Oh, modern art! Isn't it just so much rubbish? What happened to real depth? Good art's role of explaining and trying to understand that which science cannot, and maybe never can? Gimmicks are art; but they aren't art worthy of our attention, and no amount of intellectual blackmail is going to convince me otherwise.

Of course, continuing work on the newsletters continues tomorrow. Any newsletters you think I should subscribe to? Then email me for crying out loud!.
PS. Why has no-one told me how to pronounce the new Finnish prime minister's name? I asked ages ago!

A brilliant (in every sense bar sparkling) blog that I have stumbled upon: USS Clueless, a highly pretentious, self-indulgent, and extremely intelligent blog. Like mine, but less so. Still, at least his (I assume it's a man, but I don't remember on what I based this: knowledgable blog-surfers, prove me wrong if you dare!) blog has been around for years. I agree with much of his "self-explanation" pages (accessible from "Best Log entries" and "Manifesto"), especially his "I'm a 'conservative' because I'm a liberal" schpiel, and especially the two tenets of believing that "the single most fundamental right of humans, and the one we should be most wary of trying to infringe, is the right of free thought and free expression", and "that society works best when it imposes as few constraints on individual choice is possible, consistent with fulfilling other competing public benefits such as maintaining a reasonable degree of public safety", yet he's brave enough to claim to not be a "libertarian" or indeed a "Liberal". Good on you sir! Your rejection of stupid (and even not-so-stupid) labels is to be respected.
But something still niggles: he seems a little too certain of his views (for doesn't he believe not only in the freedom to make mistakes, but also the high possibility of making mistakes?); and in a weird way, a lack of real scepticism. Where are the statistics? Where is the science (physical or metaphysical)? That is why, for example, I'm an agnostic, and very scared of supporting anything too strongly apart from science and democracy. But I think I'm right to have made this decision for "maximal indecisiveness", because we must never forget that we are only humans, and our experience is a tiny fraction of the rest of humanity's. Also, he doesn't have enough links, or non-diatribes. I aspire, I'm starting to realise, to make this blog like his, but better: better graphics, a more coherent "ideology/strategy", and better "foundations" (including an FAQ, manifesto and maybe biography would be a start), but most importantly of all, just make it in my image. Maybe in a couple of years I'd have had three million visitors to this site. Or maybe not... [smiles enigmatically]. Just watch this space, would you? It might run away, you see.

So Israel doesn't appear to have an opinion or even exist as anything apart from a Palestinian-destroying junta, if you'd just landed on Earth and read this absurdly sycophantic "report" on the soon-to-be Paletinian PM Mahmoud Abbas's upcoming vote of confidence for his cabinet. We are told that not only was his speech "powerful" -- clearly a subjective statement if ever I saw one (and I just have, natch), hence one that shouldn't be in a BBC report -- but also that the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) is not a "rubber-stamp chamber". Do they mean the PLC that is described by David Schenker in 2001 [in "Palestinian Democracy & Governance: an appraisal of the [Palestinian] legislative council" (published by the Brookings Institution, though he himself is a member of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, a well-respected thinktank) -- an extract of which can be found here] as a "peripheral institution", an "institutional paper tiger", whose "speaker, top officers, and leading administrators are strong supporters and benefactors [emphasis mine] of the ra'is [Arafat]". Sorry, BBC News Online: seems you couldn't take the ten minutes I did to do a little research to get some objective facts into you report. I hope you don't feel that it contradicts your "Producers' Guidelines", which claim that "All BBC programmes and services should be open minded, fair and show a respect for truth". I'm rapidly losing my long-held respect for you.

