I appreciate the value of random breath tests, even on a freeway. The 15 minute traffic jam queueing to get to it might be counter-productive though.
14th November 2009
16th October 2009
Tonight I was discussing with someone I just met how meaningless it is to friend someone on LJ or facebook, etc.
Did we swap LJ names??
Duh.
Did we swap LJ names??
Duh.
7th October 2009
Just read in New Scientist:
"Perverse"?
*boggles*
Give the human species a few tens of thousands of years to evolve a response to stress and trauma, and it comes up with stress hormones. How can any scientist then be surprised when stress hormones turn out to be good at helping humans deal with trauma?
In conclusion, that was a significantly dumb thing to say.
"Perverse as it seems, boosting levels of a stress hormone might be just the thing to deal with trauma."What? What??
"Perverse"?
*boggles*
Give the human species a few tens of thousands of years to evolve a response to stress and trauma, and it comes up with stress hormones. How can any scientist then be surprised when stress hormones turn out to be good at helping humans deal with trauma?
In conclusion, that was a significantly dumb thing to say.
1st October 2009
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/contri
The article says how Fielding got in power and how the government are proposing to stop it happening again. That makes it sound personal, which I suppose it might be since he "has now stymied the Government on a number of fronts".
But this is where I display my abject lack of understanding.
The government needs just a couple of votes from non-labour senators to pass legislation, right? Any senator would do, right? So why the holy fuck do we keep insisting that it's Fielding's fault? That Fielding holds the balance of power? Any liberal/national senator can vote whichever damn way they please, but they're all "oh no, we're the opposition. We oppose the government. Always. Even if that means senator Fielding calls the shots around here. We ♥ him."
Balls. We need 40 people in the senate who care about the country more than the party - that's all it takes and it'll never happen. Fielding has no power unless the opposition and government choose to give it to him - which they do.
You know who I blame?
Hmph.
* If anyone who bothered to learn about Australian politics can tell me that the principle behind this rant is wrong, I'll shut up. :)
The article says how Fielding got in power and how the government are proposing to stop it happening again. That makes it sound personal, which I suppose it might be since he "has now stymied the Government on a number of fronts".
But this is where I display my abject lack of understanding.
The government needs just a couple of votes from non-labour senators to pass legislation, right? Any senator would do, right? So why the holy fuck do we keep insisting that it's Fielding's fault? That Fielding holds the balance of power? Any liberal/national senator can vote whichever damn way they please, but they're all "oh no, we're the opposition. We oppose the government. Always. Even if that means senator Fielding calls the shots around here. We ♥ him."
Balls. We need 40 people in the senate who care about the country more than the party - that's all it takes and it'll never happen. Fielding has no power unless the opposition and government choose to give it to him - which they do.
You know who I blame?
Hmph.
* If anyone who bothered to learn about Australian politics can tell me that the principle behind this rant is wrong, I'll shut up. :)
28th September 2009
Thank you Rony Duncan for this thoughtful article:
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/societ
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/societ
http://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/peop
I think, for most crimes we'd argue that avoiding arrest for long enough shouldn't allow you to go unpunished. But, "The woman named as the victim in the 1970s case has joined defence lawyers in urging the dismissal of the case against Polanski." She's even on TV saying so.
Do you think the state will really care what the child feels, now she's grown up? I don't; I think they will back down when enough of the world tell them they're being dicks.
And, since I'm in a particularly obnoxious mood: if he is actually imprisoned in the U.S, I hope Samantha Geimer requests a conjugal visit. No, NOT for them to do anything (puhlease!). Because it would stick it to the people who think they're running this circus.
I think, for most crimes we'd argue that avoiding arrest for long enough shouldn't allow you to go unpunished. But, "The woman named as the victim in the 1970s case has joined defence lawyers in urging the dismissal of the case against Polanski." She's even on TV saying so.
Do you think the state will really care what the child feels, now she's grown up? I don't; I think they will back down when enough of the world tell them they're being dicks.
