Me again,
Have realised I need to post more regularly to keep you guys interested, and the last post was missing three things - Bridget Jones style update on weight-loss; blunt, under-researched political comment (the stable of most blogs...); and an update on the invasion.
So first, this week - Pints - 3; Wine - 7 (glasses!); Cupcakes (3); weight loss - currently 1.5 pounds! If I can push through today without doing something stupid (like drinking lots of sponsored pints at the diabetes fundraiser I'm going to tonight... ), I could be on to drop below 170 for the first weigh-in of my 30's - woo-hoo!!
Next, comment.
Bill "I didn't inhale and neither did she" Clinton was interviewed this week, and described a grand conspiracy against, originally, him and now Obama by the Republican right. Luckily he thinks they are shooting themselves in the foot. By just putting negative spanners in the works, he thinks they will alienate themselves to the electorate.
Sounds pretty common-sensical. But where would these guys have got the idea that this sort of tactic might work with a modern electorate?
How about the Tories in the UK?
Let's be honest, they've produced practically nothing over the past decade or so, but by sitting back and scoring negative political points, and occasionally dropping policy ideas nicked from other European states, they've managed to hoodwink the nation into thinking they are a better alternative - rather than highlighting the true case that the country is where it is because they have provided a completely ineffectual opposition.
By voting in the Tories we're effectively giving power to Harry Enfield's "I don't think you really wanted to do that" character - and is that what you want? Cos that's what'll happen...
Example. One of the nicked policies is Sweden's policy for school's, which the Economist gets fairly gooey about this week (yes, it's not just The Sun).
In Sweden, a voucher system operates, allowing parent's to choose which school the government will pay for the education of their child at - generally a public one or a for-profit free school. This creates what the Economist loves - a market with true competition in which good schools receive more money so their is an incentive for success, and the 'invisible hand' can operate.
Sounds great doesn't it? Needless to say there are lots of problems with it...
First, the Tories aren't mirroring the Swedish model in full. Very importantly, they aren't allowing schools to operate for-profit, which immediately lessens the incentive. In an article of April 23rd entitled OUT OF THE WINDOW, the Economist slammed Labour's education reforms on the basis that they simply mimicked the actions of markets without real consequences. Apparently the Tories plans to mimic markets without providing real rewards is not as bad though...
I'm not an economist, but I would suggest watching this space...
Secondly, and much more importantly, why are we trying to apply market principles to education at all - especially given the devastating failure of application in their own arena? Why have they become a metanarrative - analogous to fundamentalist religion - which explains everything in every arena?
The answer to that is pretty simple - because they hide the complexity of taking each situation on its own merit, dealing with its individual nuances - fiscal, logistical, moral etc..
The difference between subsequence and consequence is therefore a key one when considering the spread of market force doctrines. Yes, Sweden's schools improved after the introduction of a 'market' policy - but did they improve as a direct consequence, or simply subsequently because of 'side effects'? (Here's where it all gets poorly researched)
Well, the first thing to consider is that Sweden's 'market' doesn't really operate as a free market. There are, in fact, elements to it which look positively socialist. First, everyone is mandated the same amount of money to spend via their voucher. That is certainly not how investing usually works (intelligent investors can affect the market more by virtue of their having, in an efficient market, more capital) and isn't even how other market-driven sectors of education work (for example tertiary education in the US). Second, where does this money come from? Taxation - and taxation at a much more onerous level than in the UK. Sweden's mean personal income tax is near 50%, as opposed to just under 35% in the UK (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Income_Taxes_By_Country.svg). By taxing individuals more, the government makes them less able to operate as players in a free market, as it takes more of their capital to put into a collective pot. Money that, for example, could have been used to pay for private schooling.
Next, we have to consider what this 'market' has actually come to look like. Apparently only 10% of students are enrolled in the new independent schools. So the government still educates 90% of children. Apparently we're supposed to believe that those 90% are being better served as their schools have upped their game due to competition in the market.
However, given that it is well known within education that smaller class sizes improve attainment, isn't it equally likely that the expansion of provision has led to more optimal class sizes, and that that has led to the overall improvement - not the response to competition? Is it in fact even competition if teachers are teaching less students, and therefore getting less money but doing less work in a better environment?