What's going on?! I'm only updating this thing every four days, although I usually manage to do so for a couple of days in a row, so you have to grant me that. If you don't, it'll still be true, and you'll look downright silly. Which wouldn't be nice, would it? Anyway, it's late, I'm tired, and I have a lot to get through, so I'm going to have to do the obvious: gibber some more. In a verbal way.
So with that essential gibbering out of the way, let's move on. Metaphorically. I have eight e-"newsletters" to get through, and although I won't finish doing that today, I should at least make a go of it, right? And in sympathy (or maybe even empathy, though I think my suffering is unique), you'll read what I'm writing as an act of charity, won't you? Please? Thank you! I hereby give you permission to comment on what I write. A belated birthday present if you like (unless your birthday is today, in which case it's for last year's birthday).
First up is the 11/04/2003 edition of NTK, or strictly speaking, the joint gfreeman.co.uk/NTK production, NTK Lite -- "NTK, without the scary acronyms (apart from the name)!". [Notice how I missed out the previous one, due to inability to cope with paradoxes, and more importantly, profligate site-exposure]. The first item of interest not entirely dependent on technophilia (although I'm not one to talk, as I find anything from elections to the prices of hotels interesting. Well, maybe not the prices of hotels) is the BBC's (yes, them again) blatantly biased news article on piracy. Now I admit it's easy to criticise the BBC, and even easier to accuse it of bias, especially when one disagrees with them. But the number of articles the BBC writes about piracy, the patronizing and tabloidesque way in which they're written (choice quote:"His fingers well and truly burned - and his spending power far greater than in his student years - Matthew now only uses licensed software. 'Not only do they work properly, I get all the technical support and upgrades I need.' " Isn't that sweet? Aww...), the chutzpah to suggest remedies (the constant begging for strong laws springs to mind), and the unprofessional, if not ignorant, underpinnings of the articles, mix together to create a very nasty taste in the mouth. After spitting out the gum that hasn't been chewed due to shock and anger, there is still a feeling of rage and maybe even helplessness at the BBC's attitude. If only it was just piracy! I used to be a big fan of the BBC, and in theory still am one: I strongly believe a truly public-service broadcaster is essential to the funcioning of democracy. But if it continues to degrade its news-reporting in this manner I shall have to campaign for its abolition.
Well, that was preachy, wasn't it? Get a grip, Guido. Still, at least I wasn't provoked into lamenting their abysmal record for showing American sitcoms at regular, pre-3am hours... Then I really would've been self-righteous. But I'll save that for the right time.
Perhaps one way for me to relax would be to play Go, a very old Japanese board game. I played it many years ago, and it seemed like a cerebral enough game, perhaps even a worthy alternative to chess, when there's been a power cut and you just have to play a board game. Is that just me? Oh, it is. Anyway, the BBC (and no, I'm not paid to write about them, either by them or anyone else: though I am willing to ignore my principles if someone does pay me to write opinions on here! Get in touch, I need the money) have kindly, through their kiddienews site (aka Newsround, which to be fair is a great programme) given instructions on how to play Go. You must start with an "Unlimited amount of black and white stones", and then "fill the corners of the blank spaces, called the intersection [sic]" with them. Then "Black goes first. Placing a stone on the corner of the square. This leaves the opponent up to 4 chances to capture the opposing stone, (i.e. there are 4 lines out of a corner and once the white (for example) has been surrounded the white is captured and turns to black." How to end this fascinating, if slightly incomprehensible game [or is it -- gosh -- just that the instructions are muddled?!]? Well, there is no end to it, seemingly, because, "basically, it's all over when you've both had enough and have decided that you can't make more territory, capture more stones, or reduce his opponent's territory by playing on". Right. That's very helpful, thank you. Except it's all [family-friendly word inserted here].
Oh well, there's always Microsoft to laugh at: http://www.ntk.net/2003/04/11/dohqa.gif.
The day I see a good school site is the day I see a good school site (I don't want to do or promise anything rash, you understand). So it would be terribly petty of me to link to one from here, wouldn't it? But if NTK does, so do I, so please visit The Matthew Arnold School site. Although it's not bad per se, it does take a very long time to load up. A very, very long time. Unless you have broadband like me. Either way, view the source code, and marvel at its genius. Mad, evil genius, maybe: this is a school after all. But genius nonetheless.
I think that's enough for now. It is almost tomorrow after all, and I don't wish to be present in two different days at once, especially whilst fatigued. Could be bad for my health.
Bunos nitos.

