Rachel's Blog: Silly Fun

Faux b-b-b-book

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:35:40 +1000

CREATE YOUR DEBUT YA COVER

Go to Fake Name Generator
The name that appears is your author name.
Go to Random Word Generator
The word listed under "Random Verb" is your title.
Go to FlickrCC
Type your title into the search box. The first photo that contains a person is your cover.
Use Photoshop, Picnik, or similar to put it all together. Be sure to crop and/or zoom in.
Post it to your site along with this text.

Photo credit: fidofido

Funny thing is, I didn't have to manipulate the image at all, it came pre-de-headed.

How strine are you anyway?

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 15:24:03 +1100

Danny put this list together to make sure none of his friends were UnAustralian.*

Heard a kookaburra in person
Slept under the stars
Seen a koala.
Visited Melbourne. I live here!
Watched a summer thunderstorm
Worn a pair of thongs
Been to Uluru (Ayer's Rock) I climbed it years and years ago, before it was discouraged, but I wouldn't again. Love to walk around it though.
Visited Cape York
Held a snake. I'm sure I did this in primary school. Certainly patted one at least.
Sang along with Khe San. Only after a fair bit of #11
Drank VB. And I wouldn't do that again either.
Visited Sydney. It's overrated.
Have seen a shark. In an aquarium.
Have used Aussie slang naturally in a conversation. Bloody oath.
Had an actual conversation with an indigenous Australian (aboriginal)
Eaten hot chips from the bag at the beach. And deep fried pizza. Another thing not to try again.
Walked/climbed over the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Used an outside dunny, and checked under the seat before sitting down
Seen Chloe in Young & Jackson's.
Slept on an overnight train or bus. In Year 11 there was a school bus trip to Central Australia. We drove Melbourne to Mt Isa without stopping. And pretty much without sleeping.
Been to Sydney's Mardi Gras
Have gone bush-bashing. I've only ever walked and hiked on trails, I think.
Taken a sickie
Been to see a game of Aussie Rules football - the Community Cup; RRR vs PBS
Have seen wild camels
Gone skinny dipping
Done a Tim Tam Slam
Ridden in a tram in Melbourne
Been at an ANZAC day Dawn Service
Watched a sunrise or sunset
Held a wombat
Been on a roadtrip of 800km or more. That bus trip accounts for a lot of this list.
Seen the Great Australian Bight in person. Well if I've been to Adelaide and looked at the water, that counts, right?
Had a really bad sunburn
Visited an aboriginal community
Seen a redback spider
Have watched Paul Hogan. Just Croc Dundee. Never again.
Seen Blue Poles in person
Wandered barefoot in the bush/outback
Eaten Vegemite
Thrown a boomerang. Badly.
Seen the Kimberleys
Given a hitch-hiker a lift
Been to Perth
Have tried Lemon, Lime and Bitters
Tried playing a didgeridoo
Seen dinosaur footprints. There are some in the Melbourne Museum. Is that cheating?
Eaten Tim Tams And Iced VoVos.
Been to Darwin
Touched a kangaroo. The ones at Healesville Sanctuary are friendly.
Visted the Great Barrier Reef
Listened to Kevin Bloody Wilson. Saw him interviewed on Enough Rope.
Killed a Cane Toad
Gone to a drive-in theatre. The very first movie I ever saw in my life was Grease at a drive-in with my parents. I was two or three and I hung out the window and banged on the car roof. I remember this quite clearly.
Have read and own books by Australian authors
Visited Adelaide
Know the story behind "Eternity"
Been camping
Visited Brisbane
Been in an outback pub
Know what the term "Waltzing Matilda" actually means
Gone whale watching
Listened to Slim Dusty. I'm sure I've heard Slim Dusty, but not on purpose.
Own five or more Australian movies or TV series. I had to go and check, and no! Only one! I'm very ashamed of this and will rectify it. Can you get The Cars that Ate Paris on DVD?
Sang along to Down Under
Have stopped specifically to look at an historic marker by the side of the road.
Eaten a 4'n'20 pie. From the school canteen.
Surfed at Bondi. Walked along the beach, but too cold to even paddle.
Watched the cricket on Boxing Day. Nor on any other day.
Visited Hobart. This is where the "My brother threw up in the back of the rental car" story begins...
Eaten kangaroo. I'm not a fan though.
Seen a quokka. But not in the wild.
Visited Canberra
Visited rainforests
Used a Victa lawnmower. Nor any other lawnmower. I'm perversely proud of this.
Travelled on a tram in Adelaide
Used a Hills hoist
Visited Kata Tjuta (the Olgas)
Used native Australian plants in cooking. Macadamias!
Visited the snow
Chosen a side in Holden VS Ford. Yeah, they're both crap.
Visited the desert
Been water skiing
Read The Phantom. And I listen to him every Friday night.
Visited Parliament House
Gone spotlighting or pig-shooting
Crossed the Nullarbor
Avoided swimming in areas because of crocodiles
Listened to AC/DC
Called someone a dag
Voted in a Federal Election
Have been swimming and stayed between the flags
Had a possum in your roof. And on my back.
Visited the outback
Travelled over corrugated roads. Lived on one growing up.
Hit a kangaroo while driving. Well, I was on a bus. We hit several.
Been well outside any mobile phone coverage. I remember when inside shopping centres was "outside" coverage.
Seen an emu.
Have woken to the smell of bushfires. Ash Wednesday.

