30 November 2007

the real ending to the Wizard of Oz.


Don't tell Dorothy

********************
I thought I would have to stay late at work (on a Friday), but thankfully our briefing requirements have been put back a week.

Destiny came around tonight for dinner. I made baked Kingfish, served with broccolini and a Thai flavoured salad.

29 November 2007

snake sister

I liked this story from the UK Telegraph

Boy's best friend is a 4.8-metre-long python

By Sally Peck
Last Updated: 2:40am GMT 29/11/2007

While many children might wish to curl up with a dog or cat, a young Cambodian boy prefers to spend his time with a 4.8-metre-long python.

In the village of Sit Tbow, 50 kilometres east of Phnom Penh, Sambath Uon, seven, reportedly refuses to go to sleep without the company of his pet, Chamreun, or Lucky, in Khmer.

Sambath Uon and Lucky
Telegraph TV: Sambath and his pet are the same age

The snake slithered into town in 2000, when Sambath was just a few months old.

While the boy's father tried to return the snake to the forest three times, the Burmese python loyally returned to her young master and has earned the acceptance of villagers, who think she brings good fortune.

Sambat and Lucky

Young Sambath said of his faithful companion: "I love the python like my sister."

The affection appears to be mutual, despite the fact that pythons are typically afraid of people and avoid humans if at all possible.

One of the world's largest snakes, the Burmese python, which is found throughout Southeast Asia, can grow up to 8 metres long and weigh up to 180 kg. Females like Lucky are typically longer than males.

While its attractive skin patterns and colours have made the Burmese python popular with the fashion industry and reptile keepers, they make unpredictable pets.

The python's seemingly docile nature conceals the snake's true power; Lucky would be capable of inflicting fierce bites or easily killing a human by constriction.

And another nice photo from UK Metro

http://img.metro.co.uk/i/pix/2007/11/sambathuonBM_450x470.jpg

I want a pet snake!!!!

******************
Work is hotting up with all the work required for the incoming government.

Emily is visiting tonight. I made a roast pork belly (marinated in a lemongrass/soy) and blanched broccolini and asparagus.

random footy pic


Cheynee Stiller, round 6 (2007) at the Gabba (versus Fremantle)

28 November 2007

royalty etiquette

Just in case...

From Martin Higgins, former butler at Buckingham Palace
The cardinal rule with British royals: Don’t speak unless spoken to. “An absolute no-no,” Higgins says. The first time you meet a royal on any given day, use the highest applicable official address: “Your Majesty” for the queen; “Your Royal Highness” for a prince. For a complete listing of royal and noble titles, consult Burke’s Peerage or DeBrett’s Peerage. The rest of the day, use “sir” or “ma’am” (which rhymes with ham, not hum). Women should curtsy; men can nod their heads. Royals proffer their hands first, and handshakes should be short and not too hard. Avoid turning your back on the queen unless it can’t be helped, as when you’re being introduced in a group setting or if you’re at one of the royals’ large garden parties.

At a meal, the head royal begins to eat first unless there’s a visiting sovereign, which has led to some amusing confusion when the king of Country X waits for the queen to start while she’s waiting for him. Take a bit of each dish, and don’t ask for anything; what you see is what you get. When the head royal is done with her course, you’re done too. If you drop something, pretend nothing happened; servants will discreetly tend to it.
Now that I know, I should expect an invitation to dine at Buckingham Palace.

***********************
Happy Wednesday.

Tonight watched episodes 7-10 from the box set of season six of Smallville. Lex Luthor is not a nice person.

27 November 2007

the Flying Spaghetti Monster



The Flying Spaghetti Monster is real. The deity was on the agenda for discussion at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion in San Diego.

From the San Diego Union-Tribune (24 November 2007)

But as scholars can testify, what gives meaning to some is an anathema to others. Just ask the four young graduate students who gave a presentation at the American Academy of Religion on the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster grew out of a backlash against biblical creationists in Kansas who wanted intelligent design taught in public schools as an alternative to evolution. The movement's founder dashed off a letter to the state school board demanding his theory also be taught: that the world was created by a Flying Spaghetti Monster.

Fueled by the Internet, the craze became a pop culture hit. Its followers are known as “Pastafarians.” Its icon is a spoof of Michelangelo's “Creation” portrait, with Adam reaching out to touch a noodle.

Spoof? Why is this faith any less valid than any of the others?

