The end of the year.

Well here we are, at the end of another year. I'm sat here with not much to do, except in the company of a lot of books and video games. You always hope and hope for the work to be over, without actually thinking of what you'll do when it actually is. What is here, however, is snow. Quite a bit of it, perhaps even enough to last for a white christmas? Doubtful, but a nice thought. I mean, I don't even particularly celebrate Christmas, so I don't know what I'm doing wishing for a snowy one. Harking back to some manufactured idyll I suppose, it's all rather Dickensian, except without the crushing poverty.

Bioshock

Well as the title suggests, I've finally gotten around to playing Bioshock properly now all my assignments are handed in. It's really rather good, the storyline is immense and the action perfectly balanced. As a result, I'm quite looking forward to the sequel, just a few months away. Will give me time to have another run through it, not to mention pick up and play assassin's creed 2.

Speaking of assignments, It's a strange feeling to be free of them. There's no longer a little voice in the back of my head telling me to work, work work. It's brilliant timing, then, that I'm now ill. Though it wouldn't have been that nice to have been ill during my assignments, and there's never a good time to be ill, having my leisure time taken up with being weaker than a newly born kitten isn't exactly how I envisaged spending my Christmas break.

French

I'd just like to devote an entire blog entry to saying how utterly ridiculous the French numerical system is once it gets into the nineties. I mean seriously Quatre-vingt-dix-neuf is just vaguely ridiculous.

Essays!

Yes, essays. I'm writing, or supposed to be writing a lot of them at the moment. I did write two, think they were quite good, then put them to the side. But upon closer inspection, they were a bit crap, so after rewriting one over the course of 10 hours, I'm attacking the other one tomorrow before starting on the final two. Then there's just the question of some history reading to do.. which of course I'm not behind on *cough*

Operatic intentions.

There's a presentation on Medea I should be working on right now, as well as some reading on the Crusades. Instead I'm emailing and msn'ing while listening to city and colour. I realise how often my blogs start with this, an outline of the work I'm supposed to be doing, and then an explanation of how I'm procrastinating instead. Will I change? Find out in two and a half years time! Yes, I know someone hates it when I speak like that, but hell, it was appropriate this time!

Currently reading One day in the life of Ivan Denisovich. Thought not many people had heard of it, then I found out my personal tutor ranks it highly as one of his favourite books. Came home, was walking with it upstairs and then my mother spotted it and proceeded to tell me how she read it thirty years ago and enjoyed it immensely. Not so much a literary hipster victory, but a fail. Yet I don't feel down, that would be facetious. That such a brilliant book is known is a good thing. Solzhenitsyn on the other hand, I can't say I identify with, his ideas of the prominence and importance of the Judeo-Christian tradition on civilisation and the ensuing morality is rather insulting. Though the influence on art, philosophy, literature, architecture and politics is undoubted, to say that the lack of belief in God results in moral breakdown is insulting to human reason and humanity in general. The shift from fear to responsibility is important, it weighs on a person. If you do wrong, you do wrong. When you don't, it's not because of the fear of divine retribution.

Been talking to an American college student of late. Reminded me how much I enjoy Opera. I should try to get down to London more often to see productions, to enjoy it and yet not see it live is wrong somehow. Same goes for theatre, I enjoy it, have of course been there, but don't go as often as I'd like. Ah, so much I want to do, so little motivation.

Stanza from Ginsberg's Howl.

who cut their wrists three times unsuccessfully,

gave up and were forced to open antique stores where

they thought they were growing old and cried.

I have started

To write again. It's much harder work than I thought it would be. Like quarrying away at a cliff face, in the vague hope that the resulting sculpture will resemble what you want it to.

In other news the cold is really starting to bite. Even with a woollen coat on top of a hoodie I was frozen this morning walking to University. Coupled with a strong, strong desire to have remained in bed, it was not a pleasant morning. The walk home was somewhat nicer, though I suspect it was due to the fact I was on my way home.

I'm not going to lie, University has become a drag. I realised today I have three essays, 2 seminar papers and a presentation to complete in the next month. The untold amounts of stress this will bring down upon me is untold, and I sure as hell don't deal with stress well. I'll get it done, I suppose, though to what standard I don't know. Why did I even do this degree anyway, it's not like I'm going to use it, I'll be co-running a café in Paris for fucks sake, how is that relevant to an English Degree.

The return from Rome.