So the introduction of market forces in Swedish education was followed by an improvement in educational attainment, but could it not be a 'side-effect' of centrally funded equal expansion of provision leading to smaller class sizes?
If so, there's only one way to equally expand provision in the UK - raise taxes to Swedish levels. Can't see the Tories proposing that one...
Right, done with the ill-informed rant. Next up - invasion plans. I'm not getting anywhere on my own so have decided to join forces with an overwhelming existing contingent... British actors!! http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2009/sep/30/american-tv-invaded-british-actors
I have been cast in a Christmas production (so sadly not coming back) and booked a voiceover gig. Yay!
Got to get off to the latter now, so...
DD Out
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Little house on the zen garden
Hi All!
I've been rather busy over the past few weeks, so blogging kind of went out of the window.
This one will be short too.
Basically - the new house is lovely and we continue to improve it, pictures and video for you embedded here.
My Birthday (the second this year!) was excellent, with drinks and nibbles in a wine bar on the ground floor of our b
uilding.Theatre over here continues to go well - I've been cast in a production for Christmas, so sadly won't be back...though will be back later instead. Should be lots of fun - it's called "Sherlock Holme's Christmas Carol"
As I still haven't had the economist
changed to my new address, and also just got the cable we needed for CNN and MSNBC (for a steal!!) I have absolutely no political thoughts at all this time. Just colour charts and feng shui ideas I'm afraid. For example, did you know a table that is slightly lower than an existing bar counter can accentuate the counter and create a useful dining centre? I had no idea until a few weeks ago, but now I do... and for some reason it feels important... what has happened to me?!?Anyway, enjoy the photos
DD out (for now...)
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Land of the Free Market
It's been an unseemly time since my last missive, so here goes with an update...
It's still fingers-crossed time, but it looks almost definite that we have a new home! Everything is set up and we just need to go in and sign documents at Escrow on Friday. Whoop Whoop!
Things are looking up slightly on the work front too. I've connected with a number of theatre companies and it looks like I am directing an Opera in November (La Fille Du Regiment) and possibly another event in October, as well as linking up with Education departments around that time. Before that I'm doing some work for my old friends at FreshMinds - researchtastic! - and playing a 50 year old Irish Police Chief/ Vampire in a reading!
So, things are getting busy busy, which is good after 3 months of virtual lethargy.
On to other matters - I have been accused by various people of being overly negative toward my new homeland. I think this is unfair - we Brits bond with others by pointing out their faults, and we're the one country that is allowed to do it to the US without being invaded (the special relationship) so I like to take advantage of that - but nevertheless it may be time to redress the balance.
America is great! It is big and beautiful. The scale of everything is awesome, from the mountains and forests to the Grocery stores, where you can buy everything you could ever need! And it's all pretty reasonably priced (bought a very nice crockery set for 8 the other day, for less than 100 bucks). The pace of life is a little slower, and having fun in the outdoors is mandatory. People are also pretty predictable - downtown dwellers = liberals, suburbanites = independents/ centrist republicans, those in the countryside (otherwise known as real America) = far right crazies. So as long as you stick to the cities or certain suburbs all is good!
They brew fantastic beers here, not the sharp lagers so prevalent in the UK, but very flavourful ales and bitters. Their food is varied and of a high quality, with excellent and knowledgeable service. TV is constant, and includes highlights of UK TV, particularly premiership football at all hours.
Seattle in particular is like living in a city and in the country at the same time. Right on Puget Sound with a beach and numerous lakes, and easy access to many sights of natural beauty and vacation spots. And you can get a place in the equivilent of Zone 1 for the price of something in Zone 6. Public transport downtown is also better than expected, as I have been riding the buses for fun. In the downtown section riding buses is also FREE!
So - there - I love America. Yes, I said it. Now I can go back to finding fault, as I remain an Englishman at heart - and sure of the inate superiority of anything Blighty based. Rar.
DD out
It's still fingers-crossed time, but it looks almost definite that we have a new home! Everything is set up and we just need to go in and sign documents at Escrow on Friday. Whoop Whoop!
Things are looking up slightly on the work front too. I've connected with a number of theatre companies and it looks like I am directing an Opera in November (La Fille Du Regiment) and possibly another event in October, as well as linking up with Education departments around that time. Before that I'm doing some work for my old friends at FreshMinds - researchtastic! - and playing a 50 year old Irish Police Chief/ Vampire in a reading!
