In Medias Res…

“Some boat builders in the Netherlands have a gorgeous stainless steel hull ready to be covered with the finishing wood. His three daughters remain unmarried, his two youngest still girls, and he’d wanted to walk them down the aisle as he’d walked me the day of my wedding.We all — in the end — die in medias res. In the middle of a story. Of many stories.”

These moving words were spoken by Mona Simpson as part of her Eulogy for her Brother, Steve Jobs.  Steve Jobs designed, pioneered and invented many products that people use all around the world, the iPad, iPhone and iMac all products from his company, Apple.

Steve found out that he had Cancer in 2003 and although his health obviously deteriorated, to his credit, he still died ‘In the middle of something’.  Some reports say that before his death, he worked hard to help create a product ‘roadmap’ for Apple that will see out the next five years.  No matter what his legacy, it’s still easy to see the tragedy in his passing at the age of 56, a life with much more to give, cut short.

Mona Simpson’s words are very true.  None of us live for the purpose of dying although we all will.  Death may be inevitable, but it isn’t the benchmark or defining moment of our lives.  We don’t see it as our finest hour and even for those who are unwell, it is seldom welcome.

There is an exception to the this though.  In Jesus Christ, we find a man who’s entire purpose was to die. Christianity teaches that the victory of Christ’s death and Resurrection brings hope to all mankind, a hope that while we may pass ‘in medias res’, we only pass on to something new. Something we can’t claim as our own but that is given to anyone who will receive.

Steve Jobs once said that he was 50/50 on whether there was an afterlife or not.  He couldn’t be sure but he wanted to acknowledge that there could be something else.  He pointed out that many of his products don’t have ‘off switches’, they are always ready for us, they go on and on.  He went on to say that his instincts similarly told him that life itself doesn’t have an ‘off switch’ either.

The teachings of Jesus before his death on the cross also point out that although we may be destined to die ‘in medias res’, we are still only partway through a journey which stretches on into eternity.  Steve Jobs died on October 5th, 2011.  According to Mona, his last words as he looked into the distance were “Oh wow! Oh wow! Oh wow!”.

The technology world is remembering the life of one of it’s giants today.  Steve Jobs, former CEO of Apple Inc. has died at the age of fifty-six.

Renowned for his ruthless and unwavering determination, Jobs had been battling through ill health since 2003 but in true typical fashion, he worked on, only stepping down as boss on the 24th August this year.

I only dealt with Steve Jobs once.  Soon after the launch of the iPad,  I emailed him to say how happy I was with the product and how useful it was with my day to day work.  Steve Jobs was well known for replying (albeit briefly) to emails that were sent to his work address.  On this occasion, I didn’t expect a reply given that no question had been asked or suggestion made.  As it turned out, I did receive a very public reply as a few weeks later, Steve quoted some sections of my email during his TV interview at the ‘All Thing Digital’ event.

Steve’s comments reminded me that it’s often important to give positive feedback, we’re quite used to complaining but it’s equally important to make sure we don’t let moments of thanks or praise pass by too.  Often a little ‘thank-you’ or ‘well done’ give us all a better perspective on both successful and unsuccessful endeavours that we find ourselves dealing with day by day.  The Bible says ‘Don’t grow weary of doing good’ (Gal 6:9), and no matter how successful or confident we are, we can all lose sight of what we may be achieving from time to time, thats where some simple reassurances can make a big difference.

Steve Jobs also had quite a shrewd and philosophical view of life, and death.  In 2005, during his Stanford Commencement Speech, Jobs addressed his own mortality.

“No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

Steve clearly lived by this principle, today he gains a degree of immortality with what he leaves behind. We all do well to remember that his life is one lived and used to the fullest.

What costs would you go to for your photography?

TSS 'The Duke of Lancaster'

Last night I risked life, limb, camera equipment and arrest in order to snap some photos of an old rusty ship which is moored up along the North Wales coast but what risks should hobbyist photographers like myself be prepared to take?  And why do casual snappers such as myself find that its becoming increasingly difficult to take pictures like these at all?

Photographers are admittedly a strange breed.  Often not content with the mere click of an instamatic, we can be seen in all weather gear, at all times of the day trying to set up camera tripods and capture a wonderful view which is often completely missed by the masses who walk past or observe with amusement or suspicion.

