nickmb.co.uk

As my blog readership probably both already know, I am currently embarking upon the annual NaNoWriMo event, in which I attempt to write 50,000 words (or more) in a short space of time. I've failed this once before, two years ago, because I annoyingly got a new job in the middle.

Then, last year, I succeeded gloriously, despite having to move house in the first week, then went back for an unofficial second attempt in March. So I really ought to be a shoe-in to win this year.

And, um, I've done nearly twenty thousand already, so I suppose my odds are decent.

What's odd this year, is that I don't hate my work so far. My NaNo 2007 novel got thrown away for being a dead end, and my March 2008 attempt has promise, but will need industrial strength welding with a red biro before I'm willing to even show it to most people.

But this one... I know it'll need editing, but if I can keep this standard up, the first draft may at least be readable. I think the plot is holding together. How bizarre. If I keep saying nice things about myself, I may need to start reconsidering my whole identity. Or at least using a pseudonym.

So, I was testing some software yesterday, in my professional capacity as a software tester. It was going pretty well, I managed to find some impressive bugs. And I was just getting ready to send an awesome report to the relevant programmer.

Something along the lines of "DUDE, IT's, LIKE, COMPLETELY BROKEN!" Only with longer words and, if possible, an even greater sense of evil glee.

But then the chap in question sent me a message saying "Nick, I've just noticed it's completely broken, hold off testing for now".

I was pretty upset, I'll be honest. And then, when I was told to resume testing, the problems had more or less been fixed. Oh, the inhumanity.

So, it looks much like Obama has done it. It's 4AM on Wednesday morning and he's just getting his last few votes. And looking back, it may have been inevitable the whole time. Certainly, for those of us who like stories, the rag-to-riches saga of President Obama ticks a lot of boxes.

Because, bluntly, everything's a bit shit at the moment and I think a fairytale President might be the way. People wanted something to believe in and be hopeful about, and the Republicans absolutely shot themselves in the foot by ripping into him with material that wasn't even particularly convincing. When they brought in Palin, she looked like an interesting change from "politics as usual", and people wanted to embrace her, but then the negativity started up again and onto the scrapheap of public opinion she went.

So, I'm sure things will still be hard, but it's nice to know this kind of thing can still happen. Brings a glow to my heart. I'm going to be semi-conscious at work tomorrow, but these things must be done. It's been a pleasure being here. Goodnight, internet.

Myself and my girlfriend decided to go to the cinema yesterday. There was, in the end, some discussion over what we would actually see. She didn't particularly want to see Tropic Thunder (but I still do, so if anyone out there fancies going with me, do make yourself known) and I wasn't entirely in the mood for a film about day-to-day life in Brazil. (Linha De Passe)

The original plan was to go and see I've Loved You So Long, a French film which looked fairly existentially angst ridden, but not too documentary-like. However, we experienced trouble finding anywhere where that on was being shown, so wandered idly into the cinema listings in search of something else.

Taken was discussed, but the reviews were terrible and the film looking wince-inducingly generic to me. And, to cut a long discussion short, we ended up settling on The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas.

And it's very good, nicely filmed and, especially considering it basically turns on the performances of two or three child actors, well acted as well. The period touches are well set-up and it plays nicely with the child's perspective, only telling us what he can see and letting us fill in the blanks based on what we know ourselves.

Oh, and it's about the Holocaust, so as one might expect, it's not always the most cheery, upbeat of movie experiences. In fact, even by Holocaust-movie standards, this film gets... horribly depressing at times. Don't say I didn't warn you.

But if you're in the mood for a slightly upsetting movie about a young boy who lives next door to a concentration camp, then get involved with this one. It's thoroughly well-done.

And then we came home and watched an episode of Coupling in order to cheer ourselves up. Oh, that wacky Jeff.