Time Flies

I was just reading this story in the BBC about the New Cross fire – I really can’t believe that it’s now 23 years ago. I was 10 at the time, but can still remember reading about the fire, which killed 14 people during a birthday party.

It’s always been a suspicious fire, so it’ll be interesting to see what the new inquest makes of things. After 20+ years of asking for it, it was finally approved back in 2002. The BBC also has a link to the original story as well as an overview of the entire thing.

Walking the Dead

As well as a few other things today, I ended up going for a walk (about two to three miles all told) to the Phillips Park, and then to the cemetery there. I used to live closer to this area, and even wandered through the street I used to live on – the first house I moved to here in Manchester, nearly five years ago. Considering how close it is to several major roads, I find it amazing just how peaceful and quiet it is. Well, except for the bone-idle fuckheads who insist on driving through the graveyard to the right area. But there we go – anything with people in it will always have something for bone-idle morons to chuff up.

Unfortunately, in this particular cemetery the morons have had the chance to play with other things too. Because of the area covered by the cemetery, it’s divided into several denominations, including Catholic, Protestant – and Jewish.

Every single marker and memorial in that Jewish section has been knocked over, broken, and just generally vandalised. It’s a deeply saddening, infuriating sight – thankfully there’s no graffiti to add icing to the cake, but all the same, it’s just intensely depressing, to see these stones and memorials broken and destroyed simply because of the faith behind them. I’ve taken several photographs there today, and they’re now online here… But in the meantime – just what the fuck is the point of vandalising gravestones like that?

Manchester has had a Jewish community since 1740, for crying out loud – it’s not like there’s even some shite excuse about being illegal immigrants. It’s just bigotry because of religion – and I’m willing to lay money that the wankers that have been big and brave enough to kick over gravestones don’t even know what Judaism’s all about. I admit – I don’t know either. I’ve never read the Talmud, nor been inside a synagogue. But that doesn’t mean I’m biased against anyone, just on the basis of their beliefs. It’s beyond me, this ability of people to hate others just for not conforming to their concept of what is “right”.

I’m sorry, I’m being slightly incoherent here – this set of photos, particularly the one above, just keeps on hitting me. It’s not fun, not in the slightest. And yet there’s nothing I can do. Frustrating doesn’t even come into it.

Niff

OK, now here’s the thing – what do you do when you have a manager that you can tell is in the office just by opening the door? Suggest deodourant? Breathe shallowly? Pray?

Photo-Geekery pt. 3

The prints arrived in the post this morning. Less than 24 hours since being ordered. I can’t help it – I’m impressed by effieiency like that.

And the print quality? Let me explain in two sentences.
1 ) I’m going to be looking for frames this weekend
2) I’m definitely going to use Photobox again.

Question answered. *Grin*

UPDATED : Well, not so much an update, just some extra information. I’ll probably, as per Gordon’s request, include a photo of the prints – but A2 is roughly 60cm x 45cm (24″ x 18″) so yeah, they’re pretty large prints. All the more impressive to have received them less than 24 hours after being ordered.

A reminder

Just a quick note to remind anyone who’s interested, the first Manchester blogmeet of 2004 will be taking place this time next week. Thursday 22nd January, FAB Cafe on Portland Street, 8pm or any time after that. Stupid t-shirts and fluffy toys welcome…

Photo-Geekery pt. 2

Many thanks for the recommendations, particularly those a) referring me towards Peak Imaging, and b) recommending I don’t use Jessops on-line developing stuff. (Can’t find a link to the actual developing stuff, but there we go).

Unless I’m reading Peak’s site incorrectly, I don’t think that the images I’m using (2832×2128 pixels – i.e. approx. 6.0megapixels)) are actually big enough for them to do the print size I want (A2 or above) without some resizing, which isn’t really what I wanted to do. So for now I’ve ordered two blow-up prints at A2 size from Photobox, which have cost me the princely sum of £30. See how they look, and work from there.

Personally, I still find I’m wavering on whether getting these prints done for myself is vanity or just being pleased with a good photo. Vanity, and that level of – to my mind – ego and self-centredness aren’t things that sit comfortably with me, and it’s taken some serious persuasion from friends and family to even get me to the point where I’ve ordered these prints. I’ll admit, I’m looking forward to seeing them at full size on glossy photo-paper – once that’s done, I may even get them framed, if I still like them.

One friend suggested that for ones I’m really pleased with, and that have received praise/comments from other people, is to possibly get a small set of prints done, and then I can self-justify having a print myself as “being part of a very limited edition” – although of course there’s also the side issue of the ego required to send out one of my own photos as a present to others. Heh. Ah well, we’ll see.

Yes, Karen, you can… (and yes, the larger images are still just under half the size of the originals – they’re fairly large all the same though)

UPDATED : I ordered these photos at about 10.30 this morning. It’s now 13.30, and I’ve just received an email saying “We’ve sent out your order”. I really hope the quality of the prints is up to the quality/speed of the service.

Cutting Down

Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been thinking about reducing my intake of certain things. First and foremost among them at the moment is caffeine. Anyone who knows me will know how much coffee and diet Coke^® I drink in any given day. I’m not being stupid and just stopping it totally – if I didn’t have to work with people, I probably would cut it out in one go, but as I have to be in an office, it’s better to just cut it down massively. It means there’s also less chance of bloodshed.

I’ve already halved the intake – and managed it without the joys of caffiene headaches, which is even better. Coffee’s been completely cut out, and the diet Coke is on the wane. Only time will tell on the success of it all, but for now I feel OK.