Of course we need to be vigilant in this age of ‘terror’ but we also need to use common sense too.  Certain views, buildings and locations may warrant extra security but unfortunately the palaces and parliaments may also be high up on the tourist trail or photographers list of iconic images to be captured. Why should private security firms be so surprised if photographers want to take photographs of moody country mansions at dusk?

In light of the general over sensitivity towards photographers, I have found it increasingly difficult to take simple photographs pretty much anywhere.  My photos aren’t of ‘sensitive’ locations and my camera poses no ‘risk’ to anyone other than myself but still, the hobbyist photographer is often singled out by the authorities or over zealous members of the public who somehow feel that they are doing a great service by trying at any length to stop people photographing landscapes.  Of course, we are all allowed the right of privacy and photographers should not invade peoples privacy or take photographs of strangers without permission, but when it comes to landscapes???

I am a vigilant person.  I keep an eye open (obviously) while I’m out and about taking my photographs so maybe some of these ‘do gooders’ would do well to consider that if there are lots of photographers like me snapping away with their telephoto lenses, it makes it harder for the real criminals to act unnoticed.  Maybe photographers can be the extra set of eyes that the security services say we so badly need.  I’m convinced that the vast majority of landscape photographers such as myself don’t compromise security, we enhance it.

Read my novel, as I’m writing it!

It’s been a while, I’ve been very busy with work and other things but my latest blog post may give you a glimpse into one of my current pet projects.

For about a year, I’ve been looking at writing my own novel.  I’ve done some research and written a few chapters and although its a lot harder than cobbling a few thoughts together for a blog page, I am looking forward to completing it at some point in the future.

As part of my book writing, I have also decided to write a smaller, easier book which will help me get used to the format and style that I will need to use for my blockbuster ‘tome’.

I’ve also decided that I should share my writings in near realtime with anyone who should care to read along and rather than wait until its completed, I thought it may be helpful for myself to think that people may actually be reading it as I’m writing.  I know this cavalier attitude wouldn’t go down well with Hodder and Stoughton or Penguin, but they’re not returning my calls so there we go…

Hopefully, you can read my first novel (well the first one that I’m actually publishing for now) by clicking below.  Its completely free and all I ask is that you would maybe consider leaving some feedback as this may help me actually write something, someday, worthy of publication.

…sent from my iPad.

It had to happen.

Yesterday I queued for 3 hours to pick up Apple’s new tablet computer which has the ubiquitous honour of being both loved and loathed by techie geeks and reviewers all around the world.

Of course one of the first things I did was to copy as many useful apps from my iPhone over to it’s new oversized twin and this post is living proof that some of my money has been spent wisely on both some of the apps and (I’d like to think) the device itself.

Yes it hasn’t got a keyboard and yes it just about sucks that I can’t really choose where files go both on or off the device but I can confirm that it is much more that just an ‘oversized ipod’.

The extra screen real estate means I can type accurately and quickly on here which means my blog posts and tweets make slightly more sense than the ones cobbled together on my iPhone in the back of a moving taxi. However I can’t help thinking that for the iPad, the best is yet to come…

Within a few weeks of writing this, we’ll all be getting ready to welcome the band new iPhone HD and also a new OS which will alter the way that both the iPhone and iPad work. Admittedly such an update won’t install a camera onto the iPad which it is definitely missing but it may add some measure of multitasking which has been near the top of ‘most wanted features’ ever since the Cupertino boys came to their senses and added ‘copy and paste’ into the OS last year.

As is often the case with mobile devices, the software really can make a huge difference to how practically useful these devices are and as Steve Jobs warms up for the next big announcements in June, it’s only a matter of time before more people are wowed by apple’s elegant and simple (if not slightly overpriced) way of doing things and just like on Friday when I was quaffing free food and drink at Apple’s expense, I can hardly wait!

What makes a good ‘Heckle’?

It had to happen.  It wasn’t a case of ‘if’ but ‘when’. The General Election campaign was barely 24 hours old before @benbutterworth accosted Gordon Brown en-route from ‘keeping in touch with the electorate’ and getting into his no-doubt bulletproof Jag, but what makes a good heckle?