So, things are getting busy busy, which is good after 3 months of virtual lethargy.
On to other matters - I have been accused by various people of being overly negative toward my new homeland. I think this is unfair - we Brits bond with others by pointing out their faults, and we're the one country that is allowed to do it to the US without being invaded (the special relationship) so I like to take advantage of that - but nevertheless it may be time to redress the balance.
America is great! It is big and beautiful. The scale of everything is awesome, from the mountains and forests to the Grocery stores, where you can buy everything you could ever need! And it's all pretty reasonably priced (bought a very nice crockery set for 8 the other day, for less than 100 bucks). The pace of life is a little slower, and having fun in the outdoors is mandatory. People are also pretty predictable - downtown dwellers = liberals, suburbanites = independents/ centrist republicans, those in the countryside (otherwise known as real America) = far right crazies. So as long as you stick to the cities or certain suburbs all is good!
They brew fantastic beers here, not the sharp lagers so prevalent in the UK, but very flavourful ales and bitters. Their food is varied and of a high quality, with excellent and knowledgeable service. TV is constant, and includes highlights of UK TV, particularly premiership football at all hours.
Seattle in particular is like living in a city and in the country at the same time. Right on Puget Sound with a beach and numerous lakes, and easy access to many sights of natural beauty and vacation spots. And you can get a place in the equivilent of Zone 1 for the price of something in Zone 6. Public transport downtown is also better than expected, as I have been riding the buses for fun. In the downtown section riding buses is also FREE!
So - there - I love America. Yes, I said it. Now I can go back to finding fault, as I remain an Englishman at heart - and sure of the inate superiority of anything Blighty based. Rar.
DD out
Friday, August 21, 2009
The flight of the condo
An exciting week in the life of the Dorrians!
We've made an offer on a condominium (flat to you and me, but you know how these Americans like to overcomplicate things). It's a lovely place right in the heart of the liveliest neighbourhood in Seattle - Capitol Hill.
Capitol Hill is full of nut-jobs who might as well wear tin-foil hats on their head as they rage about watering the tree of liberty (more on that later) and avoiding death panels... but luckily that Capitol Hill is in Washington DC! Capitol Hill in Seattle is full of students and artists (and admittedly a few nut-jobs), with lots of fringe theatres and other cool cultural elements. Our (prospective) building also has lots of amenities (including a zen garden!) and, most importantly for you lot, a guest suite. So, if sofa beds aren't your thing, you can come stay with us for about the cost of a B&B.
We're in the midst of all the paperwork at the moment, but the inspection and appraisal have both gone through, so we're close! Fingers-crossed please!
In addition to housebuying we are also both dieting. We've organised as "Biggest Loser" competition with some friends; to add some spice it is Boys vs Girls. So, having not been to the gym in months, I have now been everyday this week - and went twice on Tuesday for 2 hours of CV. I'm a little disappointed that I haven't lost any weight at all thus far, but apparently it takes a while. Watch this space (I promise this blog won't become a Bridget Jones' Diary style wallow in self-pity though... pints 12, cigarettes 40, blah blah blah isn't my sloaney guilt entertaining...).
On a wider front, there are three slight concerns with our venture into real estate.
First, Seattle is apparently due a massive earthquake any time soon. Scientists from Wasila polytechnic (I forget the name of the actual institute) have discovered that the fault-line is much closer to the Emerald City than previously thought. Turns out nobody bothered to earthquake-proof any of the buildings or infrastructure so it's all a little concerning.
Secondly, I'm told that vampires live in a place called Forks, which is about 3 hours drive away, and that they occasionally visit the downtown area. If this turns out to be true, I think it will have a detrimental effect on resale value...
Thirdly, there may be a civil war in America very soon. Nothing to do with me I assure you - though as you know it was part of the plan (divide and conquer). What I hadn't reckoned on was exactly how insane a goodly number of American's are. A significant minority are now turning up to presidential events wearing T-shirts bearing the slogan "water the tree of liberty" - which implies that Obama is a tyrant and that they think he should be killed. Given that a number of these "protestors" are also carrying guns (i.e. assault rifles) it's all a bit concerning (I use the word "protestors" with caveat, as I think it's more likely that they are just unhinged individuals with violent tendencies).
