Long live the Republic of the Western Isles!

Bowling

2007-08-14T18:14:38Z

So... I spent today bowling with some old friends.

To give you some background, one of these people is a gay guy I went to 6th form with, one of them is one of my best friends and one of them is a very good friend who happens to be my ex.

Also, the best friend and they ex would be having a thing if she didn't already have a bf.

The friend spent most of the day getting really stressed because he wasn't winning... he doesn't usually. He didn't the LAST time we went bowling.

I think I know the reason... he wanted to 'out-man' me and the gay guy to show off to the girl...

It might just be me being me but I think he spent most of his time doing that in the vain hope that it would make a difference. Twas quite painful... :S

smeagol277 @ 2007-04-26T08:34:00

2007-04-26T07:34:39Z

Global Warming

2007-04-14T14:45:45Z

Right... I've reached a rather bleak conclusion about global warming. In this rant, I will go through the reasons why I think that we have acted too late to avoid climate change, and why policy and politicians won't make any difference.

The problem of feedback

I'm sure that people must have mentioned in the past about the albedo effect. This is when light and thus energy is reflected from the surface of Earth back into space. A higher albedo results in less energy being absorbed by Earth. The primary high-albedo areas on Earth are the poles where the ice reflects lots of light. The ice caps are melting thus there is less reflection. Therefore the world gets hotter and will continue to do so at a quickening rate. Damn. That's a bugger.

Added to this is the fact that massive amounts of carbon are being/going to be released into the atmosphere from permafrost in Siberia as that warms and from peat bogs in the British Isles. There is also methane, a potent greenhouse gas, contained in the permafrost. In the case of the latter, these bogs contain more carbon than the forests of Britain and France combined. This is another feedback effect.

Lastly, the oceans. The oceans are currently absorbing CO₂ at a fast rate and this is having an effect on sea life. One of the major processes for the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is the rain of dead sea life from the upper reaches of the oceans to the lower areas. An ocean with more CO₂ in means a more acidic ocean. Little sea beasties can no longer build shells which seal calcium carbonate on the sea bed (above the CCD). A similar process applies to coral reefs. In warmer waters or waters with more debris in, they die. Both of these situations become more probable with global warming (warmer waters... duh... and more rainfall so more runoff from rivers). Coral reefs draw carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to make the reefs themselves. They can't do this if they're dead. Damn... another feedback.

Politics

The problem with the current political climate with respect to the environment is that is has become the sexy issue. It is an issue that should concern us all, to a great extent and the fact that so many people are paying attention to the problem is no bad thing. However, the only possible way to cut emissions by such a drastic amount in the short time that would be required to stop climate change would be to demolish all of the fossil fuel power stations and take people's cars away. This isn't going to happen. It would be political suicide. No government is going to do this, it would never be re-elected.

David Cameron keeps banging on with his green message while pissing around with the casinos (he was very lucky that no one reported his massive u-turn over the super-casino issue. He managed to get away with screwing poor people for the sake of political points scoring and NO ONE NOTICED). He and the Tory party aren't going to do anything about climate change, it costs too much. They still want to cut taxes for the rich and keep hammering away at the poor. They're TORIES... what do you expect?

Doug keeps telling me about how wonderful the LD polices on climate change are and then we have an argument about nuclear power. He keeps saying that he would over-ride local people's concerns about renewable energy sources and build them anyway. If anyone in government did what was actually needed and got rid of the fossil fuel power and replaced it with renewables there would be a massive shortfall in energy. To make up this shortfall would require years of building, which we don't have. It should also be noted that the carbon cost of sailing 50 miles to the Western Isles to put up an offshore wind farm or the manufacturing costs of wave power generation duckers is not inconsiderable. Also, they take energy to maintain and the concrete often used in construction released carbon dioxide as it weathers. Therefore, it takes time for many renewable energy sources to recover the carbon cost of construction.

