SOME DISTURBING IMAGES

Following on from the HUBRIS post earlier I found these two images that, while not exactly demonstrating hubris, do demonstrate some misplaced affection and/or some kind of mania.

Admittedly the top photograph could just represent some old guy clinging to a large instrument for support after being shagged out from writing a blog post but the second image shows a mixture of cynicism, delusion and  arrogance that is plain scary.

*Please take care when searching the internet as these images can pop up anywhere.*

HUBRIS

 No Rob Carey, not this ...

That's hummus - something entirely different.

We've seen examples of hubris in the posts of 'the others' recently but perhaps I'd better provide a definition of hubris:

Thanks Merriam Webster dictionary.

Richard (of RBB) (his descriptor alone suggests hubristic belief in his own self-proclaimed genius), the occasional blogger who has inexplicably gone on holiday for a few days made this statement on his leaving post:

You won't have to study that in much detail to spot the hubris.

I apologise to readers for subjecting you to that but it was important as an illustration and is a near perfect example of exaggerated pride and self confidence. 

Exaggerated pride and self confidence paradoxically shows up in the actions and writings of christians. High and mighty, 'better-than-thou' Christians congregate in church on Sundays. Many act as if they somehow earned their 'salvation', not understanding that this is at odds with the teachings of Jesus the prophet that they nonsensically have deified.  If Jesus was real and a good man and prophet then they give him a bad name with their arrogance. ‘Believers’ of any religion demonstrate hubris when they convince themselves of their correctness and superiority. I like this Ricky Gervais quote which demonstrates their self-importance:

OK - that was a bit of a rant but another occasional blogger who currently calls himself Rob Carey (don't ask) is a Catholic christian and bangs on about a lot of made up people and things.  Here's a link to his blog: ROB CAREY.

He uses these to underscore how he, being a believer is to be 'saved' and others who are non-believers will go to hell. 'Rob' generally wraps this up in mealy-mouthed and lovey-dovey christian speak which comes across as passive aggressive. Here's an example from a post of his on the 1st of July:

"As I sit here I muse on the importance of forgiveness. There won't be bad feelings in heaven. Probably lots of angry resentful people in hell though.
They say the best way to overcome resentment is to pray for that person. I find that works. No one says "I hate you but wish you all the best" and means it."

Hubristic? Damned right it is.

ONE UP

 

I like this photograph featuring the great Don Clarke and a slowly sinking policeman.

I bought a month Sky pass to watch the two England vs New Zealand rugby tests (why 2 games?) and thoroughly enjoyed Saturday night's game where the All Black's won by 16 to 15. One point difference! This was the kind of score that was the norm (and less) in Don Clarke's day.

LOOK OUT!

While not the most exciting thing on the blogs last week but certainly interesting was Richard's announcement that he will be recording an album featuring  ... well, himself playing his favourites and own compositions. See:

PLAYING WITH HIMSELF

All good and well done that man for giving it a try. I think he deserves his own award:

NOTE: This award could be upgraded later if he actually has a go.

In keeping with his onanistic theme this certificate was created by him, has his title and was presented to him, by him.

We look forward to the result and hope that the three Richards don't get into some sort of argument and throw each other out of the band.

I did offer to accompany with bagpipes or even a chanter but this fell upon deaf ears (appropriate I guess when talking of the Hibernian contraption) and the silly old sod(s) want to - play with themselves.

Being a marketer and a brand creator though, I could help out with his band's name and album cover. The dick handler trio would be most appropriate but that band's name has (almost) been used before:

One of the more unkind Curmudgeons suggested this ...

... but was voted down by the other Curmudgeons as we have standards to uphold.

Sometimes you just have to go with the obvious so the first name that came to mind is likely the best - THE THREE DICKS. I'm sure that we'll be able to come up with some 'mirthful' images for the album cover and supporting promotional material. Watch this space!

I HEAR YOU - LOUD AND CLEAR

    .

"Loud and clear sir... loud and clear."

It's interesting what readers comment on my posts sometimes. Often the comments are a tad vulgar which can be damaging to my sensitivities. Most often though they are either obtuse (from Robert) or a bit simple (from Richard) which I have to admit is in their respective natures.

Today Richard commented on my informative woodshed (soon to be gardening shed) post:

 

If you weren't wasting time with these pointless posts, you could have cleaned the shed by now.

AND please ... tell me what you're having for dinner tonight.

I think I'd rather read the gospel according to John.*

          - Richard (of RBB)                                      [only slightly edited]

OK, fair enough - I heard you.

Tonight The Old Girl is heating up a butter chicken pie from the freezer and having that with some sautéed zucchini. I buy her butter chicken pies from the local bakery - a few at a time - because she likes to have one for lunch from time to time. As she's off to Christchurch tomorrow for a couple of months she decided to use up the last one.

