Hood-linked

I'm truly obsessed. Since Jen very kindly got me a Wii this Christmas, I have been 'hood-linked'
by this phenomenal game. The Wii active sensor controls really do add an element to the Zelda experience, which never fails to disappoint anyway. The fact now that you have to use the Wii-mote to strike your sword and release arrows from your bow adds a sense of freedom which has been missing from first person and adventure games. I am a bit miffed at the storyline but let's face it - as all Zelda fans will confess - each of the games have a similar underlying structure anyway; young Hyrulian farm lad is told he must overcome evil as the 'chosen one', young lad fights evil in various dungeons and collects pieces of relics or triforce which will defeat evil, young lad faces the ultimate evil (usually and always in the form of Ganon or Ganondorf).
In sum, this is an excellent game.

Christmas was great for me, I had a lot of stuff and got stuffed foodwise! Both meals at my house and Jen's house were very nice and I hope everyone out there had a wonderful time with their families.

I am beginning to get withdrawal symptoms already so I wish a very happy new year to all if I don't see you!!!

Ar Bigau'r Drain (A Black Friday Post)

Yes, I am on tenterhooks at the moment. Sorry to use the Welsh phrase, but it was one of the few idioms I can remember from my A level days. It also a really nice phrase to say as it just rolls off the tongue really well (my tongue at least, I don't know about anyone else's!). Anyway, I am on tenterhooks because on all fronts I am no longer in control of what lies ahead. Don't you just love it when only fate can deal you a good hand?

By this I am referring to pending applications, dissertation marking and the wonder of Christmas Day. Ok, I guess being on tenterhooks is not the way I feel about Crimbo, but the festival still comes with its own kind of anticipation. Waiting for any word concerning a potential career does however carry a vast amount of potential heartbreak. I never thought that such emotion which be attached with a really good job opportunity, especially when the employer who has advertised it has no inclination of letting you know if you get the job or not. I really thought that if I didn't get a job, it would be a case of c'est la vie, but it's not the case. Yes the rejection (don't get me started on that despite having one so far), can bring the worst out of you. This is not to say that I have been sobbing my heart out just yet, but it is a real kick in the teeth when you get rejected from a job you thought you could do, or you thought would be a pleasure to work in. I know that rejection cannot get you down because if it did, you would get nothing out of life. In regards to my dissertation, I am still waiting in how I did two months on. I am under no illusions that marking such a piece of work will take a long time, but it doesn't stop this mildly paranoid mind from assuming the worst. I expect to have the results in January.

I hope that all your Crimbo shopping is done by now and if it isn't, I would suggest getting out there right now before there's nothing left! After my post about the lack of crowds in Cardiff, its now exploded with panicked people everywhere stepping over their own mothers to get their Xmas essentials. The rush is now kicking in with a vengence! Good luck to all last minuters; Im sorry I'm not with you this year but I am strangely organised for once!

So on this Black Friday, I wish everyone a very merry Christmas and if you do go out tonight, please take care!

Where are the crowds?

Went into town today to complete my Crimbo shopping and was very surprised to see very few people out and about on this usually hectic and stressful 'Blokes Week'. Yes Blokes Week - the very week that males such as myself rush out and make last minute purchases (usually spur of the moment decisions) of crap gifts which have been made with little or no thought whatsoever. But I witnessed no hellish scenes today, with the 25th only being 6 days away. Sums up the whole trend of consumer spending this festive season - no-one is shopping in stores, but it seems that they are taking to shopping in the comfort of their own homes via the internet. And can you blame them?

Here I am!

Now I've only ever watched Smile! once on CBBC, but I know that this little fella is a hit amongst the kids. But of late, he has also grown a rapport with adults too with his 'potty' mouth. In work we sell Talking Nev for a hefty sum of £30, but Im willing to pay it to own a piece of blundering-toy-making history. Yes, young Nev supposedly says 'quick!'. But instead of sounding like he's hurrying someone along, Nev appears to be insulting them with a similar sounding word! Tescos initially recalled all stock of the toy after the press had a field day with the obscenity-spewing Nev, but now it seems as though he is back on the website.In addition, all of the other major toy retailers have also taken no notice. In Argos, it seems as though the news story was also deeemed unimportant as not one recall or any notices of concern have been delivered to us. Oh well, I just think of the children...

...and of course the parents, who may need to prick up their ears this Christmas!

All work and no play makes Joe go....

Please feel free to guess which particular feeling all work and no play gives me. Ok, I am exaggerating here but the whole working for more than 50% of the week is a real shock to my previous student lifestyle. Days off actually have to be days off, in the sense that a day of doing sweet FA is the only thing you want to do. All I have done today is sit in the same seat all day long, watching Kerrang and feeling my mind turn to mush. But it was good to do absolutely nothing.

In between doing sweet FA and absolute bugger all, I have been applying for jobs. Mainly I have been targeting graduate training schemes and have finally completed a CV. Until the dream job knocks my door, I will hopefully be working in Argos to keep my bank balance happy. Working in Argos alone is motivation to get on with the job hunting!

In addition I would like to wish everyone a happy Wii release day and that if you get one, please don't throw it at your TV! Jen has kindly offered to get me one for Xmas which is really cool - but alas, I now have to match such a brilliant present for her! Pressure! So anyone, any ideas?

I also want to give my regards to Tom, who is currently recovering in hospital. Get better soon Tom, especially for the meal on Sunday!

Another thing I would like to note, the QVR website will be revamped for the new season. It will be our fourth season in division three (as QVR) and the team are feeling resilient after a good campaign but no promotion. Follow the team along their highs and their lows on The QVR Blog.

Finally, now that Deal or No Deal is on, I must return to my unproductiveness. So for your pleasure and most definitely mine, here is a piece of nostalgia which certainly crept into brain and snatched my memories with large talons. Enjoy!!

We just can't 'hak' it

I always thought Wales was a champion of cultural values. I thought the Welsh were supposed to willingly and enthuiastically accept other cultures, just as we embrace our own culture despite centuries of struggle to ensure its survival. Now we have egg on our face, deemed cultural egoists, too scared to let the All Blacks perform the Haka because it would give them an adavantage. This was never the WRU's intention Im sure - I mean, if we have let NZ perform the Haka in every game against us in the past, why would we change it now? The WRU did not want it to seem as though we are denying any national team the right to any cultural practice, but now thats the very charge which is raised against them and in the eyes of the rugby world, us as the Welsh people also.

Truth be told, the WRU have acted on an assumption. They assumed that the All Blacks will perform the Haka before Mae Hen, just like last year, when it was arranged as a one-off to celebrate 100 years of Welsh-Kiwi rugby rivalry. And we all know what happens when you assume something - it makes an ASS out of U and ME. For now we are faced with a blunder which both sides are reeling from. Misunderstanding?... maybe. Sheer stubborness?... perhaps more precise to the point. But can you do afford to do that when people are paying good money to see a complete show? Those people paid to see the Haka, just as much as they paid to see a game of rugby. And because the WRU can't get their act together, the regular punter is the one who gets the shortfall.

Shame really. And those punters Im sure will disassociate themselves from the bungling WRU. As last Saturday when we invited the Maori to dinner, we may have had the welcome mat out but we clearly had no manners. And judging by the rugby, we should really learn to match our opponent's appetite for the win.

All that glitters isn't gold, as it soon gets old...

As my city changes around me, its clear that yesterday's Cardiff is a very different one to today's. In particular, the Cardiff Bay Retail Park only a mile from my house has received two new additions, Morrisons and Toys'R'Us, whilst the once-imagined International Sports Village is now slowly becoming a visable reality. It kinda makes me remember when a certain Swedish chain opened their wares to Cardiff for the first time only a few years ago. Ikea was perhaps the very pinnacle of the retail park's status; indeed as well as the city itself, the store signalled that the Welsh capital was worthy enough to up there with the city powerhouses of Bristol, Birmingham and Manchester. In addition to creating a symbol of prosperity and confidence for the city, it opened up a whole new world for all Ikea virgins.

I must admit that when I went to see the Ikea store in Bristol, I was wowed. I couldn't believe what I was seeing - it was not just another MFI, a home furnishers paradise. The furniture was so different, so alternative to anything I had ever seen. You could even eat decent food in a gigantic restaurant, serving Swedish meatballs with ligonberry juice. It was such an experience which to this day, I guess I will never forget. And lo and behold when it came to Wales, my excitment was emulated once more. It wasn't long before I bought my Robin CD rack, my Billy Bookcase and a Bamsig toy (a cuddly blue dog in a spacesuit) for Jen.

