Yesteryear

Movie Night on the bough.

Hugin: feel like watching a movie?
Munin: sure, that would be fun!

10 minutes pass; Munin's [that's me] is still blogging away.
Hugin: you ready yet?
Munin: almost...you?
Hugin: just about.

Hugin continues to play Starfleet Command III, Munin continues typing.
20 minutes pass.
Munin: So you wanna go watch movie?
Hugin: sure...
Munin: mmm'K just give me one more second.

Hugin proceeds to end game, starts looking for stuff online.
The second has now become 300 seconds
Munin: All done.
Hugin: gimme just a sec.

Some days we are just a little too addicted to our 'puters.

The Buffy Comparisons.

Hugin and I were discussing the various show we watch on the way home from downtown. There aren't very many. I think CSI, West Wing, an occasional ER viewing and Buffy would sum up what we watch nicely. [Other then that we are movie freaks.] Somehow, we landed trying to compare the characters within the various shows, and see what similarities we could come up with [Buffy in comparison to Grissom], who could replace who in which show [Willow in Sarah Sidle's role], wondering if the various characters would work well within a different environment. This inadvertently led up to Winnie the Pooh. Yes you heard it right, Winnie the Pooh. We were trying to figure out if the cast of characters would fit nicely into Pooh's world. We settled on the fact that Willow is very much a piglet, and that Gilles is very much an Owl, I think that Tara made a good Kanga and Hugin thinks that Xander is a good Eeyore which leaves Buffy as Tigger and Spike out in the cold. I really can't see Spike as one of the 100 acres characters there is something wrong about a vampire being a pooh character.

Our fist thoughts with CSI were that Catherine would have to be Kanga, but then you land in an interesting predicament. There are not enough female pooh characters, there is in fact just one. So who would Sarah Sidle be then? Hugin thought it would be a hoot if Pooh was Grissom, except instead of having a degree in entomology, he'd have a PhD in honey. [Occasionally we are a little quirky] Greg is definitely Tigger material and Brass makes a good Eeyore. As for the others we were not sure which roles to ascribe to them.

West Wing is a little tougher, we both agreed that Toby made a good Eeyore, but we weren't quite sure what to do with the other characters. Again, Kanga is the only female character, so would CJ fill the role? What do you do with Donna and Mrs Bartlett then? Donna's a little like Piglet, though Hugin thought Donna may be a bit more of a Rabbit, [Rabbit to me will always classify a mildly neurotic personality] but many of the characters on West Wing are mildly neurotic if not quirky. Then who would Bartlett be? Pooh? Tigger? Owl? Probably Owl. Though Leo seems to be more of an Owl. That leaves Josh, Sam, and Charlie and I have no idea how to personify them in terms of Pooh. Anyone got any ideas?

For those interested in forensic entomology, here are a couple of links. [not for the faint of heart or the squeamish]

The Warm Plains of Canada?!?

Upon hearing that we would be leaving the plains of Africa, I took my mother aside and made her promise me that the next place we would live in would be as warm and sunny as the place we were leaving. What does she do?

She bundles me up in layers of clothing and takes me to one of the colder places on the face of the earth! A place where it snows seven months out of twelve, where the wind can freeze the tip of your nose in a heartbeat and icicles hang from your tongue!

The truth be told I love the snow, I love walking down the streets watching it gently dance down to the ground in big fluffy flakes. I love it watching out the window as it comes hurtling down in little tiny icicles, covering the street, glimmering in the light, stars on the black asphalt. That icy coldness that seems to accompany these long, long winters that I can't stand.

Paradise Lost

Apologies to Milton, I just wanted to steal the title.

I was more concerned with the concept of temptation.
Being that this is the Xmas season there will be toys/goodies/...things, which will tempt us.
I recently was tempted and have been resisting with great gusto; until yesterday when it all went pfft and I left a store non-empty-handed.
And I was considering temptation from a purchasing stand point. It is possible to avoid temptation, simply by refraining from entering into situations we know are fraught with danger. For example, don't go to this website, or this one, and certainly don't go here!
But of course this isn't really winning out against temptation, it is taking the possibility of temptation and locking that up in the refrigerator's crisper... or somewhere else that nobody ever looks/goes.
To resist temptation, while still being tempted, that is another thing altogether.
I was tempted and yet still reading reviews/forums etc before I succumbed and picked up the latest Star Trek game. And no, I'm not that great of a Star Trek fan. I loved B5 though.
So, I'm not too sure, seeing as I succumbed, that temptation can be beaten. Perhaps being tempted is already halfway to losing the battle.
Tricky question.
Can we truly resist what it is we truly want?

subafed?!?

