Drugs are bad, mmmkay.

Hmmm.

I have a few friends who basically drink alcohol every weekend. I don’t record their habits or anything like that, but from what I can gather from conversation, they also watch a lot of television. These people are very nice and I like hanging around them, but they are not creative or productive people. They are not restless. They are not bored. They use the easy fix, and it is preventing them from doing what I do.

I left this comment:

I’m not sure I agree. I see your point, and it’s perfectly valid, I just don’t agree. For three reasons.

1) First off, and I point you to this discussion for reference: http://www.sitepoint.com/forums/showthread.php?t=204450, and saying that boredom/zapping/drugs kills creativity. I have no doubt that it’s often easier to switch on the telly and crack open a beer rather than getting on with that project you’ve been meaning to do for ages. But what about the people (in that discussion for starters) who swear blind that they’ve come up with their best work when they’ve been out of their tree? We’ve all seen the films where people get smacked up, see the pretty colours and dancing pigs, and all of a sudden they get some inspiration, it all makes sense.

2) Television and beer are only for bored people/you should specifically plan to watch something

I don’t watch a lot of television, I simply don’t have time. But when I do, it’s not always because there’s something I have to see. Sure, a few programs catch my eye which I will watch. But the rest is generally a load of guff. No, I watch TV because I want to be able to “switch off” as it were. Sit down, unwind. Relax. Take my mind off the day I’ve just had. I’ve either had a busy, brain-hurting day at work which I don’t need to think about anymore, or I’ve got in from working in the club and I need something to take my mind off work before bed. In either situation, I need something mind-numbing and easygoing that actually isn’t going to get my creative juices flowing.

3) All TV is uninspiring crap.

For the most-part it is. But how do you know unless you watch it? As a “creative” person, you must be open-minded enough to receive inspiration from any source. Not just walking down the road. Or getting off the bus. The TV, in a similar vain to the Internet, is an excellent source of information on subjects you’re not instinctively interested in. Switching on the TV and finding a program about sperm whales or the mating habits of small African tribespeople, might make you sit up and think “huh”. Might help you see things from a different viewpoint. People who schedule their viewing – “I must watch Eastenders!” – are the boring people, in my book.

Just my 2p.

I drink a lot (every day). I watch some television. I’m productive. There were too many contradictions in the blogpost itself (or with other posts in the same blog) to make any sort of real statement about it, but it seems to me, that those who make excuses about what other people do, who are more concerned with measuring themselves against other people, are the ones who are not fulfilling their potential.

Obviously, the definition of success in this context is critical. I’m certainly not your average, suit-wearing, short back and sides, teetotalling church-goer who is efficient and productive, and says my prayers before bedtime. Heck, I have a skinhead, three piercings, a large tattoo and a motorbike. I also hold down three jobs, have a busy and rewarding social/sporting life and I’m just finishing of my PhD. Do I earn 6 figures or have my name appearing in Time every week? Hell no. Am I successful? I think so. Am I happy? Yes.

I’d prefer to measure my success on the basis of am I a good person. Do I lead a purposeful life, where I can sit in the pub, with my mates, safe in the knowledge that my achievements, whatever they are, are sufficient that me and my mates are having a good time with each other? Sober or otherwise.

I’m a dick.

I’ve just spent the last 30 minutes or so looking through the Wordpress Wiki for a plugin that’d let me differentiate bits of posts that I’m quoting from others.

It was only when I really couldn’t find anything that I thought I’d double check the post entry form and realised it’s already there. Built right in. Along with loads of other guff I’d totally overlooked (like code printing).

Dumbass.

What is sex?

From the SmallNothings blog.

“Mom, what is sex?”

My 5 year old said this to me the other day. The question seemingly came out of thin air, as she asked while she was sitting on the couch watching Scoobie Doo.

Without thinking, I bravely poked my head out from behind my laptop and had every intention of telling her about the birds and bees. But, when I opened my mouth, all that came out was “well…”, I could feel my face turning red and turned away because I started laughing.

I looked back at her, and she had a straight face waiting for an explaination. I got up and sat with her on the couch and asked “What do you think sex is?”

She explained that sex was when you take off your pants and go over the fence into the bushes. (the bushes are what seperates our property from the school yard)

“Hmmm…” I said ” and then…”

“And then you rub your pee-pees together.” she said flatly.

Nice.

We had a good long, but easy-going discussion about the topic. She was very informative with mis-information her group of friends were talking about. Some of her 5 year old friends were “having sex”… taking turns and deciding who would be the next to “go behind the bushes”.

The discussion brought back memories of myself and the boy across the street from my childhood home being 4 years old. We learned what sex was from his older brother, and watching movies with kissing in them.
We “had sex” up in a tree in his backyard… or I should say, we kissed and played I’ll show you mine, if you show me yours.

Isn’t 5 years old the best age ?

Well that’s taught me something.

Asian Crisis

My thoughts and wishes to the hundreds of thousands of people affected by this tragedy. My brother was out in the Maldives at the time (and had been in Sri Lanka about three days before) but fortunately, aside from getting a bit wet, was OK.

It does somewhat put it in perspective when a single natural disaster can claim the lives of 100,000 people, and highlight the futility of the suicide bombs and other terrorist acts still taking place around the world. In the light of what has happened, can people not see that peace is the best way forward?

(that’s not intended to be particularly philosophical and/or change the world in the slightest, it just upsets me somewhat that in light of the huge loss of life through one disaster, people continue to take each other’s life.)

Merry Christmas

And all that bollocks. You’d think though, that for one day only, the spammers might take a rest, have a holiday, a little time off… alas no, for there was my festive edition of the usual SPAM favourites waiting for me this wintry morn. Hohoho.

I’m off for a drink.

Arrgh. Broken VCR.

My VCR is behaving weird. But not consistently. If I use it to watch TV, it’s fine. If I watch a recordable tape, it’s fine. If I watch a pre-recorded tape, it’s fucked. Got this weird interference all over the screen. The sound is fine (except for a very quiet high pitched sound) and you could still see the picture, but it’s just like someone is shaking the screen. It’s making me feel quite seasick.

Maybe it’s time for a DVD burner.

The face of English cricket.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.