Well I have returned from Rome. From the verdant, warm climes of Italy to the damp and cold English autumn. Although I was aware of the Mediterranean climate, I was unprepared for the shock of being able to stroll along Vias needing nothing more than a T-shirt. Would be nice to bring the weather back with me, though of course then I'd be complaining about the terrible Architecture around here.

What I AM most thoroughly complaining about, however, is the fact that a wonderful café is now several hundred miles away. It's most disappointing, yet it'll inevitably serve as a source of temptation to return very soon. Not that I needed another source of course, Rome as a whole is simply enchanting.

Paris keeps cropping up. It's an omnipresent light in the background, tempting wary students astray like some sort of urban will'O'the'wisp. What choice do we have in such circumstances but to give in!

In preparation, I'm supposed to be learning French, but the pressing matter of essays has already overshadowed these attempts. In the next month, I have four essays to write, one of which, on Roman socio-political conflict in the late Roman republic is going to take fucking ages to write simply because of the number of books I'll have to wade through to be able to form a few paragraphs. It's vaguely ridiculous. I should enjoy this, I love the classics, and yet being forced to write an essay that's worth such a large proportion of your final module grade is somewhat numbing. As you can tell (whomsoever you are, ethereal reader), I do not deal with stress well. What I do do well however, is hide is from those I need to hide it from. Yay.

It would have been nice, I suppose to have had a short break between Italy and Essays, instead this break was a horrific bad chest that made me wonder if I'd caught swine flu from somewhere. But from where? Rome? No. Such a thought would denigrate such a wonderful place. Must have been from those swine at easyjet.

Updating this

more than I thought I would. Whether it is through boredom or an actual desire to keep some sort of blog I have no idea. These aren't exactly planned and tend to end up more stream of consciousness than anything else, so it's more likely to be the former. As I sit here typing this, I'm extremely tired. Which is strange considering I haven't done mu.. oh wait that's right, I decided to walk home. That probably wasn't one of my most brilliant ideas, come to think of it.

The Libation Bearers.

Once again, I should be working on an essay. This time concerning a critical moment within Aeschylus' Oresteia where Orestes comes to realise his inexorable destiny. However, instead of finishing off the last few hundred words of this, I'm seemingly doing anything except the essay. So far I've read in unusual detail The Observer while drinking coffee and paced around my room while listing off mentally the last jobs I have to do. Oh well, as long as it's done at some point today, that's all that really matters.

In the mean time, I may as well finish off reading the first few books of Paradise Lost, which we're supposed to be studying in the first lecture on Tuesday. That is, of course, if I'm able to get into the building. Normally, you understand, this wouldn't be a problem, but after half te.. sorry, reading week, we (the degree students) have a wonderful new building that looks like the bastard child of a typical B&Q store and a Lego brick. To get into the building, we need our ARU I.D cards. Which we don't yet have. They're supposed to be awaiting us at reception on the morning, but we all know what the bureaucracy is like in those matters..

Future.

I want to do something monumental. Something that defines me, who I am and what I want to be. At the age of 21 most people are setting out into the world, whereas I, the late git that I am, am in my first year of University. As such, I'm pretty much stuck in this town for the next three years.

Talking last night reignited my desire to travel, to set out on the road in a Kerouac fashion, full of existential angst. But that's not going to happen, not properly. The road won't be neverending, the end is always in sight. Perhaps after University I can travel properly, linger in remote places, fashionable cities and medieval alleyways.

Speaking of University, I don't know what to think about it. So far, It's been sadly easy, though of course it'll no doubt change. But I can't shake the fact that I don't belong here. The essays don't flow like they used to, my passion for the written word has disappeared along with my concentration. There are flashes of my old self, like the last sputtering efforts of a lightbulb, but what will I do when it is inevitably extinguished?

Another emo entry.

I think I can actually sum this up in far fewer words than I was originally going to. I'm going to have this sadness with me forever, it's not going to fade, as I agreed with a friend the other day, some people are different. Some people don't fit in, some people aren't meant to be part of the pack. If you want to connect to us, you have to yell at us, scream at us. Drag us back to reality, tell us how you feel and how what we say affects you, because without it we just won't get it. But /damn/ if this doesn't make some good art.

Tell us how you feel.

That was

very strange. To know your similarity to a film/book character is to lose a part of yourself, and yet gain another. Does it necessarily follow, therefore, that if one knows someone else in a similar situation.. well quite.