What is this tyranny of which they speak? Expanding healthcare to a larger portion of the population and making it more affordable all round. Hopefully this makes no sense to you (otherwise I am a little concerned...), so let me explain.
In an earlier blog I wrote that the Bible was being distorted to blacken the name of socialism. At the time I had no idea how this was being done, but I have since engaged in some research (don't say I never give you nothing).
In certain areas of the country, various versions of an idea that could be termed 'biblical capitalism' seem to have taken root. The extreme version of this notion is that the Bible was written with the express intention of promoting Capitalism - God intends to operate as the invisible hand and wants his followers to help him. This is clearly a little bit crazy, appealing mainly to the hubristic, such as delusional sociopaths and US Senators. And I'm not kidding about the latter. If you're interested, read up on "The Family" and the C Street house.
The moderate version is more insidious and wider spread. In this version the basic principle is apparently that distribution of wealth is theft, and the Bible is against theft. The problem is that this notion is not Biblical, but comes from a distortion of the Protestant (or Puritan for the Yanks) Work Ethic; in which worldly success compensated for the removal of priestly assurance of salvation post the reformation. So, for moderate biblical capitalists, distribution of wealth is akin to taking from the holy to give to the unholy. It's a good work if they decide to do this themselves (thus adding to their kitty) but if the government forces them to do it via taxation, it is theft. Hence Obama is a tyrant.
The rather massive problem with this is that the Protestant Work Ethic is a side-effect of the reformation, not it's intention. The intention of the reformation was to stop people thinking they could buy their way into heaven, and make them see that salvation is the gift of God. In provocative terms - He distributes his wealth to all who ask for it.
There is way more that I could say on this, but it would get boring for most of you (see here for a good discussion www.lilligren.com/church/money.htm)! Suffice to say that anyone who ever tells you that the Bible mandates capitalism is either misguided or dangerous.
Hope all is well in the UK - more fun dieting tips and less ranting in the next blog I promise!
DD out
We've made an offer on a condominium (flat to you and me, but you know how these Americans like to overcomplicate things). It's a lovely place right in the heart of the liveliest neighbourhood in Seattle - Capitol Hill.
Capitol Hill is full of nut-jobs who might as well wear tin-foil hats on their head as they rage about watering the tree of liberty (more on that later) and avoiding death panels... but luckily that Capitol Hill is in Washington DC! Capitol Hill in Seattle is full of students and artists (and admittedly a few nut-jobs), with lots of fringe theatres and other cool cultural elements. Our (prospective) building also has lots of amenities (including a zen garden!) and, most importantly for you lot, a guest suite. So, if sofa beds aren't your thing, you can come stay with us for about the cost of a B&B.
We're in the midst of all the paperwork at the moment, but the inspection and appraisal have both gone through, so we're close! Fingers-crossed please!
In addition to housebuying we are also both dieting. We've organised as "Biggest Loser" competition with some friends; to add some spice it is Boys vs Girls. So, having not been to the gym in months, I have now been everyday this week - and went twice on Tuesday for 2 hours of CV. I'm a little disappointed that I haven't lost any weight at all thus far, but apparently it takes a while. Watch this space (I promise this blog won't become a Bridget Jones' Diary style wallow in self-pity though... pints 12, cigarettes 40, blah blah blah isn't my sloaney guilt entertaining...).
On a wider front, there are three slight concerns with our venture into real estate.
First, Seattle is apparently due a massive earthquake any time soon. Scientists from Wasila polytechnic (I forget the name of the actual institute) have discovered that the fault-line is much closer to the Emerald City than previously thought. Turns out nobody bothered to earthquake-proof any of the buildings or infrastructure so it's all a little concerning.
Secondly, I'm told that vampires live in a place called Forks, which is about 3 hours drive away, and that they occasionally visit the downtown area. If this turns out to be true, I think it will have a detrimental effect on resale value...
Thirdly, there may be a civil war in America very soon. Nothing to do with me I assure you - though as you know it was part of the plan (divide and conquer). What I hadn't reckoned on was exactly how insane a goodly number of American's are. A significant minority are now turning up to presidential events wearing T-shirts bearing the slogan "water the tree of liberty" - which implies that Obama is a tyrant and that they think he should be killed. Given that a number of these "protestors" are also carrying guns (i.e. assault rifles) it's all a bit concerning (I use the word "protestors" with caveat, as I think it's more likely that they are just unhinged individuals with violent tendencies).
