Naming Conventions

This weekend I realised something really odd, which is this…

Even though all three cats have names , I never call them by those names – and I don’t know why.  Even when talking about them to others, I usually identify them by breed rather than name.

I really can’t explain why I do it, it’s certainly not been a conscious decision.

All very odd.  But it’s going to be a nightmare if I ever do lose one of them, because there’s little to no chance they’ll respond to their name…


Paying Attention

A few months back when I got the Saab, I thought they weren’t all that common. I’ve always liked them through the years, so I usually noticed them when they were around. (This might also have something to do with the absolutely vile colour-schemes a lot of them tend to possess)  All the same, I didn’t see them that often – and I was doing a lot of miles at the time. Of course, I’m still doing a fair amount of mileage, but no more than I was doing before.

Anyway, now I own the Saab, I can’t take a damn journey without seeing at least a couple. Not necessarily the same 95 model as mine (although even that’s not uncommon) but definitely the 93 in its various guises.

I know the whole theory of familiarity, that you notice things more because you’re also doing them – hence seeing the same type of car as your own, or how everyone’s having kids if you are, etc. etc. – and I’m sure that’s what’s happening, but all the same, it feels very odd indeed.


Sweary Hypocrisy

I’ve found a new source of amusement – the “Parental Guides” for films on IMDB.

A perfect example is here, for the new Tom Cruise film “Oblivion

Why is it so amusing? For wondrous things like this…

bitch used 2 times bastard 1 time ass 4 times shit 6 times 1 use of fuck. Son-of-a-b***h is used once.

It’s the hypocrisy of it all – coupled with the tweeness.  In the example above, it’s OK to write bitch, bastard and fuck, but son-of-a-bitch gets asterisked out? Fuck me.


Stalker TV Ad

At the moment, Santander have a set of adverts ‘starring’ Jensen Button, Jessica Ennis and Rory McIlroy. Suffice it to say, they’re pretty creepy…

Seriously, what crack-headed advertising exec ever thought this would be a good idea? To have sporting ‘celebrities’ effectively invading the homes and lives of everyday people, and stalking them? I can’t even understand how it’s going to portray bankers and banking in a positive light.

Indeed for me all it does is serve to make me actively not want to use Santander for anything. Ever.

(Although, on a more cynical note, it does amuse me that Santander are also paying to have the logos for Nike and Adidas all over their ad)


Weird Marketing

The other day, I got the strangest marketing email in a long while.

It’s from Apple, which probably explains a lot, but still, you’ve got to wonder when it comes to a subject/tag-line like this…

iPad or iPad mini. The perfect choice for Valentine’s Day.

I just can’t compute how that even works .

The additional image didn’t help explain, either.

Apple valentine's Ad

What. The. Fuck?


Changing Passwords

Last week I had to change the password on my work computer – that’s no problem, it’s a vaguely regular occurrence anyway.

I also log in to my work computer from home – various reasons, none of which I can be chuffed to go into for the moment.

But one thing is very weird. Why is it that when I log in from home I remember the new password with no problem, but when I’m at work, I still always type the old password first, then remember and do the new one?

It’s almost like the typing muscle-memory is location-based, from the way these things work out. Maybe that’s true. I don’t know.  It’s still weird, though.


Cheese, the Tunnel Blocker

Among the more surreal stories yesterday, there’s this one from Norway

Yes, a truckload of burning goat’s cheese has blocked and seriously damaged a road tunnel. That’s pretty impressive by anyone’s levels.