Home > John >  Principles and Policies, Cock-up of the year, First bicycles, Engineering works, Complaint to SWT

My principles

No human can rightly claim to live entirely in accordance with principles. Did Joan of Arc never curse God? Did Ghandi never throw a stone at a rat? Is any of us really in control of anything?

Nevertheless, in common with rather more illustrious individuals, I pretend to be living a highly principled life and these, in order of declining importance, are today's principles:

  1. Seek the scientific consensus on all issues and be constantly aware that my brain is trying to delude me
  2. Be scrupulously honest, open and forthcoming in all personal dealings but don't expect reciprocity
  3. Lie freely to officialdom and accept responsibility for all my actions
  4. Avoid vanity, self-indulgence, extravagance and over-consumption and then have fun
  5. Help people whenever the opportunity arises whether they like it or not
  6. Contribute to the sum of human knowledge and take no secrets to my grave

My policies

Either the World is getting sillier or I am losing the plot. During my year of cycling in the southern hemisphere I decided to stop pretending that We humans can be persuaded to behave ourselves. We need a good kicking; roll on global warming, ozone depletion, consumerism, junk food, drug-resistent pathogens, religious zealtry and polly-fonic ringtones.

So, as of 2004 my polices are (to the tune of 2,4,6,8 - well, nearly):

  1. Keep fit
  2. Laugh a lot
  3. Let the planet go to pot
  4. Eat well
  5. Sleep well
  6. Stop leaving my wallet on the train

My projects

Dropping out is all well and good but one can get bored waiting for the Grim Reaper to wander ones way. I have dreamed up a few projects to keep me amused during my wait.

Do please get in touch if you fancy giving me a hand with:

  1. Buying an unfinished houseboat and cruising between DIY stores for a year or so.
  2. Learning Spanish so that I can cycle in South America without being completely out of my depth. (That would be a first - Ed)
  3. Resuming my research into AI to keep my brain from freezing over.
  4. Inventing a better drive-train for a bicycle than derailleur gears.