So on a random trip to buy magazine containers for my BBC History magazines I stumbled into Little Sweden for a walk around. Now, the previous store opening shine has disappeared underneath the dirty layers of recession, stupidity and banality. Only a few weeks ago it was reported that the Ikea Cardiff kitchens were not conducting as cleanly as they should be, which was a blow to what is usually a busy sector of the store. The economic slowdown effecting retail has also caught up with the Swedish giant and in turn they began to cut staff rapidly. It is a common occurrence to wait a helluva long time to be served at the tills. But the final straw came to me when I took adavantage of the 'Hot Dog Combo' offer. At first I thought I was on a winner as for a pound, you can still get a large hot dog and a soft drink, but now you can have free refills on drink. Result! However to my disgust gone were the decent branded drinks, and even the ligonberry carbonated juice drink! In their place, were an orangeade, a cola drink and a lemonade so foul and unrefined it could make a Happy Shopper soft drink seem like in the same league with Pepsi. Come back Lowes, all is forgiven!!! I felt violated, betrayed and angered all at one time. But above all, I was disappointed at how things had changed - it was clear that Ikea was now part of the Grangetownian skyline. Now I no longer say "I can't believe Ikea is here", and a trip there is mundane and banal, not as exciting as before.

My point, be it obvious or not, is that Morrisons will soon become the new Ikea. In fact, I think it already is. Its just a shame that the glitter couldn't last just a little bit longer.

The Return from Gogland

Having returned from a quick and jolly jaunt up north, I now feel as though I know what my nation actually looks like. The beauty of the Snowdonia mountains was certainly breathtaking and was like nothing i had ever seen before. Good to know that its all on your doorstep.. well kind of!

After a little rendezvous with Ria and Lisa in Mid Wales's most premier town, Aberystwyth, Leighton Jen and I headed north. We firstly conquered Machynlleth and Dolgellau, then we powered on to make sure we got to the Llanberis Slate Museum. En route we witnessed some beautiful sights, such as the one above, which we took whilst riding the famous Llanberis Pass. Once spending no more than 10 minutes in one of the most uninteresting museums ever, we made our way out of Snowdonia into Gwynedd's mighty administrative heart
of Caernarfon. We meandered around the town, looked at the great castle and made base camp at our accomodation in Bangor. In the evening we strayed into Bangor city centre and had a fine meal at the local Varsity and had a few cocktails in the very packed out Lloyd's Bar. Leighton at this point of the trip was euphoric as he felt well at home, with Welsh speakers galore! Although we agreed that Bangor was not what we imagined; it was quite dark and dismal, in addition to being a place which belonged solidly to the student population.



On the next day we attacked the day with a light breakfast, as we had castles to visit and Argos stores to assess. Before we left Bangor we decided to stop at the Argos Extra in the retail park, to check out North Wales's hottest Argos store as one would normally do! Our first stop was Beaumaris castle, which meant a trip over the Menai Strait and into the druidic ancestral home of Ynys Mon, or to many, Anglesey. This was probably the castle I wanted to see most, for it is revered for its sheer architectual brilliance. And it didn't disappoint. Leighton was still in awe of surrounding Welsh speaking folk by this time!

After that we went to Llanfair PG; which I must say, astounded me for it's absolute tourist pulling power! Its amazing how one train station can bring into so many elderly people! Jen stocked up on her beloved aniseed balls, I got my rum and raisin fudge and Leighton, well.... in his words, bought "enough to get me back to Caernarfon"! So we crossed back into the mainland and it was Caernarfon Take Two for Leighton to see his castle. We conquered the castle after a good two hours or so and we were all mesmerised by it's size and the well-preservation of the walls.

We then hurried along to Conwy for the castle Jen had longed to see. And it was pretty impressive. Again with lots to see, and a before entering the main gate there was a castle wall walk which was absolutely pointless to walk on but we walzed along it anyway! The sights of Great Ormes Head and the town were fantastic from the tall towers. Jen by this point had caught the Welsh speaking bug and began to recite the same sentence over and over much to her delight... "dw i eisiau coke", "dw i eisiau coke"... and to report, this trend hasn't ceased yet! After visiting Conwy, we lost a good friend in Mr Sun. So as we had to deal with Mr Night, we knew that it was time to head homebound bound. But first, we visited the North Walian seaside citidel of Llandudno, which boasted a picturesque beachfront (above). It did look like a Spanish hideaway, but it certainly wasn't as warm as one! We rounded off our trip by checking out another Argos Extra in Llandudno town and noticed a few safety hazards and poor name badge wearage. But, at least, their quickpay kiosks were A-OK.

We then travelled down the A55 North Walian Expressway towards Chester and then went to Wrexham, Shrewsbury, Telford and then came home via the M54, M6 and so on. It was a shame about the traffic on the M5 but it least it gave us a chance to reflect a great two days. Also Jen learnt more Welsh and put it to good use by asking for more things! Leighton nearly killed us with his toxic ass, but gladly Jen and I survived to tell the tale. Never again! Well, until next time!

A Reminder to Mr Bush....

In light of the recent US congressional elections, I thought I would display the video which got me chuckling when Kerry took on Bush and sadly lost. Yes, I would say for once and once only, I truly am a 'liberal wiener' instead of a 'right-wing nut job'. Enjoy!

"Thats no way to tell a lie"

Good evening, good morning, good afternoon... whichever is applicable to you, please note that One Man is back for another edition of my latest shenanigans. As you can probably tell from the title, or even the pics, I recently went to see the awesome James Dean Bradfield at Cardiff SU. It goes without saying that the Manics frontman really kicked ass, belting out his solo stuff as well as the stuff we all know and love. Emigre, perhaps my fave track from The Great Western, was performed better than I could imagine. In addition, the acoustic versions of Kevin Carter, This Is Yesterday and Ocean Spray were also fab. Its great to hear that the Manics are back together next year, but the solo efforts of Bradfield and Wire have been really promising, especially Wire's I Killed The Zeitgeist. The gig was also great because Jen and I had the chance to meet up with Chris and Greg as a four - the first time since we lived in Cathays. It was just like old times!

Once, twice, three times a Rhodri?

Now if Tony Blair strolled into your work, some people would understandably make a fuss, point and stare, ask for his autograph, and all that ridiculous faff people do on this island when they come face to face with someone with slight celebrity status. Alas for poor Rhodri Morgan, our very own First Minister of the Welsh Assembly Government, he can only muster confused looks and complete ignornance from his adoring citizens. Shame really, the power of celebrity - but thats another blog topic I could go on about for ages. The thing is, when Rhodri stepped into Argos the other day, it triggered The Bus Effect. I was not to see him once, but twice in one day. Spooky huh? And this was on Halloween too! Anyway after Mr Morgan was served at our customer service dept (and from what I gather, was given detailed information about our returns policy), he appeared at a conference in the National Museum where I was waiting outside with Jen and Tom for the 'Creepy Cardiff' tour (which was ok, quite informative, but in my opinion was fairly steep moneywise). Rhodri escaped the building with a bit of a whimper, no adoring public, no paparazzi, no police escort - in fact, he climbed into his chaffeur-driven car and got out at the nearby cash machine for a few notes! To think eh, even Wales' leading political figure has to go to a hole-in-a-wall just like us!?!?!? It amazed me. I really wish I took a picture now. Oh well. Rubbing shoulders with the Welsh political elite is tough job, but clearly it comes easy to me!

What?! You're Taking the Diss!

Alright.... I may have said the dissertation would be finished by October. Yet on the turn of November I was still placing the finishing touches on the thesis! But officially, it's now at a close. Last Wednesday I gave it in and kissed goodbye to student life for good. It was a great feeling to see the work in a shiny binded cover; it made the whole year worth while. Not to say that the year was a waste of time. I really enjoyed this year and the course, which was very thought provoking and rewarding intellectually. Political science and theory has really interested me and has opened new doors for me I feel. Let's just hope it finds me a job!
Which brings me onto full time work. Its hard! I'm currently working full time in Argos (thus the sighting of Rhodri) whilst looking for something new. I want to work in government of some sort, maybe a local council or maybe something in public policy. But again, I am no nearer about singling out a particular job - I dont think I ever will!

