With great power, comes perfect cereal

I’ve finally managed the ultimate.  After 25 long years, I have finally reached the pinnacle of human achievement.  I’ve done what I always assumed to be impossible.  I can’t believe it happened and…sorry…choking up…it just took me by surprised…

I FINALLY MANAGED TO MAKE MY CEREAL LOOK LIKE THE PICTURE ON THE CORNFLAKE BOX

I mean, seriously, does this mean I win at life?  After years of having my cereal look sodden and soggy, unlike that bowl of perfection, I should at least get a day named after me for creating this heavenly bowl?  No?  A medal?  I’m having my internet privileges removed?

Ok, on a more serious note, my post is going to be a bit different this week as if I wrote about the past week, it would be one of two things.

1.       It would be a post about how I spent most of my time working and I’m boring enough without talking about how I sit at a desk.

2.       An incredibly self-centred and negative rant about how various things are really bugging me or getting me down.  Let’s face it, the internet has enough of these without me add to it.

This presented me a conundrum.  What could I write about?  Then it came to me in the aftermath glow of my cereal bowl.  So, I present to you:

5 Reasons why I could not be a superhero in Kathmandu or anywhere really

Ok, before I get into this, I am deliberately avoiding the main reasons e.g. I have no superpowers; I’m not kick ass etc…this is pretty obvious and doesn’t need stated.

Ok, so as many of you will have worked out, I’m a big fan of comics and superheroes.  Who isn’t really?  So, due to this, I’ve found myself sitting in my flat late at night bored and I think to myself:

‘I could get a costume and fight crime and bring justice to these streets.  Nobody would ever suspect it was me!’

I mean, we all think that right?  Of course we do…however, reality then comes crashing down and I realize that I could never be one, for the following reasons why.

1.       I blog about my life

Picture the scene: a weary and battleworn ‘Blue Basford’ returns to his secret hideout and returns to his alter-ego and everyday life.  This alter ego then decides to write, in great detail, about his latest vigilante duties.  He then receives this comment at the end of his finely written (HA!) and incredibly entertaining (really?) entry:

‘Lolz, I no w3r3 u lves n who ur fri3nds n fmly r lolz’ – The Crimson crepe

This is obviously a problem.  Not only does he write in that awful online sub-language (which is bad enough) but he now knows who I am and who my family and friends are.  He could track me down at anytime, and I generally like to spend my free-time without having my ass-kicked.    

2.       I have no style

Ok, so you may be thinking that this isn’t exactly an important issue but think about it carefully.  As a superhero, you are going to be viewed as a symbol of hope and courage.  People will be looking up to you  and children will want to pretend to be you at Halloween.  So why the hell would the gain hope from somebody who has often been outdressed by the homeless.

Seriously, nobody is going to take a superhero seriously if they appear in ripped jeans and a loose t-shirt…even if his name is Blue Jeans Boy (sounds more like a country band).  

I mean, superman has his distinctive spider-suit; batman has his black latex; and superman, the red and blue.  At best, I could maybe pull of a suit and become a poor man’s Tuxedo Mask.  Even then, I’d still look more like the thug that the superhero should be BOOF SMACK POW-ing.

3.       Kathmandu is NOT the best place to go running around

So, I’m being chased by the confused police or perhaps I’m chasing after those blasted jewel thieves known as ‘siamese catwomen’.  Either way, the heat is on and I’m running, leaping over walls and gaps like a gazelle and then:

WHOOMPH

I slip on some corrugated iron, slip over a ledge and fall through a family’s windom as they eat dinner.  Or I run into a dangling power line and get thrown back a hundred feet into the Baghmati river.  Nope, Kathmandu is many wonderful things but a high-speed chase city, it is not. 

4.       I’m terrible at making decisions

I can barely decide what I want to have for dinner, let alone the life or death decisions that a hero has to make.  How can I decide whether to take justice into my own hands or let the police arrest them?  I’m the kind of guy who wanders around a supermarket in the hope that something decisive jumps out at me and I don’t need to make a decision.  I don’t think sitting there staring at the situation as I try to decide what to do would be useful…I’d argue it was downright counter-productive:

‘I’ve decided, I will turn you guys to the Police!  Guys?  Guys?? Ah dammit, not again!’