Mr Butterworth’s beef was with the fact that he has been unable to get his eldest child into the state school of their choosing and as this footage shows, he didn’t shy away from giving the PM a piece of his mind. “Gordon! I thought you wanted to talk to the public” was the statement that could of easily doubled as a question and as the Prime-Minister made his hasty getaway the security bods made it quite clear that it’s the PM who gets close to the electorate rather than the other way around.  So now the dust has settled, what should we make of the Heckler and the Heckled?

The Heckler

Mr Butterworth’s tone was forceful, clear and passionate but importantly he didn’t ‘over-egg the pudding’.  Some hecklers get lost in the emotion of the moment and throw their tempers (and shoes) at their targets. Usually resulting in an arrest, this rarely benefits their cause, instead making a speedy exit look sensible rather than seedy.  Todays heckle was well delivered and it hit home hard.  Less successful political heckles included ‘over-egging’ John Prescott,  the protester didn’t really have that much to say and as it turns out, nor did the Deputy Prime-Minister.

Some hecklers also fall at the first hurdle which is ‘make sure your target hears what you’ve got to say’.  Other hecklers achieve much more with one incident in particular not only making the news headlines but was made ‘during’ the news headlines.  Who could ever forget the Lesbian invasion of the BBC News studios? (No-one thanks to this clip on youtube).

Hecklers may only be exercising their democratic right to free speech but they have more to lose than they think.  A poorly executed heckle can do more harm than good although Mr Butterworth’s example from today could easily go down in political history as ‘textbook’.

The Heckled

The second party caught up in the moment immediately starts at a disadvantage.  The element of surprise is a vital strategy, straight from the heckler’s handbook.  Like an assassination attempt, the heckle can go relatively unchallenged for a few seconds before anyone gets chance to react.  Mr Brown found himself caught in the classic dichotomy of what to do.  Should he try to rescue the situation with a smile and a handshake? (Unlikely at the best of times) or should he just get out of there as quickly as possible?

The Prime-Minister plumped for option two which sometimes can work well while other times can be quite damaging in itself.  When hecklers don’t appear too ‘rabid’ as in the case of Mr Butterworth, it can look quite ignorant when impassioned pleas for justice or answers fall on deaf ears.  In reality, Mr Brown probably didn’t have much option in the situation as security concerns can take precedence over PR however wherever possible, it can be helpful if the Heckled can muster some kind of response to what is put before them.

One of many?

As I mentioned earlier, we are barely twenty-four hours into this election campaign and it would be very surprising indeed if this heckle turned out to be an isolated incident.  With most heckles its probably healthy for us to remember that to see the real heckle and harangue pros at work, don’t need to look far beyond our illustrious politicians themselves.  They are all experts at it. In fact the irony of all of this is that you only need to watch them in Parliament to see how it really should be done.

Bullied by the anti-bullies

Strange things have been happening recently in liberal circles, have you noticed?

Yesterday, we had the Anti-Fascist’s ‘protecting democracy’ by demonstrating as an individual chose to use their right of free speech on BBC Television and a few days before that, over 22,000 complaints to the Press Complaints Commission regarding Jan Moir’s admittedly untimely comments surrounding the death of Stephen Gately.  Yes, it seems that anyone who dares to say anything that doesn’t sound like anything else being said (at the time), better watch their back…

I’m sure the liberals won’t like this post either.  After all, it sounds like I’m anti-gay or racist (or both) just by talking about this, so what should I expect?

Will I be heckled and hounded on social networking websites?  ‘How dare he say what he said!  What kind of uneducated ignoramus is he?’ #getridofhim.

Will they express their insult and disgust, maybe demand an apology or arrange a protest, after all regardless of my intent, they have taken offence.

Will any protest be violent and vandalistic on both sides of the police line?

Strange things have been happening recently in liberal circles, have you noticed?

Since when did we live in a country that only allows freedom of speech to those who say only what we want them to?  Since when did we live in a country that announces everybody’s equality although some are more equal than others based upon what they believe in?  And since when did we live in a country where it’s acceptable do what’s wrong to protest for what public opinion thinks may be right?

