Democracy Gone Mad

I've spent the afternoon designing 3 pictures on a free program called GIMP. Yes, that says GIMP. As I mentioned in the previous post, I am hoping to get a picture at the top of my blog, and the 3 pics I've knocked up are my 3 candidates. So, who's going to choose the winner? Me? Merciless Public? Lizo Mzimba? 

Actually, it's you. If you look to the right of this, you should find a poll, giving you the choice of voting for either Picture 1, Picture 2, or, funnily enough, Picture 3. Underneath this text, you should find the 3 pics, in order, and I'll see if I can put them underneath the poll itself for future reference. As stated above, the winning pic gets the honour of being the picture that adorns my blog, so choose wisely, dear readers - this will be the first thing new visitors will see. I think the poll lasts for 7 days, so if you need time to think about your choice, you're maybe thinking a bit too much about it. Here we go:

Pics will always be in this order - 1) Ana 2) Lovejoy 3) Ronnie. To make it even more democratic, I shall not vote - I'm leaving it upto you folks. The more votes, the more the people are represented. Now go and vote for Picture 1, for God's sake.

EDIT: It turns out I can't just have 3 options, I have to have 4, hence the "None of them" option. If that wins, I'll have a picture of a chicken, or something. Mmm, chicken.

Technical Matters

Hullo everyone, nothing exciting to blog about today, but I do need help with two technical thingies and I trust my dear readers to help me out.

Firstly, something Merciless Public drew my attention to. When looking at someone's "blog roll", the custom is for the person's latest blog entry to be listed underneath their title. e.g. (at the time of writing) underneath The Plashing Vole it says "Mmmm Vinyl" -  http://thiswayfortrouble.blogspot.com/ Under my title, "The Rise and Rise..." there is nothing. 

Also, Merciless Public informs me that my updates don't even appear on his Reading List thing either, even though he's following me. Does anyone know why this might be? I presume I've clicked on something, somewhere, somehow, but I can't for the life of me work out how to fix it. 

Secondly, I'm looking to make a picture to go at the top of my blog. I was thinking of doing a collage thing, had a few ideas floating around. However, I don't have Photoshop, and I don't have the finances to purchase it. Is there a free program I can download that does the same stuff as Photoshop? Could I use "Paint"?

Any ideas/responses/suggestions for either of these would be greatly appreciated. I am a bit of a technophobe, you see. 

EDIT - I have fixed the first problem myself, as I'm a flipping genius. Now I just need help for software that is a free alternative to Photoshop. Any suggestions, dear readers?

You're crazy in the coconut!

I've had a really mad day so far. It all started, dear reader, last night.

Sunday nights around my house are roast dinner nights, without fail. About 6pm I wandered downstairs to ask father if he wanted to have a sneaky glass of sherry before dinner (shut your mouth, Merciless), something of a ritual for us on a Sunday night. I walked into the computer room...not there. Lounge...not there. Dining room...not there. Turns out father wasn't feeling very well, so he was asleep in bed, and mum was making pasta for dinner instead. Fair enough.

I thought nothing more of it, and after spending an interesting and productive night on the internet (no, not pornography, you sod) I collapsed into bed at 3am, looking forward to a long and marvellous sleep. Which promptly didn't materialise, as I was woken up at 7:30am. Dad still wasn't feeling brilliant, and now Mum was feeling sick, meaning it was up to little old me to take The Ginger Prince to school. I did that, came home, felt a bit tired (not long to go in this story, don't worry) so decided to go back to bed for a few more hours kip. Next thing I knew, I was being woken up by The Ginger One, at 3:30pm. I'm not joking, either. I have no idea how he got home, but I like the thought of him being like an animal, and having a homing instinct and getting home himself. More likely father picked him up, but there you go.

Anyway, I've just watched Countdown, and typed this. It's 16:13, and I feel like the day is just starting. There's absolutely no way I'm getting to sleep tonight. 

If you're still reading this, a) congratulations and b) you're mad. Have a video for your troubles - my favourite video at the moment:

Live-Blogging "Later with Jools Holland"

23:30 Ready? Good. Ive snuck in early, Newsnight Review still going on. With a bit about John Updike! Excellent. Coming up....Jools Holland...get ready people.

