<![CDATA[thewrightline]]> http://homepage.mac.com/thewrightline/iblog Welcome to thewrightline - weblog of the wrightline.com.

Here you can :

* check out what's brewing at www.thewrightline.com @ words : walks : gallery

* read opinions on life @ life

* comment @ comment

*send an email @ feedback

*visit thewrightline.com

]]> http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss en david@thewrightline.com Sun, 20 May 2007 15:25:32 +0100 Sun, 20 May 2007 15:26:10 +0100 iBlog 1.4.6 david wright thewrightline Welcome to thewrightline - weblog of the wrightline.com. Here you can : * check out what's brewing at www.thewrightline.com @ words : walks : gallery * read opinions on life @ life * comment @ comment *send an email @ feedback *visit thewrightline.com david wright david@thewrightline.com thewrightline Audio Blogs <![CDATA[new gallery announcement ]]> http://homepage.mac.com/thewrightline/iblog/C585859008/E20070520152525/index.html Obby Oss gallery added 20 May 2007
On 1 May every year the town of Padstow celebrates the coming of summer in its own unique manner. The red and the blue Obby Oss dance through Padstow's streets accompanied by a mobile band and teezed by a teezer. The music is rhythmic and haunting. Padstownians dress in white with blue or red ribbons depending on which Oss they follow.
It is colourful and memorable event.
Obby Oss Gallery
]]> Sun, 20 May 2007 15:25:25 +0100 http://homepage.mac.com/thewrightline/iblog/C585859008/E20070520152525/index.html <![CDATA[Pieces of Eight for sale ]]> http://homepage.mac.com/thewrightline/iblog/C420635184/E20070505181346/index.html Pieces of Eight is now available as an e book
Now you can enjoy walking Pieces of Eight for yourself. Select the links below to go to thewrightline walks shop. Make your selection and pay by PayPal.
Buy your copy of Pieces of Eight
Buy individual eights
PoE11 is still free to download
]]> Sat, 05 May 2007 18:13:46 +0100 http://homepage.mac.com/thewrightline/iblog/C420635184/E20070505181346/index.html <![CDATA[Pieces of Eight for sale ]]> http://homepage.mac.com/thewrightline/iblog/C1372631106/E20070420181547/index.html How to obtain your copy of Pieces of Eight in pdf format
Pieces of Eight is now available to purchase as an e book for £10.
Pieces of Eight will be published in soft covers if sufficient funds are raised to cover the costs of publication.
At that time, anybody who has purchased Pieces of Eight as an e book will receive a free copy of the soft back version. The soft back version will retail at £10.
Try poe11 for free before you buy!
Individual eights can also be purchased at £1 each.
Payment can be made by cheque. PayPal payments will shortly be possible.
email your order to david@thewrightline.com for a prompt response.
]]> Fri, 20 Apr 2007 18:15:47 +0100 http://homepage.mac.com/thewrightline/iblog/C1372631106/E20070420181547/index.html <![CDATA[PoE launch date announced ]]> http://homepage.mac.com/thewrightline/iblog/C1372631106/E20070402071915/index.html date for launch of Pieces of Eight e book
As from Friday 20 April Pieces of Eight will be available to download in pdf format from www.thewrightline.com.
From the same date it will also be possible to download individual eights.
The book will be priced at £10, individual eights at £1 each.
PoE11 will remain available as a free download.
If sufficient money is raised to publish a paperback edition of Pieces of Eight, purchasers of the e book will be sent a free paperback edition on publication.
Download PoE11 now for a free sample prior to buying later this month.
]]> Mon, 02 Apr 2007 07:19:15 +0100 http://homepage.mac.com/thewrightline/iblog/C1372631106/E20070402071915/index.html <![CDATA[PoE ebook news ]]> http://homepage.mac.com/thewrightline/iblog/C420635184/E20070310154653/index.html spring approaches
You might have noticed that the night is shrinking in time. That's a more reliable sign than the weather that we're coming out of winter. Last Sunday rained like a river, today is dry and sunny with a cool breeze.
The PoE ebook is not quite ready to unleash right now.
email me if you want to buy it in stages. Or try PoE11 for free.

