I'm old.
This thought came to me this afternoon, as I got out of the shower after finishing working in the garden (I think that is one of the best feelings in the world) and looked in the mirror to shave. I've only just noticed I have grey hair at both temples and very noticably grey whiskers (or, did). I wonder how that makes my parents feel?
But what really caused me to fall into a deep funk is my realisation, while cleaning up my Amazon US wishlist*, that the complete first season of the Muppet Show has been released, on four DVDs. I assume the other seasons will be released shortly, but season one first aired in 1976!! Thirty years ago!! Aughhhhh!!!
In case you haven't seen it, here's a photo of Miss Piggy's recent "wardrobe malfunction":
*which is now empty as I've moved everything to the UK list
11:00:00 PM
Saturday, August 27, 2005
It's for you-hoo, two
In case you haven't heard of it, there's a company that is giving away software that allows you to make free phone calls over the internet. Skype, which works on both Windoze and Mac computers, lets you make a call using your computer's existing speakers and a (required) microphone.
You can make calls to other computers with Skype installed for free, no matter where in the world they are located. Or, you can place calls to regular phones (landlines or mobiles) for a small fee, currently about $0.02/min for most locations in Europe and the USA.
For 30 Euros (~$40) for a 12 month subscription, you can get a real phone number that your friends can call (e.g. a local number where most of your friends are located) that will allow you to speak to them on your computer, no matter where you are in the world.
I haven't tried it yet, but 150 million people have downloaded the software, and a woman in my office has been using it to make international "calls" during the day for much less than had it been from a BT landline, and swears by it.
9:11:00 PM
Friday, August 26, 2005
Summer Send
This week it's turned cool and I noticed the leaves on the top of the tree across the street are looking a bit faded and beginning to turn brown. I had to get another blanket out of the closet for the bed. This weekend is the end of summer Bank Holiday weekend, and I have Tuesday off as well so it should be a nice mini-break.
Not that I'm going anywhere, other than a quick trip to Banbury to ply the old bag with groceries & become her house servant for the day. I'm sure there'll be extra dusting and shifting to do, as Mom's visit is imminent.
I had a great start to the weekend, though, when a care package from Beth arrived at my door step, chock full o'American goodies and a super framed photo taken while she was here last month. I was really touched.
10:04:00 PM
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Is he hurtin' yet?
I heard a report about Bush's speech in Utah earlier this week, and since I'm too I-don't-know-what to type, I thought I'd just quote from today's New York Times editorial:
It took President Bush a long time to break his summer vacation and acknowledge the pain that the families of fallen soldiers are feeling as the death toll in Iraq continues to climb. When he did, in a speech to the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Utah this week, he said exactly the wrong thing. In an address that repeatedly invoked Sept. 11 - the day that terrorists who had no discernable connection whatsoever to Iraq attacked targets on American soil - Mr. Bush offered a new reason for staying the course: to keep faith with the men and women who have already died in the war.
"We owe them something," Mr. Bush said. "We will finish the task that they gave their lives for." It was, as the mother of one fallen National Guardsman said, an argument that "makes no sense." No one wants young men and women to die just because others have already made the ultimate sacrifice. The families of the dead do not want that, any more than they want to see more soldiers die because politicians cannot bear to admit that they sent American forces to war by mistake.
Just who is eating this stuff up? I noticed there's news going around that the Republicans, probably noticing elections around the corner, are starting to criticise:
An August 18 New York Times article reported that former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, another potential Republican presidential candidate, focused on what he perceived as the Bush administration's poor explanation of the war:
"Any effort to explain Iraq as 'We are on track and making progress' is nonsense," Newt Gingrich, a Republican who is a former House speaker, said. "The left has a constant drumbeat that this is Vietnam and a bottomless pit. The daily and weekly casualties leave people feeling that things aren't going well."
The Times article also documented three Republican House members who have publicly criticized the administration's Iraq policy and now oppose the war:
* Rep. John J. Duncan Jr. (R-TN) said that "[t]here is just no enthusiasm for this war," adding that "[n]obody is happy about it."
* Rep. Wayne T. Gilchrest (R-MD) noted that he has seen "a lot of Republicans grousing about the situation as a whole and how they have to respond to a lot of questions back home."
* Rep. Walter B. Jones (R-NC) stated, "If your poll numbers are dropping over an issue, and this issue being the war, than [sic] obviously there is a message there -- no question about it."
11:01:00 PM
Monday, August 22, 2005
You silly man
I leapt out of bed yesterday morning at the un-godly early 9a.m., glorious sunlight streaming through my window and the cool morning breeze gently wafting against the curtains. "What a glorious day!" I said. "I think I'll take my book and camera and visit the Oxford University Botanic Garden & Harcourt Arboretum," I continued. "You know," I said to myself, "it's the oldest botanic garden in Britain."
