Busy, busy, bizzeee!
I've paid for my trip to the World Science Fiction Convention, otherwise known as Aussiecon 4. WOOT! Happy Dance!
Then there's the piece written - but not yet edited - to submit to Ticonderoga Press's upcoming anthology, More Scary Kisses.
I have also found these interesting items:
First, Holly Lisle is creating an on-line publishing house called Rebel Tales. This post details the reasoning behind the move. I admire her ambition to take on the big guys and will try to support the project.
Second, Writers Digest has a useful article on 5 Stages of Querying by Anne Gallagher, an aspiring romance writer. It doesn't matter what genre you write in, these tips will help.
Third, also via Writers Digest, 10 Things Writers Should Never Do by WD blogger, Kate Monahan. Again, full of useful information, but importantly, to never give up on yourself.
Fourth, guiding the little university blossoms around my museum... okay, it's not mine, but it was great to expand on my truncated speech and show them the historic artefacts.
And fifth, the usual editing and grumbling about the aforementioned editing. Which I should get back to...
Showing posts with label Out There. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Out There. Show all posts
Thursday, July 08, 2010
Thursday, January 29, 2009
The rule of three
As we all know, disasters come in threes. You have doubts? I present to you the evidence:
Yesterday, I broke the garden trimmers - it's now in two pieces; maybe it's fixable and maybe it ain't. Blew up the lawn mower, too. I understand that the belch of blue smoke does not bode well for repairing. The fates are obviously in a winter of discontent. I switched on the teev to watch the news with my morning coffee today and lo, the Red Screen of Death!
Yep. No picture and only the voice of a newsreader reading the Russian news... in Russian. Killed the television somehow. It's deader than the road kill up the street that's been lying squished under the summer sun for two days. (It remains unidentified - maybe Cletis knows.) Mmmm... fragrant...
But, with all things bad, sad or disappointing, there's a positive side. Er... I can't quite think of one for the trimmers; it means the lawn will go without a hair cut for a few more days (with the weather peeps predicting the heatwave to continue for another ten days I figure long grass will protect the roots - that's my story and I'm sticking to it!) and the television? Why, I guess a new one is in order. High Definition, digital, large. Definitely large.
As for the road kill... nope, can't think of anything good, especially for the beastie now pancaked on the road and cooking fast.
I'll think positive about tomorrow; maybe three interesting things will happen. Fingers crossed!
Yesterday, I broke the garden trimmers - it's now in two pieces; maybe it's fixable and maybe it ain't. Blew up the lawn mower, too. I understand that the belch of blue smoke does not bode well for repairing. The fates are obviously in a winter of discontent. I switched on the teev to watch the news with my morning coffee today and lo, the Red Screen of Death!
Yep. No picture and only the voice of a newsreader reading the Russian news... in Russian. Killed the television somehow. It's deader than the road kill up the street that's been lying squished under the summer sun for two days. (It remains unidentified - maybe Cletis knows.) Mmmm... fragrant...
But, with all things bad, sad or disappointing, there's a positive side. Er... I can't quite think of one for the trimmers; it means the lawn will go without a hair cut for a few more days (with the weather peeps predicting the heatwave to continue for another ten days I figure long grass will protect the roots - that's my story and I'm sticking to it!) and the television? Why, I guess a new one is in order. High Definition, digital, large. Definitely large.
As for the road kill... nope, can't think of anything good, especially for the beastie now pancaked on the road and cooking fast.
I'll think positive about tomorrow; maybe three interesting things will happen. Fingers crossed!
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Past, present, future
I'm back from my sojourn to Canberra and looking after the kidlets while their parents went off to Taswegia - otherwise known as Tasmania for the long weekend.
As usual, I bought the weekend edition of The Sydney Morning Herald and you could have knocked me down with a feather to see a woman I went to university with on the careers page. I mean... wow. This is a widely read newspaper!
She's the founder of Vision Walks, a bushwalking enterprise you can do at night to see what the Australian bush has to offer at night. Too cool!
It's a little odd to see someone you know in the public eye like that - especially when she and I played soccer together at uni and had some... uh... well, students will drink alcoholic beverages and get up to some shenanigans! But telling you more than that would only incriminate me.
It's all the more curious on top of the recent e-mails from high school chums. I can't decide whether it's just a 'this is how your contemporaries are doing', or fate saying 'pull your finger out and do something!'
I like to think it's the latter and with Nano only three weeks away, the book I have in mind is starting to gel. I have the opening scene with dialogue and the four characters involved. Good guys, bad guys and an ongoing plot line. Feels like I'm almost ready.