Tomorrow, I shall be walking to college, not quite what I wanted to be doing on my week off, but it's unavoidable.

Well

I was going to spend today doing essay prep, instead I woke up at two pm, staggered around for a bit being generally disturbed by seeing myself in a mirror and drank tea while reading the New Scientist on the landing for a few hours. A satisfying day.

Ever..

Had something to say, and yet you physically can't say it? Yeahhhhh

Effort.

I should probably shave or something, and wash my hair. I'm beginning to look like a dishevelled artist, or even worse, a hipster. I also need to buy a blazer and a winter coat, perhaps a pea-coat. Again, effort.

First essay finished, just need to go into College on my week off to print it and hand it in, cover sheet was.. interesting, shall we say.

Watched SF10 last night, my similarity to Brian is apparent. Oh and it's.. scary.

Somewhat confused about the whole other thing, whether to say anything or not, or whether my thoughts are even known. It's all so arsing complicated. Still, I really doubt.. but maybe? Why do males always have to be assertive. It's bloody crippling for a shy kid.

I think I'm in love with my coffee machine, it's so.. wonderful. The age of it too, it looks like a 1930's percolator, even if it is from the 60's.

Travelling. I want to travel, to escape. Escape is good, right?

Schoolings.

I'm writing in here more and more of late. I don't know whether it's reflective or reflexive, though no matter what the cause I shall not stop. While the muse is with me, I'll let the thoughts flow, 'til writer's block encroaches once more.

That was almost poetic. Though this is more stream of consciousness than planned blog. Strange, though I know a few people read this, I know of a few, it's strange insofar as I'm actually typing to no one in particular, more to myself or to the great blogger in general.

Today was strange, I awoke at four am in a cold sweat for no reason I could discern, feeling incredibly ill yet completely awake. Even stranger was the fact that that was the time I have been going to bed for the past few weeks. A massive 'oi' from my body clock, I suppose? Nevertheless, it was rather unpleasant.

Also realised today that I have an essay due in on November the fifth, which is going to add to the already mounting work related stress that I'm under. Oh joy of joys. At least I'll be able to get it done well before deadline and then flee the country to pastures new (ish) for a few days. It shall all be rather epic!

I've basically spent today sitting in a room with sneezing people for seven hours, with an average of a sneeze every four minutes or so (yes, I counted, yes I was bored). So if I hadn't caught anything before, I definitely shall now, knowing how lousy/non-existent my immune system appears to be.

While not being exposed to the common cold, I spent the day immersed in Russian Formalism and Metaphysical poetry. The latter I have covered pretty much to death back at AS level, the former was interesting, though I have a feeling I should really not read so much about the lecture topic before attendance. It rather ruins the joy of learning something new.

Oh well, toodle-pip and all that.

Harrumph.

I have no idea what on earth is going on. When there's a sudden change in attitude, it really kicks you in the balls. Whether it's your fault or otherwise, you don't know because things aren't bloody clear. Yes, this is a moan/whinge/whatever. But I bloody well need it. All I'm left with tonight is wonderings and worry. Especially as I was going to do something anyway. Bah. I'm going to bed.

Essays and such things.

Well I'm on my third draft of writing this essay, about eight hundred words in, should get most of it done by tonight if my concentration holds. Done a lot today, pretty much everything apart from getting on with this essay, I really need more focus if I'm going to get through this degree with a good mark.

People urging me to make a move. Still unsure. Meh.

700 words to go, running out of chocolate. Blast.

Procrastination.

I really should be writing an essay on English degree course expectations, yet the words for that don't seem to flow as easily as the stream of consciousness that this blog is composed of. I'm sitting here, with the typical cup of coffee, attempting to write a fifteen hundred word essay on course expectations, how the course has met these or otherwise, and what I thought of terms such as literary canon, theory and the like. Oh what joy.

On a somewhat more sombre note, my cat is dying. Eye cancer, had it for a while, always knew it wasn't operable, yet of late she's hardly eaten anything. It'd be easier to bear if she didn't follow me around with a folorn look in her eyes, as though she *knows* her time has come. Still, we've thought she's a gonner before, there's hope, however minimal, if she starts eating again.

