Roy Dickel

decaffinated 2

2009-06-08T07:18:38Z

well attempt 1 to give up coke lasted a massive 4 days:-( and was sabotaged by a fast food meal that didn't do anything else I'd drink but that's really no excuse for the 9 or so liters of the stuff I drank since then.

So press button B try again.

So anyway ...

2009-05-17T17:03:11Z

Following on from the coke list, there was a thing that apparently a can of coke a day puts a stone on you so I drink more than a can of coke a day most days the wrong side of a liter of the stuff so will not drinking it without changing the rest of my lifestyle help me lose weight?

This is the question I'll be trying to find the answer to over the next month or so

Approaching decaffination

2009-05-13T13:41:58Z

I recieved this as an E-mail a few days ago I've no idea if the details in it are accurate

Water or Coke?
I could not believe this..... Very interesting

WATER !

#1. 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.
(Likely applies to half the world population)

#2. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak
that it is mistaken for hunger.

#3. Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as 3%.

#4. One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs
for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of
Washington study.

#5. Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

#6. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of
water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain
for up to 80% of sufferers.

#7. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term
memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on
the computer screen or on a ! printed page.

#8. Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of
colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast
cancer by 79%., and one is 50% less likely to develop
bladder cancer. Are you drinking the amount of water
you should drink every day?

COKE

#1. In many states the highway patrol carries
two gallons of Coke in the trunk to remove blood from
the highway after a car accident.

#2. You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of Coke
and it will be gone in two days.

#3. To clean a toilet: Pour a can of Coca-Cola into the
toilet bowl and let the 'real thing' sit for one hour,
then flush clean. The citric acid in Coke removes
stains from vitreous China .

#4. To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers:
Rub the bumper with a rumpled-up piece of Reynolds
Wrap aluminum foil dipped in Coca-Cola.

#5. To clean corrosion from car battery terminals: Pour
a can of Coca-Cola over the terminals to bubble
away the corrosion.

#6. To loosen a rusted bolt: Apply a cloth soaked in Coca-Cola
to the rusted bolt for several minutes.

#7. To bake a moist ham: Empty a can of Coca-Cola into
the baking pan, wrap the ham in aluminum foil, and bake.
Thirty minutes before ham is finished, remove the foil, allowing the drippings to mix
with the Coke for a sumptuous brown gravy.

#8... To remove grease from clothes: Empty a can of Coke
into the load of greasy clothes, add detergent, and run
through a regular cycle. The Coca-Cola will help loosen
grease stains. It will also clean road haze from your
windshield.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:

#1. the active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid.
It will dissolve a nail in about four days. Phosphoric
acid also leaches calcium from bones and is a major
contributor to the rising increase of osteoporosis.

#2. To carry Coca-Cola syrup! (the concentrate) the
commercial trucks must use a hazardous Material place
cards reserved for highly corrosive materials.

#3. The distributors of Coke have been using it to clean
engines of the trucks for about 20 years!

Now the question is, would you like a glass of water?

or Coke?

Music meme....

2009-02-25T16:52:07Z

Kidnapped from Kitteninstrings blog I thought I'd give this a try (yeah I know nothing for 2 years then it's only a meme so sue me)

Rule: Do this if you're a lame loser like me and can't think of anything better to do.

Try It...it's Tricky!
Using only song titles from one artist, cleverly answer these questions.
~I'm going to even put the name of the album on as well... Yeah... I'm a dork.

Pick a band/artist: Catatonia

1. Are you male or female: This Boy Can't Swim (Way Beyond Blue)
2. Describe yourself: Beautiful Loser (Paper Scissors Stone)
3. How do you feel about yourself: Nothing Hurts(Equally Cursed and Blessed)
4. Describe your ex boyfriend/girlfriend: You've gota lot to answer for (Way Beyond Blue)
5. Describe your current boy/girl situation: Dead from the Waist Down (Equally Cursed and Blessed)
6. Describe your current location: Londinium (Equally Cursed and Blessed)
7. Describe where you want to be: Storm the Palace (Equally Cursed and Blessed)
8. Your best friend is: Mulder and Scully (International Velvet)
9. Your favorite color is: Way Beyond Blue (Way Beyond Blue)
10. You know that: I am the Mob (International Velvet)
11. What’s the weather like: Don't Need the Sunshine (International Velvet)
12. If your life was a television show what would it be called? Is Everybody Here On Drugs? (Paper Scissors Stone)
13. What is life to you: Some Half Baked Ideal Called Wonderful (Way Beyond Blue)
14. What is the best advice you have to give: Why I Can't Stand One Night Stands (International Velvet)
15. If you could change your name what would you change it to: Valerian Unwanted (Equally Cursed and Blessed)

Starcraft 2

2007-05-22T10:47:03Z

Well after waiting for bloody ever it's apparently on it's way.

