fiction?

Well you gotta have an opinion! I mean do you think that God came down from heaven ... ?

- Vince Vega, Pulp Fiction

christmas-ish

also, I'm well on the way to being .com, and thanks to microsoft, at no cost. win

happy Christmas

about a boy

the thing is, a person's life is like a tv show. I was the star of The Will Show. and The Will Show wasn't an ensemble drama. guests came and went, but I was the regular. it came down to me and me alone. if Marcus' mum couldn't manage her own show, if her ratings were falling, it was sad, but that was her problem.

'Will' - About a Boy

is there any other conclusion without God?

silly vista

some colours

merry Christmas

Rose

my friend's picture of a polar bear catching a fish.
no joke! why is this not in National Geographic magazine?!

Christmas cards

the verses we (Trevs CU) aren't putting in our Christmas cards to people in college this year:

"Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you

...

You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus."

Luke 1:28b and Luke 1:31

songs and singers

...do you think singers really have that interesting lives, or do they just make stuff up?

"her face is a map of the world, it's a map of the world" - KT Tunstall
"she had diamonds on the inside, she had diamonds on the inside" - Ben Harper

what do you think, do they really know these medical curiosities personally, or are they just imagining it? perhaps they 'saw the news today' and just copied that...

unpublished material

a post I wrote a while back, but never published:

he's the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now...

the closing lines from the new batman film I went to see yesterday with a few friends and a couple of two-for-one vouchers...

as batman is chased off into the darkness by the cops of Gotham city, Lt. James Gordon utters the last few words of the film.

without wishing to spoil the film (especially for Gareth - happy birthday for tomorrow buddy) too much, I was left reflecting on the justice of batman, and couldn't quite bring myself to understand some of the things he did, or didn't do. I almost found myself siding with the crowds and wanting him gone - after all, he showed up the criminals in Gotham and only made things worse...

got me thinking a bit about Jesus, my hero...

chrome

get google's new web browser, chrome. it's better than oxygen. not quite as good as Jesus though. somewhere in between:

oxygen ≤ chrome < Jesus

agnostic

I read today that the greek word 'agnostic' is exactly the same as the latin 'ignoramus'.

not really a great-sounding doctrine to hold, I say... makes dictionary.com's definition of the word amusing:

...an intellectual doctrine or attitude affirming the uncertainty of all claims to ultimate knowledge.

_{...and I'll try and blog more, honest! for now; it's up, up and away to lectures!}

Phil

which Grey?

does anyone else get these confused in conversation..?

Durham student t-shirt

mummy and daddy went

and bought another

house in Italy and

all I got was this

stupid t-shirt

and a ferrari

on interview technique

_{interview for a position at college bar:}

question 1
interviewer:
what makes you want to work at the college bar, and what makes you think you'll be good at this job?
interviewee:
*answers first question*
could you repeat the second half of the question?
interviewer:
what makes you think you'll be good at the job?
interviewee:
oh, my great memory, of course...

question 2
interviewer:
...on a more light-hearted note, if you were a drink; what drink would you be and why?
interviewee:
Guinness. definitely a Guinness.
interviewer:
...and why a Guinness?
interviewee:
well, because I'm black, of course.
*sniggers from panel stifled*
that's not the reason, obviously *backtracking* it's because... because... well, I'm just a little bit thick.

probably fairly racist...

Following the problems in the sub-prime lending market in America and
the run on Northern Rock in the UK, uncertainty has now hit Japan.

In the last 7 days Origami Bank has folded, Sumo Bank has gone belly upand Bonsai Bank announced plans to cut some of its branches.

Yesterday, it was announced that Karaoke Bank is up for sale and willlikely go for a song, while today shares in Kamikaze Bank were suspendedafter they nose-dived.

While Samurai Bank is soldiering on following sharp cutbacks, Ninja Bankis reported to have taken a hit, but they remain in the black.

Furthermore, 500 staff at Karate Bank got the chop and analysts reportthat there is something fishy going on at Sushi Bank where it is fearedthat staff may get a raw deal.

I'd have done it for less

What Have We Done - the Northern Conspiracy

    O my soul! O my Jesus!

    Judas sold you for thirty

    I'd have done it for less.

    O my soul! O my Saviour!

    Peter denied you three times

    I have denied you more.

             As the nails went in

             I was standing right there.

             As you breathed your last

             I shook my head and I cried:

             O my God, what have we done?

             We have destroyed your Son.

             O my God, what have we done?

             We have destroyed your Son.