Sometimes, I guess, you need a kick in the right direction with a reminder of the past.
As usual, I bought the weekend edition of The Sydney Morning Herald and you could have knocked me down with a feather to see a woman I went to university with on the careers page. I mean... wow. This is a widely read newspaper!
She's the founder of Vision Walks, a bushwalking enterprise you can do at night to see what the Australian bush has to offer at night. Too cool!
It's a little odd to see someone you know in the public eye like that - especially when she and I played soccer together at uni and had some... uh... well, students will drink alcoholic beverages and get up to some shenanigans! But telling you more than that would only incriminate me.
It's all the more curious on top of the recent e-mails from high school chums. I can't decide whether it's just a 'this is how your contemporaries are doing', or fate saying 'pull your finger out and do something!'
I like to think it's the latter and with Nano only three weeks away, the book I have in mind is starting to gel. I have the opening scene with dialogue and the four characters involved. Good guys, bad guys and an ongoing plot line. Feels like I'm almost ready.
Sometimes, I guess, you need a kick in the right direction with a reminder of the past.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Lookie, lookie
Oh, boy. Ya make a little comment - okay, rant - and suddenly (and temporarily) you're popular, everyone wants to look.
I don't mind, I think it's a curious part of society, especially in Blogland. But what I want to know is: How does a blog piece attract the attention of people with no contact with that blog?
I wrote a piece on comment sense (see below), about the fashion industry using under-developed girls for catwalks and as clothes horses. No big, just me having a little vent.
A couple of days later, I checked my counter statistics and thought, "hmm, not many people came to my blog this week, it's almost a flat line except for... Holy Smoke!" A spike of a hundred visitors on Tuesday. What? Where? Who?
Where did this legion, this crowd come from? Answer: here. Colour me gobsmacked. A site I have never heard of and never thought existed. Oh, that's me, currently - at this particular juncture in time - at number eight on the list. Yesterday it was higher, above the Keira Knightly link (take that Domino!)
It's what I love about the world-wide web: you never know who's gonna come a'visitin'. But being curious by nature, I can't help but wonder how I got linked. No, I don't want any confessions (the title was changed on the site), I just think it's cool and surprising. I'll leave it to Secret Squirrel.
Now I have to go off and find a solution to my ongoing story. Nothing has occurred to me yet...
I don't mind, I think it's a curious part of society, especially in Blogland. But what I want to know is: How does a blog piece attract the attention of people with no contact with that blog?
I wrote a piece on comment sense (see below), about the fashion industry using under-developed girls for catwalks and as clothes horses. No big, just me having a little vent.
A couple of days later, I checked my counter statistics and thought, "hmm, not many people came to my blog this week, it's almost a flat line except for... Holy Smoke!" A spike of a hundred visitors on Tuesday. What? Where? Who?
Where did this legion, this crowd come from? Answer: here. Colour me gobsmacked. A site I have never heard of and never thought existed. Oh, that's me, currently - at this particular juncture in time - at number eight on the list. Yesterday it was higher, above the Keira Knightly link (take that Domino!)
It's what I love about the world-wide web: you never know who's gonna come a'visitin'. But being curious by nature, I can't help but wonder how I got linked. No, I don't want any confessions (the title was changed on the site), I just think it's cool and surprising. I'll leave it to Secret Squirrel.
Now I have to go off and find a solution to my ongoing story. Nothing has occurred to me yet...
Monday, April 07, 2008
It's all about me me
Over at The Lost Fort, Gabriele has a character meme. I love memes, they hand out interesting bits of information. One day, I might even track one down to its creator.
In the meantime, I'm going to do this 'Four' meme about, well, me me; coz it's all about me!
Four jobs I've had
1. Newspaper editor
2. Beetroot packer
3. Dining Room Manager
4. Waitress
Four movies I could watch over and over
1. Lord of the Rings
2. Terminator
3. Appleseed
4. Aliens
Four TV shows that I watch
1. Torchwood
2. Dr Who
3. Star Trek: Voyager
4. CSI
Four places I'd like to be right now
1. Scotland
2. Pacific Northwest
3. New Zealand
4. Staring at my name at the top of the NYT Best Seller list.
Four favourite foods
1. Chicken parmesan
2. Red Wine casserole with herb dumplings
3. Beef Roulade
4. Lemon cheesecake
Four places I have visited
1. Fiji
2. Copenhagen
3. United Kingdom
4. United States
Four events I'm looking forward to this year
1. Godson's confirmation
2. WWI battlefield tour of Belgium
3. A particular party at the end of the year that's a secret.
4. Niece's graduation from a French language school.
Four people who should post four things
Anyone who has a burning ambition to post them.
