matgb: (Life)
Righty ho landlubbers. After decamping to Bournemouth for a week, we've ended up down in Devon as a) it's just down the road and b) my cousin's getting married Saturday.

This is good, especially as it means I get to go see The Pyrates again. Yup, on International Talk like a Pirate day, my mates Tim and David have booked their band a gig (I last saw them just after I moved to London last year and enjoyed the night).

So, SB and I are planning to travel up to Exeter tomorrow (partially as there's a co-op branch to pay some cheques in), and Do Stuff, then decamp to the Firehouse to see folks in the evening.

If anyone fancies meeting up for lunch mid-afternoon snack and/or coming to t'pub with us in the evening, then just shout.

Oh, if anyone wants to walk us around the new(ish) bits of town and help me not get lost, that'd also be cool...

PSA: Londoners!

2008-Aug-07, Thursday 15:28
matgb: Artwork of 19th century upper class anarchist, text: MatGB (Nice)
My mate Mr Pink has just moved t'smoke and asks I can has social life?:
Among the things I'd like to do as regards 'setttling in' is getting to know people, socialising, and generally doing stuff in London. Alternative music, general hanging out, geekery and gaming are the sorts of things I'm interested in.

More specifically, I'm rather interested in finding a regular tabletop RPG session with room for me. Exalted being first preference, other White Wolf stuff second, but I'm open to just about anything.
So, y'know, go talk to the smelly git...
ETA: For the hard of thinking, the above link goes to an entry on [livejournal.com profile] draxar's journal, meaning that he is, indeed, on LJ...
matgb: Artwork of 19th century upper class anarchist, text: MatGB (A Toast)
Some random stuff. Point one.
Hawking hath kids book? Written by him and his daughter? How cool is that?

Point two. Hopefully, if del.icio.us and LJ talk to each other, tonight at some point will be a linkspam post, because I'm regularly working at different PCs, my old way of storing links and posting them when I had time isn't working, so instead I'll just tag em on delicious and in theory they auto post here--it works for others, we shall see. There's a dedicated feed, [livejournal.com profile] matgb_links_fd if you want them direct, and the crosspost is now three hours late...

Point four.

Happy Birthday [livejournal.com profile] foxfirefey!

Point five. Question--how many times d'you think it's necessary to tell people where you live while making a point?
Many many times it seems... )
I think that last is the best one though...

G'night all. Oh, tomorrow evening (Weds--tonight really), going to be in town, probably in the Wetherspoons next to Victoria at some point around 9.30ish if anyone wants to meet for a drink.
matgb: (Gaming)
So then. In 2002, I got an email from an obvious loon I'd never met. If he organised a [livejournal.com profile] warlord_ccg event in a climbing hall[4] in his home town, would I be interested in attending and bringing friends? Where's his hometown? Muenster, Westphalia (that would be as in 'Treaty of', possibly one of the most significant documents in, oh, world history?). I didn't even have a passport. Massive fuss getting a passport, but eventually [livejournal.com profile] paulatpingu, [livejournal.com profile] nadriel, [livejournal.com profile] malkavelli, Vince[livejournal.com profile] the_prince[8] and I managed to get there. My first trip abroad as a functioning adult[6].

Best weekend away[1] ever. Seriously great fun[7]. I've sinced travelled to similar events all over Europe (waking up in a Paris bed next to Malk was weird, watching the premiere of the BSG mini-series in an Anaheim hotel room with Vince was slightly weirder). But the original event remains the best.

Last year was the fifth and, we thought, the last. This morning I got an email. From the same loon.

[livejournal.com profile] shakalooloo[3]warlord_ccg: KoHIT 6
Temple of Lore » View topic - KoHIT 6: A Gathering of Friends. Nov. 9-11 in Münster, GER[2]

Didn't know how to react—for a start, I need to be saving up the pennies, second, it'd mean a weekend travelling that wasn't to go visit Jennie, and, well, I'm not 100% sure I can afford it anyway. Except when we chatted earlier, [livejournal.com profile] snapesbabe said she'd like to come.

So, um, [livejournal.com profile] granjero? That'd be two decks I'd like to borrow this time Mr Player Design Team member...

