Living in a country where the speed limit is 80 km/h and you can go to jail for driving at 120 km/h it's entertaining to look at other parts of the World were people are a bit less worried about such petty things as road safety
Check out this and then this and if you want to see what the chaps from Top Gear have to say about it - go here - "that's what happens when don't let people to drink"
And then they go out to the desert and play on the dunes
14 September 2010
13 September 2010
Autumn has arrived
Amazing weather last week, really felt like summer, unfortuantly I was stuck in doors working.
Was then in Aberdeen for the weekend and got to see the Farm for the second time. All very exciting and just a bit scary as well. There is certainly lots to do there.
Looking moody 
The house close upMy brother and Ellie were up in Scotland so they came to visit. We went to Dunotter Castle which was very impressive, had chips in the worlds best fish and chip shop in Stoenhaven and food and a beer in my new local. All very exciting.
Now back in Bergen and the weather is horrible. First leaves are coming off the trees and it really feels like autumn has arrived.
10 September 2010
Friday Joke - Catholics
Since the Pope will soon be visiting the UK, here are some catholic jokes...
(and if you want something more irreverent, dealing with how he is actually a Nazi war criminal who endorses child abuse, try this and this from the excellent Dailymash)
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A man made his way quickly through the carriages of a train in Ireland, calling out "I need a priest! Is there a Catholic priest on the train?". There was no reply. He then went back through the train, asking "Is there a rabbi on the train?". Again, no reply. He made his way through a third time, crying out "OK, is there an Anglican clergyman on the train?". Still no answer. Finally a man in in the corner of the carriage timidly raised his hand and said "I am a Presbyterian minister, if that's of any help". The man took one look at him and said "That's no good, we're lookin' for a corkscrew.".
____________________________________
The Catholic Priest rode his bicycle by the Baptist church every day on his lunch hour for exercise. He and the Baptist Pastor got to be good friends. One day, the Priest came walking by the Baptist church. "Where is your bike?" the pastor inquired. "Someone stole it!" "Well, someone stole some property from our church recently and I preached on the ten commandments last Sunday and the guilty person confessed and returned the property." Next week the Priest rode his bike by the Baptist church. "Hey, I see you got your bicycle back!" exclaims the pastor. "Yeah, that was a great idea you had about preaching on the ten commandments. When I got to 'Thou shall not commit adultery,' I remembered right where I left my bike!"
_____________________________________
The Pope goes to New York. He is picked up at the airport by a limousine. He looks at the beautiful car and says to the driver, "You know, I hardly ever get to drive. Would you please let me?"
The driver is understandably hesistant and says, "I'm sorry, but I don't think I'm supposed to do that."
But the Pope persists, "Please?" The driver finally lets up. "Oh, all right, I can't really say no to the Pope."
So the Pope takes the wheel, and boy, is he a speed demon! He hits the gas and goes around 100 mph in a 45 zone. A policeman notices and pulls him over.
The cop walks up and asks the Pope to roll down the window. Startled and surprised, the young officer asks the Pope to wait a minute. He goes back to his patrol car and radios the chief.
Cop: Chief, I have a problem.
Chief: What sort of problem?
Cop: Well, you see, I pulled over this guy for driving way over the speed limit but it's someone really important.
Chief: Important like the mayor?
Cop: No, no, much more important than that.
Chief: Important like the governor?
Cop: Wayyyyyy more important than that.
Chief: Like the president?
Cop: More.
Chief: Who's more important than the president?
Cop: I don't know, but he's got the Pope driving for him!
08 September 2010
Blueman Group
About 5 years ago I was doing field work in Portugal, based in a small town on the coast called Peniche. One sunday evening it was fairly quite in the bar and the barman put on a video on the large screen.
The video featured three blokes with blue faces playing various precussion instruments that seemed to mainly be made up of bits of drain pipe. It was awesome...
And that was my introduction to the Blueman Group! You may already know them, if you do enjoy, if you have never heard of them, then you are in for a treat.
A taster is here and here and if you like it there is tons more on youtube
The video featured three blokes with blue faces playing various precussion instruments that seemed to mainly be made up of bits of drain pipe. It was awesome...
And that was my introduction to the Blueman Group! You may already know them, if you do enjoy, if you have never heard of them, then you are in for a treat.
A taster is here and here and if you like it there is tons more on youtube
06 September 2010
Weekend
Fairly hectic times at the moment. PhD exam in the UK was tough, with the candidate getting super defensive and rather difficult to handle. Then met up with Gary in Gatwick on my way back. He was flying to Bergen to examine one of my students the next day.
Gary stayed at the lair and we did a couple of bottles of red whilst sorting the worlds problems. Not too hungover on Friday and Tore's exam went very well, in fact so well he got an A! He was genuinely shocked, it was really nice to see and well deserved.
Katharine was here for the weekend and we made the most of the excellent weather by buying a load of plants for the garden and planting them in the new garden. Not exactly rock n roll but it felt good to get it finished. I have never been a big fan of gardening but I feel strangly compelled to ensure these things don't die and keep rushing out to water them! Maybe I am metamorphing into a middle aged bloke!
