Tuesday 26 April 2011

Number 15: break a world record

I have spent HOURS on google trying to sort this one. Honestly, I have never seen so many garbage hits for a search - try putting 'world record attempt' into the search box and see how many out of date hits you get. Katrillions.

Is a katrillion a number? If not it is a collective term for garbage on google.

And then, as if by magic, T got an email asking him to take part in a world record attempt on XBox (which I never play) to be part of the biggest number of players all playing a single game, in this case the 100m sprint on Kinect Sports.

With huge generosity, he said that I could play for him and be part of the attempt and SURELY I would get to be a tiny part of a world record. What a gent.

Come the hour, come the sprinter (for sprinter, read waddler). We logged on and I popped upstairs to change into an outfit that didn't make me look like a traffic cone on the kinect (long skirt, not a winner with movement recognition). When I came down, T was frantically going through the screens to register me as an online user in my own right, so we could both be part of the event. Great in principle, but with one minute to go and the registration screen still rolling on, the tension started rising.

No time to change my automatically selected user name from puffdaddy725, sleepingdragon272 or supernova843 or whatever it is, no time to make my character look more like a sprinter and no time to update my 1983 hair style.

The race starting time came as we raced through the final screen, arrived at the start line and tried to get the race started within the appointed minute. I was standing like a statue to stop the kinect getting confused with two of us moving and then managed to false start by using the principle of hitting GO (in this case running) as fast as possible before the race starts so you get off the line ASAP. Doesn't work with kinect, you just get branded a cheat.

Then go go go! I flailed like an idiot down the line. Then we waited for the fireworks... or the victory world record holders lap of honour... or the podium... Nothing. No email, no notification, no nothing at all.

So officially, I don't know if we did it, but I have the picture to prove it so I'm claiming it anyway. Crouchingtiger385 is a winner!

Sunday 17 April 2011

Film 2010: Four Lions

New film review on the tab above.
I'll have to add some extras at this rate, I'm burning through 'em at a fair rate. I clearly don't have enough to do...!

Sunday 10 April 2011

Number 14: visit a mosque

Isn't this amazing? That's my name in Arabic.

This week I had the opportunity to accompany my brother-in-law's class of year 6s to the Islamic Centre at the University of East Anglia. I know UEA pretty well and know that the Centre was opened fairly recently, but to my shame I know little more than how to find it on a campus map.

It's just a short walk from the school to the University, which let the kids let off some steam which might have contributed to absolute hush when we went into the Centre itself. There is a real pause for ceremony as you go in, as the girls donned headscarfs and we all left our shoes at the door.

The centre leaders then gave a introduction to the muslim faith as well as a guide to mosques around the world - the portable buildings at UEA are not really representative of the fabulous architecture found elsewhere. Then there was a demonstration of the call to prayer and a standard 'unit' of prayer, both of which they translated so we could follow.

It was a fantastically interesting visit and great to get a better understanding of a faith that I have had very little contact with until now. The Centre went out of its way to make us welcome (the kids had more biscuits than they could manage!) and they were extremely generous in letting us wander into areas they may normally keep more tranquil.

This was an opportunity I was delighted to take up. Thanks to the Islamic Centre for their hospitality and to year 6 for the invite and letting me tag along!

Sunday 3 April 2011

Film 2010: Lebanon and Kick Ass

Two new film reviews under the Film 2010 tab...
Watch out Claudia Winkleman :-)

Friday 1 April 2011

Scavenging: the March list

All done and dusted! Looking forward to April's list.
This should go full screen if you click on it...