Censorship rules OK! For the ASA (the UK's Advertising Standards Authority) warns "marketers to be careful about offending religious sensitivities", ie. they'll get into big trouble if they do so. Various ways of "offending religious sensitivities" include "irreverent depiction of sacred figures" (the example given being "images of the crucifixion"), "links between religion and sex", and worst of all, "swearing"! What next?! Banning ads for trying to "influence consumer behaviour"? [Source:The Advertising Standards Authority]

Well, it's been a while, hasn't it? Apologies to anyone who cares (and you shouldn't really, if you do). I'm sure you'd love to know why I took, essentially, a week-long break from updating this, my public stream of consciousness, on which my international reputation lies. Truth be told: I became lethargic, lackadaisical, LAZY. Gradually, I am coming to the end of this Easter holiday which has allowed me to not go to lectures relevant to my course, as there are none. You could argue [and knowing you, you probably are arguing] that the very fact that I'm on a sort-of sabbatical from studying gives me the very time I need to update my weblog regularly and to a satisfactory quality. But in fact, you'd be wrong -- and not for the first time. Whilst I do indeed have more time that could be spent on this weblog, I do not have the motivation. This is nothing to do with the weblog: I simply don't have the motivation on a general level to do anything much apart from sleep, eat, drink, read, and play Baldur's Gate 2. This is not as idyllic as it sounds, given that, notwithstanding the increased risk of obesity this engenders, this state of affairs reduces me to an unproductive slob. In this capitalist, consumerist society in which we live (and which I support wholeheartedly, at least with respect to its capitalist and consumerist character), this is not going a Good Idea. And means I don't update my weblog with this new verbal diarrhoea, so you have to read my old verbal diarrhoea instead. Which is a Bad Thing.
So without further adieu, the latest titbits (or as the Americans tend to call it, perhaps for fear of being sued for sexual harrassment, tidbits)! Although by "latest", I include all tidings that I have received over the last week that are suitable and practical weblog material. But you probably already knew that, and can't stand it when I'm pedantic like that. Don't worry: it's a joke.
So NOW without further adieu!: First off, a blog recommended by Peter, which although not aspirational, is funny for at least 3 seconds (and is therefore superior to mine), is the dullest blog in the world. Literally. But not really. Because mine is. Still worth a look, if only to contemplate whether the rest of the time the author is actually doing something interesting, but just not saying.
Next up is a philosophical oddity that is also a cult, and is the first ever entity that has made me wonder if it's known to everyone on the planet, except me. Like a really famous "Kick Me" sign. You've guessed it! It's the Really Big Button That Doesn't Do Anything! Which is a bit of lie, because it's made people talk about it and link to it. A wonderful parody of media commentators and the human urge to analyse and extrapolate. Or is it just a stupid joke that's grown out of all proportion? Answer me, goddamnyou! Especially all the Finnish visitors (see last post).
How about taking a break at this moment, for a moment? That's right. Now that you're relaxed (and not [possibly further] injured in some way), why don't you take this intelligence test? Go on, it's just a bit of fun. Shouldn't take long. I worked it out in only three seconds. If it takes you more than sixty seconds, don't worry: just write to me, and I'll tell you the answer. And possibly laugh a little -- though not too much, as I don't want a bad back.
If a dull weblog just isn't dull enough, and maybe even caused you to die of excessive excitement, I recommend you pay the Dull Men's Club (which I also believe is open to women, pets and rocks, but not salt containers) a [not-too] hasty visit. This site is so dull I almost became serene. But not quite. Still had a "mortal moment" though. Phew.
Someone else who's probably having a real mortal moment is Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf, better known as the former Minister of Information for Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyah ["the Republic of Iraq" in Arabic, trivia fans!]. I guess he must still be the Minister of Information, as who would fire him? Who would dare to? This person's fantasist tendencies, displayed during press conferences, makes him Seinfeldesqe, ie. extremely amusing. If you agree, declare it: "We LOVE The Iraqi Information Minister"! If not: what are you like? Let's just hope he didn't torture anyone, as that would make him extremely UNfunny. And I don't mean by that he'd become yet another United Nations agency (UNFAIR, anyone?).
Louis has come up trumps (but not from the now-ubiquitous "Iraq cards" being sold via spam, sorry, I mean, Direct Electronic Methods) with another homage [silent 'h'] to, as it puts it here, El Ministro Saeed al Sahaf. Yes, the aforementioned (possibly ex-) Minister of Information. This particular eulogy is a T-shirt of good quality (at least I assume so under the UK's Consumer Protection Acts), which is adorned with a picture of his face (complete with beret and fashionable glasses) and the quote "We Are In Control", all displayed in a pseudo-military style. Sublime. If someone wants to donate �15, I will spend it on one of these shirts, and put up a photo of me wearing it! That should encourage you! (You at the back, stop coughing so loudly). Oh, have it your way, I'll show you its slogan without my having modelled it. Your loss I say!

