Asterix, work, and Other Animals

I have spent the bits of the last couple of days reading Asterix books. This has stopped me from ranting at length on the internet about some people's priorities. Yes, a man is dead and it's very sad for his family. But he was ONE MAN. He wasn't a great leader, he was once a good pop singer, but that was a long time ago. I understand why his fans are sad; I am sad when a celebrity I admire passes away. What I do not understand is why his death is considered so important that it has knocked every fucking thing else off the news agenda for two days now. Why are they posting about it TWICE on Lib Dem Voice? Why did they do a medley of his hits on Classic FM? And Radio 4? I don't object to a line in the news summary, and then "we'll have a full tribute later on radio 2 where pop music belongs", but blanket coverage on all stations is just stupid.

I'd probably be less grumpy about it if some twat on our street hadn't had his greatest hits on a constant loop... Still, I have got through a big pile of Asterix books I have been meaning to re-read for ages, so that's all right.

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Work was interesting yesterday. We had a funeral party booked in. They told us the service was at 1.30, so we expected them about 2ish. Five to two, lots of people in black suits come in, and tell us they have booked a funeral party. We sent them into the area we had reserved for them, and started bringing the buffet out. Ten past two, the actual people who had booked came in...

Yeah, that was fun.

I'm still a bit boggled, to be honest. I mean, you just wouldn't, would you? Poor Liz, who was stressed for various other reasons anyway, practically had a nervous breakdown. Luckily, the second party who had actually booked were regulars, and saw the funny side of it. And gave us huge tips. But even so... I'll never cease to be amazed by humanity.

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And, some links:

• Johann Hari uses skience to puncture a Tory lie. The commenters on the article are not happy about it. Speaking from personal experience, Holly is lots happier now she has two happy houses to choose from than she was when she was stuck in one unhappy one. But YMMV, I guess. Hat tip tyrell and matgb.


• The Yorkshire Post has an article on why Yorkshiremen (which is, as we know, a unisex term) love beer and pies. It's probably cod skience, but it's amusing. Hat tip matgb
• 
  
• Optical illusion is illusory. Every time you think you can believe your eyes, go and look at this page. Hat tip, in triplicate, matgb


• Mitchell and Web sum up the advertising industry in 58 seconds:
  
  
  
  
  
  (YouTube link) - hat tip andrewducker

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matgb has gone to Manchester today to spend the day playing toy soldiers with his mates. I have to go to work. I am all alone in the house. It's ODD. Oh well, time to go and lounge in the bath...

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ZOMG YOU GUYS!!!

Joe Lidster just agreed to sleep with me for skience Marmite and booze!

* flailflailflail *

...

There may of course be logistical problems with the fact that he's the other end of the country and we've never met and little things like that, but still...

:D

The proof:

Joe: Shouldn't read Dr Who forums. Apparently I've been "deified" for no reason. "It sets me wondering just what has helped Lidster get so far.."
Joe: Cos yeah, I'm that good in bed. That's why people employ me. Obviously.
Me: @joelidster: I am willing to test this hypothesis for purely scientific reasons
Joe: @miss_s_b Only if you can employ me! I'm a whore not a slut :)
Me: @joelidster: I can pay you in Marmite and alcohol?
Joe: @miss_s_b Sold!
Me: @joelidster: WooHOO! *prepares the toast*

And people say that Twitter is pointless!

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Another Linky

I don't have time to a do a full Blood is the Life today, because I have to make my own way to work due to the inconsiderateness of my wife having a life of his own *grumblegrumble*... HOWEVER! I had to share this with you, with a hat-tip to skybard: How to Meet And Woo a Nerdy Girl. I liked the blog so much I added it to my reading list: the_park_bench_feed.

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A Poll for my readers

Poll #635 Reader Satisfaction Survey

Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: Just the Poll Creator, participants: 27

How long have you been reading my blog?

More than 2 years
16 (59.3%)

1 - 2 years
9 (33.3%)

6 months - 1 year
0 (0.0%)

3 - 6 months
0 (0.0%)

1 week - 3 months
2 (7.4%)

1 day - 1 week
0 (0.0%)

1 day or less
0 (0.0%)

This is the first entry I have looked at.
0 (0.0%)

How often do you read my blog?

Every entry
14 (51.9%)

Most entries
11 (40.7%)

A few times a week, but I skim lots
2 (7.4%)

Occasionally
0 (0.0%)

Hardly ever - only when I remember
0 (0.0%)

Hardly ever - only when someone else links here
0 (0.0%)

This is the first entry I have read
0 (0.0%)

Why do you read my blog?

You're my friend, and I like you
18 (66.7%)

I like what you have to say
21 (77.8%)

I like arguing with you
7 (25.9%)

You told me to, and I'm too scared of you to disobey
6 (22.2%)

other people directed me here and now I am hooked
3 (11.1%)

because you're stupid and I like to pick holes in what you have to say
1 (3.7%)

because you say what I'm thinking and you thereby validate my opinions
7 (25.9%)

because you're funny (especially when you post drunk)
17 (63.0%)

I don't. I'm answering this poll by mistake.
1 (3.7%)

What would you like to see MOAR of?

National Politics
14 (51.9%)

Local Politics
8 (29.6%)

The Blood is the Life
10 (37.0%)

Polls
9 (33.3%)

Film Geekery
15 (55.6%)

Music Geekery
11 (40.7%)

Book Geekery
19 (70.4%)

Beer Geekery
14 (51.9%)

Food Geekery
12 (44.4%)

Sci-fi/Star Trek/Doctor Who Geekery
17 (63.0%)

Stories about Holly
15 (55.6%)

Stories about the doggies
10 (37.0%)

Stories about work/pubness in general
11 (40.7%)

Stories about some other aspect of my personal life (please specify in comments)
2 (7.4%)

Something else (please specify in comments)
1 (3.7%)

What would you like to see LESS of?

National Politics
2 (25.0%)

Local Politics
2 (25.0%)

The Blood is the Life
1 (12.5%)

Polls
1 (12.5%)

Film Geekery
1 (12.5%)

Music Geekery
2 (25.0%)

Book Geekery
1 (12.5%)

Beer Geekery
2 (25.0%)

Food Geekery
1 (12.5%)

Sci-fi/Star Trek/Doctor Who Geekery
1 (12.5%)

Stories about Holly
0 (0.0%)

Stories about the doggies
0 (0.0%)

Stories about work/pubness in general
0 (0.0%)

Something else (please specify in comments)
1 (12.5%)

What one thing could I do to improve my blog's content?

What one adjective would you use to describe my blog?

Give my blog a mark out of ten

Mean: 8.62 Median: 9 Std. Dev 0.95

1	0 (0.0%)
2	0 (0.0%)
3	0 (0.0%)
4	0 (0.0%)
5	0 (0.0%)
6	1 (4.2%)
7	1 (4.2%)
8	8 (33.3%)
9	10 (41.7%)
10	4 (16.7%)

Obviously comments are open for comment. I am off to work now, and won't be back till midnight. Please answer truthfully, and direct your friends here if you like too. Data is fun!

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