WYSIWYG - Or Not in most cases

There have been a number of posts that I have started all of which
focus around one topic. What you see is not always what you expect,
and the first assumption you make is not always correct.
This all started off when I was interviewing people for a number of
positions in my team. I was thinking about how we decided if someone
is right for a team or for an organization and how you make that
decision. There is a lot of literature that says within the first
minute you have made come up with your first impression of a person and
it will be really hard for them to come up with a way to change your
opinion of them. I spent some time wondering about this and whether it
made sense to me, and I guess to some degree it did.

Anyway following this train of thought (which by the way was rapidly leaving the station) I was reading a couple of blogs that I tend to have an interest in, and there have been a couple of posts on them that got be thinking on this again.

When you see someone on, for example, the television you come up with an idea of what they will be like - failing to remember that we all wear masks and only show people the bits we want them to see. You often hear about people saying I am sure that person x would be like this based on some character they have played or something that you have heard them say. This has become more prevalent (good word for this time of night) with the rise of reality tv.

Anyhow when I am work I may occasionally check out these blogs to see what is happening and one day someone asked me, "What do they blog about?". it turned out that at the time I was looking at Jason "Mayhem" Millers site and reading a blog that he had written following some issues that he had been working through. I answered that it depended on the mood of the blogger and what they had to say. I just got raised eye brows about that

Anyway when I talk to people about liking MMA they look a bit aghast and say but it is just brutal and the people that take part are just bullies. I guess this is just another case of incorrect first assumptions. Recently having re-read Mayhems blog and another couple of entries by Evan Tanner on his blog I thought I would write this and now I am not sure why other than the fact that there was something very touching in watching these two men battle their own daemons through their own words to tell people what was happening with them.

Sometimes we forget that the journey we take is as important as where we are going and that what we hold as universal constants and truths may not always be what they seem.

So a learning point - what you first see is not always what is really there.........and now it is late an my brain no longer works so it is time to rest and make ready to face what ever tomorrow has in store

Red buttons, Red triangles and advisory stickers

Here is a question for you –

Q: Do you know why there are not more
red buttons on things

A:  because they know that people will push them. You make
something look interesting or forbidden and people will want to do
something with it. Its that whole thing of you cant do this – so
it now becomes vital to you to do what ever it was.

Some might argue that it is to do with the nature of man and our
need to explore our environment to understand, to allow us to
survive. Those same people might say that this trait is what has
lead man to explore the moon and to venture into part unknown, thus
conquering his environment

Then there are others who take a simpler outlook – man is just
nosy

Which group do I fall into – damned if I know – I think I am a
bit of both- I mean you can argue the nosy is another way of saying
inquisitive and that this is what allows us to explore (oh dear we
are on the verge if getting a bit Star Trek with boldly going –
which btw is poor grammar)

Anyway the point of this mail – I got a CD for my birthday –
Angels and Airwaves – We don't need to whisper, and on the front of
it is sitting a parental advisory sticker.

Now I have no issue with these being on things – after all
parents have to make informed decisions about what they purchase for
their child – or even what it is they let them listen to – but a
part of me thinks that these are just a bit of a marketing ploy.

If a child likes music of a specific type (for example, nu metal
or rap) and they like things that they are not supposed to do (like
swearing) will they not be more inclined to purchase a CD with one of
these stickers on the,. I think so and I am sure that some marketing
guru has worked that out.

You know the other thing is that these stickers do not warn about
other things in the song/album. Maybe they should look at a
labeling system that some movies use where they say contains A, B, C
so you have a full understanding of what you are getting. Also while
I think on it ....do parents know what these stickers really mean?
Hmm more questions

Anyway back to the point. I remember seeing a review written for
a paper about a Wheatus concert and the guy was saying it was really
odd to see a number of parents there singing along not listening to
the words.

I mean come on “There's a rocket I build, it's under my kilt,
and its going to blow you away� and “Shake it, don't break it, it
took too damn long to make it�. Hello !!!

You know I don't think that these songs cause any issues – they
are harmless enough but sometimes the label does not say it all

..........Oh and if you are wondering about red triangles – Channel 4 used
to show the symbol before a sexually explicit screen came on to warn
viewers, of course that just resulted in all the teenage boys
watching for red triangles – great way to up the viewing figures
though

Piratitude

While I remember and am on the topic of pirates........

It is heading towards one of my favourite celebration days Talk like a pirate day

September 19th 2006

You know you want to .....go on

follow the link above to hit the site where you will find help on how to speak like a scurvy dog as well as finding your pirate name

Avast me hearties!!!!

Pirates V's Global Warming

Not for those who suffer from sense of humour failure.......

Visit the first divine church of the Flying
Spaghetti Monster

 

This is a most amusing site and it always makes me laugh. 
If you are wondering about the pirate reference then check to the
main article on page one with the graph.

