Christmas is coming! Yippee!
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Cildo Meireles
Never heard of this guy - but his retrospective at Tate Modern (until 11 January) is probably the most fun, and thought-provoking exhibition on in London at the moment.
A conceptualist, many of his works are physically interactive, which is quite charming, and intellectually challenging at the same time.
Gay reproductive advantage
Saw this via Gay Banker, a new scientific theory about why gayness never died out through natural evolution.
My little brain struggles to comprehend - but basically, it appears that the premise of the popular make-over tv programme, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, is now established scientific theory: a little bit of the gay makes you better with the laydeez.
Hmmm.
My little brain struggles to comprehend - but basically, it appears that the premise of the popular make-over tv programme, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, is now established scientific theory: a little bit of the gay makes you better with the laydeez.
Hmmm.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
more moans: M&S dinner
I bought M&S’s ‘new’ Kerala King Prawn Curry (£3.99) for dinner last night. After another hectic week I fancied a curry on the sofa sat in front of Celebrity .
Out of the packet it looked very pretty - the prawns in their shells arranged on a bed of coconut curry flavoured with mangoes, mustard seeds and curry leaves. The prawns were delicious, and the curry tasted good, but was choc full of fibrous materials and deeply unripe, inedible mango - not good; in fact left uneaten.
Disappointing - definitely not recommended.
Out of the packet it looked very pretty - the prawns in their shells arranged on a bed of coconut curry flavoured with mangoes, mustard seeds and curry leaves. The prawns were delicious, and the curry tasted good, but was choc full of fibrous materials and deeply unripe, inedible mango - not good; in fact left uneaten.
Disappointing - definitely not recommended.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Friday moan: fighting fires
A nasty pattern is emerging at work. It goes something like this:
Colleague: * Fighting with customer. Will have my own way. Won’t communicate with colleagues. Ignore reality. Don’t admit problems. Deadline. Panic. *
* Explosion *
* hide from bosses *
“Hedgie! Hedgie! Help me! Fire! Fire! My pants are on fire!”
Hedgie: “Ok, I’ll get the bucket of water”
Colleague: “ NO! NOT the water!”
Hedgie: “At this point lots of water straight on the fire is the best solution. It won’t take a moment.”
Colleague: “ Stupid! You don’t understand! The situation is much more complex than that! I just can’t accept water!”
* burning *
“Ouch!”
Hedgie: “The water will save you”
Colleague: “Ok, use the water.”
* splash *
* fire goes out *
* Hedgie cleans up mess *
Colleague (to bosses): “Look what a brilliant job I’ve done!”
- and start again from the top.
Colleague: * Fighting with customer. Will have my own way. Won’t communicate with colleagues. Ignore reality. Don’t admit problems. Deadline. Panic. *
* Explosion *
* hide from bosses *
“Hedgie! Hedgie! Help me! Fire! Fire! My pants are on fire!”
Hedgie: “Ok, I’ll get the bucket of water”
Colleague: “ NO! NOT the water!”
Hedgie: “At this point lots of water straight on the fire is the best solution. It won’t take a moment.”
Colleague: “ Stupid! You don’t understand! The situation is much more complex than that! I just can’t accept water!”
* burning *
“Ouch!”
Hedgie: “The water will save you”
Colleague: “Ok, use the water.”
* splash *
* fire goes out *
* Hedgie cleans up mess *
Colleague (to bosses): “Look what a brilliant job I’ve done!”
- and start again from the top.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
sigh of relief
I speak as a Pisces with Sagittarius rising, who has not enjoyed Pluto's presence overmuch. Maybe that's too much information!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Scrooge alert!
Every year someone pops up to have a whinge about Christmas cards, and this year it turns out to be a Bishop.
Well, sorry,your holiness, but I bought mine today. Now to get writing . . .
Well, sorry,your holiness, but I bought mine today. Now to get writing . . .
And in any event - the first ever Christmas card (invented by Henry Cole, the first director of the V&A), wasn't notably Christian in sentiment:
Oh the materialistic hedonism of those debauched Victorians! And quick! Get that child into care!!!
Monday, November 24, 2008
Lunch
Experimenting with new software here . . . hope this works!
Last Thursday I was in Victoria Station around lunchtime, and decided to try <A HREF=”http://www.wasabi.uk.com/“>Wasabi </A>for lunch. They have individually-wrapped sushi portions; quite a large and imaginative selection for a fast-food operation like this.
