Babies are zombies!

They have a shambling walk and they suck out your brain.

Why didn't I see it earlier!

best Xmas pressie 2007

I have a cousin who works at the ABC.
She has a sense of humour.


:-)

Megzz, you have a year...

..in which to knit several of these for TurkeyDay08 ...

Boxing Day BBQ

This date appears to be free....
(if it turns out not to be the case someone tell me soon)

Therefore.

BBQ, our place.

Turn up anytime after 11am with your leftovers, drinks and dead animal. We will supply some bread and sausages and maybe some salad. It's probably not wise to cater too much... It's not like any of us have a chance to be underfed at this time of year.

We'll have the sunshade, sandpit and wading pool set up for toddler entertainment.

RSVP if you feel you need to.

Flaming Swords of...

Coz & Rob, I hope you packed your Flaming Swords of WTF-you-freakarse-people-all-deserve-to-die..

I've found you some candidates..



Found via haha.nu

Teeheehehehehehehehehehehe

Found on TheFerrets LJ.

I used to watch CSI:Miami and laugh outrageously at David Caruso's ines and sunglass acting... Apparently I'm not the only one....

Man Cold

meme

Where is your mobile phone? desk
Describe your boyfriend/girlfriend? roaming free in my imagination
Your hair? clean and straight
Your mother? Life sucking demon from the nether regions of hell. Oh and fat, I forgot to say fat.
Your father? Bald
Your favourite item? Kinder Surprise Fireman's safe
Your dream last night? Long, involved and assisted by barbiturates
Your favourite drink? James' G&T
Your dream car? one that comes with a chauffeur
The room you are in? Office
Your ex? drunk
Your fear? dead children
What do you want to be in 10 years? On my country property, feeding my chooks
Who did you hang out with last night? G and AJ
What you’re not? tall
The last thing you did? made a cuppa
What are you wearing? heels (I'd hate my work mates to find out I'm not tall)
Your favourite book? To kill a mocking bird or Jane Eyre or any other droll read
Last thing you ate? Arrowroot biccy
Your life? A little on the dull side
Your mood? mild
Your friends? Absent
What are you thinking about right now? Xmas drinks in 5 minutes
Your car? Functioning
What are you doing at the moment? Waiting for drinkies to start
Your summer? pleasant
Your relationship status? On going
What is on your TV? Many remotes
When is the last time you laughed? Last night when G told me about the Santa at Frankston Myer who had a coronary and the child had to be pryed from his rigid arms. How much therapy is that kid gunna need?

One Word Meme

Found at Edditer's Blog.

Where is your mobile phone? Handbag
Describe your boyfriend/girlfriend? Non-existent (husband existent)
Your hair? Flat
Your mother? Well
Your father? Heaven
Your favourite item? Children
Your dream last night? Forgotten
Your favourite drink? Lemon
Your dream car? Free
The room you are in? Office
Your ex? History
Your fear? Accidents
What do you want to be in 10 years? Happy
Who did you hang out with last night? Rellies
What you’re not? Slender
The last thing you did? Type
What are you wearing? Blue
Your favourite book? Interesting
Last thing you ate? Salad
Your life? Hectic
Your mood? Good
Your friends? Fabulous
What are you thinking about right now? Christmas
Your car? Dusty
What are you doing at the moment? Working (Ha!)
Your summer? Hot
Your relationship status? Steady
What is on your TV? Flags
When is the last time you laughed? Yesterday

Megzz & Snerg...why did you not bring back a billion of these

A squishy pig thing...think of the fun!!

musical beer

And not a moment too soon.....

This is what has been holding the world back. We can finally proudly venture forth into a new world....



That's right. Glow in the dark cats.

Things to Ponder

Q: I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life; is this
true?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it.. don't
waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart
will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of
your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and
corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an
efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat
chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And
a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable
products.

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine,
that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of
the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms up!

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one.
If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular
exercise program?
A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No
Pain...Good!

Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!! .... Foods are fried these days in vegetable
oil. In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more ve getables be
bad for you?

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the
middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You
should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy? HELLO Cocoa beans! Another vegetable!!! It's the best
feel-good food around!

Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.

Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape!

Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had
about food and diets.

And remember:

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of
arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in
sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly
used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO, What a Ride"

AND......

For those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on
nutrition and health It's a relief to know the truth after all those
conflicting nutritional
studies.

1. The Japanese eat very little fat
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Aussies.

2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Aussies.

3. The Chinese drink very little red wine
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Aussies.

4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Aussies.

5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and fats
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Aussies.

CONCLUSION

Eat and drink what you like.

Speaking English is apparently what kills you.

The Christmas Meme

With thanks to The Other Andrew.

Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Wrapping paper. Cheap and cheerful and I actually really like the ripping sound it makes. Also, you can't peek in and see what's in there easily.

Real tree or Artificial?
Artificial. It's just easier.

When do you put up the tree?
When I can be bothered getting it out of the garage, blowing all the dust off and putting it together. So far this year it's still in the garage.

When do you take the tree down?
December 26.

Do you like eggnog?
I've never tried it, but the fact that you can get it in a carton worries me.

Favorite gift received as a child?
A red pushbike.

Do you have a nativity scene?
No, that would be really hypocritical, and the cat would probably eat the baby Jesus.

Hardest person to buy for?
My MIL.

Easiest person to buy for?
The kids. The only problem is how to stop.

Mail or email Christmas cards?
I'm not even organised enough to email Xmas cards. Consider yourselves wished a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
Moisturiser.

Favorite Christmas Movie?
Bad Santa.

When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Usually about 4 weeks out. Then I get fed up with the crowds and buy everyone a book.

Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
No, I don't think so.

Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Baked meat, anything ham, Christmas pudding, the list is endless.

Clear lights or colored on the tree?
We have some coloured ones but they are too much of a cat and toddler magnet so usually we hide them.

Favorite Christmas song?
Little Drummer Boy by some rock band I can never remember. I think they also did "Old Time Rock and Roll".

Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Usually travel. Queensland this year, NZ the next. After that I'm planning to bugger off somewhere with just hubby and the kids.

Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?
How many of them are there again. Um, Donner and Blitzen, Dasher and Dancer, someone and Prancer, Rudolph. Is that all of them?

Angel on the tree top or a star?
Badly made aluminium foil star.

Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Christmas morning. Unless it's bed linen (for toddlers, I ask you!)

Most annoying thing about this time of year?
Musak christmas carols. Closely followed by "Can I open a present yet? Can I open this one?"