Finally, nuclear power. Obviously, this has its own problems, and some of the problems for renewable energy sources also apply to this resource. To exclude the use of nuclear power for such reasons as 'people won't invest in renewable' is dangerous. Renewable energy is currently not very profitable and I don't see the costs reducing by much in the near future. I wouldn't invest in it, personally. Sadly, the only form of power generation which does not produce large levels of carbon dioxide but can produce energy in enough bulk to make up for the switching off of fossil fuel power stations is nuclear. Even then, we would need to use CANDU reactors bought from the Canadians to do this. It should be noted that the Canadians generate more than 50% of the energy for Ontario from CANDU reactors and these are going to be the primary source of replacement for most defunct power stations in their country.

There currently is no other scientific option. It's fine to talk about political measures but the sad truth if the your scientific constraint does not allow the frivolity of renewable energy, I wish it were otherwise.

Now, the non-existent people who read this might get offended by some parts but I, imho, think that I'm right. Problem is that no one in government or in opposition is thinking about solving the problem in a scientific way.

Conclusion

We're all fucked. No one is going to do anything of use. *Sigh*

Ah well... it was nice knowing you all...

Iran

2007-04-02T17:50:55Z

Well... the IRGC... ain't they wonderful...

I have also hurt my hand.

The last 2 statements are connected:

There were some pillocks on the radio going "Meh meh meh, those 15 servicemen are a disgrace to the British Armed Forces; they should have fought." I punched the radio.

Ok... here's how it goes:

2 British ships with Marine and sailors, they have rifles and pistols.

6 Iranian vessels with, among other things, rocket-propelled grenades.

How would a fight end? I think we can work out the answer to that.

On another note, to say that the British, a once great nation has been disgraced by the actions of Iran and that we should be ashamed at our lack of ability to get the hostages back is a bloody STUPID statement. We shouldn't be ashamed of our ability not to get the hostages back, the Iranian government is run by a load of fundamentalists, and most sane people would admit that going in their guns blazing is foolish before we finish diplomatic options; and even then, would probably result in the deaths of all of the hostages.

Intelligence gathering in Iran is always difficult due to the nature of the government and the fact that many dissidents have fled. The result of this is that we do not know where the hostages are being kept, neither do the Americans or any other nation. There is nothing that anyone from our side can do but talk.

My personal opinion is that the Iranians are using this hostage taking as both a cover and a shield. They are provoking a storm over the hostages which means that people are no longer throwing up a storm over the nuclear issue. This is to their advantage. It allows the Iranians to carry on with nuclear programs under the radar. It also prevents the Israelis from bombing the Iranian nuclear power station due to fears over what may happen to the hostages (and to think that the Israelis would bomb Iran without at least telling the U.S. and U.K. first is somewhat far-fetched, methinks...)

The IRGC does make mistakes but I'm not willing to assume this is a mistake. With Iran, one should always look for the worst possible reason and work upwards...

Ho hum... work finished...

2007-03-23T11:14:28Z

Finally done my maths computing projects... having the rest of today off! Yay!

Worries

2007-02-16T09:53:20Z

Hmmm... I managed to sleep through my supervision this morning... very annoying.

I'm concerned about my work. I don't think it's going that well at the moment. I think the problem is that the Classical Dynamics questions are usually quite obvious once you know what to do. Apart from question 15...

The other subjects are ok. Maths can get a little interesting, but my supervisor is great and manages to make me understand what I'm doing! Yay!

Thermo is, as usual, interesting. My supervisor doesn't have time to look at the questions himself so we end up with him reading from someone else's notes in the supervisions. It's quite annoying but it can't be helped. Still, the MMP course is totally dense to me. Plus, the fact that I can't arrange supervisions for it is quite annoying. At some point I will be able to start working out what the hell I'm doing. Until then, it all remains a total blur.

Parents are coming. Yay. I'm concerned what they're going to say about the terribly unhealthy life I'm leading. :s

If anyone does read this, please say a prayer for Nick Hards and his recovery. He had a brain haemorrhage. It doesn't look too good.

David Cameron

2007-02-11T12:14:37Z

Now, the non-existent pixies that need this random drivel (ie. no one) will know that I don't like the Conservative party. At all. David Cameron is a vapid airhead who probably hasn't had an original thought in his life. Now we find out something else about him. He smoked pot.

