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Google Image Search Recursion
Takes a while to get going, but mesmerising when it does.
Posted in Videos
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“Does your wife… go?”
Great piece from The Economist on euphemisms.
SHORT sharp terms make big points clear. But people often prefer to soften their speech with euphemism: a mixture of abstraction, metaphor, slang and understatement that offers protection against the offensive, harsh or blunt. In 1945, in one of history’s greatest euphemisms, Emperor Hirohito informed his subjects of their country’s unconditional surrender after two atomic bombs, the loss of 3m people and with invasion looming with the words, “The war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan’s advantage.”Euphemisms range promiscuously, from diplomacy “the minister is indisposed”, meaning he won’t be coming to the bedroom a grande horizontale in France is a notable courtesan. But it is possible to attempt a euphemistic taxonomy. One way to categorise them is ethical. In “Politics and the English Language”, George Orwell wrote that obfuscatory political language is designed “to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable”. Some euphemisms do distort and mislead; but some are motivated by kindness.
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Posted in Humour
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MMM: “Rubbin’, son, is racin’”
“No, he didn’t slam into you, he didn’t bump you, he didn’t nudge you…he RUBBED you. And rubbin, son, is racin’.” –Harry Hogge, Days of Thunder
Posted in Motoring, Videos
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Xmas Beer
The Beecher Networks Xmas Beers – also coincidentally the Beecher Family Xmas Beers, Boards Cork (Veterans) Xmas Beers, Cork Linux User Group (Rebel Arm) Xmas Beers, Pure Nu Wool Appreciation Society Xmas Beers, and half a dozen other events I can’t think of right now – deep breath – is on the 23rd this year, time and venue TBA. Suggestions welcome. Also a banner designer used to working with very small font sizes.
I’ll have photos of Henry with me if that will help encourage you along. If not, I won’t actually have any photos of Henry, because I’ve been banned from bringing my new phone with me. Bloody sensible wives, coming over here, having babies, etc, etc.
Me Van For Sale
Like an eejit I forgot to post this here. My lovely van Maurice is for sale, it just doesn’t work as a second vehicle with a babby. I hate to see it go, it’s served us through three or four house moves and it’s still in great nick, but needs musten.
It’s the quick 2.0 turbo-diesel, not the manky 1.7 with the Isuzu engine. Low mileage (89.5k miles), electric windows, CD player, serviced every 10k since I got it, and minded. Just got a new shock and battery, and it had the front suspension done last year.
It’s a nice looking van too: 15″ Irmscher alloys, debadged, tints and a body-coloured bumper at the front. It also comes with a partial set of black 17″ Team Dynamics rims (+ 1 cracked), roofrack bars, and I’ll even throw in the undrilled plates I never got around to fitting. :)
Here’s the ad on adverts.ie, I’m open to offers and I promise I won’t even laugh too hard if you know me already. :)
Posted in Motoring, Personal
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“Commentry in Scottish”
A hot-air balloon crash. In China. With some Scottish lads. I love the friendly shouts of “Ni Hao” at the lady they pass as they hurtle towards the ground. :)
Posted in Humour, Videos
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