Anyone got an extra nasal passage to spare? Any old one will do, I am not terribly picky at this point in time. Just as long as it's unclogged, clean and doesn't go drippity drip.

Break out the Geritol!

Robyn's no longer a 20 something, go and give her some love! Happy 30th birthday Girl! Wishing you a super duper birthday with many more to come!

Happy Thanksgiving to all the

Happy Thanksgiving to all the yanks out there! May your thanksgiving be filled with joy, happiness and all that is good!

Back to the grind.

Things you do when sick because you really don't want to admit to the fact that the cold fiends have declared war whooped your arse and won. Sorted out sock drawer and underwear drawer. Found spare holy socks, they make great sock puppets. Folded laundry. Made CD for work. Cleaned out old and aging files sitting on 'puter. In addition to that, I managed to empty two boxes of Kleenex. Stare blankly at computer screen for several minutes at a time. Pass out on couch numerous times whilst attempting to watch 3 movies, drank inordinate amounts of tea and then became intimately acquainted with toilet seat due to tea. Today we shall be attempting to repeat some of the above at work. Though I don't believe that there are many couches on which I can pass out on, nor any really good movies to be watched. I guess I will just have to settle for the tea, the toilet and the many minutes of blankly staring at a screen.

Something to wile away the hours

Hugin left this before he headed out to work this morning. Thank you love, they made the day go faster! [mwah]

That Book Thang

Looking at the rate at which the books being read changes, and I was thinking maybe it would be good to have an archived list. Of course then I would know exactly how many time I have re-read a certain book in the last x amount of time, and that might not be good...

Although it would be interesting.

And there was tea, and pillows and the world flowed with crumpled Kleenexes.

Feeling a might bit better today, less delirious though bed ridden, which in itself has caused guilt for not being at work, hunched over the computer, sneezing and being miserable there. It is amazingly silly how quickly one becomes indoctrinated to the notion that no matter how poorly you are feeling, you have to get your little arse out of bed and back to work to become one with the corporate machine. Yes, we little cogs are quite good at feeling the pressure from the big gears. Making sure we clock in the appropriate hours, keeping hale and fit as to not miss a beat and clog up the well-greased machine that is cooperate America. They say we live a better life, they say our quality of life is greater then other nations. We have more, we live longer, and we earn more. But do we get to enjoy any of it? Pah I say to that ideology. Pah I say. Give me my coconut-laden beach, and hut by the sea any day. Give me my backpack, a map and places to see and I'll be content. The only problem is you got to get the money to get the coconuts.

Arse Whooping.

The cold fiends are whooping my arse. They have invaded my sinuses and are slowly taking over the rest of my body. They are taunting me with moments of absolute unsneeziness only to throw me into a whole fit of them a moment later. But I will vanquish them yet! Oh yes I will, I will send them scampering off with their tails between their legs. Granted I think I may be just a wee bit delirious, but I am sure that the tea, garlic and vitamen C that Hugin has been shovelling my way may help.

Ike zis

nose: Hallo tobday we vill be talking 'ike zis.
brian: 'Ike zis?!?
nose: 'Ike zis.

Sniffles

Snuggled under blankets, tea on one side and a box of Kleenex on the other. The sniffles made their presence known sometimes this morning, running hot then cold, hot again only to discover that that wasn't much fun at which point they decided to got all drippy on me. I am hoping that their stay will be brief, I am not much of a host these days and fear that I will be lacking in much grace and courtesy, which will undoubtedly cause them to be unhappy little fiends. FEH! I say, that will teach them for dropping by unannounced!

Continental Squirrel

Couldn't think of a better title for this.
I was just struck with the oddity of something I saw on my way to work this morning.
It isn't often you see a squirrel running around with half a loaf of french bread...
About the only way it might have been better would be if it was a croissant and some coffee, mmm, how continental.

Bane of my existence, well at least for today

There are some days where I just want to pummel anything that is Microsoft related into little pulpy bits.

