Making a difference

Sometimes the internet can make you feel empowered, giving you insight, information and a voice in an overcrowded world. Other times it can make it all seem pointless when you realise just how many opinions, fools and unheard petitions there seem to be.

I find myself often jaded to signing online petitions, wondering how much it really changes things. Even voting can feel that way, esp. when in a majority area, and more so when both major parties seem to ignore your concerns and petitions.

That said, there are some movements who do harness the internet to grow there influence, organisations who's message can be so simple and clear that you almost wonder why they even need to exist, as surely their message is obvious ? And one of these in Amnesty with a simple message that torture is wrong. Which is simple to understand and hopefully to agree with. And shocking that we are part of it. In any case, I have unsubscribed as part of a new campaign accompanied by quite brutal video footage called waiting for the guards, showing an actor being subjected to the stress position techniques used by us in the crusade against terror.

Another more heart-warming site that most people must have seen by now is the vocabulary enhancing FreeRice where you can prove or improve your word knowledge as part of a never ending game and earn grains of rice for the UN world food program. I notice their banner still claims 10 grains of rice per correct answer, but it appears that amount has doubled as of today. Go for it...

Amsterdam

Last weekend was the first time Mimi and I got away from London, just the two of us, and went somewhere new together. Well, somewhere new for her, as we headed to Amsterdam, which I have visited a few times before. This time was different for me though, as I was able to take in more of the culture and feel of the city with new travel-widened eyes, as well as using the time to wind down, relax and recharge my batteries somewhat. Previous visits had been a little more hectic, and involved a lot more time in varied coffee establishments rather than seeing the sights ! Needless to say, we got a few photos

Another great part of the trip was to see old travel friends in there local city, and taking advantage of that local knowledge. Sure, the Van Gough museum was great, and we picked up some nice art posters to add to the empty walls of our new house. But just going to nice cafes, chatting about lives and sharing stories together was awesome. And of course, going out a great bar (The Pacific Parc) to dance at until 3am was great - the music was eclectic and I heard a great tune from the previously unknown to me BALKAN BEAT BOX (go to the site and listen to Adir Adirim - really fun tune to dance to).

Batteries somewhat recharged, we have got two more weeks of trying to furnish the flat (another weekend night in IKEA for me !) and get things perfect for the upcoming house warming. This should tie in perfectly with the final day of Movember - which is coming on nicely at the moment. My face isn't enjoying the regular shaves (never did, hence the beard) so I am letting the stubble get a bit TOO long at times, but overall it's a chopper style masterpiece Mo if I say so myself. And I do. Sponsorship and "Mo blog" links should all be below !

Mo house in the middle of Mo street

New house has been a source of stress - hot water, plumbing, boiler, washing machine, broadband internet, dishwasher, windows, window blinds, TV aerial and shower head have been broken, busted or sub-optimal. About half of them are fixed now, but the response of our agents has felt slow and painful.

In better news, my Mo is growing well. Check out the fancyness on http://www.movember.com/uk/popups/mologs/?id=119515. Did just notice one side is around 1cm longer than the other today though.... whoops. Guess I'm stuck with that for the weekend, as tonight we Jet off to Amsterdam for a weekend away from house troubles and to meet some old travelling friends.

Movember

Forget October - it's over - welcome to Movember.

As part of a charity drive to raise's Male Health awareness, and partly as a team bonding exercise at work, it is time to grow my "Mo". During Movember (the month formerly known as November) I'll be growin a Mo (slang for Moustache). That's right I'm bringing the Mo back to raise funds for The Prostate Cancer Charity because...

• Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer diagnosed in men in the U.K. with at least one man dying every hour from the disease.
  
• Every year about 35,000 men in the U.K. are diagnosed with prostate cancer and about 10,000 men die from the disease.
• One man in 11 will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime in the U.K.

Several other people at work are signing up for this - to be part of our team, give me a shout. Also, the golden rule of Movember is all participants must start clean shaven. That's right - the goatee is going into temporary retirement too !

