10 x 10 = 100

So 100 blogs… what can I say?   My fingers must have some kind of diarrhoea.   Still, quality over quantity most say.   I say the opposite however as since I’ve finished Uni I’ve struggled to keep up with my writing and keeping this slog up-to-date has got me back into the swing of things on that front.   Practice makes perfect, goes the old cliché, so I’m hoping I’ll get a little better over time.   The real question remains, however, what can I write to live up to such an important landmark?   As a mathematician (well, a statistician isn’t a real mathematician, but I prefer to bend the truth) I think doing ten top tens would have a certain symmetry to it (I’d make that normal distribution so proud!).   I haven’t really stuck to any respected or canonical opinion, and at some points have been deliberately provocative, so feel free to argue and/or ridicule using the comments below.   Also, I’ve probably used the same superlatives about half a million times, but be kind, this has taken HOURS and it’s over 4000 words long!   So here we go…

Top 10 albums I have listened to…

1. HIStory (Michael Jackson) – A great album with not only a collection of classic MJ songs, but also containing a full album of new excellent tracks, including “Scream”, “You are Not Alone” and the much maligned yet irresistible “Earth Song”.   The last great Michael Jackson album. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1Zl1stDsUI
2. Twelve Stops from Home (The Feeling) – An album full of great songs that are tender and yet unique to listen to.   This album has sentimental value to me because it reminds me of the weeks before my wife and I got together.   The second album was great too, but not quite as good as the first.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y73ohh3XTbE&feature=related
3. Sounds of Summer (The Beach Boys) – In my opinion the always fun Beach Boys have a fresher sound than the Beatles (who I like too).   Unlike the Beatles they weren’t able to adapt their sound to critical acclaim (though not through want of trying) so failed to achieve the same greatness, but their 60s stuff is among the greatest pop-music ever crafted.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZDlnU5zwwE
4. Bad (Michael Jackson) – This was my favourite album when I was a kid and it still is one of my favourites.   It contains pop-hit after pop-hit, originally finishing with my favourite track “Smooth Criminal” (later on “Leave Me Alone” was added to the album).   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnroWnC6seQ
5. Trick of the Tail (Genesis) – A brilliant album, which is one of the few I have listened to ever to touch the intricacies and sophistication of pre-pop music.   Not many tracks on this album, but their length makes up for this; the instrumentals won’t suit everyone, but I love it.   I haven’t listened to Pink Floyd, but if they were anything like this, I really should.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAMBKnKPANo
6. Best of Blur (Blur) – When the two bands were head-to-head I preferred Oasis, but in retrospect Blur seem the better band with more varied and unique tunes.   Yes, the lyrics don’t usually make sense, but who cares?   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSuHrTfcikU
7. Dangerous (Michael Jackson) – An experimental Michael Jackson album that arguably has shaped the music industry the most.   Some of his most well-known hits are on this album including, “Heal the World”, “Black or White” and “Dangerous”.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hqHdSpv2_E
8. Total Madness (The Madness) – They’re probably not as respected as they should be due to their non-conformity to type, but their unique sound, variety in melody and clever lyrics make them one of my favourite bands.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYZNSyP9v9M
9. Greatest Hits (McFly) – They are not the same as Busted (see the blog “Don’t judge a CD by its band name).   McFly have released some brilliantly crafted pop-songs over the years with a plethora of themes, colourful lyrics (not meant in an obscene way obviously) and catchy tunes.   Don’t let your prejudice see you miss out.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64mHQc_hdeY
10. Behind the Eyes (Amy Grant) – Amy Grant is a Christian artist who branched into secular pop music in the 90s.   Behind the Eyes has a number of excellent songs, which are generally soft and emotive, similar in sound to country stars Shania Twain and Carly Simon.   My favourite song is “I will be your friend”.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e89NOWaD9XM&feature=related

I know people will disagree because I haven’t stuck to the canon of music, but frankly I don’t really care that much.   I’ve listened to Beatles albums, Queen albums and Coldplay, but do not consider them as good to listen to as the albums I have listed.   I uphold my right to have my own opinions.

