Eventyr

Ursula K. LeGuin

There have been great societies that did not use the wheel, but there have been no societies that did not tell stories

   -- Ursula K. LeGuin

Renouncing Electric Stories

"This is quite marvellous!" exclaimed the Caliph. "Now! Let us hear some stories!"
The first story concerned a man and a woman who were very, very sad - for they were poor and stupid and not very beautiful. But a woman did appear to them and she dressed them in new clothes and changed their hairstyles and they were very, very happy.
"Well that's not really much of a story, is it?" said the Caliph.
But then a second story began. And this one was about a man who was very sad, for his house was falling down and his garden was overgrown - for he had no ability to tend it, for a reason that was never explained. And another man did appear to him who conjured forth slaves, and they mended the house and completely redesigned the garden - and the man was very happy.
"It's missing something," remarked the Caliph.
But then a third story began: and this was about some people who prepared a feast - so they did - and guests arrived.
"This is pathetic!" grumbled the Caliph. "This stuff has absolutely no story, it has no meaning, it has no passion - these people can't even act. I am inclined to compare it to wallpaper, which we have recently invented, only I'd say that the wallpaper was actually more interesting!"
The Electric Storyteller by Adam Acidophilus

Tonight I shall watch the Brothers Grimm experience their own stories and then I think I shall renounce the box of electric stories for a time...

Long Live the Stupid Pirates

A cruise ship sailing off Somalia has beaten back gunmen in speedboats who opened fire on it in an apparent pirate attack which terrified passengers.

but

The crew used an on-board loud acoustic bang to deter the gunmen, making them believe they were under fire.

Stupid pirates...

BBC NEWS | Africa | Cruise ship repels Somali pirates

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

* Ed has now linked to the real story.

Give Away

After four months of driving around with all the components for a mangonel in my boot I have finally given it to the right people.

That and some strawberry vodka.

And the Bog has now been disposed of as well. Phew.

In exchange I experienced a healthy dose of white chocolate vodka (with baileys-top) and was pleasantly subjected to conversations about pirates and zombies.

Electric Stories

"This is quite marvellous!" exclaimed the Caliph. "Now! Let us hear some stories!"
The first story concerned a man and a woman who were very, very sad - for they were poor and stupid and not very beautiful. But a woman did appear to them and she dressed them in new clothes and changed their hairstyles and they were very, very happy.
"Well that's not really much of a story, is it?" said the Caliph.
But then a second story began. And this one was about a man who was very sad, for his house was falling down and his garden was overgrown - for he had no ability to tend it, for a reason that was never explained. And another man did appear to him who conjured forth slaves, and they mended the house and completely redesigned the garden - and the man was very happy.
"It's missing something," remarked the Caliph.
But then a third story began: and this was about some people who prepared a feast - so they did - and guests arrived.
"This is pathetic!" grumbled the Caliph. "This stuff has absolutely no story, it has no meaning, it has no passion - these people can't even act. I am inclined to compare it to wallpaper, which we have recently invented, only I'd say that the wallpaper was actually more interesting!"

The Electric Storyteller by Adam Acidophilus

Funding Issues

Having now spoken with several departments through the University I now have the following courses of action:

* Try to write up my research as a Grant Proposal in order to employ myself and cover my own fees (EPSRC or Call / ESRC or Call / AHRC). Make sure to pay attention to these guides on writing a good grant proposal and Improving the Quality of Research Proposals.
* Contact the ESRC and AHRC to check whether I am eligible to enter the studentship competition (and if so, which one) especially as I already have research experience and to check departmental eligibility
* Chase the relevant people to consider me for either an EPSRC Studentship bursary or a Graduate Teaching Assistantship
* Talk to the relevant people about possibly employing me for teaching work (as part of the Tutorial Fund)
* Review and apply for all my funder-finder trust fund results and double-check Egas
* Consider the possibility of applying for the Access to Learning Fund
* Speak to the Postgraduate Office and to the Careers Development and Employment Centre
* Pay more attention to the Student Advice Centre on Money
* Fret and/or work for all of this

Buffalo birds

Hmm, a future where...

Small bird robots communicate in the trees?

Wireless accessed buffalo run free?

Viral storytelling wireless nodes attack your views on fable?

Damn. I'll never win those euros at this rate...

Sentient Future Competition

Sweets on the Tooth

I'm feeling a bizarre need to do a late-night-russian-food-order (as you do) for my childhood dream sweet, the kinder milk-slice. Mix that with plenty of Mountain Dew to drink and I'd be a very happy lamb. (Admittedly a lamb with a great big sugar-caffeine rush) Must resist...

Mock Grant Proposal

As part of the Research Methods in CSAI course I prepared a dubious and sketchy Mock Grant Proposal, EPSRC Grant Form and Workplan about which I gave a 30 minute presentation (including referencing applying with a Blue Form under FEC, Sussex Ethical Guidelines / Standards and Guidelines on Research Ethics and Research Salary Scales) on Monday 07 November 2005.  I am making this available for anyone to view (and be entertained by). 

Hopefully the next assignment, which I need to complete by Friday, will emerge more to my liking.

I have to get some other notes typed up so you should see some backtracking on these pages today.

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Where's the Joh?

Here's the Joh!

(Thanks Ed)