I was very bored this afternoon and for lack of anything better to do was going through the emails in my Junk Email folder in an attempt to pass the last couple of hours before home time. Sad, I know.

What should I find mixed in amongst all the rubbish but an email from a real life fan! At least I think it was as they weren't trying to sell me shares or 'enlargement' pills.

Anyhoo, if you are reading this Michelle F, thanks for the kind words and feel free to say hello anytime. Sorry it took me a few days.

And now the weekend beckons and I'm off to do this.

Yay for our robot overlords!



(link via The Presurfer)

The 700 Hoboes Project.

Edit: Not to be confused with this (so I could only find the Spanish version - it's still going to be stuck in my head for the rest of the day. I could of course buy the original version...)

An interesting clip of President Bush answering the question on whether he did not act on the Bin Laden threat before September 11th. Notice how he doesn't answer but uses it as an excuse to churn out the same old stuff. This is why I never trust politicians.

For those that don't know what prompted the question you may want to watch the Clinton interview on Fox. Sure it's big news in the US but can't say I've heard much about it over here.

Some of the responses are interesting...

Ah. Something to do instead of work today...

Live hot puppet chat. Nuff said...

The moves of Micheal Jackson and Justin Trousersnail combined and the voice of a smurf - this dude is something else.

I had yet another letter today from the TV licencing people. Once again they tell me that enforcement officers will be visiting shortly but then that's no great suprise as they have been saying that for 4 months. The letter also states what equipment they will be looking for and one of the things on the list is "A Computer". Not a computer with a TV card, just a computer. So I decided to email the following to them to see exactly what response they give and where I stand. Should be interesting...

"There are a couple of points that I am not clear on regarding who requires a licence which are not answered on your web site.

I am aware that if you have any peice of equipment capable of receiving authorised broadcast programmes you need a licence. However as both the BBC and Channel 4 now stream TV programs directly over the internet (which I know you need a licence to watch), does simply having an internet enabled computer class as having equipment capable of viewing live TV programs even if you do not use it for that purpose? How do you intend to prove that someone does not use it for this prupose?

Your own FAQ states that you need a licence to watch programs broadcast from outside the UK. Again does this include internet streamed content from other countries?

Thank you in advance."

You'll notice that even watching programs from other countries means the BBC gets paid. Cheeky buggers.

Don't you just love looking at other peoples websites? Sure I've seen this guy somewhere before... Ah yes, say it with me folk - Blue Steel!



One last thing, hits is not the same as visitors on your stats.

A little political message from Mr Ireland on behalf of the lib dems. Good stuff although this is still my favourite bit of animation from him.

It's coming. Honest. Maybe not in the next few weeks but definitely in the next few months. I know I've said that before but really this time I mean it. I've had my coloured pencils out recently and with tongue firmly stuck out and look of concentration on my face been working on some stuff.

In the meantime I've been getting my hand back in (so to speak) by doing a website for Miss C. Not a personal one but something for her office. I do the hard work creating the template, she gets the credit and just has to learn how to update it.

Well technically I 'borrowed' a template (at her request) designed by someone in our web section. I did however fix all the flaws, simplify it and make it much betterer! But shhhh, that's a secret.

I'll take two please! Radio controled plane + VR goggles = wicked toy.

Things that have annoyed me recently.

1. Richard Hammond. Not the bloke himself as I quite like him as a presenter, more his accident and how it was reported. This was headline news for days! Really, he's not that important. I listened to the news on the radio one day and the main headline was that he'd taken his first steps since the accident whilst the second most important story was thirty people dying in a bomb blast in Iraq. Talk about priorities....

2. Kinda related. Why is it that reporters have to actually go and stand in front of a hospital or police station or whatever to give a report? There is nothing to see, it's just a building! Total waste of time and effort.

3. Sandy Tom. Nothing against her as an artist and she's done well but really, her lyrics sound like they were written by a 12 year old! "You'll always be this handsome and your weight will never gain and when I give birth to our children, I will feel no pain." Gimme a break....

Worried about sending sensitive information over the internet? Worry no longer with Spammimic. Your email may get intercepted but they'll just delete it as junk anyway.

No really, this can't be serious? Can it?

Business Bib.

A list of useful body tricks. The one about staying stable when drunk is quite handy....

New engine powered by microwaves - gets you where you want to go and does a mean baked potato I expect.