Loads more stuff to write, but I think I'll do that this weekend. This lot should keep you going for at least a nanosecond though, by the laws of physics.

Having a female prime minister-president duo is all well and good; but how on earth do you pronouce the new Finnish PM's name (which for those who can't be bothered to click-through, is Anneli Jaeaetteenmaeki)?! Any visitors from Scandanavia or the Baltics: please get in touch. I will of course credit you, and be eternally grateful (at least till I die, terms and conditions apply). [Source: BBC NEWS -- Finnish female duo in top jobs]

Shock! Horror! Stop the press!! Not ALL computer gamers are geeks! The BBC says so! Investigative reporting at its best, I'm sure. I'm just going to watch my unlicensed TV now. [Source: BBC NEWS -- Fantasy games 'not for geeks']

Sorry about the relatively small amount of new stuff that's been put up here over the last few days (specifically, yes, none). I guess I was depressed by the inevitable lack of NTKers coming in all of the sudden. I do have lots and lots of lynx though (spelling copyright Peter) and opinions and (half-)witticisms [always copyright me -- though only passively] to share, so will do this later. Thank you for tuning in to gfreeman.co.uk! Normal [sic] service will resume shortly!

Wondered why there's no good new films out this week? Yep, it's highly likely that's it's the WoI affecting us in yet another way. But let's for a second consider the possibility that maybe every other films' distributors were simply so appalled by the monstrosity that is "Seeing Double", the latest in the long list of multi-media SClub vehicles (and according to rumours, the last one) that they felt that they had to put commercial pressures aside and simply boycott the cinema industry for a week for even considering showing this barely-"film". Why do the pop stars bother when so few films featuring pop artists have worked? The Guardian has written an excellent article on the subject, which while not satisfactorily answering the question (beyond claiming ego and greed to be the reasons), gives lots of good examples. I didn't realise they made a film they were ashamed of! Howbouthat?

The end (of the war) is nigh! The Iraqis are celebrating! A joyous day indeed.

Just a small one: look at the graph below, courtesy of the Economist. Amongst all the collateral issues arising out of the WoT and the WoI, Muslims have been feeling alienated and discriminated against. Their opinions notwithstanding (individually or otherwise), we should get into perspective their status in this country, and treat them with the respect they deserve. Many words have been written about them; many hate crimes have been committed against them; many call for their expulsion (though quietly, privately amongst close friends). But there are not many of them in the UK, nor in the rest of Europe. I bet the average citizen of a Western country would be shocked by these statistics. I heard about a year ago on the radio that in a fair survey, respondents on average thought that asylum seekers represented 25% of the population of this country. In fact, it is 2%. Whether this reflects the average denizen's appalling mathematical skills or paranoia concerning refugees, it's not good. The media is in this case the one to blame. But then, who with a voice is going to blame the media? A paradox of modern democracies that has to be sorted out. Maybe I'll op-ed it soon, for I have many thoughts on the matter. If you don't mind, that is!

Good evening people. Sorry about the late hour of this update: do you think I don't have a life or something? Well, granted, I don't, but that's besides the point. Anyway, first up today is the probably-famous-but-I-don't-remember-ever-going-to-it SHOUTcast. This site is absolutely mind-blowing (in a good way, not like with a gun): it's essentially a directory of lots and lots of free streaming "radio stations", under pretty much any genre under the sun (and perhaps also within it, I'm not at liberty to say), including the expected ones like pop, R&B and classical, and unexpected ones like one giving prophecies, or something. And no, no-one was listening to that one. Well worth a look, and a listen to of course! I'm currently listening to PureDJ.com, if you're interested. A little house never did no-one no harm (triple negatives notwithstanding, not).
Also on my Good Site list is AtomFilms.com, which, initially disbelievingly, I read was a site with free films on it. Thinking that, if true, the "free films" are awful student nonsense, I clicked on the link. How wrong was I? (Did you guess "Very"? Give yourself 10points). Very wrong. This is a veritable treasure trove of free short films, some of which have won awards at indie festivals, and all of which are very professional. It's even got that film, Creature Comforts! You know, the one with the animals speaking? Possibly associated with British Gas? Anyway, you'll enjoy that site. I know what you're like.

