Friday 27 April 2012

Top Teeth

As many of you know, I'm not a fan of needles. Or pointy things. And dentists have oh such a variety of pointy things, needles and probes and drills and all such unpleasantnesses.

Now, I'm a tough cookie - I've sweated it out and put up with it when I've had to go to the dentists each time. It's a fact of life and you just have to put up with it. I'm also fortunate enough to have rather strong teeth - 26 years old and I still haven't had a single filling - see?

And I don't intend to start any time soon. Yeah, you've probably noticed the weird white stuff in the grooves of my molars.

My dentist understands I don't like medical procedures so, after discussing thoroughly and agreeing my teeth are actually in reasonable condition, he was happy to proceed with this slightly unorthodox treatment.

That white stuff is actually a special dental sealant - it's designed to coat the tops of the molars like a varnish,  protecting your teeth against invading bacteria and food particles that cause caries, which lead to cavities - for up to ten years. It also gives your teeth time to remineralise, as the surface is protected from wear and tear.

Most people don't know that the grooves in their back teeth are actually much deeper and thinner than they appear, so much so in fact, that very few toothbrush bristles will ever be able to get in there to properly clean. That's why most people get cavities in their back teeth first.

Having the treatment done was relatively painless and VERY quick - I saw the hygienist first to have them cleaned and descaled, before having a wash of "etching" fluid - phosphoric acid over the selected teeth. Not only did this allow the tooth to be totally cleaned and dried, it meant the coating would stick better. The coating was applied with a syringe, and then a UV sterilising setter was applied.

The end result is this whitish smooth covering - it feels a little like I have been chewing on a candle and got wax stuck in my teeth. But it will be well worth it, such a little work for ten years preventative against further dentistry.

After all, my choices are these teeth, or fake ones. And I think I like my own.

Wednesday 25 April 2012

Does expecting better really make me a Grammar Nazi?

I worry that, in attempting to appeal to the lowest common denominator, that the entertainment industry is dumbing down TOO much. Irony has been lost to the masses - or worse, become confused with sarcasm. People no longer understand what "bemused" means, thinking it a suitable alternative to "amused".

To quote a friend, "In our efforts to ensure that no man is left behind, we are setting lower and lower standards for ourselves. The implications of that for future generations is frightening."

Don't get me wrong - language should be a live, thriving creature evolving in new and interesting ways - for example, the irony mark is quickly becoming renamed the "snark" which, for me, is almost onomatopoeic and a wonderful proto-word, not to mention the "interrobang"! (Look it up - you can thank me later.)

However, having said that, I firmly stand by my belief:; we should not let the standards slide. I'm hardly perfect when it comes to grammar (I'm well aware of this) but I always make the effort to be readable - to be understood. And it strikes me that today's attempts at communication are becoming...

Well. Here's a "tipicle" example composed from a variety of posts I've seen on Failbook recently - "Spose she nos she realy realy gota get leaks 2 go wiv da onions bit earlia tomorow " This one makes for an odd visual too: "crossed my knives over my folks".

Doesn't that make you wince, just a little bit?

I understand that the subtleties of English sarcastic humour is lost on the American, it's too dry and delicately understated for them - but for goodness sake, we shouldn't pander to their requirements. Let's educate the poor saps on what they're missing! We need to have the thrill of learning, the choice to aspire to the better, to look up to those whom are more intelligent than we... And one writer at the BBC agrees with me - we can do better.

If we don't do something soon Idiocracy (2006) will become a reality. 

Relevant Quote of the Day: Grammar; the difference between knowing your sh*t and knowing you're sh*t. - Leigh-ann.

Sunday 22 April 2012

Bleh!

I'm rather impressed with my smartypants lizards this week.

Sandy "Ampersand" Dragon has figured out how to make her heating turn up on demand - she has been digging at the thermostat probe so that it sits in the middle of her floor. When she thinks she's a bit chilly, she wanders over and plonks her cold belly on it. It's not a particularly comfortable way to sit, but it turns the lamp right up to full until she's warmed to 98 degrees all the way through!

Jam's worked out that if she's extra cute, she gets more attention - and has taken to sitting and pulling this face.

