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24th of January, 2009
01:19 am - Gung Haggis Fat Choy
Now THIS is multiculturalism.
Todd Wong is 5th Generation Canadian, but people still ask him if he's Chinese. As a teenager he started introducing Chinese New Year celebrations to friends. When at university in the 90's he was asked to help with the organisation of the annual Robbie Burns night (which falls on the 25th of January each year). Realising that Chinese New Year was only 2 days after it that year he combined the two and thus was born Gung Haggis Fat Choy and Toddish McWong.
Do you think if we make it "Gung Haggis Fat Choy, mate" we could combine Australia Day into it? I mean the tradition meat pie has about as much actual meat as your average haggis.
Love the outfit though :-)
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/growf/pengies/happy.gif) impressed
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22nd of December, 2008
12:08 am - Pundit Kitchen can be educational
LOLcats, Failblog, Engrishfunny and a few others are sites which post pictures with captions.
Occasionally you learn something. Like the Ukranian Army doesn't allow women to serve in the active military. So their reservist women usually end up in support roles.
Though it's possible they're Belarus Police women.
Interesting uniforms though.
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/growf/pengies/yawn.gif) tired
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17th of December, 2008
01:49 am - Microwave Christmas
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/growf/pengies/amused.gif) amused
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23rd of October, 2008
08:26 pm - What does it say about Australians?
I was listening to some discussion on the radio this afternoon about the fact that since his death in 1967 there have only been two biographies about Harold Holt, neither of which have been regarded as particularly reliable.
However while discussing the upcoming Cinema Studies essay with one of my classmates today, she mentioned she had a reference for her Australian Cinema top a book called Sheep and the Australian Cinema.
Not sure what this says about Australians but it's interesting none the less.
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/growf/pengies/sweat.gif) busy
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14th of October, 2008
02:51 am - Interesting Economics Video
Patrick Byrne, an American economist has apparently been saying for some years now that the economy was going to come to a nasty end. In fact he even says to an incredulous reporter some three years ago that this was going to make Enron look like a tea party.
Clusterfuck or FUBAR? Hard choice really.
Personally I think there's a lot of financial people who need to be taken out the back and shot. Repeatedly.
Seems this guy is one of the few who actually had a clue but no-one wanted to listen.
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/growf/pengies/sad.gif) pessimistic
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6th of September, 2008
11:24 pm - Politics with Jon Stewart
I've been having a little wander through the archive of the Daily Show and some recent highlights stood out:
Political commentators' hypocrisy. Jon shows how Karl Rove, Bill O'Reilly, and even Sarah Palin herself are quick to change their tune when a Republican candidate is the centre of attention.
Highlights from the John McCain Republican Convention.
Finding out exactly what small town values are.
Ah politics. It's a circus no matter what country you're in.
Current Mood: amused
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26th of August, 2008
01:04 pm - Richard Dawkins reads his hate-mail aloud
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlJdFf3hV7I
Via Boing Boing.
I have to agree with him. Most of the email comes off as sounding rather sad and pitiable.
Current Mood: amused
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17th of August, 2008
10:24 pm
( Food Meme )
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/growf/pengies/confused.gif) curious
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12:08 am - Remake rant continues
Continuing from the remake rant from a couple of weeks ago this little news item came out this week:
Rocky Horror to be Remade.
Yes boys and girls, the only movie to still be showing in cinemas some 30 years after it was made is getting the remake treatment. No, Richard O'Brien is not involved in it.
"Our hope has always been that each new endeavour and rebirth will expose the Rocky Horror experience to new audiences and expand the fan base."
Yeah right.
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/growf/pengies/annoyed.gif) annoyed
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6th of August, 2008
03:28 pm - Epic Fail!
Not a Darwin Award but has to be an extra special mention or something.
More details here.
Did I mention he was from Texas?
Current Mood: amused
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5th of July, 2008
08:53 pm - The trivia KING!
I got lured to MSFC last night with the promise of some interesting archaeology text books and that it was their monthly trivia night. Having not been along to nerd-trivia for a while I thought it would be good to go along. My team consisted of myself ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) mortonhall and occasional assistance from dcrisp on the Tripods books. Most other teams had four people and one had six. And still we won :-) *does victory dance*
Yes I am a font of useless knowledge.
And in other unrelated news Pringles are officially not a "potato snack"
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/growf/pengies/blank.gif) blah
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19th of June, 2008
3rd of June, 2008
01:12 am - Internet Trolls are at it again.
Most people will agree that the US Patent office is a pile of steaming excrement run by incompetents with less IQ than your average squirrel. Or at least that's the impression their Intellectual Property people give when they approve things like this. It seems they've been training the Patent Office people in Australia as well.
