and is zinging off all over the place...
,,, happy days
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
Les Cars
Subaru is a lesbian car company. Well actually it's not - but it makes cars that lesbians love, advertises them to lesbians and courts the lesbian community. Not many playstation WRX fans seem to know this. Which always makes me smile. But it also started me thinking... I wonder what the most lesbian cars in the world are.
And here - thanks to the miracle of about.com - is the answer
Top 10 Top Lesbian Cars
1. Subaru Forester
I was going to pick the Subaru Outback for my top car. That is until I test drove the Subaru Forester. I was so impressed, I drove it all the way home! The Subaru Forester is great for lesbians with kids or dogs. It's as roomy as a SUV, but drives like a car. With 4WD, anti-lock brakes and side air bags, it's one of the safest cars on the market. It handles well on road and off. This is the perfect car for outdoorsy types. Take it camping or snow boarding with no worries!
2. Volkswagen Beetle Convertible
Cute as a bug. You'll be sure to turn the girlie's heads as you cruise by in the new Volkswagen Beetle convertible with the top down rocking out to Gwen Stefani. This is the perfect car if you're a California gal or just California dreamin'.
3. Honda Civic
Aaron, the About Car Guide says, "The new Honda Civic is totally practical and a big hit with women." It handles nicely and comes equiped with all the greatest safety equipment. There's a reason this is one of the most popular cars on the market. It's reliable, has great resale value and comes in a hybrid or gas powered version.
4. Toyota Prius
If you're a tree hugger like me, (And most lesbians are, aren't they?) then you want a car that not only gets you where you're going, but does it in a way that's easy on the environment. The new Toyota Prius is a great car, that just happens to be a hybrid.
5. Mercedes Benz R Class
This is the fantastic car that Dana won on season 3 of The L Word. When Dana won this car, did sales of Mercedes Benz R Class series cars go up? A loyal advertiser in gay and lesbian media, you'll be putting your money where your values are if you buy this car. That is if you can afford the price tag.
6. Mini Cooper
L Word fans, Dana won a Mercedes Benz, but isn't Alice adorable in that Mini Cooper? How much fun would you have zipping around town in this cutey? About car reviewer Colin Hefferon has this to say about the new Mini Cooper, "Reviewers and buyers alike agree the 2500 lb MINI is a hoot to drive." If you want to smile every day on your commute to work, a Mini Cooper may be just what you need.
7. Ford F-150 Pickup Truck
Lesbian love trucks. And it's not just to save money on U-haul. The Ford F-150 pickup is perfect for those frequent trips to Home Depot or weekend soccer tournaments. Despite their little slip this year, Ford has consistently supported the gay and lesbian community and its GLBT employees. It was one of the few companies to earn 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equity Index. This is a truck you can buy with pride.
8. Dodge Magnum
For the butch with a family, or one who just isn't a truck person, Dodge has come out with a great muscle car for the lesbian body builder. What you give up in fuel economy, you make up for in power. The Dodge Magnum RT delivers 340 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque from its 5.7 Liter Hemi V8 engine. If you know what that means, then this is the car for you.
9. Honda Element
Whatever your sport, the Honda Element is the car for the jock on the go. Throw your surfboards in back and head to the beach in this roomy SUV alternative. My friend with a Great Dane loves his Honda Element, because not only does his 160 lb dog fit in the back, with it's rubber mat interior, he just has to hose the back down at the end of a muddy romp. Plus, with it's unique styling, you're sure to attract attention as you cruise down the street.
10. Jeep Wrangler
If you spend time on the road and off, you can't do better than the Jeep Wrangler. Jeep started the whole SUV craze and continues to deliver a great car for both rugged forest roads and quiet city streets. Built as a utility vechile, it's not the most comfortable ride in town, but pull up to the lesbian bar with the top down and the girls will know right away you're a good-time gal.
Les-tastic!
