Talking Cats

This video of talking cats made Tech Digest's Video of the Day. The last cat is hilarious, babbling random insanity. *Wipes tears of laughter*

Continue Reading

Bejeweled...But Better!

Is that possible? Of course it is. Say hello to AVOCADOLITE FARM's version of the popular game, Farm Hustle: it's Bejeweled but with fluffy, fuzzy animals! Haha! What is it with women and cute animals? I have no idea but I'm sure addicted to this game! Don't tell the man!


Pink octopi! What more can you ask for?! (Level 4 had blue octopi and neon-yellow mice!)

Oh, and the Pause button's a bit wonky so watch out for that.

Continue Reading

Should I Squeal or Scream?

Dilemma! Bridalwave featured this fantasy gown as Frock Horror #22. I had to look at the website because 1) curiosity of Frock Horror #22's fellow frocks, 2) I'm a sucker for anything from a bygone era, especially fashion, and 3) I've been obsessed with weddings lately (blame all the people around me who are getting married).

Now, I've got mixed feelings about this whole enchilada. On one hand I'm oohing and aahing about all the princess details. I'm a total girly girl when it comes to fairy tales - I'm a firm believer in happily-ever-after I'll have you know! - and anything romantic turns me to mush (gross, says my pragmatic side). On the other hand, it all strikes me as a bit pretentious.

However, despite being a bit of a poser, I'm still fawning over the gowns. Ooh, what I wouldn't give to be in my own fairy tale! (My favourite's Sleeping Beauty by the way, particularily Tchaikovsky's score...it's sooooo romantic...and to waltz to it! *Gush*) Aaanywayyy, I love the Rosebud Gown, especially the seventh line in the story that goes with it: 'The other ladies whispered, "Who is she? She must be a very important princess. Did you see her gown? Now that is the latest style."' Haha, sounds like something I would've said! Another reason why I like this one best is probably because this model doesn't make me crack up and howl with laughter. The other one, the one with the long brown hair, looks like a pretentious twit. *Snorts*

So back to Frock Horror #22, Cinderella's gown. For some unfanthomable reason, I actually like it. Oh dear, you say. Oh dear, indeed. Of course, I can't stand the model - she's the pretentious twit by the way - and by all that is holy in fashion, I shouldn't like the gown but I kind of do. Oh well, what the hell. (If anyone remembers which character from Catch-22 said this, please tell me because I can't remember for the life of me and I haven't the book handy.)

Continue Reading

Chivalry Isn't Dead?!

Ooh, yes, it was. I went to Ceroc as usual. Flick's been visiting for the last two weeks, so we've been out dancing Ceroc in Cambridge on Mondays and Wednesdays. It's been absolutely BRILLIANT. Flick's brilliant! I love dancing and the company just made it that much better! She and I are a pretty good match 'cuz we're both so easy going and mellow and we think the same way. Scary thought but it's true; we keep saying each others' thoughts. Skirts, shoes, men, you name it! Why is she still single?! Damn you, Chris, damn you.

Anyway, we've met a lot of people since going last Monday. Notably, two guys named Nick. (Figures.) Yes, they're both called Nick. How confusing is that?? We first met Nick on Monday when he caught both of our eyes. (So sue us; we're female.) On Wednesday, we met his friends Nick and Charlie. Now to keep the Nicks apart, Flick and I dubbed the second Nick 'Posh Nick' at first because he sounds a bit posh when he speaks.

So there's Nick and Posh Nick, or Raven and Niko as we found out last night. Charlie doesn't count because we haven't seen him since last Wednesday. Nick said something about a wife (his or someone else's?) and visiting..or something like that. I was slightly distracted and wasn't paying too much attention. Kekeke. They've kind of been monopolising us since Wednesday but I don't mind. Both Nicks are pretty good dancers actually considering they're male, heterosexual and under 40. (As of yet, the only good male dancers that I've met are either gay, over 40 or a celebrity, like Usher and JT.) Nick's better than Niko but then, he's been doing this for almost 3 months now. What's better than a man in uniform or a suit? A man who can dance! Woot! Funnily enough, they're both in the army.