Well I hope that has wet your appetites for now, Im off to bed as I went for a lovely family meal to celebrate my parents' silver wedding anniversary. Good night to all, and to all, a very good night.

God bless Thames Water

Its funny that water is now back on in the headlines now that my dissertation drawing to it's close. Since reaching the half way mark and having already decided a direction of where to go with the thesis, Panorama aired a special investigation into water use in South East England. At the time I wanted to see if it had any parallels to the Tryweryn issue and sadly it had no real info. But by watching it, it wasn't in vain at all - I learnt about the awful water company called Thames Water, which serves the very heart of middle England. An estimated 900 million litres of water a day is reported to be lost by leaky pipes underneath fair London and the company are the worst British water authority when it comes to lost water. With the possibility of warmer summers and hosepipe bans a-plenty in the future, the distribution of water is back in the public eye as South East England sweats. And guess what, the thought of taking water from Wales was back on the agenda. Plaid MPs call the recent calls for this extreme water distribution the 'next Tryweryn'. But I guess in times like these with greater political autonomy and the lessons learnt from last time an English authority went at pains to take water from Wales, Tryweryn will never really happen again.

So enter the latest project of Thames Water, who are desperate to escape prying eyes after being criticised for doing too little for it's customers. They propose a £1 billion new articifical reservoir in the heart of Oxfordshire, not far from Abingdon. The authority claim that two villages would be affected, as well as a road between the two will have to re-routed. Already residents have expressed their concerns about the project. Thames Water say that this will solve the water crisis for now and "generations to come". Its great to see the same rhetoric from then is being used again.

Its a shame that this had to be proposed now. It would have been interesting to parallel the events of Tryweryn with the events in Oxfordshire today. But oh well. If you're interested in the story, click here.

A Birthday Post

First of all, a very happy birthday to my darling Jen!

And if Blogger would let me, I would place a picture up here too.

I thought a blog would be in order after a long hiatus of dissertation work, which is slowly turning me into a zombie like state. That said, I'm still enjoying it and finding it really interesting. I am currently 3,000 words away from total completion with all chapters roughly drafted. My final personal deadline is 2 weeks today( 27th Sept). If Im still working at that point, please remind me to get a move on! I must say that this piece of work is the only one in which I havent rushed - lets just hope the result pays some rewardable dividends.

In other news, Jen and I used our weekend off to have a rest from the retailing world, in addition to poking our noses at royalty. We didn't quite reach Buckingham Palace, but we more than settled for the grand Hampton Court Palace in Surrey. I never realised it was such an important rotal residence over the past five centuries! It was simply beautiful inside and out! The maze was a bit of a doddle after Jen's 'right everytime' theory. The gardens were also a spectacle which I would recommend anyone to see. We had great weather too, so we couldn't have asked for a better day at one of Britain's greatest residences. Pictures will soon be up (I know this phrase is somewhat familar) for all to see. If not, Im sure Jen will have them on view for your pleasure.

So many things to rant about lately and not enough time to do so. Blair, the immigration issue and South American football are the topics which are buring my brain of late. Blair should really go now - whats the point of this 'long goodbye'? Although it is perfect for the Tories and the Lib Dems to capitalise from I guess. Do we really want more Eastern Europeans here, when we are struggling with the Poles? And the fact that Brazil and Argentina play their 'home' fixtures in Europe for the sake of profit questions me to think whether its about the football anymore.

So this merely a quickie for now, to keep you guys in the know. Recent albums - Empire by Kasabian, Black Holes and Revelations by Muse and In With The Out Crowd by Less Than Jake.

Reflections of a Student Life

In a month from now, I will no longer be a student for the second time. The first time when my official student status expired I was on tenterhooks hoping I would be able to become one once more. Now that my second tenure as a student is slowly fading, I know that this time there will be no third time of university life. And I never thought I would be saying this but I'm actually going to miss it.

I remember back during the first two years of my undergrad degree I was miserable. I hated uni with a passion; I couldn't fit, I felt out of place and totally inferior. As I had opted for a Welsh langauge degree I knew it was going to be tough. But as it got tougher I just couldn't fight it and I had the urge to simply give up. in my lifetime I've never had to work so hard for something for in school, I could work and get by by not doing too much. Now, staring at the abyss of my academic career, I just wanted out. I drank myself stupid with all school friends who didnt go to uni and I was happy with that at the time. In the end, I reverted to a full History degree (as I was doing part Welsh, part Welsh history) and continued with my head down on the work. Still not truly happy however.

But in the third year, when it mattered, I finally came into my own. I finally learnt that uni was not such an intimidating place but was actually a really cool way of life. Once I got my degree I knew I wanted to do another degree in my heart, as the first did not have all teh attention I could give it. Another of life's academic challenges which I winged, just so i didn't have to put too much effort in. But once I got my desired degree place in Political Theory, I knew that I would find it tough. I reflected back to my Welsh degree and realised how much of a child I was back then. I hadn't grown up at all. Now I had the chance to do something different. Now I felt that this degree was for me - under my decision and something I could really look towards.

Reaching the end of that degree I know I have found it hard. But I have enjoyed it all. And now I know I have at least grown up a bit more. After a year too of living like a student in Cathays, I finally realise what a student life is all about and I regret leaving it now when I have just embraced it.

Concerning the diss, I am in the middle of Chapter Three, which is untitled as of yet but will analyse utilitarian arguments in the rights discourse of Tryweryn. That will put me a good half-way through the essay, and then my final chapter will discuss whether Tryweryn was a national struggle or a moral struggle. Perhaps the toughest chapter to write - but if I can pull it off, it will be the most rewarding I feel. Watch this space for further developments.

E3 MGS4 Trailer - Metal Gear Solid 4

15 minute E3 trailer of MGS4 - Metal Gear Solid 4 If you have some time and if you are a fan of the MGS series - you are gonna love this. I can't wait for MGS4!

How Orwellian is modern day Big Brother?

If you have been lucky enough to read 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' by George Orwell you will know that the very concept of Big Brother is one of an all seeing, all knowing entity which regulates everything with a strict control of fear and indoctrination. Im guessing this is common knowledge by now. But one thing has been bothering me about the game show this week - how much is the show organised to control our feelings and to create our prejudices against some housemates? In other words - does the show tell us who to hate and who to love?

Its something which has always played on my mind. I always thought that by offering a text vote to the public you would get a democratic response to who should be evicted - in effect, the one which should leave is the one the public wishes to evict. But with the media offering their own strong opinions about who is a good or bad housemate, personal judgment can often be lost into a mass of propaganda.

And if that myth about video editing for the nighty hour is true, about presenting some housemates in more positive light and others in a more negative light, arent we just being fooled into voting someone out to please some bigwig who is doing what he can to ensure a certain victor? Wouldn't that just make the whole thing a sham? Especially we have recently heard that housemates are 'bred' and trialled in the Big Brother experience before they even set a foot into the house.

My thoughts have been provoked after Mikey's departure this evening - he was no favourite to go at any point in the programme. He was presented in a bad light this week and went as a result. Now Mikey may have deserved it - but how much did the factors of the media affect the public's decision making?

The fear factor may not be prominent in the Channel Four game show. But is the brainwashing occurring right under our very noses?

The One That Got Away

Courtesy of the fabulous tool that Google Maps provides, I have an aerial view of the recent castle Jen and I just could not find. For you see, that building above is Old Beaupre, which stands roughly 4 miles away from Cowbridge. This hidden gem is even signposted - but it still could not be found. Once we failed in our quest and returned home, I immediately sought sanctuary to my favourite mapping website. And Voila!... just as easily as you can acquire an aerial photo of any air base in the world, Old Beaupre is framed in a piccie quicker than you can say "stone walls".
Therefore this castle will remain to be..... the one that got away.

"The New Transmission"

Hello to all out there and I hope you are all well. It has been a while, but I can't certainly claim that my time has been tight of late. Since I broke my finger, its been manic. I have recently gone to Tunisia with Jen, which was brilliant! Very sunny out there and we both learned a lot about the country too. I wish I could have written a blog on it but as I have noted, I've not the chance to get into a blogging frame of mind. Not to worry, the pics of the holiday will be up on the pics real soon.