 And, if I ever met a nemesis like the Riddler, I'd just have to hang up my cape and boots, right then and there.  To hell with saving people.  FOR I AM INDECISION MAN!!!

5.       I need my sleep

Assuming that I wasn’t imbued with some sort of awesome endurance which negates sleep, I like my bed waaaaaaaaaaaaayy too much.  I don’t think I could do the whole ‘work during the day, kick ass during the night’.  It makes me tired just reading about how Peter Parker works, studies, socialized and crime-fights.  In fact, I’m pretty sleep thinking about it.  It wouldn’t do for a crime-fighter such as ‘Midget-Man’ to fall asleep whilst swinging through downtown Kathmandu or be caught napping on a crime-free bench by his foe ‘The Dark Average Height Knight’.  Sadly, I don’t really think there is much call for a crime fighter who works only between the hours of 6:30pm and 11pm plus the time it takes to walk to work.

And so, we come to the end of 5 of the many reasons why I could never be a superhero.  If you have any more suggestions, please write them on the back of a postcard and post them to a shredder. 

Pick of the week

Persona 4 – Going with a fairly old school and obscure PS2 title this week.  Persona 4 is a mix between a life simulator and an RPG, creating an awesome game that is in my top 5 video games ever.  The story is simple: you move in with your uncle and his daughter, start your school year and try to make friends…all the while trying to prevent students being murdered by being dragged into televisions.  Cue the screeching brake.  Oh yes, it is quite the dark tale.

During the day, it is as I first say.  You go to school, then in the afternoon/evenings, you can decide how tso spend your free time.  You could hang out with a friend, go shopping or go on a date.  Of course, you could be sensible and get a part-time job or stay at home and study/read.  There are many different ways to spend your free time and the choice is yours.

However, there is one other option you can take…you can enter the TV and fight your way through various areas to try and prevent students from being killed.  To do this you have to evoke your ‘persona’ (I see what you did there’ and to evoke is very simple.  You put the gun-shaped evoker to your head and pull the trigger…releasing a fighting version of the characters personality.  It actually isn’t as dark as it sounds…I promise!  To rescue the students, you climb up various towers, fighting and defeating your enemies before coming to the main boss.  

The fighting mechanic is fairly simple but has one interesting twist.  The character you control (you have a team) can collect cards of different personalities and change his ‘persona’ or merge it with other persona’s to make even more powerful identities.  This adds a lot of depth and customization to your character as well as making you consider tactics when entering a dungeon.  Not only this, but the level of your different friendships affects how powerful the personas you create are, linking back to the day.

Throw all this together; add in side-questions; compelling and unusual characters (that have detailed back stories); and people being forced to confront who they really are and you have a timeless game that I would recommend to everyone who enjoys an RPG.   

Music of the Week 

Simple and easy again as I rediscovered the song yesterday (pretty handy).  Motley Crue - Saints of Los Angeles.  Get out your leather trousers, rev up your bikes and grow your hair!  Woooo

Ok, rambling blog again but I at least cleared up why I never became a superhero.  Unless of course I'm writing this to throw you off the scent? 

Drumming solo!

Boom.                   Boom.                   Boom Boom Boom

At first, you’re not quite sure you heard it.

Boom.                   Boom.                   Boom Boom Boom

However, you’re suddenly aware it’s there.

Boom.                   Boom.                   Boom Boom Boom

Then you realize it doesn’t stop, nor do you want it to.

Boom.                   Boom.                   Boom Boom Boom

It’s haunting and you can hear it for hours later as you lay in bed.

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Maybe I should start from the beginning.  This weekend, I went on my first business trip and also, visited Pokhara for the first time.  It was…an interesting experience.  Starting off (late) from the College, I got my first pure glimpse of Nepal life outside the valley and I have to say, the rugged wilderness was stunning.  Mountains towered over you, as the sun glanced of the greenery.  You really feel like you are in nature (even though we were travelling in a car at breakneck speeds) and it was just a great drive through the valley.

 After a two hour detour to Chitwan for petrol, we eventually arrived in Pokhara only to find it pouring with rain.  Typical.  However, we arrived at the Hotel Meera and got unpacked.  Half the group went to see the stall and I went for a quick wander along the shops and then sat having a cup of tea overlooking the shopping area.  After a day’s travel, by Odins beard did that tea go down well.  Like nectar or, well, sweet, sweet tea.  That night, we all went to the Busy Bee Bar, a pretty interesting bar with a great atmosphere and some great beer.  Sharing various dishes, we had a good night with flowing drinks and good music before retiring for the evening.

