life - one monkey + one keyboard

Where are all the aliens?

Where are they? Well, I think I know. I believe in aliens. I believe we aren't alone in the universe, or even in the galaxy. And I am not alone. 52% of Brits and 54% of Americans agree. It's 56% in Germany. And I've

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Carlton Mansions Eviction

Lambeth council are acting very unreasonably towards my neighbours in Carlton Mansions. Brixton Buzz have the story here. I've written to the Coldharbour Ward councillors. Dear Councillors Anyanwu, Heywood & Parr, I am writing to express my concern and disappointment with the way the council is treating my

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My TalkTalk nightmare enters its second year.

It is now exactly one year since my troubles with TalkTalk began. In a nutshell, they came to door offering to match the price of my existing service. I was interested and gave them some details. It turned out they couldn't give me a better deal so I

science

Life, Unbounded: All you need to know about 2,000 years of astrobiology

Caleb Scharf has just finished his superb sequence of the ten most important question in astrobiology. They are all good, but the end is a good place to begin: Metrodoru, the first astrobiologist? From Pergammon, Berlin, Image via WikipediaMetrodorus of ChiosDemocritus"To consider the Earth as the only populated

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Aglianico, The flavour of stewed prunes

From a time before Google translate, 1996 was a very year for Aglianico. I will spare you ALL CAPS. This wine is entirely made from Aglianico cultivated in the zone Sannitica on the soil, clayey, calcereous and aged in oak barrels through about six months. Deep ruby red with violet

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How to complain effectively: a case study.

TalkTalk never listen to me on the phone so I am having to write them a letter. Without any sense of irony, they have an article on their site instructing you on how best to complain when you have dealings with shitty companies. When things go wrong after you’ve

life

All I want for Christmas will fit in one small bag

Every year my family ask me what I want for Christmas. Every year I put them to the test. This year is no different but it is a different test. This is an email I´ve just sent them from Berlin. In a break with my traditionally unhelpful request for

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Finally, I'm an Official Iron Maiden Fan Club member

Yes, i've chosen to make my favourite tattooed millionaire a little richer. And it's about time too. * They were the band of my teens. * They are my favourite live band * Three of their concerts are in my all time top 10. * This summer I drove 3000

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Joggin' Dijon

The great thing about joggin' in a place you don't know is that you don't know where you are going so you don't worry so much about how far you've run and you have lots of new scenery to distract you.

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PostSecret

PostSecret is my new favourite blog. Not that my puny clicks will add much to the354,708,351 they already have. Which makes me realise that this is yet another meme that i arrived late for. Or maybe, I came early and have conveniently forgotten the fact. Anyway, I'

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Three out. Of three.

[caption id="attachment_982" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="~Nadja ~Max & ~Tessa\'s room"] [/caption] Who needs an octopus to demonstrate publication bias? The door of my spare room has pretty good track record so far. Although, it is more

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Sad but happy!

So it turns out there was a more complicated version of the happiness flowchart Path to happiness gets complicated and confusing I will pass, thank you. I am pretty good at being happy. I think every year of my life has been happier than the last and long may this

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Break-up or breakdown? You decide!

Here is the transcript on my text-messages yesterday. These were all from me to Tessa and only one of them got a reply (between 22:11 and 0:38) unfortunately I've lost it. During the day I called and wasn't answered numerous times so I left

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Congratulations, Mrs & Mrs Sigurdardottir-Leosdottir

The best wedding I ever went to had two brides. And that is probably why it was the best wedding I ever went to. I imagine two grooms would do okay too but only because they be homosexual. I can't imagine what a wedding with two straight grooms

life

stranger and stranger

A friend just sent me this.. REMEMBER WHEN YOUR MOTHER TOLD YOU NEVER TO TAKE CANDY FROM A STRANGER.... THIS IS THE ONE SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT!!!!! Now that does look a lot like me, but I honestly can't remember it.

life

Meat between two slices of bread

http://londonist.com/2009...andwich_wee.php Apparently it's National Sandwich Week. Sure, it's only a marketing ruse from the evil sandwich overlords of the British Sandwich Association but tasty nonetheless. More from Londonist

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Waiting for your call waiting

It's a mild coincidence that happens to everyone, you call a friend and as your phone is dialing or reaching their answerphone message, the little blinking message on your phone tells you that they are trying to call you. So naturally you want to hang up your call

science

Brainiacs live long and prosper..

This week's Nature contains an essay by Ian Deary on the well-established but somewhat mysterious finding that intelligent people live longer. He cites one particular study of approx 1 million men who completed national service in Sweden. They were followed for 20 years and intelligence/IQ predicted mortality

life

The Zen Cocktail

three years ago i made the new year's resolution never to drink the same drink twice in one day. That year I kept my resolution religiously and i enjoyed it so much that the next year I carried on in the vein.. but treating the idea more as

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Gorilla fundraising

My gorilla suit has arrived, I've purchased a pair of plimsoles, I may even start training any day now. Please sponsor me to help make it impossible for me to back out. Thanks

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run for the hills, the mountains and the lowlands

i never thought i'd say this but i am taking up jogging. since the first time they made us do cross county aged 8, i've known i am a dreadful runner, even when i was incredibly fit from 6 days a week swimming training i couldn&

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nanowrimovember

Yes, it's that time of the year again. Starting at midnight, thousands of people all around the world are racing to write a 50,000 word novel from beginning to end in the 30 days that November hath. Yes, it's (Inter)NAtional NOvel WRIting MOnth time.

life

Dublin, money or something else?

If you know what i am talking about then you decide.. post a comment below to express an opinion, thanks. UPDATE: seems like cash is king.. plus i've got them a couple of token presents.. including a very large poster that we can all sign on the night.

life

nouvelle chip butty

1 large white potato 1 garlic pitta wild rocket olive oil rosemary blast the potato in the microwave for 2.5 minutes, then slice into 1cm thick discs, sprinkle with olive oil and rosemary, roast in a hot oven (220 deg c) turning occasionally and removing when deep dark brown.

life

Fodor on meaning of life

"I rather doubt that life has a meaning. If I thought perhaps it did, and I wanted to find out what its meaning is, I don't imagine I'd ask someone whose credentials consist of a PhD in philosophy." - Jerry Fodor from an interview