This I love! I remember playing around with this last year too. Yes, it's the eponymous, ubiquitous BBC NEWS's Be the Chancellor of the Exchequer 'service', where you can carry out your long- and deeply-held economic policies and view the results. Don't like tax? Abolish it! Don't like cigarettes? Triple the tax on them! See where that lands you. Well, technically speaking, it would land you in one heck of an economic mess, but I want you to find it out for yourself. I managed to abolish unemployment, but not without getting 16% inflation and a 7% budget deficit. Oops. There goes my political career.

As the WoI trundles on, perhaps almost at its conclusion, it would be interesting to think about how the Internet has risen up to the challenge of reporting it to us humble civvies. An initial overview is this dotlife piece from BBC NEWS, which claims that the Internet has made "desk-chair generals" of all of us. Even ignoring the fact that they're assuming we're sitting on desk chairs to browse the web, this article is disappointing. It only interviews one person with few if any credentials to be an expert on this subject; there's no mention of blogs or alternative editorial sources; and they didn't fully consider the pros and cons of reading and reporting the news on the web rather than reading the papers, watching TV or even asking friends. Disappointing! I hate reading a potentially interesting article researched and written badly. Really annoys me. Grr...

I'm thinking that maybe I should have an net-enhanced "op-ed" every so often, as I am quite opinionated, but also incapable of keeping those very same opinions to myself. Hope you don't mind! I'll try not to be preachy: goodness knows I hate all those media "pundits" that are always so sure of themselves, and look down on everyone else because their views are different. Plus they're usually ultra-serious, which should be treated as a heinous crime. Though I wouldn't want to impose them on other prisoners: it wouldn't be fair on them.
Anyway! So today's op-ed is going to be about the Australian soap "Neighbours". Firstly, I'd like to apologise to those of you living outside the UK or Australia who don't get to watch this programme (though I'm more sorry for those who do), as it appears that it's only aired in those two countries [source: neighbours.com]. This show can very easily (and correctly) be described as the "crack-cocaine of daytime television". Whilst it does not reduce the number of nostrils you possess, it IS highly addictive. I'd like to find out why.
Now I'm a major media-snob. I love French films (the more pretentious the better); I love Seinfeld but not Frasier anymore; classical music is divine. But I can't resist tuning into Neighbours occasionally. Its absurd use of "mood music", its absurdly rubbish script (which includes far too many pointless arguments and far too many cringeworthy apologies), its absurdly woeful acting: none of this makes me change channel. Instead, I just sit there helplessly, jaw slack, shock-and-awed by its brazen awfulness. It's like an appalling dancer that doesn't stop even when everyone in the disco is looking at me... I mean, them. As the neighbours site puts it, "Neighbours is Australia�s most successful television program, not to mention being a hit world-wide." Well, haven't they thought that maybe that's because we're just making sure that it's still complete nonsense? So that's one theory why it's so addictive: it's so bad, it's great.
Is that it though? You could argue convincingly that almost all soaps share these attributes. Why is Neighbours so much more successful than, say, Home and Away (of whose mere mention makes me feel sick inside)? A good place to start look is the dear BBC's Neighbours site. (At which point: where would we be without the BBC? Apart from about �110 richer). Here, the avid Neighbours fan (who is too far gone for treatment) can catch up on Neighbours "news" (the term used extremely loosely by the webmasters), read "story" updates (which today included this almost Shakespearean plot: "Later, Jack and Nina were left alone for rehearsal. Their hate turned to passion and they both moved in for a kiss just as Lori walked into the room. They both pulled back and Lori remained none the wiser." It's so complex I think I'm going to faint), and chat to other rabid Neighbours consumers on the Message Board. But why do you need a "story updates" page? Surely it doesn't matter if you miss an episode? Indeed it doesn't: you can work out the plot and the characters' "personalities" by only watching one episode in isolation. So what is the point? Well, it's there for the same reason as the Message Board: so people can talk about it. Maybe I'm in a small minority, and in fact most of Neighbours' viewers are voyeurs, who like to watch other people's lives and talk about it with their friends, thereby satiating a primitive need for community gossip in this global society we live in. Neighbours, maybe, is just better at getting people involved than most other soaps, with its high emotion, major mood swings and easily-understandable characters and story.
I think that solves it: but this doesn't mean the next time you watch Harold et al next time, that you shouldn't feel very guilty about it. Are you sure there isn't some worthy documentary, or a good classic comedy, on a different channel? Go on, try it... Okay, after you find out what happens between Alex and Steph...