Vuestar technologies, a Singapore company, managed to get a lovely little piece of Patenting approved entitled "Method of locating web-pages by utilising visual images". Their website lists both US and Australian patent information.
So what is it? Glad you asked. This little bit of bull says that Vuestar owns the patent on you linking to another website using an image. So if you blog, or have a website, or maybe even a flickr page, then you're infringing on their intellectual property rights. They would be happy to sell you a licence to allow you to continue, however.
The best bit is from the website FAQ:
Is there any Prior Art?
RN Technologies, Ron Langford the inventor filed the Original Patent in 2000 not in any way relying on or offending any third parties’ prior art. All Patent examiners investigations cleared, R Langford and the VUESTAR Technologies for clean patent registration.
Yeah, because no-one before 2000 ever thought of linking to another webpage by putting a logo up as a focus for the link.
More info here and here.
I can't wait to see this one come crashing down with a legal challenge.
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/growf/pengies/sick.gif) nauseated
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15th of May, 2008
1st of May, 2008
01:35 pm - Because this must be shared
This wonderful little ditty was spotted on Brass Goggles.
Cup Of Brown Joy - Elemental
Brilliant!
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25th of April, 2008
03:37 pm - Fan Wikis
Wikipedia has been around for many years and the software it used has spawned many and varied encyclopaedic database offspring.
Just an example of some of the stuff out there:
Girl Genius Wiki - for all things relating to the Girl Genius webcomic.
Memory Alpha - for all cannon Star Trek material
Memory Beta - for Star Trek licenced spin off stuff like comics and novels.
Star Trek: Expanded - Star Trek fan projects
Futurepedia - The Back to the Future Wiki - Back to the Future Wiki
Wookieepedia - Possibly the best known Star Wars wiki
Star Wars Merchandise Wiki - A wiki for all the toys you used to have.
One Wiki to Rule Them All - Yep, a Lord of the Rings wiki.
Firefly and Serenity database - Joss Whedon's SF foray.
Buffyverse Wiki - Joss Whedon's more famous effort.
The Bionic Wiki - Watch as your wiki runs in slow motion (unless it's the movie with Sandra Bullock).
The Lyorn Records - Wiki for Steven Brust's Dragaera novels.
The Jaunting Pad - The Tomorrow People TV series.
Chronicles of Astinus - Dragonlance wiki (still small).
Uncyclopedia - Parody site ofr Wikipedia.
Indiana Jones wiki - All about Dr. Jones.
Muppet Wiki - Every Muppet you've ever heard of and then some.
Doctor Who Wiki - Who?.
Little House on the Prairie Wiki - I kid you not.
And this is not including things like Astronomy wikis, History wikis and all the stuff about factual information.
Boy there's some stuff out there.
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/growf/pengies/geeky.gif) geeky
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22nd of April, 2008
11:46 am - Pearls of the net
There's a lot of chaff on the net but occasionally someone points you at some of the pearls.
ceruleanst wrote a selection of pieces of William Shakespeare's screenplay for Pulp Fiction.
This got metaquoted and Boing boinged.
And as a result a Wiki has been set up for those who want to try and flesh out the rest of the screenplay at Pulb Bard.
A lovely start to the morning :-)
Current Mood: amused
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20th of March, 2008
12:43 am - It went for how much!!!!
Holy crap!
Just reading a report from The Register where a first edition copy of The Hobbit has sold at auction for £60,000. Yes kiddies, POUNDS!
I remember MANY years ago in the late 80s when my girlfriend at the time had wanted to buy me a very special present I had jokingly said that a copy of the first edition of The Hobbit would be nice.
I didn't get it but at that stage one could be had for $8,000 Aussie dollars.
If only my own income kept up with that sort of inflation.
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/growf/pengies/wideeyed.gif) shocked
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12:09 am - Wikihistory
"...everybody kills Hitler on their first trip."
Found this story via the Girl Genius group, who found it via Boing Boing.
http://www.abyssandapex.com/200710-wikihistory.html
Very funny :-)
Current Mood: amused
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13th of March, 2008
06:18 pm - Europe is a country?
I joined in the derisive laughter at Miss Teen South Carolina who was asked, to be fair, a rather sucky question.
However I think I'm quite justified at standing here dumbfounded over some of the answers this daft blonde comes up with when asked "Budapest the capitol of what European country?"
Yes it's from the TV show Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader. Yes she's apparently a former contestant of American Idol. Yes she's living proof you don't need brains.
"Is France a country?"
Current Mood: stunned
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13th of November, 2007
08:51 pm - Perfect arse?
You'd think that a competition for something like that would have at least rated Philip Ruddock an notable mention.
But no, when looking for the best arse, Sloggi underwear manufacturers were more interested in shape than in ethics.
Who has the best bum? 19 year old Kristina Dimitrova from Bulgaria apparently.