What is this tyranny of which they speak? Expanding healthcare to a larger portion of the population and making it more affordable all round. Hopefully this makes no sense to you (otherwise I am a little concerned...), so let me explain.
In an earlier blog I wrote that the Bible was being distorted to blacken the name of socialism. At the time I had no idea how this was being done, but I have since engaged in some research (don't say I never give you nothing).
In certain areas of the country, various versions of an idea that could be termed 'biblical capitalism' seem to have taken root. The extreme version of this notion is that the Bible was written with the express intention of promoting Capitalism - God intends to operate as the invisible hand and wants his followers to help him. This is clearly a little bit crazy, appealing mainly to the hubristic, such as delusional sociopaths and US Senators. And I'm not kidding about the latter. If you're interested, read up on "The Family" and the C Street house.
The moderate version is more insidious and wider spread. In this version the basic principle is apparently that distribution of wealth is theft, and the Bible is against theft. The problem is that this notion is not Biblical, but comes from a distortion of the Protestant (or Puritan for the Yanks) Work Ethic; in which worldly success compensated for the removal of priestly assurance of salvation post the reformation. So, for moderate biblical capitalists, distribution of wealth is akin to taking from the holy to give to the unholy. It's a good work if they decide to do this themselves (thus adding to their kitty) but if the government forces them to do it via taxation, it is theft. Hence Obama is a tyrant.
The rather massive problem with this is that the Protestant Work Ethic is a side-effect of the reformation, not it's intention. The intention of the reformation was to stop people thinking they could buy their way into heaven, and make them see that salvation is the gift of God. In provocative terms - He distributes his wealth to all who ask for it.
There is way more that I could say on this, but it would get boring for most of you (see here for a good discussion www.lilligren.com/church/money.htm)! Suffice to say that anyone who ever tells you that the Bible mandates capitalism is either misguided or dangerous.
Hope all is well in the UK - more fun dieting tips and less ranting in the next blog I promise!
DD out
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Tick Tock Tick Tock
The culture vultures amongst you may have noticed that the photo I used to advertise my premature 30th Birthday Party came from the classic 1976 Sci-Fi movie, Logan's Run, which depicts a society where anyone over 30 is euthanised for the good of society.
Oh how I laughed at my humour whilst I was in the UK! Now I am coming to regret it...
According to the savvy political commentator, and all round good egg, Sarah Palin, President (Prime Minister) Obama is planning to set up Death Panels to see off the old and the unproductive.
I am currently the latter (hence having so much time to devote to blogging...) and in just over a month I will also be aged. The clock is well and truly ticking...
So, the search for work begins! I have contacted theatre's with varying degrees of success, but theatre work won't be enough to pay the bills, especially as my hopes for education work have been scuppered by the major theatre insisting I apprentice (i.e. observe and work unpaid) for a year before I can teach... despite the fact that I have over 5 years relevant experience in the UK. Needless to say I thought that was ridiculous, so am cutting off my nose to spite my face...
Luckily, Seattle seems to be awash with other interesting work possibilities - with lots of non-profit organisations in the vicinity. Also, I am surprised at how easy it is to become a Barrister here. None of the years of training and endless dinners! Apparently it's a week long training course on roasting 'the beans' (which I'm guessing is slang for defendents) and then you start with full medical benefits. There's a firm, that seems to have something to do with a mermaid, which is very popular, so I may start there...
I'm also going to be working on a blog for Kira's Dad. I think you can find it by clicking on my profile name on this site. It's all about sustainability in the hotel and tourism industry.
Kira, by the way, is going great guns. She's still getting voice work from the UK, has two auditions next week, and is organising lots of fun social events - watch this space!
We've also put in an offer on an apartment, and are waiting to hear back - so keep those fingers-crossed!
Keep it real in the UK. Eastside! (of the atlantic...)
DD out
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
I'd like to buy a vow please!
The wheel of fortune has continued turning for the Dorrian's this week. See if you can guess what the main event was;
_O_ R_ _ _ _ A L
HINT: The answer is not "Poo Removal"
This blog might well be longer when I get a chance to edit it, but it just took me all morning to convert the video file and splice it into small enough pieces to upload. So enjoy the video for now! More later...
