On Flight Entertainment

Well I'm pretty much packed and raring to go now except I can't decide what to bring to read on the plane. While I trust them to have awesome in-flight games/movies etc, if there's one thing I know about myself, it's that I can't sleep or play computer games for 15 hours straight. Not even bejeweled.

I originally bought Shantaram to read...but having packed now, I've decided that there is no way I'm lugging the 1000+ pages around with me. I figured I could always take two romances with me and chuck them when I'm done, but I tried that last time and ended up posting the books back because I enjoyed them so much. Well, I still have 24 hours left to decide what to do.

24 hours? WOOHOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

Huh.

I have been tracking the European weather for the last month as part of my plan to look both stylish and comfy in the European Summer/Autumn. My efforts have been confounded the disparity in weather patterns - while London and Paris are in the low twenties, and on a few horrid days, in the teens, Italy has been nicely chugging away in the mid 20s to low thirties.

Well it was with some amusement that today I realised the local temperature was a balmy 25 degrees centigrade while it was only 22 in London. That's right. Melbourne winters are warmer than London summers.

Wonders never cease.

Goodbye drinks!

Despite being away for only a month, I was talked into having my own goodbye party. It was in the former premises of CC's karaoke bar, and might I say, it's one hell of a decor improvement! CC's was all cracked vinyl, sticky carpets, shady characters with shocking voices, and the occasional bar fights. Well it has changed! Now, it's sexy! I wish I was smart enough to bring a camera to document my night and everyone who came...but I'm not. So go see Dancing Hula's entry for some pics of the ACBers.

Anyway, drinks technically started at after seminar drinks where much hoo-hah was given as to whether I would break my drinks limit of four (not 3). Seeing as it was a special occasion, I cracked open the port and had a glass of that. I thought everything would follow the usual plan - we drink for a while, followed by PAs for food, and then making it down to the bar. Unforch, it didn't quite turn out like that and we didn't manage to start scrambling down until half past six.

I had been told that for choosing their fine establishment for my farewell, I would receive a bottle of champagne. There was a bit of confusion (I didn't book the place and didn't know which name it was under) and said bottle did not appear, but after some intervening, it did come and it was a nice fruity one! As more and more people arrived, the cocktail list became increasingly pillaged and I slowly built up a line of cocktails that needed to be sunk, interspersed with cranny juice that Clinty kindly purchased contrary to everyone else (thanks dude!).

Eventually ACB decided to either go home or CQ/Lexington for dancing or pick ups, but I hung on at Chi before eventually going to Golden Monkey for even more drinks with Queenie and some randoms before getting home around 3am. Instead of going straight to bed, I made myself some food because I was bloody starving! So did I manage to break the drinks limit? Yes I did - I had seven, four of which were cocktails. I'm not gonna try and figure out how many drinks that really works out into.

Anyway, it was good to catch up with everyone before I head off.
(Well, except for Tina who is now in my bad books)

The FEAR is here!!!

I'm a fairly highly strung person - I think I'm pretty easygoing most of the time but little things can cause me to flip out pretty badly. With my departure date less than a week away, I'm beginning to flip out over things like losing my luggage, not being allowed to take pieces of luggage with me, not remembering how to use the Metro/Tube/fill in item here, not remembering how to speak French (this one is a good possibility!), not having the right shoes/clothes for the weather, getting mugged etc etc etc.

While it's kinda annoying (and I hope they don't wreck my excitement), I wouldn't be having these panics if the trip weren't so close!!! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!! Three years, but I'm nearly there ;)

BBMak - Back Here

I was looking through Wiki for songs from the late 1990s-early 2000s (seriously, golden age of pop music) to watch on youtube when I rediscovered this song!

I can't believe I forgot this song - I used to love it sooooo much!

I've got it on cassette and am definite I had it on mp3, but I went through all our ACM CDs to stick on iPod (watch that evolution of music format there!)....but I can't find it!!! And I have no idea how/where Spuey has archived all our files!!!

So if anyone has it, pass on please?

Movie review - Harry Potter 5: Order of the Phoenix

I actually saw this installment while I was in Sydney, but I still remember what I thought of it.

HP5: OOTP picks up the summer after the events of the fourth book/movie. After the announcement that Voldemort is back, Harry spends a summer isolated from magical society where he doesn't receive communication etc etc and then Dementors attack him and Dudley not far from home. Hogwarts is no longer the refuge it once was - a lot of students don't believe his claims, while the Ministry attempts to discredit him and Dumbledore as well as plant Dolores Umbridge as the new DADA teacher. But all is not lost! There's a core group of supporters that make time bearable, the formation of Dumbledore's Army, plus there's the opportunity of getting FREAK-KAY with his crush, Cho Chang (woooh, Potter's got the fever!). But since he is back, Voldemort and Harry have another showdown and yeah yeah yeah...

Being the geek I am, one of the things I really appreciated with the HP books was the increasing complexity with each volume. As with the fourth movie, this was not really shown in the fifth and I understand that and excuse it. But even what was included seemed incredibly simplified.