:o

*Waits for gasping noises*

Well, the thing is, EVERYONE knew he'd taken pot when he was younger. He's some public school educated toff, he's probably done all the stuff they teach you at private schools about working around the edges of the law. Duh!

However, the media is starting to make a large story from this, but, in my humble opinion, which I will now proceed to give you, it's none of our business. If he was doing it NOW, we may have cause for concern. As it is, we may legally have a right to know, but it really doesn't matter. I don't like him, I don't like the Tories and in a way I hope that this scuppers is election chances but I don't think it will. He did it a long time ago and IT'S NONE OF OUR BUSiNESS.

I should probably point out that I don't support or condone drug use in any way. I think it's terrible and life destroying (and I think it should be legalised... a story for another day, I have reasons that are dreadfully cold hearted but, hopefully in the long run would make a difference. It's not as if we're winning the War on Drugs, anyway.).

My one great hope from all of this is that it will cause someone, somewhere in government to stop thinking about middle England when composing election strategy. For a change, someone needs to think of the lowest 'caste' in our society, our 'Untouchables' if you will.

"Yet she's only as rich as the poorest of her poor
Only as free as the padlocked prison door"

Drugs destroy people. While I don't think that David Cameron should be held to account for his use of drugs, I think it's good to point out that, for him and his Eton chums, drug use is a fun thing they can do on weekends. Mummy and Daddy will get them out of trouble. It's a hobby for them, something that makes them 'cool'. In poor areas drugs destroy people, families, children...

It's one of the greatest sins of our politicians, of all hues, that they do not help the poorest. "Speak up for those who can't speak for themselves - for the rights of all who are destitute" Proverbs 31:8.

When will someone in our government stop trying to win over Sun and Mail readers and actually make a difference?

Comments on the World...

2007-01-25T00:33:04Z

lol @ Senate.

Concurrent resolution, anyone?

Random Rantings

2007-01-18T14:37:55Z

Well... for some reason (probably because I'm starting to work again) I'm feeling ANGRY today. As per usual.

My current object of disaffection is the Most Rev. Peter Akinola, DD etc.

I want to hit him.

With a big stick.

In fact, if it wasn't slightly heretical and just plain WRONG, I would like to jam his crook up his *ahem*.

Followed by Paisley being entertained with a javelin. *evil grin*

(Don't think the irony of this is lost on me...)

My last thought is this: "For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Don't think the hypocrisy of that is hidden from me either...

The Church

2007-01-09T01:11:13Z

On the basis that I just heard that some Bishops had suggested that some social Christian charities would have to stop giving alms to gay people etc.

Erm... Good Samaritan? Ever heard of it? Parable of Christ? You know Christ, the Son of God, yeah?

I despair of the Church.

The Media

2007-01-08T19:27:08Z

Tigger punches boy at Disneyland. *Shock*

He looked like an emo, therefore he deserved it. QED.

Ruth Kelly has been forced to send her son to a private special needs school because the LEA couldn't provide the support. Apart from the fact that the state should be able to provide for these things and isn't, which could be solved if someone finally realised that spending all of our tax on consultants and wars is a bad idea and education should be our number 1 priority, it's none of the media's business. They didn't want to report a story which has merit for months, and this has been a story for years, until they could put a government face on it.

It's none of their business. It is not in the interest of the child for his mother's name to be released as he can then be identified. This is NOT fair to the kid. The media should be ashamed of itself. Not only has it consistently failed to report on this issue for a long period of time (I was aware of this issue for a least 3 or 4 years, but my mother is a teacher and she was telling me about it), it now has exposed a boy with serious learning difficulties to the country at large. This is frankly, disgusting. I've been pissed off with the media for a while over their lack of ability to report anything important or conduct an investigation of anything but England football managers and the Royal Family, 2 subjects I couldn't give a flying fuck about.

He's a BOY. A CHILD. Leave him alone you moronic vultures and try reporting real news for a change.

Rudolph the Blue-Nosed Reindeer and other seasonal whines.

2007-01-03T02:11:22Z

I thought that I would have a complain about things...