*********************
I mowed the rest of the lawn after I returned home from work today.

26 November 2007

there is only one Dweezil

Dweezil Zappa, son of the late Frank Zappa and brother of Moon (Unit), Ahmet and Diva is in Australia at the moment for a series of concerts called Zappa plays Zappa.



I don't know why a name like Dweezil isn't more popular.

*************************
I was going to mow the rest of the lawn (overgrown chest high weeds) when I got home from work today, but it started raining.

25 November 2007

zombies are coming

The Establishment

ZombiesAreComing.com is an online organization, established in 2007, for the purpose of promoting zombie awareness and preparation for the coming tides of darkness.

While outbreaks have been limited in the past to controllable levels, this trend is changing, and we must be proactive in defense of our homeland. Those in power have been able to contain and downplay any and all outbreaks, despite underground movements to inform the general public of pending danger. This site will help you take matters into your own hands and regain your options for self-defense against any ghoulish outbreak. Here, you are free to discuss with other survivalists about tactics, equipment, weapons, buildings, and any other methods to prepare for the days that the dead walk the face of the earth.

We have to take matters into our own hands, folks. It is us or them. This is our time to be prepared. This is our time to live.

Zombies Are Coming Promotion

Don't say you weren't warned!

*********************
Today I watched episodes 8-13 of the second season of Kyle XY online. It took up a lot of the day, but it was entertaining.

I also mowed half the lawn (chest high over-grown weeds) in the backyard. I will do the rest on Tuesday evening.

24 November 2007

the future

Tonight we have a new (federal) government and a new prime minister (after he is sworn in) - Kevin Rudd.



The future looks bright. The office will be very busy on Monday, with the change in government.

*************************
Today has been fun. I walked over to Tim and Toni's house and we all walked to the local primary (elementary) school to vote in the federal elections.

I also managed to watch episodes 4 to 7 of the second season of Kyle XY online, walk to the supermarket for supplies, have an afternoon nap, and hosted Mary and her sister Sue for dinner (asparagus risotto - Mary brought over a duck salad) during which we followed the election coverage on television.

23 November 2007

Pachelbel rant

This is a funny rant from Rob Paravonian about Pachelbel's Canon in D major.



It is not the only classical recording that is over-played - Vivaldi's Four Seasons, Beethoven's Fifth Symphony and Nessun Dorma from Puccini's opera Turandot are others that can be annoying.

**********************
I fell asleep after I returned home from work. It has been a busy week at work.

Tonight, I watched Tarzan and the Lost City and some of the sixth season of Smallville. The Australian commercial network which broadcasts Smallville keeps on interrupting its schedule and pulling it off unannounced. In the end, I bought the season six set from Amazon.com.

22 November 2007

video piracy warnings... it's a crime





Surely a person who has bought a legitimate copy of a DVD is unlikely to also download illegally.

Also check out the B-Squad version of the piracy warning below.


**************************
Today was quite a busy day at work.

Emily came around for dinner tonight. I made chicken green curry. We also watched Ghost Whisperer on tv (double episode).

21 November 2007

remembering television theme music

I stumbled on a database website that has thousands of theme music from television shows.

There are all the versions of Doctor Who, lots of oldies like Dallas, Dynasty, Family Ties, Hill Street Blues etc

I was particularly impressed that it had Man About the House and the original Skippy the Bush Kangaroo.

Check out - www.televisiontunes.com

*********************
Some days, the whole day at work is taken up with meetings.

20 November 2007

where things are made

Gap

Whether designer or cheap (read Wal-Mart), it is always worth bearing in mind before buying something, where it was manufactured and by whom.

Spoof ad from Adbusters.

**********************
It was quite warm today. We are on the road to another long hot summer.

19 November 2007

caviar

I've only eaten Sevruga caviar a few times in the past. One of those times, the caviar had not been stored properly or was stored too long and the salt had crystalised.

I think it tastes best plain and unadulterated, not with any condiments or as a condiment, and using a spoon.


See Goldarths Review - fact file on caviar

**********
Supernatural isn't the only good show on television on Monday nights. Shameless (produced by British Channel 4) is also good for a laugh.

