The Propaganda War

As a frequent traveller, I tend to have the deepest respect and interest in other nations, cultures and a general curiosity regarding foreign affairs.

But really, how stupid do the Iranian leadership actually think we are?

Are we supposed to buy these 'apologies' from our captured service personnel?

They way this is going, that the Iranians seem to be forcing confrontation on all fronts, is deeply worrying.

An overwhelming majority of the world's population would not wish to see another conflict in the Gulf in their lifetime, but at this rate...

Battlestar

Indulgently must shout-out about quite possibly the best show on television right now.

In my humble opinion.

Just viewed the season 3 finale and sat there afterwards, a little slack-jawed.

To quote Time magazine rating the series as their critic's #1 show:

"Most of you probably think this entry has got to be a joke. The rest of you have actually watched the show. Laugh if you want, but this story of enemies within is dead serious, and seriously good."

When I like something, I tend to get a little evangelical about it.

Normal service will be resumed shortly.

Infinitely more useful

Good lord. Dr No and Beardy Adams sat at the same table... Talking... Though not to each other. As one veteran northern Ireland correspondent put it today:

"Do not adjust your set"

The other notable thing that happened today was the fact that I passed my one-day basic police driver's course. Yay. This means I can now drive Police cars. However. This does not mean I can blue-light. Not for a while. In fact, that's a three-week course that turns you into a controlled maniac through city centres will be a long while coming yet (usual cost/personnel reasons).

Anyway, as a police officer this means I am now infinitely more useful in the eyes of my peers.

We Come 1

Thanks again must go to all of the kind message of support; those bloggily, email, text and voice that I have received since I've embarked on this crazy new career choice of mine.

Sorry guys but there's precious little of note to report really since I've gone independent. Explanations are too lengthy or too tedious to blog easily, but suffice as to say I'm managing to cope. I think. One moment things make sense, the next they're twice as confused. But slowly, oh so slowly, I think the fog is lifting.

Had an interesting few days off. Girlfriend, her lad, and I saw Faithless live at the NIA in Birmingham amongst other things. To say it was a bloody awesome gig was an understatement. They aren't one of the consistently top-rated live acts around for nothing. One quite fascinating thing I observed at the gig however was the pure cross-section of society attending. Within our section of the crowd were countless twentysomethings, teenagers, a family, some middle-aged couples and even a few retirees. You'd have to see it to believe it that all were positively dancing their asses off come the end.

We Come 1. Indeed.

And then...

Ten weeks on.

The end of my formal tutorship.

Incidents, files, late nights, stress.

Everything building to a crescendo.

A whole bunch of signatures and cross-referencing of my portfolio.

And then...

Tutor: "Right, and now you're on independent."

Me: "Oh." [Pause] "I mean, wow! Brilliant... Thanks! But oh... Shit."

*Tutor grins*

A few nights double-crewing with colleagues until I have my one-day driving course, and then I'm allowed out by myself. In a police car. To cause havoc on the streets.

Just me. In uniform. Alone. On the end of a radio.

That sound you hear is the wind whistling past; having been pushed of the ledge and expected to fly.

Better start flapping.

And soon.

Gotye - Heart's A Mess

Away for a few days and I come back to find an email from a friend of mine (who shares an eerie similar music taste) urging me to check this Aussie artist out.

Good find indeed - this is a fabulous track.

For some reason it sounds like so many things I've heard before, yet at the same time it sounds like nothing I've ever heard... If that makes sense?

And simply gorgeous animation.

Do give this a listen if you have a moment.

Close to the ledge

I know I haven't talked about work terribly much on this blog lately.

For those of you who have been supportive & genuinely interested, thanks guys.

Things continue to go well overall.

The worrying part is that I am beginning to come to the end of my tutorship and now worryingly close to having things signed off and then pushed close to the ledge and expected to fly solo.

I've had nine arrests in total. Unsurprisingly all of them males:

1. Criminal Damage
2. Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm
3. Drink / Drive
4. S3 Mental Health Act
5. Drink / Drive
6/7. Dishonestly obtaining electronic communications
8. Possession of a bladed weapon in a public place
9. Assault occasioning actual bodily harm

On top of that there's been tickets a 'plenty and all sorts of tedious and interesting experiences along the way.

I would have written further about things along the way, but I've been so frightfully busy that I just haven't had the time.

Sorry guys, I know you're missing out on all sorts of juicy titbits, but I'll get back in the groove when things settle down.

Eventually.

Left of the Middle

I love Wikipedia.

Pick a subject, any subject, and chances are it's on there.

For some reason I found myself wondering yesterday why parts of the world drive on the right-hand side, and others the left.

You'd think it's simply just due to colonialism down the ages, and the inevitable backlash.

And that's sort-of true, yes, but only in part.

The historical reasons are quite interesting actually.

If you like that sort of thing.

Talking about other lefty things...

I see the Liberals are mooting a possible power-share with Labour should parliament be hung at the next election. Fabulous. Fine by me if it keeps the Tories out.

And my favourite left-leaning newspaper has an interesting article today about the latest word-of-the-moment, as recently introduced to me by the girlfriend.

"Meh."

Watch the skies

If you read this before this evening, fabulous.

Look up, tonight.

If reading this tomorrow or later and you didn't raise your eyes to the sky...

Here's what you missed.