New Blog!

Please note I'm no longer updating this blog, you can find my new blog at johnager.org and website at johnager.co.uk - why not give them a look!
JVA

British F1 Grand Prix Race 2008

Lewis Hamilton made a great start in a wet British Grand Prix to move up from P4 to P2 and challenge his team-mate Heikki Kovalainen for P1, and he managed get past a few laps later. In the wet conditions many of the drivers experienced difficulties (especially because the cars don't have traction control this year) but Hamilton demonstrated his superb talent, and his McLaren team made excellent strategic decisions. After two races without scoring any points, Hamilton is back at the top of the championship with three drivers on 48 points.
JVA

British F1 Grand Prix Qualifying 2008

Unfortunately I missed the qualifying session as I was at a fund raising event at the Salvation Army, although I managed to keep one eye on the live timing screen on the computer! Sadly, Lewis Hamilton could only manage P4 at his home circuit, but it was good to see Heikki Kovalainen secure the first P1 of his F1 career.

Interestingly, Felipe Massa could only manage P9. There was a funny story told about him on the radio yesterday - apparently Massa was one of the drivers former F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve would try to avoid during qualifying, he wouldn't go out if he was on the circuit because he considered him such a liability! And this is someone who could win the championship this season! Clearly he has improved!

I just heard the newsreader on BBC Radio 2 call Kimi Raikkonen
Mika Haikkonen!!!!! Unbelieveable, what's the world coming to!
JVA

Photography at Lincoln Castle

I was pleased that someone marked this picture a favourite on Flickr today. Darren Daz Cox (an internet contact of mine) commented - I love the synergy of nature and man here! I've always been interested in photography, and my interest has been renewed since getting a digital camera. The question was posed on Twitter today: If you had to give your best photography tip in 140 characters - what would it be? My reply was: Understand the basic rules of composition, get a feel for them, apply them regularly - and break them occasionally! The first photo obeys the rules of composition, this second one is composed (although I took it without much thought) but breaks at least basic two rules of photography!

Click here for the full set! Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear your comments! Check out my Photostream at Flickr!
JVA

Euro 2008 Final

Marta, Sarah and myself decided to go to Gainsborough Golf Club to watch the final of Euro 2008 between Germany and Spain. I've got it made - wife and daughter both like football! Sarah is particularly knowledgeable and often answers my questions - she certainly understand the offside rule! Anyway, we were all shouting for Spain and the right team won!

Yo gozan el fútbol y se complace España ganó!
Lo siento si mi español es malo, estoy aprendiendo.

JVA

Sweeney Todd

Marta, Sarah and I watched Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street yesterday on DVD, Sarah having previously seen it at the cinema. Please note - slight spoiler below! This is a another deliciously dark film from Tim Burton, with the wonderful music of Stephen Sondheim. It's a very gruesome film, but it has the style one comes to expect from Tim Burton. The greatness of the film comes from the fact that you identify with the characters of Sweeney Todd (Johnny Depp) and Mrs Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter), and have to remind yourself that they are killing people in cold blood and making them into pies! Not for the faint-hearted!
JVA

French F1 Qualifying and Race 2008

Ferrari were dominant in the French Grand Prix, Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa secured a 1-2 on the grid and a 2-1 in the race - if you see what I mean! Kimi Raikkonen was on for a win, but had to settle for second place behind Felipe Massa after a problem with a broken exhaust! Lewis Hamilton qualified in third place, but was demoted ten places for shunting Raikkonen in the pit lane in Canada - he was then penalised by the stewards for cutting the Nurburgring chicane in the process of passing Toro Rosso's Sebastian Vettel as he sought to make up places on the opening lap. That led to a drive-through penalty, the most lenient punishment available to the stewards for the offence, which cost him any realistic chance of scoring points. Felipe Massa now leads the driver's championship, with Lewis Hamilton in 4th place.
JVA

Canadian F1 Qualifying and Race 2008

It was a great race for Robert Kubica who secured his maiden F1 win, a 1-2 for BMW-Sauber and their maiden F1 victory (although Nick Heidfeld was not a happy bunny having been outclassed by his team-mate yet again this season!). Previously Lewis Hamilton had stormed to pole position on the Saturday, and made a good start in the race - until he ran into the back of a stationary Kimi Raikkonnen in the pit lane following a safety car period. So no points for Lewis or Kimi - and Robert is now leading the championship! Quite a different race for Kubica than the one he had in Canada last year - click here!
JVA

Formula 1 Websites on Geek-Speak

Check out my post about Formula 1 websites on Geek-Speak here!
JVA

Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet on DVD

Marta and I have just finished watching this amazing film version of Shakespeare's Hamlet, directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh. It's unique in containing the whole text of the play, and the running time is four hours! I had the VHS version of the movie when it came out, but it became rather worn after I studied it for a course with the Open University. The DVD came out recently, but it's hard to get - mine was bought on eBay from a seller in Germany and the cover is in German, happily the soundtrack is in English!

It's probably the best filmed version of Hamlet you'll ever see, one review on IMDb UK says, "Not many directors could pull this off without boring their audience but Branagh's skillful use of bravora film style and stunt casting allows people to see the importance of the scenes that are usually cut out. Branagh is the only film maker that understood the importance of every scene in this film and knew how to convey that importance to the general audience."

Do yourself a real favour and check out this movie, you won't be disappointed! 101+ Reasons to see Branagh's Hamlet
JVA

Monaco F1 Grand Prix 2008

Unfortunately I wasn't able to watch the Monaco Grand Prix, although I have since seen the highlights. It was a great day for Lewis Hamilton! He won the race despite hitting a barrier on lap six, puncturing a tyre and having to make an early pit-stop! He is now leading the championship. I listened to the race on the radio while travelling to York - click here to see my reaction when Hamilton won!
JVA