I know, I am terrible at keeping this journal updated - the result of having work and not much else to write about.

    The fire in Dick Cheney's office has set conspiracy theorists into overdrive, and the lads and ladies at CHB have joined in. Some of the suggestions here are funny. Yet, as much as I would love for some of these theories to be true so that the Nazi dictatorship "democratically-elected" administration in Washington can be toppled, I think it best to sit on the fence and await more evidence.

    Work has left me quite tired. Being Christmas, the store was open for extended hours, and I have done a lot of those extended hours. The result is that it left me nearly burned out (3 weeks of 40+ hours, working my socks off almost all that time  - for someone who has not done so many hours of hard physical work before, it takes a lot out of me). Still, I cannot complain about the pay packet.

    Ex-landlord has finally coughed up the remained of the money he owes me - taken over two moths to get it, though.

    I move back to Lichfield tomorrow - or, at least, I start to. Although it has taken nearly two weeks longer than anticipated (stupid solicitors!), the keys are now ours and we will be starting the moving tomorrow and over the weekend. Things look good for a Christmas in my new place.

    People will do anything to get in the papers. I read earlier in the Metro paper that in America, a couple got married in a public toilets, with the bride wearing a dress made of toilet paper -  all to win a stupid contest on this website! +++OUT OF CHEESE ERROR+++

    Anyway, time to sign out and get some dinner. It is cold, and I am hungry. I think a beef hotpot is just the thing.

    Okay, one quick check of my journal revealed that I have not updated in six weeks. Oops. Two main reasons for this: 1 - work, 2 - nothing really worth writing about, besides the usual (ie, we're all going to hell in a hand-basket because we're such a bunch of dumb sheep being led by blind/deaf/dumber shepherds towards a cliff edge - metaphorically speaking).

    The title of this post refers to something I noticed yesterday whilst standing in a queue to pay for my food shopping, as well as something I read in a copy of the Sun (yes, I know I detest the damn tabloids and normally would not touch a copy unless I were wearing plastic gloves, but there's nothing else to read in the staff canteen at Selfridges whilst on my lunch breaks).
    It refers to our society's obsession with the cult of celebrity.
    Newspapers sit in an untidy rack near the cigarette kiosk, whilst nearby sit shelves full of gossip and TV mags. Even the checkouts have shelves full of these things. All have headlines about celebrities as if they were so critically important, more so than the headlines on the newspapers.
    Newspapers report on events in Iraq and other places abroad, soldiers and innocent people dying as politicians here and abroad try to bring us closer to a Big Brother state. Yet we sheep take no notice - it appears people think we are more interested in the fact that Britney is losing some hair, or that someone in "I'm a Celebrity..." dressed in a skimpy bikini for a wash, or that fictional characters in a soap opera are having an affair, etc etc.
    Seriously, we need to sort out our priorities. People we put in power are trying to royally screw us over some more, and yet we don't notice - we'd rather read about the antics of "celebrities" and watch soap operas and dramas that have lost all originality and just put out the same old plotlines over and over again.
    Jeremy Clarkson, in an article for the Sun, puts it best:
    "I find it extraordinary that thousands and thousands of the country’s young men are far from home fighting, and dying. But what I find even more extraordinary is that back at home people are talking about whether Britney Spears has remembered to put on any pants"

    Other news: me and sister have found a place in Lichfield, and should get the keys in about 2 or 3 weeks time. We may have to do some decorating, but it won't be critically important. Mum has been able to get hold of some furniture from friends for us to have, so we should be set up before Christmas. Also, family Christmas meal in about four weeks time, along with sisters birthday. Need to think of a present for her.

    I have finally found some work! It isn't much - seasonal waiter at the Gallery Restaurant at Selfridges in the Bullring - but it fits my previous experience in work, it pays decently, and it is temporary - meaning once my contract expires, I can find work closer to home, having gained another work-based reference and recent work experience.

    Dermot has posted some cracker-links. Amongst the best are:
- Wrist watches made from the Titanic. Something I think may actually be illegal, and which will be extremely expensive. As a know-it-all about the Titanic, I consider this extremely bad taste and possibly even sacrilegious!
- RFIDs in passports. Serious issue is raised in the article - storing all your personal data on a chip which could end up being stolen by someone with the right know-how and/or equipment. Although I fail to see how a $18 (£9) wallet could stop this.
- A prank on telemarketers. The bane of sane people's existences. These people always call at the most inconvenient times. Thus, it is OK to prank them. Seriously, it is OK. Even in the way depicted here.

    Fancy a round-the-world trip? It is what a lot of TV competition shows have offered as prizes. Well, even you can go on one without being a "Lucky  Winner"TM. One snag; you can only use human power to travel - no airlines, cross-continental rail lines or ocean liners, you use only your two legs.
    What? Sounds too hard? Would take too long? Don't be such a bunch of wusses - this man did. Only took him 13 years as well. Speaking of which, I heartily congratulate Jason Lewis for this epic feat. If we ever meet, I'll buy him a pint!