The staff were very cute and helpful, and the sushi was good - streets ahead of the supermarket stuff with stiff and nastily refrigerated rice.
Last Thursday I was in Victoria Station around lunchtime, and decided to try <A HREF=”http://www.wasabi.uk.com/“>Wasabi </A>for lunch. They have individually-wrapped sushi portions; quite a large and imaginative selection for a fast-food operation like this.
The staff were very cute and helpful, and the sushi was good - streets ahead of the supermarket stuff with stiff and nastily refrigerated rice.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
from the bosom of the ocean
It's ridiculously pleasing when a hoary old cliche, an urban myth, a tired old formula, actually steps into the light and is made flesh. In the course of my researches on the intermawebs, I came across this:
This, my friends, is one of those very deckchairs which are perpetually being rearranged on the deck of the Titanic.
This, my friends, is one of those very deckchairs which are perpetually being rearranged on the deck of the Titanic.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
The Delphic iPod
Saw this on Boz’s blog (he got via Vicus Scurra) a while ago, and couldn’t do it until I was technologically updated. It’s pretty fun to do, and as a commenter on Vicus’s blog said: “This meme is surprisingly accurate for such a primitive form of psychometric inquiry.”
The Meme:
1. Put your music player on shuffle
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. You must put down the song name no matter what. (Hmm. I think we all cheated - - - I draw a veil - - -)
What would best describe your personality?
A Wolf at the Door (It Girl, Rag Doll) – Radiohead
Heh.
What do you like in a guy/girl?
Boss Drum – The Shamen
Yes sir.
How do you feel today?
Crying – Bjork
Nope.
What is your life’s purpose?
She Sun Shines - Cast
What is your motto?
Mouth’s Cradle – Bjork
WTF?????
What do your friends think of you?
Supernatural Superserious – R.E.M.
What do you think of your parents?
Walk Unafraid – R.E.M.
So true.
What do you think about very often?
Blue Pastures - James
What do you think of your best friend?
Mysterons - Portishead
What do you think of your crush?
In the Forest – The Coral
What is your life story?
River Deep, Mountain High – The Supremes
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A Moment with you? – George Michael
What do you think when you see your crush?
Winter Kills - Yazoo
What do your parents think of you?
Mysterious Ways – U2
How’s your love life?
Time to get away – LCD Soundsystem
Ipods have GODLIKE knowledge.
What will they play at your funeral?
Narcissus – Alanis Morissette
Bastards! I'll haunt them!
What will you dance to at your wedding?
Save a soul in every town – The Christians
What is your hobby/interest?
Electrolite – R.E.M.
What’s your biggest secret?
Glory Days – Bruce Springsteen
What do your think of your friends?
Viva la Vida - Coldplay
What song do you listen to when you are sad?
Slow Night, So Long – Kings of Leon
In love?
You are my sister – Antony & the Johnsons
Maybe that's what I'm doing wrong.
What song do you air guitar to?
Goin’ Back – Dusty Springfield
What should be your signature karaoke song?
Hunter - Portishead
What is your greatest desire?
Black Swan – Thom Yorke
What does next year have in store for you?
Cymbal Rush – Thom Yorke
What’s your outlook on life?
Hard to Beat – Hard-Fi
How will you die?
Anytime at all – Alison Moyet
Do people secretly lust after you?
Myxomatosis – Radiohead
I’ll take that as a no.
The best advice you will ever get?
I Want You – Madonna (featuring Massive Attack)
Flattering - ? -
The Meme:
1. Put your music player on shuffle
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. You must put down the song name no matter what. (Hmm. I think we all cheated - - - I draw a veil - - -)
What would best describe your personality?
A Wolf at the Door (It Girl, Rag Doll) – Radiohead
Heh.
What do you like in a guy/girl?
Boss Drum – The Shamen
Yes sir.
How do you feel today?
Crying – Bjork
Nope.
What is your life’s purpose?
She Sun Shines - Cast
What is your motto?
Mouth’s Cradle – Bjork
WTF?????
What do your friends think of you?
Supernatural Superserious – R.E.M.
What do you think of your parents?
Walk Unafraid – R.E.M.
So true.
What do you think about very often?
Blue Pastures - James
What do you think of your best friend?
Mysterons - Portishead
What do you think of your crush?
In the Forest – The Coral
What is your life story?
River Deep, Mountain High – The Supremes
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A Moment with you? – George Michael
What do you think when you see your crush?