So when we returned to Cardiff (on World Cup Final day might i add), it wasn't long before we were planning our next trip. Jen, Leighton and myself went on a North Walian adventure on the following Wednesday to get some source materials for my dissertation. Turns out, I got very little for my efforts but we all enjoyed the sights of Gogledd Cymru, including Harlech Castle, Barmouth, Aberystwyth, Snowdonia, Llangollen, Llyn Celyn and also a final stop in the Scouser heartland, Liverpool. The pics for that will also be up soon. Again, I would love to blog about this trip but time is not on my side. One thing that I have to mention tho... On returning, we noticed on a road sign on the Welshpool bypass a small village called 'Leighton', which in Welsh is translated as 'Tre'r Llai'. As you can imagine (especially if you are acquainted with the patriotic Welsh speaking dysgwr himself) that information has not been forgotten easily around Argos Cardiff Bay! Well done for the Welsh effort Leight! Dal ati!

Well back at home (because I now live with mum and dad again) I have no room. Well I tell a whopping lie there... for I have two at my disposal. Alas, one has Man Utd wallpaper and the other is too small for any of my stuff. So I have been on a mini re-decorating mission - although I have not been bothered to see it through! Jen and I managed to strip the hideous figures of Giggs, Sharpe, Cole and Keane from the walls, but no further work has taken of yet. Living at home is certainly strange and quite different from the shenanigans I had been pulling off at Casa del Cathays.... although now, those days are but a distant memory. Jen nd I are now planning to save for a housie so wish us luck!

The dissertation is going ok, despite being a bit behind. Im working like the clappers to be back on top and am now ploughing on with the second chapter concerning minority rights. The first chapter, concerning water rights, could have been better, but some new evidence from Aberystwyth will hopefully give it a boost.

The pic above is from a layby stop on the A487 between Aberaeron and Aberystwyth and is almost a landmark in its own right as a mural. I wont insult your intelligence by revealing it's message, but lets just say it features highly in my dissertation research. It also serves as a gentle reminder to get on with my work whenever I slack off!

Albums to check out - the new Muse album rocks, despite I think I over listened to it on my return trip to Aber though. The new Lostprophets album is also good, but a little disappointing. It has some good tracks but as a whole it lacked that little something. Can't wait for the new James Dean Bradfield solo album, which comes my way very soon.

My last point goes to the mighty TTFE - who a few weeks ago, recorded their biggest win. Well done lads!

My First (and probably last) World Cup Post

Howdy folks, I'm back and better than ever. As you may know, I recently injured my finger whilst playing for QVR and was had to have an operation to straighten the little blighter back in shape. To do this, a wire was inserted into my finger and before long I dubbed the man with the 'bionic finger' by my peers (well mainly Emma). However today, coincidently being the happiest day of the year, the wire has been removed and I am no longer the bionic wonder I used to be. I am still confined to a splint, which sucks because I really would like to drive and I miss it so much. I suppose I cannot moan too much, at least I'm not some Wolverine wannabe!

I wish I could tell you of my adventure with the NHS but i can't be arsed. All that waiting and painful clock watching finally became routine to me, week after week of accepting that a trip to the Trauma Clinic was a complete waste of an hour or two in bed. I don't need to exaggerate the sheer shambolic state of our health service; I'm sure Nye Bevan would have never wanted to see cluttered waiting rooms and piss poor ambulance call out times in his vision of a national health service. I just hate the fact that I settled for that being the norm because it shouldn't be. We do expect more for our tax money, don't we? To conclude this frustrating sector of the post two words - General Anaesthetic. Damn, I didn't realise how much of a punch that stuff can have......

My picture above should be recognisable to you by now as World Cup fever has dominated our TV screens. Hawarden's finest son (notice the stress upon the town of which he was born) Michael Owen, pictured above, is now out of the World Cup after injuring himself in the first minute of England's clash against Sweden. Maybe now Theo Walcott can have a shot at playing in this year's tournament, although Sven seems to be content in sticking with Rooney and Crouch. I certainly hope Walcott gets a game because he seems to be a real one for the future. Besides that, what is the point of taking someone you are not going to play? Im sure Darren Bent and Jermaine Defoe are cursing a certain Swede right as we speak!

Last week Jen, Chris, Greg and I took on Cornwall and won. Well, if you consider a £18 quid Sun holiday with accomodation the size of a closet winning then you can suppose I have won a lot in my life! We stayed just outisde of Newquay in a small caravan and chalet park with a pool, crazy golf, clubhouse...... oh yeah I just forgot, Jen wrote about this on her blog. Check out all the details on there. Pictures will also be up soon, so watch this space.

For all my other news, here it is condensed in small meaty chunks!

Cant wait to go to Tunisia next week * Dissertation has been started * Planning a trip to Liverpool via Aberysytwyth and North Wales * Saudi Arabia are my work sweepstake team and Im sure they will be eliminated tonight (what a surprise!)

Like to be branded? You'll love this....

You scored as Emo. Your Totally Emo! Emo 50% Rocker, Mosher 45% Trendy 35% Goth 35% Skater 25% Prepy 20% Chav, Townie, Rude Boy, Ned, Kev 15% What Group Are You? Chav, Rocker, Skater, Emo, Goth, Trendy, Prepy Ect created with QuizFarm.com

I certainly would agree with this!

Just a teaser for now, but I will return with a mammoth post about my adventures wih the lovable NHS. Enjoy!

The Moment of Truth

This is my album square in its completed form. These are the albums I consider to be the best as a whole album to listen to. I have tried to be fair to genres by inserting a reflection of which ones I am into, but at the same time I have not placed something in there for the sake of doing so. They all have presence in the square down to their down-right awesomeness.

Codeseven - The Rescue

Perhaps the biggest unknown out of all nine, Codeseven are a group of lads from the States which started as a death metal outfit, but mellowed (a bit) into a 'screamo-emo' band in later albums. The Rescue is the album after this dramatic change and it sounds really good as a collective whole. Good to listen to when you're in a bad mood, but also great to listen to when you need to reflect on things.

Weezer - Weezer (Blue Album)

I heard 'Buddy Holly' for the first time in 1996 when I received my first PC. The music video was included in the Windows 95 package as one of those 'promo' videos to show the power and capability of what Windows's new offspring could do (makes you laugh now, don't you think?) and I loved it. But I never made the connection that it was Weezer. Then when we rolled into the 'noughties' I heard 'Hash Pipe' and then loved that too. I think I was advised to get the Blue Album soon after and I fell in love with an album with such raw, simplistic melodies. I was reunited with 'Buddy Holly' and got to know its better friends, such as 'My Name is Jonas' and 'Say it Ain't So', and I just knew that this was a very special album.

Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine

At first, I preferred The Battle of Los Angeles. However it wasn't long before I began to appreciate their first, self-titled album. The melody of anarchy can be performed in many ways, but this is the nearest you will get. Im assure you that once you have listened to this you will want to do two things; (1) Bop your head up and down in a systematic mosh and (2) rise up and stick two fingers to the 'man'. This music is in a genre of its own - Rage.

Green Day - Nimrod

A remarkable record indeed. Nimrod is pre-political Green Day at their finest. A fine mix of punk for all occassions, this album is absolutely brilliant to listen to as a whole. Despite this fact, the album has so many well-known singles which stand out for own merits, i.e. 'Nice Guys Finish Last', 'Hitchin' a Ride' and the overplayed 'Good Riddance'. Perhaps my most favorite album of all time.

Muse - Origin of Symmetry

Wins a place for its sheer genius. Again a band I didn't like at first; on my first listening of Showbiz, I condemned it for being too 'slow and depressing'. My my, how shallow I was. I soon returned to Showbiz after listening the Origin of Symmetry, to understand the true nature of Muse's work. 'New Born' is a musical masterpiece, whilst 'Citizen Erased' is perhaps one of the beautiful songs ever made. Ever better live.

Mad Caddies - Rock The Plank

The only ska-punk album in the nine, but it is definitely not here to make up a genre fulfillment. Rock The Plank is a typical Caddies album, with catchy ska-punk-rock tunes loaded with brass, but it differs as the whole album has a 'pirate' theme to it. A great listen from start to finish, plus it is great if you fancy sailing the open seas anytime soon.

Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible

Probably my fave band, The Manics recently celebrated The Holy Bible's 10 year anniversary with the re-release of the album with added extras. I've listened to Marilyn Manson and Cradle of Filth, and the other supposed 'satanist' bands which are portrayed as the spreaders of evil and hatred. But let me tell you, The Holy Bible sounds a helluva lot more evil in one sitting than any of those other bands combined. Thats the secret to it. 'The Intense Humming of Evil', a song about the Holocaust, as a title alone sends shivers down my spine.

Rammstein - Reise, Reise

The only non-English language album in the nine, Reise, Reise, is a powerful offering from the German industrial metallers. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if I heard the introduction to 'Mein Teil' in my mind if the world was about to end, as it is perfect background music for the apocalypse.

Feeder - Echo Park

Yes another Welsh band, but I assure you it is not patriotic interests displayed here. Feeder know how to rock and have never forgotten. A great album from start to finish. Also the last album before the untimely death of drummer Jon Lee, which has changed the band evidently in their later work. But as stated as above, they never forgot how to rock.

Close, but no cigar

True to the challenge Jon had set me in work a few weeks back, I have been working on my album square. The task at hand is to gather nine of your favourite albums, get images of their front covers and arrange them in a 3x3 square collage.

In this post I shall list the unlucky losers which have not made my final nine. However, they are all brilliant albums despite not being included. Sadly by process of elimination, by reasoning of my own, they did not make the grade. I shall post my top nine in the completed image square shortly, but for now enjoy the list of those which just lacked that little bit.

1st Round of Elimination (7 eliminated)

• Less Than Jake - Hello Rockview
• Ben Folds - Rockin' The Suburbs
• American Head Charge - The War of Art
• System of a Down - Toxicity
• Hundred Reasons - Ideas Above Our Station
• The Strokes - First Impressions of Earth
• NOFX - The War On Errorism

2nd and Final Round of Elimination (6 eliminated)

• Billy Talent - Billy Talent
• Unwritten Law - Elva
• Danko Jones - Born a Lion
• Hell Is For Heroes - The Neon Handshake
• The Hives - Your New Favorite Band
• Queens of the Stone Age - Songs For the Deaf

Oh Lordi Lordi!

Yes, pay homage to the new Eurovision Song Contest winners 2006! With songs such as 'They Only Come Out At Night', or even the catchy 'Would You Love a Monsterman?' you cannot help but support Lordi in their quest for Euro stardom. They represented the usually unsuccessful nation of Finland and took the prize with a landslide victory. Im so glad to see a change to the usual tedium of Eurovision. As Pugh predicted rightfully, the political voting was as strong as ever. Who would have thought it - Armenia giving the full twelve to Mother Russia!?!?! The only decent points the UK got were from Ireland and Malta - the only two which only like us! France absolutely sucked for a change and it showed. Little Brother Monaco could only give 4 points to it's Big Brother! Not to mention of course, there were marks for effort in the mullet department. The Russian entry (apparently a sex God in Eastern Europe) was a boy band member's role model, and topped it off with a mullet which is straight outta the 80's!

In other news, my recent essay has been submitted so I'm beginning the long stretch until late September with the dissertation. Wish me luck! I celebrated finishing my last essay with some new found temporary freedom, with which I watched Pulp Fiction and the new Da Vinci Code film. I must say I prefered the book to the new film of the Dan Brown classic, but I can't really be surprised by the disappointment it proved to be. Jen feels very strongly about this, but always slates film adaptations. Especially Harry Potter films! I guess the best thing to do is to watch it as a film and not pick out bits from the book. 5 stars go to Sir Ian - what a good Tebing he made!

My musical palette has been varied of late. I have very much approved of the new Chilis album, Stadium Arcadium, which I sure has been dipped in a pool of funk. It's just soo Goddamn funky! Just like the older stuff! Also I have been checking out Lordi, since they are truly superstars now they have won such a prestigious prize (ha ha!). Wolves in Wolves Clothing by NOFX is awesome too.

I have been challenged by Jon to compose a square collage of my fave albums, which I hope to get going on here soon. Look out for that and I challenge you all to do the same!!!

The Sweet Smell of Success

I begin this edition of One Man with some exciting news regarding TTFE in our new season at the Gol Centre. We grabbed our first win this evening in a tense game which ended 2-1. That isn't just our first win in the new league, but its our first win EVER! Its a good win for the lads who thoroughly deserve some success after the effort which has gone into the team. Well done TTFE! Let this be the first of many!


On the university front I gather all is well at the moment. I have still to do my Human Rights essay, but its coming on nicely as I type. Some of you anoraks our there may spot this isn't a road sign in my native city and therefore it does not point to my own uni.... so where am I?

Newport?

HELL NO!

Bristol?

There's Welsh on there you dumbass!

Pontypridd?

No, not adventurous enough!

Giveup? Or in Rolf Harris-esque way, 'Can you tell what it is yet'?

No?

Well here's a final clue....


Which famous Welsh city has the most awesome land train in the world? Yes, it belongs to our friends the Jacks! I recent went to Swansea on a book hunt for the essay I on working on and was tempted not to return. The weather was so nice that day and an excursion to the Gower was certainly on the cards! Happy 50 years to the Gower for being an 'area of outsetanding beauty' and a complimentary congrats to SCFC who next Saturday have their second visit to the Millennium Stadium this season. Lee, this time please - keep any anti-city banners back in the Liberty where they belong.

In other news - I recently felt very embarrassed as I had left Jenny's keys in the front door overnight. Everyone could have had free access to the car and the house that night, and yet amazingly, no-one had taken them. Very lucky for this author let me tell you!

Also we have been invaded. No not by any extra-terrestial fellows, but some of the more annoying kind. Yes ants. I hate them so much (almost as much as the media, but I will get back to that later) I had to go to Tesco as soon as possible and purchase some ant-killing goods, then I seriously opened up a can (well not open, but sprayed violently) right down on their abdomen asses. I never felt so alive. I felt like I was judge, jury and executioner all in one, dispensing harsh justice on the small, six legged bastards.

Also just booked a holiday to Tunisia in July with Jen. Should be really cool! Expect more details from Jen, Im sure she will write loads about it on her blog!

Following on from my media rant last time two words come to mind: Melanie Slade. If you done know her name yet, don't make a fuss to find out. You will soon know her name as vividly as Colleen McLoughlin (hint hint).

To end this gargantuan post I must advertise the benefits of Tesco 'Wake Up' Orange Shower Gel. Its like pure re-energiser in a shower bottle! :D

England or America - Which one burns you up more?

I have returned from my short blogging exile with two gripes which have really got to me over the last few months. One is from the Yanks across the pond, whilst the other is directed at our neighbours over Offa's Dyke. Now I now One Man has become a nerve centre of nagging of late, but you will learn in time - this is what I do! Just ask Jen!

Gripe Number One - American TV advertising

Now I enjoy the good advert. The quality of advertising isn't at fault here. But if any of you have the channel ABC1 from your freeview or Sky boxes, you may see where I'm going with this.

If I'm not British, I'm certainly Welsh. But when its comes to TV I guess I am a typical Brit; a cup of tea with most programmes, watch the odd soap (yes now and again) and ensure that the kettle is on during the break for another cuppa. I assume that the way ad breaks are planned out on this island is a typical, standard British thing - theres a break before the programme, then one, two or three breaks are equally distributed throughout the programme so that each part is similar in length, then there is another break after the end of the programme to begin the cycle again for another programme. With me so far? Not rocket science at this point.

But if you watch this heathenous channel (yes it's heathenous, because it is American) you will know that this pattern of advertising is very different. I was reminded of this idiotic timing when I watched Scrubs on ABC1 the other day. To begin, the end of the previous programme rolls pretty much straight into the programme you want to watch, then when you get a small glimmer of the plot (lets say, not even 2 minutes in some cases) you get an ad break. Note at this point, that this channel tends to air a lot of 30-minute-time-slot sitcoms like Scrubs, so this is based purely on these type of shows. Then you watch pretty much the entire thing - then 2 minutes before the end, you get a break. After you have finished channel-flicking, kettle boiling, toilet going etc., they show the remaining few scenes - which are sometimes not worth coming back for! Then once the credits roll you know that another programme will start almost immediately.

