I actually had a look at my Facebook profile for the first time in god knows how long today. First up it decided to spend about an hour telling me about all the security changes, but I powered through and caught a glimpse at my friends list:
Friends (203)
it said.
I'm not even sure I know 203 people, let alone consider that many to be 'friends'. In fact I'd imagine people I actually consider to be good friends, so I should be sharing masses of personal information with would struggle to number 30. Add family to that and it doesn't add up to 200+.
Looking round though, my one is quite low (sob sob) there are people with 500, 600, even more than 1,000, and looking at some of these people.. really?? I doubt it.
Just having a nose through as I type and, yes I do know most of these people, can't remember the last time I spoke to many of them. Can't remember the last time I wanted to speak to quite a few, but it's some kind of twisted manners that I continue to tell them when I'm on holiday, when I'm in Tesco, when I've got a headache etc (actually that makes me sound like I update my status every 10 mins, believe me I don't) it's a fact that each of these people would have had the opportunity to gander at photos of me in a dress, a couple of times.
Saying that it's a miracle they haven't removed me. Bt equally I also have to wade through their shite on a daily basis, stuff I'm not really interested in, even question the integrity of much of the time.
So far I've removed a massive one, but come lunchtime there'll be a cull, if I can be arsed. Or I may pop to HMV and see how much Rocky Horror is on Blu-ray. I'm disgusted with myself I don't own it.
This is why I prefer Twitter (@andrewdrisc don't be shy!) yes I still make stuff public, I can easily control who reads it if I wanted too, but I only read what I want too (well there's still some there that need to go, but anything like the same kind of scale.
Maybe Facebook should give us some google+ (still not really used that, am signed up) style options, so I vcan have friends, family, and... other...
Wednesday 31 August 2011
Tuesday 30 August 2011
Merthyr Town / Non league football
I took the bank holiday weekend to revisit the world of non-league football.
I support Arsenal as I'd imagine the vast majority of people reading this will know are not non-league, far from it (and no I don't want to talk about Sunday). But as much as I want them (and Swansea) to do well, my team has always been and will always be Merthyr Town (formerly Tydfil) FC.
The team has just returned to play in Penydarren Park, after a year in exile (which I didn't make a single game in) 20 or so miles away in Taffs Well. So I trotted down to the park yesterday to watch them play league pace setters, the undefeated Brislington Town (where??). It was then I realised I quite missed watching football like this, TV is comfortable, gives you replays, you can stop, rewind and all that shit, you have commentators telling you whjat to think any any given moment, stats popping up on screen, and generally speaking it's of a higher standard.
But being right up next to the pitch, taking it all in yourself, the experience is so much better.
The game itself was quite decent, Merthyr looked tidy passed the ball quite well, sometimes overly so and they could have done with taking a shot more. While at the back, but punts forward were a bit haphazard. Brislington had one or two tidy players, their left back looked good, while on the reverse their no4 looked like we was as likely to fall over at any given moment than successfully run in a straight line. Both keepers showed some... interesting positioning, but proved to be good shot stoppers when needed.
There was a few moments of marking (mainly the English side to be fair) that would I'm sure would give both sides coaches nightmares for a while. Even the ref had mostly a good game (although the away penalty was a bit of a mystery).
Happily Merthyr won 2-1 and moved 3rd in the table. Next week they have 2 matches in 2 days in 2 different cups (FA Prelim Round, Welsh Cup 2Q) and if I'm able I'll take the chance to pop down for the Welsh Cup game on Sunday.
Next week is an international break, no Prem games, no Championship games, which means come the weekend many football fans are at a loose end (Wales playing Friday). So if that applies to you, why not go see a team a bit further down the pyramid than you're used too? Go see Newport, Merthyr, whatever lower league teams are around, whoever's closer, you might like it! It's not always a comfortable as a sofa and sky sports, it's likely to be less conformable than a seat in the Liberty or CCS, but it's fun!
But speaking of armchair fans, the US Open started yesterday and I do love my tennis. I'll happily go see it in person if anyone wants to shout me flights and tickets. Please?
I support Arsenal as I'd imagine the vast majority of people reading this will know are not non-league, far from it (and no I don't want to talk about Sunday). But as much as I want them (and Swansea) to do well, my team has always been and will always be Merthyr Town (formerly Tydfil) FC.