Favorite ornament theme or color?
Whatever I can find in the garage.

Favorite for Christmas dinner?
Roast, vegies, plum pudding, ice cream, custard, pavlova. The whole eating far too much on a stinking hot day and sleeping it off all afternoon.

What do you want for Christmas this year?
A peaceful and safe drive to Qld and back.

I had a dream

If only it concerned equality or world peace or something.

I was the passenger in a car being driven at pace through suburban streets. By Harry. Who coincidentally was playing euphonium to a speaker phone in order to pass a music exam. His right hand was in the bell of his euphonium, french horn style (oo err), right elbow out the open window, leaving only his left to deal with steering, gear selection (manual car, or course) and instrumental fingering (oo errier).

Think I'll walk next time thanks Haz.

Houseraising

Now see, if I were a clever energetic person, I'd have gone down to the build site at the same time every day, set up a tripod in the same place, and snapped a photo of our house, and spliced all the photos together into a movie to music, so you could see it rise up out of the earth like skeletons from Medusa's teeth. (What I did instead was nick Mike's insurance photos, splice together all the ones pointing mostly the same direction, and slow it down to avoid inducing epilepsy and nausea because of the varying camera angles. So its more of a slideshow than a movie, but you still get to see the progression.)

read it because we need more atheists..

Oooh look, a bandwagon.

Jump.

1. Are you dating the last person you kissed?
No, the last person I kissed was my son.

2. Pretend you've had ten beers. What would you be doing right now?
Having my stomach pumped.

3. What do you want?
Children who eat vegetables.

4. Who was the last person you shared a bed with?
My husband, baby daughter, and at least one cat.

5. Do you talk to yourself?
Occassionally, when I need some adult conversation.

6. Do you drink milk straight from the carton?
No, I'm the Mummy.

7. Who knows the latest secret about you?
No idea, I've forgotten it myself.

8. How long is your hair?
Just a little bit too long.

9. Do you like Batman?
Yes, even though he threw out the lovely socks I gave him.

10. Who was the last person who told you they loved you?
The cat. I suspect he wanted to be fed.

11 and 12 seem to be missing.

13. Do you like anyone now?
Lots of people.

14. When was the last time you lied?
Yesterday, probably. Or maybe not...

15 is off somewhere with 11 and 12.

16. Is your birthday on a holiday.
No, dammit.

17. What instant messaging service do you use?
Luddites are us.

18. Last thing you cooked today?
A cup of tea at morning tea time.

19. Did you have a nap today?
No but I had a lovely nap yesterday, thanks for asking.

20. Whose house did you go to last?
The neighbours to collect our cat who had miaowed outside their window all night.

21. What do you wear more jeans or sweats?
Jeans.

22. Why is the sky blue?
Don't you have Google?

23. Do you like green beans?
Yes.

24. Do you swear a lot?
In particular circumstances.

25. Where did you get the shirt you are wearing?
Target.

26 is also awol.

27. Do you use an alarm clock?
No I have children.

28. Where was your default MySpace picture taken?
Que?

29. Do you snort when you laugh?
Occassionally. It's not pretty.

30. What's the first thing you notice on the opposite sex?
Eye colour.

31. Is cheating ever okay?
Depends what you are cheating on.

32. Do you want someone you can't have?
See no. 3.

33 has buggered off too.

34. Do you wear underwear.
Yes, I am not Brittney.

35. Do you wear a bra?
Yes.

36. What size?
My size.

37. Are you a social or antisocial person?
Depends what time of day, well a lot of factors really.

38 who knows?

39. Do you have a tan?
Not if I can help it.

40-44 can the person who made this meme count?

45. Are you afraid of the dark?
No, although occassionally of things in it.

46 nope, I'm guessing they failed counting

47. Did you miss someone today.
Yep, bastard was too quick for me. Maybe tomorrow.

48 how did they make it past kindergarten?

49. Do you still have pictures of you and your ex's.
No.

50. Who's always there for you now matter what?
Kanga.


Who else wants to play?

Turns out he was just paraphrasing literature

"It's astonishing how Lesbian women are, consciously or unconsciously. Seems to me they're nearly all Lesbian"

from 'Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence, first published 1928.

Strange things in a strange land.

So what did we get up to in Japan?

Taking over the world. One milk carton at a time.


The "Snergmilk" cartons weren't selling as well.

Attention: Horde

What are you doing here, when you could be here?

..and five thousand trillion fish come jumping out the top..

Oh the joy that is French and Saunders!

Get your CrankyPants now!

Yes it is about time you all stopped talking about it and actually had cranky pants.

If you don't believe me that these are absolutely necessary, here is a sample:

In your face.

I'm not a Facebook user, but I think some of you are. If so, you may want to start screaming at them now; a new policy allows them to post the details of all of your online transactions to other Facebook users, unless you specifically opt out every time you make a purchase. This is essentially for the purposes of marketing - they'll build a profile of your purchases and farm it out to advertisers - but its also a really great high-tech solution to that nasty problem of actually being surprised by gifts...

I should have listened to my shopping muse.

While shopping with the kids last week I saw a handbag, on sale, in a style very much like one I had previously admired which belonged to a friend. Nice choice of colours, attractive price, everything you could wish for. I almost bought it, but decided at the last minute that I didn't really need one, my current bag was fine. Today, while out getting lunch, the strap broke on my handbag. Of course the one I saw was in Canberra, on sale. It's probably sold out by now.

I know I'm getting all political on your arse...

but if you can't throw back your head and crow at the dawn of a new beginning, when do you get to crow?

I heart Keating.



It was tempting to quote the whole article but I'll just give you the tastiest bit -


He said Mr Howard's social agenda had damaged the country, and he had mis-stated his government's economic performance.

"Saturday night's victory was not just a victory for the Labor Party; it was also a victory for those Liberals like Malcolm Fraser, Petro Georgiou and Judi Moylan, who stood against the pernicious erosion of decent standards in our public affairs," Mr Keating wrote.

"The Liberal Party of John Howard, Philip Ruddock, Alexander Downer and Peter Costello is now a party of privilege and punishments. One that lacks that most basic of wellsprings: charity."

Mr Keating said Mr Howard had not taken advantage of the economy's growth or the improvement in relations with country's like Indonesia.

"In the end, Howard didn't understand how great his opportunity was and how it could not be advanced by regressive and reactionary policies fuelled by social exclusion and division," Mr Keating said.