I assume that this is the American way of advertising - ABC1 being a Brit channel but owned by the ABC corporation which airs Yankie sitcoms. But why alter with such a simple and effective way of 'ad timing' WHY!?!? For the same reason the Americans have to change everything for better ratings, which leads to a bigger profit. By watching the end of a programme, I am immediately thrown into another programme's beginning. I, as an average human being, will then watch that programme because I, just like most people, am lazy. If I get a sniff of the plot, I will stay for more. Once I have consumed a whole chunk of sitcom goodness, those bastards make me wait for the final 3 minutes. Then like a mug I wait (because the last 25 minutes would surely be wasted if you don't wait) and I watch the end, only to be flung into another programme.... and so on. Bottom line - American telly has evolved to ensure YOU watch. We are still in the stone age when it comes to network television.

But do you know what? I like the stone age. I don't want some network producer insulting my intelligence or trying different techniques so that I end up watching an episode of Hope and Faith (which is awful by the way). The ad break at the end of a programme is there for a reason, a bloody good reason as well! We need breaks between programmes to make sure we don't turn into couch potatoes, slobbing in front of the TV all day!

Sorry - this anti-American rant has been coming for a while. Especially with my current essay about how the US is denying the world the human rights it says it provides. Let it be known - Scrubs is now a Sky One treat when I go over my mum and dad's house.

Gripe Number Two - The British media and the celebrity

I hate the British media. I really do. And I hate the fact that we love celebrities so much. We are that sad that we 'have' to dream about them at night. We 'have' to step over our own mothers to meet them. We 'have' to do anything to become one. Why?!?!

Of course, both the media and the celebrity come hand in hand. The British media thrives on celebrity, celebrity thrives on the media. Call me jealous, call me envious, call me whatever - I bloody hate the celebrity culture. But do you know what I hate more? The fact that it is a particularly British quality. People do jump for joy in the name of the famous in other countries - but not as much as we do.

Two examples show this. Sven Goran Eriksson, the England manager who was exposed for a money grabber he is by the 'fake Sheikh' - courtesy of the News of the World - was perhaps shown by the media for the greedy man he really was by that stunt. If you are unaware, Eriksson was tricked into thinking a wealthy sheikh was interested in buying a Premiership club and was fooled into thinking he would be the new manager of it. He betrayed the confidenitality of some of his players including David Beckham and Michael Owen. It eventually cost him his job.

Fair enough when considering that he received his due for his actions - but why did the media have to take this step? Do we enjoy analysing celebrities so much that we want to see them fail and suffer, as well as live the high life? It was clear that Sven was pissed off at this debacle - but not at what he had done, but at the lengths the British media went to in intruding his private life. He has never been quiet about the role of the media whilst he was manager before now; they had always stuck their nose too far.

My second example - oddly enough Sven's potential succesor - Article!

Scolari has said in the above article:

"I don't want anything more to do with this England matter because in the space of two days... my life was invaded, my privacy was disrupted," said Scolari, who will remain Portugal coach until after the World Cup.

"There are 20 reporters outside my house now. If that is part of another culture, it is not part of my culture. I am not the coach, and will not be (England's) coach."

This is where I start to smile because the unthinkable has happened. The British media has actually chased someone away. It's clear that this over-exposure of the situation has scared Scolari, to which I dont blame him for at all. The egg yolk remains on the English and the FA - their media has cost them very dearly - and now they are back to square one, not to mention the embarrassment of pushing Scolari to the front of the queue only for him to reject. Maybe England will think twice before sending twenty million reporters to harass any given person next time.

So the choice is yours! Which one peeves you off more?!?!?!!?!?!?

Chernobyl

First and foremost I must give a birthday shoutout to my dad (not that he reads this at all) and hope that he has a good day. 26th April is a big day in my family as we celebrate my father's and my auntie's birthdays (they are twins), so also a shoutout to my auntie Linda too.

26th April may also roll off the tongue for another reason, but something a lot less personal to myself and would mean something to everyone as a human being. It is a day we should remember, but unlike birthdays, we should never celebrate it. Yes it was 20 years ago today since the nuclear reactor malfunction at Chernobyl, Ukraine had happened. If Hiroshima was not enough to show the devastation of nuclear power, Chernobyl certainly showed the world the sheer capability of it's fatal consequences.

Anyway, back to more personal matters. I have recently finished my essay on global inequality and now Im going to start one about US Human Rights Policy. After that, comes the dissertation! Fun fun!

Still considering options for next year regarding where to live, but hopefully we will have something sorted soon. Its hard to believe that the time spent here at Casa del Cathays will soon come to an end! Oh well, watch this space to see if I end up in a cardboard box on St. Mary's St in the near future.

Do you really care?

So I write today on a Maundy Thursday waiting for some articles to print. Im currently writing an essay on global inequality which now seems a lot more interesting than first thought. The title is a link to the giving of aid and charity in general and whether you actually care.

I hate charity collecting people - not the people themselves - just the complete miliking of what should be a very good cause. Charitable companies learned that pure education of what is happening in the Third World isn't enough to raise funds; they play upon our own humanity by showing graphic images of a small child, tiny and hungry, with flies all over his/her face, to make us feel guilty if we don't give something. Before charity was not forced into our faces, but now, its everywhere. Queen St. is always a potential minefield, now a street I rarely walk down for that reason these days.

Don't get me wrong; I give cash to charities and sometimes to ones which I have affiliation with or some kind of interest in or even spend a small fortune on books (which someday I will read) in charity shops. Not completely selfless I suppose, but money given all the same. It's just our feelings are played upon everyday to give over some moolah. And the number of charities are endless, there are so many - which one is better cause? Because you can't give to them all, can you? I guess some of you wish you could, but you know deep down you want that new car or that new CD, which means they will lose out.

So this essay is a way of rebalancing the situation in my mind. Im beginning to hate charity and I don't want to at all. I feel like these pesterers in town centres are almost making me unsympathetic; those images I know are losing their effect on me. So do you really care?

----------------------------

Busy essay writing week therefore this week! Jen's hopefully getting a new car soon, so double yays for her. It's a bit more manly than Bob the First! Hail Bob the Second, Long Live the Car!!

I think I will write some more stuff when I have something more interesting to say, so until then blog fans - Live the dream, fight the struggle... and all that jazz.

When one just can't let go

As the world moves at steady pace, we would be fools not to keep up with the times. Well I guess for many this is the case. Living in the past is surely impossible when things move at such an alarming rate. To use a quick example - my old 32MB MP3 player was easily my best friend a few years back (sorry if anyone is offended by that, but hey, I loved that thing). It only held 9 songs at one time, which I listened to on a loop en route to uni every 3 days of a week. Yet now I have sampled the awesome power of a 20GB iPod I would surely never go back. Why, I hear you yelp? Exactly the reason why many wouldn't go back - the new MP3 player is way better than the 32MB one could ever be, because if I went back to using it I would yearn for the 5,000 songs at quick access instead of a measly 9 songs.

This seems hardly the type of thing i shouldnt go on about in a post of One Man. But I suppose I have encountered many people in my life who just cannot move on and embrace what is new, what is modern, not even what is tomorrow, but what is today. I love listening to the multitude of media my iPod has to offer, but that doesn't mean I now hate or ever hated those days of 9 track commutes. Those 9 tracks had a meaningful significance in my earlier days, but not now because I have accepted times have changed and curiously I relish what the future brings.

Now before you think I'm only taking about portable music players, think again. It astounds me as to how people want to live in the past. Some people I know want to still be in school, they still want to be in a safe environment which they could never experience again. I guess it goes something like this: We all have a time in our lives when we feel good about ourselves, our lives and the people around us. When the time comes for that to change for whatever reason, we stop at nothing to prolong it for as long as possible. As each person around changes one by one, you are forced to decide what is for the best - go with the trend and start a new, or remain defiant, like a punk rocker in his 30's. If no-one changes around you and you have no wish to change, well I guess you will be 16 years old all your life.

But heres the bigger picture I guess. We all change. Without change we are merely the same animal day in day out, walking ourselves into a short-sighted march of mindless repetition. You change to see the person you were before. I know I spent my first year in uni as a booze driven, bone idle and pathetic waster, who could have done so much more to better myself. I now know that my way of life at the moment is for me - until of course, it is time to change. It will come in a disguised form, but I know it will be coming.

