And now, courtesy of xkcd.com, the Romantic Drama Equation. Seems pretty logical to me.
Category: Humour
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Not Suitable for Children…
…or those of a nervous disposition. I would advise you to think very carefully before you inflict this upon them. I’m still shuddering from the very thought. Meanwhile, Twisty is in fine form as she comments on another inappropriate choice for children. -
The Time of Day
Another little quiz to waste a couple of minutes with…You Are Sunrise 
You enjoy living a slow, fulfilling life. You enjoy living every moment, no matter how ordinary.
You are a person of reflection and meditation. You start and end every day by looking inward.
Caring and giving, you enjoy making people happy. You’re often cooking for friends or buying them gifts.
All in all, you know how to love life for what it is – not for how it should be.It all sounds wonderful. But I can’t help feeling that the test has totally overlooked my inner misanthrope…(hat tip to Not Saussure)Update: I had originally used misogynist in place of misanthrope above. I meant the latter, of course, I’m an equal-opportunity pessimist… -
Rooms To Let
OK, I promise that this will absolutely be my last comment on the subject, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to draw your attention to this week’s Jesus and Mo… -
Dizzying Madness
Another fine rant today from Mr. Brooker. And like all the best rants, it contains the grit of truth at the heart of its black, shimmering pearl. -
Just Ring Apeldoorn…
"Acupuncture" is the latest in a long string of excellent TV Ads for a Dutch Insurance Company, whose slogan is Even Apeldoorn Bellen (Just Ring Apeldoorn). It won the award for best Dutch commercial for 2006. It’s guaranteed to raise a smile and bring on a feeling of schadenfreude.Also, check out the "Schoonmaaksters" (Cleaning Ladies) commercial link on the same page… -
Slob Evolution
You remember Evolution, the clever Ad by Dove about our perceptions of beauty? Well, now here’s a brilliant parody: Slob Evolution…(hat tip to Houtlust) -
Merry Mithras
I adore QI, the slightly bizarre quiz show hosted by the urbane national treasure that is Stephen Fry. Last week’s episode on BBC Three was the Christmas Special (it’ll be repeated this Friday on BBC Two). It contains this somewhat amusing comparison between two mythologies.Sometimes the exchanges between Fry and his guests make you realise that there is no way that this show could ever be broadcast in America without censorship. For example Fry’s recent explanation as to how, when he was at university, a fellow student came by the nickname of "Heinz" reduced his guests, the studio audience, and me to tears of shocked and hysterical laughter… -
Kingston Pigeon Cull
The town of Kingston Upon Thames is troubled by the number of pigeons it has. The council proposed a cull of the pigeons, and this was duly reported in the local paper. The newspaper also has a web site, where readers can leave reactions to the stories. Many people reacted to this particular story in ways that become increasingly surreal. Go and read it for yourself.(hat tip to Alun, over at Archaeoastronomy for the link) -
Women, Know Your Limits
Nina Paley reminds me of the faux-public service announcement film done by Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse. I find Enfield to be an acquired taste, but I laughed like a drain at this sketch. It rings so horribly true as an insight into the male mentality of not too long ago. And, dare I say it, probably not too far removed from what some men still think now. -
How To Avoid Nightmares
Here’s the FurReal Friends Butterscotch Pony for every little girl who’s ever dreamed of having her very own animatronic pony. But doting parents would be well advised to heed the warning:Adults take note: Pony comes unassembled in box with head detatched. You may wish to not open the box around your children if they may be frightened by a box with a decapitated horse inside.Yes, I can see how that might not go down well with most little girls.(hat tip to Improbable Research) -
Dropping The Pilot
Steve Bell is a political cartoonist par excellence. And although his style is often "in-yer-face", he can also be quite subtle. For example, when I saw this cartoon, about Bush getting rid of Rumsfeld, I thought it was quite good, but not one of his best.It turns out that it was my problem for not catching what was, in fact, a clever, and aposite, reference. What Bell has done is update a very famous political cartoon done in 1890 by Sir John Tenniel. "Dropping the pilot" illustrated the forced resignation of Bismarck by Kaiser Wilhelm. I love the fact (now) that Bell’s version shows that the whole ship has sunk, and that Kaiser Wilhelm’s crown has been replaced by a bird sitting on the Bushchimp (is it an albatross?).It’s not the first time that Tenniel’s cartoon has been used in this way. There’s apparently a long tradition of political cartoons based on it. Just goes to show that you’re never too old to learn. -
A Joke
The Reverend Spooner would have been proud of this excellent example. -
Don’t Panic
The Guardian today carries a nice selection of extracts from emails sent by students on their gap year to their doting parents. The extracts, far from having the intended effect of calming their parents’ worries, probably had precisely the opposite effect. Sample:Dear Mummy and Daddy, how are you? This may come as a shock but I am thinking of eloping with one of my students to Assam coz he is from the Naga tribe, and I want to be a Naga girl and go hunting monkeys with bows and arrows and fishing with spears like they do, and then come back and do tribal dancing all night, coz it’s so much fun, and all the tribal people here are so great and brave and strong. Obviously the political situation in Assam isn’t ideal, but I’ll be OK. Love you lots. Only an idea at the moment. X, MeI have obviously led a sheltered life, since I don’t recall being in any situation remotely like some of the ones described here. And not having children ourselves means that we have missed out on the opportunity to experience parental panic. However, my brother, who is in his seventies, is currently travelling through South America, and sends me cheerful emails with news such as "survived an active volcano and a strikers’ blockade, burning tyres and all!", so I think I’m beginning to get the hang of how it must feel.
Geoff Coupe's Blog 