    Have moved to my brothers. The room is small and crammed full of my things, but there is still room to move about and get to my computer without tripping over things. And on top of that, the mattress is in decent condition. I have also been to a job interview at Selfridges in the Bullring in B'ham, working in their Gallery Restaurant. I am happy to report that the interview went really well and I have a work trial on Monday - a few hours to get the ropes of the place, followed possibly by full-time employment later that week. Things are looking much better in Thomas-Land.

    To confound such things, my (now ex-) landlord is playing silly buggers with the monies he owes me. Me and Sam drive all the way to Wolverhampton today for 10:45, and end up sitting around for THREE hours waiting for the landlord to show up and give me back my money, and he never shows up. Some excuse of having a "critical delivery of concrete" to deal with meant he decided to first keep us waiting the three hours and then to never show up. A new meeting has been arranged for tomorrow afternoon, and if he doesn't show up then, I'll drop him a "threat" of legal action. That should put a fire up his arse!

    Regular perusal of Bash.org constantly comes up with very funny quotes. Some of my favorites are below:
One: <@Yenkaz> "You also agree that you will not use these products for any purposes prohibited by United States law, including, without limitation, the development, design, manufacture or production of missiles, or nuclear, chemical or biological weapons."
<@Yenkaz> i mean.. wtf
<@Yenkaz> I'd admire anyone capable of using itunes to produce any weapon of mass destruction.
Two: <Zyrjello> E-mail from my comp sci professor: "I want to be clear on this point, because several people have asked me. The release of HALO3, tonight, does NOT qualify as a religious holiday."
[I read this last one and weep, because I have thus far been unable to purchase this piece of gaming history!]
Three: * nqbw is watching a pair of lesbians, one serving, one receiving.
<nqbw> To clarify, I am watching Wimbledon.

    I have been up since 8am this morning, and I have been packing this time yesterday, stopping only for six hours sleep. Along the way, I have been cleaning my room. Full works; floors vacuumed, windows cleaned, mirrors and woodwork polished. I will have to repeat this process for every single room in this house on Thursday evening/Friday morning, when everything else of mine has been cleaned out. So, all things considered, I am feeling quite exhausted and need a breather - hence this post.

    I never realised how much stuff I had until I began packing it, and then realised that it will be fortunate if we can get most of it out by the end of Thursday, leaving behind my clothes and one or two large items to be moved out, along with myself, on Friday.

    Finishing the cleaning should only a few hours Thursday/Friday. Bathroom and kitchen should only be an hour at most for both. Living room, half hour. And that is even taking into consideration that I have to make sure everything is spotless.

    Nevertheless, I know with almost certainty that the landlord will try to find some excuses to not give me back all my deposit money. I already know he is going to try to charge me for advertising fees he has had to pay to get new tenants into the house (£30, I heard him say). I am pretty sure that he will also charge me for cleaning - no matter how clean I make it, he will find something which "isn't clean" to charge me £50 for. Methinks some legal research and in-advance thinking on what to say is necessary before I go to get my deposit money back.

    *sighs*. Break over. Best do the hallway, stairs and landing.

    I sit up here at my computer, at 10pm and trying my hardest to hold back yet another yawn. I should be trying to get some sleep, but once again a house alarm is going off. It isn't particularly loud, or coming from the house next door - it is coming from another street - or conventional: the 'alarm' is a flat tone. One, however, that has continued without end since I first noticed it at 3PM THIS AFTERNOON!!
    And which, despite me keeping my bedroom windows firmly closed, I can still hear at the edge of my hearing and which is therefore particularly annoying. I will go so far as to describe it as white noise - something which, I understand, can drive even special forces soldiers mad.

    So, in this state of (hopefully temporary) insomnia, I will post and link some interesting articles from the past few days.

- Anyone recall me posting something a long time back about PSCs (Private Security Companies) and their role in Iraq, with particular reference to Blackwater? Well, it appears their attempts at playing soldiers has earned them all one way tickets out of Iraq. Follow this article with a commentary from one of CHB's regular columnists - both his new article and his original piece written back in April. Follow this up with my link to the Frontline programs and you'll know about as much as I do.
- Speaking of Blackwater, if you have access to Google Earth, try the following.
    1) Look at this photo (courtesy of CHB). Notice how big and well developed the site is.
    2) Load up Google Earth and enter the following GPS co-ordinates -  36°27'16.07"N  76°12'10.69"W.
    3) Check you have the right site, and then compare pictures.
The Google Earth picture (at the time I have checked) showed a large site, but which had several undeveloped areas (the south western areas are free of the large buildings, as well as the wooded area to the west). That picture was taken no more that three years ago, I guess. The paranoid part of me says that the company would not have developed so large and complex a site in such a small time frame unless they had big money backing it, and foresaw a large role for their company in the future. Result: my nerves start to itch.
- New Total War series game on the war - Empires Total War looks at the Revolutionary and Napoleonic eras, and for the first time decided to include real-time naval battles. Real-Time. Naval Battles. I think I've fallen in love!

