Rule #78 in Life:

(Source)

One of my favourite silly movies is Airheads...a 1994 rock'n'roll comedy. (Brendan Fraser's appearance in this film is merely a coincidence!)

And here for your viewing pleasure is the immortal Lemmy in a video with clips from the movie:



Turn up the volume and rock out!

Lori

A Wish of Mine

No, not a wish for humanity, just for me. I've always wanted to be crafty. Arty.

My inner magpie just loves looking at piles of stuff...I'm fascinated by the potential in the raw materials -- paint chips in hardware stores:

those urban recycling craft supply stores...fabric stores and the gorgeous fat quarters:

Bead stores...


But in the end, I don't have the patience, the inclination, what have you.

For those that do, here are some sites for you to play with:

Cut Out + Keep

The Imagination Factory

Make-Stuff

So how crafty are you? Make me jealous in the comments...

Lori

Doing some overtime...

I had to go in to work this Saturday, and worked a solid 6 hours, alone, listening to a blues radio station.

I wondered what would happen if anything happened to me while I was there, as I didn't have any helpful cats about:


see more crazy cat pics

(my apologies for lolcats 2 posts in a row, but you know how it is...)

Lori

RIP Gary Gygax

Enter the ICHC online Poker Cats Contest!

If you don't know who he was, ask the nearest geek.

Thank you, Gary.

Lori

Musicians...the same the world over

None can resist a great tune (by Deep Purple). Here's a Japanese orchestra doing "Smoke on the Water" (found at To Be Asian):



Besides the utter fabulousness of the music, the audience reaction is classic.

This made my day. I hope it makes yours.

Lori

Definitions of Power

Years ago, I picked up a book entitled The 48 Laws of Power (by Robert Greene) [Here are the laws summarized.] I subsequently loaned the book out, and it hasn't been returned -- it's a very interesting book that either teaches one how to be a bastard power-monger, or to recognize one...depending on your point of view. A very entertaining book though...

But if you can't find the book to help you to achieve a persona of power, you can just get yourself one of these:

The Han Solo desk (found at DVICE) has its different messages as well, depending on your point of view...Scary Guy or Enormous Geek.

(and no, I don't want one for Christmas...)

Lori

Book Snobbery

I am a book snob. I'll admit it. You won't catch me reading an Oprah Pick on a bus...(that's a link to a post on this subject at my Book Nook, good discussion in the comments).

Over at casa az, the lovely and literate az has points us all to Cabanon Press, a fun collection of pictures used on the Guardian Saturday Review page. Here's my favourite:

Life does not happen in a vacuum.

What about you? What do you do when you know someone could be looking?

Lori

A Pie Chart for Procrastination

This guy is funny...if a calm nerdy guy can be funny with a flipchart...

But he is!!



Watch all the way through...fascinating stuff you've never really contemplated before!

Lori

Polish Fans

This last week, I seem to have had a few visitors from Poland -- 28% of my visitors in fact!

I don't know any Polish, but please, stop and say 'Hi!'

(Oh, and thanks to a comment somewhere by raincoaster, this blog now comes up as the third hit when someone googles "Lillian Van der Zalm headband". Kill me now.)

My 40th

Today is my birthday. (To those who live near me, be aware that this groundhog has not seen her shadow this morning, and is not likely to -- very overcast.) In preparation for my glorious 40s (to continue on from my brilliant 30s), I'm taking the Pursuit of Excellence course this weekend. Self-examination all the way...

Here is a concept lifted from Norlinda at 30-something-media-addict, who lifted it from Life Begins at 30 (both lovely lists). I've been working on this one for a couple of days, and it has been a good exercise.

So, in no particular order, some things (25) I will never get tired of:

1. a good book
   
2. the first slow gulp of cold beer slipping down my parched throat
   
3. a purring cat
   
4. a cool summer morning and a cup of coffee outdoors
   
5. walking in a snowfall
   
6. laying down a bingo in Scrabble
   
7. standing in the dark nave of a gothic cathedral
   
8. learning something new
   
9. escaping into a delightful movie
   
10. a well-played blues guitar
    
11. dark chocolate
    
12. comprendre quelque chose dans une autre langue
    
13. a really good belly laugh
    
14. crossing things off a To Do list
15. a fresh clean sheet of paper
16. a gathering of like-minded individuals
17. a lovely meadow
18. cooking in a stocked kitchen
19. controlled retail therapy :p
20. the great design of a book or building or object
21. road trips, long or short
22. words strung together in a surprisingly insightful way
    
23. looking up at the stars
24. coordinating the Big Picture
    
25. logic puzzles

A surprisingly easy list to compile, and reminds me that yes, I do incorporate the things I like in my day-to-day existence...but that I could do it more!

Have a great day!

Lori

Appalling Absurdity of the Week

In the news...

A Spanish driver who collided with a cyclist is suing the dead youth's family $29,300 for the damage the impact of his body did to his luxury car, a Spanish newspaper reported on Friday.

Businessman Tomas Delgado says 17-year-old Enaitz Iriondo caused $20,500 of damage to his Audi A8 in the fatal 2004 crash in La Rioja region, the El Pais newspaper reported.

The mind boggles.

I can't even think of anything scathing enough for this guy. Can anyone help?

Lori

Absurd = Pointless Death

What?!? Heath Ledger is dead?

