Red Writing

Red Writing

A Vortex of Emotion

Links
Art Review
Arts & Letters Daily
Art Guide

BBC
Biorhythms
Blogger
Breast Cancer
Electronic Orphanage
Dominion
Evergreen
Daily Motivator
Dictionary
FRiGG
Get Writing
Google
Guardian
Newspapers
One Word
The Onion
Poetry online
Pixelgirl
Raging Bike
Red Inkworks
Scottish Poetry Library
Scottish Web Cams
Weather
Write On

Blogs
BlogHop
Blog of the Day
Dio Bach
Dusty Grooves
Fantastic4Edinburgh
Following My Feet
George Monbiot
Hollyism...
Green Fairy
Homeless Guy
I live on your visits
Indigoblur
Julia's Blog
Laughing Knees
Little Red Boat
Notes..Dovecote
Nu-produkt
Sevitzdotcom
Sloe Wine
Outside Infinity
Pacarras
Pocket Movies
Reflections in D Minor
Raising Hell
Stories Plus
Wil Wheaton
Wild Skye

Web Rings
< ? Artists # >
< ? Scottish # >
< ? Women's # >
< ? Redheads # >
< ? BelleBlogs # >

My Links
About
Easter 2003
Anti-War Demo
Holiday 2002
Lake District 2003
Museums and Galleries
My Paintings
Poetry
Room 101
Scottish Artists
Scottish Links

Email Redwriter

Archives
Mar 04
Feb 04
Jan 04
Dec 03
Nov 03
Oct 03
Sep 03
Aug 03
Jul 03
Jun 03
May 03
Apr 03
Mar 03
Feb 03
Jan 03
Dec 02
Nov 02
Oct 02
Sep 02
Aug 02
Jul 02
Jun 02
May 02
Apr 02
Mar 02
Feb 02
Jan 02

Comments by: YACCS

Wednesday, February 27

Today in 1933 the Reichstag building in Berlin was burned to the ground. The fire was blamed on communists, and was a convenient excuse for Hitler to impose a 'temporary' suspension of citizens' rights, which was used to effectively wipe out opposition to the Nazi party. Are there similarities to todays spinnings?
posted by Red Writer

Tuesday, February 26

I've added a new link to Scottish Web Cams to this page. Some of the views are beautiful, so for anyone interested in visiting Scotland have a browse through and see what a wonderful country we live in. It is an intersting thought to think how often we might be caught on camera without knowing it, even in some of the remotest places.
posted by Red Writer

Don't just sit there - have your say a truly democratic voice........well for those with pc's and the time!
posted by Red Writer

Porkies?
posted by Red Writer

Monday, February 25

What is wrong with this country?? Keep your little Cherubs safe by tagging them?????? Please,...... don't let the nanny state get this bad, surely we can think of other ways to keep our children safe! What sort of adults will we create from a society which thinks tagging is the norm?
posted by Red Writer

Sunday, February 24

And still on the subject of transport! Taking Grannie out for a Sunday drive may be a thing of the past if the Government have their way - or at least some may have to think twice if they are to be charged up to 45p a mile. Recent proposals suggest using gps systems to charge drivers for using some of Britain's busiest roads. They say this will do away with the need for road tax and will reduce not only the tax on petrol but also congestion on the roads. But think of the implications this will have. In America car rental firms have already been fined for using gps to charge unsuspecting customers extra for speeding fines. Cars not displaying current tax discs can be traced. Any journey you take could be tracked and the information stored. Apart from the obvious civil liberties angle one of the main disadvantages of this will see Britain's infrastructure plunge back into the dark ages. Remember the days when traffic was nose to tail through villages and narrow roads? Why were roads like the M6 built in the first place? To alleviate the pressure on these villages and decrease journey times. What is to stop traffic diverting off the main roads and back onto minor roads to avoid costs? The government would be better to decide they are going to subsidise other forms of public transport once and for all. Get money back into the railways, take the lorries off the roads for good. We must not allow our rights to freedom to be infringed like this. Lets hope the many technical wizards out there are already working on counter systems. The public must fight against gps tracking systems being used as an infringement on civil liberties.
posted by Red Writer

Story Time...