    Hang on one sec. [cranes hearing in vague direction of "robbed" house] Someone has FINALLY shut that house alarm off. Hurrah!!! Now, I can actually get some sleep - if I don't freeze to death in the process. Night all.

    Oh my word - I want one!!

    Well, not one exactly like this, but the principle is enough to make me go weak at the knees.

    Only mine wouldn't be this particular ship: I'd want to build mine as either a Nelson-class battleship or an aircraft carrier of some description - preferably with working R/C aircraft! Yep, I'm mad!

    Other news: had a good day at my graduation, got some nice pictures. Also just received an invitation for a job interview with a company in Birmingham. Things are, for the moment, looking up.

    OK, according to Live Journal, I haven't updated in three weeks. Whilst I have a few rants on my mind, I may as well let rip.

    Halo 3 in 2.5 weeks! Yay!! Despite a critical lack of money, I'm keeping some to one side for this beauty. I would have bought MoH: Airborne and Bioshock by now, but they are not necessary at the moment so they can wait.

    Luciano Pavarotti departs this earth. I honour his memory with this clip - in a non-offensive way.

    This took guts from a man who may find himself with no job in a few weeks: Judge strikes down part of Patriot Act.

    I'm glad at the news of British troops leaving Basra Palace. It is a sure sign that we are getting the frak out of there. Whilst I deplore suggestions it was a shameful retreat, I cannot help but think there is a basis for that argument. However, I cannot find a basis for American accusations that we are "not doing our job". Let me put it this way: our objectives were to train and build Iraqi police and military, and then once they were trained and ready, we hand over to them. Methinks we've met those objectives.

    Speaking of retreats pull-outs, I'm pulling out of Wolverhampton. I've had enough of this Black Country Cesspit. Having tried and failed for three months to find work, and running out of money, I say to my landlord and housemate I would need to go on benefits for a couple of months whilst I find work. To keep a long story short, they went apeshit. They didn't say why, but I guessed later that doing so may expose some of the landlord's dodgy dealings. Threatened with eviction if I did so, I caved in.
    A word with family later, and I decided to leave. Plan is, my sister and I will share a house in either Lichfield or Tamworth. I leave here at the end of this month. And it will be a sweet day when I do so, for I swear landlord et al. are starting to deliberately make life difficult for me.

    Dermot's providing a number of very good links recently:
    -   Remember this gem from my brother about US healthcare? Well, factor this into the equation, and you get a situation which Billy    Connolly describes well: "Doctors sat behind cash tills all day".
    -   What is this? You call this fashion? I think my sister would, but I echo Dermot's plea that this trend not reach Europe.

    And that is that for now. A couple of TV programmes on in a while, and I need a brew.

    Some more funny quotes from bash.org, along with links to them so you cannot accuse me of making them up!

1: <SaxxonPike> mmm, steak
<SLASHSPIT> you guys don't respect the environment, do you?
<SaxxonPike> I respect a good dinner
<SLASHSPIT> how can you eat that? cows are like one of the largest contributors of methane gas
<SLASHSPIT> which contributes to global warming and stuff
<SLASHSPIT> so what are you all doing for the environment?
<SaxxonPike> I eat the fucking cows

2: <+Inca> Lydia: Why did George Bush cross the road?
<+Inca> Lydia: Because his penis was stuck in the chicken!
<+Inca> I have strange friends
<+spock1104> he fucked the chicken and didn't have an exit strategy >_>
[Loved this one especially]

3: gazz: A bullet may have your name on it, but shrapnel is addressed "to whom it may concern"

4: <Guo_Si> Hey, you know what sucks?
<TheXPhial> vaccuums
<Guo_Si> Hey, you know what sucks in a metaphorical sense?
<TheXPhial> black holes
<Guo_Si> Hey, you know what just isn't cool?
<TheXPhial> lava?

5: <xterm> The problem with America is stupidity. I'm not saying there should be a capital punishment for stupidity, but why don't we just take the safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself?

Enough for now. Signing out.

    My extended 21st birthday celebrations have more-or-less come to an end. It has been really good. Got really pished on the night in question (I'm not touching Jack Daniels again for a long time!) had a nice meal with family during the week, and had a really good get-together with Big Dan, Ads and others in Lichfield the Saturday night - and I was able to get a nice young lady's phone number out of it as well. Things are looking up this end.

    That's the good stuff. Here comes the bad.

    I held out a small glimmer of hope that our new PM would be different from the previous one and actually put some distance between ourselves and the idiot in the Oval Office. I was wrong. If anything, he's being a bigger cheerleader of King George than Tony was.

    The onward march of Nazism Freedom in America. Be arrested for taking pictures of buildings or of amateur Brownshirts heroic policemen abusing the law doing their jobs selflessly!

    The flip side of the coin of "eco-friendlier" Europe: most won't give up their cars. Apparently, only 21% of Europeans use public transport regularly. I am proud to say I am part of this minority.
    A similar number won't give up cars at all, even if trains and buses ran more frequently and on time, using solar power or vegetable oil. I'll say nothing on the matter, because I may damage my computer monitor in the process.

    That's all from this end. If you'll excuse me, I have a date to arrange.