*snippet* I’ve just seen episode 14 of series 2 (“Chef Aid”) of South Park, and this phrase sticks in my mind: “Love isn’t a decision, it’s a feeling. If we could decide who we love, it would be much simpler, but much less magical” (actually said by Mr.Twig/Garrison near the end – consult the script if you want)
Day: 22 December 2002
![[Sonar Football]](https://blog.rac.me.uk/photos/sonarfootball.jpg)
Well, I haven’t blogged about a game for a couple of days now (just haven’t had the time to play them), but I have been forwarded details of the Japanese Flash game Sonar Challenge where you’ve got to keep a football “in the air” by bouncing it off your mouse cursor.
It’s easyish (but I wish I could understand what the Japanese ‘commentator’ is saying), but as soon as you lose control of the ball that’s it. My highest score so far is 42 bounces (lasting 35.17seconds).
Don’t forget – if you can do better or know of any other games: let me know! 🙂
![[Cover of The Jigsaw Man]](https://blog.rac.me.uk/photos/jigsawman.jpg)
Yesterday I was loaned a copy of Paul Britton‘s “The Jigsaw Man – The Remarkable Career of Britain’s Foremost Criminal Psychologist”. It’s about a criminal psychologist (strangely enough) from Leicestershire (who actually worked in the same place as my parents) who helped with such cases as the Leicestershire murders of Caroline Osborne and Amanda Weedon by 18 year old butcher Paul Bostock, the Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth by Colin Pitchfork (which was the first use of DNA testing – the testing of over 2,000 men has been nicknamed ‘The Blooding’), the murder of “Baby James” Jamie Bulger by Jon Venables and Robert Thompson and many other murders.
I think the back cover of the book sums it up extremely well: “Paul Britton has assisted the police in over a hundred cases and has an almost mythic status in the field of crime deduction. His achievements read as though from the pages of Conan Doyle or Agatha Christie. What he searches for at the scene of the crime are not fingerprints, fibres or bloodstains – he looks for the ‘mind trace’ left behind by those responsible: the psychological characteristics that can help the police the identify and understand the nature of the perpetrator.”
It’s quite a fascinating read (I’ve already got to page 404 of 650: and I’ve been reading it for around the last 6 hours solid): not just from the “local angle” (I actually lived quite close to the scene of the Pitchfork murders and went to the schools mentioned), but also from the whole psychology and criminal investigation angle.
It’s going to take me another day or so to finish it, but I really need to now consider getting out of bed and making breakfast (yep, I’ve just been lying in bed reading this book since I woke up and I’ve got lots to do…)
![[Leicester Lingo]](https://blog.rac.me.uk/photos/leicesterlingo-thumb.jpg)
Ok, I’ve feeling really tired at the moment, so I’m just going to make a little entry which was sparked off via overhearing someone on the bus in town today. Therefore, for the benefit of any visitors to Leicester and Leicestershire, here’s some hints to help you:
- “M’duck” is a form of endearment – likewise “Ay up m’duck” means “Hello” (see also: Leicester slang)
- “Frit” means “frightened” – for example: “When Alex started coughing up blood, it really frit us” means “When Alex started coughing up blood, it really frightened us”
- Pineapple Fritters (pineapple slices fried in batter) are available at most Fish and Chip shops – some also sell Spam or Kebab Fritters
- If you are asking for directions in Leicester, do not ask for Belvoir Street or Belvoir Castle (home to the Duke and Duchess of Rutland): instead ask for “Beaver Street” or “Beaver Castle” (blame the French: but it does mean ‘Beautiful View’)
- Despite what the Town Hall Square branch of Barclays bank appears to claim – they do not have cash machines every where. The Bank is on a corner and hence their cash machines are on a street actually called ‘Every Street’.
- If you were reading the Merc in the Royal to see what City were doing – then you’ll be reading the local newspaper (The Leicester Mercury) in the Leicester Royal Infirmary Hospital (also known as the ‘LRI’) to see what the Leicester City Football Club (a.k.a. LCFC) were doing
- Granby Halls is no longer standing, but the pay and display car-park which is now in its place can be found by the Tigers ground (Leicester City Rugby Union Football Club) at the junction of Aylstone Road (prounced Ale-ston) and Welford Road – just opposite the LRI.
- The “Golden Mile” is, in fact, Belgrave Road – it got that nick name because of its many Asian jewellery shops
- “Charles Street Cop Shop” (and sometimes just ‘Charles Street’) refers to the Police Station on the corner of Charles Street, St. Georges Way and St. Georges Street (opposite the train station and the Leicester Mercury building). The Leicestershire police are also known by their distinctive telephone number “7 2s” – 222 2222.
- Famous historical people from Leicester include Daniel Lambert (“Britain’s fattest man” with a waist of 3.1meters), the 9 day Queen of England – Lady Jane Grey (her ruins of her family home can still be found in Bradgate Park), and Joseph Carey Merrick (more popularly known as ‘The Elephant Man’)
- Other famous people include Gary Lineker (ex-England footballer and now TV personality), Engelbert Humperdinck (singer), Sir Richard ‘Dickie’ Attenborough (actor/director)