The team has just returned to play in Penydarren Park, after a year in exile (which I didn't make a single game in) 20 or so miles away in Taffs Well. So I trotted down to the park yesterday to watch them play league pace setters, the undefeated Brislington Town (where??). It was then I realised I quite missed watching football like this, TV is comfortable, gives you replays, you can stop, rewind and all that shit, you have commentators telling you whjat to think any any given moment, stats popping up on screen, and generally speaking it's of a higher standard.
But being right up next to the pitch, taking it all in yourself, the experience is so much better.
The game itself was quite decent, Merthyr looked tidy passed the ball quite well, sometimes overly so and they could have done with taking a shot more. While at the back, but punts forward were a bit haphazard. Brislington had one or two tidy players, their left back looked good, while on the reverse their no4 looked like we was as likely to fall over at any given moment than successfully run in a straight line. Both keepers showed some... interesting positioning, but proved to be good shot stoppers when needed.
There was a few moments of marking (mainly the English side to be fair) that would I'm sure would give both sides coaches nightmares for a while. Even the ref had mostly a good game (although the away penalty was a bit of a mystery).
Happily Merthyr won 2-1 and moved 3rd in the table. Next week they have 2 matches in 2 days in 2 different cups (FA Prelim Round, Welsh Cup 2Q) and if I'm able I'll take the chance to pop down for the Welsh Cup game on Sunday.
Next week is an international break, no Prem games, no Championship games, which means come the weekend many football fans are at a loose end (Wales playing Friday). So if that applies to you, why not go see a team a bit further down the pyramid than you're used too? Go see Newport, Merthyr, whatever lower league teams are around, whoever's closer, you might like it! It's not always a comfortable as a sofa and sky sports, it's likely to be less conformable than a seat in the Liberty or CCS, but it's fun!
But speaking of armchair fans, the US Open started yesterday and I do love my tennis. I'll happily go see it in person if anyone wants to shout me flights and tickets. Please?
Thursday 18 August 2011
epetitions
The government have had a (recycled) great idea!! The epetitions website!
It's been running for around a month now and I must say, it has some very valid things on there, but it also appears to be yet another place for the more... special people who live in our society and somehow manage to use a computer despite their limited cranial capacities.
Even the most signed petition to encourage rioters to have benefits removed is spelt bastard wrong!! It states. Convicted London rioters should loose all benefits.. were they tight before????? For God's sake people hundreds of thousands of people will read what you write, especially on such an emotive subject so take 5 seconds and proof read the heading Mr Stephen Mains.
Now I don't hate spelling errors (I make plenty of them) but really obvious ones, or they're vs their mistakes and txt spk/chav speak really grind my shizzle, as I've mentioned before, and this site is full of it.
But that's not my beef with the site, it's also usually broken by traffic volumes and hard to use, but once again that's not what I'm getting at here.
Mainly, it allows people to set up whatever petition they want too, no matter how twisted/Daily Mail the view is. The petition to get the speed limit to 100mph... bad idea, the petition to ban immigration... Nope don't think so, the petition to force Welsh and Scottish governments to abolish free prescriptions as it's unfair on the English... jealous?? Soak rioters with florescent dye (also a victim of the spelling thing may I add), WTF??
Freedom of speech is a great thing, but it does tend to generate these kind of... outbursts.
Generally I think the site is a good idea, it's the same good idea it was under Labour only hopefully will be done better now. It's got some solid valuable petitions on there (such as the Hillsborough one) but my word it highlights some oddballs.
It's been running for around a month now and I must say, it has some very valid things on there, but it also appears to be yet another place for the more... special people who live in our society and somehow manage to use a computer despite their limited cranial capacities.
Even the most signed petition to encourage rioters to have benefits removed is spelt bastard wrong!! It states. Convicted London rioters should loose all benefits.. were they tight before????? For God's sake people hundreds of thousands of people will read what you write, especially on such an emotive subject so take 5 seconds and proof read the heading Mr Stephen Mains.
Now I don't hate spelling errors (I make plenty of them) but really obvious ones, or they're vs their mistakes and txt spk/chav speak really grind my shizzle, as I've mentioned before, and this site is full of it.