After a quick shower, breakfast, and choice of proper attire, I set out around 10:15 a.m.. "How nice it would be," I thought, "if I took a sandwich and a cool drink with me. I could have a mini picnic in the Oxford University Botanic Garden & Harcourt Arboretum. I know most shops don't open until 11 on a Sunday, but I wonder if Marks & Spencer would be open? Hmmm...."
A quick visit to the entrance showed it would in fact open at 10:30. "That's OK, I can wait here on this bench in Cornmarket Street and admire the blue sky and watch the passers-by."
At 10:30 the bells in Carfax Tower chimed, and I joined the queue of 30 already waiting at the entrance to M&S. We were delayed a good 5-6 minutes as the staff took their time opening the doors. As I made my way back to the food hall (knowing, as often as I visit, exactly where the pre-packaged sandwiches and cool drinks are), I noticed that the staff (in their new, cool black uniforms) were busy putting clothing rails in place and stocking the shelves with produce and goods. I found a nice bottle of still water with a Touch of Orange Citrus I thought might be nice, and a lovely cheese and coleslaw sandwich with thick crusty bread. Yumm.
I couldn't see any checkout tills that were open but that was OK as I am a master of the Self-Checkout Till. Unfortunately, none of those were operational. As I wandered through the store looking for an open till, one of the staff girls approached me:
"I'm sorry," she said, "none of the tills are open until 11."
"This is browsing time."
Yep, they open the store a half hour before you can actually make any purchases. I dropped my items on the nearest shelf and took off.
I didn't let it spoil the day. I bought a bottled water at the nearest newsagents and had a nice morning in the Oxford University Botanic Garden & Harcourt Arboretum. I even found the old Yew tree, planted in 1645.
3:42:00 PM
Friday, August 19, 2005
It's not nice to fool with Mother
Not knowing how the weather will turn out tomorrow, but wanting at all costs to avoid doing any work on the garden, I've decided to go into London in the morning for a bit of culcha.
Wish me luck - third time's the charm.
5:33:00 PM
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Awitsokewt
How 'bout it, Ains?
Some of us already treat our iPods as if they were our babies. Now we can treat (or at least dress) our babies as if they were iPods.
At the iPod My Baby Web site, you can order a pink, blue, or white baby "onesie" emblazoned with the signature iPod scroll wheel "because the only thing cuter than a baby, is an iPodified baby," the site states.
8:40:00 PM
It's not a personal reservation system
Speaking of crazy shoppers, did you see this article in the Post today?
RICHMOND, Va. -- A rush to purchase $50 used laptops turned into a violent stampede Tuesday, with people getting thrown to the pavement, beaten with a folding chair and nearly driven over. One woman went so far as to wet herself rather than surrender her place in line.
People threw themselves forward, screaming and pushing each other. A little girl's stroller was crushed in the stampede. Witnesses said an elderly man was thrown to the pavement, and someone in a car tried to drive his way through the crowd.
These laptops were over four years old. That's like 80 in human years.
8:18:00 PM
More cash not growing on trees
I am not a clotheshorse. I own two pairs of jeans. I have bought one pair of trousers in the past year, and I bought a shirt when I was in the USA over Christmas, along with some underwear and socks as they're much cheaper there. Just about everything else I brought with me from the States over two years ago.
It had been over a year since I bought a pair of trainers with CG at Bicester Village shopping outlet, and they were showing distinct signs of wear and tear. I'd found a good deal at the Reebok outlet there last summer, and two weekends ago CM offered to drive me over for another pair, and invited me over to her cottage for a meal.
I have browsed for shoes in town, and have been disgusted at the prices; sports stores are asking for �50-60 to start, and unfortunately I live near a sneaker boutique at which the cheapest pair I could find was �85. That's over $150. That's gross. Perhaps shades of my father are creeping up on me, but why does a pair of casual walking shoes need to be more than $30-40?? I've never paid more than that in the States. (I don't know; maybe if I bought one of the �85 pairs of trainers they'd last longer than 12 months.)
When CM and I arrived at Bicester Village, it was heaving. We had to queue to park! There were too many people so we went to two stores only: the Reebok store and the book store. The Reebok store was packed, and of course they were playing rap "music" at level 11, as scientific studies have proven that's what induces the masses to spend their money. I found one pair in the whole store in my size that was under �35; I paid �24 for a decent, comfortable, basic white pair of walking shoes.
When I got home I happened to look in the garage and saw last year's shoe box; I'd paid �36--much more than I'd remembered.
(I originally wasn't going to post about this but then I saw this article in the Post yesterday about a boutique in Potomac in which sells "Premium Denim" for $140-$520/pair(!!)