23:32 Turns out this Updike stuff is a book of poetry. Well, that can fuck right off. Jools coming soon!

23:35 Michael Crick! He's a United fan, wrote an excellent book about Sir Alex. Jools coming, I hope!

23:39 Coming up...Paolo Nutini, Grizzly Bear, Booker T (not the wrestler), Taylor Swift, Gurrumul, Manics.

23:41 Show opens up with the Manics doing their usual fare. It's got a bit shouty, it's very meh.

23:43 Paolo Nutini, he's Scottish, but sounds like he should be playing for AC Milan. I was going to say he looks like he's having a stroke, but I'm steering well clear of commenting on strokes, what with my blogging history. Behind him there's an elderly man with a terrible shirt and a black hat, not seemingly doing anything. Marvellous.

23:46 Hat man is playing harmonica. The song is harmless and awfully dull.

23:48 Taylor Swift. I have a soft spot for female vocalists, although this is the first time I've listened to young Taylor. She's quite cute, even though she has the number 13 painted on her hand. I hope Jools asks her why. The song is okay, bit too country for me though. Next to her is an emo playing guitar. I have no idea why.

23:51 Interview with Booker T (not the wrestler). Will always be a legend for me, if only for supplying the TMS theme. Jools is a terrible interviewer, although he's not doing too bad here.

Excellent bit just then - Jools: "He's great, isn't he? What was he like?" Booker T: "He's great!"

23:55 We're now having a clap-a-thon! Marvellous. Next, it's Grizzly Bear!

23:56 One of the Grizzly Bear guitarists looks like John Arne Riise. This song has a nice beat, but I'm not a fan of the lead singer. You may have noticed that I haven't really liked any song that's been on so far. This will not change.

00:01 Manics again, this one is actually okay, but they'll never hit the heights of "Design for Life" ever again. Nicky Wire still think he's a woman, and stop the presses! Richey Edwards is still dead.

00:04 I love the fact that during every show Jools has to find a piano from somewhere and have a boogie with someone. He's now with Booker T doing an instrumental cover of "Hey Ya" by Outkast. It's good, but I can't help feeling it's not what Booker T should be doing, and should just unleash "Soul Limbo".

00:08 Paolo Nutini again, who seems a bit of a twat, to be fair. Hat man has ditched the harmonica, is now at the back doing something which I cant quite work out. Nicky Wire is laughing at Paolo! Fight, fight, fight!

00:10 Gerroff, yer shit!

00:11 Interview time! Taylor Swift! She's cute, but when I look at her I can't help thinking of her family doing dubious things with each other, even though she's from PA, and not from the Deep South. Work it out, people. "She looks like a cat" says Merciless Public. Agreed. Jools is doing well tonight in the interviewing stakes!

00:14 I'm going to take a breather whilst Gurrumul (no idea) does his thing. This is pretty damn hard work, this. But enjoyable. 

00:23 Interview with Nicky Wire. He is wearing sunglasses indoors. No comment. Lots of talk about Richey, poignant but dull. (Jools holds up album with painting of girl on it) Jools: "So, who's this then?" Nicky: "It's a girl."

00:26 God, this is really cringeworthy. Jools has an on-going thing about not having any beer, or something. So someone gives him an inflatable bottle of beer. Not funny, stupid, pointless, adds nothing. Stop it, Jools. Nicky looks ashamed to be there.

00:28 Interview has gone on far too long. Back to the music please, Jools.

00:30 Back to Grizzly Bear. I can't say they are really my thing, but they're acceptable. Lead singer looks like a young Mark Steel, presumably without the Marxist leanings.

00:34 Another Jools jamming session, this time with Paolo. He's attempting Reggae, and my God, it's not working. "Just fuck off" says Merciless Public, and I'm inclined to agree. So far Booker T (not the wrestler) has done one song - a cover. More Booker, less Nutini.

00:38 The show is finishing with Manics. A legend like Booker T (not the wrestler) got to do one song. WTF, Jools? This is a very shouty Manics song, I can't work out any of the lyrics. 