"Let us hope the Liberal Party purges itself of its reactionary majority, for Australia cannot afford another prime minister like John Howard."

The day that was turkey-riffic!

The appearance this morning of the turkey care package from CoznOb reminded me that I was going to impress you all with the wonders that was Turkey Day 07 (aka the-bastards have-left-us- and-gone-overseas-but-we-shall-still-eat -our-own-body-weight-in-turkey day)
I'm distcinctly bad at writing in full senstences so all I shall say is

there was enough Turkey to feed a small army

There were a billion children running up and down the hallway

There was election watching

There was mashed potatoe and corn and salad and everything...all to justify the meal as healthy and distract others from the amount of turkey you had on your plate.

There was Chardonnay being sipped

There were desserts and cupcakes.

There was the talking to Coz n Ob using the magic of the interwebs...made the day seem a bit nicer to be able to chat to them or hear their voices drift in from the other room.

There was much fun and frivolity and It always makes me kinda thankful I have such triffic friends.

oh and there was Team Turkey!!



(blame Snerg for the shirts)

















(lots and lots and lots of thanks to megzz and snerg for letting me have this huuuge 'cunning plan' at their house and the getting of the turkeys and the having to deal with the mess and everything! The turkey gods smile upon you)

because Antony Green is NEVER wrong!

as much as it's possible to have a crush on a Political Analysist...

I heart Antony Green.



to quote the ABC website -

Antony has worked on ABC election coverages for 18 years. He has worked on every federal, state and territory election since his first election with the ABC in Queensland in 1989. He has appeared regularly on camera since the 1993 Federal election, when he was the first to call the return of the Keating government. In all Antony has covered almost 40 election nights with the ABC. The 2007 federal election will be the seventh he has covered.

Antony has a Bachelor of Science in mathematics and computing, and a Bachelor of Economics with honours in politics. Before joining the ABC he worked as a data analyst in the computing industry, and for a polling company. Antony designed the ABC's current election night computer system, which has set new benchmarks in the speed and accuracy of result calls.

go Team Nerd!

that is all.

Postscript: apparently he was at the same school as a few of ForBattle! people. go Team Uber Nerd!

I love Despair

The junk mail they sent me this morning made me smile.

" Yes, you read it correctly. Despair is offering all U.S. customers a chance to purchase anything and everything their hearts desire without having to pay a shipping fee- provided you spend at least $20 dollars on your order. Just use the coupon code "freeshipping" on any order placed between now and the end of November. (International customers are being afforded a separate and exciting money-saving opportunity, detailed at the end of this promotion...)"

And at the end of the mail...

" ** International customers- fear not! - Though we're not extending this particular promotion to those living outside the United States, we've nevertheless engineered- with the help of the Federal Reserve and the profligate deficit spending of the US Government - an exciting discount opportunity! For the foreseeable future, we've arranged for your foreign currencies to be greatly inflated in purchasing power against the US Dollar! That's right, no matter whether you hold Euros, Canadian Dollars, Kiwis, Rubles or even the wimpy little Slovakian koruna- you can buy unprecedented amounts of American made junk, thanks to the amazing benefits of the Henry Poulson's Flaccid Dollar Policy. So go ahead, indulge to your heart's content- knowing all the while that you're saving a fortune, even while those of us in the states are hoarding food, gold and lead and preparing ourselves for hyperinflation! Like we didn't have enough to worry about! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! "

I also like the new slogan.... "We're not satisfied unless you're not satisfied."

www.despair.com I think they are terrific.

Those Wacky Laws

Just read an article on the ABC site about the most ridiculous British laws, which lists some very amusing ones. My favourite, simply for the way it is phrased is number 8:
"It is illegal to avoid telling the tax man anything you do not want him to know, but legal not to tell him information you do not mind him knowing ". Although the next time I am in Scotland I might randomly ask to use someone's bathroom and see what happens.

I know we have some strange ones as well, like a pub is obliged to feed and stable your horse, and it is legal to urinate in public on the left rear wheel of your car (one presumes men only, although... ). Sydney University used to have a bylaw that if you turned up to exams with your sword (and possibly spurs) you they were obliged to provide you with a pint of ale during the exam. This got repealed when someone tried it.

What are the other strange laws we have that are still hanging around? I'm tempted to say "like prohibiting gay marriage" but I'm sure we are all getting enough political toing and froing this week.

Kevin Rudd - Chinese Propaganda Video

I'm posting this because I think it's funny, but based on the comments on the youtube site on this vid, I'm worried that there will be lame comments. Nonetheless I thought it is worth sharing anyway.

Getting Into The Turkey Day Mood

Appeasing the Turkey God with canned foods. He even went 'Gobble Gobble' when wing flap was lifted. Now you know why I love this country.


Found in Mum-In-Laws pantry. Could be 2 years old, could be 50. Rob is cooking it now, I can smell it as I type.
Damn shame I didn't see this before I sent the care package...which probably hasn't arrived yet so shhhhhh....
It's meant to be a surprise for Turkey Day.

Your own how-to-vote card

The year long election campaign is almost at an end, and shall be celebrated in style with the over-consumption of Turkey. However, before the turkey consumption we must all front up to our local polling place of choice, make some marks on a piece of paper, put it in a box and trust in the process of democracy to give us the government that we want.

Unfortunately it can be hard to determine, with all the political spin, towing of the party line soundbites and media manipulation, which government is the one you want. More importantly, in a democracy based on electorates you are really voting for your local candidate, no matter how much the two major parties are trying to convince you that this is a presidential style election.

So, how do you sort out your extreme left candidate, from your save the children and families christian candidate, and what do they really think about nuclear power, spending on education, and the state of health care? Bring on a brilliant idea by Get Up! the "How should I vote?" page. You answer 20 questions about various issues. They have rung your local candiates with the same 20 questions. This then generates a list of the candidates that share your views on those issues. Maybe, one day, we might get better representative democracy. This can only be a good step in that direction.

Justice!

The idiot US judge - who in earlier years made a bit of a name for himself for railing about pointless lawsuits in America - and who himself tried to sue his drycleaners for 54 million in damages for losing his trousers - lost his lawsuit and his job. To be honest, I would have preferred a little flaming sword action, but I'll take it.

Extrapolation of the Babbage Engine

What the laptop might have looked like if it was invented in the early 1900s:
http://www.datamancer.net/steampunklaptop/steampunklaptop.htm

I want my laptop to start with a key!

