Wednesday, July 19, 2006
More shameless toilet humour
One more post, to leave you with before I really do go. Some of you may remember the first post with this title "Shameless Toilet Humour"on Jammin's blog. Well, this is a follow up...kinda...I saw this sign in the Ladies Toilet in a service station on the way to Bristol yesterday, and just had to take a picture. Unlike the pic on Jammin's blog, I really did take this one, and I think this campaign was deliberate, lol. Enjoy !!!
It's official !
Well, I am now officially a graduate from Bristol University ! Yesterday we went up to Bristol for the day for the ceremony etc. It felt a little surreal at times- I don't think it's yet sunk in (still) that I've finished. Plus, everything went so fast, in a bit blurr, and were so many people I wanted to say hi to...It was great to see course mates again (most of them had come), although for some reason it didn't feel like it had been nearly 2 months since I've seen most of them. I have some nice photos from the day, plus a swish DVD of the ceremony (since anything before I went up on the stage I didn't really take in anything, due to being so scared !)
The speech at the end made me think a lot, especially when he started talking about us taking a moment to look back at the people we were when we came to Bristol, and the people we are now. It's funny, cause in myself I don't feel like I've changed - coming back home I still have the same weaknesses and struggles that I did before, and although I'm maybe more aware of some of them now, I don't feel like I've gained much ground. But then, I think I probably have changed. When I think back over all the experiences I've had these 3 years and all the amazing people I've met, not to mention all the things I've done - many of which I wouldn't have even contemplated before uni, but was able to do with the support of good friends, I think that I probably have changed, even if I'm myself not aware of it.
Anyway...reflection over for the minute...I must now sign off blogger for a while, as I'm going away for a few weeks. I have a few things to sort out and the small matter of packing to think about before then, but I will be back, and will post an update then. Take care everyone. x
The speech at the end made me think a lot, especially when he started talking about us taking a moment to look back at the people we were when we came to Bristol, and the people we are now. It's funny, cause in myself I don't feel like I've changed - coming back home I still have the same weaknesses and struggles that I did before, and although I'm maybe more aware of some of them now, I don't feel like I've gained much ground. But then, I think I probably have changed. When I think back over all the experiences I've had these 3 years and all the amazing people I've met, not to mention all the things I've done - many of which I wouldn't have even contemplated before uni, but was able to do with the support of good friends, I think that I probably have changed, even if I'm myself not aware of it.
Anyway...reflection over for the minute...I must now sign off blogger for a while, as I'm going away for a few weeks. I have a few things to sort out and the small matter of packing to think about before then, but I will be back, and will post an update then. Take care everyone. x
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
"A head for trouble"
Before I get into this blog post properly, can I just ask: does anyone like my new and updated myspace profile ?!! (I know the guys may not be a huge fan of the colour but it kinda matches my blog now, which is what I wanted.) Also, it now has a proper URl, to make finding it slightly easier.
Anyway...the real reason for this post, is to ask whether anyone else read the above titled article in last week's Sunday Times Magazine ? I read it, and was a bit confused by it, and if anyone else has read it I would appreciate comments/thoughts/opinions etc. It's one of those articles which when you read you know that there is probably some truth in but there also feels to be something not quite right either but you can't put your finger on it...or at least that's how I felt.
Do have a read (I hope the link works). Basically it's saying are we really responsible for our actions or is what we do already predetermined by the wiring of our brains ? To further expand, I have chosen a few select quotes from the article:
"The laws of most societies assume moral decisions are made in the conscious, rational mind. But an influential number of brain researchers disagree. They point to cases like that of Mr C to argue that it is not people, or minds, that commit bad acts, but their brains."
"Arguably, liars, thieves, murderers and paedophiles and Good Samaritans, are not bad or good - just 'different', their brains having disposed them to behaviour outside the moral norm."
The religious doctrines of original sin - meaning that we are prone to prefer wrong by nature - conscience and free will have been eroded by rationalism, science and secularism over the past two centuries, yet a powerful belief in responsibility for our actions remains".
"Philosophers, too, have long suggested that personal responsibility is an illusion"
"'Some of the seven deadly sins' claims Tancredi, 'have already been shown to be affected by biological factors in varying degrees, and in some cases, the individual may have little power or free will to prevent them from happening.'"
