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| 2008-05-12 13:57 |
| Democracy in a in a 0.1 molar solution of acid. |
| Public |
 pleased |
| me, political, science |
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I did it. If it's a very slow news day, you can see me in a labcoat, and an Science. It works bitches. t-shirt, crouching down behind an MP, trying to make sure the stem cell billboard doesn't blow away.
In other Democracy related news:
Number of tourists taking pictures of Parliament from Waterloo Bridge; 3
Number of tourists taking pictures of the London Eye from Waterloo Bridge; 10
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| 2008-05-08 15:41 |
| Ask meme, and II'll tell youyou |
| Public |
 tired |
| me, meme |
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Comment to this post and I will:
1. Tell you why I friended you.
2. Associate you with something - fandom, a song, a colour, a photo, etc.
3. Tell you something I like about you.
4. Tell you a memory I have of you.
5. Ask something I've always wanted to know about you.
6. Tell you my favorite user pic of yours.
7. Then you do it! [![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) offensive_mango sez: you don't have to, really, but you might want to]
and reading some of the responses on her thread, I thought I'd pass this meme on, even if I've only met most of my LJ flist once or twice.
And a random thought on the law of unintended consequence.
( Where do those smudges on my glasses come from? )
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I'm tempted to give the old Lab coat an Iron over the weekend, and attend this protest in support of the Second Reading of Human Fertility and Embryology Bill.
I'm in favour of what I've heard of the bill.
It's not my biggest concern politically, but I don't have any plans, and I do work nearby, and own a lab coat.
The only question is would wearing Mad Science goggles hurt the cause?
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A friend just sent me the link to The Ten Doctors. It's absolutely brilliant. It's a webcomic by a huge Dr Who fan, where all ten of Doctor Who's incarnations meet up. He's done a really god job of capturing each character's likeness, and personality. And it's really funny too. Rose's reaction to Ace is just perfect. Did I mention that all the and the various assistants are there too?
In the text under the comics he explains where in the continuity each Dr come from. And the implications of the Time War on the other Doctors. And quite specific props. He's a huge fan Smiling
I've only just started reading, but it's been going for quite a while now, so there's lots of archive to catch up on.
X-posted to snarkoleptics comments there
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I got the Women equals Problems proof email today.
( 5 step derivation )
However I believe this fails to take into account the negative root. which would mean that there is another valid solution: Woman = - Problems In other words, with the right woman all your problems are taken away :) If you felt that was bit sappy go listen to JoCo's song about his solution.
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| 2008-05-02 15:35 |
| Mobile Spam continued |
| Public |
 irritated |
| bad service |
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From here.
5) Two Screen called back to say that DBSdata.co.uk had provided them with my number. So I called them on 01245 397570, and they said they'd remove my number from their database, and would look into where they'd got it from and call me back.
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Ooh, neat!
Penguin Classics are running a scheme where you get a 'free book if you blog about it'.
I've just been told I'll get Dr No. I read a couple of the bond novels when I was a teenager but haven't read one for years. It'll be interesting to see how mad the Villain is in the book version.
Having completely failed my new years resolution to blog about every book I read this year, I'm quite excited by this. Maybe I should pick that up, and start from now.
Thanks to the_magician for posting originally, and watervole for reminding me.
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| 2008-05-01 17:36 |
| textcosmo.com Mobile Spam |
| Public |
 angry |
| bad service |
|
A quick round the block.
I just got a message from 83008 by textcosmo (the new name of cosmotext, who used to send from 67778).
Here's some good tips on how to deal with textcosmo, and their ilk.
1) Call your operator and check if you've been charged.
2) Call the premium rate regulator, on 0800 500212 to get the name and number of the txt spammer, and tell them to ask the spammer to remove your number.
Also register a complaint if you've been charged.
3) Call them (Dialogue Communications on 0870 0790400 in this case) and ask to be taken off their database, and confirm if they are responsible for sending you the message.
4) Call the company that actual sent you the message (Two Screen on 0870 4791158) and ask them to remove your number (belt and braces aproach) and ask them how the hell they got it in the first place.
The answer phone says they'll reply withing 24 hours. We'll see.
Message include incase anyone's searching for the spamming gits.
FreeMsg: Txt YES to 83008 and claim your free reward of 200 SM to use from www.textcosmo.com! Subscribe 6GBP/mnth inc 200sms.16 stop?txtStop textcosmo.com Bleugh. Attention Theives.
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| 2008-04-30 18:22 |
| mp3 player decision |
| Public |
| pleased |
| mp3 |
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I think I've come to a decision:
Ultimately, the iAudio 7 is a strange mix - a bit like that that mad, slightly unstable uncle you'd rather not be seen in public with but you're fond of anyway...
it isn't the cheapest ... it is still well-priced...
if you accept its faults and embrace its strengths it makes the perfect geek's music player. From trusted reviews. Which has been a useful site for reviewing what mp3 players are available. It's tiny, reasonable flash drive, and can bookmark multiple files, as well as resuming. Thanks to Hugh Anchor for both reccomending the Cowon range (plays OGG files, mounts as hard disk, etc), but for the inspired idea of looking for pdfs of manuals online to compare bookmarking features, which usually don't get reviewed.
