Tuesday, August 31, 2004

The Children of Lir - extract

'One day, from their island home of Inish Glora, the children were awakened by a strange sound. It was the ringing of a bell. It was rung by a holy man, a follower of Patrick, who had built a little church on a nearby island. The bell called him to pray each morning and evening. The swans realized their exile was over. They flew to the church and were welcomed by the Christian. From their singing he guessed that they must be the children of Lir, whose story had become legendary. "Your ordeal is over," he said. "A new religion of love has come to Ireland. Through it you will be freed."'


Teachers' Day celebrations, eh? Not much happened this time. Cards went to a lot of teachers, 's all I can remember, wot. Fingers are tired. Can't type much more.

Saturday, August 21, 2004

Girl From The North Country -- Bob Dylan

Well, if you're travelin' in the north country fair,
Where the winds hit heavy on the borderline,
Remember me to one who lives there.
She once was a true love of mine.

Well, if you go when the snowflakes storm,
When the rivers freeze and summer ends,
Please see if she's wearing a coat so warm,
To keep her from the howlin' winds.

Please see for me if her hair hangs long,
If it rolls and flows all down her breast.
Please see for me if her hair hangs long,
That's the way I remember her best.

I'm a-wonderin' if she remembers me at all.
Many times I've often prayed
In the darkness of my night,
In the brightness of my day.

So if you're travelin' in the north country fair,
Where the winds hit heavy on the borderline,
Remember me to one who lives there.
She once was a true love of mine.

Thursday, August 19, 2004

We Can Rule You Wholesale

We can rule you wholesale is the national anthem of the fictional city state of Ankh-Morpork in the Discworld series of fantasy novels by Terry Pratchett.

It was not written by a native Ankh-Morporkian, but by the visiting vampire Count Henrik Shline von Überwald (born 1703, died 1782, also died 1784, 1788, 1791, 1802, 1804, 1807, 1808, 1821, 1830, 1861, finally staked 1872). His inspiration came from his observations that Ankh-Morpork's chief means of defence was not warfare but corruption, bribery and mercantile tactics, since most the weapons used against the city were actually made there in the first place.

The anthem is particularly noteworthy for being the only one that has a second verse officially constisting of incoherent muttering. Count von Uberwald had also made the observation that any group of people singing their country's national anthem never remembers how the second verse goes anyway, so he decided to make things easier for Ankh-Morpork.

In formal occasions, the anthem is supposed to be performed by a large soprano singer wearing a sheet and holding a torch in one hand and a fork in the other.

"When dragons belch and hippos flee
My thoughts, Ankh-Morpork, are of thee
Let others boast of martial dash
For we have boldly fought with cash
We own all your helmets, we own all your shoes
We own all your generals - touch us and you'll lose.
Morporkia! Morporkia!
Morporkia owns the day!
We can rule you whoselsale
Touch us and you'll pay.

We bankrupt all invaders, we sell them souvenirs
We ner ner ner ner ner, hner ner hner by the ears
Er hner we ner ner ner ner ner
Ner ner her ner ner ner hner the ner
Er ner ner hner ner, nher hner ner ner (etc.)
Ner hner ner, your gleaming swords
We mortgaged to the hilt
Morporkia! Morporkia!
Hner ner ner ner ner ner
We can rule you wholesale
Credit where it's due."

The final part of the anthem is usually sung much louder than the rest of the second verse, since the singers want to show they know the words...

The anthem was actually written in 1999 by Pratchett (words) and Carl Davis (music), for the BBC Radio 3 programmme The Music Machine. It was performed by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the soprano was Clare Rutter. It was also performed at that year's Proms by the Prommers' Orchestra and Chorus.

-- from wordiq.com

Dunmore Cave is up and running!

Lolololol.
There always seems to be a sense of uneasiness when I create a new, brand new, blog. Writer's block comes where it is most unlikely to strike me in THE FIRST ENTRY. I herefore name this phenomenon "The First Day in Dunmore Cave Syndrome" and declare it unique to ME. If you suffer from the same thing you'll have to find your own name.