No participation while NOT under the influence...

This is classic.

My-Robot

Remember Will Smith in I-Robot? Well, at least, remember the robot?

I bought the video when I was wandering past the Samsung TV shop in Burwood Westfields. They were playing the final cool battle scene on a giant TV and I was so inspired I nipped across to the video store opposite and bought a copy. As an aside I also did the same thing when the Samsung store was playing the final battle scene from Narnia. I mentioned this to the guy in the video store and he told me they provided the Samsung store the videos they played free of charge (but I digress).

Anyway, I figured the I-Robot story was just science fiction and I'd never see commercialy available humanoid robots in my life time. Then I saw this:



Honda has gotten to this from nothing in 20 years. I expect I'll be alive in another 20 years so maybe I will own a household robot one day.

For a more detailed look at Asimo's abilities, check this out.

Nearly there

Woo as they say Hoo

this -


plus this -



plus this -

The idea is those with the money or connections can access this secret highly illegal facility where they can basically fulfill their greatest fantasies. Most people assume that means sex—and on an occasion it does, because that is a lot of people's fantasies—but it's basically scenarios. They can basically reenact scenarios of romance, adventure or anything perfectly, because they become the person that you want them to be—they become that person. They don't act like that person, they are not a robot pretending, they become that person, and then they forget all about it. The problem is the character of Echo, Eliza Dushku's character, stops forgetting. She doesn't completely remember, but she does realize she is a person, and that she might have been a person before she did this, and she doesn't know what that is.


equals Harry wetting himself.*


it's called Dollhouse.

there's also a post and thread on Whedonesque.

you know it's going to be good, so you know it's going to be canned, but at least there's going to be seven episodes. seven! that's almost whole DVDs-worth! ForBattle will never leave the house!



* and I mean that in a caring, supportive way.
probably more supportive once he's changed his pants.

POST 666

Very fitting for some Halloween pictures I took last night. I got home at 7pm from work after getting up at 4:30am so was very tired and not really in the Halloween spirit. But did mange to drag myself out with Rob and co. My costume was dog drool covered cargo pants and a pop lid plastic bottle of white wine.

There’s nothing quite like a last minute invite...

AJ is turning 3 - so come and celebrate with us this Saturday, November 3, at Ryan Park, Stanmore (Sydney, yes Sydney). Bring picnic stuff for a relaxed afternoon of frolicking squealage and nasty blue birthday cake.

We’ll kick off around 11am continuing through until nap time (2ish)

And even though it’s gruesomely late notice we would be completely stoked to see you……

If you feel the urge to buy a present: AJ likes sparkling whites, crisp chardies and Versace. Or planes, trains, automobiles, Bob the builder, Fireman Sam, Postman Pat or any other bloke with a job.

Oh I nearly wet myself

Meggzz- I know You Can Sew

Yay for CuteOverload
The perfect remedy when feeling like a complete sook.

Ever feel like you were going mad for lack of a decent night's sleep?

Another one for the 'I coulda told them that' file.

Oh the prety pretty lights..

Step 1 - take some form of illicit substance

Step 2 - click here or here
Step 3 - drag yourself back to reality before you forget to eat

And now, for their next trick...

Nothing like a bit of Tesla action to get you over hump day.

We all love work

It always does seem to me that I am doing more work than I should do. It is not that I object to the work, mind you; I like work; it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours. I love to keep it by me; the idea of getting rid of it nearly breaks my heart.

You cannot give me too much work; to accumulate work has almost become a passion with me; my study is so full of it now, that there is hardly an inch of room for any more. I shall have to throw out a wing soon.

And I am careful of my work, too. Why, some if the work that I have by me now has been in my possession for years and years, and there isn’t a finger-mark on it. I take a great pride in my work; I take it down now and then and dust it. No man keeps his work in a better state of preservation than I do.

But, though I crave for work, I still like to be fair. I do not ask for more than my proper share.

But I get it without asking for it – at least, so it appears to me – and this worries me.

From “Three men in a Boat”, Jerome K. Jerome, Chapter 15.

First published 1889.

Got some time to waste?

Visit www.strangecosmos.com for all your timewasting needs.

I blame finn!

Turkey Day!!

If you read this and know who we are, we expect to see you there. Do ya good

New term for software

I've heard of freeware and shareware and copyleft software. This is a new term I encountered today when I actually had a look through the license agreement. It made me think what nice people nerds are.

"Vim is Charityware. You can use and copy it as much as you like, but you are
encouraged to make a donation for needy children in Uganda. Please see |kcc|
below or visit the ICCF web site, available at these URLs:

http://iccf-holland.org/
http://www.vim.org/iccf/
http://www.iccf.nl/

You can also sponsor the development of Vim. Vim sponsors can vote for
features. See |sponsor|. The money goes to Uganda anyway."

Study Avoidance 101

The playing of mousetrap led to the hubby-inspired home built Rube Goldberg machine, which fires a Lego cannon, however has nothing on what engineering students avoiding study will come up with...

Here's my favourite. Homemade, avoiding study - something to inspire Nw & Topsy!

Though the Japanese titles look fairly fiercely contested... The ramen noodle one does go on a bit but seems to use every trick in the book. Whack Rube Goldberg machine into Google and enjoy!

cheers

CORPSE POSE

If I leave now I might just make it...

Zombie Yoga


This pose would be perfect

A cunning fruity plan

Tina and I picked mulberries today. And as you can see certain small creatures enjoyed it.

As you are probably aware, I have a cunning plan that involves invading Mindy's place in January to visit the Blueberry Farm.

But we thought we'd look up what was available locally. There is a place in Bilpin that does pick-your-own nectarines and plums for $3.50 per kg. They are open the first weekend in December.

So who's up for a morning in an orchard?

Daywatch

Part two of the three part Russian film series directed by that Kazakh guy beginning with T.

Nightwatch was the first and it was fluxxing awesome.

It opens here on October the 18th.

The plot revolves around Tamerlane the Kazakh warlord. So read up on your Tamerlane/Timor the Lame history and myths associated with his burial ie whoever dug up his bones would be invaded (The Russians did and Operation Barbarossa started the next day); and if his was reinterred properly the invaders would be defeated. His reburial coincided with the surrender of the German Sixth Army at Stalingrad, and from then on Jerry was in retreat.

groovy?

or what?!?

not just groovy... McGroovy (but not in a golden arches kind of way, thank goodness, although if these were in a happy meal I reckon we'd all be sorely tempted)!

the site also has totally cool plans to make stuff out of cardboard boxes, like castles and spaceships. have a browse. click your tongue at Mr McGroovy's assertions that his box rivets are better than duct tape. hey, McGroovy, I like your product but duct tape... I thought that was sacred? ;-)

cross-posted at ForRattle! with the big piccy of the cardboard castle.