I'd be a bit more hyped over this if EA hadn't managed to turn Command and Conquor 3 into a mediocre Starcraft Clone (Good cut scenes, shame about the game).

The Ultimate creeping eldritch horro

2006-10-20T14:26:20Z

meets cthulhu

http://www.hello-cthulhu.com/?date=2003-11-30

Gordon Strachan football genius

2006-05-04T08:56:14Z

Gordon Strachan - Football Manager and Comic Genius His best quotes?

On Wayne Rooney...
"It's an incredible rise to stardom; at 17 you're more likely to get a
call from Michael Jackson than Sven Goran Eriksson."

Reporter: "Gordon, can we have a quick word please?"
Strachan: "Velocity" [walks off]

Reporter: So, Gordon, in what areas do you think Middlesbrough were
better than you today?
Strachan: What areas? Mainly that big green one out there.

Reporter: "Gordon, what will you take from today?"
Strachan: I've got more important things to think about. I've got a
yoghurt to finish, the expiry date is today.

Reporter: There goes your unbeaten run. Can you take it?
Strachan: No, I'm just going to crumble like a wreck. I'll go home,
become an alcoholic and maybe jump off a bridge.

Reporter: There's no negative vibes or negative feelings here?
Strachan: Apart from yourself, we're all quite positive round here. So
I'm going to whack you over the head with a big stick - down negative
man, down.

Reporter: Welcome to Southampton Football Club. Do you think you are
the right man to turn things around?
Strachan: No, I think they should have got George Graham because I'm
useless.

Reporter: Where will Marion Pahars fit into the team line-up?
Strachan: Not telling you! It's a secret.

Reporter: "What is your impression of Jermaine Pennant?"
Strachan: "I don't do impressions"

Reporter: So Gordon, any changes then?
Strachan: Naw, still 5ft 6, ginger and a big nose!

GaryLineker: So Gordon, if you were English, what formation would you
play?
Strachan: If I was English I'd top myself

Reporter: Gordon, Do you think James Beattie deserves to be in the
England squad?
Strachan: I dont care, I'm Scottish

Reporter: Is that your best start to a season?
Strachan: Well I've still got a job so it's far better than the
Coventry one, that's for sure.

Reporter: Are you getting where you want to be with this team?
Strachan: We're not doing bad. What do you expect us to be like? We
were eighth in the league last year, in the cup final and we got into
Europe. I don't know where you expect me to get to. Do you expect us
to win the Champions League?

Reporter: Gordon, you must be delighted with that result?
Strachan: You're spot on! You can read me like a book.

Reporter: This might sound like a daft question, but you'll be happy
to get your first win under your belt, won't you?
Strachan: You're right. It is a daft question. I'm not even going to
bother answering that one. It is a daft question, you're spot on there.

Reporter: You don't take losing lightly, do you Gordon?
Strachan: I don't take stupid comments lightly either.

And to top it all off

When He left Southhampton. He announced he was leaving at the end of the season...... But left before the seasons end.
On leaving the So'ton training ground in His car, He stopped to talk to a Sky reporter.

Reporter; "Gordon, We all know you was leaving at the end of the season, but why have you left early?

Strachs; (Window wound down, engine running), "Because it's sunny and it's friday" (Car zooms off).
"Classic"

Copy and distribute as needed

2006-05-04T07:43:20Z

Extremely important advice and recommendations to be passed on to wives, girlfriends, fiancés, mothers, sisters, daughters, etc. (to all women in general).

These rules are to be communicated prior to the World Cup in June/July this year...

LIST OF RULES

1. From 9 June to 9 July 2006, you should read the sports section of the newspaper so that you are aware of what is going on regarding the World Cup, and that way you will be able to join in the conversations. If you fail to do this, then you will be looked at in a bad way, or you will be totally ignored. DO NOT complain about not receiving any attention.