Debbie Gallagher
Debbie goes out with her new neighbour Luke (but her dad visits the parents who are strict Christians and tells them that his virgin daughter is a 'slapper')

Mickey Maguire makes a move on Ian
Mickey Maguire makes a move on Ian (you don't want to know)

18 November 2007

the artery clogging sound track

From UK Guardian music blog

The KFC Hitmaker: Knowing Foul Cynicism

KFC is 'giving back' to its consumer fanbase by releasing an album. This is more than a gimmicky publicity stunt - it's downright dangerous

James Donaghy

November 16, 2007 4:00 PM

KFC
A Pizza Hut! A Pizza Hut! Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut! Photograph: Getty

We know how KFC likes to take the definition of soul food literally. Marlena Shaw wasn't complaining about the royalty cheque when they adopted California Soul in one of their adverts and they have aggressively targeted the black community in their recent campaigns. Their latest scheme should give everyone pause for thought, though.

They have released an album, available for download here, that's a compilation of the best entrants from their Pride 360° competition, a scheme they ran in the summer to unearth musical talent as part of Black Music Month.

Intriguingly, the aspiring urban artists were instructed to record a song creatively incorporating the words "individual", "family", "community", "heritage" with KFC, the winner getting a recording opportunity and some publicity. Hip-hop blogger Byron Crawford comments on the irony of an album featuring "nothing but black people singing about fried chicken". He's got a point.

And it's got to be said that no matter what the winner D Mawl (who hails from Kentucky) does with the rest of his career he will forever be known as The Fried Chicken Guy. While it's a nice idea for KFC to throw a half-gnawed bone back to its black customer base, it's difficult see the exercise as anything other than a gimmicky publicity stunt, and I hope this doesn't set a precedent. Commercial sponsorship of the arts is inevitable - but there have got to be limits. And KFC don't got none.

Robert Cialdini, in his book Influence, identifies association as one of the most powerful and successful principles in advertising and compliance. Weaving those positive concepts ("individual", "family", "community", "heritage") with KFC is an act of breathtaking cynicism and you've almost got to admire the brass balls it takes to pull it off, all the while posing as a benefactor.

So apart from offering patronage to a crappy rapper who's sold out before he's even got a contract, what exactly is KFC promoting in the black community? The high fat, high cholesterol, high sodium KFC diet, of course.

Ebony magazine calls heart disease "the ultimate destroyer in the black community, killing more people than Aids and cancer combined". The American Heart Association concurs.

Hypertension, obesity, clogged arteries and an hour-long commercial masquerading as talent scouting is KFC's legacy to black America. You don't have to be Chuck D to ask "how low can you go?"

And all the tracks are free.



Yeah right. A free gift from KFC - songs about KFC. Just give away free chicken.

It's a good article by the Guardian and the links provided are theirs too.

******************
Today, I cleaned the rest of the house including the bathroom. Aside from that, I did nothing.

17 November 2007

Krzywy Domek (Crooked House)

This building is located in the town of Sopot in Poland (near Gdańsk) by the Baltic Sea. It was designed by architectural firm Szotynscy & Zaleski who were inspired by Polish fairytale illustrator Jan Marcin Szancer and Swedish artist Per Dahlberg.



From the Krzywy Domek website
Historia Krzywego Domku

W sercu Trójmiasta tuż przy uroczym sopockim deptaku Monte Cassino znajduje się Krzywy Domek- najbardziej nietypowa nieruchomość w Polsce. Taka, której pozazdrościć nam może niejedno miasto. To tu mieszczą się restauracje, kafejki, sklepy i biura, wszystko wygląda jak z bajki. Inspiracją stały się rysunki Pera Dahlberga.


The building is actually bigger than it looks from the street frontage and is on four levels, with shops, cafes, bars, restaurants and offices.







Salvador Dali would have loved it.

**********************
I didn't do much today except walk to the shops for supplies.

Kim came over tonight for dinner which was baked marinated lamb chops with baked Kipfler potatoes and blanched broccolini.

This time of the year is great for seasonal produce like mangoes (from northern Australia) and more locally grown stone fruit like apricots and nectarines. And it is asparagus season.

16 November 2007

would Homer Simpson eat this?


(photo source - the a.v. club)

Pork Brains - 5-ounce can with nine grams of carbs, 14 grams of protein and 3,190 milligrams of cholesterol (1,060 percent of the recommended daily allowance).

What's with mixing the measurements - ounces and grams anyway?

Thankfully, this product is not available for sale in Australia. If I wanted to eat pig brains, I'd prefer it fresh and not processed.

