Here's a fun game, go to here: [pridelondon.org]
Now, entirely aside from looking to see if there's a policy on wanting transpeople to be Proud, try to find LGBT other than as an acronym.
There's plenty of "LGBT Pride follows on from Gay Pride" or "LGBT youth suffer homophobia", but it seems that LGBT might as well mean homosexual.
Can you find something saying who Pride is for?
Can you find the B Word? (There is at least one!)
Now, entirely aside from looking to see if there's a policy on wanting transpeople to be Proud, try to find LGBT other than as an acronym.
There's plenty of "LGBT Pride follows on from Gay Pride" or "LGBT youth suffer homophobia", but it seems that LGBT might as well mean homosexual.
Can you find something saying who Pride is for?
Can you find the B Word? (There is at least one!)
- Mood:Amused
Cat adopts red panda cub: [BBC Video, no sound]
Ladybird book: [re-dubbed into Modern].
One for Katy: Trailer for Hamlet 2
Last night I had one of those anxiety dreams where you're in a stage production but don't know the words and the curtains don't fully open, and the instruments don't work and the audience is restless and everything goes wrong. Worst bit was that it was a Take That revival show, and I was in it. So was Robbie Williams, though I'm not sure he was playing himself.
Last night I had one of those anxiety dreams where you're in a stage production but don't know the words and the curtains don't fully open, and the instruments don't work and the audience is restless and everything goes wrong. Worst bit was that it was a Take That revival show, and I was in it. So was Robbie Williams, though I'm not sure he was playing himself.
There's another election due, of course - LJ Advisory Board, and our very own
seph_hazard needs endorsing before she can get into the running [here]. I've endorsed her as a candidate.
Benny Hill, Doctor Who, Eminem. Three great tastes that ... um ... anyway.
[YouTube], really needs sound.
Sheer genius.
In other news: Italian government attempts to improve transparency by publishing everyone's tax returns, removes site after a doubtless incredulous scream of WTF from their own privacy watchdog - [BBC News]!
[YouTube], really needs sound.
Sheer genius.
In other news: Italian government attempts to improve transparency by publishing everyone's tax returns, removes site after a doubtless incredulous scream of WTF from their own privacy watchdog - [BBC News]!
- Mood:Impressed
- Music:Eminem, and Benny Hill.
From the [BBC]
"If no sexual offence is being committed it seems very odd indeed that there should be an offence for having an image of something which was not an offence," he said.A remarkably sensible article.
"Having engaged in it consensually would not be a crime, but to have a photograph of it in one's possession would be a crime. That does not seem to make sense to me."
You heard it hear first probably third:
A new remake of sci-fi series Blake's 7 could soon return to television screens, Sky One has revealed.BBC Story: [Blake's Seven Remake]
The satellite channel has given the green light for the development of two 60-minute scripts for a "potential event series".
Well, that sure saves me some time: [Titanic in 5 seconds] (youtube)
Wow. Some very cool footage of a robot here: YouTube Profile - so graceful!
Not for people who have a thing about spiders or the way they move, I suspect.
Not for people who have a thing about spiders or the way they move, I suspect.
RIP Gary Gygax: [Guardian Obituary] [James Wallis Commentary]
[Andrew Rilstone Reminisces] [Penny Arcade Tribute].
I played Dungeons and Dragons as a teenager, sometimes as often as twice weekly. Of course, soon I wanted to referee and there was too many books to buy, so I went for Runequest instead.
Then I discovered other genres, and went for Paranoia and then the Dr Who RPG (the FASA one) and then Toon and then GURPS and so on.
I haven't been near D&D for 20 years. But without D&D, there would have been no RQ for me, and without RQ aged 11 I wouldn't be still role-playing to this day.
Farewell Gary, I'll always be very grateful for what you did.
[Andrew Rilstone Reminisces] [Penny Arcade Tribute].
I played Dungeons and Dragons as a teenager, sometimes as often as twice weekly. Of course, soon I wanted to referee and there was too many books to buy, so I went for Runequest instead.
Then I discovered other genres, and went for Paranoia and then the Dr Who RPG (the FASA one) and then Toon and then GURPS and so on.
I haven't been near D&D for 20 years. But without D&D, there would have been no RQ for me, and without RQ aged 11 I wouldn't be still role-playing to this day.
Farewell Gary, I'll always be very grateful for what you did.
This is fascinating: a "zero-emission" sports car. [BBC Story]
Not sure how happy I'd be in a car with no airbags, but it actually looks rather sleek and cool. And a bit retro. Mmmm.
Not sure how happy I'd be in a car with no airbags, but it actually looks rather sleek and cool. And a bit retro. Mmmm.
I am now 38.
Some very cool stuff here: [Things made from paper]
Treehouses! - love the ball shaped one.
So, Katy, Gail and I are thinking about going to Maelstrom at Easter.
It's a four day live-action roleplay thing. Inna field. Details here: [Maelstrom].
Anyone else interested? Or if you're already going - can we use your newbie vouchers?
(It's also camping, so we'd need tents and the like. And near Kidderminster. And in costume. And yes, it is foam swords type stuff.)
