It is officially Christmas!!

Today is shutdown day for most of us in the construction biz, it doesn't really help either that I attended another surveying practice's party last night. Needless to say, "There'll be a whole lot of nothin' goin" on today

That grant pitch might not be so difficult after all...........

Lol, the Sunday Times ran a story back in 2007 that discussed research findings that suggested that walking to the shops did more damage to the planet than if you drove a car (you can find it here).

notable points include, but are not limited to:-

• Traditional nappies are as bad as disposables, a study by the Environment Agency found. While throwaway nappies make up 0.1 per cent of landfill waste, the cloth variety are a waste of energy, clean water and detergent

• Paper bags cause more global warming than plastic. They need much more space to store so require extra energy to transport them from manufacturers to shops

• Diesel trains in rural Britain are more polluting than 4x4 vehicles. Douglas Alexander, when Transport Secretary, said: “If ten or fewer people travel in a Sprinter [train], it would be less environmentally damaging to give them each a Land Rover Freelander and tell them to drive”

• Burning wood for fuel is better for the environment than recycling it, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs discovered

• Organic dairy cows are worse for the climate. They produce less milk so their methane emissions per litre are higher

• Someone who installs a “green” lightbulb undoes a year’s worth of energy-saving by buying two bags of imported veg, as so much carbon is wasted flying the food to Britain

• Trees, regarded as shields against global warming because they absorb carbon, were found by German scientists to be major producers of methane, a much more harmful greenhouse gas

All of these discoveries can be found in - Goodall. C (don't know the year) Defra; how to Live a Low-Carbon Life, Absorbent Hygiene Products Manufacturers Association; The Times; BBC

Also, If I may be so bold as to add my own research discoveries. I have found that Environmentalists damage the planet less when they are dead.

Dear Santa...........

let the xmas browbeating begin!!

Do or Die!!! Pt.2

I made mention last year of a possible trip to brazil that fell to pieces after the house of T acquired a Land Rover.

Looks like it's back on for January 2011

It's that time again!!

It's our day of independence tomorrow. I haven't been able to update posts as much as I would have liked over the past few months. (Trust me, I've got tens of draft posts sitting in my blog posts).

I will however make a special effort tomorrow to share some aspect of Bajan peculiarities with all and sundry just as soon as I figure out what to discuss, on the interim, here's a special little nugget for those of you born post-1980 that haven't a clue what the previous flags looked like.

Colonial Flag of barbados 1885 - 1958

Colonial Flag of Barbados 1958 - 1966

Monday Blues

Where the fuck did my weekend go?

Bygone Barbados

In Flanders' field so long ago

Yesterday was remembrance day, so take time to spare a thought for those Barbadian (and other) soldiers that died so you could read this now.

God of our fathers, known of old—
Lord of our far-flung battle line—
Beneath whose awful hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine—
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

The tumult and the shouting dies—
The Captains and the Kings depart—
Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

Far-called our navies melt away—
On dune and headland sinks the fire—
Lo, all our pomp of yesterday
Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!
Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

If, drunk with sight of power, we loose
Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe—
Such boastings as the Gentiles use,
Or lesser breeds without the Law—
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

For heathen heart that puts her trust
In reeking tube and iron shard—
All valiant dust that builds on dust,
And guarding calls not Thee to guard.
For frantic boast and foolish word,
Thy Mercy on Thy People, Lord!
Amen.

Good marketing

Here's a new ad campaign by Japanese telecommunications provider Softbank.
You dont necessarily have to understand Japanese to get the ideas, but part one and two are subtitled anyway. I tend to find them hilarious, so I thought I'd share.

STRENGTH : Surviving Through Rough Experiences Never Giving up Through Hardships

Taken directly from a friend's facebook feed. Never has that been more appropriate, it's been a rough week. Mistakes were made, meltdowns were narrowly avoided, deadlines came down to a photofinish, clients were screaming bloody murder. Who would have thought being a brick counter could be so stressful?

A moment of silence

For the burial of our Late Prime minister David Thompson. A dedicated family man through and through.

Once upon a time....

I was told a story of a now popular Barbadians priest who ventured to Trinidad in his youth and managed to convince the Trinidadians to join his cultural extravaganza. To cut a long story short, just check out the sparrow song above and you'll get the full rundown.

Needless to say, he was chased out of Trinidad he's returned to Barbados to continue preaching to the masses here.

Travel the world they said....

POW!! Right in the kisser!!!

