Friday, October 28, 2005

A Bit of BBC, If You Please

Right, I think it's time we called for a bit of standards on the comments page attatched to here. After all how old are we all? Surely far to old to be descending in to silly comments of 'And your mum' when we can't think of anything clever to say. So from now on, we'll have less of that. It's juvenile and silly. Although having said that, I can't help but recall a trip to Tesco with an old housemate's mum. Oh, that was funny! The people involved know who they are...

Anyways, in mentions of all things BBC, I'm going to meet Russell T Davies at a book signing tomorrow. I'm quite nervous about it, but quite excited at the same time. I bet I say something stupid to him; I'm currently replaying the whole of Robot in my head for some reason, and the words 'Think Tank' keep appearing in my subconscious. Don't worry though, it's nothing to do with a Blur album. Have decided I'm gonna wear my Tom Baker hat though. Oh, and whilst we're on the subject of our good Time Lord, can I just mention the three National Television Awards picked up mid-week. Well deserved by all the recipients and to claim them in ITV's backyard as well? Stunning.

Friday, October 21, 2005

Am I Pretentious?

God, its been an age since I last posted anything here. Fear not though dear reader, we haven't all jumped ship; think of it more as a fallow period due to adjusting to a new routine of life. I've now started my Masters and things are going alright. At least I think so, I feel as though I'm gradually going through the gears work-wise, and it'll still be a couple of weeks until I get back up to full speed. Anyways, the course is about what I was expecting, which is a good thing, and the travelling is pretty good as well. That may all change when essays and deadlines start to appear, but until then, we're fine. My tutor seems really cool as well, which is always pretty handy, although I think I ask him too many (probably obvious) questions. Will still though have to try and remember not to make everything I write about be based around either Who, Battlestar Galactica or something similar. After all, I am studying television and not just sci-fi television.

However, over the last couple of days its come to my attention that both of my housemates think I'm pretentious. Quite frankly, I'm astounded! The grounds for these accusations are as follows: I use big words and make overtly long sentences, I eat posh food and I make them feel inferior some times. There were other reasons, but for the moment they elude me. Anyways, for now I want to tackle these issues individually:

1) On using big words and long sentences: I just feel that if you've got a certain amount of substance to your brain, why not use it? I think this taps in to my deep-rooted hate of being viewed as stupid, something that I was made to feel for the majority of last year with my (terrible) job, and subsequently I may have reacted against that. Additionally, I spent most of the time I was in Sixth Form having to play dumb to a few people, and so didn't want to do that anymore. If that offends, then I'm sorry, but I just happen to like big words.

2) On liking decent food: what the hell is wrong with that? I mean, you hear so many stories about the rubish that's in the food you buy that I feel that in buying decent food I'm not eating as much regurgitated chicken head as other people. Granted, all I'm probably doing is eating the same amount of regurgitated chicken head as anyone else, just in better packaging. However, in my head it counts for something. Anyways, I still buy a lot of Value produce, I just happen to like fresh bread! As for ready meals, I still eat them. However, when you spent three years living with someone that constantly told you that you could make the same yourself for cheaper, and it'd taste nicer, it kind of took hold. Subsequently, I now agree with that sentiment. Moreover, what's wrong with reading the Observer Food Monthly?

3) On making people feel inferior: err, I don't know what to say to that, suffice to say that I wasn't aware I did, and if I do I'm sorry. I never mean to make people feel that way. Granted, I don't suffer fools easily, and I do tend to put up a lot of barriers before I let people in, but that's just due to past experiences. If you're too open you just get taken for a ride, and so the second (or should that be fifth?) time around, you're a bit more cautious. I don't think that's grounds for being pretentious!

Cyber Control's (pretentious) Top 5:
Maximo Park - Apply Some Pressure
The Cooper Temple Clause - The Same Mistakes
The Rakes - 22 Grand Job
Headswim - Better Made
Elbow - Snowball

Wednesday, October 05, 2005

A Minor Issue

I keep getting this knawing, sick feeling in my stomach at the moment, and I don't know why it is. It feels like your gut aches, and then the damn thing keeps making embarassing noises. I wouldn't mind if I knew it was alcohol related, but I know that it isn't. If any reading has any idea basic medical reasoning as to why this is, I'd be most grateful.

Sunday, October 02, 2005

The Edge of Forever

I'm gonna be straight with you because, whilst I always believe in being honest with people, this is really scary. Tomorrow I start my Masters, and whilst I'm anxious in relation to a few factors (communting, time (then again I always seem to have anxieties in relation to time which I accredit to being lost within the Who universe)) I feel as though in no context can I f**k this up, whether that be socially or professionally. Obviously, I'd rather mess things up sociallly than professionally, as that's just me, but either way would be a major discrepency. After all, in relation to the social side of things, it was only after three years of being anxious within Undergraduate studies that I actually got to talk to most of the people that made me nervous, and they all turned out to be fantastic. I can't let that happen again. Anyways, It seems much more about Networking within the Academic world; making sure you know people going in to different institutions, and hoping they won't slag off your work. Granted someone's gonna play John Snow, but hopefully not someone you know...

OK, so this is all middle-class angst, and not as relevant as the needs of the working-class etc. Yes, I know and realise this but it, still affects me. There are still people I wish to see, and miss, from the Old Days, whether they be old housemates or friends long departed. Eitherways, when you're looking back, as well as forward, as well as presentley, it leaves you in a mess in relation to time. For whilst forever is open, the present is there to manipulate, and the past lays paths to the discourses that made you what you are.

Oh, on an indie note, Maximo Park's new release Apply Some Pressure, is well worth a listen, if only for the last four lyrical lines.