It's a four day live-action roleplay thing. Inna field. Details here: [Maelstrom].
Anyone else interested? Or if you're already going - can we use your newbie vouchers?
(It's also camping, so we'd need tents and the like. And near Kidderminster. And in costume. And yes, it is foam swords type stuff.)
- Mood:Reading the rules
In other news, it has been revealed that Mr. Potato Head has crab for brains and he seems to be getting a lot of tentacle invasion: [BBC (really) Story]
- Mood:Hoping Em sees this
In my xmas stocking I found the following, on vinyl as it happens:

( Track Listing )
As far as I can tell Flins are some sort of Gloucestershire Glam Rock combo. The album started promisingly with the rather catchy "Thrice I called thee, Bitches!" (with its wonderfully unexpected harp solo) and was partway through the less promising "Everyone's Up In Nigel" when the stereo decided to fold, mutilate and spindle. I'm using the debris as a collage.
( Track Listing )
As far as I can tell Flins are some sort of Gloucestershire Glam Rock combo. The album started promisingly with the rather catchy "Thrice I called thee, Bitches!" (with its wonderfully unexpected harp solo) and was partway through the less promising "Everyone's Up In Nigel" when the stereo decided to fold, mutilate and spindle. I'm using the debris as a collage.
SteamPunch struck a nerve when the suggestion was put to me, it's such a great idea to combine the two, and the name is one of those immediately obvious ones that all projects wish they had.
Most of the building work was done between Boxing Day and the night itself - but prior to that I'd done the all important obsessive thinking part.
envoy had given me some drinking straw piping for Xmas, which made for some very nice detail on the box. Cheers!
The box was a shoulder mounted booth, labelled "The Prendergast Mk IV Mobile Puppet Engine". Mr. Punch could duck entirely down inside, and then spring back up facing in a different direction. It had (until he knocked it off) an uplight in one corner he could loom over, which suited his features horribly. (c:
I'm going to need to make some more puppets for a whole show, and make some changes to Mr. Punch himself, as he's been an interesting lesson in what's useful vs. what's pretty.
Annotated pictures, here: [SteamPunch!] (warning, contains Mr. Punch)
I quickly realised most of the public weren't interested in long interactions, just the initial shock of the puppet emerging from the box and it was too loud for dialogue, so we stuck to the quieter areas where people were coming past and hooted at them. Lots of "Happy New Year" and a little of Mr.P. asking if some of them were boys or girls, or asking if that's a mask or they're really unlucky and so on. This gave people an opportunity to see me before I saw them and then decide how much they wanted to interact too - interestingly the only people who touched the puppet were women, three of whom tried to pull him off to see if my hand was underneath.
It was a rousing success. I have a fairly clear idea of what needs to be done next, both in terms of SteamPunch being a complete show and also alterations to himself to make him more practical. Many thanks to the hosts, for inviting me and to
asrana for driving, teching and being my personal aide during.
It was also very good fun for us to be able to drop in at Leviathan on the way home and get such a great welcome. Incidentally, the tache is staying...
Other people seem to be interested in how it turns out too...
ETA: More pics here: [BurningCam]
Most of the building work was done between Boxing Day and the night itself - but prior to that I'd done the all important obsessive thinking part.
The box was a shoulder mounted booth, labelled "The Prendergast Mk IV Mobile Puppet Engine". Mr. Punch could duck entirely down inside, and then spring back up facing in a different direction. It had (until he knocked it off) an uplight in one corner he could loom over, which suited his features horribly. (c:
I'm going to need to make some more puppets for a whole show, and make some changes to Mr. Punch himself, as he's been an interesting lesson in what's useful vs. what's pretty.
Annotated pictures, here: [SteamPunch!] (warning, contains Mr. Punch)
I quickly realised most of the public weren't interested in long interactions, just the initial shock of the puppet emerging from the box and it was too loud for dialogue, so we stuck to the quieter areas where people were coming past and hooted at them. Lots of "Happy New Year" and a little of Mr.P. asking if some of them were boys or girls, or asking if that's a mask or they're really unlucky and so on. This gave people an opportunity to see me before I saw them and then decide how much they wanted to interact too - interestingly the only people who touched the puppet were women, three of whom tried to pull him off to see if my hand was underneath.
It was a rousing success. I have a fairly clear idea of what needs to be done next, both in terms of SteamPunch being a complete show and also alterations to himself to make him more practical. Many thanks to the hosts, for inviting me and to
It was also very good fun for us to be able to drop in at Leviathan on the way home and get such a great welcome. Incidentally, the tache is staying...
Other people seem to be interested in how it turns out too...
ETA: More pics here: [BurningCam]
Well, Christmas is over, and New Year has passed.
I shall be uploading pictures from the NYE event I was performing at shortly!
I shall be uploading pictures from the NYE event I was performing at shortly!
Merry Xmas!
Went to see The Golden Compass last night and enjoyed it immensely. Lyra was marvellous, and the bears were very very cool indeed.