In the meantime, I'm going to do this 'Four' meme about, well, me me; coz it's all about me!
Four jobs I've had
1. Newspaper editor
2. Beetroot packer
3. Dining Room Manager
4. Waitress
Four movies I could watch over and over
1. Lord of the Rings
2. Terminator
3. Appleseed
4. Aliens
Four TV shows that I watch
1. Torchwood
2. Dr Who
3. Star Trek: Voyager
4. CSI
Four places I'd like to be right now
1. Scotland
2. Pacific Northwest
3. New Zealand
4. Staring at my name at the top of the NYT Best Seller list.
Four favourite foods
1. Chicken parmesan
2. Red Wine casserole with herb dumplings
3. Beef Roulade
4. Lemon cheesecake
Four places I have visited
1. Fiji
2. Copenhagen
3. United Kingdom
4. United States
Four events I'm looking forward to this year
1. Godson's confirmation
2. WWI battlefield tour of Belgium
3. A particular party at the end of the year that's a secret.
4. Niece's graduation from a French language school.
Four people who should post four things
Anyone who has a burning ambition to post them.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Obamaring?
A most curious thing.
I went to a political meeting last night to hear what the group had been up to.
Turns out, it was mostly a discussion on how to raise funds for the coming campaign.
One attendee spoke about the current U.S. Presidential campaign and raised this issue:
"Well, Hilary Clinton raised $US5 million in a week from corporate donors. But Obama raised much, much more from family groups. I think we should start Obamaring."
Obamaring?
Indeed. We all understood it to mean we should try the citizenry for our funding rather than business groups. Get the local people, individuals, involved.
My mother has a saying: "Many a mickle makes a muckle." Meaning, that every penny counts towards a pound. If fifty percent of the locals donated small change, we'd soon have a nice tidy pile to match the corporate donors of the Big Evil Counsellors.
But... Obamaring? Could this be a new word that will become a part of everyday speech?
I went to a political meeting last night to hear what the group had been up to.
Turns out, it was mostly a discussion on how to raise funds for the coming campaign.
One attendee spoke about the current U.S. Presidential campaign and raised this issue:
"Well, Hilary Clinton raised $US5 million in a week from corporate donors. But Obama raised much, much more from family groups. I think we should start Obamaring."
Obamaring?
Indeed. We all understood it to mean we should try the citizenry for our funding rather than business groups. Get the local people, individuals, involved.
My mother has a saying: "Many a mickle makes a muckle." Meaning, that every penny counts towards a pound. If fifty percent of the locals donated small change, we'd soon have a nice tidy pile to match the corporate donors of the Big Evil Counsellors.
But... Obamaring? Could this be a new word that will become a part of everyday speech?
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Booom!
Had a storm come through at about 5.00am this morning. Lighting, thunder, rain, a weird buzzing...
After a couple of hours of boom, crash, flash, buzz, I got up. No power. Not a spark to be seen anywhere in the street.
Time to break out the camp stove. It was so overcast and rainy, I lit a couple of candles - thankfully, there were no mirrors; I'm not the most stunning of creatures first thing in the morning - and set about making a cuppa tea out on the balcony.
So I'm sitting there, watching the cars go by, identifying the make and models (something I did while growing up on a Navy base with ships and planes) and my eyes follow a rather natty Subaru Impreza and...
BANG! Shower of yellow sparks.
As I watched, the transformer attached to a power pole down the street exploded. Definitely a wow moment, and was the source of the odd buzzing noise.
Of course, we've been without power for a few hours, but... the sight of that transformer blowing, well, it will be useful I think.
I don't know what caused it; the last time I was around one that went bang, a magpie landed on the thing and following the bang a mushroom cloud rose while the body fell to earth - and that was some twenty years ago.
Some things stay memorable.
After a couple of hours of boom, crash, flash, buzz, I got up. No power. Not a spark to be seen anywhere in the street.
Time to break out the camp stove. It was so overcast and rainy, I lit a couple of candles - thankfully, there were no mirrors; I'm not the most stunning of creatures first thing in the morning - and set about making a cuppa tea out on the balcony.
So I'm sitting there, watching the cars go by, identifying the make and models (something I did while growing up on a Navy base with ships and planes) and my eyes follow a rather natty Subaru Impreza and...
