merriment at our local hostelry or would you rather purchasing some alchohol from the local Off License?
"Getawaydafug ya wee gat. Who'd ya fink y'are? Wee Slabber......"Translates as: You'd better leave my vicinity in a hurry. I don't like you. Go away and don't come back. Who do you think you are? Go away."Fer fuhsake catch yerself on ya fuggen goat ye..."Translates as: Look, you better review the situation. You look rather silly
"Man, he's a fuggen dickbax, no bones about it. I'd knack the ballbegs ballix in...."Translates as: I'm not particularly fond of said person in question, but by jove, I'd hit him if I saw him.
Afeard: scared: Amptinat? -I most definitely am: Balleex -"bollocks: Bake -someones face: Banjaxed - drunk: Bate -beat, I bate her up so ah did: Beef -male sexual organ ie "Ah slipped her the beef lawst nite": Boulin' -messing about: Buggered -broken: Creamed -tired: Dander -a walk, ie I'm goin fer a dander: Earlee-er -before the present: Eff Aaf - Fuck Off: FaakAaf - Excuse me my good man, kindly vacate the premises: Faaler -father: Fally - follow: Frig -polite word for "Fuck", also used: Flip: Gat -slang, You're a wee gat or get: Geg -fun, "Ats a geg": Getawaydafuck -go away now: Goes -replaces the word "Said" ie And I goes: What? Are you slabberin'?" And then she goes, "Yip.": Happy Days - that's good: Houl On -please wait: Lairdindeyit -please do start eating (or drinking): Lifted - arrested: Mairshen - Emersion Heater: Meat Wagon -RUC Landrovers: Melt -no actual meaning, used as: "I'll knock your melt in": Messages - weekly shopping: Milly -name given to teenage females. See also: Steek: Moufycunt - rather outspoken person: Norman -bullying term for someone with no friends: Norwegain - Another Gin please: Now Yer Sucken Deezel -that's a good way of going about that: Oxters -Armpits: Prably -maybe, its likely: Parfil - strong: Pssskety -common misprounciation of "Spaghetti": Ragin' -angry, Ahm bloody ragin' so ah am: Samitch -mispronunciation of "Sandwhich": Scundered - embarrassed: Skinned Ye! - Haha my good friend, I do believe I won that particular game by a significant margin: Slabber -someone who makes bad comments about you behind your back or to your face: Spoofen - lying: Spide - see Steek: Spoon -someone with a low IQ: Steek -male with bad dress and hair sense: Stroked - stolen / ripped off: Tarl - a towel: Undurstawnd -understand ie Do ye undurstawnd me?; Vaka -Vodka: Weaker -yet another word for "brilliant": Wee -put in front of words such as "drink", "dander", and basically anything: Willik - nose: Wiredintillit -"Got wiredintillit earlee-er": Wooden One -not a clever person: X-Acktlee -exactly.

It is starting to get a little irritating, so it is!!!

For those of you who don't know I am a Belfast boy now living in England. One of the traits that us Belfast people has is that we tend to put a little extra few words on the end of sentences such as:
She is pregnant, so she is.
I am 20, so I am.
Liverpool just qualified for the champions league, so they did.
Now this comes naturally to me and I can't help say it but over recent weeks, people have been constantly picking up on it (well more than normal). It is starting to get a little irritating because I am talking and people just go 'Oh he did it again, say I am 20, so I am again'. It has got to the point where I now here myself say it, which was never the case. I am even beginning to hear my friends and family say it when I am on the phone to them.
I shouldn't complain too much as I know may blokes would die to have my accent as it is always a big hit with the ladies (not that it much use to me). When I was in Australia, I got nicknamed the irish silver tongued cavalier because I only had to speak and the ladies would like me (I managed to share a 4-bed dorm with 3 attractive ladies, and then a 6-dorm with 5 ladies) which really annoyed the other blokes. But even this is beginning to annoy me now. I have girls who just want me to speak ... what's all this about?!?! What to fuck am I supposed to say?!?
Finally, people have also started to make fun the way I say some words: dannyboy1982 and Matt were trying to get me to say certain words just for their enjoyment. It is getting rather tedious!!!
Words I seem to say funny are: eight, bottle, battered, dozen, maths plus many others ... think I may start a list.
PS: Note that three is not on the list ... it may come as a major shock to some people but peeps from Northern Ireland are perfectly capable of pronouncing three correctly (in other words, we don't say tirty tree and a terd!!)