********************
Whole unpeeled large prawns were cheap from the supermarket today, so I bought some (they were raw and defrosted). I cooked them in a wok with hot chilli sauce and ketchup (quick and easy chilli prawns in the shell).

It made me a little sad as plain cooked prawns were one of Fatty's favourites. He used to grab them out of my hands (just as I was about to put one in my mouth).

15 November 2007

man's best friend?

Man's best friend. Could be his best man too, but no, the bitch was his bride. Bizarre. From Associated Press (13 November 2007)

Man in India Marries Dog As Atonement

NEW DELHI (AP) — A man in southern India married a female dog in a traditional Hindu ceremony as an attempt to atone for stoning two other dogs to death — an act he believes cursed him — a newspaper reported Tuesday.

P. Selvakumar married the sari-draped former stray named Selvi, chosen by family members and then bathed and clothed for the ceremony Sunday at a Hindu temple in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, the Hindustan Times newspaper said.

Selvakumar, 33, told the paper he had been suffering since he stoned two dogs to death and hung their bodies from a tree 15 years ago.

"After that my legs and hands got paralyzed and I lost hearing in one ear," he said in the report.

The paper said an astrologer had told Selvakumar the wedding was the only way he could cure the maladies. It did not say whether his situation had improved.

Deeply superstitious people in rural India sometimes organize weddings to dogs and other animals, believing it can ward off certain curses.

The paper showed a picture of Selvakumar sitting next to the dog, which was wearing an orange sari and a flower garland.

The paper said the groom and his family then had a feast, while the dog got a bun.

Married ... P Selvakumar garlands his 'bride'.

Married ... P Selvakumar garlands his 'bride'.
Photo: AFP

He may yet be reincarnated as a stray dog...

****************
Emily came over tonight and I made roasted pork belly (marinated in soy sauce, preserved lemon and marmalade), roast potatoes, and quick blanched broccolini and asparagus.

Seeing that we had no more episodes of Kyle XY to watch, we just watched TV, which was Ghost Whisperer and Bionic Woman.

random footy pic


Justin Sherman, round 1 (2007) at the Gabba (versus Hawthorn)

14 November 2007

dumb things to do when you're bored

Stare at the back of someone's head until they turn around
(Amusement Potential: 2-5 minutes)
This works on the "I have the feeling I'm being watched" principle. Conduct an experiment - does this really work?

More from the Things to do when you're bored website.

Okay...

*************
Happy Wednesday.

13 November 2007

Wedginald on Cheddarvision

Reported by Reuters on 12 November 2007
LONDON (Reuters) - Wedginald, the English cheddar cheese that has become a star of the Internet as it matures live on screen, is up for auction with the proceeds going to charity.

The 44 pound cheese that has attracted 1.65 million viewer hits on www.cheddarvision.tv since it first went on the web late last year has nearly completed its 12-month maturation and will be ready to eat by Christmas, the owners said.

"As a fitting end to the first year of Cheddarvision we at West Country Farmhouse Cheesemakers are going to auction Wedginald to the highest bidder and donate all the proceeds to BBC Children in Need," they wrote on the website.

Cheese lovers can get not just a slice of the action but the whole lot by placing their bids on ebay before November 19.

Photo
I like a well matured cheddar. The more mature the better, preferably aged 24 months - vintage.

As for watching cheese age (on the internet)... hmmm. Paint would dry faster. Would you watch that?

********************
Today was a busy day at work. Two weeks to go before the federal election on 24 November which should mean an hiatus in the bureaucracy. Just not today, nor tomorrow.

Tonight, I'm watching 300.

http://www.collider.com/uploads/imageGallery/Three_Hundred_300/300_movie_image_gerard_butler.jpg

12 November 2007

hitting hoons where it hurts

The Los Angeles Times reported on 11 October 2007 about illegal street racing and the deadly toll it causes. One of the solutions reported was
Authorities are trying some new tactics to stop street racers, including forcing repeat offenders to watch as their cars are crushed into scrap metal and using smog laws to go after people who have souped up their cars.
The New South Wales government has just announced a similar measure, and will go one step further and use hoon cars for crash tests. Unfortunately, they won't be using hoons as crash test dummies. From Sydney Morning Herald
We'll destroy hoons' cars - and video it'
November 12, 2007 - 8:05AM

Car hoons will be penalised and humiliated under a NSW government initiative to wreck the vehicles of offenders and publish video footage of the destruction.