What does it say about my character that at the first sign of trouble I want to flee the country? My degree course, though the lectures are wonderful and the banter stimulating is somewhat tempered by the fact that the essays are so utterly dry. I wish there was a better way of assessing a student's progress than my making them write a fifteen hundred word essay, within such strict guidelines. It'd be much more illuminating having a discussion with an tutor/examiner over a cup of tea and biscuits. Though that would of course remove such things as objectivity in the marking process.

I dreamed about flying to America, to San Francisco and opening a bohemian café filled with artists, poets and writers. I'd sit all day drinking coffee and discussing culture with the patrons, not worrying about such things as profits and money.. oh well it's a dream isn't it? One that may happen one day.

So, I've been thinking that perhaps plotting and planning far ahead isn't the best of ideas. Live for the moment? But if only some things were easier, and clearer. Males are supposed to be assertive, to show dominance. But if only females were much clearer in what they want, two utterly shy people isn't a good combination for assertion. Courage, courage they say, yet there is always risk. When the consequences of what could be a misunderstanding are quite dramatic, it could ruin everything, couldn't it? I'll let the other party decide and say, if they want anything.

Que pena?

As always, I find my solace in tea and books. I do hope this doesn't give anybody who's reading this the impression of the tortured artist, because I'm merely contemplative. Not to mention that I'm neither tortured, nor an artist. I'm a neurotic writer&poet, if you want to label me as anything.

I have this little sketch I drew right next to me, it's of a tree, with two people sat underneath it looking at the stars. Perhaps if I practice then I might actually have some talent with drawing, but then again something always distracts me.

Adieu, for now.

Oh my days.

Hello.

While I'm writing this

I could be starting one of the two essays that are due. Procrastination is the name of the game of late, why toil on something when there are much more interesting things to do instead. Which leads me onto spontaneity. I used to think I was quite a shy person, well that's been proved quite.. wrong? No I don't think so. But I'm sure I'm more confident these days. Perhaps it was because I was meeting a person that I somehow.. knew I'd get on with irl. That would give one an air of confidence wouldn't it? No matter. I am happy, but still, the mind wanders and ponders on future things, possibilities and such things. Can one know the mind of another, can one take the next step into uncertainty?

The long, long hair has gone. Never to return, people seem to really like the change, and so do I. Bloody cold neck though, perhaps a scarf is in order. With the advent of winter comes the advent of more work, essays and seminars to present. I was looking forward to the essays, until I realised that it's bloody difficult to keep to one single topic in a paragraph, how can one link to other topics without doing so. It's a skill I shall have to master.

Paris was enchanting, couldn't have hoped for a better weekend. Still, fuck Luton Airport.

I think another late night on msn awaits.

Yay.

It's been many a day.

So now I have started University. It's fine, trundling along well, even if I do seem to know the content of the lectures, am unable to stop myself rambling on and have firmly cemented my reputation as the class nerd within the first week. Hurrah for stereotypes, I guess.

Fate, now there's an interesting concept. Up until a month ago I really didn't think such a thing existed, but now, now I'm not so sure. I've run this over and over in my mind and the odds are incredible, yet here we are. Oh well, in this case, fate has been kind. Very kind. :D

I miss not being able to travel on a whim. Oh and fuck you Chaucer, Fuck. You.

Sing, heavenly muse.

Well, first things first i just remembered this is linked to facebook. Why on earth did I set it up to link to that? Oh well.

Nothing interesting to report, save a rather nice surprise a week or so ago. It does make me wonder what will happen. I hope for the best, and the future's all about potentiality isn't it, we'll see. Still, w00t.

Will hit 21 in a week's time, thing is, I don't feel particularly old. I sure as hell don't feel 21, more like 18/19. Still, will be a nice quiet day, with luck.

Reread the da vinci code recently, wondering why i bothered, though it's rather guiltily enjoyable it doesn't leave you feeling enriched like reading something of higher calibre does. It's the literary equivalent of junk food. Perhaps it will serve as stepping stone for people who don't usually read. At any rate, moved onto Cunliffe's short introduction to the Celts now, should be interesting.

Adieu, etc.

Things to do

Flesh out book, re-visit the British Museum, go to Cornwall and the Scottish islands (all of them!), visit the faroe islands.

I actually really dislike

Those who only talk to you when they want you to help them with something. Othertimes are they chatty beyond saying hello? No, no they're not. Euch, i'm sure they don't realise it, but goddamnit it's annoying.