                                           

So, the next day we got up and after a misunderstanding for breakfast, we headed to get the stall ready.  Once it was ready, we waited.  And waited.  And waited.  Long story short, the fair had maybe 100 students over the three days out of the 30,000 students promised.  I won’t go into details but it was somewhat of a boring few hours…

Anyway!  On Friday evening, we went to Davi’s Falls, a beautiful water way that cuts through various types of stones before dropping suddenly into a large cave.  I may have scared everyone (accidently) by climbing up onto the lower rail to take a photograph…it seems that is frowned upon.  Oh well, I learned quickly after a group of 5 people all shout ‘aaaahhh’ in my direction.  The real highlight of the evening was entering the cave that held an underground shrine and then lead all the way to waterfall.  Once passing the shrine, you come to a smallish cavern which holds loads of small stone structures, built by hand.  The inquisitive little creature that I am, I found out that if you build one of these stone towers, it represents the house that you get when in Heaven.  I only built a three storey house as I figured that I’m small and don’t take up much room.

The next port of call was dinner, drinks and a club.  Starting off in club Amsterdam, we had another shared dinner and several drinks and I got to try Roxi: home-made Nepalese alcohol.  That was an eye-opener.  Especially when they called gambe and I had to down it.  Interesting start to the night!  After Amsterdam, we went to a club for dancing and more drinks.  Oh my, it has been a while since I danced and dance I did!

 

                                              (I'm dancing, I'm dancing - Cookie for the quote)

Finally, after the club closed, we moved back to Amsterdam for a nightcap and bed.  Saturday, after a late-ish morning and the stall, we headed to the World Peace Pagoda.  Just as we were arriving, it started raining.  Heavily.  I mean monsoon season heavy.  Oh, and we were in shorts and t-shirts with only 1 umbrella.  What did we do?  We walked up to the World Peace Pagoda in the pouring rain and it was brilliant.  As we got about half way up, I heard the faint drumming sound.  At first, I thought it was my imagination but as I got closer, I realized that somebody was drumming continuously.  It was haunting to listen to the constant drumming whilst in the rain.  It truly made the mood special.  As we reached the pagoda, the drumming got louder and louder: it seems that there is a small building where they constantly keep the drum going.  Sadly, the views from the pagoda were clouded but just seeing the remote shrine was stunning, all the while echoed by the drumming.  Whilst I’m not religious at all, there was just something in the air: the location, the rain, the drums.  It seemed like I had went back in time and was just cut off from the real world.  It was quite the experience   

Coming down, we decided to have a cup of tea on the mountain edge, before sludging down again (I went barefoot as feet dry faster than shoes).  I have to say, the cup of tea was certainly magical after my time at the pagoda.  That may have been the dehydration though…

Sunday came all too quickly and alas, we were thwarted by our attempt to boat by thy dastardly rains!  Damn you weather, damn you!  All was not lost as we drove up to Sarangkot which a nice drive but sadly it was too cloudy to see much.  Luckily, on the way down, it cleared up slightly to show the valley in full.  I will need to head back when it’s clear and sunny, as everyone tells me you can see for miles.

Sunday evening, we then headed to some caves which were interesting and in the first cave, we managed to get confused about the exit and ended up clambering up some pretty slippery rocks before somebody pointed us in the right direction.  I’m pretty sure the bats were laughing at us.  The second cave was ok, though it did lead to another underground shrine which is an interesting phenomenon here it seems.  After the caves, we then went and sat beside the lake for an hour (thank god it was dry) before the girls got mango juice, mangoes and lychees (straight from the tree) for us to indulge in.  An excellent end to an overall excellent trip

And so ended my first business trip.  Other than dinner on the Sunday night, then a breakneck trip back to Kathmandu at 6am, not much else happened.  Besides, I’m way too tired to talk about much else.  I do not like 5am…

Pick of the week

Indie Gala – Ok, this is short but sweet for the gamers amongst my readers.  Indie Galas is a pay what you want bundle with various indie games and I’ve seen some brilliant indie games be included – Bastion anyone?   Oh, and the best bit?  Money goes to charity and you can set how much goes to the charity.  I usually set up most going to the charities, with a little to the developers and the indie people but it’s up to you.  They have limited time periods so get them whilst you can!  Great games and helping charities, what more can you hope for?

