Kablow

This is when everything blew up. It was off the chain.

roight then

What have we been up to here?

Birthweek(ish) has not been the great event of past years but there's still been fun to be had.

So far the following events have been claimed as birthweek-worthy:

• Foop-ball and Poker with the brothers Hawks
• Steak Dinner with Elbs
• Work friend drinkys
• NAG friend drinkys
• a day at the Fox and Hounds with the Azzman Network
• BIRTHDAYPARTYBIRTHDAYPARTYBIRTHDAYPARTY
• Family Hawks meal
• Going to see Pirates of the Caribbean 3 with Bobcat

Still to come we have Dave Matthews Band concert tonite. YAY! Also, Open Mic tomorrow, some kind of funs on Friday, The Jub's stag (probably can't claim that one actually) and hopefully a meal with the Family Hardingo's. What joy.

Presents include a Garden Table, Dave Matthews Band tickets, Jack Bag, DVDs, CD, Whiskey, EDT, Banana box, Choclit, Wine and more.

Half term continues..

over&out

if they could see me now

If you can see and read this post I *think* that means the new design is finally finished. Well. I say finished. I'll be tweaking it no doubt. If you spot something weird going on let me know. And I'll say "that was supposed to be like that, do you not like it?".

Well. To sleep and so on. Or in actual fact I'm probably going to end up staying up even later trying to coax my new template into working.

More updates on Birthweek(ish) and such later..

overandout

Birthday boys and girls

Last nite was good fun. That is all.

Everything's so blurry

Holy carp look how big my pupil is!

My inner child is to be obeyed

He says 'want sweeties now'.

Brilliant

Oh my gosh balloons. Best quote so far comes from kidsis who left me a big long message and ended with 'this is Caelie by the way'. Happy Toby day y'all.

Propaganda

"Propaganda is the deliberate, systematic attempt to shape perceptions, manipulate cognitions, and direct behavior to achieve a response that furthers the desired intent of the propagandist."
- Garth S. Jowett and Victoria O'Donnell, Propoganda and Persuasion, 4th edition, 2006

I sometimes think the word propaganda is only ever applied to materials, methods or views that the person using the word disagrees.

Is it ever possible to tell a full objective truth that the other person receives objectively in its entirety?

Do we ever write something public without wishing or hoping to shape perceptions? Perhaps not to further our intent, but probably to propagate our views.

I think we react more to perceived propaganda when we see the manipulation. For instance, in a program I watched recently, images were used that were not directly related to the commentary but had been (I assume carefully) chosen to create a certain mood that would help convey the overall message. I think, "propaganda", but perhaps those that agreed with every word being said wouldn't. Or perhaps those that had not spotted the conceit.

But does it matter? I guess people don't like to be manipulated so on principle yes. But then everything we see, hear, touch etc. will be manipulating us in some way. It then comes down to whether we know we're being manipulated and whether we like it. Or it becomes about whether you think it is right that other people should be manipulated in that way. But if you cry foul you're still deciding what is right and wrong for someone else. Who ultimately decides what is good propaganda and what is bad propaganda? Surely training people to choose for themselves is in itself a form of propaganda?

My final question may seem a little trivial but I don't mind. Do you think that a rare bearlike mammal of the mountains of China and Tibet, having woolly fur with distinctive black and white markings would think this rant to be propapanda?

Didn't think so.

overandout

The most important news of all..

In all the excitement and furore caused by the return of the me yesterday I forgot to tell you. The Almeida beard has returned. Once known as the Oakley tribute, the arrival of 24 heralded a new era of the fluffy triangle, or, as most people know it, the only bit of beard Toby can effectively grow. And even then not that effectively. I went a little crazy with commas back there.

up 2 d8

I am down with the youngins! I know their lango!

Here I am no need to fret. Just been busy is all.. The new design is on the way. Haven't had time. I haven't even had time to plan birthweek. We'll just have to wing it and see what happens.

Don't forget Toby Day this Thursday!

Right. Updates.

New favourite webcomic: xkcd.com

I say favourite, scarygoround will most likely always hold a dear place in my heart, but what xkcd.com lacks in whimsy and delight it makes up for in sheer "I actually laughed out loud whilst reading it" ness. ity. osity. isiosity?

Also, new addition to the sitting room:


We've been given this on a long-term loan basis, so I am learning piano. Huzzah.

Finally:



I fixed the toilet. It's like new. I'm so proud. Ignore the scary black lines of doom. They're just holding the cistern in place whilst the sealant sets y'all.