Happy walking.
]]> Sat, 10 Mar 2007 15:46:53 +0000 http://homepage.mac.com/thewrightline/iblog/C420635184/E20070310154653/index.html <![CDATA[gwennap pit ]]> http://homepage.mac.com/thewrightline/iblog/C585859008/E20070222231153/index.html Gwennap Pit was first used by the methodist preacher John Wesley on 6 September 1762. He was unable to make himself heard above the high winds of that day from his usual spot and found the pit made his oratory audible to those inclined to listen. He used the site on 17 future occasions until 1789.The depression probably occurred when the surface collapsed into a mine shaft. The original rough sides were transformed in 1806 to the present day 13 terraced tiers seating some 2,000 people. In a 1781 journal entry, Wesley claims to have preached to 20,000, all of whom could hear him.Further info here. ]]> Thu, 22 Feb 2007 23:11:53 +0000 http://homepage.mac.com/thewrightline/iblog/C585859008/E20070222231153/index.html <![CDATA[more favourite words ]]> http://homepage.mac.com/thewrightline/iblog/C318425077/E20070219182941/index.html cogitate on this
IRENIC -only a vowel away from ironic. It means aiming for, or aimed at, peace.
NASCENT -a beautiful disyllabic sound that gets softer as it grows. - emerging into existence and beginning to show signs of potential.
VIVIFY - to enliven or animate.
MAUNDER - to move or act in an idle manner; to ramble in speech; dreamy action.
CONFLATE - combining two into one.
]]> Mon, 19 Feb 2007 18:29:41 +0000 http://homepage.mac.com/thewrightline/iblog/C318425077/E20070219182941/index.html <![CDATA[if music ... ]]> http://homepage.mac.com/thewrightline/iblog/C153730512/E20070210161127/index.html something new in music categorisation
It's not that I don't like music. I do have my favourites and these days I tend to stick with those. Some years ago I noticed a heavy brand of torpor descend whenever I walked into a music store. It took me until yesterday to work out what this all about.
Yesterday I stumbled on a web site that has me re discovering post 1980s music.
What is different about theperiodiclabel is the way music is organised into categories.
Now I should say that the system used by The Periodic Label is not so great if you know exactly what you want. If you're a committed Boy Band fan or really want to buy only World Music - stick to HMV.
The Periodic Label is a treat for people wanting to check out what's out there unburdened by the prejudice of categories. - Well, sort of. Actually, I'm so impressed with how The Periodic Label organises music that I might be doing them a disservice in saying that.
There is an option to see an alphabetic list of all the bands who have made a musical contribution to the site. So try that before going to HMV.
Clicking that takes you to three pages ranging from Basement Band to Vaughn Montgomery. If you just want to explore, mouse over the periodic table graphic on the opening page to discover music categorised according to the mood of groups of chemical element. There's the music of Aqua Vitae, Quantum Chaos and Dark Matter to name but three. I went to Heliosphere first and that's how I discovered Kelly Jones. Click on her logo and a short bio gives a little background on the artist and an opportunity to share your views on how you rate her music. Want to download a song? No problem and no charge - just right click on the song title. Want to browse by listening to the music? - Launch audio player. Want to sell a track downloaded from the site? Don't do it -'You got 'em for free, so give 'em for free.' Nice, huh?
There's plenty more to rave over - go see for yourself:
theperiodiclabel (it does take a while to upload)
]]> Sat, 10 Feb 2007 16:11:27 +0000 http://homepage.mac.com/thewrightline/iblog/C153730512/E20070210161127/index.html <![CDATA[on speaking too quickly ]]> http://homepage.mac.com/thewrightline/iblog/C368857119/E20070210160841/index.html a category lost
Hmmm.
Fortunately, they're not gone forever, merely residing in 'oops!'
]]> Sat, 10 Feb 2007 16:08:41 +0000 http://homepage.mac.com/thewrightline/iblog/C368857119/E20070210160841/index.html <![CDATA[CHAORDIC SYSTEMS ]]> http://homepage.mac.com/thewrightline/iblog/C368857119/E20070210160333/index.html might they save the world?
