Neil Hopcroft

Part two of three: the fall and fall of the Oxgoths

Way back, in the time I lived in Oxford, there was always an Oxgoth meet on Tuesday nights, it was at the Antiquity Hall when I joined in, but then moved around a bit. Last night it was at the Chequers and consisted of four of us, Cat, Ed, Tony and me. Everyone else is useless. Spikey is still useless. Hu has run away to London to live a life of hedonism and isolation. Everyone else was just tired, or boring, or …

At least I’m not feeling like I’ve really missed out on anything going on in Oxford these days, since it seems that nothing happens.

Of course the quietness at the pub /could/ be because it was Intrusion night. But I didn’t know anyone when I got there, so I doubt that. Oh, except for squiddity and friends who had come up from London…. There were lots of faces I kinda recognised but hardly any of them had names or other memories to go with them, and those which did didn’t have good memories. So, there *is* a thriving scene in Oxford these days, its just that I’m not part of it any more.

Part one of three: the Grandi hours.

“All I want to do is buy the damn jeans” – I dreamt last night that retail had changed to the extent I could no longer work out the system to buy a pair of trousers. I was in a shop and had selected the perfect pair but for some reason I had to shine a special light onto them before I took them to the checkout because otherwise I was a thief. This can *only* make sense in the context of some of Grandis paranoia, so I blame him.

It was a good day, we met up and went for lunch. Then attempted to find a book on Munich – which was more difficult than expected, seems everyone goes to Berlin these days. Time for reminiscences and another attempt to explain some simple economics to me – the old Mathengine offices are still empty, with the few pieces of furniture we left still in place. We remembered that its almost exactly two years since our freedom came and celebrate this by sitting at the Head of the River understanding why rich people are rich.

We then dropped in on the Natural Motion bunch, who were pretty much the Mathengine hall of shame, just they’re in a different building and have a different story now. Clearly they deserved ice-cream, as is traditional. Finally we gathered in the pub over the way where Grandi got an edible mobile phone from one of the other prior collaborators.

Nothing much has changed for most of these guys – the name on their business card is different but the hubris remains. And will stay until the final months, when the real paranoia sets in. Still good to catch up with them again, hoping to keep in touch.

Calling Oxford People: anyone about tuesday or wednesday? Want to meet up? Got crash space?

Politics – cut for sensitive eyes

I was just reminiscing about hanami this time last year and its started snowing. And settling.

ITS APRIL!

Its not supposed to be snowing any more. Its like the weather gods missed fools day and figured they’d give us something to think about.

Job requirements

– You must be catholic or *very* religeous
– You must be willing to relocate to Rome
– This is a full time job

(with thanks to sevensomething)

Some questions from necro_angel

1. What do you find attractive in a woman/man and why? (whichever you would date)

(for reference, I would date women)

Thats a difficult question – its easy to make traps for yourself by saying things like ‘dark hair’ or ‘tall’ or something. There are things I do tend to go for but they’re not rules at all. By way of example, Japanese girls often have great hair, while Finnish girls tend to have beautiful eyes. But I’m not sure that its really physical features that would make someone attractive. Someone who is easy to be around, someone who is supportive without being smothering, someone full of ideas who has a good way with words, someone who allows comfortable silence, someone who gives a damn. But you don’t get to know about any of those things without actually getting to know someone.

2. What is your favourite piece of music and why?

Another difficult one, I’m not sure I’ve got one favorite. How about a list of a few, and some reasons why:
– Kramers cover of “Insight” by the Dead Kennedys
– “Rage and Bela the Fearless Vampire Killers” – Szeki Kurva
– “Poison Street” – New Model Army
– “Requiem for a dream” OST – Clint Poppie
– “Eton Rifles” – The Jam
…no, this isn’t working, theres just so many good things out there, nothing stand head and shoulders above the rest.

3. If you could spend a night anywhere in the world where would you and why?

Probably Moscow, though I’m not sure why, but I’m really more interested in spending the day there….its not somewhere I’d like to go for a long time, but just popping in would be interesting.

4. If you had the chance to have someone you hate killed would you if you wouldnt be caught?

No. There isn’t anyone I hate that much. And even if there was I don’t think I’d do that.

5. If you could sleep with one famous person (living, dead or whenever) who would you and why?

An easy one to end with – Winona Ryder, during the making of Heathers.

I am not apathetic because…”it doesn’t matter who I vote for. Control stays with the people who are in control today, there is no democracy, the capitalist system ensures that those with money have the balance of power. And they remain in power by ensuring that the only voices that get heard are those of people who have money.”

There are some deeply warped people out there…who would make a paper clip assistant for Vi?