Winter Kills - Yazoo
What do your parents think of you?
Mysterious Ways – U2
How’s your love life?
Time to get away – LCD Soundsystem
Ipods have GODLIKE knowledge.
What will they play at your funeral?
Narcissus – Alanis Morissette
Bastards! I'll haunt them!
What will you dance to at your wedding?
Save a soul in every town – The Christians
What is your hobby/interest?
Electrolite – R.E.M.
What’s your biggest secret?
Glory Days – Bruce Springsteen
What do your think of your friends?
Viva la Vida - Coldplay
What song do you listen to when you are sad?
Slow Night, So Long – Kings of Leon
In love?
You are my sister – Antony & the Johnsons
Maybe that's what I'm doing wrong.
What song do you air guitar to?
Goin’ Back – Dusty Springfield
What should be your signature karaoke song?
Hunter - Portishead
What is your greatest desire?
Black Swan – Thom Yorke
What does next year have in store for you?
Cymbal Rush – Thom Yorke
What’s your outlook on life?
Hard to Beat – Hard-Fi
How will you die?
Anytime at all – Alison Moyet
Do people secretly lust after you?
Myxomatosis – Radiohead
I’ll take that as a no.
The best advice you will ever get?
I Want You – Madonna (featuring Massive Attack)
Flattering - ? -
Friday, November 14, 2008
The History of Me in Cocktails: No 3: - Today
God what a week. Work; home, money, life - hassles, crises, disasters. Culminated in a sleepless night last night; finally dropped off at @ 5am. Took the morning off and rolled into work at 12 noon, no less. Thank the Lord for relaxed bosses.
Bad bad boy. However, I was v. good all afternoon; really did quite a surprising amount of work. Believe me, I needed to.
But now I'm home and blogging while drunk.
I have long wished to make my very own Brandy Alexander, instead of buying Sainsbury's packaged version.. Apparently, it's derided as a classic "Prom Cocktail" - however, anything sweet and creamy rings my bell.
The flatmate also confessed to liking Brandy Alexanders, so I ordered in the ingredients according to Diffordsguide, especially Creme de Cacao White Liqueur.
They arrived today from Drinkon, but imagine my horror when I discovered we didn't have enough ice to do the cocktail shaker thing! Aargh!
However needs must when the devil drives; necessity is the mother of invention, etc etc. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you:
The Chocolate Gin & Tonic
or, a
Fizzy Alexander
Glass: Collins
Garnish: erm - whatever u can find - use yor imagination
Method: Pour ingredients into ice-filled glass (or in our case, glasses with 2 cubes each)
1.5 shot(s) Gin
.5 shot(s) Creme de Cacao White Liqueur
Top up with Tonic water
Cream instead of tonic water and shaken would give you an Alexander; hence my fizzy version. Honestly, it's lovely - looks exactly like a G&T, but with subtle chocolatey flavas - you can never get enough chocolate!
The History of Me in Cocktails: No.2
Bad bad boy. However, I was v. good all afternoon; really did quite a surprising amount of work. Believe me, I needed to.
But now I'm home and blogging while drunk.
I have long wished to make my very own Brandy Alexander, instead of buying Sainsbury's packaged version.. Apparently, it's derided as a classic "Prom Cocktail" - however, anything sweet and creamy rings my bell.
The flatmate also confessed to liking Brandy Alexanders, so I ordered in the ingredients according to Diffordsguide, especially Creme de Cacao White Liqueur.
They arrived today from Drinkon, but imagine my horror when I discovered we didn't have enough ice to do the cocktail shaker thing! Aargh!
However needs must when the devil drives; necessity is the mother of invention, etc etc. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you:
The Chocolate Gin & Tonic
or, a
Fizzy Alexander
Glass: Collins
Garnish: erm - whatever u can find - use yor imagination
Method: Pour ingredients into ice-filled glass (or in our case, glasses with 2 cubes each)
1.5 shot(s) Gin
.5 shot(s) Creme de Cacao White Liqueur
Top up with Tonic water
Cream instead of tonic water and shaken would give you an Alexander; hence my fizzy version. Honestly, it's lovely - looks exactly like a G&T, but with subtle chocolatey flavas - you can never get enough chocolate!
The History of Me in Cocktails: No.2
Monday, November 10, 2008
Yay!
Yep I'm pretty late but still very pleased and excited by the good news from across the ocean. Hooray for America and here's wishing President Obama all the best!
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