_{I think some of these lyrics are good.}

brekkie

from the college cu brekkie in the bar poster:

invite

hallo you five. no witty annecdotes today about eggs, no shocking 'blue' songs due to deciding not to go and see Tim Minchin in Durham in a couple of weeks and no pancakes left over for you unless you visit in the next 24 hours...

in other news though, today at church they had their big ol' family service, kids jumping up and down and eating cake on stage with party hats and balloons. the talk was on Luke chapter 14 verses 15-24, and at the end the cake-covered kids handed each person in the church (yes, the one time in the history of the world where working with children worked) a little piece of A6 card saying:

You are invited to

God's Big
Party in Heaven

RSVP

...see you there?

rock

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee;
let the water and the blood,
from thy wounded side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure;
save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labors of my hands
can fulfill thy law's commands;
could my zeal no respite know,
could my tears forever flow,
all for sin could not atone;
thou must save, and thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
simply to the cross I cling;
naked, come to thee for dress;
helpless, look to thee for grace;
foul, I to the fountain fly;
wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
when mine eyes shall close in death,
when I soar to worlds unknown,
see thee on thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee.

back

turns out two three people read this, so I'm back. hello Gareth and Ben and Chris, please find included the anti-swiss flag I found:

Africa

noah

"I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth"

Noah, flood, God judges sin etc. the story had me thinking quite a bit the other day - about how bad our sin really is before God, about how it deserves death...

then there's this bit towards the end. some translations have the word 'rainbow', but the original word (apparently) means the same for 'bow' like the weapon. so God stops his judgement, puts his arrows of lightning away and holds his bow upwards, promising to hold back his judgement.

when talking about Jesus' death, Paul says that "in his forbearance he [God] had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished". with his judgement in Genesis 8 in mind, how great is that 'forbearance'!

Jesus warns that this won't be forever;
"Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man" when he returns...

paper

does anyone else feel really guilty wiping your bum on a puppy or a bear?
and by 'anyone else', I mean 'you' - I don't expect 'anyone else' wipes your bum.

maybe Ben's butler...

mess

the mess-of-a-beard is now gone.



and in other news, yesterday I finally tripped over the box full of shredded paper packaging. grr.

fluxx

I've just bought the best game in the history of the world ever. you should buy a copy. and if you don't believe me, you should invite me round with my set of cards and I'll give you a game...

it's called Fluxx, and my good friend Tim introduced me to it at uni. you can click the link to read about it (not that it'll make much sense) - or go right ahead, buy it from here!

no really, it's amazing!

rain

philadelphia

hallelujah

my friend Stephen

'religion'

_{p.s. not all mac users are hippies. just most of them.}

mac vs pc - crash test

pc user:
grr! my pc's crashed again! I was only asking it to open up a video - how annoying! stupid machine... right, need more coffee...

mac user:
oh, my mac's crashed again. well, I suppose I was asking it to open up a big complicated spreadsheet... poor maccy... I love you. now where did I put that daisy chain..?

prossibly

pro·ssib·ly (prŏs'ə-blē)
adv.

perhaps; maybe; probably:
It is a Saturday. It will prossibly rain today.

blyk

are you 16-24 years old? want 217 free text messages and 43 free minutes each month on a pay as you go mobile (you don't even need to top up anything)...

well click on to blyk.com and check them out... they basically make the money back from advertising agencies, and send you up to 6 advertising picture messages per day. not bad...

how salesman-y did I sound there?!

blogsheet #2

the inside

"it's what's inside that counts"

we often hear that phrase used of ugly people to describe how really, sometimes they're actually nice people. yes, he has a straggly ginger beard - but you should have been there that one time when he told a funny joke...

that's just not right though. we're all pretty nasty on the inside, when we think about it - and no matter how good we make ourselves look, or how charming we try to be with what we say, we're all pretty pants on the inside. I say

"you can't polish a turd... even if you freeze it"

balls

apologies (if you read this) for the silence.

today is the trevelyan college summer ball - the budget it £20,000 - that's just wrong. that's 400 people spending £50 a pop.

according to this website, that money could feed 20,000 children for a day. or if it's ok to do the maths this way, 54 children for a year.

a real word I read today...

Phantasmagoric
_adjective

Of, relating to, or in the nature of an illusion; lacking reality

I do this (metaphorically speaking...)

"isn't it so easy to get on our big clumpy shoes and tread right on the delicate flowers..."

-Jess

it can't be racist if they're 5...

a friend's little sister drew her this...

antelope

an envelope - shaped like an ant

banksy?

by the student union building...

let's be pirates again, Gareth!

this one goes out to Helen and Gareth, my pirate (first) mates...

Jesus is for losers

If I was driven
Driven ahead by some noble ideal
Who took the wheel?

If I was given
Given a glimpse of some glorious road
When was it sold?