Saturday night we went to Liv's 40th birthday party in Loddefjord. It was a really nice evening, very low key. Some food, drink, a few speaches and good company. Norwegian's do this sort of thing so much better than us Brits. Amongst their friends and family they have no problem being very open, honest and sincere. While the Brits would just be shy coy and rude to one another, the Norwegian put us to shame here. It was a privilage to be there and to see her with her friends and family.
Sunday we pottered around the place and enjoyed the good weather. Summer and western Norway at its best.
Gary stayed at the lair and we did a couple of bottles of red whilst sorting the worlds problems. Not too hungover on Friday and Tore's exam went very well, in fact so well he got an A! He was genuinely shocked, it was really nice to see and well deserved.
Katharine was here for the weekend and we made the most of the excellent weather by buying a load of plants for the garden and planting them in the new garden. Not exactly rock n roll but it felt good to get it finished. I have never been a big fan of gardening but I feel strangly compelled to ensure these things don't die and keep rushing out to water them! Maybe I am metamorphing into a middle aged bloke!
Saturday night we went to Liv's 40th birthday party in Loddefjord. It was a really nice evening, very low key. Some food, drink, a few speaches and good company. Norwegian's do this sort of thing so much better than us Brits. Amongst their friends and family they have no problem being very open, honest and sincere. While the Brits would just be shy coy and rude to one another, the Norwegian put us to shame here. It was a privilage to be there and to see her with her friends and family.
Sunday we pottered around the place and enjoyed the good weather. Summer and western Norway at its best.
03 September 2010
Best of British
Angharad is back with her Friday Fun so I can pillage that in a vague attempt to improve the quality of the Friday Joke.
Have a nice weekend
From the paper...
Commenting on a complaint from a Mr. Arthur Purdey about a large gas bill, a spokesman for North West Gas said, 'We agree it was rather high for the time of year. It's possible Mr. Purdey has been charged for the gas used up during the explosion that destroyed his house.'(The Daily Telegraph)
Police reveal that a woman arrested for shoplifting had a whole salami in her underwear. When asked why, she said it was because she was missing her Italian boyfriend.(The Manchester Evening News)
Irish police are being handicapped in a search for a stolen van, because they cannot issue a description. It's a Special Branch vehicle and they don't want the public to know what it looks like.(The Guardian)
A young girl who was blown out to sea on a set of inflatable teeth was rescued by a man on an inflatable lobster. A coast guard spokesman commented, 'This sort of thing is all too common'.(The Times)
At the height of the gale, the harbourmaster radioed a coast guard and asked him to estimate the wind speed. He replied he was sorry, but he didn't have a gauge. However, if it was any help, the wind had just blown his Land Rover off the cliff.( Aberdeen Evening Express)
Mrs. Irene Graham of Thorpe Avenue , Boscombe, delighted the audience with her reminiscence of the German prisoner of war who was sent each week to do her garden. He was repatriated at the end of 1945, she recalled - 'He'd always seemed a nice friendly chap, but when the crocuses came up in the middle of our lawn in February 1946, they spelt out 'Heil Hitler.''( Bournemouth Evening Echo)
Heard on the tube...
A list of actual announcements that London Tube train drivers have made to their passengers...
1) 'Ladies and Gentlemen, I do apologize for the delay to your service. I know you're all dying to get home, unless, of course, you happen to be married to my ex-wife, in which case you'll want to cross over to the Westbound and go in the opposite direction.'
2) 'Your delay this evening is caused by the line controller suffering from E & B syndrome: not knowing his elbow from his backside. I'll let you know any further information as soon as I'm given any.'
3) 'Do you want the good news first or the bad news? The good news is that last Friday was my birthday and I hit the town and had a great time. The bad news is that there is a points failure somewhere between Stratford and East Ham, which means we probably won't reach our destination.'
4) 'Ladies and gentlemen, we apologize for the delay, but there is a security alert at Victoria station and we are therefore stuck here for the foreseeable future, so let's take our minds off it and pass some time together. All together now.... 'Ten green bottles, hanging on a wall.....'.'
5) 'We are now travelling through Baker Street ... As you can see, Baker Street is closed. It would have been nice if they had actually told me, so I could tell you earlier, but no, they don't think about things like that'.
6) 'Beggars are operating on this train. Please do NOT encourage these professional beggars. If you have any spare change, please give it to a registered charity. Failing that, give it to me.'
7) During an extremely hot rush hour on the Central Line, the driver announced in a West Indian drawl: 'Step right this way for the sauna, ladies and gentleman... unfortunately, towels are not provided.'
8) 'Let the passengers off the train FIRST!' (Pause ) 'Oh go on then, stuff yourselves in like sardines, see if I care - I'm going home....'
9) 'Please allow the doors to close. Try not to confuse this with 'Please hold the doors open.' The two are distinct and separate instructions.'
10) 'Please note that the beeping noise coming from the doors means that the doors are about to close. It does not mean throw yourself or your bags into the doors.'
11) 'We can't move off because some idiot has their hand stuck in the door.'