And it's just netted her €100,000 or €50,000 a cheek.
I wonder if that would be considered resting on your laurels?
Current Mood: amused
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11th of September, 2007
09:42 pm - Language barriers still a problem
A few weeks ago I was listening to part of an interview with Rove McManus about appearing on television in the US. He commented that with the arrival of Simon Cowell on American television (the English Judge on American Idol), many US TV executives were congratulating themselves on their progressiveness at having someone with a *foreign accent* on National TV.
Sadly though, it looks like many Americans still need interpreters for people who speak with accents.
Sophie Reynolds, of Queanbeyan, was flying on a Skywest Airlines flight. After being told their were no pretzels aboard the flight she had the audacity to say "Fair Dinkum". Upon arrival in Pittsburgh she was met by three police officers and accused of swearing at the airline stewardess. I'm guessing the Stewardess doesn't deal with international visitors much.
Here, here and here.
Current Mood: cynical
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27th of August, 2007
04:44 pm - Blonde American
Miss Teen South Carolina was recently asked as part of a beauty pageant to answer the following question:
Recent polls have shown a fifth of Americans can't locate the United States on a world map. Why do you think this is?
Her answer is... enlightening.
Current Mood: bitchy
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16th of January, 2007
03:53 pm - Diorama in lollies!
You've seen Star Wars done in Lego.
Now here's The Battle of Helm's Deep done in gummi bears!
Current Mood: impressed
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5th of January, 2007
02:30 pm - Why MySpace should be avoided No. 365789
Jason Scott over at textfiles.com has discovered that one of his images is being hotlinked by MySpace users. Worse, that the hotlink itself is part of a layout template provided by HotFreeLayouts.com and is now garnering some 400,000 hits a MONTH!
What's a man to do?
Goatse'd the image.
To top it off the hotlinkers then start threatening him because he's putting naughty images on their page!
Bwahahahahahahaha!
Hat tip hasimir
Current Mood: amused
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1st of January, 2007
05:47 pm - WTF? How old is the Grand Canyon?
Due to pressure from Bush Administration officials, the National Park Service is not permitted to give an official age for the Grand Canyon. Additionally, a book claiming the Grand Canyon was created by Noah's flood is for sale at the National Park's bookstore.
The sale of Grand Canyon: A Different View was scheduled for review over three years ago, but no such review has been schedule or even requested. The creationist book was the only item approved for sale in 2003 (22 other items were rejected).
Current Mood: cynical
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31st of December, 2006
12:19 am - Bedside musings
I was just contemplating this evening the side of the bed I sleep on. I've slept in a double bed for nearly 20 years now (and don't I wish that I could sleep for some more!). Sometimes I've had company other times it's been just me.
What I found curious this evening is trying to remember which side of the bed occurred while I was single and which occurred while I was in a relationship. In some places I didn't have a option to pick a side as once the furniture went into the room there was only one way the bed could go.
Other times I have a large room and the option of choosing the side to sleep on. I seem to always sleep on the side that is closest to the door but again, that's not always the rule.
What made me think was that this time I consciously chose to sleep on the other side of the bed from the side I slept on in the last house. Oddly I'm still closest to the door but that wasn't something I thought of at the time.
No there's no point to the post, it was just something I thought was intriguing.
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/growf/pengies/thoughtful.gif) introspective
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22nd of December, 2006
10:06 am - Santa "considered a Disney character".
Because Di$ney own everything written before WWII don't they?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6189521.stm
Bah humbug indead.
Current Mood: cynical
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12th of December, 2006
07:04 pm - Cool videos
Music for one apartment and six drummers
A rather different idea of Mary Poppins
Maybe this is what the football jocks really mean when they say they slamdunked a cheerleader.
An impressive magic trick.
Current Mood: impressed
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13th of November, 2006
06:45 pm - Student deaths due to take a sharp rise in New Zealand
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) -- New Zealand's high school students will be able to use "text-speak" -- the mobile phone text message language beloved of teenagers -- in national exams this year, officials said.
Unsurprisingly it's not being greeted with open arms.
Line 'em up and shoot 'em.
Current Mood: disgusted
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10th of November, 2006
04:13 pm - Something Positive breaks my brain
Y'know I've been reading Something Positive for many years now. I love the fact that he can come up with some of the most bizarre shit and make it funny (the dial-a-tech-girl was still one of my favourites). He will pick on all and sundry be they Christians, Pagans, blacks, gays, gamers and hookers without preference.
This latest entry may be the point where I've learnt more than I wish to know.
I knew about Otherkin and I can't say I have a particularly high opinion of them. On a par with furries maybe.
But Otakukin?
WTF?