"'Your sense of personal identity and free will are in fact no more than the behaviour of a vast assembly of nerve cells and their associated molecules.'"
Now, I have no doubt in my mind that God can and does use the natural laws He created, and that it is possible (tho this may be a contreversial thing to say) that this brain wiring thing is correct, and that when we come to God and become "new creations" he changes something in our internal wiring? Maybe spiritual blindness is not merely a picture but also has a basis in physiology ? Perhaps this is merely the debate about science vs religeon in a new form, which people are only just beginning to think about, and that it is again an issue of their being no real conflict, but that this new neuroscience and what the Bible says are just saying respectively how and why. (These are only my current thoughts on the subject btw). But however, this is coming at this issue from the side of already believing in God. If, like many scientists, they are coming from the other side...I just think something's back to front here. Help me out here: What does anyone else think ?
Anyway...the real reason for this post, is to ask whether anyone else read the above titled article in last week's Sunday Times Magazine ? I read it, and was a bit confused by it, and if anyone else has read it I would appreciate comments/thoughts/opinions etc. It's one of those articles which when you read you know that there is probably some truth in but there also feels to be something not quite right either but you can't put your finger on it...or at least that's how I felt.
Do have a read (I hope the link works). Basically it's saying are we really responsible for our actions or is what we do already predetermined by the wiring of our brains ? To further expand, I have chosen a few select quotes from the article:
"The laws of most societies assume moral decisions are made in the conscious, rational mind. But an influential number of brain researchers disagree. They point to cases like that of Mr C to argue that it is not people, or minds, that commit bad acts, but their brains."
"Arguably, liars, thieves, murderers and paedophiles and Good Samaritans, are not bad or good - just 'different', their brains having disposed them to behaviour outside the moral norm."
The religious doctrines of original sin - meaning that we are prone to prefer wrong by nature - conscience and free will have been eroded by rationalism, science and secularism over the past two centuries, yet a powerful belief in responsibility for our actions remains".
"Philosophers, too, have long suggested that personal responsibility is an illusion"
"'Some of the seven deadly sins' claims Tancredi, 'have already been shown to be affected by biological factors in varying degrees, and in some cases, the individual may have little power or free will to prevent them from happening.'"
"'Your sense of personal identity and free will are in fact no more than the behaviour of a vast assembly of nerve cells and their associated molecules.'"
Now, I have no doubt in my mind that God can and does use the natural laws He created, and that it is possible (tho this may be a contreversial thing to say) that this brain wiring thing is correct, and that when we come to God and become "new creations" he changes something in our internal wiring? Maybe spiritual blindness is not merely a picture but also has a basis in physiology ? Perhaps this is merely the debate about science vs religeon in a new form, which people are only just beginning to think about, and that it is again an issue of their being no real conflict, but that this new neuroscience and what the Bible says are just saying respectively how and why. (These are only my current thoughts on the subject btw). But however, this is coming at this issue from the side of already believing in God. If, like many scientists, they are coming from the other side...I just think something's back to front here. Help me out here: What does anyone else think ?
Monday, July 10, 2006
Wort - trains to - hing
This past saturday I travelled down to Worthing, on the coast, to go to Oli's 21st birthday party. It was good to see him, to see where he lived, to meet some of his family, to catch up with a few Bristol people...A very good day overall. (We also went on a quick tour of Worthing as we arrived slightly early).
However, it is good that we did make it down there ! There was a point during our journey when this seemed like this may not occur ! I was travelling down from London by train with Graham. When the train first appeared on the departure board, we were a little confused, wondering how a train to Worthing could go via Hastings. It then transpired that the train was going to split after the first part of the journey, and what was actually happening was that the 4 front carriages were going to Hastings, and the rear 4 were going to Littlehampton (via Worthing). This was my first encounter with such a train (although Graham had been on one before down to Canterbury). We tried to get on an appropriate carriage but, as you do, we wondered if we were in the right bit. We passed through Clapham, East Croyden, Gatwick...last station which both parts were passing through. We were at this point envisioning the possibility of having to jump - James Bond style - between carriages that were splitting, having realised we were on the wrong side. Everyone in the train was as confused as we were, especially as both parts of the train insisted that they were going to Hastings...After several consultations, and several changes of carriage, we at last found a ticket inspector, who gruffly told us that we were fine, and in the right bit. We still weren't convinced until we did actually reach our destination in one piece (and between us we have many photos to prove it !) Having therefore had a most eventful journey, and being thankful to not have ended up in Hastings (nice as it is, but would have defeated the entire point of the trip), we were then free to find Worthing Beach for the detour before heading to Oli's house to enjoy his party. The trip back, in contrast, went very smoothly and I arrived home safely, a little tired but it was well worth it :-)
p.s. do you see what I did in the title? Hehe. (Credit goes to G-amer though - I could never be that creative, lol.)