And, since I'm in a particularly obnoxious mood: if he is actually imprisoned in the U.S, I hope Samantha Geimer requests a conjugal visit. No, NOT for them to do anything (puhlease!). Because it would stick it to the people who think they're running this circus.
7th July 2009
Just wondering if anyone has any PC2700 DDR notebook memory they don't want? As in, original DDR. The ancient stuff. I have an around five-year-old laptop that's probably not worth actually buying memory for, but otherwise adequate so I have little desire to replace it...
26th May 2009
Funny. Oddball. Clever.
This British comedy, set in a call centre in Mumbai, just started on the ABC. The two episodes to date each featured a creative plot interspersed with off-beat monologues from the phone operators. I love the wackiness of it... Less surreal than The IT Crowd, more like Stupid Stupid Man. It's spiced with clichés and clever observations, and plenty of bizarre. Tonight's episode featured Richard E. Grant as a ludicrous Shakespearian actor. ("Hamlet P.I." Ah-huh.)
Only eight episodes I think; it's free to air on Tuesdays, and the first two eps are probably streamable from the abc website.
This British comedy, set in a call centre in Mumbai, just started on the ABC. The two episodes to date each featured a creative plot interspersed with off-beat monologues from the phone operators. I love the wackiness of it... Less surreal than The IT Crowd, more like Stupid Stupid Man. It's spiced with clichés and clever observations, and plenty of bizarre. Tonight's episode featured Richard E. Grant as a ludicrous Shakespearian actor. ("Hamlet P.I." Ah-huh.)
Only eight episodes I think; it's free to air on Tuesdays, and the first two eps are probably streamable from the abc website.
11th May 2009
Okay, some friends recently observed that facebook was teh suX0rz, but LJ/s been quiet because none of us have been posting. So. Last week there was a goddamn stupid article on the Ask Sam blog, which typified one thing that's completely fucked about almost every discussion in the popular media about underweight. I ranted about it there, and I'm going to rant about it here.
Titling her post Do men like muscular women? might have been forgivable if Samantha Brett hadn't then spent the entire blog equating extreme underweight and thinness to being "muscular". This is brain-dead stupid shit, but it's all over the media and it's doing damage.
Sam told us about the Miss Universe contestant Stephanie Naumoska who is 1.8 metres and 49kg, which caused a ruckus and Sam thinks it's because she lacks *fat*! Christ no! She's seriously underweight and a finalist in a beauty contest! But Sam talked about the "lack of lard on her legs or cellulite on her butt". And then "Do men steer away from muscular women?" HEEEELLOOOO?? Since fucking when is fat muscular? Anyone thinking that what Stephanie needs is some damn *fat* on her bones needs their freaking head read. It's like someone giving you an empty plate says "Here's your cake," and you reply "It needs more eggs." Think maybe she needs not just fat, but also muscle, and perhaps her other organs are having a hard time too? But it's always about the goddamn *fat*.
Most disgustingly, Sam derided media that reported on the phychological impact as having a "gripe".
I think we have a serious problem where the commonest, knee-jerk reaction to fat is "arhg!! yuck, get it off! it's disgusting!" and in our lust to remove it we waste not just the perceived problem but the rest of our bodies as well. And then ignorant people "admire" it. "You're so skinny! Looks really good on you! You've lost such a lot of muscle - the men must be flocking to you now! Can you really walk all the way to the shop like that?"
With overweight folk, sure, it's about losing fat. But when we talk about the light end of the scale we *have* to acknowledge that it's not about fat anymore. If you don't got fat, you ain't losing fat. You're losing muscle, and organs, and bone; and it offends the heck out of me when people - media, whatever - only talk about the fat. She's *significantly* underweight and you think getting some celulite on her butt is the solution? Fuck you.
Titling her post Do men like muscular women? might have been forgivable if Samantha Brett hadn't then spent the entire blog equating extreme underweight and thinness to being "muscular". This is brain-dead stupid shit, but it's all over the media and it's doing damage.
