I think micro-blogging is the way forward, for now at least. Most things can be said within the 140 character limit on Twitter. And if you have something more to say you can always put a link into a blog. Also people haven't got the time to read blogs. Micro-blogging is the ideal solution.
I joined Twitter over a year ago but didn't really get into it. I tried again recently and have found it to be a useful and enjoyable website. I went off Facebook a long time ago, too full of clutter and too slow. Twitter, for now at least, is quick and simple to use, though I read that adverts may be coming to the site. This may take the edge off its appeal.
This is me: http://twitter.com/parsley76
Friday, 2 April 2010
Sunday, 11 January 2009
John Dickson Carr
My first 10 John Dickson Carr books in order of preference:
1. The Hollow Man
2. The Judas Window
3. Papa La-Bas
4. The Emperor's Snuff Box
5. It Walks by Night
6. Fire, Burn
7. Captain Cutthroat
8. The Case of the Constant Suicides
9. The Corpse in the Waxworks
10. The Demoniacs
Thursday, 18 December 2008
My Favourite Film
Double Indemnity
I first saw this film during my University studies. I was doing a Film Noir module at the time and our lecturer played this film for us.
It's my favourite film because;
1. Mostly importantly, it's a great film.
2. I was a captive viewer dosed up on Film Noir theory.
These two factors combined to have a lasting impression on me. I simply adore everything about the film. Double Indemnity is your archetypal film noir. A story of greed and deception set in the urban sprawl of 1940s Los Angles. The tone is wonderfully down-beat in keeping with the ambiguous morality of the genre. The story is told in flashback and revolves around an elaborate insurance fraud. Barbara Stanwyck is sensational as the Femme Fatale. The film is a masterpiece in many ways.
My top three highlights:
1. The phenomenal dialogue
2. The intricate plot
3. The knock-out performances from the 3 leading stars; Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck & Edward G. Robinson.
The following quote was one of 400 nominated quotes in the American Film Institute's 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes list of the best film quotes in American film history:
Phyllis (Stanwyck): There's a speed limit in this state, Mr. Neff. 45 miles an hour.
Walter: How fast was I going, officer?
Phyllis: I'd say around 90.
Walter: Suppose you get down off your motorcycle and give me a ticket.
Phyllis: Suppose I let you off with a warning this time.
Walter: Suppose it doesn't take.
Phyllis: Suppose I have to whack you over the knuckles.
Walter: Suppose I bust out crying and put my head on your shoulder.
Phyllis: Suppose you try putting it on my husband's shoulder.
Walter: That tears it...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_Indemnity_%28film%29 copy
---
Originally posted at: http://iq.lycos.co.uk/qa/show/57681/?id=57681&aid=176017&withNeutral=
I first saw this film during my University studies. I was doing a Film Noir module at the time and our lecturer played this film for us.
It's my favourite film because;
1. Mostly importantly, it's a great film.
2. I was a captive viewer dosed up on Film Noir theory.
These two factors combined to have a lasting impression on me. I simply adore everything about the film. Double Indemnity is your archetypal film noir. A story of greed and deception set in the urban sprawl of 1940s Los Angles. The tone is wonderfully down-beat in keeping with the ambiguous morality of the genre. The story is told in flashback and revolves around an elaborate insurance fraud. Barbara Stanwyck is sensational as the Femme Fatale. The film is a masterpiece in many ways.
My top three highlights:
1. The phenomenal dialogue
2. The intricate plot
3. The knock-out performances from the 3 leading stars; Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck & Edward G. Robinson.
The following quote was one of 400 nominated quotes in the American Film Institute's 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes list of the best film quotes in American film history:
Phyllis (Stanwyck): There's a speed limit in this state, Mr. Neff. 45 miles an hour.
Walter: How fast was I going, officer?
Phyllis: I'd say around 90.
Walter: Suppose you get down off your motorcycle and give me a ticket.
Phyllis: Suppose I let you off with a warning this time.
Walter: Suppose it doesn't take.
