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Thursday, February 24, 2005

Memein' Right Along

QBASIC screenshot
You are 'programming in QBASIC'. This programming
language (of which the acronym stands for
'Quick Beginners' All-purpose Symbolic
Instruction Code'), which is so primitive that
it cannot easily be used for any purpose
involving the Internet nor even sound, was
current more than a decade ago.

You are independent, in a good way. When something
which you need cannot be found, you make it
yourself. In writing and in talking with
people, you value clarity and precision; your
friends may not realize how important that is.
When necessary, you are prepared to be a
mediator in conflicts between your friends.
You are very rational, and you think of things
in terms of logic and common sense.
Unfortunately, your emotionally unstable
friends may be put off by your devotion to
logic; they may even accuse you of pedantry and
insensitivity. Your problem is that
programming in QBASIC has been obsolete for a
long time.


What obsolete skill are you?
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I'm not entirely sure I like what this one is implying. And to be equated with a Microsoft product! *shudders*



Which Villain Character Are You?


Ok, now I'm not logical, just a deranged pawn. I wish these memes would make up their minds.

The First Doctor
The First Doctor: Ill- tempered, and cranky, you
have very little patience for the failings and
the limited knowledge of ordinary humans. At
times you seem willing to place your companions
into dangerous situations in order to satisfy
your own curiosity. Nonetheless, you care
greatly for those close to you, and would never
fail to act upon evil or injustice.


Which Incarnation of the Doctor are you?
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Do I get bonus points for knowing where the picture was cropped from? (Hint: Radio Times cover)

Cocaine
Cocaine.
You like to talk,
you like to run,
but most of all you like to have fun.


Which drug should you be hooked on? [now with pictures]
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I seem to be getting the same as other people. This makes me seem less of an individual.

Whispering Nightmare
Whispering Nightmare


What sort of Nightmare are you?
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Ooooh. I likes.

My inner child is sixteen years old today

My inner child is sixteen years old!


Life's not fair! It's never been fair, but while
adults might just accept that, I know
something's gotta change. And it's gonna
change, just as soon as I become an adult and
get some power of my own.


How Old is Your Inner Child?
brought to you by Quizilla

My inner child is legally allowed to get nasty. *blink*

you are darkslategray
#2F4F4F

Your dominant hues are green and blue. You're smart and you know it, and want to use your power to help people and relate to others. Even though you tend to battle with yourself, you solve other people's conflicts well.

Your saturation level is lower than average - You don't stress out over things and don't understand people who do. Finishing projects may sometimes be a challenge, but you schedule time as you see fit and the important things all happen in the end, even if not everyone sees your grand master plan.

Your outlook on life is dark. You're generally a pessimist and everyone knows it; you're the one the come to when they don't want the sunshine blown around, they just want to straight truth. You can miss good things in life if you make up your mind too early though.
the spacefem.com html color quiz


Fairly accurate, 'cept I do stress over things.

Thursday, February 10, 2005

First-Run TV!

A whole bunch of new tv shows started in the past fortnight. Here's some comments on a couple I saw.

Lost - Seven, 8:30pm Thursday
A passenger jet out of Australia (heading to the US?) crashes... somewhere. Looks like this will be a pretty good series - there's lots of characters, and each one seems like they may actually have a story, rather than just being ciphers. Of course, there's a twist. Or two.

There's something else in the jungle. It's large and sounds like it escaped from Jurassic Park. Spoiler:(highlight with mouse) And tonight they found a polar bear! And the aircraft was not where it was supposed to be.

Fun watching a bunch of white people run about a tropical island with no hats not getting sunburnt.

Spicks and Specks - ABC, 8:30pm Wednesday
The ABC gave absolutely no clues as to what this show was, other than it was presented by Adam Hills (who I've heard on JJJ and think appears on Rove from time to time), neither in the specific adverts or in the ghaslty 'Wednesday Night Wrap' promotion. (Wrap == Rap, geddit?)

Turns out to be a quiz show. About music. In a strangely familiar format.

Because it's Good News Week, with questions about popular music, rather than current events, and with musos and comedians to fill the seats, rather than comedians and pollies.

Someone should sue over this one.

Medical Investigation - Ten, 9:30pm Thursday
This show very obviously wants to be CSI. But doesn't quite make it. The cast want to be engaging, but don't quite make it. The plots want to be interesting. But don't quite make it.

Follow the adventures of a crack team of medical professionals from the US National Institue of Health as they travel from outbreak to outbreak of exotic diseases. Remember the word team, coz that's what they are - there's an experienced team leader, two pathologists/epidemiologist/insert-specialised-medic-test-here-ists, an investigative specialist to climb through ducting, and public relations person to fend off the press - a team. Which is why there's a B plot every episode for another, convieniently geographically located, medical emergency each week which SPLITS THE TEAM UP!!

One thing that became terribly clear tonight is when you have characters that are all supposed to be intelligent, dynamic thinkers, it becomes even more painfully obvious when the writers aren't. Maybe this is deliberate, a ploy to let Joe Average think they're up there with the big guys when they second guess what's going on. I just find it frustrating when characters can't see the obvious painted out in front of them.

Unlikely to be watching again.

Out to Dinner

It was my brother's birthday on Tuesday, so he organised for family and friends to go out to dinner to a nice cafe he knew in Joondulup. Which turned out to be a little disappointing.

When you discover you're having dinner at a venue called "Trendi Cafe", you'd maybe have expectations of a sense of self-deprecating irony. Maybe painted in bright pastels with big pictures of 80's hair models with lemon trousers, wide lapels and skinny ties. Women in pink rah-rah skirts with black braces. A crappy blue and pink neon sign flashing the word "Trendi's" into the night.

But no, basically a cloned upmarket-ish cafe that you could have swapped with one from Mt Lawley, Subiaco or Leederville and no-one would notice, except for where the plumbing didn't quite match up. Complete with Italian-ish style cafe menu.

However, the stirfried pasta dish I had was quite edible, and my brother seemed to have a good time.

Tuesday, February 08, 2005

Pre-Written Post

Because I haven't updated for a while, I thought I might post this little excerpt from an email to Lisa about some of adventures on Australia Day.

Just to set the scene - I'd walked from my place to the South Perth foreshore (about 5 or 6 km) to try and find the GenghisCon crowd, but arrived just as it was getting dark:

While looking desperately for people I got stopped by this tallish bloke, who leaned in and muttered in my ear.
"Got any spliffs?"
"Err. No."
He stood up straight and looked surprised.
"But you normally do, don't you?" he asked slyly.
"Umm. No."
"What? Really? Never?"
"No."
"Oh. Well, nice to meet you."
With that, he shook my hand and I continued on my way.

About 30 minutes later, while I watching the fireworks, I noticed a figure making their way through the crowd towards me. It was the same guy. He walked up to me and started to say something, but I cut him off.
"No, I still don't have any."
He looked surprised.
"Have I asked you already?"
"Yes"
"And you still haven't scored."
"No."
"Do you usually shop at Bunnings in Inglewood?"
"No."
"And I already asked you?"
"Yes, you did."
"Oh." he said, with a confused expression and disappeared back into the crowd.

There might have been more than just beer involved.

On my way home, a kid who was maybe 18 wandered up, introduced himself as James, and told me that his 'pussy' was in Wollongong, and that his solution to this was invite one of his sister's friends over and 'poon' her instead.

Drunk people are funny.