IE6, the ever so wonderful software has decided that it is not going to accept cookies. Now it isn't doing this as a general blanket statement rule, in which nothing is being let through. Nope, it had decided to be a finicky, fastidious thing letting some certifications/cookies in while blatantly refusing others. There are no indications as to why the little scamp has decided that this was the weekend it was going to be difficult and it has given no reason or forewarning as to why it won't let the cookies through. Does anyone have any ideas as to what may be the cause?

In parting all I have to add is: Damn you Mr. Gates! Damn YOU!

Addendum: Sill no luck. We've tried a re-install, an over install. I am on the verge of attempting a complete over hall of my computer. Feck! Who said that you could choose which cookies/certificates that would be allowed on my computer. Who gave you the right to decide which sites I could access or not. Who said you could do that with out asking me for consent?!? Next time you design a web browser would you be so kind as to allow the user the option of determining what they would like to do with their software? Perhaps a little window indicating that the sight may not be secure, with a little ok button that they could depress if they wanted to continue on. Would that be such a difficult request? No?!? I didn't think so!

Pizza for IDF!

Michele and Tanya have put together a fund to send pizza to the IDF.

It may not sound like much, but it is. Go on, get, go give them a hand.

2 Cents

Saw James Bond... not in person, in film; was fun, enjoyed it. In a different way from the Bourne Identity, and again different from XXX and once more different from the Transporter, but enjoyed it. Nothing struck me as un-Bond, except perhaps seeing a bit too much blue/green screen. Still, a very nice 20th escapade for Bond. Too bad the original Q couldn't have been there, but it was good to have the reference to him by John Cleese, a la new Q.

In the other cent we have the Diary of Adrian Mole. I wanted to re-read it and Munin picked it up; she commented earlier this evening that it was just like reading a blog. How counter-techno. Shouldn't the reverse be true? But it was still worthy of mentioning.

Perhaps a little word or two before supper?

Thanks to the wonderful coffee ring gals, I have become mildly [cough] completely [cough] addicted to this game. Before you go wild with excitement let me warn you in advance, this game is not guaranteed to wow you with its graphics, nor is it going to keep your trigger finger happy. It is nothing more then a word game but a rather addictive one at that.

I have this uncontrollable liking for letters be their figures round or slim, squat or long, short or tall, dotted or not, possessing little hangy bits or naked and sleek. I love throwing them together and seeing what I come up with, rolling the words about my mouth, tasting them, feeling them and then finally giving them voice with my breath. The sounds emitted can send me into delighted convulsions as the words vibrate off my tongue. Certain sounds will get me more then others, the soft roll of an r, the light whisper of an o, the harsh sound of an f.

There is also a particular manner of vocalization; an accent or an emphasis that is placed at certain point along the word will cause me to swoon, and all at once I will find myself to be a pliable thing, weak in the knees at your complete beck and call. What can I say; I find words to be incredibly sexy.

Hands Down

I know of people who memorize arcade game moves and can throw them out without batting an eye, know the time between moves in fps and can use that to their advantage, but I've never heard of any strategy applied to this game!

Fellow Canadian Seeks Fame. Please

Please go help him out.Mike needs to be famous... and fast.

Open letter to the clients that be

You'd figure that two weeks would be sufficient for two people to correct one drawing, find at least, most of the errors and have it all ready to go a couple of days before it was due. Nope, no such luck, after two weeks, and what I am assuming to be at least five revisions each, they have finally gotten back to me with a barrel full of changes on the day that the drawing was suppose to be released. Two BLOODY weeks! [sputter] It does NOT take someone two weeks to correct a four-paged detail drawing; at most it should only take two days. [growl]

Don't get me wrong; I appreciate the fact that you are busy and cannot always give the drawing more then a passing glance. And yeah it's more work for us, which at least ensures that I get to keep my job. However, the fact that I am wasting not only my own time but also yours frustrates me beyond comprehension. Don't get me started about how much money you are wasting. I am a contractor, which means that you, the client will pay through the nose to obtain my services. In the future it would be greatly appreciated if you the client could ensure that I am not wasting your time or mine for I shall not be held responsible for the wrath that will ensue as I blast you to high hell and explain in explicit detail the reasons why the bill is so god damn high. Thank you.