BANG! Shower of yellow sparks.
As I watched, the transformer attached to a power pole down the street exploded. Definitely a wow moment, and was the source of the odd buzzing noise.
Of course, we've been without power for a few hours, but... the sight of that transformer blowing, well, it will be useful I think.
I don't know what caused it; the last time I was around one that went bang, a magpie landed on the thing and following the bang a mushroom cloud rose while the body fell to earth - and that was some twenty years ago.
Some things stay memorable.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Pod Slurping?
It raised my eyebrows, but it's the Macquarie Dictionary's word of the year. Apparently, it's: the downloading of large quantities of data to an MP3 player or memory stick from a computer.
Who knew? Not me, but then I'm an Oxford girl (I think my British roots are showing. 'scuse me while I tuck them away). The Macquarie is Australia's dictionary, full of colloquialisms as well as standard words, but it's always interesting to see what new words are turning up, like -
Informania: the tendency to give immediate attention to incoming messages such as email, text messages, etc., resulting in constant distraction and a corresponding drop in the recipient's attention levels and work performance. And we've all seen, or know someone who does this.
Floordrobe: noun Colloquial (humorous) a floor littered with discarded clothes, viewed ironically as a clothing storage system. [floor + (war)drobe]. Huh? You mean I was trendy years ago?
Man flu: noun Colloquial (humorous) a minor cold contracted by a man who proceeds to exaggerate the symptoms enormously. 'Nuff said.
Arse antlers: plural noun Colloquial a tattoo just above the buttocks, having a central section and curving extensions on each side. Ahh, now I have a name to go along with 'butt floss'.
Fauxtography: noun the manipulation of photographic or video images to convey a false representation of events. [faux + (pho)tography] Plenty of that going on around the web.
Nerdcore: noun a subgenre of hip-hop music characterised by subject matter considered of interest to nerds, such as technology, politics and science fiction; geeksta rap. Also, nerdcore hip-hop. [nerd + (hard)core] I like that, "geeksta rap". Now they have their own genre.
All of these definitions, and more, can be found at the Macquarie Dictionary site. Go. Have a giggle. Now, back to werk.
Who knew? Not me, but then I'm an Oxford girl (I think my British roots are showing. 'scuse me while I tuck them away). The Macquarie is Australia's dictionary, full of colloquialisms as well as standard words, but it's always interesting to see what new words are turning up, like -
Informania: the tendency to give immediate attention to incoming messages such as email, text messages, etc., resulting in constant distraction and a corresponding drop in the recipient's attention levels and work performance. And we've all seen, or know someone who does this.
Floordrobe: noun Colloquial (humorous) a floor littered with discarded clothes, viewed ironically as a clothing storage system. [floor + (war)drobe]. Huh? You mean I was trendy years ago?
Man flu: noun Colloquial (humorous) a minor cold contracted by a man who proceeds to exaggerate the symptoms enormously. 'Nuff said.
Arse antlers: plural noun Colloquial a tattoo just above the buttocks, having a central section and curving extensions on each side. Ahh, now I have a name to go along with 'butt floss'.
Fauxtography: noun the manipulation of photographic or video images to convey a false representation of events. [faux + (pho)tography] Plenty of that going on around the web.
Nerdcore: noun a subgenre of hip-hop music characterised by subject matter considered of interest to nerds, such as technology, politics and science fiction; geeksta rap. Also, nerdcore hip-hop. [nerd + (hard)core] I like that, "geeksta rap". Now they have their own genre.
All of these definitions, and more, can be found at the Macquarie Dictionary site. Go. Have a giggle. Now, back to werk.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Step lightly
Carbon footprint is the new catchphrase of the world; everyone is aware of it and there is a certain amount of shame attached to a large footprint.
Mine is going to jump significantly since I'm flying to Europe in May, but I can sheepishly say I offset that by having a low footprint anyway. Yes, I said that while covered in smug.
If you want a more accurate estimate of your household, go here and follow the links to the calculator. The best thing about this site is that it's BP. Yes, that's right, a petrol company. Finally, the petroleum industry and the car industry are seeing the light on emissions reduction - not that I can afford a hybrid car, but I use petrol with ethanol in it.
***
Writers Digest have a nifty article on blogging for those wanting to maintain or start. 20 Tips for Good Blogging gives you some handy ideas and guidelines for keeping that counter ticking over.
