April Fool pranks throughout the world are celebrated on 28 December in Spanish speaking countries, on 3 April in Iran, and on 1 May (in addition to 1 April) in Denmark.
Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie was a child star in Kids Incorporated.
The 'Expanded view' feature in Google Reader makes me save an enormous amount of [...]
Noisily and stubbornly defiant. Aggressively boisterous.
Any of a breed of swift, short-haired dog developed in England for racing, resembling the greyhound but smaller.
A friend of mine who works for WWF yesterday sent me a link to the WWF Footprint Calculator. Turns out I am not so kind to Old Mother Nature after all. Here's the reply I sent my friend:
Thanks for the link to the footprint calculator. Another 3.09 planets [my test result] for me I'm afraid. [...]
Intended to ward off evil.
Sometimes social software blows me away. Like the other day when I was clicking through people Ziki thought had affinities with me, and I landed on a colleague's page. And yes, I happen to work with people I like and feel a community of interest with.
And then last.fm tells me that the top compatible person [...]
I have given up eating between 11pm and 7am for Lent.
I forgot to update last week, or better there was nothing to update. Week four went without a glitch.
Not so week five, I'm afraid. It was all going well until, on Monday night, I was feeling a bit tense and in need to wind down, [...]
To need or require.
I know, it's not Sunday. But believe me, once you try this, every day is going to be Thai chicken soup day for you too.
I think Dr B. first picked up this soup a few weeks ago. It;'s hot and rich, and full of chicken goodness.
I think it was me who bought a few packets [...]
A device used to support a bodily orifice or cavity to provide support.
A boaster or braggart.
A tor is a type of rock outcrop formed by weathering, usually found on or near the summit of a hill. In the South West of England, where the term originated, it is also a word used for the hills themselves.
Last.fm has an Events tab (like a gig-only upcoming, which makes sense) and a Journal tab which is perfect to blog about gigs, like my friend J-Sin here.
Simon Pegg (Spaced, Shaun Of The Dead, Hot Fuzz) was in Doctor Who (The Long Game, Series 1, Episode 7, 2005). He is the godfather of Chris Martin [...]
Any of several common, widespread aluminum or calcium silicate minerals used both as gemstones and as abrasives. A dark to very dark red.
A jumble of loud, usually discordant sounds. To stun with deafening noise.
An anthropoid ape of north-central Congo, having black hair and more arboreal habits than the common chimpanzee. Also called pygmy chimpanzee.
A section of grass-covered surface soil held together by matted roots; turf. The ground, especially when covered with grass.
Scotland implemented smoke free legislation in March 2006. This will be followed by Wales and Northern Ireland next month (2 and 30 April 2007 respectively) and finally it will be banned to smoke in all enclosed public places in England from 1 July 2007.
As an ex smoker who has taken great pleasure going out to [...]
A young cow, especially one that has not yet given birth to a calf.
A variation on the basic goat cheese and walnut salad we often have.
Adapted from a BBC h2g2 salad recipe
Ingredients
Washed baby spinach leaves
Goat cheese
Lemon juice
Pine nuts
Sliced mushrooms
Garlic
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
Preparation
Toast the pine nuts in a hot pan until golden
Fry mushrooms in oil with garlic and let cool slightly
Grill goat cheese until golden
Make a dressing with oil, [...]
In gaming, to trounce an opponent totally and completely.
Saint Patrick is the patron of Nigeria, engineers and excluded people, as well as Ireland.
Michel Thomas, language teacher to many stars (he speed-taught Grace Kelly French when she was due to marry Prince Rainier), died in January 2005.
You can play football on artificial turf. In the 80s it caused many injuries, but recent technical developments [...]
An activity taken up in addition to one's regular work or profession, usually for enjoyment; a hobby.
Red Nose Day is the main way the charity Comic Relief raises money for countries in Africa and disadvantaged people in the UK.
There is special TV programming (the main sponsor is the BBC) and fundraisers.
So today I am wearing Dr B.'s old M&S grey suit (trousers are a bit short) and shirt and tie because [...]
A written instrument, such as a deed or lease, that transfers some ownership interest in real property from one person to another.
I have had a bit of fun asking Google, our modern oracle, to spit out the general consensus on four nationalities I know well.
Here is what I found in the first page of results:
"Icelanders are known for":
their hard work and hard partying
their hospitality, and when it comes to nightlife for their stamina
their hospitality
going crazy for [...]
An elongated pointed tooth, usually one of a pair, extending outside of the mouth in certain animals such as the walrus, elephant, or wild boar.
I have given up eating between 11pm and 7am for Lent.
Week three of my abstinence from food at night is now complete. Pretty uneventful if you ask me, even boring. So this is how normal people live. Yawn.
The only highlight was last Saturday. I was up at 2am, no idea why, but I decided [...]
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Pi Pie, originally uploaded by tchemgrrl.
Today, 14 March or 3.14, is Pi Day. It also happens to be Albert Einstein's birthday.
Mmmh, Pi…
Trivia: In her song π (from the album Ariel), Kate Bush sings the [...]
As usual, when I speak of sports and nutrition, I feel I should point out that these things work for me but possibly not for you.
And obviously, do not start any sort of intense physical activity without the OK of your doctor. Don't be silly.
Get your gym bag ready well in advance.
If you are late [...]