Premier Morris Iemma says the plan proposes to destroy hoons' cars in demonstration tests under controlled conditions.

"Car hoons engage in potentially lethal, property destroying, anti-social behaviour," Mr Iemma said in a statement today.

"We're turning the tables. We'll destroy their property - but do it for the right reasons."

Police Minister David Campbell said film of the cars being destroyed would be publicly released.

"Video footage of these once-prized possessions being turned into splintered, twisted scrap will be the clearest message yet to hoons that we're serious about stamping out their behaviour and saving lives in the process."

The comments come after a weekend when police confiscated four cars whose drivers were allegedly racing on suburban Sydney streets.

In separate incidents on Saturday night, two 23-year-old men, one a provisional licence holder, a 19-year-old man and 29-year-old man had their cars confiscated by police and were ordered to face court for street racing.

Mr Iemma said the plan to destroy hoons' cars would provide valuable controlled crash statistics, and footage of the destruction would be used as a deterrent to wannabe hoons, while also educating young drivers.

"The modified, loud and often illegal vehicles confiscated from car hoons will be smashed to pieces in our crash labs, the results filmed and analysed, and the wrecks shown to other young drivers as a warning," Mr Iemma said.

"The RTA will also use the unique tests to investigate the potential effects of certain modifications on overall crashworthiness.

"And we'll show the wrecks at education days for young drivers, or at other RTA presentations."

Offenders would have to be convicted of street racing before the vehicles could be destroyed.

AAP
I think this approach is called public shaming and a punishment, not a deterrent. The stakes are now just that much higher.


I reckon this is a better idea, with the wreck delivered back to the owner as a reminder.

*********************
Monday. Another four days to go before the weekend.

11 November 2007

the people's what?

What do the following have in common?
  • The People's Republic of China
  • People's Liberation Army (Chinese army)
  • Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea)
  • People's Action Party (Singaporean ruling party)
  • Danish People's Party (Denmark)
They only serve some of the people. And some people are also more equal than others.

***************
I did get started on house cleaning - the floor is half-clean (living areas) and the kitchen is nearly spotless. Emily also came over and did some weeding and pruning. Good on Emily, she motivated me to clean the deck area.

We then watched the final two episodes of the first series of Kyle XY.

10 November 2007

RIOT Wheel

The RIOT Wheel is a huge, heavy motorized single-wheel vehicle, originally
built for Burning Man, the natural home of deviant vehicles. Click on the link for more details.

It's a RIOT but actually, "Re Invention Of The" Wheel.







What a riot!

*****************
Oh dear! I meant to do a lot today, but didn't do much... again. There is always tomorrow!

Tonight, I'm watching Children of Men on DVD.

09 November 2007

ketchup in France

Asking for ketchup while dining in France is a faux pas.

It would be an insult to the chef.

***************
Thank goodness the weekend is here.

08 November 2007

the world in Sydney

I like this story in the Sydney Morning Herald
A little soiree for Sydney's alphabet of nations
Adam Spencer
November 8, 2007

"Thirty-eight year old Sydneysider seeks temporary companion. Must be free this Friday morning, living in Sydney and originally from Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Zambia, Zimbabwe … "

It seemed like a good idea at the time. Everyone says Sydney is a pretty diverse place. Well, let's see how diverse, I thought to myself. Let's try to track down people from as many countries as possible then assemble them in one spot. Now we are throwing a little soiree for about 500 of my nearest and dearest from more than 150 countries around the globe.

The response has been overwhelming. Within the first couple of days I'd spoken to Casey de Periera from the Seychelles, an island nation north-east of Madagascar. He even ran for the Seychelles at the Moscow Olympics. "The stadium had more people than my country," he said. And then there was Lolo Fernandez from Peru who told me: "I love Sydney … your roads are just so good".

I've been amazed by the range of people living in this city, their backgrounds and their stories. This week I spoke to Brigitte Wilkinson from Silesia, which you know and I know is situated between Germany and Poland and was seized by the Russians and given to the Poles after World War II. And then Iceland's Hanna Sigurjonsdottir, whose last name means "daughter of the son of Sigur", joined the team.

If you want an ambassadorial feel, we've even got Nadine Vernon coming along. "Who is she?" I hear you cry. Well, no less than the honorary consul of Belize, which you and I know is a former British colony which until 1973 was known as British Honduras and is the only Central American country with English as its official language.

