Sunday, June 26, 2005

Beatles to split rumour

A good number of years ago, fifteen to be precise, the bold Reidski introduced me to a series of novels by this chap. The Tales of the City series gripped me like a man possessed. Thing is I am a really lazy reader. I tend to read in binges, particularly during holiday times or during nice weather when there is nothing better to do than sit outside with a cold drink and a good read. With Tales of the City there were six books, and as soon as I had finished one, I needed the next one there at hand. I don't think I have read anything as compulsive or so voraciously since. Until now that is. thewife bless her came across a series by Alexander McCall Smith, who I have to say is gifted with the most subtle humour and genuine warmth as a writer. The characters, the language and the backdrop of Botswana has me totally transported.

I have Tears of the Giraffe in at work and two colleagues both announce that they have read The No1 Ladies' Detective Agency some time ago. Why am I the last to find out everything? We must talk about books sometime at work and not just talk about work!

Oh and if you haven't read any of the series go out and but them now!


Warm and Fuzzy
posted by timesnewroman at 12:53 PM  

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Wednesday, June 22, 2005

Webfright

I've run out of things to say, it seems like an endless repetition of the same stuff over and over, and regardless of how good a meal we cooked at the weekend (believe me, the sea bass and scallops here is pretty incredible - no we didn't go there, that would be worth writing about. Nope they have a recipe page and we followed it as closely as we could. I'd skip the leeks' ash though.) its not quite enough. Regardless of how many times we won the King's Arms quiz (2 in a row) not quite enough. So life is in fact extremely boring, but what the fuck, I like it that way. Cooking, Alcohol, Music, Quizzes etc. I like these things.

So thewife's little theatre group are putting on this production of Hamlet, Prince of (D______) fill in the blanks with anywhere it's being performed that begins with D. It originated in Dennistoun, but its now being performed in Dundonald. Dundonald Castle to be precise. Which is a pretty incredible place to be doing a wee Community drama piece (Note the absence of amdram). So we are well looking forward to it - wine and buffet included in the ticket price. Only thing wrong with the the whole thing is that thewife buzzes around like a blue arsed fly for the whole week and is exhausted for the next week. That and it totally balls up any chance of us being able to go out this weekend, which is our anniversary! Bollocks.
posted by timesnewroman at 5:54 AM  

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Sunday, June 19, 2005

Surrealistic Pillow

I generally dislike memes. Either you have to think or they're too long or whatever and you feel obliged to complete them and pass them on. I saw this one linked over at Lisa's place and just had to go for it.

"Pick a band/artist now answer the questions using ONLY song titles from the chosen band/artists....add your answers and repost...let's see all the different bands and songs get creative and have fun!"


My all time favourite band

1.artist choice:
Jefferson Airplane

2. are you a male or female:
Its no secret

3. describe yourself:
Somebody to love

4. how do you feel about yourself:
(You're only) Pretty as you feel

5. describe your ex boyfriend/girlfriend:
She Has Funny Cars

6. describe your current boyfriend/girlfriend:
Plastic Fantastic Lover

7. describe your current location:
The House at Pooneil Corner

8.describe where you want to be:
Mexico

9. your best friend is:
My Best Friend

10. your favorite colour:
Long John Silver

11. what's the weather like:
Eskimo Blue Day

12. if your life was a television show what would it be called:
When the Earth Moves Again

13. what is life to you:
(An) Embryonic Journey

14. what is the best advice you have to give:
A small package of value will come to you shortly

15. if you could change your name what would you change it to:
Crazy Miranda
posted by timesnewroman at 3:10 PM  

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Friday, June 17, 2005

Shopping - The New Entertainment

thewife and I hit Tesco's last night as we do most every Thursday. Outside, there is a dog dragging one of the waste paper bins around. Two of the store's staff are talking first one says "Can you believe how stupid people can be, tying the dog to a relatively light bin like that?" other says "Yes, earlier today someone tied a big Alsatian to one of the disabled trolleys and it ran around pulling the trolley behind it causing chaos in the car park"

Inside too was a hoot. First thing we notice is a whole shelf dedicated to Cards and mugs and small gifts for teachers. Fucking teachers! End of term and seemingly there is a market for persuading kids and parents to take customised gifts into their teachers. Don't get me started on teachers. Miserable bunch of overpaid, overholidayed sods who give all the more difficult kids over to the less well paid Social Work Services to work with. Grrrrr.
posted by timesnewroman at 6:01 AM  

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Tuesday, June 14, 2005

15 FPH

functionality

Waffle for "features" or "function". The
capabilities or behaviours of a program, part of a program, or
system, seen as the sum of its features. Roughly, "the
things it can do". Generally used in a comparative sense,
e.g. "The latest update adds some useful functionality".

I heard the word "Functionality" over 50 times in the course of today. I think I may even have used it once. I and colleagues were at a presentation on a piece of software which will possibly aid our workload. It was quite good too. However the overuse of this word was recorded by jimty and jem, who logged it at over 15 Functionalities per hour at one point. Scary stuff. We thought we would invent our own ludicrously contrived buzzword and see if we were able to coax it into relatively common usage. We settled on emphaticality. Yeah I know emphasis is correct but we want to highlight added importance. You can of course leave your own suggestion in the comments. All bullshit eagerly accepted.
posted by timesnewroman at 5:58 PM  

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Thursday, June 09, 2005

Kapoow *&*%^^ Thwack

Hit by a Meme from Counago and Spaves on Superheroes. Me who could never see past Gigantor

1/If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why? (Assume you also get baseline superhero enhancements like moderately increased strength, endurance and agility.)

That would have to be the abilty to transport to wherever I wanted to be instantaneously.

2/ Which, if any, 'existing' superhero(es) do you fancy, and why?

That would have to be this particular Catwoman.

3/Which, if any, 'existing' superhero(es) do you hate?

Captain America

4/ What would your superhero name be? (No prefab porn-name formulas here, you have to make up the name you think you'd be proud to mask under.)

Easy, I'll take John's idea and call myself Fontman

5/ Is there an 'existing' superhero with whom you identify/whom you would like to be?

Mmmm..I only recently came across Red Son and will happily go with that.

Pass it on. Three people please, and why.

Reidski hasn't been Caught yet and its about time I hit him with a meme, Simon at Blue Tealeaf and Smidsy I think.

posted by timesnewroman at 6:05 AM  

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Friday, June 03, 2005

Parenting - It's the new DIY

No matter which bloody channel you look at nowadays, there is an unbelievable proliferation of programmes on telly aimed at teaching parents how to deal with problem children. Back to back on BBC3 on a Friday we have House of Tiny Tearaways then Who Rules the Roost. Then there's Supernanny on Channel 4. Not forgetting Bad Behaviour before that. Apparently there is also Nanny 911 would you believe with more on the way, not forgetting those I've missed. However did my parents' generation manage when television was devoted to entertainment? Entertainment that is, where the programmes don't consist of members of the public being members of the public. Have a look here for just exactly what and how many programmes of this genre there are. Scary!

Of course there are people for whom no amount of exposure to "how to" television would make them anywhere near suitable candidates to be in the vicinity of children. These sorts of BASTARDS I'd happily execute.

posted by timesnewroman at 6:33 PM  

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