2. During the World Cup, the television is mine, at all times, without any exceptions. If you even take a glimpse of the remote control, you will lose it (your eye).

3. If you have to pass by in front of the TV during a game, I don't mind, as long as you do it crawling on the floor and without distracting me. If you decide to stand nude in front of the TV, make sure you put clothes on right after because if you catch a cold, I wont have time to take you to the doctor or look after you during the World Cup month.

4. During the games I will be blind, deaf and mute, unless I require a refill of my drink or something to eat. You are out of your mind if you expect me to listen to you, open the door, answer the telephone, or pick up the baby that just fell from the second floor....it wont happen.

5. It would be a good idea for you to keep at least 2 six packs in the fridge at all times, as well as plenty of things to nibble on, and please do not make any funny faces to my friends when they come over to watch the games. In return, you will be allowed to use the TV between 12am and 6am, unless they replay a good game that I missed during the day.

6. Please, please, please!! if you see me upset because one of my teams is losing, DO NOT say "get over it, its only a game", or "don't worry, they'll win next time". If you say these things, you will only make me angrier and I will love you less. Remember, you will never ever know more about football than me and your so called "words of encouragement" will only lead to a break up or divorce.

7. You are welcome to sit with me to watch one game and you can talk to me during halftime but only when the commercials are on, and only if the halftime score is pleasing me. In addition, please note I am saying "one" game, hence do not use the World Cup as a nice cheesy excuse to "spend time together".

8. The replays of the goals are very important. I don't care if I have seen them or I haven't seen them, I want to see them again. Many times.

9. Tell your friends NOT to have any babies, or any other child related parties or gatherings that requires my attendance because:
a) I will not go,
b) I will not go, and
c) I will not go.

10. But, if a friend of mine invites us to his house on a Sunday to watch a game, we will be there in a flash.

11. The daily World Cup highlights show on TV every night is just as important as the games themselves. Do not even think about saying "but you have already seen this...why don't you change the channel to something we can all watch??", the reply will be: "Refer to Rule #2 of this list".

12. And finally, please save your expressions such as "Thank God the World Cup is only every 4 years". I am immune to these words, because after this comes the Champions League, Italian League, Spanish League, Premier League, etc etc.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Regards

Strange Bedfellows

2006-05-02T09:14:03Z

Doing a google search for failure brings up the autobiography of George W Bush and follows it with Michael Moores website

Well it made me smile

On the horizon

2006-03-20T13:40:06Z

This time tomorrow I should be able to take advantage of several of the perks of my crappy job

These are :-

Free Digital TV
With a hundred and odd channels so I can watch the Simpsons all day every day with the right channel combo.

Free Telephone Line so I pay none of those annoying rental charges (hurrah)

Free 2 mb broad band I could pay the extra for 10 mb but after no none work internet for 9 months and before that dial up internet I figure 2 mb will feel like a luxury.

It's going to be a really low utalisation segment as well fibre to the kerb almost no other users on there as it's only been upgraded from Analog a few weeks and is in an area with massive Sky and BT market penetration so none of those I'm on 10 mb why is it slower than dial up issues I deal with every day

On a related subject

2006-03-19T10:15:02Z

http://www.boingboing.net/2005/11/12/new_sony_lockware_pr.html

Apparently Sony will be tying PS3 Games to the consol. Now when I had my spate of being burgled the main thing that kept me coming back to the PS2 was the investment in games I already had so if they do go forwards with that then it's really going to be trashing any basis for customer loyalty after all if you're replacing the games each time

Sony Spyware

2006-03-19T07:24:41Z

Sony have in their consistant pursuit of protection of their profits sorry that should be artist rights have it seems decided that adding spyware to your pc is the way forwards.

This issues been kicking around for a while I first read about it when www.katebush.comissued a statement assuring us all copies of Aeriel where unaffected by this but for anyone looking to catch up

http://www.blueyonder.co.uk/blueyonder/getContent.do?page=1133093&group=bbs_explore

The album list is here
http://cp.sonybmg.com/xcp/english/titles.html

Most of these albums aren't particularly new and are readily available on peer to peer download which granted also comes with the threat of spyware and viruses but at least you're not paying for the privilige. It seems to me though that the more the companies try to protect the material the more they push the legitimate user into the download market just to avoid the extra hassle

mutilated @ 2006-03-17T07:49:00

2006-03-17T08:26:41Z

The Halifax Building Society seem to be in a quest to take all my money.

