devolute.net

I’ve just finished my final year project for my degree which comprised of a 12,000 word report and writing a web-based error reporting system using PHP for use in the University of Hull computer labs. Whether it’ll ever get used is debatable but eitherway, my skill-set has grown. I’m glad it’s over, but I enjoyed doing it. I came home to Merseyside this weekend, at the same time as Condoleezza Rice as it happens. She visited Liverpool (which is a predominantly anti-war Lib Dem stronghold) and I read in The Echo (local paper) that there were 2000 protesters which is hardly surprising, but it’s nice to hear scousers making the effort. I find Condi interesting; she has such a lovely smile, yet is such a complete and utter bitch. I didn’t go into Liverpool. I’m only here with my family for a weekend and then returning to Hull.

Shockingly, the Internets has just informed me that the current UK number 1 is actually a song I like! This hasn’t happened for a very long time. Okay, it’s not a particularly amazing tune but it’s pretty cool. It’s by an act calling itself Gnarls Barkely which consists of rapper Cee-Lo and more interestingly, DJ Dangermouse. I’ve been enjoying Dangermouse since his famous ‘Grey Album‘ and I really dug the recent ‘Dangerdoom’ collaboration with MF Doom. So how is decent music advancing so far up the chart? Well it’s a combination of the fact that internet sales are being taken into account for the first time and that the song has (apparently) been used in a Radio 1 advert on prime-time BBC TV. Feels less special now doesn’t it? Still, just remind yourself that 3 weeks ago it was Chico Time at #1 (follow that link for fitting words courtesy of the ever-magnificent Charlie Brooker). Anyway, time to jump on a train. Laters.

Google maps is brilliant. Especially when people can leave each other charming messages like this. Search for “Billingley” on maps.google.co.uk then view the satellite photograph, zoom in a bit (3rd from the highest level of zoom will do) and go west (that’s left, people) a few hundred meters to the tan coloured field. Take that crop circles! A brief, yet confusing, suggestion for such frustration may be found in the villages wikipedia entry.

> View the exact location on google maps

via The Register

First things first. I like Greenpeace. They’re a group of well organised people who actually give a damn about our children and who can kick up a fuss to bring matters that need to be discussed into the limelight. I may not always agree with them (although more often than not, I do) but I love the way they open up intelligent debate. Hell… they even make me laugh sometimes! However, I feel they’ve really let me down with this latest advert. The question of nuclear power is one that this country definitely needs to answer. We can’t carry on as we are. We need something new, something different but I’m not convinced what… yet. However I do know that this type of scaremongering isn’t helpful.

Emissions, cost, disposal of waste, sustainability; all factors that need to be thought about, but risk of terrorism? I don’t think this is a healthy way to invoke intelligent debate. The video is blatantly designed to prey on the current scaremongering, reactionism and sensationalism that is prevalent in the less constructive mindset of today’s current climate. If we’re going down the path of “we can’t do that because of the risk of terrorism” then I’m never going to get on a bus again, or a train. Or go to a concert in a big city! If we think like this then the terrorists win. Come on Greenpeace. You’re better than this.

> Watch Greenpeace’s advert: ‘Your Worst Nightmare’

(note: It’s still not as sloppy a job as this anti-gun lobby effort.)

Bowie once didn’t sing; “Ashes to ashes, funk to funky, I’m evolved from a funkee monkey“. So fascinated have I been by the battles in US schools over the teaching of evolutionary theory that I never thought that we in the United Kingdom would be quite as sceptical of Mr. Darwins ideas. However, only 48% of us believe Darwins selected evolution theory to be correct and 40% of us think intelligent design should be taught in schools. If this is in Religious Education or Biology lessons the article doesn’t say. That’s the question which concerns me most.

The real cause of grief in the US isn’t; “Is the christian fundamentalists’ ideas on creationism correct”, but; “should I oppose the teaching of science in our childrens science lessons as my faith doesn’t recognise it as valid”. Fortunately this question isn’t being raised (yet!) as the division between scientific education and religion, or perhaps more importantly; the division between church and government, is perhaps a little more reasonable in the UK than it is in the US. Your thoughts, gentlemen please!

> View BBC news article

Another somewhat odd flickr find. According to the blurb here, The right-wing Reagan u.s. government was determined to undermine or overthrow the leftist government of Nicaragua. The CIA produced a small illustrated booklet to destabilise the Nicaraguan government and economic system. It instructed dissaffected individuals on acts of sabotage they could carry out to this end.

If it is for real, then it’s a bit sad to think that one country could treat another like that. Regardless; it makes pretty comical viewing.

> Just don’t try this at home

“If somebody told you that Intelligent Design Theory could have anti-Christian implications, you might get exasperated, and understandably so, given the political leanings of the theory’s proponents. But, in fact, the harder you look at Intelligent Design, the less genuinely Christian it feels.”

The ID argument which seems to be raging quite fiercely in the US at the moment is one that I often find very interesting. This article at therevealer.org is a good one. It takes a somewhat less frequently seen approach and reminds us again that not all christians are creationists! I’ll be reading those comments just as soon as I get this exam out of the way. grrrrr…

It’s a hard time for Pastafarians at Christmas who must be asking WWFSMD? Bless ‘em.