Note to all who read my blog!!

Just a little note to all you who read my blog and leave comments:I would appreciate it if you all remembered that this is MY blog and MY opinions and you should respect that. I don't mind people leaving comments (actually I encourage it) but please respect the nature of this forum of discussion. Please don't be rude and consider others when you leave comments. I will respect your opinion as long as you respect mine.A lot of the things I write about our not black and white and willingly listen to others opinion as I feel they help make my views more rounded.Also, could those of you that are not lj users please leave a name (I like to know if I already know you)Thanks,Chris

What do you remember about me!!

Post a memory of me in the comments. It can be anything you want. Then post this to your journal and see what people remember of you. anyone?

Daffodil Principle!!

I have taken this from gr8gr88 it inspired me and thought it might inspire others:
Several times my daughter had telephoned to say, "Mother, you must come seethe daffodils before they are over." I wanted to go, but it was a two hour drive from Laguna to Lake Arrowhead. "I will come next Tuesday, " Ipromised, reluctantly, on her third call.Next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still, I had promised, and so I drovehere. When I finally walked into Carolyn's house and hugged and greeted my grandchildren, I said, "Forget the daffodils, Carolyn! The road is invisible in the clouds and fog, and there is nothing in the world except you and these children that I want to see bad enough to drive another inch!" Mydaughter smiled calmly and said, "We drive in this all the time, Mother.""Well, you won't get me back on the road until it clears, and then I'mheading for home!" I assured her."I was hoping you'd take me over to the garage to pick up my car." "How farwill we have to drive?" "Just a few blocks," Carolyn said. "I'll drive. I'mused to this." After several minutes, I had to ask, "Where are we going?This isn't the way to the garage!""We're going to my garage the long way," Carolyn smiled, "by way of thedaffodils." "Carolyn," I said sternly, "please turn around." "It's all right, Mother, I promise. You will never forgive yourself if you miss thisexperience."After about twenty minutes, we turned onto a gravel road and I saw a smallchurch. On the far side of the church, I saw a hand-lettered sign thatread,"Daffodil Garden."

We got out of the car and each took a child's hand, and I followed Carolyn down the path. Then, we turned a corner of the path, and I looked up andgasped. Before me lay the most glorious sight. It looked as though someone had taken a shimmering vat of gold and poured it down over the mountainpeakand slopes.The flowers were planted in majestic, swirling patterns-great ribbons and swaths of deep orange, white, lemon yellow, salmon pink, saffron, and butteryellow. Each different-colored variety was planted as a group so that itswirled and flowed like its own river with its own unique hue.There were five acres of flowers. "But who did this?" I asked Carolyn."It's just one woman," Carolyn answered. "She lives on the property. That's herhome." Carolyn pointed to a well kept A-frame house that looked small andmodest in the midst of all that glory. We walked up to the house. On thepatio, we saw a poster. "Answers to the Questions I Know You Are Asking"was the headline.The first answer was a simple one."50,000 bulbs," it read. The secondanswerwas, "One at a time, by one woman. Two hands, two feet, and very little brain." The third answer was, "Began in 1958."There it was, The Daffodil Principle. For me, that moment was alife-changing experience. I thought of this woman whom I had never met,who,more than forty years before, had begun-one bulb at a time-to bring hervision of beauty and joy to an obscure mountain top. Still, just plantingone bulb at a time, year after year, had changed the world. This unknownwoman had forever changed the world in which she lived. She had createdsomething of magnificence, beauty, and inspiration.The principle her daffodil garden taught is one of the greatest principlesof celebration. That is, learning to move toward our goals and desires onestep at a time - often just one baby-step at a time - and learning to lovethe doing, learning to use the accumulation of time. When we multiply tinypieces of time with small increments of daily effort, we too will find wecan accomplish magnificent things. We can change the world."It makes me sad in a way," I admitted to Carolyn. "What might I haveaccomplished if I had thought of a wonderful goal thirty-five or fortyyearsago and had worked away at it 'one bulb at a time' through all those years.Just think what I might have been able to achieve!"My daughter summed up the message of the day in her usual direct way."Starttomorrow," she said.It's so pointless to think of the lost hours of yesterdays. The way to makelearning a lesson of celebration instead of a cause for regret is to onlyask, "How can I put this to use today?""Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantlyset about remedying them-- every day begin the task anew."St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622)French bishop & writer