However, it is good that we did make it down there ! There was a point during our journey when this seemed like this may not occur ! I was travelling down from London by train with Graham. When the train first appeared on the departure board, we were a little confused, wondering how a train to Worthing could go via Hastings. It then transpired that the train was going to split after the first part of the journey, and what was actually happening was that the 4 front carriages were going to Hastings, and the rear 4 were going to Littlehampton (via Worthing). This was my first encounter with such a train (although Graham had been on one before down to Canterbury). We tried to get on an appropriate carriage but, as you do, we wondered if we were in the right bit. We passed through Clapham, East Croyden, Gatwick...last station which both parts were passing through. We were at this point envisioning the possibility of having to jump - James Bond style - between carriages that were splitting, having realised we were on the wrong side. Everyone in the train was as confused as we were, especially as both parts of the train insisted that they were going to Hastings...After several consultations, and several changes of carriage, we at last found a ticket inspector, who gruffly told us that we were fine, and in the right bit. We still weren't convinced until we did actually reach our destination in one piece (and between us we have many photos to prove it !) Having therefore had a most eventful journey, and being thankful to not have ended up in Hastings (nice as it is, but would have defeated the entire point of the trip), we were then free to find Worthing Beach for the detour before heading to Oli's house to enjoy his party. The trip back, in contrast, went very smoothly and I arrived home safely, a little tired but it was well worth it :-)
p.s. do you see what I did in the title? Hehe. (Credit goes to G-amer though - I could never be that creative, lol.)
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
"Too funny for words"
In the course of my attempts to clear and sort (which at the moment seem to end up me just moving things from one place to another with no real clearing out...) I have discovered several books which I have had for a while and not gotten round to reading. One of these, I began dipping into this afternoon and got a bit hooked. It's a great book called 'Too funny for words' and is basically a collection of newspaper misprints and similar which this guy has collected over the years. Some of the mistakes are very subtle, it took me a while to see several of them, but as he says in the introduction often unconscious humour is the most funny (like the unintentional "deforestation is bad, we should cut it down" in one of my school biology essays- *groan*). Anyway...this book, I was laughing so hard this afternoon, I shall just mention a few of the ones I found most funny as I skim back through the book: :-D
"THE DAFFODIL BAR - By a misprint this ball was stated to have been organised by the National Society of Cruelty to Animals. It should, of course, have been children not animals"
The Irish Independent
"Party who took green silk pyjamas from clothes line at no 240 West 120th Street please return and no embarrassing exposure will be made on my part"
Oklahoma City News
"Because there has been some misunderstanding as to which Mrs. Wood has been ill, we wish to tell readers of the bulletin that it is Mrs. Lucille Wood and not Mrs. Lucille Wood. There, that will clear that up!"
Church Bulletin
"It is not considered polite to tear bits off your beard and put them in your soup"
Etiquette Book
"Enclosed please find birth certificate of a child born to above member of our staff for purposes of tax adjustment"
Letter to Inland Revenue
"Cops can find 96.2% of anybody lost in New York City"
Mexico City Herald
"Mr and Mrs -- of Duke Hill are the parents of any infant daughter born Thursday"
Illinois Paper
"It is necessary for technical reasons that these warheads should be stored with the top at the bottom, and the bottom at the top. In order that there may be no doubt as to which is the top and which is the bottom for storage purposes, it will be seen that the bottom of each head has been plainly labelled with the word TOP"
Admiralty Instruction
"Germans are so small that there may be as many as one billion, seven hundred million of them in a drop of water."
Mobile Press
"Quiet, clean gentleman seeks comfortable room where he can cook himself on a spirit stove."