Now, I must digress a bit. A lot of books I read are set in the English Regency period (1811-1820) and during that time, men weren't allowed to dance more than one dance with a lady unless he was 'interested' in her. It was not bon ton (scroll to the very bottom), Society's matrons looked down upon it, and it would set the gossipmongers' tongues wagging. I've been thinking about this ever since last Wednesday when I danced through two songs straight with Nick. We were doing a 'routine' - the beginners' lesson twined with the intermediates' lesson - and had finally gotten it down at the end of the first song. We were on a roll so we danced through the second song as well (it was a good song, too). This happened again, several times, on Monday and last night, we actually danced through three songs straight at one point. That was pure cardio, lemme tell ya. Dance is an endurance sport. *Wheeze* 'Be still my beating heart' took on a whole new meaning as I sat on the side counting my pulse.

Oh yeah, and he called me 'legendary'. Legendary. I always say that flattery gets you nowhere but then, I've never been called legendary before. It's kind of funny actually. After our 3-song dance, he joked that if we kept this up, pretty soon we'll be legendary. He danced with Flick after sitting out on the next song, commenting to her that he and I had mastered (his) 'routine' and Flick said, 'Oh, showing off eh?' He replied, 'No, it's all Jessie. She's legendary.' Say what?! That's what Flick reported!

We made a new friend last night as well. Her name's Ros (short for Rosalind) and she's a dress and wedding gown maker. How cool is that?! She's friends with the Nicks and has been dancing (including jazz, tap and ballet) for 6 years. She's very good. I love watching the really good dancers.

We went to the pub across the road after dance last night. The Cambridge Ceroc venue is on Mill Road right next to the River Camb so we took our drinks outside to the bridge. It was a gorgeous night out with the rain, lightning and thunder having passed already. The bridge was made for sitting on and I said to Ros that it was a bit damp but oh well. Then the most extraordinary thing happened. Nick said, 'You can sit on my coat,' and lays it out on the bridge! My jaw dropped (and believe me, I am hardly ever struck speechless). That's, like, the equivalent of laying your coat across a puddle for a lady to step across! Men like that don't exist in this day and age! Oh, wow. I said, 'Oh no, I can't sit on your coat! It's leather and could ruin it!' He insisted so thanks to him, my bum stayed dry. Yay. It was the perfect ending to that day. (Except the pub served Pepsi instead of Coke. Darn you.)

Lastly, I really should invest in a pretty hand-held fan...

Continue Reading

First Darren, Now Lance!

They say that all the good men are either taken or gay...and now, I'm starting to believe that. Yesterday I found out that Darren Hayes, formerly of Savage Garden, just married his boyfriend of 2 years, Richard, in a Civil Partnership ceremony in London. (Oh, my heart...!) I've always loved Darren - not in the way one usually loves a celebrity though (like the way I love Jake Gyllenhaal) - for his work, his voice, his words. His love songs never fail to touch and melt that hopeless romantic I keep tucked away inside of me. *Sigh* Despite having my (impossible) dreams shattered, I am truly happy that someone (deserving) has found some happiness.

Oh, but that's not all. Oh no, it wasn't enough to confirm that Darren's gay and find out that he just got married, oh no, no, no. Just a minute ago, I also found out that Lance Bass from N'Sync just came out of the closet! Will it never end!!

Continue Reading

Losing Weight

People have been obsessed with diets for a long time. Atkins, South Beach, low-carb, no carb, grapefruit! (Apparently, Atkins was obese at the time of his death by the way.) First of all, people need to love themselves and their bodies. Second of all, check your BMI (Body Mass Index) and more often than not, you'll find that you are not fat and that your weigh is completely normal. You are your own worst critic and the sooner you realise this, the healthier you'll be. Rant over.