First there was Jo. Jo said the big important people should tell all the little people about some bad news when they would be very distracted by some other much much worse news. But someone told on her and everyone decided she was a very bad and wicked person to think up such an idea and that she should not be allowed to do her job any more. But the big important people have very short memories and Jo was allowed to stay in her job.
	But Jo was still a very naughty girl and she didn't seem to learn her lesson. Some people thought she had tried to do the same thing again! But no-one seemed to know for sure. Things became very confusing when Martin and Stephen became involved. Stephen was in charge of all the bicycles and cars and trains and planes and other transport things. Jo got her job because she cycled to work and could make her wheels spin well. She was able to tell Stephen how to make his wheels spin too. Martins job was to tell everyone what Stephens department wanted. Things got more complicated when Jo and Martin seemed to want Stephen to do different things. Jo and Martin were asked to leave their jobs.
But nothing was written down and Martin changed his mind and said he didn't want to leave his job. And now everyone is arguing about whether Martin should be allowed to stay in his job or not. Stephen said he was asked to go but Martin says he was not. And now everyone is very angry. Martin used to tell stories on the news and this taught him a good lesson. He has written all his stories down. He says he wrote 18000 words all about how he told Jo not to tell bad stories to the little people when they would be sad. And now none of the little people believe what the big people say anymore and everyone is very sad. Confused? You will be.......dum da da da da da da da da...

posted by Red Writer

Saturday, February 23

I was really pleased to see that registering on .blog has resulted in some hits to the site. Thanks to all who have visited, I hope you will find something interesting here which will make you return.
posted by Red Writer

Friday, February 22

Have you noticed how many of the free services which used to be available on the internet are now beginning to charge clients. Some email services are no longer free, encrypted accounts like Hushmail now charge. Web space is difficult to find and sites which used to provide free services like Cotse also charge.

Perhaps this is the face of the future… The entrepreuners of the internet but perhaps there is a more worrying trend behind it. Experts are now worried that the internet is running out of space! They predict that by the year 2005 it will be so overused it will grind to a halt unless we change over to IPv6. This is not strictly a new idea as it has been in development for several years but if like me you know little about it try this link, or this one.

Or, given that this link is over a year old and suggests that the transition to Ipv6 has strong industry backing is this just another link in the chain emprisoning us all in the "Captive State" Perhaps this is something to keep a careful eye on.

Curling
I couldn't let today pass without a mention of the British olympic gold medal winners. The great achievement of the all Scottish women's curling team to come through all the play-offs and eventually come out on top in the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics with a gold medal was inspirational. Well done to them! It must be very frustrating for the English reporters to acknowledge a gold in a sport they have never hear of!

posted by Red Writer

Thursday, February 21

It is an interesting concept to come out of a meeting and know that you are in the wrong job. This has happened to me twice today: once when the meeting was about my work and I decided I really have to do something else and the second was when the meeting was largely about someone elses work and I wanted to do that job instead of my own. Time, planning, patience, stealth.........perhaps one day.
posted by Red Writer

Wednesday, February 20

Today in 1472 Orkney and Shetland were annexed to the crown of Scotland as security for the dowry of Princess Margaret, daughter of Christian I, King of Norway and Denmark, and wife of James III of Scotland. Some Norwegians want them back!

Don't forget to find a digital clock at 2 minutes past eight this evening to get the full effect of this once in a life-time palendromic day. Then it will be 20:02, 20/02, 2002. The last palendrome day was at one minute past ten on the tenth of January 1001, so they don't come around very often.