Phyllis: Suppose I have to whack you over the knuckles.
Walter: Suppose I bust out crying and put my head on your shoulder.
Phyllis: Suppose you try putting it on my husband's shoulder.
Walter: That tears it...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_Indemnity_%28film%29 copy
---
Originally posted at: http://iq.lycos.co.uk/qa/show/57681/?id=57681&aid=176017&withNeutral=
Thursday, 11 September 2008
What makes me feel good?
Watching rugby union, listening to Stereolab, drinking red wine, having a hot bath, starting a book, sight of snow falling, squirrels running about, red sunsets, being indoors during a thunder storm, eating cauliflower cheese, waterfalls, the colour yellow, twenty minutes on my exercise-bike, waking-up in the middle of the night and thinking you have to go to work soon then realising it's Sunday morning, crisps, receiving a text message from a friend, taking clear photographs, not having to iron, Bank holidays, baby wipes, serotonin, Glamorgan winning at cricket, when the price of petrol drops, reading The Guardian, spelling difficult words correctly, answering questions on Mastermind, the shipping forecast, watching Q.I., recieiving no junk e-mail, quiet aisles in the supermarket, peace of mind, good health for my family …
---
Originally posted at:
Thursday, 4 September 2008
Rugby and all that
The domestic rugby season starts this weekend. Hasn't the summer gone quickly? When I say summer, in Britain it was just a few weeks in May. The kids had a very poor summer for their school holidays.
It's a Lions season this year and players will be busting a gut to try and get noticed for the squad selection. I expect to a see a great season of domestic rugby. It will be an interesting season for Wales' two big exports to the Guinness Premiership, Dwayne Peel and Michael Owen. Sale have snapped up the services of Dwayne and his increased exposure to an English audience will enhance his claims for Lions selection. If he has a good season I think he will be in with the mix for selection along with Mike Phillips, Mike Blair, Danny Care and Harry Elllis.
Michael Owen's move to Saracens was a surprise when it was announced last year. As a former Newport Dragons player Michael has been one of my favourite Welsh players for many years. For a forward he has great handling abilities and is a prominent player when the game is open and loose. His biggest failing, and it's a very big failing for a forward, is that he is too soft. He's one of the least aggressive forwards I've ever seen. For a man of size, approx 6ft 4ins, he's way too soft. He doesn't hit rucks and mauls with enough power and when carrying the ball he's not dynamic enough. Compare him with someone like James Haskell of Wasps and you can see the difference.
The Guinness Premeirship is more brutal than the Magners league and it will be interesting to see how Michael copes with the increased intensity. I've noticed Saracens have given him his debut this Saturday at number 8. I would have used him as a lock.
Good luck Dwayne and Michael.
More rugby on my rugby blog:
http://blogsaway-parsley1976.blogspot.com/
It's a Lions season this year and players will be busting a gut to try and get noticed for the squad selection. I expect to a see a great season of domestic rugby. It will be an interesting season for Wales' two big exports to the Guinness Premiership, Dwayne Peel and Michael Owen. Sale have snapped up the services of Dwayne and his increased exposure to an English audience will enhance his claims for Lions selection. If he has a good season I think he will be in with the mix for selection along with Mike Phillips, Mike Blair, Danny Care and Harry Elllis.
Michael Owen's move to Saracens was a surprise when it was announced last year. As a former Newport Dragons player Michael has been one of my favourite Welsh players for many years. For a forward he has great handling abilities and is a prominent player when the game is open and loose. His biggest failing, and it's a very big failing for a forward, is that he is too soft. He's one of the least aggressive forwards I've ever seen. For a man of size, approx 6ft 4ins, he's way too soft. He doesn't hit rucks and mauls with enough power and when carrying the ball he's not dynamic enough. Compare him with someone like James Haskell of Wasps and you can see the difference.
The Guinness Premeirship is more brutal than the Magners league and it will be interesting to see how Michael copes with the increased intensity. I've noticed Saracens have given him his debut this Saturday at number 8. I would have used him as a lock.