Tsam's also upgraded his method of movement on the slippery laminate floor. Normally, running at high speed causes your legs to escape from under you and result in a fairly hard landing, a failed braking system, or a spectacular powerslide when you try to turn corners. Well, my bright lad has found a remarkable solution to this - instead of running, he throws himself forwards and sort of... powerboards along the floor on his belly, a bit like tobogganning. He picks up an admirable speed too.

On the other hand, His Lordship appears to be having a time of it lately.
Him : "It's got very dark in here..."
Me: That's because you shut the curtains but didn't turn the light on."
Him: "Oh..."
BLEH

Wednesday 18 April 2012

Whelmed.

Wow. Just... wow.
I was looking for an interesting evening class, and found a course to earn a Masters in Jewellery Arts (over a two year period). I was delighted, as I was searching for classes near me. I was less impressed when I found out where this class is held.

 ...

 ...

 Australia.

Message for Mum: His Lordship loves his, uh, unique gift. It's warm and comfy and snuggly apparently.

Quote of the Day: "I got a new stick deodorant today. The instructions said: remove cap and push up bottom. I can barely walk but whenever I fart the room smells lovely." - Al.

Saturday 14 April 2012

Bring it on, you funky acronym.


CISPA allows ISPs, businesses and intelligence agencies to monitor and/or intercept your Internet traffic, granting companies more leeway when it comes to collecting and sharing data about their consumer. The main concern is that it could end up paving the way for copyright holders to begin policing the net - in the eyes of the MPAA, copyright violations ARE a security threat.

Oh, yes, that means exactly what you think it means. Hello ACTA2 - a.k.a "Whack-a-mole: now with added legislation!" Silence is surrender. Show your disapproval for the restriction of internet freedom HERE.

I am part of the Internet Freedom Movement - and you're very welcome to join us. We already took down SOPA.

Friday 13 April 2012

Nice nibbles

Would anyone like a free box of snack treats?

Graze are awesome, they send tasty boxes of surprisingly healthy snacks in the post as many times a week as you like - cake, fruit, nuts, crackers, breads, dips... Just right for the 3pm munchies.

I've just got my first one through the mail - I have a cherry tomato, basil and pesto focaccia, white choc raspberry "cheesecake" mix box (raspberry, choc, hazelnuts and cranberry), a honeycomb crunch mix (milk choc honeycomb, almonds and sultanas) and an "Apple Cosmo" mix (apple, lime, sultanas and cranberries).

And I have to say - oh my FSM! That bread's unnaturally tasty. It's the Graze cherry tomato, pesto and basil focaccia (well, half of it. I ate the other half already!) and it is fab. AND healthy, which is weird, because it tastes really, really good! It's so soft too.

I have dried apple slices with toffee sauce dip on the way in my next box, and I ordered an "afternoon tea" of lemon poppyseed cake and a special blend tea for the one after, ooh, and orange and ginger flapjack for the one after that...  Awesomesauce!

So yeah, if you go to www.graze.com and use my freebies code: NLBV93VC you can get your own Graze box, absolutely free, even postage.

With no obligation. Just free nommage.

If you DO like them, it's £3.95 a box. They come with free postage - the boxes are recycled and recyclable, and you can have it delivered to work. You can have them sent out on the same day every week, or two days, or throw an extra box in whenever you like.

Offer open to all, so go nuts. And fruit. And dips. And chocolate... Mmmm.

Wednesday 11 April 2012

Material Girl?

Holy wow. Somewhere along the line, I've got a LOT of stuff.

I have managed to accumulate eight occupied vivariums, a washing machine, a drier, a fridge freezer, a telly, a BIG bed and a spare bed, a standing lamp, a dining room table with chairs, a kettle, a microwave, an ironing board... and most horrific of all, my own vacuum cleaner.  Which I'm oddly proud of...

I also treated myself to one of THESE. I've been eyeing up steam cleaners for a while as everyone knows mopping is a PITA, especially with laminate floors. Vax have their new one on special offer - £99.99, free delivery, does tile, sealed laminate AND wood, three free bottles of cleaner (£5 a time), two free cleaner pads (£15.99 a time - washable) and two free microfibre pads (£6.99, also washable).