Ya
Current Mood: shocked
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2nd of November, 2006
11:55 pm - New men's underwear
For years women have had the padded bra and men have had to make do with stuffing socks down their front. Stuff no longer.
Current Location: The Den of Iniquity
Current Mood: amused
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26th of October, 2006
13th of October, 2006
10:34 pm - New Herald Sun ads
I've seen the new ads for the Herald Sun and I'm still trying to work out whether they're and intentional piss-take or just mistakenly so.
The *General* talks about the newspaper supplying all the information his "brain can hold"; not how much he needs but only how much he can hold. Then he rattles off a little trivia fact about the number of species extintions on the planet before stepping on a bug. Yeah it's extinct now.
The ad closes with the words "if you want to be just like me you should read the Herald Sun too."
And a finer reason for not reading it I am pressed to find.
I wonder who their ad agency is.
Current Mood: amused
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10th of October, 2006
10:51 pm - DVD rewinder
I wonder how many parents and grandparents would fall for this?
Don’t you just hate rewinding DVDs? Who doesn’t. It’s about time someone invented a way to rewind DVDs. And a stylish one at that. Visit http://www.dvdrewinder.com/
Current Mood: amused
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3rd of October, 2006
06:30 pm - Random stuff for discussion.
Over at ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif) customers_suck there's been a wonderful post about the 10 Commandments for being a customer which includes such wonders as: V. THOU SHALT provide ID when asked for it in all matters creditory, checkish, tobaccan, alcoholic, pseudephedric, or lotterific, and ye shall do so happily for it is the law of man.
A woman has made an AMAZING Disc World cake as a wedding cake for her daughter. Gobsmacked!
I think Troops really started the high phase of fan-films. Yeah there had been nerds around with super 8 cameras and things before but these guys seemed to get both the love of the original material and to have enough humour to poke fun at it. Since then there has been a glut of fan films. Like fan fiction, there's good and abysmal. I'd never seen much in the way of fan films about Star Trek though. Probably because by the time they got popular Paramount was going through it's "let's shut down all fanzines and fansites because they're in breach of copyright, even though they've been doing it for 30 years." But I've recently discovered what is being called Star Trek: The New Voyages. I watched the pilot episode over the weekend and was pleasantly surprised. It's not Wrath of Khan great but it's damn fine for what is effectively a fan film. There's still some corn but it IS extremely reminiscent of the original STar Trek series. They've even managed to get Walter Koenig to join them for an upcoming episode, which itself has been written by D.C. Fontanna.
Recently heard about a Joss Whedon written comic called Stan Lee Meets Spiderman. Nothing overly worth mentioning except there a panel shot of a guy wearing a t-shirt. I had to look closely but I think it means what I think it means: "Motherf*@&% Bees on a Motherf*@&% Zeppelin!"
Thanks to lucy_anne I have discovered the existence of the show QI. Brilliant! Sort of reminds me of Spics and Specs without the music trivia and with no real point. The fact that Stephen Fry is hosting it means it starts off from the top. Love it.
Current Mood: discontent
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19th of September, 2006
12:05 am - WTF?
I was discussing the contents of an English Tea Cake with an American friend and thought it might be easier to send a recipe link. My search turned up recipes with marachino cherries and another with dried apricots, currants and almonds!
Since when?!?
Current Mood: confused
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18th of September, 2006
06:30 pm - Beowulf proof that dinosaurs and man existed together
I meant to post this earlier but kept procrastinating.
A home school website tells you the "real" meaning of Beowulf.
I loved this bit:
...villagers also were threatened with huge flying reptiles. Books today have dinosaur names for these various monsters. The flying kinds are called pterosaurs. Most dinosaurs are extinct now or almost so, but now and then some sightings show that a few survivors remain in the world.
I suppose this mean that Grendel was a Tyranosaur or an Iguanodon or something.
*shakes head*
Oh and while on the subject of home schooling, seems the former owners of Utah Home Education Association's website let the domain lapse. Parents now loggin on are discovering the new owner runs a porn site. D'oh!
Current Mood: busy
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13th of September, 2006
08:14 pm - New style of film?
Those of you who may wander through the pages of YouTube may have stumbled across the videos or discussion relating to a user called Lonelygirl15 (go do a search. There's nearly 2000 videos in the search yet she's only done 30 videos herself). Much discussion was had over whether her video diary entries were true. To the point where even the L.A. Times got into the investigation.
The day after the LATimes's story goes out, the people behind the videos have come out saying it's all scripted.
The backlash has probably already started. Not so much because the video diaries are any worse than before but because people don't like to be deceived. Similar controversy followed The Blair Witch Project when it was revealed that much of the positive "buzz" had actually been written by people working for the distributors.
While it's certainly a clever way to get yourself noticed as an actress, I'll be curious to see what the fallout is for the producers.
Current Mood: curious
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