LOTR: FOTR Extended Version

I had the good fortune to stumble onto this comic, truly that is what I am talking about.

A moment of adoring oooohing for the greatness of it all.

Oooooooooh, and a gratuitous aaaaaahhhhhhhhhh.

great wide yonder

I grew up in a household, where geography, culture and a sound knowledge of the mysteries of the great wide yonder were important. The world was a giant map and my mother was set to travel as many of its paths as humanly possible. Such being the case I was lucky enough to be schlepped around the world by my mother. How can a 3 year old argue when their mom picks them up and throws them into the car laden with books and toys? One cannot very well stamp ones feet at that age and demand to stay at home. So off we would go and my mom would teach me as many things as she could about the places we trod across and the people we met. I think it is for this reason that I find the below so disconcerting. I find it sad to know that we have become so complacent in our search for knowledge, and I find somewhat disheartening to know that we no longer look beyond our own back yard. There is a world out there to experience; its beauty is rich and divergent. Why would anyone not want to see or learn about at least a little part of it?

11% of Americans could not

11% of Americans could not find America. Nearly 30 percent of those surveyed could not find the Pacific Ocean, the world's largest body of water. 56% of Americans were unable to locate India, home to 17% of the world's population. That is somewhat disconcerting.

Think you are smarter then the average bear try this link.

Tired, and then some...

Trying to amass enough energy to transcribe the thoughts scattering about my brain down unto "paper", just bone tired and all that seems to come out is a long drawn out blank. The worlds a teetering and a tottering, going spinney spinney and the keyboard looks like a mighty good place to rest me head. Must resist the temptation, must type. Nope, not going to happen tonight. The bed is a calling, the soft fluffy down duvet are gently whispering my name and the pillows siren song is lulling me to sleep.

As a side note: Hugin has now compared me to Catti-brie, something about me sounding like a dwarf when I am tired. HUMPH!

[Yet another link for Catti-brie, couldn't resist]

No shower for us!

Due to overcast skies and living in the midst of the city where the lights shine all dog day long we did not get to see the Leonid Shower . This has left me in somewhat of a pout, as I was looking foreword to sitting outside and watching the sky. There is something magical about meteor showers; the incredible raw beauty of the sky alight with diamond like particles streaming across the blackness that leaves you breathless, feeling somewhat insignificant as you gaze in awe at the grandeur of the universe. Did anyone manage to see the showers?

Blocks

This is, well the only words immature as they are that seem to want to escape my lips are, way cool man! But, hey it is. I remember the hours I would spend as a youngster letting my imagination run wild, stacking Lego's helter-skelter one atop the other. I would build castles, houses and cars. Sometimes my imagination would lead to more fiery endeavours and I would attempt to build the impossible; a dragon or some twisted monster it's claws long and extended. Other days, I would simply place the Lego's on atop the other and see how high I could stack them before the whole tower toppled over. I miss my Lego days, if only I could get my hands on a whole bunch of Lego I could wile away the hours and perhaps attempt the construction of this and that.

Much Belated Happy Birthday.

Somehow in the middle of everything we managed to forget a birthday. So without further ado, a stupendous Happy Birthday goes out to Quisguillous. Happy Birthday dear friend. It's a week late but the wishes are the same; happiness, love, health and all things wonderful. Now git outtah 'ere and give 'er some love.

Cold Feet/Wet Feet

No, nothing so interesting as to consist of commitment issues or the like; simply my perspective on the recent snowfall - a la yesterday and today. Yes, my take on it is that of cold feet, followed by wet feet. Yesterday it was due to helping a friend move. Today it was from trudging through snow to work, from work to another building which hadn't been plowed. Then marking out the confines that would need plowing...

Cold feet. Just thinking of taking a walk in warm warm water... mmm.

Moving Day

Spent the day moving friends from one little shared apartment to a gorgeous condo. Aside from the complaining of sore muscles, the aches of old decrepit backs and joints, [yes, we are both quite over the hill at the tender age of thirty [wry smile]] the move went quite well, nothing was broken and nobody was gravely injured. Which is a good thing because we woke up this morning to snow. Lots of white fluffy stuff falling from the skies, gathering in little mounds and making the long contorted steep metal fire escape slick and slippery. The boxes where a challenge, as you had to balance them in one hand using the other hand to keep you upright, as you tried to maneuver yourself down icy steps, which either dipped wildly or twisted off to the side. The fridge, stove, washer, dryer and armoire though, were frightful. I hope never to experience watching two people balance the former as they inched their way down icy steps again. I think next time, we'll all chip in, hire movers and make sure that they move in the summer.

