[Stuff] The Oatmeal: This Is The Web Right Now.

Read the whole post at http://theoatmeal.com/comics/state_web_summer Very good stuff, critical without being pathetic.

[Via: The Oatmeal]

[Cycling] July Roudup.

Not sure why I haven't posted about any individual rides during July; but here is a roundup anyway.

I only managed to get out 7 times in the whole of July - not exactly brilliant, but not terrible - 3 times on the MTB and 4 times on the road bike.  Most of the cycling was on previously established routes, although I did find:

1. A new bit of offroad in Thorndon that added an extra mile to that ride. Interesting, uphill on wet grass is a killer.

2. I tried out a blast along the A128 fro Orsett.  Was OK, but too much fast traffic to make it a regular ride.

My times for the routes I've been doing before have got better and better, so I need to push one and increase duration and distance on the road bike.  Not too fussed about longer MTB rides at present as there is still a fair bit of Thorndon to explore if I need to.  Got to try and aim for a 30 miler this month, sure that is doable if my knee is OK (I popped it trying to chase a fitter cyclist up the hill in Dunton...) and the weather stays alright.

July's Cycling Totals:

• Total Duration = 5h 50m 49s
• Total Distance = 85.81 mi
• kCal burned =6313
• Average Speed = 14.49 mi/h
• Average Pace = 4m 17s/mi
• Elevation Gain = 3822 ft
• Elevation Loss = 3829 ft
• Activities = 7 (4 Road, 3 MTB)

[Movies] Time Out: 50 Most Controversial Movies.

The 50 most controviersial movies of all time, as told by Time Out New York.

http://newyork.timeout.com/arts-culture/film/725761/the-50-most-controversial-movies-ever?page=0,0

Not a bad list.  Some are there as they "rocked" the industry, some challenged the morals of the time, just just outright offended and some simply stirred up their own trouble.  Not seen them all, but a fair few.

[Photography] Grass | Lensbaby.

Grass.

Bude Cornwall | June 2011 | Canon 400D | Lensbaby Muse Plastic Optic

[Books] Frederick Forsyth - The Devil's Alternative.

Another week, another Freddy book finished. Becoming a bit of a habit, this. This was one of the books I liberated from my parent whilst down there in June, along with another FF book, a Ludlum, a Deighton and some others. They were having a clear out and the books were off the charity shop - so I had a selection away. So this copy is another "classic" Corgi one, looks to be produced in 1980 (when I was 2, ha ha). There is something about old books.

I started reading this straight after I had finished "The Odessa File", which probably wast a good idea. Why wasn't it a good idea? Well, I still had that book swimming in my head and that confused the first few bits of this book. I've noticed this before with Forsyth books. "The Devil's Alternative" is a lengthier book that "Odessa", about twice as thick; which was a good sign as despite being a decent read, I found "The Odessa File" a bit short and quick.

Plot wise, well where to start. I'm used to the typical "multi-plot" device used by Forsyth, but this one was something else. This was the authors fourth novel proper, and it seems he fancied building more and more sub-plot then before. The three previous books ("Day Of The Jackal", "The Dogs Of War" and "Odessa") all had a maximum 2 or 3 plot lines to follow which combined at the 3/4s mark and then flowed to the end. "The Devil's Alternative" didn't. It had about 7 I think, which could get confusing at some points - especially when you think you have all the plots sorted and he throws a new one in! Saying that, the way he works them together is excellent. At no point did I think that any of the sub plots were superfluous and there purely for filler. Even with FF's penchant for endless reams of facts and figures, real-life historical information and technical gubbings; the many fractures of the world fitted well. I think it helped that everything was happening at the same time; unlike some of his other novels when you had to remember that at some point you were reading what happened years prior to the part just before it.

Do you want a plot outline and spoiler? Well, I guess the book is so old it's not going to make much difference. Concentrating on the main plot; a group of Ukrainian dissidents want to strike a blow to the heart of the Soviet Empire and free the people of their homeland from years of suffering and persecution. To do this, they plan a act that will, if known to the outside world, shake the Kremlim to it's core and bring down the secretive and totalitarian government. Unfortunately, this dont go exactly as planned, so a second act is needed to help the first complete in full. Alongside this, Russia is suffering from a problem with it's annual grain harvest. The US learn of this and use it as a bargaining tool to force the Soviets to agree to lower there military power - but the acts of the Ukrainians threatens to blow the deal out of the water and bring Europe, if not the World, to war. Inside this there is story of love lost and re-found; a story of pride and achievement; a murder plot in the West by factions of the East; and a story of political subterfuge and cover ups.

A pretty enjoyable book. I found it hard to get my teeth in to at the start, but by the end I was lapping the words up, willing for the plot to reach its boiling point. It's well written, well paced (no odd drop out, such as I found in "Odesaa" and "Avenger") and the character development with pretty good too - at no point do you think "hold on, that's a bit out of character for him/her" - and that really helps you differentiate between the plot lines. I'm actually amazed that this hasn't been scripted for a film yet. I could see this working as a retro-thriller, still basing it in 1982 during the Cold War. It would need to be a long film, but I would go and see it...

Maybe I need to write a script? Errrrr..... no. I'll leave that to someone else.

Oh, as an aside this will probably be the last paper-back I read for a while.  I've gone and got myself a Kindle. :)

[Stuff] Edited Signs.

More at http://www.happyplace.com/4286/brilliantly-sarcastic-responses-to-completely-well-meaning-signs

Shame the most classic of Internet images wasnt included:

[via Happy Place]

[Beer] Guinness.

A classic drink. The Black Stuff. I've never really drank it before. Sure, I've purchased the odd pint of it in my youth to try it, but I don't think I've ever drunk a whole pint. But now I'm more into my proper beers I thought I would give it ago again.

Fortune smiled on me as my wife was make a Guinness & Chocolate cake (yup, as good as it sounds...mmmmmm) and so there were a few left over from the 4 pack of bottled Guinness.

Wow. This stuff is great. Different, I assume, to draft of canned, but so dark and tasty. Very 'porter' like, but more of a slow caramel burn.  No fix - as flat as a pancake - but the depth of flavour makes up for any lost texture.

I'm converted.