Walsingham

Sadly, my meeting Vulva predated Spaced by 19 years. That is sad. Spaced is great. (I only saw it for the first time last week)

Yup, these nasty "open office landscapes" are satans invention. Im serious. What you want is peace & quiet, privacy and space. The last time I had to work in a big office like that, I had to buy these huge expensive sound-dampened headphones so I wouldnt be driven mad. ..but the worst thing is when someone walks in and stands right behind you watching you work. That really pisses me off, especially if they give stupid comments -Cool, you should make the ears bigger, though. -I know, but Im working on the feet now. -You could just make the ears bigger real quick right now. -I will, when Im done with the feet. -Come on, do the ears already. -RAAAAAARGH!!!!! KAFTAN SMASH!!!! *violence* The other thing I hate about 'open plan' bureaupits is teh way everyone gets the same cold in about 24 hours. Give us some fething FRESH AIR, you superweasels! Which is why I work for myself, and have a lovely south facing office of my own.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8038363.stm A fascinating article, at least for me. The summary would be that there is an argument that sensible fire-mitigation efforts were prevented by 'green' legislation and attitudes in government. My emotional reaction to this is oriented squarely on the assertion by an environmental group who are quoted as being against clearing roadsides because it will impact biodiversity, when it was burning roadsides which killed so many people. I always find it distinctly creepy, if not sinister, when people show more empathy with wildlife than for their fellow man.

No-one is called Vulva, except in the TV series Spaced.

Music via headphones helps me focus. It creates a bubble of privacy which is almost totally lacking in most offices. I'd suggest you let them get on with it.

Went to a Christening with my hangover and curried sinuses. I got confused and began the affirmation of the faith before I realised what I was doing. Finished it out of embarassment in case someone realised I was a cretin. Much cake and beer at the after-party thing. I gave the wee feller a copy of Sun Tzu's Art of War. The only sensible present he had all day.

I just sneezed hot chilli through my soft palate and into my sinuses. It is not pleasant.

I agree that navigating without satnav is a lost art. An art i lament, being quite good at it.

If it helps your conscience, just pretend he was a terrorist on recconaissance.

Hang on. I thought the whole point of the New Yorker article was that State health care costs a third less per head than private. _If_ we assume that to be correct then the selfish view accords with the altruist view. Unless you've got some kind of moral objection to subsidising other people's healthcare.

Woke after some very pleasant dreams that I won't go into, and set about eating soda bread, and playing Company of Heroes. I'm still getting these NAT issues, and my pet techies tell me it's down to sloppy coding rather than the server as Relic claim. Bloody frustrating.

Yeah, it's a joke site. Back on topic, I can imagine such a picture, but I'm damned if I've actually seen one. Sorry I can't help. In fact, since I am often hunting for military photos I'm surprised I don't know this one.

More field research last night. I'm too hungover now to type up the notes.

Watched the Chelsea vs Barcelona match last night with a Chelsea supporting friend last night. I'm not a big footie fan, but surprisingly it seems I know more about refereeing than the ref did. For example, if someone fouls on an attempt on goal within the penalty box... it's a penalty. That's why it's called a penalty box.

Something I think would be interesting would be to compare the preventative behaviours in state funded and non-state funded nations. Exercise, obesity, smoking etc. 'Logic' would dictate that where an individual is responsible directly for their own costs they would do more to reduce those costs.

first, the premium you paid was more than what you paid with your employer, but the actual premium your employer paid was MUCH higher. typically employees only pay 10% to 25% of the premium (perhaps more in a smaller company). this is because insurance companies accept everyone, regardless of risk, into company paid programs. they can afford this, sort of, by spreading the risk around to all the employees in the big group plans. next, think about this for a minute: now, insurance companies will be guaranteed payment for every employee in the US. demand suddenly goes through the roof (everyone can afford it now), so what happens according to the law of supply and demand? hint: when you "give" everyone money, that money becomes worthless. something similar happened in gold rush towns (with all products). the idiots in charge do not understand basic economic theory, period. they will bankrupt us. taks With respect for your usual good sense, you're talking balls. That simply hasn't happened in the UK.

I find generally that I'm better, armpit deep in mud on a stormy night in the wold than around time to file my taxes.

Will try to type up notes by cop today.

I accept Gromnir's point about women going to bars to socialise not necessarily to get picked up. It is in fact precisely because of this that the Greatest Conversation Ever (Wooing) ["GCE(W)"] is required. My own local group has been conducting field trials this weekend, but I'm too tired to type up our notes right now. It is, however, extremely exciting, and I think we have made definite progress.

Right, that's all going on the list. Pipes Stormtroopers Diamonds Crates Dogs Dinosaurs Can anyone suggest how to start the conversation, ideally using all these elements?

I made the comment about accountants. Accountants are the ones who cut corruption by auditing things. I say send in theslug. I agree that Afghanistan isn't a nation, but you surely can't eb serious when you say that nations aren't built by force. How the hell do you think any nation is created? Britain, the United States, even Russia? I ought to apologise for taking such an aggressive tone, but I know a few Afghans, my friends are risking their lives to help them. So it annoys me when people are defeatist having nothing to lose through perseverance, besides an intellectual pose.

This is all very interesting, gentlemen, but hardly to the point. Firstly, we should throw together the basic elements of the GREATEST CONVERSATION IN THE WORLD Secondly we will attempt to put together a rough script for the conversation to take. I can then train my adjutant to field his part of said conversation. I think the greatest conversation should involve: pipes stormtroopers diamonds I suggest for a good wide ranging GREATEST CONVERSATION IN THE WORLD we need about twenty things.

After my recent failure in Sweden - caused in no small part by my being a tubby **** - I had been pondering a solution to the age old question of how to chat someone up. I say this being no stranger to the bold approach of just walking up and saying "I don't want to be creepy, but unless i ask for you if we can go for a drink then I'm going to be kicking myself all evening". But in the Uk and other reserved countries this is often counter-productive. It then occurred to me that one way to bridge a gap is to be having a fascinating and humourous discussion about something next to the lady's group of friends. If it was sufficiently funny, mysterious, or engaging then one of them might well interject. It would also serve as a good way of making you look good. So, gentlemen, and ladies, the problem I put before us is to compose THE GREATEST CONVERSATION IN THE WORLD, EVER

Very interesting article. I don't know why I'm surprised, except I don't take the New Yorker often. I didn't realise that medical bills were such a huge part of being declared bankrupt over there. I don't think I'm being a euro-weenier when I say that's just shocking. But I guess it makes sense. You pull something nasty in teh prize draw and you have to grit your teeth and spend your life savings. That's a terrifying prospect.

Afghanistan can certainly get better. The Afghans I've met all want it to get better. However, what they need as much as troops is roads, electricity, infrastructure, government probity. They need accountants as much as gunships. It's a mess, and an uphill struggle. But it certainly ought to be done. Mostly because if we are to regard ourselves as existing on a level higher than animals then we have a duty to respond to fellow humans in trouble. That may be quaint, and it may be 30% BS, but for some inexplicable reason I find it more palatable than shoving my head up my rear and pretending that makes me intellectually superior.