Hollywood Related

A couple of things to mention.

Picked up the Expanded Super Extra Additional Fellowship of the Ring. All I can say is that it is better than the theatrical release. What it adds most of all is byplay; between the members of the Fellowship where it is most important. After all, the story is about inner strength and the bonds between friends. The most important in my opinion being those between Sam and Frodo, and that of Legolas and Gimli. There is much more of course, but those two are great in the books. The dedication, devotion and love that Sam has for Frodo and what their friendship endures during the journey. But more important is the friendship between Legolas and Gimli, between Elf and Dwarf; races that in most stories do not get along. Races that in Tolkien have an animosity and distrust between them. And here are two that become fast friends, sharing their worlds with each other and opening one another's eyes. One of my favourite parts in the books is the gift giving of Galadrial and Gimli, which is not covered at all in the theatrical version. The loss of which I thought made Lorien the worst part of the movie when it could have been one of the most beautiful. The Extended version goes some way to fixing that and leaves in most of what was in the book, modifying it somewhat to my mild dismay in the case of Sam, but otherwise being much more true to the books. I am very happy to have this version and won't bother with getting the theatrical release.

Next, saw Harry Potter today. It reminded me in some ways of watching the first, still very true to the books for the most part, and giving me the feeling of reading the book again. Kenneth Brannagh was great as Gilderoy Lockheart. And I must say that Richard Harris did another wonderful job as Dumbledore, it will be all the more difficult to watch the next movie because of his absence.

Grump

Am grumpy tired, at the point of fidgeting and fighting with myself. Can't seem to sit still and clothes have become uncomfortable itchy things, sitting neither here nor there and are slowly accumulating in a pile at my feet. Had a long frustrating day where nothing seemed to go right. The kind of day where you just want to tell the world to go hell in a handbag and take the tea cozy with it. Can't fully think beyond these 5 little thoughts; tea, couch, Hugin, snuggle, sleep. Hugin has just gotten up to put the kettle on for tea, but refuses to go beyond dropping the tea bag into mug. Something about putting stuff in it, quantities and well stuff. Now he's muttering something that seems to include the words; Munin, stubborn, and couch. Dizzy. Think will go see couch now.

Why don't you go help these nice ladies out, hurry there isn't much time left.

[I would like to state for the record that being something of a perfectionist and wanting to make Munin happy that I did not want to misproportion the tea. There, said it. - Hugin]

Fairy Wishes

I would like to be creative, inspired; an imaginative flighty fey
I would like to be verbose, well spoken; a witty silver tongued beast
I would like to astound you with my knowledge, notions and ideas;
an eloquent, well-read owlish fiend.

In my minds eye I see these things, to me they are images and not the words written upon a page. The colours are vibrant, at times whimsical and the lines vary for the lightest of touches to the boldest of strokes. I have trouble conveying what my imagination beholds; I lack the ability to put into words what I see. If I could talk in pictures, doodling the images as they came to mind I believe I could be the eloquent silver-tongued fiend showing you the wonders I perceive.

The fairy sits upon a limb, silver grey against the darkness. Her slight form is lightly hunched, knees drawn up to chin. Her wings unfurled, transparent, catch the moonlight, diamond like jewels. The beast is crouched; powerful shoulders hunched, snow-white fur raised against his back, ice blue intelligent eyes filled with laughter. The tongue, long, is flicked upward, white silver in the dying northern lights. The owl sits upon a bough amongst the thick green foliage, its head is lightly turned surveying the world below it. The knowledge of ages written upon its features, eyes piercing behold the passage of time.

The words seem not to do the images justice, they are flat, stark black against the white, lacking in texture, in form and vividness. Perhaps one day I will learn to draw with words, for now they are fairy wishes.

We have no Bananas today!

That is it, that is all. That is the sum of my creativity this morning. Nothing more to see here, move along these aren't inspirations you were looking for. Oh, but before you go, could you just leave that cup O'Java. I promise I'll be nice to it. All I need is a little sip. Honest.

