Green

About This

You've arrived at the homepage of Stephen Stewart. The archive is available here for those who want it. This site is happily hosted by Dreamhost. Click for more?

Recent Comments

• Cybez on One's too many an' a hundred's not enough
• Nelly on One's too many an' a hundred's not enough
• adele on And the sky was made black with unescaped entities
• adele on And the sky was made black with unescaped entities
• sharon on Fifteens
• Nelly on Mother is it just a waste of time?
• Stephen on Mother is it just a waste of time?

links to other people's sites

Recommended Viewing

• 300†
  Does exactly what it says on the (comic book) tin. Loved it.
• Little Miss Sunshine†
  Very funny, disturbing (the beauty pageant) and completely messed up -- but in a good way.
• Laputa: Castle in the Sky†
  Story great, characterization a little on the weak side -- though the big robots are cool.
• Porco Rosso†
  Stylish, funny, exciting.
• Grave of the Fireflies†
  Very sad, which was a little unexpected since I didn't know much about it before watching it. Can be a little too slow in places though, otherwise it's very good.
• Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind†
  The story can get a little dense at times what with the various factions, but still really enjoyable, inventive and engaging.
• X-Men: The Last Stand†
  Opportunity, talent, money - all blown. Over 3 films X-Men has hinted of something great that could have been, this last one says "No, sorry - not going to happen". Bah.

flickr.com

Favourite videos on Kerrang! today

• Hot Action Cop - Fever For The Flava
• QOTSA - Go With The Flow
• Andrew WK - We Want Fun
• Marilyn Manson - m-Obscene
• Soundgarden - Black Hole Sun

0 CommentsApril 30, 2003

Fragmentary Blue

Why make so much of fragmentary blue
In here and there a bird, or butterfly,
Or flower, or wearing-stone, or open eye,
When heaven presents in sheets the solid hue?

Since earth is earth, perhaps, not heaven (as yet)—
Though some savants make earth include the sky;
And blue so far above us comes so high,
It only gives our wish for blue a whet.

Robert Frost (1874 - 1963)

0 CommentsApril 29, 2003

Blogshares

Down on the left there, at the bottom of the 'Vignette du Blog' section, is my BlogShares report - what shares I own and how well they're doing. I actually don't like BlogShares too much as a game, it doesn't seem quite as immediate as Celebdaq, so the report may not stay for long.

0 CommentsApril 28, 2003

Celebdaq Chart

I have been usurped!!! I can only assume that Mr McCullagh has thrown everything into Daniella Westbrook...

6 CommentsApril 28, 2003

Belief-o-matic

This should help those who need to pigeon-hole, the Belief-O-Matic. Frank Skinner once said you can talk about worshipping the Devil, rubbing strange crystals on your chest or that aliens kidnapped you and did all sorts of things and, in this country, no-one will bat an eyelid. But mention that you believe a person called Jesus Christ once walked the earth and was the Son of God and you're instantly marked out for the funny farm.

1. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (100%)
2. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (88%)
3. Orthodox Quaker (87%)
4. Eastern Orthodox (85%)
5. Roman Catholic (85%)
6. Seventh Day Adventist (81%)
7. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (77%)
8. Jehovah's Witness (67%)
9. Orthodox Judaism (65%)
10. Bahá'í Faith (64%)

Belief-o-matic link shamelessly stolen from Stray-Toaster

0 CommentsApril 27, 2003

Empire

According to Empire Magazine, Genndy Tartakovsky, the guy behind the simply fantastic Samurai Jack, is the creator of a series of new Star Wars cartoons, The Clone Wars - oooh, exciting.

And once upon a time (Empire, Issue 141) Minnie Driver agreed to go out for coffee with me. Now, for me, there can be no other...

2 CommentsApril 25, 2003

The Weather as XML Feed

A weather forcast XML feed for Newtownards, and lot's of other UK cities -- none for Donaghadee but Newtownards is close enough. Apparently it's going to rain tomorrow, heavily. I'm going to get soaked then. Supah.

The XML Weather Service -- try explaining that to your granny.

0 CommentsApril 24, 2003

It used to be called Dorothy's

May I recommend Millars Fish & Chip shop in Millisle. Home of the finest pasties in North Down. Excellent chips, crispy and not too greasy. The banter's good too. Again, I didn't try the fish...

And so, a new category is born, 'Places to Eat'. Upcoming mini-reviews of The Stables, Grace Neills, McIlhills, The TT Lounge, The Quays (Portavogie) to name but a few...

2 CommentsApril 24, 2003

Bears in the trees

I would like to recommend Ma Bear's blog to you, for no other reason than eventually she will have to admit that her Eucalyptus tree has taken the garden hostage. That blog entry is coming some day, mark my words...

2 CommentsApril 24, 2003

New Lifeboat

Donaghadee has a new lifeboat the Trent Class 'Saxon'.

The new 14m Trent class all-weather lifeboat is capable of 25 knots at top speed. She carries a crew of six, has a range of 250 nautical miles and is equipped with all the latest navigation and communications equipment.

SailRacer Magazine

Both the old Arun Class 'City of Belfast' and the 'Saxon' were sitting in the harbour until very recently, but now the 'City of Belfast' has gone. I wonder where old lifeboats retire to?

Here's a little more on the history of Donaghadee lifeboat station...