posted by Red Writer

Freedom!I spent a long time contemplating the concept of freedom last night. Although I should qualify that by saying that when I say long, I mean at least 3 seconds more than I would contemplate what to make for dinner - which I have to admit varies greatly depending on what day it is. But what do we mean when we talk of freedom? Is it spiritual freedom? Political freedom? Personal freedom? Freedom of speech, or freedom of a more existentialist nature? Is it inextricably linked to choice? If we are free to choose do we truly have freedom of will? I started to get lost there, as my mind drifted back to hours of pouring over text books trying to satisfy myself that I had come up with an answer to the dichotomy between freedom of the will or pre-destination. That took me down the hazy road of religious freedom, at which point I started to feel extremely cynical and decided to browse the web instead for some answers. I found a few things but I can't say any of it made me feel closer to finding the answer I (by now) was desperately seeking.
"Freedom, apparently, is something that is very desirable. Indeed, freedom is seen to be the goal of a nation or a people". True I suppose, until you check out the site. Then there is the Freedom Forum dedicated to "free press, free speech and free spirit for all people". Political freedom info can be found at Freedom House. I searched again and decided that for me freedom is a more personal thing. Yes, we all want freedom and in order to attain it many feel they must work together, but does that not contradict the whole idea of freedom. By now my brain was really hurting and I was irritated by the loss of a couple of wonderful sentences through over zealous mouse clicking and which - true to form - had disappeared out of my mind the minute letters left the keyboard. I think I had been thinking along the lines that my personal crusade would be to seek out at the very least my own interpretation of freedom or one which would keep me content for a while. One which had not had "true" added to it, as when I input that to the search engine it immediately took me back to religion and conflict and I don't consider that freedom. In the end I decided that I couldn't find a good definition of freedom which satisfied me. Althought I did enjoy this story of personal freedom In the meantime, if anyone out there can help me to identify a good interpretation of freedom without all the other labels please put me out of my misery and let me know. Or at least baffle me with your own views.

posted by Red Writer

Monday, February 18

Dear Tony, If it all gets too much take heart... click on the image....

posted by Red Writer

For those who have been using Safeweb thinking the anonymous browser facility is secure, perhaps you should read Declan McCullagh's article in Wired. It just goes to show that whatever system you rely on there is always room for doubt.

posted by Red Writer

posted by Red Writer

Friday, February 15

"Decimalisation
Today in 1971 the UK finally dispensed with the old monetary system of pounds, shillings and pence and embraced decimalisation. Banks closed down for four days before the 15th while they changed all their systems and cleared cheques made out in 'old' money.

On a more sombre note...no allegiance...no strong views on status or politics....purely in a spirit of tollerance and empathy...share a thought for the feelings of an individual who today will bury their sister in the knowledge that their mother is also gravely ill. Grief and suffering are things we should all identify with - its what makes us human. Live for today and be happy for sorrow will surely come.
posted by Red Writer

Thursday, February 14

Congratulations to the Scottish Parliament on passing the ban on fox hunting. Although the best quote on the subject must be attributed to Ann Widdecombe. Debating the merits of whether English Law should follow the Scottish example, audience and panel memebers of Newsnight were mildy amused to hear the former convent pupil utter "...fox hunting is just an excuse for a bloody good ride and there are other ways of having a bloody good ride." A must for fans - follow Ann's Antics on the Widdy Web!
posted by Red Writer

Man's inhumanity to man....
What drives a man to condone genocide? How can you ignore so much human suffering? History has provided the world with many evil men and women, but amongst those in a modern day guise, Slobodan Milosevic now faces charges in the UN war crimes tribunal in the Hague. Whilst pleading to be released today he said "You want me to swim a 100-meter race with my hands and legs tied". Perhaps if he spared a thought for the detainees of the Trnopolje prison camp in Bosnia in 1992, or the thousands of others who suffered during the three Balkan wars, he might work out for himself the irony of his ridiculous rant. Innocent until proven guilty? Lets hope the trial doesn't take too long to come to its conclusion. The Guardian provides some informative current and background information.
posted by Red Writer