As Previously Mentioned

Pretty geeky, playing an ascii game called TOME - Troubles of Middle Earth which fits right in with the previous blog entry.
The wonderful thing about playing the game is finding the special artifacts, such as the Phial of Galadrial... it's like Diablo only better because they are items that I have read about again and again and fit in with all those past imaginings and daydreams.
So just playing a little bit more of the game before watching the second half of Fellowship when my character stumbles across a broken sword... hmm, I think... what the heck, why not? So I pick it up. A few minutes later I have Narsil and I am happy as a clam... a middle earth clam that is. A few moments later, *TADA* and I have Anduril in my posession! Move over Aragorn that's my sword now!

Happy happy joy joy!

My Precious!

It is mine!

Dark Dreams

My nightmares are back; dark dreams of twisted metal, me fighting for control, trying to ensure that everything is going to be ok. That everyone will survive, that we will land safely, walk away and live rich full lives. I don't want to remember the details of these dreams, of the terror that I feel in them. I just want to go about my day and forget that they have ever happened. I want to pretend that I only dream of warm cuddly things, but I can't. Every so often the images slam into my conscious thoughts and I remember. I remember the fear, and all I want to do is curl up into a tight little ball and cry. I pray to all the gods that be that these dreams will never become a reality.

Hey! You! I'm talking to you!

Somehow I managed to sprain the middle finger and ring finger of my mouse hand, don't ask me what I was doing I just woke up in the morning and realized that it was a little sore and tender. Perhaps it was in the middle of a vivid dream in which I was gesticulating madly, trying to convey my meanings as I wildly waved at some imaginary fiend, or perhaps I was angry and was sorely attempting to tell someone off using every hand gesture I could think of. Or maybe, just maybe, it was another sort of dream, one that required a plethora of intricate hand movements. Though in all likely hood, it was probably me being my usual klutzy self, writhing about in bed trying to find a comfortable spot. It should make for an interesting workday though; mousing is going to be quite a challenging endeavour.

In remembrance

In remembrance for those who gave their lives defending the freedoms of others, lest we forget.

Accumulation

Tis the season, and I am not talking about the weather.
So, let's see what is on the list that exists at the top of my head, the tip of my tongue and the 2nd most spots of my heart.

Hmm.

Books:
Paths of the Dead - Finally! December 1st, the continuing dry humour adventures of Khaavren and company.
Issola - Same author, same universe, different main character, been waiting for this one for a while. All I can say is curse the publishing companies that have started issuing hardcover releases followed by trade paperback and leaving my favourite (and least expensive) paperback copies for last!!!
Book of Three - I miss this book from when I was younger.
By Way of Deception - A book written by a one-time member of the Mossad.
The Decisive Battles of the Western World and Their Influence Upon History, Volume 1: From the Earliest Times to the Battle of Lepanto - I had this one, but there was a printing error in it, haven't seen it since, but I don't want it in hardcover!
Achtung-Panzer: The Development of Tank Warfare - Been curious about this one for a while. As he, Patton and Rommel were really the first ones to use the tank in the way advocated earlier by JFC Fuller.
Infantry Attacks - On the same lines as the above book, except written by Rommel earlier about the infantry.

That's all that occur to me, although I would like Memories of Ice when it finally comes out in paperback.

Aside from that it's waiting for Lord of the Rings special super-duper extra pumped up totally full of stuff version that comes out Tuesday. I can already feel the case of the flu that is coming on in expectation of that day... I've heard of 24hr flu, maybe 48hr but FOTR flu?

I've also been considering one of these or the corded version at the very least, in an effort to eliminate the more obvious amounts of Microsoft products on my desk... I have a Logitech keyboard already... and if Linux could run all my games...

In the computer related area...

I am still wanting to get a new system.
Upgrade my older processor to a newer sexier faster one.
Get a motherboard that can handle RAID and slap a few 60gb drives down on it.
Of course then I'd want a rocket for a video card, and I think that would do me, except for the cd burner operating at 48x as opposed to my curren 8x.

Then there are those favourite speakers of mine the Klipsch 5.1, but they are totally out of my range. So they get followed by the equally out of my range Logitech Z-680 speakers, damn nice; gross actually all things considered. But so cool to have THX certified speakers... but I guess I could make do with their younger cousins the Z-560, which have gotten rave reviews for as long as they have been around.