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
The heat is on (duh nuh nuh nuh nuh, duh nuh nuh nuh nuh - Whoa - ooo - Whoa -oh-ooo)
I am writing this blog in a state of exhaustion, brought on by two things:
1. The Couples’ Decathlon was this weekend
2. Seattle is experiencing a humid heatwave
The decathlon was the awesome event that I built it up to be. Ten events (really?!) over two days, made to test physical strength, agility, stamina, patience, creativity... and luckiness.
Kira and I triumphed in the latter category. Despite being 5’6” and 4’11” respectively, we came 2nd out of 9 in the volleyball – almost entirely through reverse psychology. Kira was so vocal about our lack of ability that our opponents took pity on us for the first 10 or so points, after which they realised we were not quite (quite...) as bad as she had made out. At that point they brought their A game, but, without having played themselves in, enough balls were over-hit for us to win the game!
Next up was the crossword, which we won! Beating the US at their own trivia on their soil – it was enough to make me nostalgic for the invasion; but that is still on hold... more on that later...
Unfortunately, the next event relied on pure sporting ability - a canoe race over a kilometre. We lost, but not terribly - considering one team had a canoe instructor in it (30-40 seconds behind most of the field, and a minute and a half behind the winners, who did it in 6 minutes). Then onto mini-golf (where
we placed mid-pack) and the final event of the day - a newlyweds game show (wives ask questions, husbands have to guess their answers and vice versa). Incredibly, after that event we were 2nd going into Day 2.
Day 2 was, however, a disaster.
Last in the first event (an engineering challenge), mid table in the 2nd and 3rd (a taste test and a creativity challenge, result shown in photo below). Then came horseshoes. Horseshoes is an awful, awful, awful game. You have to throw a horseshoe at a metal post 40 FEET AWAY, and try to get it to ring round it. NO ONE could play this game, so we actually managed to come in 6th – even though Kira could only throw the horseshow 30 FEET...
Then the Eliminator – an obstacle course requiring speed, strength and no fear of gunge. Needless to say... we lost by a mile... video to follow shortly.
This meant that we ended in 6th place overall. Not bad, but hardly striking fear into the natives.
However, the invasion is in deeper trouble than this conveys. It is really hot here. It’s been in the late 80s all week and is now into the 90s for the foreseeable future. As we all know, the only things we British can do in the heat are moan, go out in the midday sun, and drink tea – so the invasion is well and truly off until the Autumn (which the Americans call “The Fall” – if only they knew how apt that will become...).
In other news... the healthcare battle rages on. I see that you’ve been getting articles on this in the UK now (one in the observer over the weekend) so you may well be fully briefed, but to further clarify, the figures I gave were for one adult under 30. As soon as I hit 30 my premiums go up by 25%. Then it’s a 25% increase at least every 5 years. On top of inflationary increases. So once you get older... well, you do the math. And then the insurance companies use your money to employ people who work day and night to figure out how to make sure that you actually won't be insured once you fall ill (for example, a women was denied cancer treatment because she hadn't properly notified the company of acne when she was a teenager).
Please never let this happen in the UK!! It is evil – pure and simple.
And how does it survive here in the US? As far as I can tell it is actually because Republicans, (who depend on health insurance company donations to maintain their mansions) and some like-minded (i.e. greedy) democrats, feign disgust at a universal public healthcare programme because it is “Socialist” and will leave health in the hands of faceless “Bureaucrats” (despite the fact that, as members of congress, they are on a public plan).
Socialism, in most of the US, is equivalent to Satanism. This is unbelievably ironic in a country in which politicians incrementally increase their references to ‘God’ and ‘Jesus ’ each year (Read the Gospel of Luke and you'll see that Jesus was pretty keen on the welfare of the poor) – yet these politicians have somehow used consumer dread and cold war echoes to sell large swathes of the country on the belief that providing equal access to healthcare is both un-Christian and un-American. Guess Defoe was right when he wrote “And of all plagues with which mankind are curs’d/ Ecclesiastic tyranny’s the worst” – especially when the ecclesiastic is really a money-grabbing politician.
