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Sep. 20th, 2005 @ 11:04 am
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I have to confess I've not been reading my friend's list much recently. Computer problems and RL drama have been keeping me away.
I've also started thinking about a VSO again. It's something I've always wanted to do, and when I wrote to them a year or so back they said that when I had two years experience (which can include my time as an assistant psychologist) they'd find me a place somewhere (at the time, they said probably Sri Lanka, but that could change). I've now got two years experience, and they wrote to me recently asking if I was still interested, which I am.
It's a big thing, though. 18 months. I'd be teaching as well as practising. Apparently most speak English, but they'd also give me an intensive language course in the local language. I quite like languages, so that's okay.
Another thing keeping me away is that we're very shorthanded at work, and there's tons of paperwork. So I'm very busy there. And my computer has started a thing where it likes switching off at random intervals. Not fun.
I've also been getting absolutely killer headaches. They've been coming on really suddenly, and they really are awful - so painful I feel sick and can barely see. So I'm off to the doctors tomorrow.
So, that's where I've been. |
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Sep. 5th, 2005 @ 05:09 pm
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So, you know how Britain's giving America a lot of aid (now that Bush has finally decided he needs it)? Well, I'm really glad we are, because I live in an area prone to flooding, I lived in flooding areas in the past, and even small floods are devastating.
But it turns out that Bush isn't really that grateful for British aid. I mean, it's not like we're America's allies or anything. Because British tourists in New Orleans were given fuck all help.
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1562517,00.html
Although assistance was offered to US residents, British nationals were told they would have to fend for themselves. According to those who remain stranded in the stricken city, police had visited hotels and guest houses on the eve of the hurricane offering to evacuate Americans, but not Britons.
The order meant UK holidaymakers without cars were left helpless in the face of the hurricane. Some have been trapped in hotels and guest houses since the hurricane struck at 7am local time last Monday.
US operators have been refusing to accept collect calls from stranded Britons.
'Some of them are just hanging up even after they have explained they are trapped in New Orleans. It's like - what emergency?' said Scott. He added that conditions in the lobby were described as atrocious, with sewage up to knee level last night.
I've also heard of Australian and Canadian tourists left in similar circumstances. I guess it shouldn't be surprising - I mean, you are advised on your rights if you go to America. I guess I'm too used to travelling in Europe. |
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I don't know what it is about major disasters that brings out bitchiness, but the amount of it on the internet is amazing. I am going to slap the next person who says 'after everything America has done for the world, when we get hit by this, you do nothing.'
Leaving aside any other issues of what America has done for the world, plenty of foreign aid has been offered. The UN, Belgium, Canada, Russia, Japan, France, Germany, Britain, China, Australia, Jamaica, Honduras, Greece, Venezuela, the Organization of American States, NATO, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Greece, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, South Korea, Israel and the United Arab Emirates, have all offered aid.
Until recently, they were all being turned down. I believe that changed yesterday.
To give you an example, Canada actually had planes filled with supplies, ready to fly over the border to New Orleans. However, at the border, they were stopped and turned back.
And that's ignoring private donations, so please, please stop saying the rest of the world is doing nothing. Ask your government why they won't accept help. |
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Sep. 1st, 2005 @ 10:12 am
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I read a very interesting article in the Guardian about sexuality.
I forget where, but they did an experiment in which they showed straight, bisexual, and gay men and women porn tapes - of two women having sex, a man and woman having sex, and two men having sex.
Gay men got aroused at only the m/m tape. Straight men did at the f/f and m/f tapes. Bisexual men did at the m/m and m/f tapes. That's interesting, because it suggests being gay is not a choice/something you can help - gay men do not get aroused when women are involved.
But what I found more interesting was the women. All women got aroused at all three tapes, suggesting (to me at least) that women's sexual orientation is different to men's. It would explain how women are more willing to experiment, while men tend to stick to what they like - women, whatever their orientation, can get aroused by men or women.
I don't know what conclusions the researchers reacheds, as the article was very short and didn't say. I just thought I'd share :). |
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Aug. 31st, 2005 @ 08:58 am
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Well, I'm back. Holiday was...well, not quite disastrous, but getting there. After it rained for 26 hours the river we were camped beside flooded and we were evacuated into an Austrian army base with no women's bathroom.