1. What the hell is the former Mayor of New York doing in the GOP? Rudolph would probably win the Democratic nomination, the only concern being how far to the left he was. He's anti-guns, pro-choice, not a racist(!!) (though not all GOPhers are, they just seem like it...) and in favour of the state helping those people who will not or cannot help themselves. Dammit, I'd probably vote for him! WHY IS HE IN THAT PARTY! My biggest fear for 2008 is the the GOP wake up and elect him. Dammit, they might elect John McCain who I disagree with on many issues but who is a really good guy. The Dems are going to split in half over Clinton/Obama (run them for POTUS/V-POTUS and you'll win!). MY only real hope is that Bill Frist can get himself nominated. Right wing nut! No one wants one of them.

2. In 2008 I may come back to eat that last sentance...

3. I want to reform the government of this country. I want to dispense with the monarchy etc and break the Union. Then have govenments for each country and referendums to see if people want a central government for Britain and it's federated states. Quite like the U.S. I like it. I was talking to a guy I know (father of one of my DMs) who is a lawyer for parts of the government and he agrees. The need of this country to worship it's history in such a way that keeps the monarchy and other trappings of the Empire going is bad. Very bad. We need to move on so that we are able to confront future. We need a government with checks and balances, one in which the Executive and Legaslative are not so mixed, that gives Parliament the oversight it needs to prevent a government which is trying to protect democracy from destroying it. Democracy is like the soap in the shower, squeeze too hard and it goes.

4. My next point is one that I think I disagree with many people on... unlike me. I know that Doug, for example, I thinks that for a liberal democracy to be born in a country liberal values first need to be installed. However, this I find profoundly disturbing. It, in my mind, is the liberal version of Bush's assertion (through Gitmo et al.) that because the cause we fight for is good, we can use any method we wish because we're fighting the good fight. This isn't true. The end doesn't justify the means! To say that we must have liberalisation before a liberal democracy may be true but forcing that liberalisation on people is against the thing you are aiming for. The worrying thing for me is that while I think this is probably wrong, I find myself reaching the same conclusion as Doug, that we must do this to preserve our own security. This puts me on the same level as Bush... that's bad.

5. This brings me onto my next point... I think that some radical liberals may not in fact be liberals... I think radical centerists may be a better term (US phrase and spelling...). I think that's what Doug (among others that I know) may be. Pushing a liberal agenda in way that I find very illiberal. Liberalism isn't just a set of polices and a way of doing things, it's a state of mind. Keeping ID out of the science classroom is right because it has no scientific justification, not because it has a religious basis. I think that many people are confusing their cases there. (N.B. in the US it is different, they have separation of Church and State and as such, religious arguments need to be kept out of schools.)

6. Now worrying that Bill Frist will be the next President of the United States of America.

Panic

2006-12-31T15:45:18Z

I really can't do my subject... I'm currently trying to learn how to do electromagnetics... I don't have any questions for physics and maths is quite difficult... :(

Still, I suppose now is the time to knuckle down and learn my stuff...

Keep forgetting to do this...

2006-08-31T21:48:51Z

Howdy people (or the 2 that read this...), how's life?

A special from Doug here:

Glutton for punishment says:
people taking pleasure in pain? why so? and what does Dave [Laban] have to say on the subject?
Glutton for punishment says:
it's my job

I knew the Lib Dems were strange...

So...

Life...

Boring as a an average day in a US prison where they break up rocks...

... apart I'm exchanging the rock with the head of a woman at the Environment Agency...

Joy...

I've got 2 weeks left of work (from tomorrow), working at netcen at Harwell... always fun!

If and when the site finally goes live, then I will post the address so you can all gaze in awe at my useless HTML programming and my total confusion regarding SQL!

Apart from that, I've been doing uni work... church stuff... a couple of things with friends... that's about it...

Oh, and Doug came to see me and we went out with Tori and Laura (a couple I know) for pizza... why do people choose to come and see me on the Challenge Cup AND C&G Trophy day? FOOLS!

Anyway, sleep...

Hmmmm....

2006-07-18T18:45:03Z

http://www.innergeek.us/geek-test.html

eek...

COMPLEX...

2006-06-05T10:19:17Z

Why do people have to make things more complicated? Why, why, why, why, why...?

:(