I actually did a George today!

I was at school and there was an almost empty bag of really tasty cookies (or biscuits as they call em here in new zealand) and so i pulled the whole bag out, grabbed the last cookie and threw the empty bag in the trash (or rubbish bin as they call it here). But as I threw the bag in the bin i noticed that there was one more cookie inside. Trouble is I didn't realize this (or realise as they spell it here) until it was too late. When the bag landed, the cookie fell out into the somewhat soggy bottom of the bin. So me being me, I said "shit" (or bloody hell as they say here) (because I really would have liked to have had that last cookie), thought for about one second, shrugged my shoulders and reached back into the bin. At which point, another student happened to walk by and saw me as I grabbed food from the trash. She looked at me like I was an animal (or stupid asshole as they say here). My face turned red, I smiled sheepishly and then I did something that can only be understood if you know me--I indicated with my hand that I was going to return the cookie to the bin but as soon as she turned away (in disgust i might add), I stopped short of placing the cookie back inside. As soon as I was sure she was gone, I walked back to my desk, wiped the wetness from the biscuit (i think it landed in some old coffee), and (only somewhat guiltily) ate it.

Just another in a long list of things to like about Kiwis

check out this billboard ad for Hell pizza--a new zealand mainstay.

Check out ARCast

according to NZ Recruiter, ARCast is gonna be doing a live monthly cast on software and infrastructure architecture community in New Zealand. could be interesting and worth a listen.

Iraq - The Hidden Story: American Atrocities

shows in graphic detail one of the many reasons why the usa should not be in iraq.

this is only part of a bigger documentary. you can see the full documentary at http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3519855663545752103

Here's to you, George

this one really sneaks up on you. starts slowly with a very poignent speech about how things really work in good ol USA and by the end you're laughing out loud.

without further ado...

Today's Lesson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gmP4nk0EOE

It's Cool When You...

...give the train conductor your train pass, which he punctures with his handy little train pass puncturer, he hands you back the train pass which you then place in the book you're reading and then when you go to put the train pass back in your wallet...it's gone.

that's cool.

Barbie v Bratz: and the winner is...?

just saw this article...toys are fun and all but it's serious business. can barbie stop the slide with this high tech gizmoid? hard to say. but certainly it incorporates many of the things that seem to attract today's kids: customizability, interactivity, music, personalization, socialising, etc...

as much as barbie is not exactly the image of womanhood that i want to pass on to my daughter, i have to admit Bratz makes Barbie look like Gloria Steinam. So here's hoping this new strategy does work--cause Bratz is just plain wrong

handsome's in auckland!

saw the handsome family in auckland yesterday (see a review of their work at the new zealand herald http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1501119/story.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10422029 )

I won't use the overused word surreal to describe the experience...

But when they started playing Arlene, it was like I was back in Wicker Park. I kept looking around the packed club thinking I'd see people I knew, but of course didn't. What I realized is how much a part o my life they were--they practically were the running soundtrack to all of our shenanigans (well, them and nirvana). ultimately, it put a smile on my face--those were good times.

anyway, they were the same handsome family--new songs--but the same two people--Rennie telling these seemingly pointless (i said seemingly) little stories between songs while Brett fiddled with the sound and occasionally talked over what she was saying. and of course, they bickered on stage when one of them started playing too soon or too late or when they couldn't decide which song to play next or when brett talked over what she was saying. she kept calling him Colonel and one time she said "he sure looks perty, but that one ain't too smart". i laughed a lot (others in the club didn't laugh so much). they ended the night with a song i hadn't heard before--one where he keeps talking about being close to death (a rope around his neck, gravel in his mouth etc)... and yet that's how he knew she was near (funny!). they still know how to bring a little ray of sunshine into a gloomy world.