27 posts tagged “qotd”
In the UK they've passed a law saying that smokers will not be allowed to become foster parents, do you think this is fair?
I know I'll probably sound like a rabid Daily Mail reader, but I think this is madness. They're crying out for suitable foster parents here in the UK, yet they now want to exclude vast numbers of potential candidates for this most difficult of jobs. Do they ("they" being the faceless authorities that make these decisions) believe it's better for a child to be raised in a care home than with caring foster parents, just because those parents smoke? I just don't understand it.
What next? Excluding people based on their political beliefs? The fact that they have poor fashion sense? That they pick their nose?
The election is a week from today, who are you going to vote for?
Obviously, I don't have a vote in the US Presidential Election. I'm Irish (real Irish, in that I was born in Ireland, not fifth-generation Boston cop Irish) and live in the UK.
But like the rest of the world, I have a vested interest in who gets the top job next.
A cursory glance over the recent content of this blog will tell you I'm no fan of John McCain. If I had a vote, it would go to Obama. I hope it plays out that way next week.
The thought of Sarah Palin strutting round the White House is just too terrible to contemplate.
My fingers are firmly crossed.
What's your most memorable scene from a movie?
Submitted by danadee
What are you looking forward to this week?
Actually, it's this weekend that I'm most looking forward to... I and my better half will be spending it in Brussels, visiting my parentals. It's quite a while since I've been there, so looking forward to a good mooch around the city and some delightful Belgian beers. More than that however, I'm like a child on Christmas eve, giddy with excitement at the prospect of traveling there on the Eurostar.
I've had it up to here with airports this year... the queues, the stifling security and the power-trips of the monkeys in uniform.
Trains are so much more... civilised.
Any last minute summer plans for the weekend?
A shameful, shameful Saturday... especially considering this is a Bank Holiday weekend here in the UK. I know several people who have jetted off for the weekend, taking advantage of this last long weekend before the inevitable gloom of Autumn/Winter (which, to be honest, kicked in early this year...).
I, however, spent most of Saturday on the couch in front of the TV. I read a bit too - psychology journals, no less, in an attempt to re-ignite enthusiasm for my doctorate - and last night enjoyed two films and a massive pizza. I then stayed up far too late, watching god-awful TV until 2am and so feel a little spaced this morning. As for the films, Hellboy was on TV and I wanted a refresh before going to see the sequel.
I also watched 'The Lives of Others' on DVD, which was simply beautiful. You must see this film. For me, it represented a timely reminder of the evils of totalitarian government... not the violence and war, but the small and regular intrusions into the lives of citizens, the thought control and the stifeling, overbearing surveillance.
As I said, quite timely.
That said, I don't feel like I wasted yesterday. I needed some downtime after a pretty hectic couple of weeks. I also fully intend to make better use of today and tomorrow i.e. catching up with friends and *finally* going to see the Dark Knight.
To be fair, I've had quite a lot of holidays this summer, and will be in Brussels next weekend, Amsterdam the following weekend. I'm viewing this as a pit-stop, an opportunity to refuel and relax.
Are you going to be amongst the first people to buy the iPhone 3G? If so, when do you plan on picking yours up and which one will you be purchasing?
Yes! I just picked mine up. It's a black, 16GB model. I had a nightmare dealing with the chimps at Carphone Warehouse this morning (who to be fair were quite overwhelmed by the demand) when my iPhone failed to show up as promised. Nine hours later, I popped back and there it was, waiting for me.
I had to feel sorry for the the various punters in the shop with me, wandering in on the off chance that there were any iPhones left. There were not.
I'm pleased with it so far... but that's not saying much as I haven't been able to set it up yet. I like the size and weight, while the overall build quality seems good. I've promised to take my other half out to dinner tonight, so serious playing around with the newest gadget will have to wait until later. Or tomorrow morning.
The best bit? I cancelled my T-Mobile contract, incurring a cancellation penalty (of course). However, I sold my iPod touch which almost covers that, and a nice cashback from Quidco (you really should register) covered the cost of the new handset (£59).
This is probably my least wallet-injuring Apple purchase ever.
What's your favorite magazine? Least favorite?
My favourite is the most excellent Wired. I can't wait for it each month and read the great wired.com blogs in between each issue.
Great technology analysis and comment, plenty of humour and beee-utiful layout and design. And their top tips are quite useful.
And the best news I've heard all week is that they're going to launch a UK edition of the mag in early 2009. I can finally get a subscription without paying way over the odds to have it imported from the US.
My least favourite?
Anything that follows the sex lives of celebrities and wannabies. And costs less than a pound... you know the type of crap.
Will you buy the iPhone 3G? Why or why not?
Why yes... yes I will.
And why? It offers solutions to a number of problems I face with my Palm Centro, specifically around syncing and web access.
Aside from that, I'm just a massive Apple geek.
How are you celebrating St. Patrick's Day?
Ironically, seeing as I'm Irish (and not "my grand-daddy's daddy once visited" Irish... I was born and raised in Dublin) I'm not really celebrating at all. I have a shocking dose of the flu and haven't left the house since Saturday afternoon. And that was to go to Twickenham to watch Ireland be decimated by England in the rugby. Bah!
I'm not wearing green either. And the mere though of beer (green or otherwise) is enough to make me vom.
So, in summary... I am not celebrating Paddy's Day this year. Though I'm sure many others are taking my place as I type. Many of whom couldn't even find Ireland on a map, much less their ass with both hands.
Is my flu-driven bitterness showing?