Apart from that annoyance, nothing else has really been happening of late. I've returned from Europe, and will now proceed to spend the next couple of months bored out of my mind before University.

Travelling.

Well i have officially returned from my travels. In one week, i have visited five countries, my route being:

London - Eurostar to - Paris - Sleeper to - Rome - Train to - Bari - Ferry to - Patras - Ferry to - Venice - Sleeper to - Vienna - Train to - Munich - Sleeper to - Paris.

Photographs are up on facebook, a few videos (mostly taken on ferries, or water taxis) are posted on Youtube.

Highlights of the trip included nearly perishing in an epic thunderstorm travelling from Venice to Vienna, eating gelato outside the coliseum and eating pizza in piazza san marco, not forgetting watching the sun rise over the aegean sea and islands slowly coming into view.

Well

I've come to the conclusion that the human race is going to do precisely nothing about global warming, unless you count procrastinating and holding even more meetings to discuss holding meetings about possible legislation (maybe). By the time it begins to affect us we'll just move into domed mega-cities with controlled climates.

Basically

I don't see the current expenses scandle to be that much of a big deal, as Stephen Fry said when interviewed, practically everyone that has been in the position to has.. exaggerated their expenses. Why, then, are we up in arms about someone claiming for a bathplug, it's bordering on the ridiculous.

Perhaps it comes down to the fact that we, as a nation, have a distrust of those in power, whether they are from the same background or otherwise, as soon as they are elected into a position of power we instinctively regard them with suspicion. These current headlines, rightly or wrongly, are suddenly claimed as a jusitification of this suspicion, that all those in power are currupt.

This worries me, why? because it is in climates such as this that democracy is most frail.

Shame.

It is, isn't it? That people don't talk as much as they used to. Especially when you can almost chart the degradation of what they say, what used to be indepth discussions is now barely more than 'hi' and so forth, of course all this changes when they want your help with something.. work for instance.

Bah.

Virtual worlds.

I realised the other day that i play World of Warcraft for around 11 hours a day. I get up, drink coffee, log on. Interspersed with food and more coffee, that's my day 'til late at night. Fine, I go on msn and various sites but that's not really social interaction is it? Not in the way that a generation or so ago would recognise anyway. But it is, of course, normal for my generation, thousands, millions perhaps of youths with little 'irl' social interaction, spending their days playing wow or other games, locked away in their rooms in body, but virtually spreading their wings.

It's different from where we're supposed to be. Hell, at my age we're practically encouraged by society to go out get drunk, take drugs and have casual sex. We have a signification proportion of a generation not taking risks, just drinking up electronic substances instead of real ones. This isn't fun is it?

We're practically turning middle aged before our time.

I

Must go and book tickets to America soon-ish, seems like i'm going there before i go to Rome, that has been pushed back to July, but for a most excellent reason. Went to Ulduar last night (10 man), we one shotted razorscale and i won a most excellent new helm 'dragonsteel faceplate', win win win.

Nothing much else to report, except i am now linking these to my notes on facebook, tis a most spiffy feature. Got a new guitar hero controller this morning, which means i can now strum correctly.

America!

So, i decided to completely revise my travel plans on a whim. Instead of London - Israel via Italy and Greece, i'll instead do a short trip to Rome spending a few days there and return. Then, after i return the main trip shall be booked. What i shall do as my 'main trip' is a coast to coast of the United States, yes that's right - NYC to San Francisco. I am excited already!

If, of course, Swine Flu doesn't kill us all. But of course it won't.. or will it?

Travel

Didn't get an Iranian visa, so new plans are to visit Italy and Greece, rest is dependent upon my energy.

Long time no post.

I have not posted on here for a very long time. It's unfortunate, oh well this'll change from now! Let's see, what's going on? Well my Granddad died recently, at the age of 101. The man could remember the titanic going down and a zepplin going over during world war one. A good, long life.

I still play WoW, it's fun. No, no i have not been practicing guitar, shoot me. I shall at some point, probably. I echo Dan, it's shocking, the number of people who can't make decent conversation at some point. Oh i admit, it's an efffort, but something beyond the usual pleasantries must be forthcoming most of the time. It makes one wonder, especially when some people used to be flowing with words.

Oh well, life is alright all in all. University in 5 months, which i greatly look forward to. Let's hope i have the energy for it, eh?

