Great web site for all things science.  Very well structured around the Scottish Guidelines, making it easy to find all types of ideas and resources by topic.

Having been jealous of john over @ sandaig for his ability to use the mac based comiqlife, I was delighted to discover that a beta PC version has been released.  It allows you to do, very simply, great things like this, very simply!

According to the blurb Early Day Miners spin American rural music into richly cinematic, experimental textures that contain a prominent streak of melancholy. For some reason, I stumbled across a couple of their tracks on the blogosphere and quite liked them. The album, Offshore, is basically one long themed track, mostly instrumental, almost prog like guitars, occasionally fragranced with haunting vocals.
Guns and Drums by Low has pictures of Guns and Drums on the sleeve. Very clever I thought. This album moves back to classic melancholic(?) Low rather than the slight increase in cheer and tempo of The Great Destroyer. Not one for parties – but some good contents.

Soon to be reading The Children of Hurin by Family Tolkien! I have loved The Hobbit and the subsequent trilogy from quite an early age, with the films just bringing a richness to the story. Though I struggled with The Silmarillion (is that a Fish et al tribute band?) I have had a great desire to feed my Middle-Earth knowledge. I would love to see a prequel to them Rings films, even to the Hobbit, featuring the first great battles – flashbacks of which we see in the trilogy.

At my front door I have a bag of goodies for work tomorrow. Can you guess what I am going to do with them (prize for the most creative/imaginative!)? If you didn’t know my job – suggest what it could be based on these:

• balloons
• coat hangers
• vinegar
• bicarbonate of soda
• droppers
• air freshener

if we’d have had the gift (see below) then we would have known that trying to see Spidey3 without booking was foolish. trying to see the not yet released 28 Weeks Later was even more foolhardy. so by default, or by accident, we stumbled into next – the film showing not the high street chain of sensible yet stylish clothing (opinions contained in this post may not necessarily represent the publisher).

But next (the movie) was actually very very good. yes, it does have a scent of the 24 / deja vue / equilibrium / minority report hybrid about it – but those are mostly good things from what i’ve seen. Nicholas Cage has hair and can see 2 minutes into the future – or should that be a future? However, when he comes into contact with the gorgeous Jessica Biel, he can see further still into the future. So, in true Jack Bauer style, Mr Cage embarks on a hunt the nuke mission, sponsored by Julianne Moore – her of Hannibal fame (yes, not Jodie Foster).

Now, if you read my archives (I know, why would you), I am not really one to adorn praise on any celeb – but I was taken with Jessica Biel in this film – yes she is gorgeous, but, believably gorgeous – if that makes any sense? Sometimes you have someone that is so beautiful in the Hollywood sense that you don’t really believe it… but she was good too – and I was trying hard to remember where I had seen her before. Cage was great too – a sort of Leaving Las Vegas greatness… (whatever happened to Elisabeth Shue?)

Biel with latest in high explosive accessory

In an instant, hearts were broken and tears of joy were shed. Fans of St. Johnstone, Gretna and The Mighty Ross County endured a rollercoaster 93 minutes on Saturday.

Having failed to score for the last 4 or so Games, Gretna had all but thrown away their Division 1 title challenge. Their inability to score goals had seen County slide to the bottom of the table, their survival being in the hands of a team with nothing to play for… Queen of the South.

County had never been relegated. Gretna had seen back to back promotions. One team had money, the other didn’t. Former County favourite Martin Canning (who was identified as being very good by me years back) was now captain of Gretna.

Over 6,000 packed in to Victoria Park. The team played with determination and drive. The radio commentary was passionate and excitable… Saints seemed to be coasting 3-0 up at Hamilton, County 1 up, 2-1 down, now 2-2, Saints now 4-3… until that goal at the death. But even them County still had one further chance.

The Central Belt Selects, as Division 1 is now, will be happy to be rid of County. Dingwall on a wet and windy Tuesday night isn’t one of footballs great away trips. Yet, it does offer something different, especially with teams playing each other 4 times. If all you do is drive between Greenock and Airdrie, your world is quite small…

Some clubs with decent (away) support in that league now, Morton, Thistle, maybe St. Mirren, which should lend itself to a decent competition.

For County it is the delights of Alloa away, but hopefully they may be spared the epic Stranraer away who are in a playoff. I love lower league football. There is always such a better atmosphere, more banter with those on as well as off the field. Even with relegation battles, there seems to be a less serious attitude, people enjoying it more, taking it less seriously.

Follow County at The Jailender, more up to date than the official site.

In revenge for having dragged him to St. Johnstone v Ross County at New Year, I accompanied Big Ali to Falkirk St Mirren. He’s a Buddie.

This game dives into my top 3 random games at number 3. It is a close run thing for the top 2 spots with Airdrieonians v Partick Thistle being pipped at the post by Wimbledon v Birmingham City.

On all 3 occasions I was with the away support – which is always better and more vocal. This time, we won 2-0, there was a penalty, a sending off, some great songs of encouragement/abuse. A perfect night out…

Honda have kindly provided me with a shiny car and many moments of amusement! mostly due to my new car and racing around on a Honda Pilot – nope that’s not a wee man with a big helmet. We went racin courtesy of Fastrax – it was more sliding or skidding… some near wipeouts of centre staff… but what do you expect when a bunch of guys go on tour…

Discovered a couple of handy online recources which could be of use for forthcoming Elections/Parliament topics:

http://www.mockelections.co.uk/

Scottish Parliament Education Section

Had hoped to run some sort of mock election, but it isn’t long before the real thing! Any other resources out there?

also, more generally: http://www.explore.parliament.uk/

Just been on holiday to the part of England which is south of Cornwall, i.e. Spain. Flew to Murcia with BMI baby (the best cheap airline as you get allocated seats and therefore can avoid the scrum that is boarding!). The whole area we visited was designed for Brits who like sun and/or golf.

Now, not really a golf fan and when your visit happens to coincide with the worst local weather in history* it doesn’t make for happy days. We had one half afternoon of sunshine in a week, plus lots of heavy cloud, plenty of wind (or was that just the dinners?), even torrential rain – which doesn’t drain in Spain! Why not? Why can’t they build drains? Guess it is a waste when it only rains 3 days a year – yes the 3 that we were there for!

Could it get worse? Of course it could! Back home it was a belter! Scorchio… Great.

Still had plenty of time to read and to sleep and of course to watch Sky Sports in an Irish Bar – what else do you do in Spain? – oh, and frequent possibly the best curry house in the world, ever – Green Chilli…

* (or something like that)