excess verbiage

Revised: Fine, since BBC are being losers about allowing people to post videos on youtube, AND since it appears that anyone outside of the UK can't watch the videos on their own site, then all I'm left with are photos. So here you go. They haven't aged a day at all!

NME gives a great review here.

When I was in highschool, home ec consisted of learning how to cook for half the term, and learning how to sew during the other half. Both those things are important, though I admit that I haven't sewn one thing since then, and to this day, can't sew a button or hem pants to save my life. Embarassing, I know. But now that I'm an adult, there are things I've had to deal with that I really fucking can't stand, such as: putting together Ikea furniture with that stupid little piece of metal that is supposed to act like a screwdriver; how to install curtains; how to use a stinking power drill, stuff like that.

Nothing makes me feel more like a helpless woman than when I walk into Home Depot or an auto shop. I don't know what things are called and when you ask for help, I have no idea what they're talking about. All I know is that I need a thingy or a doohicky that'll help with the whachamacallit. I am not in my comfort zone and I hate that.

I had to install some curtains recently, and judging by what I see on all these home reno shows, it looks pretty easy. But then you get home, open the packages, try to follow the instructions, and realize that you don't actually know how to use a bloody screwdriver, and what the hell is a Phillips? Then after putting holes in the wall in the wrong spots, you start getting angry that you can't do it, and then you start crying because you realize that you will never be Debbie Travis or Martha Stewart, and are a failure as a woman.

Most of the time I feel like a capable, independent woman who can take care of herself. But then at times like those mentioned above, all I want to do is have a man come over and do this crap for me, along with killing spiders, and putting air in my tires. These are requirements for my future husband. If you can't do these things, then just go away, because there's no point in two people not knowing how to do it. It's not that I can't learn it - of course I could learn all of that. It's that I don't want to. I'm not interested, and have no inclination towards that kind of stuff. Feminists will hate me for saying this, but I am happy to have those things be a man's job!

However, if we want more girls growing up knowing how to do the things I can't, then they really need to start teaching this stuff in home ec. Spend a week teaching them how to put together a shelf from Ikea or how to check the oil in their cars. Or how to use tools and know what the hell a leveler is for. Otherwise, they'll wind up like me, trying their best to prove themselves, but failing miserably, and grabbing the closest guy to squash their bugs for them.

I was at my brother's place the other night, scouring through their dvd collection for something I could steal and watch. I saw they had a separate pile of blu ray discs, and I asked him this question: "So what's blu ray?" And my brother and his wife both stopped what they were doing, furrowed their brows, and said to me, "I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that." But I was serious. I don't really know what it is. I keep hearing about blu ray this and blu ray that, but what's the big fucking deal about it? Why are people all excited about it? I still don't know!

Then my brother asked me when I was going to get an HD tv, and I replied, "Is that the same as a flat screen or plasma tv?" To which he replied, "Just get out of here. Go. Leave. I can't have you in this house if you're that stupid. You're an embarassment!" So I guess the answer to my question is no?

I honestly don't see the big deal. Why do we need blu ray, whatever it is? Is there something wrong with regular dvds that I'm not seeing? I'm not shelling out for some special blu ray player. I think it's all a scam. And I truly truly truly don't give a shit about HD. My brother, and my brothers-in-law have all tried to show me the difference between regular and HD tv. They switch between the channels to show me the diference in clarity.

Is it more clear in HD? *shrug* I guess so... but you know what? I STILL don't care! It doesn't enhance my enjoyment of a movie any more than on a regular screen. What do I need to see someone's face so close up that I can see their pores? That's distracting! Or else, I think that maybe HD has a quality to the eyes that only MALE eyes can see, because I don't know that many women that give a crap. I know I don't.

Spent the past hour reading all the unconfirmed and then confirmed reports of MJ's death. It's pretty shocking. I mean, the guy wasn't the healthiest person, but I never thought he'd have a heart attack. And it always happens in 3's for some reason. This time it's Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett and now MJ. It's so sad. I mean, the guy was an odd duck and all, but he's still an American icon. I feel bad for the kids.

Normally I find the whole idea of using a public toilet pretty disgusting in most cases. The toilet seats are filthy, there's stuff all over the floor. It's nasty in general. Once in a while, a public toilet will have toilet seat covers, but if they don't, then I just use toilet paper to line the seats. And when it's really gross, I'll use a little bit of anti-bacterial hand sanitizer to clean the toilet seat first, and then I'll line it with toilet paper afterwards.

So it was a very pleasant surprise to go into the public toilets at Ikea and find the most brilliant thing ever - a cleaning liquid dispenser in each stall! It had pictures and instructions on what to do: grab a few squares of tp, pump the foam sanitizer onto the tp, clean toilet seat, flush. Ready for use. Awesome! It was the cleanest public toilet I've ever seen. Was so impressed! Why don't more places invest a little bit of money and install this in every stall, along with some air freshener? Would be fantastic. I was so impressed, I wanted to take a photo of it, if it weren't so creepy to be taking photos in a public toilet. So I didn't. But go check out an Ikea near you over the weekend and you'll see what I mean. Loves it!

Just because.

First time eating at this place. Coworker showed me some pics before, and judging by the difference in appearance, I'd say that this restaurant has obviously undergone a major renovation recently - for the better.

I don't feel like writing a detailed review, but basically, I liked it and would go again. Reasonable prices, nice atmosphere, good service. Thumbs up. Here's the food porn for ya.

I've been a bus passenger for many years, so I totally respect the kind of crap that you have to put up with on a daily basis: drunks, belligerent idiots, people who don't have correct change, etc. And I'm happy to yield to you whenever you need to merge back into traffic. I don't hesitate to stop and let you in. HOWEVER - let me point out that the sticker on the rear bumper of the bus - "Thanks for the brake!" does not give you the right to randomly pull out into traffic without shoulder-checking whenever the hell you like! Or when it's a two-lane street and I'm in the left lane, there is NO need for you to pull out and take up not only the right lane, but a quarter of the left lane - the one I'm in. You do not own the road and I'm sure you could care less about side-swiping a car, but the fact is, you're an idiot who can't drive and who thinks that the stupid sticker/sign on the rear of your bus gives you the right to do whatever the hell you want. So be more considerate and don't be such a dumbass all the time!

xoxo

-me

Ever try these? They're apples that taste like grapes. Hence the name, grapples. Saw them at the supermarket and thought I'd try them. I guess it does taste like a grape, but not overtly so. It'd not like biting into an apple and tasting a mango, you know? Grapes are sort of similiar in sweetness, aren't they? Anyway, check out their website. They have a video on there from Food Network that shows the process of how they get the apples to taste that way.