But that's not my beef with the site, it's also usually broken by traffic volumes and hard to use, but once again that's not what I'm getting at here.
Mainly, it allows people to set up whatever petition they want too, no matter how twisted/Daily Mail the view is. The petition to get the speed limit to 100mph... bad idea, the petition to ban immigration... Nope don't think so, the petition to force Welsh and Scottish governments to abolish free prescriptions as it's unfair on the English... jealous?? Soak rioters with florescent dye (also a victim of the spelling thing may I add), WTF??
Freedom of speech is a great thing, but it does tend to generate these kind of... outbursts.
Generally I think the site is a good idea, it's the same good idea it was under Labour only hopefully will be done better now. It's got some solid valuable petitions on there (such as the Hillsborough one) but my word it highlights some oddballs.
Monday 15 August 2011
Football season has properly begun, 'mon the Martyrs
So we're into the Premier league season, and this one could potentially quite interesting. Don't get me wrong I've written Arsenal off already, I think 4th is a pipe dream and 5th more likely, chances are Man Utd will win it, Chelsea and Man City close behind and maybe a bit of improving Liverpool rounding off the Champs league spaces. But I don't think I'm most interested by the top this year.
As everyone probably knows who has any interest in the sport, Swansea were promoted. Oooh a Welsh team in the Premier, and, as I've said before, a Welsh team I quite like (sorry Cardiff, you could be playing in the Champs League final and I wouldn't give a rats ass and everytime I'm told by Cardiff fans I 'should' support them, and it's great for the whole of Wales when they win stuff, it makes me care just a little bit less.) so I find myself quite interested in how they do, to the point where I may even watch them tonight (while I still have sports).
Obviously I think they'll struggle and while I'd never say I 'support' them, I'd like them to do well. I think they've made some decent, not overly high risk signings which could be enough, could being the word. Just get to 40 points and the rest will sort itself out.
Going down the odd step, Merthyr are playing in Merthyr again, and I have a feeling this is where most of my football related time will be devoted this year. I didn't go Saturday as there was stuff on, but I'm quite fancying a few trips to Pen Park this year to watch them. They went up last season and are now playing in the Western League Premier, not exactly stuffed with footballing giants but you can only play what's infront of you. They started off beating Odd Town (I have no idea what's so odd about it) 7-1 which is a hiding at any level, so we may have a shout again this year, who knows.
Also the new kit is very nice
So if you see me wet and looking p'd off in Penydarren Park, say hi!
Oh and the bloke sitting behind me looks the spit of Leonard Nimoy...
As everyone probably knows who has any interest in the sport, Swansea were promoted. Oooh a Welsh team in the Premier, and, as I've said before, a Welsh team I quite like (sorry Cardiff, you could be playing in the Champs League final and I wouldn't give a rats ass and everytime I'm told by Cardiff fans I 'should' support them, and it's great for the whole of Wales when they win stuff, it makes me care just a little bit less.) so I find myself quite interested in how they do, to the point where I may even watch them tonight (while I still have sports).
Obviously I think they'll struggle and while I'd never say I 'support' them, I'd like them to do well. I think they've made some decent, not overly high risk signings which could be enough, could being the word. Just get to 40 points and the rest will sort itself out.
Going down the odd step, Merthyr are playing in Merthyr again, and I have a feeling this is where most of my football related time will be devoted this year. I didn't go Saturday as there was stuff on, but I'm quite fancying a few trips to Pen Park this year to watch them. They went up last season and are now playing in the Western League Premier, not exactly stuffed with footballing giants but you can only play what's infront of you. They started off beating Odd Town (I have no idea what's so odd about it) 7-1 which is a hiding at any level, so we may have a shout again this year, who knows.
I did miss every game last year, but the trip to Taffs Well was a pain in the arse.
So if you see me wet and looking p'd off in Penydarren Park, say hi!
Oh and the bloke sitting behind me looks the spit of Leonard Nimoy...
Wednesday 10 August 2011
UK Riots
Generally I think of the UK as a good country, but there are problems. Keeping 60m people on an island, you're gonna get problems there's no doubt about that. It's a sad thing that these problems are then used as an excuse for people to do what they want.
