Whatsthatsmell?

Downward non-blogging spiral...

There is so much to say but so much to do.  One of the main issues for my non-blogging is that I have been busy at work and I have schoolwork piling up.  And the reason the schoolwork is piling up is because it is Human Resources Management this quarter.  And I cannot get excited about it at all...

HR Management is a function run for the benefit of the PC police, and usually has overblown contentions about its own effectiveness and how it can be a strategic partner to the business...It's all a load of tosh, and I have to pretend I agree with this bilge in order to effectively do any of the assignments, because the assignments presuppose the importance of HR.  Which means, I tend not to blog when I have pending schoolwork, and because I can't get the enthusiasm up to do the schoolwork, it still pends...

Sigh...

I'm Baaaack

Had a truly refreshing four-day break at Centerparcs, a.k.a. Butlins for the Middle Classes; instead of little T-Jays and Chantelles running around, we encountered little Tarquins and Indias.

Have to say, it was rather civilised, as well, and actually had us pining for the civility of Frankfurt (but without the Hessische).

When we got to our cabin, it smelled of wet dog, and when we called to complain, they instantly upgraded us.  And this set the tone for the whole trip.  I don't believe I've enjoyed such a consistently positive customer service experience since leaving the US.  Every employee we encountered was genial, chatty, and happy to help.

Normal blogging to commence shortly.

As far as the wet dog smell goes, it appears they reserve the far southwest corner of the park for dog owners, but you wouldn't know that from the web site.  If you ever do decide to reserve, I recommend paying the extra £25 or £35 to ensure a more central location.

It'll be a bit quiet around here...

for a week or two...

Off on a half-term holiday and my own university course starting up again.

A Late Start to Lent, for me

I've decided to give up blogging and reading and commenting on other blogs for the remainder of Lent.  Got too much stuff on.  I shall write things off-line if I'm so inclined and post after Easter.  Hope to get some school work (just four and a half quarters to graduation!) and some reading done.  Might I suggest a visit to all those fine people linked to on the right-hand side of the screen.

What Military Aircraft Are You?

(H/T Tom Paine at The Last Ditch)

What military aircraft are you? B-52 Stratofortress You're a B-52.  You are old and wise, and you absolutely love destruction.  You believe in the principle of "peace through deterrence" and aren`t afraid to throw your weight around.

Click Here to Take This Quiz Brought to you by YouThink.com quizzes and personality tests.

I've Been Tagged! Page 123

Cobb has tagged me with the following instructions:

1. Pick up the nearest book ( of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people.

So, here goes...

I've just started reading The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Middle East by Martin Sieff.  I have read all, save two, of the books in the Politically Incorrect Guide series from Regnery and have found them veritable fonts of useless trivia which helps win political pub debates with your opponent going "I'm sorry, I don't know enough about that subject to comment on that aspect.  But if it's true, you may be right."  (Okay, I made up that last sentence, because there are very few political pub debates that end up with such magnanimous statements.  Or if it does, it's usually followed by "You fill in appropriate expletive, you!")

I don't take the facts presented in each book with a grain of salt, but I do take the opinions of the authors with a slight grain.  Many of them seem to have a specific axe to grind, which, using the BS detectors, leaves me usually about half-way between the authors' views and the views from which I began the book.

Anyway, this part of the book is in a chapter entitled "The Israeli-Arab Wars" under a sub-section entitled Results of the Six-Day War...This passage speaks of Nasser:

He rapidly rebuilt his army and air force with his Soviet backers.  By 1969, he felt strong enough to start bombarding the defenses the Israelis had built to hold the eastern bank of the Suez Canal.  In so doing, he launched the War of Attrition.

Anyway...whom to tag...whom to tag....

1.  Robert, the Expat Yank
2.  Steve, the Pub Philosopher
3.  The Gorse Fox
4.  Laban Tall at UK Commentators
5.  Cllr. Gavin Ayling

What Sci-fi Character are You?

Elrond

A stern yet benevolent organizer who often knows best, your wits are keenly fixed on aiding efforts you deem worthy.

Now at this last we must take a hard road, a road unforseen. There lies our hope, if hope it be. To walk into peril to Mordor.

Elrond is a character in the Middle-Earth universe. TheOneRing.net has a short biography.

 

(H/T - The Last Ditch)

Busy Busy Busy

Work is heating up, my university classes are back in session, we received the "24" Season 6 DVDs two weeks ago...So many alternatives, so little time for blogging...

Anyway, as it is half-term, the daughter and I are off for a walk at Cuckmere Haven...

Maybe some photos, maybe not...We'll see how we feel later...

Blogroll to the Left

For those of you on my previous blogroll, I've just imported from Blogrolling, and have to update each link manually, I have another thirty or so to go through, so please be patient...