I suppose I can look back and think it wasn't all that bad, because it wasn't. I had a ball; learnt a load about myself and I guess I grew up. But thats it you see - it was spent growing up. As the human critic that I am and we are, Im sure I will look back and cringe at most of what I've done. At the same time, I still know listening to those same 9 tracks was pretty great at the time.

I suppose we are all guilty of failing to move on. Why move if you're comfortable? Why move if all is well? Good point. But let me tell you something I've learned in my short experience on this planet - you are never comfortable or well. You are a camoflaging animal. You change your spots all the time to stay in the game and that is something you cannot deny. If you don't, you risk extinction from life, from love, from power. Just ask Silvio.

Im e-sure as hell

I write in a trash filled room, moderately full stomach wise and in need of shower. Therefore with these things in mind, I guess I'm at my most creative. Enter: another fine post on One Man - One Struggle.

This week I begin with an awesome edition to my teddy family, Mister Mouse. Funnily enough it has arrived now when I have decided to watch the Michael Winner advert on a loop, not to mention Nathan randomly shouting out 'Calm Down Dear' to me in work!! It has to be said, Esure do put a lot of effort when it comes to advertising. A common breed these days, comic advertising and the companies who have a humouroue approach to it, deserve an accolade of some sort. Remember the Tango adverts when a guy ran around slapping people with giant orange hands? Genius! Getting back to my new mousie, he now has a new home next to my lappie, hopefully to keep me sane throughout dissertation writing this summer!

Im still smarting over the recent TTFE-L (or now possibly TTFL) defeat, which puts us on 16 game losing streak without a point to our name. The lads have worked so hard over the last few months and yet we have reaped nothing from it. Last night hurt more than usual for a reason which Im still unsure of. Call me passionate (or dramatic, as Jen likes to call it!) or determined, or pathetic, but i find no other way to play other than to have your heart on your sleeve. It's because of this I'm remaining confident that we can pick up a draw or a win in the final 6 games, but when the time is ticking away and each game brings more pain in defeat, you can't be blamed for crawling under a rock and dying.

I enjoyed a nice meal with Jen's family to celebrate a few birthdays, last Saturday at the Ocean Park. One of the lucky birthday peeps is Oliver, who is enjoying life as a 14 year old from today. Happy birthday Oliver! The night itself was an interesting affair, complete with a game pictionary with Tom, Jen and Oliver!

Lee Trundle = Fool after this weekend. He will lose a lot of respect from Swansea and Cardiff fans alike after this very moronic act. Well done to the Jacks for keeping the League Trophy in Wales for another year.

Have recently been hooked on Gravity, the song by Embrace. What an awesome song.

Getting a new phone soon - watch this space for an update.

Work was same old, same old. I suppose thats the way I like it!

Right that's your lot. Im off to Mount Mess which is sitting beside me, in an attempt to climb and conquer it. Cheerio folks.

Epiphany

Just rebooting me iPod at the moment, however it has the heavy task of uploading over 2000 songs - so I decided to give a bit of loving to One Man.

First of all happy birthday to Mikey P - Payne that is, as the Daddy himself reached a fine age of 55 today. I hope you enjoy the Eagles concert! I spent a very nice evening in Ely with the family, nice cake and a nice meal. In all, nice!

That cake was consumed in small portions I must add. As for now, my epiphany has arrived. When Jen suggested a joint effort to change our lifestyles, regarding eating habits and exercise, it seemed to come just at the right time. The Christmas bulge hit me hard this year and Im sure you've gotten wind of my moans and groans of being unfit. One thing I wish God bestowed upon me was just an ounce of self-restraint or self-discipline. So now is the time to change things around. I know what you're saying; 'we've heard all this before'. And yeah I can vouch for that, because it's all I heard before too.

Im hoping that my dissertation will have some structure by the end of April, so I can get a good start on it. My aim is to look into the Tryweryn issue in the 1950s with a political theoretical edge. One Man will keep you up to date, I promise! In other news this week will be a busy one - especially as it's the final week before the Easter break. Bring on those essays!!!

The Gates of Hell

Sorry if the pic offends you - it is amazing how powerful such a pic can be.

Just finished an essay to give myself some breathing space with the work load, especially with the dissertation looming behind my shoulder. The essay touched upon a subject which will forever be a scar on our history - mainly the Holocaust, but also how it could have ever happened. How could other countries sit back and let these sickening things happen?
A question now which demands an answer, but more than likely, will never appear.

It is not often I like to talk about my essay subjects, but I feel that after watching the German epic Downfall not so long ago I have caught a bit of Nazi Fever (not that I am one, or support Neo-nazism or anything). Of course having done both a History GCSE and an A-Level, I now know more about Germany's 20th century history than any other historical period (Hint hint to the Senedd or Westminster, sort it out if you can!) and I find it hard to not think about Nazi Germany at times. Can anyone relate to that?

I wish I could have posted sooner about the annual student sabbatical elections, which rival only car adverts in annoyingness. Don't get me wrong; I am an advocate of democracy and the vote - but I just wish it was a bit more diginifed than a guy dressed as a potato, or a girl completely covered in newspaper. Jen was lucky enough to vote, I well.... decided to abstain. I even turned down the prospect of the postal vote. Shame on me I know, I should have at least looked at their manifestos or something.


What was worse, this madness was not confined to the fine streets of Cathays. God no. Swansea Uni, pictured above, also host these bloody things. I guess that they are common in all universities but just never realised. Tacky posters, people doing stupid things like marching to the Grandstand theme and interrupting lectures just make me hate this time of year. Well of course, I have no need to blog about it anymore because its all over (YIPPPEEEE!) so that's that.

Now then, back to Swansea. Yes, last Wednesday Gaji and I braved the M4 en-route to enemy quarters and have survived in one piece. I had to photocopy a book for a seminar back in Cardiff. Swansea was the only place I could get this one particular book, so once Bob was kindly allowed to be borrowed by Jen, the trip was on. Swansea Uni library was very odd, I found it very hospital like for some reason! Don't ask me why! All in all, it was a productive trip which was the main thing.

On another occasion, I have to give a shout-out to Em who grabbed me another book for the essay mentioned above.

Check out Jen's dad's new web site for his skittle team. Made by Jen, hosted by Moe and updated by 'The Daddy' himself. Well it needs it's hits from someone! :)

Thanks for nothing, WRU

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4814666.stm

As you may read from the article above, Wales' national poet Gwyneth Lewis has attacked the WRU in verse after the Ruddock-'Player Power' debacle. Now to put my own thought on things, I really dont know who is to blame in this entanglelment of lies and uncertain intentions. But one thing is for sure, Welsh rugby (and just like Welsh football) has pressed the self-destruct button just when things were at the top. The WRU have acted so unprofessionally in this mess and they should be ashamed of themselves for once again putting our nation's game into the funny pages of our neighbour's newspapers. London is still laughing at us, and I dont blame them. In the recent criticism of the Andy Robinson, England coach after their defeat against France the RFU stated that:

"Andy's got a contract to the end of the World Cup. I see no logic in committing coaching suicide as per the Welsh." (Taken from the BBC)

'Coaching suicide' is perhaps the best way to put it. You can feel the condesending tones in there can't you? But they have a right to be - I certainly would, because we ballsed it up. Totally. We gave Italy their first away Six Nations point for Christ's sake. Something is amiss from that Gland Slam side I cheered for last year.

Anyway, getting back to the point, here is the peom taken from that article from Gwyneth Lewis. Enjoy!

A WOODEN SPOON FOR THE WRU

I have consulted the mistletoe, stared at starling footprints in snow: the time is ripe for your overthrow
I give you a spoon I shaped of ash because you didn't nurture the flash of play but thought, maybe, of cash
Here's a dip I turned from oak but look, in your hands, it slips into smoke.
You've made our last Grand Slam a joke

Actual rugby can never redeem your backroom moves of dodge and scheme.
It's you who need to raise your game
How can a committee always outlive coaches, players?
It's hard to forgive shadowy men with hands like sieves
Here's the last spoon, I carved it from gall: it's you, not the team, who have dropped the ball.
Hang this up, with shame, in your hall.

BY Gwyneth Lewis

What is a blog: Revised

N.B. - This is not a usual post from our author, but a slightly deep philiosophical insight into blogging as a practice. If you wish not to be bored senseless, wait for another update from the Celtic Pimp, due very soon.

