BlogSnorkeller

Queer as folk

Off to Folk Britannia this weekend, you can read more about it here if you should so wish. And I might just be back blogging sooner than you think.

A Nocturnal Upon St Lucy's Day

'TIS the year's midnight, and it is the day's,
Lucy's, who scarce seven hours herself unmasks ;
The sun is spent, and now his flasks
Send forth light squibs, no constant rays ;
The world's whole sap is sunk ;
The general balm th' hydroptic earth hath drunk,
Whither, as to the bed's-feet, life is shrunk,
Dead and interr'd ; yet all these seem to laugh,
Compared with me, who am their epitaph.

Roman holiday

Just back from a highly entertaining few days in Roma, chasing scooters and shop keepers with a camera. After the trip to Paris last weekend, it's going to seem odd looking forward to a weekend at home. So, anybody fancy coming to New York?

Yer not from New York City, yer from Rotherham

Sure, I'm going out on a limb here, but if The Arctic Monkeys aren't the absolute and complete future of rock'n'roll, then I need my ears servicing. OK, so I've always been a sucker for bands from Sheffield, but if you're looking for the next step in the Beatles - Smiths - Roses - Oasis lineage, get yer ass over here, here and downloads from here.

It's been seven hours and one hundred days

It's been seven hours and one hundred days
Since u took your love away
I go out every night and sleep all day
Since u took your love away
Since u been gone I can do whatever I want
I can see whoever I choose
Eat my dinner in a fancy restaurant
But nothing
I said nothing can take away these blues,

'Cause nothing compares
Nothing compares 2 u

It's been so lonely without u here
Like a bird without a song
Nothing can stop these lonely tears from falling
Tell me baby where did I go wrong
I could put my arms around every girl I see
But they'd only remind me of you
I went to the doctor guess what he told me
Guess what he told me
He said boy u better have fun
No matter what u do
Cause it's the blues

'Cause nothing compares
Nothing compares 2 u

All the flowers that u planted mama
In the back yard
All died when u went away
I know that living with me baby was sometimes hard
But I'm willing to give it another try.

'Cause nothing compares
Nothing compares 2 u

iLaughed

And you might too...

Parinirvana Sutra

O bhikshus! Do not grieve! Even if I were to live in the world for as long as a kalpa, our coming together would have to end.

You should know that all things in the world are impermanent; coming together inevitably means parting. Do not be troubled, for this is the nature of life. Diligently practicing right effort, you must seek liberation immediately. Within the light of wisdom, destroy the darkness of ignorance. Nothing is secure. Everything in this life is precarious.

Always wholeheartedly seek the way of liberation. All things in the world, whether moving or non-moving, are characterised by disappearance and instability.

Stop now! Do not speak! Time is passing. I am about to cross over. This is my final teaching.

While you wait

I guess by "returning soon" I meant "returning at some stage". So while you wait, here's a couple of choice gems.

Firstly, if you've missed out on the new two-finger scrolling trackpad PowerBooks, here's a sneaky update to keep you going while you wait for a portable G5.

And secondly, here's a tidy method for adding screen-spanning to your lower-rent Mac, portable or otherwise.

As you were.

Sometimes

In a society that applauds and celebrates the vain, the gormless, the fatuous, while the real heroes go without acclaim, it's good to see a true hero getting some recognition.

BlogSnorkeller will be returning soon. While you wait, listen to what it might sound like inside Thom York's head.

Happy New Year

Although it's really just another day like any day, New Year makes me think about what was, what could have been, and what will be. It's also different for me this year because I feel like I've been handed a very special legacy which I need to continue. So, withou tfurther messing about, my New Year's resolutions: -

(1) We may be hit by a bus; we may be taken by cancer. Do I really live each day as if it's my last? No. So in 2005 I'll try my hardest to squeeze out every drop I can. I'll spend more time doing, and spend less time thinking about what I could do. I'll try to accept that all our days are numbered and that achievement is the antidote to borrrowed time.

(2) If you love somebody, it's easy to help them. I can't help that one person anymore, but I can use my time to help lots of people. By volunteering, I'll be making a difference.

(3) I'm sure that, like most people, there's plenty of things that I'm scared of or daunted by. In this year I'll try to understand that many people live day to day with life threatening situations. Are my challenges that big? Usually not. A sense of true perspective is what I need.

(4) Everybody needs some help sometimes. I'll be more open to getting help, and quicker to give help.

(5) Be slow to anger and quick to forgive. Says it all, really.

(6) Modern life makes it hard to stay in touch. This year I'l renew old friendships and make sure new friends become old ones.

(7) If you love somebody, tell them. It might be your last chance.

(8) "Oh my love, Oh you were a funny little thing." In 2004 I was blessed to discover many musicians new to me. In 2005 I'll keep my ears open and add my own voice too.

(9) Sock Monkeys rule. I'll love my Sock Monkeys and spread the Sock Monkey love.

(10) Just before she died, she said "don't cry baby". I may shed a million tears, but I won't cry.

So, 2005. It's a sadly diminished crowd I'm sending love to, but the love is just as strong. I'm so lucky that my friend knows that I love him equally in return. Still, a few pixels won't be wasted in telling him.

To conclude. Life may seem like long stay, but it's really a rapidly-ticking parking meter. We will live strong. We are rock.

The sun may be going down quickly, but we can light candles.

xxxx