Music of the week 

Easy for me this week!  Had a huge nostalgia trip this week, so I present to you one of my favourite bands of my youth (and still pretty high ranking): The Union Underground - Revolution Man

Ok, enough from me.  I'm pretty exhausted and this was written quickly and poorly, so I'm sorry and I will be in top form next week!  Woo!

Bushy Brows

*disclaimer* This post will have many pictures in it.  If you are offended by pictures, why are you on the internet?  Weirdo *Disclaimer*

Well now, I have such a disgustfully and sinfully interesting weekend, I feel like I should go to a priest or a monk for a blessing or something.

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..

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OH WAIT, I DID!  BOOM!

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Now that I will never, ever do that again, I will start at the beginning then eventually get to the slightly more accurate event of the story.

First of all, I have had a fairly busy week, as it is education fair time in Nepal, so I have been getting ready for that.  However, fast forward to Saturday, and I am standing and slowly cooking in ‘Ambition’, the education fair, cheerfully handing out leaflets and talking to interested students and so, I go for lunch.  During lunch, I sit with some students who are giving us a hand.  I’m sitting happily enjoying my Momos when it happened…

He guessed I watched anime by my face…

What.

The.

Hell? 

And it couldn’t have been that he saw it on my facebook, as my privacy settings are as high as they can be.  Do I have those stereotyped anime eyes?  Do I use over exaggerated facial expressions?  Do I run with my arms flailing behind(only when no-one is looking)?  Do I have anime hair and carry about ridiculously over-sized weapons (I don’t)?  

                                                (I sure as hell don't look like this)

So that was odd but nothing compared to my spontaneous and random portrait by a homeless person who had snuck into the fair.  One minute I was still cooking and handing out leaflets, the next he had dragged me to the side, sat down on the floor and started drawing me.  I gave him 10 rupees (the only change I had) which I actually think was a bargain.

                                             (At least somebody thinks I look that good) 

Onto Sunday then, my only day off in which I end up acting as the guide for a Leeds Met Representative.  It did, however, get off to an auspicious start.  You see, I had been asked if I was interested on Saturday and so I said yes, sure as I had never been to the Durbar Square in Bhaktapur.  However, I then never heard anything about it again so I assumed I would be told on Sunday.  

Fast forward a day and I get up at 8:40 and get into the shower.   The phone rings.  I ignore it.  Im drying myself and it’s still ringing…so I rush to answer it.  Turns out Bishnu, one of our drivers, is at the college to pick me up.  Uh Oh. So, throwing on clothes, I rush out to get picked up without even a drink of water, let alone breakfast and we head to the hotel.  Turns out, this hasn’t even been arranged yet and so we wait for about 30 – 45 minutes (time which I could have been happily munching on a bowl of cereals and drinking a cup of tea) for Andrew to get read.  As I said, auspicious start.

However, the wait became worth it as we arrived at Durbar Square, the final and most beautiful of the Durbar squares.  Just walking into the square was an event in itself, as the temples and ornate buildings just wash over you.  

As before, we hired a guide and I was pleasantly surprised about how good a guide he was (as I usually am).  He first of all took us round the main square, explaining the different temples and areas, all about the gods the worshipped and the meaning of all the different statues.  What is brilliant about these squares are that they are so well preserved, allowing all their ornate features and wooden carvings to transport you back in time but also, they are still used in everyday life so you get to see the temples in use.  Not only this but the tourism aspects of these areas are very low-key, so you don’t feel bothered by them and they certainly don’t affect the feel of the area.   

Next he took us down the various side streets, explaining about how Hindus cremate (and also bury) their dead, showing us the area that they do this.  Going through the narrow and stuffy side streets was an eye-opening experience as we passed people drying wheat, getting water out of nearly dry wells and just generally living their lives.  It just reminds you of how friendly and strong these people are: as you pass them, they never fail to give you a smile as they stand in line for hours waiting to get water. 

After lunch (and several cups of Masala tea), we then headed to Boudhanath, the worlds biggest Stupa.