Additional:
Subscribed to RRR
Patted a pure-bred dingo
Seen the Oils live
Been rock climbing at Mt Arapiles. But I didn't go very high!
*Not really.

This one is Heath's fault

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:51:00 +1100

I was tagged a couple of weeks ago. Yes, it has taken me this long to think of seven things. Actually I've only thought of two, but maybe by the time I get there something will happen.

1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. [I do not like this rule. I delete it.]
4. [this also is a dumb rule.]

One.
I like noodles. A lot. I eat some kind of pasta nearly every day. Noodlr speaks to me.

Two.
I will never be able to have another office job that requires sitting in front of a computer. This is because I am now an avid office chair dancer. I'm dancing right now. When Office Chair Dancing becomes an Olympic sport I am absolutely ready to represent.

Three.
I do not jaywalk. Ever. Even if there is no traffic at the lights. Even even on Swanston Street. This is because about nine years ago I crossed a road near some lights right into a car that had just turned the corner. I got a ride in an ambulance, a lovely scar on my left shoulder and a $1200 bill. I was fine. The bill was to fix the car. In my drug addled haze I did briefly consider a career as stunt performer.

Four.
...

Five.
...yeah I'm stuck...

Six.
Well, why should I be the one to do all the work?

Seven.
What do you want to know?

If I can't put memes on my blog what good is it for?

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 14:33:10 +1100

1. Put your preferred music player on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. You must write that song name down no matter how silly it sounds!
4. via kesalemma and chrisbarnes

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Song to the Siren

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Interview 2 (The Kleptones - From Detroit To J.A.)

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Your Mother Should Know

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Aerodynamic Beats - Forget About the World - Gabrielle

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
The Cottage on the Beach

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except for Me and My Monkey

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Fox Intro

WHAT IS 2+2?
So Much For So Little

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Nowhere Man

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Act Naturally

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Fast Animals (Saint Saens' Le Carnaval des Animaux)

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Ticket to Ride

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Baby's in Black

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Track 4 (by Supersonic from Chunky Move's Bonehead production (1997))

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Strange Land

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Piggies

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Elegant People

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Golden Slumbers

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Track 5 (as above)

WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
Rush of Love

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
Track 02 (DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist - Hard Sell)

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
Girl (You Chew My Mind Up)

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
If I Know You

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
Crazy Love, Vol. II

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
Devil in Her Heart

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
Song For Shelter

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
Born Slippy

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
I Am the Walrus

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
Piku

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Love Will Tear You Apart (She Wants Revenge vs. Joy Division vs. Bauhaus)

Clearly having every Beatles album on this computer gives them an unfair advantage.

smooth criminal

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:43:15 +1100

If you saw me in the back of a police car, what would you think I had been arrested for?

(via dalekboy)

Pretty mosaic

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:09:45 +1000

Hello, blog. You're still here then? Have a meme.

Pinched from Lili.

How to play:

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into this mosaic maker.

The Questions:

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name (I got no hits for my flickr name, so used my Last.fm name instead,)

Baaa.

Thu, 01 May 2008 11:11:00 +1000

These huggable headless sheep seats come from Sam Brown. Now that I think about it, I have a four legged stool that needs recovering. Hmmm.

