30 October 2009

On the Twiddling of Thumbs in General

On Gainful Employment

Hello again. It was all supposed to be going a little more right now. Sadly I must report that it is not a little more right.

For one thing I haven't been screaming, nay drolly droning, into empty cyberspace with any regularity.

In order to preserve identities and dignities and such, suffice to say that the contract I accepted, despite my concerns has proved far less reliable than I was concerned it might be.

This equates to a very poor contract, more easily identified as casual labour. I suggested to the agent through whom I obtained this role that I should be employed (and paid) on a consultancy basis.

The staff are like characters from a cross between a bad soap and The Office (with Ricky Gervais, I'm not au fait with the US version that starts screening here next week I think). I could deal with this, were it not for the fact that they could not (to use an English phrase which I am sure translates) organize a piss-up in a brewery.

I missed one day's work because the kit hadn't turned up. When I went to site I discover I could have worked on the existing kit.

Half-way through that installation, I discover, as a result of chasing down the office for information, that a server had not been ordered and no-one had the balls or the political will to pressure the supplier to bring the delivery forward.

Resulting in NoozeHound being without work for a week and a half.

There is also a severe irony: The management were disgruntled by my suggestion that my employers were not very professional. I kid you not.

On Sporting Endeavours
(of others of interest, not of NoozeHound)

When last referring to the sporting pursuits of my beloved Arsenal (and not indulging in online japery) I mentioned the AZ Alkmar game.

Between then and last night I have witnessed two frustrating draws. I can only imagine how frustrating it must be for those with a more vested interest than myself.

The papers today and comment in general is of the new crop of wonderkids at Arsenal. Steve Sturridge and Lee Dixon shared the view that neither Arsenal or Liverpool had changed significantly from last season, Liverpool were a two-man team and Arsenal were still frail in defence.

I think Liverpool could quite easily have brought about another frustrating lost lead last night and were unlucky not to get a penalty. I thought the arm on Watt was good for a pen too though.

I don't want to sign up for the 'writing Arsenal off' camp by any means, but two teams in AZ and the Hammers, neither setting fire to tables, mugged us of what looked like comfortable victories.

I know damn well that higher-reaching teams will punish us much more severely should we take our collective feet of the pedal with such alarming regularity. Something the lot from down the road will gleefully take advantage of too I should imagine. That really would be full circle and proof that we haven't progressed.

On Cinematic Entertainment and Inconsistencies of Plot

Returning me to Up. In addition to marvelling at the handiwork that had gone into the visual representation of a corduroy (I think) jacket; beyond the tears I shed at the start (serioulsy) the immense indignation I felt during the climactic battle.

When we meet Carl Fredrickson, he goes to the movies as a small boy to see news-reel footage of his adventurer hero, Charles Muntz. When he finds him again 60-odd years later he is every bit as fit as Carl. Ignoring the fact that a septuagenarian might have trouble trevailing large airborne objects, it is harder to ignore that an octogenarian would be higly likely to experience far greater obstacles to performing dangerous stunts.

No-one batted an eye. Great movie nonetheless.

On Sacrilege and Inaporpriate Cover Versions

I'm sure she is a very nice lady and I really do have nothing against her.

I have analysed my dislike and come up emty-handed. I just couldn't quite like what she's released to date. I heard her latest release this week. Not happy.

This is one of my most super-dooper favourites:



I can see how some sycophant might flatter Florence and her machine that the vocal would lend itself to Florence's own particular vocal charms, producing this:



Not the version they play on Radio 1, no less wrong for all of that. No matter how many remixes, it will still be WRONG.

Welcome to the disappointment.

18 October 2009

It's Been a Long Time Baby

Hello, it's me.

I haven't checked the visitor stats yet, but I have strong suspicion I am talking to myself.

You are (probably not) reading quite possibly the most highfaluting, high-tech, energy-hungry personal journal in the world.

After months of daily updates, I've not dropped by in almost a week.

Arsenal won and have moved up to fourth - for the time being, MoneyCiteh play later and could change that. ECL in the week and a game against AZ Alkmar.

The spell-checker in the editor has stopped functioning - which shows my typing up as quite as inaccurate as it is.

Shamefully, when I have been on the PC after work it has been attenting the most trivial of matters, aside from a little work stuff and some admin.

No copy-writing, no pre-selling, no articles, no lenses and no study.

I think I can understand the motivation that fuelled the gold fever and habitual criminality.

I have spent most of my spare hours either playing bejewelled or Mafia Wars. Not especially well either.

I do miss my studies and the web stuff I was learning, albeit without  reward. Still on zero all round for anyone who is interested.

If I could get a second stream of income up and running, not necessarily excessive, say something in the region of $2,000 a month, it would make my contracting life a great deal easier.

Mrs NoozeHound (who heaven help me is in the process of leaving full-time employment for the altrnative challenge of being a part-time teaching assistant) would probably be a lot more accepting of me contracting if there was steady alternative income. Still more pressure on poor old NoozeHound's earning capacity.

Well, there I have my motivation. It would be far more productive than gangster tripping or diamond-swapping. It would be more productive than writing a free unread blog too though, wouldn't it.


I've just checked and my lenses and article between them have nearly 80 views!

I think that's more than all of this blog combined.
Robert Bleasdale is a nom de plume by the way. There it's out the bag.

Welcome to the disappointment. 

12 October 2009

Hot Transfer News! Look Who Arsenal are Scouting

I wasn't planning on another post quite so soon, but had to break my silence when I heard this, frankly amazing, news...

The gentleman pictured below, none other than Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger himself, coffers swelled by the sales to Moneybags City of Adebooyar and Kolo Toure, is on the look out for some prime Argentinian beef...



Arsenal insiders have said that the manager has his well-honed scouting system casting a venerable eye over a Barcelona player.


The player in question, the man Arsene Wenger is looking at to make a sparkling addition to the already immensely talented Arsenal team is none other than...





Yes! As a result of an inside source in the London footballing media and confirmed by an Arsenal insider, Messi is going to sign for Arsenal.

Go here for the full story.

Footballing world, consider yourselves rocked.

Joany...

             ...welcome to the disappointment. 

11 October 2009

Thank Goodness for 3-D Specs

In a fit of generosity today, NoozeHound took NoozHoundette and Mrs NoozHound to see 'Up' in 3-D.

If you've been living in a cave or off-world for a while, try this...



First up (no pun intended), but immense kudos to the costume guy. If there even is such a thing, the small mail-man's drill shorts and Mr Fredrickson's jacket. Impressive work.

- This is the guy that thinks the best bit of Ratatouille is the writhing mass of rat bodies and the best bit of Monsters Inc. is the track race and door distribution scene.

Now I don't want to be giving any spoilers so I have to be careful.

I've seen several trailers but there were many surprises to me in the film and I would hate to deprive anyone from experiencing them for themselves. I don't think I'm giving too much away...

No. On second thought's I might be.

Just in case for some bizarre reason you have arrived here at 'Unfinished, Discoloured...' and you haven't seen 'Up' but intend to, I'll revist this topic in a week or so.

Be warned.

Suffice to say for the time being, that it was a good job it was dark and I had glasses on.

There's been no proper football.

I have been: 
  • busy
  • knackered
  • distracted with Mafia Wars
  • short of content.

My Sennheiser Earphones have a broken connection - I am very sad.

I have been neglecting you haven't I? 

I haven't been listening to much music either.

I have a toothache.

Welcome to the disappointment