Yes, initially there was no doubting people wanted to peacefully protest about the shooting of Mark Duggan, as is their right to do so, and I would never deny anybody that right. If it came to something that my community cared about I'd hope we'd do the same. However, this peaceful protest was hijacked by people who, chances are, didn't give a flying fuck about the cause or reason, they just wanted to kick off.
I've heard many experts of the TV trying to explain away the reasons behind the rioting, I've heard it's police attitude, living conditions, no doubt someone had suggested it's cos they're daddy doesn't love them any more. Bullshit, these people want high end free stuff and suddenly this opportunity to loot en masse and they took it, knowing full well in the numbers they were the police would struggle to cope.
Lives were put at risk, livelihoods were destroyed just because someone wanted the thrill or setting fire to buildings. I'm by no means right wing but if the call was mine, on a strictly watching from a distance anger and frustration point of view, there would have been soldiers, armed police the works. If they want to create hell... fuck 'em.
Some of these morons even bragged on twitter/facebook "Yo biatches I got maself I new plasma last night" or a variation of. Thankfully people seemed to pick this up and forward on names etc to the police. These are the same 'protesters' that were so brave facing up to police they'd run up, throw something and immediately leg it incase they missed and the police smacked them one. Only problem there is the cop would probably be made into a villan and all police made to only use foam mallets in riot situations.
Some of the kids that have been interviewed, particularly those ones on the BBC yesterday, have come across as thick, mindless and many things I'm too polite to point out. Clearly no knowledge of the situation, using the pretence of 'sticking it to the man', well yeah if the 'man' is a independent business owner struggling to get by as it is, or someone renting a now destroyed flat who is temporarily homeless. Idiots.
Oops those right wing thoughts are back again. Honestly, if my daughter turns out like these morons, she's going to boarding school. Forever.
As you may be aware, as it says it on the top of the page, I'm from South Wales and rumours were flying last night about trouble in Cardiff, theer was little, it seems like about 7 14 year olds tried breaking into JD sports and something on Cowbridge road realised they didn't have a clue what they were doing and legged it before the police arrived. But still, these kids have obviously seen London/Birmingham/Manchester etc (even Gloucester last night?? Seriously??) as something to be aspired too, they fancied some new Reebok Classics an iPod touch and one of those bendy sausages from Wimpy (I mean honestly... looting Wimpy on Monday... that must be mindless violence as there's little to steal) for free and thought they'd try their luck.
There were facebook messages being sent round trying to incite rioting, however thankfully the Welsh either can't be arsed (which judging by our history is unlikely) or couldn't see the point. Kudos to all the Cardiff Chavs.
I think London may be done, extra police, the condemnation of Mark Duggans family, all may have helped the situation, but now it's spread, will things carry on in Manchester and Birmingham tonight? Probably yes, but with a bit of luck the police will soon be in control and can get started on locking these motherlovers up.
Finally massive respect of the riot clean up people. This shows what the UK is really about, helping out and getting back to normality. Thankfully none needed by me, but I like to think I'd help if there were (and work would give me the day off).
Yes, initially there was no doubting people wanted to peacefully protest about the shooting of Mark Duggan, as is their right to do so, and I would never deny anybody that right. If it came to something that my community cared about I'd hope we'd do the same. However, this peaceful protest was hijacked by people who, chances are, didn't give a flying fuck about the cause or reason, they just wanted to kick off.
I've heard many experts of the TV trying to explain away the reasons behind the rioting, I've heard it's police attitude, living conditions, no doubt someone had suggested it's cos they're daddy doesn't love them any more. Bullshit, these people want high end free stuff and suddenly this opportunity to loot en masse and they took it, knowing full well in the numbers they were the police would struggle to cope.
Lives were put at risk, livelihoods were destroyed just because someone wanted the thrill or setting fire to buildings. I'm by no means right wing but if the call was mine, on a strictly watching from a distance anger and frustration point of view, there would have been soldiers, armed police the works. If they want to create hell... fuck 'em.