Good luck Dwayne and Michael.
More rugby on my rugby blog:
http://blogsaway-parsley1976.blogspot.com/
Monday, 25 August 2008
Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
Well done to Team GB. The most succesful games for over 100 years - 19 Gold medals. Yes 19! In Atlanta 1996 we only won 1 Gold Medal.
The Olympics has been my favourite sporting event since Seoul 1988 - the first one I watched alot of. Foolishly I booked my summer holiday in April without checking the dates the Games were on. I ended up missing last the ten days. I was at work for the amazing Opening ceremony but was back home for the closing ceremony. Out of 19 British Gold Medals I saw only one live on television. Luckily it was the first one, Nicole Cooke's Gold in the road race. This Gold gave me the most pleasure. Nicole is a Welsh girl and has been a big star in Wales for at least the last five years. She was tipped to do well in Athens but crashed and could only finish 5th.
I watched the last hour of the Olympic race. It was raining buckets in Beijing. Awful conditions for a road race. It all came down to the last 250 metres. Rounding the last bend Nicole had slipped dramatically off the leading 3 riders. With only an uphill stretch to go it looked like her chances of a medal were over. I thought she had really blown it. Incredibly she dug deep and made up the gap and went on to forge ahead of the other riders to cross the line as the Olympic champion. Just awesome. Although the camera angle (head on) in the final straight was a joke as you couldn't tell who was in the lead. A terrible mistake by the tv broadcaster.
I did manage to keep upto date with the Beijing Olympic news while away by listening to Radio 5 live. It's not the same though is it?
Michael Phelps deserves a mention I suppose. So there it was. And Usain Bolt. He set a new World Record in the 200m - 19.30 seconds. 2 hundreths faster than Michael Johnson's old record. I remember that World Record in Atlanta 1996 like it was yesterday. A truly astonishing piece of sprinting. Michael Johnson has been one of my sporting heroes since. A peculiar upright style of sprinting that I've never seen since. And such a great guy as well. He does alot of work for BBC Sport and is always intelligent, articulate, passionate and insightful. A true legend. I can't say enough good things about him. So well done Usain for beating my hero's old record.
Thankfully the BBC Sport website has excellent video clips so I can watch all the highlights again.
My abiding memory of these Games well be Nicole Cooke's Gold. I must remember not to go on holiday for the next Olympic Games.
The Olympics has been my favourite sporting event since Seoul 1988 - the first one I watched alot of. Foolishly I booked my summer holiday in April without checking the dates the Games were on. I ended up missing last the ten days. I was at work for the amazing Opening ceremony but was back home for the closing ceremony. Out of 19 British Gold Medals I saw only one live on television. Luckily it was the first one, Nicole Cooke's Gold in the road race. This Gold gave me the most pleasure. Nicole is a Welsh girl and has been a big star in Wales for at least the last five years. She was tipped to do well in Athens but crashed and could only finish 5th.
I watched the last hour of the Olympic race. It was raining buckets in Beijing. Awful conditions for a road race. It all came down to the last 250 metres. Rounding the last bend Nicole had slipped dramatically off the leading 3 riders. With only an uphill stretch to go it looked like her chances of a medal were over. I thought she had really blown it. Incredibly she dug deep and made up the gap and went on to forge ahead of the other riders to cross the line as the Olympic champion. Just awesome. Although the camera angle (head on) in the final straight was a joke as you couldn't tell who was in the lead. A terrible mistake by the tv broadcaster.
I did manage to keep upto date with the Beijing Olympic news while away by listening to Radio 5 live. It's not the same though is it?
Michael Phelps deserves a mention I suppose. So there it was. And Usain Bolt. He set a new World Record in the 200m - 19.30 seconds. 2 hundreths faster than Michael Johnson's old record. I remember that World Record in Atlanta 1996 like it was yesterday. A truly astonishing piece of sprinting. Michael Johnson has been one of my sporting heroes since. A peculiar upright style of sprinting that I've never seen since. And such a great guy as well. He does alot of work for BBC Sport and is always intelligent, articulate, passionate and insightful. A true legend. I can't say enough good things about him. So well done Usain for beating my hero's old record.
