Proposal for the Internet

When a user inputs the English word 'loose', every web page should provide links to the definitions of loose and lose, with a firm statement like 'For the love of the rest of the English speaking world, make sure you are using the correct word'. Some example responses to an online article about the maker of Lego:

• How does a company that makes plastic bricks loose over 200 million in one year?
• ... kids loose interest around age 10-12 if not before.
• So, it's no surprise that LEGO looses ground.

How on Earth can so many people get it wrong? Grrr.

Evil Smells

One problem of living alone is that you forget to do some of the little things. Like taking out the garbage; it's such a small amount anyway, you don't really feel like bothering. Right? Until it's a leftover yoghurt container. Or a leftover 4L milk container. Or both at the same time...

I'm going to light a scented candle now, to drive out those evil spirits smells...

Blow-up Man

Yes, well...

He fits in a car's glove box, appears at a flick of a switch and when a woman has finished using him, she can just pull the plug and he deflates.

He is the "Buddy on Demand", a blow-up man with the aim of making solo female motorists feel less nervous about driving at night.

Research by the inflatable friend's creator, insurer Sheilas' Wheels, shows 82 per cent of women feel safer with someone sitting in the car beside them and nearly a half do not like driving alone in the dark.

"We're not saying that an inflatable man is the only answer but we do hope it will give women extra confidence and make journeys in the dark less fearful," Jacky Brown, spokeswoman for Sheilas' Wheels, said.

- from abc.net.au

Bike Accident

There was yet another bicycle accident on Gilford St. This time it involved a car; pretty scary. A guy and girl were riding a tandem bike downhill. Seems that they ran a stop sign on Gilford St and were either clipped or very narrowly missed by a car driving along Robson St. Sad to say it but:

1. I do have 100% sympathy for the cyclists - they were very close to being seriously hurt or killed.
2. I don't believe it was the drivers fault.

What was interesting was the nearby calls from from neighours of "You're driving a lethal weapon!", "Cyclists always have right of way" and "People live around here". There seemed to be this odd consensus that the driver was immediately at fault, and that the cyclists were doing nothing wrong.

I've been a cyclist for a few years now and choose to ride in traffic. Any cyclist should know you are a vehicle and are subject to the same rules. You indicate, you stop at stop signs, you obey the rules as best you can within the limits of your vehicle. You even obey the speed limit. Act like a vehicle and you might gain respect from the cars around you. Act like a vehicle that is invisible and you'll be the safest you can be.

There is a general concept that drivers are at fault when they hit pedestrians. This I agree with, and it can be extended to slow moving or stationary cyclists. But a driver cannot be expected to look out for cyclists zipping through a stop-sign; they're just too damned fast.

Just had to get that off my chest. As I said, I have 100% sympathy for the cyclists, but if they're on the road they have to act like vehicles.

Chocolate Moo

In direct contrast to the old-fashioned ethos of the previous post: I don't own my own cow, I do actually buy milk. I only mention this because last night I bought 4L of chocolate milk. 24 hours later and there is only 2L left. I like chocolate milk. Sue me. :P :)