	Valentines Day......love it or loath it, there is usually no getting away from it. Exciting, romantic, boring or just plain commercialised it certainly seems to be very much "in your face". I have to confess to hateing it in my school days.....I dreaded the inevitible "how many did you get?" from more popular peers. It made me cringe and wish I could hibernate for a day. But for any youngsters out there who may be in the same position, help is at hand....
No more will you have to worry about raking deep into your school bag to pull out the envelope you hoped no-one would recognise was your parent's handwriting (no I didn't!!!). Kids of the 21st Century are much more p.c. Empathic school mates believe not in a "secret Santa" but a "secret Valentine" so no-one gets left out. (Apart from you as you will probably be the chief fund supplier)
	But if you are older and have forgotten to purchase/post/deliver a card/chocolate/gift, or book the table reservation for that romantic meal for two. You may just be too late.....but take some consolation, perhaps chocolate can save the day! If you hate the whole thing but love chocolate have a look at some chocolate recipies and perhaps if you do feel a pang of guilt mid-day when you realise that agreeing not to send a card was all just part of relationship politics, have an e-card delivered right to their desktop. Happy Valentine's Day to you all.

posted by Red Writer

Wednesday, February 13

Today is the anniversary of the massacre of Glencoe in 1692, when 34 men, two women and two children, members of the Macdonald clan, were slaughtered by Campbells and other soldiery on government orders after the inadvertent failure of clan chief to sign allegiance to William III.......and all because they offered some good old Scottish hospitality......Don't buy that soup......not even for a quick and easy sauce.
posted by Red Writer

Tuesday, February 12

For a little more culture and eye candy have a look at the wonderful site of Gallery-a There are many wonderful paintings and images on this site.

posted by Red Writer

If you're of a southerly persuasion today it is Mardi Gras or Carnival. Here, in Scotland it is Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day, a name which derives from the acts of confession, penance and absolution before Lent. If you've still got milk, eggs or fat lying around, you shouldn't have, so why not make the perfect pancake? Here's a recipe for you for the traditional pancakes or gridle scones. But in this day of the Euro why not go a little continental and make delicious crepes, they are great with savory fillings or lots of lemon & sugar.......or ice cream and syrup yuuuuuuuuuuum.
posted by Red Writer

Monday, February 11

For those of you who think my security standards are a result of paranoia, you may be right but perhaps there is just cause, according to a recent report in the Scotland on Sunday online. There certainly is no justification in this total breach of civil liberties and questions must be raised. Discrimination? Freedom of Speech? Check out PGP for easy to use, free encryption software.
posted by Red Writer

Sunday, February 10

It never ceases to amaze me at how many things people inadvertently participate in or watch when they share their living accommodation with others. The recent craze in my house is to dance, dance and dance some more! Ok, so this may not be exciting for some but to see two small people transformed from couch potatoes or gaming fiends was for me something truly amazing and I have to say it is addictive. Although we only have one mat everyone else can participate at the same time. But don't just take my word for it reviews of the Dance Dance Revolution by Konami were pretty good too (4.65/5). But, if you are past making a fool of yourself in front of everyone else (thankfully not something that happens in our house) then once the kids are off to bed (eehhh when is that exactly?) you can always sneak it back on and put it in work-out mode to burn off the extra wine and chocolates - that could be handy in a week where Shrove Tuesday and Valentines promise lots of overindulgence (hint hint!!). The only downside to this is the rather overpowering smell of the pvc dance mat but hopefully that will fade pretty quickly.

And still on the music front, I have to admit to being one of the extremely sad people who was curious to know who would win Pop Idol - only on the basis that other people's viewing can become the norm and therefore addictive too. The final result was difficult to stay with between channel hopping to a really good film about privacy and government surveilance (Enemy of the State) with Will Smith and John Voit among others, (more about freedom of speach and civil liberties at a later date) but in a house with way too many tv's per person it was manageable and I confess to watching both. I have to say I was pleased that Will did win (both of them!). Not because I didn't like Gareth but because I did think Will's voice was superior and much more unique. I can see him staying the course on the fame ladder for much longer. He does remind me a little of an old childhood pop idol Leo Sayer (Many a tear was shed over "When I need love") My only hope is that he is better managed than poor old Leo. And I secretly hope that once he gets away from the mainstream "pop" label that one day he will make a really good recording artist.