Now I've got my mortgage with them so they get a lot of it anyway but there's limits

I moved my mortgage payment from the 1st of the month to the 27th so I can plan how much cash I can spend better.

No problem they say pay us a cheque on the 27th and we'll cancel the direct debit on the first.

Being paranoid I check this with the call centre dude twice and get him to confirm it in writing

This letter arrives I pay my cheque across

Come the 1st the Halifax tries to take another payment

So I'm skint for a week while we sort that out and get £50 in charges from my account

Alls fine for a week I breathe a sigh of relief and ask Saintpap and Jo to join me for a drink

Come the 8th the Halifax does it to me again. More overdraft more charges more shouting including going into the branch and shouting at the manager. They apologise and promise to get it sorted but they've already screwed my finances so I couldn't go out beering when I'd planned.

So after all of that I get a letter through from the Halifax, what is it a formal apology?, a cheque for the costs, now they're informing me they're charging me for bouncing the payments they wheren't meant to be taking in the first place.

Wankers

To add insult to injury this post screwed up when I tried to update so any glaring errors or repetion are probably the result of ill tempered editing

mutilated @ 2006-03-03T21:02:00

2006-03-03T21:42:06Z

It was a Tuesday afternoon when time broke.

Most people blamed the scientists, they said they'd poked, proded or stretched till it broke.

Regardless bits of time littered the street like the droppings of a careless coalman.

Time it turned out was black and suprisingly heavy, some clever people claimed that was where the missing weight in the universe had gone but even cleverer people denied this largely because they hadn't thought of it first.

To everyone else it was one more thing to deal with in the early days cars would into blocks of time or people fall through it suddenly finding themselves in the mezioic era or under the hooves of a cattle drive, but after a while such trips seemed more deliberate and people would pull people from the past most of the spit and sawdust pubs ended up with a loved local character propping up the bar for free drinks. Others scoured the fragments of time looking for old friends or lost loves.

Work of course became impossible no two clocks told the same time. When people did show up a days work might be completed in five minutes or a morning work unravel itself over a cigarette break.

Opal Telecom

2006-03-03T20:50:35Z

I didn't get the job usual story good skills but lack of recent experience so still on crappy shifts and don't get to see people grrr.

Found a lot of stuff didn't make it throuhg the stay in the garage sadly much of it was stuff like my magic cards I'd decided I could live without and was going to flog on e-bay.

C'est la vie that was my spending money till I get the money for the mortgage sorted so no new toys for me :-( still I should get broadband and a land line next month so I can download new toys until I can afford to buy them.

Quick Catch up

2006-02-28T20:42:08Z

I realised i'd not written anything about what's actually happening with me for a while.

So deep breath

I bought a house at long last and am sorting out all the million things that need doing to it.

I've moved most of the stuff from the garage into the house there's been a lot of water and mildew damage but c'est la vie.

I've got a new girl friend Alexis she's blonde (first natural blonde I've ever dated), 23 and lives near Cheltnam so we're making our mobile phone companies rich but now being on the road means it's not the pain in the ass it once would have been.

I'm still in Telewest but just had a second interview for a new team being created at Opal Telecom but should have heard from that today and didn't so probably didn't get it

The new black

2006-02-25T18:21:57Z

It was with some delight I discovered that this years balack is to be nude, given the british weather the prospect of naked fashionistas parading around London and Manchester braving hypothermia with nipples that could cut glass provided some moments of only slightly innocent amusement.

Sadly the reality is that nude is a rather dull brown colour indistiguishable from camel (or is it tope) and flatters almost nobody as the sneering supermodels try deperately not to look crap in this (probably wishing a la Pert e Porte they where nude as thwn they'd be in a nicer colour than the weirdly named nude).

The Return of Stuff

2006-01-25T23:11:37Z

I'm hugely excited. Having finally got somewhere to put it I've started to retrieve some of my stuff and put it into the house (hey I have my priorities first things I bought where lightbulbs, a set of tools I needed for some jobs, replacement light and power switches and shelves for comics) sure stuff like kitchen cupboards and carpets got bought later.

