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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.

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Questions asked by the Confederation of Grammar Schools' Former Pupils' Associations

Copied from tonight's Belfast Telegraph, with the suggestion from me to the CGSFPA that putting something on the internet yourselves might have helped your cause a little - apparently it's the next big thing, the internet.

To the Minister with Responsibility for Education Barry Gardiner M.P.

Dear Minister,

We are deeply concerned by a number of recommendations in the Costello Report, which have been accepted in full, and the effect that they will have on the standard of post-primary education in Northern Ireland. We would welcome your response to the following questions:

1. Why has the will of the people to retain some form of academic selection, as demonstrated in your Department's consultation process, been rejected?
2. How can there be a variety of school types if all schools are to have an all-ability (ie. comprehensive) intake?
3. How many schools with less than 500 pupils are likely to close if the Costello proposals on Pupil Entitlement are implemented?
4. How can the academic nature of grammar schools be maintained if they are denied any reliable measure of the aptitude or abilities of pupils being admitted to their classrooms?
5. What guarantee is there that the untried system proposed by Costello will improve current levels of attainment?
6. How can parents exercise a choice if, when schools are oversubscribed, the final decision could depend on a postcode or random computer selection?
7. How can schools be expected to exercise responsibility for the welfare and safety of pupils while they are travelling to, or receiving lessons at, other institutions?
8. How will the distinctive ethos of individual schools be preserved under the new arrangements?
9. How many schools will be forced to close their Sixth Forms because of the Costello proposals that 27 courses must be offered at this level?
10. How are radical changes being made to our education system without any reliable estimate being available of what they will cost?

0 CommentsMay 18, 2004

Spirited Away

I finally got to see Spirited Away last night, I'd really enjoyed Princess Mononoke and lots of good stuff had been said about Spirited Away so I was really looking forward to seeing it. I was not disappointed. I *heart* Spirited Away.
Storyline aside the film is just beautiful, you find yourself half wishing the story would slow down so you could linger on those painted backdrops.
The story is just so wonderful though, it had me pinned halfway between wonder and fear for most of the running, the Stink Spirit, No Face, those little soot creatures...
By the end you still want more, that's not a criticism that's the way I feel about all good fairy tales, the fairy world should be better than the real world, that's why we go there. What a great film.

0 CommentsMay 16, 2004

Movable Type

Movable Type is great software and worth the money. The general opinion of the 600 or so trackbacks on Mena's post doesn't quite agree with me but then, when did anyone agree with me?

I know the pricing of v3 has moved some to build their own MT-killer, but... well, my heart says it'll never happen, the MT killing part, not unless they marry a pretty young thing with a good grasp of typography, colour theory and how ordinary people interact with machines.

Yeah, paying extra for MT is one more my fledgling company could do without, but MT is worth the money.

Other sensible people on this subject are Jeremy Zawodny and Jason Kottke. For counter opinion just throw a dart at the interweb, it'll hit someone I'm sure.

1 CommentsMay 15, 2004

Apple Blossom

They found the missing girl, she's back home and all is well. I've removed the post to save her future embarrassment.

Someone took a sledge hammer to Joey Dunlop's memorial in Ballymoney. That really saddens me. I met Joey once, when I was wee, he was a nice man. Too few like him, too many of the other sort.

This weblog is now using Movable Type Version 3.0D, for some reason I can't switch comment moderation off though, so if you comment, it'll not appear until I approve. Boo!

7 CommentsMay 13, 2004

Just how many people have been sacked for writing weblogs?

While reading Dooce this morning I discovered that Heather B. Armstrong, the writer, had been sacked from a job for writing a weblog, which made me think, just how many people have been sacked for writing a weblog? I can think of Iain Murray, That Guy Who Photo'd Mac's at M$ (Michael Hanscom), Mark Pilgrim (or did he choose to leave?), and me.

From Twilight Invasion (thanks Mr Hanscom): Sarcastic Journalist, Banjo Jones, Gibberations, sassy little punkin, geekly, and Denis Horgan.

Thieves, sexual harrassers and webloggers - all sackable with immediate effect.

5 CommentsMay 2, 2004

And blue so far above us comes so high...

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)

1 CommentsMay 1, 2004