I’m not Homophobic, I’m not racist but surely democracy is only democracy when it protects the rights of everybody, not just the ‘liberal elite’.  Some don’t agree with a homosexual lifestyle, some believe that multiculturalism has its dangers.  Does that mean they shouldn’t be afforded the same rights as those who believe otherwise?

What’s so ‘tolerant and fair’ about a society that demands apologies from people who’s opinions differ?  Come to think about it, what’s so liberal about that either?  Aren’t we in danger of just polarising to the other extremes?

Surely our society works best when people can say what they think and then those who listen can have their chance too.  Are we not sometimes too quick to take offence?  Aren’t we quick to start inquisitions and character assassinations for anyone who isn’t ‘liberal enough’ for our liking?

Someone recently linked to the alpha homepage on twitter with this comment:  Don’t forget to vote ‘no’ on this poll.  The question was, ‘is there a God?’.

I’m sick of being told what I have to think, not just to be popular but to be accepted.  And why should anyone be branded a fool or homophobic racist if they talk about sexuality and race whilst holding an opinion that differs from the left-wing, ‘do-gooders’?  Shouldn’t democracy afford everybody (regardless of sexuality, religion or race) the right to speak and be heard?

I don’t have to believe what anybody tells me,  I can listen to liberals and conservatives alike.  I can make my own mind up without anybody protesting or complaining whether I want them to or not.  I can reason and speak for myself.

I clicked ‘Yes’

Act, Love and Walk

⁸ He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

Micah 6:8

So what about mercy over justice?  Today the Scottish authourities chose to release Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, the only man ever convicted of the Bombing of Pan-Am 103. But did they do the right thing?

At first glance, it seems that you either have one or the other.  You are either merciful or you wield justice.  A false dichotomy which is perfectly demonstrated by two swords, kept in the Tower of London as part of the Crown Jewels.  The Sword of Justice is large.  It moves swiftly and would leave no one under any allusions as to where it has been.  Made from the highest quality metals and incredibly sharp, the sword divides, it splits one thing from another.  Right from wrong.

The Sword of Mercy looks completely different.  In fact it looks like it is broken.  It has been blunted and shortened at its end.  According to myth and legend, its tip was broken off by an Angel in order to prevent a wrongful killing.  The sword is presented to the Monarch as a reminder that Mercy may be just as powerful as justice in the right hands, so is that what we have seen today?

The aptly named ‘Justice Secretary’ Kenny MacAskill, hinted that ultimate justice would not be handed out by a government but by a God and he questioned how allowing Megrahi to die in prison served justice any more than him dying elsewhere.  He faces an ultimate judgement which he cannot avoid.

In showing mercy to this man. Mr MacAskill may have made many enemies.  People still eager for their pound of flesh.  People who feel that  justice left on the plane for Libya with Megrahi.  I sensed a pang of remorse as I saw him leave too yet despite my otherwise indescribable feelings, I also felt that by showing mercy, the Minister may have brought a degree of closure that simply wouldn’t have been possible in a few months.  The time for Mercy was now.  To allow a dying man the dignity that was denied to two hundred and seventy individuals.  It may be difficult to spot at the moment but by wielding the Sword of Mercy, he may send out an example to some who wield their ‘Swords of Justice’ on a daily basis, killing many.

Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi released this statement, from the plane, shortly after leaving Glasgow Airport.

‘Christ died for our sins’ Despite what the BBC says…

The earliest account of the resurrection in Codex Sinaiticus

Great news for religious conspiracy theorists the world over.  The oldest near-complete version of the Bible can now be browsed online.

Codex Siniaticus was written between 400-450AD and is the oldest version of the Bible in existence but what does it tell us about the Bibles we read today?

There is no doubt there are lots of ‘differences’ Especially in the Old Testament.  This is largely due to how the oldest books (like Genesis) were written.  In this Codex, they were written in ‘ye-olde-Greek’ which has presented challenges to readers, much like those who try to read old English versions today.  It’s a different story for the New Testament though.

Some stories are omitted and some extra ones are included but bearing in mind, these scriptures are by no means a recent find, the modern translations already point out these differences in the margins.  Unfortunately with Da Vinci Code mania stull running high,  lots of people are looking for controversy where there really isn’t any and it seems to be quite fashionable to try to discredit the Bible rather than the Qur’an or other Holy writings were fundamentalists don’t quite share such scholarly love.

