The Great Architect

Well, here we are again, and this week has been one of the strangest I’ve ever had in the ‘virtual world’. A world which seems to fill more and more of my working and social time. To begin with, I had my first experience of the ‘internet argument’ with a complete stranger. Not to delve into the subject matter, it occured to me in hindsight that, at the time, I should have just kept my mouth shut on the subject. However, like the little fly buzzing around the ultraviolet light of destiny, I couldn’t help it. The argument that was raging concerned areas of my working expertise, and I jumped in with both feet, within a few minutes totally consumed by a whole medley of emotions, until, eventually, I had to get a grip, came to my senses and just stopped replying. To be honest, the argument, as I am sure with nearly 99% of all internet arguments, could have raged on until hell began hosting the winter olympics, and in retrospect, I’m glad I got out when I did. War on the internet sure is hell, soldier, so take a tip you crazy kids, if someone gets your goat on the internet, let it ride…

Then, the week got even weirder, and again linked to the wonderful world of modern technology. I started freelance lecturing again this week, and I shan’t be saying too much about that now, although I’m sure in the coming weeks there will be plenty on the subject… However, turns out the infallible IT systems that the Higher Ed. establishment runs – and is deemed as a form of ‘progress’ – cannot distinguish between two people with the same name. So, I’ve been having a student go around, using my staff credentials, accessing computers etc etc etc – all good fun, and it’s sparked a huge internal investigation as to how the IT dept. gave him my account. God I love the efficiency of foolproof systems.

Anyway, all that is put in perspective today for me, as one of the presenters of the always watchable “Top Gear” program has seriously injured himself in a 300mph car accident. Although not war, politics or anything on the ‘grand’ scale of important world affairs, I was geneuinely upset by this news, primarily for the fact that I am such a huge fan of the “Top Gear” program. You don’t have to have an intimate knowledge of cars and their every mechanical part to watch it, but the on screen rapport between the presenters is addictive, and, as I have since come to the conclusion, the show is the last great bastion of ‘Blokeness’. A program which celebrates blokes being blokes, and anyone over the age of 28 should know what I mean by that. So, I hope the ‘Hamster’ gets well soon, because all us blokes are wishing him well.

Well, aside from all that waffle, I’ve also starting doing some more ‘artistic’ stuff with photoshop, and will hopefully be able to put some up on here shortly.  However, until that time, have an old ‘vector-style’ piece I did a few months ago…