Even if I (by that I mean Neil) could be arsed to drive to these venues, I’d be far too pregnant to bop around to Chris Cornell. *sigh* Ah well, at least I got to see Fatboy Slim and do a little boogie in December.
An imaginary conversation
22 February 2012 · Comment
“Hey Danny, what’cha doing?”
“Not much, mate. Just taking a rest before heading out for some food.”
“Aye, aye. (Pause.) You reckon it’s gonna rain today? Look at those clouds.”
“I dunno, it could go either way with the sky like that.”
(Rude intrusion into reality: it did rain. We got wet.)
“Well, you’d better make sure you’re prepared if it does. I’ve got me a great shelter just over there, if you want to join me for a wee drink and watch the fitba’ on the telly.”
“Aye, no bother, mate. I’ll come by later.”
(This was shot while waiting for a parking space at a local recycling centre.)
Two days ago, I realised that the running / workout tracky daks I’ve been wearing are now a little… er… too snug around the belly. *sigh* Also, I didn’t realise when I got dressed today in an old band teeshirt that proclaiming my University-era love for Offspring was going to be somewhat amusing. Well, to me, anyway.
You know, the Republicans should nominate Rick Santorum. He sounds almost as wacky as Gingrich.
Reviews → The Silent Land
21 February 2012 · Comment
I’d seen The Silent Land mentioned on one of the sites I do work for, and it sounded really good. It’s also been nominated for a number of science fiction and fantasy awards, I’ve just discovered. But reading it left me feeling a little deflated, to be honest.
A couple dig themselves out of an avalanche and return to their village and hotel to recover, only to discover the entire place is deserted. Even worse, every time they try to leave, they find themselves back at the village.
I can’t quite put my finger on why the book didn’t do anything for me. The premise wasn’t the most original, but it was interesting enough. I managed to finish the novel in a decent time, so it wasn’t the author’s style. The main thing that niggled with me throughout, though, was the dialogue. I just didn’t find it convincing.
And the ending? Oh man. I don’t even really want to go there, but I will. So there are obviously spoilers.
Lower sodium in chips with faster ‘salt burst’ — aka making eating crisps less fun!
BREAKING NEWS: ET has landed
20 February 2012 · Comment
Swindon, WILTS — Reports are coming into local news stations and Twitter is being flooded with as-yet-unconfirmed rumours that aliens have landed in a Wiltshire town.
Only one image has surfaced of this apparent visitor to date, which appears to be a posed photograph. Several witnesses have stepped forward, alleging this unknown being displays erratic behaviour while remaining silent.
“It slapped its forehead with the back of its hand and jumped up and down,” a local resident (who wished to remain anonymous) said.
“I don’t know what it is, or what it wants, but I hope it comes in peace.”
Self-professed alien expert I.M. Joking offered this opinion: “The creature could be communicating in a way with which we aren’t familiar. I advise that we record its every movement to try and discern some meaning from its actions.”
While it remains to be seen if this ‘creature’ is alien or terrestrial, friendly or aggressive — or if it even exists at all, all we can say is We Come In Peace.
Liar liar pants on fire
17 February 2012 · Comment
Proof positive that Alex Salmond has absolutely no intention of taking Scotland to true independence — he’s only interested in personal glory:
Some battle lines have already been drawn, with the SNP demanding 90 percent of Britain’s North Sea oil revenues for Scotland while also arguing that the Bank of England should rescue distressed banks in an independent Scotland.
You can’t have it both ways, mate. How slimy is he?
These squatters aren’t exactly portrayed in the most sympathetic manner (it is the Telegraph), but what these squatters have done is highlight that there are a lot of empty properties that could be put into use, if only the government — local or otherwise — would take some real action on homelessness. Then they can criminalise squatting all they want.
TMI #5
17 February 2012 · Comments (3)
I also had my 20-week anomaly scan and everything seems fine. The parasite was bopping about and had its legs pressed up against its face at one point — maybe it’ll be a better gymnast than I was.
Excessive houseproudness
16 February 2012 · Comment
Currently slightly obsessed with crafting (fabric growth chart, crazy quilts) — although we don’t have space (and no sewing machine), so it’s obsessing at a distance.
Sewing by hand is definitely a possibility — and it’s my usual preference; but with the relative scale of these projects, could I have a few extra hours in a day, please? Making a sock monkey isn’t exactly at the same level as sewing patchwork.
(I have plans to re-arrange the spare room / office to increase workspace and someone has offered to loan me one of their spare machines, so I’m not exactly lacking in resources. Note to self: get a damn ironing board.)
How marriages work
16 February 2012 · Comment
Not exactly world-changing, but amusing to watch.
Obligatory pregnant lady post #5
15 February 2012 · Comment
It was news to me that I may be able to claim a maternity allowance. And here’s news that women who get paid maternity leave are more likely to be back at work within a year — and cost taxpayers less in public assistance — than those who don’t.
I’m still working from home at the moment — man, am I lucky I fell into this. I’ve been able to schedule my work around all the appointments and I can break to do yoga and stretches because I still have the bad habit of sitting at a desk, hunched forward, for hours on end. Granted, I’m more aware than before of my bad posture with a belly in the way, but my neck and shoulders are still suffering.
What a shame: Olympus expects net loss, but core business seen unscathed. I’ve been vaguely aware of the scandal that’s hit Olympus. They make good cameras.
Picking bones
10 February 2012 · Comment
The Dilemma of Cheap Electronics:
So yes, we should pressure Apple to continue putting pressure on Foxconn. But at the same time, we seem to be ignoring a much bigger and more important question: How much do we care?
…
In other words, what assurance would the Apples and Dells and Panasonics have that if they forced their Chinese contractors to adopt American-level wages and conditions, their competitors would all do so simultaneously?
I have an issue with this. If all the big brands forced Chinese factories to adopt American wages and benefits, this would cause inflation and those who aren’t ‘lucky’ enough to work in one of these factories (i.e. state-owned firms and peasants) would be so much worse off, not to mention sneaky secondary outsourcing to factories that have even lower standards. And things would only be much more expensive because Apple and others’ profit margins are so high. Not a word is being said here about pricing in other externalities. What about those long-term costs?
I do agree that we can’t have it both ways — cheap goods and well-cared-for workers. And I do think that the Chinese will sort themselves out — the government may be autocratic, but they’re not stupid.