12) 'To the gentleman wearing the long grey coat trying to get on the second carriage -- what part of 'stand clear of the doors' don't you understand?'
13) 'Please move all baggage away from the doors.' (Pause..) 'Please move ALL belongings away from the doors.' (Pause...) 'This is a personal message to the man in the brown suit wearing glasses at the rear of the train: Put the pie down, Four-eyes, and move your bloody golf clubs away from the door before I come down there and shove them up your arse sideways!'
14) 'May I remind all passengers that there is strictly no smoking allowed on any part of the Underground. However, if you are smoking a joint, it's only fair that you pass it round the rest of the carriage.'
Have a nice weekend
From the paper...
Commenting on a complaint from a Mr. Arthur Purdey about a large gas bill, a spokesman for North West Gas said, 'We agree it was rather high for the time of year. It's possible Mr. Purdey has been charged for the gas used up during the explosion that destroyed his house.'(The Daily Telegraph)
Police reveal that a woman arrested for shoplifting had a whole salami in her underwear. When asked why, she said it was because she was missing her Italian boyfriend.(The Manchester Evening News)
Irish police are being handicapped in a search for a stolen van, because they cannot issue a description. It's a Special Branch vehicle and they don't want the public to know what it looks like.(The Guardian)
A young girl who was blown out to sea on a set of inflatable teeth was rescued by a man on an inflatable lobster. A coast guard spokesman commented, 'This sort of thing is all too common'.(The Times)
At the height of the gale, the harbourmaster radioed a coast guard and asked him to estimate the wind speed. He replied he was sorry, but he didn't have a gauge. However, if it was any help, the wind had just blown his Land Rover off the cliff.( Aberdeen Evening Express)
Mrs. Irene Graham of Thorpe Avenue , Boscombe, delighted the audience with her reminiscence of the German prisoner of war who was sent each week to do her garden. He was repatriated at the end of 1945, she recalled - 'He'd always seemed a nice friendly chap, but when the crocuses came up in the middle of our lawn in February 1946, they spelt out 'Heil Hitler.''( Bournemouth Evening Echo)
Heard on the tube...
A list of actual announcements that London Tube train drivers have made to their passengers...
1) 'Ladies and Gentlemen, I do apologize for the delay to your service. I know you're all dying to get home, unless, of course, you happen to be married to my ex-wife, in which case you'll want to cross over to the Westbound and go in the opposite direction.'
2) 'Your delay this evening is caused by the line controller suffering from E & B syndrome: not knowing his elbow from his backside. I'll let you know any further information as soon as I'm given any.'
3) 'Do you want the good news first or the bad news? The good news is that last Friday was my birthday and I hit the town and had a great time. The bad news is that there is a points failure somewhere between Stratford and East Ham, which means we probably won't reach our destination.'
4) 'Ladies and gentlemen, we apologize for the delay, but there is a security alert at Victoria station and we are therefore stuck here for the foreseeable future, so let's take our minds off it and pass some time together. All together now.... 'Ten green bottles, hanging on a wall.....'.'
5) 'We are now travelling through Baker Street ... As you can see, Baker Street is closed. It would have been nice if they had actually told me, so I could tell you earlier, but no, they don't think about things like that'.
6) 'Beggars are operating on this train. Please do NOT encourage these professional beggars. If you have any spare change, please give it to a registered charity. Failing that, give it to me.'
7) During an extremely hot rush hour on the Central Line, the driver announced in a West Indian drawl: 'Step right this way for the sauna, ladies and gentleman... unfortunately, towels are not provided.'
8) 'Let the passengers off the train FIRST!' (Pause ) 'Oh go on then, stuff yourselves in like sardines, see if I care - I'm going home....'
9) 'Please allow the doors to close. Try not to confuse this with 'Please hold the doors open.' The two are distinct and separate instructions.'
10) 'Please note that the beeping noise coming from the doors means that the doors are about to close. It does not mean throw yourself or your bags into the doors.'
11) 'We can't move off because some idiot has their hand stuck in the door.'
12) 'To the gentleman wearing the long grey coat trying to get on the second carriage -- what part of 'stand clear of the doors' don't you understand?'
13) 'Please move all baggage away from the doors.' (Pause..) 'Please move ALL belongings away from the doors.' (Pause...) 'This is a personal message to the man in the brown suit wearing glasses at the rear of the train: Put the pie down, Four-eyes, and move your bloody golf clubs away from the door before I come down there and shove them up your arse sideways!'
14) 'May I remind all passengers that there is strictly no smoking allowed on any part of the Underground. However, if you are smoking a joint, it's only fair that you pass it round the rest of the carriage.'
02 September 2010
Geek Day - Retro Games
I have never been a very big fan of computer games, I prefer doing stuff in the real world. However, I did feel a huge rush of nostalgia when I discovered this site where a very clever man, with obviously too much time on his hands, has re-created a series of very early computer games in flash, including space invaders, astroids and snakes.
Click here to waste hours playing and I would be interested to know if you think it has got easier since you played it as a kid
To prove that he has too much time on his hands he has also created his own a multi-res viewer for satalite images across the Earth. Smart arse! That can be found here
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