Thankfully the BBC Sport website has excellent video clips so I can watch all the highlights again.
My abiding memory of these Games well be Nicole Cooke's Gold. I must remember not to go on holiday for the next Olympic Games.
Thursday, 10 July 2008
My Greatest addiction is...
Drinking mineral water.
It started when I was in University in 1996. I wanted a drink in a bottle that I could sip and re-seal. I've never been a big fan of fizzy drinks as I don't like the residual aftertaste of all those sugars and sweetners. I remember buying a brand called Ballygowan mineral water. I soon developed a taste for bottled water. I've never understood how people can say tap water and mineral water tastes the same. I can always pick up the flourides in tap water and it's a taste I don't like.
Starting to drink mineral water was one of the best things I ever did at University. I can't remember the last day I didn't have a glass of mineral water.
I've tried all of the major brands and there's not much difference in taste. Volvic is the most bitter tasting to me. I usally drink Brecon Carreg, Buxton or Highland Spring. Whichever is on special offer. Either £2.00 for 6 x 1.5 litre bottles or £1.18 for a 5 litre bottle of Buxton.
I take 1 litre of bottled water to work every day. I don't drink hot drinks at work. And I always keep a bottle of water beside my bed to sip during the night.
The one thing I think all hotel rooms should have is a "free" 1 litre bottle of mineral water.
When not drinking mineral water I drink fruit juices and the odd Coke or 7-Up. I find all fruit juices too sweet so I'll always add some mineral water to the juice - about 1 part water to 4 parts fruit juice. Tip: put the water in the glass first so that when the fruit juice goes in it mixes better.
Mineral water is my constant companion and I wouldn't want to live without it.
I'm so passionate about drinking water that I regularly support the chairty Wateraid. I know the money I donate makes a difference to people's lives. In the future I may look towards giving my time and energy to help hands-on with an overseas project.
Drinking mineral water is my greatest addcition. I love it!
---
Originally posted at:
http://iq.lycos.co.uk/qa/show/61824/What+is+your+greatest+addiction+%3F/?#a192854
It started when I was in University in 1996. I wanted a drink in a bottle that I could sip and re-seal. I've never been a big fan of fizzy drinks as I don't like the residual aftertaste of all those sugars and sweetners. I remember buying a brand called Ballygowan mineral water. I soon developed a taste for bottled water. I've never understood how people can say tap water and mineral water tastes the same. I can always pick up the flourides in tap water and it's a taste I don't like.
Starting to drink mineral water was one of the best things I ever did at University. I can't remember the last day I didn't have a glass of mineral water.
I've tried all of the major brands and there's not much difference in taste. Volvic is the most bitter tasting to me. I usally drink Brecon Carreg, Buxton or Highland Spring. Whichever is on special offer. Either £2.00 for 6 x 1.5 litre bottles or £1.18 for a 5 litre bottle of Buxton.
I take 1 litre of bottled water to work every day. I don't drink hot drinks at work. And I always keep a bottle of water beside my bed to sip during the night.
The one thing I think all hotel rooms should have is a "free" 1 litre bottle of mineral water.
When not drinking mineral water I drink fruit juices and the odd Coke or 7-Up. I find all fruit juices too sweet so I'll always add some mineral water to the juice - about 1 part water to 4 parts fruit juice. Tip: put the water in the glass first so that when the fruit juice goes in it mixes better.
Mineral water is my constant companion and I wouldn't want to live without it.
I'm so passionate about drinking water that I regularly support the chairty Wateraid. I know the money I donate makes a difference to people's lives. In the future I may look towards giving my time and energy to help hands-on with an overseas project.
Drinking mineral water is my greatest addcition. I love it!
---
Originally posted at:
http://iq.lycos.co.uk/qa/show/61824/What+is+your+greatest+addiction+%3F/?#a192854
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