Meenzer

Back in the day I used to babysit this kid from up the street. He'd have been 6 or 7 at the time and had recently started learning the piano, he'd got as far as playing some basic tunes two-handed at this stage. A classmate said that he'd started learning guitar so my lad's mam thought he'd invite him over so they could play together a bit and see what each other could do. Turns out that after six months or so, the other kid had only managed to learn how to strum the guitar and bang the frame in 4/4 rhythm. No fingering, no chords, just an open strum... BANG. strum... BANG. strum.... BANG. strum.... BANG. Anyway for some reason I'm reminded of this anecdote.

I should have added, no room for it either (Lahndan innit). Have to admit I'm getting visions of Arnold Rimmer and his Hammond organ nights now, although I suppose the involvement of the ship's robots would be more of a Gemmill thing.

Boris: Greed and inequality good, Margaret Thatcher International Airport even better. http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/nov/27/boris-johnson-thatcher-greed-good Your next Conservative Prime Minister, there. Good luck everybody.

I miss bashing out a tune or two. Might have to dig out the old keyboard from under the stairs, it's an ancient Yamaha job but since genetics suggest I'm at least another 25 years away from inheriting what was my Swedish gran's piano, certain compromises need to be made.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/robinedds/its-thanksgiving-so-we-asked-some-brits-to-label-the-us-stat http://www.buzzfeed.com/summeranne/americans-try-to-place-european-countries-on-a-map?bffb

Right. You have to be doing this deliberately.

And in "importance of giving your translator clear instructions" news:

And further to the linguistic nerdery above: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-25103362

Because otherwise the thread title would be "Actors you think have being underrated".

There's a reason Nonce Top Trumps isn't a best-selling toy this Christmas

Sometimes all three.

I'm not - just massively hypocritical.

I instinctively recoil from the whole thing too, but then when I was 6 we bought a VIC-20 computer which was basically the tablet of its day (.....hey, give me some leeway here), so it's not like "technology for kids" wasn't a core part of my upbringing - it very much was. It just feels weird because the technology is actually good these days.

Christmas Tree BSc (Brown Sauce)

Oh shit, I'd forgotten it mostly happened in that thread too

Dessie boy, check out this thread in all its glory. But only if you've nowt on this afternoon. http://www.toontastic.net/board/topic/33194-moon-landings/ Of course I'd forgotten who was responsible for starting it in the first place......

http://mashable.com/2013/11/25/texting-transformed-period/ As a cunning linguist I absolutely love this stuff.

http://slightlywrongquotes.tumblr.com/

Good piece on the England 3-6 Hungary game in 1953: http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/nov/25/hungary-england-1953-alf-ramsey?CMP=twt_gu

Aye, I'd say so too. And if they're giving you the same notice clause then they can hardly argue the toss if you choose to exercise it. I suppose the only thought is if there's a possibility you'd be applying for something else with them in future.

Never been in a job without a lock-in/probationary period, so no. Don't know how I'd react in the same circumstances, either; I'd probably feel like I was pulling a bit of a cathword's trick, but then you've got to look out for yourself too.

In a similar vein, I know someone who actually likes tequila. Weirdo.

Tip top. On the way home from Once the Musical and ee, it was good. Really interesting production, quite unlike your usual West End fare. (It was a pressie for the fella's birthday, but I do like giving gifts that I'll get something out of too. )