Seen on a syringe disposal unit in a public toilet

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 21:51:04 +1000

"Sweeney Todd Biomedical Waste Disposal"

Day = Made

Mon, 06 Aug 2007 14:11:52 +1000

As part of their guest bloggery over at inside-a-dog, Justine Larbelestier and Scott Westerfeld held a lolcat contest.

That's my entry there, second from the top in the list-o-winners!
lol!!!!1!!one!!!1

Piddle Diddle

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 19:16:53 +1000

Fiddle Faddle

Fiddle Faddle
Fish fash
Flip flap flop
Diddle daddle
Dish dash
Clip clap clop
Fiddle diddle
Fish dish
Dish dash doo
Piddle diddle
Pish dish
Bim bam boo

- Spike Milligan

The more times you read it - out loud of course - the more hilarious it gets. Guaranteed to send children into hysterics.

PyWeek Ohrwurm

Sun, 25 Mar 2007 11:40:02 +1000

For the last week I have been doing my best Veronica Mars sings karaoke interpretations every time Richard's back has been turned. Now, at last I can stop.

Themes have been announced for PyWeek 4. They are:

The only way is up
Underneath the radar
One way or another
Don't stop till you get enough
The final countdown

There's still a week to register and vote for the theme and program a game in the following week.

Don't you wish you could program in Python? I do. Maybe next week...*

* I'll getcha getcha getcha...

sleepless nights

Mon, 26 Feb 2007 09:36:30 +1100

I look and feel almost exactly like this today...

Get Your Monster Name

Update:

Get Your Cyborg Name

It's not a coincidence is it?

Avoid this space b/w 8-12pm next Monday

Thu, 22 Feb 2007 19:38:35 +1100

I am planning again to live-blog the Oscars ceremony. It will be a reward for having tackled a certain story to the page (you hear me, story?) and I'll be in the mood to celebrate with acts of lunacy. And there's no one around who can stop me.

For "live-blogging" please read "a general ranting during the Academy Awards telecast which may or may not relate to same" (Monday 26 Feb 8pm EST Channel Nine). I'll be providing bitchy, inaccurate, biased commentary on something that happened half a planet away and eight hours earlier. If you're closer to the action, think of it as a delayed-for-your-safety blogcast; there'll be no Nipplegate here, nosiree. If I'm very organised I'll be typing by 7.30pm - in time to cover Richard Wilkins on the red carpet. Such an easy target.

2006 Oscar's coverage:
Part Zero - a reprint of snark from 2003
Part One - where I settle down with snacks and bemoan lack of alcohol
Part Two - a walk in the black forest along the red carpet
Part Three - I celebrate the choice of host
Part Four - I nominate CrimeStoppers for an Oscar
Part Five - I fail to back a winner
Part Six - I fail to identify a Hollywood star.
Past Seven - I fail to communicate coherently.
Part Eight - A detailed critique of the set design, Heath Ledger's accent, Tom Hanks' hair and I fail to back a winner.

All I want for Christmas is...

Sat, 16 Dec 2006 11:27:12 +1100

.. my two front teeth, my eyesight, the third and forth fingers of my left hand and my little brother back. Mummy won't stop crying.

Radar magazine has assembled a list of the ten best toys that maim, including the one that chews.
(via Gillian Pollack)

Three of these memes are exactly like the other one.

Mon, 11 Dec 2006 15:34:29 +1100

Just when you thought that blog memes never told you anything about a person, note that these tend to support each other.

You Are Bert

Extremely serious and a little eccentric, people find you loveable - even if you don't love them!

You are usually feeling: Logical - you rarely let your emotions rule you

You are famous for: Being smart, a total neat freak, and maybe just a little evil

How you life your life: With passion, even if your odd passions (like bottle caps and pigeons) are baffling to others

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

You Belong in 1971

If you scored...

1950 - 1959: You're fun loving, romantic, and more than a little innocent. See you at the drive in!

1960 - 1969: You are a free spirit with a huge heart. Love, peace, and happiness rule - oh, and drugs too.

1970 - 1979: Bold and brash, you take life by the horns. Whether you're partying or protesting, you give it your all!

1980 - 1989: Wild, over the top, and just a little bit cheesy. You're colorful at night - and successful during the day.

1990 - 1999: With you anything goes! You're grunge one day, ghetto fabulous the next. It's all good!

What Year Do You Belong In?

You Are Jan Brady

Brainy and a little introverted, you tend to think life is a lot worse than it actually is.
And while you may think you're a little goofy looking, most people consider you to be a major babe.

What Brady Are You?