Still, I doubt we'll get to see it as we'll have all been sucked into a black hole before then. 1 in 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 chance my arse - I've seen episodes of Justice League!!

Lots of drums.

(link via Worcesterfari)

Maybe this will wake me up - Gigi D'Agostino - The Riddle.



Would I appear sad if I said I liked the original version too? Maybe thats a little too europop. I actually prefer this song of his.

What the hell, if I'm sticking these up I may as well link back to one of my fave animations/songs which I've always thought should be my theme song. Look out for the bunny with 3.5 on his chest...

I get the feeling it's going to be one of those weeks. My alarm went of at six and I dragged myself out of bed, got dressed, made a cup of tea and sat down at the computer to see what was going on in the world. It was at this point that I noticed my computer was telling me it was 4:41am. Check my watch, same.

Apparently I managed to change the time on my alarm clock - probably as I was bashing the ten year old hunk of crap the night before in an attempt to tune the radio in. I finished my cuppa before heading back to bed but found sleep very hard to come by. That is of course until just before I was due to get up when I fell into a really deep sleep. Being woken up a second time and from such a sound slumber has left my head throbbing slightly.

Roll on another productive day....

Panda bites man - man bites back.

My boss was looking at me very strangely when he came down to talk to me earlier today. Not sure why as I'd actually shaved today, had smart clothes on and plenty of deodorant. Could have been the pirate hat I was wearing at the time I suppose....

Nah.

I know there are a lot of weird MySpace people out there and here is one of them. He's a warrior. On the edge of time. Hopefully he'll fall off.

Of course I shouldn't really be looking around MySpace anyway as it's a scary and dangerous place.

"Also only minutes after signing up for the sites the researchers uncovered links to pornographic images."

Dudes, just stick the word "Breasts" in Google image search and it'll take you a lot less than a few minutes!

Cat that seems obsessed with flushing the toilet. Well, everyone needs a hobby I guess.

I've always thought that as well as going on grades they should maybe give some sort of basic intelligence test before they let people into higher education. An email conversation (paraphrased):

User: I am unable to receive emails. Need HELP!!1

My reply: Do you mean you can receive some emails and not others or you can receive no emails at all? (can you see where this is going)

User: I can't receive any emails at all!!

My Reply: Well, I hate to point out the obvious but you just replied to my last email...

The more you drink the nore you earn. Or something like that anyway...

Apparently there are no more troops to send to Iraq. Might explain why they are trying so hard to recruit more. This might not be the west way of encouraging people tho...

These paper sculptures are pretty nifty.

I'm not sure what's going on here but it's always fun to watch a crazy woman.

Now none of ye scurvy dogs have forgotten what day it be t'morrow have ye? Cos if so ye may be needing a visit to Davey Jones...

This morning the new director of the department starts work. This morning I also look like shit. Two hours of tossing and turning before finally falling asleep and a 7am start have left me looking slightly worse for wear. The three days growth of stuble on my face doesn't help the overall image. I've tried to offset my haggard appearance somewhat by putting on my best shirt (although that was as much to do with it being on the floor right next to my trousers at the time and the pattern making it harder to see all the creases) but I'm not sure it'll work.

I'm sure she'll have more important things to worry about than me however. Yes, I said 'she'. The new director of IT is a woman. Not that it bothers me one jot - I'm all for more women in this mainly male business - but I am curious how others may view this change. Caution dictates I should say no more....

Of course I may not be around long enough to see how things work out. With one of my workmates applying for jobs already my own move away becomes more urgent - I'd rather not be last to abandon ship!

This may not be up for long so get it whilst you can - First five (probably early draft) pages of the Transformers movie script and spoiler photos.

The Breathing Earth.

It's Friday, I'm feeling lazy but that doesn't matter as it's still Hoff time!!! Todays offering include letting you get a little closer with Wax on, Wax Hoff, some great Hoff stuff and the news that Hoff: The Musical will be coming to a theatre near you, soon! I so will go to see that!

Makes me wish I had a telly so that I could have watched the Shatner roast.

I was down in London at the weekend visiting my best friend for probably the last time before she heads off to her new husband and new life over in SF. A sad day (for me) when she leaves....

The weekend was a good'un tho and we managed to fit a fair bit in. I went swimming for the first time in about two years and proved that I really do have to put more effort in than most people due to my innate lack of buoyancy. Seriously. I know most people can float around all day on their back but if I try (and I tried my front too in a classic 'floating corpse' move) my legs sink - swiftly followed by the rest of me. Think it comes from having very skinny legs but no, I'm not showing them to you. Well maybe if you ask nicely....

