A sort of break

As you may have noticed I haven't posted for ages. Well by my standards for ages anyway.

I have often considered having a proper break from Blogging but have inevitably drifted back after a few days having stated my intention not to.

Of course I know it's considered etiquette to announce the fact you intend stepping back for a while. I had intended on doing so and for a few nights after the last post here on the 20th July thought to myself 'I really ought to post something about not posting anything'.

But then after a few days something went rather wrong with the computer. A signal just wouldn't get through to the monitor to say the the PC itself was working. On one occasion it did get as far as flashing up a message saying there was a problem with 'Graphic Acceleration' or something like that anyway.

Last night though the machine shuddered back into life. Not sure why but we have been scuttling around doing all of the on-line bill paying and administration as quickly as possible before it blows up again.

Onto the blogging thing. I think it may have been obvious for a little while that I just haven't been as enthused as during the first year of operation. The quality and quantity of posts gradually diminishing over the last couple of months or so. So I felt I really needed and still need a break from this.

Part of the problem is the hours which, as we all know, it takes to support these projects. For me it's pretty much impossible to get on the computer before 21.30hrs on any given day. So by the time the posts are researched / written / proof read and published and all the visits undertaken you're just not getting to bed before 01.00hrs. And that's how things have been for much of the last year and I think it's got to the stage where that's just not a sustainable position anymore. I haven't been feeling too good lately and perhaps a period of getting proper nights rest will help to address that.

I have been thinking of getting out completely. But there is this little voice that reminds me of the time and effort expended on this project and a sadness at leaving the blog friends / associates made since I started. It's a decision that we all have to face at some point but gosh its harder than I thought it would be.

So for the time being I'm back to the hiatus. And in truth it's probable that I will be back but it's also possible that I won't.

So if I don't come back I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to support this, the most humble home of bloggery.

That said, tomorrow I may, for once, come up with a really whizzy idea for a post and wild horses wouldn't drag me away from the keyboard.

We will see.

Take care.

G

Who would be a leader?

I’m must admit I’m not really looking forward to going to work tomorrow as I will have to take part in my least favourite activity possible. Namely sitting as a member on an interview panel.

Granted it’s probably a significantly better position to be in than being the interviewee but I really don’t like doing these at all. I get really nervous about the whole thing. Of course I and the fellow panellists plan the questions in advance to ensure that all of the interviewees are treated equitably. But I invariably end up going off on conversational tangents and chucking stuff in that I really shouldn’t. It’s down to nerves I guess.

For example during an interview last year we were discussing the progress in installing a new purchasing system. We had the software and now it was a case of populating the on-line catalogue with all of the items requisitioners might like to buy.

I was asked how far into the process we were and what the problems had been. A valid and eminently reasonable question. Being the puffed up show pony I can occasionally be I responded that’ it wasn’t the beginning of the end but was perhaps the end of the beginning’. I guess it was my rather tremulous way of saying it had been a bit of a battle to get this far but everyone gave me rather odd looks.

This paled next to the time when someone asked what projects I had undertaken in the last couple of years. The applicant probably wanted to gain an understanding of what sort of contracting work could be undertaken. I said I had bought a couple of big pathology analysers and most recently had completed contracts for the purchase of an MRI scanner. They were rather impressed and in a rather creepy way intimated that I must be good (yeah right!) and that they would, if successful in their application, look forward to learning more from me. My brain went into a blind panic as my mouth blurted out the Ozymandian ‘Look on my works ye mighty and despair’. Which was naturally an attempt at self deprecation but of course lit up a huge neon sign over my head saying ‘prat’.

Mind you the interviewees can also trot out utter nonsense too. For example on one of the current batch of application forms we were earnestly told that it was, in so many words, this persons ‘dream to work in logistics and supply for the NHS’. If that was anywhere near the truth then I’m sure the application could immediately be rejected on the grounds of uncertain character.

But of course it’s all part of the merry dance. I long for the day when someone says that they want the job because either they want more money, don’t have a job and need one or they just hate their current position. Sometimes there are genuine opportunities but nearly everyone I know and or more importantly ever employed have subsequently admitted that these were the real motivating factors. And we all know it at the time.

The one thing that has annoyed me this time beyond measure is the restriction on the information about potential applicants that we are allowed to see. I’m not sure whether it’s the result of legislation or just new NHS policy but I am no longer allowed to see many of the personal details of the applicants before selection for interview. I have to read a CV / application form without details of name, age, gender etc to ensure that I only select interview candidates on their own merit and experience.