posted by Red Writer

Saturday, February 9

Feeling really really bad? Friday night antics just too too much? If your fingers can manage it, look for the top ten hangover cures..... Where do I find them?

posted by Red Writer

Friday, February 8

If you have stumbled upon this site by accident/chance and can't see the point in blogging, perhaps the article in Time Magazine will help. There's a whole lot of bloggers out there, some are even intelligent and have interesting things to say. Go on try it, I know you'll love it............
posted by Red Writer

Wouldn't you just love to shout "Thats it, I've had enough........I resign" at the top of your voice as you flounce out of the office, off to better things and untold riches. Well, help is at hand here to help you make that important decision. Who knows it may be the start of a whole new life!
posted by Red Writer

Thursday, February 7

Hits to the site are not exactly explosive, perhaps I have the colour scheme all wrong? According to colour therapy there is more to colour than just making sure you are not upsetting your retina. Feeling hungry, but on a diet? - stare at a pink to suppress your appetite. I always knew I was going wrong there, although I did avoid chosing a sandwich with a rather gastly pink coloured filling yesterday - mmmm, a lucky escape or was the colour warning me against it? Another interesting colour site is colour therapy healing. Or for a more personal touch try the house of colour. Think it's all mumbo jumbo, then give Zoreldda's page a look - if you dare! And failing any of this interesting any one out there, perhaps the recent lising in Gblogs will help traffic.
posted by Red Writer

Wednesday, February 6

Save yourself from a life of crime - get the stocks of beans in NOW! Claims that the elderly are turning crime to help aleviate their poverty - over hype or truth? Watch out for all those Zimmers if you're in the bank - they may be hiding an HK31 in it! Scary or what?
posted by Red Writer

Tuesday, February 5

Switched on art lovers sip cappuccino while browsing the Royal Academy site - check it out.
posted by Rip Tide

There is a good chance that Minus 20 will appeal to cultured visitors to Red Writing (don't thank me, I do it for the love of it).
posted by Black Flag

I remember my first time well. I was seventeen and it happened at a disused airfield near my villiage……..well…. that’s where everyone went and I wasn’t too proud. You could guarantee no-one else would be around. I have to admit to being a little nervous, but mainly I was excited. Palms sweating, heart racing, I just wanted to get my hands on it and see for myself what it was like. It was a little small, but I wasn’t proud and I knew it would be great fun, a sort of coming of age…

As soon as I took the wheel and started the engine I knew I was going to love driving the Mini. I was kind of born to it - apparently going on motor rallies around the narrow, windy roads in the area whilst in the womb! (that would account for the travel sickness) But my Dad insisted that before I learned to drive forwards I would have to be able to reverse (why??). My normally finely honed co-ordination skills seemed to have escaped me that day as I turned round and round in seemingly endless anti-clockwise circles, unable to straighten up. It's true what they say about driving being the best cure for travel sickness - didn't do much for my co-passenger/instructor though! I did make it onto the roads, but unfortunately my driving of my favourite car was short-lived. My Dad decided to sell it! He said it was to save my Grandmother who was 79 at the time, from killing herself or anyone else - she had been known to drive the wrong way down a dual-carriage way and frequently was seen jumping along the local high street with the hand brake on. But at the back of my mind, I do wonder whether he didn’t have enough confidence, patience or just sheer bravery to help me master my newly acquired skill.

You may be wondering what has prompted this burst of nostalgia and I do apologise to those of you having car problems at the moment and who may rather forget about them but it was with a sense of pride and longing for the past that I caught a glimpse of Top Gear's winner of the best small car of the year last night. Re-badged and re-vamped but I would still love to get behind the wheel of one again and try to conjure up feelings of that first time.