We discovered a new joy when it got to my favourite part of eating out - dessert sharers! Four tasty puddings on a plate and two spoons! It's an idea that I think all restaurants should use. Why waste time trying to decide which sugar rich delight you fancy when you can have them all? Best yet was that the plate of four cost less than two individual dessert - although I suspect each may have been a tad smaller. Still a bargain in my mind (and stomach) however.

Lasty I opened myself up like a beautiful flower embracing the early morning sun and absorbed more culture in one evening than I've been exposed to in at least a year. We went to the theatre luvvy! Only been twice before in my life - both times taken by the lovely Miss Mrs R - but this time we went to see a proper olde fashioned play called The Alchemist, or at least a modern day version (I'm fairly sure there weren't Fast Show references in the original).

I felt almost intellectual by the end of it.

I tried to embed this first time round but that was a little silly considering it's about twice the size of my text area. D'oh! So you just get a link instead.

Towelboy.

How to drink large amounts of vodka and not fall over. But where's the fun in that?

Only found out the other day that vodka can be made from all sorts of things and not just potatoes.

This ones going out to Bunni who is still hard at work on her Cthulhu bathmitt.

Stitchy McYarnpants and the museum of Kitschy Stiches.

Spambox. Could be handy if you need a temporary email address.

An interesting story - journalists charged with filming of a “critical national security structure”.

An interesting take on the relationship between Kirk and Spock - Closer.

This on the other hand is just interesting/weird/ambient - The inner life of a cell.

A new way to spend your time when staying in a hotel - BedJump.com.

Clicky.

Maybe I'm just being stupid but are you actually aloud to drive when blind?

I'm not going to comment on if I think this is a good or bad idea, just posting it. Anti-rape condom.

Something I'd never heard of before today - Mountain Top Removal Mining. It's about as bad as it sounds when you see the results...

It's nice to see new projects and ideas entering the mainstream.

Still, if these claims are true we'll all have free energy shortly anyway. I can imagine that would create an interesting world to live in...

Cell Phones found inside four prisoners. You have to feel sorry for the guy with the charger....

I'm feeling the urge to confess at the moment. Forgive me blog readers for I am a sad man. After noting the return of Dangermouse (is it Dangermouse, Danger Mouse or DangerMouse - I know not) to terrestrial UK TV and then linking to the intro for the fantastic follow on program Victor and Hugo, I decided to visit the Wikipedia page for DM. I wasn't impressed. Considering the wealth of information on the often forgotten Victor and Hugo (although I see now that this was the contribution of mainly one man) I was expecting much more from the DM page.

My main reason for surprise was that I know there is a tome of ancient DangerMouse knowledge and expected someone to quote from it. Alas this was not the case. Although some of these secrets have been passed down from site to site and exist still, the source has long since departed the virtual realms.

So what am I confessing to you may ask? Well, the tome in question goes by the name of "The Danger Mouse File" and when I got home I searched the vasteness of the Amazon marketplace and ordered myself a secondhand copy (whilst not exactly rare, there aren't too many copies about). My plan (if I have indeed bought the right book) is to scan the important bits and using a little Flash dohickery, become the only source for this information on the interwebnets!!

Why? Well, it'll give me a web project to do as frankly the redesign of this place has stalled due to lack of a "Eureka!" moment. And I also want to feel 'special'. I know I get about a thousand visitors a month but a good portion of those are people that arrive here searching for various random stuff (and whoever it is that keeps coming here looking for details about the Coventry Red Light district, I really dont know! I've only ever been there once. Coventry that is, not the red light district). It would be nice to know that BlogMonkey was the only place to go on the whole internet for the ultra top secret DM info.

We shall see anyway.

Now all I have to do is keep trying to find a very top secret cartoon website run by a certain young lady I know that still refuses to tell me where it resides. I will find you eventually you know.

I didn't get very far with this but it is pretty entertaining - Samorost2.

Cumming; The Fragrance. Get your mind out of the gutter - I know what you're thinking. My fave is Cumming All Over body lotion. Be sure to check out the commercial.

Merkin World. If you know what a merkin is (and for some reason I did), then I don't need to say anymore....

Entertaining and educational - thats what we like to see.

