What's Doing

Even more posting, good grief. Just thought I would share the latest extremely stupid hype with you all. As you may have noticed the first instalment of "Lord of the Hype" has been premiered in London today. I have nothing against this work apart from a) I thought the book was rubbish b) It has been even more hyped than Phantom Menace (and that movie was utter toss).

Anything that needs this much publicity to get people to go to the cinema just can’t be good.

But to cap it all, the good citizens of Auckland have decided to rename their city to celebrate this bunch of old rubbish. For a week around the premiere of the movie in New Zealand they are going to officially call their home city "Middle Earth". This is not what one would expect from "The greatest country in the world" ™. Tossers.

It is all Matthew Molland’s fault.

I was considering leaving this post as just that sentence but you probably deserve a bit of elaboration. My so called ‘best man’ sent me an email over the weekend. As usual I skimmed it, composed a suitable witty reply about how wonderful I am and how cold, grey and drizzly the West Midlands are and left it at that. Then I re-read his message and let curiosity get the better of me. I know I shouldn’t have, but I signed up for Friends Re-united. What can I say, I must have been suffering from temporary insanity but it seemed like a good idea at the time. Oh dear.

But if you are reading this a brisk G’day to Petal, Russell or Chris.

To anyone else who has found me via that particular trip down memory lane – it was someone else, it wasn’t me, nobody saw me do it, you can’t prove anything. In fact, “You ain’t seen me – roight?”.

Sunburn. Bugger.

I’m suffering because of the Calcutta cup. Not the rugby trophy contested by England and Scotland every year, but the annual contest at the tennis club. Although there are similarities between the two. At the ‘proper’ Calcutta cup thirty grown men attempt to beat the living doo-dads out of each other whilst chasing a funny shaped ball around. Meanwhile the fans drink lots of alcohol and cheer the more violent passages of play. At the Wakehurst Calcutta cup the violence is (mainly) dispensed with and the concentration is on drinking (champagne, natch) and chasing normally chased balls around a tennis court. Yes, as usual, the connecting factor is the consumption of alcohol.

How does this relate to sunburn? Well, Bobo and I attended the Calcutta cup on Sunday morning and after the first set (and a couple of glass of schmoo) I noticed that the sun cream had run out. So I had another glass of fizzy and thought nothing of it because it was overcast after all. Then on Sunday evening I noticed my skin getting warmer, and warmer, and warmer. Bugger. You’d think after five years in this country I would have learnt that my pale, Northern European skin doesn’t mix well with excessive amounts of ultra violet. Well, I’ve had another reminder and am suitably chastised.

This just in from the UK – pictures of Phoebe Lewis in her pre-school nativity play. Warning – these photos contain images of small children enjoying themselves. I believe there is also a Christian sub-text for those who feel queasy around religion.

Its a bit cheaper than a Volvo 60, but the Treo 10 would look just as good under the tree come Christmas Day.

No pressure.

OK. I want a go on a Volvo 60. Not a round the world race, but a blast around Sydney harbour and then out of the heads would be great.

The second leg of the race was won by Illbruck yesterday, with the finish line adjacent to the opera house. For more photos try the lovely people at MadForSailing.com.

So, if anyone wants to get me a ride for a Chrissy present, I’ll be a happy little sailor – just as long as I can get back to shore at the end of the day to a nice hot shower and a nice cold beer. Oh, and no broaches thanks.

I still haven’t got anything to say. Gosh, my life must be dull – well it is, but in a nice dull way that I enjoy. I revel in my dullness.

If you want to be educated or amused, read this piece by Bruce Sterling.

To cut a long and boring technical story short, I get hold of some choice quotations every day. Today a couple of them caught my eye and I thought I would share them with you;

Rita Rudner:”I love being married. It’s so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.”

Steven Wright: “I was walking down the street wearing glasses when the prescription ran out.”

From Sheila Simmons, via Brent Simmons via Scripting News (blimey I’ll follow links anywhere);

I am 17% Grunge.

I will get out of your sight. I’m pathetic! With my clean clothes, and nice smell. I think I took the wrong test, thank god, huh?
Take the Grunge Test at Fuali.com!

I do have something to say today. It is just not very interesting to anyone else. My ambition for the next week is to get to a position higher than 650 on the Vulture Central group at SETI@home. Still, you’ve got to have goals haven’t you.

Oh, for those still reading, my name on the list is ‘andy47’.