So as some of you may or may not know, on the 28th of December I have my 30th birthday. Because that is the world's worst date to plan ANYTHING I'm thinking of doing something in November.
The question of course is: what do you do on your 30th birthday? I mean apart from moan and wail about how old you are. That's a given, but I can leave that to my ACTUAL birthday. ;) Does anybody have any suggestions?
I haven't been on in a while... as usual. Work is... work. I think Haines will renew my contract, which would be good, as otherwise I need to run around looking for work for the other 3 days a week. Life is pretty normal otherwise... maybe I need to shake it up a bit. I've been thinking of going back to the gym again. Not out of bodybuilder aspirations, but just because I'm so unhealthy. :) It's expensive, which sucks, but you can exercise during winter. Normally I totally stop all physical activity in winter because I can't hack jogging in the cold/rain.
In any case, does anyone want to go to BLINDSPOTT? They're breaking up and I've never seen them live, so I'd really like to go. It's short notice, I know, but drop me a line if you're interested in seeing them at the Powerstation this Saturday.
I saw this show last night because the online TV guide said that Psych was on in that timeslot. Morbid fascination soon took over. This has got to be the worst advertising for the USA around. A more apt name would be "are you dumber than a pile of rocks?". Do they pick dumb people so everybody doesn't win? Is this really giving the international community a good impression of Americans?
I saw them ask 10 questions (in between doing more important things). Seven I could answer immediately. Two took a few seconds thought. One I couldn't answer because it was about American presidents. American history rates here higher than French history and a whole lot lower than Egyptian history.
One guy was asked how high a triangle would be if it had an area of 16 and a base length of 8. His answer would have been ONE. Even the less mathematically adept of you should notice that 8 times 1 is less than 16. So even if it was a rectangle instead of a triangle it would still be too small. And triangles are smaller than the equivalent rectangle.
A woman was asked what the closest star to Earth is. As she mused on it she said (and I quote) "...is the Sun a star? I don't know...". Good god. The one that she lost $100,000 on was "which country has the longest border with the USA?". She chose Mexico because she remembered hearing about all the border control problems. Uh huh. Have you ever seen a map, lady? Then again, I'm not entirely surprised, as I have seen many a map of the USA which is ONLY of the USA, not even Canada or Mexico. There be dragons. ;)
On the flip side, given the choice between "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" with it's ball-bustingly hard multi-choice questions and "Are you smarter than a 5th Grader?" with questions most kids could answer, I know which I'd choose. They both let you win a million dollars.
Edit
From the application form for contestants:
"The Producer is not obligated to select anyone, even if someone meets all eligibility requirements and all criteria for selection. The Producer’s decisions regarding the selection of contestants is final and not subject to challenge or appeal. The Producer is not obligated to have any contestant appear on the Program and the Producer shall have the right at all times and in its sole discretion to remove or replace any contestant for any reason or no reason. Even if a contestant appears in the Program or any part thereof, the Producer is not obligated to broadcast or otherwise use or exploit the Program, contestant’s participation therein or any part thereof."
Hmm... can we say "kick you out because you're smart"? The wording that really gets me is "the Producer shall have the right at all times and in its sole discretion to remove or replace any contestant for any reason or no reason". Does that mean if you're winning they can kick you out mid-show? Or is that what the clause "Even if a contestant appears in the Program or any part thereof, the Producer is not obligated to broadcast" is for? Maybe if you're smart they just give you your money and don't broadcast it (unless you're a contestant all the viewers will be rooting for).
Hey people, as per usual I haven't been updating. To be honest my social life as a whole has been in low gear for a while, by which I do *not* mean that I've been making good traction against insurmountable odds. ;)
So it seems an appropriate time to reflect upon some of the people who I've lost from my everyday life, mainly because they moved to other cities/countries. To avoid morbid fretting about it I shall present it as a jaunty set of ads to replace roles which are now vacant in my social life. Won't that be fun?? I list most of these as "guys" simply because most of the old people were guys. Gals feel free to apply. ;)
BRUNCH GUY
Must be motiviated to get up in the morning, laid back and above all hungry. Knowledge of good cafes with easy parking would be a plus.
BOOZY LUNCH GUY
This person's main food groups are vodka, gin and beer. If lunch doesn't take an hour and a half, it isn't really lunch. Knowledge of garden bars a plus.
THE DRIVER
Your motto is "be there in an hour". You understand that you are valued to party-goers everywhere, and that you will be reimbursed handsomely in free lunches and drinks at some later point rather than looking pointedly at your passengers every time you pass a service station.
ROAD TRIP BUDDY
You must know how to read a map, be laid back, but not be so laid back that you miss plane connections. Your unerring optimism will hold you in good stead finding accomodation or petrol in even the most unlikeliest places. Oh, plus you know how to have fun. Duh.
GADGET GUY
Somewhere someone has lost a crucial cable or manual, and you know what to do about it. You will not mock them until they cry. Plus you also have cool new games. :D
CONCERT FIEND
You know when all the best shows are on, and where to get the cheapest tickets. You are totally pumped about the concept of your friends dancing/moshing to your favourite band.
RESTAURANT EXPLORER
You heard of a new place and you're dying to try it out. Wine and light-hearted banter will be flowing. You will give people more than an hour's warning beforehand.
MOVIE FREAK
What week is complete without watching a movie or DVD? Hell, what DAY? You like getting a few people together because it's about the shared experience, not a bunch of people watching alone.
Around 1:30am I was awoken by my phone ringing... kind of. Half-ring. Stop. Half-ring. Stop. Pause. Half-ring. It was very annoying. Also a little freaky at 1:30am.
So I called Telecom and asked them to check the line. They said it was fine, and told me to call their prank call department in the morning. But it kept happening. So I unplugged the phone and finally got some damn sleep.
Just now I called the prank call department and they said there were no calls made to my phone all morning. Uh... hmmm. So if one were to assume it wasn't burglars, psychopaths, ghosts or aliens, what's left? Do phones just get old and start ringing by themselves? Anyone have prior experience?
Thinking of going to Armageddon (sort of a con, for American people) in Wellington. Various other people are. If you're one of them, put your hand up! We have Summer Glau and Jewel Staite from Firefly. Excellent...
I think I'd fly, though. After my last visit to Wellington I can't be fucked driving. Or even just being a passenger. What a waste of time. Can you say "half your weekend in a car"?
Does anybody know of any good airfare specials? I thought I heard some on the radio last week but I can't find them online. Typical.
Does anybody know if there's an IM client that connects to the MSN network that isn't MSN Messenger? I hate MSN Messenger with the fiery passion of 1000 suns. That is all.
