New fangled things

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New fangled things, originally uploaded by MollsMusings.

I hadn’t seen these before (Liz tells me that they’ve been in Meadowhell for some time) – they are for drying your hands, without touching and quickly.

You stick your hands in the top and strong gusts of air dry them in 10 seconds!

Wow! what will that talented Mr Dyson think of next?

Having said that I did notice a lot of people ignoring them or being confused by them – so many they won’t catch on?

Tools

Cans
Originally uploaded by Ms. Moll.

I’m sure that I’m not the first photographer to have had this said to them – and I know I won’t be the last.

When I was taking some shots of Tom working on his street art he commented something along the lines of – “your photos are good as you have a really expensive flash camera”.

I pointed out to him very quickly that his art must only be as good as it is as he has the best paints available? He got my point.

Why do people assume that the reason I’m able to take good photos is that I have a good camera!? What about my ability as a photographer? If I gave them my kit to use would they be able to take stunning photos? I’d question if most of them would even know how to turn the bloody thing on!

What really pisses me off about comments like this is the stupidity behind the statement – especially when it comes from seemingly intelligent people.

So if I were to go out and buy the most expensive paints, brushes and canvas I’d be able to paint like Monet or Turner would I?!

Bejesus

Jesus in jeans
Originally uploaded by Ms. Moll.

I love the word ‘bejesus’, it’s great! Don’t ask me why, it just pleases me!

Anyway, with the earthquake last night I’ve had the occasion to use the word a few times today – ‘the earthquake scared the bejesus out of me’.

I thought I’d better look it up and make sure that I was using it in the correct context, so I consulted the tome of knowledge that is The Free Dictionary and it had this to say -

be·je·sus (b-jzs, -j-)
n. Slang
Used as an intensive: The bear scared the bejesus out of us.
[Alteration of by Jesus.]

So, I was right. Go check out the entry (link above) and you can hear some American guy say it out loud! Whilst you are at it, look up and listen to the word ‘discombobulate’, another favourite word of mine!

The earth moved – couldn’t think of a more original title!

Well, I’ve lived through my first earthquake – and yes, it did wake me up! In fact it scared the hell out of me – everything in my bedroom shook, I originally thought it was a very strong gust of wind (my house is on a rather exposed hill). After going round the house checking I got back into bed and checked the internet, since it was only about 5 minutes after the quake (which happened just before 1am) the only thing I found was the funny parody below. Finding it again this morning took some doing with every website and forum in the UK discussing the ‘event’.

A major earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale hit Sheffield in the early hours of Wednesday 15th October 2003. The epicentre was the Manor. Casualties were seen wandering aimlessly saying “bang out of order”, “mental” and “that did my head in”.

The earthquake decimated the area causing in excess of £17.55 worth of damage. Several priceless collections of momentos from Ibiza and Corfu were damaged beyond repair. Three preserved areas of historic burnt out cars were disturbed. Many locals were woken well before their giro arrived.

The Star reported that hundreds of residents were confused and bewildered. They are still trying to come to terms with the fact that the damage and destruction was caused by something else instead of them.

One resident Tracey Sharon Smith, a 15 year old mother of four said “it was such a shock, little Chardonnay-Leigh came running through the cardboard door into my bedroom crying. My youngest two,Tyler-Brooklyn and Kai-Keanu slept through it all. My hands were shaking so much I could hardly shoot up when I was watching Trisha the next morning.

Another local resident known as ‘Mally’ said that the earthquake would not stop him going to work, after all, the T.W.O.C’ing, burglaries and graffiti would not do themselves.

The British Red Cross has so far managed to ship 4,000 crates of Sunny Delight to the area to help with the crisis.

Rescue workers are still searching through the rubble and have found large quantities of personal belongings, which include benefit books, jewellery from Elizabeth Dukes, Bone China from Poundstretcher and a number of Argos catalogues.

How can you help? This appeal hopes to raise money for food and clothing parcels for those unfortunate enough to be caught up in the disaster. Clothing is most sought after. Most needed are Kappa or other tracksuits (his and hers), white socks to tuck the tracksuit bottoms into, Burberry caps, woolly ‘Benny’ hats and Reebok trainers. Primark clothing is most welcome.

Food parcels are also needed. They should include McCains Micro-chips, Aldi beans, Monster munch crisps, Nuttella chocolate spread and Iceland pizzas. Alcohol is also in short supply, mainly Lambrini, White Lightning cider and Carlsberg Special Brew. Cash donations are also needed, 22p buys a Bic Biro for signing on purposes, £1.50 buys cheese and chips and £26 buys 200 Regal from ‘Tommo’ who has just got back from Kavos.

A dilemma

As most of my friends and family will know, I haven’t bought anything made by Nestle for at least 5 years now (for the reasons see here), but today I had a dilemma in Netto.

I got to the checkout with my two bottles of wine, and the girl put them through the scanner and then got up and wandered off, returning with a box of After Eights.

She scanned the box through and put it with the rest of my shopping. I protested that they weren’t mine, but she assured me that they were as they were free with the wine.