And still on the subject of cars: Today in 1931 Malcolm Campbell, driving his car 'Bluebird', set a new world land speed record of 245mph at Daytona Beach - he was the first man to exceed 200mph on land.
posted by Red Writer

Monday, February 4

February is already proving to be a bad month for stormy weather. On a day when salvage teams are trying to make safe the stricken cargo ship Kodina which ran aground at Whitsand Bay in Cornwall, it is interesting to note that today in 1941, the SS Politician, bound from Liverpool to Jamaica and carrying a cargo which included 250,000 bottles of whisky, ran aground off the island of Eriskay. The salvage then was much more exciting than the timber from the deck of the Kodina and inspired Compton Mackenzie's book, the famous Hebridean classic "Whisky Gallore" Get down to the video shop and borrow this one its great.
posted by Roadh

The powerful current of a rip tide can pull even the strongest swimmers from shore. Let go of the shore and just go with it - far out into the blue. Congratulations, Red Writer, on some excellent coding (cool comments and hit counter) and some sweet design. It's better out here with the Dolphins, mucking around in the sea...
posted by Rip Tide

Sunday, February 3

It has taken many hours to fix the problem which a pc crash caused last night! Template totally vanished into thin air. But, not to be defeated...... the blog is now restored with all the tweeks added yesterday.

Have a look at the Citigroup Private Bank Photography Prize nominations for 2002. Who would you chose?

More alarmingly, a security risk for MP3 users has been discovered. Those using Morpheus may be opening themselves up to unwanted hacking.....perhaps the moral there is they should have stuck with Napster!??

The end of the weekend is looming and not enough has been done on the domestic front. Piles of washing and ironing abound and much revision has been left untouched. It has been fun playing with the blog and therefore, despite a few hiccups (unfortunately not alcohol induced) a fairly productive weekend draws to a close.
posted by Red Writer

Saturday, February 2

In true British tradition, the weather makes top news today. Whilst some are by now drowning their sorrows over the 29-3 debacle at Murrayfield, (check out the webcam) others are thankfully back on dry land giving praise to the overworked rescue services around our coasts. Noteably those involved in the "epic rescue" of the sticken fishing boat off the north west coast of Scotland. For more weather updates visit the BBC Weather web site or if you are planning on travelling try the AA Travel watch site. Me.....I'm just grateful to be safe and warm indoors with Pop Idol (now down to the last three), Casualty (what is on Jack's mind?) and lots of wine.
posted by Red Writer

There are so many questions to ask in the world...like: Should there be a patron saint of the internet?..some think so. If love stood on your door step how would you recognise it? Will Scotland beat England today, or can we blame the weather? Pink "she-agra" for the 40% of women who find sex boring... is it dangerous to mix it with the blue viagra? Why did the selection committee tell a woman who wanted to be a Labour MP, that they "always imagine what your knickers are like"?...party-political culture in sharp decline or just idle curiosity? Why do Consignia think businesses should get their mail before me?...I want mine before I leave the house in the morning. Businesses are in all day to sign for the annoying recorded deliveries, I'm not! How does the wind blow itself out?

These, and so many more, are just a few of the questions faced in the vortex of emotion today. If you can answer any of them, please let me know but meanwhile I think I'll try to find out for myself in Wired or perhaps Wil Wheaton can help me in his blog...
posted by Red Writer

Friday, February 1

Today in 1587 England's Queen Elizabeth I signed the warrant for the execution of Mary Queen of Scots.......who needs friends when you can have relatives like that!!

And for those of you who live in the country..........check this out the latest on the postal cuts...of course we don't need a reliable postal service...right?!

posted by Red Writer

Bored with the monotony and mundanity of life? Give your lips a brief moment to experience a smile by logging onto ucomics.Choose your favourite comic strips and have them delivered daily via your email. Go on, you know you want to....go on.....go on.....go on go on go on go on go on go on go on go on go on go on go on...........
posted by Red Writer

Some may be interested to know that parsley is an aid to dispelling the aroma of garlic on the breath and an excellent non calorific food.
posted by Red Writer

Waving the Flag for Garlic

Exhaustion is best treated by GARLIC SOUP. It is obviously well known as a treatment for sexual debility and impotency caused by over indulgence in sex and nervous exhaustion from dissipating habit and it is said to be especially useful to old men with nervous tension and failing libido. Garlic is good for the heart, a food for the hair, an appetite stimulant, and a strength-giving tonic.

posted by Black Flag