Antika - Our blog about stuff

Dexter

2008-04-25T13:29:00.002Z

I’m not usually one to write about a TV show, especially one about a serial killer, and a killer who is a likeable protagonist. But how brilliant is that? To actually make the viewer empathise with this serial killer is a feat worth mentioning. I must point out that I am not a crime/murder kind of girl. No, I prefer America’s next top model and Will and Grace, and period dramas, oh, and even a bit of Colin Fry (don’t shoot me!) But Dexter?! It’s topping my favourite TV show list by far at the moment. And no, I don’t normally have a TV list but I feel I need one now.

Unfortunately I haven’t read the book. Or maybe that’s a good thing so I didn’t have preconceptions. I love the fact that Dexter was taught by his foster father to channel his urge to kill and only to kill people that deserve to be killed. How on earth do you decide who should be killed? This is such a fantastic moral question, especially in some states of America where people do decide with the death penalty still going strong. Dexter spends time monitoring his victims-to-be to determine whether they should die. In one case he even became the patient of a killer psychiatrist to confirm his suspicions and acquire the relevant evidence. And he got it, on camera and in person. So, was his death deserved? Mmm…good question. It’s funny because Dexter explains repeatedly to the viewer that he’s emotionless and doesn’t feel anything, and has to pretend that he’s a real human to other people on a daily basis. Therefore, the fact that he’s killing people from an objective point of view rather than from an emotional perspective, does it make it easier to accept? For me, I don’t support the death penalty because how can you ever be one hundred percent sure you have the right person? I’m not saying Dexter shouldn’t kill people but rather I empathise with his feelings for wanting to hurt them (not kill them). It reminds me of someone saying something that everyone else is thinking but too afraid to voice. Haven’t we all wanted to hurt someone who hurt us or has brutally abused a small child for example? Okay, Dexter takes the whole concept a fundamentally big step further as he does have a desire to kill. But his foster father taught him to channel this propensity rather than trying to suppress it and it then inevitably going off the rails. And with his fathers help he developed a conscience and a set of values both good and bad. The fact that he acts out some of them clearly differentiates him from the average guy. But this guy is actually pretty likeable and that’s down to excellent writing, acting and production.
And I’m so glad there’s a second series!
Official site http://www.sho.com/site/dexter/home.do

PLATFORM 01 Art Exhibition

2008-02-19T16:21:00.002Z

Antika is proud to present PLATFORM 01 Art Exhibition...

PLATFORM 01 Art Exhibition is being held at The Gallery in the Custard Factory, Birmingham B9 4AA 4-9th March.

PLATFORM 01 is a multi-media collection of work by predominantly local artists, and features contributions from painters, ceramicists, photographers, sculptors, printmakers and digital media artists, some of whom have been featured in Elle Deco, presented work internationally, worked with Supergrass and The Young Knives, exhibited at the Tate, and won numerous awards. The diversity of techniques alongside the potential audience results in a wide spectrum of artists, art, and collectors representative of Birmingham's rapidly expanding art scene.

All profit is going to Breast Cancer Care http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/

PLATFORM 01 runs 4th - 9th March. Opening times Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, and Sunday 10am-2pm.

http://www.platformartexhibition.co.uk

Antika becomes Certified Vodafone re-seller

2007-06-14T16:15:00.000Z

As a Certified Vodafone re-seller, Antika is proud to offer attractive rates on mobile handsets, data and voice contracts for business.

Antika chose Vodafone as a leading mobile phone network to help it support the roll out of its new CRM software (ASC IT SYSTEMS) for the heating, electrical and servicing market. Hand held computers (PDA's) for engineers are a new and exciting move for this industry as they generate less paperwork, mileage and administration.

ASC IT SYSTEMS has a PDA module to allow engineers to complete forms such as CP12’s instantly and remotely. The entire system is designed to significantly speed up the efficiency and productivity of servicing companies.

For more information on ASC IT SYSTEMS and to see how it has benefited others, please email ascenquiries@antika.co.uk or phone us on the number below.

For more information on how we can assist you with Vodafone products, please email info@antika.co.uk or phone us on the number below.

Saving the planet, one tree at a time...

2007-05-17T15:09:00.000Z

Just a quick update, I'm really busy but wanted to share this one.

Found a really good website at http://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.html. Does what it says really; enter in your annual gas, electricity and transport costs and it spits back your carbon footprint. It also gives the option to ease you conscience by paying to plant trees, invest in cleaner technology or even refine waste products. And you get a certificate at the end! Brilliant!