Some of these morons even bragged on twitter/facebook "Yo biatches I got maself I new plasma last night" or a variation of. Thankfully people seemed to pick this up and forward on names etc to the police. These are the same 'protesters' that were so brave facing up to police they'd run up, throw something and immediately leg it incase they missed and the police smacked them one. Only problem there is the cop would probably be made into a villan and all police made to only use foam mallets in riot situations.
Some of the kids that have been interviewed, particularly those ones on the BBC yesterday, have come across as thick, mindless and many things I'm too polite to point out. Clearly no knowledge of the situation, using the pretence of 'sticking it to the man', well yeah if the 'man' is a independent business owner struggling to get by as it is, or someone renting a now destroyed flat who is temporarily homeless. Idiots.
Oops those right wing thoughts are back again. Honestly, if my daughter turns out like these morons, she's going to boarding school. Forever.
As you may be aware, as it says it on the top of the page, I'm from South Wales and rumours were flying last night about trouble in Cardiff, theer was little, it seems like about 7 14 year olds tried breaking into JD sports and something on Cowbridge road realised they didn't have a clue what they were doing and legged it before the police arrived. But still, these kids have obviously seen London/Birmingham/Manchester etc (even Gloucester last night?? Seriously??) as something to be aspired too, they fancied some new Reebok Classics an iPod touch and one of those bendy sausages from Wimpy (I mean honestly... looting Wimpy on Monday... that must be mindless violence as there's little to steal) for free and thought they'd try their luck.
There were facebook messages being sent round trying to incite rioting, however thankfully the Welsh either can't be arsed (which judging by our history is unlikely) or couldn't see the point. Kudos to all the Cardiff Chavs.
I think London may be done, extra police, the condemnation of Mark Duggans family, all may have helped the situation, but now it's spread, will things carry on in Manchester and Birmingham tonight? Probably yes, but with a bit of luck the police will soon be in control and can get started on locking these motherlovers up.
Finally massive respect of the riot clean up people. This shows what the UK is really about, helping out and getting back to normality. Thankfully none needed by me, but I like to think I'd help if there were (and work would give me the day off).
Monday 8 August 2011
Rogers cup time!
Probably my favourite time of the tennis season is under way, pity it's all played over in North America and therefore at some ungodly hour over here, but its still good!
The Rogers cup has started today in Montreal (the women are in Toronto) (main draw) with a massive 1 British entrant into the singles (Murray) and one team in the doubles (Murray/Murray). Notice a pattern there?
Murray is the defending champion here, having retained the title for the last 2 years and will be looking to level Ivan Lendl's 3-in-a-row record this time, but with the form of Nadal and Djokovic I really can't see it, as much as I'd love him to win it. He'll start probably with a game against Ryan Harrison in round 2. Awkward draw though as his R16 could be Stanislas Wawrinka, followed by Mardy Fish then Nadal in the semi. But 2 wins in a row means you can't count him out. Although it's hard to look past Nadal or Djokovic for the title.
From here it's Cincinnati for another masters (Murray only defending 180 there!) and then the US Open, my favourite of the grand slam of the year. I need to get myself skysports for my xbox again. Plus the football season is starting...
The Rogers cup has started today in Montreal (the women are in Toronto) (main draw) with a massive 1 British entrant into the singles (Murray) and one team in the doubles (Murray/Murray). Notice a pattern there?
Murray is the defending champion here, having retained the title for the last 2 years and will be looking to level Ivan Lendl's 3-in-a-row record this time, but with the form of Nadal and Djokovic I really can't see it, as much as I'd love him to win it. He'll start probably with a game against Ryan Harrison in round 2. Awkward draw though as his R16 could be Stanislas Wawrinka, followed by Mardy Fish then Nadal in the semi. But 2 wins in a row means you can't count him out. Although it's hard to look past Nadal or Djokovic for the title.
From here it's Cincinnati for another masters (Murray only defending 180 there!) and then the US Open, my favourite of the grand slam of the year. I need to get myself skysports for my xbox again. Plus the football season is starting...
A massive well done though to James Ward for winning a 100k challenger in Vancouver last week, beating Boggo in the quarters (he still deserves to be higher than 344 in my opinion). Ward up to 144, pretty good, I'm assuming he'll be off to US Open Quallies quite soon. Anyone kow when the draw is out?