And here - thanks to the miracle of about.com - is the answer
Top 10 Top Lesbian Cars
1. Subaru Forester
I was going to pick the Subaru Outback for my top car. That is until I test drove the Subaru Forester. I was so impressed, I drove it all the way home! The Subaru Forester is great for lesbians with kids or dogs. It's as roomy as a SUV, but drives like a car. With 4WD, anti-lock brakes and side air bags, it's one of the safest cars on the market. It handles well on road and off. This is the perfect car for outdoorsy types. Take it camping or snow boarding with no worries!
2. Volkswagen Beetle Convertible
Cute as a bug. You'll be sure to turn the girlie's heads as you cruise by in the new Volkswagen Beetle convertible with the top down rocking out to Gwen Stefani. This is the perfect car if you're a California gal or just California dreamin'.
3. Honda Civic
Aaron, the About Car Guide says, "The new Honda Civic is totally practical and a big hit with women." It handles nicely and comes equiped with all the greatest safety equipment. There's a reason this is one of the most popular cars on the market. It's reliable, has great resale value and comes in a hybrid or gas powered version.
4. Toyota Prius
If you're a tree hugger like me, (And most lesbians are, aren't they?) then you want a car that not only gets you where you're going, but does it in a way that's easy on the environment. The new Toyota Prius is a great car, that just happens to be a hybrid.
5. Mercedes Benz R Class
This is the fantastic car that Dana won on season 3 of The L Word. When Dana won this car, did sales of Mercedes Benz R Class series cars go up? A loyal advertiser in gay and lesbian media, you'll be putting your money where your values are if you buy this car. That is if you can afford the price tag.
6. Mini Cooper
L Word fans, Dana won a Mercedes Benz, but isn't Alice adorable in that Mini Cooper? How much fun would you have zipping around town in this cutey? About car reviewer Colin Hefferon has this to say about the new Mini Cooper, "Reviewers and buyers alike agree the 2500 lb MINI is a hoot to drive." If you want to smile every day on your commute to work, a Mini Cooper may be just what you need.
7. Ford F-150 Pickup Truck
Lesbian love trucks. And it's not just to save money on U-haul. The Ford F-150 pickup is perfect for those frequent trips to Home Depot or weekend soccer tournaments. Despite their little slip this year, Ford has consistently supported the gay and lesbian community and its GLBT employees. It was one of the few companies to earn 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equity Index. This is a truck you can buy with pride.
8. Dodge Magnum
For the butch with a family, or one who just isn't a truck person, Dodge has come out with a great muscle car for the lesbian body builder. What you give up in fuel economy, you make up for in power. The Dodge Magnum RT delivers 340 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque from its 5.7 Liter Hemi V8 engine. If you know what that means, then this is the car for you.
9. Honda Element
Whatever your sport, the Honda Element is the car for the jock on the go. Throw your surfboards in back and head to the beach in this roomy SUV alternative. My friend with a Great Dane loves his Honda Element, because not only does his 160 lb dog fit in the back, with it's rubber mat interior, he just has to hose the back down at the end of a muddy romp. Plus, with it's unique styling, you're sure to attract attention as you cruise down the street.
10. Jeep Wrangler
If you spend time on the road and off, you can't do better than the Jeep Wrangler. Jeep started the whole SUV craze and continues to deliver a great car for both rugged forest roads and quiet city streets. Built as a utility vechile, it's not the most comfortable ride in town, but pull up to the lesbian bar with the top down and the girls will know right away you're a good-time gal.
Les-tastic!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Yes, but will he live?
On Monday I'll have been clear of cancer and cancer treatment for two years. That's rather a big deal - as two years was the threshold that they gave me to be confident that I'm not in imminent danger or relapse and near certain death (the treatment for relapse ain't all that successful)
I'd actually forgotten about this 'milestone' until the other day when I was talking to my wife about the possibility of changing countries (again)
"Most places will ask that I'm 2 years clear before letting me in"
"You are two years clear"
"Two years clear of any treatment"
"That's next week then"
Bonkers.