So we come home, looking for a little sympathy, only to find out that our weather problems really aren't that bad. Hurricane Katrina makes a flooded campsite look like a puddle. The floods in New Orleans look horrific. I mean, Leeds floods, quite often, but I've never seen anything like that.
One thing I don't like about the coverage, though, is people calling it 'America's tsunami'. It's like they called the London bombings earlier 'Britain's 9/11'. It's not. It's just not the same. Not on the same scale at all, in lives lost or damage caused.
And I've already read one blog complaining about the lack of international help compared with the response to the Asian tsunami. They seem to have forgotten that America is the richest country in the world, while the countries the tsunami hit are some of the poorest. There is a slight difference. |
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Well, am about to set off on proper holiday. As ferry crossings are so much cheaper at night, Lou and I are setting off very soon to drive south, cross the channel, and then head to Austria! There we will camp for a week.
Having two holdiays means using up a lot of holiday from work, but it's definitely worth it. I mean, I love my family, but nobody could call them relaxing. This should hopefully be that. Also, it should hopefully be cheap. With all the driving, we'll only get a few days in Austria, but it should be worth it.
Anyway, bye-bye for a week or so!
Aug. 20th, 2005 @ 07:51 pm
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Cousin visited. That's my other bit of news. He's obsessed enough with Warhammer that he thinks travelling from Milan to Nottingham (Holy land of Warhammer, apparently) is an entirely sane thing to do.
We had an interesting conversation about his recent holiday. I thought he'd visited Naples, and so was getting a bit confused with his descriptions of the mountains. Turns out he actually visited Nepal. Not my fault. He has a bit of an accent.
Aug. 19th, 2005 @ 04:19 pm
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| » Mo Mowlam dies |
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4126986.stm
I suppose it's not really a surprise.But I'm still sad - she did a lot of good in Northern Ireland.
Aug. 19th, 2005 @ 03:55 pm
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I've been very good, comment-wise recently. I normally comment hardly anywhere, but recently? I've been commenting almost everywhere! I'm very proud.
New Nigel Tranter books are wonderful. I advise everyone to read them.
I want to say some stuff about political happenings, but honestly can't be bothered to put it all into words. Also, haven't really got the time. I'm only writing this because a client didn't show up (so what's new?).
Aug. 16th, 2005 @ 11:50 am
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4748063.stm
I love this guy. He describes the Israeli/Palestinian wall as 'the ultimate activity holiday destination for graffiti writers'.
Aug. 8th, 2005 @ 12:57 pm
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I'm back. Arrived home late last night. Because on holiday I pay no attention to the news, I only heard yesterday that Robin Cook had died.
He will be remembered as the best prime minister that never was, I'm sure. He was a brilliant politician, and man. His resigning over the Iraq war...whether you agree with him or not, he stuck to his principles and never got nasty or personal about the government. I am really sad he's gone. We need more politicians like him.
On a lighter note, I'm quite glad the mandatory family-holiday is now over, so I can look forward to the real one. I would say more, but I'm still fairly gutted.
Aug. 8th, 2005 @ 10:33 am
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Well, I've been having a fun few days.
On Monday, I feel down the stairs (don't laugh), managing to sprain my ankle and give myself concussion. Plus multiple bruises which still really hurt. Lou thought it was absolutely hysterical. It wasn't actually my fault - someone had left a clear plastic bag at the top of the stairs, and I slipped on it.
Anyway, after yanking it around a bit while I tried not to scream, the doctor declared it not broken. It is feeling slightly better, but I can still barely walk. And I'm going to visit assorted relatives for a week on Friday.
That's why I haven't really been replying to people and such. I've been too busy popping painkillers and moaning to anyone who'll listen.
Jul. 27th, 2005 @ 10:49 am
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More bombs in London. It's like the IRA again. When I was little I always used to be scared that my Dad would get blown up :(. But the four today just seemed kind of pathetic. I mean, four bombs, one injury...that's not really successful.
Jul. 21st, 2005 @ 06:56 pm
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We're having a 'reorganisation' at work.
A brief explanation...in the NHS, anyone working in child mental health is ranked. Tier One is made up of teachers, school nurses, health visitors...anyone who sees the child rountinely. Tier One is (supposed) to be the access point. All children start of on Tier One.