Here we wandered around and on the Stupa, chatting about life and Buddhism, as he took pictures and enjoyed the sites.  I’ve been several times before but I always enjoy wandering round the area, as it just feels like a nice and calm environment to be.  After this, we then entered a Buddhist temple for a look around, when Andrew had an idea.  I won’t explain the full story (it’s not my story to tell) but he bough some red string to make into a prayer bracelet and went back to the temple.  He did this because he want the bracelet to be blessed.   After asking, the monk was more than happy to oblige and so I got to attend the ceremony as they monk chanted whilst pouring oil onto the string and burning incense over it.  It then culminated on Andrew being given a ‘Kata’ (scarve) and having the string (now a necklace) being put around his neck, and for the finale, the oil being poured onto his head.

Ok, so as I mentioned, I mislead you at the start as I attended the blessing, but was not part of it.  I do, however, plan on going back and getting one done in the future.  Out of respect, I don’t have any photographs but it was a genuinely interesting and exciting experience to be part of and I never expected to experience it when I woke up.  I think it is fascinating to see and be part of these ceremonies and to see one so close, was just a moment I will never forget.  You sit there and listen to the monk chanting, waving incense and ringing their bell and I can’t deny that it was a haunting experience.

So, I’ve had a great but exhausting weekend and it won’t stop there.  This coming weekend, I will be going to another education fair for the entire weekend.  However, this one is held in Pokhara, or as some sites call it: ‘the most beautiful place in the world’. 

So, I think I will survive.

Picks of the week

Fear Itself – The avengers!  Norse gods!  A red-faced bald female villain!  You had me ‘the world is ending soon’.  A birthday present from Michael, my fellow comic book entrepreneur  and oldest friend, I dove into this bad boy of a graphic novel at Glasgow airport (when I flew back to Nepal) and didn’t stop until I finished it. An ancient prophecy is about to be fulfilled and seven villainous champions for the true ‘All Father’ have been chosen and so, it is up to the Avengers to stop them.  The only question is, how do you stop the champions of a god, especially when the gods on your side have abandoned you?

I can’t really go into more without ruining storylines but the story is dark, gripping and extremely well written and the art work sets the scene perfectly.  It manages to concentrate on all the different characters within the story and how the react with what is an imminent and complete defeat: creating a graphic novel filled with highs and lows, often showing man and hero at their lowest points but often coming though their darkness into their own light.  A great story for any comic book fan, filled with norse mythology and kick-ass avenging heroes.  Pass me my cape dammit! 

Music of the week 

Hmm, another tough decision as I don't want to constantly link Head Phones President, as I have been listening to their new album for ages.  Hmm, so I will pick...  In Flames - The Quiet Place.  Love it.

Next post, expect many pictures from Pokhara.  Until then, google ' do a barrel roll'

Rabble Rabble Rabble Rabble Rabble

First order of business:

Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Over 2000 views!  Thank you to everyone who has read my blog, either once or many times.  I’m honestly surprised that I have had this many views and even more surprised that I have managed to keep this going so long.  However, I genuinely enjoy writing my blog and I genuinely appreciate those who take time out of their busy lives to read the narcissistic ramblings of the socially awkward.

Normally, I’m accepting of the fact that I’m incredibly single but I do have to admit, last week was a bit of a sucker-punch.  You see, last week I found out that:

·         1 friend had got married

·         1 friend had got engaged

·         And 1 friend had celebrated their 1 year marriage anniversary 

Geez, it’s enough to make a single guy contemplate buying an Asian Love pillow…or use the word geez.  Er, perhaps not but still, definitely underlines the single part… cough.  However, I would like to congratulate all three of the happy couples.  I wish you all happiness in your varying levels of marriage.

Ok, so last week I listed my list of hopes and dreams on the internet and I have to say, it made me think of something.  I’ve been looking at my life the wrong way.  You see, I’m 25 and I’m always seen it as:

“Oh my god, I’m 23/24/25!  I’m one foot in the grave.  I need to marry and settle down and have children and a car and a driveway and a steady job which will pay for my coffin”

I admit that is a slight exaggeration but basically I thought I was old.  I have soon realized that I’m not old, I’m just older (not that being old is any problem, my parents are both retired and I know that they are having a great time).  Instead of thinking that I’m just getting older, I should look at it as

“I’m still young but now I’m old enough to do things”

It may be obvious that this is the better way but I just never really saw it like that.  My social bubble got smaller and smaller, and I would rarely do anything new or exciting.  Especially once I graduated and became unemployed, I slowly lost the will to do much, if anything .  Oh, I volunteered during my unemployment, went to the gym and saw my friends but overall, I lost my passion for life.  I just felt old. 