The "Two Year Mark" has cast a shadow over a lot of what I've done since cancer. Scans every 3 months raise four question marks a year over my longevity. Asking that I question what feels like good health.
I found myself putting life off a little too. The weight went up. I cruised in my job. I was happy to stay at home and enjoy the comforts of family and TV rather than head out and make a dent in the world.
But that's changed recently. A new job. A new town. A new outlook on what's important. I'm out working for the body I want - rather than at home wishing for it (today is a rest day - I work out 5 days a week - and I'm just itching to go in). I have the greencard application in.
I'm getting past the little things that, like tumors, have been festering. Stupid things that I know the answer to - like "Why didn't I get a call or even an e-mail from my brother during the whole cancer thing?" or the even more base "Why me?"
So yeah - two years on Monday. I may just live to fight another day. The big thing now is that I LIVE.
I'd actually forgotten about this 'milestone' until the other day when I was talking to my wife about the possibility of changing countries (again)
"Most places will ask that I'm 2 years clear before letting me in"
"You are two years clear"
"Two years clear of any treatment"
"That's next week then"
Bonkers.
The "Two Year Mark" has cast a shadow over a lot of what I've done since cancer. Scans every 3 months raise four question marks a year over my longevity. Asking that I question what feels like good health.
I found myself putting life off a little too. The weight went up. I cruised in my job. I was happy to stay at home and enjoy the comforts of family and TV rather than head out and make a dent in the world.
But that's changed recently. A new job. A new town. A new outlook on what's important. I'm out working for the body I want - rather than at home wishing for it (today is a rest day - I work out 5 days a week - and I'm just itching to go in). I have the greencard application in.
I'm getting past the little things that, like tumors, have been festering. Stupid things that I know the answer to - like "Why didn't I get a call or even an e-mail from my brother during the whole cancer thing?" or the even more base "Why me?"
So yeah - two years on Monday. I may just live to fight another day. The big thing now is that I LIVE.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Snow Shoes
Those of you who know me well will know that there's nothing I like more than a bit of in depth research. Especially when it comes to cars. I can spend hours locked in data. And then more hours making more data out of that data. And more hours still coming up with weighting ratios that would add a layer of personal requirement to the numbers on the page. So when Jude said she was thinking about a car - to help her get to physio appointments, airports and off to the vet with the dog on occasion I was elated. She had a few criteria though. The car needed to be a hatchback. Easier to get the dog into and out of. Convenient for the kind of weirdly shaped objects that we sometimes tote and just more European. That immediately ruled out any Ford but an SUV, the letters SUV ruled out that option anyway.
So the list was narrowed. Maybe a VW Rabbit (think 2.5L Golf with all of the extras for about 8k British money), Or an Audi A3 (though it looks like a hearse here). A Mazda 3 is in the Ford family and has the zoom-zoominess that Jude loves in a car. And of course there's the Volvo C30 - again a Ford product and eligible for a discount.
Then she kicked into the Mix - "I'd like it to be AWD. We have terrible winters here. You live 35 miles from the office. You drive in during ridiculous snow storms. In a rear wheel drive sportscar. I'd like to think that you had the option of AWD"
That changed things. Toyota make a Matrix Wagon that's AWD and just updated. But driving a Toyota is like driving an appliance. There's no fun there. The new Subaru Imprezza has a 2.5 litre engine, AWD and a neat (if bland) hatchback shape. But it drives like a brick and the interior seems to be made of melted lego. Which leaves the oddly named Suzuki SX4 Crossover. Small, fun to drive, AWD, 148bhp, a key that works from your pocket and great reviews all around. Full of big boy toys and with 64 cubic feet of storage it's not at all bad. So we're off to drive one. Feeling guilty about an import - but hey the numbers don't lie... (except I'm hoping for the fuel numbers - because they suck)
We'll see what happens - meanwhile I have some number crunching to do
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
I've got this thing
I've got this thing at the moment for Ultra Lounges. Those swish, minimalist yet comfortable bars where the drinks cost a fortune, the music is chilled, the air carries the scent of expensive but discrete flowers and you feel slimmer and sexier.