If they need to, they progress to Tier Two. Tier Two is when they need a little extra help...from the school nurse, health visitor, teachers, maybe a behavioural psychologist or cousellor but nothing serious.
Tier Three is the next step up. Tier Three involves social workers, psychologists, family therapists, multiple teachers, doctors, school nurse and health visitor, specialists etc. This is where I am.
(Tier Four generally involves hospitals. 'Nuff said.)
Anyway, it doesn't work like that. People on Tier One can't be arsed or don't understand that temper tantrums are normal, so they pass children they shouldn't onto Tier Two. And then Tier Two gets confused, passes some back to Tier One, loses the case files of others and draw a few out of a hat to pass onto us. (Well, it's not quite that bad, but almost.)
The reorganisation is supposed to made things better. It won't. We've now got extra groups supposed to act as filters between the tiers. For some reason, this involves us losing some of our best people and us having lots of extra paperwork.
I am not happy.
Jul. 19th, 2005 @ 01:23 pm
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| » Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince |
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I've just finished reading it, and oh my god. I feel sort of numb. Just...omg.
( cut for serious, book ruining spoilers )
Jul. 16th, 2005 @ 05:11 am
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Bit freaked out about the terrorists coming from Leeds. I live in Leeds. I live in the terrorist hotbed of Britain. I am freaked.
But I'm more excited about Harry Potter. 2 days!
Jul. 14th, 2005 @ 12:37 pm
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| » Book meme |
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1) The number of books I've owned?
Let's just say that I don't need insulation. The books lining the walls do fine.
2) The last book I bought?
Mistress of the Empire by Raymond E Feist and Janny Wurts. Fantasy-goodness.
3) The last book I read?
I'm in the middle of OotP preparing for Harry Potter 6, and getting very excited!
4) Five books that mean a lot to me: (in no particular order)
1. The Chronicles of Narnia, CS Lewis. First fantasy I ever read, and still some of my favourite books. As a child, I loved them. Really, really loved them. I had to buy new copies, my old ones were so battered.
2. Lord of the Rings, Tolkein. Just because I've probably read it more times than any other book.
3. Little Women. My grandmother gave me the copy she was given after passing her exams at school. And I used to act it out with my Barbie dolls. What more could you want?
4. Puffball. It's just a really beautiful, heart-breaking book. That has convinced me I never want to be pregnant.
5. Oh, I can't think of another! Um, maybe When She Was Good. Or the God of Small Things. Or The Kite-Runner. All made me cry. I read them whenever I feel the urge to get depressed. Actually, Things Can Only Get Better. Made me laugh, made me feel motivated and angry.
I should apologise to you all in advance. For probably the next two weeks, I will be geeking out about Harry Potter 6. I've reserved my place at a midnight opening already :).
Jul. 12th, 2005 @ 12:02 pm
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It's all very patriotic at the moment. Lots of 'I didn't think the French were that pissed off!' jokes.
The police seem a bit annoyed at the rudeness of the bombers. An American friend of mine thought this was so weird. It's because the IRA used to have codewords, which they'd phone the police up with before setting off a bomb. Very British. And now these new terrorists just come along and blow shit up! Someone should have explained to them that putting leaves on the line would be more effective. A friend in London is gutted. She only got one day off work.
Jul. 8th, 2005 @ 06:40 pm
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| » At least 39 dead, over 700 wounded. |
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http://www.livejournal.com/users/lithium_doll/140026.html
http://www.livejournal.com/users/tyrell/154027.html
There are others. All very funny. There are other, similar posts too.
I love the terrorist quote: Britain is now burning with fear, terror and panic in its northern, southern, eastern, and western quarters.
Well, no, actually. I'm not sure what you were trying to do, but I would chalk it up as a failure: us 1, you 0. It's tragic that people have died, but life goes on again tomorrow.
My dad is stuck in London, so is visiting some friends for the night.
New icon, made by ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) gizmometer. See ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif) metaquotes for explanation.
I'm a lot calmer now. At first I was a bit worried, what with the foreign networks screaming about hundreds of fatalities with the BBC was pedantically sticking at '2'. You've got to love it. Terrorists might have attacked and detroyed London's transport system, but we've got to check our facts!
Jul. 7th, 2005 @ 07:38 pm
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