And because I really do want something that will be nice for the neighbours as well, I should get a pair of these headphones. Work great with playing half-life too!

Games:

Would like to try Starfleet Command 3. I liked the other ones... what can I say, it is my sole indiscretion when it comes to Star Trek... ok ok wouldn't mind watching Nemesis either... but first comes Harry Potter, then Bond and then the Two Towers. Well Nemesis is somewhere there...

Pick up line or just good idea

Ok, good reason to live in Australia right now... :D

So... want to shower together? It's for the good of everyone!

All the news...

Found a site called the Daily Rotation that offers headlines from various tech related sites, now I can just pop on there and get my geek fix in one espresso sized swoop.

Anyone know any other equivalents? I started using Google News for the same effect.

Yes, I may be soliciting for more cool geeky websites :)

Random Thoughts

Just a few things that ran through my head while on the subway and having breakfast...

I prefer orange hi-lighters, don't like blue.
[Munin~ whereas I prefer purple hi-lighters, don't like pink]

Civilization is mass transit, culture is offering your seat.

Gentle Giants

Gorillas have always held a special place in my heart; they are wonderful kind intelligent beings who are quickly loosing their natural environment due to the encroachment. Tiny has this link up on his site and it reminded me of my fascination with them. I remember being younger and watching a documentary about Koko, I remember the inspiration that came with it, the desire to learn more about them and the feeling of a need to protect them. Anyways, the site has more information, go see, read, be inspired.

For the Boobies.

What are you waiting for? Get yourselves over to Robyn's page and help her with two great causes! Quit lily gagging this is important! Now scat.

*Please note that some of the above links are not work or children safe.

The Sundries.

Had a most delightful conversation this evening with a dear friend. It was one of those "talks" in which the melding of views leaves you invigorated, introspective and brimming with ideas all at the same time. There are avenues of thoughts that I have not explored in a dogs age, and topics of discussion that I would love to explore further. My brains is so full with notions and ideas at this moment that I am at a loss as how to place them down in a cohesive manner, so for now, I'll depart from that path and leave you with some sundries.

One of the joys of moving into a new place is being able to fill it up with things that you either need, due to the fact that you got rid of it during the last move since your flatmate deemed it too old and decrepit to be in his presence, or things that you really want but are truly quite frivolous. This being said the following is a list of some things that are needed, and some that are just silly, that Hugin and I put together. [* Indicates that this items has since been acquired. This is actually an older list that we put together and that I had meant to post quiet a while back. Ah yes, the joys of being a first rate procrastinator]

* A new Couch: Having acquired said couch I can honestly say that it is very comfy, great for snuggling up on, and the hidden bed is a godsend for those nights when you want nothing more then to splay out like the vegetable you are and watch a movie.

Chairs! The lack of chairs in this flat is rather disconcerting. We have a grand total of two chairs. Yes 2 chairs in this household. Hugin's heart is very much set on this one, though I fear he'll have to wait just a little, tinsey while longer as I don't foresee being able to scrape together the necessary funds yet.

*A TV, though we would really like a 50" flat screen, thank you very much!

DVD player. Something that any good movie watching/ DVD addicted household shouldn't be without.

*Toaster: Mmmm bagels hot and toasted, slathered in cream cheese. What else do you really need a toaster for? [Thanks to me mom we are currently the proud owners of a toaster oven]

*Coffee machine though an espresso machine would be quite yummy indeed.

Laundry basket : Our floor is currently home to most of our clothing whether they be clean, mildly grimy or just plain dirty. However this is a service I'd pay for.

*Pots and Pans: the original set was one of my mom's hand me downs, a set that has been around for about 25 years. If I get my way one day I would love to own a set of these.

*Spring foam pans. You can't have enough spring foam pans for cheesecake.

30 gallon aquarium for our one and only fishy.

Bar stools just cause we think that they are swanky and fun to have around.

Set of Henckel knives

Cushions 'cause dang does our floor ever get cold!

And last but not least a honking, brand spanking new Cat litter box

... I want to be loved by you...