Grenades 4 Kids

Porl sends us this little gem, which manages to be funny yet terrifying at the same time...

This has got to be about the stupidest ad I've ever seen. So stupid, in fact, that I felt the need to share my pain with you, lucky listeners. Sure, its for an free on-line computer game, so its written by 14-year-olds for 14-year-olds, but still, lets recap the design meeting down at the playground:

"It should have a naked chick on it!"
"Yeah! With ENORMOUS titties!"
"And we can write 'Free to play' between her legs... *snicker*"
"But we still need a name for our game..."

I haven't looked at the game to see if its really as lame as the ad sets it up to be; somehow I'm not much interested in getting into the character - either way - of a multiplayer game based on someone dressed like a ho and nicknamed Nora of the Pox.

I guess we're all scientists then

The fact that I was drinking some wine when Finn sent this to me makes it even more amusing...

A recipe for dinner lunch?

[1] Mouse brought bought purchased Settlers and the expansion from Socrates at Rhodes.

When we were in Melbourne for Jake's wedding we visited Casa Iberica and brought bought purchased:

[2] New paella pan from Spain (deeper than the last one but made of mild steel, rather than stainless, and considerably cheaper).

[3] Drinking chocolate, made by Nestle but imported from Mexico.

[4] Chippotle chiles in a can, from Mexico (Jake introduced me to this smoky, spicy treat).

[5] Paella seasoning from Spain.

[6] Piri Piri sauce from Portugal.

So the plan, and as a bit of a homage to Rob and Coz, is to have Paella followed by Settlers of Catan. In deference to the wee ones we were thinking of a lunchtime affair, like turn up at 11:00, get fed by 12:00 and play some settlers.

I suspect there will be enough of us that we can do some child minding swaps while the games are on.

So, who's in?

P.S. You don't have to have kids to come along : )

DAMN SCIENTISTS ET AL

Uncanny, It what i have been bitching about for years.
I need to add Head Jacks, Zepplins and Living on the Moon

This T-shirt i need. Title ' This Is How The World Ends'
Threadless...oh and this one
and many others.
Anyone need anything, let me know. Can buy and ship in exchange for Mint Slices.

Mount & Blade

For all you gaming geeks out there, check this out: its a medieval warfare game that does a nice job of putting a bit of skill into the combat and simulating some of the finer details, without bogging down into unplayability. Things like actually having to parry, and where your sword runs into the badguy making a difference. Their mounted combat is particularly nice. Whats more, you can download the demo for free and play it well long enough to get a good feel for it, and if you decide to buy it it costs you a mere US$22. I think I'll be buying it.

We now return you - and your slightly less geeky non-gamer compatriots - to your regularly scheduled religious peanut butter debate (huh? Man those guys are weird...)

Peanut Butter: Innocent Victim or Willing Conspirator?

You decide.

Pretty Lady Friday

Andrew's post reminded me to tell you about Brenda's Babes.

Brenda is known tangentially to me through a friend in Chicago, Phineas. She has an amazing collection of vintage pin-up, the pictures are great and she fills out the historio-artistic background.

This incidentally is one of the reasons (there are lots) why the whole "cult of the amateur" snobbery about blogs is so ill-conceived -- I have access now to expertise on topics I never even knew existed, pre Web 2.0. I've also been enjoying Mad Men (which will be on free TV in Australia, like, never so get downloading) so overall am really grooving to that 50s/60s aesthetic.

The reason behind the blog is to mobilise teh innertubes to vote for Brenda in a competition to win USD20,000. Watch her video. If you feel inclined you should VOTE -- unless you feel inclined to vote for one of the others in which case you absolutely under no circumstances should vote. Either way, go look at the pretty laydeez anyway.

One Laptop Per Child

is a cool project that I'm sure I've mentioned on here before. Because the project is great.... and because I want one! Well they've announced that they are in fact going to make them available; you buy two, keep one and donate the other. Woot! Apparently its going to happen in November, for North America only. Now most of you dont live in North America, but you know someone who does - if anyone is really keen let me know and we'll see what we can do.

What is this addiction you speak of..

So, I've discovered amusing webcomics.
I believe it started with megzz post about Home on the Strange, which lead me to Questionable Content and Something Positive .
I then discovered Sheldon and Perry Bible Fellowship.
It was then a short link from my warcrack guild's forum to Dark Legacy and Looking For Group.
One of them mentioned Ryan Estrada and I got told about GU.
I thought that I was done, but no! I've now found PvPonline.
I'm so doomed!!!!!

Darth Vader Blues

Lifeline Book Fair haul

Agatha Christie: Sparkling Cyanide, Hickory Dickory Dock, The Hollow, Cat Among the Pigeons, The Pale Horse.

Peter Corris: The January Zone, Deal Me Out.

Frances Fyfield: The Nature of the Beast.

Ngaio Marsh: Swing, Brother, Swing; Last Ditch, Grave Mistake.

Barbara Nadel: Petrified.

Barbara Vine: King Solomon's Carpet.

Margaret Yorke: The Cost of Silence, Mortal Remains.

And because I have never read it: John Steinbeck The Grapes of Wrath.

All are paper backs and vary from reasonable to good condition. We also got a few magazines and Charlie found one on Steam Trains which he bought because he associates them with Thomas the Tank Engine. Total cost: $50.50. Bargain.

Unfortunately due to low tolerance of book fairs by our children we weren't able to spend hours browsing as we'd have like to. But still the next one is in Autumn so we can plan ahead.

How It Should Have Ended

These guys are very funny, and I wanted to show you this one, but I'm afraid I was hijacked by this one (and sos my wife.)

STARDUST

Neil Gaiman novel turned movie = a must-see, probably plus dinner and wine.
And I am so sad to be on the wrong side of the planet to see it with you lot.

Feast your eyes...
http://www.imdb.com/gallery/ss/0486655/SD00850.jpg.html?seq=13
http://www.imdb.com/gallery/ss/0486655/10453703.jpg.html?seq=35
http://www.imdb.com/gallery/ss/0486655/09264.jpg.html?seq=37
http://www.imdb.com/gallery/ss/0486655/10322920.jpg.html?seq=39
http://www.imdb.com/gallery/ss/0486655/Ss/0486655/11092404.jpg.html?hint=group

and just cos she's so gorgeous...
http://www.imdb.com/gallery/ss/0486655/SD00646.jpg.html?seq=3

I can't wait!

and thus it starts...

