Eric Brighton saw this story on the BBC News website and thought you
should see it.
 
** Can people unlearn their naked shame? **
Once we were all happy to walk around naked, now we're not. But can an experiment in nudity help us understand why we are so embarrassed by being seen in the buff and help shed our inhibitions?

< http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/magazine/7915369.stm >

 
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Blog 200902111151

Touch Typing III. Blog 200902111151

Wednesday 11^th February 2009, Grenoble, France.

Touch Typing III

;a

just sat down in a café you, reader, cannot see the speed of my typing – luckily. But at last I had the time to continue with my learning touch typing.

Of course nothing is ever that simple. The waiter sees me sitting down and hurries over. "those tables are for lunch only". I consider the situation. I have chosen this table on a score of interesting. It scores high on the interesting score because it has a view of the entrance door and is on a slight podium. "OK I'll take lunch"... ... "This table is reserved; you will have to sit here." He said, gesturing to the next table.

So here I am. I suppose that I could move to another table, but why? It is unlikely that another table will have the same 'interesting' score and this table is only slightly removed from the ideal. Perhaps I'll meet the person for whom that table is reserved.

This is our first day in Grenoble this year and Daisy is in bed while I go out to move the car. Then I had a wander to get a book and ended up in Place Grenette. Found this place by chance because it looked the most normal (whatever that might be). Now I will have tartiflette and une verre de vin rouge.

Eric

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Blog 200901131943

Interesting facts. Blog 200901131943

Tuesday 13^th January 2009, Brighton, England.

Pawn shops thrive as credit tightens

There's been an increase in the number of people going to the pawnbrokers and Darrell Robson who owns a pawn shop in Stafford reckons it's because of the downturn in the economy.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/content/articles/2008/07/12/pawn_shop_credit_crunch_feature.shtml

There is an old saying, I have heard it like this:-

"Its an ill wind that blows nobody any good"

This represents the idea that somebody always prospers from every situation - even war. It turns out that the origins of this saying go back to 1546 and were coined by a man called John Heywood.

Dramatist and epigrammatist; born probably c. 1497; died about 1580. A member of the court of King Henry the Eighth. His wit and his musical gifts seem to have led to his promotion and general prosperity. He was receiving an annuity of ten marks as king's servant in 1521.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07319a.htm

His actual words seem to have been:-

"Its an ill wind that bloweth no man to good." (1546)

in referring to sailing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Heywood

So that's not bad really, certainly the same sense and almost the same words after 453 years. Well done world people for transmitting those words through the oral tradition for 453 years.

By the way, do you prefer hyperlinks to be in full as above, or as links with in the text (like this) or as shortened URL's like this: http://bit.ly/F8jM

Please leave answer on comments.

Til next time,

Good Night and Happy Tomorrow everybody.

Eric.

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Blog 200901122121

Neighbours. Blog 200901122121

Monday 12^th January 2009, Brighton, England.

And it is amazing, I get to see a section of all their lives. For example, there is James and Julie (I've given them all imaginary names, I don't really know them at all). They are the most visible of my neighbours. Mostly because they leave their curtains open all the time – or perhaps they haven't got curtains. Anyway, James must be retired because he is in all times of the day. Julie comes and goes. I guess they are naturalists because most of the time they don't have clothes on. Anyway they must have been away over Christmas as there were no lights on. They came back after New Year with loads of bags and since then James has been on his computer nearly every day, all day. Yesterday I think he had a dispute with Julia because I could see them facing each other, waggling fingers and, although I can hear nothing, they looked like they were yelling at each other. I'd love to know what they're saying.

We went to Churchill Square Shopping Centre again, apparently we didn't get enough clothes last time. I had more coffee, at Coffee Republic this time. This just wastes time I could be on the internet. As a result this blog is late again.

Til next time,

Good Night and Happy Tomorrow everybody.

Eric.

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Blog 200901122121

Neighbours. Blog 200901122121

Monday 12^th January 2009, Brighton, England.

And it is amazing, I get to see a section of all their lives. For example, there is James and Julie (I've given them all imaginary names, I don't really know them at all). They are the most visible of my neighbours. Mostly because they leave their curtains open all the time – or perhaps they haven't got curtains. Anyway, James must be retired because he is in all times of the day. Julie comes and goes. I guess they are naturalists because most of the time they don't have clothes on. Anyway they must have been away over Christmas as there were no lights on. They came back after New Year with loads of bags and since then James has been on his computer nearly every day, all day. Yesterday I think he had a dispute with Julia because I could see them facing each other, waggling fingers and, although I can hear nothing, they looked like they were yelling at each other. I'd love to know what they're saying.

We went to Churchill Square Shopping Centre again, apparently we didn't get enough clothes last time. I had more coffee, at Coffee Republic this time. This just wastes time I could be on the internet. As a result this blog is late again.

