Anybody read `Up North` by Charles Jennings? It is one of the books that I bought Pete for Christmas subtitled Travels Beyond the Watford Gap. Pete chuckled from beginning to end - but then he would wouldn`t he, he`s a `soft southerner`.

Just started on it myself, and I`m enjoying it very much.

Anyone read something interesting lately? (:o)

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2001

Answers

I am in the middle of the Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. Written by your friend and mine the irrespressable Immanuel Kant.

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2001

I bet he can Syme!

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2001

Hmm?! Not a very `light` read then Syme? (:o)

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2001

It's like cutting down the mightest tree in the jungle with a herring (monty python) However the true vocation of reason must be to produce a will that is good, not perhaps as a means to other purposes.

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2001

All together now ...

Immanuel Kant was a real piss ant
Who was very rarely stable
Heidegger Heidegger was a boozy beggar
Who could drink you under the table
David Hume could out-consume Schoppenhauer and Hegel
And Wittgenstein was a beery swine
Who was just as sloshed as Schlegel
There's nothing Nietsche couldn't teach ya 'bout the raising of the wrist
Socrates himself was permanently pissed.

John Stuart Mill of his own free will
On half a pint of shandy was particularly ill
Plato they say could stick it away
Half a crate of whisky every day
Aristotle Aristotle was a bugger for the bottle
Hoff was fond of his dram
And Rene Descartes was a drunken fart
I drink therefore I am
Socrates himself is particularly missed
A lovely little thinker but a bugger when 'e's pissed


One of the more profound works of philosophy ever written there I think .... :-) (etc)

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2001

Actally Syme, I`ve always preferred the aesthetic realism of his earlier works, `Observations on the Feeling of the Beautiful and Sublime`, for instance, or `Some experimental Reflections about Optimism`.

But hell, what do I know! The closest I ever get to `Copernican Revolution` is `Copernic 2000`! (;o)

And I very soon discovered during my whistle stop tour of `Kant` this morning, while trying to find a quick and witty reponse to post on the subject, that I am completely and utterly out of my depth!

However, my time wasn`t wasted, and I am determined to knock someone`s socks off by dropping the odd `Kantism` into a conversation. For instance, `it is the representation that makes the object possible rather than the object that makes the representation possible`. That should stop them in their tracks! (;o)

-- Anonymous, February 03, 2001

Up North is a great book, it doesn't have to be read in page order, you can just pick a chapter if you only have 10 mins spare - a bit like the Bryson books. It very nice about Newcastle.

-- Anonymous, February 03, 2001

crikey syme - that takes me back to me days of communication and cultural studies. many moons ago now but i always liked Sophie's World by Jostien Gaardner for a brief 'overview'.....

-- Anonymous, February 03, 2001

I agree Dave, I`m really enjoying it. I like the fact that he is poking fun at himself, as much as anything! There are some very amusing descriptions...I can see why they made Pete laugh out loud. (:o)

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2001

Galaxy, >>>Anyone reading anything interesting these days?

The wee village library is going thro a bad spell , new books are slow in arriving. The good lady came away empty handed last week,she has exhausted the supply of books about the Highland Clearances, The Tattie Famine and Catherine Cookson and refuses point blank to read any novel that deals with modern life or the modern woman,

I was struggling myself but luckily for Xmas I received John Simpson`s (BBC Corresp) latest and that was excellent and kept me going. Second time around I am re-reading the John Grisham novels., footy one at the present is a Jimmy Greaves, funny old life series -: its crap , although he does rate Bobby Robson and Jackie Milburn, I am sorry but the Messiah is given short shrift as a footballer. For a read and chuckle book I have just finished Maureen Lipman`s second tale, this is one funny woman whose perception on life and the humour within should appeal to both sexes, Her husband Jack Rosenthal must wonder at times , a top lady.

I am present at work, but I am snowed out, half a mile off the sea, nothing, live 6 miles inland and had to park the car one mile from the croft last night. Left the house at 5.30am this morning to wade thro drifts to get to the car for work,that`s enough too auld for that caper , booking my 2 night shifts holiday so I will be off till next Sunday. Its not the amount of the white stuff , the wind gets up, blows the stuff off the parks , and drifts the back roads . Doubt if it will be cleared before Tuesday, so I am looking forward to `A guid read in front of a bleezin fire with a bottle of whiskey for company`

Bill Callaghan, signing off , ice station , Strichen (oh and its coming your way) , mek sure ye are aal wrapped up weel this after Howay the Bonny Lads

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2001

Hi Buff!

Brrrrrrrr!!!! Sounds chilly! Just wet and horrible down here - so what`s new! (:o(

So you`re a Grisham fan? One of my husband`s fav authors. Do you know, I can`t remember the last time I belonged to a library - the local one here is just so awful I never bothered joining.

Just out of interest, as the film is now beginning to receive the `hype` treatment - did anyone read Hannibal? I got the impression that it had been ghost written, nowhere near as well written as Red Dragon or Silence of the Lambs? (:o)

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2001

Dave - just read the chapter on Newcastle - your right, he was very kind about the place.(:o)

Anybody been to the pictures lately? (:o)

-- Anonymous, February 06, 2001

Finished reading `Up North` now - anyone want my copy?(:o)

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

OOOOOOOH if this is going to be like the world trip of "Season Ticket" yes please!

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Me too Galaxy, I'll have a look at it.......and if anyone knows where Season Ticket (last heard of in the Far East) currently is, can you let me know......

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Sorry Galaxy, I should have read a bit higher up before posting.

I read Hannibal when I was on holiday and thoroughly enjoyed it, far as I was concerend it was every bit as good as Silence and Red Dragon.

Looking forward to seeing the film on Friday, although its a shame Jodie's not in it.....can't necessarily agree with her reason for not doing it, as the sequence she is on about is done in the fullest context of the book.....but hey, we've all got different opinions on these things.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Gus just pipped you to the post there ITK - but I`m sure he`ll forward it on to you. Gus - can you mail me your address.(:o)

As for Hannibal ITK, I enjoyed the book, but just thought the writing was different to the first two. Maybe he laboured over it too much - it did take him forever to write it. However, like you I am really looking forward to seeing the film (going to a preview tomorrow night), and I can`t wait to see what Ridley Scott does with Venice. I`m hoping that not having Jodie Foster as Clarice won`t spoil it - but it will have to be very good to disctract you from making comparisons. I shall keep my opinions to myself - at least until after Friday.(;o)

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2001

Dark Moon by Appollo and the whistle blowers ( yes i know ) , conspiracy book about the fact that NASA cooked up the first landing on the moon , and that no-one has actually landed there . I love conspiracies and this one has got me hooked . BTW Gal , i agree with you re Hannibal , however i think the film is going to be brilliant , some of the descriptions in the book if relayed on the screen will make for a hell of watch . Gary Oldman as Mason Verger is meant to be brilliant .

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2001

With Ridley Scott`s flair for classy `shock` moments (ie. Alien), I agree Sting - I`m expecting something pretty spectacular! I`m really looking forward to seeing it though. When we went to see Silence of the Lambs on the first night, it was excellent. I`ve never hear a whole audience hold their collective breaths for so long!!! The cinema was totally silent during the climax at the end.....completely spellbound! (:o)

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2001