I'll be Marky Mark if you'll be my Funky Bunch

It's a real post...

2006-10-30T09:46:55Z

Ok, so I don't often post things here anymore, but this just got my goat...

"Queensland Premier Peter Beattie has warned the Queensland Cancer Fund to stay out of politics after it criticised him for saying daylight saving causes skin cancer. Mr Beattie last week argued the extra hour of daylight in the summer would worsen his state's skin cancer rate. The Queensland Cancer Fund said Mr Beattie's argument was flawed because daylight saving did not increase the amount of peak UV hours in a day. The premier, who has battled skin cancer himself, questioned whether the cancer fund had done any research on the issue. "I think the cancer fund should stay out of the politics of it, frankly," Mr Beattie said. "They should leave debate about this to politicians. If they want to get involved in politics then they should run for public office." Despite saying he had made the comment as a joke last week, Mr Beattie said the less time children were exposed to sun during the day the better. "The more time that children spend out of the sun in the hotter hours of the day the better, and that makes commonsense," he said."

In the last sentence, you can change "children" for "curtains" and "the better" for "the less they fade" and we get back to Queensland political debate, 1980s style.

Of course, he might have a point; it means that all those kids who used to be sent to bed by their parents at 8pm will now be out playing until 9pm because...uh...the sun...is up...ummmm...

And if Peter Beattie wants the Cancer Council to stay out of politics, he should just stay the Sweet Bejeezers out of the Cancer debate. If he wants to get involved in science then he should become a scientist.

That's funny, I thought this was some sort of mexican heating implement

2006-08-24T01:26:50Z

You Are a Chimera

You are very outgoing and well connected to many people.

Incredibly devoted to your family and friends, you find purpose in nurturing others.

You are rarely alone, and you do best in the company of others.

You are incredibly expressive, and people are sometimes overwhelmed by your strong emotions.

What Mythological Creature Are You?

flying_tenor @ 2006-07-13T15:29:00

2006-07-13T05:59:56Z

I wanted to post just to use a different user pic.

Why 7?

2006-07-06T07:06:59Z

Well, I'm not into these things either, but....

List 7 songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words or even if they're are not any good but they must be songs you're really enjoying now. Post these instructions in your live journal along with your 7 songs. Then tag 7 other people to see what they're listening to in absolute random order.

1. Kyrie - African Sanctus, David Fanshawe. My Goodness if I didn't almost cry when we sang this at AIV.
2. Jubilate - Herbert Howells. Sooooooo f***ing good, oh my goodness me.
3. Love Generation - Bob Sinclair. Because I've been out on a couple of Saturdays and this is such a good party song.
4. Biebel's Ave Maria - Its just gorgeous.
5. Elton John - Madman Across The Water
6. Meatloaf - For Crying Out Loud - I rediscovered this the otehr day, and its so crappy, its gold!
7. Melissa Manchester - Don't Cry Out Loud - I want to be a Cabaret singer when I grow up.

I'm tagging:

saralonde24
ramble_tam
lisa_donna
pandalu
janie_fairy
ms_alto
blu_monkey

I'm who?

2006-06-23T06:08:34Z

Which poem are you?

Dover Beach by Matthew Arnold

You're probably strongly political, and a pacifist. Hey, and you're also slightly depressing. You think a lot of things suck and are pointless. Congratulations!

Click Here to Take This Quiz
Brought to you by YouThink.com quizzes and personality tests.

Its a real post!!!

2006-06-09T05:06:38Z

This is a post with no meme or funny quiz or whatever attached.

Yes my friends, that's because I have news!!!

Margie and I are heading on an around the world jaunt later this year and early the year after. I am finally taking someone to meet my Mother! Sure, people have met her previously, but certianly not any of my girly friends...