Anyway, back to diets. So, as those close to me know, I lost a lot of 'weight' that year I studied abroad in Hull. Now, I said 'weight' because I only lost 3 pounds in reality; what had actually happened was that my body rid itself of a lot of fat and toned up. Woohoo, go body! But wait a darn minute, all I ate that year was carbs! Rice and pasta were my staples (still are actually) and by all accounts, I should've gained dress sizes instead of lost 'em. Well, I found this article that explains why. Briefly:

A new study, that has investigated the various types of diets existing nowadays, found that diets that are high in carbohydrates and have a low glycemic index are the most efficient in reducing fat mass.

Dr. Simin Liu, from the University of California in Los Angeles commented upon the study: “foods with a low degree of starch gelatinization, such as pasta, and those containing a high level of viscous soluble fiber, such as wholegrain barley, oats, and rye, have slower rates of digestion and lower glycemic index values.

There you have it people. Diets rich in carbs with a low glycemic index are most efficient in weight loss. Now where's my bowl of rice...

Continue Reading

Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend

Marilyn wasn't far off when she sang that in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (the hell they do, by the way).

But how does one reconcile one's inner magpie with one's inner treehugger? Simple: ecological jewelry! greenKarat actively uses recycled metal to make their jewelry and hopes to spur consumers in the RRR direction (that's reuse, reduce and recycle to all you non-greenies). And just because they're recycled doesn't mean they're cheap and ugly. (Would I ever wear ugly jewelry? As if!) Take a look at this gorgeous canary diamond engagement ring set in white gold - about .30 carats - and at a not-too-shabby $975 (considering it's an engagement ring).

Continue Reading

Please Stop the Fighting

Day in and day out, more and more stories of the Hezbollha-Israeli conflict come pouring through to us through print, tv/radio broadcasts, the internet, etc. I can't stand this. Innocent people - children - are dying because stupid adults don't know how to calmly and politely speak to each other and talk things through. Just reading about it and seeing the horrific images makes me want to cry and rail at the skies. (I should to stop reading the news whilst at work but I can't help it.)

Am I just being overly sensitive and too empathic? Why aren't the 'superpowers' doing anything about this?! Oh I know Rice has flown in to Beirut for talks...but I can't help but think that we (as Americans, as Britons, as the a global community!) should've intervened a lot earlier. All this useless death! ARGH!

It sounds silly and almost childish but why can't everyone just get along? Is it really that hard? Compromise, people. COMPROMISE. It's the way forward.

Continue Reading

I Hear Wedding Bells

My best friend of almost 11 years just got officially engaged!! Congratulations Em!! (Not that I haven't already told you personally.)

This is so amazing. I mean, I knew they were getting married and everything already but now it's all official and it's real. Her ring's perfect; it's the kind I want for myself: diamond solitaire and white gold. *Sigh* It's all so romantic. And I'm gonna be there as a bridesmaid! Exciting!!

Continue Reading

The Ultimate Make-Up Phone

When I saw BenQ-Seimens' EF61 Mia Special Edition on Shiny Shiny, I couldn't help but think, 'That sounds like my kind of phone and I should be going ga-ga over it.' Weeeeeeeell, it is nice and very pretty but I'm not drooling over it like I did when I saw Sony Ericsson's K800i.

But, to be fair, they weren't joking when they called it 'the ultimate make-up phone'. Not only does it have a built-in compact mirror (one less thing to carry!), it's also got a pre-loaded java app from Pout (big make-up name) - '5 minutes to fabulous'. Alongside all the beauty gimmicks are the usual gadgety mobile features: 1.3 megapixel camera, a micro SC slot and an MP3 player.

All in all, it's a lovely little phone but I still find my eyes straying to the K800i...

It's available from the BenQ-Seimens shop.

Continue Reading

Commercials

How come we don't get these kind of adverts in the US?