Your EQ is 67

50 or less: Thanks for answering honestly. Now get yourself a shrink, quick!
51-70: When it comes to understanding human emotions, you'd have better luck understanding Chinese.
71-90: You've got more emotional intelligence than the average frat boy. Barely.
91-110: You're average. It's easy to predict how you'll react to things. But anyone could have guessed that.
111-130: You usually have it going on emotionally, but roadblocks tend to land you on your butt.
131-150: You are remarkable when it comes to relating with others. Only the biggest losers get under your skin.
150+: Two possibilities - you've either out "Dr. Phil-ed" Dr. Phil... or you're a dirty liar.

What's Your EQ (Emotional Intelligence Quotient)?

*sigh* It's all true. I'm off now to dig out my flares, light some incense and count my bottle caps. All alone.

Queue here for Dr Rachel's Patented Fast-Acting Cure-All!

Tue, 21 Nov 2006 20:15:17 +1100

(Because all the cool kids are doing it and I want them to be my friends.)

You are The Magician

Skill, wisdom, adaptation. Craft, cunning, depending on dignity.

Eleoquent and charismatic both verbally and in writing, you are clever, witty, inventive and persuasive.

The Magician is the male power of creation, creation by willpower and desire. In that ancient sense, it is the ability to make things so just by speaking them aloud. Reflecting this is the fact that the Magician is represented by Mercury. He represents the gift of tongues, a smooth talker, a salesman. Also clever with the slight of hand and a medicine man - either a real doctor or someone trying to sell you snake oil.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Six Weird Habits

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 21:35:04 +1000

I've been tagged by punkrocker1991. Ouch!
Post six weird habits/things that you do, then tag six other people and list their names.

I go out of my way to buy sugar-free cereal and then every morning I go and sprinkle sugar on it. But really, Weetbix tastes like cooked cardboard. I have to do something.*
I second guess myself. Then third, fourth and fifth guess myself. But then I go and outsmart myself at the last minute. Do'h.**
I get interested in a topic or craft, gather all the important information, study it, try a couple of things and then -ooh! Shiny! New subject.***
Richard is trying to tell me that procrastination is my biggest habit. True, but not particularly weird.****
I hoard everything. You know those homes they ridicule occasionally on current affairs shows that are so filled with garbage that the owners can hardly get in and out? I empathise with those people. At least my junk is clean. And useful!**
I talk to myself all the time. I used to do it out loud, then just moving my lips. Still do that if I'm tired.*****

Consider yourself tagged.

*Denial
**Paranoia
***Lack of commitment
****Avoidance
*****Anti-social

Slayer Trek

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 19:12:54 +1000

Little did Willow realise, that when she cast the spell, a tiny rift would cause it to be flung far through time and space...
Uhura woke refreshed and energised. And surrounded by demons. First to go was Spock. Then the universe. Persuading the Enterprise to run under her own command, she discarded the Prime Directive (and all the others) and took on one planet at a time...

They thought they could use the theme from Chosen in this mini-doco on the remastering of Star Trek: TOS and no one would notice?
(via Whedonesque)

And they all lived together in a little crooked house.

Tue, 23 May 2006 19:53:13 +1000

Can anyone say writer's studio? Daniels Wood Land build custom crooked treehouses on giant hollowed out logs. And they ship world wide. Tempting, but just a leetle un-economical.

Actually I really want one of their Pirate ship/Addams family house constructions, but I couldn't choose just one picture.

(via Boing Boing)

'Ware the Neil Gaiman Kudos Horizon

Sat, 13 May 2006 14:33:58 +1000

In an attempt to discover the dreamiest hunk in science fiction Chris Lawson has drawn our attentions to the dangers of the scruffy-adorablility and unchecked-fame combination: The Neil Gaiman Kudos Horizon.

Gaiman is the black hole of praise. Every prize, award, compliment, and disinhibited gothgirl cheerleader that strays within a hundred metres of him is sucked inexorably inwards, and the more that gets sucked in, the larger his kudos horizon grows. Some scientists are predicting that his kudos horizon will engulf the Earth in the next five years, and at that point he will win everything. Because space and time break down near the Gaiman singularity, when this happens there will be no point in running contests. He will win them all. Even Olympic gold medals. And silver. And bronze. In the same event. So no Neil Gaiman.

I would have voted for you, Chris, but someone had already added Russell's name to the ballot and... well... he's got red hair.