Top 10 films that I have seen…

1. Piglet’s Big Movie – Okay! Okay! Laugh it up (my wife certainly did), but this film made me bawl my eyes out (and I never cry in movies).   A really sweet little film with a great sound-track.   http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/piglets_big_movie/
2. It’s a Wonderful Life – Classic.   Still packs as much punch, pathos and heart-heating as it did back when it was first released.   http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/1010792-its_a_wonderful_life/
3. Passion of the Christ – Well I have to admit, I cried in this one too, but no others!   An extraordinarily powerful, not to mention excruciating, viewing experience.   http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/passion_of_the_christ/
4. The Family Man – A really funny and clever comedy, which is enough to make anyone want to be a dad.   Unfortunately let down by a terrible ending involving a clichéd and nonsensical airport scene, but thankfully the powerful sense of loss, which the flimsy ending tries to mask, lingers.   http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/family_man/
5. Minority Report – A brilliant science-fiction thriller, full of twists, suspense, action and moral dilemmas.   http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/minority_report/
6. District 9 – Another brilliant science-fiction thriller (pattern emerging maybe?) with a unique discarding of the simple good-evil axis.   Thoroughly thought-provoking, involving and exhilarating.   http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/district_9/
7. The Butterfly Effect – Excellently dark film that has been often discarded for featuring Ashton Kucher and being a “teen movie”, but is fresh, well-fleshed and thoroughly unpredictable, providing a surprising amount of reflective moments, which linger after the credits finish.   http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/butterfly_effect/
8. Aladdin – A Walt Disney classic that entertains throughout. http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/1042582-aladdin/
9. Back to the Future II – The original was great fun and this light time-travel adventure picks up from where it left off and massively confounds issues to brilliant effect.   http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/back_to_the_future_2/
10. 6^th Day – What top 10 list can be complete without an Arnold Swarzenegger film?   An interesting, if run-of-the-mill (nothing wrong with that in my book) action-adventure with comic moments that succeeds in making cloning seem disturbingly plausible.   http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/sixth_day/

Again, you can probably tell that I haven’t paid much attention to critical opinion.   I like enjoying every film by its own merit though, rather than liking something because someone tells me to.   Besides, if you read some of the critical reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, they are occasionally way off the mark, making spurious throw-away arm-chair criticisms without any support.

Top 10 books that I have read…

1. The Italian by Ann Radcliffe – A brilliant gothic horror.   Some of the characters may be a bit cardboard cut-out, but it’s a grand sprawling adventure with beautiful scenery, nuns and a demonic monk!
2. The Lord of the Flies by William Golding – A dark fable on the evil inherent in man’s heart masterfully told; I bought this book as an academic prize at school and was my favourite until I went to University.
3. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley – A Science Fiction that has stood the test of time better than any other story in the same genre.   Written in the 1930s, but, in many a ways, the concerns of the novel are even stronger in today’s modern society, which is slowly realising Huxley’s prophetic vision.
4. The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham – A great apocalyptic future in which almost the whole of humanity is blinded and subsequently eaten by plant creatures.   Probably greatly influenced classic films Invasion of the Body Snatchers and Night of the Living Dead (the first Zombie movie) as the first “society has collapsed and humans are becoming extinct” story.
5. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D.Salinger – A fantastic teenage angst-ridden novel, which inspired the tragic shooting of alleged “phony” John Lennon.   A story about a lad struggling with the concept of fitting into a society, which often has systems which seem false and corrupt.   If you are disillusioned with the working world in the midst of this crunch, you’ll enjoy it too.
6. The Killing Joke by Anthony Horowitz – My favourite children’s author’s first adult novel and it’s cracking; simultaneously clever, exciting, sinister and funny in combination that only Roald Dahl can match.
7. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson – A classic boys’ adventure, which is just generally great fun to read.
8. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde – Wilde’s story is similar in some ways to his brilliant fairy tales, though much much darker.   A witty, clever (though it does, rather disappointingly, borrow lines from his plays, which are also good) and accessible read.
9. The Time-Machine by HG Wells – You can probably tell by now that I am into my Science Fiction.   In my opinion Wells’ first novel was better than War of the Worlds.   An interesting challenge to the rationalist idea that progress is inevitable and extension to the idea of future human evolution.
10.  Joseph Andrews by Henry Fielding – A light, funny and warm adventure about the chaste peasant Joseph Andrews and his lover Fanny and their struggles in getting hitched, fighting off the amorous advances of the higher classes.

