Sir Terry Pratchett at The National Press Club

To launch his 39th Discworld novel “Snuff” Sir Terry Pratchett gave a lecture at The National Press Club in Washington D.C. and I was lucky enough to be there.  Not only that, but I was lucky enough to be one of 100 guests who were invited to an exclusive “meet Sir Terry Pratchett” session after the main event!  I could barely contain my excitement.

Sir Terry Pratchett, standing next to me!

Click on to read more about the lecture below the fold!

A Birthday Thought

They say that fifty is the new thirty,
Forty the new twenty-five,
I say that those are just numbers,
Be glad for each day you’re alive.

I’ve known those that were old by their twenties,
And ninety year old tennis freaks,
Because life is about how you live it,
Not a matter of years, months, and weeks.

So get out there, enjoy each new moment,
Take time to laugh, dance, and sing,
Play, keep you mind fit, eat healthy,
And ignore the pointless age thing!

This is for all my friends who I value for who they are not how long they’ve been around!

I tell you I’m a Hobbit!

I read in the news (The Telegraph – Middle Earth protest as New Zealanders take to the streets over Hobbit plans) that Peter Jackson was considering moving the troubled production of Tolkien’s Hobbit out of New Zealand.  Outraged Antipodeans protested with banners stating “New Zealand is Middle Earth”.

This made me smile because I consider myself a bit of a hobbit, albeit a six foot tall hobbit.  Why? Well, truth be told, I’m from “the shire”, you see.  So here are some well known (and some not so well known) facts about Hobbits and their creator:

• Tolkien lived in Warwickshire and the village of Sarehole provided the inspiration for Hobbiton. (BBC Coventry & Warwickshire – Tolkien’s Warwickshire connection)
• Tolkien was a fire warden during World War 2 and spoke of watching Coventry burn on the horizon (Google Books – J.R.R. Tolkien encyclopedia: scholarship and critical assessment. by Michael D. C. Drout). This provided inspiration for the fiery destructive depths of Mordor.
• Hobbits are known for their frequent meals.  This is no surprise to someone from rural Warwickshire where the day’s eating opportunities can number six different meals and countless cups of tea in-between!  If you don’t believe me, here’s the list:

1. Breakfast
2. Elevensies
3. Lunch
4. Tea
5. Dinner
6. Supper

So, seeing as I was born and bred in Warwickshire and have hairy feet, I put it to you that I’m a Hobbit!

Instructions, by Neil Gaiman

Every now and then I see or hear something that just seems to stop me in my tracks.  Something that just makes me prick up my ears and listen, breath a little slower and realise places within myself that I’ve forgotten.  When I came across this link via Neil Gaiman’s Twitter feed, it was one of those moments.  This is a poem by Neil, read by Neil, and soon to be published as a beautifully illustrated (by Charles Vess) children’s book.  Oh, and before anyone gets any ideas, I’ve already ordered myself a copy

Trust the wolves, but do not tell them where you are going…

Google’s Android Speech Recognition Poem

I’ve got a phone running Android 2.1, and so decided to have it transcribe a poem as I created it in my normal speaking voice. This is the result:

Poem

I’m going to write a poem using google’s voice recognition,
Might not even reinfield now the seasons exposition,
Sometimes the word snakes on a long,
Does it really matter,
Songs I’m happy to feel myself beside a hatter.

Not really what I was saying, but entertaining all the same.  I think I may need to speak a tad slower next time!