Anyway, enough pretentious vitriol from me! The next post will be sooner than you expect (want?), as Kira and I are renewing our vows this weekend. Should be a great day, with a ceremony, then BBQ and watersports! More next week...
Double D out
1. The Couples’ Decathlon was this weekend
2. Seattle is experiencing a humid heatwave
The decathlon was the awesome event that I built it up to be. Ten events (really?!) over two days, made to test physical strength, agility, stamina, patience, creativity... and luckiness.
Kira and I triumphed in the latter category. Despite being 5’6” and 4’11” respectively, we came 2nd out of 9 in the volleyball – almost entirely through reverse psychology. Kira was so vocal about our lack of ability that our opponents took pity on us for the first 10 or so points, after which they realised we were not quite (quite...) as bad as she had made out. At that point they brought their A game, but, without having played themselves in, enough balls were over-hit for us to win the game!
Next up was the crossword, which we won! Beating the US at their own trivia on their soil – it was enough to make me nostalgic for the invasion; but that is still on hold... more on that later...
Unfortunately, the next event relied on pure sporting ability - a canoe race over a kilometre. We lost, but not terribly - considering one team had a canoe instructor in it (30-40 seconds behind most of the field, and a minute and a half behind the winners, who did it in 6 minutes). Then onto mini-golf (where
we placed mid-pack) and the final event of the day - a newlyweds game show (wives ask questions, husbands have to guess their answers and vice versa). Incredibly, after that event we were 2nd going into Day 2.
Day 2 was, however, a disaster.
Last in the first event (an engineering challenge), mid table in the 2nd and 3rd (a taste test and a creativity challenge, result shown in photo below). Then came horseshoes. Horseshoes is an awful, awful, awful game. You have to throw a horseshoe at a metal post 40 FEET AWAY, and try to get it to ring round it. NO ONE could play this game, so we actually managed to come in 6th – even though Kira could only throw the horseshow 30 FEET...
Then the Eliminator – an obstacle course requiring speed, strength and no fear of gunge. Needless to say... we lost by a mile... video to follow shortly.
This meant that we ended in 6th place overall. Not bad, but hardly striking fear into the natives.
However, the invasion is in deeper trouble than this conveys. It is really hot here. It’s been in the late 80s all week and is now into the 90s for the foreseeable future. As we all know, the only things we British can do in the heat are moan, go out in the midday sun, and drink tea – so the invasion is well and truly off until the Autumn (which the Americans call “The Fall” – if only they knew how apt that will become...).
In other news... the healthcare battle rages on. I see that you’ve been getting articles on this in the UK now (one in the observer over the weekend) so you may well be fully briefed, but to further clarify, the figures I gave were for one adult under 30. As soon as I hit 30 my premiums go up by 25%. Then it’s a 25% increase at least every 5 years. On top of inflationary increases. So once you get older... well, you do the math. And then the insurance companies use your money to employ people who work day and night to figure out how to make sure that you actually won't be insured once you fall ill (for example, a women was denied cancer treatment because she hadn't properly notified the company of acne when she was a teenager).
Please never let this happen in the UK!! It is evil – pure and simple.
And how does it survive here in the US? As far as I can tell it is actually because Republicans, (who depend on health insurance company donations to maintain their mansions) and some like-minded (i.e. greedy) democrats, feign disgust at a universal public healthcare programme because it is “Socialist” and will leave health in the hands of faceless “Bureaucrats” (despite the fact that, as members of congress, they are on a public plan).
Socialism, in most of the US, is equivalent to Satanism. This is unbelievably ironic in a country in which politicians incrementally increase their references to ‘God’ and ‘Jesus ’ each year (Read the Gospel of Luke and you'll see that Jesus was pretty keen on the welfare of the poor) – yet these politicians have somehow used consumer dread and cold war echoes to sell large swathes of the country on the belief that providing equal access to healthcare is both un-Christian and un-American. Guess Defoe was right when he wrote “And of all plagues with which mankind are curs’d/ Ecclesiastic tyranny’s the worst” – especially when the ecclesiastic is really a money-grabbing politician.
Anyway, enough pretentious vitriol from me! The next post will be sooner than you expect (want?), as Kira and I are renewing our vows this weekend. Should be a great day, with a ceremony, then BBQ and watersports! More next week...
Double D out
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