In a world city whose mainstream media is too often too vanilla in every sense of the word, this just feels like it might be a lot of fun. And it's not too late to be part of it. In particular, if you're from Ukraine, Bermuda, Paraguay or even Vanuatu, give us a bell. Or Liechtenstein, Haiti, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Syria, Mongolia, Djibouti …

I should stress, this has never been an exercise about me telling people what constitutes a country - if you've come from somewhere else to live in Sydney, let us know about it. We have Garry Braude of Lane Cove representing East Prussia, which his family fled in 1939. There is no country called East Prussia now. But if he says he's from East Prussia, he's from East Prussia.

What I've realised is the amazing range of people who make up Sydney are just that. They're people, not percentages or pie charts. Everyone has a remarkable human story and the common thread is they've ended up here.

Adam Spencer is breakfast presenter on ABC 702. The World in Sydney will be broadcast live tomorrow from 6am to 7.45am. See www.abc.net.au/sydney for a list of nationalities still being sought.
I'm glad Sydney is not a place where everybody is the same. That would be so boring.

************
Happy Thursday. This evening, Emily, Margaret, Mary and I went to the Dumpling Inn, a local eaterie, for a Peking Duck dinner.

I even managed to get home in time to watch Bionic Woman and Heroes.

random footy pic


Josh Drummond, round 13 (2007) at the Gabba (versus Port Adelaide)

07 November 2007

more tingo

The image “http://www.penguin.com.au/covers-jpg/9780140515862.jpg” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors.

More new words to learn from Toujours Tingo (published by Penguin)

Kaelling - Danish: a woman who stands on her doorstep yelling obscenities at her kids.

Pesamenteiro - Portuguese: one who joins groups of mourners at the home of a dead person, apparently to offer condolences but in reality is just there for the refreshments.

Jayus - Indonesian: someone who tells a joke so unfunny you can't help laughing.

Kanjus Makkhicus - Hindi: a person so miserly that if a fly falls into his cup of tea, he'll fish it out and suck it dry before throwing it away.

Giri-Giri - Hawaiian pidgin: the place where two or three hairs stick up, no matter what.

Pelinti - Buli, Ghana: to move very hot food around inside one's mouth.

Hanyauku - Rukwangali, Namibia: walking on tiptoes across warm sand.

Tartle - Scottish: to hesitate when you are introducing someone whose name you can't quite remember.

Vovohe Tahtsenaotse - Cheyenne, US: to prepare the mouth before speaking by moving or licking one's lips.

Prozvonit - Czech and Slovak: to call someone's mobile from your own to leave your number in their memory without them picking it up.

Hira Hira - Japanese: the feeling you get when you walk into a dark and decrepit old house in the middle of the night.

Gadrii Nombor Shulen Jongu - Tibetan: giving an answer that is unrelated to the question, literally "to give a green answer to a blue question".

Poronkusema - Finnish: the distance equal to how far a reindeer can travel without a comfort break.

Baling - Manobo, Philippines: the action of a woman who, when she wants to marry a man, goes to his house and refuses to leave until marriage is agreed upon.

Pisan Zapra - Malay: the time needed to eat a banana.

Physiggoomai - Ancient Greek: excited by eating garlic.

Baffona - Italian: an attractive moustachioed woman.

Layogenic - Tagalog, Philippines: a person who is only goodlooking from a distance.

Shvitzer - Yiddish: someone who sweats a lot, especially a nervous seducer.

Gattara - Italian: a woman, often old and lonely, who devotes herself to stray cats.

Creerse la Ultima Coca-Cola en el Desierto - Central American Spanish: to have a very high opinion of oneself, literally to "think one is the last Coca-Cola in the desert".

Vrane Su Mu Popile Mozak - Croatian: crazy, literally "cows have drunk his brain".

Bablat - Hebrew: baloney, but is an acronym of "beelbool beytseem le-lo takhleet" which means "bothering someone's testicles for no reason".

Vai A Fava - Portuguese: get lost, literally "go to the fava bean".

Rombhoru - Bengali: a woman having thighs as shapely as banana trees.

Mariteddu Tamant'e Un Ditu Ieddu Voli Essa Rivaritu - Corsican: a husband must be respected even if he is very short.

I can relate to some. I can't wait to get the book once it is published here (26 November 2007).

*********************
Wednesday already?

06 November 2007

Hollywood Writers' Strike

I found an explanation from NPR.
What's Behind the Hollywood Writers' Strike?