Top 10 sporting events…

1. The Ashes – the most important event in the greatest game ever invented.   I honestly feel very sorry for those who have not yet acquired the ability to appreciate the beautiful game of cricket.
2. FIFA World Cup – Say what you want about Fifa and the horrendous miscarriage of justice in the current salary of footballers, but when it comes to the World Cup and national pride is on the line “the beautiful game” really comes to life.
3. Wimbledon – I can still hear the echoes of “C’mon Tim!”   This has always been a fascinating tournament, but recently the men’s game has become unmissable.   The last three men’s finals have been three of the greatest of all time and we are really lucky to exist in the same era as Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Roddick and now Murray, surely the greatest Brit to play the game since Fred Perry!
4. Rugby Union World Cup – Always an excellent event and I can already hardly wait for NZ 2011 to come around.   The game can be beautiful or brutally ugly, but it is always fascinating.
5. The Six Nations – So much history, passion and excitement and we are lucky enough to be able to witness the competition every year.   Bar Italy, who are still improving, all the matches provide exceedingly spicy encounters, whether good rugby is played (see Wales, Ireland and France) or bad (see England).
6. UEFA European Championships – The other major international competition and out of the six different regional ones around the world, this one is surely the best.   There are so many brilliant European teams at the moment; football’s top table has never been more competitive.
7. The Olympics – A great spectacle, particularly the track and field events, but has been marred slightly by the number of drugs scandals.   It has given us so many memorable moments though: who can forget Kelly Holmes’ bulging eyes as she bagged her first Olympic Gold in a troubled career full of injury.
8. UEFA Champions League – Surely the pinnacle of club football competitions.   It’s a shame that it’s open to teams that aren’t exactly “Champions” (see Arsenal), but it has still provided too much drama down the years to credibly ignore.
9. The Winter Olympics – Not quite the same appeal as the normal Olympics for me, but still a great event where you can be patriotic and get behind your nation.
10.  The FA Cup – The oldest sporting event that is currently still played in modern times.   First competition was back in 1872 which was won by the Wanderers (now defunct).   Has maybe lost some of its lustre in recent greedy times due to shabby treatment by club managers and footballing authorities, but still holds a special place in the hearts of true football fans for sheer history and romance.

