check in

[Dooley]

Thats something I didn't realise - it's an exact description of how I've felt for the last year. I think it's how I do things now - and I really didn't know it - time to rethink a few things I guess.

I'm not sure which part of what I wrote was of interest to you Mark but I'm glad if it stirred up something useful.

Happily I'm not actually as addicted to technology as my rant suggested. I just needed to blow off some energy, after a frustrating week, with some comedy. Although, if I didn't have to get outside and do all the stuff I have to do, it might be a different picture.

[Mark Gardner]

I felt the rant came over as anti technology, that the last line was tongue in cheek!

I'll admit to being online a lot less over the last year than before.

I do miss the interaction and socialising with people I've grown to regard as friends though - forums and chat are great fun, skype has been really great too.

What matters in the end are the enabling features of this technological wonderworld.

[Mr.Pab]

Happy Holidays to all Flat Earfers!

The most extravagantly decorated house in my mother's neighborhood had lighted letters spelling out "Peace On Earth Good Will To All" on the lawn, but after being half buried in snow it seemed like they were saying "Good Will Towel". So from my family to all of you, I offer you the Towel Of Good Will! Wipe your face on that!

[Dooley]

My wife is making gingerbread donuts. GINGERBREAD DONUTS! How great is that? I'll let you know

No fresh snow here today but it's gonna be -19 degrees tonight. I'd better start putting the goats' sweaters on now.

[Mr.Pab]

good heavens, what will the goats wear then? baddum tsh!

<< I only hunt elephants in my pyjamas // what the heck are elephants doing in your pyjamas?>> -- thanks Groucho!

[Dooley]

Glad to see that there's no shortage of Christmas 'spirit' at your house Mr. P.

[Mr.Pab]

... and New Year's spirit too, thank Buddha! - everyone else? How was the bringing-in of 2010 done in your localities?

[demona dragon]

In my home it was hubbie & me and a bottle of bubbly. We popped on the TV and watched a "countdown" live broadcast from a local province and did the old 3..2..1 and they showed fireworks and they play Old Ang Sine.... pretty low key overall but we love it!

[Mr.Pab]

I swear I thought you said you pooped on the TV. Awesome!

[michaelmaclauchlan]

I swear I thought you said you pooped on the TV. Awesome!

LOL!

For me, dinner at a local new Italian restaurant with the family and neighbor's family, then off to Avatar 3D IMax (yum).

The restaurant may have been (initially) a converted car repair garage. After that it was two stores: the "Cluttered Closet" (used items) and a 'blue rinse' woman's hair dressers.

"Vinnie", the septuagenarian and curmudgeon owner who wore a 'stingy brim' black hat, seemed like an extra from "The Godfather". He barked out orders to the waitstaff in his gravely voice, whilst surveying his domain from his tall stool by the front entrance. He made sure all his staff were on top form for NYE.

Upon exiting, my wife asked if they had live music, he explained they did not owing to local neighborhood restrictive noise ordinance. Then, as she walked out the door, he grabbed/pinched her a$$. Ah the end of the naught-ies!

[Retrocanary]

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

[korky123]

Spent an entire day planning our trip with my sister, just to find it will work out better if a traveler agent did our thinking. Well, at least I found out about VAT.

[lesleygilks]

On Saturday, I attended the funeral of a very dear friend that died on Christmas Eve. Bit of an emotional day so took it easy yesterday, but it's time to put some plans into action.
If I've learned anything from the experience, it's that it's time to stop planning and start doing. It's given me the kick up the backside I needed to do something about my future an if it doesn't succeed, as least I tried.
I know it sounds trite but it is true. Life is short and over before you know it and I've wasted to much time already.
Lesley

[white city]

Sorry to hear that Lesley. You're damn right!

I had a similar epiphany a couple of years ago and am also aware that half my life is already over... These days, when something comes along that I want to do I go for it. Naturally there are some limitations and family comitments to take care with but if there's a concert, party or exhibition happening somewhere that I really want to see I just get on the plane/ship/train.

I realised that it is extremely unlikely that I'm going to lay on my death-bed wishing I had stayed-in more or watched more TV. I've been really exhausted all day today but the reason for it is that I spent the whole weekend snowboarding with my son. Excellent times that we will never forget.

Live!

[demona dragon]

Sorry to hear of your loss Lesley. My hubbies father passed on in November and it certainly woke a few people up as to getting their life into gear and making the most of things.