The aim is obvious and laudable. Making the process race or gender (or whatever) blind and to assist in getting the most capable applicant into the vacant position.

Heaven forefend that we would want, of our own volition, to employ the best people that the limited wages will attract within our teams. If not for the efficiency of the services we lead then selfishly as the quality of our own staff has a direct impact on our own managerial employment prospects.

Interestingly though we are allowed to see educational and employment histories within the CV’s submitted and it’s surprising how much of the ‘forbidden’ information you can glean from these.

So really if I we so minded to exclude someone for any of the reasons that I shouldn’t, there really is enough information available to be able to do this without having to see the full application paperwork.

And that’s where the annoyance creeps in. It sets a moral position and tries to enforce it with a system that has gaps that you could sail the QE2 through. But it also implies that we can’t be trusted not to be racist, ageist or misogynistic. To me it portrays a view that everyone is potentially inclined to prejudice and so presents a rather dismal view of humanity.

And this is particularly sad as it is a view of people who joined a service key to the welfare of others. Even if they ended up there because either they wanted more money, didn’t have a job and needed one or they just hated their then current positions.

Friday Night is Music Night - Taking flight

It's been a bit of a slow blogging week this week. But I wouldn't want to miss doing one of my now established Friday night musical slots. Especially as tonight marks the start of this country's (if not the world's) premier musical festivals 'the Proms'.

Apparently tonights composer will feature significantly in this years Proms programme and having noted over the last few weeks that I wanted to come home musically this seemed like a good opportunity to tie a couple of themes together.

Unfortunately it's a two part clip so apologies for the hideous break in the middle. There wasn't a video available of the entire performance. I'd have to guess that there are limitations in the size of any clip on may post on You Tube.

Nevertheless enjoy.

Fortune and glory

This is a rather parochial post and is in response to a couple of the comments left on the previous one asking what video game could drag me away from the unforgiving mistress that is blogging.

I’m quite a serious gamer. No actually that’s not true as this could be taken as implying that I’m any good at games. I tend to like quite serious games. Strategy games, sports games (cricket / motor racing in the main) and first person shooters are generally what I will play.

I have no problem at all with video game violence. In fact creating a bit of mayhem can be quite cathartic after a days work.

I do have a major problem with children playing games or being bought games that are utterly inappropriate for their age. It’s a shocking dereliction of parental responsibility not to be aware of what your children are playing and to censor and restrict access accordingly. I know of one parent who allowed their seven year old to play Grand Theft Auto which bears an 18 advisory age warning. The parent hadn’t taken the trouble to find out what the content of the game was.

I’ve never been a great fan of colourful platform / puzzle games though. Mario and Sonic are a waste of useful memory space and processing power when there are hordes of virtual Hun to be dealt with.

However. Our two boys recently completed their reward charts. You earn a star for doing something good / well and once it’s full up (no mean achievement) we will buy them a treat agreed at the outset. In this instance they had asked for the Lego Indiana Jones: The Complete Trilogy video game

Basically it lets you re-enact key scenes from the first three Indiana Jones movies, but with the characters and (mostly destructible) scenery in Lego form. It’s essentially a puzzle game with platforming elements and a bit of sanitised combat action to boot.

But the most enjoyable thing is the humour that runs through the whole production and the replay value as once a level is completed you are then freed to replay that level but now with any of the game characters earned or bought during the game. And the levels have obviously been designed with the replay factor in mind. So whilst it may only take a few days of mildly concerted effort to complete the game first time around there are many hour of treasure hunting left to do.

Never would have considered buying this for myself but it really is great fun and so once the kids have gone to bed I’m off to get a little ‘fortune and glory’ all for myself.

The attached ‘puff’ piece will give you a better idea of what it’s all about.

Normal service will be resumed soon

Bloggertainment at its most bloggertaining

I'm currently in the middle of a game playing session hence the lack of posts for the last few days.

I may discuss the outcome of this later. If in the meantime your stuck for a good read... well actually if you came here deliberately a good read may not have been your primary objective....you could do worse than check out the latest Blogpower Roundup prepared by the newest addition to our number, the esteemed author of the most excellent blog Question That.

Back soon.

Friday Night is Music Night - Dinner Plates!

I was going to come back to England this week but with all this talk of bear markets I thought I would do a Russian detour instead.