I was updating my calendar today and realised that we are perilously close to the end of the year which means free weekends are becoming a scarcity (sp?)

So I propose the following...
Sat 24th November for Turkey Day the directors cut. Daen will add authenticity to the event with his passport from the nation of turkey-worship and I think I may have conned megzz & snerg into holding it at their house.

and

Sat 15th December for Torby's second birthday (well real just an excuse to come over and eat fairy bread and burn meat.

mark them in your diaries now peoples (and let me know what else is planned)

I really liked this sign off...

This is from a blog I came across today while blog surfing. Unfortunately he stopped posting in June, and has deleted most of his posts. But it just tickled me the way he explained himself, and I'd love to know what Nigel did.

"It's one thing to run out of interesting things to say - but what if you didn't have anything interesting to say in the first place?

Writing this blog has felt a bit like that over the past three and a bit years. I've showcased my ignorance, my naievety, my prejudices, my desires. I've straddled the fine line between famewhoring and anonymity like a confused puppy, and had to deal with the consequences.

I have grown up through this blog and learned many things about myself through writing it (then going back and judiciously editing). But walking away is long overdue. I'm not impressing anybody by continuing, and there is no point in doing so. This blogging caper has run its course, for me at least.

Why? This isn't fun, challenging or exciting anymore. And I don't feel what I've written here previously is representative of who I am today. Hence, I've deleted most of the posts.

I'd like to apologise to any people I've bewildered or offended over the years - except Nigel. He can still go and fuck himself."

Reminder from Tina.

Book Party

We are having a book party to celebrate Dafydd's first novel- Eaglehawk
It will be held at Banjo Books Unit 4/ 2 Oxford St Epping 2121
Sunday the 14th of October from 2-4pm.
This is after the Star gazing event, we are trying not to clash.
If you are interested in coming or would like to get a copy of the book then leave an RSVP at eaglehawk_dafydd@hotmail.com before the 25th of September.

(and it's a nice cafe too...)

Who _are_ these people, and where are they hiding the cameras?

Another one for the "Why are they writing about us" file...

New recipe for world peace...

How good one feels when one is full – how satisfied with ourselves and with the world! People who have tried it tell me that a clear conscience makes you very happy and contented; but a full stomach does the business quite as well, and is cheaper, and more easily obtained. One feels so forgiving and generous after a substantial and well-digested meal – so noble-minded, so kindly-hearted.

It is very strange, this domination of our intellect by our digestive organs. We cannot work, we cannot think, unless our stomach wills so. It dictates to us our emotions, our passions. After eggs and bacon, it says, “Work!” After beefsteak and porter, it says, “Sleep!” After a cup of tea (two spoonfuls for each cup, and don’t let it stand more than three minutes), it says to the brain, “Now, rise, and show your strength. Be eloquent, and deep, and tender; see, with a clear eye, into Nature and into life; spread your white wings of quivering thought, and soar, a god-like spirit, over the whirling world beneath you, up through long lanes of flaming stars to the gates of eternity!”

After hot muffins, it says, “Be dull and soulless, like a beast of the field – a brainless animal with listless eye, unlit by any ray of fancy, or of hope, or fear, or love, or life.” And after brandy, taken in sufficient quantity, it says, “Now, come, fool, grin and tumble, that your fellow-men may laugh – drivel in folly, and splutter in senseless sounds, and show what a helpless ninny is poor man whose wit and will are drowned, like kittens, side by side, in half an inch of alcohol.”

We are but the veriest, sorriest slaves of our stomach. Reach not after morality and righteousness, my friends; watch vigilantly your stomach, and diet it with care and judgment. Then virtue and contentment will come and reign within your heart, unsought by any effort of your own; and you will be a good citizen, a loving husband, and a tender father – a noble, pious man.

From “Three men in a Boat”, Jerome K. Jerome, Chapter 10.

We're in a historical society aren't we?

In the ABC news site the other day...
Quote
The Defence Department is urging war veterans and historical groups to write in and tell them why they deserve a free decommissioned Leopard Tank.
End quote
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/14/2032842.htm
A life-time supply of bottle tops will be given to the best letter in response. O. And a tank.

I went to Ikea to get a spare rat...

As you do.

And got really excited by all the new soft toys!

There was a polar bear and a hippo and a big elephant. And a hedgehog and baby, and a fox with baby, and a giraffe.

I was seriously tempted to buy one of everything, but I limited myself to a set of three little mice.

Too cute!

Burwood Festival

This sunday.

Come eat greek honey cakes and fairy floss and watch the model boats.

It's tradition now I'm sure!

Ampersand Duck tells it like it is

sister, you rock.


carry on, and don't forget to enroll and/or update your details!

EDITED:

here's the current GetUp Enrollment Campaign -

Voting Is The Best Revenge! "The Federal Government has passed extraordinary legislation that will close the rolls for new voters at 8pm on the very night the election is officially called - known as issuing a writ. Last Federal Election, the AEC received a total of 423,975 enrolment cards in the week between the announcement and the close of rolls. 78,816 of those were new enrolments. But this time people won't get that chance."

and this is the direct link from the Australian Electoral Commission's website where you can check your enrollment details - https://oevf.aec.gov.au/

I have always believed it is both a privilege and a duty to have the right, and the opportunity, to vote. don't waste yours!

/rant :-)

Remember that cunning plan I had...?

That one I had last year....about making a quilt for the sprog. And there was an update here.

Well, I'm determined that it will be finished before sprogling turns 1.

I love it when a plan comes together. I've been sewing together all the bits I have... and here's a picture.



You might notice a few gaps... like H, K, M, N, P, U, V, Y and 3 spare squares (probably will be birth stats and the numbers pi and e)

If you were assigned one of these missing squares, you officially have one month to get it done or else I'll give it to someone else or just do it myself. The letter U was completed but is M.I.A. Apparently it went to Fight Club and was never seen again. Could people please have a look for it if you can?

I'll contact all the relevant people personally to remind them but I thought everyone else might like to see how it's coming along.