00:41 Well, that's it kids. Thank god, because I'm knackered. Let me know what you think, whether you like the show or not, whether you watched it or not. I may make this a permanent thing on a Friday, who knows? Or I may get a life.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Premier League Predictions

I'll keep it brief this week, as I will be blogging again later (details to follow) and I don't wish to overburden my dear readers. Last week, Mark "Lawro" Lawrenson got 6 results right, with 2 perfect scores. Ewarwoowar got 6 results right, with 1 perfect score. Unbelievable, I don't know what I have to do to beat this bastard. ("Get your predictions right", yes thanks for that)

That makes it Lawro 5-2 Ewarwoowar overall. I have nothing left to play for but pride. Let's go!

Blackburn vs Portsmouth - I think both teams will stay up. I find both teams boring. 2-0

Bolton vs Sunderland - The Mackems are sliding, and Bolton are tough at home. 1-0

Everton vs Tottenham - No interest here. 2-2

Fulham vs Aston Villa - No interest here. 1-1

Hull vs Stoke - I think Hull are in big trouble, they need points and they need them now. 1-0

West Brom vs Wigan - No interest here. Maybe one last hurrah for WBA here. 2-0

West Ham vs Liverpool - I fully expect the Scousers to win all their games now. 0-2

Man Utd vs Man City - Ooh, plenty of interest here. Citeh got a point at Anfield, and with Robinho in their team, they will always pose a threat. Tight, typical derby. 2-1

Arsenal vs Chelsea - Incredible to think that this fixture has nothing riding on it. 1-1

Newcastle vs Middlesbrough - Without doubt, the biggest game of the weekend. Lose it, and you are down. Draw, not really good enough for either team. Win it, and you have a chance. Tight, tight, tight, but I think the Toon will just nick it. 1-0

Coming up later tonight...my second attempt at "Live-blogging". Not a sporting event this time, but "Later with Jools Holland" where I will be offering my unique thoughts/criticisms/ramblings. If I enjoy it, and you do as well (doubtful) I might make this another regular Friday thing along with the Predictions. I dunno, we'll see. Anyway, if you're free from 11:35-12:40 tonight, join me! And we'll make some sweet music together. Maybe.

Mixed Bag #2

Firstly, FAO the Plashing Vole - many sorries for overreacting madly yesterday. You caught me at a bad moment, but that isn't an excuse. I did pop up to your office today to apologise face to face but you weren't in - I like the cartoon strip on the door though.

Also, many thanks to Merciless Public who tried telling me at the time that I was being stupid and had the wrong end of the stick. I think it takes cajones for someone to tell their friend that they're being an idiot - you're a good friend Merciless.

Secondly, I've had a visitor from Malta, who stumbled upon my blog searching for info about Peter Ebdon. Is that you, Tony Drago?!

Thirdly, FAO Cynical Ben - you're confusing me. It seems every blog I read nowadays is secretly you. On the train going into uni today I twigged that "Radford Sallow" is probably you as well, which means you now have 3 alter egos. How very odd.

EDIT - And another alter ego created since I started writing this entry. Mad.

Fourthly, I met our window cleaner at Uni today, very crazy. Had a nice chat with him, turns out he has a contract with the Uni. Good for him. To clean the windows there, obviously.

Finally, if you're female, and you were standing at Wolverhampton train station earlier today wearing a blue jumper with red hearts on it, can I marry you please? 

PREMIER LEAGUE PREDICTIONS TONIGHT!

Oh shit, not you Manny.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090507&content_id=4603850&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

The vast majority of people reading this won't give a flying fig, or know who he is. Well, in the 5 years I've been watching baseball, Manny is probably the 2nd best hitter I've seen. I went to a Boston game last year, a) because it's an experience everyone should have but primarily b) to see Manny play. I know full well the history of baseball and drugs, but it still leaves me incredibly saddened. The steroid taking that took place a few years ago was an issue of morals and ethics. This is just fucking stupid.

Worth noting that sources, notably Peter Gammons, are saying it isn't steroids, but something in a prescription that Manny got from his doctor which seemed to have been cleared by MLB.

HOWEVER

Positive steroid test results

* First positive test result: 50 game suspension
* Second positive test result: 100 game suspension
* Third positive test result: lifetime ban

All suspensions are without pay.

Manny hasn't been found positive for anything before (at least, not revealed to the public) so being placed with a 50 game ban does not look good for him, right now. It doesn't look good for baseball, either.