Top 10 computer games that I have played…

1. Final Fantasy VII (PS/PC – RPG) – What can be said?   Fantastic story, brilliant strategic combat, hours of adventuring and great music (if only you could buy an proper orchestrated version!) http://uk.gamespot.com/ps/rpg/finalfantasy7/review.html
2. Phoenix Wright Series (Gameboy DS – Puzzle/Adventure) – This would be the best collection of games ever if it wasn’t superseded by FFVII.   Brilliant gripping story lines cleverly masks for linear, yet challenging gameplay.   Only downside is that you’ll only be wishing there were more cases to solve.   The best is Apollo Justice.   http://uk.gamespot.com/ds/adventure/gyakutansaiban4/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary;read-review
3. Chrono Trigger (Gameboy DS – RPG) – Another brilliant RPG from Square (makers of FF series) involving time travel and appropriately has a number of alternate endings.   Again, great story and combat system.   http://uk.gamespot.com/ds/rpg/chronotriggerds/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary;read-review
4. International Cricket Captain Series (PC – Management Sim) – I got so addicted to this game that I had to give it up because it was stopping me from working on my first degree.   Thus, I haven’t played it since, but it’s still a great game.   http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/sports/internationalcricketcaptain4/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary;read-review
5. Final Fantasy X (PS2 – RPG) – Another great Final Fantasy game for similar reasons that so many other RPGs are on my list!   You can see a pattern emerging!   http://uk.gamespot.com/ps2/rpg/finalfantasy10/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary;read-review
6. Super Smash Bros. Series (N64/GC/Wii – Beat-em-up) – This is definitely one of the best party games around (though I do like Mario Party).   My personal favourite is the original arcadey-version of the game, though the latest (Brawl) is a massive improvement over the disappointing Melee (which took itself far too seriously and had around 40 characters, of which only 20 were truly unique) with a single-player mode worthy of a game on its own.   http://uk.gamespot.com/wii/action/supersmashbros/index.html?tag=result;title;0
7. Paper Mario Series (N64/GC/Wii – RPG) – Another great RPG, this time Mario-style!   Very funny and generally really innovative and interesting to play.   http://uk.gamespot.com/n64/rpg/papermario/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary;read-review
8. The Legend of Dragoon (PS – RPG) – A highly flawed RPG, which will undoubtedly receive middley marks if you look it up, but I am suckered into liking this just by the combat system which is really clever.   The story is pretty epic too, if limited in character development.   http://uk.gamespot.com/ps/rpg/legendofdragoon/index.html?tag=result;title;0
9. Sonic Adventure II Battle (DC/GC – Platformer) – The only next-generation Sonic game to date, which really stands out to me.   Great music, mini-games (got to love the little Chao!) action and variety, the hunting levels are great fun, the shooting levels tedious, but the hedgehog levels are something else!   If only there were more of them (why on earth Sega don’t just make a game full of standard Sonic levels, which are always the best, is beyond comprehension).   http://uk.gamespot.com/gamecube/action/sonicadventure2battle/index.html?tag=result;title;0
10. Super Mario 64 (N64 – Platformer) – Galaxy was a return to form with some great platforming action, but this was a truly sensational game.   Responsible for the spate of rubbish 3D platformers even today!   http://uk.gamespot.com/n64/action/supermario64/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary;read-review

Top 10 colours…

1. Blue – What a colour!   As in the words of S-Club 7: “the colour of blue, no other will do”!
2. Yellow – Bright, vibrant colour.   Not good for curtains, but it makes me feel happy.
3. Black – There’s something mysterious about this one.
4. Red – Nothing makes you feel reddy for anything like this colour!   Puns aside seeing Alex Ferguson’s face this colour always makes me smile.
5. Green – Seeing green is definitely better than seeing grey.   I therefore propose that we use green colouring in tarmac from now on.
6. White – A bit bland, but you can’t fault it.
7. Brown – An earthy colour that makes me think of work, desks and cow-dung.
8. Grey – The goth in me says that this depressing colour is actually pretty cool.
9. Violet – This colour is distinctly turbulent and may be distressing for some kids.
10. Orange – Well, I can’t think of anything that mainstream apart from Pink and there’s No Way that I’m including that on a Top 10 list!

 Top 10 Beautiful Views that I have seen… (pictures to be included soon!)