Film and television writers are going on strike, as talks have not produced a new contract between the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The writers' demands include a percentage of DVD profits, plus a cut of money from new-media distribution. NPR.org offers this explainer.

Why have Hollywood writers called a strike?

TV and movie writers, represented by the Writers Guild of America, had been negotiating with studios and the entertainment industry off and on since the summer about compensation issues. Many issues were on the table, but the parties reached an impasse over the writers' demand for a larger share of profits from DVD sales and revenue from viewings of their work on the Internet. They also want a percentage of growing revenue in new distribution channels — mobile viewing, for instance, and other new ways of watching the shows they write.

Where do the studios stand?

The studios, represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, say it's still unclear how much revenue those new-media distribution channels are going to produce — and where the money will be coming from. They proposed a study to look for answers, but the writers reject such studies as irrelevant. They say they're entitled to a share of the profit on any material generated through any new technology, even if that compensation is small.

What happens now that a walkout has been called?

The immediate effects will be apparent on TV, where viewers are likely to start seeing more reality shows, which don't fall under guild jurisdiction, in place of regular scripted programming. (Think singing, dancing and weight-loss contests.) Some networks will show reruns, while some are looking at programming that hasn't been on their air before. NBC, for example, has considered running the original British version of The Office.

But the networks can't immunize themselves entirely, or so the writers argue. They say that running heavy loads of reality TV on all the major networks will have broadcasters stepping on each others' toes, competitively speaking.

As for movies, the effects will be less obvious in the short run, since big-screen production takes longer. The strike probably won't affect what you see at the multiplex for more than a year.

When was the last time this happened?

The last time writers went on strike was in 1988. The walkout lasted for five months.

Compiled by Andrew Prince and Trey Graham from reporting by Kim Masters.
I reckon that obscenely over-paid actors should really take a pay cut. Honestly, their livelihood depends on good writing.

************
Today was a public holiday here - for what, I have no idea. I meant to do a lot of things, and again, I ended up doing nothing.

05 November 2007

made me laugh

6 January 2008 - just as well I scrolled back.

The previous picture displayed here was hosted by another site, and the link web address of the file was replaced with an inappropriate image.

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It's been raining on and off. Whenever I carry an umbrella (a fold down golf umbrella from my football team), the rain is off, so I never get to use it.

04 November 2007

random thoughts

An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.

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I have done absolutely nothing today.

03 November 2007

Monocle

I've just discovered another new and exciting magazine called Monocle. I'm a little late to it though and only just found issue 06 (September 2007), but as it is published in the UK, we are two issues behind.

issue 06 - September 2007

226 pages full of global affairs, business, culture & design - all for A$12.95 (US$10 and £5).

Nearly as good as Wallpaper*, another UK magazine (so delayed shipping as well). Issue 102 (September 2007) and 274 pages for A$9.99 (£4).
*DESIGNINTERIORSFASHIONARTLIFESTYLE

The architecture articles in Wallpaper* are superb.

Guest Editor: Jeff Koons
Jeff Koons proudly shows off the Wallpaper* cover he created October issue (... still to arrive in Australia)

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I didn't do much today. It rained on and off a bit. Emily came around after midday, so I cooked up some kransky in the oven for lunch. We watched some more Kyle XY episodes.

Tonight, I watched United States of Leland on DVD. Not a bad film.

02 November 2007

eccentrics

Bill Nighy
BRITISH actor Bill Nighy can't say he's not a serial offender when it comes to wearing his glasses at strange angles.
I had no idea who this Bill Nighy person is when I saw this in the (Brisbane) Courier Mail website.

Now I realise he is a British actor and has appeared in a number of films that I have seen. He must have been very unnoticeable. No wonder he is an eccentric. It's the only other way to get noticed.

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When Emily visits on Thursday night, I record Ghost Whisperer, Bionic Woman and Heroes. Then I watch these on Friday night, without the advertising.

01 November 2007

Cherry Ripe

If I ever get a craving for a chocolate bar (which is rarely), it would have to be a Cherry Ripe.

It has a cherry and coconut mix covered in dark chocolate.

http://www.sweetstall.com/acatalog/Cherry-ripe.jpg
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Emily came around tonight and I just cooked up a simple stir fry of fresh vegetables (mostly green).

We watched another two episodes of Kyle XY.