Also in Writers Digest is an interview with Tess Gerritsen for those interested. Follow the link. Amazingly, Tess doesn't plot her books which makes them all the more intriguing and well-crafted.
***
I'm back hanging around the family tree, seeing what drops out. My brother in Denmark is making headway, but still rattling the same branches I've already shaken. Still, he has some interesting extra information to follow up.
The more difficult being the corruption of names. Look for a Longstaff and not much happens; look for Langstaffe/Langstaff and out they pop. But where, in the miasma of different spelling, lie those belonging to the family? This is why secondary and tertiary confirmation is essential. I've already erred when it came to ancestors. I'm more cautious.
And it looks like that caution has been reward, with a maybe connected to David Tennant (BBC's Dr Who) and to a pauper Langstaff. David is the first famous person and John Langstaff the first pauper who maybe in the tree, albeit on a branch way back. Thrilling stuff, you know, if you find history as fascinating as I do.
Mine is going to jump significantly since I'm flying to Europe in May, but I can sheepishly say I offset that by having a low footprint anyway. Yes, I said that while covered in smug.
If you want a more accurate estimate of your household, go here and follow the links to the calculator. The best thing about this site is that it's BP. Yes, that's right, a petrol company. Finally, the petroleum industry and the car industry are seeing the light on emissions reduction - not that I can afford a hybrid car, but I use petrol with ethanol in it.
***
Writers Digest have a nifty article on blogging for those wanting to maintain or start. 20 Tips for Good Blogging gives you some handy ideas and guidelines for keeping that counter ticking over.
Also in Writers Digest is an interview with Tess Gerritsen for those interested. Follow the link. Amazingly, Tess doesn't plot her books which makes them all the more intriguing and well-crafted.
***
I'm back hanging around the family tree, seeing what drops out. My brother in Denmark is making headway, but still rattling the same branches I've already shaken. Still, he has some interesting extra information to follow up.
The more difficult being the corruption of names. Look for a Longstaff and not much happens; look for Langstaffe/Langstaff and out they pop. But where, in the miasma of different spelling, lie those belonging to the family? This is why secondary and tertiary confirmation is essential. I've already erred when it came to ancestors. I'm more cautious.
And it looks like that caution has been reward, with a maybe connected to David Tennant (BBC's Dr Who) and to a pauper Langstaff. David is the first famous person and John Langstaff the first pauper who maybe in the tree, albeit on a branch way back. Thrilling stuff, you know, if you find history as fascinating as I do.
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Money or Love?
In the past two weeks, I think I’ve been offered a piece of about $500 million if only I’d hand over my banking details.
Today, three more arrived in my e-mail: one about the assassinated deputy governor of Baghdad, with a hidden account – $30 million – a deceased foreigner in Burkina Faso whose money can only be taken out under the radar of the UN - $15 million – and 850,000 euros in the London Million International Lottery though the office is, apparently, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Fasa with an e-mail address in France all because my e-mail address was selected in a world-wide lottery.
I must, of course, keep these financial dealings confidential, or risk losing it all. I think I can cope with that; it’s only fake money.
* * *
I went to a job interview a few weeks ago and had a good time of it – I don’t really stress out at interviews anymore (I’m looking for something, and they’re looking for someone suitable, no big).
So earlier this week, I got a phone call telling me that I was unsuccessful by one place. Regrets all round, ‘we’ll keep you on our file in case someone doesn’t want the job’, yadda, yadda…
Yesterday, I told my parent. She stared at me, outraged: “What? How could there be ten other people better than you?”
Sometimes, all it takes is one instinctive, off-the-cuff comment to make you feel the love and the disappointment vanishes.
No amount of money can buy that.
Today, three more arrived in my e-mail: one about the assassinated deputy governor of Baghdad, with a hidden account – $30 million – a deceased foreigner in Burkina Faso whose money can only be taken out under the radar of the UN - $15 million – and 850,000 euros in the London Million International Lottery though the office is, apparently, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Fasa with an e-mail address in France all because my e-mail address was selected in a world-wide lottery.
I must, of course, keep these financial dealings confidential, or risk losing it all. I think I can cope with that; it’s only fake money.
* * *
I went to a job interview a few weeks ago and had a good time of it – I don’t really stress out at interviews anymore (I’m looking for something, and they’re looking for someone suitable, no big).
So earlier this week, I got a phone call telling me that I was unsuccessful by one place. Regrets all round, ‘we’ll keep you on our file in case someone doesn’t want the job’, yadda, yadda…
Yesterday, I told my parent. She stared at me, outraged: “What? How could there be ten other people better than you?”
