2009 — 29 July: Wednesday

Crikey, very nearly my 1,000th diary entry. How about a picture of Christa for a nice change?!

Christa in our Old Windsor bedroom, late 1970s

This evening's entertainment, after a delicious fillet steak that I didn't pay for, was the George Clooney film "Syriana". Prompted by this (no doubt) Big Bro has forwarded me a couple of items. Here's a bit from one of them:

Last month I attended my annual training session...
I was particularly interested in what the Islamic Imam had to say. The Imam gave a great presentation of the basics of Islam, complete with a video. After the presentations, time was provided for questions and answers. When it was my turn, I directed my question to the Imam and asked: 'Please, correct me if I'm wrong, but I understand that most Imams and clerics of Islam have declared a holy jihad [Holy war] against the infidels of the world and, that by killing an infidel, (which is a command to all Muslims) they are assured of a place in heaven.
If that's the case, can you give me the definition of an infidel?'
There was no disagreement with my statements and, without hesitation, he replied, 'Non-believers!' I responded, 'So, let me make sure I have this straight. All followers of Allah have been commanded to kill everyone who is not of your faith so they can have a place in heaven. Is that correct?' The expression on his face changed from one of authority and command to that of 'a little boy who had just been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.' He sheepishly replied, 'Yes.'

John Harrison


Is this cant, or merely lunacy? Do I dare ask my Koran-believing neighbour? Watch this space! G'night.

Brightly unshines...

... the sluggishly-starting new day. It's 09:29, has obviously been raining (with plenty more promised) but already I've patched the bad joke otherwise known as an operating system and been reading all about the Horten Ho229 "stealth" flying wing. Surely this wouldn't have escaped these Eagle eyes?

Eagle

Nope, I've just checked. The nearest thing to it is an April 1951 speculation on a flying wing passenger airliner. Time for some breakfast while Big Bro departs for more Northern spots until Friday morning. Busy chap. Just making him a sausage sandwich to keep him going. He doesn't "do" breakfast, it seems — can this be the same Hungry Hank I recall from my childhood days?

Speaking of childhood, I found this ridiculously amusing. It also has (or, if it's randomly-generated, had) this lovely cartoon on the writer's "food pyramid":

Food pyramid

Lemonses

I've earned it, having reworked my A/V system and its diagram. I replumbed the Ubuntu PC, and decided against re-instating one of my spare Freeview PVRs.1 Good grief, it's already 11:55. Quick, put the kettle on.

Win some, win lots... dept.

Some time ago, I embarked on my great, post-Christa, water meter adventure. I've just had the next six-monthly statement. Since they now owe me £59-91 they're decreasing my monthly payments to £5-30. Quite a change from the pre-meter bill of £625/year. "Every little helps" as Dad used to say.

Mr Postie's just dropped off some other goodies, too, including a credit card bill for £0-00 from the Bank I now own but no longer use, a couple of DVDs and a couple of books. Details after my afternoon tea-expotition. When did it become 14:18?

Quite a lot later

It's 22:09 and it occurs to me that I haven't owned up to some recent acquisitions yet. Can't help being a busy chap...

Books, CDs, DVDs

  

Footnote

1  On the grounds that one such device is an elegant sufficiency, given the dearth of broadcast material worth watching, let alone recording.