Because you are beautiful, no matter what they say!!

A few weeks a go the winner of the artist's competition to design a statue for the vacant fourth plinth at Trafalgar Square in London was announced. For those of you who don't know the winner is a marble statue of a naked woman. Rather than aping classical sculpture, the model - Alison Lapper, born with no arms and stunted legs, is also pregnant. Given the plastic surgery, botox, atkins diets etc of today's society and the mentality that we all have to have classical good looks and slim bodies this could be seen as a rather interesting choice. Not surprisingly, the piece caused a major stir in both the art-world and amongst the general public. Many people felt disgusted at the piece and thought it would be more apt to have a statue devoted to the Queen Mother. I disagree, I think the piece it great. It shows so many different qualities, single motherhood, the acceptance of disability and for me most importantly that beauty is not all about classical good looks.For those of you who have seen the BBC programme 'Child of our Time' (This is the only television programme I watch as it is to do with genetics) you may have seen Alison Lapper with her child. She was Born with phocomelia, a congenital condition similar to that caused by Thalidomide, Ms Lapper stands at just 3ft 11ins, having cast off the artificial limbs she wore as a child. She is a courageous woman who does not care about what others think of her, she just gets on with her life. She is happy with her body (and so she should be) and has always refused to have plastic surgery when it has been offered to her. She doesn't have classical good looks but I see much more beauty in her than any of these so called beautiful super-models. Despite her disability she has managed to bring up her child as good as (and if you see the programme, probably better than) most able bodied people.If you look at the piece I think you will see that it does capture this spirit of the person, there is some kind of radiant beauty coming from it. I even dare to say that it is a modern day Venus de Milo. Most people recognise the Venus de Milo to be the most beautiful sculpture of a female in the world but no one ever questions the fact that the statue (although indirectly) shows a disabled person. This is a brilliant piece, it hasn't even been properly made yet but it has already caused the general public of Britain to think and argue (and that is what art should be about).The piece shows that disability is something to be proud off, it challenges the prejudices of today's society, it shows the diversity that exists in today's society, it shows that beauty can be found in many different things that society does't consider to be classically beautiful. It shows that it is what is in the inside of a person that counts. I really do like this piece, I think it is original and sets the right tone for the future. it will encourage those who are still uncomfortable with their bodies. It puts all these wannabe stick insects to shame.I never thought I would be quoting Christina Aguilera (actually I am a little ashamed that I know some of her lyrics) but I think that her song 'Beautiful' is rather apt:Christina Aguilera: Beautiful.Every day is so wonderfulAnd suddenly, it's hard to breatheNow and then, I get insecureFrom all the pain, I'm so ashamedI am beautiful no matter what they sayWords can't bring me downI am beautiful in every single wayYes, words can't bring me downSo don't you bring me down todayTo all your friends, you're deliriousSo consumed in all your doomTrying hard to fill the emptinessThe piece is gone and left the puzzle undoneThat's the way it isYou are beautiful no matter what they sayWords can't bring you downYou are beautiful in every single wayYes, words can't bring you downSo don't you bring me down today...

The End of Hope!!