Sam told us about the Miss Universe contestant Stephanie Naumoska who is 1.8 metres and 49kg, which caused a ruckus and Sam thinks it's because she lacks *fat*! Christ no! She's seriously underweight and a finalist in a beauty contest! But Sam talked about the "lack of lard on her legs or cellulite on her butt". And then "Do men steer away from muscular women?" HEEEELLOOOO?? Since fucking when is fat muscular? Anyone thinking that what Stephanie needs is some damn *fat* on her bones needs their freaking head read. It's like someone giving you an empty plate says "Here's your cake," and you reply "It needs more eggs." Think maybe she needs not just fat, but also muscle, and perhaps her other organs are having a hard time too? But it's always about the goddamn *fat*.
Most disgustingly, Sam derided media that reported on the phychological impact as having a "gripe".
I think we have a serious problem where the commonest, knee-jerk reaction to fat is "arhg!! yuck, get it off! it's disgusting!" and in our lust to remove it we waste not just the perceived problem but the rest of our bodies as well. And then ignorant people "admire" it. "You're so skinny! Looks really good on you! You've lost such a lot of muscle - the men must be flocking to you now! Can you really walk all the way to the shop like that?"
With overweight folk, sure, it's about losing fat. But when we talk about the light end of the scale we *have* to acknowledge that it's not about fat anymore. If you don't got fat, you ain't losing fat. You're losing muscle, and organs, and bone; and it offends the heck out of me when people - media, whatever - only talk about the fat. She's *significantly* underweight and you think getting some celulite on her butt is the solution? Fuck you.
19th April 2009
It's awesome1. :)
http://www.shockingweblog.com/2008/1
1 Your opinion may vary. But really, it is awesome.
http://www.shockingweblog.com/2008/1
1 Your opinion may vary. But really, it is awesome.
7th April 2009
I broke my car. :(
If you say Top Gear on SBS last night, remember the bit where their guest, wossname Kent, screwed up in his practice lap? In the wet, the tail spun out but when the wheels gripped again the steering was nearly at lock so the car careened off the side? Yup. Like that. But imagine it at half the speed, and there was a crash barrier on the side of the track. And a precipitous drop beyond that.
Later in the episode, the bastards went on to show themselves, and then those Korean dudes drifing their cars sideways, backwards, and still staying on the track... and I was thinking how useful it would have been to know how to do that.
Kellie's got two bruises. Otherwise we're perfect.
If you say Top Gear on SBS last night, remember the bit where their guest, wossname Kent, screwed up in his practice lap? In the wet, the tail spun out but when the wheels gripped again the steering was nearly at lock so the car careened off the side? Yup. Like that. But imagine it at half the speed, and there was a crash barrier on the side of the track. And a precipitous drop beyond that.
Later in the episode, the bastards went on to show themselves, and then those Korean dudes drifing their cars sideways, backwards, and still staying on the track... and I was thinking how useful it would have been to know how to do that.
Kellie's got two bruises. Otherwise we're perfect.
24th January 2009
Just watched the final of this British drama. So sad.
You haven't been watching it, have you. So you probably don't care. But it was sad!!
You haven't been watching it, have you. So you probably don't care. But it was sad!!
11th December 2008
8:20am and I'm on the Ventura Christmas Bus. It's laden with tinsel and snow (because dacron filling is white and blankety, so it counts) and all decked out with santas and baubles and christmas trees and... It's quite cool actually. And it has musac.
8:20am on a summer morning and I'm "Walking in a Winter Wonderland" in the gentle melodious tones that lead to homicide. The doors close behind me.
8:22am I check the other passengers, but none seem agitated, wild-eyed. It's probably safe. I dig out headphones from my bag and escape into Faderhead.
"Dirtygrrrls, make some noise.
Move that ass for dirtybois..."
Doof, doof, doof.
It's not exactly shaking snow from the gables, but I'm thinking, Little Drummer Boy, eat your heart out.