Til next time,

Good Night and Happy Tomorrow everybody.

Eric.

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Blog 200901112130

Dishwasher Blog Part 2. Blog 200901112130

Sunday 11^th January 2009, Brighton, England.

Last time I said <Rosie had a new kitchen put in by the housing association in the summer and because she knew we were getting rid of our dishwasher, got the fitters to leave her a space for it. When we get there I have to fit it, that'll be great fun!!>

Yes, when we got there there was a space, but no hole cut for the tubes and no water tap set up. Oh dear, Rosie should have checked when the plumber was there. She didn't. She was upset today when she found out and had a tantrum, shouting at the boys and generally performing.

Its good from my point of view as I didn't have to fit it.@£$!

On the way there and with a heavy dishwasher in the back, I decided to take it easy.

I decided to be an ideal citizen and obey all the road laws. No speeding, no hogging the fast lane, no sudden acceleration or braking. Quite an interesting experience – not many people doing the same. It was low stress and according to the car computer, more fuel efficient. Perhaps I'll do it more often!!

By the way, if you were wondering, - and even if you weren't - yesterday was so cold I didn't go out. I spent a lot of time trying to sort out the posterous forwards and tidy up various blogs. To my amazement I found a comment on one! Whoooh!

Good Night and Happy Tomorrow everybody.

Eric.

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Blog 200901092015

D is Dishwasher. Blog 200901092015

Friday 9^th January 2009, Brighton, England.

Busy. Busy. Busy.

Today we went to our storage to find our dishwasher to give to Daisy's daughter, Rosie. Fortunately there was a helpful giant of a guy who helped us to move some heavy boxes of books to get to it. So it is in the back of the car until Sunday when we go up to London to delivery it.

Rosie had a new kitchen put in by the housing association in the summer and because she knew we were getting rid of our dishwasher, got the fitters to leave her a space for it. When we get there I have to fit it, that'll be great fun!!

Before that, we went to yoga. We simply have to move more – too much couch potato behaviour recently. Its actually called fusion yoga, mixed with pilates. We do pilates on Tuesday as well. Usually we have a sauna afterwards – that's the bit I like most! Then a swim and go. Today, after that, we had a healthy salad lunch and I went to my physical therapist. He then spent twenty minutes putting my back back, after lifting the dishwasher.

Yesterday, Thursday, we went to the Churchill shopping centre for an overcoat for Daisy. This was after I went to the docs. We found an overcoat in the sales, not many left – so much for the recession! I spent a lot of time in Starbucks while Daisy was looking round until I was called for the joint final decision. Long enough to read the Grauniad, and polish off two hazelnut lattes. I hate clothes shopping but have to be the taxi and help with the short-list. We had a half healthy lunch of pizza and salad.

In the evening I started reading Moab is My Washpot by Stephen Fry. - Sorry Stephen, I didn't pay full price, I got it for £3 in HMV. It is very well written however, I'm enjoying reading it. So now I'll go and finish off a bit more... … …

Good Night and Happy Tomorrow everybody.

Eric.

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car test

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Blog 200901041915

Sunday 4^th January 2009 Brighton, England.

O Oo I've noticed two sets of numbers for pageviews in posterous. One immediately after a new posting and another after the page refresh. Also these are not the same as I viewed before posting. [no screenshot of that unfortunately]

immediately after post:-

http://www.flickr.com/photos/zzelp/3167126345/

after immediate refresh:-

http://www.flickr.com/photos/zzelp/3167128321/

I have to admit ~ I cant understand this. I have witnesses pageviews going down – is this when someone unviews a page? Its all above me.

Then there is the mysterious google echo, reposting the same thing on the blog? Alice in Wonderland anybody?

Happy Day everybody.

Eric.

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Blog 200901041843

Sunday 4^th January 2009 Brighton, England.

Oh boy, had a good meeting with another twitterer which has assured be that the is at least a small income to be made from blogging. So onward... … …

It seems that every one is interested in blogs at the moment so I will do my utmost to discipline myself to make blog entries on a regular basis. But what really frightened me was him saying that quantity was important. O Oo I'm poor in that department. I'm all for brevity. But within the brevity to model the very subject you are talking about. Oh I see use the confusion technique. What ?

Of course economy of the written word is translated from economy with the key strokes. I believe in maximising efficiency and minimising effort. Do I remember correctly? somewhere in the depths of time there seems to be a message about machines reducing the amount of work we do... … ...

Happy Day everybody.

Eric.

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Blog 200901030530

Saturday 3^rd January 2009 Brighton, England.

We are now back in reality after our holiday in the States. England seems so small and certainly overcast, windy and cold.