The BBC haven’t helped by writing a web article which only really tells half of the story.  Readers may be forgiven for thinking its all over bar the (hymn) singing after reading that the Codex misses out vast swathes of text including accounts of Christ’s resurrection and ascension.  It isn’t quite like that at all.

Via the science of ‘textural criticism‘ its possible to form a relatively accurate date for the writings and events of the letters of St Paul and the Acts of the Apostles.  Paul’s ‘conversion’ happened approximately four years after Jesus’s public execution.  Acts 9:19 tells us that after his Damascus road experience, Paul spent time with the Disciples in Jerusalem.  Textural criticism really kicks in here…

1 Cor 15:3 offers what seems like a simple-almost throw-away comment.

³For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance^[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, ⁵and that he appeared to Peter,^[b] and then to the Twelve. ⁶After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.

This now sounds quite ‘normal’ as far as Christian tradition goes but at the time of writing, these words were mind blowing.  Paul wrote this around 50AD.  A mere thirty years after Jesus’ execution many of the witnesses to the events were still alive, in fact Paul makes mention of this himself.  But why is this so important?

Well, some historians, theologians and novel writers would like us to believe that Jesus’ Divinity and resurrection were only ‘invented’ hundreds of years and thousands of miles away from how things actually were.  However through textural criticism it’s easy to see that they were not.  Christians were preaching, reading and writing about the resurrection within 5 years of Christ’s execution (remember: Paul says he is passing on that which he was given, presumably from the Disciples in Jerusalem).

Unsurprisingly and contrary to what the BBC may have us believe, these texts can all be found (easily) in Codex Siniaticus with a few simple clicks of the mouse.  They aren’t missing at all!

I’m not sure why Christianity comes in for so much stick.  Now I know some of the bad-press is well deserved with religious crackpots doing far more damage than good but surely a tambourine image crisis shouldn’t affect what is historically accurate or not.

Alas! It doesn’t seem to be that way.  So many assumptions are made, reports and documentaries broadcast without some of the evidence being presented properly.  Not only does this exhibit very poor journalism, it misrepresents some of the most famous and prevalent ancient texts in existence.

Aren’t we interesting enough for the celebs?

Twitter may be full of the rich and famous but most of us commoners may have noticed that few famous people bother to return the ‘follow’.

Before I worked at the BBC I used to be a TV extra.  I remember my first day on the set of Coronation Street and despite seeing many familiar faces I suddenly realised that I didn’t know these people at all.  That led me to be kind and courteous to the cast as I would a stranger, yet it seemed that some household names almost went out of their way NOT to treat me the same and this really puzzled me.  In fact it was the first time I experienced not just a class divide but a profession divide too, something which working in the media industry, I have now grown quite accustomed to.

I won’t name names as to who the worst offenders were although Bill Roache deserves a special mention at this point for being quite the opposite.  He is one of the nicest and most helpful people with which to work on your nervous first days treading the cobbles.  On some occasions I even noticed he answered to his screen name both on set, and on Sundays in the BBC studios where our paths crossed again.  Ken, you’re a star!

I’ve noticed a similar kind of celeb dynamic on Twitter as well.

Some ‘stars’ seem only too quick to follow their equal’s but much slower to follow anyone who earns less than a few grand a week.  Their follow rate is both disproportionate and disappointing.  Now I am not saying that they should follow everyone or indeed that I have any right to tell anyone who they should or shouldn’t follow but purely based on the laws of probability, there must be some people who aren’t rich or famous that still deserve to be ‘heard’ on Twitter by those who are.

I am very non-discriminatory in who I follow.  If people seem interesting I follow them, if not then I don’t.  Sometimes I follow people based on single tweets or trends and sometimes I follow people for a while, then change my mind. I know the constraints on my time may not be quite as demanding however it seems as though the celebs don’t use Twitter the same way I do at all.  In fact, I’m just as keen to soak-up as to share and I benefit greatly from doing so yet some of the celebs seem to be the opposite way around.  So may I challenge anyone reading this to follow someone new today, even if some users remind us that although they may share the same network, they are a million miles apart in every other aspect.