Christmas and the Cabbage Patch Kid

I heard a lovely story the other day and just knew that I had to share it with you.

My co-worker and friend... let's call her 'Shmirene'... grew up in the snowy baseball cap of the USA, which we know and love as 'Canada'. 

She grew up in the 80's and like every other 5 year old girl in the developed world at the time she wanted nothing more than a Cabbage Patch Kid to be waiting for her come Christmas morning, under the Christmas tree. 

These were dolls who would come with their own birth certificates, with fancy names like Geneva Gena, April Lynn, Marcelle Elizabeth and Jaedyn Denise.

And 'Shmirene' really wanted one. 

But really wanted one. 

What's a parent to do? There were literally fights in toy stores over the Cabbage Patch Kids. In the end her Dad got so fed up with her pleading and begging that he finally gave in and brought home a present for her that would hopefully bring a smile to her family as a whole.

But her Dad was no ordinary chap. 

Yes, he bought her a head of cabbage and told her that there was a doll in the middle. 

I respect and admire that man! 

kthanxbai!

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Robert Kubica and Formula 1

There has been a lot of talk in the Formula 1 world about who is going to be in which seat next year. Fair enough, we're now off season, the teams need sponsors and as such they need to create content for the newspapers to advertise that they still exist.


Which isn't the case for Renault. Robert's team have changed their name, officially, to Lotus-Renault GP - aka 'Lotus'. For me that simply signals that they have a new sponsor.

So no more Renault, they are now Lotus.

So where does Robert fit in to all of this?

Eric Boullier has already stated, after signing Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean for 2012, that the team’s relationship with Kubica is at ‘point zero’, making it increasingly unlikely that Kubica will return to Formula 1 with Lotus. Since then, the Pole has been very keen to quickly demonstrate that he is fit enough to return to Formula 1.

- F1zone.net

So that sucks!

But wait - there's more!

Team principal Boullier had already admitted that they are not going to help him regain form if he is not committed to the team, saying "I will not bring a car for him and make a nice test for him if in 2013 he has signed already an option elsewhere".


- teamspeed.com


So things are now up in the air.

We shall see what happens to Renault Lotus in 2012. They dumped both of their drivers from this year and their name. What are they running away from??!!




kthanxbai!

בצק סוכר

The Real King

At this time of year we begin to hear songs about the King and his coming.

As someone who'll be working on December 25th, I can assure you that I will be thinking of the King on that day.










kthanxbai!

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CSI - Miami Style

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, "I do like me some CSI Miami".

Image via Wikipedia

The fact that my sister's home town of Key Biscayne is regularly shown and referred to does make me grin. And the knowledge that the whole series is filmed in LA, on the other side of the country, does cause a wry grin to creep across my face.


But most of all it is the pure cheesiness of the thing that keeps me hooked.

I've been to Miami many times, and NO-ONE wears pastel coloured clothing. Except for the very old people, and that's only when they're going out for supper - at 5pm.

So finding this compilation of David Caruso one-liners cheered me up on an otherwise cold and mundane workday.

 kthanxbai!

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Stayin' Alive in the Wall

One of the best mash-ups I have ever heard featuring Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall pt. 2 and “Stayin’ Alive” by The Bee Gees

It really is rather good isn't it?

kthanxbai!

Christmas Party Hints & Tips

I cannot explain just how important it is to give over a correct and accurate image of who you are to your coworkers and friends during this period of parties, gatherings and general celebration.

Here are a few hints and tips for the ladies, about how to conduct yourselves when chaps are around.

Sound advice;











Hat tip to Damn Cool Pics for their article Tips for Single Ladies from 1938



kthanxbai!

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Catherine Tate > Buzzcocks> Coldplay

Catherine Tate really is a funny lass. She has managed to get world leaders to knowingly repeat her character's catchphrases, and she even managed to get Tony Blair to act in one of her sketches.

Catherine Tate's character meets Tony Blair 

And then Catherine showed off her talents on the ever-entertaining show 'Buzzcocks'

And now I hear rumours that she is going to take the US by storm when she joins The Office (US).

Enjoy her!!

kthanxbai!

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Men In Black 3 - preview

If your acting career is down the pan, and if you can find them, then maybe you can make - a 3rd go at MIB.

Get a hold of Will Smith, Emma Thompson, Rip Torn and some other faintly famous people, add in some amazing effects, a simple, unoriginal yet irrelevant plot and you have - MIB3.

*Please note that I have not watched the film in any way, shape or form, except the above trailer. I just fail to find anything with a '3' behind it to be any good. (And yes, that includes Die Hard!).

kthanxbai!

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All 2011 Films in Under 8 Minutes

This video finally answers the question: What would the entire year in film look like as one massive, epic trailer? Mashup artist “hatinhand” stitched together pretty much every major film released in 2011 into this epic video, “The 2011 Portfolio” which is as much a retrospective as it is a glimpse into how similar films have become.

On a personal level it made me sit up and notice what I've been missing by just watching the 'regular' TV shows.

Methinks it might be time to spice up my life a bit with a few films to watch with Her Indoors.



kthanxbai!

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Nothing Worse Than An Ex-

There is nothing worse than an ex.

Life with Madonna a 'soap opera' pop star's ex says ‎ Usher's ex-wife wants joint custody ruling overturned‎

MP's ex-lover Katia Zatuliveter cleared of being a Russian spy

Fourth Accuser in Sex Abuse Case InvolvingEx-Syracuse Assistant Fine ‎

And I'm an ex-smoker.

