Archive for November, 2004

…the bad one, not the good one.

Been watching the auction for ten days. No bids until the last 36 hours. I place the second bid with 15 minutes to go, three times the current high bid and not far off the shop price that this thing fetched last time it was in production.

Then, with five minutes to go I get outbid.

Sigh.

But I know my maximum price for this and resist the temptation to up my bid.

Oh, the item in question? 28mm HLBS – Spinosaurus Dinosaur. The question from a browser is worth quoting for “huh?” value:

Q: Is this a child’s toy or model or dressing up costume? Photo makes it VERY difficult to make out.

A: 28mm metal dinosaur model – certainly not a child’s toy.

[Update] – one week on and I won an auction from the same seller for a Baryonyx. I’ll just add that to the pile with all the other unpainted dinosaurs then…


Dear Intending partner

This mail may not be surprising to you if you have been following current events in the international media with reference to the Middle East and Palestine in particular.

I am Mrs. SUHA ARAFAT, the wife of YASSER ARAFAT, the Palestinian leader who died recently in Paris.

Since his death and even prior to the announcement, I have been thrown into a state of antagonism,confusion, humiliation, frustration and hopelessness by the present leadership of the Palestinian Liberation Organization and the new Prime Minister. I have even been subjected to physical and psychological torture. As a widow that is so traumatized, I have lost confidence with everybody in the country at the moment.

You must have heard over the media reports and the Internet on the discovery of some fund in my husband secret bank account and companies and the allegations of some huge sums of money deposited by my husband in my name of which I have refuses to disclose or give up to the corrupt Palestine Government. In fact the total sum allegedly discovered by the Government so far is in the tune of about $6.5 Billion Dollars. And they are not relenting on their effort to make me poor for life. As you know, the Moslem community has no regards for woman, hence my desire for a foreign assistance.

I have deposited the sum of 20 million dollars with a security firm abroad whose name is withheld for now until we open communication. I shall be grateful if you could receive this fund into your bank account for safe keeping and any Investment opportunity. This arrangement is known to you and my personal Attorney.He might be dealing with you directly for security reasons as the case may be.

In view of the above, if you are willing to assist for our mutual benefits, we will have to negotiate on your Percentage share of the $20,000,000 that will be kept in your position for a while and invested in your name for my trust pending when my Daughter, Zahwa, will come off age and take full responsibility of her Family Estate/inheritance.

Please note that this is a golden opportunity that comes once in life time and more so, if you are honest, I am going to entrust more funds in your care as this is one of the legacy we keep for our children.

In case you don’t accept please do not let me out to the security and international media as I am giving you this information in total trust and confidence I will greatly appreciate if you accept my proposal in good faith.
Please expedite action.

Yours sincerely,
Mrs Suha Arafat

This transmission may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the information contained herein (including any reliance thereon) is STRICTLY PROHIBITED, if you received this transmission in error, please immediately contact the sender and destroy the material in its entirety, whether is electronic or hard copy format.


I turn on the telly to watch a bit of the rugby. Wales are leading New Zealand 19-13; but within seconds of turning on, the All Blacks score a try bringing it to 19-18. Oh good, they missed the conversion.

[Update - 18:41] Bugger, NZ scored again.

[Update - 18:51] Back to 22-23 and the All Blacks are a man down.

[Update - 18:55] That was close, Wales just cleared it from their try line. I can’t watch any more. Charmed is starting on five.

[Update - 19:25] Damn. Final score 25-26.


That’s how the police “appeal for witnesses” board describes the lastest killing in West Norwood; though that rather po-faced languaged is somewhat undermined by the large MURDER at the top of the board.

This is, I think, the fourth murder in West Norwood in the six years I’ve lived here.


Brief update on an earlier post. I decided to upgrade software I knew I would use rather than splurge on software I might use. So Dreamweaver upgraded from MX to MX 2004 and Photoshop upgraded from 7 to CS.

And I think Doom 3 will be the next software purchase. I’ve been playing the demo and it is simply amazing.

[Update] – Doom 3 purchased and on its way from Amazon.


One pack of round slotta bases (20 for 1.00) – I normally base by figures on pennies (five times cheaper) but the MoFo Royal Marines need the extra height to stand alongside the Harlequin UNIT troopers in the battle against the Dalek invaders.

Ithorian Scout

One Rebel Storm booster pack (8.99). I got an Ithorian Scout. I got one of those in my starter set; and in the previous two booster packs I bought. These are meant to be uncommon, but out of eight uncommons I’ve got from packs four have been Ithorian Scouts. There are sixteen uncommons in the range, as the packs avoid duplicates the odds of getting an Ithorian Scout in a given pack are one in eight. So the odds of getting four Ithorian Scouts in four packs are one in four thousand and ninety six, long but not astronomical.

Running total is now 63.94.

Tags:

The line between serious science and smut can sometimes be rather thin. The recent post at The Panda’s Thumb falls on one side of the line, but the following comments vere over to the other side.


Someone on TMP was asking about the chimps from Eureka.


No not fireworks. There’s a banging noise coming from one of the neighbouring flats and I can’t tell whether it’s DIY or sex. The fact that it’s nearly eleven o’clock on a Friday leans towards sex, but the duration is beginning to suggest DIY.


I crossed a picket line to get to work today. Of course, it being a civil service picket line, it was barely noticable and had packed up and gone home by lunch time.

But I suppose I’ll have to hand back my Stakhanovite of the Month award now. (Gosh, I look young and slim in that photo, taken in Boston in early 2000, what’s happened to me over the past four years? I blame George W Bush.)