So, should I have accepted them or stuck to my boycott of Nestle?

As you can see, I ended up bringing them home. Well, why not, if someone wants to give me free chocolates.

Nothing to do with the fact that I really love After Eights (I miss them almost as much as I miss Smarties).

War on Terror?!?

(Image from here, piece by Penny Byrne)

Friday, 11th January 2008 marks the 6th anniversary of the first ‘war on terror’ detainees being transported to the US military prison in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. Since then the US have detained over 700 men without access to a full and fair trail, 300 still remain – many have suffered ill-treatment and torture.

To mark the anniversary Amnesty International are holding a demonstration outside the US embassy. I can’t make it, but if you would like to go details can be found here.

It seems amazing that the US and UK continue to condemn oppressive regimes, torture and murder in other countries yet they continue to treat people in Guantánamo Bay little better than animals.

If you can’t make the demonstration please sign the petition to close the military prison.

Country Life

Although I was born, and now live in, a city, I grew up in the countryside of Gloucestershire. Over the years I’ve watched the rural way of life disappearing, the local town becoming a replica of so many others across the country with chain stores and fast food outlets.

Now as I have just got to know (and love) another small town, Penistone (in South Yorkshire), I see the same thing happening with Tesco soon to build a superstore. A recreation ground and the old cattle market area will be flattened to make way for the temple to consumerism, which will probably rip the heart out of what remains of the town.

John has been photographing the amazing sights and people who are still working in and using this unique piece of Yorkshire history, before it’s all gone – see the slideshow.

I’ve been listening to a lot of Show of Hands recently and one song in particular made me think of all this.

Listen to the words…..

Coke madness!

Coca-cola should be careful, their desperation is beginning to show with a myriad of new coke products appearing on the market.

You might remember (if you are sad enough to have followed my blog for any length of time) that I’ve commented on this before. But the latest two products seem to me to be pure craziness!

‘Diet Coke plus’ – two new products, one with added vitamins and the other with antioxidant (whatever they mean by that)!

Surely if you have a good balanced diet (eg. without junk like diet coke with it’s million teaspoons of sweetener) you would get all the vitamins you might need, and antioxidants?, Well, tap water is free and without all the ‘extra’ rubbish that’s in coke.

I guess I noticed these today more for two reasons; my brother has just visited and left six cans of diet coke in my cupboard (where they will remain until his next visit), and because last night I watched a documentary about the Coca-Cola Company and it’s practices around the world.

I didn’t learn much new from the programme;

• the union blocking in South America
• the dewatering of whole regions of India
• the use of excessive caffeine to keep people addicted
• gurilla marketing to children – especially in schools
• campaigns to discourage people from drinking tap water

None of it news to me, but hopefully others will have tuned in and had their eyes opened to what the world’s ‘favourite’ beverage company are up to – and feel moved to boycott them.

Oh, and don’t forget that Coca-Cola also own the following drinks:-

• Buxton Water
• Fanta
• Dr Pepper
• Sprite
• Oasis
• Minute Maid
• Powerade
• Lilt
• and of course all the different types of Coke

Just so you know what you are drinking if you try these new ‘plus’ products they are ‘fortified with over 50% of your recommended daily amounts of….’

• Vitamin plus – Niacin (Vitamin B3), Vitamin B12 and Vitamin C
• Antioxidant plus – Green Tea and Antioxidant (Vitamin C)

Oh, and as the bottle says – ‘Enjoy diet Coke plus as part of a healthy balanced lifestyle’ – whatever the hell that means!?!

To make your own mind up you’ll need to visit these two websites -

Killer Coke
Coca-Cola company website

Don’t touch me – I don’t like it!

People with their bloody iPods drive me bananas, especially in the quiet carriage of trains.

I know I’ve mentioned this before, but it’s something that really amazes me – how fucking selfish people can be.

There is one coach on a train where noise is meant to be kept to a minimum – no mobiles or music, so that people can sleep or work in peace. I have to admit that I think this is a bit draconian, I’ve no objections to mobiles on silent and quiet telephone conversations (often quieter than people talking or children misbehaving – don’t get me started on that one!), I even don’t care if someone wants to listen to their stereo. But what really winds me up is the tinny ‘tsk tsk tsk’ of earphone leak.

If people must listen to something so load as to render them deaf to all but nuclear detonation in the seat next to them, it would be good if they could invest in a decent set of earphones which don’t leak noise.

So, when someone is sat near to me with their music so loud that I can hear it, I don’t think it unreasonable to politely ask them to turn it down.

Since the young girl on the train today was sat a few seats in front of me I reached over and lightly touched her arm to gain her attention and politely asked her to turn it down. After about 5 minutes I realised that she’d turned it up again.

“DON’T TOUCH ME” she bellowed at me, “I DON’T LIKE IT”

‘Well fine, I understand, but turn your bloody music down then’ I wanted to say but decided not to. Luckily she got off at the next station.

Dancing in the darkness

For those who want to see what Mr Fox was really like -

Strange?!