• Umbridge in the book puts Harry through a great deal of psychological and physical torture. While Imelda Staunton as Umbridge makes me want to punch her in the face, the character is shown more as a petty tyrant rather than someone who sadistically enjoys power and meting out punishment.
• Percy is estranged from his family, supporting the Ministry stance. This is hinted at when Harry and Mr. Weasley take the elevator into the Ministry, Percy enters the same elevator but there is no acknowledgement at all. People who didn't know the book or recognise the actor wouldn't understand the significance of the whole thing!
• Cho Chang (under the influence of Veritaserum) gives away DA, not her friend Marietta). This is used as the reason for the break with Harry which annoys me on two levels. Firstly, talk about blaming the Asian!!! (joke) But more importantly, I disliked how someone had to *do* something wrong to give the reason why they broke rather than growing apart and finding little in common which was why in the book.
  
• Kreacher is shown as being disagreeable, but he is nowhere near the arsehole he was in the book - and worst of all, his key role in the end events is totally ignored. AND THAT WAS WRONG.
  

Other things I didn't like - Ron and Hermione have been pretty much reduced to comic relief. The computer-game stages element was also pretty apparent.

I know this reads like a really negative review, but I did actually enjoy the movie. I think the acting has improved for one, and I especially liked the casting of the girl who played Luna Lovegood. Helena Bonham Carter is really good as Bellatrix - the right combo of beauty, crazy and evil! I would have liked to have seen more of her. I also liked the showdown between Voldemort and Dumbledore where they completely trash their surroundings - yay for power!!!

Overall, it's a pass. I was never really gonna hate it, but its pretty obvious I don't love it either.
5-6/10

Spelling Bitch needs to rant

I pride myself on being able to spell. It is deeply interlinked with being made to feel good about myself because in primary school, my siblings and I were generally smarter than our peers. This is not bragging - it's true (although maybe not so true anymore). But between the ages of 5-12 this advancement manifested itself in different ways - my brothers and sister did advanced mathematics (the eldest one used to batter his teacher for supremacy in chess), whereas I was given advanced comprehension tests which led to different spelling tests owing to a larger vocabulary.

There are always rounds about falling literacy and numeracy rates among the population at large, grammar being a particular favourite topic, and after the publication of Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynn Truss an increased emphasis on punctuation . But what about spelling? What good is it to have perfect grammar and punctuation if the components that make up your text are themselves incorrect?! I'll never forget when my biology lecturer said one of his PhD students gave the spelling of mammal as *MAMAL*. That is appalling. People can read, why can't they spell?! When you see the incorrect spelling, doesn't a bell go off in your head that something is wrong? I blame two things for this - various attempts to *simplify* the English language by trying to alter words to their phonetics (cough cough, America), and the spell-checker function. Don't get me wrong, I think it's good to have a program which picks up words that seem *wrong* but the automated way of fixing it is lazy. If it's wrong, pick up a dictionary, don't rely on a machine that may not understand what you're trying to communicate.

Here's a few of the common mistakes which never fail to get my goat:

• alot - it's TWO WORDS!!!
• your/you're - people who don't understand this need a lesson in who they are
• there/their/they're - ditto
• definately - the root word is *finite*
• L8ter and other examples of mobile phone language in formal communication
• aluminum - ALUMINIUM (cough cough, Americans)
  

Spelling is not an arbitrary, intellectual conceit - it's a very important component of communication!

Pushing Power Around

Seeing as yesterday was Tuesday gymday, I went to the gym. But I forgot to bring my towel along, something I only realised after I had done my warm up stretching. Seeing as it would be gross to use the machines without the towel, I decided I was too lazy to walk back to my office to get one and instead went to a yogalates lesson.

I don't believe I'll be going back, at least, not for a while. My criticisms are thus:

• My usual Pilates class is ticketed to limit the number of people in the class to 30. I believe there would have been about 40+ people there. And we were using those black mats so space was tight.
• Because space was so tight, I was stuck in the back corner and could barely see the instructor and the movements we were supposed to be doing. I just copied the people around me. The good thing that came out of this is that whenever I fell over, I was in the back corner XD
• With my left ankle shot, I can't balance on that side very well anymore so I couldn't do about half of the poses.
• (This is the kicker) The warm up was a thing where you stood with legs wide apart and slightly bent, moving back and forth from the ankles while waving your arms around, tai-chi style. It variously reminded me of someone I no longer take seriously (hai Pooey!) or shooting fireballs like in Mortal Kombat/StreetFighter/anime style. But I just could not take it seriously after the instructor yelled out:
  

*Imagine all that power you're pushing around with your hands!*
Oooh yeah, I felt that power almost course out of me in hysterical laughter.

In any case, it was an interesting experience. I think I might try it again in non-semester times if I can ever take the power pushing seriously.

Friday night photos!

Photos taken by Dancing Hula from Lydia's going away are here.
The entry for her wrap-up is here.
Enjoy!

One for the Readers!

I was showing my blog to Mike at uni for some reason or another and we were looking at the generally pleasing category of *eye candy*. A number of people were present and when Monica Bellucci came up, almost everyone said at the same time "She is HOT!!!" Well it's been a while since I posted a female eye candy so here you go!