Munchner Neueste Nachrichten
"HYMN...No. 336
(Congregation standing)
SERMON, 'What are you standing for ?'
New York Church Bulletin
"Births, deaths and mirages"
National daily
"BLANK'S MACCARONI AND CHEESE
IN
TOMATO SAUCE
containing
TOMATO SAUCE, MACARONI and CHEESE"
label on Tin
"Two women were fined £5 or £14 for throwing stones at Mr John Burn's residence, and missing"
Western Morning News
"Dear Member,
Just a reminder that the fourth Friday noon of February is next Monday, February 28th."
Church Circular
"THE DAFFODIL BAR - By a misprint this ball was stated to have been organised by the National Society of Cruelty to Animals. It should, of course, have been children not animals"
The Irish Independent
"Party who took green silk pyjamas from clothes line at no 240 West 120th Street please return and no embarrassing exposure will be made on my part"
Oklahoma City News
"Because there has been some misunderstanding as to which Mrs. Wood has been ill, we wish to tell readers of the bulletin that it is Mrs. Lucille Wood and not Mrs. Lucille Wood. There, that will clear that up!"
Church Bulletin
"It is not considered polite to tear bits off your beard and put them in your soup"
Etiquette Book
"Enclosed please find birth certificate of a child born to above member of our staff for purposes of tax adjustment"
Letter to Inland Revenue
"Cops can find 96.2% of anybody lost in New York City"
Mexico City Herald
"Mr and Mrs -- of Duke Hill are the parents of any infant daughter born Thursday"
Illinois Paper
"It is necessary for technical reasons that these warheads should be stored with the top at the bottom, and the bottom at the top. In order that there may be no doubt as to which is the top and which is the bottom for storage purposes, it will be seen that the bottom of each head has been plainly labelled with the word TOP"
Admiralty Instruction
"Germans are so small that there may be as many as one billion, seven hundred million of them in a drop of water."
Mobile Press
"Quiet, clean gentleman seeks comfortable room where he can cook himself on a spirit stove."
Munchner Neueste Nachrichten
"HYMN...No. 336
(Congregation standing)
SERMON, 'What are you standing for ?'
New York Church Bulletin
"Births, deaths and mirages"
National daily
"BLANK'S MACCARONI AND CHEESE
IN
TOMATO SAUCE
containing
TOMATO SAUCE, MACARONI and CHEESE"
label on Tin
"Two women were fined £5 or £14 for throwing stones at Mr John Burn's residence, and missing"
Western Morning News
"Dear Member,
Just a reminder that the fourth Friday noon of February is next Monday, February 28th."
Church Circular
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
"Time flies when..."
I guess it's been a while since my last 'proper' post. Although on paper when I try to think about what I've been doing the last week and a bit since being back it wouldn't look like I'd done a huge amount, it still feels like I've been busy (a great talent of mine I think !) I have managed to catch up on sleep a little, and had such a good time this past weekend - went to Wimbledon for the day on saturday to watch some tennis with two of my housemates from this year. They then stayed over with me on the sat night and came to church with me on sun morning before heading back. Was really good to see them! Funny how it takes til the end of uni for me to feel like uni and home life are more integrated. I always before felt like I lived in two completely separate worlds (a common feeling I think among students, but nevertheless a very odd one) and have felt torn in two for the best part of 3 years. Now tho, I think because i know I will have to make an effort to see people and will be seeing a fair few uni people this summer, it almost feels like 1 life I'm living again. Doesn't solve the problems of next year (I won't even go there) but it certainly helps in other ways.
It's been so hot in the last few days that I haven't felt like doing much since the weekend, apart from watching tennis or being outside. But tonight I'm going back to my old school for the summer concert (I've been back to many of the concerts since I've left - still a very odd feeling, being able to sit in the audience !) and am meeting up with a few good friends beforehand for a meal. Am looking forward to it. :-)
It's been so hot in the last few days that I haven't felt like doing much since the weekend, apart from watching tennis or being outside. But tonight I'm going back to my old school for the summer concert (I've been back to many of the concerts since I've left - still a very odd feeling, being able to sit in the audience !) and am meeting up with a few good friends beforehand for a meal. Am looking forward to it. :-)
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