So caught up in the chase
I keep forgetting my place

Just as I am
I am stiff-necked and proud
Jesus is for losers
Why do I still play to the crowd?

Just as I am
Pass the compass, please
Jesus is for losers
I'm off about a hundred degrees

If I was groping
Groping around for some ladder to fame
I am ashamed

If I was hoping
Hoping respect would make a sturdy footstool
I am a fool

Bone-weary every climb
Blindsided every time

Just as I am
I am needy and dry
Jesus is for losers
The self-made need not apply

Just as I am
In a desert crawl
Lord, I'm so thirsty
Take me to the waterfall

And if you're certain
Certain your life is some cosmic mistake
Why do you shake?

And if you're certain
Certain that faith is some know-nothing mask
Why do you still ask?

They don't grade here on the curve
We both know what we deserve

Just as you are
Just a wretch like me
Jesus is for losers
Grace from the blood of a tree

Just as we are
At a total loss
Jesus is for losers
Broken at the foot of the cross

Just as I am
Pass the compass, please
Jesus is for losers
I'm off about a hundred degrees

Just as I am
In a desert crawl
Lord, I'm so thirsty
Take me to the waterfall

sin

documentary part III

skipping with hippies

unvitation

un·vi·ta·tion (ûn'vĭ-tā'shən)
n.

1. The act of unviting.


2. A spoken or written apology at someone's absence. Not to be confused with an uninvitation.

uncourage

un·cour·age (ûn-kûr'ĭj, -kŭr'-)
tr.v., -aged, -ag·ing, -ag·es.

1. To inspire with warning, rebuke, or urgency; hearten.
2. To stimulate negatively; press: uncouraging with the consequences of failing to work.

hippy type things

went to a big hippy convention last weekend. well, sort of... it was very good, don't get me wrong - but there were one or two things you just had to laugh about.

they had a fair trade stall selling t-shirts and jewelry etc, and when you think about it - that's the stupidest thing ever! sure it was all fair trade, but it was still shipped from miles and miles away so that someone who didn't really need it (I doubt people go to these conventions to do their shopping. that'd be an expensive shop) could buy it. why not just give the money away - reduce the clothing and jewelry you buy and reuse or recycle what you're wearing now!

I say that to me, mostly...

one thing I loved was one of the patches on this big tent thing they had... someone had drawn pac man and written "pac man [heart]s fair trade". what a message.

home

this world is not my home
I'm just passing through

-Larry Norman

forced rhubarb

a story from a magazine that someone gave me...


Sleep.

Unable to sleep, the man takes a sleeping pill. Groggy in the morning, he finds he must pop a caffeine pill just to stay awake; a vitamin tab to stay healthy; and a good day herb to stay sane.

At lunch he takes a diet supplement drug. To relax in the afternoon he takes a sedative. For entertainment after hours he indulges in a sex pill.

The man takes a sleeping pill - unable to sleep.

In the morning he wakes to find a grizzly bear standing over him.

I kissed you, the bear says. I kissed you and you woke up.

Thanks. Want some breakfast? The man asks.

No, I'm not hungry. I just had a goldilocks and some porridge. Maybe later though.

Later, for lunch, the bear slashes at the man's stomach. Pills spill from his abdominal cavity. The man smiles and laughs. The bear wants to cry, but finds himself unable to cry.

The bear wakes to find it was all just a horrible dream.

The bear goes to work at the circus. People toss him hot dog butts and candyfloss sticks. They poke at him with rules and pelt him with stones.

He sues, but loses his lawsuit on account of bad lawyers he hired from a television commercial. The bear attacks the attorneys, tearing them limb from twisted limb. One of the lawyers cries out for his wife. She wakes him.

It was only a dream, his wife says.
I had the most horrible dream. I dreamt I was a lawyer, the man confesses.

The woman wakes.

I was married to a man dreaming he was a lawyer eaten by a bear. Now I can't remember whether I'm a woman dreaming of being a lawyer's wife, or a lawyer's wife dreaming that she is a woman.


love it.

coffee table bear

for those who haven't seen it yet... here's my coffee table/bear - complete with decorations from lots of lovely people!

if you're passing, do drop in and paint me a picture. that includes you Ipswichy people - if you're passing..!

documentary - part the second

documentary

tim minchin

rock 'n' roll nerd is also good

"Great is thy faithfulness"

it's a pretty cool song...

great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
there is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
as Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

great is Thy faithfulness! great is Thy faithfulness!
morning by morning new mercies I see.
all I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
...
pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

great is Thy faithfulness!