Monday 1 August 2011
RIP iPhone
After between 22 and 23 months by my side with almost unfailingly decent levels of service, my iPhone will die today. It no longer wishes to charge itself, and being an iPhone, this gives it a very short life expectancy.
Sadly this also leaves my mobile phone-less until I'm due an upgrade, which thankfully isn't too long, so if you need to get hold of me... tough.
The phone went through some tough times, it lost it's volume buttons, but it carried on. It took a tumble through a massive hole in my pocket onto a harsh Tenerife street (you know the typical Spanish kind with the little squares) and cracked its screen, but it carried on going. But like so many older devices, it started to get confused, telling me the accessory wasn't optimised for iPhone, when I hadn't actually got anything plugged into it... freezing up during calls, and sometimes not even wanting to receive them at all.
Now it looks like the little weekend away in Burnham on sea was it's last action as a useful device (thanks Gracie), it's farewell tour if you will. Now it's refusing to be fed, there's just 24% of the battery left of its life, so about an hour and a half then!
Not wishing to sound heartless, throwing away my long time companion and replacing it with a newer shiner model without a second thought, but it's only a phone! This does open the door to be acquiring an iPhone4! Yes, of course I know the iPhone5 isn't all that far behind, I am a fully paid up member of geek you don't have to tell me, but circumstances have forced my hand. Plus the 4 will be more than adequate for my needs.
I've already started having a look around, and I've already assumed o2 are not going to offer me a decent deal and will frown at my data usage and the early leader is three. For the same as I'm paying now, they'll give me ludicrous amounts of texts and calls and most vitally, 'unlimited' data (I haven't checked the old t&c's yet and am fully aware there is probably some kind of cap or fair use policy, but it's still better than 500mb) all with an iPhone4 (either colour... woo-hoo...) for exactly the same as I paid for my 3GS all those many many months ago.
I will ring up o2 and give them a chance to explain their early upgrade procedures before I laugh in their general direction when the price is mentioned. Or I could wait a month 'til they'll upgrade me anyway. Not sure when I'll ring, or indeed on what, but I'll ring! Have to asses my options from that point.
Last night I frantically backed up music, photos, but not contacts... hmm oversight there and it's only just occurred to me, oh well...
Sadly this also leaves my mobile phone-less until I'm due an upgrade, which thankfully isn't too long, so if you need to get hold of me... tough.
The phone went through some tough times, it lost it's volume buttons, but it carried on. It took a tumble through a massive hole in my pocket onto a harsh Tenerife street (you know the typical Spanish kind with the little squares) and cracked its screen, but it carried on going. But like so many older devices, it started to get confused, telling me the accessory wasn't optimised for iPhone, when I hadn't actually got anything plugged into it... freezing up during calls, and sometimes not even wanting to receive them at all.
Now it looks like the little weekend away in Burnham on sea was it's last action as a useful device (thanks Gracie), it's farewell tour if you will. Now it's refusing to be fed, there's just 24% of the battery left of its life, so about an hour and a half then!
Not wishing to sound heartless, throwing away my long time companion and replacing it with a newer shiner model without a second thought, but it's only a phone! This does open the door to be acquiring an iPhone4! Yes, of course I know the iPhone5 isn't all that far behind, I am a fully paid up member of geek you don't have to tell me, but circumstances have forced my hand. Plus the 4 will be more than adequate for my needs.
I've already started having a look around, and I've already assumed o2 are not going to offer me a decent deal and will frown at my data usage and the early leader is three. For the same as I'm paying now, they'll give me ludicrous amounts of texts and calls and most vitally, 'unlimited' data (I haven't checked the old t&c's yet and am fully aware there is probably some kind of cap or fair use policy, but it's still better than 500mb) all with an iPhone4 (either colour... woo-hoo...) for exactly the same as I paid for my 3GS all those many many months ago.
I will ring up o2 and give them a chance to explain their early upgrade procedures before I laugh in their general direction when the price is mentioned. Or I could wait a month 'til they'll upgrade me anyway. Not sure when I'll ring, or indeed on what, but I'll ring! Have to asses my options from that point.
Last night I frantically backed up music, photos, but not contacts... hmm oversight there and it's only just occurred to me, oh well...
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