The Mexican guac-off

Hoorah for Destructomeg & Snerg! They let us invade their place and smear it with avocado. Here's the photographic evidence:

More salsa than you can poke a stick at (salsa on a stick - new marketing idea anyone?), many tortillas and corn chips later and thanks to Ob & Coz for chili stuff (on behalf of everyone who went near it as opposed to us chili cowards cowering in the corner).

More public holidays for visiting dignitaries should be declared!

PS: Thanks also to Speedy - the techno-doovy-whatsit worked this time round...

The Prodigal Son

Last weekend Garfunkel didn't come home. We waited a couple of days, in case he'd been locked in accidentally and then started looking for him. We couldn't see him and were suspecting the worst. On Thursday I printed out some little missing posters for him, but didn't get around to putting them in the neighbours mailboxes until today. My last stop was the neighbours immediately next door and as I got out of the car, my neighbour walked over to chat. I greeted him and told him we had lost a cat again (he was the one who told us where he'd seen Attila on the side of the road) and had he seen him. "What colour" he asked, so I described Garfunkel. "Come with me" he said. By this time his wife had joined us. "Oh, he's been living with us for a week" she laughed. My neighbour came out of his house with our cat in his arms and put him in the car. Turns out he'd been spending his days around with the neighbours, sleeping on all the beds, going outside with their cat and coming back at night. Rotten sod. Several times I had a feeling that he'd been sleeping on Charlie's bed but I told myself that I was imagining things because he was probably gone. I also hoped that he'd maybe gone a bit feral and was sneaking in for food during the day while we were all out. I suspect now that he was.

He is microchipped. But neither the vet nor the pound could get a reading off it. The RSPCA said sometimes it happens, which doesn't help much. So now he has a lovely red collar and will soon have a tag with his name, address and phone number on it. I did consider getting him a diamente collar in the hope that he would be too embarrassed to go outside, but at $4.92 I suspect the diamentes would have fallen off pretty quick.

So he is back home now, I can stop feeling guilty that I adopted him and not someone who would have kept him inside, and will be staying in for at least another week. I do wonder if eventually he will just keep returning to the neighbours place and we will end up handing him over. We will see. At least we will know he has a good home. And the moral of the story: talk to the neighbours. If we'd told them we had a new cat when we went to borrow an egg we would have saved ourselves a week of misery.

A Walk in the Woods

Keep wishing we could bring you lot along on one of our walks in the woods, so...

This is a set of photos strung together, one taken every 10 paces of a walk up the hill. Its a bit spastic, but it gives you the general idea. And then it needed music - I wanted Wish You Were Here, but thats about 5 minutes too long and our CDs havent arrived yet. This ones a good un too, and just about the right length.

Rob Needs

Shamus passes on an amusing meme: Enter "yourname needs" into Google - with the quotes - and check out the top 10 results. Apparently, Rob needs:

1) a hero.
2) Rob's Hardhat, item of the week at The Rob Store - The place to get all your Rob needs.
3) therapy.
4) a job.
5) a job he really loves.
6) a professional profile on LinkedIn, in the name of Rob Needs.
7) help.
8) TO SHUT HIS GOB.
9) medicine.
10) Most of all Rob needs Jesus. Rob needs a BREAKTHROUGH in the Spirit !!!

...well there ya go. Google doesn't know everything then.

We need to have a BBQ this friday!

It's a long weekend. Therefore there should be a BBQ.

I don't care who runs it... I'll do it if no one else wants to.

But there should be a BBQ!

Nerding it up

I was forwarded some random junk at the office which looked kinda cool but then I had to know if it was real and if I could get one. I think I have to have one of these:
There's no choice really. Looks like you can get it at ThinkGeek and iwantoneofthose.

Meet Garfunkel

On Friday afternoon, with some time to spare, the kids and I went to look at pussycats at the RSPCA. Having procrastinated for months about getting a dog, we finally decided that maybe we were ready for another cat instead. We looked a couple of weeks ago, and saw a lovely cat called Puddy and went away to think about her. We had lunch and generally buggerised around before deciding that perhaps we might adopt her after all. We called the RSPCA who told us that someone else was also considering adopting Puddy and that they couldn't put holds on animals over the phone. So we trooped back to the RSPCA to find Puddy being adopted. We did look to see if anyone else would be suitable, but it had been a busy weekend and there were few cats left, and the ones that were mostly didn't play well with either small children, other cats or both. So we decided to wait a bit more then look again.

So Friday found me and the kids back again. Charlie went through the door first and as I followed I heard a crash and turned thinking "Oh god what's he done". Bad Mummy. The sound I had heard was a cat called Garfunkel jumping down onto the floor and throwing himself against the metal door of his cage, smooching and purring madly. I took this as a good sign. A quick look at the other cats showed that there were no other contenders for the post of third pussy cat at our house, so we went into the meeting room with Garfunkel to see how he reacted to us. After investigating for some minutes he deigned to twine himself past the kids, much to their delight, and play with some toys. We decided to adopt him then and there.

Of course all this was taking place while I was supposed to be on my way to somewhere else, so I was already a little stressed about being late. The time it took to do the paperwork stressed me more, but as it turns out it was lucky we got it done then and not later. Finally the paperwork was done and I arranged to pick up Garfunkel before 5pm that afternoon. "Call if you can't make it back today and you can collect him tomorrow" the nice RSPCA lady said, words of advice I should have heeded. But anyway, off we went to swimming lessons with Charlie, who after some upset, had a lovely time. Even better I had bought Gemma's swimmers and she had a paddle in the pool as well, then a big tantrum when I pulled her out so we could get changed and go to pick up Garfunkel. It was 4.26pm and I was in Belconnen. The RSPCA was about a 20 minute drive away, allowing for roadworks which seem to have spread all over Canberra like a rash at the moment. After much wriggling and mucking around we were finally dawdling (Charlie) back to the car. In we went and off to the RSPCA. We arrived at 4.48pm in plenty of time to pick up Garfunkel. Then there was more mucking around as they found out what it was that the vet had him eating (prescription cat food!), I bought a bag of it (luckily he likes ordinary cat food) and Garfunkel was bought down in a cardboard carrying box ready to take home. I put Gemma in the car and the nice reception lady bought Garfunkel outside for me so I could put him in the car.

