Thursday, January 26, 2006
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Raisin' a glass to Robbie
It's Burns night, or if you're reading this a little late. It was Burns night.
There's not much to say, except that I'll be drinking a dram to the great man.
Here is : To a Haggis. Which despite years of reading the Beano do not roam free amongst the highlands of Scotland. Pity really.
To a Haggis
Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o' the pudding-race!
Aboon them a' yet tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy o'a grace
As lang's my arm.
The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hurdies like a distant hill,
Your pin was help to mend a mill
In time o'need,
While thro' your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead.
His knife see rustic Labour dight,
An' cut you up wi' ready sleight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright,
Like ony ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reekin', rich!
Then, horn for horn, they stretch an' strive:
Deil tak the hindmost! on they drive,
Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve
Are bent like drums;
Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive,
Bethankit! hums.
Is there that owre his French ragout
Or olio that wad staw a sow,
Or fricassee wad make her spew
Wi' perfect sconner,
Looks down wi' sneering, scornfu' view
On sic a dinner?
Poor devil! see him owre his trash,
As feckles as wither'd rash,
His spindle shank, a guid whip-lash;
His nieve a nit;
Thro' blody flood or field to dash,
O how unfit!
But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread.
Clap in his walie nieve a blade,
He'll mak it whissle;
An' legs an' arms, an' hands will sned,
Like taps o' trissle.
Ye Pow'rs, wha mak mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill o' fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware
That jaups in luggies;
But, if ye wish her gratefu' prayer
Gie her a haggis!
There's not much to say, except that I'll be drinking a dram to the great man.
Here is : To a Haggis. Which despite years of reading the Beano do not roam free amongst the highlands of Scotland. Pity really.
To a Haggis
Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o' the pudding-race!
Aboon them a' yet tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy o'a grace
As lang's my arm.
The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hurdies like a distant hill,
Your pin was help to mend a mill
In time o'need,
While thro' your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead.
His knife see rustic Labour dight,
An' cut you up wi' ready sleight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright,
Like ony ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reekin', rich!
Then, horn for horn, they stretch an' strive:
Deil tak the hindmost! on they drive,
Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve
Are bent like drums;
Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive,
Bethankit! hums.
Is there that owre his French ragout
Or olio that wad staw a sow,
Or fricassee wad make her spew
Wi' perfect sconner,
Looks down wi' sneering, scornfu' view
On sic a dinner?
Poor devil! see him owre his trash,
As feckles as wither'd rash,
His spindle shank, a guid whip-lash;
His nieve a nit;
Thro' blody flood or field to dash,
O how unfit!
But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread.
Clap in his walie nieve a blade,
He'll mak it whissle;
An' legs an' arms, an' hands will sned,
Like taps o' trissle.
Ye Pow'rs, wha mak mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill o' fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware
That jaups in luggies;
But, if ye wish her gratefu' prayer
Gie her a haggis!
Thursday, January 12, 2006
New Year, And a Secret Slips
It's another year. I strangely welcomed New Year and my own celebrations of ageing with somewhat open arms, yet published nothing here. I dare say that lack of comment means something to the right people. Personally I think it means I'd rather write about Christmas, that and I'd rather not bore people with every little detail. Just talk about interesting things.
I've also been doing some work on a pet project that is currently being tested. The idea is to see to create a collaborative working environment that allows people to exchange ideas and skills in order to create things. When I say things I mean things like films, music videos, music, books, web sites, stage productions, or even just ideas that might one day mature into something cool. Testing is only just starting (very early). If you are interested in helping out take a look at http://www.sharedcreation.com
It's also the reason for less posting over the last month or two. That and Christmas of course.
I've also been doing some work on a pet project that is currently being tested. The idea is to see to create a collaborative working environment that allows people to exchange ideas and skills in order to create things. When I say things I mean things like films, music videos, music, books, web sites, stage productions, or even just ideas that might one day mature into something cool. Testing is only just starting (very early). If you are interested in helping out take a look at http://www.sharedcreation.com
It's also the reason for less posting over the last month or two. That and Christmas of course.
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Theoretical warp drive gains credibility.
Potential uses for anti-gravity technology gains credibility within the scientific community as well as the US military.
The source of the article is credible, and it certainly sounds interesting.
read more | digg story
The source of the article is credible, and it certainly sounds interesting.
read more | digg story
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Hubble Ultra Deep Field Image
This is a link to one of the most spectacular photographs ever taken - the Hubble Ultra Deep Field. Save for five foreground stars, every point of light in the photograph is a galaxy. This 1 million second exposure was taken over the course of 400 hubble orbits of the Earth, and is the farthest into space we have ever seen!
read more | digg story
read more | digg story

