‹ 31.1.03 / 0 comment(s) ›
And while we're on the topic of lawyers, check out the origins of the phrase "John Doe". Apparently it's English, and Mr Doe goes hand-in-hand with a certain "Richard Roe" but you'll just have to read the possibly apocryphal story itself to find out.
‹ 31.1.03
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The US Supreme Court determines that its okay to take the piss out of Barbie. Well, thank fuck for that. Two more reasons two hate lawyers arising from that story: "Mattel claimed the song ... sullied Barbie's reputation" (a piece of plastic can have a reputation now?) and "MCA defended the song as 'social commentary'" (it's Aqua ferchrissakes). Oh, and I'm allowed to hate lawyers because I am one.
‹ 31.1.03
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One of the interesting things about having a relatively obscure surname in a relatively recently settled country is that there aren't a lot of your kith and kin floating around. So, with a little help from the White Pages, I present ...
‹ 29.1.03 / 0 comment(s) ›
And as Wellington is being buffeted by some bloody strong winds tonight, here's a timely reminder about the Beaufort Scale. Ah summer ... we hardly knew ye.
‹ 22.1.03
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Small people from around the globe weigh in on the forthing coming Potter novel. Some absolutely priceless comments here, to wit:
I reckon that Dumbledore will tell Harry that Voldemort is related to Harry in some way - like that his father was Voldemort's brother or something like that! Or that his mum had an affair with Voldemort before he went evil!Bless them.
Zoe, 15, LeicesterI think that Snape will turn out to be the real hero of the series, and that Voldemort will be related to Harry in some way. I bet Hermione and Frodo fall in love.
Dai, 12, BarnsleyI think that Dumbledore is going to die. Either him or Hagrid. And if J.K. pulls a Luke and Leia thing, I'm gonna be mad.
Maeve, 14, London
‹ 18.1.03 / 0 comment(s) ›
An interesting article on why companies should not be allowed to claim First Amendment rights: "Now Corporations Claim The 'Right To Lie'". Coming soon to a Supreme Court near you ...
‹ 18.1.03
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Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away ... in the nude, of course.
‹ 18.1.03
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Enjoy those banana splits while they last, boys and girls, because the humble banana may be extinct within a mere ten years. Amazing but apparently true. I'm predicting this old chestnut for Christmas #1 in 2012.
‹ 16.1.03
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Oww ... my ring!: the lesson here is don't copy what you see in the movies kids. As Eric Cartman might put it (in the excellent "The Return of the Fellowship of the Ring to the Two Towers"):
Kyle: Hey, what are you guys doing?Kids can be so cruel.
Kid: We're playing Harry Potter.
Cartman: HA!! Fags!!
‹ 16.1.03 / 0 comment(s) ›
Looking for a novel way to assault someone? Then why not try a cake of soap and a banana ... guaranteed to have you hauled before the courts in no time at all.
‹ 15.1.03
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This one's been doing the rounds (and thanks to ex-BT staffer and all-round hardcore Aussie lass Cheryl for passing it on!) but in case you missed it, "nipple scarves" are apparently all the rage in Japan at the moment ...
‹ 15.1.03 / 0 comment(s) ›
So, it's been generally pretty humid in Wellington for the past few days - nothing unmanageable of course (we are right by the sea after all) but enough to be uncomfortable at times. But you know it's reasonably muggy when fungus starts to grow in your houseplants ...
How weird is that? It's also, as you can see, pure yellow which is kind of exotic and cool. I don't think I'll be whipping up a nice mushroom frittata anytime soon though. I also think it's a sign of some sort ... of what I'm not exactly sure - a spore-spreading opportunity perhaps? Chance'd be a fine thing I assure you.
‹ 11.1.03
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Quote of the day: "If so many spam offers weren't totally bogus, Hotmail users would be incredibly well-endowed, slim people with plenty of hair who make big money working at home when they aren't having great sex provoked by free porn and herbal Viagra."
‹ 11.1.03
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"Television viewers in the US were shocked when a programme about the army was interrupted by 20 minutes of hardcore gay porn." [more]
‹ 11.1.03
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Someone linked to this yonks ago, and I can't remember who it was, but I'll link to it again anyway because it's excellent: Beta interviews Emma Clarke, voice of the Victoria, Bakerloo and Central lines of London's Underground. She has the best voice on the whole system. Oh, and the questions are hilarious too ... "Who would win in a fight? You or the voice of the Picadilly line?"
‹ 9.1.03
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A tip for shouting your friends to a cheap evening out ... just get them plain old tonic water but run a vodka-soaked lime around the rim of the glass. They'll think they're getting pissed and you'll save a packet. Don't believe me? Well, it worked in this experiment!
‹ 9.1.03
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This is possibly the coolest digital clock ever. Repetitive Strain Injury anyone?
‹ 7.1.03
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Not content with lobbying for the .geek.nz second-level domain, us Noozlelanders are now keen to redesign how the Back button functions. When will we ever learn?
‹ 7.1.03
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Wellington is alive at the moment ... no, not with the sound of music but with the blooms of pohutakawa. Otherwise known as the New Zealand Christmas tree, because it tends to bloom at this time of year in traditional red/green colours, you can't turn your head at the moment for seeing a patch of the brilliant vermillion blooms ...
The one above is directly outside our flat and when it drops its stamens in the coming weeks the whole road will apparently turn to red. Can't wait!
‹ 7.1.03
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Crap. I forgot to mention yesterday that the actual location of the weblog has changed to the /weblog folder. Which makes sense, right? So if you're one of those lovely people that link to me, would you mind ever so much making that tiny amendment? A thousand times thank you.
‹ 7.1.03
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First up, Happy New Year everyone!
Well, its 2003 and you may have noticed that things have been freshened up a bit around here ... not so much of a redesign as a bit of a slight layout/colour tweak. Be sure to let me know what you think.
So it was back to work today but the less said about that the better. The holidays were fantastic - catching up with a veritable swag of rellies, opening a goodly haul of pressies and gorging myself on many a big dinner and barbeque meal. Oh, and a touch of the old sauce as well. Christmas morning and afternoon were spent with Grandma and Dad's side of the family in Invercargill (with only a slight hangover from the big matey catch-up session at the Northern Tavern the night before), the family then decamping a few hours north to Oamaru to see Grandad and Mum's side of the family. After a few days there, my sister and I took off home again and I left for Te Anau the next day ... sitting on a lakeside beach in the blazing sun with the Fiordland rainforest and snow-capped mountains in front of you is a vista that makes you glad you're down this end of the world, especially after a couple of wintery festive seasons in England. Brrr.
New Year's Eve was spent in a reasonably low-key way back in Invercargill at my friend Tracy's sister's house. Guitars were strummed, good times reminisced over, babies cooed at, beer and champagne quaffed (at the appropriate moments) and a fine time had by all. A couple of days later and I'm back in Wellington ... taking it easy for the weekend before the aforementioned work kicked in once more. I hope your respective breaks were just as enjoyable and all the best for 2003!
‹ 6.1.03
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