I was shown told to go to this site by Rich as he I think he was trying to freak me out. The site shows all sorts of pictures of things that would tend to make most people a little squeamish. For some reason (I hoping it is because I have a really strong stomach and not that I am a sick) I found that I could easily look at pictures without them having all that much effect on me. Well all but one.There was this one pic which (if you will excuse the pun but I can't think of any other way to put it) when I saw it, I felt as if I had been hit by a train. If you follow the link the end of hope you will see this pic but WARNING: This is not a nice picture, and may make you feel very squeamishFor those of you have decided not to follow the link, the picture shows a young child (no older than 4/5) lying in between the two metal parts of a train track. The child has obviously been hit by a train and as a result it's two legs have been amputated which can also be seen. There is a possibility that this picture is a hoax but it does look very realistic.I am not often all that emotional and it takes a great deal to make me cry but this picture brought a tear to my eye (something that I am proud to admit to). I hate to see pictures or hear of dead children, to me this a symbol of lost hope. The loss of an innocent child's life really upsets me. They have so much still to learn, to see etc, they potentially have so much to offer the world but have not been given the chance. If it had of been someone older I don't think the picture would have made much of an impression on me but as it was a child it did.Sometimes, I think we under-estimate really young children, they are not bothered about materialistic things, they be who they want to be. It is only when they become that little bit older and come into contact with this big bad world that they become corrupted. They start to judge others and feel the need to have all the material that society says they should have. When I see a young child, I feel so happy that they can just get on with their lives with few worries. I think the reason that a dead child upsets me so much is that they fill me with hope. Hope that they will not be corrupted by today's society, hope that they will make the world a better place, hope that they keep this trait of not being judge-mental. Remember: the youth of today are tomorrow's future

Can you buy happiness?

I was browsing some philosophy site last night and came across a philosopher called Epicurus. I had heard of him before but as most of the philosophy that I have been looking at recently is from the modern era I hadn't really had much chance to look at his ideas in any great depth. His philosophy was mainly about how we achieve happiness in our lives. He didn't believe that material objects can bring you much happiness but true happiness was achieved if you had the following:1. Friendship: Epicurus says that 'Before you eat or drink anything, carefully consider who you eat and drink with rather than what you eat or drink: for feeding without a friend is the life of a lion of a wolf'This is a little extreme but I think what he is trying to say is that it doesn't matter if we have all the worldly goods we want, if we have no one to share them with then what's the point. And conversely, if we have little it doesn't really matter as long as we have someone to share what little we have with, then we can be happy.2. Freedom: For this he says that 'We should free ourselves from the prison of everyday affairs and politics'By doing this, the simple life you would lead does not affect you or friends status because by distancing yourself from the commercial world you cease to judge yourself on a material basis. By living this way you have nothing to prove.3. Thought: By thinking about a problem that one may have, we are able to find its essential aspects emerge. Once we know these aspects then we can remove the problem or the secondary, aggravating characteristics.Given that Epicurus in 341BC I thought this was a rather interesting way of thinking considering the emphasis put on material possessions in today's society. To a certain extend I believe that this Epicurean way of thinking about achieving happiness is more relevant today than in his era. But this would mean that a lot of the developed world are unhappy, most of the people in the developed world think that having beauty treatments, going on nights out, buying themselves that fancy house will make them happy. Often it doesn't, I wouldn't be all that surprised if they did lack one of the three properties of Epicurus' philosophy (most likely the freedom one).I suppose this could mean that the only way to be happy in Epicurus' eyes would be to live in a commune and more or less be self-sufficient and give up your job. You would be among friends, have nothing to prove to anyone and have all the time to think that you desire. This does seem a bit rash and I am sure that people can live happy lives without being as strict as Epicurus was, I think we just have to not be worried about being judged and not feel the need to give in to the social pressures of having all the material things that we are expected to have. To a certain extend I feel that the saying 'Being a student is the best days of your lives' because generally students have all an equal status, and they are not as worried about material things compared to when they were a teenager and after they graduate. And they are more accepting (don't look down at those who have little) and hence live a more happy life then. Just a pity it only lasts for three years!!

Do you follow the crowd?