1. St Gilgen by Lake Wolfgang from a main road near Salzburg – the only European site on my list is also at the top.   Seen on the Salzburg Sound of Music tour this is a stunning view of a village beneath a sublime mountain and the base of a lake.   Salzburg is really beautiful too by the way, but didn’t quite make the list!
2. View of the Andes from Huacachina desert – seen whilst sandboarding; the picture doesn’t do justice to the clarity and beauty of what was seen.   The purity of the sand in definitive contrast with what looked like brown folds in the distance mesmerised.
3. View of Queenstown from Frankton – Not a particularly touristy area and easily missed.   My wife and I arrived into Queenstown late so decided to grab a Subway and eat it on a green in a nearby village called Plankton.   We saw the most beautiful orange-skied sunset here, the sun’s glow shimmering in Lake Wakatapu and mountains towering imposingly above the small town on the other side of the river.
4. Colca Canyon view from the top – Vertigo inspiring and beautiful.   It’s amazing seeing all the little houses near and around the bottom and looking at how steep the second deepest canyon in the world gets.
5. View of Abel Tasman national park from hill-top route – Off the much walked coastal track, a true walking challenge (especially with a large backpack) is the hill track.   But the view from the top is hugely rewarding with the ability to see for miles, including sea, coast, forest, praries and cliffs all around.
6. View of valley from hill-top café in New Zealand – One of our first great views in New Zealand situated near the French settlement of Akaroa in the Banks Peninsula.  The hills and lake are stunning (though spoilt by bad weather on the first occasion we drove by!)
7. Manu National Park from the entrance – When the clouds lifted on a disappointingly cloudy day (though these contributed to the atmosphere also) we could see how spectacular this view was from a mountain 4000 metres above sea-level.   Dark Green as far as the eye could see in steep folds going down into a plateau in the distance.
8. Lightning storm on Miami Beach – Not very safe as I very much suspected at the time, but exceedingly beautiful.   In our first night in a humid Miami we saw repeated jagged branching fork lightning jutting into the Mediterranean producing an amazing spectacle.
9. Pisac (Peru) from the Ruins of Pisac – Some might be surprised to see this view above it’s more famous brother at no.10, but the view of Pisac from the ruins, which were beautiful in themselves was really something.   Green folds descending from rocky mountains into the small colonial town below.
10. View of Huayna Picchu from Machu Picchu – The sunrise was a little bit of a non-event, but Machu Picchu is still surreal and stunning.   You actually feel like you are in an ancient city with the city-walls crevices between mountains.   Huayna Picchu is without doubt the most extraordinary mountain surrounding, which was commonly thought to look like the head of a condor (one of the three sacred Inca symbols).

Top 10 historical figures – The main criterion I should point out is to what extent history was changed in a tangible way because of these figures.   My knowledge isn’t as extensive as Michael H. Hart (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_100) given that I’ve only had a week to research these guys, but I’ve tried.   If you disagree, by all means say so.   I’m no expert in this field, so be generous with any ignorance.

1. Jesus Christ – Hart’s controversial assessment (where he places JC 3^rd behind Newton and Muhammad) as a historian aside, let’s be logical about this.   Whatever is believed, the fact is that this man is the founder of the most prevalent religious belief today and in history.   He is the inspiration of a huge amount of many musicians, writers and artists and, as many atheists will point out, conflicts.   Of course he wasn’t responsible for the spread of his religion, but his life and message was so influential it didn’t even need to be.   The before/after effect of his whole life was so significant we even mark time by an old estimate of his birth-date!   There can surely be no argument that Jesus was the most influential man who ever lived; the debates he began in his times are still as heated and fervent today.
2. Muhammad – Muhammad’s life was quite extraordinary and his single-handed creation of a new Abrahamic sect which is the world’s second most prominent religion deserves emphasis.   Not only content to be a major prophet almost solely responsible for its spread, he was also a military leader and united a baron nomadic nation in Arabia, which gave birth to many future empires and is the key reason why the Middle East is Islamic today.   Undoubtedly the life of this man is still having repercussions today, which is why he is second on the list.
3. Abraham – The founder of the three main monotheistic faiths (Christianity, Islam and Judaism).   He followed what he felt God wanted of him boldly and as a result was father of a nation that has been the subject of history past and present.
4. Johann Gutenburg – The importance of the printing press cannot be underestimated.   Given, writings were used before this development, but the ease of replication has helped create firmer records to build on and set aflame the Renaissance and scientific advancement that is still rolling onwards today.
5. Buddha – In the west his teachings have now become nothing more than a light cult following, but there is no doubt that the figure was highly influential in the history of the far east both spiritually and culturally and still have strength in those parts of the world today.
6. Thales of Miletus – The first of the major Greek mathematicians from around 600BC significant for the predictive use of Maths rather than being a simple pattern of history; a major development.   Without this progressive mindset, there would surely be little advancement except by random chance.   Thales was also highly influential in geometry in particular.
7. Isaac Newton – Lay the foundation for modern mechanics, helped (with Liebniz) to discover integration and differentiation and was also highly influential in summarising physical laws, such as gravity.   These developments are extremely important now, but 2^nd most influential person ever?
8. Christopher Columbus – Without Christopher Columbus’ voyage on the Santa Maria there would be no potatoes, slave trade (which although was awful, was a very large focal point in world development and history), globalisation, world economy and no USA, a big player in recent history.
9. James Watt – The inventor of the first steam train.   Considering everyone travelled using horse and carriage at this time, the speed of the train was a phenomenal development.   Suddenly, the world became smaller and practical problems became more convenient and efficient to deal with and technological advancement accelerated.   Shell-shock discovered also.
10. Henry Ford –  I really wanted to include Thomas Edison or Leonardo Da Vinci, but I’ve instead chosen Henry Ford as he is the father of mass production, which is a business philosophy that still holds sway even today.   The man at the beginning of today.