So this is something like what our itinerary looks like

December 16: Margie's brother get's married
December 17: 3am Margie and Mark stop drinking, remembering the have to fly overseas in a couple of hours
December 17: 9:30ish Fly Adelaide to Sydney.
December 17: 12:30ish Fly Sydney to LA
December 17: 9:30ish Arrive in LA
December 17: 9:35ish Mark get's arrested by Homeland Security, because, while horribly hungover he realises that according to his watch he hasn't left Sydney left, and he really doesn't want to have to go through the dumbass security clearance because he's only on his way to Canada.
December 17: Sometime later that same day - Margie and Mark are put on a flight to Canada in the hope that Mark will stop yelling "Don't you know who I am? Do you know who I am? I work for the Federal Member for Sturt...no, Sturt...Australia...No, not Austria...Dumbass"
December 17: Arrive in Toronto, find Tam, find hotel, find pub (note: not necessarily in that order).
December 18, 19: Toronto. Give up on finding hotel, sleep in pub.
December 20: Travel from Toronto to wherever it is that my Grandparents live. My Mum told me the other night it actually isn't where I thought it was - apparently they haven't lived in Guelph for the better part of a decade.
December 20, 21, 22: Try and find Mark's Grandparents. Stop the occasional stranger in the street and ask "HIi do you know where my Grandparent's live? What? You don't know how I am? I work for the Federal Member for Sturt...no, Sturt...Australia...No, not Austria...Dumbass"
December 23: Get kicked out of second consecutive North American Country. Tick off on list of "Achievements to complete by end of my lifetime" the entry that says "Be banned from re-entering a complete continent". (I'm not entering debates as to what continent Mexico is on).
December 24: Land in Heathrow. Play my trump card and produce my second passport. Ha. Having dual nationalities will show those North American Homeland People a thing or two.
December 24: Fly to Scotland, land in Edinburgh. Many many tears from Mum, my sister, my Nana, me, Margit. Margit's tears will be from realising she doesn't understand a word of what is being said.
December 24: Buy presents from Sainsbury's, the only shop still open on Christmas eve. Hope that everybody likes pot noodles, Monster Munch and $10 bottles of Jacob's Creek wine.
December 25: Christmas Day!!!
December 26: Boxing Day!!! Cry at the lack of Boxing day test and the start of the Sydney to Hobart.
December 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 Enjoy Scotland.
December 31 - late: Enjoy Hogmany party on Princess Street, Edinburgh.
January 1: Leave Edinburgh.
January 2: arrive in Beijing. Hope that Shaan will be meeting us somewhere, as my Cantonese skills are up there with my chances of being let back in to North America.
January 2,3,4 Enjoy Beijing.
January 5, late: Leave Beijing
January 6: Arrive in Sydney. Have a shower in Qantas Club
January 6, 4pm: Arrive in Adelaide. Get picked up by Margie's parents, change clothes in the car and go to Margie's high school friend's wedding.

So all up we're away for almost 3 weeks. December the 17th is going to be one hell of a day.

And its going to be an absolute hoot!

Hmmm. I wonder where I went wrong?

2006-05-26T04:09:39Z

And it doesn't even call me a liberal...

Your dating personality profile:

Big-Hearted - You are a kind and caring person. Your warmth is inviting, and your heart is a wellspring of love.
Intellectual - You consider your mind amongst your assets. Learning is not a chore but a constant search after wisdom and knowledge. You value education and rationality.
Athletic - Physical fitness is one of your priorities. You find the time to work athletic pursuits into your schedule. You enjoy being active.

Your date match profile:

Practical - You are drawn to people who are sensible and smart. Flashy, materialistic people turn you off. You appreciate the simpler side of living.
Religious - You seek someone who is grounded in faith and who possesses religious values. You believe that a religious person can enhance your life.
Intellectual - You seek out intelligence. Idle chit-chat is not what you are after. You prefer your date who can stimulate your mind.

Your Top Ten Traits

1. Big-Hearted
2. Intellectual
3. Athletic
4. Stylish
5. Adventurous
6. Liberal
7. Sensual
8. Wealthy/Ambitious
9. Religious
10. Traditional

Your Top Ten Match Traits

1. Practical
2. Religious
3. Intellectual
4. Athletic
5. Big-Hearted
6. Adventurous
7. Traditional
8. Conservative
9. Stylish
10. Shy

Take the Online Dating Profile Quiz at Dating Diversions

Its a memememememememememememe

2006-05-23T00:37:12Z

Once you've been tagged, you have to write a blog with 6 weird facts/things/habits about yourself, saying who tagged you. In the end you need to choose the 5 people to be tagged and list their names. No tag backs.

Thank you lisa_donna so here we go...

1. I have no middle name. My Dad wanted Ferguson, after his Grandmother. My Mum didn't like it. She registered my name. She forgot to mention my middle name. Ooops. Now my initials are Me. And that's pretty cool.

2. I am an oldest child (my Dad's), a youngest child (my Mum's) and an only child (my Mum and my Dad's). Multiple personalities? That's me, baby.

3. I have only recently become a fan of Aussie Rules. I was always a Rugby Union boy. I don't understand the rules of Aussie Rules. But its quite fun to support a team that's doing well.

4. I'm currently studying at Monash Uni, trying to get a degree in Environmental Management.

5. My dream job would be Federal Minister for Arts and Science. How cool would that be?

6. I have almost stopped chewing my nails. For some reason though, I find ot very hard to stop chewing my little finger nails and my thumb nails. Must be something Freudian.