Schools Out!

2007-05-11T12:09:00.000Z

Just got back from serving on the UCE/tic review panel. Blimey! A really eye-opening event for me, I learnt a huge amount about what goes into designing, running and modifying modern Degree courses and gained a real insite into how education estabishments develop and run their courses.

When I was at university I felt my course was cobbled together using a formula based on who was around and what resources we're available. These days (well going by what I experienced during this process) , courses are developed with a clear intention of providing essential, up-to-date skills that will serve the student so well in the modern IT & media sectors.

I had been asked to participate in the approval of two new degree courses, the re-approval of two existing ones and the approval of five new Foundation courses. A group of 'outsiders' from industry and other education estabishments were preseted with a huge pile of documentation relating to each course. Over two days we toured the facilities, attended presentations and interviewed members of the Faculty. we needed to know about the courses, their content, student support, objectives etc and formed an opinion about each one. We also proposed additions or reccomendations about each course based on our own experiences and expectations. Some pretty heavy stuff!

I won't ramble on too much, but I'd really like to thank UCE and the tic for giving me this opportunity to be 'on the other side of the fence'. And, more importantly, I'd like to congratulate them on having some wonderful facilities in which to provide some much needed industry skills.

Well done chaps!

Everything in Moderation...

2007-05-01T14:55:00.000Z

I dunno..., set up a blog then don't post anything on it for a month! Well, things have slowly started to settle down at Antika Towers and we're freeing up some time to get on with our housekeeping chores.

The biggest news over the last month (for me, at least) is that I've been asked to act as an External Moderator for the University of Central England! I'll be spending a couple of days over at Millennium Point working with the Faculty and other industry types to review and approve a couple of BSC degree courses.

I'm still trawling though the accompanying documentation - a 3 inch high pile of A4 booklets, so I'm still not sure *exactly* what I'm going to be doing yet, but I'm still really honoured to be asked.

The courses are Music Technology, Sound & Multimedia, Broadcast Technology & Production and Media for Mobile Devices.

I'll let you know how it goes!

Cheers
Nick

St. Patrick's Day!

2007-03-17T10:12:00.000Z

The St. Patrick's Day celebrations over the weekend reminded me of story my Uncle told me just last year, about when my family were growing up in Ireland.

Back then we had a farm, one of many in the small rural town. While this farm, and others around the area managed OK, one had a particular problem. Whilst all the other farms had excellent land for grazing and planting, this particular one had nothing but rocks.

The family were good people, but there was nothing anyone could do with the farm to make it work. There was just no way turing a profit. Eventually, the farm became run down and the farmer died.

Then someone had an idea. "What can we do with this farm of rocks?" - Sell them!

And they did.

And this simple idea became the basis for a huge construction company.

I'm not a philosopher in anyway, but even I can get some form of moral from this one. There's opportunity everywhere, you just need to look around for it.

On the subject of the Arts

2007-03-15T09:49:00.000Z

I now have my own personal website displaying my abstract paintings. These are inspired by nature and landscapes, and a desire to portray the beauty of nature in its most simplistic, colourful form.

The website also includes work by my mother who paints more traditional watercolour paintings.

Take a visit if you get the chance, http://www.thestonewalkgallery.co.uk

Vicki

How much is your website worth?

2007-03-12T15:24:00.000Z

Here's a fun tool that I came across last week - http://www.dnscoop.com/

Enter your url and it'll work out the value of your website by looking up various factors; age, inbound links, etc. Don't know how realistic the actual values are but it's a fun way to compare sites. Oh, and before you look up www.antika.co.uk it's currently only 490 bucks! Do we have an offer for 500...?

Vix Poem

2007-03-12T15:15:00.000Z

Odd. While setting up this blog it turns out we created one way back in 2001 and never used it. Even stranger is that the only real post was this beautiful poem that Vicki wrote.

jump now
grab the opportunity
poise yourself
ignore the scrutiny

touch your senses
choke on happiness
it can last forever
accept no less

Lovely isn't it?

2007-03-12T08:53:00.000Z

Welcome to what will hopefully become a fun addition to the antika website. Here's where we plan on adding bits that don't really fit with the rest of the 'corporate' site. So be prepared stuff that makes us laugh, maybe some gossip and perhaps even some sensible design and development advice.

Stay tuned....