…..I much prefer bananas. We’ve been stood in this bloody apple shop for hours waiting for Brenda’s iMac and Powerbook to be done (don’t ask me what’s being done I don’t know).
I can’t believe that I’ve managed to spend the whole day in Meadowhell and managed not to buy anything, although i am tempted by a Powerbook – maybe another day when I know that I’m not just buying it ’cause I’m bored!!
Having done a number of excellent non-religious ceremonies such as Gee’s Blessingway and Mum’s funeral my Aunt (Gee) and her partner (Diane) have launched a new company called ‘Mardia’.
They will be offering Secular Spiritual Ceremonies for those who want to mark a significant event without turning to conventional religion. The ceremonies, are a mixture of different elements drawn from many faiths and believe systems, and are individually written for the occasion (with input encouraged from the participants).
When I have an email address for them I’ll add it to my links.
It’s my turn to choose the Pick of the Week for the Sheffield Phlickr Blog so for those of you who don’t look at Flickr (or can’t!) I thought I’d post my choices here.
Rainbow and Hubs – martsky
There have been some amazing rainbows in Sheffield this week, but I rarely bother to get my camera out for them as I don’t ever seem to do them justice. Martsky has seen an opportunity here and taken a great shot – a one off! If only the National Centre for Popular Music was still around, I feel sure that this would be a photo they would certainly want to use in their publicity.
Garden Street – Clydehouse
I had to choose this one by Andrew, the lighting is great, and the black and white is perfect. I love old buildings, and finding one that hasn’t been ‘modernised’ or mucked about with is always a joy. This photo could have been taken 100 years ago. It’s such a shame that we are losing these lovely buildings to the ‘lifestyle’ apartment boom.
Sunday Morning part 1- Insane Hedgehog
After Insane Hedgehog’s request in the discussions for more portraits in the Sheffield group, I think he really stepped up to the mark with this photo. The subject is great, the title is perfect and the use of lighting is just spot on. I aspire to portrait photography like this.
A tidy mess – paolo margari
And an honourable mention must go to Paolo Margari’s close-up of the Arts Tower. I didn’t recognise it at first, and I’m a sucker for shots like this.
ice
Originally uploaded by ian russell.
I love these drawings!
Another fantastic cartoon from Harold’s Planet
Cold
Originally uploaded by herzensart.
the heating isn’t working again (same every year). I’m working at the kitchen table (doing battle with the Defra database) wearing my 4 season sleeping bag. Hopefully Colin will fix the pump tonight, we do at least have hot water.
Anyway, if I was a polar bear I wouldn’t have to deal with the Defra database either!
Although of those of you who have seen the Al Gore film ‘an inconvenient truth’ you’ll know what I mean when I say that I’m really glad I’m not a polar bear (that bit of the film made me cry).
….I’ve decided to confess my guilty secret – I’m a secret Eminem fan! Okay, it’s not earth shattering (sorry to disappoint you!). But a guess I’m not your average Eminem fan – or maybe I am?
The theory I have is that it’s stems from the fact that I used to be really into hip-hop, today on the radio I actually heard The Beastie Boys for the first time in ages (it’s come to something when they make it onto the Radio 2 playlist!), maybe I’ll revisit my hip-hop favourites – LL Cool J, Public Enemy, Eric B & Rakim, Run DMC and lots more I can’t remember!!
I even went to the Brixham Academy and the Hammersmith Odeon to see all the above (except Eminem who wasn’t around then) with my ex (in 1987 I think) – much to my mother’s disgust!
…for those of you who read my blog – I have know idea who does (!) it would be really nice if you left me a comment every now and again?
I wouldn’t normally post these things on my blog, but it’s Monday morning and this one is great!
BEST LAWYER STORY OF THE YEAR, DECADE AND PROBABLY THE CENTURY.
Charlotte, North Carolina. A lawyer purchased a box of very rare and expensive cigars, then insured them against, among other things,fire.
Within a month, having smoked his entire stockpile of these great cigars and without yet having made even his first premium payment on the policy the lawyer filed a claim against the insurance company.
In his claim, the lawyer stated the cigars were lost “in a series of small fires.
The insurance company refused to pay, citing the obvious reason, that the man had consumed the cigars in the normal fashion.
The lawyer sued.. and WON!
(Stay with me.)
Delivering the ruling, the judge agreed with the insurance company that the claim was frivolous. The judge stated nevertheless, that the lawyer held a policy from the company, which it had warranted that the cigars were insurable and also guaranteed that it would insure them against fire, without defining what is considered to be unacceptable fire” and was obligated to pay the claim.
Rather than endure lengthy and costly appeal process, the insurance company accepted the ruling and paid $15,000 to the lawyer for his loss of the cigars lost in the “fires”.
NOW FOR THE BEST PART.
After the lawyer cashed the check, the insurance company had him arrested on 24 counts of ARSON!!!
With his own insurance claim and testimony from the previous case being used against him, the lawyer was convicted of intentionally burning his insured property and was sentenced to 24 months in jail and a $24,000 fine.
This is a true story and was the First Place winner in the recent Criminal Lawyers Award Contest.
ONLY IN AMERICA!
NO WONDER THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES THINK THERE’RE NUTS
Pollution
Monday, 30 October, 2006Comic genius Tom Lehrer wrote the following song in the 1950s, not much has changed.
If you visit American city
You will find it very pretty
Just two things of which you must beware
Don’t drink the water and don’t breathe the air
Pollution, pollution
They got smog and sewage and mud
Turn on your tap
And get hot and cold running crud
See the halibuts and the sturgeons
Being wiped out by detergeons
Fish gotta swim and birds gotta fly
But they don’t last long if they try
Pollution, pollution
You can use the latest toothpaste
And then rinse your mouth
With industrial waste
Just go out for a breath of air
And you’ll be ready for Medicare
The city streets are really quite a thrill
If the hoods don’t get you, the monoxide will
Pollution, pollution
Wear a gas mask and a veil
Then you can breathe
Long as you don’t inhale
Lots of things there that you can drink
But stay away from the kitchen sink
The breakfast garbage that you throw in to the bay
They drink as lunch in San José
So go to the city
See the crazy people there
Like lambs to the slaughter
They’re drinking the water
And breathing, cough, the air
And if you fancy a laugh visit here to hear Tom Lehrer sing the Periodic table, and an animation.
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