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The advantage of knitting a hat top down, is that I don't need to know the gauge at all. I was just doing that way so that I could leave the needles in as place holders for where the scarf and tenticals would join.
( Photo, and pattern thus far. )
I saw another interesting technique at Angel Knits last night. I didn't find out if it had a name, so I'm calling it Cuttlefish edging. Cast on twice as many stitches as you need then decrease to the number you need in about 4 or 5 rows. It leaves a random wavey edge that looks something like a cuttlefish wing. I thinkg that'll look good at the back between the tenticles
So far the techniques I want to use on this are.
Knitting in the round (Hat)
Increases (top down hat)
Decreases (Ribbing wouldn't look right, so I need to tighten the bottom of the hat the hard way)
Reverse Cuttlefish (for the back)
Braids (for the start of the scarf)
icords (for the front tentacles)
Fair Isle (using dark green wool to make patterned eyes)
This is turning into quite a complex little project :)
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The arXive blog is a brilliant site posting about some of the more interesting scientific papers that appear on the famous pre-print server.
Thanks to fiat_knox for the link
While on there I ran across a recent observation that suggests that Dark Matter exists, and it can't be explained by modifying gravity, or rotational mechanics. There's a Cluster of Galaxies that have ripped through another like a bullet. Using different techniques it's possible to look at the stars, the dust, and the Dark Matter concentrations separately. It's clear that the Dark Matter has raced ahead, since it hasn't been slowed by collisions with matter.
In tangentially related matters, I've been thinking about the foreshadowing in Dr Who. Are the hints of things to come like Chekhov's guns, and will come to pass. Or are they like Hitchcock's bombs, and will build tension before a big switch? {edit: size of bullet based very loosly off this}
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My trusty iRiver H100 has croaked. The joystick broke loose, and the
last ditch attempt to solder it back on fried something, and it won't
turn on now :(
So I thought I'd ask LJ for advice. My entire audio collection is
around 10G at the moment, so I don't need a huge (by today's
standards) player. I'm not fussed about video at all. I do however
listen to a lot of podcasts / audio books, and having the ability to
store several bookmarks is a big plus.As is mounting as a usb drive,
since I intend to download things at worked and the machine here is
tightly locked down, so I can't easily install stuff on it.
Research so far indicates the Sandisk Sansa range might be the way to
go. Anyone had one of these?
I was tempted to just stick the latest podcasts on my phone, but it
doesn't have a standard headophone socket, so I can't use my noise
cancelling headphone on the tube.
Any other recommendations?
p.s. appologies to anyone who had this as an email already.
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I finished both of my first projects last week.
( Pictures and write up )
I tried about three or four time to start the Cthulhu hat at the weekend, from the top down. But despite a rather useful video on small diameter circular knitting (Thanks Nikki) I couldn't get the hang of it.
I think I'm going to have to start with a larger tube just to practice. I've got no idea what to make though. I suppose I could just make a little pouch to keep the random foreign currency I've got on my desk in. Hmm.
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Today's Bob the Angry Flower is what I'm like when I drink cider.
It's not quite that extreme, and environment is a much stronger factor, but I have found that different alcohol does have a diffenrent effect on me.
Ale tends to make me loquacious and relaxed.
Cocktails tend to make me energetic and bouncy.
Tequila gives me hangovers.
And All alcohol gives me wanderlust. I used to regularly leave my mates at Uni and go and check out the corners, nooks and crannies of the wherever we were. If we were on Campus sometimes I'd just get bored and wander home without telling anyone, which I'd never do sober.
I got told off last week because I'd offered to walk someone to the tube station, left to wait in the cool for them, and just wandered off.
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| 2008-04-10 16:52 |
| (no subject) |
| Public |
 contemplative |
| meme |
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Following on from:
( That Feminist Meme )
Here's an interesting observation from the author of XCKD.
Movies with two top-billed female stars ... fall mainly in two genres: mother-daughter bonding movies and horror films. Hollywood is not creating female heroes.
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| 2008-04-08 14:30 |
| Scouting for Gnostics |
| Public |
| contemplative |
| agnostic, me |
|
"The Scout Association has been reported to the equality watchdog for allegedly discriminating against atheists by making them swear an oath to God."
Well it seems I was well ahead of times then.
I remember I was having doubts about Christianity when I joined Scouts, and asked if I had to swear an oath to "do my duty" to something I wasn't sure I believed in any more. They pointed out that the God mentioned is not explicitly the Christian God, so I could swear to what ever deity I wanted. When I said it was the whole God thing I had problems with, I was told that basically there is no alternative version, and if I wanted my woggle I'd have to swear the oath. So I did.
I don't think I would/could now.
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amused
nerdy
creative
curious
discontent
drunk