What's Doing

"The general movement in all of this is away from the individual’s ownership of his identity, towards a centralization of identity-validation. Away from a world in which individual persons say who they are, towards a world in which the state says to the individual: we know who you are."

My stellar run in the Wakehurst Tennis Club mens doubles competition has come to an end. After a glorious first round victory Dave W and I were bundled out this morning 6-1, 6-1. To describe my performance as woeful would be talking my game up. Of course as soon as we finished I was scampering around the court and hitting winners from everywhere. C’est la vie.

Yesterday was my first Saturday off for a month so we took a stroll into Manly for a quick walk around the aquarium. When we got into the town centre we realised that something was up. It was the Manly Food and Wine Festival.

In previous years this has taken on the aspect of something of a pilgrimage. It’s been the venue, and excuse for, some heroic levels of drinking. Not to mention the occasional tipple by my good self. This year, and I’ll excuse myself because I have been working quite hard, it’s imminence somewhat slipped us by. Consequently we were only there for an hour or so and celebrated with a couple of glasses of Allandale’s Verdelho and a plate of take away from Ribs ‘n Rumps before we hurried home for Mother and child snooze time.

In earth shattering news, another blog has been created. Today is the official launch of "Is It Really This Bad?" a discussion of the delights of Australian television. Why should you be interested? Because Ciaran and I are your genial hosts and finger pointing accusers.

Go, read and marvel at the indescribable banality that is Australian television. Feel free to pity us if you live somewhere with better broadcast entertainment. Above all leave a comment and let us feel the blog love. I thank you.

Yes folks, Top Gear is back on BBC2 and thanks to the wonders of this here internet those of us outside the mother country get to watch it as well. The title of the post is a quote from the ever quotable Jeremy Clarkson, who was referring to Honda drivers.

I’ve been somewhat remiss of late and haven’t been keeping you, dear reader, abreast of developments here Chez Todd. I’ve spent the last four Saturdays working and have (apparently) been negligent of my toddler wrangling duties. I’ve also started an photography course at the local evening college. Which means that in another five weeks time you will be able to call me David Bailey without the irony.

It’s also annual competition time at my tennis club. A brief but spectacular appearance in the mixed doubles on Sunday leaves me plenty of time to concentrate on my game for the mens doubles tomorrow and the singles next week. I expect to be all conquering. Or possibly not. If you’ve ever seen me play tennis you’ll know which is the more likely.

It was SWMBO‘s birthday a couple of weeks ago and one of her presents has just arrived. Courtesy of Outraged and I.M.O.T. she received a collection of chocolates, crisps and KP Dry Roasted peanuts. Cheers Lewis family, the nuts are lovely.

Todd Too is continuing to develop exactly in line with the manual and was examined by the obstetrician this morning. All being well I’ll be taking a couple of weeks off work in about seven weeks time. Of course, SWMBO is convinced that the blighter will be early, but then she always looks on the bright side.

Finally, all things being equal we should exchange contracts on the first part of our extensive property portfolio on Thursday. Wish us luck.

Update: Another choice quote from Mr Clarkson in the first episode of the new series; "Oh no, I appear to have bought Puff Daddy’s car to the Somme"

Look everyone Jo Davis has started a blog. It’s a shame that the content rivals my other blog in dullness, but a good start none the less. Welcome to the blogosphere Jo and can we have more cat pictures please?

Oh, and I would have left a welcome comment but it’s a little tricky without a blogger account. Any chance of letting the rest of us leave messages of thanks and appreciation after your words of wisdom?

I’m sorry, I couldn’t not point to this cracking review of the latest (and hopefully last) overblown space opera from Mr G. Lucas. It say everything that needs to be said about the film.

This is the last time I’ll mention "the Wars" I promise.

With a nod of the head to Simon, here are some answers to some semi-random questions;

Total volume of musc files on my computer: 14.37 Gb. Does that make me a lightweight?

The last CD I bought was: Ben Folds, Songs For Silverman – and it’s a corker.

Five songs I listen to a lot, or that mean a lot to me:

• Francis Dunnery – What’s He Gonna Say
• The Style Council – Cafe Bleu
• Ben Folds Five – Smoke
• Marillion – Just For The Record* (or maybe Go, it depends how many cold drinks I’ve consumed)
• The Wonder Stuff – Give, Give, Give me More, More, More

* This song contains possibly the finest lyric ever written – "It’s too late, it’s too far, I’m in two minds, and both of them are out of it at the bar." Choice.

Five people to whom I’m passing the baton:

1. The 70’s Throwback – naturally.
2. Ciaran P.S. Hennessy
3. Christopher Buck
4. I.M.O.T. – if only for the comedy value
5. S.L.A.H.W.H.M – a.k.a Iain M. Todd esq.

As a few people on the list don’t actually have web sites of their own (how very 1980s of them) I’ll accept an entry in the comments giving their answers.

If you are resident in the UK go and put your name to the petition against ID cards. The only excuse is if you can come up with a reason why ID cards are a good idea. If you can put it in the comments and if I can’t debunk it in about, ooh, ten minutes then you don’t have to sign up.

To pre-empt you, here is renowned security expert Bruce Schneier on why ID cards are a bad idea, how identification doesn’t necessarily aid security and once more on just what a bad idea national ID cards are.

I’ve long been a believer that it’s parents who screw their children up. I’m no exception and I should really get my apology in now.

Sorry JFGP. If it’s any consolation, it was all your mother’s idea.

The first and most crucial way that parents can afflict their offspring is by giving them a stupid name. We’ve all been in playgrounds and know how cruel other kids can be.

Sometimes it’s even so bad that we dream of a new name (Blodwyn, anyone?) So I think it’s about time I started naming and shaming.

Exhibit one; an ex-colleague of SWMBO recently had a baby boy. Which was nice. She then ruined his life by giving him the names "Talon Kai".

Exhibit two; Jason Lee, who played Banky Edwards in Chasing Amy has a son. His name is "Pilot Inspektor Lee". He may just survive because he lives in California and his dad is obviously mental, but he will still have a really daft name. I particularly admire the spelling of his middle name.