Vegas is full of them - though they tend to be filled with silicone breasted blondes giddy on champagne bubble and resolute in their search of a loft for the night.
But they're cool. I loved them years ago in Thailand. I loved them when we were in Oz too (though they're more a Melbourne thing) and I've been bemoaning the lack of them in A2 since we got here.
Am I a design snob? Do I now need the soft disguise afforded by gauze glow of cassis candles? Or am I just another sad slob falling for the marketing and willing to pay a premium to be wrapped in perfection and beauty?
Vegas is full of them - though they tend to be filled with silicone breasted blondes giddy on champagne bubble and resolute in their search of a loft for the night.
But they're cool. I loved them years ago in Thailand. I loved them when we were in Oz too (though they're more a Melbourne thing) and I've been bemoaning the lack of them in A2 since we got here.
Am I a design snob? Do I now need the soft disguise afforded by gauze glow of cassis candles? Or am I just another sad slob falling for the marketing and willing to pay a premium to be wrapped in perfection and beauty?
Monday, June 23, 2008
From USP to KBB
OMO, Blue Washing Powder adds brightness to Whiteness!
Originally uploaded by Lady Wulfrun (Taking a break)
Products have been improving since the 1950s. Washing White, shining brighter. But there comes a point at which the improvement needs to be radical and revolutionary rather than incremental in order to have any impact.
As a result of this brands are looking not at improving their product but at improving their bonding. Brands aren't about what the product physically does anymore - they're about the products as evidence of a higher belief.
So where as OMO used to 'add brightness to whiteness' is now believes that 'Dirt is good' and that it's an aid to child development. Same product, different angle. And it's working for them.
Nothing revolutionary here - but the thought that it's the brands that start from a belief and make products to help them achieve goals (social goals) that will rule the world is one that's still new enough to some companies to bear repeating. So I'm gonna repeat it.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
And the Dutch crash and burn
We went to a local "Irish" bar yesterday in order to watch the Netherlands - Russia game.
I'm not sure where they make the "Oirish" people who seem to always be on hand to staff these themed bars - yet the people there had the accents, the freckles and the oh so friendly attitude that we all believe Irish people to have.
Anyway the place was packed with Holland supporters in Orange and a handful of face painted Russian people who made a lot of noise, drank a lot o beer and clapped with a certainty that bordered on the scary.
As the game came to a close and the Dutch saw that they were going to lose the cameras cut to a young girl in tears. It was interesting as I suddenly realized that the Americans don't have any major sports that they play internationally. American Football, Basketball, Baseball - all played at the national level. Sure they have World Series --- but they're not Intetrnational in any meaninbgful way.
So American kids don't learn that their country can lose when it comes to anything that they're passionate about. Could that be the reason for the whiny Tiffany and Dwaynes hanging at the mall with clouds of entitlement hanging over them like poison gas?
I'm not sure where they make the "Oirish" people who seem to always be on hand to staff these themed bars - yet the people there had the accents, the freckles and the oh so friendly attitude that we all believe Irish people to have.
Anyway the place was packed with Holland supporters in Orange and a handful of face painted Russian people who made a lot of noise, drank a lot o beer and clapped with a certainty that bordered on the scary.
As the game came to a close and the Dutch saw that they were going to lose the cameras cut to a young girl in tears. It was interesting as I suddenly realized that the Americans don't have any major sports that they play internationally. American Football, Basketball, Baseball - all played at the national level. Sure they have World Series --- but they're not Intetrnational in any meaninbgful way.
So American kids don't learn that their country can lose when it comes to anything that they're passionate about. Could that be the reason for the whiny Tiffany and Dwaynes hanging at the mall with clouds of entitlement hanging over them like poison gas?
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