Contrary to popular local belief, God is in fact NOT a Bajan, it then follows that bajans were caught unawares when tropical storm Tomas (Toe-maaass) slammed into us over the weekend.

There was no shortage of destruction, but, the good thing was, that it only really extended to endless missing roofs and fallen trees and lots of flooding. No loss of life.

Check the photos out of a few incidents.

The Blind

Too short-sighted to care,
Vengeance is your modus,
Possess vision but can't see what you're doing

Ta dah!!

Yesterday I had my final exam for certification as a PADI open water diver. It took a bit longer than expected because I missed a few weekends but now it's over. After many a tense moment I made it, narrowly avoiding the chagrin of my instructor, who promptly put me in the water buddied up but without 'supervision' so to speak.

Conditions were new to me, It was clear but the water had a very greenish tinge which makes for creepy wreck diving, pics to come soon after I get my camera housing.

*Update*

Got my housing courtesy of Ikelite camera housings In hindsight, however, I should have also purchased some colour filters as they're a bit overpowered by the blue. (pics below)

In Today's news

Popular stories today include, but are not limited to:-

• Lil' Kim shows the western world that nepotism is not yet dead by prepping the heir-apparent for his impending departure.
• A South Korean man in a fit of rage rammed his rascal through closed elevator doors and (you guessed it) plunged down the shaft to his untimely demise (The Darwin awards have been contacted).
  
• My personal favorite, A Panamanian registered tanker has collided with your anus Uranus (the seamen got off safely), but it's rapidly taking on water. (seriously, why do people persist in naming ships "Uranus" after that whole "Titan Uranus" meme)
  

All dads should be this cool

Homemade Spacecraft from Luke Geissbuhler on Vimeo.

also on my to do list.

Today's LOL

Today's lols are being brought to you by the good folks over at the Life in the fastlane medical blog, where this case was presented;

"27-year-old lady presented with persistent cough, sputum and fever for the preceding six months. Inspite of trials with antibiotics and anti-tuberculosis treatment for the preceeding four months, her symptoms did not improve.

A subsequent chest radiograph showed non-homogeneous collapse-consolidation of right upper lobe.

Videobronchoscopy revealed an inverted bag like structure in right upper lobe bronchus and rigid bronchoscopic removal with biopsy forceps confirmed the presence of a condom.

Detailed retrospective history also confirmed accidental inhalation of the condom during fellatio.

[PMID Reference: 14870871]"

I'm amazed that it took half a year before she had an x-ray done

The stovetop.....OF THE FUTURE!!!

WANT!

T.G.I.T

having a bad day at work?

Spare a thought for those that are much worse off



Image sourced via Twisted sifter, (check 'em out)

There are no new innovations only recycled ideas

This would be funnier if I hadn't seen it before...

Sarah Connor better watch out

Skynet Lockheed Martin are product testing a new exoskeleton aptly named the 'HULC'.

Now I don't know what the hell that acronym stands for, but I assume it's something along the lines of Heading for Ultimate Life Control. Aside from that Lockheed's PR department has stated;

"The HULC is a completely un-tethered, hydraulic-powered anthropomorphic exoskeleton that provides users with the ability to carry loads of up to 200 lbs for extended periods of time and over all terrains. Its flexible design allows for deep squats, crawls and upper-body lifting. There is no joystick or other control mechanism. The exoskeleton senses what users want to do and where they want to go. It augments their ability, strength and endurance. An onboard micro-computer ensures the exoskeleton moves in concert with the individual. Its modularity allows for major components to be swapped out in the field. Additionally, its unique power-saving design allows the user to operate on battery power for extended missions. The HULC’s load-carrying ability works even when power is not available."

*shudder*

Paranoia aside, there's no ignoring the fact that the HULC definitely lends itself to the 'super-soldier' image and the sight of something such as a soldier lifting a 200lb shell under one arm would be enough to strike a certain amount of fear into the heart of opposing forces

well, that is, provided the insurgents aren't operating under the assumption that the USMC has been hit by a polio pandemic.

The life aquatic with I and I

After a bit of an entry hiatus, I've finally managed to knock my post-travel depression for four off the back foot, (albeit 3 weeks later).

This post marks the beginning of my journey to gaining PADI open water diver certification, hopefully it should take about 2 months or so.

On a wild Merlion chase

The following conversation ensued when we encountered a (possibly) Sri lankan construction worker, after we had been unsuccessfully butting back and forth, between outram park station and harbour front station, on a bit of a ghost-hunt for the mythical Merlions that everyone associates with Singapore.