Footnotes o'doom )
matgb: (Cool)
I'd heard many, many good things about Avenue Q, many of them from people on LJ. Having now been to see it? Opinion of this noted cynic: 2 thumbs up! Seriously, it's sharp, well observed, it has puppet sex and much much silliness. [livejournal.com profile] freddiefraggles had organised for us to go see it at the Noel Coward in the West End, and it was indeed great fun. I understand that it's currently on tour in the States as well; if you get a chance, go watch, definitely worth the effort. For those greater cynics who don't believe me, here's a clip I found on YouTube, dodgy recording of what appears to be a not-so-good production, but you still get the basic point:

Had been due to go on to Camden to enjoy a night out with [livejournal.com profile] nearly_everyone, but unfortunately the minor cold I've been resisting all week had me in a semi-comatose heap in the pub, so [livejournal.com profile] snapesbabe suggestedordered me home for some Lemsip and sleep. Hope those of you that have gone on have fun, thx Miss Freddie for organising it, and, well, I'm going to collapse now; I've had a really good week for the most part.

Oh yeah, a belated Happy Birthday to [livejournal.com profile] paulatpingu and an on-time one for [livejournal.com profile] indiana_george
matgb: Artwork of 19th century upper class anarchist, text: MatGB (Marvin-Life)
I have had a hectic weekend. I'll try to writ it up in parts but, well, exhausted but happy. Appears that [livejournal.com profile] davidnm and friends crossed over with myself and [livejournal.com profile] fracindy in visiting the Tate Modern Saturday evening by a matter of minutes, weird. Anyway...

[livejournal.com profile] linkfrenzy has a Doctor Who special,and the link [livejournal.com profile] drjon justifiably hasn't hyperlinked is well worth a visit.

This has been a few places already, but this is a bloody good Rammstein translation. On the subject of weirdness, Leeds University has guidelines on how to cite YouTube in an academic paper. Last up? Prettyness. I don't know much about the whole SteamPunk movement, but if the girls looks like this I might want to know more.

Edit: Extra bonus link—Victorian sex cry generator!
matgb: Artwork of 19th century upper class anarchist, text: MatGB (Marvin-Life)
[livejournal.com profile] tyrell gives us an interesting quote:
When asked about the quality of television today he made a comment that "Nothing on TV has ever been as good as (the new) Battlestar Galactica."!
Who said that, you ask? Joss Whedon. The guy who made Buffy, Angel, Firefly. The one that Uncle Rusty is trying to copy, rather than learn from and build upon.

Joss Whedon thinks BSG is better than anything he's ever done for TV. And I agree with him. Re watched a fnumber of episodes over the weekend with [livejournal.com profile] snapesbabe, and it was great to remember how good some of them really are.

Back home from Yorkshire, knackered, had a great weekend, spending time with [livejournal.com profile] snapesbabe is of course going to be good, meeting [livejournal.com profile] burkesworks was cool, trying many many beers at the beer festival was interesting, and I even found a few I actually liked as well, although disappointingly, the cider named Strawberry Fields was far too sweet. Finished reading Macleod's Newton's Wake on the bus up, and am now about half way through [livejournal.com profile] steph_swainston's The Modern World, loved the former, any Charles Stross fans not already reading Ken should do so, and the latter is proving to be interesting up unitl this point.

Have backread my "people I actually have met" filter, but not really commenting much, far too knackered and incoherent, so I shall simply turn in, work tomorrow.

Monoculture & SOCPA

2007-May-24, Thursday 12:54
matgb: (Cool)
The odds of [livejournal.com profile] draxar and [livejournal.com profile] dainul not having noticed this already are small, but just in case, warrenellis.com » Blog Archive » TRANSMETROPOLITAN: Monoculture.

Yup, my mates design project just got picked up by [livejournal.com profile] warrenellis, who seems happy to see is. Külness. Well done Mr Pink.

Actually, might as well post these rather than mailing you. [livejournal.com profile] d_notice_fd moved to London just before I did, I'd been reading his blog for ages before that, and he's ended up living around the corner. He writes a lot about SOCPA, and attended the All-day Lone Protest, his Flickr photostream has stuff, and I especially like this placard...