Respectfull tribute or slightly creepy - MyDeathSpace.com. You decide.

When I saw this function on HP digital cameras I really thought it was a joke. What next, a function to make you taller? Better looking? Have a bigger clevage?

If you want to look thinner, there are much better ways to do it. Ok, maybe that camera is looking pretty good after all...

(both links via The Presurfer)

Think I linked to a Flickr page of these a while ago but it looks like these squirrels have their own site now - photgraphing squirrels.

Quite like this tool - Hockneyizer.

(link via The Presurfer)

Seeing as I mentioned DM returning to TV yesterday, it seemed only apt that this pair should get a mention too.

Wine tasting robot. Personally I'll drink pretty much any wine anyway and if it's bad it just means I have to drink it faster to get to the next bottle. Would be fun to take to a restaurant and plonk it next to you when the waiter asks if you'd like to sample the wine tho.

"Robot says no...."

I was listening to my mp3 player on the way into work today when I got to an album I really like - False Smiles by Amy Studt. I bought that album a fair while ago and was curious as to if she had released another since so made a mental note to check on t'interwebnet when I got to work. As you can see from that wikipedia entry, she was dropped by Polydor (whose website - pretty as it is - is a mess to navigate in my opinion) for not selling enough albums. She sold over 100,000 in the UK alone. Seems a sad state of affairs when you can sell that many and the record company sees you as a failure.

Anyway, another artist of a similar vein to check out is Holly Brook. May have heard her on the track Where'd You Go by Fort Minor which seems to be getting some airplay on the DAB stations I listen to.

Hmmmmm, interesting.

"In the core, the fastest increase seen was of the order of 30 parts per million (ppm) by volume over a period of roughly 1,000 years. The last 30 ppm of increase has occurred in just 17 years."

I know there is no clear sign what impact this might have but you'd think most people would guess it wasn't a good thing.

Of course, some people don't think CO2 is the cause of global warming.

But it's all ok cos they have found more oil.

Now this is great news - the return of Dangermouse to TV. Or it woul dbe if I had a TV. Still, a whole new generation will learn about the 'white wonder' and start muttering "Oooooooh look chief - Heffalumps!"

I'm not really sure what this is all about but it kept me going "wuh??" for ten minutes anyway - Watermelon Love. If anyone can get it to work (I got a 404 page near the end), let me know what's supposed to be emailed....

The 1K Project II - it's raining cars. Is a 2K and 3K but I like the music with this one.

Click the one you like better and see what the likkle brain can figure out about you.

Watch the concern this woman displays for the kid as he almost slips through the restraints on a fairground ride.

Some comedy spoof about baby toupees. Little did they know what a good idea it really was....

Made me laugh - clicky.

I don't think I've been that drunk in a long time as my throbbing head and upset stomach will testify to. Still, it was a good night and a good way to celebrate/commiserate 9 years of work. Shame that out of the 40 or so people from work I invited only 4 came. Hey ho.

It's Friday which means Hoff time!

Thunderwear. Thank god there isn't a thong version....

If you prefer a more natural state AND want to get fit, why not try Naked Yoga.

I didn't mention the other day how I'm partly funding my new computer purchase did I? Well, I'm buying it with my pocket money. No, I'm not a 31 year old man that still gets given sweet money by his mum. I shall explain...

When I was eight years old I went on a school trip to a country fayre. There was a stall there and for 10p you would get this big bag of goodies such as notebooks and pens and little Disney toys. Seemed a fantastic bargain to me and it was only when I got home that my mum informed me I'd actually started a bank account with the Abbey National.

I was a thrifty young lad, saving up what little pocket money I receive and putting it into my new account. This went on for a fair few years. Then I went to uni, got myself a proper bank account and forgot all about my little Disney saving account. It remained untouched for 18 years.

With a sad heart I visited the bank yesterday and closed my account (which I was pleased to find still existed). With a slightly happier heart I walked out the bank with £275.

Who would have thought that all those pound coins I used to keep in a plastic bag in a drawer near my desk would be buying me a spangly new monitor 15 years later....

I'm having a quiet day so I might try this out later - Toribash. It's a ragdoll fighting game which looks pretty nifty, especially if you like virtual dismemberment and blood.

Take a look at some of the strangest building from around the world. I like the one that looks like a giant basket.

Don't tell anyone but today I've been in my job for nine years. Nine. Long. Years.



Tonight I'm going to get totally wasted.