Me: Exscuse me sir, do you know how we can get to the boardwalk?
Man (thick indian accent): Huh?

Me: Aaaah, the place with the long walkway, a waterfront, those big statues?

Man: Oh, you want see Merillion?

Me: Uhh, yea

My travel accomplice (to me): Merillion??, is that what it is we're looking for?

Me (to travel accomplice): I'm not sure, I think it began with an "M"
Me (to man): yea, where can we find the merillion?

Man: OK you need walk this way for, aaah, 1 kilometre then turn, uuuh, left (gestures with RIGHT HAND)

Me: Ok, thanks alot mate

Travel companion: Sooo, the directions good?
Me: Dunno, we'll find out in about 20 minutes

Needless to say, we did find it after about 30 more minutes of wrong turns and expat interrogations for directions.

The Japanese connection

I Arrived in Tokyo yesterday after what felt like the longest flight in the history of air travel.

It's been well worth it by the way things are shaping up so far, pictures to follow soon, but, for now I'm late for an important appointment with some Asahi, Gyoza and a bowl of steaming ramen.

Off on another adventure!!

I leave today.

In today's news........

Jesus Christ has returned, only to get hit by a car in Massachusetts.

French soldiers in pum-pum shorts are nearly decapitated by another frenchman making a low pass in a helicopter


and a bear in Japan is filmed after his return from wudang mountain

One fine day

Happened to catch a shot of this on saturday. It's a microlite

Uh oh............

via the Beeb:

Scientists in the US have succeeded in developing the first synthetic living cell.

Man flu

Lack of updates recently, I've been a busy beaver at work, all the while having to combat the effects of the notorious man-flu

More stuff to make you paranoid

check this article out from the beeb, about a new fungus that's currently eating through poppy fields faster than you can say "Oh shit".

Don't get me wrong here, I'm not in any way advocating opium production or it's use. It's just that I think that there's too much going on here under the surface for my liking.

So that's what my love life has been missing........

I may be a bit late to comment on the 'daggering' phenomenon that swept dancehalls across Jamaica a few months ago, but for those of you that happen to have been living under a rock for the past year, here's how it goes;






And now, a few small words from our legal department at the house of T


*Disclaimer*

I understand that by undertaking the maneuvers in this video, I am risking injury and/or death to others and myself, making me an idiot, and yet I still choose to participate. I understand that I am fully responsible for all damages and/or liabilities caused by my actions with the use of this instructional video. I have a current personal health insurance policy, and I agree to rely on my own insurance to cover any expenses or liabilities that may arise as a result of any bodily injury or death. I agree to assume all risk of personal injury, liabilities and death that may result from my purchase and/or application of those techniques detailed in the video. I agree to waive and release any and all claims and potential claims against Bajanisms for all personal injuries, liabilities or deaths which may result from my stupidity in attempting to perform the techniques therein.

Some stuff to make you paranoid

Sheesh!

Hello irony, my old friend.

Been meaning to post this for about two weeks now, here we have two separate stories about the Transport Board, conveniently placed next to each other in the daily nation. Someone over at the Nation newspaper, Barbados clearly has a dislike of the Transport board authority and/or shares my sense of humour.

Ambitious much?

I've seen countless books along this vein; Excel for dummies, laptops for dummies, beekeeping for dummies etc. etc. Many of which I've felt were speaking directly to me, but this one takes the cake as one of the most ambitious I've ever set eyes upon.

what's next "Nietzsche in a nutshell?",phwar. Stay tuned for the house of T's upcoming installment "Buying shite books for dummies".

Because the Mighty Thor says so dammit!!!

Happy belated 4/20!!

Holy crap!!

This week's Bajanism - Flim

Pronounciation: \ˈflɪm\

Etymology: Barbados

Definition:

1.

a. A thin sheet or strip of flexible material, such as a cellulose derivative or a thermoplastic resin, coated with a photosensitive emulsion and used to make photographic negatives or transparencies.

b. A thin sheet or strip of developed photographic negatives or transparencies.

2.

a. A movie.

b. Movies considered as a group.

Editor's note: The usage of the word 'flim' in bajan culture is one has always managed to escape me. I've never understood it's derivation from the original word 'film' and I can vividly remember pointing out to people, "Look, see! it's spelt F-I-L-M", to no avail. Strangely enough, it's used exclusively in reference to those definitions above and not extended to other items that are covered by film e.g. membranes, thin layers etc.