I have no idea who has done this and who hasn't, so I will try to tag margiemakes and ms_alto and fairyprincessm (although I haven't seen her online since she moved) and saralonde24 and finally rambletam

So there.

Well, isn't my blog just one of these funny quiz things?

2006-05-15T06:46:47Z

Which Princess Bride Character are You?
this quiz was made by mysti

Apparently I'm a staff writer

2006-04-29T06:34:35Z

the Wit

(52% dark, 30% spontaneous, 21% vulgar)

your humor style:
CLEAN | COMPLEX | DARK

You like things edgy, subtle, and smart. I guess that means you're probably an intellectual, but don't take that to mean pretentious. You realize 'dumb' can be witty--after all isn't that the Simpsons' philosophy?--but rudeness for its own sake, 'gross-out' humor and most other things found in a fraternity leave you totally flat.

I guess you just have a more cerebral approach than most. You have the perfect mindset for a joke writer or staff writer.

Your sense of humor takes the most thought to appreciate, but it's also the best, in my opinion.

You probably loved the Office. If you don't know what I'm talking about, check it out here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/theoffice/.

PEOPLE LIKE YOU: Jon Stewart - Woody Allen - Ricky Gervais

The 3-Variable Funny Test!
- it rules -

If you're interested, try my best friend's best test: The Genghis Khan Genetic Fitness Masterpiece

My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 49% on darkness

You scored higher than 12% on spontaneity

You scored higher than 11% on vulgarity

Link: The 3 Variable Funny Test written by jason_bateman on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

You know what I really like about this? That my opposite is the Idiot Savant. I wouldn't have thought that was a humour type, but apparently so.

I guess this is a good thing. Right?

2006-04-13T06:58:34Z

Your Heart Is Green

Love completes you, but that doesn't mean you seek it out.
When love comes your way, you integrate it peacefully into the rest of you life.

Your flirting style: Laid back

Your lucky first date: Walking around aimlessly and talking

Your dream lover: Is both enthusiastic and calm

What you bring to relationships: Balance

What Color Heart Do You Have?

Hmmm.

2006-04-13T05:30:14Z

After you die...
Purgatory

After death, you will exist in purgatory. It's so-so, I heard.

Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com

Snap with Margit

2006-03-29T23:01:00Z

You Are Mexican Food

Spicy yet dependable.
You pull punches, but people still love you.

What Kind of Food Are You?

Oooooh....

2006-03-29T03:54:35Z

You Are A Blueberry Martini

You are a eclectic drink - liking to change drinks and venues often.
You are usually the first of your friends to find a cool new dive bar or cocktail.

You should never: Drink mystery drinks strangers hand you. Unless you want to wind up in foreign country.

Your ideal party: Is mobile, hopping from party to party.

Your drinking soulmates: Those with an Orange Martini personality.

Your drinking rivals: Those with a Chocolate Martini personality.

What Flavor Martini Are You?

I'm a bad bad boy...

2006-02-28T01:27:07Z

Because I completely missed my other watering the strawberry helper. I sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused. ;)

whopperberry

2006-02-27T08:02:55Z

whopperberry
Originally uploaded by flying_tenor.

Check out the strawberry that I grew. Yep, all by my little onesome. Well, with a bit of help from the sun, the water, the nutrients, the soil, etc etc. Oh, and of course Mr and Mrs Strawberry plants.

BTW, the strawberry is the one on the left. The 50cent piece is there for comparison.

Because everyone else is...

2006-02-22T00:56:45Z

I'm a Seven

the Adventurer
Test finished!

you chose AX - your Enneagram type is SEVEN.

"I am happy and open to new things"

Adventurers are energetic, lively, and optimistic. They want to contribute to the world.

How to Get Along with Me

Give me companionship, affection, and freedom.
Engage with me in stimulating conversation and laughter.
Appreciate my grand visions and listen to my stories.
Don't try to change my style. Accept me the way I am.
Be responsible for youself. I dislike clingy or needy people.
Don't tell me what to do.