Sometimes, all it takes is one instinctive, off-the-cuff comment to make you feel the love and the disappointment vanishes.
No amount of money can buy that.
Monday, May 07, 2007
Jail time for fool
The announcement that Paris Hilton - the living blonde joke - is to serve jail time has to be applauded.
If you read this - and I did check it against the sourced Associated Press site - then for sheer arrogance alone and stupidity she should spend time in jail.
I don't think she'll learn anything - her attitude alone castes doubt on any sign of intelligence - and when she comes out, her behaviour will continue.
Having buckets of money and staff to 'open her mail' is no excuse for drink-driving or reckless driving. And her publicists? Should do time for their manipulations as well.
She's gonna be off the streets for 45 days; if she runs true to course, it won't be long before she's back in the big house for a longer stint. Is there any hope for this drug-taking, partying, empty-headed rich kid, or will she take her lifestyle too far and not reach thirty?
Instead of being outraged, perhaps her parents should stop being so bloody indulgent and try to talk sense into their daughter.
Money is not immunity to the stupid actions of Paris - and if she'd killed someone the punishment would have been worse.
What's it going to take for this idiot to take responsibility?
If you read this - and I did check it against the sourced Associated Press site - then for sheer arrogance alone and stupidity she should spend time in jail.
I don't think she'll learn anything - her attitude alone castes doubt on any sign of intelligence - and when she comes out, her behaviour will continue.
Having buckets of money and staff to 'open her mail' is no excuse for drink-driving or reckless driving. And her publicists? Should do time for their manipulations as well.
She's gonna be off the streets for 45 days; if she runs true to course, it won't be long before she's back in the big house for a longer stint. Is there any hope for this drug-taking, partying, empty-headed rich kid, or will she take her lifestyle too far and not reach thirty?
Instead of being outraged, perhaps her parents should stop being so bloody indulgent and try to talk sense into their daughter.
Money is not immunity to the stupid actions of Paris - and if she'd killed someone the punishment would have been worse.
What's it going to take for this idiot to take responsibility?
Friday, April 27, 2007
Weird News
People are interested in the weirdest things. To wit:
Reuters report on a camel beauty contest. Yes, indeed. In Saudi Arabia, according to the report, the islamic law makes it virtually impossible for a human beauty pageant. This beauty contest is being held by a tribe in western Saudi Arabia, the Qahtani. Go figure.
Apparently, some people - more than a million - have nothing better to do than watch cheese mature. The English Cheddar has attracted attention from 119 countries. The site, should you be interested is: Cheddar Vision. Personally, I like Brie, or Gloucester, or Red Leicester or...
Ah, finally! The Chinese are showing good sense with Women's Town. Men who disobey get punished. Though still in the planning stages, at least someone has the good sense to know the way the world should be run!
Just in case too much Simpsons is never enough, Universal Studios is planning a Theme Park Ride in honour of the yellow skinned television stars. Can't wait for that one.
Dolly Parton has refused to ride the new rollercoaster at Dollywood. She said - and I quote with a snicker: "I have too much to lose by getting on this ride," the entertainer told the opening day crowd. "My hair, my eyelashes, my fingernails, Lord knows what else will spill out." Gotta admire a woman who knows her limitations!
Reuters report on a camel beauty contest. Yes, indeed. In Saudi Arabia, according to the report, the islamic law makes it virtually impossible for a human beauty pageant. This beauty contest is being held by a tribe in western Saudi Arabia, the Qahtani. Go figure.
Apparently, some people - more than a million - have nothing better to do than watch cheese mature. The English Cheddar has attracted attention from 119 countries. The site, should you be interested is: Cheddar Vision. Personally, I like Brie, or Gloucester, or Red Leicester or...
Ah, finally! The Chinese are showing good sense with Women's Town. Men who disobey get punished. Though still in the planning stages, at least someone has the good sense to know the way the world should be run!
Just in case too much Simpsons is never enough, Universal Studios is planning a Theme Park Ride in honour of the yellow skinned television stars. Can't wait for that one.
Dolly Parton has refused to ride the new rollercoaster at Dollywood. She said - and I quote with a snicker: "I have too much to lose by getting on this ride," the entertainer told the opening day crowd. "My hair, my eyelashes, my fingernails, Lord knows what else will spill out." Gotta admire a woman who knows her limitations!
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Nekkid Harry Potter
Definitely an OMG moment, but check this out:
and this one:
Damn, he's growing up fine.