Donaghadee lifeboat station was established in 1910. Two RNLI Bronze medals for gallantry have been awarded. The last being voted in 1953 when the Bronze Medal was awarded to Coxswain Hugh Nelson for the courage, skill and initiative shown on the occasion of the wreck of the motor ship 'Princess Victoria' which sank in a raging gale. The disaster to the Princess Victoria was the greatest suffered by any British merchant vessel in peacetime for a quarter of a century. The British Empire Medal was awarded to Coxswain Hugh Nelson in recognition of services rendered in rescuing survivors from the Princess Victoria on 31 January.

RNLI

Ah, this is where old lifeboats retire to.

0 CommentsApril 23, 2003

Pier 36

Yesterday we had lunch at Pier 36 in Donaghadee, establishment of Denis & Margaret Waterworth, this was the first time I'd ever been and it was really nice. The Lunch menu wasn't huge but it had bangers n' mash, or rather pork and leek sausage with champ, so I was happy. I dunno about it being the Northern Ireland's premier seafood restaurant because I didn't have any fish - the Quays in Portavogie is really the only fish restaurant I've been to and it's very nice.

Pier 36 refused me entry at first (which is probably a good sign) but I was mightly insulted at the inference as they were refusing entry to anyone who looked connected to the bands.
Note to Mr Waterworth: I have a decent vocabulary, do not use the 'F' word as punctuation and clearly do not favour the medallion ring as a fashion accessory.

7 CommentsApril 23, 2003

Best laid plans

So much for a hiatus. Andy mentioned Shillington's Quay in Portadown, which is where some friends and I used to ski from, down to Coney Island, Lough Neagh. Coney Island is beautiful on a day like today - warm weather, clear blue skies, dead calm - I think you can get there by ferry from Antrim. The River Bann itself can be a bit hit and miss - I went for a burton while slaloming and found myself floating rather to close to a dead Fresian. Nothing will bring your lunch up quicker than the smell of rotting cow on a warm day, except maybe the smell and the taste in the lungful of water you just took in.

Anyway, I never knew that path to Newry existed so I'll give it a run sometime. First off though, we're going down to Castle Archdale to take a run round the Forest Park. I haven't been there since I was 12.

If you're looking for paths in North Down - there's one which runs from Orlock Point (just north of Donaghadee) through to Groomsport, then round Ballymacormick Point into Bangor and right round to Holywood. You can't ride it all though - so unless you're into carrying your wheels for a spell it's best walked.

0 CommentsApril 18, 2003

One more thing...

If anyone wants to join a local Celebdaq league, put your Celebdaq Player ID in the comments section and I'll add you asap. If you already have a league but didn't invite me, well, that's just fine, who needs you. Pfft.

Here's the link to the league, which currently contains only MWK and myself...

0 CommentsApril 18, 2003

Hiatus

There will be a short hiatus in the blogging here. I need to get my head together on a couple of things, try and see the lay of the land that sort of thing. All the old posts have gone for reasons of national security. In the interim you should visit Jaff's Trumpet, anyone who uses cool words like "weaker" has to be worth a read.

And, a long time ago, in a place far far away, Andy helped me make the Simpsons page at deathblack star... Andy may even have worked on the South Park page with me, I can't remember. Andy definately worked on the Ally McBeal page with me - though surprisingly I don't have/want a link for that retarded peice of poo.

2 CommentsApril 18, 2003

There Is Room

As in the midst of battle there is room
For thoughts of love, and in foul sin for mirth;
As gossips whisper of a trinket’s worth
Spied by the death-bed’s flickering candle-gloom;
As in the crevices of Cæsar’s tomb
The sweet herbs flourish on a little earth:
So in this great disaster of our birth
We can be happy, and forget our doom.

For morning, with a ray of tenderest joy
Gilding the iron heaven, hides the truth,
And evening gently woos us to employ
Our grief in idle catches. Such is youth;
Till from that summer’s trance we wake, to find
Despair before us, vanity behind.

George Santayana

3 CommentsApril 15, 2003

Dead Woman

If suddenly you do not exist,
if suddenly you no longer live,
I shall live on.

I do not dare,
I do not dare to write it,
if you die.

I shall live on.

For where a man has no voice,
there shall be my voice.

Where blacks are flogged and beaten,
I cannot be dead.
When my brothers go to prison
I shall go with them.

When victory,
not my victory,
but the great victory
comes,
even if I am dumb I must speak;
I shall see it coming even if I am blind.

No, forgive me.
If you no longer live,
if you, beloved, my love,
if you
have died,
all the leaves will fall on my breast,
it will rain on my soul night and day,
the snow will burn my heart,
I shall walk with frost and fire and death and snow,
my feet will want to walk to where you are sleeping,
but
I shall stay alive,
because above all things you wanted me
indomitable,
and, my love, because you know that I am not only a man
but all mankind.


Pablo Neruda -- 1904 - 1973

0 CommentsApril 12, 2003

The Stolen Branch

We shall go into the night
to steal
a flowering branch.

We shall climb over the wall,
in the darkness of someone's garden,
two shadows in the shadow.

Winter is still not past
and the apple tree appears
suddenly transformed into
a cascade of perfumed stars.

We shall go into the night
right up to its trembling firmament,
and your little hands and mine
will steal the stars.

And then secretly,
in our home,
in the night and the dark,
there will enter your steps
the silent tread of the perfume,
and with starry feet
the shining body of Spring.


Pable Neruda (1904 - 1973)

0 CommentsApril 12, 2003

Nostrodamus

I wondered about Blogdaq... and along came BlogShares.

Yes, I do know Nostrodamus is spelt Nostradamus.

0 CommentsApril 2, 2003