You know, as well as I know, I can write some complete cack on this page. I mean, to fill some blog entries I have have really scraped the bottom of the barrel to bring you the life of Shabba. This by no means is an end to such trash - I endeavour to bring you more meaningless babble as my duty to the people. But recent days have got me thinking, and I ask the question slightly modified from the blog title of Tom's page; What is a blog?

It got me thinking because someone had asked me what a blog actually was. At first, I was tempted to say it was a diary. I suppose that was my understanding of it at first. We can write down our thoughts or our actions of the day, or even intertwine them to give someone else a peersonal run-down of our day to day lives. Seems about right? Maybe to many; yes, spot on. However I just wonder how many of those people actually write what they feel on those sites as a blog is not a diary really - diaries are traditionally known to be secret, an outlet of expression which isn't open to prying eyes. A diary can be descibed as something for yourself, not for others.

I have seen some blogs which don't even log events, but simply offer the blogger's opinion of recent current events. However they have tended to be politically minded people who tend to talk in a public sense, not about their own private spheres. But nethertheless, these people still give a window into their insights, their experience, their life. Therefore to blog, is not necessarily to walk a straight line.

Maybe it is a collection of thoughts. Maybe it's a diary. Maybe it is a well thought-out, step by step guide to world domination.

But I suppose above all, and this I know for sure, a blog is your own. It is your tool for your political objectives, it is your window to the world, it is your occassional letter to your relatives and old friends to let them know what you are doing at this moment in time. The question is - what is your blog? It can be anything, as long as it's yours.

St. David, you'd be proud

So the most Welshiest day of the day is upon us again and once more it greatly ignored in the British media. The opening of the Senedd today did actually get onto the BBC lunchtime news, which actually surprised me. I thought that it was going to be omitted but then again, the Queen came down - she will take centre stage anyway.

You must excuse my British xenophobia, but I suppose some of you have just got used to it by now. My blood is boiling even redder than usual as I was not treated to some intelligent graffiti on a uni library toilet break, but completely idiotic and racist commets. On the wall of the cubicle I visited (Im sorry if you begin to get an image of this moment in your mind, I wouldn't wish that upon anyone) I noticed that someone wished that the 'Welsh inbreds will fucking choke this Saturday when England destroy them', referring to the rugby game a few weeks back. Inbreds? Do people still use that one!??!

28% of all Welsh people know their anthem. It's better than I first thought, but it's still damn shocking, not to mention appalling for a nation which is apparently growing in confidence. Yet more of us are willing to give up another holiday to make March 1st a public holiday. Pretty cool, huh? Although today a good few Welsh kids had the day off anyway thanks to the eira which fell down throughout the morning!

Who should I vote for?

Who should I vote for in Wales?

Your expected outcome:

Conservative

Your actual outcome:

Labour -1
Conservative -3
Liberal Democrat -2
	UKIP 1
	Green 4
	Plaid Cymru 12

You should vote: Plaid Cymru

Plaid Cymru is a left of centre party which supports higher marginal rates of taxation, the replacement of council tax by local income tax, increases to the minimum wage and higher pension rates. They are pro both the EU constitution and the Euro, support the ban on smoking in public places, consider hitting CO2 reduction targets to be very important and oppose top-up tuition fees. They took a very strong stance against the war in Iraq.

Take the test at Who Should You Vote For


I wanted to re-take this quiz just to see if it is any different that before. It scares me that UKIP is quite high, but can I be surprised?!?! I think this test is bogus - I put down that I was for the war on Iraq and was against the Euro for Christ's sake!

The sunnier side to Newport?

You would have thought that Goldie Lookin' Chain had it right when they said Newport resembled a cesspit ghetto similar to South Central LA. They have always ensured that the less -than-pretty areas of their home town are exposed for all to see. They have even gotten into trouble with the Newport council over this negative image they depict. I was convinced that Newport was just a strange bridge, a shoddy shopping centre and a outdated leisure centre with a swimming pool (which also hosts gigs, oddly enough). But when I needed a book from the UWCN (Newport Uni) when it wasn't available at the uni library, I discovered a side to Newport which was unknown to me. Allt-Yr-Yn is actually a very affluent area of the city which would confuse you into thinking that you were in Cyncoed, or even Lisvane in parts. Perhaps I was foolish to think that such a city lacked an upper class!

The past few weeks have been full of work and family celebrations. Happy birthday to George on your 21st, hope you had a good night out! Went out for my grandparents' golden wedding anniversary to the Marriot where a delicious steak was to be had.... and overall a nice family meal was enjoyed by all. Valentines Day was different this year as Jen and I went to see Romeo and Juliet in the New Theatre. It was a good show and wasn't too long, much to our relief! My mum also sprang a 'Supermarket Sweep'-esque surprise on me, by allowing me to stock up on whatever I liked with her footing the bill! Sponge? Me? Never!

Can I open my mouth?

Just checking, of late it seems freedom of speech once again is being questioned after this debacle concerning these Danish cartoons. I don't think I want to really comment on this topic as enough about it has been said already, but I have to say that we must value freedom of speech for all it's worth. When Marilyn Manson went to play a gig in Croatia and was orginally prohibited by the police because he 'promotes Satanism', he had said:

"If they think that an artist can destroy their faith, then their faith is rather fragile.

Wise words I feel which sums up how I feel about it. Of course in this case it is not music, but an image.

With that said, I move to home territory. Question Time last week exposed Rhodri Morgan as a bumbling fool in his attempt to explain his opinion on the Iraq War. One would think clever editing by the BBC surely must have had a hand in duping our First Minister, but no, he seemed to do it all on his own. Not only that, all he had to do was to answer a single question. Even more disturbing, is that fact that Morgan may not even have an opinion on the Iraq War, which for a senior politican governing forward our new Wales, fills me with dread. lthough rest assured, there must be a second force at work here. He daren't not oppose Blair, but at the same time he wants to remain popular. Despite that, he embarrassed himself and Wales that night. Not the news you want to hear when the new debating chamber opens next month. Check out the story here.

House is now let out, so no more viewings. That didn't stop The Letting Shop drilling a sign into the wall though, waking up Jen and I! In all this week has not been too interesting; now back in uni things are starting to get back to normal. I hope the Steed Unit had a good time for his birthday! I also wish the Welsh team all the best against the Scots on Sunday. Im pissed off that Wales' Grand Slam win last year is being seen as a fluke now that the English beat us, but I shall moan about that in another post. Til then, toodles.

My lifestyle determines my deathstyle

Metallica are an unlikely source of philosophical direction, but this ever so simple thought means a hell of a lot. To continue the way I live my life, will quite rightly determine the way I will die. So you all know what this means - I am worrying about weight again. Maybe if I listen to that Metallica song a few more times, I will actually do something about it.

It's been busy in Cathays of late. It's house-hunting madness as anxious first years are desperate to get their digs for next year. Everyone here has decided against another year at Casa del Cathays, so we had to prepare for the inevitable viewings for potential tenants. I hope it dies down soon, it's only February!

Back in uni this week and hopefully will come up with a topic for my dissertation soon. I have also bought a diary (75p in the Blackwells sale) in the hope that I can actually organise my life more effectively.

Went to see Max Boyce last Friday and he was absolutely awesome. He's still got it, that unique wit, that fantatstic ability to tell a story and even the musical talent that gets every self -respecting Welsh person to their feet.

To all the Argos guys I am sorry I let you down over the Butlins idea. I have become incredibly broke of late and I completly forgot about the trip, despite the reminders I have been sent. There's no reason why however we can't do something nearer to the summer, such as a theme park stop-over trip?

In spite of not joining the Lost bandwagon earlier when it was being braodcasted here in the UK, I have finally given up the fight against watching the sheer brilliance of this drama. After a massive Lost marathon, I have caught up with Chris and Greg now up to Episode 17 and look forward to the (hopefully question answering) climax.



Other things I should mention include my recent trip to Ludlow and the footballing news in my life at the moment. Ludlow was very nice - Jen and I went on our Saturday off from work - and we are going back because the castle had closed before we got there! Pictures of our day are on my new pictures website. Just in case I haven't stated on the blog before, I am proud to mention that I play for two teams now, my beloved QVR and the TTFE league team. The QVR recently made the playoffs after a thrilling 4-3 win over the top team in the division in the final game of the season. TTFE however have not recorded their first win just yet, but it's coming. Please check out all these sites if you are interested.