ETA: [livejournal.com profile] snapesbabe links to this petition and has more links and info.
matgb: Artwork of 19th century upper class anarchist, text: MatGB (Default)
OK, anyone paying attention will have seen me mention the awesome [livejournal.com profile] radio4comedy that is [livejournal.com profile] oldharrysgame a few times, and I've linked to [livejournal.com profile] ginasketch's trailer for it before. but she's finally finished it, so go tell her how cool this is:

Prof: People are fundamentally decent and moral
Satan: *chuckles* Oh, I'm sorry, you were serious...
*puts CD of series 1 back into player*
matgb: Artwork of 19th century upper class anarchist, text: MatGB (Books)
Don't you just hate it when that happens? This moring, on the bus, I finally finished reading Blish's Cities in Flight (Baxter's right, don't read book one, it's pointless - book 4's a bit poo as well), so I started reading Ken Macleod's Newton's Wake. I'm on about page 70 by the time I got home this evening.

What is greeting me when I get through the door? My Amazon delivery. Now, given I'm under instructions to read The Modern World as soon as possible, but I'm really enjoying Newton's Wake and it's due back at the library, what should I do?

[Poll #989719]

The former because I'm winding [livejournal.com profile] faeriecween up. The latter because I'm curious. I'm half tempted to read them all and then review them side by side, but we all know that's never going to happen, so I might just write reviews up as I go.
matgb: Artwork of 19th century upper class anarchist, text: MatGB (xNinja)
Earlier today, I said in passing:
Of course, my main problem with pastafarianism is the pirate obsession; everyone knows ninjas are better than pirates.
This, it appears, was a controversial statement. pirates are cool, ninjas are better, QED )So we come to the conclusion. Pirates are cool. Everyone knows pirates are cool. Well, unless you're in, for example, the Brazilian navy, and have to fight against the bastards every day, or your ship gets attacked by them and you get killed. Ninjas? Ninjas don't exist, they have never existed, they are a figment of your imagination, peasant superstitions, foolishness. That shadow you think you saw? Merely a curtain in the moonlight. Those shuriken taking out your guards? Don't be silly man, it didn't happen.


Completely incidental aside, before I turn in. [livejournal.com profile] lokean has had an LJ for longer than me, reads his friends list a lot but rarely posts. I think he a) needs more LJ friends and b) should post more often. For those at [livejournal.com profile] nadriel's birthday last weekend, he was the lunatic that kept buying me drinks (thanks for them BTW mate, much appreciated). So, well, you all know what to do, right?
matgb: Artwork of 19th century upper class anarchist, text: MatGB (A Toast)
Mat! Repeat this in your mind. Lots. You do not want to work in retail again. You do not want to go back to a retail job.. Got that? Good good.

Um, yeah. many many congratulations to [livejournal.com profile] faeriecween for getting the best shop job ever. Why do I say this? They've given her a branch of Hotel Chocolat to run, about ten minutes walk from where she lives.

*is very very jealous*

You do not want to work in retail again. You do not want to go back to a retail job.
matgb: Artwork of 19th century upper class anarchist, text: MatGB (Travel)
Righty ho, first day in the new job tomorrow, and I'm not even remotely sleepy, but I need to be, so clearing the clipboard now and turning in. Remember that it's International Pixel-Stained Technopeasant Day, and post something; I said I'd do an SEO/Usability study on a site, but no one volunteered me one, so I'll try to get a "how to" on the basics of customising your LJ, because I'm about half way through [livejournal.com profile] londonbloodbowl at the moment. That's if I get time after work tomorrow, given I'm planning on taking part in a world record attempt in Trafalgar Square. But the point of that link was to point to the fact that Charlie Stross has released Missile Gap for free download, which given my liking of everything I've read by [livejournal.com profile] autopope so far (I even like his politics) is a Good Thing.

Awhileback, I mentioned [livejournal.com profile] el_staplador is on a pilgrimage through Spain and suggested you go read her journal, which she's mostly updating via internet cafe. Only, um, I spelt her user name wrong (oops), so to make up for that, here's the story so far - pre-departure planning one, two, three and four. Actual reports from Spain: SORPRESA!, In brief, This could be the weirdest place in which I have ever updated LJ..., ¡Castrojeriz!, ¡Carrión de los Condes!, Thank goodness for wonderful refugios..., It's a long way to Santiago,It's a long, Goodbye, goodbye, I wish you all a last goodbye... and Yes, but you don't go!. If yuo wondering if the links are worth following, have an exerpt:
Note about refugios: yes, they're vaguely like youth hostels, but they are reserved exclusively for pilgrims ... it costs anything from €3 to €8 for the bed, plus about €3 for breakfast if they happen to do it there, although some seem to rely entirely on donations... They can range from the really basic and horrible - the one at Hornillos de Camino, for example, was filthy, cramped and disorganised ... and the shower was so cold that I wished I'd had some lustful thoughts to make it worth it.