Somewhere between chaos and order lies the balance that makes life, that makes Life.
As a school boy I was trained to believe that chaos is danger and that human beings can only live in order. Despite the efforts of my teachers, I never really got the hang of order. Even now, in late mid life, I prefer to work in an untidy environment. I never could see the risk of chaos as any different from the risk of order.
So it was with great delight that I stumbled on the concept of the chaord.
The word combines CHA from chaos and ORD from order. The concept behind the word claims many things including a non hierarchical system of leadership, new forms of governance and alternative attitudes to ownership.
Is it true, then, that getting slack with order does not necessarily mean a chaotic end to everything? It seems hard to believe we could have fallen for the lie of order's supremacy for so long. Only the artist knew any different and there is a little of the artist in us all.
Creativity, if you think about it, is a marriage of chaos and order - as is Nature herself. We have for too long been shackled to unbalanced assertions of order. Perhaps now is the time to break free.
Of course there are responsibilities in the chaordic life style. We are only free to flourish, not to dominate or exploit. We sustain rather then obtain; we honour the person over the pound (sterling); we invest in our planet.
You can learn more about chaordic systems at www.chaordic.org , where you can even sign up to become an owning member.
first published 21/01/07
]]> Sat, 10 Feb 2007 16:03:33 +0000 http://homepage.mac.com/thewrightline/iblog/C368857119/E20070210160333/index.html <![CDATA[THE PASSAGE OF TIME ]]> http://homepage.mac.com/thewrightline/iblog/C368857119/E20070210160214/index.html (words for those moments of embarrassment)
Never believe that anything in life is a waste of time.
first published 13/12/06
]]> Sat, 10 Feb 2007 16:02:14 +0000 http://homepage.mac.com/thewrightline/iblog/C368857119/E20070210160214/index.html <![CDATA[ABSENCE ]]> http://homepage.mac.com/thewrightline/iblog/C368857119/E20070210160052/index.html Excuses for recent neglect
It's been a little while since I picked up the blog pen. I have been playing with a text editor to get a new web site out there in cyber space. A redesigned blog will accompany the New Year Launch - no firm date for this electronic birth. I am back from the nether world html tags and css squiggles. I will keep you informed.
Meanwhile, here's a photo of goats on the cliff path.
first published 07/12/06
]]> Sat, 10 Feb 2007 16:00:52 +0000 http://homepage.mac.com/thewrightline/iblog/C368857119/E20070210160052/index.html <![CDATA[SOMETHING ABOUT BLACKBERRIES ]]> http://homepage.mac.com/thewrightline/iblog/C368857119/E20070210155926/index.html keeping birds wild
There is perhaps an irony in our habit of collecting blackberries from the hedgerows for our tea time pie. And then putting out food for garden birds. Birds eat blackberries from hedgerows because that's what they do - and besides, they can't afford to go to a supermarket for their breakfast. We buy food - usually highly processed, eat some of it and chuck out the stale loaf for our feathered friends.
If I were a wren I'd rather forage for a blackberry than eat human leftovers.
first published 19/09/06
]]> Sat, 10 Feb 2007 15:59:26 +0000 http://homepage.mac.com/thewrightline/iblog/C368857119/E20070210155926/index.html <![CDATA[DIGNITY AND TIMING ]]> http://homepage.mac.com/thewrightline/iblog/C368857119/E20070210155808/index.html a politician and a formula 1 driver
Much has been written in the last week about the longevity of Tony Blair's role as Prime Minister. It seems that he wants to make a decade as the resident of Number 10. Which is a bit odd in itself as I seem to recall he choose to reside at number 11. It's possible I'm being overly cynical here. Could be it's the job rather than the address he's keen to keep. I suspect this has more to do with the image of historic prosperity he holds for himself than it does with pension rights. I could be wrong.
What a bun fight it's been.
Michael Schumacher on the other hand retired with dignity. And timing.
first published 11/09/06