I was exploring live-journal last night and by pure chance stumbled across incognito84 's journal. His last entry asked if he was a loner due to the fact that he had been eating in the cafeteria alone. If this were to be the case then that would also mean that Itooam a loneras I also tend to eat lunch at university alone and have spent the last 4 days with minimal contact with the outside world. But I do not consider myself or incognito84 to be a loner. Why would be loners? Just cause we aren't surrounding ourselves with false friends so that we feel popular doesn't mean me are loners, we may just want to eat/read in peace.
There is this pressure on us all to conform to the norm, to be like everyone else. If we don't then you are considered to be strange. There is some sort of 'code' which governs what we should wear, what we should believe, whom we should befriend, what kind of life we should lead. To question these or not to adhere to them is deemed to be bizarre. When I was walking around town today I saw a large group of teenagers all wearing the same clothes, same style of hair etc. They were all gothsI guess and trying to show that they are that little bit unconventional, that they don't conform(just a shame that they happen to have done it in the conventional way).
There aren't that many people who are strong enough or willing to question this so called 'code'. Most likely because they are scared of the ridicule they will face and the possible unpopularity. These people tend just to believe the opinion of the majority without giving it any real thought (and why should they, surely if most people believe it then it must be right ........ wrong). A typical example would be if you ask someone
Q: 'Do you believe thatwater drains from basins in opposite directions in the northern/southern hemi-spheres?'
I won't offer a guarantee, butbased on whatthe answers of few of my friends,they confirmed that most people seem to think that water does drain in different directions depending in which hemi-sphere you are in. There seems to be some common mis-conception that this is case when actually the Coriolis force (which does influence weather patterns) is not strong enough to influence the direction a fluid flows and sowater can flow in either direction in both hemi-spheres. All but one of my friends thought it was the former (well done Rich). WhenI asked them why they thought that this was the case they all said things ranging from it was what otherpeople hadtold to themtill they saw it on 'TheSimpsons'. Just because a TV show/others believed that this was the case they thought it must be true without actually thinking about it or looking into it further. Maybe it was the fear of challenging someone who seems to know a little bit more about it than them that scared them into thinking that it can't be wrong. Obviously people didn't question the person or the thing because they feared it would make them unpopular but in other examples this is the case.
An example of this is when Descartes wrote his book on Physics 'Le Monde' (The World) he pulled out of publishing it because of what had happened to Galileo in 1633. Galileo was condemned by the Inquisition in Rome for releasing his paper 'Dialogue' which supported the Copernican view that the earth went round the sun and not the other way round. This was a brave step from Galileo considering it was unfashionable to have such a belief in those days and hehad already been in trouble with the Inquisition for other beliefs that he had. As a result he was sent to prison for life and had to recant his belief in the Copernican planetary system. Descartes was not this brave, he was scared of his book being condemned, as it had un-fashionable views in it that didn't entirely support the Church. Even a man as wise as Descartes was scared of the unpopularity his work might receive even though it was thought out in a rational sense. Though, I should point out that as a result he revised a lot of this work and as a result came up with the 'Meditations' which started the scientific revolution. A further example, and probably a more nobler one is that of Socrates who would not submit to the common opinions in Ancient Greece, even when he was faced with the death penalty!!
I never really appreciated it before but I kinda admire these supposed loners, they don't feel the need to be always have people around them, they don't worry that because they are on their own that people might think they are strange. Even more so I admire what people would probably call 'geeks', the people who do not try and fit in, the people who don't feel the need to buy all the latest fashion, the people who think for themselves and don't just accept what the majority think!! Because they privilege the stance of good reason, as opposed to childishly trusting others that tell them that they are wrong.
Alain de Botton sums up this very nicely with the following quote: 'The validity of anidea or action is determined not by whether it is widelybelieved or widely reviled but by whether it obeys the rules of logic. It is not because an argument is denounced by a majority that it is wrong nor, for those drawn to heroic defiance, that it is right'.
This I think this is partly why I do philosophy, I do not readily accept what I am told, I like to think of things rationally. Moreover, this is what I feel philosophy is all about: using it to help us work on the problems of everyday life.