Again finding a decent recording on You Tube proved to be a little problematic. In the end though I found a recording of this piece (the prelude in C# minor) played by the man himself. A little on the crackly side but with so many interpretations available it's great to hear what the composer originally intended.

The dinner plates of course refer to Rachmaninoff's hand span which was an incredible thirteen (white) piano keys or about 12 inches.

Next time you wondering past a keyboard count up what your span is by comparison. I'm a ten at a stretch and even that hurts after a few minutes.

Stuffed

Our Hospital’s intranet site is not, as I’m sure you can imagine, the most exciting read known to mankind. A few stats, Departmental Pages (the Purchasing one is OK as for reasons that allude me they let me author that one) messages from on high when the CEO exhorts us to redouble our efforts and details on the’ diversity’ of our workforce.

It’s probably pretty similar to the internet and intranet sites of many large organisations.

And am ashamed to say I don’t do much more than skim read occasionally.

Today though was different though as we had the pleasure of reading about another cracking initiative, but what made it special was that it was announced by the Lord of Darkness himself.

The Prime Minister announced that a new ‘kite mark’ is going to be developed for public sector canteens that provide nutritious food and encourage healthier eating,

The press release explained

‘As part of a Food Matters - Towards a strategy for the 21st Century, the Government wants to support the public sector to lead the way in healthy eating by providing healthier food in their canteens. A ‘Healthier Food Mark’ will signal those public sector canteens that provide healthy, nutritious food to its staff and those in its care’.

The new mark, which is to be piloted in the NHS, HM Prison Service and central government staff canteens will be awarded to catering companies who serve the public sector if they meet particular criteria. The statement went on to say

‘Alongside this, the Government is committed to supporting people to make healthier choices about food, including in their workplace. Almost a third of all meals served by caterers in the UK are served in public sector institutions. Around one million meals are served to NHS patients and staff each day alone’.

In the ‘editors notes’ at the end of the statement it cryptically explained that ‘All stakeholders are taking action forward’ which is odd as I can’t imagine that steak will be on either an existing or revised menu.

It then helpfully pointed out that 'this is not a DH (Department of Health) imposed diktat'. It would be interesting to see which press briefings have ended with an explanatory note stating that the intended measure was a diktat and woe betide the peon who did not adopt the measure with joy in their soulless hearts.

Of course as food ‘quality’ forms part of the Hospital assessment scores and that undoubtedly having a ‘tofu and lettuce’ mark will increase ones score with all of the financial benefits that follow it might not be a diktat but one can easily see it as a form of coercion.

I doubt that anyone would deny that eating ‘healthy’ food is important. Eating food you actually enjoy during you allotted span is also a good idea but nevertheless it would be difficult to refute that having a good diet will prolong life and good health.

However I don't really want my employers to encourage me to eat healthily. It's not their appointed task, I want them to pay me for the work that I occasionally do in between meetings which is mine

I certainly don’t need to be corralled into ‘better behaviours’ by the munificent hand of the state. Whilst the ends seem laudable what these people don’t understand is that not everything can be fixed by schemes and initiatives formulated centrally. Schemes that inevitably divert resources from more needy areas of concern.

Sometimes it might be a good idea to let people take responsibility for their own actions. It seems to be a rather depressing view of humanity when it is felt that everyone needs to be encouraged to do this and hectored to do the other for their own good. Given the information with which to make an informed decision it is quite possible that the population might just about be able sort this stuff out for themselves.

The other worrying though is that with Gordon’s sudden interest in food waste you can also imagine serried ranks of nurses being herded back to the canteen day after day until the now grey looking portions of Tofu burgers on couscous salad are finally consumed.

The common view is that we public sector wage slaves are the last remnant of the carefully constructed Labour client state to remain truly loyal at the ballot box. Perhaps that’s why they want to keep us alive for as long as possible.

Me though, I take my own sandwiches into work. Huge slabs of smoked pig and wedges of mature cheddar cheese wedged between fresh crusty bread, slightly salted butter and lashings of mustard or pickles. I never thought that a sandwich could almost be viewed as a small act of defiance.

But I get stuffed and so can they!

Or did I dream it..?

With some help from Science Daily.

An interesting piece of research by staff at the Vanderbilt University in Nashville has identified that the use of your imagination and mental imagery may actually influence how you see the world.

Joel Pearson a research associate at the University’s Psychology Department explains:

"We found that mental imagery leads to a short-term memory trace that can bias future perception. This is the first research to definitively show that imagining something changes vision both while you are imagining it and later on."