So anyway I retrieved the stuff I'd left at or sent Saintpap about forever ago (muchly thanked for the storage space even if you did kick my ass at geomatry wars) and have been delving through it which has been a voyage of discovery and a joy From Hellsing, Sopranos, Stargate to T.H.U.N.D.E.R. agents and the Legion of Super Heros it's been a "whoa that's cool fest" and a great effort not to stop sorting things out and watch or read them.

On a different note I was dissapointed to see Googles accomodation with China but with thier ongoing chess game with Microsoft I supose it was inevitable that something would need to be done to enter into the market

Attack of the Batgirls

2006-01-19T10:33:36Z

http://himynameisjamie.livejournal.com/345568.html

There's been just under a thousand batgirls added in so far I'll be adding my own extremely humble contribution once I get to a home pc

The secret life of aardvarks

2006-01-19T10:29:33Z

Ten Top Trivia Tips about Aardvarks!

A sixteenth century mathematician lost his nose in a duel over his love for aardvarks, and wore a silver replacement for the rest of his life!
According to the story, Pinocchio was made of aardvarks.
The condom - originally made from aardvarks - was invented in the early 1500s.
All gondolas in Venice must be painted black unless they belong to aardvarks.
Aardvarks are the smallest of Jupiter's many moons!
US gold coins used to say 'In aardvarks we trust'.
You can tell if aardvarks have been hard-boiled by spinning them. If they stands up, they are hard-boiled!
The International Space Station weighs about 500 tons and is the same size as aardvarks.
The pupil of an octopus's eye is shaped like aardvarks.
You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching aardvarks.

Housey Housey

2006-01-15T20:58:21Z

On the third time of trying I've managed to secure a house (narrowly avoiding the indignity of being 40 and living with my parents ( I moved in for 2 weeks and got stuck for 9 months))

The house isn't in great shape at teh moment the damp course revealed the entire kitchen was rotten so that needs replacing entirely which wasn't thrilling but it'll all be sorted out soon and it's small enough that I can fix a room at a time with overtime (fingers crossed) housewarming party will be forthcoming once the cement mixer is out of the main room and there's exotic things like surfaces and seats to work with.

Not doing it yet as I'm busy trying to stop my parents turning it into a clone of thier place which is causing the odd raised voice or two so I'm trying to get less stressed at the moment.

Pilot Logs

2006-01-13T15:51:40Z

After every flight, Qantas pilots fill out a form,called a "gripe sheet,"
which tells mechanics about problems with the aircraft.

The mechanics correct the problems; document their repairs on the form,

and

then pilots review the gripe sheets before the next flight.

Never let it be said that ground crews lack a sense of humor.

Here are some actual maintenance complaints submitted by Qantas' Pilots
(marked with a P) and the solutions recorded (marked with an S) by
maintenance engineers.

By the way, Qantas is the only major airline that has never had an
accident.....

P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
S: Almost replaced left inside main tire.

P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.
S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.

P: Something loose in cockpit.
S: Something tightened in cockpit.

P: Dead bugs on windshield.
S: Live bugs on back-order.

P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute
descent.
S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.

P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
S: Evidence removed.

P: DME volume unbelievably loud.
S: DME volume set to more believable level.

P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
S: That's what they're for.

P: IFF inoperative.
S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.

P: Suspected crack in windshield.
S: Suspect you're right.

P: Number 3 engine missing.
S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.

P: Aircraft handles funny.
S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious.

P: Target radar hums.
S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.

P: Mouse in cockpit.
S: Cat installed.

And the best one for last...

P. Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget
pounding on something with a hammer.
S: Took hammer away from midget.

Neil Gaimon at the Nebula Awards

2005-11-24T11:32:35Z

http://www.strippedbooks.com/comics/stripped05/gaiman0.html

I Cthulhu

2005-11-08T20:59:04Z

http://www.neilgaiman.com/exclusive/essay07.asp

I laughed a lot at this then read it again and laughed even more

Peel Collection Adverts

2005-11-02T12:33:33Z

There are currently 2 adverts for the John Peel collection album about

One is a standard thing about the ground breaking music, essential collection etc usual advert

There's a second much funnier one though about the unlistenible bands that never troubled the charts both of them are advertising the same collection sadly as I'd love to see which sold better between a commercial and cult John Peel album (a bit like Joni Mitchell did with her collections of Hits and Misses)