Actors are like the rest of us...they're supposed to live long lives, maybe in obscurity, then pop back into the news, and our hearts, when they die. They're supposed to inspire eulogies of long careers, family lives, community service...not die suddenly in their 20s, mid-career, mid-movie, leaving us all reeling in shock.

You'll be missed, deep man.

Lori

We meet again...

The Nag and I both have a certain je ne sais quoi for Paris...I know this because that's where we met. Or more specifically, on a train to Chartres from Paris.

Funny that we both have pictures trolled from our flickr sites for the Schmap guide to Paris. (Here's her post.) Mine is of le Père Lachaise cemetery:


I have blogged about this cemetery in the past...the best ever virtual tour is of this enormous city of the dead -- check it out!

Next time we go to Paris, Nag, we should travel together. Maybe even leave our men behind!

:-)

Lori

People...generally speaking

In the end, all people share basic similarities. I was an ESL teacher for years, and I always took comfort in the fact that everyone wants pretty much the same things: respect, love, and a good time.

And I didn't need the video below to be convinced that my friend 30-something media addict is:

"... a country-music fan who plays poker and cheers on the local ice hockey team."

I know her to be a witty writer who I can share a Viggo-fest with, who dyes her hair wild colours even though no-one sees it but her, and who is pining for a less soul-sucking job.

Anyway, this is a great video, lifted from her blog:



A tasty, stereotype smashing video. Enjoy.

Lori

Absurd in so many ways...

I feel like I'm stealing some of Metro's thunder, this is more his kind of topic, but I surfed over to the Nag, and she's featuring a great Rick Mercer video today -- how can I resist Rick Mercer?

The ZENN car -- "ZENN" stands for Zero Emission No Noise. I want this car -- and I can buy it, 'cause it's legal in British Columbia (wanna come visit, Nag? Drive mine when I get it?)



The absurdity is the fact that no one in Canada has heard of them. There's not a push on to immediately make them road legal in all Provinces, like NOW. Using one of these would reduce each person's carbon footprint by 6 tons annually.

I want one for my birthday!

Lori

Highlights of 2007

So, what are your highlights of this grand year? Or maybe it was the low points...In any case, why not share with everyone in the comments, and we can either celebrate or commiserate with you!

My highlights?

1. The Rotary Okangan International Children's Festival.
2. My new job with Service Canada.
3. My continued relationship with Metro.

It's early and I have to get my act together to walk to work. I'll probably add more in the comments!

Lori

Food, Family & Fun

...not necessarily all at once.

As my co-worker and I slog away at our projects in a very quiet office, I find myself really looking forward to this whole festive season.

Tonight, we've got some friends in from the Big Smoke for Christmas, and one is even staying to the New Year. I've got a pot roast in the slow cooker, for a delish, no-effort dinner.

Tomorrow, the Day itself, we've ended up with a table of 11. Not bad for a couple whose family is elsewhere for the season. My mom is coming and a few local friends will round out the group.

And, thankfully, the gift pile is a mere dribble...we've got the message out to most that we'd rather not accumulate any more, or buy into the seasonal hype.

So, to everyone, enjoy your day tomorrow. If you are one of the many in the world that do not celebrate Christmas in any of its forms (religious, familial, or consumer), here's a lovely post from Lifehack.org on some ideas for you.

Peace on Earth, and all that!

Lori

Okay. Enough already.

(Visit the gallery of error messages, or create your own, at the Error Message Gallery)

I'm hoping one more post will do it -- drop the cat herding video off the main page.

But this is my last post tonight. I've got Irish Stew cooking...

UPDATE: You'll notice the Cat Herding video doesn't start automatically anymore. I took Nag's advice, and used a screen shot and a link to the video, rather than embedding it. Whew!

Lori

Weird Kitchen Stuff for the Hard-To-Buy-For

8. Instant Hot Dog into Octopus Shaper

Octodog Franfurter

Converter -What the heck is an Octodog?? Well it's a new, unique way to make your hot dog. Just insert hot dog into the Octodog push down and get the craziest looking hotdog you've ever seen." See it here.

That's just one of the wonderful but weird listed at this post.

Here's one that Metro and I saw in Paris:

3. Stab Your Old Boyfriend Knife Holder

" No knife holder has taken a

"greater stab" at the theatrical than this specially designed "Ex" knife holder. Et tu, Brute?.. STORE YOUR KNIVES IN AN ANONYMOUS EFFIGY DEDICATED TO WHOMEVER YOU PLEASE! Take out your frustrations as you store your knives! See it here.

Here's my photo of it:

Thought about buying it for someone...but who??

Lori

Women! Listen up!

Actually, I think the women that visit my blog (or at least those that comment...) are not the audience for this brilliant post that I stumbled on... 20 Posts All Women Should Read from the AllDivaMedia blog.

From the Diva's introduction:

From Body Mass Index, to filthy diamonds, to the Playboy myth, here is a list of 20 posts that all women should read. Some will inspire you, some will upset you, but most of all these posts should educate you. It wouldn’t hurt for the men to check them out as well.

There's some great links in this list -- and I've yet to follow them all.

And do you know of any posts that should also be included?

Lori

(P.S. The (auto-starting) Cat Herding video should be off the front page now. If you're missing it, here's the link to that post!)