"These findings are important because they suggest a potential mechanism by which top-down expectations or recollections of previous experiences might shape perception itself”.

To test how imagery affects perception, Pearson, along with co-authors of the study Frank Tong and Colin Clifford had subjects imagine simple patterns of vertical or horizontal stripes. They then presented a green horizontal grated pattern to one eye and a red vertical grated pattern to the other to induce what is called binocular rivalry. During binocular rivalry, an individual will often alternately perceive each stimulus, with the images appearing to switch back and forth before their eyes. The subjects generally reported they had seen the image they had been imagining, proving the researcher's hypothesis that imagery would influence the binocular rivalry battle.

Stronger shifts in perception were found if subjects either viewed or imagined a particular pattern for longer periods of time. They found that both imagery and perception can lead to a build-up of a "perceptual trace" that influences subsequent perception.

Pearson, Clifford and Tong also discovered that changing the orientation of the image from what had been imagined greatly reduced the impact of imagery on perception. Because orientation is processed in early visual areas, this suggests that imagery's interaction with perception may occur at early stages of visual processing.

It is though that these findings may offer an objective tool to assess the concept of imagination.

"It has been very hard to pin down in the laboratory what exactly someone is experiencing when it comes to imagery, because it is so subjective," Tong says. "We found that the imagery effect, while found in all of our subjects, could differ a lot in strength across subjects. So this might give us a metric to measure the strength of mental imagery in individuals and how that imagery may influence perception".

The findings may also suggest that mental imagery is a visual function of the brain and is processed the same an image of a real object.

"More recently, with advances in human brain imaging, we now know that when you imagine something parts of the visual brain do light up and you see activity there," Pearson says. "So there's more and more evidence suggesting that there is a huge overlap between mental imagery and seeing the same thing. Our work shows that not only are imagery and vision related, but imagery directly influences what we see."

This also seems to beg the question as to how the content of your minds eye spills into ‘reality’.

Now in dark brooding moments I have often pictured the rather dramatic effects of my becoming God Emperor of the galaxy. Which I admit is rather a long shot to be honest. But I now have to question how this idle daydreaming may impact on my ability to manage staff at work. I haven’t as yet condescendingly batted away a question on a simple aspect of contract law with a response about not bothering me with such trifles as snuffing out the feeble light that is Betelgeuse remains the primary objective.

But I fear that it is only a matter of time.

Higham gone?

I wasn’t planning on posting anything tonight but if it is true that James had closed his blog then it’s a sad day indeed.

James has always been a friend of this blog (as indeed has Crushed) and his visits and comments have been regular and welcome.

I think that this will be true for very many fellow bloggers.

The appearance of the Higham avatar seems to be pretty ubiquitous on ‘mybloglog’ visitor widgets everywhere as indeed do the pithy two line comments left on virtually every post one publishes.

How the man ever found the time to do that much visiting and commenting is beyond me.

Indeed James was instrumental in my application and acceptance into Blogpower. Still for me one the highlights of my blogging career to date.

I can’t comment on the rights and wrongs of the case that has seemingly brought this situation to pass. I think most visitors will know what I’m talking about. I don’t know enough of the fine detail and that’s when it passes beyond my ability to make an objective comment and so where I will decline to do so.

All I do know is that be he infuriating or enlightening (and whether in my opinion right or wrong) James, at least here, will be missed.

I hope that his ‘final’ post was made in haste and that normal service will be resumed soon.

Friday Night is Music Night - Special Requests!

After last weeks posting of the Danse Macabre by Saint-Saens I had intended tactically withdrawing from France (having covered several French composers in a row) back across the channel to the more homespun delights of either Elgar or Vaughan Williams. Naturally I intended returning to the continent at the earliest opportunity. All very 1940 I know.

However in the comments on last weeks piece Liz made a request that I post Debussy’s ‘Girl with the Flaxen Hair’ as it was, she explained, a particular favourite of hers.

And what sort of blog host would I be if I didn’t respond.

Also, conscious of my hosting responsibilities albeit belatedly, Crushed asked if a particular piece I ran with a few weeks ago was Edvard Grieg’s ‘Hall of the Mountain King’ from the Peer Gynt Suite. Well, actually that one wasn’t, but this one is.

I do worry that I might end up being a sort of blogging version of Classic FM at this rate. But if I were at least it wouldn’t be 3 minutes of music inevitably being followed by 5 minutes of adverts throughout any programme.

Hope you both enjoy both. And indeed everyone else too.