The Wire

I don't know how I managed to do this, but one of the best crime series I've ever seen was on TV and I didn't know about it.

The Wire has been feted as the best TV crime show ever ... I don't know about that, but it is surely up there with the best.

And, in the best tradition of British TV, it's over after five seasons; unusual for US TV.

I don't think I've seen a TV series which so examines the desperate and decomposing world of inner city degradation and post-industrial wastelands which spawn the intense, tragic and inevitable tales of desperation, addiction and murder.

Although the setting is Baltimore, these events can easily be picked up and set in Liverpool, Marseille or Naples.

Eulogies to The Wire often portray it as allegorical. I don't know ... to me it seems all too real.

The Internet Radio Forum

Living as an Englishman abroad, it's nice to have those reminders of old Blighty.

McVitie's Digestives, Taylor's Yorkshire Gold, Private Eye and the Guardian crossword ...

... and, of course, the BBC.

Isn't the interweb a wonderful thing? Now, via the wonder of internet radio, it's possible to listen to BBC Radio 5Live and hear about lane closures on the M32 or an incident on the Circle Line.

Anyway, as I've mentioned before, I have two internet radios, a Noxon iRadio - using the vTuner portal - and a Sangean WFR-20 - using the Reciva portal. Both have been good acquisitions.

However, finding a place to discuss internet radio problems is difficult. So I've started a forum - The Internet Radio Forum - http://iRadioForum.net/ - to make a start at focusing online discussion and problem solving.

It's very small, at the moment, but I hope in time it will grow. If you're interested, please sign up.

August - November 2008 : Stuff

Whoa!!!! What a gap!!!

I mean, it's not as if a lot hasn't happened; a part-time job, visitors from the UK, trip to the UK.

So, here I am ... back on the block, as it were ...

Let's get going again.

Grand Unification Theory

I found this just the other day ... seems to answer all life's questions.
Anything else? If you need further clarification click here.

Summer Night's Dream ...

... Well, maybe not a dream, but not a nightmare either ...

The Princeton super-group, Rackett, played a local gig at the Community Park North Amphitheater, Pettoranello Gardens, to a small, but perfectly formed audience of aficionados and curious passers-by.

As usual, sports' jackets featured in the on stage presence, leaving me in a quandary as to whether I should include an apostrophe.

But more importantly, the band rocked to poet, Paul Muldoon's lyrics with some very nice musical touches.

A good time was had by all as Rackett geared up for their Finnish tour.

Good evening, Turku!!!!

Wha' Happening?

It's been a little while since I've contributed to this blog, not because nothing's happening, but most stuff has been about cycling, which I cover in velostage.blogspot.com.

But the intervening time has seen me get one year older ... you know? Birthdays used to be something to look forward to and now they also seem all too frequent ...

But having said that, Linda and the girls helped me celebrate well with a really good dinner at Genarro's, and a very nice birthday present indeed; see here. Thank you ... Thank you ...

And just to mention, the next day was the birthday of my dear old dad ...

Of course, I could still do with a job. So anyone looking for a nice Englishman who can be charming if he tries just get in touch. I'd appreciate it.

PS: That's Bella and me. I'm the one on the right ...

NYC Waterfalls

I took some time out last week and popped down to New York to take a look at The New York City Waterfalls.

Well, it was interesting, although I guess some of the power of the installations was dissipated by our few days at Niagara Falls.

Nevertheless, the view of a waterfall thundering from under the Brooklyn Bridge was intriguing and curiously unsettling, although for me the technical aspect of how it was done occupied me more than the artistic quality of the work.

Incidently, the journey back to Princeton on NJT was a nightmare. The train was absolutely packed ... every seat filled and people jammed in the aisles. Is the price of petrol/gas here really having an effect on people's travel options?