I'm having roasted potatoes, pumpkin and sausages. I know, I know before the gastronomes amongst the (many) readers interject, I'll roast my pumpkin and potatoes and, after quickly pan-cooking the sausages (lamb and rosemary) will add these to the roasting dish in the oven for the last 10 minutes. Yum.

Well, you asked.

A HEADS UP

We've nearly gone through the wood in the woodshed - well, used up the chopped blocks of wood anyway leaving the odd and longer shaped pieces and lots of smaller rubbish that I'll burn later.

This stuff isn't much good for giving out heat but it has to go.

Once I've cleared this out I'll sweep the shed and use it to store the garden tools.

The shed's quite roomy inside so I should be able to get the wheelbarrow in along with a half a trailer load of cut firewood which I can stack tidily in a corner.  

That's the plan anyway. It's more likely the inside of the shed will look like this...

... kind of like Richard's shed.

THE PIZZAS

 Someone asked about the pizzas.

Well, they were smoked salmon.

I made one for The Old Girl and one for me.

While basically the same she didn't want all of the things I put on mine.

The basic ingredients are:

• Thin pizza base (cauliflower for her and stonebake for me)
• my homemade chilli relish
• grated Mozzarella cheese
• smoked salmon
• cream cheese
• red onion
• capers
• more Mozzarella cheese

I add to mine:

• pesto
• Fetta
• dill

In preparation

Hers on the left

 

Cooked

Hers

Mine (a bit overcooked)

As usual though they were tasty - just the thing before the big match tonight (All Blacks vs England).

HEY! JUST BE CAREFUL OUT THERE

 Something happened today to me today(why do these things happen to me?) that I feel compelled to tell you about to warn you.

It could well be that a new post series: THINGS YOU SHOULD BE CAREFUL OF will be necessary and, of course, forthcoming.

Today, after I'd done my chores (bringing wood in, lighting the fire and playing PS Tiger Woods golf for a couple of hours) I decided to have a bath before preparing dinner (smoked salmon pizzas).

While I was in the bath The Old Girl brought me a glass of Champagne (Veuve Cliquot) and a bowl of pizza crisps (Danny's). All good and I enjoyed my soak, the crisps, the Champagne and catching up on news and stuff on my iPad.

I washed my hair - or whatever hairs I have left and before plunging my head under the water to wash off the shampoo I took a drink of wine and a mouthful of crisps) I then put my head under the water. Mistake! Putting my head back made me gag a bit on the crisps and I opened my mouth to 'breathe' forgetting that I was underwater. I swallowed a lot of hot soapy water. Gag! Still, it might have been worse. At least it was hot soapy water that my body had been in, not some random stranger - still ...

... it makes you think. I might have drowned.

Let that be a lesson to you.

Thank you for reading.

 We give this post a safety rating of 10/10

"I THINK OF A CONVERSATION WITH RBB"

 It's another cold day up north. Today, Saturday it's less than 10 degrees out. Yesterday it started off at 4 degrees so - mustn't grumble.

In the later morning, after it warmed up a bit I spend another few hours under the house digging. I'm making progress and the guards haven't discovered me yet. The next step will be to buy a few bags of crushed stone and spread out over the excavations I've made. These are basically deeper crawl spaces to enable better access to the plumbing. Once completed I'll organise for the plumber to come to replace the remainder of the nasty Dux Quest piping that randomly leaks. This will give me peace of mind.

Talking of crawl space, the other night I watched a Netflix film Crawl Space. This was about a plumber doing some repairs under a house when some bad guys looking for money murdered the house-owner upstairs not being aware that the plumber was below, beneath the floorboards. When they searched for stolen money they discovered the plumber in the crawl space. He barricaded himself in doing a MacGyver act by fashioning a gun from his plumbing supples, drilling up through the floorboards and one of the bad guy's foot - you know, stuff like that.

Naturally I fantasised about this yesterday rather than The Great Escape.

Afterwards as it was a nice sunny day I went for a long walk. I might do the same again today.

Why am I telling you this? Well, that old guy down south who plays with himself seems to be concerned that I haven't been keeping readers up to date about  my activities:

At least that's what I think he was saying. It's hard to know as the other reader who now calls himself Rob Carey (sounds like tooth decay) mused:

"There is quiet now. Voices from somewhere down the corridor. A nurse speaks in a heavy Indian accent, her words indecipherable at this distance.
I think of a conversation with RBB."

        -Rob Carey 

Yes, I think of conversations with Richard when I hear indecipherable language and noisy washing machines as well.

THURSDAY - THANKS THOR

 It was 8 degrees this morning and still hasn't warmed up.

I'm ready to go to tennis but it's now clouding over. If it rains I won't go. It's now 10 degrees out and 12 degrees inside - not exactly balmy. I must be barmy even considering going out!

Even the mountain hardly wants to come out.

The tennis club is on the other side of Mount Manaia so no doubt is hidden by mist. 

I'll give it a half hour and reevaluate.

How's your day going?