Hubbie and I just went to a concert of the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra the other night and although there were a few off-notes, I still enjoyed seeing all the teenagers playing their guts out.

[lesleygilks]

Thanks, I really appreciate it. It was all very sudden and I still can't get my head 'round the fact she's not around any more. She was only 51 and a very good friend. I will miss her lots.
Lesley

[Mr.Pab]

condolences Lesley, take care of yourself!

[korky123]

Lesley,

So sorry to hear about your sudden loss. It's always tragic to lose someone who had so much potential ahead of them. You just never know when you or someone you love will be "called home." But life would be miserable if you knew.

I do some whacked-up stuff at times, but that's because I do believe in living life to it's fullest extent. No regrets...

[Dooley]

Hello Sir.

Hi, I'm checking in.

Do you have a reservation?

Yes, it's under Dooley, for a single room for one night.

Ah, here we go, just one moment sir.

It sure is cold out there.

It is isn't it? Would you like a member of our staff to wriggle around in your bed to warm it up for you sir?

Excuse me?

[korky123]

Hello Sir.

Hi, I'm checking in.

Do you have a reservation?

Yes, it's under Dooley, for a single room for one night.

Ah, here we go, just one moment sir.

It sure is cold out there.

It is isn't it? Would you like a member of our staff to wriggle around in your bed to warm it up for you sir?

Excuse me?

======================

And you, dear sir, are definitely wacky!

[michaelmaclauchlan]

This struck me as oddly funny: a woman falls onto and damages a Picasso painting of an acrobat.
===============



Woman falls on Picasso painting

A woman who was taking an art class at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art has accidentally fallen into a Picasso painting and damaged it.

The painting called The Actor sustained a vertical tear of about six inches (15cm) in the lower right-hand corner.

But the damage did not affect the "focal point of the composition" and should be repaired for an exhibition later this year, the museum said.

The work from the Rose period was painted in the winter of 1904-1905.

The repair should be completed in time for the Picasso in the Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibition, which will feature some 250 works from the museum's collection and is due to open at the end of April.

The unusually large canvas, measuring 6ft by 4ft (1.8m by 1.2m) and which depicts an acrobat posed against an abstracted backdrop, was damaged on Friday.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8478347.stm

[Dooley]

This struck me as oddly funny: a woman falls onto and damages a Picasso painting of an acrobat.

A woman who was taking an art class at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art has accidentally fallen into a Picasso painting and damaged it.

That is funny Michael. It's also kind of funny, to me, that you were the one to spot it. Because of your 'Our Universe' thread, I had visions of her being unhindered by gravity and flying against the painting as it hung on the wall. I mean, how did she fall "into" or "onto" it? Surely it wasn't on the floor?

[lesleygilks]

I also thought it was strange. Most paintings of note are now kept behind glass as people can sometimes act strangely around great works of art. This also applys to bad art. Every time I see a picture of Edvard Munch's painting "The Scream" I want to pull my hair out! I hate that painting!
Lesley

[michaelmaclauchlan]

I was wondering how dense Titan's atmosphere is (doesn't everybody?).
So I looked it up on Wiki. (Ans: 1.5 times our surface pressure, but darn cold).



Olympic sport of the future:

"The atmosphere is so thick and the gravity so low that humans could fly through it by flapping "wings" attached to their arms."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titan_(moon)

[michaelmaclauchlan]

Imogen Heap is flying to Grammy's in LA and planing to wear this:
http://img159.yfrog.com/i/495k.jpg/

If you tweet her, it shows up on her 3g wireless dress. Hopefully ppl use polite info if she is on camera....

Here is the last time she was at the Grammys
http://tinyurl.com/yh2xde2 -- frogs anyone?

[korky123]

Who booked all the spots at Aldermaston Manor?

[korky123]

Sis and me flying out first thing tomorrow morning: in London by 0630 Friday. Really excited to meet all of you. 'Til then...


~Korky

[Dooley]

My wife's away this weekend so I'm going to stay in and watch a blue movie. What's everyone else up to?

[korky123]

My wife's away this weekend so I'm going to stay in and watch a blue movie. What's everyone else up to?

========================

We watched this movie last night:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJyWCqkPbzs

I have never been so repulsed, yet fascinated at the thought of a mad scientist creating a centipede out of three humans! I rooted for the centipede!

When you're done with your movie, try this one. Mind you...this is the first sequence!

[korky123]

And yes, they are, indeed, attached to each others' buttocks!