Iran pt.2

Applied for an Iranian visa last week, will take another two or three weeks to see if my app has been succesful. If i don't get it, i'll just head to Jordan or Syria instead via Turkey, depending on time etc.

While typing this i'm waiting for the finance form for University to finish printing out. 48 pages. Joy. Pizza later though, after i have cooked it. .

Travel plans.

Well i'm planning a little trip, by train, ending up in India if all goes to plan. First of all i'll be getting a train to Paris, where i'll run (not literally) across the city to Montparnasse, catching a sleeper train to Lisbon and then on to Tavira. Then a succesion of trains will go take us to Italy, the czech republic, and Greece. Then i'll be going on to Turkey, which is where things will get complicated. If i can secure an Iranian visa before i go, i'll be catching another sleeper to Tehran, which shall serve as a base for exploring the country. Seeing as i'll be starting a Classics degree in September i'd quite like to see the tomb of Daris and Cyrus, not to mention the ruins of Persepolis. Then, again if all goes to plan, i'd like to continue on to India.. via Pakistan, which worries me slightly what with the terrorism and US air strikes and all. Then i'll be able to explore India for a while.

What shall i do if i can't get an Iranian visa? Well perhaps then i'll have to head to Moscow!

Snow days.

Snow seems to have crippled the United Kingdom. While other European countries regularly continue functioning through several feet of snow, England is crippled by 7 inches. It's fun though, if the definition of fun is extreme difficulty. Yesterday i cleared the path of snow in order to allow better access to the compost heap, i managed it - just, but it's left me pretty much crippled today due to extreme fatigue. The joys of CFS i suppose. Attempted to build a snowman, but my efforts have been easily outshadowed by the 8foot monster several neighbouring families have constructed out the front. It even has a reflective jacket on.

Completed Gears of War 2 a short while ago, somewhat easy ending. I'm suprised. Still, got many other games to get through yet. Resuming Mass Effect as i type this.

Solace.

Through invisible corridors for uncounted hours

searching for contentment and the restless fix of rushed words and

replies of strangers.

Esoteric information rushed to lone individuals 

locked away

devoid of meaning.

Obama.

Great inaugeration, inspiring speech, just got to see whether the expectations placed upon him are too high now. I'm sure he'll be great, but whether the Republicans will make life hard for him.

On a related note, justice roberts fluffed his lines when swearing him in. I laughed.

Existence before essence.

Life is pretty damned pointless. We're condemned to be free, as Sartre said, therefore any solace is of our own finding, there is no greater purpose, existence precedes essence in humanity's case. So, we're in the position where any meaning in our lives is left to be found by ourselves, there i am hitting a problem. I'm finding no meaning in life. I have everything, lots of time to myself, great friends - heck, i'm happyish with who i am, i'm intelligent, look reasonable when i'm not looking exhausted and have been told repeatedly i'm a nice guy. Sure, i don't have a girlfriend but.. well let's not go there.

I'm going travelling soon, meet up with a friend, hopefully explore a bit and get to Morocco eventually. We'll see if that satiates the void.

Social interaction.

I've discovered it's not as scary as i thought. Actually rather fun. How about that, people were right!

So very cold.

Right, it's 3am and i'm supposed to be getting up at 9am in order so that i actually see morning for once. Oh and go for a walk, yes, me - a walk. Doesn't seem to go does it? Well i'm supposed to be recouperating this year and getting my stamina levels up. Got to start somewhere. Sainsbury's, to precise, going to top up my phone. Well, got to give the walk SOME purpose.

Well well well.

Israel's going in for a ground offensive on the Gaza strip. Quite foolish, seeing as what Hamas practically excell at is guerilla warfare. Both sides are going to suffer heavy casualties and it's something Israel can't win. They'll most likely be forced to pull out like in their previous offensive against hezbollah in Lebanon. In the meantime, they'll have stirred up more hatred toward them by the collateral damage they'll have caused, and by that i mean their killing of children and civilians, alongside the traumatic damage to infrastructure. It'll be a miracle if this isn't the start of something larger in the middle east, though that is a constant risk. Hopefully the threat of nuclear retaliation will keep things contained. At any rate, aggression should cease immediately.

On another apocalyptic note, it seems Yellowstone is getting more active of late. If it goes off, then we're basically in another Ice Age for a while. A while being 80ish years. So in that respect, if it goes off, most of humanity will die. Ah well, it seems to be quietening down again now, so let us hope that it stays that way.