Daniel is starring in the controversial Peter Shaffer play, Equus at London's Gielgud Theatre from next month.
Here's the story from the Sydney Morning Herald and it links to more photos... if you dare!
and this one:
Damn, he's growing up fine.
Daniel is starring in the controversial Peter Shaffer play, Equus at London's Gielgud Theatre from next month.
Here's the story from the Sydney Morning Herald and it links to more photos... if you dare!
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Your beloved... WHAT?
I don't get it. Truly. Is my e-mail a scam magnet or what?
In the past few of weeks I've won the Spanish lottery (twice), the Dutch lottery, some British lottery (because apparently, I was entered by some anonymous benefactor or my e-mail was automatically entered) and now I'm being offered a chance to handle an investment of $17.8 million dollars from the Cote d'Ivoire. How lucky can I get?
It's last one I find truly offensive. It starts off: Beloved brethren in the Lord,
Divine call from God! and ends: Yours beloved sister in Christ, Mrs. Faith Isaiah.
This 'poor' chicky is suffering from Leukemia; worse, she lost her husband and son. It even has a web address - the BBC, no less - for me to comfirm this sad and tragic story. Here's the text:
Beloved brethren in the Lord,
Divine call from God!
In brief introduction, my name is Mrs. Faith Isaiah from Northern of Cote d'Ivoire, married to Mr. Isaiah who was a business man (Cocoa Merchant). We married for 11 years with a child (Kofi). My late husband (Mr. Isaiah) and our only son were killed during the WAR (Abidjan - Bouake) Crisis some years back, in Cote d'Ivoire, take a look below for your confirmation of the WAR.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3993265.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3995429.stm
My dear, since my doctor have confirmed that I will not live long because of Cancer of Blood (Leukaemia), my condition is now critical and I might not survive but I believe in the world of God because he is able to make impossibility to be possible. Since my only son (Kofi and his father) my beloved husband have died, there is nothing again I can do than to donate this $17.8 million which my late husband deposited with a financial company for security reasons before his death, which he intentionally deposited for building of Orphanage Home and Hospital, all the documents concerning the fund are in the custody of my late husband's lawyer whom I will forward his contact to you for further communicating. Confirm urgently to me your full readiness to handle the investment of this donation for the benefit of orphans, widows and other brethrens in Christ that are suffering facially in your country with honest and faithfulness to our God, all your work in this donation will be reward back to you in millions by our living Almighty God. I will be looking seriously forward to read your immediate reply after going through this message from your sister.
Yours beloved sister in Christ,
Mrs. Faith Isaiah
Gosh. Someone is trying to appeal to my Christian nature. And, as we all know, Christians can't possibly resist widows, orphans and those who are 'suffering facially'.
Let's bend our heads for a moment's silence of the appalling grammar, spelling and stupidity.
Why would these people possibly think I'm that greedy or that idiotic to believe such bullshit? I'm aware of people who lose thousands to these scammers; it appeals to those who don't see what it's all about.
So, Mrs Faith Isaiah, you've struck out on a number of levels: I'm pagan, not Christian; people who are 'suffering facially' have the best of care in Australia ( my uncle was facial and dental surgeon; the two news stories have exactly the same date, time and sidebars; and... I can't get past all the 'God' business, it pisses me off. I know who my sisters and brothers are, they are all personal to me (not necessarily family) and not some amorphous since-we-all-belong-to-the-same-religion, we're-related crap.
It's sad to think people will see this as an opportunity to fast wealth and only lose their own hard earned cash. But there you have it.
Not this little black duck. And... try a different scam, pin-head, this one has been done to death!
In the past few of weeks I've won the Spanish lottery (twice), the Dutch lottery, some British lottery (because apparently, I was entered by some anonymous benefactor or my e-mail was automatically entered) and now I'm being offered a chance to handle an investment of $17.8 million dollars from the Cote d'Ivoire. How lucky can I get?
It's last one I find truly offensive. It starts off: Beloved brethren in the Lord,
Divine call from God! and ends: Yours beloved sister in Christ, Mrs. Faith Isaiah.
This 'poor' chicky is suffering from Leukemia; worse, she lost her husband and son. It even has a web address - the BBC, no less - for me to comfirm this sad and tragic story. Here's the text:
Beloved brethren in the Lord,
Divine call from God!