What is Art? A good place to look for an answer is this story from BBC NEWS, which involves society's attitudes to three different, but inter-linked, works of art. Or another way of interpreting this story: some people are getting a lot of publicity, for not doing much at all. Now who does that remind me of?.... [cough] (SEE BELOW).
This web-toilet story takes the Alternative Slang Term for Urine! [Drumroll; commencement of throwing of rotten vegetables onto stage].

IMPORTANT NOTICE:
We interrupt normal service to bring you this notice.
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to gfreeman.co.uk, the site and brand representing all that is amateur and non-techy on the net. It is written by someone with no idea. All I'm trying to do is create a little community spirit for the mathematicians of my college at Oxford, and my friends and acquaintances, and also to stake my (admittedly not well-founded) claim to a piece of Cyberia. Still, now that you're here, you might as well look around! Get a glimpse into the workings of my mind, and feel scared and/or fascinated. Any ideas on what the hell to do with my domain will be much appreciated.
Enjoy your stay,
Guy Freeman
PS. If you DO look at the pictures section, I'd like to tell you that I look much better in real life. I'm just not photogenic, is all. Also, feel free to save the film of Louis drinking Houmous Water and send it to long-lost relatives. I'm sure they'd love that.
PPS. Don't be scared: add something to my messageboard. Most useful would be a message, but mostly anything else would be fine.

I don't remember if I've recommended an article from The Brains Trust before (you could always email me to tell me if I have or not), but in any case, this one is a very good one, coming as it does during the eponymous WoI, and hence allowing TBT to unleash their extreme cynicism and surrealism at this "event". Read it, and laugh, for it is tragic indeed.

From the "Bowling for Columbine" site (which, by the way, is an excellent film, truly deserving of the Oscar it won), is this extract of the book "The Culture of Fear", mentioned and quoted from in the film. The extract is about how the media distort people's fears irrationally by covering fearful events (true or otherwise, common or otherwise) in an irrational way. It's highly thoughtful and thought-provoking, and well worth a read.

This is exactly the sort of thing I'm looking for! The Truck Driver's Gear Change Hall Of Shame is an absolutely brilliant site (though perhaps "shrine" would be a more accurate description), supplied by the ever-vigilant Peter. I don't want to give too much away, but anyone who knows me (yes, you there at the back.. please stop dribbling) will know how much I go on about this, albeit in a more "informal" way, as the site puts it. Read the FAQ if you get really confused. Long live sites like this one!

Well well, if it isn't the new edition of the New Scientist Feedback column! In case you weren't here last week, this is the collection of the bizarre and the brilliant stories and events from the world of science published by the New Scientist magazine every week. In this week's edition: How some of Harry Potter's merchandise appealed to more than one "core" market; Matsushita's new, and possibly incomprehensible, "Annual Management Policy"; and how a new conspiracy theory might be fuelled by nothing more than a Hollywood blockbuster. Hmm. I wonder what the "urban myths" page on about.com which the latter story refers to is all about...

We haven't had a WoI site for a while now (mainly because almost all of them are self-serving and self-righteous: what is it with political types?), so here's a fun little one to provide the essential facts to keep a conversation going with someone really important but boring long enough to get that job you've always wanted. Or something: it's the IRAQ-O-METER! Enjoy.

Now I know it's been a few days since I last wrote something on here, but I hadn't been gone, really. Just recuperating from over-activity (ie. getting up every day).
But eventually something had to rejuvenate me, to awaken me, to shock me into updating this weblog! And something did. In fact, it was this: a web page giving the first 999 factorials! Should take about a minute on a diddly modem. (Thanks to Peter from having the skills and tenacity to find these gems).
Which remind me: the film I took with Laura on 17/03/03 should be up very soon indeed, so Louis' movie doesn't have to be so lonely. Aw.