(Source)

In other eye candy news, guess who this chubber is!

(Scroll over for the answer) Yes, it's Marat Safin (Source)

Poster done and A Bientot to Lydia!

Well despite not being able to sleep some nights in panic that my data wasn't good enough and then freaking out that I didn't have enough good data (really, a VERY big concern), I have managed to get my glial poster done :D. Here's what it kinda looks like.

(I have been instructed that while it is ok to show my pictures, I am never to show quantitative data on the blog)

But now that what I'm going to show has been solved, my main concern is what kind of colour scheme to use to make it look pretty and friendly!

In other news, travelling buddy Lydia has quit her job and had her going away party before she boards a plane for the US before meeting in London and embarking on the Paris and Italy legs of the Great European Adventure 2007! I went and I brought along Dancing Hula and co. as well as my camera, but I didn't take any photos because just like Pooey, I am becoming stoopit. Pictures will prob show up on Hula's blog.

Crimes against fashion

Number 5241 - Hosiery, especially opaque hosiery, is back in fashion. But I'm pretty sure coloured hosiery will forever remain in the realm of costuming rather than streetwear unless of course you are aiming to look like a jester, Shakespearean hero, or in this case, intergalactic space traveller.
(Sorry for the poor photo.)

C'etait un Rendezvous

I've been meaning to post about this for a while. When I saw the clip for Snow Patrol's song "Open Your Eyes", I was struck by the beauty and simplicity of the clip, not to mention bringing back waves of longing upon recognition of the various Paris landmarks.

Seriously, how can you not watch that and not be moved? Speeding through the streets of one of the most romantic cities to meet your honey. *sigh*

Anyway, I thought it was a series of clips that had been spliced together - after all, who would be so foolhardy to drive through the streets of Paris like that? Knowing how far apart the various landmarks are and the variations in light, my safe little mind said it was not possible.

Turns out it is a continuous single shot - C'était un rendez-vous from 1976 by Claude Lelouch (IMDB link here).

Watching the original full length video without the soft guitar rock of Snow Patrol makes the vid seem so much more...I dunno, dangerous and reckless, without the romance of the thumping bass line and string section. All those screeching brakes! But at the same time, I can't help but admire the crazy driving. It's like a video from Top Gear.

In fact, recreating the vid is something I would have thought Jeremy, James, or the Hamster would have taken to with alacrity. It was to my (mild) displeasure that I found it was the less fun Fifth Gear programme which got there first. But I can't help being pleased with their effort.

And I'm mildly amused to find that it takes two hours to recreate what was a nine minute film.

Regardless of whether it's possible now or whatever, it's a brilliant film and I hope y'all enjoy it as much as I do.

Taking the piss?

As this year's season of Australia Idol kicks in, I cannot lie, I still find the fools who rock up to the auditions highly amusing. But for all that I enjoy the idiots, I can't help but wonder when someone puts in a really horrid performance after extolling their talents and *unique* voices, do they really think they have good voices or are they taking the piss?

I mean, they must listen to themselves, right?

They surely can't be surrounded by people who have told them their entire lives that they *rock*?

It can't be that much of a surprise when they're told that they're terrible?

I was going to post a youtube video of some of this year's contestants, but then I found this video about Idol 3 (2005) contestant Laura Gissara and thought this would be better.

Enjoy! (or not)

Request

For people who are looking for a handbag for me, please make sure he knows computers. All the people I used to turn to are moving overseas!

This is has come about because today Dirty Roy formatted my machine. When it got home, it wouldn't work properly but we managed to get it up after a bit of phone coaching. Then I discovered that the internet wouldn't work because I've lost (again) the CD containing the drivers for my wireless USB adapter. After a few more HOURS attention from Kahuna, it is now working (and I feel the urge to splash some money on him in gratitude).

Okay, they are my friends and that's what friends are for, but still....can't help but feel I am taking advantage. Also, Dirty Roy is planning on moving to London (where Smee, Cam, Samps, Ray and others are) and Kahuna is considering of moving to HK.

But yes, thanks to Roy and Kahunes, and all future applicants should take note.

Sneaky sneaky

I don't know about other people, but I have never despaired about not having a partner. Not because I think I can get one easily (I'm not that self-deluded; and I know can be *difficult*), I just never really thought I had to have one.

My friends on the other hand seem to think that I should have one and despair when they realise I've now been single for 3+ years. As touched as I am by their assessment that my continuing spinsterhood is a crying shame, I can't help but wonder whether they see me for the hell-bitch I know I am and what other people have called me. Sometimes even to my face! (Excluded are Dr. Ilaya-Kelly and Miss Pooky who love my bitchiness.)

Anyway, to appease those who thought I should have a new handbag, I told them if they could figure out how to get me to meet some guy they wanted me to date without me figuring out what they were doing, go right ahead. I am now discovering that my friends are just as underhanded as myself! I'm interested in seeing how long this goes on for. The game has begun. Bring it on!