I have this on a mug - it rocks

GLOBAL WARMING IS KILLING PIRATES

Man I love pirates

 

London Town

We are back from London - it was......well really really hot.  I now realise that I love air conditioning

Anyway we are back, tired and still too hot but a good time was had by all

Friday

Trip down was good.

Got to the plane station on time - checked in (using e-ticket - which are just the same as regular ones - just a machine prints them for you rather than a person.  Went through to go to  the lounge - walked past it, went through security, (set of the alarms) went back to the lounge sat  and ate a lot of their food and tried to drink all of their ginger ale (I failed but did make a substantial dent in their supplies.  Went though security again (did not set off the alarm this time) then had to use the facilities before getting on the plane - because of all the ginger ale

Flight was largely uneventful

Mad dogs and Limo drivers go out....well when ever they want really

Was met at airport by Limo driver - who was mad, nigh on intelligible and would turn around to speak to use - almost crashing the car.  He seemed to be from Spain but that was about he last lucid thing we got from him.  There was something about 16 years 18 years, aboriginals climbing down drain pipes after changing their jumpers and calling the police.  As mad as that sounds it is all true !!!

Cumberland Hotel

Checked in to our very nice - modern hotel the Cumberland at Marble Arch - I can recommend it - there are sculptures. lights and all kinds of cool stuff as you go in.  You also get really swish glass headboards.

Shattered as we were we ordered room service and unpacked,  I had one of the best chicken club sarnies ever followed by the best chocolate tart - very nice with some champagne and then we crashed out.

Saturday - Feeling hot hot hot

Saturday was roasting and it was only 9am.  We headed out to go for a walk and then pick up the tickets.  We walked to up to Oxford street and then headed over to Leicester square - stopping off for the odd drink.  picked up the tickets for the show and then headed off to the Tower of London

The tower was really interesting - got to see the armory (The White Tower) and the Crown Jewels display as well as a heap of other things. 

Suffering from the heat a bit we took the tube back to Marble Arch and got changed ready to go out for dinner

Roka

Theo - Robs friend had got us a table a Roka - A Japanese restaurant.  We love Japanese but I am not a huge fan if sushi.  Some is ok but too much and I am not going to be happy.  we were some what apprehensive but picked a taster menu - the one we had is not on the site but was a mixture of the one there and a lot of the other dishes that are there.  In total I think that there were about 15 things on the menu - some of which as nice (Quail, Lamb, Scallops) some of which was not (a strange buttery thing).  I will for ever love the rice hotpot with fresh truffle and the chocolate and macca cake.  You should go there if you are in London

Stomp

Next on the itinerary was STOMP.  A great concert where the musical group make instruments from a variety of house hold objects,  It sounds odd but it is one of the best shows I have ever seen.  If you are not in to joining in then you may feel a bit of a plonker when they get you to clap along but go with the flow and have a good time.   The show is very humorous despite the fact that no one actually speaks through the entire thing.  definitely a highlight of the trip

Sunday

Eye Eye

We had a whole day before we had to head home so we were up bright and early to check out and walk over to the London eye - where we had passes to get us on bright and early,  We were now somewhat sun burnt following the previous days meanderings (despite factor 50 sun cream) so slathered in more of the stuff off we headed.  The London eye is very impressive as are the bridges you cross to get there.  we picked up our tickets and it was all very organised.  we queued and were on in about 15 minutes - which is pretty good when you consider how busy the place is. 

The views from the capsule are great and you get a cracking look at a lot of the landmarks,.  It is also somewhat warm though as you are in a big glass bubble - but we survived.  the thing does not stop moving.  When you get on and off it is still going at about 1 mile per hour - but it is pretty safe.

Under the Sea

On our quest to now find some decent lunch we wondered along towards the Houses of Parliament (they look better on the HP Sauce Bottle) and noticed the London Aquarium (inside, air conditioned and interesting - Sounds like a plan) so we decided to come back later on.  Our quest for decent food in a non smoky place lead us past downing street, the VE remembrance service and along the strand.  We stopped at a French restaurant where the food was mediocre, had a quick bite and then headed back to the aquarium.

The aquarium was great - and air conditioned which was a blessing.  We spent a lot of the afternoon wondering around looking at fish, sharks and all other manner of marine life.  We also got to touch the rays and dog fish in the touch pools which Rocked.  Then we were done and had to head back out to the dreaded heat

Oh no this is the boat from hell

So the last thing was the boat trip - looking at the schedule we could get to Greenwhich before we would have to head back to get the Heathrow express so this seemed like a plan,  We queued and then got on board - there were no seats free outside so we were in the large glass bit which as cramped a bit smelly and too hot - so we disembarked at tower and went to Selfridge's for Tea and Cake.  After a well earned rest it was time to head home.