Top 10 famous worms

1. Earthworm Jim – He’s a really super guy, apparently.   There isn’t a more groovy worm in the world or universe for that matter.   Should really be our Prime Minister.
2. Gordon Brown – Can he worm his way into being re-elected?
3. Fighting worms – You don’t want to mess with a worm armed with a bazooka.   Unless you have a Super Banana Bomb that is…
4. Mr Man Worm – The friendly worm in the Mr Men who featured on the backs if you collected all the Mr Men books.   A background character, but still important.
5. The Lambton Worm – Okay, this worm becomes a threat to the north east, but he had a bad upbringing.   Who wouldn’t have been traumatised being pulled from their natural habitat and then left to dies?   Besides he taught northerners everywhere about the importance of not missing church.
6. Worm of Linton – A worm that not only ate livestock, but people (it’s okay they’re Scottish)!   A worm that eats people is pretty awesome in my book.
7. The Worm That Turned – The fact that this worm turned isn’t that unusual, but it’s such a famous incident that people always remember it, so it must have been for some important reason.
8. The Laidly Worm of Spindleston Heugh – A princess that was turned into a worm.   I think we all wish that would happen to some of our celebs today.
9. Computer Worm – This isn’t a good worm and you really don’t want it on your computer, but it’s pretty cool too.
10. Earthworm Kim – The female and not very good version of Earthworm Jim.

Top 10 top 10s!   Now it’s time to mix the categories together to see which is the best thing ever!

1. Jesus Christ – As a Christian my hand was forced.   It would be blasphemy to say that
2. Blue – What would we do without the colour blue?
3. The Ashes – A lot more Ashes tests would be rained off, that’s for sure!   The best sport ever.
4. Final Fantasy VII – Almost lasts as long as the Ashes, but loses marks because it involves staying indoors to play.
5. “The Italian” by Ann Radcliffe – Not quite as interactive as Final Fantasy VII, but just as epic!
6. St Gilgen village view – One of the spectacular views that Radcliffe (Austen’s idol) would be describing in a novel.   A perfect gothic setting.
7. History (Michael Jackson) – Well, when you drive to see a spectacular view, you usually have music on in the background, so I’d see music as the forerunner of the main spectacular event!
8. Piglet’s Big Movie – The kind of film the great MJ would be a fan of.   You’re never too small to make a difference!
9. Earthworm Jim – He’s may be groovy, but he’s not better than Piglet, let’s be frank.
10. My 10 top 10s list – Was a pretty stupid idea really!   Plus, did I mention that it took me HOURS to complete!   Anyway, hope you enjoyed the controversy and ridiculous nature of my 100^th blog!   Have fun arguing and being disgusted at my poor taste.   Until tomorrow!

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