A Matter of Manners

Manners are important. A British gentleman always used to pride himself on his manners. A quick walk around London will quickly put any notion that that attitude survives to rest.

However, it has taken an American to sum it up for me. I suggest, if you aren’t' already, that you start reading Bruce Baugh's weblog.

Ride the board, man

There is a particularly British blend of an appetite for danger mixed with the stupidly ordinary. It's the part of us that respects a man for going to his death with the words "I'm going outside. I may be some time." It makes us sponsor people who run marathons in drag or stupid animal suits, despite the extra effort that it requires.

This, I think, sums it up: Extreme Ironing!

Peter David: Why Writers Are Scum

I may be a little late in finding this, but comics, book and TV author Peter David sums up what's so bloody irritating about the public's opinions of people who write for a living right here. Read it. Enjoy it. And never say "Oh, I've always planned to write a feature/novel/game book but never had the time" to a writer again.

I've always been meaning to do some brain surgery, but I've never had the time.