Job in Celebrity Gossip Industry

For someone with an admitted addiction to celebrity gossip I couldn't believe the following job description I currently found for London, UK. It basically sounds like you would be assisting the paparazzi as they run around trying to find celebrities every evening. Part time mobile editor / assistant for celebrity photographers Company Profile: Rex Features is Britain's leading independent photographic Press agency and photo library, supplying a daily service of celebrity, news and features to all newspapers, magazines, TV, online and other media in the UK and worldwide. Duties: Duties: Rex Features has an opening for a part-time assistant/technician to assist well-known celebrity photographers with "on location" editing and transmission of digital images to the media. Requirements: Requirements: Candidates will be confident in manner and fully conversant with current image management systems, Photoshop, Windows, Wi-Fi and other transmission systems. Must be able to work quickly under pressure and to tight deadlines. A knowledge of, and genuine interest in, the current UK celebrity scene is essential, and familiarity with US celebrities would be an asset. Must be able to commit to working between 1 to 4 evenings per week, sometimes until late, mostly in central London Hours: Hours: Vary according to event times Salary: Salary: £10 per hour with a minimum of £40 per night Website: www.rexfeatures.com

What is Your Dream Joe-Job?

A friend who works as a trained professional once said he had always liked the idea of delivering pizzas. It was his secret dream joe-job. Not that he would ever give up his well paid professional job, but he thought it looked fun. Ever since I was young and would tag along with my mom on grocery shopping trips I always thought the job of shelf stocker looked really fun. If my mom lingered in the cereal aisle I would start straightening up the haphazard cereal boxes and shifting ones to the front of the shelves that had been pushed to the back. When I worked as an assistant cook for a kids camp cooking for 400 one of my favourite things to do was organize the storeroom and the fridge. It became even more exciting when new stock came in. I would know exactly where everything was and could organize it with with maximum efficiency and minimal space. I realize I also like to face a disaster of a room or space (yours or mine), organize it and tidy it as fast as possible. I like to put the groceries away when I come back from shopping (and make that the excuse for reorganizing the cupboards). I like to pack for a trip. I like to unpack after a trip. I sometimes mock-pack a few weeks before a trip just for a thrill. I like to make lists to pack for a trip. This all seems connected somehow.

Winter in South Yorkshire

Living in South Yorkshire in the Peak District is amazing particularly when the snow falls and the sun comes out. We took a walk on a well trodden path out in the farms. This was the view from our window that enticed us out. Quite often the only tracks across fields are those from hares. The sign points over the stile to a public footpath that winds its way through farms. This is the direction I usually head when on my daily run. Nigel walks on ahead (probably impatient with my constant picture taking). A fork in the road. This is Bowl Hill with a small observatory on top. It is a great place to hike and be alone. I notice the teenagers in the area have discovered the same thing. The road that winds around our group of houses. Lodgemoor, the western edge of Sheffield and the beginning of the Peak District. It is still biting cold despite the slight thaw and sunshine. We head back home after a walk and pushing someone's vehicle out of the snow.

Settlers of Catan: The Extravaganza Version

Ever since two of my roommates from Calgary got into German board games I have been fascinated with the German game of the Year Award, The Spiel des Jahres. It is the world's most prestigious game award. Each year, a jury of game critics and journalists chooses the winner based on four criteria: Idea: Originality, Playability and Educational Value Design of Rules: Organisation, Clarity and Understandability Layout: Packing, Layout of the Gameboard and the Game Rules Design: Functionality and overall Quality of Game Materials included One such game that I have become addicted to over the years is the 1995 winner, Settlers of Catan. It has spawned at least 7 spinoffs and extentions, a few of which I have also played. Above is a picture of Tom Kenknight on the Mercy Ship in Liberia who has the complex mind of...well, a computer. He has built a Settlers of Catan extravaganza by adding several extentions. He then pinpointed the weak areas within the whole set up and added his own invented bits. The result is a mind boggling 4 hour game that is hard to get your mind around if you have never played the basic version. It takes Tom 45 minutes just to set up the game board and a lot longer to recruit new players. Here are a bunch of the "brains" who have been recruited for an evening to play (a couple of Germans in there, I notice).

POOR WEATHER CONDITIONS AFFECTING SERVICES ACROSS UK

Because of poor weather conditions across the UK, journeys on many routes are subject to severe delays and alterations. The news suggests people should only attempt to travel if the journey is absolutely critical, and if one does there is no guarantee that a return service will be available later that day, due to further heavy snow being forecast. I am due to travel to London for an important meeting today. I really need to get there. I am travelling by train, tube, and coach. I am crossing my fingers that all will go well and I won't be delayed. Here are some photos from Sheffield today.

SNOW

I woke up this morning in Sheffield to find the snow flurries that had started last night have turned the Peak District into a winter wonderland. A glimpse out my window beside my bed looks like a painting. An early riser heads to the bus stop. Thank goodness the busses were running. Sometimes they have a hard time making it up the hills to our area. The front parking lot. The winter wonderland. The weather report says to avoid travel tomorrow as there will be snow storms.