Then I threw a proverbial spanner into the works and moved to Nepal. 

It was terrifying.  It was new.  It was exciting.  Most of all, it was needed.  It gave me that kickstart I needed and I got my passion back.  I tried new foods, I saw new places and met new people.  However, once long weeks working started to affect me, then being away from everyone at Christmas, I lost it again..  And to be honest, I’m still not sure if I have got it completely back yet but by god, I’m going to try.

This is what this poorly written and rambling post is about and this is what last week’s post was about.  I am going to start doing more things, seeing more places and have more fun.  Oh, I still have my long term goals/plans and I am still trying to save as much money as possible but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy myself along the way, does it?  I suppose now I’m just paranoid that I’m going to miss a lot of things before I get the chance to do them and grow old and regretful.  Think I’ll start by going to an outdoor showing of ‘The Last ‘Emperor’ on Tuesday night and having some Italian food.  Then, I’m going to start writing and filming a web series that I am hoping to film quickly whilst out here.  Watch this space etc… 

Don’t worry, I’m sure I’ll be back to my normal, slightly bitter self next week plus I didn’t really have much to write about this week…

Pick of the Week

Skyrim – Epic.  Epic is truly the word to define Skyrim.  For those who don’t know it, The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is the newest elderscroll game that has been released by Bethesda.  And it is epic.  In one sitting, I had climbed up an enormous mountain to a hidden temple; swam in artic waters of the frozen North; and hunted deer through wooded lowlands.  All without a loading screen.  Another sitting, I came across an unscripted battle between an dragon and a frost troll.  Another, I came across a group of hunters bathing in a hot spring.  I haven’t even mentioned any of the towns, cities, villages, caves, temples, hideouts, bluffs or sunken ships yet.

The story goes: you are about to be executed and then you manage to escape from your execution because of a dragon attack.  After about 30 minutes of an escape, you are set free to go about the world as you please.  You can join the various guilds, you can follow the main quests, you can help or destroy the rebels or you can just sit and marvel at the enormous world that surrounds you.  That’s what’s so glorious about this game, you can do what you want, leveling up through smithing or alchemy if you wish, as opposed to combat.  The main story itself is pretty interesting but some of the most dramatic stories come from the groups that you can join: often bringing said group to glory.  Graphically, the game looks good (though much better on PC) but it is the sense of scale of the world.  You climb a mountain and you can look across valleys and forests, or snow plains and lakes.  You truly feel like part of a world when playing and I often spend time just standing at a cliff, looking at the world.

*Edit*  To give you an idea of scale, it took me about 23 minutes to run (just run) from one side to another

Combat is fairly simple but fun, allowing you to specialise in close-combat, archery or magic.  Each of these have various different routes and perks, allowing you to experiment with various character builds:  I have a dual wielding archer (cough Legolas cough) and thoroughly enjoy playing him.  The ai is hardly genius but at this scale, you don’t expect it to be.  It is also a nice perk that dragons can appear at any moment, giving a certain tenseness when travelling long distance, especially when you hear that shriek…

The only major problem?  It’s buggy, as are many of Bethesda’s games.  However, despite all the people complaining about game-breaking bugs, I have yet to find one but there are bugs to contend with.  Don’t let this affect your decision though.  If you’re a free-roaming action RPG lover or want a game to immerse yourself in, buy this today.  

Monday's Music 

Going in two complete directions this week.  First of all, down to the past, old school style:  Coolio - Gangsta Paradise.  Been listening to this a lot this week, so I thought I'd share.

and the other direction?  Just found out that Head Phones President are bring out a new album soon and so I will include their new song 'Stand in the World'.  Well that failed, couldn't get it uploaded.  So instead I will give you 'Chain'.  I know that they won't be to everyones tastes but they are easily in my top 5 bands,

Ok, I am off to immerse myself in an alternate universe for the evening, so will post more later.  As always, tell your friends about me, any links on pages are welcome and never, ever use a spork in a restaurant.