 That did it for me - yes please - and I just discovered I can ziz my carpets and rugs with it too.

Mind you, I'm really looking forwards to putting  proper secure roots down, and not having to move any more - and not having to put up with coldboilingcoldhotcoldwarmcoldboilingcoldlukewarm showers.

I had the day off, so I went with the plumber to have another look at the house I'm buying - mostly so I could have a neb round at my biggest investment so far, and so he could tell me the bad news on the boiler there.

As suspected, it needs replacing. And the heating is all gravity feed - so it needs replacing. And the boiler vent is illegally placed into the neighbours yard, so the boiler position needs moving. And there's a ridiculous amount of false walls, hiding the piping - so the pipes need moving.

I don't know what it is about false walls but they make me uncomfortable, especially when they're not actually required. One has a radiator on and is about three inches from the actual wall, creating a creepy, cobwebby space. That's going. The other makes an odd cupboard and this horrid nook for a fridge - that's going. Another is to hide the fact that the extension is in decimal and the kitchen is in imperial measurements. I don't care - that's going too. I might just make the false walled doorway into an archway to the kitchen instead. False walls make me shudder and itchy.
Once all the false walls are off/down and the plumbing started, I need to get the electrician in. The whole lot is pre-1900s, including bakelite switches and an antique fuseboard. It all needs ripping out and replacing to bring it to code, especially as I have all my vivariums relying on a good sturdy circuit. (Talking of which, I need to work out where to put a dozen new sockets too.)

I'm looking forwards to taking a sledge hammer to the false walls and that ugly, ugly fireplace.

As I haven't done one for a while, here's Today's Quote of the Day - "I have an enormous dong." - From the wonderful Mr Stephen Fry on QI, discussing Lonely Hearts ads.

Sunday 8 April 2012

Peace off!

I hope the vendors hurry up - my mortgage is confirmed and the surveyors are due in any day now - and as far as I'm concerned, the sooner we can move into our new house, the better.

My first proper day off in weeks and I'm woken by the most hideous dancersize music! Yes, I'm fed up of being woken at 6.30 most mornings by their damn door alarm going bee-boop thirty dozen times, or being startled awake again at 7.00 on a Sunday by them all yelling at each other.

I get it already, you hate each other. Your daughter is a disobedient stop out, your son is a scruffy, ungrateful brat, your husband is a selfish, lazy git and your wife is a strident, miserable creature - but for the love of noodles, go TALK to each other in the SAME room instead of bellowing across from opposite sides of your house!

You're such nice people . Just, you know, talk.

Mind you, I guess we all have bad days. His Lordship had a corking moment the other evening - we're watching a show about eye parasites on TV when He suddenly exclaims "Ah! I'm a dumb f**k!" I turn round and look at him.

He's trying to read the eye test on the screen with one eye and hasn't really thought about what he was doing... He was sat there with one eye shut, and a hand covering the other. "Hah! The ocular test for retardedness."

Wednesday 4 April 2012

Darling 'dorable dragons

I heard a little noise down side of my chair ...
Followed by more scrabbly sort of noises ...
I looked over the arm...
And discovered this image of cuteness.

Hyphen: "Mum. Mum. Mum. Mum. Muuum."
Me: "What?"
Hyph: "Nuthin'.
*lick* 
"Bye!"

Jam's now starting to eat on her own and has made a good recovery from her infection - the AviPro probiotic and fibre supplement I use after any of the dragons have strong meds always works a treat to settle their tummies and restore their appetites.

Tsam picked a lovely bit of mangrove bog wood when we stopped in to see Alan the Aquarist. His brother, Ken, thought Tsammy looked so comfy that we just had to get it.

What you can't see is that it is delightfully smooth with a perfectly belly shaped bowl and ridges in just the right positions to rest your arms on, whilst the fluted end supports your tail and the whole structure has the perfect angle for sun-catching - saving him the effort of tilting himself to get the best of the rays.

It is like a craftsman carved a daiza for a dragon.