In brief introduction, my name is Mrs. Faith Isaiah from Northern of Cote d'Ivoire, married to Mr. Isaiah who was a business man (Cocoa Merchant). We married for 11 years with a child (Kofi). My late husband (Mr. Isaiah) and our only son were killed during the WAR (Abidjan - Bouake) Crisis some years back, in Cote d'Ivoire, take a look below for your confirmation of the WAR.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3993265.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3995429.stm
My dear, since my doctor have confirmed that I will not live long because of Cancer of Blood (Leukaemia), my condition is now critical and I might not survive but I believe in the world of God because he is able to make impossibility to be possible. Since my only son (Kofi and his father) my beloved husband have died, there is nothing again I can do than to donate this $17.8 million which my late husband deposited with a financial company for security reasons before his death, which he intentionally deposited for building of Orphanage Home and Hospital, all the documents concerning the fund are in the custody of my late husband's lawyer whom I will forward his contact to you for further communicating. Confirm urgently to me your full readiness to handle the investment of this donation for the benefit of orphans, widows and other brethrens in Christ that are suffering facially in your country with honest and faithfulness to our God, all your work in this donation will be reward back to you in millions by our living Almighty God. I will be looking seriously forward to read your immediate reply after going through this message from your sister.
Yours beloved sister in Christ,
Mrs. Faith Isaiah
Gosh. Someone is trying to appeal to my Christian nature. And, as we all know, Christians can't possibly resist widows, orphans and those who are 'suffering facially'.
Let's bend our heads for a moment's silence of the appalling grammar, spelling and stupidity.
Why would these people possibly think I'm that greedy or that idiotic to believe such bullshit? I'm aware of people who lose thousands to these scammers; it appeals to those who don't see what it's all about.
So, Mrs Faith Isaiah, you've struck out on a number of levels: I'm pagan, not Christian; people who are 'suffering facially' have the best of care in Australia ( my uncle was facial and dental surgeon; the two news stories have exactly the same date, time and sidebars; and... I can't get past all the 'God' business, it pisses me off. I know who my sisters and brothers are, they are all personal to me (not necessarily family) and not some amorphous since-we-all-belong-to-the-same-religion, we're-related crap.
It's sad to think people will see this as an opportunity to fast wealth and only lose their own hard earned cash. But there you have it.
Not this little black duck. And... try a different scam, pin-head, this one has been done to death!
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Busy here, busy there...
I'm so busy even my unbusy bits are busy!
I suppose it is the season, but I sure hope that it eases off soon.
Out there in blog land, the shite is hitting the fan over a number of things:
Holly Lisle has got herself into a pissing match with those less than mature commentators at Dear Author. Holly's right in this fight; being misrepresented, misinterpreted and misquoted is a serious thing, but not, in this instance, worth legal action. Just say 'sorry', for Pete's Sake!
Smart Bitches are having a discussion on plagiarism. The question on everyone's lips is why is it the victim who gets slammed in the media for accusing the plagiarist. It's worthwhile, so go have a read.
Tess Gerritsen is having some confidence issues. If you think eventually the nerves will go away, think again. J A Konrath has some pointers on that which may help.
Vanessa Jaye has an interesting post called Beancounters Rule the World, and ain't it the truth!
On a more positive note, Paperback Writer and Alison Kent and the Writeminded Writers are hosting give aways for Christmas. There are other competitions out there as well, if you have the time and energy to find them... which I don't, at the moment.
Ah... the internet. It so full of life and people and problems and hope and happiness and generosity and snarkiness and the list goes on. No wonder people are addicted...
I suppose it is the season, but I sure hope that it eases off soon.
Out there in blog land, the shite is hitting the fan over a number of things:
Holly Lisle has got herself into a pissing match with those less than mature commentators at Dear Author. Holly's right in this fight; being misrepresented, misinterpreted and misquoted is a serious thing, but not, in this instance, worth legal action. Just say 'sorry', for Pete's Sake!
Smart Bitches are having a discussion on plagiarism. The question on everyone's lips is why is it the victim who gets slammed in the media for accusing the plagiarist. It's worthwhile, so go have a read.
Tess Gerritsen is having some confidence issues. If you think eventually the nerves will go away, think again. J A Konrath has some pointers on that which may help.
Vanessa Jaye has an interesting post called Beancounters Rule the World, and ain't it the truth!
On a more positive note, Paperback Writer and Alison Kent and the Writeminded Writers are hosting give aways for Christmas. There are other competitions out there as well, if you have the time and energy to find them... which I don't, at the moment.
Ah... the internet. It so full of life and people and problems and hope and happiness and generosity and snarkiness and the list goes on. No wonder people are addicted...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)