Of course as always, when getting back from holiday, there are a million things to do. So I have had to put off other things in order to get this blog written. We got into London Heathrow early morning yesterday and were meet by our taxi for Brighton, getting home about midday. We left from JFK on the 1^st with Virgin Atlantic. I asked the check-in clerk if we could sit in emergency row seats. She said we could but would have to pay a fee of $75! That's the first time I have heard of that. Although I know they have invented a new class of travel, between cattle class and business class, called "Premium Economy". This is where in exchange for an upgrade fee they give you a few more inches of foot room. So now they have found yet another way of screwing a few more dollars out of the customer in the form of charging you for the responsibility of opening the exit in an emergency. Anyway, she said she would put us in a seat with no one behind us so we could fully recline our seats. This turned out to be a euphemism for squashing us into the last seat at the back of the aircraft. Subsequently I didn't get any sleep in the way back and as a result I am suffering from jet lag. I lasted until dark when I just had to crash out and sleep. I woke up at midnight and couldn't get back to sleep so I have been up since then just catching up with things.

We have the weekend to get sorted then next week will be truly back in gear.

Happy Day everybody.

Eric.

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Blog 200812311200

Wednesday 31^st December 2008, Greenport, Long Island, New York.

So here we are, at the gateway to another year – what will be the same what will be different?

One thing that will definitely be the same will be the retrospective navel gazing over the past year. Dredging up things we may well rather wish to forget and their regurgitation on TV and the Internet. So I won't do any of that.

Looking forward – what will the year 2009 bring? Certainly more recession/depression and lots of pain for many folks as they loose their jobs and houses. This wont affect the richest bankers who have too much money to feel the downturn and anyway will probably be getting a big wad as their reward for their negligence and greed which lead to this chaos in the first place [sorry to any of you that fall into this category]. More companies will collapse and mergers will take place to safeguard others from collapsing – leading to more job losses of course. But hopefully by the end of the year there will be light at the end of the tunnel as this down cycle turns round. It will turn round of course – everything that goes down must come up, eventually.

There will be more talk of it never happening again [it will of course]. Slowly most people will forget about the downturn, get overexcited by the upturn, and it will all happen again!

I wonder if there will be sufficient learning form these happenings? Gas/petrol WILL go back to $4/ £1.5 per gallon again eventually – it is just a question of time – how long will it take? It will go back to these prices for a simple reason – market forces. As the demand for anything outstrips the supply it will inevitably go up in price. Its a fact of life. But will the nations prepare for this now in light of 2008? Will new sources of energy be tapped in an adequate way to mitigate the next hike in oil prices? I am afraid I am very sceptical that this will happen before the next energy crisis, the capital investment in the new energy sources will become uneconomic again, now the energy prices have gone back down.

Will there be good cheer in 2009? I am sure there will. There will be the success and triumph over challenges, both on a corporate and individual level. My challenge will be, as always, to manage the prolonged mental disorder that I suffer from. This is kept at bay by meds but surfaces from time to time to try to overwhelm me. From my introduction to twitter and the blogosphere through Stephen Fry I have found several blogs from people who suffer even more than I do. It has been heartening to see how they have benefited from the use of blogs to expunge some of the darker moments.

Fortunately over the last three weeks I have had lots of time for the blogosphere because I have been on vacation. I am not yet certain what will happen when I get back to reality next week. That is IF I get back to reality since it had started to snow heavily here in Greenport. We are supposed to leave from JFK tomorrow. As it is at the moment, I am not even sure if we will get to the airport!

Finally, may I wish you all a happy new year's celebration and not too much of a hangover on New Years Day.

Happy Day Year everybody.

Eric.

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Blog 200812282200

How extensive is the web of information about you on the internet? Blog 200812282200

Sunday 28^th December 2008, Greenport, Long Island, New York.

Have you googled your name lately? You might find it interesting to do so. I entered "Eric Brighton" [the inverted commas to force the search to look only for only the whole name and not the first name and last name separately]. I was quite surprised about some of the entries, in particular I was interested to find that I am a "top conservative". This determination comes about from aggregation technology which has determined due to my followers and those I am following that I am a conservative. There is obviously some work yet to be done with this technology - my political interests are in fact amorphous,.

For more information see:

http://www.topconservativesontwitter.org/index.php/component/userdetail/?twitter_id=zzelp

[Aggregation technology & site implementation by Kithbridge, provider of fine new media services:

• Strategy

• Tracking & Monitoring

• Custom Blog & Twitter Feeds]

It is worth bearing in mind what your internet tracks leave behind and how these tracks are interpreted by others. You may also find your intentions are misinterpreted.

It will be interesting to find out if I am still on the list after this blog although it is my experience that once I am subject to an internet search, the footprint remains for some time, kept, no doubt, on various mirror sites etc.

Happy Day everybody.

Eric.