The song "I want to be loved by you is running through my head for some unfathomable reason. The worst of it all is that along with the song there is a little Betty Boop dancing along, strutting her stuff and belting out the lyrics. I must be sicker then I thought, or someone has switched the Tylenol with some really funky stuff. Well if you can't shake it you just got to go with the flow.

I wanna be loved by you,
just you and nobody else but you
I wanna be loved by you
alone poo poo pi doo

Just you
[mwah]

Damn the torpedoes!

So, trying to get Redhat Linux installed at work and configured to connect to the windows domain...

Did I mention my lack of Linux know-how?

Heh, well... at least I'm not alone in this, should be interesting.

Life through a camera's eye.

So after a year and a half of procrastination have finally gone to pick up my camera from the shop. Seriously it's been over a year and a half that my camera has been with the repair guy. I love this camera, I "inherited' it from my mother. It's an old Pentax that has seen much of the world. It has traveled through some of the deepest regions in Africa, has made it way through Europe and parts of North America. It has been left on a roof of a car once, while my mother sped off and yet has still survived the passage of time. One of the things that I love about this camera is that it makes a wonderful rich clicking sound each time you snap a picture. I also love the fact that it is fully manual, as I have never enjoyed into taking pictures with the new automatic cameras [though do I love my old flatmates' digital one]. Perhaps it is because the newer cameras lack the noise or perhaps it is because I need to feel the cameras mechanism react as I depress the button, feel the grinding of the gears when I wind the film, and feel the vibrations as it slides the film over, ready for the next shot

Feh!

I shake my fist and say feh to the Weather Gods! Silly kniggits what have you done with autumn? Winter does not bloody well follow summer, it's freezing over here! Now go set things right!

A little something different.

Finally a new design. This one was originally suppose to go up when we moved over to MT, alas that did not happen, and has been put on the back burner for a little while. However, here it is! A new look, Enjoy! Now if you'll excuse am feeling a wee bit dizzy, I think I shall go plop myself down on the couch and fix my gaze on the Telley, hopeful that will stop the room from spinning. Could someone please get me of this crazy ride?

Pass the Beer Nuts Please!

Man, do I ever suck at this game! I am much better at quarters! Spent a better part of my Uni years playing quarters. We'd sneak out of our Friday afternoon tutorials and scoot downstairs to the local pub, order a few pints and flip quarters for the better part of the afternoon. Looking back it all seems a little lame, but at the time it allowed for countless hours of brainless fun.

[Munin coughs = Must Blog]

Could be bad if that keeps up... at least it isn't Munin Sneezes = Must Blog. There wouldn't be any room for Munin posts!!!

Alright, alright... I was just playing Tome... Not like it is addictive or anything, I'd rate it somewhere between coffee and ... good coffee. Yup, sometimes it isn't the greatest thing, but you still come back for more; much like an all you can eat buffet or something... [sip of coffee]

It's kind of funny I am playing this since evidently Nethack is still going strong. That was one of the originals of this format of gaming, the precursor I assume to Moria, and more updated versions such as Diablo II. Yup, I am playing the equivalent of a DOS game on my computer... a program which would run very well on a phone these days!

Other than that, trying to make a picture look intersting etc in Photoshop, not as easy as it sounds for one of my amateurish abilities in that program... hmm, must look around for interesting stuff online that talks about things that can be done with the program.

Well, back to it.

Do I dare?

This looks like it can be oodles of fun, but do I dare risk the addiction? Maybe just a little try, it couldn't hurt, could it? I quit any time, couldn't I? [ gazes pathetically at Hugin with a "I'm in need of addictive game" look ] What do you think?

Freedom of thought

There seems to be a growing trend of slandering people for their views. I have only one thing to say in light of this, if you do not agree with the person or have a growing dislike for them don't read their page! There is a little "x" on the top right corner of any web page that is quite effective at removing what you may consider to be offensive material from your sight. Use it! But, don't slander them publicly and don't make attempt to make them feel small or throw hurtful remarks, that is cowardly, cruel and lacking in huge amounts of tact and human decency. It is not for you to decide what content should be posted on their personnel space. It is for them and them alone. That is their space and they have the right to post whatever they damn well please, be it their political views, their hopes and aspirations or what they had for lunch.

My kudos and support go out to all who have the guts to post their views, and to those who have the chutzpah [and I mean it in all sincerity] to voice what they feel whether it be popular or not.