I ♥ tank skeet

The Earth station

Last weekend while driving around aimlessly, the guys and I decided to have a look in at the Barbados External telecommunications' now defunct earth station.

I don't have a whole heap of information available now as I really wanted to get the photos up, but, as luck would have it, both founding members of the house of T here have extensive knowledge of the complex, so I'll fully update this post after the interview. Hopefully later.

This week's bajanism - bygone days

I received these photos in an email over the weekend and I've decided to share them.

I can't, for the love of God, tell you exactly what year(s) the photos are from, but my guess is about late 70's early 80's (That colour one with the 2 St.Michael's schoolgirls in the shot looks like it might actually be an ageing bus in the mid-eighties) .

Anyone that can shed some light here, your assistance will be very much appreciated.

One Operating system to rule them all, One Operating system to find them, One Operating system to bring them all and in the darkness bind them........

This just in, a russian student studying in Pyongyang has posted/leaked screenshots of the DPRK's home grown operating system.

That's 2 more hours off the ol' CPD

So they're dismantling a tower crane right next to my office and given the cowboy nature of the contractors involved, I find myself hoping that it doesn't come crashing through the roof.

I'd have liked to compose my own time-lapse of the event but they're also painfully slow at it. So here's a link to a similar crane being dismantled you'll get the idea.

Happy Easter/ Zombie Jesus day

Better late than never.

This week's Bajanism - Philupean

Pronounciation: \ˈfɪlupɪən\

Etymology: Barbados

Definition:

1. A native or inhabitant of St. Philip.

2. The derivative dialect that is based on Bajan creole, draws its lexicon loosely from english, and is the official language of St. Philip.

adj.

Of or relating to Philupean people, languages, or cultures.

commonly heard referring to items such as;

"beg" pr. /bɛg/ -
English translation - Bag


"Break-fuss" pr. /breɪk/fʌs/ -
English translation - Breakfast


"Chuffette" pr. /tʃʌf/fêt′/-
English translation - Chefette

Sorted!

I created this blog as a kind of travelogue so I wouldn't forget shit I did on my vacation, I'll be returning to that format shortly, that's why I haven't been posting, because it's been murder trying to pull it together, but here's the programme;

Barbados ✈ London ✈ Japan ✈ Singapore ✈ Hong Kong ✈ Japan ✈ London ✈ Barbados

Once again, that rarest of all travel birds has gotten away from me, the elusive DPRK visa.

who knew?

He is Frank White, a chef who claimed to sell Cream of Wheat to generations of Americans. White's story, like his grave, would be forgotten if not for the Mid Michigan Genealogical Society and family researcher Jesse Lasorda of Lansing. Cataloguing Leslie's Woodlawn Cemetery, the society found records of an unmarked "colored" grave. Lasorda was asked to learn more about the man buried there, Frank White. Lasorda found proof White was born about 1867 in Barbados, came to the United States in 1875 and became a naturalized citizen in 1890. When he died February 15, 1938, White was described by the Leslie Local-Republican as a "famous chef" who "posed for an advertisement of a well-known breakfast food." Through his research, Lasorda became convinced White was the model for "Rastus," the smiling Cream of Wheat chef. "He was on the Cream of Wheat box from 1901 to 1925," Lasorda said. If so, it is impossible to prove. Cream of Wheat company history says the chef was a real person photographed about 1900 while working in a Chicago restaurant. His image was the basis for future versions of Rastus, but no one bothered to record his name. White was a well-traveled chef about the right age for the photo. He claimed to be the Cream of Wheat model and neighbors believed him. Even if they had the same face, White and Rastus were different people. Rastus was sometimes used to sell cereal in ways racially offensive by today's standards. White's life was richer than a stereotype. He worked in cities, on trains and on steam ships. Married twice, White had no children. His first wife was said to be the second black woman to graduate from the University of Michigan. He settled in Leslie, her hometown, in the early 1920s. "After the (First) World War, he ran the Holly House in Mason and became noted in the vicinity for his "Maryland chicken," White's obituary said. "He seemed quite content to settle down to a peaceful life during the last days. He made many friends in Leslie and enjoyed caring for his chickens and pigs and working in his garden." White left an estate worth $400.

SOURCE: Brad Flory
Originally published September 9, 2004
Jackson Citizen Patriot 2004