To sponsor my joint beard shave and Mo (moustache) grow, AND fight against prostate cancer please go to http://www.movember.com/uk/donate, enter my registration number which is 119515 and your credit card details. Or you can sponsor me by cheque made payable to "The Prostate Cancer Charity" clearly marking the donation as being for my Registration Number: 119515. Please mail cheques to: The Prostate Cancer Charity, ATT: Movember, First Floor, Cambridge House, 100 Cambridge Grove, Hammersmith, London W6 0LE.

All donations are made directly to The Prostate Cancer Charity which will use the money to fund high quality research into the causes, treatment and impact of prostate cancer and to provide support and information to men and their families.

Thanks for your support

More info is available at www.movember.com.

No change here

Coming up with the pun-a-rific title here was no trouble at all - a few words around the work office has unleashed a deluge of unsympathetic (and rightfully so) puns at my expense. But puns about what you may ask ?...

Saturday night was a beery old night (and a beery old night was he... I'll stop there). But only slightly into my second drink, a couple of uni mates, free of the drinking shackles of fatherhood for one night only, decided it was time to revisit old university habits. The old tradition on wine at dinner was if a copper coin made its way into your drink, you were required to down it in one. Not sure this rule ever applied to pints as such, but in anycase, a penny found its way into the bottom of my drink.

I kind of put off the delight of necking the drink - it wasn't wine, it was only my second and mainly it wasn't much past 6pm. I intended to survive the evening somewhat intact if possible. But a few gulps in, having taken enough crap from the guys opposite me, I decided to finish the other half of my drink and use the penny to retaliate... The drink slid down past gritted teeth easy enough, but the penny took its time, and suddenly jumped forward to strike my teeth. That was sort of the plan, but I hadn't counted on how much the damn thing would hurt. A small exclamation of pain was all it took for the troublesome coin to join that final swig of ale in flying down my throat, and before I could believe it, the penny had gone.

It was soon followed by small bits of bread, and plenty of fluids bought for me by guilty parties all around. Enough I hoped to avoid any "problems" with my new high-copper diet and speed the issue to its eventual resolution. Coming up to 72 hours later, and whilst I can't say I've looked too hard, there is still no definite sighting of the "not-so-loose" change. I even called NHS Direct who directed me to an A&E department, but they sent me away saying that short of stomach cramping or vomiting, there wasn't much to worry about. Of course, now my stomach has started hurting this afternoon, classic placebo timing or sinister revenge of the coin ? Post-gym session I'll put it down to the weight training for now, but why do I have a feeling this is far from over :(

They always said that my drinking would get me in the end...

There coming to get you, Barbara !

Mini-Hobby update - my boardgaming quest for the perfect boardgame may soon come to an end...

Over time I've picked up a number of games which on a high-level can be split into Eurogames (limited randomness, quite simple rules, quite deep tactics - e.g. Chess, Settlers of Catan, Gin Rummy, Ticket to Ride) and Ameritrash Games (greater randomness, lots of cool looking bits and normally strongly themed - e.g. Mousetrap, Fury of Dracula, Zombies!!!, Monopoly).

Now, I have some great Eurogames, but these can be off-putting for some people and are best played with a certain number of players. Ameritrash games tend to appeal to more people (due to pretty pieces) and can be more fun, casual games that work with a wider variety of people. So thus my quest begun to find the ultimate Ameritrash game, which needs:

• Quick to play
• Zombies !
• Good player interaction (teamwork / conflict)
• Zombies !
• Simple rules

By all reports, Last Night on Earth, The Zombie Game has this in spades. Released 2 months ago in the US, it has been getting great reviews from everyone over there. And it was pegged for a UK release this Halloween (how appropriate). But... today I found out that a tiny release of stock is being released this week (6 copies are headed to the shop that I spoke to) and then lots more stock will be released in 4-5 weeks (surely they mean "28 days later..." ?!).

And I am happy. As I have bagged one of those six copies :) Assuming royal mail put down the kettle and start working again, I should have my grubby hands on it something next week...

Braaaaiiinnssss...