And I’m not even a regular Hotmail user 
(People who know me on MSN feel free to ask if you want this – but hurry, it might not work for long)
Or search for the trick yourself of course 
Thanks Nathan
Happy New Year, and welcome to 2006. On the recently relaunched RV:Blog (which I insist you all check out) Nic hints of an interesting year to come. Rob wants to know your resolutions and what you did with that extra leap-second.
Hmmmm – resolutions. That’s always a hard one. I might resolve to finally finish the QPCS page of this website which was left curiously unfinished when I redesigned. Or maybe I should write an article on Wikipedia, since I use it so much? I’ll keep blogging throughout 2006 definitely – but I’m not sure that qualifies as a resolution rather than a warning
I was at Joshua’s party last night which I promised not to blog too much about (people I’ve never met have seen my website though, that’s cool) but I will say a massive thanks to him and his mum for letting us use their house!
Oh and 2006 is going to be exciting in the IT world. We should see Internet Explorer 7, Windows Vista, Office 12 from Microsoft. On a smaller but no less significant scale I’m interested to know what will happen with Nucleus, the open source CMS this blog uses. Apple might change the colour of the iPod a few times as well. 
And don’t forget the BBC’s iMP!
And what will happen politically? Oh, who knows. My one prediction is that Cameron is going to pick a fight with his party over some issue to show that he’s serious for change – and win. There are going to be some traditional Conservatives who will have to go if he is going to capture the centre ground, in exactly the same way as old Labour skedaddled in 1994.
And finally – make sure you tune in this year for Doctor Who, Series Two, BBC One. And Torchwood as well! Super.
I saw Alan Bennett’s play The History Boys at the National last night. Twas exceptional – very funny, great characters and a thoughtful message. And I kept seeing my own History teachers mixed into the different characters which was interesting\disturbing.
However.
I think Bennett is wrong.
Well not ‘wrong’ as such. But I don’t agree with his mouthpiece in the play, the lovable (if mild child-abuser) Hector. He is contrasted against Irwin, the sophist, the liar, the government aide of the future who twists and spins our liberties away and then presents Simon Schamaish TV programmes with sensation over fact. He gears the students towards passing exams and getting into Oxbridge by trying to ‘stand out’ and be special instead of nice and truthful and scholarly. And of course he’s a fake – he lied about going to Oxbridge! Oh the shame! What a bastard. He’s a journalist!
Except the trouble is that his history lessons were much more interesting that Hector’s versions. I actually wanted to be in them. He would take an argument and turn it on its head – trying to find a new angle. But I like that. Our perspective on historical events changes and there’s nothing wrong with arguing something novel because you might end up with a deeper truth.
And then there’s the obvious critique of the education system. Oh, to have gone from the days when slightly mad teachers could be free to inspire their students with French and Latin and memorising poetry instead of trying to pass ghastly exams. When you didn’t need to coach people on how to present themselves in university interviews because that was somehow beneath you. Where did it all go wrong?
This is where it all went wrong: Bennett’s idealised classroom (and it was certainly idealised) was built on a lie itself. It was built on the grammar school model of discarding 90% of the population because they couldn’t pass a test at age 11. That’s right, a test! Hector didn’t need to exam-school his students because it had already been done, only in a bitter, divisive way. I simply can’t get nostalgic about a system which preached ‘education for education’s sake’ and then denied that education to the masses because they couldn’t jump through a hoop.
But the most important thing to take away from The History Boys is that it’s the biggest advert for mixed-sex education I’ve ever seen
However, certainly a great play. I’d give it a grade A for achievement but I think Hector would disapprove.
Hope everyone had a good one!
We spent the morning plundering stockings as usual and then a traditional and delicious Christmas lunch complete with turkey, roast potatoes and those wonderful mini-sausages wrapped in bacon. Mmmmm! My Secret Santa present is worth special mention – it was a babbleblog group thing between Pingu, GG, Mr X, Dan, Nathan, Nic and myself – and mine turned out to be from Pingu. Not one but three gifts! A McFly calendar (which went straight to Tash), some splatter egg things and the real heart of the present – a Doctor Who sonic screwdriver!
This thing is super cool. It extends, makes noises and flashes just like you’d expect, but it’s also fitted with a special UV pen and light for writing secret messages. You can run around the house all day with this thing feeling six years old and loving every minute! Thanks Pingu! As a matter of fact he was my Secret Santee too so I got him a talking Dalek mug which yells “EXTERMINATE!” if you try to pick it up.
Trusty sonic screwdriver faces Maths homework
Linda Moffitt on Colombia: “Such a sweet memory of the four of you meeting up in Colombia!” Dec 2, 07:42