Also saw this trailer: [Inkheart] which looks like it'll be a lot of fun. Andy Serkis appears to be enjoying himself, and according to the IMDB Brendan Fasier is the author's choice for the part of the father, having also read the audiobooks...
Also saw this trailer: [Inkheart] which looks like it'll be a lot of fun. Andy Serkis appears to be enjoying himself, and according to the IMDB Brendan Fasier is the author's choice for the part of the father, having also read the audiobooks...
Some really nice stuff in the other sections too - but what I'm most impressed by is how fiddly these must have been: [Carved Crayons]
Michael Bond gives the Government a Hard Stare: [BBC Story]
Luckily it's possible to tow a stricken tanker a long way from shore. How far exactly? Well...
You tube link, SFW, needs sound: [The Front Fell Off]
You tube link, SFW, needs sound: [The Front Fell Off]
Great news in prosthetics [BBC Story], and not a quote from Kevin Warwick in sight!
Aww - sweet! [Stop Motion on YouTube] (worksafe, has music)
- If you woke up and I was in your bed with you, what would be your first thought?
If you woke up and you were in my bed with me, what would be your first thought?
Oh pretty! [Pictures by Jacek Yerka]
In more way than one: [Be Kind, Rewind]
Happy Halloween!
Designed by H, carved by S
Also: [Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal] a comic with a surprisingly addictive 'random' button...
Aargh! And the worst thing is, with a [Peter Davison/David Tennant] sketch, I'm being bribed. I want to see that. But .. gah!
Damn you, bear!
Urban exploration and some great photos: [Drains of Canada]
Oh, and Zero Punctuation reviews The Orange Box (including Portal) [here], which requires sound and is only safe for workplaces that tolerate swearing...
Oh, and Zero Punctuation reviews The Orange Box (including Portal) [here], which requires sound and is only safe for workplaces that tolerate swearing...
As I was telling someone recently, I'd had a "big book of facts" as a kid which had included the World Calendar, and had found the idea fascinating. As the clocks go back this weekend (in the UK, which you knew, right?) I was reminded, and went and found them: [www.theworldcalendar.org]
And they have perhaps the most reasonable slogan ever "...helping to adopt the World Calendar by making sure the world has at least considered it." Which is brilliant in a "What do we want? What ever you deign to give us! When do we want it? Whenever's good for you!" kinda way.
In 2006 the World Calendar and the actual Western calendar were in synch for a few months, and so they urged people to try the World Calendar for those months, to see if they liked it. While I think that's neat the idea of adopting a system while it exactly matches what you're already unthinkingly doing seems a little like changing from walking to school not being followed by bears to walking to school not being followed by baby monsters.
In other news I dreamt I was Dracula, but an odd Coupling style Dracula.
"I know who you are."
"Well, you think you recognise me, but you know, I've got one of those faces. I probably remind you of..."
"You're Dracula."
"No no, *shit* did you say 'Dracula'? Fuck. Okay. Wow - you're real observant."
In the dream I looked like Jonathan Rhys Meyers and was running up walls in a parkour-ish kinda way, only with more verticality. I think at various points it was a video game, too....
And they have perhaps the most reasonable slogan ever "...helping to adopt the World Calendar by making sure the world has at least considered it." Which is brilliant in a "What do we want? What ever you deign to give us! When do we want it? Whenever's good for you!" kinda way.
In 2006 the World Calendar and the actual Western calendar were in synch for a few months, and so they urged people to try the World Calendar for those months, to see if they liked it. While I think that's neat the idea of adopting a system while it exactly matches what you're already unthinkingly doing seems a little like changing from walking to school not being followed by bears to walking to school not being followed by baby monsters.
In other news I dreamt I was Dracula, but an odd Coupling style Dracula.
"I know who you are."
"Well, you think you recognise me, but you know, I've got one of those faces. I probably remind you of..."
"You're Dracula."
"No no, *shit* did you say 'Dracula'? Fuck. Okay. Wow - you're real observant."
In the dream I looked like Jonathan Rhys Meyers and was running up walls in a parkour-ish kinda way, only with more verticality. I think at various points it was a video game, too....
Free folded paper skull [here]!
This is going to be stupid, but looks like it'll be lots of fun while doing it: ["Enchanted" Trailer, via Apple]
Plays sound, doesn't need it: [www.hiddenpassageway.com] (does need some sort of flash type thing, I'm guessing.)
In other news a lorry containing live chickens has crashed in Scotland. Police say to avoid the area as the tailbacks are no yoking matter. [BBC Story]
Hmmm. I'm sure someone can make a better(/worse depending on point of view) punchline.
Anyone?
In other news a lorry containing live chickens has crashed in Scotland. Police say to avoid the area as the tailbacks are no yoking matter. [BBC Story]
Hmmm. I'm sure someone can make a better(/worse depending on point of view) punchline.
Anyone?
Here's your first distraction: [Daft Hands]
Safe for work, needs sound as it's music and that.
Safe for work, needs sound as it's music and that.
From an interview with John Barrowman [here] ( Spoilerish, but not unexpected )
- Mood:
amused