Lastly, for those wondering? Yes, my girlfriend is crazy, personally I think it's one of her more endearing features...
matgb: (Cool)
[livejournal.com profile] rho has an episode of Songs of Praise, with subtitles. Um, yeah, very well done. Songs of praise, subtitled

ETA: Extra külness: Monoculture, video by [livejournal.com profile] draxar using words by [livejournal.com profile] warren_ellis and a voiceover by [livejournal.com profile] dainul. So very cool.

Our internet went down yesterday, has just come back up, but I've got to be off in half an hourNOW (oops) to meet a certain person at the MegaBus stop. So skimming back on the friends page, don't be expecting comments for a bit...
matgb: Artwork of 19th century upper class anarchist, text: MatGB (xBored)
Oh, ok then. Four separate people that I like have done this meme now, and I have commented, so here we go...:
We all have things about our friends that make us slightly envious. Not in a bad way, but in a 'Wow! I wish I had that person's hair/eyes/money/relationship/toenails/whatever.' So tell me what about me makes you envy me. . . then post this in your LJ and see what makes me envious of you.
I've struck out that last bit so you don't feel obliged to, I know a lot don't anyway, but I'm never keen on the whole "you must repost this" style instruction; feel free if'n you want. OK, comment me up...
matgb: Artwork of 19th century upper class anarchist, text: MatGB (Genius)

Happy Birthday Christy-Lou!

And, also, happy birthday to [livejournal.com profile] tyrell, the European Union, Patrick Troughton and Richard O'Brian (via). That's some pretty good company right there. On the subject of good company:

while my camera really doesn't like to take low-light pics, the panorama function is actually quite good. #More pics from last night in Reading on this Facebook gallery.

I'm sorry, I just have to say this again. Riff Raff is 65! Ouch. (wonders if there are any Crystal Maze episodes on YouTube)

So knackered...

2007-Mar-02, Friday 18:45
matgb: Artwork of 19th century upper class anarchist, text: MatGB (xZombie-Monkey-QC)
Been sat most of the day with [livejournal.com profile] pinkshifter, [livejournal.com profile] mooism, [livejournal.com profile] andershanson_fd (who I'm also sharing a room with) and other non-bloggy types registering people and printing badges.

Surprisingly, the IT, printers and networking have mostly stayed working. Except for my printer, but, y'know, there's always one, and it's usually me. Hopefully I get to leave in a bit to go meet [livejournal.com profile] snapesbabe for coffee, but that depends on whether we get a rush. Cleggy just finished speaking, we have a feed on, couldn't pay attention fully as kept getting actual work to do.

Anyway, better sign off. Fun fun.
matgb: (Cool)

Which Character from Old Harry's Game are you?

You are The Professor
Take this quiz!

Quizilla | Join | Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

And if the art looks familiar, it's because it's by [livejournal.com profile] ginasketch, and I get to be the atheist in hell. Sounds about right...

Oh yeah, Les Mis was great, although agree with [livejournal.com profile] jantshira, some of the cast weren't quite up to their role, although the lead male was very good. Also spent much more time wandering London and chatting, I may get to a point where I can walk from A to B in the centre without having to look at a map or go via a pointless diversion to one of the squares I know soon.

Today, went into Waterloo to meet with [livejournal.com profile] nadriel and [livejournal.com profile] the_emster for a drink in, I think, the Duke of Sussex, very close to the Old Vic and the IWM. Nice place actually, worth a walk out to if stuck in Waterloo for longer than desired.
matgb: Artwork of 19th century upper class anarchist, text: MatGB (Hungry)
Sorry, couldn't resist.

Moving to London, stuff with friends, and pirates )
Anyway; I got to ?skip=200 on my main friends view, let alone blogs and weasels, so I gave up, so if anything major has happened in your life recently, or you've died, or something, LMK?

I'll put up a new contact details for LJ-friends tomorrow when I've figured out the post code, but the public bit is Raynes Park, near Wimbledon, SW20

I am a London resident, complete with house keys and off-street parking. Off street parking, broadband and a room that isn't as small as I thought, for £300 a month? Bargain!

Now, naturally, I have to go investigate the kitchen facilities, I'm a little peckish. Then, the plan is, investigate this thing known as Slimelight. I've never been.

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matgb: Artwork of 19th century upper class anarchist, text: MatGB (Default)
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