Write

I have a new computer mouse and its a thing of glory. Wireless and sleek and comfortable and with 'back' and 'forward' buttons so I don't have to bother with all that pesky right-clicking to hit the back button. So anyway, as promised, that meme I need to reciprocate on:

Here's how the interview works:

If you want to be interviewed, this is what you do:

1. Leave me a comment saying anything random, like your favorite lyric to your current favorite song. Or your favorite kind of sandwich. Something random. Whatever you like.
2. I respond by asking you five personal questions so I can get to know you better.
3. You WILL update your LJ with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and offer to ask someone else in the post.
5. When others comment asking to be asked, you will ask them five questions.

Questions will probably be fandom or interests based, as I lack inspiration at the moment to come up with good life or morality based ones.

Annnd the news is telling me that Council Tax is going to be going up by about 4%. Can I hate this government any more, seriously? Its not enough that gas and electricity bills went up by 17% a couple of weeks ago and the economy's going to shit and I HATE THIS DAMN FUCKING GOVERNMENT!!

Sooo want to live abroad. *sigh*

Just wanted to say something re: the news that the attacks in London appear to be the work of suicide bombers. Which is...really fucking scary. But to make a point, I also wanted to say this...

July 12th today - the day in N. Ireland that most of the major Orange marches happen (protestant organisation for those who may not know), wherein they celebrate the victory of 1690 at the Battle of the Boyne. There was a bit of trouble this morning, nothing major, fairly peaceful protests by some Catholics on some of the parade routes. Nothing like the trouble there's been in the past.

But also - a bomb found was found on the train tracks today between two towns, Lisburn and Moira. No Middle Easterners...just ordinary, run of the mill sectarian violence that is still a fairly common occurence in N. Ireland. There was a controlled explosion and life went on.

Obviously this is a fast news day in the UK due to recent events but...there was a bomb, ya know? And it didnt even make the national news. So when they say that UK'ers have all this experience with terrorism, they really mean it. And I just find it really sad that that sort of thing can happen and its not even big enough for a mention on the news...which is why I'm mentioning it here.

Railway Bomb

And even as I type, I'm checking for updates...and there's rioting in Belfast. *sigh* In case anyone wonders why I care, I have a lot of family in N. Ireland. My father lives in Moira. And this is sad.

OMG! Is this nuts or what?!

Acre of Moon

Own an acre of the moon? OK, groovy. Except - well, its not like you can go take a vacation there. And who the hell owns the moon anyway? Has no one ever asked whether the USA/Russia have the right to be randomly selling parts of it off?

Soooo - I wonder what'll happen when we get round to colonizing it. Maybe I should buy an acre of it (it's pretty damn cheap) - if the deed gets passed down through enough generations, it might be worth millions by the time some corporation wants to start building spaceports etc on it...

Wow, that is just the most random thing I've read today. The ways people come up with to make money...weird. *shakes head*

Just came across this and was quite weirded out by the way it made me feel...

* * * * * * * * * * * *

mad_chatter posted this item about suicide and why not to do it.

Ask the 25-year-old who tried to electrocute himself. He lived. But both his arms are gone.

What about jumping? Ask John. He used to be intelligent, with an engaging sense of humor. That was before he leapt from a building. Now, he's brain-damaged and will always need care. He staggers and has seizures. He lives in a fog. But, worst of all, he KNOWS he used to be normal.

What about pills? Ask the 12-year-old with extensive liver damage from an overdose. Have you ever seen anyone die of liver damage? You turn yellow. It's a hard way to go.

What about a gun? Ask the 24-year-old who shot himself in the head. Now he drags one leg, has a useless arm and has no vision or hearing on one side. He lived through his "foolproof" suicide. You might too.

But... Who will clean your blood off the carpet or scrape your brains from the ceiling? Commercial cleaning companies may refuse that job--but SOMEONE has to do it.

Who will have to cut you down from where you hung yourself or identify your bloated body after you've drowned? Your father? Your mother? Your wife? Your son?

The carefully worded "loving" suicide note is of no help. Those who loved you will NEVER completely recover. They'll feel regret and an unending pain.

Suicide is contagious. Look around your family. Look closely at the 4 year old playing with his cars on the rug. Kill yourself tonight, and he may do it ten years from now.

You DO have other choices. There are people who can help you through this crisis. Call a hotline. Call a friend. Call your minister or priest. Call a doctor or hospital. Call the police. They will tell you that there's hope. Maybe you'll find it in the mail tomorrow. Or in a phone call this weekend. But what you're seeking could be just a minute, a month, or a day away.

You say you don't want to be stopped? Still want to do it? -Well, then, I may see you in the psychiatric ward later. And we'll work with whatever you have left.

Remember: Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

IF YOU’RE READING THIS, PLEASE STEAL IT AND PUT IT IN YOUR JOURNAL, TOO.

Today is a strange day. I'm watching the news and following the coverage of the Pope's failing health and its so sad. The tape at the bottom of the screen read's 'Pope's blood pressure has worsened....slipping in and out of consciousness....not in a coma....Pontiff suffering from heart and kidney problems.....breathing said to be shallow....' and it just makes me want to cry.

He's obviously going to go at some point this weekend and the world seems to be waiting. Services being held throughout the world, people praying, holding vigils...I was listening to one newsperson who had asked a young man why he had frozen all night in St. Peter's Square, holding a candle. His answer? 'Simply because I feel that this man is like my own father.' Thats just beautiful. *wells up*

I'm not Catholic, in fact, I come from a Irish Protestant family. Lol, some of my relatives refuse to even set foot in a shop run by Catholics, they're that staunch in their rejection of Catholicism. I just think thats stupid - my Grandmothers funeral was just over a week ago and there were many people there who were not Protestant, they came simply out of respect for her. She was a midwife and a nurse and cared for everyone, no matter what their background. Thats a valuable lesson right there.

Anyway, my point is - there are people who hold no truck with the church and that's their right. But I've got to have respect for a man that can inspire such love and respect in people as the Pope obviously does. I saw him during one of his weekly adresses when I was in Rome a couple of years ago, and the strength of feeling throughout the crowd was just unbelievable, it blew me away. So, yeah. Rest easy your Holiness. Job well done.