Phaedrus

OOI, how much scope does the Crown have here to screw around and delay things? Once the appeals to the SC have been made, isn't it just a matter of them deciding whether they'll hear them, and if so, when? And on a different note, how *fast* could this happen? I'm wondering if it'd be possible for Harper to get this through and done soon enough that it's off the general public's radar by the time the next election rolls around...

On the PM stuff... User CP -> Edit options, Messaging and Notification. There's a couple of check-boxes in there you can select to receive email when someone PMs you, and to give you a pop-up if you're logged in.

Yes, there's gaps. And things will move around. What I really noticed is that they seem to have aimed at a younger audience this year. There seems to be a lot more stuff aimed at the 20- and 30-somethings, and a lot less aimed at the baby-boomers and their infernal lawn chairs. Ya, always happens. But I consider it to be a sign of a good lineup. I've definitely missed some good shows at BFs in the past 'cos I was watching other cool stuff. Actually, I think this is awesome. They've been there every year for... well, I'm not sure, but it's a few years now. They've headlined and filled out other stages, at weekends as well as in the week, so this is a natural step up. And AFAIK they'll have a new album out by the time BF rolls around. I'm just happy to see them given a headlining slot; I think they deserve it after all the support they've given BF in the past. But none of this addresses the true joy of Bluesfest (and any other festival, for that matter), which is stumbling across a band you've never heard of and discovering that they're awesome.

Annapurna

This year's lineup has just been announced. I'm really rather excited. I even get a guilt-free night off halfway through! That is all.

Sticking with big rocky lumps... Manaslu

I must say, I'm slightly bemused by this whole thread :) First up, a general principle: a SP's relationship status is none of my damn business. None whatsoever. I've had one or two ladies have mentioned it to me at times, but it has always come from them; it's not a question I'd ever dream of asking. Secondly, as regards things that SPs may or may not do based on their current relationship status: I simply don't care. I judge SPs based purely on how much of a good time I had while I was with them, and although the specific things that we did or didn't do may be part of that judgement, they're by no means the full story. And if something I care about didn't happen, it doesn't matter whether it's because the SP doesn't ever offer it, or just doesn't do so right now because it's reserved for her relationship with someone else, or just didn't choose to do it with me. Her reasons, whether I consider them good or bad, and whether they be temporary or permanent or spur-of-the-moment, are once again none of my damn business.

So you have to take time off work, shoulder the expense and hassle of going to court to defeat this guy's false testimony, and he wants there to be "no hard feelings"? He should get some sort of chutzpah award for that. Time is money. He's clearly a waste of both.

Elbrus, in the Caucasus.

It's all getting a bit much... Aerosmith - Monkey On My Back http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PwOnov7yvY

Just found this. Almost died laughing. One of the funniest bits of sporting punditry I've heard for a long time. Watch it before it gets taken down for copyright infringement. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-P8pvOvYAM OOOOoooooOOOOOooooOOOOoooo!

Of course, the monkeys need somewhere to live. 80s cheese alert! T'Pau - Monkey House http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nQxuRJwb-U

Long day at work. Get home starving. Eat. Log on to CERB, and see that someone you'd really like to see is available... now! Did I mention that the eating involved cheese and raw onions? It did. Well, shit. There are some things no amount of mouthwash will shift in a hurry... (and yeah, I know that if that's the worst that happened to me all day I should probably be counting my blessings. It's still annoying, though)

And now, a guy who brings the kitchen on stage with him. He cooks a huge pot of gumbo during his set and feeds the audience at the end - donations to a local charity (usually one related to feeding those who need it). It's good gumbo, too! The Sauce Boss - She's a Monkey http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvTRyyVrcXw

But it's so flat... Table Mountain.

Wasn't sure whether to put this here, or in jokes... it amused me anyway.

Makalu, since I appear to be doing mountains at the moment,

Happy birthday, Rachelle!

Nanga Parbat, one of the great mountains of the world. It killed 31 would-be conquerors before anyone got to the top and back down again.

Someone who's worth a bit less... 50 Cent - In Da Club

Well, I'm going for Robert Redford too... but with Paul Newman in Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid. A classic Old Married Couple if ever I saw one :)

It's not just you, RG. The sort of thing you describe is far too common. I think the problem is that there's a certain segment of society that simply doesn't understand the concept of decorum. I think the problem here is that some folks have been told that you're supposed to wear decent clothes to church, but they haven't twigged that dressing up to go to a service - or any formal social event, for that matter - is not the same as dressing up to go out clubbing. And to a certain extent, I can't really blame the clueless teenagers who are doing this; yes, they're ignorant of social standards, but this is almost certainly because nobody's ever told them that such standards exist. This is a parenting job, and it clearly hasn't been done. I'm going to stop now, 'cos I already sound like a cross between my grandparents and the world's most horrible snob. Except that I can't sign off without noting the delicious irony of a bunch of SPs and their clients adopting a thoroughly conservative worldview on this. I think some people would probably be appalled by their allies :)