]]> Sat, 10 Feb 2007 15:58:08 +0000 http://homepage.mac.com/thewrightline/iblog/C368857119/E20070210155808/index.html <![CDATA[THE STATE OF THINGS ]]> http://homepage.mac.com/thewrightline/iblog/C368857119/E20070210155625/index.html a true life tale and speculative personal opinion
A friend of mine has recently been diagnosed with testicular cancer. It's not spread to other organs but it has visited some lymph nodes causing swelling and a degree of blockage. The blockage has affected his kidneys causing complications of treatment.
Now this man is amongst the happiest souls I know. (In contrast, most of my working friends understandably moan about the tyrant work and yearn for their retirement.) He lives modestly and inoffensively in a caravan with the enthusiastic consent of a farmer.
Some days ago a council official gave him one month's notice to quit. A matter of illegal occupation leading to a void of council tax apparently.
We call ourselves civilised.
As it happens I pay council tax. I pay income tax and vat on everything I buy. I pay road tax and fuel tax, tax on tobacco and alcohol. I object to my taxes being spent on weeding out cheerful eccentrics who would never dream of hurting anyone in any way.
I don't believe anyone is more important than anyone else, or less deserving of respect and dignity.
When I see notices on government vehicles inviting me to report any un taxed cars I might have noticed on the streets, I experience an intense desire to commit criminal damage to said sign.
Perhaps we would all feel happier about paying taxes if we could see them being used to promote the sort of society we can be proud of. This might well differ from one individual to another, but I wonder how many of us see 21st century Britain head in such direction. How many of us simply pay up to avoid the hassle that ensues if we refuse to feed the Ego fuelled cauldron of Masculine Power whose job it is to Govern?
I acknowledge that much general compassion is carried by organisations and individuals, that death by starvation no longer exists in this country, that we have a system of social security and accessible health care. It's not all bad. I notice that these features of our civilised society are given less respect and value than they were 30 years ago. Their infrastructures are under threat. The poor, the weak, the unfortunate are encouraged to think of themselves as victims and grudgingly thrown a life line. We have in the past moved toward becoming a compassionate society. We now rest on our wilting laurels and point to history in an attempt to demonstrate our collective tolerance of humanity. Whilst developing commercially, economically and technologically, we refuse to consider the future - or indeed the existence - of whatever essential essence makes us human beings. So how can that essence develop? And are there alternatives to our current system?
Well, there are options, but there is not a quick fix. It's not so much a change of system as a change in attitude that could make a difference.
As individuals we can find the courage to acknowledge our fear - because only then can we operate from love - and discover our values and our truths while tolerating the truths and values of others. Nobody whose daily life, routine and habit is fuelled by fear can call themselves free.
In governance it is possible to empower as well as to control. If all we can offer by empowerment is the creation of people distanced from their fear by fragile financial independence, we cannot call ourselves a civilised nation. Such a society has simply replaced the boar with institutionalised tyranny. - Both are ruled by fear.
We can achieve civilisation - if we want to - by channelling our individual and collective energies into respect for self and others. We need each others' support to do this as surely as the shamefully exploited 'Third World' needs the help of western society to avoid being suffocated by financial debt. We owe them too - for the homes, the lifestyle, the livings, the culture we have taken from them in the name of our own 'civilised' existence.
first published 08/09/06
]]> Sat, 10 Feb 2007 15:56:25 +0000 http://homepage.mac.com/thewrightline/iblog/C368857119/E20070210155625/index.html