Honda Accord



Honda Civic

Continue Reading

I Want One Of Those

It's a website chock full of stuff that you don't need but really, really want. Take this for an example: the Cupid's Umbrella.

You know how when you share an umbrella with someone, half you and half of the other person always gets wet because the umbrella is only big enough to cover one person? (And it invariably is my handbag that gets wet! Grr.) Well the Cupid's Umbrella is the perfect solution! This is from the IWOOT website:

However much you're 'into' someone, there's nothing more irritating than having to share your umbrella. Yes it seems intimate and cosy, but let's be honest, it just doesn't work. Either they're so short that your head's in the spokes and they still get wet, or they're so tall that you're way below the height where you get any protection at all - and of course you both end up with one very wet shoulder each. Then again if you both have an umbrella you simply can't walk abreast, if you try, you inevitably end up ducking and diving around a tree, making way for glowering passers by, clinking spokes with the other umbrellas and putting your conversation on hold until you reach dry land. Oh the social pitfalls of umbrella etiquette!

Look how happy they are! I'd be that happy, too, if I had one of these umbrellas. Anyone for a stroll in the rain?

Continue Reading

It's a Boy! Or a Girl!

I don't know yet but I do know that Kate's pregnant!! Yayyy. Kate's my friend from work. Her and her husband, Richard, are two of THE coolest people I know!

The funny thing is that about a month ago, Kate had just informed me that a woman's fertility rate drops drastically - like it halves - when we turn 30 and, like, quarters when we turn 35! There IS a biological clock! AH! She told me that after seeing that on a BBC program, she turned to her husband and said, 'QUICK, LET'S MAKE BABIES!' I just about laughed my head off when she told me. (Kate just turned 31..or 32.)

So you know what this means, right? This means *I* have to have babies by 35! (Preferably by 30 actually.) GAH! I resent being on a deadline, but oh well. It'll happen when it happens, right? RIGHT!

Anyway, I just scanned Kate's thermal images of her baby and it's so cool. That little human being is in her tummy! Amazing.

Continue Reading

Phone Saga Climax

THIS is it. I want THIS phone and, if I have my way, I'm gonna get it...whenever I get around to buying one. It's the revamped Sony Ericsson K750i *drumroll* IN RED (thank you T3)!! Like the K800i, it's a Cyber-shot camera-turned-phone but it's red hot instead of cool black. Woo!!


More info the phones.

Continue Reading

Decisions, Decisions

I want a new mobile phone, but I can't decide which one I like best. What's worse it that new ones keep cropping up! Here are the contenders (so far...):

Sony Ericsson K800i - my orignal 'I want' phone. I refer to it as 'my phone' and it is, quite simply, gorgeous (in looks and functions). It's the fact that it's a Cyber-shot camera-turned-phone that grabs me.






Nokia 6111 Pink - it's pink. What more do I need to say? Oh, and it's a slider so it's über petite, hence über cute.









Nokia 3250 Pink or Green - it's got the funky twist goin' on. Twist 90° degrees for a camera, 180° for an mp3 player.








Sony Ericsson Limited Edition Red K750i - where pink connotes cute, red is most definitely hot. And that's what this phone is: hot. Plus, it's as technologically sophisticated as they come.





Nokia N72 (in pearl pink) - another pink phone, but whilst the others were cute, this one's lovely.

Continue Reading

Mm mmm

Was there ever anything that you really wanted but knew that you shouldn't? That it's unhealthy, dangerous and all too risky for you? That it is potentially fatal to not just you but others around you? And despite knowing all this, you still want it?

Yeah, that's totally the case here. Meet the 2006 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R. It is, in one word, hot. Sleek and black (totally my style!) and just... phew. And according to Top Speed, it's a damn nice bike, too. I'll take their word on it since I know next to nothing about motorcycles, haha.



I'd love to take a ride on the Ninja though. Vroom, vroom.

Continue Reading