Thoughts For Today

[anarchist_nomad]

Writing this entry on the Oxford Tube[*], whilst listening to the soundtrack from Rent. Here are some recent thoughts from the mind of your friendly neighborhood Nomad:

• Why is it called "swine flu" anyway? I know a lot of people have a bone to pick about the media-induced hysteria over swine flu, and I agree with them. Yet my personal gripe is different. Before a month ago, when swine flu began making headlines, no one used the word "swine" to refer to real, physical animals. You might talk about metaphorical swine, and casting your metaphorical pearls before them, but no one actually ate swine, raised swine, or did anything else with swine. They were pigs. Remember way back when they were pigs? Why isn't it just pig flu?
  
  
• From the "Rent" soundtrack:
  Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
  Five hundred twenty-five thousand moments so dear[**]
  Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
  How do you measure, measure a year?
  
  In daylights, in sunsets
  In midnights, in cups of coffee
  In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife
  In five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
  How do you measure a year in the life?
  
  How about cheese?
  How about cheese?
  How about cheese?
  Measure in cheese
  
  Seasons of cheese
  Seasons of cheese
  
  
• In yesterday's entry, I promised two hundred points to the person who came up with the funniest title for the contents of the post. Several people submitted suggestions. But... who should get the points? Choosing such a valuable prize is not a responsibility to be shouldered lightly... so I ask you, dear readers, for your help. Which means -- that's right -- another poll! Whoever gets the most votes wins yesterday's points! Consider it the low budget version of Nomadic Idol.
  
  [Poll #1396845]

So, other than these thoughts, what has the Nomad been up to? Well, last night's ringing practice at St. Giles was much fun! I rang a couple of touches of Plain Bob Minor, and they went rather well. Soon, I think, I will be ready to ring a quarter peal of this on a working bell. I am quite excited about the prospect, as I have never rung a QP on a working bell before! I also rang a plain course of Grandsire Triples for the very first (and second) time. It went remarkably well! I hadn't realised until recently how similar Grandsire Triples is to Plain Bob Minor. Basically, the plain course is a cross between PB6 and Grandsire Doubles! Speaking of Grandsire Doubles, I continued to practice touches of this method. They are still in need of a lot of work, but progress is coming. Overall, it was an excellent practice, and I left it feeling rather chuffed!

This weekend promises to be a lot of fun, too! Tonight, cheshcat and bunnypip and I are going to the Oxford Playhouse to see a performance of the The Playboy of the Western World. Tomorrow is the HAM Day games party, featuring The Shinnin'... and Sunday I take off for a week in Japan! What are y'all doing this weekend, my friends?[***]

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[*] Big surprise, huh?

[**] I always wonder why six hundred of those minutes -- about ten hours -- are less dear than all the others.

[***] And if it doesn't involve coming to the HAM Day games party, why not??