"I live for jeans," says Becca Walker, 33, who has between 20 and 30 pairs and recently bought some made by a company called People for Peace. They cost $285 and have the word LOVE embroidered on the butt, along with a butterfly. These made Becca an object of envy.
These made Becca an object of stupidity, I'd say.
Walker thinks the jeans were totally worth the money. "I felt a little nauseous afterwards and then I was okay," she says.
I'm nauseous just reading this!!)
7:40:00 PM
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
More cash in the fire
I had an appointment with the dental hygienist today. �35. Shiny teeth.
10:37:00 PM
Saturday, August 13, 2005
Downloading files from Terradyme
Fuck it. Not a single person downloaded the file.
During the next few weeks, I am going to be posting some links to large files (usually movie clips) that you may find interesting or humorous.
I'll be using Rapid Share, which is a free service for hosting such clips.
For each clip, here are the instructions to download to your PC:
1. Click on the link on my blog.
2. You will be sent to the RapidShare.de web page.
3. Scroll to the bottom of the page.
4. Click on the FREE button.
5. Another page on the RapidShare.de web page will open.
6. Scroll to the bottom of the page.
7. You will see "Download-Ticket reserved. Please wait xx seconds."
8. After the time has elapsed, the page will refresh.
9. Scroll to the bottom of the page again.
10. Click on the "Download [name of file]" link.
11. Save the file to your hard drive (remember where you've saved it).
12. Double click the file after it has finished downloading.
Don't try these if you only have a dial up account, as the files are quite large. Here's a sample file to let you practice:
Download: 25_Ways_To_Quit_Smoking.wmv
http://rapidshare.de/files/3591861/25_Ways_To_Quit_Smoking.wmv.html
11:05:00 PM
More cash out the window
I woke up in the middle of the night Thursday. I'm a light sleeper and an odd noise is likely to bring me out of my slumber. This was an odd noise - a beep and then the whirring of the fan in my laptop, growing louder and louder until it sounded as if it was going to take off any minute.
The powerbook's hard drive had gone belly up. Completely gone. Would not start up. All data irrevocably irretrievable.
Luckily, as should you, I have a fairly regular backup regimen, and so I really only lost a day or two of sent mail and some clips I'd downloaded off the 'net.
Not so luckily, the Powerbook model I own is not easy to get into, and I will have to send it off to Apple to have the hard drive replaced (after I purchase a replacement hard drive). I'm looking at about 100 pounds or more. Dammit.
10:44:00 PM
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
I'm melting.
Thanks to the London terrorists, I'm having to send even more money to my American account each month to pay my US bills.
The pound took a beating after the bombings, dropping about 10% against the Euro and dollar. It's recovered slightly since, but it means I have to spend more pounds to buy US Dollars. I think Beth and JP might have been able to take advantage of it while they were here.
I've also just joined my company's pension scheme, as I newly qualified on my two-year anniversary. So that will be less money I'll see in the take-home cheque (but it's the grown-up thing to do, I know.)
So much for my fairly tidy rise last month.
10:13:00 PM
Monday, August 08, 2005
Door # 1, Door #2, or Door #3
I'm always looking out for your best interests, and I know how difficult it is for some of you to spell "Terradyme."
In addition to http://www.terradyme.com, you can now get to this website by typing (my surname).com or (my surname).co.uk.
10:51:00 AM
To Those Who Wait
Some good news in the post:
One of the times Beth, JP and I took the bus into London last month, the coach broke down on the motorway and we had to wait about five minutes for the next one. The driver indicated we should write in to request compensation.
I did so, enclosing copies of our three tickets, and last week received a voucher for �24 good for future travel.
Nothing at which to sneeze.
10:28:00 AM
Monday, August 01, 2005
Running Roughshod again
President Bush sidestepped the Senate and installed embattled nominee John Bolton as ambassador to the United Nations on Monday, ending a five-month impasse with Democrats who accused Bolton of abusing subordinates and twisting intelligence to fit his conservative ideology. "This post is too important to leave vacant any longer, especially during a war and a vital debate about UN reform."
Bush put Bolton on the job with a recess appointment � an avenue available to the president when Congress is in recess. Under the Constitution, a recess appointment during the lawmakers' August break would last until a newly elected Congress took office in January 2007.
Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said Bolton was a "seriously flawed and weakened candidate." He said Bush "chose to stonewall the Senate" by using a recess appointment.
George Voinovich of Ohio also said he was disappointed. "I am truly concerned that a recess appointment will only add to John Bolton's baggage and his lack of credibility with the United Nations," Voinovich said.
I'm too disappointed even to make a comment.
9:10:00 PM
Speaking of crazy shoppers, did you see 