That's it.

Bedtime.

(two more sleeps..)

contrast

In addition to my ramblings below I feel I owe.. who I wonder?.. you all? Myself in times to come? Posterity? Maybe nothing so grand.

I feel I owe somebody an explanation. Well. No that's too strong. I feel I owe somebody an account of my doings recently. Let's say if nothing else so that I can look back next year and see what all went down.

These have been a busy few weeks with things going on left right and centre. I'm not sure I will remember everything but we've had:

Gigs, recording, meals, people round, Hen weekends (not me obviously), Open Mics, practices, Birthday parties/celebrations, unexpected sibling visits, expected sibling visits, 6th form proms, GTP completion celebrations, attempted poker nites, fun, friends, drinks, meetings, work, cricket nets.

I think that gives a flavour. Tomorrow I am playing my first cricket game of the season. Should be fun. What else is happening? Well, I haven't overlooked the most important event of Maytime. That's right peoples, the birthday celebrations are to be had. I might scale back a little this year. Then again maybe not..

I think that's how we do.

The other big news here at tobiwan.co.uk is that we're undergoing a redesign. Something of an overhaul. Another reason why posts have been lacking lately actually. It was nearing completion today but I hit a snag due to lack of planning and foresight. But rest assured you'll be the first to know when it hits the shelves.

How's that for two posts early on a Sunday morning? I'd like to say that my fingers are tired, but I could go on for ages. You know I could.

stark

Hello hello.

My current nark is all about the humility. I'm guessing that when your business is writing words it doesn't pay to be unsure of them so it's understandable that you state your position and you state it boldly.

I hate to add to the countless words already written in the wake of the recent retirement announcement, but I'm surprised that I haven't read or heard many balanced pieces of thinking about the 10 years with Tony Blair in charge.

Most of it's RAH RAH RAH IRAQ, or HEALTHCARE this or Oh whatever. Pieces either blind in their praise or blind in their hatred. What emerges is that there are many with an issue or an axe to grind (bad axes or good axes) and most of it would maybe rest on a few personal experiences of life under Tony that have colored overall opinion.

So many things are summed up with such self-belief and arrogance it's hard for me to take any of them seriously. Perhaps I'm just nervous of stating any case too boldly.

My own guess is that this country hasn't been run all too badly for the last 10 years. I think the government has probably been a little spin-happy, but I defy anyone not to be in the current media climate. I see triumphs and disasters and so-sos and maybes. There are people who have been let down, people who have been well served, people undermined and people lifted up.

I have a sneaking suspicion that life creeps on, and also a slightly nervous inclination to believe that in more cases than we'd like to admit, we do bad things to ourselves. The General Public of the United Kingdom is a strange and unruly beast.

In closing I see a country and a system and a decade too complex to bring down to a few paragraphs (though you will see that even I am trying :P). Also I see a job impossible to be done to the satisfaction of all. I try to understand that not everything is as it seems and that there is good and bad in all walks of life from the lowest to the highest.

Finally I deem it unwise to try and second-guess what history will make of things. Hindsight is a scarce commodity.

I hope this hasn't appalled you.

Overand out..

farewell to arms

They said the road to hell was paved with good intentions. It was found instead to be littered with those you left dead and bloodied in your eagerness to get there.

I despair of the trend towards tearing down we seem to have established.

I wish I could put it more eloquently.

I rather think that's enough for this post.

overandout

dang

forgot to say, the title of the previous post is from a song and I only just realised the chaos significance of it. Clever Tobes.

Aside from that, classic lines ahoy:

You've got to be the best and use this chance to be heard; Your time is now

It's the bloggin mantra don't you know.

of butterflies and hurricanes..

Performance is kind of addictive. I didn't twig onto this very early. I have vague memories of being an air raid warden in primary school and I also have more distinct memories of pissing myself whilst singing 'Lady in Red' in Year 7 (could it be I had taste even back then?). I vaguely remember Mr Baker being involved in that particular incident as well, though I could be mistaken.

I digress. Last nite's (that's Wednesday for those of y'all reading this on a different timescale to my posting of it) gig was super great fun and I bopped and bounced and threw shapes like a good'n. Then Open Mic tonite was also very good fun,

I may have had a point. I may also have had 4 pints and no dinner. What of it?

I'll stop now before I hurt someone.

overandout

Uh-oh..

Look what happened. It's starting again. :P