Give me wisdom

Clairvoyant Clive

givemewisdom — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 23:05:20 +0000

For once someone who is good at their job…

Just trying out the wordpress app for iPad, and playing with sketchbook pro.

Heteropalindromes quiz answers

givemewisdom — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 13:03:06 +0000

Answers to the Heteropalindromes cryptic quiz

1. dog god

2. stressed desserts

3. eat tea

4. evil live

5. yob boy

6. sore eros

7. regal lager

8. avid diva

9. smug gums

Heteropalindromes cryptic quiz

givemewisdom — Wed, 25 May 2011 11:24:53 +0000

A quick cryptic quiz in which the answers are all a pair of heteropalindromes (i.e. an answer might be something like ‘spool loops’ or ‘devil lived’)

canine deity (3)?
not a diet food and anixous about it (8)?
to consume hot beverage the wrong way (3)?
‘The…’ logical prequel to Sam Raimi classic horror film (4)?
rough youth who feminist might say is ‘chromasonally challenged’ (3)?
primordial fertility deity chaffed by too much sex (4)?
queen’s amber nectar (5)?
eager prima donna (4)?
too proud of what’s behind our stiff-upper-lip (4)?

Answers are here

Wrongful Language: Misnomer

givemewisdom — Mon, 03 May 2010 22:18:51 +0000

While fixing my laptop, which was overheating, I discovered the problem was that I was using it on top of my lap. It seems that Compaq laptops are not meant for this purpose, to quote the user manual:

‘To reduce the possibility of heat-related injuries or of overheating the computer, do not place the computer directly on your lap’

So in the case of Compaq, ‘laptop’ is a misnomer, like peanut (which is a bean not a nut) or guinea pig (neither from Guinea nor a type of pig).

This reminded me of some old lyrics I wrote in the early nineties, which use a play on the word ‘miss’ similar to that used by a number of female R&B artists for their stage name:

She likes to think that she’s just a loner,

but I like to call her my little Miss Nomer,

hiding behind that loner persona,

I hope she’s had enough,

and life is getting tough,

I’m hoping that she’s coming around.

She is the one who will go down in history,

the only one to stay a bit of a mystery,

and I am hoping that perhaps she will miss me,

I’m hoping it’s getting rough,

that she’s had enough,

I’m hoping that she’s coming around.

The space between the beats

givemewisdom — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 22:30:56 +0000

Here is the space between the beats,
that pumps the warmth between our sheets.
This is the space between her feet,
growing longer as the strides down the street,
And I follow her, anywhere.

This is the space in what a sing,
the space is silence ’cause I’m listening (for her).
This is the space in what I see,
the space is her, when she’s not with me,
So I’d follow her, anywhere.

This is the space between the straps,
the space is mine, where her neck meets her back.
This is the space ‘tween her and me,
Growing closer as the days become weeks,
become months, become years,
And I and her, become us,
in everything.

Because this is the space I fill,
a space where I fit so well.

‘Just because’

givemewisdom — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 21:44:21 +0000

My son and daughter are both still at the ‘Why?’ age. However they recently gave me a taste of my own medicine. When asked why they were pretending to be hamsters in the imaginary game they were playing the 3-year-old answered, ‘Oh, just because!”

This made me wonder if I am killing their inner philosopher… and think about the general absurdity of some of the things I say to stop the incessant questions.

Why?
Because I told you not to.
Why?
Because it was your turn yesterday.
Why?
Because you need to learn to share.
Why?
Because your mother said so.
Why?
Because she knows best.
Why?
Because you can’t always get your way.
Why?
Because we’re not made out of money.
Why?
Because money doesn’t grow on trees.
Why?
Because you can’t have everything.
Why?
Because.
Why?
JUST BECAUSE.

Sarcastic parents

givemewisdom — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:46:52 +0000

Kids don’t get sarcasm – it just confuses them – but it is so tempting sometimes. Here are a few of the crazy things I’ve heard people (including myself) say to their kids recently:

Where has your bedroom floor gone? I can’t seem to find it.

No, you don’t need to brush all of your teeth – just the ones you want to have when you’re older.

That’s a lovely pictures darling. What is it?

Wow, aren’t you the clever one, spreading that all over your face!

Stop crying or I’ll give you something to cry about.

COP15: the last chance saloon?

givemewisdom — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:11:13 +0000

I went to an engaging talk by Joe Smith from the Open University last week. He led a discussion on the challenges climate change poses for the relationship between Politicians, the media and the public.

It seems to me that there is a level of consensus between climate activists and the political elite (at least if you listen to the rhetoric) but there is the gulf of the public in between, most of whom don’t believe or are disinterested.

Joe’s most enlightening point (one of many) was that the media had to be careful not to over exaggerate the terminal importance of Copenhagen (COP15). Important as it is, it is part of a process, and succeed or fail there will need to be government and media action long after it. The Media mustn’t cry ‘FIRE’ too loud or the public will switch off to the longer-term process.

We need to be careful not to lull ourselves into believing that if we get a good deal then the world is saved and if we don’t the world will end. It is an ongoing process, and with all of the sensationalism and hyperbole of the moment put aside, we will still be working at this for the next 50+ years.

There is a note of optimism in this. We may be in the last chance saloon, but there are a few more hands to play at the table and they haven’t called last orders yet. After all COP15 means it is the 15th ‘Conference of the Parties’ and there will be many more, whatever the outcome.

Clumbsy Cliches: The clam before the storm

givemewisdom — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:05:22 +0000

Thought I’d try out Aviary online drawing tool – much cooler than my drawing makes it look! Pity I drew an oyster and not a clam.

Daily quotes, sayings and proverbs from twitter

givemewisdom — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:08:48 +0000

Give yourself a daily shot of someone’s wisdom by following one of these twitter feeds:

twitter.com/proverbsfeed – Literally a feed of lines from The Book of Proverbs in the old testament.

twitter.com/QuotesSayings – wide range of regular quotes and sayings

twitter.com/thequotemaster – daily quotes from long running www.qotd.org

twitter.com/QuoteDaily – daily generally philosophical quotations

twitter.com/YouQuotedQuotes - Motivational and famous quotes

twitter.com/QuotesDaddy – famous quotes from blog.quotesdaddy.com/

twitter.com/crazyparents – parental wisdom which is sometimes cruel and often rude

Or for pot-luck just search for the quote hash tag