8:20am on a summer morning and I'm "Walking in a Winter Wonderland" in the gentle melodious tones that lead to homicide. The doors close behind me.
8:22am I check the other passengers, but none seem agitated, wild-eyed. It's probably safe. I dig out headphones from my bag and escape into Faderhead.
"Dirtygrrrls, make some noise.
Move that ass for dirtybois..."
Doof, doof, doof.
It's not exactly shaking snow from the gables, but I'm thinking, Little Drummer Boy, eat your heart out.
3rd December 2008
16th November 2008
Dang. My car just got rear-ended just hard enough that although it doesn't look like much, the boot doesn't shut. No one was hurt.
I'd just fall back on my bike for the week or so while it gets fixed, except my bike died two weeks ago. But that's okay, because I still have my Great Vic Bike...
Oh the humiliation.
I'd just fall back on my bike for the week or so while it gets fixed, except my bike died two weeks ago. But that's okay, because I still have my Great Vic Bike...
Oh the humiliation.
12th November 2008
pr0zak just posted about getting a discount on her licence renewal for being a safe driver, and about organ donation. I was about to comment when I realised I was just babbling on about me, so I'm writing it to my own journal instead.
I'm totally up for being an organ donor but I never got that sign-up form with my licence renewal - perhaps because I'm still on my first licence and never had a licence renewal?
Speaking of which, I won't be getting that safe driver discount because I just lost 3 demerit points for allegedly running a red light. It was at a corner where I've seen the machine trigger wrongly so many times that I simply don't believe it. Honesty and lawfulness are so core to me that I find the accusation really offensive.
It's also slightly scary because I'm a cyclist, and if somehow the machine is right, that means I'm running red lights without knowing it, on a bike, and sooner or later that will make me dead.
So I really should sort out that organ donor card.
I'm totally up for being an organ donor but I never got that sign-up form with my licence renewal - perhaps because I'm still on my first licence and never had a licence renewal?
Speaking of which, I won't be getting that safe driver discount because I just lost 3 demerit points for allegedly running a red light. It was at a corner where I've seen the machine trigger wrongly so many times that I simply don't believe it. Honesty and lawfulness are so core to me that I find the accusation really offensive.
It's also slightly scary because I'm a cyclist, and if somehow the machine is right, that means I'm running red lights without knowing it, on a bike, and sooner or later that will make me dead.
So I really should sort out that organ donor card.
11th November 2008
Saw this and... how could I not think of ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif)
pr0zak?
They're actually serious about manufacturing diamond films from tequila, and they're also looking into diamond semiconductors. I'm amazed!
http://www.physorg.com/news145255770.ht
pr0zak?Originally, the scientists were experimenting with creating diamonds from organic solutions such as acetone, ethanol, and methanol. They ... then noticed that the ideal compound of 40 percent ethanol and 60 percent water was similar to the proportion used in tequila.
"To dissipate any doubts, one morning on the way to the lab I bought a pocket-size bottle of cheap white tequila and we did some tests..."
They're actually serious about manufacturing diamond films from tequila, and they're also looking into diamond semiconductors. I'm amazed!
http://www.physorg.com/news145255770.ht
24th October 2008
23rd October 2008
Someone's trying to get a major women's magazine (any one will do) to publish an issue without airbrushing or photoshopping the models in any of the features or the cover.
http://www.thepoint.com/campaigns/s
I like this idea. Like it a lot. But I have little hope of it ever actually happening, since it could destroy their advertising revenue by turning them into business lepers. Of course, that can only make it easier to reach the next milestone: no retouching of *any* images, including those in ads. If they do that, I'll buy three copies.
http://www.thepoint.com/campaigns/s
I like this idea. Like it a lot. But I have little hope of it ever actually happening, since it could destroy their advertising revenue by turning them into business lepers. Of course, that can only make it easier to reach the next milestone: no retouching of *any* images, including those in ads. If they do that, I'll buy three copies.
3rd October 2008
It was that moment when you realise what she's going to do with the cake...
Squeee!
Squeee!