What I Like About Being a Seven

being optimistic and not letting life's troubles get me down
being spontaneous and free-spirited
being outspoken and outrageous. It's part of the fun.
being generous and trying to make the world a better place
having the guts to take risks and to try exciting adventures
having such varied interests and abilities

What's Hard About Being a Seven

not having enough time to do all the things I want
not completing things I start
not being able to profit from the benefits that come from specializing; not making a commitment to a career
having a tendency to be ungrounded; getting lost in plans or fantasies
feeling confined when I'm in a one-to-one relationship

Sevens as Children Often

are action oriented and adventuresome
drum up excitement
prefer being with other children to being alone
finesse their way around adults
dream of the freedom they'll have when they grow up

Sevens as Parents

are often enthusiastic and generous
want their children to be exposed to many adventures in life
may be too busy with their own activities to be attentive

Renee Baron & Elizabeth Wagele

The Enneagram Made Easy
Discover the 9 Types of People
HarperSanFrancisco, 1994, 161 pages

You are not completely happy with the result?!
You chose AX

Would you rather have chosen:

BX (NINE)

CX (TWO)

AY (EIGHT)

AZ (THREE)

My test tracked 2 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 71% on ABC

You scored higher than 30% on XYZ

Link: The Quick and Painless ENNEAGRAM Test written by felk on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

Sorry to Alistair's Mum...

2006-02-20T12:59:15Z

As some of you may know, I have a couple of planter boxes out the front of my place, and several months ago, some strawberries were planted.

I'm very pleased to report that said strawberries have been very merrily giving us fruit since the first week of IV, and today we picked an absolutely bumper crop (if you call this many strawberries a bumper crop. Which, considering they came off 4 plants, I do. So nyah):

Hi, I'm a berry <}

Aren't they just very yummy looking? Except for those funny ones that look like Mushroom men. They look a bit wierd. But were luuuuverly. And no, strawberries aren't allowed on Dr Joshi's detox, but I won't tell him if you won't. Ta.

All the other cool kids are doing it, so...

2006-02-13T07:03:04Z

Aparently if you go here you can enter words that you think describe me. Apparently. Then I can look at that list and realise how much you all hate and/or mis-understand me. Apparently.

I think this is better than Margit's

2006-02-13T05:40:37Z

I'm an apparently intelligent, liberal, not-too-generous, not-too-selfish, pathetically simple-minded, dribbling child!
See how compatible you are with me!
Brought to you by Rum and Monkey

I'm not gay, but...

2006-02-09T23:55:11Z

Margit last night attempted to teach me to knit. Its quite good fun, although I apparently pull the wool very tight. And those needle things are very long. They seem far too long for my dainty little hands. (For a big guy I have ridiculously small hands and feet.)(I thought you might like to know that.)

So, in an hour and a half or so of knitting I think I got through about 15 rows. I think. I'm not sure how to measure such things yet, and I lost count after 2.

So - after I have learnt to purl, do cables and other things like stuff I don't know yet, I will be attempting to knit a vest. Which should be finished for winter 2008. Or so.

31? 31?!? How on earth could I be 31? Dumb test.

2006-02-09T06:36:28Z

You Are 31 Years Old

Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe.

13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world.

20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences.

30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more!

40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax.

What Age Do You Act?

Is it a bird, is it a plane?

2006-02-09T06:18:58Z

No, its just a desk bound flying_tenor.

Thank you for everyone who commented that they were amazed I was still alive. Sheesh. You leave your live journal to rot in a corner for like, a year, and people think you aren't coming back.

What Muppet are you?

2006-02-08T01:46:29Z

Well, this can only be good news. At least I'm not Miss Piggy.

You Are Rowlf the Dog

Mellow and serious, you enjoy time alone cultivating your talents.
You're a cool dog, and you always present a relaxed vibe.
A talented pianist, you can play almost anything - especially songs by Beethoven.
"My bark is worse than my bite, and my piano playing beats 'em both."

The Muppet Personality Test

Let's give it another go, boys and girls

2006-02-08T00:42:43Z

So - we're all going to try and get Mark's livejournal working a little more frequently than say, once a year. This looks like a good start.

Margit and I have decided to do a de-tox. So, Dr Joshi's Holistic De-tox book was bought and I am now gearing myself up for no caffeine (heh, yeah right), no red meat (that's not too bad, I don't eat much anyway), no fruit apart from Bananas (thankfully I love bananas, although I am concerned as to what this will mean for my super fantastic strawberries that are continuing to flourish). Its an interesting diet that the good Dr sets out for us to follow, but if its good enough for Gwyneth (she and I are on first name terms you know) then its good enough for me. Yep. Although I think the no caffeine will prove to be hard - no more of my mega coffees in the morning. Sigh.

Meanwhile, my second day back at work is proving to be a lot more productive than my first. As this livejournal shows. Yesterday was spent dealing with the backlog of emails and a flurry of "What's happened to this person?" and "where are we up to on this?" which made me feel rather snowed under after half an hour back at the desk.

So, today I will catch up and make a good start on The Pile Of Work. I will, I will, I will. And last night I even started my Con Man report for AIV. Go me.