My first mistake was not to bring my own cat carrier. Had I thought to do this I could have saved myself so much stress. My second mistake was to put the seatbelt through the handles of the cardboard carrier. Things went downhill from there. Within 5 minutes of leaving the RSPCA Garfunkel had his paws out through one of the breathing holes in the cardboard carrier, and was making room for his head. When his head popped out I pushed it back in, while driving, and stuffed my jumper in the hole. Being a rather intelligent cat he simply did the same on the other side of the box, which I couldn't reach and busted out of that sucker. So now I had a stressed cat loose in the car. I pulled over and tried to get him back in the box, but he wasn't having it. He jumped up onto the parcel shelf in the backseat and stayed there, panting. So I was faced with a choice, sit in Canberra and wait for ??? to happen or drive home to Yass and hope for the best. I decided on the latter course and set off. As I wasn't thinking straight I ended up trying to get down Northbourne Avenue on a Friday afternoon, which is probably the closest Canberra ever gets to a traffic jam. By now people were starting to notice that a large cat was sitting on the parcel shelf of my car. I saw one man break into a huge amazed grin like a child who has just opened the best present ever, several people pulling in behind me to look at the cat, and one driver with a camera phone taking photos. I just hoped that she wasn't sending them to the RSPCA. At this point Garfunkel decided to come back into the front seat, but my attempt to push him into the passenger footwell, after grappling with the carrier box so that I could use it to seal him in, made him retreat to the relative safety of the passenger shelf again. Whenever I went above 60km an hour he got nervous, which didn't bode well for the trip home down the Barton Hwy.

As Canberra traffic often does, the road cleared a couple of blocks onto Northbourne and we travelled fairly smoothly onto the Barton. People continued to swing in behind me to check out the cat. I continued to check the rear vision mirror to make sure he was staying put. Luckily, it started to get dark and he calmed down considerably and the drive home was much less fraught. It's not much fun driving and wondering if the cat is going to dart under your feet and cause you to crash at 100km an hour. Finally we were home, and with a new problem - one cat loose in the car, and no way to get him safely into the house. I took a chance and leaped out of the car and opened the garage. Then Garfunkel and I eyed each other as I tried to time my entry back into the car so I could get it into the garage before he could get out of the car. He must have been a bit groggy from the trip because I beat him in before he leapt out. Now things were a bit easier, as he could escape into the garage, which he did, but he couldn't get out of the garage and escape into the night. This time I pulled down one of the cat carriers I should have taken to Canberra and attempted to put him in it. He did not want to go. After several attempts I ended up tipping him in head first. Then I took him into the house.

I put his carrier down in the laundry and, still not thinking clearly, went to close the blinds in the house as it was dark. While I was doing that Charlie let Garfunkel out. This is not the recommended way of introducing a new cat to the existing cats in the family. I then dashed into the loungeroom and grabbed Garfunkel before he blundered into Nefertiti and started WW3. He was then put safely into the spare room for the night. The next day we let him out to meet the other two, with much hissing and yowling (from them). Garfunkel however, acted much like a young guy in a bar who won't take no for an answer. He just kept hanging around and tormenting them as if to say 'You're a cat, I'm a cat therefore we must be friends'. It seems that persistence is beating resistance. Hostilities have almost ceased, although the other two do try to escape outside when possible. We have kept the cat flap locked so far because he needs time to acclimatise. But once he's had a week he is free to wander around during the day. He will just need to learn to use a cat flap.

Storage Containers R Us

Does any one need any plastic or glass containers? We have a bunch and I'm on the verge of chucking them in the recycling, but I thought I'd see if anyone could actually use them first.

We have a bunch of chinese food containers of various shapes and sizes. We also have a lot of square Gladware containers - a slightly more up market version of disposable plastic. Plus we have a bunch of glass bottle of about 2 litre capacity.

I also have a tree full of lemons - not storage containers but please come take them away too. Well they are a storage container for lemon juice.... not particularly reusable. Unless you have gelato and then they are pretty handy....

But I digress. If you need containment, then speak up now!

Happy Birthday to ME!!

And Isobel, Harriet [1], Prue [2], Nella, Brent [3] and Justine [4].

1. sproglings of ForBattle crowd and associates
2. spogling of singing friend
3. best friend and brother of other singing friend
4. ex-co-worker who shares the same year too.

It's also the anniversary of the Vesuvius eruption that covered Pompei.

The Ultimate Video Game Movie

A much funnier movie than the last.

Its almost like he could see the future!

yeah. happens *all* the time 'round here...

Japanese biker fails to notice missing leg.

that is all.

I can haz autosarcophagy

Since starting uni at Macq U a few years ago I've been passing this building on the bus up there. It's the Ed Gein Ella Bache beauty college somewhere on that big freeway thingy which has been under constant construction work for, like, forever.

I understand I am not the target audience (women who give a shit) but I cannot shake the feeling there is something rather wrong about their motto. They seem quite proud of it, including it on their website and all. So perhaps it is me. I know that in Hollywood and the like they have botox parties, perhaps it is also a fad amongst the Pretty People to have ... Epidermis Parties. In which you nibble on of exfoliate like so many bowls of peanut M&Ms.

I don't use any product other than soap and, while I don't feel any desire to eat my skin neither does it repel me. If I spill sweet lemon gelato on my forearm, I'll happily lap it up, unconcerned about the hygiene. Nontheless, I do not at all see how 'skin good enough to eat' is a persuasive slogan. "Skin good enough for some playful biting after a few wines." That's marketing genius. Is it a common fantasy though that people want their skins eaten? Like, devoured, chomped up and swallowed?

I do not get it at all.

I will stop posting xkcd comics...

...when he stops writing them about us.

Mr Lil Sis

As you know, my Lil Sis is in Japan for a year. Her partner has just built a blog, and the first post has some very amusing pics

http://www.erectionparty.blogspot.com/

Paper Cuts

SLASHED!
From the Guardian:

George Bush's plans to establish a European missile defence system suffered a big setback today when a Congressional committee slashed most of the funding.
[...]
The budget cuts are part of $3.5bn that the committee has slashed from the overall defence budget, which now stands at $459bn. (emphasis mine).

As well as reducing the budget, Congress is shifting priorities from futuristic programmes to more immediate concerns, such as improved healthcare for soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, pay rises for soldiers and marines, and much-needed weaponry for Iraq such as the heavily-armoured Stryker vehicles.

Now don't get me wrong; I heartily approve. But slashed? Try mildly nicked. 3.5 out of 459 BILLION does not a slashing make - its about 3/4 of a percent. I hate grandstanding politicians. I hate hyperbolising reporters. The Guardian is better than most, but still...

Time Wasting Ahoy

Online real time competitive Boggle!