robharper

The Secret is Out!

2009-08-24T19:05:32Z

Somebody ought to stop Randall -- he keeps telling the world too much.

...but then again, it's mostly only geeks reading his stuff, so it's probably safe. And in this case, isn't it better for the muggles to know?

A Boa Constrictor Digesting an Elephant

2009-08-04T08:18:11Z

Given one of the books I was brought up with, this tickled me...

(Which reminds me, must get hold of a copy to help do strange things to the Youngling's mind when she gets old enough to read it. Though the damage might have already been done by In The Night Garden.)

Conversation with Miss B.

2009-07-26T18:00:05Z

B: "Daddy, I don't want to sit on the towel."

Me: "OK."

B: "Oh, what's wrong with the cushion?"

Me: "You weed on it."

B: "Oh." (Pause.) "I better sit on the towel."

Desert Island Spice Rack

2009-07-13T13:07:09Z

After making a comment on a friend's post recently, it left me thinking about what 8 spices (and I figure herbs are also allowed) I would want if I got stuck on a desert island. Well, in no particular order...

Black pepper... So versatile, adds a lovely warmth, just as useful on a bowl of strawberries as on a steak.

Sea salt... Not really a herb or a spice, but I want to make sure I don't have to do without it! (Though I guess if I'm on an island, I should be able to make my own.)

Ginger... Great for adding heat, goes well with so many things, honey and ginger tea is great, and for cakes and biscuits, well...

Nutmeg... Essential for many classic English puddings, which is enough to justify its presence alone.

Cinnamon... Something of a comfort spice, lovely with a variety of fruits and for a general "mmm" factor.

Basil... I'd be hoping for tomatoes to have with this, but even without, it's still worthwhile.

Mint... Works in many situations, not just with lamb, and great for a tea.

Fennel... Well, sooner or later I'll be craving something aniseedy. If I'm allowed the whole plant, then leaves, seeds and stems will all prove useful. If not, then just gimme the seeds (I can always grow the rest then!).

If I get to keep only one... Probably black pepper, but get me on a different day and I might say ginger or mint. Or something else.

Ready for launch...

2009-06-19T09:38:16Z

I was at this May Morning event, but unfortunately I missed this. Well worth a look to see what sort of excitement goes on in Oxford...

Apostrophe's

2009-05-12T07:53:08Z

Once again I find myself linking to the Chopping Block...

I'm not sure that's how probability works, Walter

2009-05-05T08:28:55Z

If you wanted an assessment of the risks of the Large Hadron Collider handled in a mature and balanced manner, the Daily Show had a 5 minute slot which will answer all your questions. Truly fantastic stuff here.

robharper @ 2009-05-01T15:17:00

2009-05-01T14:31:52Z

I've just got back from May Morning in Oxford (the picture is from outside Magdalen college at just before 6am), which involved lots of dancing, breakfast (with ale and songs!), then a trip to a primary school in Grove, the market square in Wantage, and finally lunch at the Abingdon Arms. A cracking day, though I'm knackered now.

Poorly Pigs

2009-04-29T07:21:04Z

Well, it seems lately my main use for LJ is to post links to Chopping Block cartoons. It's always nice when Butch gets topical...

Out of context

2009-03-31T08:11:37Z

Snigger:

Just to do the lookup for you, in case you're interested: James 3:16
and Leviticus 26:29. (Actually, that's a useful resource, Bible Gateway.)

An Eye For An Eye

2009-03-04T17:10:31Z

Trawling through old bunny comics I found this one, which still has a lot of resonance...

Whammer Jammer, bayyyybeeee!

2008-03-03T14:36:44Z

Whammer Jammer by the J. Geils Band has to be one of the all time great harmonica led tracks. Whoda thunk it that you don't even need a harmonica to play it. I'm in awe...

...But the fire is so delightful...

2007-11-20T15:33:48Z

Sometimes Butch has it so right.

Discourse? ROTFLMAO

2007-07-18T08:38:23Z

What would happen if Ancient Greek philosophers got into social networking sites?

It would seem Verity Stob has the answer. I just loved the discourse between Glaucon and Cephalus on the state of Doctor Who.

Fear and Loathing

2007-07-03T16:12:58Z

Yesterday, the Register posted a great article on the car bombings over the weekend, pointing out that the headlines could have read "one injured in bunt-out car / suicide attempt causes travel chaos". Some very good points made.

