Eco-Towns
Posted: Fri 4 April, 2008 Filed under: Cynicism, Green, Thoughts Leave a comment »While I don’t agree with all the new locations for the proposed ‘eco-towns’, I do think that they’re (in general) a good idea. If we are so in need of new housing, I’d far rather that it was housing that was done with some decent thought towards green power, water recycling, insulation and the like.
I wouldn’t necessarily want to live in one of the houses – although that’s mainly because I like being out here in the country, rather than in a giant housing-estate, as well as the fact we’re going to keep on working on our own green lifestyle/credentials. but I do think they’re a good thing, and if I had to live in a modern giant housing estate, I’d rather it was one of the eco-towns.
Still Talking
Posted: Fri 4 April, 2008 Filed under: Charm School, Cynicism, Driving 2 Comments »Driving to work yesterday, I spent half the journey in front of some cock who was talking into his mobile the entire way. I don’t normally want to see the police while I’m driving (not that I have a problem with them, but well – they’re never a happy sight) but damn I wanted to see one during that drive.
It amazes me still that people just think it’s OK to talk and drive. Personally, I aim to never use the phone – in fact I’ve only done so once, when the person called me back four times in a row without leaving a message, and that was when the road was straight, clear, and dual carriageway with no traffic coming the other way. I think the call lasted twenty seconds all told. Even then, it wasn’t OK to do, but was less distracting than the repeated calls.
All the same, fifteen-minute calls are taking the piss.
Flying Penguins
Posted: Tue 1 April, 2008 Filed under: Animals, Cynicism, News Leave a comment »I have to say, of all the April Fool’s stories I’ve noticed today, my absolute favourite is the BBC’s “Flying Penguins” story.
The footage in particular has been fantastically done – footage can be seen here on the BBC’s iPlayer until April 7th (There’s also a Youtube link for the same thing)- and it’s made me chuckle. The first couple of shots, particularly as they take off, is so good you start thinking “Really? Fantastic” and then the cynicism kicks in, particularly when you realise that the news has been released on April 1st.
Love it.
Dental Plans
Posted: Sat 15 March, 2008 Filed under: Customer Services, Cynicism, Getting Organised, Health Leave a comment »Once we come back from our week away, there are a couple of things I need to get sorted. Nothing urgent, but still, needs to be done I think.
First among those is a visit to the dentist. It’s been a fair while since I last went (Probably coming up for two years ago now, if not three – UPDATED : Ah, a quick check tells me it was May 2005.) so I know that the odds are I’ll need some work doing again.
Which makes me think that it’s probably worth organising getting some dental insurance first, so I’m not massively out of pocket when it comes to getting the work done. I wonder what the insurers think if you buy the insurance, then a couple of months later get a load of work done…
Crush A Grape…
Posted: Thu 13 March, 2008 Filed under: Cynicism, News, Thoughts Leave a comment »I’m pleased to see that the accountant who tried sueing M&S for supposedly slipping on a grape in their carpark has lost his case. It was pretty spurious, obviously – with evidence based on the fact that once he’d fallen, the fruit was found on the sole of his shoe.
So I’m not surprised to see that the case has failed – to my mind it would’ve led to even more stupid Health and Safety notices, regulations, and general faffery, and to be honest we’ve got enough of those already.
Mind you, it’s also a surprise that the case was lost, because logic doesn’t seem to apply in these things, and particularly when a case is spurious and stupid, and could cause a whole bundle of new Health and Safety regulations.
BBC Screwup
Posted: Mon 10 March, 2008 Filed under: Cynicism, News Leave a comment »Now here’s something you don’t see every day…
Yes, a healthy screwup of the front page for the BBC news. It’s been fixed now, but still, a rarity saved for posterity.
Icarus
Posted: Thu 6 March, 2008 Filed under: Cynicism Leave a comment »So, if you knew of the legend, would you trust a tanning salon called “Icarus” ? (Seen randomly on the street yesterday)
I know I wouldn’t…