[I don't deserve any of that...]

why oh why oh why oh why oh why?

we all fear change, don't we? I certainly do. changes like the fact I'm blogging again after about 100 years; changes like me finding a dreadlock in my hair, and changes like this all looking a little bit weird...

well just for you then Gareth (unless other people are still doing reading here!) - the reason it's all a bit funky is I'm now at philbrown.co.cc. so go there, marvel at how slow it all is (and if you're a geek - at its poor design), and... and something.

you can also read my hanky story there. I kind of wrote it last year (when I found the hanky), and penned it down a bit more permanently since. do shoot me an email with any criticisms, critiques or comments (constructive or otherwise).

man that was alliterative.

for now... Phil, away!

sneaky sneaking pies

what a song! listen here. if you are the famous type, two questions:
what are you doing here?
please make stupid paul famous.
that is all

rubbish

you know what's really rubbish? that we think ourselves all 'ethical' and good just 'cos we recycle. don't get me wrong - recycling's good. it means there's not big rubbish dumps across england. but that's pretty much all it does.

it doesn't do a thing for this kid. imagine if that was a picture of an area of london, and he was a white kid. people wouldn't stand for it.

a larry norman song I like

below are the lyrics to a song I've been listening to a bit today. check it out with the link above... one comment below the video

"I guess to Larry, life here on earth was just an audition for a much more magnificent gig"

- myaqui

I think they're probably right.

<sub>"put your life in Jesus' nail scarred hands

put your life in Jesus' nail scarred hands

He's the rock of ages

He's the sage of sages

He's the key to the promised land

so put your life

in Jesus' nail scarred hands


I was blind but now i've learned to see

I was trapped but now i've been set free

I was lost and alone

so far from home

I was losing sight of me

but now i'm warm and safe as i can be


so put your life in Jesus' nail scarred hands

put your life in Jesus' nail scarred hands

you have heard the wondrous story

now go and tell it cross the land

tell em: put your life in Jesus' nail scarred hands


oh yeh right

I don't really have a verse to go here

so i'll just let the band play it one time...


put your life in Jesus' nail scarred hands

put your life in Jesus' nail scarred hand

He's the Rock of Ages

He's the Sage of Sages

He's the Key to the Promised Land

so put your life in Jesus' nail scarred hands"</sub>

Good Friday

_{Not much more I can say but what Gareth blog'd:}

Today is Good Friday…but what is so good about Jesus dying?

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10

That’s what’s good

death, where is your sting?

"where, O death, is your victory?
where, O death, is your sting?"

~the bible

today I found out that Larry Norman (an old Christian rocker) died on the 24th february - last month. I'm sad, because he was an incredible lyricist and I really enjoy listening to his music. I'm also sad because I know that the end of his life was quite a struggle physically, he was very ill.

but I also rejoice for him. the writer of the book of hebrews in the bible writes

"Christ... has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him."

Larry Norman died knowing this, that death was not the end of it all for him - that one day Jesus will return, the dead will be raised to life and judged. and for Larry (it sounds like I know him - doesn't it!), that means being judged not according to the life he lived (sinful, like mine and yours), but according to Jesus' sinless life...

but maybe more of that tomorrow.

birthday, apparently

every cow

r and j

"Haply some poisson yet doth hang on them"

-if only

God

"He's just, but He's not just just... right?"

what do you think?

feminism sketch storyboard

my t-shirt idea

workin'

"workin' 2 to 3

what a way to make a living'..."

if only

Qtrax

this is quality... free peer-to-peer music downloading that's legal and the artists have got on board to receive commission. it works because they use drm to track what's being listened downloaded/listened to so they can work out how much to pay out - and their income is from companies keen to do advertising on such a brilliant product. (so far as I understand from the paper).



check it out for sure!

pooped

I'm pooped. liked what mark had to say though...

Ethan

check out my godson. just had a haircut. he's only one and a half, but poses like he's king of the world!

discrete maths (shh...)

9 a.m, this morning:

"Hi. I've not taught this course before. Or even learnt it myself. I meant to learn it over the Christmas holidays, but things got in the way. Like getting drunk. Several times. So I did as best I could on Monday. Let's see how we get on..."

~Sharry Borgan - Departmental Administrator for Mathematics, Durham University

two part special - communism

why do communists drink herbal tea?

"because proper tea is theft"

~ Pierre-Joseph Proudhon (emphasis added)

_{(this is part two of a two-part special on communism)}

two part special - communism

"in communist Russia, you fix it for Jim"

~Karl Marx (paraphrased)

_{(this is part one of a two-part special on communism)}

the great bear

tried to convince someone this constellation was the great bear the other day...

"...that's not the great bear, that's orion - you can see his belt"

"don't you know your greek mythology? the great bear attacked orion and stole his belt..."