Personally, what scared me most over the weekend was the press briefing from our Unelected Leader, where Brown walks through a door and stops, as if pausing on his way to a vital meeting, to address the camera with great gravitas, while still standing. To me, this looked very much staged to give the impression of a powerful man preparing to declare war in response to an attack causing massive loss of life. But nobody died. Many were inconvenienced, but probably fewer than would be by a French air traffic controllers' strike (perhaps we should invade France the next time that happens), unless you count the people inconvenienced by pointless security measures (if you really want to mess people up, try a decent car bomb in each of Heathrow's multistorey carparks). And yet, I can't help but feel Big G is dangerously close to trying to prove what a statesman he is by invading somewhere or declaring a state of emergency, or something.

From the Tin Foil Hats Department

2007-06-15T13:37:35Z

Article from a couple of weeks back.

Strewth, where do I start...? My favourite bit is about the "electro-magnetic field protection unit":

"The heart of the unit is a programmed microprocessor unit that produces a holograph field that is amplified through an internal aerial system. This protection field protects the human system from the negative effects of EMR," says Johnson. He says he has had great success in alleviating patients' symptoms, and claims the unit offers unlimited protection from any negative electromagnetic emissions in a 700-square metre radius.

Spotting the amount of rubbish spouted in this single paragraph (which, as technobabble goes, would make a Star Trek script writer blush) is left as an exercise to the reader.

Validating the Incandescent Groceries

2007-05-08T14:57:29Z

If you like silly web toys, you can't get much sillier than The Always Amusing Euphemism Generator.

Take that, foul wamphyre!

2007-03-06T14:56:14Z

So it's official: Slobodan Milosevic has been staked. Ain't no coming back for that bloodsucker.

This made me laugh this morning...

2007-03-05T08:30:07Z

I'm, getting to really like Pearls Before Swine. Even those dumb crocs...

The Best New Year Present Ever

2007-01-09T16:41:40Z

At long last, we have a baby, and a gorgeous little girl she is too. It's tiring (and I can only imagine how tired sorcha is right now), but a fantastic feeling that here is a new person, discovering the world for the first time, and discovering it with us. I've burbled some more on my usual blog.

Lightbulbs

2006-12-15T14:39:51Z

The canonical lightbulb joke, according to Wikipedia:

Q: How many members of a (given demographic group) does it take to change a lightbulb?
A: 'N+1 (where N is a positive whole number)' — one to hold the lightbulb and N to behave in a fashion generally associated with a negative stereotype of that group.

I reckon that's about as funny as lightbulb jokes get. :o)

Baby coming soon

2006-11-28T19:43:55Z

We have a big list of people to email with news of who Asbo turns out to be, but if you want to know and think you might have been left off, please post here with your email address, and I'll add you in. I'll screen all your comments to prevent the email addresses becoming public.

In a good sort of way...

2006-10-06T14:24:05Z

Sometimes it just pours.
Freshness bucketing on down,
Even at lunchtime.

New Blood Blues

2006-09-04T11:00:53Z

This is a public service announcement...

For any of you who like the blues (pogona, I'm thinking of you in particular), you really need to check out Jason Ricci, one of the best blues harmonica players out there at the moment, and a damn fine blues man, period (with a top notch band). There's a recent article about him, and you can buy his CD at CD Baby (where you can also listen to some tracks -- gotta love "The World's Just Wrong"), though at the time of writing I believe they are out of stock, so you'll have to wait a bit. Perhaps I had the last copy! (And exchange rates are pretty favourable, so the purchase from the states isn't too pricey.)

Winchester to Canterbury

2006-08-04T08:55:48Z

I might as well use this LJ for something, like posting links and stuff that I can't be arsed sticking in my normal blog.

Anyhoo, this week UK games guru James Wallis is doing a sponsored walk along the Pilgrims Way from Winchester to Canterbury which is, apparently, 146 miles. And he's doing it without a map. The reasons are apparently to raise some money for a cancer charity and to lose a load of weight before he gets married. The exploits are documented in James' blog -- hurry and catch up before he completes the walk (due to happen on Sunday, I believe). And check the preparation entries -- there are some truly psychotic people sponsoring him!