So suck this up your windpipe!

kthanxbai!

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Coffee... mmmmm

I recently went 36 hours without coffee. I managed to sleep properly, nap in the afternoon and generally was a happier chap. When I was awake, that is.

And I got a stinking headache. Which, after my last post about smoking, makes me think that I'm a bit of an addict!

Here is some very interesting info about coffee;











kthanxbai!

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Even if you hate Christmas music, you’re going to love this

Sean Quigley is quite the enterprising young man. An 11th grade student, Quigley arranged and composed this version of Little Drummer Boy, then starred in the video that he also edited and directed.

Oh yes, and he also played all the instruments.

And sang it.

The energy and emotion in this video is really rather surprising, especially for such a young and unknown musician.

Hat tip to TheNextWeb Shareables

kthanxbai!

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Formula 1 - Easy Driving

A friend of mine and I were chatting the other day over a pint of wine... and I found out that he used to be an F1 fan but stopped when he started working on Sundays.

I tried to update him about the goings on in the sport and tried to explain to him just how much more technologically challenging the driver's role is today.

Here are 2 views of how the steering wheel in an F1 car creates challenges for the driver.

kthanxbai!

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Christmas is around the corner!

Yeah - until you saw the title you had forgotten - right?

So here are a few things I want for Christmas, after World Peace and an end to poverty...

kthanxbai!

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Stephen Lynch - funny man

I was just listening to some groovy tunes on grooveshark.com at work. Chilling away as I checked certain aspects of our agency's 65 website. I decided to draw away from my normal diet of Country & Western as I was finding myself dreaming of the wide open plain and riding a horse.

My good chum Daniel Benisty did an amazing cover of Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen;

So I decided to listen to a few more covers of the self same song.

Then I started listening to a refreshing live song. And I giggled, then I laughed, then I had to lift myself off the floor;

Then I started listening to his album, The Craig Machine, and found some real gems -

Enjoy - and drop me a line if you have some funny music I can listen to on my commute.

kthanxbai!

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Tea For Two?

As one of the few Englishmen in my office of over 400 employees I regularly get singled out for tea, Queen and Marmite based jokes.

Luckily I manage to respond to the Yanks about my 'local' pub being older than the US - by a century. That they kinda forgot to enter the First and Second World Wars. (I don't mention Vietnam - the politicians lost that one, not the warriors).

And then I mention Donald Trump.

Need I say more?

I am taking the mickey taking and turning it around for your benefit. So, for those of you who like a cup of tea or a fruit infusion I suggest you go to this website to see a variety of 35 Most Creative Tea Infusers

kthanxbai!

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Axis of Awesome

Have you ever heard of the band Axis Awesome? Neither had I.

Then a friend sent me this video that got me hooked on their comedy.

So i looked into them a tad more and found this;.

And this too;

Great stuff.

kthanxbai!

Amazing Card Trick

In the office today a co-worker replied to one of my sarky emails with an admonishment to chill out - and here is the video she said would blow my mind. And it is pretty good!

How he does it? I don't know. It really is quite amazing

kthanxbai!

How It Should Have Ended

Thanks to Peter over at Bayou Renaissance Man who showed me this website chock-a-block full of excellent videos.

kthanxbai!

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Formula 1 Blog

I've mentioned before that I am a Formula 1 addict. If you don't know what Formula 1 is, well, maybe you live in Swaziland, or are an American, well it is the ultimate in car racing. Not the ultimate in open-wheel, or 'The World Series' - but in the world.

Ever.

I watch races whenever I can, download those that I can't watch live, and listen to podcasts to explain to me what I miss.

There are 2 main podcasts that I listen to, Formula1blog.com and Sidepodcast.

Out of all the Formula 1 blogs out there, I only listen to these 2 - and why? Because they are run and presented by 'normal folk'. We can't really call anyone willing to wake at 2am to watch a car race 'normal'. Let's just call them, well, 'dedicated'.

Both of the podcasts sound like friends, sitting in a pub or living room, discussing the race.A discussion that is slightly too informed for me to join in with, but very interesting indeed.

In 2013 the USA will be hosting a race in Texas. The work started on the track a while back, but Formula 1 is about money, not being polite, or equal, but cold hard cash. They were waiting for the dosh to be on the table to tell the world that F1 would grace The Lone-star State with their presence.

Recently, Todd,  the main culprit (!) from Formula1blog.com has started writing for the Huffington Post in the UK and his writing is very interesting indeed. I highly suggest you pop over there and give it a look, I know I'll be following it very closely.


kthanxbai!

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Johnny Cash - We'll Meet Again

Without doubt Mr. Johnny Cash was one of his generation's greatest country singers. Classics such as Fulsom Prison Blues, Ring of Fire and Walk The Line as well as A Boy Named Sue - make us all tap our feet.



Johnny Cash (Image via RottenTomatoes.com)



His video (below) of Hurt, has over 35 million hits on YouTube. Astonishing!






And when you realise that his career took off with 'Ring of Fire' back in the old days of black and white TV!





I was listening to Mr J Cash on Grooveshark at work and after 2 hours of music I knew, I heard words that I recognised, but not in the way Johnny was singing them.

The original that I recognised -




And Mr Cash's version;





Which do you prefer?


 kthanxbai!

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