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Blog 200812271840

Saturday 27th December 2008, Harborfront Inn at Greenport, Long Island, New York.

How many twitterers are there? Does anyone know – I guess the guys at twitter know but they are not letting on. TwitterTroll has figures for the number of tweets per day and per hour and this seems to be the basis of many estimates. The speculation will be around for a long time I expect, unless twitter goes under or can find a way of monetization.

In any case twitter does seem to have caused a blossoming of associated activity, judging by the numbers of twitter connected websites and applications. If it goes down (like if GM did) there would be a radiating collapse of these associated apps.

Would you care? Is twitter an important part of on-line life or just an addiction? What do you think? Please let me know by comment.
 
I just realised that I didn't name the hotel we were staying in in Manhattan, no particular reason for this – other than I is generally a bad idea to bad mouth something when you are dependant on it. On a previous visit to Manhattan I stayed a the Algonquin hotel. I liked the old world feel, the cuteness and the friendly staff. Unfortunately we made our reservation on the Saturday before arriving on the 23rd December and the Algonquin only makes reservations Monday to Friday. I therefore make a reservation with the Sofitel New York which is two hotels up along the same street. I didn't want to risk arriving at Christmas time without a reservation.

Because I have stayed at the Sofitel Washington DC, and was happy with my visit, I didn't have any hesitation in staying at another Sofitel. Regrettably the New York version did not have the charm of Washington and was rather impersonal as a result. Of course most businesses are in it to make a profit but sometimes they become mercenary in the process. This was the impression I was left with at this hotel. I understand that to some people money is no object but for me I do have a budget and so I try to get value for money from what ever I spend. At the  Sofitel New York I felt fleeced. Some examples: internet connection direct on line is $5.99 via T-Mobile but buy a prepaid card at reception and it will cost you $9.99. When asked to explain this there was no reply from management. When asked if they had any aspirin, for a fever I was suffering from, their reply? … “We can get you some for $15”. When checking in I asked the cost of valet parking ($50) but was charged $100 on checkout and was not guided towards a facility directly opposite offering parking for $35 with a hotel stamp. In the hotel the price of a meal would feed an African child for a year. I refused to eat in the hotel, as did many other guests to be found in the Red Flame Grill nearby. Pleeease, you are already charging top dollar for the room there are some things you should throw in with this price.

Today we decided to explore Long Island prior to retuning to the UK on January 1st. So yesterday I did a lot of  internet research to find a hotel which is good value for money. This in itself is a labor of love. There are so many ways to find reviews, Tripadvisor, Frommers, Lonely Planet, hotel.com, expedia.com, lastmiute.com, booking.com, travelocity etc etc etc. I rely a lot on tripadvisor having been using it since 2005 and find it fairly reliable, although reviews can vary wildly for the same hotel, from absolute trash to the best thing since sliced bread.

I made a short-list of 4 hotels on the east of Long Island. Best Western featured, as it usually does, as one likely to be good value for money. It did result in a good price when we visited and it was a very serious contender but lost out on location score. A hotel in Hampton Bays was eliminated on the basis of being too cold and not having internet. Another was too remote and that left this one which is in a town, has internet and a decent location. A bit more expensive but... … … [we think] good value.

Happy Day everybody.

Eric.

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Blog 200812260930

BOXING DAY 2008

I went out at six to get some milk, Duane Reade was closed so I had to get some from Starbucks. I think it was about $2.45 but that was better than getting some from room service which has a per order charge of $3.50 + cost if item + tax +gratuity... … …

I have to have my early morning cuppa! To recover from sleep, rehydrate and generally make me feel more human.

Yesterday we went to the Rockefeller Centre on 6th Avenue. What crowds. The sidewalks were packed, at some stages we walked in the road to avoid the scrum.  We took photos of  “the  Tree” - a famous Christmas tree at the centre. There was a melee around it of people taking their photos next to the tree. As usual at Christmas there were people skating on the rink at the centre. We went to the “Top of the Rock” for our 360 degree view. See the videos and pics at my other sites, facebook, twitter, 12 seconds, myspace etc. the tickets were $20, with an evening view for $10. we paid our $30 and went up.  After our visit and a quick festive Starbucks we went back to the hotel for an hour for a rest, then it was off again for the evening, sunset visit.  We left the hotel an hour before sunset and only just made it in time! Its amazing how long it takes:-

・    Down the elevator at the hotel from 14th floor.
・    Up sixth  avenue [fighting our way through the tourists].
・    Queueing at the Rockefeller centre.
・    Up an elevator to get to the departure floor for the top.
・    Through security [bags coats scanned].
・    Up the top elevator 67 floors then through the crowds to the 69th floor.
・    We got there with 5 minutes to spare.

Very cold all day here, and especially at the Top of the Rock.

Happy Boxing Day everybody.

Eric

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